This is Your day son!
That you get closer to Your Creator.
That is the way of God for His beloved
The Right way upward and forward
For there is no other way so sure
Pour out Your heart to Him in prayer
Read, Study and Meditate on His life-giving Word
Make this a daily habit especially in the dawn of the day
When you miss the Holy Spirit in the morning
You miss the Good news of the day that no media can offer
So, spend time in His presence for the journey is long
Do not just live your life for enjoying God's acts
Rather seek His face to know His Plans, Purpose and Pursuits
He delights to reveal these to you than You can imagine
Be wise like Moses; seeking the way of God
Be discipline like Joseph; who will not sold his birthright
Avoid relationship with people like Esau; guide your inheritance.
Remember one day or night of pleasure can ruin a whole life
Remember Reuben; who exchange his blessing for a curse
May you be a glorious Finisher like the Biblical Joseph
As your days, so shall your strength be, son!
May you be preserved from all evils wherever you go
You will enter into the labour of others
The flavour of God's favour will make your life unique
The Lord God will satisfy you with long life
May you be found Faithful, Fruitful, Fulfilling His Purpose
May you Finish gloriously in Jesus' matchless name. Amen.
I love you; forget not the counsel of your father.
I and your mother are praying for you.
It is well with you.
Dad
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
DAD'S WISH FOR MY SON ON HIS 23RD BIRTHDAY!
MOSES AT MARAH
As promised last week, this is a pull-out from the yet to be published book: "HIS HELPING HANDS"
“So Moses brought
This happened after the whole children of
It was not only the whole congregation of
In the above quoted passage, in verse 23, when they came to Marah, there was a turn in events. They found the water they needed but it was bitter. Literally speaking, Marah means bitter! This was a real test of faith for God’s people who had just witnessed and celebrated God’s mighty deliverance only to face this terrible travail. Three days in the wilderness and no water!
The body can go without food for more than 3 days but it is not healthy if it goes on for more than 3 days without water. It could be injurious without divine intervention. Consequently, we need to be careful when going through long periods of fasting and praying without food. The body needs plenty of water at such times to make our body systems and organs function effectively.
What was the reaction of the people? This is important for us to consider in our own situation today! Brother, after a long trial of faith, imagine you won and there was great breakthrough for you and family, and you were just ready to enjoy the spoils of your warfare and here the enemy comes again with another one of his schemes or devices. I want to say, all is permitted by God to test you whether you actually love Him more than your breakthrough or your spoils of war.
“All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.” (1 John 5:17)
There is therefore the need to be watchful in reacting to issues or challenges we encounter. My own popular saying in such times, almost a cliché in my mouth is: Jesus is Lord. How true is this statement! Jesus is Lord over the stormy as well as the calm or cool situation.
In such a situation, you can just say thank you Lord Jesus or Father, you are good all the time! God is good indeed in all situations and circumstances, all He wants from us is trust. We will be dealing with this in detail in another section of this book.
In a situation like Marah, it is a time to remember His past goodness, mercies, loving-kindness, blessings, favours and breakthroughs knowing that He is still the same and He can do all things even though the situation may be seem to be swallowing us up.
Paul the Apostle, in the New Testament passed through an extensive chronicle of perils and problems, as we shall see later; yet he later wrote in his epistle,
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
If we remain steadfast in God, the entire seemly bad situation will ultimately work out for our good.
MOSES’ REACTION MADE A DIFFERENCE
However, in Marah, one man reacted differently! The man Moses acted differently from all the other Israelites. You can make a difference wherever you are on the surface of the earth. Stand up for righteousness, integrity and truth. Let your yes be yes and no be no; let your word be your bond. As Christians, we are called to be saints (Ephesians 5:3) and the light and salt of the world. People are watching us more than they do other people of other religions or faiths. Many do not even know that Christianity is not a religion but life itself, for the Bible says:
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
In essence following Jesus is Life and leads to the Heavenly Father in eternal habitation. No faith or religion in the whole world promises that! What a wonderful life we have in Jesus if we so follow Him in truth, integrity and righteousness to the end. Do you know in doing this there is a greater reward here on earth too? This might only interest or amuse you, but it is true friend!
