Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,

FULFILLING ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS

"Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do
this to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15 NIV).

Like John the Baptist, one would wonder why Jesus
Christ would present Himself for a baptism of repentance. However, Jesus'
response to John the Baptist was that it was appropriate for Him to take part
in John's baptism at that time in order to fulfil all righteousness. Since
there was no requirements about baptism in Mosaic Law, Jesus could not have had
in view anything pertaining to Levitical righteousness. Nevertheless, John the
Baptist's message was a message of repentance, and those experiencing it were
looking forward to a coming Messiah who would be righteous and who would bring
in righteousness. If Jesus Christ as the Messiah were to provide righteousness
for sinners, He must be identified with sinners. It was therefore in the will
of God for Him to be baptized by John in order to be identified with sinners.
This identification received the approval of God as God sent down His Spirit on
Jesus and declared that Jesus is His beloved Son.

Jesus Christ did not only identify with the people
by His baptism, He actually came to serve them and give His life as ransom for
them (see Matthew 20:28; Philippians
2:4-8). Because of this, He was exalted to the highest place and given a name
above all names "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11 NIV).

Most of people in high places and positions of
leadership find it difficult to be identified with people they are leading and
are in low places. They think that they are "too big" to be
identified with the downtrodden. They are not ready to sacrifice their pleasure
to satisfy the people that are under them. They have forgotten that in God's
reckoning, "The greatest among you will be your servant" (Matthew
23:11 NIV). No wonder, Paul admonished in Romans 12:16, "Do not be proud,
but be willing to associate with people of low position" (NIV).

In what way do you identify yourself with the people
you are leading or serving? Do not be "too big" to really serve
others around you. To fulfil all righteousness, find ways you can identify with
people around you. The Lord will indeed reward you for this.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,

WAIT FOR GOD'S APPOINTED TIME

"Be still before the LORD and wait
patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways..." (Psalm
37:7 NIV).

After the disobedience of Saul to the command
of God to totally destroy the Amalekites and his rejection as king of Israel by
God, God sent Prophet Samuel to anoint David as the new king. David served King
Saul for several years in spite of the fact that he knew that he was the
rightful person approved by God to be the king of Israel. He fought many wars
to the credit of Saul. Even when Saul hated him and sought to kill him, he did
not try to retaliate and forcefully claim the throne. He had two good
opportunities to kill Saul and become the king, yet he spared his life on the
two occasions (1 Samuel 24, 26). He diligently waited for his time. The time
eventually came when the men of his own tribe came and anointed him as king
over them, and when the whole people of Israel came after some years to
proclaim him king over the whole land (2 Samuel 2, 5). He waited for his
appointed time.

In one of the Yoruba legends about destiny, a
man has chosen before he came to the world that he would become affluent when
he clocks the age of forty. When he came to the world, he began to struggle
from one place to another in order to be rich. All his efforts were
unsuccessful. He became a laughing stock among his contemporaries especially
those that were successful in their undertakings. At age 39, when he could not
bear the ridicules of his friends, he committed suicide. When he got to the
gate of heaven, the gatekeeper looked at him with pity and led him to where the
records of people's destinies were kept. When he saw his own record, he
discovered that it remained only a year for him to become affluent. He begged
the gatekeeper to allow him to go back to the world, but he did not have such
opportunity any more. He did not wait for his appointed time.

While I do not believe in all such legends,
there is a lesson in it – waiting for one's appointed time – the God's time
that is the best. Has God promised you something? Do not be in haste to get the
promise. Do not try to help God to fulfil the promise. Abraham and Sara tried
to help God in fulfilling His promises for them. Their help nearly ruined their
peaceful home (see Genesis 16, 21). Wait for God's appointed time. He will
fulfil His promise in His own time in His own way. Even when it seems that the
time does not come. Wait for God's appointed time. Do not lose hope. His
appointed time for you will come!

"You need to persevere so that when you
have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a
very little while, `He who is coming will come and will not delay'"
(Hebrews 10:36-37 NIV).

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NBThis message was first sent out on May 1,
2005.

Dearly Beloved,

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IN SPITE OF ALL
ODDS

"But now, this is what the
Lord says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear
not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the
rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will
not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze'" (Isaiah 43:1-2 NIV).

There is a Yoruba adage: "Bi
alagbede ba n lu irin ni oju kan, o ni ohun ti alagbede fe mu jade nibe
ni." Literally: "When a blacksmith is hitting the same spot on a
piece of iron, he wants to bring something out of it."Â This will be the third message in three weeks
that the Lord would lead me to talk about His faithfulness. The first message
was about the futility in the promises of man compared to the faithfulness in
the promises of God. The second message, based on a popular hymn - "GREAT
IS THY FAITHFULNESS" - composed by Thomas O. Chisholm, reemphasised
magnitude of the faithfulness of God to His people. This message will focus
more on the faithfulness of God to His people especially in difficult time.

It is evident that many people are
experiencing difficult time every day. Many of such people may be inclined to
presuppose that God is not faithful to them. This has made some people to even
doubt the existence and/or the power of God. However, one's disposition and
focus will guide one in this matter. If one focuses on the problem, the problem
will seem to be bigger than God, but, if in spite of one's problem, one focuses
on God, one will discover that God is far above the prevailing problem.

