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).
Nevertheless, 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).
NB
This message was first sent out on October 26, 2003.

Dearly Beloved,
“WILL YOU STAY WITH ME?”
“Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll
give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on
you” (Isaiah 41:10 The Message).
Recently, my eleven-year- old son was ill. I took him to the hospital for
treatment. The doctor advised that he should be admitted for proper
monitoring of the treatment. He was led to one of the wards of the hospital.
As he was given the initial treatment on admission, he asked me, “Daddy,
will you stay with me?” My answer was not definite as I was at that time
thinking on how his mother and I will be alternating our staying with him
and at the same time the care of his siblings at home. I later asked him
whether he was afraid, and he said he was not. I stayed with him for about
an hour before I left for his mother to take over from me.
The concern of my son is indisputable. Every one of us needs the company of
a loved one especially when we are facing or about to face a challenge.
Undoubtedly, it is not possible for one to be with one’s loved ones all the
time, not to talk of being of help to the loved ones when they need it most.
However, God, as the omnipresent Being, is not only there for one, but also
there to be of help. The psalmist put it this way, “God is our harbour and
our strength, a very present help in trouble” (46:1 BBE). Anyone who puts
his/her trust in Him needs not be afraid of what he/she will encounter
because of the ever presence of God. In another place, the psalmist said,
“Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for
you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me” (23:4 TEV).
Therefore, wherever one is, God is there to keep one’s company and to help
one in whatever challenge one is facing.
What are you passing through now or about to pass through? You need not fear
for God will stay with you! “...because God has said, ‘Never will I leave
you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,

THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT"

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11, NASU).My family members have gone to bed. I had not slept. I was watching my favorite football team playing with another team in a continental competition on the telecast. It was certain that my team would win. One, they were playing at home. Two, they had many talented and professional players. However, I went to sleep disappointed. My darling team was defeated convincingly before their teeming supporters.I was lying on my bed, at the same time reflecting on the match: Why did they lose? Why did they not score a single goal, even when they had the opportunity of a penalty kick? What happened to all their goal scorers? Did they not prepare well for the match? Many
unanswered questions came to my mind until the above Bible passage came into view and revealed the mystery of life, "…the race is not to the swift…."At times we have all what it takes to succeed, but the result is disappointing. Perhaps, it is God's way of showing us an important lesson: every success depends on Him, not on our intelligence. He is the omnipotent and sovereign God. He gives true success to anyone that pleases Him. Your strength, knowledge, experience, wisdom, power, and position are good, but they cannot compete with God's wisdom. Never!Remember, "No king achieves a victory with a large army. No warrior rescues himself by his own great strength. Horses are not a guarantee for victory. Their great strength cannot help someone escape. The LORD'S eyes are on those who fear him, on those who wait with hope for his mercy" (Psalm 33:16-18 GW).In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).NBThis message was first sent out on October 19, 2003.
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Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Dear Beloved,
GIFTS FOR EQUIPPING OTHERS"[God gave spiritual gifts] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13 NIV)."Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV).God endows people with different kinds of talents, ability, and spiritual gifts. Why does He give these different kinds of spiritual gifts? Are they primarily for selfish interest? Are they for cheap popularity of the
particular local church or the person that has them?Ephesians 4:12-13 gives five main purposes for spiritual gifts:1. To prepare God's people for service;2. To make the body of Christ (i.e. the saints) grow;3. To unify them in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ;4. To make them mature in Him; and5. To make them attain the whole measure of Christ's fullness.Other Bible passages enumerate other reasons:1. For the common good of the saints (1 Corinthians 12: 7);2. To serve others (1 Peter 4: 10); and3. To give praises to God (1 Peter 4: 10-11).For what purpose are you using the gifts of God in you? Though we often become fulfilled when we use our God-given gifts, God, the Giver, ultimately should take the credit. We should thank Him for making us channels of blessings to others.In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).NBThis message was first sent out on January 11, 2004.