Moses did something we all need to emulate today. He cried out to Yahweh (Jehovah). Yahweh is the One who is and who causes to be.
Moses knew the God he served. He knew that God, who with an outstretched Arm, delivered His people,
At this juncture, I will want you know to note this: Fact is different from Truth. This may sound illogical but I am bold to say it is veritable. The fact about a situation is different from the truth. In this situation, the fact is the Israelites are in Marah where the water had all along been bitter even before they got there. People who are nomads in the wilderness would have had this knowledge before the children of
However, the Truth came into the scene and caused a change to be permanently recorded in history till today. I am sure the people left a permanent, memorable and indelible footprint in Marah. That which had been known as a fact was indeed changed before their own very eyes. This is Truth in action. What an awesome Almighty God we serve. This is marvellous. The medical fact today says one thing but when the Truth comes into the situation He reverses it and medical specialists are bewildered. The Truth, Himself, is God of all flesh!
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
You are blessed and a blessing to this generation.
May you be found faithful, fruitful, fulfilling God's purpose for your life and ultimately finishing gloriously in Jesus' name. Amen.
In case you are visiting Singapore, then make it a date to worship God with us in Cornerstone Community Church where my Senior Pastor, Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong, lovable, admirable and amiable, will be glad to welcome you. Love of God radiates in Cornerstone, Singapore! Come with us join us:
"Come with us, and we will do you good, for the Lord has promised good concerning Israel." (Numbers 10:29)
Pastor John Ekundayo,
Cornerstone Community Church,
Singapore SE Asia.
Friday, June 20, 2008
HIS HELPING HANDS-Coming out in July 2008!
Dear readers,
I want to be dishing out part of the proposed book to be published in this blog weekly. You can look out for soul-lifting messages from the book presently in the press.The book is coming out in July, 2008. The title is 'HIS HELPING HANDS'.
I am presenting the foreword to the book written by one of my mentors, Pastor Sunday Adelaja of the Blessed Embassy of the Kingdom of God for all Nations, Kiev, Ukraine--the largest church in Europe, who was used of God to connect me to my Senior Pastor, Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong of Cornerstone Community Church, Singapore.
FOREWORD
By the arm of the flesh shall no one prevail. A man's strength and means are too small
and too weak for him or her to prevail over the pressing challenges of our world.
Hence we all need "His helping hand". God is an ever abiding help in times of need for
those who trust in Him.
This is the eternal truth that Pastor John Ekundayo shares with us in this wonderful book.
I highly recommend this book to all! It will raise your faith, build your hope for the future
and give you the needed confidence for today.
Thank you Pastor John for bringing out this gem of revelation from the Word of God to
all of us.
Blessings,
Pastor Sunday Adelaja
Senior Pastor and Founder
The Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for all Nations,
Note:
Lookout for the message from the book: Moses at Marah next week!
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor John Ekundayo
Cornerstone Community Church,
Singapore, SE Asia
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Hope Against Hope (Part 2)
Main Text:
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Rom 5:3-5)
Introduction:
In this second part, we want to look at the purpose of hope in the christian lives. Why does God allowed us to hope in what we do not see as the Scripture puts it: "but hope that is seen is not hope?" (Rom 8:24). In addition, we want to carefully examine the hunters of hope and avoid them. Finally, what attitudes are we suppose to have while
hoping knowing that our attitude will ultimately determine our altitude. You need to know all these in the turbulent days ahead so that you can know that our hope is in the Lord Jesus, and it 'does not disappoint'। It can not fail!
Hunters of Hope
In this journey, we have to watch out for hunters of hope.
These hunters are daily all around us wanting to hunt down our hopes and kill them.
If we are watchful, we can avoid them or even exterminate them.
In 1 Corinthians 10: 6-12, Paul, the apostle was warning us of these hunters.
They took many in the church in the wilderness under ‘Pastor’ Moses unawares.
“Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor 10:6-12)
As the people under Moses were going on in the journey to their inheritance-Canaan-there came a time there was a paradigm shift in the source of their hope. The hunters of hope came in and shot the hopes of many. Many of them out of the weariness of the journey soon lost faith in their leader and became idolaters; solace in other gods was a way out for them! Some of them turned to pleasures of the world around them messing up their bodies in orgies or immoralities; majority of them murmured, grumbled and complained loudly and harshly against their pastor Moses, and even God who brought them out of captivity. They soon forgot all the wonderful God did for them in
The Lord Jesus warned us especially as the end draws near:
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the
We must also be careful not to be in frenzy haste to get anything. Our dependency should be on God at all times. He is our Father. He knows the best for us at all times. Therefore, we must not give in to hunters of our hopes who will want us to fret or worry or be angry over issue. David in the midst of his affliction decided to rest in God; and he also exhorted others to do also:
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.” (Psalm 37:7,8)
David wanted us to wait patiently for God avoiding worry and anger. In addition, we are not to get into wicked schemes. Our father, Abraham, after waiting a long while and God was not showing up, devised a scheme, no thanks to his wife, Sarah’s counsel. They received Ishmael as a reward; God best was Isaac and not Ishmael.
The whole world is still aching under this one bad decision of this couple till today! Your life may affect a whole generation; be careful of the decisions you make.
One of my mentors, Bishop Francis Wale is wont to say: “when God seems to be coming late; then he’s coming big”. Eventually Isaac came for Abraham and Sarah, and the difference was clear. Ishmael smells while Isaac is sweet as far as God is concerned!
Wait for your Isaac!
Work of Hope
In the time of hoping, God is working out some things in us unknowingly; if we are faithful all through! May we receive that grace to be faithful. Amen.
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Rom 5: 3-5)
As we hope in God, His Word and His promises to us and we are not weary or discouraged, God is working some things out in our inner man. Paul, the apostle, talked about glory in tribulation or in other words rejoicing in time of hardship or trials like Paul and Silas in prison after being beaten and left hungry. This attitude will work out patience or perseverance in us. Until you and I are faced with problems and challenges beyond our capabilities, then can our patience be measured. Anybody can say, I am a patient person, but this attribute will be made manifest when the person is involved in a challenging situation with pressures on every side like Paul described it in the Bible: ‘We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed’ (2 Corinthians 4:8 ).
When we have learned the lesson of being patience like Job in our trials and travails, then character is imparted to us. This is the character we need to sustain us in the time of the manifestation of glory or breakthrough; because charisma and ‘chrisma’(anointing) may take us to a vintage point of celebration, but only character will ultimately sustain us there!
It is this character that will produce the real hope. We can then be depended upon by God to represent Him. We then become useful vessels of honour in His hands or a mouth piece for Him. God needed 40 years at the backside of the desert for Moses to be used to take His people from
Attitude in Hope
Somebody once said: ‘your attitude will determine your altitude’.
I believe this with all my heart. Therefore, what must we do when hoping in God?
1. Praise: We are told to rejoice in tribulation. Romans 12:12.
2. Prayer: We must always pray and not faint. Luke 18:1-8.
3. Patience: Nothing like hasting, fretting, worrying or anger. The story of Isaac has always been encouraging to me in my mission assignment in
4. Purity: ‘Keep yourself pure’ as the Bible says while you are hoping in God. We see this in the lives of Joseph and Daniel: “but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.” (Dan 6:4)
5. Persistence: We need to be consistent in doing all the aforementioned।
Conclusion:
Brethren, be hopeful in all you are passing through today. Trust in God, His Word and His precious promises to you. He will NOT fail you or forsake you.
“Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life।” (Psalm 119:49-50)
Prayer Point:
In the word of the Psalmist:
“Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.” (Psalm 119: 116)
You are a blessing to your generation!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Hope Against Hope (Part 1)
Main Text:
"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (Romans 4:18) (KJV)
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Rom 4:18) (NIV)
What is Hope?
In the Wikipedia, hope is defined as “belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstance in one’s life”. It is a belief in that which is a positive outcome. In the world we live in however, an expected positive outcome may turn out negative.
It can be seen from these two translations of this same verse of Romans 4 that they are indeed two types of hope. One, the hope of this world and two, the hope in God Almighty; the Maker of all things!
In this present world, many of us hope for things which in the end become a mirage!How can we have the real 'hope' in this ever-changing world and yet be sure our hopes would not be dashed; and in the end becoming hapless victims of our circumstances?Two Examples of Men who Hope in God Almighty:
David: In the Old Testament, in all his travails and trials he passed through especially when King Saul wanted to kill him, David placed his hope in God solely!
