THE REAL VALENTINE

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (1 John 3:16 NIV).

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13 NIV).

Valentine’s Day is an annual celebration held on February 14 to commemorate love and affection between intimate companions. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting gifts like flowers, and other gifts, sending greeting cards and love text messages (SMS) and even love phone calls. There are many traditions about the origin and widespread acceptance of this celebration. From these traditions, there were some people that were coincidentally named Valentine between third and fourth centuries AD that were killed because of their love-related actions.

As this celebration is observed every year, how many of the people that believe in it and celebrate it are ready to lay down their lives for their so-called loved ones? Many people are preoccupied with the material or financial gifts they will give or get during the celebration. Many have even turned the celebration to a time of satisfying their sexual and lustful desires. The men bearing the name Valentine in the olden days that made us to be celebrating the Valentine’s Day annually were known for their sacrificial love. They had a love that cost them even their lives for their loved ones.

There is Somebody who sacrificially loves. He is the supreme Valentine of all time. He is the Lord Jesus Christ who because of His love for mankind "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV).

Anyone that would want to celebrate the Valentine’s Day must be ready to do anything, even death, for his/her loved one. The celebration must be with a sacrificial love. That is the real Valentine. Happy Valentine’s Day in advance!

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to have the sacrificial love that can make you to be ready to die for your loved ones.

THE ROD OF CORRECTION

“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15 NKJV).

There is a trend in the western world that is gradually gaining ground in the developing world: children should not be disciplined because they have their own different world and right. This trend has made many children to go astray and our society is becoming worse and worse every day. The pro child right people will readily support this trend, and they are ready to do anything to promote it. They see anyone who disciplines a child as anti-child, and they can even sue such person for child abuse. Some children in the developed world have threatened to sue their parents for child abuse if the parents try to discipline them. There are some cases where children have even sued their parents for child abuse because of parental discipline!

It is unfortunate that the trend has crept into the African society where there used to be good parental discipline before. In Africa, it is believed that the discipline of a child is not only the responsibility of the parents, but that of the whole society. So when people like this writer were growing up, they were disciplined by anybody in the society when there was a cause of it. Gone are the days when such happened even here in Africa!

The Bible is in support of disciplining of a child. Consider these biblical injunctions:
“He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him” (Proverbs 13:24 NIV).

“Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death” (Proverbs 19:18 NIV).

“Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death” (Proverbs 23:13-14 NIV).

“The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.... Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul” (Proverbs 29:15-17 NIV).

These do not mean, however, that the discipline or correction of the child should be more than the offence committed by the child. Neither do they mean that the discipline or correction should be destructive. The “rod” may not necessarily be a physical one. It could be in any way that will instil sense in the disciplined child. The discipline or correction should be done out of love to mould the life of the child in the right way. Likewise, the parent or elderly person that will apply the discipline or correction should be exemplary in his/her character. 

Do you discipline your children, or are you of the opinion that children should not be disciplined? Discipline your children, and you will never regret it.

If you are still a child or youth, be ready to accept the discipline of your parents and/or elderly ones. It is for your good.

In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

ENRICHED WITH HONOUR

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.’ ...And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed...’” (Luke 1:30, 46-48 NIV).

 

The reality of the real meanings of my names (Adebayo Olayinka Afolaranmi) manifested as I celebrated my fortieth birthday anniversary last week (December 8). In Yoruba language, “Adebayo” means “One who has come to meet joy,” “Olayinka” means “I am surrounded by honour,” while “Afolaranmi” (my father’s name) means “I am enriched with honour.” Actually, the month of December has been a special month in my life: I was born on December 8, 1970; I got married on December 19, 1998; my daughter was born on December 7, 2002; my family moved to our personal house on December 23, 2005; my elder sister gave birth to her new baby on December 6, 2010 in a miraculous way; my wife got a new employment on December 6, 2010 after she was without a job for almost a year; twice God saved me from danger on December 8, 1992 and 2010; December 25 has been set apart to commemorate the birth of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. These incidents were never coincidental. Indeed, I have come to meet the joy and goodness of God; God has surrounded me and enriched me with His honour. I never thought of these things till December 8, 2010 when people were rejoicing with me and I looked back and reflected on the goodness of God to me. Glory be to His holy name! 

