Chasing God

Friends,

During one of the many eras that God's people had gone astray, the prophet Hosea brought forth the word of the LORD. God describes how His people will look for the what their false gods had offered them, and what the result of their search will be ...

Hosea 2:7
She will chase her lovers,
But not overtake them;
Yes, she will seek them, but not find them.
Then she will say,

'I will go and return to my first husband,
For then it was better for me than now.' -- [NKJV]

The people of God had mistakenly attributed their abundance to the idols of their own making. In our day, we do the same thing. We believe that our provision is the result of our own hard work, our own ingenuity, and our own diligence. Because we believe that our efforts are the source of our abundance, we work harder and harder and harder to attain and maintain what we have. We chase after worldly success, but we will not find it. So we chase harder. And and we have to show for it is exhaustion.

Sisters and brothers, it is the LORD, and Him alone, that is the source and reason for every blessing we have. It is not enough to simply give Him credit ... though surely He deserve every ounce and breath of praise and gratitude. He calls us to pursue Him, to chase after Him. He calls us to desire Him.

By seeking the LORD and His Kingdom and His righteousness, we will gain the most wondrous and everlasting blessings.

Be encouraged, Jose

New Bible studies posted

Friends,

Check out the Bible studies at Bible Study Audio. The Monday morning group began the book of Hosea a few weeks ago and the first three lessons have been posted.

I pray that you are blessed by these teachings.

Jose

The Commandments shall overcome

Friends,

We are blessed that the Body of Christ is bound by the love of our Lord Christ Jesus. The non-believers have a great emptiness where this blessing might reside. And even though were are surrounded by a multitude of brothers and sisters in the Lord, there are enemies lurking. And those enemies want to shame you and me, make us feel foolish for following a God who would humble Himself to live among us and endure a death on a cross.

But we are wiser than those enemies ...

Psalm 119:98
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me. [NKJV]

Our enemies are always with us. They live in our neighborhoods. Their children sit beside our children at school. Our Lord makes the rain to fall upon them just as He provides it for you and me.

But we have something more.

We have His word. And His spirit abides in us to reveal His mysteries to us. And in that privilege is held more wisdom than all of the scholars, and all of the doubters, and all of the cynics, and all of the well-intentioned.

Seek His wisdom in His word.

Be encouraged, Jose

Not lost

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NKJV)

We miss loved ones, members of the body of Christ and family members and the world mourns, but we ought not mourn like the world who have no hope. We must rejoice in Him for the hope of glory and the assurance of resurrection at the coming of the Lord. Not even the grave, fire, sea, deep, etc will be able to hold on to them that have slept in the Lord. Likewise as we remain embedded in Him, our hope must remain firm, credible and sure and we ought to comfort each other with these words.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Finishing power

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:11-12 (NKJV)

Abraham became the father of nations, Joshua led the nation of Israel into the promise land, Sarah bore a son at an unimaginable age and time of her life, Hannah's tears and sorrow was turned to joy, the three Hebrew boys got the last laugh, the widow of Zarepath endured through her season, the list goes on and on. One thing common to these men and women was that they were never sluggish at the Lord's promises in their lives, they never lost hope nor slumber off of their waiting season. They held on to the end. They through faith and patience finished their course and inherited their promises.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The strength to make it to the morning is the finishing power. A power that the spirit of God in us can give. May you never lack the finishing power in your life, Amen.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Affliction is no match for Delight

Friends,

As believers, we know our place at God's right hand is assured for all eternity. Yet we must live through this world, according to the laws of time, space and gravity. We travel this life according to the promises made to us by Christ Jesus. And in His word, He promises affliction. While none of us necessarily enjoy and look forward to affliction, we have a surefire means to experience them without despair or fear ...

Psalm 119:92
Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction. [NKJV]

When God's law ... His very word ... is our delight, then affliction cannot have any lasting effect. It might temporarily distract us, inconvenience us, or even cause us great pain and distress. However, it cannot defeat us.

By focusing on the Word of God -- by taking advantage of every opportunity to study His word, search His word, and obey His word -- we will enjoy daily victory over the daily afflictions that are part of this life.

Sisters and brothers, delight in God's law.

Be encouraged, Jose

Power in the word

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)


The word of God is alive, active and life; it is power to the believer for continuous use. To declaring those things that are not as though they are, speaking over every situation and circumstances in our lives, prophesying on every turn and move of our life, speaking life into dry bones, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and furthering the cause of the kingdom of God in His power.

Can a warrior be oblivious of the tools at his disposal? Know the word, learn the word, use the word – it won’t come back to you void but will accomplish that which is according to His will for you.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi