Answers to big questions

Friends,

Sometimes, when we can rise above the course of daily events, men and women have important and far-reaching questions. These kinds of questions take time and meditation to answer adequately. They require imagination, creativity, and an open heart.

Does our God truly have the capacity to redeem this fallen soul?
Is the LORD able to overcome the massive evil that is our sin?

Big questions like these are nothing new.

Isaiah 50:2a
Why, when I came, was there no man?
Why, when I called, was there none to answer?
Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?

Of course, we do not need to search far for the answers to these questions ...

Isaiah 50:2b
Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink because there is no water,
And die of thirst. [NKJV]

Almighty God truly does have the full and limitless power to dry up the seas. He can do this with one word. He can darken the sun, calm the seas, raise the dead, give sight to the blind.

He does all these things ... and nothing can stop Him from redeeming His elect people.

Be encouraged, Jose

Altered Mission

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Acts 9:1-6 (NKJV)

He was a terror to anyone that stood for the truth and the gospel. Hounding, binding, harrassing, boxing anyone who dare at that time to submission (just like dictators in our day). To him, he just felt and thought he was on the right track and doing a great calling, but its impossible to kick against the goads, particularly when the main subject matter borders on Kingdom business and the Creator Himself. The Damascus Road encounter changed the course of the live of a serial killer, a tormentor and one that would not even qualify to be a saved person by today's standard. One encounter changed it all.

This same man went ahead to be one of the renowned Apostles recorded in the New testament. What can the Creator not do? Know of any unsaved, tormentor, serial killer, murderer, etc today? Let us collectively pray for the Damascus encounter for these, that the best in them may come forth and the entire body be fully blessed. His mission to kill changed to a mission to save. This can only be the Lord's doing, not man.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

The preachers' message

Friends,

The themes of modern sermons range from moral living to family relationships to physical health to financial prosperity to emotional well-being to politics to ... I think you get the idea. When Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, though, they went with a simple, straightforward message.

So they went out and preached that people should repent.
Mark 6:12 [NKJV]

Is this so complicated?
Is it so difficult to stay "on message"?

During the disciples' travels, other great blessings were evidenced: the sick were healed, demons were cast out. But the message was simple: Repent. We've drifted away from this for reasons too numerous to list here. But we can stop drifting, can't we? We can refocus our words and our actions to preach a simple, clear message to a world that desperately needs to hear it.

Christ has sent you and me out to give this message. Will you do as He commanded?

Be encouraged, Jose

Who is He?

18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”
20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
Luke 9:18-20 (NKJV)

When they had set themselves apart to a lonely place for a quality quiet time, He asked His disciples of His identity. Sometimes one needs to be conscious of who we are and the power and authority we are able to wield and exercise. It is also not impossible to live and act ignorantly of the potential within us and our God given powers and abilities. All the disciples had a different version and perspective of Him except one man, Peter. He declared unequivocally and confidently... "The Christ of God". Men with vision display an uncommon boldness, confidence and tenacity. They operate in a consciousness and knowledge of a perfect alignment with the Creator Himself.

Who do you say He is? Let your response guide you in your daily walk.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

The turned heart

Friends,

Even though we don't like to consider this very often, the Lord's answers to our prayers is sometimes, "No." We pray for illnesses to be healed, yet the sickness remains. We pray for hearts to be softened, yet the hardness persists. We pray for kings, presidents and prime ministers to rule with wisdom and justice, yet the oppression of the poor, the trampling of human rights, and the persecution of the Body continues unabated.

So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from God, that the LORD might fulfill His word, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
2 Chronicles 10:15 [NKJV]

Brothers and sisters, the circumstances of this world are under the LORD's sovereign command. He has a plan, and His plan is good.

No doubt the "people" of this verse were utterly confused by the king's refusal to hear them. No doubt, some times we are confused by what governments of every political stripe do and don't do. The most important point to remember ... through all of the twists and turns of a fallen world ... the LORD is sovereign and good.

Be encouraged, Jose

Bible studies online

Friends,

The Bible study sessions from the first two weeks of July have been published. You'll find them at Bible Study Audio. Thank you for your patience over these past couple weeks as I fell a little behind.

Be encouraged, Jose

Faultless Presentation

Friends,

When we miss the mark, keep this in mind...

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
Jude 1:24, NKJV

Our Lord keeps us upright, even through the relentless attack of the enemy.

Our Lord removes every stain, every mis-step, every slip-up.

Our Lord does this with exceeding joy.
Joy that cannot be described.
Joy that cannot be replicated.
Joy that can only be found in the presence of His glory!

Be encouraged, Jose