Joel Kwesi Baidoo

The sad reality of our world today is that genuineness has become a really scarce commodity. The famine of authenticity is so alarming that it is plainly revealed in Scripture.  Paul was writing from prison in Rome. After many years of interacting and relating with all sorts of beings and characters, we can be sure that Paul was not talking from a place of naivety and inexperience. He has known people and experienced the display of all kinds of intentions and motives. Now, close to the end of his ministry, he recommends one man for one reason - genuineness! "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare." (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:19‭-‬20‬) Humble people are genuine. They are not under compulsion to prove anything or to impress anyone. They are only filled with reverent fear of God and ardent love for the brethren. Such was the nature of the y

On this day in 1930, the famous African writer, Chinua Achebe, was born in the Igbo village of Ogidi, Nigeria. He first attended the Church Missionary Society's school where the language of instruction was Igbo. Achebe was only introduced to the English language at the age of eight. Despite his relatively late introduction to the language, he rose to later become a professor of English. In fact, many people believe that his background in Igbo and late introduction to English made him develop a very strong Igbo cultural pride. Guess what! In 1958, Achebe's first novel, Things Fall Apart, which centred on the Igbo community and culture, became a worldwide success. Later on, Achebe published two other novels, which alongside Things Fall Apart, became what was known as the African Trilogy. Achebe rose into fame. He taught in both Nigerian and American universities as a professor of English and literature until his demise at the age of 82. Here is where the message lies: instead of

"But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another." (Psalms 75:7) Of a truth, God rules in the affairs of men; He is able to exalt one and abase another. The eyes of the Lord scan through the earth to identify those who qualify for promotion. What kind of virtues attract this divine promotion? One such virtue is humility. ...All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5) Humility is all about having the right opinion of oneself; neither arrogant nor looking down on oneself. It involves obedience and submission to both divine and human authority. It resists the temptation of being preoccupied with a sense of one's own status and position to the despisement of others. In humility, we look beyond ourselves to value the worth and interests of others. We realize that life is not just about us, but other people matter. The best demonstration of humility we see

  "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2) Today's broadcast is dedicated to our health. It's often said that health is wealth. Indeed, our health is highly connected to our wealth because without the former, we can hardly work for or enjoy the latter. Today happens to be World Diabetes Day. According to WHO, Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. It's important, therefore, to take the necessary steps to avoid this adverse health condition.  The following are some generally recommended tips for avoiding diabetes: Minimize the intake of refined sugar Consume more foods with fibre Engage in regular physical activities  Maintain a healthy body weight Avoid tobacco Avoid alcohol Reduce consumption of red and processed meat. Eat more fruits and vegetables  Avoid too much salt Avoid too much fats These lif

  "I thank my God every time I remember you." (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:3) A memory is a record of an event stored for future use. The way you live your life and how you relate with people leaves a memory of yourself in their minds. What kind of memory are you leaving in the minds of people about you? Paul wrote the letter to the Christians in Philippi whilst he was in prison in Rome. The Philippians organized support for him which they delivered through Epaphroditus. Among other things, Paul wrote to express his gratitude to the church. Obviously, the church had been of great help to him. So, he starts his letter with this note:  "I thank my God every time I remember you." (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:3) What a sobering address! What a depth of gratitude! There are some people whose impact in your life you can hardly forget. For such people, you always thank God when you remember them. It's a memory of praise forever imprinted; indelible.  If you also live your life in the bett

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:20‬) Always giving thanks may sound preposterous to the modern person as our hearts are constantly intoxicated with a desire for more. However, being always grateful for what you already are and have is the best credo of life. An attitude of gratitude is indeed the altitude of all attitudes. We admit that human wants are insatiable, but, just as someone once said, “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” This makes a profound difference! The grateful person who has less will live a satisfied life, whereas an ungrateful person who has more will languish in dissatisfaction.  Someone made an interesting observation that your present situation may be someone else's prayer request. What is better than enjoying what we do have instead of fretting over what is yet to be? Being grateful saves us from greed, envy, and cheating. Our hearts are protected from evil desir

