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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Nov 25, 2007 11:37:20 GMT -5
DRY BONES DO RISE AGAIN!
"At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down,
it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not
fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its
stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it
will bud and put forth shoots like a plant" (Job 14:7-9).
I was happy as I was typing this message that evening.
My first laptop broke down. I thought I had lost all
my documents in it. However, it was repaired. The good
news was that all my data were restored! It was
incredible! So dry do rise again! As the news was
broken to my wife, that was her response.
This reminded me of Job 14:7-9 quoted above. When the
computer broke down, I nearly lost hope on it
especially when the computer engineer that tested it
told me the financial implication of its repair. You
can imagine how depressed I would be then, but "at the
scent of water, [the computer has budded] and put
forth shoots like a plant". I was not only able to use
it again, but also all the data in it were intact.
What is that hopeless situation in your life? What is
that good thing in you that seems dead? What are those
dry bones in your life? There is hope! The dry bones
can still rise again!
Like the Prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 37, speak to the
dry bones. They will indeed rise again. They need your
hope of "scent of water" to make them "bud and put
forth shoots like a plant". There is still hope, like
that laptop, the dry bones do rise again!
___________________
(C) Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)
source:http://www.afolabayo.org/
source:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21).
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Dec 16, 2007 12:01:04 GMT -5
IS IT TOO LATE?
"The children born during your bereavement will yet say in your hearing, 'This place is too small for us; give us more space to live in.' Then you will say in your heart, 'Who bore me these? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. Who brought these up? I was left all alone, but these--where have they come from?'" (Isaiah 49:20-21, NIV).
I was with my father in his farmhouse some years ago when he was telling me his life story. It was the early part of his marriage with my mother. They had lost their first three sons in succession. All his contemporaries were successfully having children. It seemed that there was no hope of having another child. As he was in that same farmhouse one afternoon pondering about his dilemma, he heard a voice saying: "IS IT TOO LATE?" He did not know the source of the voice, but he believed that it came from God, and that it was actually not too late for him and his young wife to have children that would live.
That was about forty years ago. The Lord has now blessed my parents with five sons, three daughters and eight other grandchildren – all alive to God’s glory! It was indeed not too late for my father to be a biological father and even now a grandfather. The bereaved family of two is now about twenty. My parents still wonder till today that they could have such number of living children.
I remembered this situation as I was reading the above Bible passage recently. Hannah was in a similar situation. The Bible introduced her as a sad childless woman (1 Samuel 1:2-7). However, God changed her story. She later had three sons and two daughters after giving birth to that great man of God, Samuel (1 Samuel 2:21).
What is your situation? Do you also have a similar situation? It may not be childlessness. It may be any other seemingly hopeless situation. Let me reaffirm it that IT IS NOT TOO LATE! The Lord is not done with you yet. He will arise in His appointed time and manifest His power in your life. Remember the words of the Psalmist, "When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy" (Psalm 126:1-3, NIV. Read also Jeremiah 31:16-17).
(C) Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)
____________ _______
source:http://www.afolabayo.org/
source:http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/spirituald igest2003/
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" - (Philippians 1:20-21)
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Dec 23, 2007 11:19:51 GMT -5
CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CHRIST
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21, NIV).
I was coming home from my working place that day when I saw a place full of celebration. A brewery company is organizing a Christmas show. Beer and all sorts of alcoholic drinks were free for every one that attended the show. The place was full of young men and women and even some elderly ones that came to enjoy the show. There was no place for Christ – the reason for Christmas – in the show for it was organized to promote the products of the brewery company.
As I was passing by the place, I was thinking within me of all the funs that normally accompany the Christmas season. Why are we doing all these funs? Are they purposely for Jesus Christ? Have we not turned the season to a season to gratify our selfish desires?
It is good that a period of the year is set aside to celebrate His birth. Do we really focus on Jesus Christ who is the reason for Christmas? Do not celebrate this Christmas without Jesus Christ. He has come to save us.
Paul said, "[Jesus Christ] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:14, NIV).
Have you been saved by Him? As you celebrate this Christmas, think of how you will lead others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they also will not be celebrating Christmas without Christ.
(C) Bayo Afolaranmi
source:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 14, 2008 3:20:45 GMT -5
DO YOU REMEMBER HIM?
"‘But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.’ ... The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him" (Genesis 40:14, 23, NIV).
The elder brothers of Joseph hated him because of his bright future. They sold him into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37). Even there, he was wrongly accused and thrown into prison (Genesis 39). Nevertheless, the Lord was with him and made him to find favor in the sight of the prison warder that he was made the chief prisoner in charge of other prisoners (Genesis 39:21, 22). In the course of his duty one day, he noticed that two of the prisoners were not happy. On enquiry, he discovered that each of them had had a terrified dream the previous night. He interpreted the dream of each of them and told the one with favorable interpretation not to forget him when he is freed, and that he should find ways to get him (Joseph) out of the prison. However, when that prisoner (who was the then cupbearer of Pharaoh) was freed and restored to his former esteemed position, he did not remember Joseph. It took God’s intervention after two years before he could remember Joseph.
Have you been expecting that someone will remember you and help you in one way or the other for so long a time? People may not remember you, but God does! Hear this: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me" (Isaiah 49:15-16, NIV). In His own appointed time, God will remember you and elevate you to His desired position for your life.