 

As I was reflecting on this, I remembered Mary the mother of Jesus. She was so favoured and honoured by God that she was used as the instrument of bringing the Saviour of the world to this world. The Roman Catholics still venerate her till today, though to an extreme. There were many virgins in Israel when God chose her. Likewise, there are many people on earth when God chose me to be favoured and honoured the way He did, and is still doing it. Once again, glory be to His holy name!

 

Have you reflected on how God has favoured and honoured you also? Do you appreciate Him for this? Do not say He has not done so. Indeed, “He has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world” (Ephesians 1:3 TEV). You might have not got what you want from Him, but I know that He has enriched you also with His favour and honour. I pray that as this year is running to an end, He will enrich you more with His honour and favour in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

 

Prayer Points:

1. Thank God for how He has enriched you with His honour, favour and goodness.

2. Pray that you will always appreciate God for His favour and goodness in your life.

3. As this year is running to an end, pray that God will enrich you more with His honour and favour.

BLESSED TO BLESS OTHERS

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram left, as the LORD had told him...” (Genesis 12:1-4 NIV).

My New Year prayer wishes to people in the lists of my Internet ministry was based on the promises that God gave Abraham when He called him to leave his native country to a land that He would show him. Let me also base my first message for the year on the promises. The promises are basically promises of blessings. God promised to make the name of Abraham great. This promise was fulfilled in the lives and nation of the people of Israel, the Jews. Even till today, these people and their nation are still great. God promised to bless Abraham. This blessing was in many ramifications. However, he would be blessed to be a blessing to other people. He would be a channel of God’s blessings to other people. In fact, another related promise is that all peoples on earth will be blessed through Abraham. Although, many people and nations were blessed through Abraham and his descendants, undoubtedly, this later promise was fulfilled through Jesus Christ who came as the Seed of Abraham (see Galatians 3:16). The life of Abraham was indeed a blessing to people that he came in contact with. He willingly took Lot with him when he was leaving his people, and Lot became a great man through Abraham. Even when Lot seemingly cheated him and paid dearly for it, he went out to rescue him from his captors. Abraham was a blessing to the king of Sodom when he refused to claim the plunder. He was such a blessing that he was a blessing to angels unknowingly through his unreserved hospitality (see Genesis 18; Hebrews 13:2).

The promises to Abraham seem to be unconditional, but it is evident that they would have not been fulfilled if Abraham decided to be indifferent to the initial command of God to leave his country and his relatives. His obedience to the call of God is pivotal to his blessing and being a blessing to other people.

Do want to be blessed this year? Be ready to obey God and be a blessing to other people. He will make you a channel of His blessings to other people if your make yourself available to Him. You will be blessed to bless to other people this year in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE

"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3 NKJV).
The writer of the book of the Proverbs was frank in his remarks about some salient issues. Righteousness and justice are ones of such issues. Both of them are interrelated. An English dictionary defines righteousness as "acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin; [to be] morally right or justifiable; [or something] arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality." The same dictionary defines justice as "the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments [or simply] the quality of being just, impartial, or fair." These two virtues are more acceptable to God than attempts to please Him through sacrifices or good works.
Many people today are religious. They are ready to do anything to please God, especially when they want to get anything from Him. Nevertheless, it is unfortunate that most of such people are not righteous and just to God, not to talk of other men around them. Such people are deceiving themselves because their acts of religiosity cannot be accepted by God unless they are behaving righteously and justly before Him. God sent Prophet Isaiah to His people that He did not have interest in the religious activities of the people, that they should rather "learn to do right [and] See that justice is done" (Isaiah 1:17 TEV. See also 1 Samuel 15:22; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Mark 12:33).
Do you want your religious services to be accepted by God? Do you want Him to be pleased with you? Then do righteousness and justice.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

LOVE LIFTED ME!

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8 NIV).

Apparently, the composer of the popular hymn, “Love Lifted Me,” James Rowe, based the lyrics of the hymn on the incident found in Matthew 14:22-32 when Jesus Christ, out of love, lifted Peter who was sinking in the sea as he was walking on the sea towards Jesus Christ. However, a closer look at the lyrics of the hymn will make one to discover a deeper meaning based on Romans 5:6-8. Because of the sin of Adam, mankind was made sinners and condemned before God (Romans 5:16-19). Even, for people that do not believe in the doctrine of the original sin, men were, and are still, sinking in their own sins. Some of them have tried many means to do away with sins and pacify God, but none of their own efforts can reconcile them back to God. It was at this point that God demonstrated His love for the mankind and sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us and save us from the penalty of sin. 