"I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you." (Colossians 4:18) It was around AD 60-61 while Paul was still serving his first prison sentence in Rome. Based on reports of false teachings about the deity of Christ being propagated in Colosse, Paul wrote to encourage the church and to strengthen them in their fundamental doctrine. Paul then ends the letter on a rather emotional note asking the church to remember his chains. Paul was obviously referring to his imprisonment in Rome. He was under restriction and most likely austere living conditions. He definitely needed prayer and, possibly, other material support. When we think about this deeply, it must remind us of the importance of fellowship and brotherly support. Paul, a great man of God, was in prison and needed to be remembered by the church. The church indeed had something to offer, both spiritually and physically, to make life easier and the burden lighter for the Apostle in chain

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17) The last of the ten commandments warns us against covetousness! To covet is to enviously wish for or long after what someone else has.  God is not against us aiming for or desiring the best things of this life. He even promises to grant the desires of our hearts… "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalms 37:4) Not all desires are evil, but covetousness is a negative desire, in that it often involves feeling more deserving of a particular thing than its current owner. It breeds an ill emotion towards people who have what we wish for. If you are not yet convinced of how dangerous covetousness is, remember that it was the cause of the first murder in human history. As of today, it is still the root cause of many wars, murde

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." (Proverbs 8:17) The book of Proverbs is mainly a projection of divine wisdom for everyday life. In chapter 8 in particular, wisdom is now personified and its characteristics expounded.  Campbell Morgan made this assertion about the wisdom that is projected in Proverbs 8: “There is nothing greater or grander in all the Biblical literature, as setting forth the beauty and grace of that wisdom which has the fear of Jehovah as its chief part.” One of the key characteristics of wisdom is a direct quote from the personified wisdom Himself that "I love those who love me." The man who loves wisdom will pursue it in books, seminars, courses, videos, situations, and practically everywhere. Just as Albert Einstein once said, "Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it." Wisdom makes Himself available to such people for He says, "Those who seek me find me." Don'

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16) To bear witness or give a testimony is to say what you know, have seen or heard about someone or a given situation. Though the ninth commandment seems to primarily have its expression in a judicial context, the lessons embedded therein can be generally applied to everyday life. In our everyday court of casual conversations, when people's reputation are put on trial, what do you say about people behind their backs? Do you speak the truth in love or do you exaggerate people's shortcomings to gain a reputational advantage? When you maliciously speak ill of your colleague in the presence of your  boss to get an unfair advantage, know that you are breaking the ninth commandment. Most workplaces and political arenas are filled with false testimonies. This is simply a manifestation of the greed and selfishness in the hearts of men. Competition, which is one of the cardinal marks of our age, can practically

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." (2 Corinthians 9:6) One of the most basic laws of nature, and yet so easily forgotten, is the law of sowing and reaping. We easily forget that the harvest we receive depends on the kind of investments we make. It's important to keep in mind that sowing is equal to losing now, and harvest is equal to gaining later. In your relationships, if you invest more time, attention, and resources, you will reap greater benefits from the people you relate with. Sow generously into any area of your life that you expect a bumper harvest. Is it your family life, ministry, academic, or professional life? Sow generously! "The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow," says James Allen, the British philosopher of the nineteenth century. Therefore, as Robert Louis Stevenson advises, "Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you

For seven years the Jews had been under oppression by the Midianites. The oppression was so strong that the Israelites were practically shuddering in fear. They hid themselves in clefts and caves, and basically stayed out of trouble as much as they could.  In the midst of this seemingly impregnable crisis, a young man by name Gideon had a divine visitation. Per human standards and the tradition of the Jews, he hardly qualified to be a leader of the people. The reason why God chose him is best known to God Himself. This was the salutation Gideon received from the angel of the Lord: When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." (Judges 6:12) "Mighty warrior?" Gideon was both surprised and confused at this greeting. Considering his present predicament and social status, he wondered if the divine message had been delivered to the wrong address. But God's word was direct and firm: The LORD turned to him and said, &quo

