Month: April 2021

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Fire in my Bones

Watch your love – J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

April 28, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Vol. 3, No. 50

“Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”” (1Sam 18:20-21NIV)

One of the things we need to be careful of in this life is what or who we fall in love with. That is because love opens the doors of our hearts and lives to whoever or whatever we are in love with. Therefore, if we are in love with the wrong person or thing, certain wrong things or experiences may just find their way into our lives. And who knows what sort of damage they may cause?

For example, we are told in the bible of how Samson, that great and mighty man of war, fell in love with a woman called Delilah. And because he was madly in love with this woman, he opened up to her about the secret of his power. Was it wrong to open up to someone we love about certain secrets of our lives? I don’t think there is a simple answer to that. It all depends on the measure of confidence we have in the person’s love for us and also on how wise we think they are in handling matters of life. (Cf. 1Sam 16:4-31)

If we are certain that someone loves us, just as much as we love them or even more than we love them, then, it may be okay to entrust certain things about our lives to them, especially if we know that they possess the wisdom to handle what we are entrusting to them. But if we do not believe in the love someone has for us or in their ability to manage information, then, it may not be wise to open the doors of certain areas of our lives for them to come in.

That being the case, we have no business going into a love relationship with anyone that we do not believe in their love for us or in their ability to handle our secrets. Unfortunately, most people who go into love relationships don’t think well about this before they commit themselves to their love affairs. This is why we have many marriages today in which those involved don’t trust their partners with what is going on in their lives. They married people whose love they have no confidence in. So, they often have to keep secrets and look over their shoulders in order for them not be hurt by their so-called lovers.

Now that, of course, is what we see in Samson too. Though he was really in love with Delilah, he was not confident of the woman’s love for him. So, for a while, he kept the secret of his power to himself and kept on fooling her, each time she asked questions about it. But then, when he could no longer bear her nagging, he decided to tell her the whole truth, even though it was clear to him that she was up to no good. And that was the end of him. His love for her became the trap that his enemies used in catching him and making the remaining days of his life miserable.

Therefore, just as our love for people or things can be a blessing, a door through which all kinds of wonderful things may flow into our lives, it can also be a curse, a trap that holds us down for the destroyer to afflict. As we see in our opening text, King Saul saw his daughter’s love for David as something he could use as a trap to catch and destroy him. And if God had not been on the side of that young man, he would have fallen into the trap set for him and died before his time. (Cf. 1Sam 19:11-17)

All of this is why we need to be careful not to fall in love with the wrong thing or person and not to put our confidence in the love of an unfaithful person. Solomon’s love for strange women was the trap Satan used in polluting him and destroying his faith in God (1Kings 11). And Samson’s love for an unfaithful woman was the trap that held him down for his enemies to destroy. Yours may not be love for a woman or man. It may be love for wine, money, fame, games or pleasure. Inasmuch your love is for something contrary to the will of God, as revealed in His word, it will always be a potential trap that Satan can use to afflict you, pollute you or destroy your life anytime. So, watch your love.

Copyright © 2021, 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

What kind of light are you walking with? – J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

April 21, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 3, No. 49

“Make certain, then, that the light in you is not darkness.” (Luke 11:35-36GNT)

Light is anything that makes things visible. In other words, light reveals the true state of things. However, how well we see whatever we are observing is dependent on the quality of light we are using. For example, we know that even though both the sun and the moon give light, the quality of light they give differs. There are things that you can see very clearly under the light of the sun that you cannot see clearly or see at all under the light of the moon. So, if you do not want to make a poor or wrong judgment about those things, you won’t rely on what the light of the moon is showing you about them. Instead, you will wait until you have the light of the sun or some other better lights to examine them.

Furthermore, as powerful as the light of the sun is, it cannot see through our bodies and show us what is inside them. So, we cannot rely on it to examine our bones, intestines and so forth. We need some other kinds of lights to do this. And that, again, is telling us that it is the quality of light we hold that will determine what we see about whatever we are examining.

That being the case, as good, powerful and relevant as all these natural and artificial lights that we daily use can be, they are not sufficient for us to make those decisions that will make life meaningful and worth living for us. For instance, they cannot show us who to marry or who not to marry, what occupations to embark on or not to embark on, what people to keep as friends and what people not to keep as friends, what the future holds for us or what it does not hold for us and so forth. We need a higher kind of light to be able to see these things and make sound decisions about them.

What, then, is that higher light that we need? Is it the light of education or that of religion or that of superstition or that of philosophy? Indeed, education, religion, superstition and philosophy offer people some measure of light that can help them to make sound decisions in some areas of their lives and not get wounded. But the kinds of lights these things offer are also limited in many ways in what they can make people see. There are times that they even cast shadows, leaving people doubtful about what is right or wrong or them to do. And there are times that they do not give light at all about what people need to do about the situations of their lives.

All of this is why people, even with their possession of the light of education, religion, superstition or philosophy, often make foolish and harmful decisions that are capable of destroying them and every good thing they have. And we have examples all around us. We have examples of people who are highly educated but who the light of education they possess could not help them in getting it right in their marriages, finances and so forth. Then we have examples of highly religious and superstitious people that the light of religion or superstition could not help them with their marriages or finances or lead them out of their bondage to certain bad habits that are secretly destroying them.

So then, it is not enough to be confident that we possess some form of light in us to walk through this life; it is equally important that we are certain that the light we have is one that will not fail us when we probably need it the most. And that is exactly the point our Lord Jesus is making in our opening text, when He says, “Make certain, then, that the light in you is not darkness.” That is because if what you call light is darkness, then, you can expect it to fail you, when you need it. But if what you call light is light indeed, then, you have no cause to worry at all, for it will lead you to that place you are meant to be in life and also keep you from stumbling or going astray.

Now the only light that is truly light and that will never fail us is the word of God. As the bible puts it, it is the true light that lights every man that comes into the world (John 1:9). This light does not have darkness in it at all (1John 1:5). So, it does not confuse people or cast shadows of doubts on their paths (James 1:17). Instead, it shows them things as they really are, so that they can make wise and upright decisions about them. And this is the higher light you and I need to possess, embrace and walk with in this world, if we do not want to stumble and fall, and if we do not want to waste our lives pursuing shadows.

So, let us go for the word of God, my friend, which is already fully documented for us in the bible and begin to shine what it says on our lives and our paths. And as long as we are walking and living in its light, we will never stumble and fall or fail to be the people we are meant to be in our homes, marriages, businesses, neighbourhoods and our society as a whole.

Copyright © 2021, 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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FROM PASTOR'S DESK 2021 Pastor's Desk

Be excited about your call – By: J.O. Lawal

from pastor's desk

April 25, 2021 | Number: Vol. 3, No. 48

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours forever from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to the last week of the month of April 2021. My prayer is that your heart will always be strengthened to embrace and cherish the call of God on your life, so that your life may manifest His beauty more and more every remaining day of your earthly life. Amen.

As we are shown in the bible, it is not only those who are well recognised as leaders in the church that are called of God. Rather, it is every believer in Christ Jesus that has been called by Him. What, then, have we been called to? First, we have been called to fellowship with Him. The bible says, “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (1Cor 1:9NIV) Did you see that? God called all of us to live with Him and to have Him live with us in a holy union. So, now, we are partakers of His life, His nature, His works, His glory, His eternal kingdom and even the hostility of men towards Him.

Second, God called us so that He may show forth His wisdom and wonderful acts through us to all His creation, especially men, angels and demons. This is why the bible says, “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph 3:10-11NIV) It also says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1Peter 2:9NIV)

Did you see that? God called us out of darkness into His wonderful light and made us His own special people. So, you are special to God. I am special to God. We all are special to God. And not one of us is more special to Him than any other. We all are equally special to Him because He paid the same price to redeem all of us (1Pet 1:18-19). And why did He make us His own in this way? It is so that He may begin to demonstrate His many sided and indescribable wisdom and wonderful acts through every one of us, not just through our pastors, prophets and other leaders in the church.

Therefore, wherever you are and regardless of your status in this life, you have been chosen and called by God to be living that life that will make men, angels and demons see that God is great, wise and good. And is this the kind of life you are living? Are you living a great, wise and good life, one that those around you cannot ignore or fail to admire? Or is it an unimpressive, foolish and irritating life that you are living?

To say the fact, the life that many of God’s people are living where they are is one that does not impress or attract those around them. I mean that their daily life is not moving those of the world to want to have what they have or become what they are. And how will anyone be moved to want to be what you are in Christ Jesus, if you are not excited about it or if you feel inferior to them because you don’t have certain things they have or because you are not in certain positions they occupy?

As the bible tells us, God did not choose or reject any of us because of our social status in life, great or low. He did not choose or reject us any of us because we are not rich, highly educated or famous. Rather, He chose us in spite of who we were according to the standards of this world. And He chose us to do wise and great things that will shock men, angels and demons. (Cf. 1Cor 1:26-31)

So, there is no reason for us not to be excited about our call, even if we are occupying the lowest position in the world of men, the position of a slave or a prisoner. For example, when Paul stood as a prisoner before King Agrippa, Bernice and Governor Festus, who were very important people in the world of that time, he did not speak like a disadvantaged, confused or depressed person. Instead, he spoke with so much excitement about his life with God that they felt like setting him free immediately. The wisdom he spoke with was just too much for them to handle. (Cf. Acts 25:13-26:32)

Now that is what God is expecting of us too. He wants us to always take our world by surprise by the way we live and act, so that they will start saying of us, “It is either these people are mad or ‘for real.’” And when they come closer to us, they will realise that we are ‘for real’. Will you, then, wake up, throw away your garment of shame and begin to live like who you really are with much excitement? My prayer is that you will be encouraged and strengthened to do so, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do have splendid week.

Copyright © 2021, 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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Latori tabili Paitor

Jẹ ki ara rẹ ya gaga si ipe rẹ –

Akori: Jẹ ki ara rẹ ya gaga si ipe rẹ – Lati owo: J.O. Lawal

Ojo: Igbe 25, 2021 | Atelera: Latori tabili Paitọ Nomba: Vol. 9, No. 51

Olufẹ: ki oore-ọfẹ, aanu ati alaafia jẹ tirẹ titilai lati ọdọ Ọlọrun Baba wa ati Jesu Kirisiti Oluwa wa. Kaabọ sinu ọsẹ ti o pari oṣu Igbe 2021. Adura mi ni pe ki ọkan rẹ ma fi gbogbo igba gba okun lati tẹwọgba ipe Ọlọrun lori aye rẹ, ki o si tun mu ni pataki, ki aye rẹ ba le ma fi gbogbo igba fi ẹwa rẹ han siwaju ati siwaju si ni eyi ti o ku ni ọjọ aye rẹ. Amin.

Bi a ṣe ri ninu bibeli, ko ki i ṣe awọn ti a mọ bi adari ijọ nikan ni Ọlọrun pe. Dipo eyi, ẹnikọọkan ti o jẹ onigbagbọ ninu Kirisiti Jesu ni O pe. Ki wa gan ni a pe wa si? Akọkọ, a pe wa lati wa ni idapọ pẹlu rẹ. Bibeli sọ pe, “Olododo ni Ọlọrun, nipasẹ ẹni ti a pe yin sinu idapọ Ọmọ rẹ Jesu Kirisiti Oluwa wa.” (1Korinnti 1:9) Ṣe iwọ na ri bayi? Ọlọrun pe gbogbo wa lati gbe aye wa pẹlu rẹ, ki Oun na ba le gbe pẹlu wa ninu ibadapọ mimọ. Nitorina, ni bayi, a jẹ alabapin ninu aye rẹ, ninu ohun ti o jẹ ki o jẹ Ọlọrun, ninu iṣẹ rẹ, ninu ogo rẹ, ninu ijọba ayeraye rẹ ati pẹlupẹlu ninu ikanran awọn ọmọ eniyan mọ.  

Ikeji, Ọlọrun pe wa ki O ba le fi ọgbọn rẹ ati awọn iṣẹ ara rẹ han nipasẹ wa si awọn ẹda rẹ, paapaajulọ awọn eniyan, awọn angẹli ati awọn ẹmi aimọ. Idi ni yi ti bibeli fi sọ pe, “Ki a baa le fi ọpọlọpọ oniruuru ọgbọn Ọlọrun han nisinsinyi fun awọn ijoye ati awọn alagbara ninu awọn ọrun, nipasẹ ijọ. Gẹgẹ bi ipinnu atayebaye rẹ, eyi ti o mu ṣe nipasẹ Kirisiti Jesu Oluwa wa.” (Efesu 3:10-11) O tun sọ pe, “Ṣugbọn ẹyin ni iran ti a yan, olu-alufaa, orilẹ-ede mimọ, eniyan ọtọ; ki ẹyin ki o le fi ọla nla ẹni ti o pe yin jade kuro ninu okunkun sinu imọlẹ iyanu rẹ han.” (1Peteru 2:9)

Ṣe iwọ na ri bayi? Ọlọrun pe wa jade kuro ninu okunkun sinu imọlẹ iyanu rẹ, O si ṣe wa ni eniyan ara ọtọ si i. Nitorina, o jẹ ẹni ọtọ si Ọlọrun. Emi naa jẹ ẹni ọtọ si Ọlọrun. Gbogbo wa jẹ ẹni ọtọ si Ọlọrun. Ko si si ẹnikẹni ninu wa ti o jẹ ẹni ọtọ si i ju awa yoku lọ. Bakanna ni gbogbo wa ṣe jẹ pataki si to, nitoripe iye kan naa ni O san lati ra gbogbo wa pada (1Peteru 1:18-19). Ki si ni idi ti O fi ṣe wa ni ayanfẹ rẹ ni ọna yi? Idi ni pe ki O ba le bẹrẹ si ni fi oniruuru ọgbọn rẹ ati awọn iṣẹ iyanu rẹ han nipaṣẹ ẹnikọọkan wa, ti ko si ki i ṣe nipasẹ awọn paitọ, wolii ati awọn adari ijọ wa nikan.

Nitorina, nibikibi ti o ba wa ati ipo yowu ti o le wa ninu aye yi, Ọlọrun ti yan ọ, O si tun ti pe ọ lati ma gbe igbe aye ti yoo jẹ ki awọn eniyan, angẹli ati ẹmi aimọ mọ pe Ọlọrun ti o ga, ti o gbọn, ti o si tun dara ni Oun jẹ. Njẹ irufẹ igbe aye yi ni o wa n gbe bi? Ṣe igbe aye ti o ga, igbe aye ọlọgbọn ati igbe aye daradara ni o n gbe bi, igbe aye ti awọn ti o wa ni ayika rẹ ko le ṣe alaikọbiara si tabi alaifẹran? Abi igbe aye ti ko wu ni lori, igbe aye omugọ ati igbe aye ti o n rin awọn eniyan lara ni o n gbe?

Ki a sọ ododo, igbe aye ti ọpọ awọn eniyan Ọlọrun n gbe nibi ti wọn wa jẹ eyi ti ko le wu awọn ti o wa ni ayika wọn lori tabi ti o le fa wọn mọra. Nkan ti mo n sọ ni pe igbe aye ti wọn n fi ojoojumọ gbe ko wu awọn ti aye yi lori lati fẹ ni nkan ti wọn ni tabi da bi wọn ṣe da. Bawo si ni ori o ṣe wu ẹnikẹni lati fẹ ẹ dabi iru ẹni ti o jẹ ninu Kirisiti, niwọn igba ti ara iwọ gan ko ya gaga si i tabi niwọn igba ti o ro pe o kudiẹ kaato fun ọ nitoripe o ko ni awọn nkan ti wọn ni tabi nitoripe o ko wa ni awọn ipo ti wọn wa?

Bi bibeli ṣe sọ fun wa, Ọlọrun ko yan ẹnikẹni ninu wa tabi kọ ẹnikẹni ninu wa silẹ nitori ipo wa ni awujọ, yala ipo nla ni tabi ipo kekere. Ko yan tabi kọ ẹnikẹni ninu wa silẹ nitoripe ko jẹ olowo, ẹni ti o kawe rẹpẹtẹ tabi gbajumọ. Dipo bẹẹ, O yan wa lalai fi ti bi a ṣe jẹ nipa ti aye yi ṣe. O si yan wa lati ma a ṣe awọn nkan ọgbọn ati awọn nkan ti o ga, ti yoo si ja awọn eniyan, angẹli ati ẹmi aimọ laya. (Wo: 1Korinnti 1:26-31)

Nitorina, ko si idi kankan ti ko fi yẹ ki ara wa ya gaga lori ipe wa, bi o tilẹ jẹ pe ipo ti o kere julọ ni a wa ni aye yi, iyẹn ipo ẹru tabi ẹlẹwọn. Fun apẹẹrẹ, nigba ti Pọọlu duro gẹgẹ bi ẹlẹwọn niwaju Ọba Agiripa, Banike ati Fẹsitusi, ti wọn jẹ ẹniyan pataki ninu aye igba naa, ko sọrọ rara bi ẹni ti ko ni laari tabi bi ẹni ti aye rẹ ti dojuru tabi bi ẹni ti ọrọ aye rẹ ti su u. Dipo eyi, o sọrọ pẹlu ara ti o ya gaga nipa igbe aye rẹ pẹlu Ọlọrun to bẹẹ gẹ ti wọn fi bẹrẹ si ni wo boya ki awọn tu u silẹ lẹsẹkẹsẹ. (Wo: Iṣe awọn apositeli 25:13-26:32)

Wayi o, nkan ti Ọlọrun n fẹ lati ọdọ wa gan an niyẹn. O fẹ ki a ma fi gbogbo igba ya awọn ara aye yi lẹnu nipa bi a ṣe n gbe ati bi a ṣe n wuwa, ki wọn ba le ma sọ pe, “Ti awọn wọnyi ko ba ki i ṣe were, a jẹ pe awọn gan ni wọn mọ nkan ti wọn n ṣe.” Nigba ti wọn ba si sunmọ wa si, awọn gan yoo wa ri aridaju pe awa gan ni a mọ nkan ti a n ṣe. Njẹ o o wa jigiri bi, ki o gbe aṣọ itiju rẹ sọnu, ki o si bẹrẹ si ni gbe igbe aye ẹni ti a da ọ lati gbe pẹlu ara ti o ya gaga? Adura mi fun ọ ni pe ki o gba iwuri ati okun lati ṣe bẹẹ gẹgẹ, ni orukọ Jesu. Amin.

Ki o ni ọsẹ alarinrin.

Copyright © 2021, 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@abcministry.com  or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones

Put it to work – J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: April 14, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 3, No. 48

“So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’” (Luke 19:13NIV)

One of the reasons many have remained poor and will most probably die poor and small in life is that they will not put to work the skills, abilities, education or resources they have and increase in usefulness and fruitfulness with them. Why has God given us special abilities or enabled us to acquire some degree of education or put some measure of resources at our disposal? It is so that we may put these things to wise and legitimate use in order to thrive in life.

See, there is no way all of us could have been born into rich and influential families in this life. And there is no way all of could have the same measure of abilities, skills and education in life. But if we are willing, all of us, regardless of our handicaps, can put whatever little resources, abilities, skills or education we have to adequate and appropriate use and shine with it. So, instead of wasting all our energy in complaining about our government, and there is always a lot to complain about every government, or the bad circumstances of our lives, we should focus more on recognising the abilities, resources, education and skills God has put at our disposal and considering how we can make the most of them.

Now it is those who take seriously what God has given them, however little it may seem, and wisely put it to work that will keep experiencing progress or advancement in life. They are the ones He will keep elevating and promoting. And as long as they keep making the most of what they have, they will never be stagnant, poor or small in life. No, they may not become the richest or most influential person in the world. But they will know that they are fine and comfortable in life. And the bible story of a man who gave his servants some money to see what they would do with it over a period of time has a lot to teach us about this.

As the account goes, there was a certain nobleman that was going to receive a kingdom for himself. But before he left, he called ten of his servants and gave each of them some money, actually about three months salary, to work with. And why did he give them this task? First, it was to test their abilities and seriousness in handling little things, so that he may know how to promote them. Second, it was to let them discover themselves. In other words, by giving them that money to work with, he was giving each of them an opportunity to apply his mind and showcase the potential in him to thrive in the face of life difficulties.

At any rate, after a while, when he had been made king, this man came back and called in these servants to find out what they gained with the money he had given them. And the first one that came in told him that he had gained ten times the money he was given. So, his master said to him, “Well done, my good servant. Because you have been trustworthy in handling this little matter, I am putting you in charge of ten cities.” Then another servant came in and said, “Sir, I have made five times what you gave me.” And he said to that one as well, “Well done, my good servant. Because you have been trustworthy in handling this little matter, I am putting you in charge of five cities.” (Cf. Luke 19:1-19)

But then, one of the servants came in and said to him, “Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” (Luke 19:20-21NIV) Look at that. This servant did nothing with his own money because he was afraid he may lose it and then get into trouble with his master. And so afraid was he that he did not even apply his mind at all to consider any safe business he could invest the money in. He just hid it somewhere and spent his time watching others increase in usefulness and profitability.

However, as his master pointed out when judging him, if he was indeed afraid of being punished for failing, he could at least have put the money in the bank. Then he would have taken it back with some interest. That means it was not really fear that made him do nothing with what he was given; it was laziness of mind. And so, instead for him to be promoted like the others, he was demoted. What he had was taken away from him and given to the one who made ten times what he was given. (Cf. Luke 19:22-24)

That, of course, made those who were watching the appraisal process all the time protest and say to the master of the house, “But this man already has ten minas. Why give him one more?” So, the man answered and told them this life principle: “It is the one who has that will be given more, so that he can have much more. But as for the one who does not have, even the little he has will be taken away from him.” (Cf. Luke 19:25-26)

And is this not very true? Is it not true that those who do not have in this world keep getting poorer by the day and that those who have keep getting richer moment by moment? It is. Why? For the most part, it is because while those who do not have will not just intelligently apply themselves to see how to make the most of what they have, those who have keep thinking of how they can use what they have to get more of the things they want. Therefore, if you don’t want to be among those who keep losing the little they have but among those who keep increasing what they have, take an inventory of all the abilities, skills and education you have and begin to faithfully and diligently to put them to work. That is the Lord’s principle for promotion and advancement in life.

