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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Familiarity that breeds contempt | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 13, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 48

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

“When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” (Matt 13:53-58NIV)

Why couldn’t Jesus do many miracles in his own home town, among His people? Unbelief! But why were they unbelieving? They were unbelieving because they allowed their familiarity with Him to result in contempt for Him.

As the account shows us, these people thought they knew Jesus well. That was because He and His siblings grew up among them. They knew their parents. They knew their family occupation. And while He and His siblings were growing up among them, they most probably did not show any special sign that they would be better off or greater than other children in the town. But what they did not understand was that they only knew Jesus as a natural man; they did not know Him as a spiritual man. They did not know who He was on the inside and what measure of authority He carried in His Spirit.

So, when He began to teach them and to perform miracles, they were shocked to their bones. And instead for them to rejoice that God was using one of their own sons to do big things in the land, they allowed bitterness to take roots in their hearts against Him. So, they began to ridicule Him and to tell useless stories about His past and His years of growing up among them. And by doing so, they shut the door against God’s blessings of healing, deliverance and restoration that could have been theirs.

In like manner, many today are allowing their familiarity with certain family members, neighbours, friends or church members to hinder the flow of God’s blessings in their lives. But the fact that you are close to someone, see them every day, live with them or eat with them does not mean that you know the place they hold in God’s scheme of things. So, do not allow your exposure to their natural state to become the very thing that will hinder you from enjoying the goodness of God through their lives. Instead, see how you can make the most of it in experiencing God’s favour, exaltation, healing or restoration.

For example, though Mary was Jesus’ mother, the very mother that nursed Him as a child and brought Him up with the word of God to be a man of character, she did not allow that to prevent her from seeing the spiritual man in Him. That was why she was instrumental to the first miracle He performed at Cana in Galilee, the miracle of turning water to wine. (Cf. John 2:1-11)

Also, though Hanani was Nehemiah’s brother, he did not begin to treat his brother with contempt when he became the governor of Judah. He did not go around town messing up and saying, “What can Nehemiah do to me? Is he not my brother? He may be your governor, but he is my brother. So, I can relate to him as I please.” If he had behaved like that, he would most probably have ended up being killed by Nehemiah’s guards. But that man so conducted himself well that Nehemiah later entrusted the whole city to him, for he considered him to be a man of integrity and one that feared God more than most people. (Cf. Neh 7:1-2) 

So, if God has caused those close to you to be great in one way or the other, don’t allow your closeness to them breed contempt in you for them or bitterness in you against them, so that you begin to misbehave as you relate to them. Instead, learn how to relate to them with respect and caution, so that whenever the opportunity arises, their greatness will serve you well.

Then, don’t ever assume that the greatness of someone close to you will certainly or automatically work for your good, whether you have character or not. If the person is truly a great person, then, they will not use their greatness to sponsor or promote you, if you lack character and diligence. So, if certain great people in your life will not help you, you may want to check out your life for character and diligence. And even if, though you have these things, the great people in your life will still not notice or support you with their greatness, don’t be upset or bitter against them. Instead, rest your matter in God’s hand, for no one, however, great they may be, can help you, if He does not help you.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com  or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

A false sense of security | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 20, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 49

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

“Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!” (Amos 6:1NIV)

When reports of what King Xerxes had decreed against the Jews, at the instigation of Haman, came to Esther’s ears, she was indeed distressed. But she did not see how she could be of any help to them, neither did she sense that she herself was in danger. And it took some very harsh words from her uncle, Mordecai, for her to deal with the false sense of security she felt she had in the king’s palace. (Cf. Esther 4)

As the account goes, the edict of the king was for all the Jews in his kingdom to be annihilated on a certain day. And though Esther was the queen, she too was a Jew, something unknown to the king at the time. So, the edict was going to affect her as well, once it was brought to public notice that she was a Jew too. That was because the edict given was irrevocable. It couldn’t be changed or altered. So, in order to save the Jews, another edict had to be issued by the king, giving them the right to defend themselves against any form of hostility. You can see, then, that if Esther had been complacent because she was the queen and had done nothing to help her people at that time, though she was in a position to do so, her false sense of security would have been her undoing. (Cf. Esther 8)

In the same vein, there are many today that are carrying around a false sense of security in places where disasters are already brewing. They think because they are in certain positions in life or are related to certain people, no harm will come to them. But the disasters that they think will not come to them will surely come to them and in fact overtake them. Why? It is because they are failing to utilise the positions they are in or the influence they have at the moment to end or prevent the evil that is about to swallow them and their people up. 