"You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:15) Today, we delve into the eighth commandment. Literally, to steal is to take something that belongs to another person without their permission. It is to illegally take possession of something that is not yours. The Hebrew word translated as "steal" has both literal and figurative connotations. Taken broadly, it implies to deceive. Stealing creates a false picture of who you are and what you have.  Cheating in an examination to earn grades you do not deserve, bribing your way into a position you do not merit, over invoicing, taking payment for a service not rendered or partially rendered, submitting a false report, to mention a few, are all forms of stealing. Ignoring the eighth commandment leads to corruption of all kinds which destroys any society. Stealing is one of the leading causes of poverty in most naturally resourced African countries. "Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness."

"But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving." (2 Corinthians 8:7) The grace of giving is so vital that although the Corinthian Church was excelling in many things, Paul admonished them to see to it that they also excel in this grace of giving. Giving positions you as a channel of blessing. We must remember the words of our Lord Jesus that "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Winston Churchill put it this way: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." Giving was the ultimate demonstration of God's love for us. It is also the ultimate demonstration of our love for one another. "For God so loved the world that he gave…" (John 3:16) "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16) Giving g

"But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving." (2 Corinthians 8:7) The word "Grace" from the Greek word "Charis" has a dual meaning: firstly, the unmerited favour of God; and secondly, a divine influence on man or a supernatural ability to perform. It is this grace that enables us to do the extraordinary- things we never thought we could do. It is the grace of God that helps us to do what pleases Him and to refrain from what displeases Him. The grace to do something can be desired and cultivated. Here, in particular, the Apostle Paul is admonishing the Corinthian Church to see to it that they also excel in the grace of giving in addition to all the many things they are already good at. No matter what you are already good at, you can desire for the grace to do more things well. The first lesson here is to avoid complacency.

"What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16) We have been on the same theme for the past two days, and today, we wrap up on this subject of the social life of the believer.  There is no agreement between the temple of God and idols. The temple of God symbolizes God's presence - a place God resides. In this context therefore, an idol is a physical representation of the presence of any other spiritual force other than God. We are talking here about spiritual atmospheres - the presence of deities. Here, Paul is teaching a deep principle - the principle of discernment - which must guide us in our social life. We must not be ignorant of the spiritual atmospheres we expose ourselves to. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…&quo

"What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?..." (2 Corinthians 6:15) This is a sequel to yesterday's lesson. Here, Apostle Paul poses a rhetorical question to contrast Christ with Belial. We can only understand Paul's point better if we isolate and study each party in detail. Remember first of all that from the previous verse, Paul begins to contrast opposite concepts in a series of rhetorical questions. The first is righteousness and wickedness, then light and darkness. Christ and Belial is the third in the series. This suggests that the two concepts are being projected as opposites of each other. Christ, the anointed one, is a representation of God. Belial, on the other hand, personifies the devil. But its root meaning is more revealing. The word 'Belial' is a compound Greek word which means "without worth or use" or "worthless." The devil is appareled in the cloak of worthlessness.  Now, here is the crux of today's message: bew

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14) The above Scripture is mostly interpreted in terms of marriage to unbelievers, but its actual meaning goes beyond just marriage. A yoke is a wooden bar or frame by which two animals, usually of similar size and weight, are fastened together to enable them to pull a cart or a plough. This means the animals so joined together now necessarily have the same direction and purpose. None independently influences the other. Here is where the problem lies. We are not saying that a Christian cannot relate with or befriend unbelievers. However, a Christian who is yoked is one who relates with unbelievers in such a way that he/she loses the moral strength to choose their own paths and actions. It's a form of spiritual bondage through association. In your company with unbelievers, can we see your clear influence as

