March 2016

…. So that they may be seen ….

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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

February 2016

No Loss – Bringing to Birth II.

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finish

Isaiah 37:3
‘they announced to him: “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of trouble, rebuke, and blasphemy, because children are about to be born, but there is no strength to bring them to birth.’

Isaiah 66:9

As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons. 9“Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

As there are numerous risks involved in childbearing and delivery so are risks in every other endeavor in life.  There is the risky and fearful danger of bringing a child to term but developing complications at the very end leading to a still birth or a loss of life.

You can imagine all the inherent danger in not being able to deliver your baby. Hezekiah described it as a day of trouble, rebuke and blasphemy. It is neither expected nor desirable but that is exactly the outcome the enemy would like to see.

The thief cometh not but for to steal, kill and to destroy. John 10: 10. KJV

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. AMP.

The enemy would not like you to start anything progressive, so he will try to steal the good seed from you. He will sow tares instead in your heart trying to dissuade you from going forward in your God-given dream.  Every seed of greatness that God has sown in your heart is a threat to the enemy, so he will counter the good seed with tares of fear, doubt and unbelief.

However, if the enemy cannot stop you from starting, he’ll surely not mind see you fail, falter and unable to see the fruit of your labor. It is better not to embark on an endeavor than to start, invest all the time, energy and resources and eventually fail at delivering the project at the end.

As stated in Isaiah 66 verse 9, there is an effort required to bring a baby to birth….As soon as Zion travailed… as soon as she pushed the baby came out….. As long as Zion is willing and able to push.

Compare with the situation in Chapter 37 verse 3 where there is trouble, rebuke and blasphemy. The time has come for the baby to be born but alas the mother has no strength to push. Something is wrong somewhere. Naturally the body is designed to work together to eject the baby when the time is ripe. What is lacking here is the strength needed.

There is a grace required to deliver your baby. There is a grace required to be successful. There is a force and an ability that comes from the deposits of grace within you to finish. God wants you to finish whatever you started in Him, irrespective of the enemy’s position.

‘And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work’. 2 Corinthians 9: 8

My encouragement is that you tap into that grace today.

Stand up against every force that will not want you to succeed.

Declare God’s word over your situation. Elder John wrote:

1 John 4:4King James Version (KJV)

‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’.

David declared:

For by Thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. Psalm 18:29

Philippians 1: 6 being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

It is God’s will for you to be victorious in your battles against the voice of depression, discouragement and failure that wants to stop you from getting to your destination. You have everything you need in Him.

Let there be no still births.

Shalom,

Laolu Oyeyemi.

January 2016

Bringing to Birth.

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motherhbaby(Pic.source –  clipartpanda.com)

The journey between conception and delivery.

I wonder why God specifically allowed the woman to pass through this process for every new life that must come into our world – including His son Jesus. Maybe He’s trying to tell us something about life.

Surely, it is a journey. It does not happen overnight, it takes time.

Lots of events take place which the natural eye does not see.

There is growth and development taking place inside, hidden.

Just because you don’t see it does not mean ‘nothing is happening’.

All kinds of changes are taking place.

The organs, the tissues, the limbs form and get ready to be exposed to the world.

Eventually when the time comes for the delivery, there is a breaking that must occur.

The baby must leave the comfort zone and come out in the open.

The mother must endure pressure and strain to bring this dream to life.

To see, have and hold in her arms what she has been carrying all along, she must stretch and this is not a comfortable process. She is in pain while the process lasts.

At the end she makes the final push and pop comes out the baby.

Now at last she can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the sight, touch and affection of her baby.

In a short while, she forgets the stress and pain of the entire process.

Your pain is not meant to last forever, it’s only to help you deliver you of your baby, the dream you have been carrying all along. Do not be afraid to go through the process, knowing it will end up in joy and celebration.

Having done all to stand, stand ye therefore.

Selah.

Laolu Oyeyemi

November 2015

Value every life

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Everyone you see walking by, standing or sitting is a unique life.

Everyone you see represents themselves, a family, a community, a generation and possibly one, two or three nations.

Everyone you see has been on a journey and they have a distinct story to tell.

Respect everyone you see and if possible take some time to listen to some bit of their story.

You may learn something new.

Peradventure they may be the signpost that helps point the way

Peradventure you are the signpost they have been walking all along to read.

Respect every life, be the difference today.

Laolu Oyeyemi.

October 2015

Heaven will have every race represented

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Tell that to some people who think they are the best thing that ever happened to the human race and that God somehow owe them an apology for placing others who don’t look or speak like them in the same world.

There’s racism at the work place, there is racism on the streets, displayed everyday on TV, and believe it or not there’s racism in the church. Let’s be honest, there is racism everywhere and it did not start today.

The early church had it’s own share of the challenges that go with racism and discrimination. Acts 6:1

“Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭ASV‬‬

Actually the need for Deacons became obvious because of disputes and squabbles caused by these issues and the disciples had to find a solution by the help of the Holy Spirit.

Racism is a function of the flesh and it is closely related to pride, selfishness, spirit of competition, contempt and hatred.