As we see in our opening bible text, God was once angry with certain leaders of His people and was also set to bring judgment on them. Why? It was because though the people were looking up to them to use their positions and influence to save them from their miseries, they were doing nothing to help them. And why were they doing nothing to help them? It was because they had a false sense of security. They felt that the problems of their people would never become their personal problems. They felt that their wealth, position and influence would be able to save them from whatever calamity that would befall the land. 

But they were wrong. They were wrong because God, the true judge of all, could see their complacency, hypocrisy and selfishness. And He was determined to make them the first among those would experience the coming calamities. (Cf. Amos 6:1-7)

Therefore, if you are in a position to alleviate the sufferings or pains of any group of people that you are a part of, don’t be complacent about it. No, do not think that their problems will never affect you or become yours because of certain measure of security your position, money or influence now offers you. That is because if you fail to act on time, God will soon enough make you see that what you have is a false sense of security. Then the problems you have always thought would never be yours would not just become yours but may also end up swallowing you up.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com  or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Don’t be a stumbling block | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 06, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus. | Vol. 4, No. 47

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Matt 23:13NIV)

What is the Lord accusing the Jewish religious leaders of in our opening bible text? He is accusing them of being stumbling blocks to the people of God. But how are they being stumbling blocks to them? It is by preventing them from doing the will of God through their teachings, practices and traditions.

As the Lord points out, it is bad enough that these leaders have no intention to do the will of God in their personal lives and affairs. But by deliberately doing things that will keep others also from doing His will, they are heaping up His wrath on themselves. And that is why the Lord says, “Woe to you…” In other words, it will be much worse for these religious leaders than the people they are misleading when God’s judgment eventually comes.

What is the point of this, then? It is that we need to be careful not to be a stumbling block to anyone that wants to do the will of God, just because we ourselves do not want to do it. But why will any child of God not want to do the will of his Father? The reason may be fear, selfishness, envy, pride or complacency. Whatever it may be, we must let it stop with us, if we will not repent of it, and not spread it to others. Otherwise, God will see to it that we surely get the punishment we deserve for sponsoring or encouraging rebellion against Him.

For example, why would Korah, Dathan and Abiram not accept the leadership of Moses and Aaron? Envy! And if they had allowed their envy to live and die in them and among them, God may have spared them. But they allowed it to spread to several other leaders of the people, so that their rebellion against the will of God began to gain ground. Therefore, God judged them in a most remarkable way. He made the ground swallow them and their families and possessions up. When next you, then, think of sponsoring others in rebellion against God, whether in the church or elsewhere, think also of these men. (Cf. Numbers 16)

Also, why would the Jewish leaders not accept Jesus as their Messiah? Pride! Envy! Greed! Stubbornness! They knew somewhere in their hearts that He was the real deal and that accepting Him was the will of God for them. But they would not accept Him for the reasons I already mentioned. Instead, they began to prevent their people too from accepting Him as their Messiah. Therefore, it would be much worse for them than all the people they hindered on the day of God’s righteous judgment. And if you too, because of greed, stubbornness, pride or envy, have been working against others’ acceptance of the truth of God where you are, know that your sin will surely find you out someday, if you fail to repent on time.

Furthermore, why did ten out of the twelve spies sent out by Moses to spy Canaan not want to go up and take over the land? Fear! Unbelief! And if they had kept their fear and unbelief to themselves, God might have spared them. But they poisoned the whole nation of Israel with these things. Therefore, they were the first to die of a plague before the Lord that very day. (Cf. Numbers 13 & 14)

So, you really need to be careful what you spread among people, especially God’s people. Be careful that you are not spreading things that will promote unbelief, bitterness, fear or rebellion among them. Otherwise, you may end your life before you start enjoying it.