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Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Dearly Beloved,
DO NOT BE LIKE THE RICH FOOL!“But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God” (Luke 12:20-21 NIV).“Fools say to themselves, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 NETB).I had an online chat with somebody recently. The person was asking me to prove to her why she needs God after all she has. According to her, “Right now without God as my refuge I am doing great, I know how to sail through life smoothly.... if I am comfortable why do I need God? What is going to be different?” This lady is like the rich fool in a parable in Luke 12 who because of his so-called sufficiency forgot to acknowledge his God. The rich fool thought he could do without God. How wrong he was! He was taught the lesson of his life as he lost everything he had by first
losing his life.Many people feel that they do not need God because of their so-called sufficiency like wealth, position, security, affluence, and the likes. Some of such people even deny the existence of God. How foolish they are! The fact that they are self-sufficient does not mean they have control over their lives. No matter how rich, affluent, powerful or secured they are, they do not know when they will die, where they will die, what kind of death they will have or what will happen to them after death. They cannot even predict successfully what will happen to them in the next second! Anyone who knows these things can say that he does not need God.In what way are you also behaving like that rich fool? Do you think you can sail through life smoothly without God in spite of how great you are doing? Jesus Christ said, “...apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV). Only a fool will forget his source (see Psalm 14:1).You may acknowledge God
and declare that you need Him. However, do you give Him the right place in your life? No matter who you are, God must be your first priority. Do not be like the rich fool!In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,

IDOLS OF THE HEART"

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-5 NIV)"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces(Ezekiel 14:3 NIV).The primitive Africa was full of idolatry. The more I like the African culture, the more I hate its connection with idolatry. I thank God that I have been saved from all these ancestral idols. In Christ, I can be a true African without being idolatrous. However, while I have done away with all the physical idols, what of the unseen idols of the heart? Am I free from them?God accused the exiled Israelites of idolatry of the heart. Though they were sent into exile because of this sin, they continued in it in the exile. Interestingly, these people still
wanted to hear from God, which meant that they probably did not realize that they had set up idols in their hearts against God's will.I doubt if you still have any physical idol that you are worshipping. Nevertheless, what are the idols in your heart? What are the things that have taken the place of God in your heart? Is it money, occupation, time, sports, pleasure, reputation, position, your children, your spouse, or even your life? Anything you like or love more than God is an idol of your heart. Remove them now and put God in His right position in your heart.In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NBThis message was first sent out on September 28, 2003.

Dearly Beloved,
WILL YOU NOT PRAISE HIM?
“I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as
I live” (Psalm 146:2 NIV).
Recently I was invited to be a facilitator of an aspect of the annual
leadership training session a deaf organization. That would be my first
interaction with people that were mainly deaf and dumb. I could see the
enthusiasm of serving God and the humanity in these special people. What
fascinated me most was the way they were “singing” with their sign language
and dancing to demonstrate the goodness of God in their lives. I did not
understand the sign language, but the person assigned to me for
interpretation did a good job as she interpreted every lyric of their songs
to me. I had to join them in praising God.
That experience is still making me to think of how appreciative I am to God.
I can speak and I can hear people when they speak. I have no physical
disability. Here are people with some physical disability, yet they are
praising and serving God enthusiastically. Why will I not do more?
Most of the people that are reading this message have no physical
disability, yet, they find it difficult to wholeheartedly praise the Lord.
They would not think of what they have. They would rather be thinking of
what they do not have. They would not think of what God has done for them.
They would rather be thinking of what God has not done for them. It is a
pity that some people do not even acknowledge the existence of God because
of their so-called self sufficiency!
If the deaf can be praising God wholeheartedly regardless of their
predicament, will you not praise Him? Forget what you do not have or what
God has not done for you. Praise Him for who is and for what He has done for
you. At least, you are still alive.
The psalmist declared, “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will
tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing
praise to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1-2 NIV), and “The dead do not
praise the Lord, nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death.
But we will praise the Lord now and forevermore. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm
115:17-18 NETB).
Will you not praise Him?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,
GOOD, BETTER, BEST
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took
hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV).
One of the songs I liked when I was in the primary school is: “Good, Better,
Best/ I shall never rest,/ Until my good is better,/ And my better’s best.”
The song was meaningless to me then until I became grown-up. It is what
inspires me to strive higher. Yes, what I am doing may be good, but until it
becomes better, and the better becomes best, I will not stop.
Paul knew this secret. I am not surprised that he wrote the above passage to
the Philippians towards the end of his ministry. Although he became an
acclaimed preacher of the gospel because he worked harder than the rest of
the apostles (1 Corithians 15:10; 2 Corintians 11:23-30). He improved on his
achievements every day. He did not allow his “better” – the past successes –
to deter him from getting the best, even when he was in prison.
Why should I be contented with my “good”? Why should I not be satisfied with
my achievements? Should one not be contented with what one has?