These are all traits inherent in the sinful human nature and the only way to overcome is by living the life of the spirit and allowing God’s kind of love to rule our thinking and actions.

Let us walk in the Spirit and so not fulfill the promptings of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

I am pretty sure all the demonstrations, riots and protests will not solve the problem of racism. They may surely help bring awareness to the issue – which is also important, but only the Holy Spirit and the love of God will take away racism from the innermost core of a man’s heart, and it is only those who genuinely walk in the Spirit that will be able to actually live this out.

Selah.

Laolu Oyeyemi

 

When Good is Bad

When good is bad – reposted

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words“And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.”

Genesis 3:6 AMP

Looking at the above text as a natural human being, out of context and in isolation, there seemed to be nothing particularly wrong with what this woman did. Who does not see and like good things? God gave us eyes to see and most people appreciate good things when they see them. Who does not appreciate good food by its looks? Everyone who is able to see does. The bible says the tree was pleasant and delightful to look at.

Not only was the tree and fruits good looking, she was convinced the tree was a tree to be desired in ‘order to make one wise’. Again sounds like something good to me. Who is not looking for Wisdom? Every forward thinking person knows that wisdom is good and desirable. People spend decades of their lives – if not a lifetime, and tons of money looking for wisdom and the prestige and allures that come with it.

After spending all this time considering this tree and fruit, she decided to go for it. She decided she will have to experience having and eating this fruit and she did. Not only did she initiate the experience, she also shared the experience with her partner, her husband.badfruit

Again, what is wrong in plucking and eating a fruit? It seems natural to act on an idea after extensive consideration and thinking about it.

Sounds like she did what every natural person would do on a daily basis. So what is the big deal?

Well, it was a big deal. It landed herself, her husband and indeed the entire mankind and the created world into serious trouble. That was the genesis of sin and death in mankind.

Did she know the implications and consequences of her seemingly innocent action? After-all she just tried something and she shared it with her husband by her side.

Rom 5:12 therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned

What makes it a big deal is that God had given them just one command earlier in Chapter 2: 16-17.

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; 17 but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly [h]die [because of your disobedience].”

This was an express command. Their very lives and the destiny of mankind was as stake. God had warned them that this particular fruit was a ‘no go’ area for them. God’s instructions was what made it a big deal. No matter how good something may look, no matter the allures, no matter what someone, some expert, or everyone else –for what it is worth – says about it, if God forbids it, then it remains toxic to go against God’s warnings and instructions. Why? Because He is God and He knows everything. He created everything and He knows the end from the beginning. It is wise to allow God be God and we be humans and be obedient to His instructions. ‘Obedience is better than sacrifice’ just as Saul found out.

But really she could have been me. If I only I know the consequences of certain actions I take today. No matter how good something looks, no matter how attractive it may seem, no matter the promises for wisdom and prestige it holds, as long as it is against God’s will and God’s word, then it is the forbidden fruit and it has the potential to kill.

Stay blessed.

Laolu Oyeyemi

..Food for thought..., July 2015

Son of Encouragement

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encouragement(Picture from wittybizgal.com)

‘Son of encouragement’- that was the name given to Barnabas. His character encapsulates the theme of my thoughts.

Everybody needs some form of affirmation. I guess it is a human thing. The only thing is that no one should be hung up on seeking approval from every nook and craning just for the sake of affirmation and encouragement.

Jesus Christ is the only example of perfection known to man. He had a perfect self-image and seemingly needed no affirmation from anyone. How I want to be like Jesus! He was fully aware of himself and needed no human being to define him.

However it is key to understand that Jesus Christ being The Word of God in human flesh was in constant communion and communication with His Father, he had his need for affirmation met by The Father. His father made sure he knew how much He loved him and how crucial his assignment was to the God-head, heaven and earth. On the day Jesus was to be baptized in water by John, a voice rang out from Heaven, the Father affirmed His son by speaking out – This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matt. 3:17). That is a huge statement, and in fact the entire Gospel in my opinion is founded on this declaration. That was good enough affirmation for Jesus to run with, such that when the devil came – like he came to Eve and Adam – in the next chapter to test his understanding of His identity, Jesus was ready to respond to the spirit of doubt and unbelief.

I think all Dads should learn a great lesson from God about taking the time to affirm and encourage our kids – natural or adopted.

I think everyone needs some encouragement and we all have the responsibility to be an encouragement to someone. However, if there’s no one there to give the encouragement, I have learnt to look inward like David, drawing from the Spirit of God to encourage myself. I got to do what I got to do. I have to keep on going.

The bottom line is that God’s love and commitment to His children never wanes. He has loved us with and everlasting love.

“This is the way GOD put it: “They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!” GOD told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I’ll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You’ll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You’ll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, and sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you’ll enjoy those harvests! The time’s coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let’s go to Zion, go to meet our GOD!’””

Jeremiah 31:2-6 MSG.

Shalom!

‘Laolu Oyeyemi.