Then, be careful not to allow anyone to discourage you from doing the will of God because of their own personal problems with God or men. In other words, don’t make anybody’s fear your fear, their bitterness your bitterness or their rebellion your rebellion. Or else, on the day they are judged for their wickedness, you too may not be spared.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com  or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Don’t follow the path of rebellion | Pst. J.O. Lawal | March 30, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 46

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

“But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who observed my commands and statutes.” (1Kings 11:34NIV)

There are indeed times that God chooses people to change things or set things right in a place, so that He may bring comfort and rest to the afflicted. But He will never choose the path of rebellion for such individuals to attain the position He wants them to occupy. That is because rebellion is contrary to His nature. And anyone who follows its path will certainly be punished by Him for it, sooner or later, even if the person succeeds in their rebellion. (Cf. Rom 13:1-2)

Look at David, for example. Though God anointed him to be king in place of Saul, while Saul was still alive, he did not follow the path of rebellion to take over. Yes, twice he had very rare opportunities to end Saul’s life and become king in his stead. But he would not utilise those opportunities. Why? He knew that there was no way he would go by the way of rebellion in removing the Lord’s anointed from office and not suffer for it at some point. (Cf. 1Sam 24&26)

So, he told his men, who were urging him to seize the moments and kill Saul, to calm down and wait for the Lord Himself to remove the man at His right time. That way, they would not be guilty of rebellion and bloodshed. And that was exactly what happened. God removed Saul in His own time and in His own way. So, David was able to take what belonged to him without following the path of rebellion and sinning against God. 

In the same vein, you too, against all odds, can become all that God wants you to be without following the path of rebellion, treachery or bloodshed. All you need is trust Him to fulfil His word or promise concerning you. And you will find that He does not disappoint, if you will be patient with Him.

Now, of course, I am not saying that people, even those that God has specially chosen for certain tasks, cannot succeed at all by following the path of rebellion. They can. But their rebellion can only work if the time set by God for them to take charge has already come. Otherwise, it will not work but simply result in their shame or destruction.

Why, according to bible accounts, did Hazael succeed in his rebellion against his master, Ben-Hadad, killing him and becoming king in his stead? Was it simply because God had chosen him to be king after his master? No! Rather, it was because his master’s time was already up on God’s schedule of things. Otherwise, he would have been terribly hurt or destroyed in his rebellion. (Cf. 2Kings 8:7-15)

Also, why was Darius’ rebellion against King Belshazzar a success? It was because God had already announced that the latter’s time was up. Otherwise, that rebellion would have ended up being a disaster. (Cf. Dan 5)

But the case wasn’t the same for Jeroboam, Solomon’s servant that God anointed to take away the larger part of the kingdom from his family. God had to expressly tell this man through the prophet that ordained him that He had made Solomon ruler all the days of his life. And why did He tell him this? It was so that Jeroboam would understand that if he should try to take over from Solomon through rebellion, it would never work. So, he would need to wait until this king died a natural death before he could become what God had chosen him for. (Cf. 1Kings 11:26-40)

But what if that truth had not been revealed to Jeroboam? Given the kind of person he was, he would most likely have attempted a coup. And that may have cost him even his very life. This explains why some, who really could have been used by God to make life better for their people, never made it. Instead of waiting for God to clear the way for them in His own time to be where He wanted them, they went through the path of rebellion, met with forces too powerful for them to handle and got ruined in the process.

You, however, do not have to be like them. And surely, you do not need any revelation from God to know that it is foolishness to take the path of rebellion in order to accomplish His purpose for your life. That is because there are already enough revelations about this in the bible. What you simply need to do is to take them seriously and act on them. In other words, let God Himself get you to wherever He has promised to take you instead of trying to follow the path of rebellion to get there. Otherwise, you may end up never making it there. And even if you make it there, your sin of rebellion will someday and somehow find you out. 

Be wise, then, and take counsel.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com  or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

When your survival depends on it | Pst. J.O. Lawal | March 23, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 45

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

“Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.Then the word of the LORD came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.”” (1Kings 17:7-9NIV)

Why did Elijah go to the widow at Zarephath during the years of famine that the nation of Israel experienced in his time? It was because the Lord asked him to do so. The Lord had been supernaturally taking good care of this man during those days of famine, even though he was not working. He had been sending some birds to bring him food both in the morning and in the evening. (Cf. 1Kings 17:1-6)

So, here is our first lesson from this account: the Lord is able to take care of His people even in a time of famine, regardless of what sort of famine it may be, a famine of food and water or a famine of good jobs. He may not give them all they will need in a year at once. But He will make sure that they are well taken care of, according to every day’s need. And all He wants is for them to always put Him first and to always depend on Him absolutely for all that they need.