Nevertheless, contentment is different from aspiration. Aspiration learns
from the past in order to become the best, but contentment gladly accepts
whatever happens as designed by God to achieve His good purpose for us.
Therefore you can aspire for greatness, but be contented with what God gives
you.
Have you been doing something good? Make it better. If yours is better than
others, do not rest on your oars, until your good becomes better, and your
better is best!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on August 18, 2003.

Dearly Beloved,
WHERE IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE?
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of
the Almighty” (Psalms 91:1 NIV).
Psalm 91 is one of the most popular psalms. It is popular especially because
it is a psalm of assurance of the protection and security of God. However,
there is a striking truth in the opening verse of the psalm: the divine
protection and security are only for those who live a life of communion with
God. People that can apply this psalm to themselves are the people that
totally trust in God. They are the people that are living by His standards
because only such people can abide in the presence of the holy God without
any fear of His holy wrath. “The secret place of the Most High” in verse one
(KJV) was probably in reference to the Holy of holies. Under the Old
Testament law, only the high priest who entered legitimately there would be
covered with the cloud of God’s glory (the protection of the all-sufficient
God), but under the new covenant, all believers in Christ have boldness to
enter into the invisible holiest place by the blood of Jesus and those who
thus enter are safe from every evil. No wonder, the writer of the Proverbs
said, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and
are safe” (18:10 NIV).
The writer of this psalm enumerated how the people that “dwell in the secret
place of the Most High” would be protected: (a) by being delivered from
dangerous attempts against their lives (verse 3a; cf. Psalm 124:7); (b) by
being under divine safety and comfort (verse 4a; cf. Psalm 17:8; 36:7); and
(c) by enjoying divine faithful protection with the “covering of His
feathers and wings” (verse 4b; cf. Psalm 57:1; 61:4; 63:7). These will
result in the absence of fear in spite of prevailing danger (verses 5-8; cf.
Psalm 3:6; 27:1-3; 46:2; 112:7; Proverbs 28:1). Because of the fact that
these people have made God their “dwelling place,” angels will be their
invisible bodyguards that will be taking care of them (verses 9-13; cf.
Psalm 34:7). Interestingly, the devil misapplied this when he was tempting
Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:6).
In verses 14-16, the psalmist wrote as if God Himself was confirming the
psalmist’s faith. The Lord promises anyone that is abiding in Him: (a)
deliverance from danger, (b) protection from harm, (c) divine presence in
trouble, (d) honour, and (e) long life.
“If you make the Most High your dwelling -- even the Lord, who is my refuge”
(verse 9), all kinds of danger mentioned in this psalm are ineffective
against you. In fact, you will be confident of the divine security. There is
no confidence or rest in any other place. Where is your dwelling place?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
YOUR REAR MIRROR
“Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things
of old” (Isaiah 43:18 AMP).
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took
hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is
ahead, press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called
me heavenwards in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV).
Recently while I was driving to my office, I was trying to go through a
by-pass to beat the notorious traffic jam from my home to my office. From my
vehicle rear mirror, I discovered that some other vehicles were also
avoiding the traffic jam. I was losing focus on my driving as I concentrated
on the rear mirror, then it dawned on me that the rear mirror was not
designed for long concentration. Indeed, anyone who concentrates on the rear
mirror of his/her vehicle while driving is heading for an accident.
Many people are also concentrating on the “rear mirror” of their life: their
past experiences. It does not matter whether these experiences were good or
bad. Such people allow those experiences to deprive them of the enjoyment of
the present and the prospect of the future. Such people would find it
difficult to face the challenges that accompany the enjoyment of the present
and the prospect of the future.
God, through Prophet Isaiah, told His people not to remember the former
things nor consider the things of old, their “rear mirror” (see Isaiah
43:18). The reason was that God was preparing to do a new thing in their
lives so great and wonderful that it shall surpass the former things that
God had done in their lives. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul said categorically
that he would forget the former things and press on toward the greater thing
he was aiming at. He knew that concentrating on the former things could be
disastrous.
