In His purpose

Immediately he preached the Christ[c] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 9:20-22 (NKJV)

Saul was a passionate and prolific hater of the body of Christ. He pursued his passion with vehemence and utter aggression. Binding all that call on the name of the Lord and destroying anything that identifies with the living God. He was feared and he usually sent trembling tremors anywhere he appeared, for his mission was always a known one. However, a singular event at the road to Damascus flipped that passion of destruction of the body of Christ around to raw passion for Christ. No matter how high or low you may have gone or how steep or deep someone you know may have gone in our present time; one 'Damascus experience' can change that. When that happens, God lines up obedient saints (Acts 9:10-18) to perfect the conversion process for a new beginning.

Yes the notoriety badge and evil tag was all over him, but the moment Saul became Paul, and aligned with God's purpose, old things passed away and never really mattered from God's perspective. It was indeed a new beginning. Are you in His purpose? Only you can answer that.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Being ready

Friends,

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
1 Peter 3:15 [NKJV]

How do you answer when someone asks why you are in such a good mood? Do you tell them about the big deal you just closed? Do you tell them about the wonderful weekend you had?

Or do you tell them the truth?

There should be no secret as to your source of hope and joy. Too often, we point to temporary circumstances and recent events. But the truth is that our joy has as its source something that is not temporary... it is ever-present. The presence of the Lord in our hearts is the root of all joy and peace. Christ Jesus has chosen to abide with us and in us. He was under no obligation nor compulsion. The Lord chose us. In so doing He has counted us as worthy and righteous and fit for an eternity in Heaven.

Be encouraged, Jose

The Authority demands respect from authority

Friends,

In the most recent podcast, we hinted at idea that the fifth commandment (Honor your father and your mother) also means that we are to give proper respect and submission to legitimate authority. Without delving to deeply into what that means for the believer, I'd like to address those who are in authority at this time.

Whether as a boss, a pastor, a parent, or a political leader, the Lord has established you in a position of rulership. It might seem too grandiose a term for what we actually do on a day-to-day basis, but the term nonetheless fits. As such, scripture constantly reminds us of the most important responsibility we have as a leader.

Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Psalm 2:10-11 [NKJV]

Our authority is wholly subordinate to the LORD's. We must not even consider any thoughts, words or actions that are not in accordance with His will. For we will not only go astray ourselves, but we might possibly lead others astray along with us. Read Matthew 23 and see what Christ Jesus has to say to those who do not exercise their authority according to God's purpose.

To be in authority is to be trusted by the LORD. It is a weighty responsibility and a unique privilege. Daily bring your authority under that of Christ Jesus, submitting all decisions and actions to Him. You will find great blessing and strength.

Be encouraged, Jose

Work in Progress

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Philippians 1:3-5 (NKJV)

Paul and Timothy sent encouragement to all the saints in Christ Jesus who were in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. A life given completely to the Lord is continuously being re-tooled and reconstructed for perfection for Godly and good works. The new life in Christ cannot be business as usual, as each day builds on yesterday's laid block. The bigger picture may be far from being visible, but God's continuous work on His children never ceases.

He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Podcast Update - The Fifth Commandment

Friends,

I'm pleased to let you know that the next podcast has been released. This one deals with the Fifth Commandments, in which the LORD directs all men and women to honor their father and mother, and even more to honor Almighty God. We hope you find it edifying.

Be encouraged, Jose

Where Did That Come From?

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 [KJV]

We reap what we sow is something that my grandmother drilled into my head over and over as a child growing up.  I always took it to mean that what we put out, we would get back.  So, if we were very mean to others, someone would be mean to us.  Conversely if, we were nice to others, then someone would be nice to us.  The lesson was a this for that lesson.  As I have grown up, the lesson takes on a different context.  

I have learned that what you put in the ground is what you get out.  As well as what you put into your mind, you get out.  You read and study the bible, you act out biblical principles. You listen to music and teaching about praise and worship, you act out praise and worship naturally.  I recently talked about coaching and teams executing.  This verse is valuable in reminding us that we execute what we know and we can't fool our ultimate Coach on what we know since He has seen us in practice.  Let's look at what we practice so we can execute.  

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Unless He does

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)

Of all the labor of men under the heaven, nothing succeeds unless the Lord grants success. When God isn't in the plan, the best of human knowledge and know-how will only complicate and mess things up. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, not by the self will of man. Are your steps ordered by Him? Is the Lord the Architect of your life's project? If your answer is in the affirmative, then you can navigate and cruise through life with the peace that transcends the thinking and understanding of man.

Human wisdom and know-how can never be a substitute for obedience and a perfect alignment with God's will. If God isn't a part of your project, plans and life, that's a recipe for failure, frustration and disaster. With God all things are possible.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

The Shining Path

Friends,

With every step, we have to choose a path. One path appears to be logical and appropriate. It conforms to conventional wisdom and to the traditions of our fathers. But although it appears to be well-lit, its light is an illusion. The path that is lit by the wisdom of man is made to appear bright by our enemy. He does this to distract us. However, when we turn away (that is ... when we repent) from that deadly path, and instead shift our gaze to the path of the just, we finally see just how dark that way is.

