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Not my will but your will be done

thecrossReally, he could have saved himself – if he wanted to.

He took 40 lashes minus 1 for me – I wonder how many lashes I have ever taken or willing to take for him.

He took the place of a thug, a known criminal, Barabbas -representing me – was set free and Jesus was condemned to be crucified.

God’s plan was in motion, the religious rulers were ignorant.

When he breathed his last, Heaven sounded a note, the earth trembled at the death of the son of God.

It did not end there, on the 3rd day as the Lord foretold, He rose from the dead, conquering death.

Pilate said he will be forgotten in a week, how wrong he was, His name has been exulted above all names. At His return every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Him as Lord.

Some people had to see him to believe, but blessed are those who have never seen him but yet believe.

Go into all the world and make disciples of all men – that now His command unto us.

The power of resurrection is working in us. Hallelujah!

Shalom,

‘Laolu Oyeyemi

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A new experience

new-experiWhen God says, He’s going to do a new thing, you better believe it.

God is a God of new beginnings. I think God likes to press the reset button every once a while, and I believe starting a new year offers that opportunity for us to reset out calendar and our minds to the idea of starting afresh.

The idea of relinquishing the old and embracing the new is a wonderful concept.

For us to embrace a new experience, we must be willing to let go of the old, tired and familiar one.

Isaiah 43: 18-19 says


18“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

19See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland

For us to experience something new, it is important to be tired of the old and be willing to give it up.

Some people may be comfortable in their situation because it is familiar and so they have resigned to fate. Others may seriously wish for a change but they are powerless on their own to make the change happen.

God’s word declares in Isaiah 40:28

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

 

God does not grow weary but man does. Even the youth in their strength comes to a point where their strength ebbs out and gives way to weariness. Those who decide to put their hope in God will have the wonderful experience of renewing their strength.

It is exciting to realise that it is God making the promise of a new beginning to his people.

Isaiah 43: 19  “See, I am doing a new thing!”

 

God wants to give you a new beginning. He wants to shock you with something fresh.

It might be a spiritual encounter, a physical healing or a breakthrough related to your finances. It night be a new beginning in your family or at your place of work, whatever your situation, God wants to renew your strength and give you a fresh start.

 

I have come to love the story in Acts chapter 3;

 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.

This man was obviously used to being in his position having been born that way. He is not less than forty years of age. When he left home that day, he must have been looking forward to the usual tips and he will be fortunate to have someone have pity on him and give him a couple of coins. Therefore when he saw Peter and John, all he wanted was some money.

I don’t know your situation, perhaps you are settled into it and used to the usual circumstances that it brings. I have good news for you. God is about to shock you and give you a life changing new beginning.

4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Whao! What a miracle? It was indeed life changing for this man. He must have been totally blown away by God’s blessing on his life.

Are you ready to be blown away by God’s faithfulness?

I believe someone reading this is ready for a super encounter leading to a miracle from God.

It is a new year and I encourage you to be open to God and His word. He is able and willing to open a new chapter in your life according to His plans for your life.

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The Christmas Story retold – The ‘I’ version

(Initially published December 2012)

(Please ‘listen’ to the ‘I’ version of the nativity story…)

If I was Jesus:infant-jesus-born

  • I would have been so busy managing the angels, I would think twice about leaving everything behind.
  • Back in Heaven I would have be so dignified, it would have been too difficult stooping so low as to becoming a ‘bloody’ human being susceptible to unthinkable abuse and disrespect.
  • If at all I agreed to become a human, at least I should be born to the richest and best of parents – possibly a prominent king somewhere.
  • I would definitely not agree to make an entry in a dirty stable. Give me the cleanest and most comfortable inn or hospital bed.
  • Kings and Queens from all over the world – preferably not shepherds, should be the ones to come welcome me.

Thank God Jesus thought differently.

Check this out:

PHILIPPIANS 2:5

The Message (MSG)

5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

If I was Joseph:

  • How In the world would I agree to proceed with the marriage with my supposed wife pregnant with a baby? Is someone taking me for a fool? Ok. I had a dream and I saw an angel. How can I be so sure the dream is from God? Why did God not consult with me first before striking an agreement with my bethrothed?
  • OK, now I have agreed to marry her, but surely God would not expect me to wait for so many months, till the child was born – before consummating the marriage? I just cannot wait for that long.
  • Why go through the trouble? Running from ‘pillar to post’ because of a child I did not actually father?