Apart from the sea of sin that all mankind has been sunk, many people are deep in the sea of difficulties of life. They have tried all their possible best with little or no success. God is waiting for such people to call unto Him to lift them with His love. He declared, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me” (Psalm 50:15 NIV). “When nothing else could help, Love lifted me!”

Just as Jesus physically stretched out His hand to lift sinking Peter out of the sea, so also today He is stretching out His hands in love to lift anyone who can call on Him and be rescued from any peril, especially the penalty of sin. This Valentine season, utilize this divine love of Christ. Call unto Him and let Him lavish His love on you. “Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves, He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.” Likewise, who can you lift up in love this Valentine season? 

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURY?

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV).

The recent happenings in the world are confirming the biblical injunctions about financial and material possessions. To invest in the capital market used to be a good advice for people until the recent economic meltdown when the values of many shares in the stock market dropped drastically. Landed properties have been more valuable and dependable investment because they do not depreciate but appreciate in value. However, happenings like Hurricane Katrina in the United States, the recent tsunami in some Asia countries and the not-too-long earthquake in Japan that rendered many people homeless and destroyed many landed properties are making people to think twice now also before investing in landed properties. Many people have been greatly disappointed by turns of events. Some (if not most) people are now thinking of the best way to invest or save their resources for future purposes.

The Bible clearly teaches in many places that one should not put one's trust in worldly possessions, but rather to be rich towards God (see Job 31:24; Psalm 39:6; 62:10; Proverbs 11:14; 16:16; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 2:26; 5:10-14; Luke 12:21; 18:24; 1 Timothy 6:8-10, 17; Hebrews 13:5; James 5:1-3; 1 John 2:15-16). The above quoted passage (Matthew 6:19-21) is succinct about what one's attitude towards worldly possessions should be and where one should keep them. Here, Jesus Christ was making it clear that a right attitude toward wealth is a mark of true spirituality. If one has the true righteousness of Christ in one's lives, then one will have a proper attitude toward material wealth. This does not mean that Jesus was magnifying poverty or criticizing the rightful acquisition of wealth. It is not wrong for one to possess worldly possessions, but it is wrong for these things to possess one. One should not make them one's utmost priority nor depend on them for future security and supply in time to come. The reason is that they are liable to loss and decay as that passage puts it and as it has been proven from recent happenings. Storing up for oneself treasures in heaven means making God the utmost priority and using one's resources for His cause and the benefits of humanity. Only resources used for God, other people and oneself in edifying and beneficial ways are saved for eternal dividends.

Where is your treasury? Where do you put your trust: in worldly possessions or God? What is your attitude towards worldly possessions? Do you see them as things that are temporal? Store up your resources in God and you will never regret you did.

In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:13-16 NIV).

I came in contact of a newspaper article with the title, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” The article was the compilation of interviews conducted with some children of ages ranging from four to six to know whether they know Jesus Christ or not. The responses of these little children were quite revealing. Some of them identified Jesus as a man that their pastors have been talking about in their churches; some of them recognized Him as the Son of God, or simply God; some were even frank to declare that they do not know Him. When asked further, some of the children believed that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world and that He is presently in heaven.

After being with His disciples for some time, Jesus Christ also wanted to know whether the disciples knew who He was or not. He firstly asked them who the people around them thought He was. They gave many answers. When it was their turn to tell who Jesus Christ was, none of them could answer except Simon Peter who answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:16 NIV).

If you are asked the question, “Who is Jesus Christ?” what would be your response? Do you really know Him? Some people believe that He is just one of the prophets. Some believe that He is just the Saviour, and NOT the Lord of their lives. Who is Jesus Christ to you? Apostle Paul said, “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]” (Philippians 3:10 AMP).

In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NOW AND FOREVER FREE!

By Miles Stanford

"Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:7,8).


We can trust Him for our matriculation here, and we can trust Him for our examination and graduation in Glory!