Our second lesson from the account is that we must learn to use our resources with an understanding of the times we are living in. God did not feed Elijah three times but two times a day during those years of famine, even though He had the power to do so. And did the man complain or grumble as a result of this? No! Instead, he received every meal, which was the same type all the time, with thanksgiving. That is contentment.

In like manner, we too must learn to be grateful for God’s provisions for us and also to be contented and wise in using them, however little they may be. So, instead of grumbling or complaining that what God is providing for you now is too small, first be thankful for it. Then, as you trust Him to supply you with more, use what He has provided with wisdom. For example, don’t consume in one day what you can actually use for three days, if well managed, and then start complaining that God is unfaithful. He is ever faithful. You are the one being foolish, not understanding how to administer God’s provisions according to life’s seasons.

Well, as the account we are considering goes, some time later, when the brook that Elijah had been drinking water from dried up, God told him to go to Zarephath because He had instructed a widow there to take care of him. So, he was not going to meet a woman that had no clue as to what God wanted her to do but one that had been well instructed by God to minister to him.

But why did God send him to this woman, when He could have kept the brook from drying up and when He could have continued to send birds to bring him food? It was because He wanted to preserve the woman and her son throughout those years of famine. Exactly what the woman did to attract God’s mercy and favour in this manner is what we are not told. But we are told that her survival and the survival of her son depended on her generosity to this man of God that was sent to her.

It was up to her, then, to either do the will of God and be preserved or do her own thing and be destroyed. Thankfully, she did the right thing. Therefore, she and her son were preserved throughout those years of famine. Not only that, her son was rescued from an unexpected death that would have taken him away from her, famine or no famine, if the man of God had not been living with them. (Cf. 1Kings 17:7-24)

In like manner, there are times in life that our survival, exaltation or fruitfulness in certain matters depends on our generosity to certain people. Some of these people, like our parents, church leaders, the poor around us and so forth, have already been revealed to us in the bible. AND WE SHOULD TAKE OUR GENEROSITY TO THEM VERY SERIOUSLY. But there are among them people that we can only recognise by divine revelations. So, our prayer should always be that God, in His kindness, will enable us to recognise such people on time and also strengthen us to do for them what He wants us to do for them, so that we can receive the reward of doing so.

However, we must not allow anybody to use this story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath as a tool for manipulating, threatening or pressuring us to do for them what we are not convinced in our hearts that we should be doing. Even if we are convinced in our hearts that it is the will of God for us to be generous to someone, our generosity to them has to come from a willing and cheerful heart. Otherwise, there will be no reward from God to us for doing so. (Cf. 2Cor 9:6-7)

The widow of Zarephath was not manipulated, coerced or threatened by Elijah to do what she did. Rather, she did what she did because God had already spoken to her about it. So, if God has not plainly revealed it in Scriptures or spoken to you through a revelation about giving to someone or supporting them, don’t give in to any manipulation, threat or pressure to do so. And may you be kept from any devourer that may way to prey on your life or soul on account of this, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Don’t be used by them | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: March 16, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 44

“On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.” (Matt 14:6-12NIV)

The bible story of the death of John the Baptist is another confirmation of Jesus’ words that men love darkness instead of light because their works are evil (John 3:19). John the Baptist was evidently a man of God, a true prophet of God. That was, in fact, the reputation he had among his people, the Jews. Therefore, though he stayed mostly in the wilderness, many continually went to him to hear the word of God, to confess their sins and to be baptised in water as a pledge from a heart that is ready to give up sins and live for God.

Now, in his quest to see the land rid of unrighteousness, John preached against the sins of all categories of people. And in doing this, he did not leave out the religious leaders of the land. Instead, he rebuked them severely for their hypocrisies and insincerity. Even soldiers and tax collectors (who were at the time regarded by many as the worst of sinners) were coming to this prophet to learn the way of righteousness. (Cf. Matt 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-18)

However, as the bible further shows us, when John began to rebuke Herod the tetrarch, the king of the land, for his unlawful marriage to his brother’s wife, he had him arrested and locked up (Luke 3:19-20). Sadly, there are still people like Herod today. And you need to be on your guard against them. That is because besides the fact that they do not love to be confronted with the truth, they are also willing to go to any length to punish, harass or harm anyone who confronts them with the truth. These ones must just do something to make you fee that you are wrong or out of line to tell them the truth.

At any rate, as we see in the bible, though Herod had John locked up, he really did not know what to do with him. Why? It was because, just like the rest of the people, he too considered this man to be a true and righteous man of God. He even listened to him preach from time to time, though he would not act on his messages. Why then did he arrest him? It must have been because his lover, Herodias, wanted him to do so. The bible says that this woman nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him because he had spoken against her marriage to Herod. And she would really have killed him, if Herod had not intervened and protected him. (Cf. Mark 6:17-20)

Nevertheless, it was clear that Herod, against his wish and belief, was being used at that time by his lover to harm an innocent man. And to make a bad situation worse, during a birthday celebration of his, he made a careless promise to Herodias’ daughter, a promise on oath to give her anything she wanted up to half of his kingdom, just because the girl impressed him with her dance. Then the girl, knowing that she was not wise enough to make the right request, innocently went to consult her mother. Unfortunately, the woman saw that as an opportunity to use her too. She told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. And as the story goes, she got what she wanted. (Cf. Matt 14:1-12; Mark 6:21-27)

Now that girl could have become one of the richest or most powerful persons in the land that day, if she had made a wise request, as did Solomon when God told him to ask for anything he wanted. But that did not happen at all. Instead, what happened was that she became a tool in the hand of her mother, a tool used by her to destroy an innocent man that did not offend her. Therefore, instead of being remembered today as probably the richest girl that ever lived, she was being remember as the foolish girl that was used by her mother to destroy one the greatest prophets of God that ever lived.

What is the point of all this? It is that we need to be careful in relating to those who have one form of influence or the other over us. Otherwise, they may end up using us for their dirty works or to fight battles that we have no business fighting. I am saying that if we are not careful, even our parents, siblings, family members, friends, lovers, bosses, teachers or neighbours can use us as tools to do things contrary to the will of God. They can influence to waste opportunities given to us by God to change our lives forever or to make our world a better place on meaningless or useless fights or endeavours. And when all has been said and done, all we may have left are regrets and a bad reputation.

So, regardless of how much you love or respect the people in your life, always conduct yourself in a manner that will let them know that you are not someone they can use to do anything they like. Also, be very careful not to seek or take any kind of favour or benefits from people that may enslave you to them or make it possible for them to blackmail you. I pray that God will always keep you safe from the traps of anyone who may be seeking to use you to do evil. Amen.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Why the longer route? | J.O. Lawal

from pastor's desk

Date: March 09, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 43

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” (Ex 13:17-18NIV)

Have you ever wondered why it is taking God so long to fulfil certain dreams of yours in life or to fulfil certain promises of His to you? At least, He is all-powerful and there is nothing too hard for Him to do. And we have examples in the bible of the manifestation of His great power in changing circumstances of life almost in no time. For instance, we are told in it of how, in the days of Prophet Elisha, He ended a very severe famine of some unspecified time in just one day. And since this is the case with Him, it really should not be taking Him long or forever to fix our problems or to exalt us from where we are to where we should be. (Cf. 2Kings 6&7)

Yet, often, it looks like it is taking Him forever to accomplish His good purpose for our lives. There are, in fact, times that we may feel like He may never get the job done in our entire lifetime. So, we are tempted to give up on Him and take our lives and future in our own hands. But once we do that, are bound to create problems for ourselves that may stay with us for generations to come.

Remember, for instance, what Abraham and Sarah’s impatience with God brought on them. God had told them that He would give them a child of their own, even in their old age (Gen 15). And though they believed Him when He made this promise to them, the older they got, the more impatient they became with Him. Eventually, at some point, based on Sarah’s suggestions, Hagar, her maidservant, was brought into the scene, so that they could build a family through her. Unfortunately, that decision almost ruined their beautiful marriage. It would, in fact, have ruined it, if Abraham had not truly loved his wife, Sarah, and listened to her. Nonetheless, it brought into the world generations of a man of violence, a man that does not know how to live at peace with anybody, even his own brothers. (Cf. Gen 16)

So, we need to learn to walk with God with patience. That is because if He has promised to do something for us or if He has shown us visions or dreams of His purpose for us, He will surely fulfil them, however long it might take Him. And remember that we are the ones that are often worried about time. He does not worry about it at all, for He is the author of time. So, as Peter says, whether it is a day or a thousand years, it makes no difference to Him – what He has promised to do, He will surely do. (Cf. 2Peter 3:8)

But then, for our comfort and encouragement, we are shown some reasons in the bible why it may take God a longer time than we expect to bring about the fulfilment of His purpose in our lives. And we have one of such reasons in our opening bible text. There we are plainly told why God led the children of Israel through a longer route, when He brought them out of Egypt.

As the account shows, these Israelites came out of Egypt ready for battle. But were they really ready for battle? In their own estimation, they felt that they were ready for battle. But God knows that they were not ready for it. He knew that if they saw war in the state they were at the time, they would certainly change their minds and turn back to Egypt for help. Therefore, He did not take them through the land of the Philistines, though it was a shorter route. Instead, He took them through the desert road and towards the Red Sea.

Now was He right about them or not? He was right about them, for when Pharaoh came out with his army against them in order to bring them back into slavery, they did not march out to fight him. Instead, all they did was cry and blame Moses for delivering them. That shows that they were not ready for battle at all. And if God had not been the one behind their deliverance, they would not have escaped Pharaoh’s chains of slavery that day. (Cf. Ex 14:5-10)

So, there are times that we ourselves are the reasons God is taking long in fulfilling His purpose concerning us. We are not just ready to handle what is coming. We may think we are ready for it. But when we are confronted with some circumstances, we will see clearly that we are not just ready to handle the promotion, increase or independence our hearts are yearning for. And our failure at such times may so fill us with discouragement and fear that we may totally turn away from all that is meant to be ours. Can you relate to that?

Well, in order to prevent such things from happening to us, God, in His wisdom and patience, may decide to take us through a route where challenges and trials of life will not frighten us and drive us permanently away from His purpose for us. This route, however, may be long and winding. But if we are patient with the one leading us, he will surely bring us home in one piece and at the right time.

So, when next you are worried that the fulfilment of certain promises of God to you or certain dreams and visions of yours is taking too long, remember how God dealt with the Israelites and stay encouraged. Then keep on praying that He will perfect all that is lacking in your readiness to take and enjoy what He has prepared for you.

See you at the place of your dreams!

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

Categories
Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Rule over us | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: March 02, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 42

“The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us — you, your son and your grandson — because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.” But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)” (Judge 8:22-24NIV)

Why did the Israelites come together as one man to ask Gideon to become their king? Why did they want him to establish a dynasty with his family line among them? It was because he delivered them from the cruel rule of the Midianites.

As the account goes in the bible, the Midianites had oppressed these people for seven years before they were delivered by Gideon. And their rule oppressive rule was so severe that the Israelites had to hide in caves and mountain cliffs in order to survive. They simply made it a business to impoverish these Israelites and keep them in misery and shame.

But at some point, the Israelites remembered the God of their forefathers who brought them into the land they were occupying and cried out to Him for help. And it was in response to their cry that He raised Gideon for them and used him to deliver them from the cruel rule of the Midianites.

Now, having being delivered from the Midianites, who should these Israelites naturally praise and yield to His absolute dominion over their lives and nation? God! Was He not the one that raised Gideon for them? Was He not the one that built courage and faith into him, so that he was able to confront their enemies with only 300 men? And was He not the one that caused all their enemies to turn against one another and slaughter themselves? He was the one who did all these things.

Yet, after the people had gotten their liberty and comfort, they immediately turned away from the one that delivered them unto the instrument that He used in delivering them and asked him to rule over them. And if Gideon had been a foolish man, if he had quickly forgotten that it was not by His power that he delivered these people from their enemies, he would have listened to them. That, then, would have been the beginning of his ruin.