What is your own “rear mirror”? What is the former thing that is catching
your attention? Are you still concentrating on it? No matter how good or bad
the thing may be, do not concentrate your attention on it. Forget it and aim
for a better thing. The Lord will do new thing in your life, but do not let
the old thing deprive you of enjoying the new thing. Stop concentrating on
your “rear mirror”!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry (Psalm 40:1 NIV).After God rejected Saul as king of Israel and sent Samuel to anoint David as the next king (1 Samuel 15-16), David faced a lot of hostilities and troubles even from his brothers. He became a fugitive in his own country. He had to relocate his parents to a foreign country for safety (see 1 Samuel 22:3-4). He twice sought refuge with the enemies of his nation (see 1 Samuel 21:10-15; 27:1-12). In spite of all his predicaments, he patiently waited for the LORD, even after the death of Saul. The LORD did not let him down. He turned to him and lifted him out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. The LORD set his feet on a rock and gave him a firm place to stand in Israel and among other nations. The LORD put a new song in his mouth, a hymn of praise. Many indeed saw these and feared and put their trust in the LORD during the
lifetime of David. No wonder, David could write Psalm 40 to testify to the goodness of God.Life is full of ups and downs. Every person has his/her own dilemma to confront. However, only those who patiently wait for the LORD will successfully overcome these dilemmas and sing song of praises like David. They are the ones that will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak (Isaiah 40:31 TEV).What are you facing presently? Wait patiently for the LORD! He will bring you out of the predicament. He will lift you up out of the mud of life. He will set your feet on a rock and gave him a firm place to stand among your contemporaries. He will put a new song in your mouth, a hymn of praise to His holy name. Many people will indeed see it and praise God with you. They will fear and trust God for what He will do in your life.Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:19 NKJV).
Wait patiently for the LORD!In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

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Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Dear Beloved,
"FIRE FOR FIRE"
"God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you" (2
Thessalonians 1:6 NIV).
The Nigerian Police used to have an anti-crime outfit named "Operation Fire
for Fire." Their approach to crime used to be brutal and used to appear
revengeful. At times, many Christians adopt the same approach against their
perceived enemies. "An eye for an eye" (Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-20)
is the popular adage they use to justify their actions.
Indeed, it is not easy to hold one's anger against adversaries. But
revengeful actions negate what the Bible teaches (see Matthew 5:38-42; Luke
6:27-28, 35; Romans 12:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9). However, when
I look at the above quoted passage (i.e. 2 Thessalonians 1:6) and a similar
promise given to Abraham when God called him: "I will bless those who bless
you, and whoever curses you I will curse…" (Genesis 12:3 NIV), I ponder: Is
God encouraging revengeful actions?
Beloved, God hates injustice. Yet He does not want us to pay back to our
enemies the evil they have done to us. They are not fighting us but our God.
We should allow Him to fight our battles. He will not let the evil doers go
unpunished. He will repay them accordingly IN HIS OWN WAY, not our own way
(Romans 12:19) - trouble for trouble (2 Thessalonians 1:6).
Are you an evil doer? The Bible does not even advice evil doers to desist
from evil, but warns about the inevitability of the day of reckoning, for
God "will give to everyone according to what he has done" (Revelation
22:11-12 NIV). Are you a victim of evil doers? You may not be able to defend
yourself, but God defends and comforts the afflicted and pays back the evil
doers - "fire for fire."
"God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there
will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed" (Ecclesiastics
3:17 NIV).
"For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastics 12:14 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on December 14, 2003.

--
____________ _________ ____
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,
WICKEDNESS FOR GOODNESS"
But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, "You must die! Why do you prophesy in the LORD's name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?" And all the people crowded around  Jeremiah in the house of the LORD" (Jeremiah 26:8-9 NIV).I was in a busstop waiting for a bus when I overheard some students cursing some of their teachers and the external invigilator that came to invigilate the final external examinations that the students were doing. What was the sin of these teachers and the invigilator? They did not allow the students to engage in examination malpractices. These students were furious about the action of the teachers and the invigilator. One of them even proposed that they should organize an ambush where they will assault the teachers and the
external invigilator. I was wondering within me the gravity of the "sin" of the teachers and the invigilator. Were they not trying to mould the lives of these students? Would they help the future of the students if they allow them to perpetrate their unlawful act? Did the students realize the consequence of their action if they are caught? Many questions came to my mind that I could not even call them and advise them against their plans before I boarded the next bus to my destination. Jeremiah found himself in similar situation. God sent him to the people of Judah to warn them of the imminent danger that will befall them because of their waywardness. Instead of them to appreciate him and repent of their sin, they – even including their religious leaders – were plotting to kill him. However, the Lord did not abandon him. He, as promised earlier, made him victorious over all these oppositions, though he was alone (Jeremiah 1: 19; 26:24; 33:1- 3;
36:26).Are people paying back to you wickedness for the goodness you are doing to them? Are they persecuting you because of your kindness, godliness, righteousness or integrity? Does it seem that you are not loved because you do not approve of the wickedness, injustice, dishonesty, or corruption that the people of the world are known for? Be faithful. Remember, "The [Lord] who calls you is faithful and He will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24, NIV). "…He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3, NIV).In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).NBThis message was first sent out on May 29, 2005.