"That word, 'blameless,' may be translated 'unimpeachable' or 'unaccusable.' In other words, when we stand at last at the judgment seat of Christ, God Himself is going to see to it that no charge can stand against any believer, because the Lord Jesus Christ has atoned for all our sins with His own precious Blood. Every failure in life will be dealt with there, and all the wood, hay, and stubble will be burned in the fire of that day and we shall stand before our Lord unimpeachable, unaccusable." -H.A.I.

"Instead of my sins being between myself and Him, as before, it is Himself who is now between me and my sins; and the One who has thus interposed has given me to know that in the doing it He has brought me to Himself, and tuned my heart to His own praise.

"He has borne the judgment due to my sins, and condemned sin in the flesh; in the Person of my Substitute I am clear from, and carried beyond, the judgment forever; the power of death is annulled, that of Satan finally broken."
 
"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's. elect? Shall God that justifieth? Who is he that condemneth? Shall Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us?" (Rom. 8:33,34).

RIGHT DIVISION AND PRACTICAL LIVING

By R.B. Shiflet

It is a common thing in our time to hear a believer say, “I'm not concerned with dispensational Bible study; I'm just going to preach the gospel and emphasize the walk of the believer.”

This feeling has no doubt come as a reaction to the hair-splitting policy of many of our Bible teachers and the confusion that has come from an effort on the part of some to force their dispensational views upon others, or to make these views a test for fellowship. In an effort to get away from a dispensationalism that has degenerated into little more than “profane and vain babbling,” many have tried to forget  2 Timothy 2:15, and have reached a position that is untenable.

In the first place, we cannot preach the right gospel without dividing the Word of truth to some degree. The term “gospel” merely means “good news,” and God’s Word contains many messages of good news. Not all of them are directed to us, however. God had the good news of the kingdom proclaimed to Israel, but Israel rejected this good news. Today, He is offering the gospel of the grace of God, the glorious gospel of Christ, and unless we study the Word with a view to the right division of it, we will be preaching the wrong gospel, or a perverted gospel. Such is the case when men bring carnal ordinances, works, the law, miracles, signs, a healing program, Sabbath keeping, etc., into the gospel message today. Any man, then, who preaches a clear message of grace, has practiced the right division of the Word to some degree.

Secondly, one cannot live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world without dividing the Word of Truth correctly. Note 2 Timothy 2:15 in its context: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the master’s use, and prepared for every good work.” (2 Tim. 2:15-21)

Note verse 16. “Shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Shun means to turn one’s self about in order to avoid. Profane means unholy. Vain babblings are empty discussions of useless matters. To increase is to advance, and ungodliness is absence of fear or reverence for God. This, you will notice, is placed in contrast with rightly dividing the Word of truth.

Next follows an example of two who, failing to divide the Word, have come into grave error. Through this error in doctrine, brought about as a result of failure to study the Word dispensationally, the faith of some has been overthrown. The teachers given as an example have been holding that the resurrection was already past. Perhaps they had taken Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:5-6, “even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus;” and failing to divide the Word right, had taken these words to teach that the only resurrection was a spiritual one, and that it was past, that is, it took place when we believed.

After showing the dreadful results of failing to heed the exhortation to right division, comes the assuring statement that God knows His own, but His own should depart from iniquity and strive to be vessels of honor. How can this be done? “If a man therefore purge himself from these (who fail to divide the Word and overthrow the faith of some) he shall be a vessel unto honor.” The interesting word in this verse is “purge.” Harper’s Analytical Greek Lexicon defines the original word as follows: “to cleanse thoroughly; purify; purge out; eliminate.” Thayer shows that it means: “to avoid defilement from one, and so to keep one’s self pure.” The word is a combination of two words, one meaning “utterly,” the other meaning “to cleanse or purify; to free from every admixture of what is false; to prune.” Isn’t this in itself a process of right division? If we study the Word of truth and rightly divide it, we shall know which things to purge from our lives. We will know what must be pruned out in the way of ungodly moral practices that were not brought into our dispensation.

What will be the result of this purging? We shall be vessels unto honor, consecrated, profitable for our Master’s use, and fit for accomplishing unto every good work (2 Timothy 2:21). For further proof that the “rightly divided life”—utterly free from admixture—is dependent upon a rightly divided Word, see 2 Timothy 3:16-17. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (2 Thess. 2:16-17). Doctrine and deed are inseparable!

