LET THE BIBLE SPEAK

Saturday, 7 June 2025

The life we live

THE LIFE WE LIVE

By K. S. Ajibola

Introduction

What do you think is the true essence of life? Jesus Christ in John 10:10 said "I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” From this, this article is set to explore how God intends for us to live meaningfully and faithfully.

The Stages of Life

Human life is in stages as revealed in the scriptural and explained in psychology. Using Biblical records, our life can be divided into r stages: birth, youth, adulthood, and old age. Each of these stages comes with a unique characteristics.

Innocence goes with the first stage - Birth. In Psalm 139:13-16 we read that: “You knit me together in my mother’s womb... all the days ordained for me were written in your book...”. God, being the Creator knows everything about us, nothing is hiding from Him (Isaiah 46:10)

With the second stage - Youth comes dreams. At that stage, God declared in His word that you should “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth...” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). With the youthful vigour and strength, we aspire to be this or that, we dream, we chase, we run, we are full of strategies, we engage in so many dangerous activities, we even plot with ploy. How do God want us to use our youthful age? We are to remember our Creator! We are to keep God in our pursuits, we are to do His Will, we are to keep His commandments (John 15:14; I John 5:3-4).

The third stage is Adulthood, this stage comes with Responsibility. At this stage, we are responsible for all our actions and inactions. At this stage, we are expected to do away with childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11).

The last stage is Old Age which comes with Reflections. At this stage, we long to unturn the hands of clock, but alas, it is late. Such is a wishful thinking. The precious time given to us from birth to adulthood that we have wasted on mundaneness will taunt as we reflect on how we have lived our life. The Bible declared in the book of Job 12:12 that “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

The Choices We Make

As free moral agents, we have power of choice. However, no choice is made without its corresponding consequence. To the Israelites, God declared through the mouth of Moses that “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life...” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

God want us to live a morally upright life. Though, the world is filled with the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:15-16), the word of God warns that “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

God want our living to influence others. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world...” (Romans 12:2). We can achieve this by living in conformity with the word of God and thereby have positive influence on others around us. Living thus will make this life an enjoyable one because all of us will be doing the will of God which is not in anyway burdensome (I John 5:3).

Challenges in Life

Life in itself is challenging. On daily basis human are faced with challenges. What makes or mar is is the way we handle the daily and numerous challenges that comes our way. Meanwhile, in the Bible, we have being encouraged to "consider it pure joy... whenever you face trials... because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3). God do not leave His creation unattended to, especially in their challenges. “God... comforts us in all our troubles...” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

The Legacy We Leave

God want us to leave a good legacy such as a Good Name, “A good name is more desirable than great riches...” (Proverbs 22:1), Eternal Impact, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16), and Spiritual Heritage - “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice...” (2 Timothy 1:5).

Living a Life that Matters

God want us to live a life that matters. The life that matters is the life that walk with God by doing "... justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). We are to have a purpose in life, which is to do good work. The Word of Life declared that, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works...” (Ephesians 2:10). The word of God also says: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...” (Galatians 5:22-23). This is how to live a life full of purpose.

Conclusion

To live a life of purpose and sincerity, we are to “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We are to live for God - “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21). To be with God in eternity, we should emulate Paul and say honestly that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith...”

How about you? Have you been living a purposeful life or selfish life? A life that honour God or the one that stand against the word of God?

You can turn away from all these today and believe the gospel of Christ, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ, and be baptised for the remission of your sins into one body of Christ - the church of Christ (Colossians 1:18, 24; Romans 16:16-17).

The Life we Live

THE LIFE WE LIVE

By K. S. Ajibola

Introduction

The Stages of Life

The Choices We Make

Challenges in Life

The Legacy We Leave

Living a Life that Matters

Conclusion

How about you? Have you been living a purposeful life or selfish life? A life that honour God or the one that stand against the word of God?

Wednesday, 18 October 2017

Becoming A Christian: What says the Scriptures?

Going through the pages of the Bible, a sincere Bible student will quickly notice that Christians are not found in the Old Testament but in the New Testament. In the New Testament, where Christians are found, all of them followed a plan of salvation as ordained by God. Below, are the steps one must take to be a Christian according to the Bible!

If anyone wish to be saved, such must take the following steps as obedience to the Gospel commands:1. Hear the Gospel – Romans 10:13-17

2. Believe the Gospel of Christ – 1 Cor. 15:1-3; John 19:33; Mark 16:15-16
3. Repent from your sins – Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:30-31
4. Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord, Saviour and the Son of God – Matt. 10:32-33; Romans 10:8-10
5. Submit yourself for water baptism – Rom. 6:3-4, 17-18
6. Continue in the doctrine – Rev. 2:10.

When someone take all the above steps, God has promised: to add the person to the body of Christ (the church of Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:13), to give the person eternal life (1 John 2:25), remission of sins (Rom. 6:17-18) and the gift of Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32).

