RAISING DISCIPLES FOR WORLD OUTREACH

 BEERSHEBA...THE IMMUTABILITY OF DIVINE COUNSEL. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:  And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. Genesis 45:27-28 So Israel began his trip to Egypt. First he went to Beersheba. There he worshiped God, the God of his father Isaac. He offered sacrifices. Genesis 46:1-2 It was already 13 years since Joseph was claimed to have been devoured by wild animal that Jacob leant he was still alive. Joseph's spirit was revived at this news. Then, he has to go and see him according to Joseph's request and Jacob's lingering desire. But the journey to 'prosperous' Egypt was not to start until the worship and sacrifice in BEERSHEBA was done.  The opportunity to be in Egypt was a deserving one. It was very expedient and seemingly unavoidable. It was a call from ...

 How a Pastor Stole a $25,000.00 Open Bank Cheque During Dinner in Member's House A Successful Nigerian couple invited the Pastor of their Church for dinner in their home in California, United States of America. After the Pastor left, the couple realized their cheque had disappeared. The man said to his wife; “I think the Pastor has stolen the $25,000.00 open bank check that I kept here on the table of which I had the intention to give to him”. Angrily his wife exclaimed; “Hmmmm! All of them are just the same. If they are not fake, they are thieves. There is no need to invite him again, we shall from henceforth be attending another Church”. Two Months Later, the woman met the Pastor on a certain street and was courageous enough to face him and said: “Good morning Pastor, you have surely realised that we no longer attend Church, this is because we're angry with you. The day you ate in our house, there was a $25,000.00 open bank check on the table but unfortunately it disappeared...

 STOP BEING WILD "Later, when Hagar knew she was going to have a baby, she became proud and was hateful to Sarai.... But Sarai began treating Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away. Genesis 16:4, 6 How often we allowed hatred and persecution against ourselves because of projected success and breakthrough. We became so proud and uncontrollable because of conceived but immature and unripe vision.  It is really unnecessary to allow ourselves distracted and become wild because of 'beautiful' but intangible success. 

 KEY TO DIVINE FULFILMENT IT IS THESE WHO HAVE NOT DEFILED THEMSELVES WITH WOMEN, for they are chaste; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, - Revelation 14:4. Today, there are varied susceptible sins that trapped men. Sin accounted for man's fall and inability to grow in the grace of God.  However, in recent time, great men of avouched glory. rising stars, men with great goal and exceptional visions has been buried in the lap of women.  Sex has become so cheap that money is not a necessary factor to contract it.  The doors of immorality has been widely opened to us as LEADERS and rising stars. Indecent dressings ladies flocking around. The pitiable ladies who needed to be counseled. A married woman facing brutal domestic abuse. An helpless lady who needed academic support, etc. The doors to contract this disease is unimaginably widely opened.  Seriously, I conjecture that an...

 *Judas Test*  _"If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God" (Ps. 55:12-14)._ Betrayal is one of the most difficult tests that we will ever face because it involves being wounded by someone we trust. It's hard not to become bitter when a friend or family member wounds us. It takes a lot of Christ-like grace to forgive a traitor. You have probably faced the Judas Test yourself. Every day you and I work in a marketplace that is rife with betrayal, deception, duplicity, and treachery. Perhaps you have been betrayed by your boss or a coworker. Or perhaps somebody betrayed a confidence or stabbed you in the back. It may have even been someone you've gone to church with or prayed with - someone you trusted as a brother in Christ. The Judas kiss sting...

 A SCARY GLORY Also before the throne there was something that looked like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In front of the throne and on each side of it there were four living beings. They had eyes all over them, in front and in back. [7] The first living being was like a lion. The second was like a bull. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like a flying eagle. [8] Each of these four living beings had six wings. They were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stopped saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God All-Powerful. He always was, he is, and he is coming." [9] These living beings were giving glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever... Revelation 4:6-9 Imagine the description of these living beings:  1. look like lion 2. look like a bull 3. a face like a man (an exception to the other three) 4. look like a flying eagle More so, they all 1. Has six wings each 2. were co...

 LIVING WITHOUT STRESS They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:5-6 Recently, I was discussing with my wife on various Christian principles against the deviations to those principles that we are witnessing in the church today. We cited a church or two whose congregations haven't surge in the past 10 years or more of their establishment. Of course, these are the finest Christian congregations around with sound biblical principles. But they aren't growing in population. What is/was their sin(s) or errors? It is simply that they are adhering strictly to the Biblical principles. For instance, in those congregations, there is no seasonal adult or children harvest where thousands of money are raised and syphoned from people's purse in the name of greater blessings...

  In the matter of clothing and jewelry, there are guidelines that apply to all believers, men as well as women. A first principle is expense. How much do we spend on clothes? Is it all necessary? Could the money be spent in better ways? First Timothy 2:9 forbids expensive clothes: “not with … costly clothing.” It is not a matter of whether or not we can afford them. It is sin for a Christian to spend money on expensive clothes, because God’s word forbids it. Compassion forbids it too. The desperate plight of our neighbors in other lands, their enormous spiritual and physical needs, point up the callousness of spending money unnecessarily on clothing. This applies not only to the quality of the clothes we buy but to the quantity as well. The closets of some Christians look like branch clothing stores. Often as they travel on vacation, a rod stretched over the back seat of the car holds an array of dresses, shirts, and suits that rivals the samples of a traveling clothing salesman. ...