This passage, "Through the
Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are
new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23,
NKJV), is one of the most popular passages of the Bible when one is discussing
about the faithfulness of God. However, it is interesting to note that it is
found in a lamentation of a prophet who was agonizing for the sins of the
people of Judah and the eventual calamity that befell them. Here was a prophet
that was rejected by his own people because he dared to declare the words of
God to them. He wrote the book of Lamentations in despair of this situation.
Nevertheless, because he focused on God, he turned from contemplating his
misery to remembering God's mercy. In spite of his pain and sorrow, he
recollected the faithfulness of the Lord, and this gave him hope (Lamentations
3:19-21). His right focus made him to realize that the Lord is good to those
that focus on Him, and therefore, he advised that it is good to wait patiently and
silently for the Lord to work and accomplish His will in His time (verves
25-28).

The psalmist in that popular psalm
said, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for you [that is, God] are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4 NIV). He went further to declare the
faithfulness of God in providing for, and elevating him even in the presence of
enemies, and he knew that the faithfulness would be his portion forever (Psalm
23:5-6). Job, in spite of his sufferings, said, "Though he slay me, yet
will I hope in him..." (Job 13:15 NIV). There are many other Bible
passages that allude to God's faithfulness in spite of all odds (see
Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Psalm 91:15; Isaiah 8:9-10; 41:10, 14; 43:1-2; Matthew
28:20; Acts 18:9-10; Romans 8:28-39; 2 Corinthians 12:9-12; Ephesians 3:20-21;
Hebrews 13:5).

Are you still doubting about God's
faithfulness over your life? It may be that you are focusing more on your
circumstances. Focus more on God and you will know that surely He is faithful
in spite of all odds.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,

GREAT
IS THY FAITHFULNESS

"Through
the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They
are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23,
NKJV).

Almost
all the Christian hymns have touching and striking stories that made their
composers to compose them. Interestingly, the popular hymn - "GREAT IS THY
FAITHFULNESS" - did not have any such story. The writer of the hymn,
Thomas O. Chisholm, confessed that there were no special circumstances that
prompted him to write this great hymn. He got his inspiration just from his
experience and Bible truth. He said in a letter written in 1941 that in spite
of the fact that his small income as a result of impaired health in his earlier
years, he was aware of the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and
that God had given him many wonderful displays of His providing care.

In the
hymn, like Jeremiah in his lamentations, Chisholm declared that because the
compassion of God never fails, great is the faithfulness of God. God renews
this faithfulness during summer, winter, springtime and harvest, in fact, every
morning. This faithfulness is manifested in the courses of sun, moon, and stars
above. The whole nature joins in witnessing this faithfulness. The faithfulness
includes pardon for sin and an enduring peace, God's cheering and guiding
presence, strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow, and countless
blessings. Indeed great is the faithfulness of God!

You
are also experiencing this faithfulness of God every day. Do you realize this?
If yes, do you appreciate God for it? If you do not realize it, it means you
are not focusing on God and you have placed your trust either in yourself or
any other thing apart from God. Focus on God and you will have many reasons to
declare His faithfulness over your life.

Great
is thy faithfulness, O God!

In His
service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

DearlyBeloved,

HE IS FAITHFUL!

"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24
NKJV).

"You
can't depend on anyone, not even a great leader" (Psalm 146:3 CEV).

The
Lord God is more than dependable. When He promises, He is not only ready to fulfil the promise, He is also able to fulfil the promise. Human beings are completely different. They can make promises, but they may not be ready to fulfil the promises. They may even be ready to fulfil, but not be able to
fulfil such promises. No wonder, there are many injunctions in the Bible not to put one's trust in human beings, but rather put one's total trust in God (see Deuteronomy 7:9; Proverbs 16:20; Isaiah 2:22; 26: 3-4; Jeremiah 17:5-8).

The
case of the Nigerian president is a good example. Early this year, Nigeria was thrown into chaos at the announcement of increment in fuel pump price by the government
due to government's policy on fuel subsidy total removal. To calm down the situation, the president and his cohorts promised that there will be palliative measures to make the new policy bearable for the citizens. A committee was set up to monitor the reinvestment of the total subsidy savings which is the amount accruable to the government and creation of some empowerment programmes for the citizens. Many citizens believed the government or rather gave the government
an element of doubt. However, less than two months after the promise by the government to put in place some palliative measures, the president disclosed that the promise cannot be fulfilled because the government cannot provide the palliative measures. Expectedly, many people were shocked for the rescinding of the promise. However, it is an evidence that human beings are not trustworthy;
only God is trustworthy and faithful in keeping His promises.

In whom do you put your trust? No matter how affluent a man is, he is not reliable. He can disappoint at any time. Put your total trust in God. He alone will not and cannot rescind His promise. Indeed, faithful is the Lord that has called us, and He will certainly fulfil His promises. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes" (Psalm 118:8-9 NIV).

In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly
Beloved,

BENEFITS
OF BEING RIGHTEOUS

"Surely he will never be shaken; a
righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his
heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord" (Psalm 112:6-7 NIV).

More and more people are becoming religious
especially in this part of the world. However, it is becoming more difficult to
find righteous people who really fear God in his day-to-day activities. In
spite of this fact, the writer of Psalm
112 enumerated some of the benefits that a righteous man would enjoy.

Who is a righteous man? Firstly, a righteous
man is a person that is uncompromising. He is principled and is known for what
he stands for. He is indeed purpose-driven. Secondly, a righteous man is a
person that is upright and just in his dealings. While he may not necessarily
be blameless, he must be trustworthy and of good reputation. Thirdly, a
righteous man is a person that is in right standing with God. He must be
somebody into whom God has imputed His righteousness in Jesus Christ and he is
living in a way that is pleasing to God.