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
   That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. ... NKJV

You see, in order to understand how dark the world path is, we need to see the bright shining path of righteousness. The natural man's path will grow suddenly dim, just as the light of a flashlight is imperceptible when compared to a halogen aircraft landing light.

The path of the just, brothers and sisters, is the one we must follow. But in order to see it, we must take action. We must seek it. Christ promises that it will be found, that it will be hard, and yet that it will bring us into the presence of the Most Holy God.

Be encouraged, Jose

Leave the childish things alone

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 Corinthians 13:11 [NKJV]

Friends,

How do you define being a "grown-up"? For me, the answer is ... I know it when I see it.

The adult does not think like a child, speak like a child or act like a child. When an "adult" does think, speak and act like a child, we rightly consider that person to be under-developed. We know that something is not right with that individual.

When we come to a knowledge of Christ, we have similarly passed from one condition into another. We should not think, speak and act like an unsaved person. We should be thinking, speaking, and acting as ones who follow the Lord Jesus Christ and who are being transformed into His image. If we do not, then something is not right.

• Examine your thoughts today. Would the Lord be pleased with what He finds there?
• Examine your words today. Do they edify, encourage and advance the Kingdom of God?
• Examine your actions today. Do they reflect the remarkable transformation that Christ has caused in you?

We are no longer children without knowledge of our God. It is time we leave the thoughts, words and actions of the unsaved to the dustbin of history.

Be encouraged, Jose

Bless Him and remember

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalms 103:1-5 (NKJV)

As we continue to engage the challenges of our present times, we are reminded by the above scripture to never forget all the Lord's benefits. The benefits of the breath of life, the benefits of a wholesome life and the opportunity to sense another day, we should never lose sight of how far the Lord has brought us. Like a growing relationship we are reminded of our responsibilities and God's in our connection with Him.

Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalms 103:20-21, 22 (NKJV)

Bless Him at all times, and we must be reminded of His faithfulness to us.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Let's Do This

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. Philippians 1:20 [KJV]

In the USA, we are on the eve of basketball overload.  The final college tournaments have started in earnest to crown four  teams champion (two men and two women) of the best and the rest.  There are coaches that have been preparing for years for this opportunity.  There are players that have spent countless hours in a gym or outside working on all aspects of their skills to participate in this tournament.  Such dedication to the sport and the task at hand.  Before they run out onto the court, they will all have some form of let's do this job mentioned to them.  

For Christians, can we say the same thing.  Have we prepared so much that the execute comes naturally because that is what we know to do.  Have we spent countless hours in the presence of God to soak up everything we can, have we read scripture enough so we can use the Holy Spirit to bring forth the Word of God as the word is needed for the situation.  Do we consult with the Coach when there is a question of how to best attack the defense in front of us?  Do we trust the Coach's decision when He lays out the plan and it looks different than what we thought of?  

If we look at the verse and those players over the next three weeks, boldness will be a key aspect.  They are very confident in the play and their ability to execute according to the plan from the coach.  Are we as Christians as confident in executing God's plan? We always seem to have questions about how things will work instead of realizing that we have the Original Playmaker as our Coach and He will make the play work if we execute our part.  Many games have been lost when someone does not do their part or are out of position.  Let us be the players that will do our part and be in position to move our team forward.  Hands in and 1 - 2 - 3, "Let's Do This".  

Be Encouraged and Go Team Christians,

Martin

Choose wisely

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”
Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NKJV)

The gift of salvation is free but not without a role and responsibility on our part. We are saved not by our works but by the freely given grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This gift however requires due diligence, hard work, focus, and the continuous and steady pursuit of righteousness and Kingdom principles. A detour from this casts and puts one in a position of ruin. Having knowledge of the truth, obtaining grace and mercy and then turning back to transgression incurs God's wrath.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)

The choices we make is entirely in our hands. We can either lean on our human will (which has its place but usually isn't up to all tasks) or lean on the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit in us. Smart choices for life everlasting are better than dumb choices of ruin. Choose wisely and

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Night Watchmen

Friends,

Do you sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and then struggle to fall back to sleep? Have you ever wondered why? Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps you have been summoned for a special assignment?

Consider these words ...

Psalm 134
Behold, bless the LORD,
   All you servants of the LORD,
   Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
   And bless the LORD.

The LORD who made heaven and earth
   Bless you from Zion!

Prayer and praise and thanksgiving are to be lifted to the LORD at all times - even in the middle of the night. So the next time you find yourself staring through the darkness, fix your mind to offer worship to the One who never slumbers nor sleeps.

Be encouraged, Jose

Fruitfulness in all conditions

Friends,

The LORD says ...

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 [NKJV]

Today is the day to trust in the LORD. Wait no longer, brothers and sisters. The fact that the world is untrustworthy cannot get much more obvious. We do not need to live in fear, nor must we be anxious during the difficult times.

No matter happens in this earth, the LORD promises that we will never stop bearing fruit.