But Gideon was not foolish or thoughtless. He knew how God brought him up and empowered him to rescue his people. He knew that everything came from Him and so all the glory and honour of their victory should go to Him. So, very politely, he refused the offer made to him by his people to rule over them. And not only did he tell them that he and his family would not rule over them, he also told them the one that would over them. He said, “It is the Lord that will rule over you.” In other words, he was saying that it was the Lord who saved them that would continue to be their king. Therefore, He was the one they should submit to.

What, then, is the point of all this? It is that regardless of what great things God has used or is using anybody to do for us, we should not give them the place of God in our lives. Otherwise, apart from the fact that we will be guilty of idolatry, we may also end up becoming slaves again, slaves of those that God has used in saving us helping us at one time or the other.

And how many today have become slaves of certain family members, neighbours, colleagues at work, men of God or women of God in this manner? They were helped by these people at some point in their lives, and they were truly grateful for the help. But they also went too far by trying to replace them with God, the God who made everything possible in the first place, in their lives. Therefore, before they knew it, they had put themselves under another form of slavery. And if they do not repent of their sin of idolatry and allow God to take His rightful position in their lives, it may take forever before they and their generations after them become free.

But then, I do not want you to miss my point here. I am not saying that you should not be grateful to those God is using to bless, lift or save you. Be grateful to them, for the word of God teaches this. However, the word of God also tells us not to become slaves of human beings. Why? It is because we are God’s properties and not men’s properties. (Cf. 1Cor 6:19-20; 1Cor 7:23)

In like manner, don’t make yourself anybody’s God and begin to rule over them because you have helped them in certain ways. Remember that you can only help or save those that God has already saved. And you can only do good to anyone because God has enabled you to do it. So, even if some people that you have helped are, in their ignorance, pushing you to take the place of God in their lives, be wise enough to quickly reject the offer. Otherwise, you may end up receiving glory, honour, responsibilities and even wars that are never yours to take and bring yourself to ruin. So, be smart and learn from Gideon or be foolish and end up like King Nebuchadnezzar or King Herod of Peter’s day. (Cf. Dan 4; Acts 12:19-22)

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

What makes you defenceless | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

February 16, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 40

“A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.” (Prov 25:28TLB)

Apart from the defence that we can employ through the use of arms, ammunition and trained security personnel, there are other forms of defence that we can daily take advantage of for our safety in this life. And these are mentioned in the bible. Money, for example, is described in it as a form of defence (Ecc 7:12). This, of course, is true, for there are problems we can successfully defend ourselves against with plenty of money.

Also, wisdom is described as a form of defence, for with it you can keep yourself safe from unnecessary problems and wars and win even wars that money cannot win (Ecc 7:12). Faith in God is equally described in the bible as a form of defence, for with it you can protect yourself against any attack (spiritual, physical or mental) of the devil on your life (Eph 6:16).

It will be good of us, then, to possess all these forms of defence in the right measure. That way, our safety and peace of mind in this life will be guaranteed in most situations.

But there is another kind of defence that is mentioned in the bible, which our lack of it can render our possession of all the other forms of defence useless. Solomon speaks about it in our opening bible text. He refers to it as self-control. And according to him, if a man does not have self-control, if a man does not have a grip over himself – his passions and appetites – he is as good as defenceless in life. In other words, it does not matter what quality or quantity of security personnel, money, wisdom and faith he has, he will still be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive influences and circumstances. And he will be the very one making himself vulnerable to these things.

For example, as mighty as Samson was in battle, his lack of self-control in sexual matters ended up making him vulnerable to Delilah. He could protect himself against all the hosts of the Philistines. But he could not protect himself against this one woman and her evil schemes, even though he knew what she was up to. So, eventually, he lost his ministry of saving his people and died a brutal death with his adversaries. And only God knows how many people have, just like this man, become defenceless and lost their lives, marriages, empires or purposes in life because they could not control their sexual passions. (Cf. Judges 16)

What about Esau? What prompted him to sell his birthright, something that wishes, tears or all the wealth in the world could not give to him? Godlessness fuelled by lack of self-control! Yes, he was very hungry that very day, hungry to the point of fainting. But he did not have to eat Jacob’s red stew in order to quench his hunger. He could have eaten anything else and be fine that day. But because he could no control his appetite just for some minutes, he lost not just his birthright but also his right to partake in the covenant God had made with his forefather, Abraham. So, though today we have the nation of Israel among us, the nation of Esau has disappeared into oblivion. (Cf. Gen 25:29-34)

In like manner, everyday many all around the world are becoming defenceless and losing their lives and other precious things that money, time, wishes or weeping cannot buy through their inability to control their unclean appetite for things they can do without, things that perish with time. Therefore, you have to give serious attention to those passions and appetites of yours that have tendencies to take over your life and lead you to act against common sense or against the word of God, so that you may take advantage of the grace of God to utterly subject them to your control. Otherwise, you may not know at what point they will leave your life, home, business or accomplishments defenceless for your enemies to destroy.