Building on the end of the previous psalm,
the writer of Psalm 112, in verse one, said that one who fears the LORD and
delights in His Law is blessed. Five blessings or benefits that come to one who
is righteous and fears God are enumerated: Firstly, the righteous is blessed
with physical and material prosperity because God is righteous (verses 2-3).
Secondly, light is given even in darkness for the righteous (verse 4). This
could refer to success (in place of failure) or to discernment. Thirdly,
the righteous receives goodness in
return for being generous and just (verses 5 and 9). Fourthly, he will be
firmly established in his faith, and unshakable with no fear of what man might
do to him (verses 6-8). In fact, the righteous' memory will be eternal and
blessed (cf. Proverbs 10:7). Fifthly, because the righteous gives generously
and is just in his affairs (verses 5 and 9), he will be made strong and
honourable by the LORD.

Undoubtedly, everyone would want to enjoy all
of these benefits. However, how many people are ready to be righteous and
genuinely fear God? How many people are uncompromising, upright and are in
right standing with God? It may seem as if it does not pay to be righteous in
this present-day society, but it really pays to be righteous and genuinely fear
God.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly
Beloved,

It is
exactly nine years today that I have been ministering to people throughout the
world through the Internet. An email ministry that started on February 18, 2003
has metamorphosed to an Internet ministry with almost ten aspects. Since most
of you are not among the 47 people that received my first message and one of
the best messages, as a way of celebrating the ministry every year, let me
resend the first message to you:

WHAT
DO YOU SEE?

“We
saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We
seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them"
(Numbers 13:33 NIV).

"The
land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good…. And do not be afraid
of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is
gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (Numbers 14:7, 9
NIV).

These
were the views of two groups that went to explore the land of Canaan.
Undoubtedly, the two groups were saying the absolute things about what they saw
in the land. The former is the carnal sight that did not see beyond the
ordinary, while the latter is the spiritual sight that saw the extraordinary.

What
do see in your situation? Is it the ordinary or the extraordinary? If you see
only your situation, you are seeing only the ordinary, but if you believe, you
will see beyond the situation. Jesus told Martha, "Did I not tell you that
if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 NIV). And
Paul testified, “We know these things are true by believing, not by seeing [the
ordinary]� (2 Corinthians 5:7 TLB).

See
beyond the ordinary by believing in the Lord that He will help you, and He will
be glorified in your life.

In His
service,

Bayo
Afolaranmi (Pastor).

N.B.
Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/message/508/ to read the anniversary message.
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10151313642335381/

As I requested on that first day of the ministry, "Pray that I will be able to
continue to send messages like this, and forward them to your friends. May the
Lord bless you as you do. Amen."

Dearly Beloved,
WHAT MANNER OF LOVE!
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we
should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1 NKJV).
For some time now, many people have been talking about love, and they
will celebrate "love" on February 14, a day popularly known as "the
Valentine's Day." However, the kind of love that people are presently
talking about and that is been celebrated on February 14 is erroneous.
It is indeed "lust" not love! Even if one claims that "the Valentine's
Day" has to do with a love between a man and a woman in love (whether
married or not), the original intention of the celebration is to
demonstrate sacrificial love of one person to another.
This manner of sacrificial love was demonstrated by God. Hear Paul:
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 NKJV). Apostle John
explained this in other words: "For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 NKJV). This sacrificial
love made everyone who accepts it to be a child of God! It made the
person to be a heir in the kingdom of God. Such a person like a true
son, not a servant or slave, can now come boldly to the throne of God
with confidence and freedom (see Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16;
10:19-23). It is a pity that the world does not know this kind of
love, hence, the wrong celebration of the Valentine's Day.
The manner of love that God had, and is still having, for the world -
the sacrificial love - the manner of love that will give out something
tangible and indelible to the recipient should be the focus of anyone
this Valentine season and all the time. The Valentine season should
remind us of a sacrificial love that we can give not only to our loved
ones, but to everyone that we encounter. It should never be a time of
satisfying one's lustful desires.
What manner of love do you want to demonstrate this Valentine season?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,

UNEXPECTED
BLESSING

David was afraid
of God that day and asked, How can I ever bring the ark of God to me? He did
not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside
to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of God remained with the family
of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household
and everything he had (1 Chronicles 13:12-14
NIV).

The Lord had just
established the kingdom of the whole Israel in the hand of David. David was
returning the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem the new capital amidst
jubilation with the Levites, the priests, and the whole people of Israel, but
the Lord killed Uzzah because he was preventing the ark from falling. David was
afraid to bring the ark to his city. He left it at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

What was the
intention of King David? Did he mean well for Obed-Edom? Only God knows. But
apparently, he did not mean well for Obed-Edom having known that the ark was
sacred. What would have been the reaction of Obed-Edom and his family when the
unquestionable king took such dangerous decision?

Undoubtedly, they
would have prepared for the worst. However, the dangerous sacred object
became a channel of blessing to Obed-Edom and his family! (1 Chronicles
13:12-14; 26:4-5).

Two lessons can
be deduced from this. Firstly, do not panic when people are been wicked to you.
Who knows, God may turn their wickedness to blessings for you. When they were
regretting their action of selling him to slavery, Joseph told his brothers,
"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but
God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many
lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children"
(Genesis 50:19-21 NIV).

Secondly, be
useful for the work of God. We do not know if Obed-Edom willingly accepted the
Ark of the Covenant, but the Bible says the ark remained in his household for
three months. As a Levite, he must have taken good care of the ark during that
period. God blessed his household for keeping the ark. If we are also ready to
be useful in the hands of God in all ways, God will bless us abundantly (Proverbs
3:9-10; 10:22; Malachi 3:10-11).

When people hate
you, be good and continue serving the Lord. He will unexpectedly bless you!

In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi
(Pastor).

NB
This message was
first sent out on June 13, 2004.
____________ _________ ____

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Dearly Beloved,

The incessant
incidents of bomb blasts in Nigeria in recent time claiming lives of hundreds
of people and the seemingly helplessness of the Nigerian government to curb the
situation while the faceless wicked people are having a field day in
perpetrating their evils made me to go into my archive and bring out the
message below first posted on July 17, 2005:

HOW LONG, O LORD?

"How long
will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? Who will rise up
for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against
evildoers?" (Psalm 94:3, 16 NIV).

I was chatting
online with one of my spiritual fathers when he who resides in London told me
the news of the series of bomb attacks by some terrorists. I quickly visited
some news websites to get the details of what befell the city of London, nay
the whole world and discovered there the havoc these heartless people have done
again.

The September 11
attack in the US and another attack on a moving train in Madrid, Spain quickly
came to mind as I was reading the news. To add insult to injury, these callous
people still promised to do more harms to other cities in other countries.
Evidently the terrorists have joy in causing these needless pains of loss of
lives and property.

Nevertheless, for
how long will these heartless people continue to break the hearts of people
throughout the world? For how long will they triumph in their inhuman acts? For
how long will they be jubilant in their hiding places for their seeming
success? Who will rescue the world from these terrorists that are making life
unsafe? Will they continue in these callous acts unchecked and unpunished? Who
will rise up against these people and avenge for the evils they have done?

The psalmist also
asked similar questions in Psalm 94 when his nation was facing some calamities.
However, he found solace in God, the Judge of the earth. He called on Him in
verses 1-3 to rise up and avenge.

Interestingly, in
verses 8-11, he described the senselessness of these wicked people and the fact
that God was, and still is, not indifferent to these situations. He gave a
reassuring fact in verse 14, "…the LORD will not reject his people; he
will never forsake his inheritance" (NIV).

No matter what
these terrorists and other wicked people may be doing, the Lord "will repay
them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God
will destroy them" (Psalm 94:23 NIV). So, if you have been doing evil,
know that the Lord will repay you one day according to your deeds.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi
(Pastor).

NB
I dedicate this
message to all that were affected in one terrorist attack or the other,
especially the victims of the many bomb attacks in Nigeria.

Dearly Beloved,
REVIVAL AGAIN?
“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6 NIV).Psalm 85 is one the popular psalm especially its sixth verse that talks about revival. The title of the Psalm, “For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm,” does not give the name of the author or its background. It was evidently composed in view of the fact that God had, on some former occasion, stepped in when His people were in trouble, but that now for similar causes He was again angry with them, and they were suffering similar calamities (cf. Judges 2:18, 19 and Psalm 78:8). The psalm contains a fervent prayer that God would again appear for them, and it implies a confident expectation that He would do this, so that the calamities which had come upon them would be removed.Verses 1-3 of the psalm deal with God’s goodness in the past. It begins with praise to God for restoring the nation. This res­toration showed
the fact that God had forgiven and covered all their sins, and had set aside His wrath and anger. One can liken this situation to the Judges’ era in the history of Israel. Verses 4-7 are about people’s prayer for revival. The verses partly described the state of the people. It is clear that the nation was suffering from some calamity; that the anger of God seemed to be upon them; that it appeared as if His wrath would never be turned away; and that unless He should interpose the nation must perish. This may likely be related with the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the Jews in 2 Kings 25, Jeremiah 39. The psalmist prayed that the Lord would again turn His wrath away and deliver them. He wanted the Lord to put away His displeasure, and not con­tinue to be angry. Apparently the past restoration referred to in verses 1-3 in­spired this prayer for another restoration. By been revived, they would again be able to re­joice and experience
His unfailing love. Perhaps no other prayer is more welcome in the ears of God than the one for revival, as expressed here in verse 6. Verses 8 and 9 are the promise from God. The psalmist said he would listen for word from the LORD who promises peace to His saints. He gives salvation so that His glory may be evi­dent in the land. "Glory" here means the manifestation of God’s presence (cf. Isaiah 60:1-2; Zechariah 2:5). These ideas expressed in God's reve­lation to Israel find their ultimate fulfilment in Christ. This promise of peace and salvation through the glory of the One who dwells among men may have been in John's mind when he wrote John 1:14. Verses 10-13 are about the faith of the psalmist. He was confident that the LORD would cause His attributes (love, faithfulness, and righteous­ness) to work together to provide peace, righteousness, and prosperity. It should be noted that only a child of God can be revived. Sinners cannot be revived;
they need to be resurrected. A dead person cannot be revived; only a live person can be or should be revived. God is ready to revive us if we sincerely pray for revival. However, we must not, because of this, continue to sin. God will forgive and revive, but the scars of the sins will still be there! (Cf. Romans 6:1). Revival again?In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,

WHO KNOWS THE HOUR?

"Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come…" (Ecclesiastes 9:12 NIV).

The death of Reverend Josiah Adegoke Adeleke, my mentor, friend, and
brother in Christ, in a ghastly auto accident with another friend, Reverend
Chris Tayo Orodiji, on Tuesday January 11, 2005 is still a mirage to me. In
spite of the fact that I was there at the mortuary giving them final bath
and dressing in preparation for their burial, and the fact that I was one
of those that lowered their coffins into their graves, I still find it
difficult to believe that those two great men of God who died at their
prime age in active service have gone forever. I will see them only in
heaven when I also die or at the marriage feast of the Lamb after the
rapture of the saints.

Both of them were very intimate friends who had shared with me many things
about our personal, educational, and especially ministerial endeavors. So,
all the plans, dreams, and aspirations they had have gone with them
unfulfilled! So, they have abandoned their promising ministerial careers
for the rest of us! So, they will not publish those books they have written
their outlines! So, they have left their pregnant wives and very young
children behind to face the struggles of life alone! So, they have….

Their short lives and sudden death are indeed a challenge to the living
that "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up
like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not
endure…. Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his
months and have set limits he cannot exceed…. But man dies and is laid low;
he breathes his last and is no more. As water disappears from the sea or a
riverbed becomes parched and dry, so man lies down and does not rise; till
the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep"
(Job 14:1-5, 10-12 NIV).

Their short lives and sudden death are a strong confirmation of the words
of Solomon, "'Meaningless! Meaningless! ' says the Teacher. 'Utterly
meaningless! Everything is meaningless, '" and "What does a man get for all
the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?"
(Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:22 NIV). What really are we living for if death can
render everything meaningless within seconds without warning? Why are we
struggling to become somebody on earth when it is certain that we will
leave everything one day? This makes the words of Paul in Philippians 1:21
relevant here: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (NIV).
Living for Jesus Christ will make our living on earth meaningful and our
death a gain for us. GOKE and TAYO lived for Christ and their death is
indeed a gain for them and Jesus Christ. Who are you living for?

Their short lives and sudden death are now a warning to me that I have to
"discharge all the duties of [my] ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5 NIV). Again, the
words of Paul to Archippus clearly come to mind: "See to it that you
complete the work you have received in the Lord" (Colossians 4:17 NIV). I
have to be up and doing because I do not know when God will also call me
home. I do not know what people will say when I am no more. I do not know
whether my Lord will commend me with words like, "Well done, good and
faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you
in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew
25:21 NIV). I do not know….

Their short lives and sudden death are indeed a challenge and a warning to
us to "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to
which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of
many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12 NIV). If those two great men of God could
die at their prime age, then, anyone may be the next to be called home.

Let me conclude with these words of Solomon, "Moreover, no man knows when
his hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken
in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon
them" (Ecclesiastes 9:12 NIV).

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
This message was first sent out on January 30, 2005. I am sending it out
again in honour of these two late revered ministers of God.

Dearly Beloved,
I AM RESOLVED
“As you serve the Lord, work hard and don't be lazy. Be excited about
serving him!” (Romans 12:11 ERV).
“My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but
that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of
courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ,
whether I live or die” (Philippians 1:20 TEV).
Let me once again welcome you to another year, year 2012. It will
indeed be a year of unlimited success in all your good endeavours in
Jesus’ name. Amen. Undoubtedly, many people have made some resolutions
again this new year. Many years ago, a hymn writer, Palmer Hartsough
(1844-1932), made a resolution in a hymn he composed though not early
in a new year.
In that popular hymn, “I Am Resolved No Longer To Linger!” Palmer
Hartsough made a resolution not to linger in serving the Lord because
of the delights of the world. Rather, he resolved to be attracted by
things that are higher and nobler for God. Because Jesus Christ the
Saviour is the true One and the just One who has the words of life,
Hartsough resolved to leave his sin. He resolved to faithfully and
truly follow the Saviour each day by heeding to what He says and doing
His wills because He is the living Way. Although friends may oppose
him and foes may beset him, he was resolved to enter the kingdom of
God by leaving the paths of sin. Having made these resolutions,
Hartsough invited his friends to come without delay to join him in
walking the heavenly way by allowing them to be taught by the Bible
and be led by the Spirit.
What are your resolutions for this new year? If care is not taken,
many of such resolutions may unfortunately go down the drain without
been implemented before the end of this month. Resolve to be closer to
God this year by not lingering in serving Him. He will prove Himself
to you this year and you will testify to His goodness over your life.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,OUR PRAYERS FOR YOU IN THE YEAR 2012
Praise the Lord for witnessing another year 2012!
As usual, Opeyemi (my wife) and our children (Boluwatife, IfeOluwa, Michael and Abraham) are joining me to welcome you into the New Year with these prophetic prayers adapted from Psalm 126 (BBE):- The Lord will change your story for the better this year; - He will fill your mouth with laughter, and your tongue with a glad cry;- You will labour and eat the fruits of your labour;- You will testify among the people this year that the Lord has done great things for you;- People will indeed rejoice with you this year in Jesus name. Amen.
Happy and prosperous New Year!In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor),Baptist Building, Oke Bola,PMB 5113, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria.+234 805 515 9591+234 816 304
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Dearly Beloved,
GOD IS STILL FAITHFUL!
It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is your stability and faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 AMP).But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not Yes and No (2 Corinthians 1:18 NIV).Apostle Paul planned to visit the church at Corinth, but some circumstances beyond his control hindered him from doing so. It seemed the church doubted his sincerity. His adversaries there sought all occasions to blemish his character, and reflect upon his conduct; and, it seemed, they took hold of this to reproach his person and discredit his ministry. In emphasising his commitment to what he planned to do for the Corinthians in his second epistle to them, he used the faithfulness of God as example. When God promises to do anything, He will do it. He is not the type of
person that is not consistent with His words. In fact, Jeremiah exclaimed, “It is because of the Lords mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is your stability and faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 AMP).God is indeed faithful to His promises for His children. His words are yesand Amen. He will certainly do what He promised that He will do, because the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV. See also Hebrews 10:23). Has God promised to do something for you this year? Have you lost hope in Him or are you doubting Him? He is faithful, and He will do it. Continue to rely on Him because as late as the year is, God can still surprise you. The Yorubas have this saying: Oorun ti o ku ni oke yii si to aso i gbe. Literally meaning the sun that remains in the sky can still dry a wet cloth.
In other words, there is still hope in a seemingly hopeless situation! The fulfilment of the promise of God may tarry, but it will surely come. No matter the case, God is still faithful! Do you believe this? If you have faith, you will see the glory of God (cf. John 11:40).In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
THE MYSTERY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace� (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).We are in another Christmas season! It is a season set apart to commemorate the birth of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago. The season is one of the most celebrated seasons throughout the world. There have been many arguments for and against the season. Some say that the season has a pagan origin. Others rightly observe that December 25 could not be the birthday of Jesus Christ. Most people that celebrate it devote the season to the birth of Jesus Christ. However, no matter your position about the season, have you ever pondered on the mystery of the birth of Jesus Christ? What was special in His birth?The Child that was born in Bethlehem by the Virgin Mary is the King
of kings. The Son that was given to us is the Creator of the heavens and earth. As the Mighty God, He is so powerful that He did not need any help to carry the government of this world on His shoulders. He was born as an ordinary new-born baby, but He is the Everlasting Father. He is the Wonderful Counsellor and the Prince of Peace. The birth of this special Child has brought light, peace and joy to the lives of many people, especially people that put their total trust in Him. He is ruling and reigning in their lives now. But He will rule and reign over the whole universe one day when His kingdom will have no end.It does not matter whether you believe in the celebration of Christmas, the supposed birthday of Jesus Christ, or not. What matter is: have you experienced the light, peace and joy that Jesus Christ brought to the world? Do you have His inner peace and joy? Are you sharing these light, peace and joy with other people? Are you shining His light
to the darkness of the world? Will you rule and reign with Him when He finally establishes His eternal kingdom over the universe? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (2012) in advance!In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,
THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES
"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them" (Romans 16:3-4 NIV).
A foreign missionary had an intimate friend. They had been together for quite a long time. The missionary really relied on this friend who was a native of the land. It happened that a persecution arose against the missionary because of a disagreement between him and the ruler of the land.The persecution was so great that the life of the missionary was at stake. The native friend risked his life to rescue his missionary friend from this persecution by breaking all the protocol to see the ruler and appease him.
Aquila and Priscilla were good friends and co-workers with Paul, both in their trade of tent making and in the proclamation of the gospel. This really encouraged Paul as he continued to spread the good news. Not only this, they also risked their lives in identifying with Paul in his troubled times. They did not consider the danger of such action, but preferred to continue as co-workers with Paul. Their action attracted the gratitude of not only Paul, but also of the "churches of the Gentiles."
Epaphroditus (another co-worker of Paul) also received such commendation for "risking his life to make up for the help…" Philippians 2:30, NIV).
The Bible says, "…we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16, NASB). In what way can you also risk your life for other people? A friend in need is a friend indeed.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB This message was first sent out on August 1, 2004.

Dearly Beloved,
On December 3, 2006, I first sent out the message below to commemorate that year's World AIDS Day. There were many reactions both for and against the message. On Decemeber 5, 2009, I decided to resend it again to commemorate the year's World AIDS Day. Inasmuch as the situation of AIDS is still almost the same, I decide to send it out again to commemorate the year's World AIDS Day. Here is it:CONDUCT, NOT CONDOM"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 NIV).Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a clinical syndrome (a group of various illnesses that together characterize a disease) resulting from damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has been on the rampage since early 1980s. The unfortunate thing about it is that no cure
has been found for it. Therefore, there have been many campaigns to prevent it and to manage it in the lives of those that it has infected or affected.Because it is contacted mainly by sexual intercourse, the use of condom has been one of the ways advocated by many people to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. This has made many people to be more promiscuous. It even seems that people are promoting the use of condom to the detriment of being faithful to one's spouse, or total abstinence from sexual intercourse till marriage, which is the original will and purpose of God. However, research has shown that the use of condom is not totally safe to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. This new discovery has vindicated some religious organizations that preach total abstinence for unmarried people or faithfulness to one's spouse for married people as one of the ways to prevent the spread of the virus.Recently, I was in a gathering where some representatives
of an organization came to enlighten us more about the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS. These people were the first non-religious people to say it openly to my hearing that they do not advocate condom but conduct as a way of preventing the spread of the virus. To them, since condom is not totally safe, it is better to switch from condom to conduct - a manner in which an unmarried person will totally abstain from sexual intercourse, and where a married person will be faithful to his/her spouse.Yes! Conduct is better than condom because apart from preventing you from that deadly virus and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), it will make you to do according to the will and purpose of God (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20; 20:10; Proverbs 6:24-35; Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 12:16; 13:4).HIV/AIDS is real! Conduct yourself in godly ways and take note of other prevention of
its spread so that you will not be infected by it.
In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
FROM OBSCURITY TO LIMELIGHT
You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance; you have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy (Psalm 30:11 TEV)He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord (Psalm 40:2-3 NIV).Do you know that God can move you from obscurity to limelight? Do you know that He can turn your hopeless situation to a hopeful one? Yes! He can do it. He has done it before. He has been doing it now, and He will continue to do it.God did it in the life of Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, son of King Saul of Israel. After the death of Saul and Jonathan in battle, David became the king of Israel. Mephibosheth was not born lame, circumstance of the death of his father and grandfather made him lame at age 5 when his nurse was trying
to save him (see 2 Samuel 4:4). He was left in obscurity in a town not popularly known (see 2 Samuel 9:3-4). An heir apparent became a fugitive in a strange land. An ordinary servant of his father was controlling his property. However, when God remembered him through King David, he was relocated to Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel; he started dining with the king, and all his property was restored to him fully (see 2 Samuel 9). He was taken from obscurity to limelight!Many prominent men and women in history had been taken from obscurity to limelight. Even, presently, some of the most influential men and women are taken from obscurity to limelight. President Barak Obama of the United States was born to an unknown Kenyan immigrant. Today, he is the president of the most influential and most powerful nation in the world. President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria was of obscured background before he became the deputy governor of a state. Today, he is the president of the most populous black nation in the world. You also can be brought from obscurity to limelight. No matter where you are now or what is happening to you, God can change your situation overnight. He will change your sadness into a joyful dance. He will take away your sorrow and surround you with joy. People will see and they will rejoice with you in Jesus name. Amen.
In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR? I expect and hope that I will not fail Christ in anything but that I will have the courage now, as always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life here on earth, whether I live or die. To me the only important thing about living is Christ, and dying would be profit for me (Philippians 1:20-21 NCV).It has always been my desire to live for Christ and be a channel of His blessings to the humanity. This has been my driving force in everything I do, especially in every aspect of my Internet ministry. When I recently joined the BlackBerry network, I got connected with as many people as possible, and I have been using that network to fulfil my aspiration in life. However, it baffled me one day to see one of my BlackBerry contacts using the network to do a nefarious and unedifying act. It came to my notice also that some people have been using the network to harm other people.Nefarious acts and atrocities are not
limited to the use of BlackBerry devices. People are doing nefarious acts and perpetrating atrocities through other technological devices and means and even in other various ways. A typical example is what some people are posting on their Facebook pages, needless to mention numerous scam emails that some people send out every day to unsuspecting recipients. Such people are simply demonstrating what they are living for. Apostle Paul categorically said it times without number in his epistles that his living was to advance the kingdom of God on earth and the well being of people with whom he came in contact. He was even ready to die for the Gospel!What are you living for? What is paramount in your life? Are you living to be a channel of God's blessings to people? Are you a source of joy and encouragement to them? Or are you living to be a source of the downfall of, or sorrow to other people? Your words, actions, and even, at times, inactions will
determine what you are living for!
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21 NIV).In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

____________ _________ ____

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Dearly Beloved,
NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD
“Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name” (1
Chronicles 29:13 NIV).
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV).
A typical Yoruba Baptist cannot so easily forget the hymn, “A F’Ope
F’Olorun.” The hymn is one of the most popular hymns among the Yoruba
Baptists especially during a naming ceremony. It is sung to thank God for
the new-born baby. However, the hymn – originally written in German by
Martin Rinkart (1586–1649) titled “Nun dank­et al­le Gott“ and translated
to English by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878) before it was translated to
Yoruba – is more than a naming ceremony hymn. It is a hymn that was
testifying to the goodness of God especially in the time of a war. The
lyrics of the hymn attest to this.
Stanza One is full of appreciation to God “with heart and hands and
voices.” The reason is that God has done wondrous things in blessing us
with countless gifts of love from our mothers’ arms till this moment. In
Stanza Two, the composer of the hymn wanted this bounteous God to be near
us through all our lives by keeping us in His grace, guiding us when we are
perplexed, and saving us from all evils in this world. Meanwhile, Stanza
Three continues to eulogize God. It gives a profound concept about God as
the one eternal God who manifests Himself as the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. He is the one that the earth and the heavens will continue to
adore both now and evermore. Amen.
In spite of the circumstance that led to the composition of this hymn, the
hymn is full of praises of and thanksgiving to God. What is your
circumstance presently? Learn to praise God for who He is, and thank Him
for what He is doing in your life. Paul advised the Thessalonians, “...give
thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). We can indeed thank God even during our
most trying times. Thanks be to God!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,

THE EIGHTY-SIXTH PSALM

“Hear, O Lord, and
answer me, for I am poor and needy.... Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry
for mercy” (Psalm 86:1, 6 NIV).

Psalm 86 was supposedly
written by King David, though its placement among the psalms ascribed to “the
Sons of Korah” made some people to doubt its Davidic authorship. However, its
contents and layout resemble most of the psalms that are ascribed to David without
any controversy. The writer of this psalm was undoubtedly in a danger, and he
called on God to deliver him from his enemies.

The psalmist considered
himself as somebody who is “poor and needy,” therefore, he prayed that God
should hear and answer his prayers (verse 1). There are at least five different
kinds of prayers in this psalm:

One, prayer of
protection: because the psalmist was being attacked by people he regarded as
“the arrogant” and “a band of ruthless men” in verse 14, his first prayer point
was that God should guard his life (verse 2). He could attest to the fact that he
was devoted to and trust in God, hence, this prayer.

Two, prayer for mercy: thrice
in this psalm, the psalmist cried out to God for mercy (verses 3, 6, 16). He
knew that only God could grant him mercy.

Three, prayer of
forgiveness: the psalmist regarded God as a forgiving God who is good and
abounding in love. By implication, he was asking God to forgive him as he was
crying to Him.

Four, prayer of
worship: in spite of his predicament, the psalmist worshipped God for who He is
(verses 8-10).

Five, prayer of
praises: closely related to the previous prayer is this. The psalmist praised
God for what He is doing (verses 10, 12, 13). His predicament did not blindfold
him to who God is and what His had done in his life.

There are other prayers
for joy (verse 4), instruction (verse 11), and the goodness of God (verse 17)
also in this psalm. The eighty-sixth psalm is indeed worthy of meditation.

What is your
predicament presently? Are you also ready to cry to God? He has promised,
“...call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor
me” (Psalm 50:15 NIV). Cry unto Him, and He is ready to answer you.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi
(Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
“THE HIGH PLACES”“
Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there” (2 Kings 12:2-3 NIV).“[Hezekiah] did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles” (2 Kings 18:3-4, NIV).The story of the kings of Israel and Judah is interesting especially when one sees how the chroniclers recounted the life and time of one king after another. While nearly all the kings of Israel were bad, there were some good ones among the kings of Judah. Some of these “good” kings of Judah had flaws - “the high places, however, were not removed” (1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3; 14:4; 15:4, 35).What are “high places”? They were elevated or hilltop sites dedicated to worship of
pagan gods. Most references to high places in the Old Testament indicate a form of pagan worship forbidden to the Israelites.Solomon worshipped the gods of his foreign wives at the latter part of his kingdom in these high places (1 Kings 11:7-8). Jeroboam gave them prominent position right from the beginning of his reign (1 Kings 12:31-32). The other kings of Judah either worshiped the pagan gods on these high places or remain indifferent to the practice. However, Hezekiah and Josiah stood out of the kings of Judah. They totally wiped out such practice during their reigns (2 Kings 18:3-4; 23:3-9). No wonder, they found favor in the sight of the Lord.What are the “high places” in your own life? What are the “idols” that are competing with God in your life? Do you realize that they are diverting your attention from things of God? As you are trying to serve God, do you take note of such things? What are the sins that are kept in your life unabated?
Solomon pictured them as, “…the little foxes that ruin the vineyards…” (Song of Solomon 2:15, NIV). Have you caught them?Thus says the Lord, "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols” (Isaiah 42:8, NIV).In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). NBThis message was first sent out on June 6, 2004.

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Dearly Beloved,
WISDOM IS BETTER THAN STRENGTH
“So I said, ‘Wisdom is better than strength.’ But the poor man's wisdom is
despised, and his words are no longer heeded. The quiet words of the wise
are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better
than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good” (Ecclesiastes
9:16-18 NIV).
Recently, Nigerian senior male football team (the Super Eagles) failed to
qualify for the African Cup of Nations. The team and many patriotic
Nigerians had thought that a win in the last match of the qualification
matches will make the team to qualify for the bi-annual tournament. The team
had some seeming “strength” over the opposing team. It is star-studded with
an experienced coach. Above all, the fact that the last match would be
played on home soil with many home supporters was another seeming advantage.
However, the opposing team needed just a draw to qualify for the continental
tournament. Expectedly, the opposing team applied wisdom in its approach to
the match and it got the desired result in spite of the “strength” of the
home team.
As the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes put it, wisdom is indeed better
than strength. No matter the strength of any man, a man full of wisdom is
better than such man. A wise man will achieve more than what a strong man
can. However, somebody with godly wisdom will achieve far better. This kind
of wisdom is “...pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of
mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17 NIV). It is not
“...earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (James 3:15 NIV). It is not
shrewdness, cunning, craftiness, nor slyness. Anyone who has godly wisdom
will be of great benefit to himself, others around him and even God. It will
be difficult for anyone who does not have such wisdom to succeed at all or
have a good success.
What is your seeming “strength”? Is it experience, education, knowledge,
riches, position, or what? Godly wisdom is indeed better than any worldly
strength. The Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to
him” (James 1:5 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,
THE WEALTH OF THE WICKED"
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7, NIV).Have you ever thought that God prospers the unbelievers more than the true believers in Him? Then, you think that God is not worthy of your worship because after all, why do ungodly prosper and the righteous are in penury?In this way, some Israelites in Malachi's days became discouraged about their service to God, because to them, only the wicked prospered while the faithful were in abject poverty (Malachi 3:13-15). Was God partial? Their depression became an accusation of God's seemingly insensitivity to their deepest need. But can they measure God's rewards with momentary riches? What are true riches? Does that mean that some Christians are serving God because of what they would get in return, or because of who God is? Is amassing wealth through fraud, rituals,
cultism, and all other dubious means true riches, or having inner peace with God? Jesus' words in John 4:23-24 are relevant here, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (NIV). The fact that fraudulent people "prosper" should not make us to emulate them, or accuse God. It should not make us to worship the gifts rather than the Giver of all good gifts. The Psalmist had warned against such (Psalm 37:1ff).Nevertheles s, not all Israelites in Malachi's days were anxious to get rich through ungodly means. There were some who knew that the Lord was good (Malachi 3:16-17). One of them was Malachi. He was contented. He testified that God still remembered those who relied on Him as the source of true wealth. What are the lessons for us? Testimonies about God and His
reassurance are reliable and comforting even when we are in needs. God never abandons us, "…because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).Read Malachi 3:18-4:3, a clear distinction was made between the righteous and wicked people. Both of them have destinies. For the wicked, it will be eternal destruction with their riches! This is not annihilation, but total banishment from the very presence of God (see Matthew 25:46). What about the righteous? The righteous people will be healed, honored and renewed eternally. If this will happen, how would temporal "attractive" wealth of the wicked be compared with everlasting riches of the righteous? It is enduring, permanent and never devalued! Indeed, the righteous will indeed inherit the world (Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 34, Isaiah 60:21).In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).NBThis message was first sent out on October 26, 2003.
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)