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Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Dearly Beloved,
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
“To the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Romans
16:27 NIV).
The hymn “To God Be the Glory” is well-recognized as a wonderful hymn of
praise and adoration of God. It was composed by that famous hymn composer,
Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915). The hymn is sung mostly in the atmosphere of
praises, but its content is more than praises. It speaks volumes about the
grace of God. From the beginning, it is clear that Fanny Crosby ascribed all
glory to God for His work with no role for man’s efforts in God’s great plan
of salvation. In the first stanza, it is Jesus alone who opens the “the
lifegate” of salvation, so that everyone has the opportunity to be saved.
This is a clear message of grace, in contrast to the idea that man must
prove his worth before eternal life is granted. In the second stanza, Crosby
set forth the conditions for entrance through this gate: faith, and faith
alone. She rightly noted that redemption is promised to "every believer"
(see John 3:16), and that regardless of the enormity of one’s sins, even
"the vilest offender" who puts his or her faith in Christ, for example the
criminal crucified with Christ (Luke 23:43) or Saul of Tarsus (1 Timothy
1:15), will immediately receive pardon from Jesus. The third stanza and
chorus continue to bring this point of grace home, proclaiming that it is
God who has done great things, and the One to whom praise and adoration
belong.
It is good to sing this song whenever we want to praise God for any material
thing He has done. However, it is far better to think of the spiritual
things He has done (that is, the giving of His Son, the forgiveness of our
sins, the atonement for our sins, our redemption) and what He will do: “our
wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!”
The hymn “To God Be the Glory” is a marvelous expression of praise to God
for His wondrous works. However, have you experienced the outcome of these
works: the salvation that is provided as a gift from God to everyone who
places his or her faith in Christ, regardless of his or her sins before or
after conversion? It is then you can join Crosby to sing, “Praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord, praise the
Lord, Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!”
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
HE KNOWS WHAT HE WOULD DO!
“Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming
toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these
may eat?’ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He
would do” (John 6:5-6 NKJV).
At times, it seems as if God does not know what we are passing
through, or that He knows but He does not know what to do to rescue us
from our predicaments. In fact, many people have concluded that God is
either powerless or is not existing because of their seemingly
terrible situations. However, no situation meets Him unaware or
unprepared. In fact, He does know what He would do in every situation.
A great crowd followed Jesus Christ to a lonely place. They were with
Him till late in the afternoon. Having fed these people with spiritual
food, Jesus asked Philip, one of His disciples, about how the people
would be fed with physical food also. Philip could not imagine what
would satisfy this great multitude, but Jesus Himself knew what He
would do, and He eventually did what He had in mind: miraculously
providing food for the thousands of people.
No matter your situation, God knows what He would do and He will
eventually do it in His own time and in His own way. Just rely on Him.
A Yoruba singer says, “Olorun mo ohun ti yo se; Jesu mi mo ohun ti yo
se; Emi Mimo mo ohun ti yo se o t’aye mi yo fi dara.” [God knows what
He would do; My Jesus knows what He would do; the Holy Spirit knows
what He would do to make my life better.] Jesus Christ told His
disciples, “For your Father knows the things you have need of before
you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8 NKJV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,IS THE LORD'S ARM TOO SHORT?"The LORD answered Moses, 'Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you'" (Numbers 11:23, NIV).The Lord had been leading the people of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land for over two years with many signs and wonders. However, it seemed the people were not ready to accept God for who He is - the ever-caring God. They were fond of complaint and rebellion whenever they were in hardship. They even tried to set up another god for themselves when it seemed Moses, the man God was using among them, was nowhere to found (see Exodus 32)! In spite of all the ways God was using to bring them back to their senses, they were still grumbling for what God did not do for them. It came to a point that Moses was tired of bearing their burden. He wanted to die (Numbers 11:10-15).Neverthel ess, in this state of hopelessness, God rose to reduce the burden of Moses by selecting
other seventy elders in Israel to be helping him. As for the cause of the Israelites' complaint - meat to eat - God promised, "You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month…" (Numbers 11:19-20a, NIV). What a wonderful God! Moses could not understand this. How would God feed over six hundred thousand men with meat not to talk of the women and the children? "Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?" (Numbers 11:22, NIV), he questioned God. Responding, God said, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you" (Numbers 11:23, NIV). God did provide the meat, even in excess! However, the meat became a snare to the people because of their unbelief (Numbers 11:31-34).In what way are you also complaining against God? Do you think that He cannot provide for
you? Do you also doubt the ability of God to act in your situation? Let me ask you as God asked Moses: "Is the LORD's arm too short?""Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1 NIV).In His service,Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NBThis message was first sent out on February 27, 2005.
