Well, the Bible says in the last days the world will be overrun by people who will be lovers of self. Perhaps it’s not a stretch to say that in the end, people will be lovers of selfies and selfie-sticks? But really, when do our social media project a corrupt self-love at work inside of us? That’s today’s question. “Hello, Pastor John, my name is Ed, a 22-year-old Filipino. I read in the Bible, ‘But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty, for people will be lovers of self’ (2 Timothy 3:1–2). Based on this passage, do you believe vlogs, selfies, and self-focused social media are a cultural sign of this self-love emerging in our culture? What warning would you sound to Christian smartphone users tempted in this self-promotive way?”
Yes and No
Let me answer with a double yes and no — two yeses and nos.
“God gave us a self, not so that we would have something to exalt in, but something to exalt with.”
First, yes. Vlogs, selfies, and self-focused social media are often (not always) an expression of the self-exaltation, self-preoccupation, and self-fascination of these last days. But no, these new technologies are not the emerging of such final experiences of sin. They’ve always been there. The new technologies are giving new ways to express old sins.
That’s my first yes and no: Yes, these are the manifestations of the end-times self-love, and no, they’re not just now emerging.
Here’s the second yes and no. Yes, these are the last days, and we should be looking keenly and expectantly and hopefully and joyfully for the coming of our precious, longed-for, all-satisfying Lord Jesus. But no, these are not yet the very last days. But they are very much like the last days that began two thousand years ago in the first century.
Beginning of the End
Now, let me try to explain. When Jesus came into the world as the long-expected Messiah, he declared the arrival of the kingdom of God, which the Old Testament anticipated as part of the last days.
“The judge is standing at the door. Be ready. Be alert. You’re going to be called to account.”
When Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost and tried to explain the extraordinary events of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, he said, “This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh’” (Acts 2:16–17). In other words, these events that you’re looking at right now (AD 33) are the fulfillment of promises made for the last days.
The last days were there in the first century right after Jesus had come. Take Hebrews 1:1–2, for example: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”
The coming of Jesus is the beginning of the last days. First Peter 1:20 reads, “He [Christ] was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.”
Two Thousand Years of Selfies
Ever since the time of Jesus, 2,000 years ago, we have been living in the last days, looking expectantly to Jesus, who stands at the door. We know this is the way that Paul was thinking even in the very text that Ed quoted about self-love.
Paul says, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty” (2 Timothy 3:1). Then he says to Timothy, “Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:5). Whoa — I guess they’re here. They’re not just coming 2,000 years later.
In other words, Paul is talking about Timothy’s own situation. This kind of person comes in the last days. Now, Timothy is to avoid them because these are the last days, and the people are there.
You shouldn’t be surprised or swayed by them. Well, besides saying that the judge is at the door, we should be always alert and ready to give an account to the Lord Jesus when he comes. Ed asked me what I would say to people on vlogs. That’s what I want to say. The judge is standing at the door. Be ready. Be alert. You’re going to be called to account. That’s the first thing I’d say.
Longing for Happiness
Then here’s the last thing I’d say. God gave us a self, not so that we would have something to exalt in, but something to exalt with. He gave us a self, not to be the object of our joy, but the subject of joy. That is, not to be the focus of happiness in front of the mirror or the selfie, but the furnace of happiness in front of Jesus.
“Our desires are meant to lead us to God, in whose presence is fullness of joy.”
He gave us a self not as an instrument of self-worth, but as an instrument of worship. The self is and is meant to be a desire factory. The point of all those desires is that there is a joy outside ourselves that they point to.
Our self is an endless manufacture of desires for something beyond the self. This factory of desires is not the dream. This factory has a dream. It isn’t the dream. It is producing all these desires because, out there somewhere, there’s a dream.
They’re all meant to lead us outside ourselves — indeed, outside the world, because nothing in this world finally satisfies. The desires of the human self are meant to lead us to God, in whose presence is fullness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures forevermore.
That’s what I’d say to the self-absorbed user of social media. The self was never meant to satisfy us. The self was never meant to find satisfaction in the perception or promotion of self. The self was made for God.
Snoop Dogg recently debuted his first gospel album called “Snoop Dogg: Bible of Love.” Now, he’s released the first official music video for his single, “When My Words Are Few.”
The song features B.Slade, who also helped produced the album. It’s a cover from one of his own songs back when he was known as Gospel superstar Tonex.
Nigerian Artiste Victoria Oluwasesan stage named Sis Victoria Oluwasesan has released a new song titled Yahweh from her upcoming album which is set to be released March 2018.
Yahweh is an expression of her love to God in worship for all He has done. This song is a song of thanksgiving to God, with a blend of afro pop tune.
Victoria Oluwasesan is a song writer and worship leader at The Redeemed Christian church of God, married with children.
THE AFRICAN MUSIC MINISTERS CONFERENCE 2017. It is Music Training conference for Artistes, Worship Leaders, Music Ministers, Choirs, Instrumentalists, Church music ministry administrators, etc. We expect between 1,000 – 1,500 registered participants this year, and we will encourage you to register your choirs early in order to qualify for the discounts.
