Necessary for ministry

Friends,

Have you experienced that nudging of the Spirit lately? You know ... the one that calls you to act upon what He has taught you in Scripture. The one that calls you to step into the advancement of His Kingdom?

As you begin your walk in that calling, remember that there is a critical step you must take before taking that first step.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Ephesians 4:11-12 [NKJV]

Are you leading a ministry ... perhaps a youth group, or a praise team? Do you truly and intimately know the scriptural basis for that ministry? Are you fulfilling its purpose as defined in God's word? Too many men and women find themselves in leadership positions without the deep training in God's word that is necessary to function in that role. And the responsibility is borne by all involved.

So, before you take that bold step, seek out a teacher of the Word. Someone who can and will bring out the deep and hard truths of the Bible. Someone who will equip you to serve faithfully and effectively.

Do this today, that you will be blessed tomorrow.

Be encouraged, Jose

Be Steadfast

And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days.
Job 42:10,16-17 (NKJV)

Job went through some really trying and challenging times. His ordeal by today's standards will evoke the unthinkable. But his faith in his God and Creator was not attached to the material possessions, fruits of his baskets, his personal accomplishments and status in his days. Do we come to him or sing his praise because of what we can get from Him? Whether we abound or lack, can our testimony in Him remain intact and not be compromised?

The trying and challenging seasons of life are a blessing in disguise. It rids us of excess fat in our faith muscle. It detaches us from unprofitable relationships and mindsets, it removes the smokescreen and exposes pretenders and phony elements around us and even in our thoughts as well. At the end of the season, if we faint not, our latter days will be more glorious than our former days.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

How to Move God

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6 [KJV]

How quickly can God answer a prayer?  Before you pray it.  He is just waiting for us to get to the right place.  God is looking for us to intervene on someone's behalf.  He knows what we need before we pray. He knows how we need it delivered to us.  He also knows how we will react once we see God move.  I can tell you from past experience that the best way to make God move is to believe that He will move and that He is God.  

Belief and Trust will make God move on our behalf.  Sharing our inner most self with those who will keep us lifted toward God will also make God move. He is looking for us to build each other up and encourage each other to believe. Our trust in God and belief in who He is will always make God move on our behalf.  Let's prove God just as He asked us to in His Word. 

Be Encouraged,

Martin

To Stand

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (NKJV)

The dynamics of life are a certainty. Change is certain and sure and in the emerging change we will be confronted, assaulted, attacked, challenged and put on the spot. Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance (5Ps) helps illustrate this truth here. The test of time and the seasons will come, hence the need to be clothed with the whole armor of God described in the above scriptures. The end game after our encounters is our ability "TO STAND" and not be crushed by the cares and issues of life.

In all things, let us remain stand steadfast in our calling and be vigilant and persistent in our pursuit of all righteousness, so we may gain the stamina to stand and be victorious.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Seek fellowship

Friends,

Proverbs 18:1
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment. -- [NKJV]

Too many of us have fallen prey to the lure of living life in isolation. We seek it out because, when we're alone, there's no one to examine our actions, question our motives, or to offer correction. Beyond a weekly service and -- maybe -- a weekly "small group", we go about our business; answering to no one but our own selves.

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. [NKJV]

You see, this is not a new habit. And so the consequences should not be a surprise ...

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. [NKJV]

Sisters and brothers, when we isolate ourselves from daily fellowship & intimacy with the Body of Christ, we are following a path that leads away from God. Even if we have the best of intentions, we have no shot at living a life that is worthy of our calling.

The answer is to be in the Body every day ... to have as our most important relationships the ones that are bound by the Name and the Word of God. It will not be easy on our flesh. But we will expereicne a strengthening of the Spirit within us that will shine for all to see.

Be encouraged, Jose

It starts with the Word

Friends,

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and partition off the ark with the veil."
Exodus 40:1-3 [NKJV]

At this point in the story of Israel's journey through the desert, every element of the tabernacle has been constructed according to God's explicit and specific design. It is now time to bring all the pieces together - and again the LORD is precise in His instructions. He stipulates that the first piece of furniture to take its position shall be the ark of the Testimony.

Why is that?

He is telling His people that His presence starts with His word. You see, the tabernacle was a visible, tangible symbol of the presence of Almighty God. He filled it with Himself. From the tabernacle, He led Israel to the Promised Land. But before He does so, He commands that a visible, tangible symbol of His Word be placed inside ... in the innermost place of the tabernacle.

The Tabernacle is a direct type of Christ Jesus. And it is likewise a direct type of the Body of Christ. That would mean you and me. If want to experience God's presence, then we must ... in the same manner as the Tabernacle ... be sure that His Word is firmly placed in the innermost part of our spirit.

Be encouraged, Jose

Smart walk

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

Our struggles in the flesh will continue as long as we don this earthly vessel. As we ensure to keep our walk and relationship with the Lord, our vulnerable nature manifests itself in our conduct on a daily basis with the adversary drumming up the condemnation song to every believer. But the good news is for those who are in Christ Jesus; this sentence is null and void.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2 (NKJV)

But to be completely shielded from this condemnation, our walk must be according to the Holy Spirit, not our carnal instincts and desires. How’s your walk today? Are you spirit-led or carnally-driven? Check your life’s priorities and goals. Where do they fall? Walk well and walk smart.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi