From: "Bayo Afolaranmi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Dear Beloved,
CHRISTIANS FOR NOBLE PURPOSE "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work" (2 Timothy 2:20-21). In the above passage, the Christendom is likened to a large house, and the individual Christians to vessels or instruments in the house. Some of these vessels are for noble purpose (or unto honour) while some are for ignoble purpose (or unto dishonour). What will make Christians be for noble purpose? Only those who cleanse themselves continually from the entanglement of the world, confess their sins, and are ready to forsake them will be instruments for noble purpose. How can one do this? The Psalmist answered, "…by living according to [God's] word" (Psalm 119: 9, cf. verses 94-105). The confession referred to here is not mere confession, but "…godly sorrow [that] brings repentance that leads to salvation…" (2 Corinthians 7: 9-10). Simply, to make holy is to set apart for a special purpose, to dedicate, to consecrate, or to sanctify such a thing. That is what a Christian that wants to be for noble purpose should be. He should be a set-apart, consecrated, dedicated and sanctified person. God does this setting apart only when we have cleansed ourselves. This is a complex study that demands a lot of time to explain and comprehend (Titus 2: 13-14; Hebrews 10: 10; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Ephesians 4:24). The usefulness of a Christian that want to be for noble purpose will be only to God in the sense that everything he is doing will be for God and for His glory (Colossians 3: 23; 1 Corinthians 10: 31). He will not want to be useful because of any other purpose either personal or whatever. It is noteworthy to see the word that Paul used for God in this verse (i.e. 2 Timothy 2: 21) – Master. Until we see God as our Master in the real sense of it, we cannot be useful unto Him, and we cannot be for noble purpose for Him. Many people want to be useful for God, but at their own leisure. The Christian should also be ready to work. Working cannot make one to be a Christian, but we are saved to work. Take note that it is not just work, but ANY GOOD work. These works are "… works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Ephesians 4:12). The preparation will be "… in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). Are you for noble purpose, or you are just there in the household of God? Follow these four essentials of becoming honourable vessel unto God, and you will be a Christian for noble purpose for Him. NB This is to inform you that the guest book of the new website of this online ministry is now fully activated. Visit it (http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/guestbook/index.php) and register your presence. God bless you! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.thewordthruthenet.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). ================================================== From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved, THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV). In the introductory part of his second known epistle to the Corinthians, Apostle Paul gave some attributes of God that worth taking into consideration. Paul praised or blessed God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, not born by human reasoning, but by divine arrangement that surpasses human comprehension. This God is the Father of compassion, the Source from where all mercies flow. His mercy endures forever, and He is ready to give out of this mercy to anyone that comes to Him. He is also the God of all comfort, the only one that can comfort people that are in misery. He made this promise to the people of Jerusalem: "I will show compassion to Jerusalem, to all who live in her ruins. Though her land is a desert, I will make it a garden, like the garden I planted in Eden. Joy and gladness will be there, and songs of praise and thanks to me" (Isaiah 51:3, TEV). Paul recalled how this God comforted him and his companions in all their troubles. However, the comfort they received from God was for a purpose: so that they could comfort others that were in trouble. God lavishes His comfort on His people so that they also will be able to be channels of His comfort to other people. Are you in distress of any kind? Look up to the God of all comfort. He will comfort you. He will show compassion on you, and you will sing songs of praise and thanks to Him. Moreover, who knows, He may be preparing you to be a channel of His comfort to other people. He is indeed the God of all comfort. Note: This is to inform you about a new website for my online ministry: http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/. You can visit it to know more about the ministry and me. You can also visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/message/308 to read brief descriptions about the pages of the website. God bless you! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.thewordthruthenet.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). ======================================================= From: "plastic" Satan A few minutes before the church services started, the town's people were sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from evil incarnate. Soon, everyone had exited the church except for one old man, calmly sitting in his pew without moving, seeming oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy was in his presence. So Satan walked up to the old man and said 'Don't you know who I am?' 'Yep, sure do.' 'Aren't you afraid of me?' 'Nope, sure ain't. 'Don't you realize I can kill you with a word?' 'Don't doubt it for a minute.' 'Did you know that I could cause you profound, horrifying, physical agony for all eternity??' 'Yep', was the calm reply. 'And you're still not afraid??' asked Satan. 'Nope.' More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, 'Well, why aren't you afraid of me?' The man calmly replied......'Been married to your sister for 68 years.......'