You are sincerely encouraged to take all the steps. If you need assistance do not hesitate to contact us: info@cocogooluwa.org or call +2348056048209, +2347063986643.

www.cocogooluwa.org

Friday, 27 May 2016

Almost Persuaded To Be A Christian...

But now its too late

The confusion of our time over the meaning, requirements, and rewards of being a Christian can only be overcome by a return to the New Testament pattern. Christianity as intended by God is not a matter of satisfying ourselves, or merely being religious, but rather of satisfying God's will through Jesus Christ. To be a Christian means to become like Christ in our surrender to the will of God. Let's look at the example of a man in the Bible, Agrippa, by name, who was almost persuaded to be a Christian. His story is found in Acts Chapter 26.
Paul the apostle had been arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Caesarea for trial. A new Roman governor, Festus, came into office, and invited the Jewish king, Agrippa, to help in Paul's trial. Agrippa had heard a great deal about Paul and Christianity, and was glad to listen to what Paul had to say.
It seems strange to us that Paul did not try to defend himself, or beg to be set free, but rather talked about Jesus. There had been a time when Paul was young when he did not believe in Jesus, and had tried to put in prison and kill those who did. He told Agrippa how he had been convinced that he was wrong by a heavenly vision, which made him know that Jesus was really alive. Because he was alive, Christianity had to be true, and Paul had accepted it gladly. He had spent his life teaching people that Jesus had been raised from the dead, and must be believed in and served if we are to be blessed by God.
King Agrippa was convinced by what Paul said that he ought to be a Christian. He knew the promises made in the Old Testament that a Saviour would come, and could see that Jesus was that Saviour. This conviction led him to say, "Almost thou persuaded me to be a Christian." It is sad to find, however, that Agrippa did nothing about his faith in Jesus. Although many people think that you are a Christian as soon as you believe in Jesus, this is not the teaching of the New Testament. The record in Acts Chapter 22, verse 16, tells us that after Paul had been convinced by the vision that Jesus was alive and must be the Son of God, he was given this command: "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord".
To be a Christian requires us to do anything God says, just as Jesus did while he was on the earth. Paul says it this way in Phillipians Chapter 2, verses 5-8: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: v6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: v7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: v8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
We must not make the mistake Agrippa made in being almost persuaded to be a Christian; let your faith in Jesus as the Christ cause you to obey the will of the Father, as He always did.

Source: http://www.bible.ca/g-almost-persuaded.htm

Friday, 13 December 2013

The Church Growth: Lessons from the Early Church

The Church Growth:

Lessons from the Early Church

By Kola S. Ajibola

Introduction

1) Growth is the process of growing physically, mentally or emotionally; increase in size, amount or degree of something (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary).

2) The word growth in the New Testament occurred in two main ways, namely:

a. Numerically - Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; etc;

b. Spiritually - 2 Peter 3:18; Acts 17:11.

3) From the very day of church establishment, the Lord's church erupted like a blast of dynamite in the first century - Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 8:1, 4.

4) The church was dynamic, spiritual militant force that it was referred to as those who had:

a. "turned the world upside down" - Acts 17:6;

b. they were "everywhere spoken against" - Acts 28:22.

II. The Growth: - Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1; 6:7; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20

Within 30 years of its existence, Paul could say that the gospel had come to all the world - Colossians 1:5-6, 23. The gospel spread in the following order with respect to the command of Christ to the Apostles in Acts 1:8:

· Jerusalem- - - - Acts 2-6

· Samaria - - - - Acts 8

· Caesarea - - - Acts 10

· Antioch of Syria - - - Acts 11: 19-21

· Paphos and Antioch of Pisidia - Acts 13: 6-49

· Iconium/Lystra - - - Acts 14: 1-23

· Philippi - - - - Acts 16:12-40

· Thessalonica, Bereans, Athens - Acts 17: 1-34

· Corinthians - - - Acts 18: 1-11

III. The Growth is always a result of:

1. Spreading (planting- Paul planted, I Corinthians 3:6) the seeds -Luke 8:11

· to/for others as commanded - Mark 16:15; 2 Timothy 4:1-2. Illustration: Acts 5:42 and 8:4.

· parable of sower - Mark 4:1-8. Wayside, stony, thorny, good ground

· the increase comes from God - I Corinthians 3:6-7; 2 Corinthians 9:10-11.

· the power is not in those who preaches BUT in the Word - Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12; I Corinthians 1:21-25.