A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Psalm 91:7 [NKJV]

Be encouraged, Jose

Being Fruitful

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:8 (NKJV)

Fruitfulness in the life of the believer is very important. The ability to multiply and the knowledge and confidence in the ability to multiply even in a season of drought sets the faithful aside from the faithless. To be faithful, there are a number of things that must be present and working hand in hand to keep the divine creative energy alive in the body of believers.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NKJV)

When these things are present and are at work in us, our fruitfulness will be glaring and our response to the dynamic changes of the world will be just different from the norm. In closing .... Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; (verse 10)

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Darkest Before Dawn

The night holds on for as long as it can while daylight creeps across the horizon.  As we look at the clock, the time seems to move slower and slower as we anticipate the coming light.  We are hopeful that everything will change once the light comes. We are expecting many changes because we have been suffering through this night for a while and are looking for the light.  

One of the reasons that we know things will change when the morning comes is something that my wife always says:  "Things are always less hopeful at night. There never seems to be a solution that we can see."  I always understand that if it was light and we could see past the end of our face, we may have more hope.  As darkness limits our vision, it also limits how we and when we move.  We don't feel as safe and secure in the darkness.  

What we all fail to remember is that darkness is a temporary condition. The light will come and will replace the darkness.  As we look at the darkness before dawn, remember that daylight is on the way and will replace the darkness soon.  In the Old Testament, the folks looked for the light and knew that Christ was on the way.  As we look at our present situation, we know that Christ is on the way with what we need.  We have to be ready to receive what He is offering us.  

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Revelations 3:11 [KJV]

Be Encouraged through your night experiences,

Martin

Natural laws

“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, and day and night Shall not cease.”
Genesis 8:22 (NKJV)

At the conclusion of the rain that cleaned out the initial creation, through a heart-felt and sweet smelling savor offering, God declared never to destroy the earth and creation again, but some fundamental and natural will continue to stand and govern the affairs of men in our world and for all generations. The Seedtime and harvest will continue while cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night... all of these must be respected and will always take their course. To wish the heat away in a time of heat will be simply going against a natural law pronounced by God.

The Seedtime and harvest time not ceasing thus demands the requirements of seedtime. No harvest without a seedtime. What are we doing during seedtime? There is time for everything under the sun. Seize every moment wisely and

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

The God who saves

Friends,

In scripture, the Lord reveals Himself to have more facets than we can possibly count. Many of us are familiar with some His more commonly discussed names: Jehovah Jireh (The LORD who provides) and El Roi (The God who sees). Here, though, is a name for the LORD that we may not have noticed before.

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
Psalm 17:7 [NKJV] (emphasis added)

The LORD does indeed save us, for we are the ones who trust in Him. And He knows that there are many forces rising up against us, both seen and unseen. We do well to praise and honor the LORD for this act of mercy, love and strength. He is our Protector and our Shield.

Be encouraged, Jose

Grace and Fear and Reverence

Friends,

Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. [NKJV]

Grace and the Kingdom of God go hand in hand. They are inseparable. As they are linked, so is the acceptable service to the Lord God Almighty. By grace, we can possess and demonstrate the reverence and godly fear that is the Lord's expectation and right.

Brothers and sisters, we do not have the right to worship God any way we please. We must honor Him according to His law and commandments. When we ignore this crucial fact, we arrogantly declare that we will do as we please, and God had simply better accept it. Is that any way to approach a consuming fire?

But when we submit to the Lord's command to worship Him in spirit and in truth, in accordance with all of Scripture, and with a humble and contrite heart... Well, He promises to accept our worship and our praise, to incline His ear to our prayers, and to bless His people beyond imagination.

Be encouraged, Jose

Edify and build up others

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:1-4 (NKJV)

The blessings and vicissitudes of life, the rain, snow and shine all fall on the righteous and unrighteous. For the faithless and unrighteous, the good times are what it is. The bad times are the path to slide to hopelessness, and depression. For the righteous all experiences are an opportunity to bless the weak, alert the unconscious, encourage and edify the feeble and strengthen the brethren. The Lord exemplified the outpouring of one's life to edify the brethren. All through the ups and down of life, ours must be an outpouring for God's children. A testament and testimony to be read and used for all generations.

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6 (NKJV)

Offer yourself a living sacrifice always, holy and acceptable, for this is your reasonable service.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Their jokes cannot defeat us

Friends,

For centuries, Christians have been the butt of many jokes. I don't know if it's worse now than it was a thousand years ago, but the jokes seem more hostile and vulgar now than they did when I was younger. While I admit to being offended by the rudeness, I can't really say I am surprised.

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
2 Peter 3:3-4 [NKJV] (emphasis added)

There are certainly scoffers all around us today. And their cynicism seems to fuel their willingness to walk according to whatever desire fills their heart at that time. Plus, the evils of this world continue unabated; as they have since the fall.

But remember these two things, brothers and sisters...
We walk by faith not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
The Lord has never failed to keep His promises. Acts 1:4

No matter what the cynics, comedians or commentators say, we can remain strong in our faith. Christ's glorious return is promised. And our victory is assured.

Be encouraged, Jose