Joel Kwesi Baidoo

“For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” (Romans 10:2) Zeal without knowledge is a dangerous thing. It's just like speeding in the wrong direction. The renowned English Presbyterian Minister and Bible Commentator, Matthew Henry, once said, "Zeal without knowledge is like a sword in a madman's hand.” During Paul's time, many Jews were zealous for the law and traditions, but rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Paul argues that their zeal is misguided because it's not grounded in a correct understanding of God's plan. Paul is talking from experience. Before his conversion, he was a zealous Pharisee who persecuted early Christians, believing he was serving God (Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-2). His passion for his faith led him to commit terrible acts, but once he encountered Jesus and gained knowledge, he became a powerful apostle for the Gospel. As we read about Paul and the Israelites, we must bear in mind that we may

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:23) Today, we look at the concluding characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit which is self control. Self-control is the ability to regulate one's emotions, desires, and actions, aligning them with God's will and principles. It involves exercising moderation, restraint, personal discipline, perseverance, and wisdom in decision-making. Cultivating self-control leads to a more Christ-like character, enabling us to resist temptation, overcome sinful habits, demonstrate humility, show love and compassion, and ultimately glorify God in our lives. The opposite of self control is to allow our fleshly nature to run wild without any constraints. The end result of that is regrettable actions and decisions. This is a good conclusion to the lesson of the fruit of the Holy Spirit because we cannot possibly claim fullne

  "Who despises the day of small things?..." (Zechariah 4:10) Every great success has a beginning, often a small one. It's inspiring to see how small beginnings can lead to great outcomes!  The occasion of the bible verse above was the construction of the second temple. The project was ridiculed by Judah's enemies, and even underestimated by many Jews who had seen the grandeur of the previous temple. However, in God's eyes, it was a humble beginning of something great. Such is life. People often despise small beginnings because they hardly see the great future enveloped within. In 1998, Google's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, started their search engine project in a friend's garage in Menlo Park, California. Initially, they named it "Backrub." Today, Google is a global technology giant, with a market value of over $1 trillion, and its search engine is the most widely used in the world. If you find yourself in a place where you are being ri

“For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:9) One of the most indisputable demonstrations of God's power is when a hardened opponent to the gospel converts to become a promoter of the same message he used to oppose. That was the story of Apostle Paul. The good news is that God is still in the transformation business, turning people from opposition to devotion. A more contemporary example is Sundar Singh. Sundar Singh (1889-1929) was an Indian who was born into a Sikh family in Punjab, India. He was strongly opposed to Christianity and even burned a Bible in public. On December 18, 1904, Sundar had a dramatic vision of Jesus Christ, which changed his life forever. He was baptized in 1905 and began preaching the Gospel, facing persecution from his family and community. He traveled extensively, preaching in India, Tibet, and the Middle East, often in extreme conditions. Sundar's me

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…" (Proverbs 23:7) Change begins in the mind. A transformation of your mental attitude invariably translates into a revolution of your life. Nick Vujicic, in his autobiography, "Life Without Limits" (2010), tells his amazing story! Nick, born without arms or legs, struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. However, one day, he had an epiphany: "I realized that I had a choice: I could let my circumstances define me, or I could use them to inspire others." Nick decided to change his mindset and focus on what he could do, rather than what he couldn't. He learned to surf, play football, and even skydive using his feet. Today, Nick is a motivational speaker, inspiring millions worldwide with his message of hope and resilience. The point is, despite your circumstances, you can hardly rise above your own mental attitude. It was Henry Ford who once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – yo