My prayer is that God will supply all that is lacking in your self-control, so that you may take the control of your life back from the hands of those passions and appetites that have become unclean and have been controlling you and exposing you to destruction, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

Categories
Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

He can make you outstanding | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: February 16, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 40

“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” (Ps 144:1NIV)

All kinds of wonderful things are reported in the bible about David’s exploits. First, we are told of how he killed a lion and a bear while taking care of his father’s sheep. Then we are told of how he killed that warrior-giant, Goliath, with just a sling and a stone. Also, we are told of how he never lost a battle or war, since he began to lead the armies of Israel in their campaigns. He was, in short, such a great warrior and warlord that even God testified that he shed much blood on the earth.

But how did a shepherd boy like him grow up to become as skillful and talented as he was in matters of warfare? He answers this question for us in our opening bible text. There he tells us that it was God Himself that trained his hands for war and his fingers for battle. That means he got his warfare skills and abilities through the blessings of God. Yes, he too must have subjected himself to thorough discipline, training and education in war matters. But if God had not blessed him with the abilities to comprehend warfare and to fight and win, all his devotion to training himself in the art of warfare would not have amount to anything.

Now one may wonder and ask, “But why would God make a young man like David a talented killer and warlord?” Well, it was to save and protect His people, the nation of Israel from their enemies. Remember that he did something similar with Samson. He gave him supernatural strength and abilities to kill for the protection of His people. And He still acts in similar ways today. I mean that He still gives people special abilities to create things or systems or to acquire skills and education useful and relevant in war matters in order to protect their nations. So, those nations that are now seen as world powers are what they are because they have been gifted by God with individuals who have special abilities for warfare and who are also willing to use those abilities to keep their nations safe.

But then, it is not only in war matters that God enables people to be outstanding in life. He equally enables people in other areas of life to become outstanding. In fact, there is no aspect of life in which God is not able to empower people with abilities that will make them outstanding enough to bless those in their world. For example, as we are equally told in the bible, David was not just a skilful killer and warlord, he was also a great psalmist, musician, organiser, leader and architect.

Just consider some of the things said about him in the following bible texts:

“These are the last words of David “The oracle of David son of Jesse the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs…”” (2Sam 23:1NIV)

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” (Ps 78:72NIV)

“Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the LORD, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.” (1Chron 28:11-14NIV)

“All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan.”” (1Chron 28:19NIV)

Now since God was able to make David outstanding in these various areas of life, He is also able to do the same for you and me. He is able to empower us with the abilities and aptitudes we need to acquire skills, training and (or) education that will make us outstanding in one or more fields of life. But first, we too, like David, will need to love and trust Him with all our hearts, knowing that we cannot accomplish anything apart from Him. That way, He can guide us into those fields of life where He wants to use us, for it is in those fields of life where He wants to use us that He will make us outstanding. (Cf. John 15:5; 2Cor 3:5-6)

Second, we need to rid our lives of laziness and yield ourselves to get the necessary training, discipline or education to become outstanding. If we are lazy in our minds or in culture, it does not matter how blessed of God we are, we will never be outstanding in life. Instead, it is people with lesser abilities and skills that will take the places meant for us.

Third, we need to cultivate the right mentality, the mentality of the man God makes outstanding. And who does He make outstanding in life? It is that person that is always seeking to use the abilities He has blessed him with to do those in his life or world good. So, if we are always seeking to do others good or make life better for them with the abilities God has given us, however small or insignificant those abilities may be, He will certainly empower us to become outstanding with them. Then, someday, people will adore us for standing out in life as special with professions, abilities or skills that many consider as ordinary or useless.

My prayer, then, is that God will work out in your life all that is required by Him to make you outstanding with His gifts in your life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)