____________ _________ ____
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/

Dearly Beloved,
A FRIEND IN NEED...
“And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself” (1
Samuel 18:3 NIV).
Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and David were epitome of good friends.
Jonathan was heir apparent to the throne, but he loved David (who was a
threat to that throne) as he loved himself and he made a covenant with him.
In fact, he was ready to risk his life for the safety of David when King
Saul was trying to kill David (see 1 Samuel 21). Jonathan was there when
David needed him. He was a friend indeed because he was a friend in need.
When David eventually became the king of Israel after the death of Saul,
Jonathan and Ish-bosheth (who succeeded Saul), David remembered his
friendship with Jonathan and rewarded Jonathan’s son accordingly (2 Samuel
9).
Nowadays, it is difficult to find people that are faithful in friendship
like David and Jonathan. People are more self-centred nowadays that they
cannot risk their lives for their friends. It is now difficult to trust
even friends because of the betrayal of trust that many people have
experienced from their trusted friends.
Who is your best friend? How faithful are you to him/her? Are you ready to
risk your life for him/her? Can your friend wholeheartedly trust you? Can
you be “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV)? A
friend in need is a friend indeed!
Jesus Christ is the Friend who can be trusted and who is faithful to anyone
who can make Him his/her friend. When we needed salvation from sin, He died
for us (see Romans 5:5, 8). He is ready to provide joy and peace of mind to
anyone who seeks Him diligently. Make Him your Friend. You will never regret
you did. He is the Friend in need, the Friend indeed.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dear Beloved,
EVERYONE IS
IMPORTANT
Just as each of
us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same
function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs
to all the others (Romans 12:4-5 NIV).
The body is a
unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many,
they form one body. So it is with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV).
The tendency to
think that certain parts of our body are not as important as the other is
normal. However, God created every organ of the body equally. The fact that a
role is not outstanding does not make it less important. The fact that I cannot
play your role does not make me envious or look down on your performance. Each
of us plays unique roles in God's vineyard (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians
12:12-30; Ephesians 4:7, 11-13).
Although God
endows us with different spiritual gifts yet a Christian cannot have all the
gifts, and no Christian has no gift. He gives each one of us an assignment
according to the measure of His gift (Ephesians 4:7). So, each unit that
constitutes the indivisible is indispensable.
Therefore, we are
co-labourers with God in His vineyard (1 Corinthians 3:9). We are to do our own
part faithfully even when we are criticized, discouraged, or unnoticed. We are
accountable to God who will reward us according to what He had bestowed on us.
How do you look
at yourself? Are you thinking that you are inferior to others? You are
important! Your role is significant! The world may not recognize you, but God
does. Beloved, be faithful to the task. Let nothing move you. Always give
yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in
the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV).
Everyone is
important, that includes you!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi
(Pastor).
NB
This message was
first sent out on December 7, 2003.

Dearly Beloved,
DO YOU HAVE A STORY?
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he
said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about
my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians
12:8-9 NIV).
Fanny Crosby was undoubtedly one of the most prolific Christian hymn
writers in history. She had many popular inspiring hymns to her
credit. Interestingly, she was blind for the most part of her life! In
spite of her physical disability, she had a story to tell. She told
the story in one of her popular hymns, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is
mine!” that she composed to a tune played by her dear friend, Phoebe
Knapp.
To Fanny Crosby, Jesus Christ was a blessed assurance because she has
the foretaste of glory divine! She knew that she was an heir of
salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, and washed in His
blood. She perfectly submitted to the will of God for her life and she
had perfect delight in it. In spite of her blindness, she had the
visions of rapture that burst on her sight. In these visions, she saw
angels descending and bringing echoes of mercy and whispers of love
from above. In her perfect submission, she was at rest in all things.