Copyright © 2021, 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

Are you learning from history? – J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones


Date: March 31, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 3, No. 4

“Joab sent David a full account of the battle. He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then say to him, ‘Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”” (2Sam 11:18-21NIV)

The message above, which was sent by Joab, Israel’s army commander, to David would never have been set forth the way it was, if David had not been bent of getting rid of Uriah, one of his most dedicated captains and whose wife he impregnated. But that is already history, which we can do absolutely nothing to rewrite. That being the case, the best we can do for ourselves is to see what lessons this history teaches and how we can adequately and appropriately apply them to our lives.

Now one main thing that stands out from what Joab said to the messenger he was sending to David is the fact that he would certainly rebuke them for letting some of his valiant men die because they would not learn from the mistake of the past. And he went on to specifically speak of an instance that David might cite, which was that of Abimelech son of Gideon, who, though was a valiant warrior and schemer, was killed by a woman because he moved too close to the wall of a tower he had wanted to capture. (Cf. Judges 9)

So, Joab had learnt from the mistake of Abimelech that it was wrong for them to move too close to the wall of the city they were fighting. He knew that doing so could get even the strongest among them killed. Why, then, did he allow some of his men to move too close to that city? It was because he wanted to get rid of Uriah in the process. So, it was not because he was not going to learn from the mistake of the past that he did what he did; rather, it was because he wanted to accomplish something evil.

Unfortunately, however, many today who won’t learn from the mistakes of the past are not up to anything cunny like Joab. They are just being foolish and dull. All around them are very perfect examples of people who made certain decisions about their lives, marriages, jobs, children, health and so forth and landed in trouble. Still, they are making the very same decisions that landed those before them in trouble. What do you call that? Stupidity! And they will someday pay dearly for it, if they are not paying for it already.

See, history is for us to learn from. And by learning adequately from it, our journey through life can be made easier and more enjoyable. But if, out of pride or dullness, we will not learn those things that are relevant to our daily living from history, we too will repeat the errors of the past and plunge ourselves into needless sufferings and pains.

One of the things I love about Joshua is that he was a man that took history seriously and learnt from it. For instance, when he was going to send men to go and spy the land of Canaan, especially Jericho, he did not send twelve men as did Moses. Instead, he sent only two. Why? Though we are not given any specific reason in the bible, we can infer that the man was acting on history. He was with Moses when he sent twelve men, one from each tribe of the Israelites, to go and spy the land. In fact, he was among the twelve men sent. But only two of them, he and Caleb, came back with a good report. The remaining ten men brought a bad report and polluted the minds of the people. And it was so bad that all the people ended up spending forty years in the wilderness because of their report, forty years for a journey that took those men just forty days. (Cf. Num 14)

So, when Joshua was going to send his own spies, he did send representatives from all the tribes. Instead, he sent only two men of faith, men that would not bring a report that would make their journey longer and more painful but that would bring a report that would stir their faith in God up. And that was exactly what happened. Those men brought a report that encouraged everyone to get ready to take what God had promised them. (Cf. Joshua 2)

In like manner, we too must not ignore history but learn from it. But we cannot learn from it, if we don’t know it. So, how much of the historical accounts that we have in the bible do you know? And what are you doing with the lessons they teach? Also, what is the history of that house or town you live in? What is the history of that office or organisation you work in? What is the history of that assembly you are fellowshipping in? What is the history of that family you want to marry from? Do you know it? If you know it, what can you learn from it or in what ways can it affect you, whether positively or negatively?

A man called Hiel ignored the history of the city of Jericho and of how Joshua cursed it and lost two of his sons for doing so (Joshua 6:26; 1Kings 16:34). I pray that you won’t have to first lose something very dear to you or even your life before you learn to pay attention to relevant histories and to adequately act on them, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2021, 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 alaythiabiblechurch@gmail.com / alaythia4all@gmail.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones

Title: The Lord put him to death – J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

April 07, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 3, No. 47

“Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death.” (Gen 38:6-7NIV)

In our opening text, it is reported that God killed Er, Judah’s firstborn, because he was wicked in His sight. How wicked was this young man? We are not told. But looking at the way the matter is reported in the bible, it is most likely that his wickedness was in connection with his marriage. At least, God did not kill him before he got married. It was after he had gotten married that He killed him. So, it may be that there was something he was doing or not doing to his wife that exposed him to God’s judgment.

