From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved, LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them - those who are mistreated - since you yourselves are in the body also” (Hebrews 13:1-3 NKJV). The book of Hebrews was mainly about the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Testament prophets and religious systems. In concluding his message, the writer of the book admonished his audience to let brotherly love continue. The Greek word (filadelfia) translated “brotherly love” in most English translations of the Bible can mean mutual love of brothers (and sisters) or “love for one's fellow believer, affection for a fellow believer.” It is in contrast with another Greek word (agapee) also translated “love” which is the unconditional and unparallel love that God has for the mankind. The implication of the admonition was that brotherly love already existed among the Hebrews that the book was addressed to. So, it must continue and the continuation should have no end. The writer of the book went ahead to give two explanations on how to demonstrate brotherly love (Hebrews 13:2-3). One, by entertaining strangers: he inferred to Abraham who unknowingly entertained angels (see Genesis 19). Two, by caring for the less privileged: Jesus Christ alluded to this in one of His parables (see Matthew 25:34-46). There are other ways of making brotherly love continue among us. It is evident from these two ways of demonstrating brotherly love that the “brother” that one is to love may not necessarily be a sibling or a fellow believer (as a commentator put it) or somebody of common interest, but anyone that one can help at a given time. The Samaritan in the popular parable of the Good Samaritan has been a classic example of demonstration of brotherly love (see Luke 10:25-37). Many people would say that they love God, and they are ready to do anything for Him. However, do they love their fellow “brother”? Such people are hypocrites! Apostle John said, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20 NIV). A very important reason why one should let brotherly love continue is that one may on one occasion or the other be at the receiving end of such love. The “strange” stranger who leads the love or care may be YOU! Do you have brotherly love? Be ready to demonstrate it to anyone that comes your way. Let brotherly love continue! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). NB I have just created a weblog for updated daily inspiring quotes from the Holy Bible and other notable Christians. The link is http://inspirationaldailyquotes.blogspot.com/. Visit it every day inspiring quotes. God bless you! Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 +234 816 304 5450 http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ http://www.facebook.com/bayo.afolaranmi Visit http://inspirationaldailyquotes.blogspot.com/ for updated daily inspiring quotes from the Holy Bible and other notable Christians. 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, RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 NIV). I have to change the message to be sent out this week again because of an ugly incident that happened last Friday as Nigeria was celebrating the golden jubilee of her independence as a sovereign nation. As many as fifteen people died in twin car-bomb blasts a few metres away from the Eagle Square, Abuja, the main centre of the celebration. Interestingly, a group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), had warned the Nigerian federal government that it would disrupt the celebration by planting bombs around the Eagle Square, and warned people not to be in the area at a specific time that they had set for the explosions of the bombs. The group based its warning on the fact that there was nothing to celebrate in Nigeria’s fifty years of independence, and the fact that the Niger Delta has been unfairly treated in spite of the crude oil that is being produced in the oil-rich area. That incident and the claims of the group are thought provoking. The people of Nigeria in general have suffered enough in the hands of their political leaders since 1960 that the country gained her independence. There are no good social amenities like road, electricity, drinkable water, and the likes. Private schools and hospitals are thriving because government-owned schools and hospitals are not well catered for or accessible. Most of the youth are unemployed, even those that are employed are not well remunerated. The best brains of the country have gone abroad for greener pastures. An average Nigerian cannot boast of three square meals a day. In fact, Nigeria is a rich nation, but most of her citizens are living in abject poverty. Corruption has been institutionalized. Religious and ethnic disturbances are rampant in the north while hostage taking and kidnapping have made people insecure in the south. The political leaders and their cronies are freely looting the resources of the nation. They pretend as if they do not know the plight of the common man. They are recycling themselves in the corridor of power. There is no guarantee for free and fair election to put right people in position of leadership in the country. All these and many other reasons made some people to argue that there is nothing to celebrate after fifty years of Nigeria’s independence. However, violence does not resolve a problem. In fact, it worsens the problem! Those that were behind the bomb blasts may have good intention, but killing innocent people and destruction of properties are not the right ways to make known one’s grievances. Two wrongs can never make a right. We have to be more cautious in agitating for a better Nigeria. Those that are in positions of authority should know that God allows them to be there for a purpose (see Romans 13:1; Daniel 2:21; 4:32; John 19:11). They should know that they are there to serve the people they are leading. Both the government and the citizenry should make righteousness their watchword. Righteousness, indeed, exalts a nation! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). NB I dedicate this message to all that were affected in the Friday October 1, 2010 bomb blasts in Abuja, Nigeria. Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 +234 816 304 5450 http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ http://www.facebook.com/bayo.afolaranmi Visit and become a follower of http://thewordthruthenet.blogspot.com/ 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, 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). +234 805 515 9591 +234 816 304 5450 http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ http://www.facebook.com/bayo.afolaranmi Visit and become a follower of http://thewordthruthenet.blogspot.com/ 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).