 YOUR APPOINTED TIME IS NOW And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: AND THE POWER OF THE LORD WAS PRESENT TO HEAL THEM. Luke 5:17 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, "Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you." But Jesus said, "Someone deliberately touched me, FOR I FELT HEALING POWER GO OUT FROM ME." Luke 8:45-46. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. FOR AN ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT DOWN AT CERTAIN SEASON INTO THE POOL, AND TROUBLED THE WATER: WHOSOEVER THEN FIRST AFTER THE TROUBLING OF THE WATER STEPPED IN WAS MADE WHOLE OF WHATSOEVER DISEASE HE HAD. John 5:2-4 The three pas...

 MEET ME IN GALILEE... AN INDISPENSABLE ENCOUNTER TO SUSTAIN THE RESURRECTED LIFE. Jesus's resurrection from death has become an undisputable divine truth in human history. An attempt to stand antithetical is just a stubborn decision and fruitless efforts. More so, every believers in Christ must experience this form of resurrection from the dead work. Indeed, we must passed from death to life (John 5.24) Meanwhile, when Jesus rose from the dead, he instructed His disciples to meet Him at Galilee.  There wouldn't have been any need for other meeting after resurrection if such were not of utmost importance to us and our continuity in the race of life.  Matthew 28:16-20 KJV Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND EARTH. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them...

  WHEN YOU BREAK YOUR VISION Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.  Mark 14:3‭-‬5. The woman here took what was precious unto her and what was sufficient to pay a year's wages, broke and pour it on Jesus's head. It was so expensive that most of those around took offense in such audacious act. Presumably, each of them kept hidden what was precious to them somewhere.  Don't forget, it was this indignation that led Judas Iscariot (one of Jesus's disciples) to aligned with the religious leaders to betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.   Do you...

 EVEN SO... THEY WOULD NOT TAKE WARNING.  Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them." So Samuel passed on the LORD's warning to the people who were asking him for a king.  This is how a king will reign over you," Samuel said. "The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots.  Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.  The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.  He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.  He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.  He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and...

 MUST I GO AN EMPTY-HANDED?  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors  until THE TIME APPOINTED OF THE FATHER. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:  But when THE FULNESS OF THE TIME WAS COME, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Galatians 4:1-4 Everything in life has their time and season of fruitfulness. Things are fundamentally makes beautiful in their own time. Once the appointed season and time of certain things expire, it starts experiencing decay and wastage. A pregnant woman expects her delivery on or few days before the ninth month. Any single day(s) after this appointed time is characterised by worrying, anxiety and fears.  We sometimes missed our  appointed time and season, opportunity and greatness in life because we couldn't recognise our appointed time of visitation (Luke...

  Great men lose their great success for lack of boundaries or restraint.  It is better to be careful than to be sorry. (ONE CHAPTER A MOMENT, David & Mirella, OLAYINKA) No one is fashioned or called to conquer the entire world. We all have the location and limitation of our influence (only God is infinitely limitless).  Samson was made with great strength. But God set him the limitation, even before his birth:  "Be sure not to drink any wine or beer, or eat any forbidden food; and after your son is born, you must never cut his hair, because from the day of his birth he will be dedicated to God as a nazirite. He will begin the work of rescuing Israel from the Philistines." Judges 13:4-5 However, Samson love for things outside his boundary made him lose the secret of his purpose to a prostitute Delilah and he died without divine protection.  Be careful how you move your life around. A lot of things may provoke your heart, but your opportunities lies in your p...

 THE KING IS COMING "Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." Isaiah 35:4 NLT We are living in a precarious time. A lot of things could ignite fears in our hearts, ranging from ✓ government rules that could adversely affect our businesses ✓ relocation that could temporarily affect our family lifestyle and income ✓ completion of projects ✓ diseases and sicknesses that surface in the family ✓ paying a rent ✓ desire to meet up with a targeted goals  ✓ fulfilling a dream or projected vision, etc The list are endless. Be assured: Your God is coming to destroy YOUR ENEMIES. Seriously, fears are enemies of our peace and joy. They are enemies of our progress and stability of heart.  Remember,  ✓ Psalm 112:6-8 KJV Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lor...

As we revel in seeing the new month and coming gradually to the end of the year. We must make every effort to check ourselves daily; knowing fully we are not getting any younger but older and the time of our life is passing away. This is a reason to live right and put things right "Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night is far gone, the day of his return will soon be here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the armor of right living, as we who live in the daylight should! Be decent and true in everything you do so that all can approve your behavior. Don't spend your time in wild parties and getting drunk or in adultery and lust or fighting or jealousy.  But ask the Lord Jesus Christ to help you live as you should, and don't make plans to enjoy evil". Romans 13:11-14 TLB I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who...

