EXTRAORDINARY INSIGHTS FROM ORDINARY ROOM

Can you imaging waking up in the morning lying on your bed, asking yourself; "what are some of the secrets to success in life?" I discovered that ordinary things can communicate extraordinary insights.  The answer is right there in your very room.

The fan said,"be cool",
BE CAREFUL for NOTHING

The roof said, "aim high", YOUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD

The window said, "see the world." GOD IS AWESOME

The clock said, "every minute is precious." MAXIMIZE every OPPORTUNITY

The mirror said, "reflect before you act". See Yourself as WONDERFULLY & FEARFULLY made

The calender said, "be up to date". REDEEM THE TIME

The floor said "kneel down and pray". GOD  ANSWERS PRAYERS

The toilet said "flush the waste" GET RID OF ANGER

The Bible  on the room table laughed and said, "read me for direction". I am your LAMP and LIGHT

The door said "you can open me and close me." GOD WILL KEEP YOUR GOING OUT AND YOUR COMING IN

Do your best to see God using everything to communicate with you. Take nothing for granted. Ps.139:1-16

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

CELEBRATION OF A LIFE WELL SPENT

We condole with Rev. Dr. & Mrs Emmanuel Awotunde. Please,  pray and plan to attend.

TRUE WORSHIP, FRIENDSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP - Dr. Kehinde Babarinde

    We are being held accountable by the judge of our actions. It is our conscience. It remains with each of us even when shadow vanishes on sighting darkness. When we are groping in a thick darkness, our past activities and actions are being scrutinized by our conscience.
    The world will be a better place if the position of the prophets are kept and we adhere to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will have:
■True Worship
■True Fellowship
■True Friendship

    The MOTIVE and the MOUTH must be in agreement. In Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (Isaiah 29:13 NIV)

     From personal observations,  I have counseled myself never to underestimate the mind. No one may or can truly interpret pretense or precision except subjectively-the interpreter's own feelings. What's is done may not represent motive. Life is about who we speak to and what we hear.

      Truthfulness is the hallmark of biblical righteousness that epitomizes Jesus Christ. We are challenged to be truthful. Truth is the key to reliability.

     Our Lord during his ministry on earth got to a point that he had to voice out and tell people listening to him that he is not ignorant.  He said in "Matthew 15:8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." He knew human thoughts.

       The time has come for us to be truthful in our speech, just in our dealings, faithfu to our commitments and be honest with all people and at all time.

  Every believer in Christ must refuse to be political praise singers. We must not engage in the activities of sycophants to populist leaders. Let us be truthful. We must be people who are "providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. (2 Corinthians 8:21)

BAPTIST DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Thursday, January 9

1 Peter 2:11-17

LIVING AS GOD'S SERVANTS

Live such good lives among the pagans…1 Peter 2:12, NIV

Living as God's servant in a world highly populated by unbelievers, partial 'believers' and people of diverse faiths is a huge task. It requires living a blameless and open life to both friends and foes. God's servants should be models to various categories of people:

(a) Pagans; though they are always accusing believers, may be proven wrong by your actions and as such glorify God.
(b) Instituted authorities, meant to punish wrongs, should find you blameless and as such commend you.
(c) Foolish men who talk ignorantly should be silenced by your good deeds.
(d) Believers (fellow servants of God) should be encouraged by your life.

The world is in dire need of people who will set standards of moral values today. We believers are in a better position to meet this need because of our faith in Christ whose Spirit indwells us. We should help the world retrace its steps back to God by our exemplary living.
     We can do this by our sobriety, humility, patience, truthfulness and love. Anything outside of these is unacceptable to God and cannot endear sinners to Him.

Examine yourself; are you a servant of God or the devil's right-hand man? 2014 is a year to decide for Christ.

• Birthday Blessing:None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.  Ezekiel 12:28

Read Bible Through Passage:Genesis 23, 24; Matthew 8

The business of our lives is not to please ourselves but to please God. - Matthew Henry