The Key to a Worry-Free Life

by Paul M. Sadler

According to doctors at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, rattlesnakes thought to be dead can still strike, bite, and kill you. Doctors in Phoenix said they have a large number of patients admitted each year suffering from bites from rattlers thought to be dead. Sometimes the snakes were shot and their heads cut off; but, the snake head retains a reflex action. In fact, one study showed that snake heads could still make striking-type motions up to sixty minutes after decapitation.

Satan, that old Serpent, was defeated at Calvary—his head was cut off. Hebrews Chapter 2 says that our Savior, by His death, destroyed him who holds the power of death. But for a season Satan can still strike and wound us. He can still hurt us and poison our relationships and spread his deadly venom into our homes and lives.

Paul admonished the Corinthians to take great care in this area, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (II Cor. 2:11). Although this may have been true in the apostle’s day, we are not sure it is the case today. It seems to us that many believers are unaware they are under attack. Satan can be very subtle and his devices are well planned. While his devices take on many forms there is one in particular that he uses quite effectively— worry! If the enemy can keep you off balance in this area he can successfully hinder your service for the Lord.

WORRY

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” —Phil. 4:6,7

Do you worry? I didn’t think so, but there are some who struggle with this problem. Paul says, “Be careful for nothing.” In our modern day language we would say, “Don’t worry about anything. ”The Greek word behind the term “careful” here is merimnao, which means to pull in different directions, to distract. This is exactly what worry will do to you—it will tear you apart both emotionally and physically. It can be one of the leading causes of ulcers, which is something else to worry about!

Worry always dwells on the future in regard to what may or may not happen. It mulls over every worst-case scenario imaginable.

Worry is like a rocking chair..."It will give you something to do, but won't get you anywhere." Worry is like a disease that infects everyone yet no one seeks a cure. Worry is considered a legitimate past time, almost an honor, but worry is still a sin: a dangerous sin that can ruin our physical and spiritual vitality and drain our lives of joy. Yet, knowing that, I still worry... a lot!

POWERS ORDAINED OF GOD

By Ivan Burgener

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God· (Rom. 13:1). These words are clear and shocking. Their clarity gives no room for misunderstanding, yet some find it, impossible to esteem world leaders as "ordained of God," and "the minister of God ......for good" (v. 4). They feel it must refer to a pastor or spiritual leader. A pastor or shepherd might wield a shepherd's staff, but could he bear "a sword .." or be "a revenger to execute wrath "on the evil doer" (v. 4)?

The words, "Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God" might give pause to a Jewish believer, for God had written, "thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, who is not thy brother" (Dt. 17:15). But with the captivity of Judah, God commanded all nations to obey His servant, Nebuchadnezzar! (See Jer. 27:6-8.) Thus the times of the Gentiles began with Israel's captivity and servitude. Now God warns us through Paul that "they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation" (i.e., judgment by the ruler).

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil" (v. 3-4). God forbids us to take vengeance because He has established government as His representative, "a revenger to execute [His] wrath" on evildoers.

"Wherefore we must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake," conscience because we know it is the right thing to do. And we should fear the wrath of "the powers that be" as well.

This passage shows the grace of God given us for service; first toward believing brethren, then toward the world, living peaceably as much as possible without being overcome with the evil of taking vengeance, and lastly to be subject to the government which God has placed in all nations throughout the world. If government oversteps its bounds, our path is clear, "We ought to obey God, rather than men" (Acts 5:29), even when there may be dire consequences as in Daniel 3 when Jews were commanded to worship an image of gold.

One observed long ago that the "times of the Gentiles" began with government enforced idolatry, as in the case of Nebuchadnezzar, and that it might very well end the same. May we ever look to God for grace and courage. 

"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well.

"For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
"Honor all men.
"Love the brotherhood.
"Fear God.
"Honor the king." (1 Peter 2:13-17)

The Limiting of a Limitless God

Posted By Pastor Ricky Kurth 
 

How many times have you heard it? You tell someone that God is no longer giving men the power to speak in tongues or heal the sick, and you hear the response: “You’re limiting God. God can do whatever He wants.” If you’re not sure how to reply to this accusation, here’s an approach you may find helpful:

God limits Himself. He limits Himself in a couple of ways. First, He is limited by His holiness. God can do anything He wants, but He cannot sin (cf. Tit. 1:2). The righteousness of His holy nature prevents Him from doing anything that even remotely approaches unrighteousness. Thus our limitless God is limited by His own holy nature.