Now you don’t have to accept that, for it is not plainly stated in the bible. But when you consider what is further said about his younger brother, you may want to agree with me that God most likely killed Er, not just because he was wicked to those in his world but also because he was acting in wickedness towards his wife. And what is it that is said about his brother? Well, it is said that when he was asked to take in his wife, Tamar, and fulfil his duty as a brother-in-law to her, so that she would have a son to carry on his name, he deliberately frustrated the process. (Cf. Gen 38:8-9)

Think about it. Onan did not refuse to marry his brother’s wife, Tamar, when he was asked to do so. Yet, in his craftiness, he made sure the woman could not get pregnant for him. Why? It was because he knew that the first son that came through that union would not bear his own name but his brother’s name, according to the customs of the land. But why did he marry her in the first place, when he knew he did not want his brother’s name to live on? Greed! (Cf. Deut 25:5-10)

See, if he had said that he did not want her, then, she would have been free to go and start her life afresh, perhaps with another man. But greed made him marry her. Yes, he knew that he had no intention of making her have any child through him. Yet he, like many young men of today, could not just let such a beauty go away. So, he decided to marry her to continually satisfy his lust and sexual appetites, while denying her the joy of becoming a mother. Therefore, the bible says, “What he did was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so he put him to death also.” (Gen 38:10NIV)

Why did God put Onan too to death? It was because he treated his brother’s wife, who later became his wife as well, shamefully. So, Onan was not killed by God because he was a thief, a murderer, an idolater or even an adulterer. Rather, he was killed by Him because he was deliberately cheating his wife in bed. What is that? Killing someone for cheating their spouse in bed? Is that even fair? Yes, it is fair. It is fair because the wages of sin, any kind of sin, is death (Rom 6:23).

Does that, then, mean God may want to kill me for cheating while sharing food among people, for using my house maid as I deem fit or for making marriage promises to someone I have no intention of marrying? Yes! But how is that His business? Well, it is His business because He is the creator and judge of us all. So, everything we are doing to ourselves and to others, good or bad, concerns Him, and He will judge and reward us for it. Exactly how He will judge us for these things is something we do not know. But He is watching us, our thoughts and our every move and will surely respond, in righteousness, to whatever we are up to.

Therefore, we need to be careful in all that we do to ourselves and others and see to it that wickedness is not associated with us. Otherwise, we may not find His judgment interesting at all, even if we live to tell the story. Yes, He is a merciful God. And that is the reason many of us have not yet fully experienced His wrath for all our acts of wickedness against others and even ourselves. But as long as we continue to act wickedly, there will come a time in which this merciful God must also show Himself as a just God and judge us (Rev 2:20-23). And since we can’t tell how severe His judgment will be, the best thing we can do is to stay out of trouble. So, stay out of trouble.

Copyright © 2021, 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 alaythiabiblechurch@gmail.com / alaythia4all@gmail.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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WORD4MYDAY

STOP HELPING THE WICKED

WORD4MYDAY 14/04/2021

“When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you. There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.”” (2Chron 19:1-3NIV)

Why was King Jehoshaphat confronted by Jehu the seer with such strong words, as we see in the above text? It was because he had gone into battle to support that wicked King of Israel, Ahab. And he did that against God’s instruction. God had revealed through Prophet Micaiah that Israel would lose and that Ahab their king would die, should they go to war against Ramoth Gilead. But Ahab did not believe the words of the man of God because he was confident in his ability. Jehoshaphat, however, being a godly man, knew that Micaiah had spoken the mind of God. Yet, in order not to appear weak before Ahab and his officials, he ignored the Lord’s warning and went into battle in support of his friend, Ahab. And if the Lord had not been merciful to him, he would have perished for his foolishness and disobedience in that battle. (Cf. 2Chro 18)

At any rate, when this man came back safely to his own kingdom, God sent a prophet to let him know that He was clearly against him for going to help Ahab and that His wrath was already upon him. But why? It was because Ahab was an idolatrous and wicked king. So, in the eyes of God, to support him meant nothing other than to support idolatry and wickedness. And that could have cost Jehoshaphat his life.

Now what are we to learn from this? It is simply that God does not want His righteous people helping the wicked in promoting their wickedness. And don’t miss my point here. I am not saying that God does not want righteous people to help unrighteous people or do good to them at all. He wants us to help all men, both good and bad, and do good to them, for He Himself is continually helping all men, both good and bad, and doing good to them. (Cf. Matt 5:43-48; Gal 6:10)

But then, we have to be discerning in the way we help or support people, especially those who do not know the Lord. When we are certain that the help that we give to them will do nothing but promote wickedness or unrighteousness, we must not give it. Otherwise we will be participating in their unrighteousness and sinning against God. That, of course, may expose us to afflictions, if we are not shown mercy. And only God knows how many of His people are suffering at the moment because they, at some point in their lives, helped the wicked or those who hate God to do wickedness.