I am sure you remember that in 2013 when we last hosted the conference, Pastor KIM BURRELL, Grammy Award Nominee and multi Stellar Awards winner, was our Main Guest Artist / Minister.
Please find attached very comprehensive details in the e-brochure attached. The flyer and DP flyer have also been attached as well.
Churches and Ministries desirous of hosting the conference in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, or hosting our Main Guest Minister (Pastor of Music at BISHOP T.D. JAKES’ Mega Church – POTTERS HOUSE, Dallas, USA; Grammy Award Winner, Multiple Stellar Awards Winner, and Recording Artist at Motown Gospel, Mr Myron Butler), can reach us on the phone number below.
SPONSORSHIP opportunities are currently available, so interested corporate organisations can also reach out to us.
DISCOUNTS: 25% – 50% Group Discounts for churches / ministries with large groups is also available, dependent on number of registrants.
The long awaited release drops in less than two weeks after 5 years of writing, recording and collaborating. The 14-track album features Grammy, Stellar and Dove award-winning producer Aaron Lindsey, singer/songwriter Claire Hendershot and our very own Nosa.
The album pre-order goes live in just a few hours! Below is a sneak peak of the full list of 14 tracks on the album which drops on March 12th:
1. Make Our Hearts
2. Here It Is
3. Highly Lifted (feat. Aaron Lindsey)
4. No One (feat. Nosa)
5. Oh How I love (feat. Claire Hendershot)
6. Let Your Kingdom Come
7. For You
8. More Of You
9. Glorious Deliverer
10. Here I Am
11. Ordinary People
12. Eyin Sa
13. Praise To The Lord (feat. Claire Hendershot)
14. Angels All Round
Psalmeben and debranch has given the world another explosion under a prophetic mandate, spreading the gospel news through heart felt and spirit driven worship. After the release of Atobajaiye the African contemporary music that has gain a trend around the world, they have gone ahead to release the video and the lyrics of the song for our day to day worship life.
Atobajaiye is an African groove song with chant of praise to God.
lyrics
Atobajaiye , Atobajaiye, you are great , you are great , greatly to be praise..
Atobajaiye , Atobajaiye, you are great , you are great , greatly to be praise..
chorus HALLELUYAH, GLORY TO GOD, HALLELUYAH WE WORSHIP
WE WORSHIP YOU WE PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME
The highly expected music video of the SO GOOD is now out officially. Tim Godfrey is out with a brightening visual to his excellent and electrifying worship tone, So Good featuring the diverse group Xtreme.
So Good, a song of worship and faith in our God was written by Tim Godfrey and within 6weeks of release became one of the most listened and ministered song within and outside Nigeria.
THE TRUE PICTURE IS IN THE SCRIPTURE
TEXT: James 1:25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (KJV)
Do not permit men to describe life to you, because everyone would tell you what life is from their personal experiences and perspectives. For instance, some people would tell you marriage is evil because of their bitter experiences; others may tell you that pulpit ministry or personal business is deadly because of their personal experiences.
Do not allow anyone to describe life to you, do not receive everything people say to you about life and situation as correct because no human being can be hundred percent correct, the only source of correct information about your life and situation is the word of God. The true picture is in the scripture. I Corinthians 13:9 says “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part”. Every man, woman, Pastor, Prophet, Evangelist, Daddy and Mummy knows in part, so, they can only talk in part. The word of God is what has the final and balance say about your life and situation.
Some would tell you that life is hard, women are evil, men are terrible, all these are from man’s perspective, the true picture is in the scripture. Our text today says But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.(KJV). You cannot miss it when you take your picture from the scripture. For instance, if you are born again, the word of God says you are not cursed but blessed (Galatians 3:13), you are not alone, Jesus is with you (Matthew 28:20), you are not weak but you are strong (Joel 3:10), there is no failure in your future (Jeremiah 29:11), nothing is wrong with you (Colossians 2:10). No man, no Pastor, or Prophet can tell you everything about your life, it’s only God that can do and He has put your right picture in the scripture, all you need to do is to open it, read it, claim it, act it and it shall be yours in Jesus name.
CONFESSION
Father, I want to thank you because I am what your word says I am. What I have is a great future not a failed future. There is no failure in my future in Jesus name.
JESU L’OLUWA is a debut song lyrically composed by the uniquely graced Tolulope Johnson.
The soulful piece with intense passion for and refrence to God unfolds the awe of Him and her unbending love for His word through worship.The song has evidently befit Life and Grace for Her as a medium to find optimum expression.
Jesu l’Oluwa with inspiring lyrics reveals an expression of genuine soberity and concession to God.
She has decided to share her testimony and also pass the blessing on to her entire world with this Master piece”Jesu L’Oluwa(Jesus is Lord) ” produced by Sheyi Jazz
I give glory to God almighty for the success of this song. “Jèśû L’ Ólùwà”(Jesus is Lord) is a song inspired by God. How God calls the unqualified, give them various assignments, qualifies them to achieve their purpose on earth with the help of the Holy Spirit(òràmòńìśé fàýáťì).(Romans 8:30).
Song written by_Tolulope Johnson
Produced by_Sheyi Jazz.
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