But God also limits Himself by His Word. While He can do anything He wants, He cannot flood the world again because He has given His Word that He won’t. Remember the promise He made to Noah?

“…I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth” (Gen. 9:11).

After three thousand years passed with no additional worldwide flood, God compared His faithfulness to this promise to His faithfulness to Israel:

“For this is as the waters of Noah unto Me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee…” (Isaiah 54:9,10).

All those who teach that God washed His hands of Israel after they murdered His Son, and will never have anything further to do with her, and took all her promises and gave them to us, are guilty of charging Him with breaking this most solemn vow (Cf. Isa. 49:15; Jer. 31:35-37). God can do anything He likes, but He cannot forsake Israel, for He has given His Word that He won’t, and someday they will once again be His people (Hosea 1:9-11 cf. Rom. 9:25,26).

And He cannot give anyone spiritual gifts, such as prophecy and tongues, after vowing that these gifts would “cease” and “vanish away” in the present dispensation once the Bible was complete (I Cor. 1:8-10). So don’t let anyone tell you that you are limiting God when you insist that these gifts, which are conspicuously absent in this dispensation anyway, are gone. In so saying, we are simply acknowledging a dispensational limit that God has placed on Himself.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:
"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."
To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Article printed from Berean Bible Society: https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org

Waiting on God

with Bayless Conley

To get out of a pit, it's really not complicated.  Psalm 40:1-2 tells us the first step,

I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

The first step in getting out of the pit of despair is to cry out to God. He will hear your cry, and He will bring you up and out.

But His answer is not always instant. Notice David said, I waited patiently for the Lord. The answer to his cry wasn't apparent for a while. If you've spent a long time getting yourself into a mess, it may take some time for your deliverance. 

A number of years back I went hunting with a friend. I was to fly on a little plane into a meadow about 20 miles into the wilderness where he was going to meet me.

For a variety of reasons, I ended up being six hours late to the drop-off point. My friend wasn't there, so for 20 minutes the pilot of that little plane tried to convince me not to stay. He said there were mountain lions, grizzly bears, packs of wolves… I would get eaten alive!

He finally left, and at about two in the morning I heard a noise. It wasn't a grizzly bear; it was my friend with the horses! 

I think the devil is like that airplane pilot. He is always trying to talk us into quitting and giving up. But we can miss the greatest blessings in our lives when we are not patient.

Where you can find wisdom that endures

by Dr. Jack Graham

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17

It’s amazing to think about all the advances in human thought that have taken place over the years. Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree one day when an apple fell on his head, inspiring him to coin the Universal Law of Gravitation. And when Gutenberg saw a scribe diligently copying a scroll, he thought there must be a better way and invented the printing press.

It was Einstein who conceived the Theory of General Relativity and turned the science world on its head. And the great writer William Shakespeare penned some of the most prolific theatrical plays in the history of the world.

Yes, mankind has had some amazing thoughts that have changed the world. But I believe none of them compare to the profoundly simple words of the shepherd-king named David, who wrote, “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). In that phrase, He summed up the essence of life: to acknowledge God and find our satisfaction in Him.

Wisdom without God is temporal. But godly wisdom informs us for this life and the life to come. So grow in knowledge and remember that wisdom that truly endures comes not from the world, but from God!

FILL YOUR MIND WITH GODLY WISDOM THAT ENDURES FROM THIS LIFE TO THE NEXT!

God’s Reminder for Today: Don’t Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

By Debbie McDaniel, Crosswalk.com Writer

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1

Sometimes we face circumstances in life that are just out of our control. No amount of our own planning and effort can make it better, or could have even prevented it from occurring. Hard things happen. We feel at a loss in how to fix it all. Sometimes it seems too broken. We may try hard to regain some sense of order, but life can still feel unbalanced, uncertain, even chaotic, because of the pressures that cling too tightly.

Jesus Himself understood these pressures. Over and over in His Word, He reminds us not to worry, not to fear, not to be "troubled" in our hearts.

And on the heels of the Last Supper, before His difficult journey to the cross, Christ offers comfort to His disciples, for He knew what lay ahead. He knew the trials they would all soon face. He could have said so many things in that moment, but these are the words He chose then, and the words that have such power for us still today:

"Do not let your hearts (inmost part, center of your spiritual life and physical being), be troubled (agitated, restless, disturbed). Trust (believe, to have full confidence) in God, trust also in me." John 14:1

4 Truths from this verse to help us live wisely:

- Many around us will have troubled hearts in this world, troubled souls, but Jesus reminds us, don't let "your" heart be troubled. Don't follow the crowd, stand apart, for we know where our true peace and security are found.

- Take care of your "heart" for it is "the fountain and seat of all the thoughts, passions, affections, and purposes" in our lives. Our hearts compel us in every action, thought, and decision. He reminds us to guard our hearts for "everything we do flows from it."
- Don't be "troubled." Sounds easy enough, but quite possibly the most difficult thing in the world. How can we not be troubled when facing huge trials, loss, illness, uncertainty? The only answer lies in Him, and it's how He ends this verse.

- "Trust. Believe." Have full confidence in God, in Christ. For He is the answer for our troubles, every single one. He is our help for each need that we face. He knows our road, the one ahead, and also the tough one we may have just passed through, for He is with us every step. This world is not all we have. This one may be riddled with obstacles, potholes, and even dangerous cliffs. Often we find ourselves struggling just to stay the course.

But we can have hope, still. Right in the very midst of it, in the tough stuff, in the battle. For He is secure. He is trustworthy. He is faithful.
And He has much better, and great blessing, still in store...
Peace.
Intersecting Faith & Life: That one thing that’s been pressing on your heart? Give it to God. And make the choice to leave it there. Choose to trust and believe He’s working on your behalf, even behind the scenes where you can’t see. Ask Him for His Presence of peace to fill your life today.

Speak Lord, I’m Listening

by Arlene Pellicane
Today’s Truth

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10, NIV).

Friend to Friend

“I can’t hear you!” I yelled downstairs to my daughter who was apparently trying to tell me something. 

No matter how trivial or how urgent her message was, I could not receive it because I was in the bathroom! In order to hear my daughter’s words, either she had to move towards me or I had to move towards her.

I can’t help but think of how many times in the day God may want to speak to me, but I am just not in the right place to hear. Maybe my heart is filled with worry. Maybe I’m running from one activity to the next, filling my spare moments with texts and emails. 

Maybe my posture, my heart attitude, needs to change so I can hear His voice more clearly. 
Remember the story of Samuel in the Old Testament? He’s a young boy growing up in the temple under Eli’s priestly leadership. He’s in the right place to hear God’s voice (he was laying down where the ark of God was) but in 1 Samuel 3, we read he lacks experience in hearing God’s voice. 
The Lord calls out to young Samuel twice but Samuel doesn’t recognize His voice. He thinks it’s Eli calling. The third time this happens, Eli realizes it’s the Lord and he instructs Samuel to enter into conversation with this voice next time. 
Notice that even the elderly priest Eli was a little out of practice in recognizing the voice of God! But God didn’t give up on the conversation after the first failed attempt. He kept calling out. Samuel didn’t automatically know how to talk with God. He had to learn. 
The first word the Lord says to Samuel is “See” in verse 11. Isn’t that beautiful? As we learn to hear the voice of God, we see more clearly. We see His priorities. We see His hand moving in our lives. We see His way out of difficult situations.    
But what if you’re not a young boy like Samuel living in the temple? Does God still speak to us, ordinary women living in today’s world? 
Yes, without a doubt, God speaks through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), through creation (Psalm 65:8), through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), through spiritual leaders and teachers (1 Thessalonians 2:13), through godly counsel (Psalm 37:30-31) and more. 
In the same way I needed to move closer to my daughter Noelle to hear her voice, we can move closer to God by reading His Word or seeking godly counsel. 
I’m learning to say in my heart throughout the day, “Speak Lord, I’m listening.” It helps to remind me that conversation with God is a two-way street. Prayer is not just a rehearsing of my needs or even my praises, but it’s also a time of listening. May our hearts be ready - and expectant - to hear from God today. 
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, speak to me today. I am Your servant and I am listening. I want to search for You with all my heart. I ask You to guide me with Your voice. May I have ears to hear and a heart to understand Your Word. 
In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

The one who rescues you from death

by Dr. Jack Graham

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Imagine looking at a swimming pool filled with people. All of a sudden, you see a small child caught out in the deep end, completely unable to swim and sinking to the bottom. So you start waving your arms and shouting at him, trying to give him some tips on how to make it back to the shallow end of the pool.