We thank God Joseph was an honorable man:

What if Joseph had despised the sanctity of God’s plan and purpose and had forced himself on Mary before the baby was born? That would have surely given rise to further doubtful questions about the virgin birth of Jesus the Saviour.

Check this out:

MATTHEW 1

The Message (MSG)

18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term:

Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).

24-25 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

 If I was Mary:

  • I could have asked: Why me? Why did you choose me for this experiment? Now I am open to ridicule, disgrace and the risk of being stoned to death.
  • I could have thought – Am I not free to exercise my free will and terminate this strange pregnancy?

If Mary was a different kind of person and acted irresponsibly – what would have happened to the baby Jesus?

Check this out:

LUKE 1

Amplified Bible (AMP)

26 Now in the sixth month [after that], the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth,

27 To a girl never having been married and a [v]virgin engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one [[w]endued with grace]! The Lord is with you![x]Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!

29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.

30 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace ([y]free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God.

31 And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

32 He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David,

33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end.

34 And Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no [intimacy with any man as a] husband?

35 Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.

__________________________

Blow the Trumpet:

–      Jesus gave up everything to come to our physical and natural world in order to live and die as a man for mankind. One can liken that to a fully grown human being turning to an ant in order to go resolve an issue in the ant colony. Jesus was humble, selfless, sacrificial and obedient to God the father. He is our perfect role model and the Bible says we should emulate Jesus having the same mind as he demonstrated (Philippians 2:5-8).

–      Mary was declared blessed among women, a unique choice, she received the holy calling of God with all meekness and readiness of heart. God found her worthy to be the one to carry out heaven’s assignment. Everything was at stake. Yes, God is omnipotent, but he still needed this earthen vessel to incubate and nurture the seed, the Word that became Jesus.

–      She did not abort the pregnancy, neither did she carelessly endanger the baby’s life before and after birth. She took good care of Jesus and was with him all the way. She was a faithful mother and servant of God. The world surely needs more exemplary women like Mary in our generation.

–      Joseph was a man of integrity and honor, a man God could trust with the life of His son. God is looking for more men like Joseph in our days, Men who will lay everything down for their family and their faith in God. Joseph played a key role in the bringing to birth of Jesus, he was born for this purpose and he fulfilled his calling of being a honourable earthly father to Jesus the Lord.

As we celebrate another Christmas season, let us study, learn from and emulate these major characters in the glorious history of the birth of the Saviour of the world.

Shallom!

Laolu Oyeyemi.

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We know in part….

1 Corinthians 13:9

 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

We are human beings and so limited in our knowledge and understanding.

It would be erroneous to think we know it all.

We only know in part.

So it is important to go out on a journey of discovery.

Look around you, even at the people closest to you.

There’s a lot you don’t know.

There’s a lot you need to learn.

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God led the way

Do you need to have faith in God today? God went first, he had to have faith in Mary that she will not abort the baby.

He had to have faith in Joseph that he would not give up Mary and cause her to be disgraced for immorality according to the law of Moses.(Deuteronomy 22:23-24)

He had to have faith in Abraham that he will indeed be the father of faith and begin a new lineage through which Jesus will come.

He had to have faith in His son Jesus that he will not abandon the race.

The entire heaven placed their trust in Jesus that he will not chicken out as he faced the cross. The bible says he learnt obedience by the things he suffered. (Hebrews 5:7-8)

If you are facing a risk, remember God’s got your back. He promised never to leave nor forsake you. Even when it seems you are facing your doom, thrust into the furnace like the three Hebrew children Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, if you keep your trust in God, he will not allow one strand of hair on your body to be affected.

Even though you might have your life on the line like Esther, the Lord will deliver you from harm’s way.

He still has faith in you today.

Shalom

‘Laolu Oyeyemi

 

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Do not let go of your confidence

Hebrews 10: 35
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

The thief (our enemy, the devil) comes to steal, kill and destroy and if there is anything the devil is after, it is your trust or confidence in God.

There is an orchestrated attempt to attack your confidence in God. Like he did to Job, he has lined up an array of events aimed at convincing you that God has no good things left for you in His bag. He wants you to get discouraged, lose hope and lose your trust and confidence that God cares for you.

The key to your inheritance as a child of God is your confidence in your father and your trust in His perfection and goodness.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God wants you to trust Him in spite of whatever situation or circumstance you may be going through. In Hebrews10:38

.. “But my righteousg one will live by faith.And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

Our trust in God is the channel to our accessing God’s plans, direction, guidance and blessings. If we lose our trust and confidence in God, then we lose our faith in Him and we are not able to tap from the stream of life that He has designed for us to access by faith.

