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First Nations Baptist Church
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Rev. Dr. Tommy Olawuyi Oke, Pastor

Reflections

REFLECTIONS FROM THE PASTOR

HOPE:  Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: 

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor future nor any powers, neither height nor depth, not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Has life become empty for you? 

FRIENDS:  Once God sets His love on us and we accept His love through our faith in Christ Jesus, then nothing can ever break the bonds of love created. 

  • Also, God promise in Hebrew 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you”
  • If you are suffering now, you can be filled with hope by trusting the God of Hope.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

We are looking for a multi-ethnic group for a refuge church for all nations.  Join us and our mission to work for Christ Jesus our E-mail address is www.revdrtolaoke@aol.com.

Looking Up When You Are Down 

My last name “Oke” is Yoruba, a Nigerian name.  It means up, heaven, mountain.  My second daughter’s name is “Ireti”, it means “hope.”  Her name Ireti Oke means Hope from up, heaven, put your hope in God.  That is good advice for anyone who is facing discouragement. 

  • David, who wrote about half of the Book of Psalms, wrote Psalm 42, when yearning for God in the midst of Distress.
    • As the deer pants for water in the brook So pants my soul for you, God.  Psalm 42:1
    • Why are you cast down, o my soul and why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.  Psalm 42:5
  • David asserts that God’s highest priority for our lives is to develop an intimate personal and growing relationship with Him.  He makes us to thirst for Him, as we thirst for water and to seek Him as weak relief from our thirsty throat.
  • We all have moments in our life’s journey when we are down and out.  Nothing seems right to us as every thing seems to be going wrong.  We look around there is no solution or relief in sight.
  • It is when David, the psalmist was going through a downcast situation, that he cried out and put his hope and trust in God almighty.
  • Like David, Paul’s hope was in the Lord while he was on board the ship enroute to Rome.  A violent storm developed, threatened to sink the vessel and all its passengers to the bottom of the sea.  Paul said in Acts 27:25:

”Therefore take heart men for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me (see verses 23,24).

  • When times get hard, those who do not have a relationship with God can take courage from Paul’s experience and encouraging words; and from those of us believers who display our trust in God almighty.
  • Even today, if you are fearful, and disheartened, you can find reason for cheer if you look up to the heavenly father, trust and obey Him.
  • Maybe you are saying it is alright for Paul to trust God because he has a promise from God in Acts 27:23, and what of you, who do not believe that you have such a promise.  Do not forget to read again, Philippians 4:19.

“My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”