“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.” (Psalm 130:5-7)
Paul: He was involved in many trials, temptations and tempests but Apostle Paul remained calm and confident in the God of all comfort like he told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 1. “And our hope for you is steadfast…………………that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us” (2 Cor 1:7, 9-10).
There was a time that Paul and others were in great storm and people with him were so despaired of life that for 14 days they refused to eat but bemoan their fate, having lost faith in any means of deliverance. But Paul admonished them to eat stating: “For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” (Acts 27: 23-25)
Sources of Hope
a). The Lord Jesus Christ: This is sure and steadfast as the Bible says:
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus…” (Heb 6:19). It is a hope that is safe, secure and sure. It can not fail! The name of the Lord Jesus is a strong tower for believers in all situations.
b). Word of God: We can all place our hopes in the infallible and incorruptible Word of God that lives and abides forever! The grass may wither and the flower may fade, but the Word of our God abides forever (Isaiah 40:8). The Holy Spirit is the author of the Word as written in 2 Tim 3:16-17. David in all his travails between the time of his anointing and his actual reigning on the throne faced a lot of difficult trials almost cutting short his life; but he hoped in God by holding dear His Word: “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
c). Promises of God: What is the promise God has given you in time past? You can put him to remembrance like Daniel did in the land of captivity reminding God of His promise to Israel that after 70 years He will bring them out of captivity. God’s Word declares in the book of Isaiah thus: “Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.” (Isaiah 43:26). We are to put God to remembrance of His promises! Can He forget? No, He cannot; as He is Omniscient but He wants to test our faith whether we can still trust in Him despite all odds saying no to His promises coming to pass in our lives. This is the real hoping in Him! Paul the Apostle could declare in the midst of deadly storm: “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” (Act 27:25). In the midst of a strong and raging storm Paul could declare this to all in the ship. To an expert, the ship was doomed to wreck! God proved His faithfulness to Paul and all with Him in the ship by keeping His promise. He is faithful; God is not a man who may change His mind on an issue.
Encounters with God
This made me to remember an episode one of my mentors, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, told some of us. He was returning home from Harare, Zimbabwe after attending Evan Reinhard Bonnke’s first Fire Conference in 1986. In the flight to Lagos, there was a real problem that almost everyone in the plane was in a panicky situation. Bishop Francis Wale Oke said he disregarded the instruction of the pilot at a time when he noticed that the man was confused. He refused to fasten the seat belt; rather he loosed his seat belt, stood up and to the hearing of everyone in the plane commanded the plane to behave normal in the name of Jesus Christ. The plane ‘heard’ the voice of God’s servant! The plane landed safely in Lagos, Nigeria and everyone was so happy that many went to him asking for his name card and wanted to know more about him.
Another encounter was when I arrived newly in Singapore 2005. In visions and revelations, God impressed it upon me to wait that He is at work in my Mission assignment. There was a time, I saw myself at a road junction, in one of the visions, and I wanted to cross, and saw the traffic light giving a red light signal. God spoke to my heart; wait for my green light! It was tough, as I was facing all kinds of pressure from many sides. God gave me the grace to hope in Him and His promises to me; at the end He proved Himself faithful as it is evidenced today in my life in Singapore. TheLord Jesus Christ is faithful.
Beloved, our mouth is loaded with the precious and powerful Word of God, let us put our hope in Him and released His Word; He will surely perform His Word as it is written: “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Thess 5:24).
Conclusion:
There is hope that does not fail: it is the hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word and His promises! Remember, the hope we have as christians is a living a hope; our hope is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ who lives for ever:
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (1 Tim 1:1
John M. O. Ekundayo
Singapore
SE Asia
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Hope Against Hope (Part 1)-A Must Read!
This is the message I will be speaking on this Sunday in Cornerstone African Congregation by 2 pm in the afternoon.
It is so enriching; you must read a part of it.
It is titled: Hope Against Hope (Part 1).
You will be blessed and encouraged as you read it!
May you go from strength to strength in Jesus' name. Amen.
John M. O. Ekundayo
Singapore SE Asia