It is a good thing to praise the Lord. The Lord is good and worthy to be praised. The more we praise Him, the more He is exalted in our lives, for God inhabits the praises of His people. No matter what you may be going through right now, take your time, and with the help of the following psalm by George William Conder, let's praise God. 1. All things praise Thee,  Lord most high Heaven and earth and sea and  sky, All were for Thy glory made That Thy greatness thus  displayed Should all worship bring to  Thee; All things praise thee: Lord may  we 2. All things praise Thee:  night to night Sings in silent hymns of light; All things praise thee: day to  day Chants Thy power, in burning  ray; Time and space are  praisingThee, All things praise Thee Lord  may we. 3. All things praise thee;  round her zones Earth, with her ten thousand  tones Rolls a ceaseless choral  strain; Roaring wind and deep￾voiced main, Rustling leaf and humming  bee, All things praise thee; Lord,  may we. 4. All

"As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain." (2 Corinthians 6:1) We are co-workers with God, in that God is partnering with us, as it were, to accomplish His will on earth. In order to effectively play this privileged role, God gives us His grace - an unmerited favour and a supernatural ability to perform.  The gifts, talents, abilities and the unique opportunities God grants us is to enable us to discharge the task at hand. If we do not put these gifts to work and we allow all the opportunities to slide by, we are wasting God's grace. The Apostle Paul is therefore admonishing us not to receive God's grace in vain. Jackson Brown once said, "Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity." Someone put it this way, “Excuses will always be there for you. Opportunity won’t.” You must always remember that your talents and opportunities are God's gift to you, and what you do with them is your gift back to God. "Now it is requ

On this day in 1984, Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya, a Russian cosmonaut (currently 74 years and still alive), became the first woman to walk in space. Her story is an interesting one. She started by parachuting. At the age of 16, she had begun parachuting whilst her parents were unaware. By the time she turned 22, she had over 400 parachute jumps to her credit. Eventually, she began to participate and win in the World Aerobatic Championships. Svet went on to grab an engineering degree from Moscow Aviation Institute and, at last, qualified to fly. She kept on excelling in her role and setting new records in speed and altitude. Her bravery and excellence paved many ways for her until she got selected to join the Soviet space program in 1980. In total, Svet has spent 19 days, 17 hours and 6 minutes in space throughout her career. The lesson here is that if you master the discipline of doing the seemingly small things very well,the small opportunities will eventually grow into bigger one

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) This is a solemn reminder that our lives on this earth is like an examination. It will soon be over, and the scripts are going to be marked according to the ultimate marking scheme, the word of God. The judgment seat of Christ does not determine who makes it to heaven or not. That one is decided at the white throne judgment where those whose names are not found in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). The judgment seat of Christ is to judge Christians and reward them according to their works. Paul, writing to the Corinthian Church, is admonishing them that WE MUST ALL appear before this judgment seat. "We" refers to those of us who belong to the household of Christ. "Must" means it's not optional. "All" implies that there wil

Edward Perronel (1726-1792) was born in Sundridge, England, and died in Canterbury. He was known to be closely associated with the Wesleys. One of his greatest works is the following hymn. May you be inspired by its soul-soothing words to extol Jesus above all others. 1 All hail the power of Jesus'  name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem And crown Him Lord of all. 2. Crown Him, ye martyrs of  our God, Who from His altar call; Extol the stem of Jesse's rod, And crown him Lord of all. 3. Ye chosen seed of Israel's  race, And remnant weak and small, Hail Him who saves you by  His grace And crown Him Lord of all. 4. Ye Gentile sinners, ne'er  forget The wormwood and the gall; Go, spread your trophies at  His feet, And crown Him Lord of all. 5. Let every kindred, every tribe On this terrestrial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all 6. O that with yonder sacred  throng We at His feet may fall, Join in the everlasting song, And crow