Therefore, learn to pay attention to the way you relate to unrighteous people, so that you don’t foolishly promote their unrighteousness. And to say the fact, if all of us who know God and believe in righteousness begin to take these things seriously, wickedness will begin to drastically reduce in our world. At least, we all know that, regardless of how smart a wicked man may be, there is a limit to what he can do alone, if he does not get help from others. So, we all can, to a great extent, paralyse the wicked in our world by refusing to help them steal, cheat, oppress, cover up evil or do any kind of wickedness.

Unfortunately, because many of us don’t know or understand God’s stand along these lines, we are continually sponsoring evil in our neighbourhoods, offices, schools, business centres, markets and so forth. Yet we complain all the time about the corruption and wickedness in our land and how they are ruining us. The truth is that these things will continue to grow and to ruin us unless we all who claim to know the Lord and to believe in His righteousness stop feeding them in people’s lives. But are we going to stop feeding them? Are we going to stop feeding wickedness and ungodliness? Well, I pray that we all are strengthened to stop, for our good and for the good of our nation.

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SUNDAY BULLETINS SUNDAY BULLETINS

SUNDAY BULLETINS VOLUME 9

Sunday bulletins are series of life enriching publications published every Sundays. Each bulletin contains the extract of the last Sunday’s message, the current week’s nugget of the Spirit, the weekly Bible reading outlines, the selected songs for the current Sunday service, Celebrant’s details, relevant links and other vital information. It is a must read every Sunday.

Click on each publication to download your copy and be blessed!

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FROM PASTOR'S DESK 2021

Tell them your experience with Him – — Pst. J.O Lawal.

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

April 11, 2021 |Vol. 9, No. 49

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer. Welcome to another week of the month of April 2021. And may you fully experience God’s rest and peace of mind all through the week, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now one of the things that will make our experience of God’s rest and peace of mind better and better is for many more people in our world to be saved and transformed through faith in Christ Jesus. People who have been truly saved and transformed by the Lord Jesus Christ don’t cause trouble in the society. They don’t steal, rob, kidnap, rape, embezzle public funds, do money rituals, use hard drugs or irritate their neighbours. So, the more of such people we have in our society, the greater the degree of peace and rest we will be enjoying. This is, in fact, why we are admonished in Scriptures not to be praying for ourselves alone but also for all men, for through our prayers God is able to lead them to salvation. (Cf. 1Tim 2:1-4)

But praying for God to lead people to salvation is not enough for them to be led to salvation. We also need to be talking to them about this salvation that God is freely offering them in Christ Jesus. And we don’t have to be an evangelist to do this; we just need to have experienced this salvation ourselves. Have we been saved from our sins? Have we truly experienced deliverance from the power of the devil? Are our lives daily experiencing the love and goodness of God in ways beyond description? If all these things are true in our case, then, we already have enough of what we need to invite those around us to come and share in this same experience we are having with God through Christ Jesus.

For example, our Lord Jesus once had a brief conversation with a Samaritan woman by a well in a city called Sychar. Now this woman was most likely a very troublesome person, one that most people would not want to have anything to do with. That is because, as the account shows, she had married five times and the man she was with at that time was not her husband at all – they were just co-habiting. So, it is unlikely that she was a good woman. Nevertheless, when the Lord Jesus was through talking to her and showing her the solution to the thirst for love and peace of mind that she had, she did not waste time at all to go and gather as many people as she could from her town to come and meet the Lord. (Cf. John 4:4-45)

Now how much Scriptures did that woman know for her to be able to do that? Not much! In fact, she did not need to know much Scriptures to be able to get people to come and meet Jesus. She just needed to be able to passionately tell them her own personal experience with Him and how that experience gave her the faith she needed to have a new and meaningful life.

In like manner, what we need to invite people to meet with Jesus is not a great knowledge of the bible. Rather, what we need is a great passion to share with them the beautiful things our lives have experienced through our fellowship with Him, so that they too may come to Him to have even more beautiful experiences. And as they come to Him and have their lives changed, our society is able to experience a greater degree of peace and rest.

So, as you go this week, determine in your heart that more people will hear from you good news of what the Lord Jesus has done for you, is doing in you and is doing through you. And I pray that God, by His Spirit, will fill you with a great passion to do this, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do have a fabulous week.

Copyright © 2021, 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 alaythiabiblechurch@gmail.com/alaythia4all@gmail.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)