From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved,
"THE LORD BLESS YOU" "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26, NIV). Once again happy and prosperous New Year (2008)! As I have pronounced the priestly blessings found in Numbers 6:24-26 on you earlier this year, let me base my first message of the year on those blessings. God specifically ordered Moses to tell the priests to be pronouncing these blessings on the people of Israel. These blessings are for us today also. The verb "to bless" is first used in Genesis 1:22 where "God blessed [the first created living things] and said, 'Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth'" (NIV). There is a similar blessing in verse 28 where God blessed the first man and woman. The idea here is that the blessings of God have to do with multiplication of all good things from God. They are the act of declaring (or wishing) the favor and goodness of God upon others. The blessings are not only the good effect of words; they also have the power to bring them to pass. They are the blessings of the LORD that bring wealth, and God adds no trouble to them (see Proverbs 10:22). Those whom God blesses are blessed indeed. His blessings will be yours this year. The shining face of God and His graciousness are about His love, mercy and goodness. A Bible commentator paraphrased this second part of the blessings thus: may God illuminate your heart, giving you the true knowledge of yourself, and of your Maker, and may He show you His graciousness in pardoning your sins, and supporting your soul. This will be your portion in Jesus' name. The third part of the blessings is similar to the second part: the Lord will turn His face toward us to favor us for good and give us His peace and protection. The Lord will indeed increase and multiply you this year with His goodness and favor. However, the blessings of God are for His children and those that are keeping His commandments. You also must be ready to do His will this year. Once again, the Lord bless you! In His service, NB PREVIOUS MESSAGES ON THE BLESSINGS OF GOD I had it in mind to resend my previous messages on the blessings of God to you for the next few weeks, but I do not want to do that, having resent some of my previous messages for some months recently. However, if any of you has interest in the compilation of these previous messages on the blessings of God, write me at [EMAIL PROTECTED], I will send the compilation to you. God bless you! _________________________ Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.afolabayo.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ ================================================ From: Suzianty Herawati "He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove." --Matthew 3:16 As the Spirit of God descended upon the Lord Jesus, the head, so He also, in measure, descends upon the members of the mystical body. His descent is to us after the same fashion as that in which it fell upon our Lord. There is often a singular rapidity about it; or ever we are aware, we are impelled onward and heavenward beyond all expectation. Yet is there none of the hurry of earthly haste, for the wings of the dove are as soft as they are swift. Quietness seems essential to many spiritual operations; the Lord is in the still small voice, and like th! e dew, His grace is distilled in silence. The dove has ever been the chosen type of purity, and the Holy Spirit is holiness itself. Where He cometh, everything that is pure and lovely, and of good report, is made to abound, and sin and uncleanness depart. Peace reigns also where the Holy Dove comes with power; He bears the olive branch which shows that the waters of divine wrath are assuaged. Gentleness is a sure result of the Sacred Dove's transforming power: hearts touched by His benign influence are meek and lowly henceforth and for ever. Harmlessness follows, as a matter of course; eagles and ravens may hunt their prey--the turtledove can endure wrong, but cannot inflict it. We must be harmless as doves. The dove is an apt picture of love, the voice of the turtle is full of affection; and so, the soul visited by the blessed Spirit, abounds in love to God, in love to the brethren, and in love to sinners; and above all, in love to Jesus. The brooding of the Spirit of God upon the face of the deep, first produced order and life, and in our hearts, He causes and fosters new life and light. Blessed Spirit, as Thou didst rest upon our dear Redeemer, even so rest upon us from this time forward and for ever. CH Spurgeon ============================================= From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dear Beloved, A PERTINENT QUESTION LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? (Psalm 15:1, NIV). In this part of the world going to church is now familiar. Churches are springing up because more people patronize them. However, are all people going to church really go there to worship God? Are they qualified to be in God's presence? Is their worship acceptable to God? The psalmist did not only ask the same questions in Psalm 15 but gave eight qualifications to measure true worshippers. The first qualification is blamelessness (v.2a). In his/her living in this world, he/she should be without guilt. It is not that he/she would be sinless, but he/she will be above suspicion. Righteous living is the second qualification (v.2b). He/she would be righteous in whatever he/she does. The third qualification is truthfulness (v.2c). He/she would not be known for falsehood or half-truth, but be trusted for anything he/she says. The fourth qualification is goodness (v.3b). The person would be good to everyone around him/her. He/she would not do wrong things to other people. The fifth qualification is honoring those that fear God (v.4b). Such person would hold believers in high esteem, especially the faithful servants of God. Integrity is the sixth qualification (v.4b). He/she would keep his/her words even when it is difficult to do. His/her yes would be yes and no no. The seventh qualification is kindness (v.5a). He/she would be ready to help others willingly without thinking of any gain from such help. He/she would be compassionate and selfless. The eighth qualification is incorruptibility (v.5b). He/she would be so honest that he/she would not accept bribe or be involved in any corrupt practice. Slander is a vice that such person that would be in God's presence should avoid (v.3). The person would not insult his/her fellow human being. Another word used for this vice in the same verse is "to slur" which can also mean to disgrace, to smear, to slight, etc. The psalmist concluded that any one who has all these qualifications will be established forever (v.5b). Jesus Christ sums it up this way, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24, NIV). As you are reading this write-up, are you qualified to be in God's presence? Are you qualified to be in God's presence? What a pertinent question! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.afolabayo.org/ 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). ==============================================
