From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved, "ROCK OF AGES" "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock" (Psalm 27:5 NIV).
The hymn "Rock of Ages" is one of the best known and best loved hymns. Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778), an Anglican Church clergyman, composed it. The hymn's strong declaration of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross as the only hope of salvation for man from the judgment that his sin deserves earns it a place of honour among hymns of grace. The analogy of Jesus Christ to a rock has its roots in the Scriptures. In fact, the word "rock" is often used figuratively in the Bible to speak of God and Jesus Christ. As Rock, God is the Creator (Deuteronomy 32:18), His people's strength (Deuteronomy 32:4), His people's defence and refuge (Psalm 31:2-3; 94:22), and His people's salvation (Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalm 89:26). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the Rock from whom the Spirit of life flows (John 4:13-14; 1 Corinthians 10:4), the foundation of the church (Matthew 16:18) and its cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Alluding to the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings, Paul wrote, "...for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4 NIV). Paul was apparently referring to the event recorded in Exodus 17:6. Moses, at God's command, struck the rock in Horeb, miraculously bringing forth a needed supply of water for God's people. The physical rock is a picture of Jesus Christ being struck to provide the "water" needed to satisfy sinful man's spiritual need. In addition, there are numerous Old Testament references to the Lord as a "Rock" or "Rock of salvation." The specific picture of Jesus Christ as a rock split open (cleft) to provide a place of spiritual refuge for sinful people is surely drawn from Moses' experience recorded in Exodus 33:20-23. Because Moses, a fallen man, could not see God's face and live, God Himself protected Moses by placing him in the cleft of a rock as He passed by. In like manner, by being hidden in Jesus Christ, the Rock cleft on his behalf at the cross, the believer is sheltered from the eternal death he would face when he stands before a holy, righteous God. This hymn indeed reiterates the clear scriptural teaching regarding man's utter inability to, in any way, offer God anything to earn or merit salvation. Paul told Titus, "... [Jesus Christ] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." (Titus 3:5a NIV. See also Romans 3:20, 28; 4:5; 11:6; Galatians 2:16; 3:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9). Are you in the cleft of this Rock, or are you still depending on your efforts to be saved? Hide yourself in Him, and you will never regret you did! 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 http://inspirationaldailyquotes.blogspot.com/ for updated daily inspiring quotes from notable Christians. Also visit http://bibleverseofthedaybypastorbayo.blogspot.com/ for daily edifying Bible verses. "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, HOW EFFICIENT IS YOUR BRAKE? "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13 NIV). "[God's] grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world" (Titus 2:12 TEV). A brake is a device for arresting or preventing the motion of a mechanism usually by means of friction. It is a very important device in a vehicle. The brake system in a vehicle consists of handbrake, brake pedal, brake pad, and brake fluid container among other things. Anyone who will drive a vehicle must make sure that the brake system of the vehicle is functioning well. Brake failure can be very dangerous especially when it occurs unexpectedly on motion. Interestingly, applying brake abruptly and without tactics on motion can be more dangerous. Every normal human being must also have a brake system that he or she would be using to control him/herself. Such system is called self control or temperance. It is an act of controlling or mastering one's actions, emotions, desires and passions, especially one's sensual appetites. The Bible teaches that self-control is a virtue that every Christian should imbibe (Proverbs 23:1-3; 25:16; Daniel 1:8, 12-16; 1 Corinthians 7:9; 9:25; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; 1 Timothy 3:2-3, 8; Titus 1:8; 2:2-3, 12; 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 1:6). Only those who allow God a space in their lives and make His grace their brake fluid will have efficient brake called self control or temperance. It is unfortunate that some people do not have this important virtue. They do not know how to control or comport themselves when it matters most. No wonder, such people do things anyhow to their detriment. Their lack of self control has caused, and is still causing, avoidable havoc to their reputation. Do you have brake in your life? How efficient is your brake? How are you controlling yourself, your actions, emotions, desires and passions, especially your sensual appetites? Do you have effective control over yourself and these things? Pray that the Lord will help you to always take care of the brake of your life and be using it effectively. 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 http://inspirationaldailyquotes.blogspot.com/ for updated daily inspiring quotes from notable Christians. Also visit http://bibleverseofthedaybypastorbayo.blogspot.com/ for daily edifying Bible verses. "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, 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). Visit http://inspirationaldailyquotes.blogspot.com/ for updated daily inspiring quotes from the Holy Bible and other notable Christians. 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 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).
