Vain and Empty

For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 3:19 (NKJV)

The blitz, the bling, the glamor, the pride, the self righteousness, the subtle hatred, the terrorist, the pervert, the extremist, the superstar, even the faithful... One thing levels all at this side of things. They are all one breath away from this world. Why should man now get carried away by the passing pleasures, glamor, hate, joy, pain, success and struggles of this world. Nothing in life has ever been permanent. As the preacher states it, one dies, so dies the other, no one is exempt.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV)

The saved ought not get caught up in these distractions lest they fall into the trap and scheme of the world. All is vanity.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:36 (NIV)

A life without Christ is what the heading above says. Pray that all souls come to repentance before the final curtain is drawn.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Turn away from the idols

Friends,

Ezekiel 14:6 [NKJV]
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.' "

The news of the past seven days has been filled ... overwhelmed is probably a better word ... with talk of the death of several celebrities. The question I pose today to believers is this ...

Why do you care?

The death of a famous singer, actress, or other celebrity is, in reality, no more or less important or tragic than the death of your neighbor. No matter what a person accomplishes in this world, unless they have repented and accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, then the only real tragedy is that yet another soul is lost to the enemy. Beyond that, our attention to the death of someone with whom we have no relationship is a blatant form of idolatry.

Today, ask yourself this: Do you interrupt your relationship with Christ Jesus because of the actions of a famous person? Do the events surrounding the unsaved celebrities of our world distract you from prayer and fellowship with the Lord?

It's far too easy to be bewitched by the glitz and the glamour that surrounds entertainers. But such things do not compare to the glory revealed in Christ. Search for that true, enduring glory today and for always.

Be encouraged, Jose

He is the Lord

Friends,

Jesus said ...

... that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
-- John 5:23 [NKJV]

We find this passage in the context of Christ's assertion of authority over the traditions and burdensome rituals of man. And at this point, the religious elite are looking for any and every excuse to rid themselves of the Messiah.

And that, dear friends, is the danger that all men flirt with.

The carnal man desperately wants to avoid the reality of Jesus. So the carnal man studies the "historical Jesus" to bring Him down to our level. And the carnal man equates Jesus ... who declared that He is the Way, the Truth and the Light ... with all the other ways to salvation that man has invented. And on and on it goes. But to do these things is to dishonor Christ Jesus. And to dishonor Christ is to dishonor the Father.

Sisters and brothers, beware of any teaching or preaching that portrays our Lord as anything besides who He is ... The One True God. Remember that though He privileges us by calling us friend, He is our Lord, our Savior and our Master.

Be encouraged, Jose

No Hiding

Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:24 (NKJV)

Of all things that men do both in open and in secret, none is hidden from the sight of the Almighty, omnipresent God who sees and knows every thought and action we make. Should men not revere Him and come to terms with the futility of our self mockery in denying the essence of God that we flagrantly and consciously take for granted?

All must get out of their hiding places and comfort zone to be about Kingdom business.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

In the right direction

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
Psalm 127:3-4 (NKJV)

Thank God for our seed, our children. Indeed they are an heritage from the Lord. We are custodians and partners with God in keeping man here through generations on the face of the earth. Because of this singular reason, He created them man and woman to fulfill His purpose, so that man may dominate, increase and flourish in the planet designed for him. To make His plan sustainable, He rewarded man and woman with the fruit of the womb and man's power and ability to bequeath and sustain Kingdom legacies becomes vivid as the children like arrows in his hands can be shot upwards for greater exploits or downwards for destruction.

Our gifts and blessings should bring increase to the Kingdom of God. Our seed, talents and gifts needs to be pointed in the right direction so we may gain more grounds like a warrior gains more ground with his arrows. Point the arrows you have in the right direction. When the kingdom increases, we gain immensely and God is glorified.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Standing tall

Friends,

Psalm 74:16-17 [NKJV] 
The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; 
	You have prepared the light and the sun. 
You have set all the borders of the earth; 
	You have made summer and winter.  

We have passed from spring into summer. All around us, the land is changing. The early green shoots are growing into plants of full stature. The delicate flowers of spring are giving way to9 fruits and vegetables.

Does your walk mirror these changes? Has your belief and obedience to Christ matured? Are you bearing any fruit? In the field, the hardy plants are able to withstand the heat of the summer sun. The flowery, but fragile, ones wilt. You and I have a responsibility to dig deep into the word of God so that we can endure against the fiery trials that are sure to come.

Be encouraged, Jose

Finding rest

Friends,

We come to the end of another week. It is a normal human condition for us to be tired, and to look forward to the Sabbath. Christ told us that the day of rest was created for man ... as our Father's gift to His children.

Hebrews 12:12-13 [NKJV]
Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Sisters and brothers, use tomorrow to heal, to rest and to be renewed. Seek these things not only in a physical and emotional sense, but in a spiritual sense. For our spirit needs to be filled anew with the presence and words of God. Doing so will inevitably bring physical rest -- for we must quiet our bodies in order to hear from the Lord. It will bring emotional rest -- for the voice of the Shepherd is a healing balm for the wounded heart. And it will transform you and me into the image of Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose