From: Martin T Pastor's Conference Call
FYI, a recording of Pastor's Conference Call this past June (25) plus 10 Declarations For Protecting Biblical Marriage were posted on http://www.priila.org. I hope everyone can take the time to listen and review it. . =================================================== From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved, WOULD YOU BE PART OF THE LIST? "So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart" (Nehemiah 4:6, NIV). Many books and articles have been written on the man Nehemiah who led his people to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. It is a pity that little or nothing has been said about the people that worked with him to successfully complete the rebuilding of the wall in just fifty-two days in spite of the intense opposition they faced in course of the project. Nevertheless, the chronicler of the book of Nehemiah devoted a whole chapter for the list of people that predominantly worked with Nehemiah, and the specific things that they did (see Nehemiah 3). These people were mentioned by name one after the other. Often, what most of us are doing is unnoticed, and we think that it is not significant. Some people have even withdrawn from making their little contribution to the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth and other good causes because they thought that they are not important and their contribution is not significant since it is not noticed and rewarded immediately. However, do you know that God is also taking note of what each of us is doing? Do you know that He is making a list of each of the people that contribute to the advancement of His kingdom? Paul said, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. 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). Also he said in another place, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9, NIV). Would you be part of the list of people that contribute to the success of a good cause? Determine to make your little contribution even if it will be unnoticed. God knows how He rewards every good act in His own way and in own time. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ ==================================================== From: "Bayo Afolaranmi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Dearly Beloved, WHEN YOU FAITHFULLY SERVE THE LORD... "After these events, in which King Hezekiah served the LORD faithfully, Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria, invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities and gave orders for his army to break their way through the walls" (2 Chronicles 32:1, TEV) King Hezekiah of Judah was one of the good kings that did well in following the ways of the Lord. He served God faithfully and brought the people back to God. He made them to also faithfully serve Him and observe the Law in an unprecedented way in the history of the kingdom of Judah (see 2 Chronicles 29-31). Nevertheless, in spite of his faithfulness in serving God, a powerful enemy, King Sennacherib of Assyria, rose against his kingdom and wanted to conquer him (2 Chronicles 32:1). King Hezekiah, however, trusted in his God and encouraged his subjects to trust in God. God did not only save him and his kingdom from the enemy, but He also humiliated the enemy (2 Chronicles 32:20-22). Hezekiah later became renowned for his greatness because he served God faithfully (2 Chronicles 32:23). There are many such situations whereby persecutions, sufferings, difficulties and the like arise because of being faithful to God. Faithful people normally face such hardships because of their faithfulness to God. "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). However, God knows how He rescues His faithful from the hardship and gives them victory over their adversaries (see 2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 34:15-17). The only prerequisite is total trust in Him. No matter the opposition, the faithful will triumph at the end. Have you been serving God faithfully and it seems that you are being rewarded with opposition and hardship? Continue your faithfulness. Trust totally in Him. You will soon triumph over your enemies. The enemies will be humiliated over your life in Jesus' name. Amen. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 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).