We have a part to play here. We have to hold on to our trust in God. We must refuse to cast it away in the face of struggles and temptations. ‘Having done all to stand, stand ye therefore…’ Ephesians 6:

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

It is my prayer that you will stay strong in the Lord and you will stand victorious at the end of the day.

Shalom.

‘Laolu Oyeyemi

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Fight the Good fight

Arrows flying from every side, it seems the pressure will never let up. You wonder why things are going the way they are.

You are in a battle and you are a target. The bible says we have an adversary the devil. You are not alone.

But, that is not how the story ends

You are on God’s side. You belong to the king of kings and the Lord of Lords and fighting alongside an innumerable company of angels.

You are more than a conqueror for greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

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At all cost

Your relationship with God is the most important thing in your life. Treasure it.

 

 

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Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.…

Hebrews 13:8-9

 

Though written centuries ago, these words seems even more applicable in this day and age than it was when it was first communicated.

 

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…. So that they may be seen ….

images

5“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Matthew 6:5

I see this happen a lot in the workplace, managers urging on the subordinates to approach or finish a project in a particular way so as to ensure ‘visibility’. They believe being visible as you do your job is a sure way to getting noticed and ultimately getting recognized or promoted. There is always that temptation to always show-off and make one’s presence known.

To be called a hypocrite seems far- fetched. Nobody wants to be identified as one and not many agree they should be.

According to the Mariam-Webster English dictionary online;

Full Definition of hypocrisy

plural hy·poc·ri·sies

  1. 1:  a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially :  the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
  2. 2:  an act or instance of hypocrisy
  3. 1:  a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
  4. 2:  a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

Jesus our master gave us a picture or a description of hypocrites by what they do. So if you are not sure if you are a hypocrite or not, just check out the description Jesus gave and compare the description with your attitude and ways. What is the underlying reason or motive for what you do and the way you do them?

Prayer is a good Christian practice. It is the act of communication and communion with God and Jesus said in Luke 18 verse 1 that ‘men ought always to pray and not to faint’.

However, Jesus in this instance in Matthew 6:5 described the hypocrites by their attitude and approach to prayer. He said hypocrites love to stand and pray where they would be visible. The emphasis here is their motive of being seen by men. They enjoyed the attention. They crave the respect and applause of men, they are doing the right thing – to pray- however with a wrong motive and attitude.

That is the point; we need to be careful that whatever we do in the name of God is not really with the underlying motive of ‘making a show’.  Jesus pronounced that once people start applauding and noticing you and you have succeeded in drawing their attention to yourself, at that point you have received your reward. Which means you should forget about getting answers to whatever request you are making in the prayer. No wonder why much of the so-called prayers we say we pray whether in the church or wherever don’t receive answers.

Mind you,  I am not saying Jesus condemns praying  in the public whenever there was a need for such, because He also did on a few occasions  – examples – John 11:41 – when he raised Lazarus from the dead, John 17 when he prayed for his disciples and followers and when giving thanks as he fed the thousands –  John 6:11, Mark 8:6. So Jesus does appear to pray in publicly, however his motive was never to make a show of the prayer itself as the Pharisees did.

What he condemns is the wrong motive of being seen and being recognized for the act. Have you seen people change their tone of voice and begin to speak in ‘King James tongue’ when they pray and know people are listening? What about people who repeat the same thing over and over in the name of praying long prayers so people can praise them for how long they pray?

People’s spirituality used to be rated based on how long they claimed to pray. Back in college days we had some brothers and sisters who were highly regarded and respected because they claimed they usually prayed for 5 to 6 hours non-stop every day. How ignorant? Most of those activities were for ‘show’.  In the eyes of Jesus, they already got their reward once people started according them the respect for their seeming act of spirituality.

I have come to realize that anything I do to impress people, under the guise of spirituality – will do nothing more than earn me whatever impression people have of me and the act at that moment and nothing more. Particularly for prayer, it is guaranteed not to be answered. I have already received my reward by being recognized by men. People’s accolades block God from acting. That’s why Jesus says in Matthew 6:

2“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

It’s all about the motive of the heart. God sees right through every pretense and disguise and He knows why you are doing what you are doing. Be free of any pressure to impress anyone. If you need to or you are called to pray in public, by all means go ahead but pray to your Father from your heart without any pressure to impress whoever is listening. God hears your heart and He will respond based on what is coming from therein.

Stay blessed.

 

Olaolu Oyeyemi