Furthermore, who has helped you or in need of your help that you need to remember? Do you remember the person? For how long will you wait to remember the person and help him? God depends on you for the help of that person. You need to remember him and act now!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
Prayer Points:
1. Lord, intervene in my affair and make the person that ought to help me remember me and help me now.
2. Remind me Lord about who I am suppose to help and enable me to help that person now.
____________ _______
(C) Bayo Afolaranmi.
source:http://www.afolabayo.org/
source:http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/spiritualdigest2003/
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Feb 4, 2008 1:25:07 GMT -5
BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATION
"Israel said to Joseph, ‘I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too’" (Genesis 48:11, NIV).
Have you ever lost something that you thought you can never regain but at the end you found it and even had more than that thing? Have you ever lost hope on a situation and the Lord made things to work out for you even more than what you expected before?
Jacob (later known as Israel) experienced something like that in a greater way. Having sold Joseph into slavery, the children of Jacob lied to him that a ferocious animal had devoured Joseph (see Genesis 37:27-33). Jacob believed them and mourned for his beloved son for many days. To him, Joseph had died.
Nevertheless God had preserved Joseph and made him a ruler in a foreign land. Jacob later had the opportunity of not only seeing the "dead" Joseph, but also the children of Joseph. You could imagine the extent of the joy of Jacob to see beyond his expectation about Joseph that he once thought was dead.
Hannah was barren, and because of this, "her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her" (1 Samuel 1:6, NIV). She went to God and asked for just a son (verse 11), but God did beyond her expectation – "she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters" (1 Samuel 2:21, NIV). That was after God gave her a son that later became a prominent figure in the history of the nation of Israel.
When God told Solomon to ask for anything he would want Him to do for him, Solomon asked for "a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (1 Kings 3:9, NIV). However, God did beyond his expectation in giving him more than what he asked for (1 Kings 3:11-13).
What is the seeming dead situation that you are passing through presently? Have you lost hope in such situation? What have you been asking from God that He has not done? God can make you experience something beyond your expectation in that situation! He will definitely do so in His appointed time. Just trust in Him and wait for Him.
Paul declared, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
source:http://www.afolabayo.org/
source:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Apr 26, 2008 23:24:44 GMT -5
THE SOURCE OF TRUE HELP
"I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2, NIV).
The hundred-and- twenty-first psalm is one of the famous psalms. It is a psalm of assurance in the Lord, the God that keeps, protects, watches, and guards His own people. The psalmist was conscious of his need for help. He might have sought for help in many places, but he realized that the Lord was, and still is, the only source of true help who could help him. This God is not just an ordinary god; He is the Maker (Creator, Originator) of the heavens and the earth, the very tested present help in trouble (see Psalm 46:1).
The Lord is so powerful. He will not make you to slip. He is the One who watches you. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. The earthly guards, because of their human nature, may doze off or even sleep in the course of performing their duties. They may even decide not to guard us as we want. However, the Lord is always and actively on duty. In John 5:17, Jesus told the Jews about God, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working" (NIV).
The God does not only watch and guard, He also protects from danger. He is the shade for those that are His from any attack either during the day or in the night (see Psalms 91:1-2). Certainly, He will keep His own from any harm anywhere such people go. He will do this till the end of ages! No wonder, Paul could boldly say that no one would separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39; 2 Timothy 4:18).
Are you in need of help? Look unto the Lord! He is the only source of true help. Do not depend on man. Man may promise to help, but only God is able to really help. Will you put your total trust in Him? He will help you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
source:http://www.afolabayo.org/
source:http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/spiritualdigest2003/
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jun 3, 2008 22:06:56 GMT -5
What is that in Your Hand?
By Bayo Afolaranmi
What is that in Your Hand?
“Then the LORD said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he replied. The LORD said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’ Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it” Exodus 4:2-3, NIV.
Sometimes, we all feel inadequate, insufficient, incapable, unqualified and helpless to do something while in actual fact, the resources to do such thing are at our disposal.
Moses found himself in a similar situation. God called him to go and lead the Israelites out of the land of slavery. He was trying to dodge the divine assignment by giving unconvincing excuses. He looked down on himself. Then God asked him, "What is that in your hand?" Moses must have thought: “Of what use would an ordinary staff be in fulfilling such an enormous task?” However, the “ordinary” staff became an extraordinary instrument when he surrendered it to God.
The disciples of Jesus Christ were also in a dilemma. They had to feed over five thousand people in a solitary place. How would they do it? “Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. ‘There's a youngster here with five barley loaves and a couple of fish! BUT WHAT GOOD IS THAT WITH ALL THIS MOB?’” John 6:8-9, TLB. How could they feed such a large number of people with a boy’s lunch? They never saw God above their inadequacies. Nevertheless, Jesus fed the people with that “little” food, and there were twelve baskets full of the leftover!
In the same way, a prophet’s widow was about to lose her two sons to creditors. She ran to Prophet Elisha for assistance. “Elisha replied to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?’ ‘Your servant has nothing there at all,’ she said, ‘EXCEPT A LITTLE OIL’” 2 Kings 4:2, NIV. How would see settle her debt with that “little” oil? Elisha told her to go and use that “little” oil. She did as she was told and at the end, she paid her debts and even had more!
Likewise, the son of a Shunammite woman was dead. Prophet Elisha gave his staff to his servant, Gehazi to go and raise the son from the dead. “Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy's face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, ‘The boy has not awakened’” 2 Kings 4:31, NIV. He had no eye of faith. He could not see the extraordinary power in the “ordinary” staff.
Take an honest look at your own life. “What is that in your hand?” What do you have that looks “ordinary,” “little” or “insignificant”? Look at it with an eye of faith. You have something that others do not have. Let God use it to perform His wonders in your life. “[For God has chosen] the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” 1 Corinthians 1:28-29, NIV.
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.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)
source:http://www.afolabayo.org
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