GIVE YOUR BEST

GOD CONTINUES TO GIVE (Luke 2:15-17, 20)

    When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
   
SHEPHERDS AND WISE MEN GAVE THEIR BEST
   The angels that announced the first Christmas rejoiced and praised God to the hearing of the shepherds.
       The shepherds were like the Berean Christians who will always check their scriptures to be sure what they heard was true. The shepherds verified the news that was given to them  about Christmas. It was only when they were sure that they spread the news. You cannot tell people with confidence what you are not sure of, except you are a pathological liar.
        After ascertaining the truth of the news, they did not go about drinking, or eating, the most important thing to them was to give the same good news to others and to thank and praise God for His show of love of giving unto man such great gift of a Saviour.
 
GOD WANTS YOU TO GIVE
       It is indeed a season of giving, for God gave His only Son to man, What will you give this season?
■ The owner of the inn created a space for Jesus, What will you give this season?
■ The angels gave the news to the shepherd,  What will you give this season?
■The shepherds gave the news to others and gave God glory and praise. What will you give this season?
■The wise men gave three gift items. What will you give this season?
You need to give your life and time to your God and his Church

Merry Christmas
God bless you.

Kingdom Project Partner

Rev Dr Kehinde Babarinde
cplagoscentral@gmail.com
   

JOY TO THE WORLD

Joy to the world! The Lord is come: 
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room, 
And heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns:let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains 
Repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the earth with truth and grace, 
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousnes
And wonders of His love.

On behalf of Lagos Central Baptist Conference and my family,  I wish everyone Merry Christmas.

Rev. Dr. O.Kehinde Babarinde
"Be at peace with all men"
08159991300; 08033559709
Twitter- @okbabarinde
FB- Kehinde Babarinde
blog  -  lagoscentralbaptist.blogspot.com

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL

Tuesday, December 24

Leviticus 12:1-5

CIRCUMCISING ON THE EIGHT DAY

On the Eight day, the boy is to be circumcised.Leviticus 12:3, NIV

      Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the male genital, a custom that began with Abraham as a sign of the covenant between God and him. By rule, every male child must be circumcised on the eight day (v. 3). The spiritual significance is found in Deuteronomy 10:16, where the "foreskin of the heart" is to be circumcised. This is a pointer to a hardened heart as against that of commitment and obedience to the Lord.

      Although the physical strictness cannot be downplayed, the spiritual interpretation is very vital. The Jews placed value on circumcision as the basis for salvation but Paul debunked it, emphasising rather on grace and faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8). Today, so many people pride themselves in the external activities they do in the name of the Lord. Re-examine yourself today. Are the things you do born out of love for God or a desire to make a name? Is it service prone or relationship driven? Friend, what matters most is a genuine relationship with Christ, only then can the life of Christ ooze out of our lives daily. 

Read Bible Through Passage: Zephaniah 1, 2, 3; Rev. 16 

PURITY IN THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS

Preamble
One of the major themes often neglected in the story of the birth of Jesus is the purity of  Mary and the sanctity of Joseph's bed. We are challenged to encourage our daughters to live in purity and our sons to accept sexual abstinence as godly and commendable.

PURITY IS A PRODUCT OF FLEEING
The Reverend Marty O'Rourke, in an article entitled "Escaping Sexual Sin Before it's Too Late," gave the following recommendations when to flee from sexual temptation."When do you need to flee?·

When you find yourself thinking about a "friend, co-worker, ministry partner, counselee" and how much you enjoy being with this person -- FLEE!·

When you look forward to spending more time with this person and you make sure you look especially nice if you know you might see your "friend" that day -- FLEE!·

If you begin to fantasize about being with this person or knowingly start touching your "friend" in "innocent " ways -- FLEE!·

When you become more secretive about your interaction with your "friend" because people like your spouse might "misunderstand" your friendship -- FLEE!·

If you receive cards, e-mails or presents from this person that you would not want your spouse to see -- FLEE!·

When you find yourself comparing your spouse in an unfavorable way to your "friend"-- FLEE!·

If you start confiding in your "friend" about your marital problems -- FLEE!

Anytime we feel we must keep something secret, this would indicate that sin is crouching at our door.