 "I have no doubt that the world stands because of the prayers of Christians." Aristides of Athens  But, I am doubtful that not many Christians takes the discipline of prayers very seriously. Why do we fail to pray? Because we depend so much on our strength and techniques.    In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express.  And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will. Romans 8:26-27 GNT

Confess your faults and sins to your friends, Christian brothers and sisters or your spouse, so your prayers are answered clearly. Don't hide away from your flesh!  'Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other SO THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.' James 5:16 NLT You may be dying away hiding away. Come clean. (One Chapter A Moment, Mirella & David OLAYINKA). The phrase 'So that you may be HEALED' is seriously significant in our spiritual making. Confessing to God leads to FORGIVENESS. But, only by confessing to other Christians can we be HEALED. Forgiveness and HEALING is congruent. The physical and Spiritual healing are tools for our  Spiritual formation.  What peace and healing we often forfeit by not taking the stride of faith.  It is not a sign of weakness but rather of strength and confidence in Christ when we confess to one another. 

Great understanding amplifies efforts, but lack of understanding buries skills and efforts underground... God wants us talk to Him on clarifications of our purposes otherwise we will have to run on our own fuel and may struggle all lifelong (One Chapter A Moment, Mirella & David OLAYINKA) Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can't even find their way home. Ecclesiastes 10:15  So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17 

'Humans can use you and dump you once they're done with you or better opportunities show up. Always bear that in mind! A true child of God will never do so though!' (One Chapter A Moment, Mirella & David OLAYINKA) Even the most esteemed and godly institution in the world--marriage, sometimes ended up in divorce when sexual and personal gratification must have been achieved.  Exodus 1:8-10:  EVENTUALLY, A NEW KING CAME TO POWER IN EGYPT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JOSEPH OR WHAT HE HAD DONE. He said to his people, "Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don't, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country." Joseph used all his youthful and precious life serving the Egyptian government. He served faithfully and broke record. It is unthinkable that any king would assume power in Egypt without knowing or ...

ü   Luk 1:80  And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert  till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel (Weymouth) ü   Luk 1:80  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel (KJV) ü   Ecc 3:1  Everything on earth has its own time and its own season (CEV) ü   Ecc 3:11  He hath made everyt hing beautiful in his time… (KJV) During the weekend when we were attending a friend father’s interment, two events happened in a quick succession that really spoke to my heart. First, when we got to the town we were unsure of the direction to his house, then we made a stop to read a banner made for that occasion and initiated a call to him. We were unaware that we were actually in-front of his house. Second, we were to buy a phone car charger, so we moved towards the market. Unable to get what we desire from the first vendor...

SURE FOUNDATION: CRITICAL NEED FOR YOUTH TO STAND AGAINST EVERY STORMS OF LIFE PSALM 11:1-3; 2 TIMOTHY 2:17-20. INTRODUCTION A  study on the word foundation from the Bible indicates that it means the roots, base, support, source of life and strength, what makes you stand (Jeremiah 50:15; Ezekiel 30:4; Micah 1:6, etc). Foundation is popularly associated with buildings. When a house is to be built, wisdom demands that a foundation should be laid first. To lay a foundation (Luke 6:47-49) you first dig out the earth, then the blocks on a very solid substance (the rock). Then you build the house on that foundation. This is how to build a house that will last, and withstand every external forces, be the storms, winds, floods (waters), torrential rain, etc. Thus, the strength of every building is its foundation. Life is like a building, if it will last and endure the forces of challenges, destructions, and the other forces it must have strong foundation. From the scriptures, it...

It was Dietrich Bonhoeffer who says: When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. You would observe in our previous discussion the emphasis we placed in separating discipleship and followership. This is paramount at this stage as we observed the conditions for becoming a disciple. Discipleship is not a life of enjoyment; presumably dinning and winning in the Holy Ghost. It is a life of commitment not only to enjoy Christ but to suffer and die for Him (Acts 21:13; 5:41). What are the conditions of been a Christ’s disciple: Born Again (John 3:1-7; 1 Corinthians 2:13-15). You can’t discipled an unbeliever. He first has to come to the knowledge of the Master. Self-Denial (Matthew 10:32-39; 16:24). Self is an easy thing to discard with. Been a psychological construct, it is the reason for our existence. Self is why we are better than another. It is our means of expression and uniqueness. Now, Jesus is saying that anyone who decided...

A disciple is a learner or pupil; one who accepts and follows the doctrine and life of a particular teacher. A disciple is more than an observer. He is a regular, consistent and committed follower of a teacher.      From the Latin word, DISCIPULUS it is noted that a discipline is one who bounds himself strictly to the life of a certain teacher; he takes the discipline, direction and correction from such teacher and sometimes he is called by the name of the teacher and or reference is made of him in respect of his teacher.   It will be pertinent to say here that discipleship is more than followership which Christianity seems to portray. A Christian has to be discipled to accept the discipline of Christ. At this stage, he deliberately and consciously accept and carry the yoke of Christ (Matthew 11: 29). Discipleship is MAKING not MADE (Matthew 28:19, 4:19ff). One could say that, HE IS WORK IN PROGRESS. This does not mean he toyed w...