She was happy and blessed in her Saviour. She was filled with the
Saviour’s goodness and lost in His love as she was watching and
waiting, looking above to her Saviour. It was indeed her story and it
turned out to become her song and the song of thousands of people who
believed, and are still believing, this blessed assurance in Jesus
Christ.
Fanny Crosby had a story. What is your story? In spite of what you are
passing through presently, can you sing joyfully like this woman? She
like Apostle Paul could boast in her weakness because she knew that
God’s grace was sufficient for her and His power was made perfect in
her weakness. Both of them could boast in their disabilities because
they did not focus on their respective weaknesses, but on God who is
greater than any disability or weakness.
“This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day
long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the
day long.” Do you have a story?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
“EVERYTHING IS PERMISSIBLE”
“‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but not everything is beneficial.
‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but I will not be mastered by anything”
(1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV).
“‘Everything is permissible’ — but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything
is permissible’ — but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23
NIV).
One of the problems that the controversial Corinthian church faced in the
first century was the fact that they thought that they could do anything. It
seems there was a popular slogan in the town to justify that. Twice, Paul
addressed the issue in his first epistle to the church. It is a fact that
everything and anything may be permissible or lawful, but not everything is
beneficial and constructive.
Recently, I learnt this lesson in the aspect of daily quotes of my online
ministry in two ways. One, I used to use any “good” quotation from anybody
until one day I used a quotation of a renown unbeliever whose views are
totally against the teachings of the Bible. Interestingly, I could get a
Bible verse to support that quotation in the corresponding “Bible verse for
the Day” aspect of the ministry. Many people that read the quotation that
day wondered why a pastor would be quoting an unbeliever. Two, that incident
made me to be more conscious of what I will use as my daily quotes. I,
especially, now take more care in using the verses of the Bible to support
any quotation. My extra care made me discovered that not every quotation no
matter how good it may seem has a corresponding Bible verse. Most of these
quotations are wishful thinking of the originators with no scriptural
backing. This exposes the danger that the current motivation speakers pose
for their unsuspecting audience. While I do not condemn these motivation
speakers, one has to verify what they are saying and see whether they are in
line with the word of God.
This is applicable to other areas of life. What are you doing presently? No
matter how good that thing may be, can you substantiate it with undiluted
word of God? How beneficial and constructive is that thing to you and others
around you? “Everything is permissible.” However, beware that your “good”
acts or words are beneficial, constructive and supported by the word of God.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,
WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR FAITH?
“When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, ‘Why
did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us
bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go
with us and save us from the hand of our enemies’” (1 Samuel 4:3 NIV).
The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred portable container which was the
most important sacred object of the Israelites during the wilderness
period. It was also known as the ark of the Lord (Joshua 6:11), the
ark of God (1 Samuel 3:3), and the ark of the Testimony (Exodus
25:22). It served as the presence of the LORD among the Israelites. At
times, it led them on their journey in the wilderness (Numbers 10:33)
and it was instrumental in the crossing of River Jordan as the waters
of the river ceased to continue flowing as soon as the feet of the
priests who were carrying the ark entered the water, and that it stood
still above until these priests, after the people of Israel had
crossed over (see Joshua 3:11-17; 4:7, 11, 18). No wonder, when the
Israelites were losing a battle against the Philistines, they trusted
the seemingly “magic power” of the ark rather than God, and took the
ark into battle. They thought that the ark would rescue them from
their enemies. Unfortunately, they suffered a crushing defeat and the
sacred ark was even captured by the enemies! (1 Samuel 4:1-11).
Nowadays, it is amazing to see how many Christians and even some
Christian denominations are placing so much emphasis and trust in some
seemingly sacred objects rather than the Almighty God that created
such objects for man’s use. The objects may be anointing oil,
“sanctified” apron, mantle or handkerchief, “holy” water, “sanctified”
candle, soap, sponge, and the likes. Interestingly, many people have
been disappointed in spite of the use of such objects.
Where do you put your faith? Is it in created things or the Creator?
No matter how sacred or “sanctified” they may be, created objects may
aid your belief in God, but it is far better to put your faith
directly in God than relying on these sacred or “sanctified” objects
before you can get anything from God. The Psalmist said, “Some trust
in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD
our God” (20:7 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
--
____________ _________ ____
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
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