If you are experiencing sexual attraction to someone - or experiencing some other kind of temptation over a few days - go to your spouse or someone you can trust in the Body of Christ. Bring the secret out into the light of day and ask for prayer and accountability." 

PERSONAL COMMITMENT
We each face temptations, but only Jesus can truly satisfy us. Today in prayer, pray that the Lord would lead you away from all temptation so that you may walk with Him. "If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get better on your own.

You need the help of other people. Rick Warren said "Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable." -  God's Word: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." – Matthew 6:13 

Let us pray for forgiveness of our past and the grace  not yield to temptation

(This reflection came from Devotional. Com by Peter Kennedy)

THE LIGHT HAS COME

GREAT LIGHT IN THE DARK WORLD

The Scripture contains records of foretelling of the birth of Jesus Christ. Many generations expected the coming of the Messiah. Prophet Isaiah spoke about the coming of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6-7 " For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

   Indeed Jesus' birth was a joyful news to the whole world. The news of his birth is not an old tale. The reign of Jesus Christ is always fresh in the heart of believers who truly love and serve him. People from different tribes, cultures,and countries are responding to the good news that his birth brought to the whole world.
       The proclamation of his birth is not limited to a season, it is eternal. Jesus' birth caused us to experience redemption. We are redeemed from darkness unto his marvelous light. Isaiah stated that "the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned" ( Isaiah 9 : 2)
     There is no doubt Jesus is redeeming Souls on a daily basis. His birth is efficacious at all times. No matter how great one's sin may be, Jesus has the power to cleanse. It is stated in the Bible that he was given the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
   
       Jesus is lmmanuel. Our saviour has never left us alone. Though we are living in a dark world. Jesus is always present. He is the Light that shines in the darkness. " In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." ( John 1:4-5 KJV)

When anyone receives him, he will never walk in the darkness again.  He will shine forever.

Rev Mrs Kemi Babarinde
HOD, Religious Education
Baptist College of Theology,  Lagos.

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL

SEEK DAILY, NBC
Monday, December 23
Luke 2: 21-24

PARENTS' COMMITMENT TO THE LAW

"Now when the days of her purification according to the laws of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord." Luke 2: 22, NKJV

Jesus' parents observed all the biblical injunctions required for purification of Hebrew women after birth and presentation of newborn babies to the temple even with Christ. They were not overwhelmed by pride of the heavenly glory that surrounded them and their baby to disregard the laws.
Parents today must learn lessons from Jesus' parents by showing traits of sincerity and steadfastness to God's purpose of parenting.

With the sad state of moral decadence and worldliness in our society today, parents must re-commit themselves to scriptural laws by:
(i) Being exemplary in life and character (Matthew 5:16).
(ii) Teaching their children the wholistic injunctions of God (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
(iii) Sacrificing their time and resources in training their children (Proverbs 22:6).
(iv) Putting premium in moulding children into godly standard for a better society (Malachi 2:15).

PASTORAL INSIGHT

THE JOY OF LONG AWAITED MIRACLE
Luke 1: 5ff.

OUR HISTORY
Everyone has a past,  an history- the story that can be told. Some aspects are pleasant,  others may not. Our past cannot be rewind and changed.  None of them can be erased. Alas! a miracle can overshadow the negative experiences. How?
      God spoke through Prophet Isaiah, "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.( Isaiah 43:18-19). God proves.that he cannot forget his own people. The story of the first Christmas contains the episode of God remembering to meet a need.

OUR NEEDS
God will usually not arise to no occasion nor meet his people without a point of need. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1). The story of Christmas presents a family that had a need.

  Luke wrote that "there was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years." (Luke 1:5-8). The story ended in and with joy, God gave them a son.

    OUR GOD REMEMBERS
We are tempted by human nature to feel neglected and forsaken. The God we serve will remember his word, his promises and his people. God asked, 
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." (Isaiah 49:15 KJV). An example is this, "And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb."(Genesis 30:22)

OUR CONVICTION
The story of the birth of Jesus will be incomplete without a mention of the manifestation of long..awaited miracle- the birth of John the Baptist. Are there long awaited miracles, waiting wombs and age-long reproach?  God will meet you.divinely.

Merry Christmas.

Rev Dr Kehinde Babarinde
Conference President