PRAYING WITH GOOD MOTIVES - Dr .Aigbaduma

GOD DESIRING OUR ATTENTION. 
        I had the privilege to partake in this year's HOLY PILGRIMAGE TO ISRAEL  and my experience among the pilgrims to the holy land exhibited the typical attitude of many Nigerian Christians in respect to prayers. We consider Christianity as utilitarian, something that can get us whatever we want or desire. 
      It has been observed that our prayers are more directed at getting something from God rather than an avenue to commune with God, hear Him speak to us about His plans and programs, and enjoy His fellowship among other things.
      Whenever some Nigerian Christian has the opportunity to pray, he feels that God is under obligation to hear him speak first and only, rather than God speak to Him. We thunder at God , pray all manners of prayers and even dare to give Him time limits under which He must perform. But one thing we fail to do is to listen to God speak to us. We fail to realize that prayer is essentially communication, a dialogue between two individuals who talk to one another. Prayer for many of us has become a one way communication, wand we are the only one talking. 
       I had the opportunity to share in a morning devotion with the pilgrims in my group after I observed the way and manner in which they threw themselves on the floor at every holy site during the pilgrimage. No doubt, we had all come to the holy land with our different expectations and grayer needs. There are those in dire need of one miracle or the other. Others are in need of major breakthroughs or turn around in their lives. Yet others I spoke to came for healing for themselves or loved ones.
           Many brought photographs of loved ones who had particular ailments or needs and they believed the pilgrimage will work instant miracles once they touch these hallowed grounds. I made them to realize that more than they getting their prayer answered, God may have deliberately included them on the pilgrimage list in order to get their attention.
        Back at home, we are so preoccupied with daily grinds that we find it difficult to hear God speak to us. 
        Our churches and clergymen make matters worse by filling every day of the week with church programs and activities that there is hardly anytime for personal interaction and fellowship with God. 
     The art of quiet devotion and mediation seems to be missing in our Christian walk.  As a result, we become so dependent on what the man of God says rather than cultivating fellowship with God and hear Him speak to us directly as a Father to His child. God desires to speak and it is important that we listen to God, because a word dropped into our spirit by God may make all the difference and be the solution to all of our needs. 
        Citing the book of Habakuk 2:1-3, the prophet in desiring that God speak to him and His particular situation said, ' I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.' Habakuk had complained to God about  the injustice, corruption and wickedness in His country.        

       God responded that He will send the Babylonians to chastise the Israelites. Habakuk in response, could not understand why God would send a more terrible nation to punish Israel. He continued in His dialogue with God and resolved to hear God speak again to him concerning his concerns And God did.   

   It is desirable that we pray, but it is imperative that we hear God speak to us in our prayers. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says..

Rev. Christopher Aigbadumah, Phd.Moderator,  New Height Baptist Association; andSnr Pastor,  Living Souls Baptist Church,  Agabara.

BELIEVER'S FAMILY: Facing God's Testing by Dr Aigbaduma

       At the popular Alaba International market in the Lagos suburb, there is a section reputable for trading in used imported merchandise popularly called in our local parlance "Tokunbo". In this section you can get almost get anything that you want ranging from household utensils to basic electronic equipments and computers.
         Traders in these scrap items will tell you that they are categorized into 'tested' and 'untested'.  They can vouch for the 'tested' items and guarantee their performance, at least for the immediate time, because they have been worked upon and necessary repairs have been done. Right there they can plug it into the mains, and make you see that it works.
   This cannot be said however of the 'untested', which are barely offloaded from the container and have not been worked upon. Consequently, anyone who care to purchase the untested does so at his or her risk as performance cannot be guaranteed.
        This same principle applies in God's kingdom. There are those who have been tested by God over the years and are guaranteed to perform or deliver.
■They have developed strong and reliable character through their testing and walk with God.
■They are humble and do not arrogate to themselves the power of their successes or achievements.
■They are quick to let everyone know that 'not I but God.'
     One evidence of testing is faithfulness in service to God.There are those who though are high sounding and are about everywhere, are 'untested' and will fail God when it matters most.
       They are described by Apostle Paul as novice (1 Timothy 3:5) or neophyte because they have not gone through the testing that qualifies a man or woman of God.
■Abraham
■Moses
■David
     All had theirs through the wilderness experience and they triumphed later years in leadership. It is true and has been established over  the ages that God never uses a man or woman that has not been tested or worked upon.
         The purpose of testing is like the fire furnace that removes the dross from the gold and makes it shine forth as genuine. Our testing removes the dross of self, ego or pride, world, materialism etc., that prevents the glory of God shining forth through our lives.
       ''The trial  of your faith being much precious than of gold that perisheth, though tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.'. (1 Peter 1:7).

Are you tested and pliable or untested and obstinate in God's hand?

BAPTIST DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SEEK DAILY, NBC

Wednesday, January 8

Romans 6:16-23

ENSLAVED TO GOD

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are…? Romans 6:16, KJV

   Practically, no one is autonomous. We are all subjects to either God or the devil. The one you obey is the one to whom you pay allegiance.

     Apostle Paul tells us today what obedience to either God or the devil means. He also gives a counsel that should not be ignored by any right thinking person. The truth is, you may not know who you are enslaved to until you take a critical and inward look into your life.
   
If you indulge in sin with impunity, then you are enslaved to the devil. You must pray to get out of that state. Admit your faults, confess them and run to the Lord.

    A life enslaved to God is a life bound to doing things as God wills. It is a life sold out to righteous living; doing what is pleasing to God, beneficial to humanity and makes you (the doer) happy and fulfilled.

Remember, whoever you are enslaved to determines your lot both now and in the future. He even determines your place in eternity. The devil's appeal may seem sweet now but it is ever poisonous; do not be enticed. God's appeal may be unappealing at present, but it leaves you with no regret either now or later.

• Birthday Blessing: The Lord will keep you from all harm…both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8.

Read Bible Through Passage: Genesis 20, 21, 22; Matthew 7