 

June 2015

A glorious generation

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You might not realize it but it is true that a glorious generation is passing away. In the past couple of months a good number of my friends have had to say ‘Goodbye till we meet to part no more’ to a parent or an aged family member as they passed on to their rest as their own ancestors did. It is hard to imagine how quickly time pass. I remember the glory of that golden generation that welcomed us into the world. That generation that taught us the fear of God, good morals and the importance of the family. They were beautiful, handsome and radiant in their days, they stood tall and respectable in their chosen vocations, they taught us the importance of hard-work and integrity.

For those of us of African descent, the generation of my parents fought the good fight of faith and wrestled us away from the grip of idolatry. They opened the door to Christianity and many of them planted the seed that germinated and blossomed into a revival in our generation.
We celebrate the memories of our heroes dead and living and more importantly we realize the fact that the baton has been passed on to us. This is our time to step up to the plate and do our part to shape our generation and leave something of value for the next generation, our children to build on. Whether we like it or not, our own clock is also running and each passing day, we move closer to our exit from the stage. My prayer is that our light will not go down at mid-day, when it ought be be shining the brightest. ‘And David served God in His own generation’ Acts 13:36.
‘Laolu Oyeyemi

 

..Food for thought..., May 2015

Like a thief in the night…He’s coming back.

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sky2Hey! Wake Up! Jesus is actually coming back!

I remember the days when a month could hardly go by without a message about the Rapture and the 2nd coming of the Lord. The consciousness of the imminence of His return was popular and palpable. Believers lived wth an expectation of the Lord’s return. Funny and overboard as it may sound, I actually remember instances where people were scared the Rapture had taken place just for the fact that some respected believers skipped a meeting or were delayed keeping an appointment. It was that serious.

Do you remember how it used to be? You know what I mean, there was a conscious expectation of the Lord’s coming in the air.

Well, time has indeed changed and so called ‘knowledge’ has increased, The world is changed , comfort levels have changed, huge strides have been made in the world of science and medicine, the world has ‘shrunk’ seemingly due to advancement in communication and Technology. Societies, cultures, our ways of life, definitions of morals and family principles have changed and somehow it seems the focus of our Christian messages has also changed along with the world.

In the midst of all these changes and as a new generation emerge; we must remember we have a baseline, a reference point, the source of truth, which is the everlasting and immovable word of God.

 I am so grateful that God does not change with time. He himself declared in Malachi 3:6 ‘I am the Lord, I change not’, and mind you ‘that is why you sons of Jacob are not consumed’.

 Human beings do change with time. The most respected of preachers say things and sometimes come back refuting things they claimed were true. Leaders, Organizations and countries do change their policies over time. Surely it is comforting to know that in the midst of all these uncertainties, we have a God who does not change. We have His word to return to in times of chaos and confusion.

I have been thinking about recent events in the world and how day in day out astounding news of evil hit us from the airwaves. Though not new, but nonetheless striking; Terrorism, acts of violence, senseless shooting sprees, sexual profanity and unbridled immorality, corruption all over the world, and have you noticed how sex-laden our commercials have become these days? – Without any considerations for the kids and under-aged, sexual scenes are broadcast in broad daylight when the kids are watching; it all speaks to the moral decadence of our society today. I wonder what will be ten years from now.

In the last days’ perilous times shall come’.

◄ 2 Timothy 3 ►
New International Version1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

 

It dawned on me, the word of God says, ‘He will come like a thief in the night’. When no one is expecting.

◄ 1 Thessalonians 5 ►
New International VersionThe Day of the Lord1Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

 

   The word of God has not changed. There is a certain ‘day’ of the Lord that is coming and our consciousness of His return should be awakened. ’He that hath ears, let him hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying’. Selah

 

‘Laolu Oyeyemi.

..Food for thought..., February 2015

I refuse to wither

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lionApathy, doubt, procrastination, indecision, ‘maybes’, ‘what-ifs’ and ‘impossible’ are children of the same parents, Mr. Fear and Mrs. ‘Laid-Back’.

Their hobby is to sit around enjoying the cool breeze of the graveyard where everything is quiet and predictable. They have given up on life, the excitement and suspense of new challenges and sweetness of battles-won. They sit around singing ”Que sera sera’ – whatever will be, will be’. They are content with getting by, they deceive themselves, believing they are immune from shock and crisis.

How wrong they are. ‘Woe to them who are at ease in Zion’, ‘When they say there is peace and quiet, then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains, and they will not escape’, ‘Moab has been at ease since his Youth; He has also been undisturbed, like wine on its dregs, And he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into exile. Therefore he retains his flavor, And his aroma has not changed.’ (Amos 6:1, Thess. 5:3,1 Jer 48:11).

 

My fervent prayer today is;  ‘Lord – do not allow me rest in the place of the dead , when I am supposed to be among the living, pulsating with life. Refresh me when I am tired, Nudge me when I am taking it too easy, push me when I refuse to move.’

I refuse to die off in my daytime. In fact I will never die. I live to die no more, I have the life of God in me. I am alive in Christ for evermore, redeeming the time, not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

‘Laolu Oyeyemi

God is not a secret to be kept…