2. Irrigating (Follow-up) - "Apollos watered" - I Corinthians 3:6

3. God giving the increase - I Corinthians 3:6-7. "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase ." (KJV)

IV. Lessons to be Learnt

THE EARLY CHURCH GREW BECAUSE MEMBERS:

a a) trusted in the one true God - I Timothy 4:1; 6:17. The church did not compromise with false (humanly originated) religions - Galatians 1:6-12.

b) trusted in the one true Son of God (Jesus Christ) and refuse to compromise with pagan views of saviours - Matthew 24:5, 24. The church preached Christ crucified - I Corinthians 2:2 as the only saviour - Acts 4:12.

c) did not observed the worldly methods and gimmicks but they had abiding faith in the power of the gospel - Romans 1:15-17; Hebrews 4:12.

d) preached without fear or favour to anyone - Mark 16:15-16; Acts 4:18-20; Colossians 1:23; Acts 5:27-29; Acts 20:25-27; Romans 10:18; Colossians 1:23.

e) preached the gospel as commanded by Christ - Ephesians 4:4-6. They did what Christ instructed them to do without any deviation. They preached with faithfulness and zeal;

f) defended the truth with fear and favour;

g) lived lives of dedication to Christ with all their being. They knew their lives had to be

· "worthy of the gospel of Christ" - Philippians 1:27;

· lights in the world of darkness - Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 2:15-17;

· willing to sacrifice everything for Christ - Luke 14:26-33; Luke 9:23; Revelation 2:10.

h) were disciplined - Acts 5:14. An effort to keep the church pure has tendency to increase its membership.

i) have love of the brethren - Acts 2:42-44;

j) j) respected the word and obeyed it - Jude 3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 John 9;

k) respected the divine authority in worship, work, organization and purity of life - Acts 2:42, 47.

Thousands were added to the Lord's church soon after it was established -Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4; because its members

V. The Key to church growth:

The members must be motivated to reach out by:

· generating contacts - Luke 14:23; Acts 8:4;
· cultivating studies - John 4:7-42;
· convicting studies - Acts 24:25;
· grounding studies - Matthew 28:18;
· training themselves to train others - 2 Timothy 2:2.

Conclusion

Considering the church at Jerusalem, we noticed that it was:

a worshipping church - Acts 2:42;
a reverence church - Acts 2:43;`
an unselfish church - Acts 2:44, 45;
a happy church - Acts 2:46, 47;
a sharing church - Acts 2:46, 47.

The growth experienced by the early church can be experienced the Lord's church today if the church today can follow the pattern established by the early church by following Christ's commands.
The growth was as a result of planting, watering and God giving the increase. Men must do their part while God has promised to bless the effort of saints.
How serious are we with the business of preaching the gospel to all?
Can we say with all honesty that we have done our very best?
God want us to repent and do His will always.
Thank you, may God continue to bless His church and children, Amen.

Kola S. Ajibola is a gospel preacher working with the church of Christ, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

P. O. Box 35478, Agodi Gate, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. +234-805-604-8209,

ksajibola@gmail.com, www.ksajibola.blogspot.com, www.cocogooluwa.org

Thursday, 12 December 2013

AFTER BAPTISM, WHAT IS NEXT? BE A CHRISTIAN!

AFTER BAPTISM, WHAT IS NEXT? BE A CHRISTIAN!

WHO THEN, IS A CHRISTIAN?
A). In Acts of the Apostles chapter 11v26: "...And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. One must first determine to be a Disciple; be ready to follow after the footsteps of Christ, only; must have the readiness of Heart to be "cast in the mould" of the Lord, (2Cor.5:16-17; Gal.5:15-16). Therefore, a Disciple is a Christian!

WHO THEN, IS A DISCIPLE?
In John 8:31 "...if you continue in my Word, then you are my Disciple indeed...". One who is a disciple must be like his Master (Matt. 10:25; Luk 6:40)
Must be willing to deny self, and focus his love on Christ, only ( Luk. 14:26-27,33). Therefore, the Word of God must abide in a Disciple.

HOW THEN, CAN THE 'WORD OF GOD' DWELL IN A MAN?
In Eph. 3:17-- "...That Christ may dwell in your hears by FAITH..." Christ lives in a Disciple representatively, through the Word of FAITH. (John 14:23; 2Cor. 4:16; Eph 2:22; Col. 1:23; 2:7). Therefore, the Word of Faith, that is, the Spirit Word(John6:63), lives in a Christian.

WHAT THEN, IS THE EVIDENCE (THE FRUIT) OF THIS INDWELLING?
In Gal. 5:22-26 --- "...But the fruit of the spirit (the Word of God) is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...if we live in the spirit, let us walk by the spirit..." A Christian must bear the fruit of the spirit. Yes, must bear much fruit. "... Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away...the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine..." (John 14:2-17). Therefore, a Fruit Bearer must first abides in the Lord.

HOW THEN, CAN WE SEE THIS FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, IN A CHRISTIAN?
In 1John 1v5-7--- "...if we ...walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth..." The way we walk speak about WHO lives in us. "He that said he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked". (1John 2:6). In 1John 2v4-5 "He that said, I know Him, and keepeth not His word is a liar..." Therefore, a Christian must first KNOW GOD.

Then, to know God is to keep His commandment. THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE. "...And this life eternal, that they might know you the ONLY true GOD, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17v3); Let the attitude of Christ be in you richly Rom. 8vs5-17; Beloved, let us love one another (1John 4:4-13).
May we be faithful to the END (Rev. 2:10), Amen.

THANK YOU.