Does that make sense? Would anyone in their right mind just stand there and shout while a child is drowning? Absolutely not! Every single rational-thinking person would jump in the water and pull that child to safety.

Left in our sin, we’re exactly like that drowning child. We have no hope of escaping death on our own. And while the world’s religions wave their arms and shout instructions at us for pulling ourselves from death, Jesus is the only one who gets in the water to save us.

As we move into the season of Advent, let’s focus our hearts and minds on the work of Jesus Christ – the one who came into the world to die for our sins and rescue us from a hopeless eternity. Praise God today that He loved you that much!

PRAISE GOD THAT HE DIDN’T JUST GIVE US INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIVING, BUT CAME HIMSELF TO SAVE US FROM A HOPELESS ETERNITY!

Jesus Christ the Sin Bearer

Matthew 26:26-27

The cross is so common in our culture that most people don’t think twice when they see one on a church. But unfortunately, familiarity with the symbol can actually get in the way of understanding what it truly means. So let’s stop to consider how Jesus became the bearer of sin.

We begin with Scripture written long before Jesus was born. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, explains how man chose to disobey God. Because Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their descendants are all born under the curse of death, having inherited a sinful “flesh” nature.

In Leviticus, God’s laws for the Jewish nation included observance of Yom Kippur, the day each year when the Israelites fasted, prayed, and sacrificed an animal to atone for sin. In essence, the goat would bear the wrongs done by the people and suffer the penalty that divine justice required.

Centuries later, Isaiah prophesied that a Savior would atone for transgression once and for all (Isa. 53:5, 8; Heb. 7:27). After another 700 years, John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Messiah had come, though He was totally different from what the people expected--so much so, in fact, that they rejected Him and requested His crucifixion.

In all, God gave 613 laws through Moses. But none of us can perfectly follow even the Ten Commandments. In fact, one reason He gave us these rules is to show us our need for a Savior (Ps. 19:7; Gal. 3:24). Meditate on those commands (Ex. 20:1-17), asking God to speak to your heart.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

Elizabeth: Mother of the Forerunner

by Dr. Ray Pritchard

“No; he shall be called John” (Luke 1:60).
That surprised their friends. No one in their family was named John. Everyone assumed this miracle baby would take his father’s name. In our day, we would say Zechariah Senior and Zechariah Junior. Or maybe the first and the second.
But Elizabeth knew better. The angel had specified every detail when he announced the baby’s birth to Zechariah many months earlier:

“Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (Luke 1:13). 

His name will be John, which means, “The Lord has been gracious.” It was a fitting name because God had indeed been gracious to this elderly couple. But it meant more than that. God was about to pour out his grace on the world in the birth of his Son. And their son—this baby named John—would prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.
He was set apart for God before his birth. Everything about his career would say, “This man stands apart. He’s not like the rest of us.” Many years later, he will preach and call the nation to repentance, and he will have upon him the “spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17).
Elizabeth had already seen what happened to her husband because he doubted God. She’s not about to make the same mistake. Faith stands on God’s Word even when others don’t understand. In this case, the neighbors meant well, but their advice would lead in the wrong direction.
Elizabeth affirmed God’s choice.
Zechariah wrote it on a tablet.
Suddenly he could speak again.
Fear came on everyone who heard him speak for they knew God had taken his voice away and suddenly given it back. No wonder they asked, “What then will this child be?” Even the neighbors could see God’s hand was on his life.
When we dare to trust God, others may not understand. Venturing in faith means traveling under sealed orders, obeying now and understanding later.
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see you, open my ears to hear you, open my heart to follow wherever you lead. Amen.
Musical bonus: Written at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Noel Rigney and Gloria Shayne Baker produced a song pleading for peace in a broken world. With that in mind, listen to Do You Hear What I Hear? by Home Free.
You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free email sermon.