Month: January 2022

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FROM PASTOR'S DESK 2022 Pastor's Desk

Not your spiritual gifts alone | Pst. J.O. Lawal

Date: January 30, 2022 | Series: From Pastor’s Desk | Number: Vol. 10, No. 39

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to another week of year 2022. My prayer is that, as you go through the week, your eyes will be opened to see what things you need to give yourself to this year in order to increase in usefulness in God’s hand, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now one main way to increase in usefulness in God’s hand, apart from offering prayers to Him, is to recognize His gifts in our lives and make the most of them. As the bible shows us, it is only those who are putting to meaningful usage what God has given to them, whether spiritual things or natural things, that He gives more things to, so that they may increase in usefulness with them. Those who are not doing much or anything with what He has given to them will not receive additional revelations, abilities, resources or opportunities from Him. In fact, if they are not careful, He may end up taking away from them what He has given them. (Cf. Mark 4:24-25; Luke 19:11-26)

So, if we want to increase in usefulness in God’s kingdom this year, we must carefully look into our lives to see what things He has given to us that we can use to serve Him or do His work. And this is not just about using our spiritual gifts to serve Him. It is also about using our natural or acquired abilities, education, resources and position to serve Him.

For example, Luke, who wrote one of gospel books and also ‘The Acts of the Apostles’, was not known as an apostle, prophet, evangelist or pastor. Rather, he was known as a trained physician or doctor. But he made use of his education and his love for history in serving the Lord by writing an orderly account of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. He also put these things to work in giving us a brief history of the church and of the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. So, though he was not a preacher, he made himself useful to God in preserving for us the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Cf. Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-2; Col 4:14)

Also, Dorcas was not a preacher or church leader. But she was always using her resources to help the poor, especially in the church. And that made her popular among the brethren. Therefore, when she died, they could not accept her death. They had to immediately send for Peter, who came to them and prayed for her to be brought back to life. And God answered him. Why? It was because He knew that if He gave that woman more years to live, she would not waste them in unproductive living. Instead, she would increase in usefulness and fruitfulness with them. (Cf. Acts 9:36-42)

So, you do not have to have preaching or healing gifts to be useful in God’s kingdom or to increase in usefulness in it. You just need to adequately and continually put to use whatever your spiritual gift is. And you will be amazed at what things God will accomplish through you. Then, even if you don’t seem to know what your spiritual gift is at the moment, consider how you can use your education, skills or resources to move forward the work of God.

For example, if you are a furniture maker, see what you can make for the use of the church of God or how you can use your abilities to save the church some unnecessary spending. Or maybe you are good with writing or artwork. Think of how you can regularly use your skills in these things to support the church and promote the gospel, instead of making excuses for not being responsible to God in any way. It is unfortunate, however, that many in our churches today don’t want to use their abilities to serve God, if it will not result in much material profit for them. In fact, some don’t mind cheating the church in matters like this. That is because their god is their stomach. (Cf. Ex 35:4-36:3; Philippians 3:18-19)

Now I know that it is wrong for any church too to underpay or cheat anyone who does any work for her simply because the person is a church member or believer. If a believer wants to give his church some discounts on goods or services supplied by him, it is fine. But it has to be as he purposes in his heart and not something he is manipulated, threatened or forced to do (2Cor 9:7). Yet we all must learn to make available everything we have that is of use in doing the Lord’s work and in increasing in usefulness in His kingdom. Otherwise, we may end up being regarded by Him someday as lazy and unprofitable servants. And may things not end like that for you and me, in Jesus’ name.

Have a lovely week.

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

She missed her opportunity | By: J.O. Lawal | Date: January 26, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 37

“And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”

(2Sam 6:23NIV)

Why did the Spirit of the Lord move the writer or writers of 2Samuel to inform us that Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death? It was because He wanted us to see why she had to live and die without having any child of her own?

And why did Michal live and die without having any child of her own? Was it because she could not get married? No! She got married. She got married to David, the man of God. In fact, she was his first legal wife. What, then, was the problem with her? Why could she not conceive for her husband, not to talk of have her own child? Was it because her husband had health issues? No! Her husband was fine. In fact, her husband had several children from his other wives. (Cf. 1Chro 3:1-9)

So, the problem was with Michal. She was the one that was barren and could not conceive. But we do know from Scriptures that she was not the only barren woman in bible days. There were other barren women that are mentioned in the bible. Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah, Manoah’s wife and Elizabeth are all familiar bible names. These ones were barren for years too. Yet they were all cured of their barrenness. In other words, they did not die without having their own children.

Why, then, was Michal’s case different? Why was she not cured of her barrenness? Was it because there was no cure in the land? No! God was always there with them in the land. And He had already told them that as long as they were serving Him, He would cause His blessings to be on them, so that none of them would miscarry or be barren (Ex 23:25-26). So, though Michal was barren for years, the blessing of God was able to take away her barrenness, especially since the whole nation at that time was being led by David to truly worship God.

However, that did not happen. God’s blessing did not work in favour of Michal to take away her barrenness. Why? It was because she missed her opportunity to receive it. As the story goes, the very day God’s Ark was brought into the city of David and placed where he had prepared for it, he went back home to bless his household. Interestingly, who was the first to come out and meet him? It was Michal. And what should she have done when she came to him? She should have knelt down to receive his blessings. That, of course, would have been the end of her years of barrenness.

Remember that the bible shows us that Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, was cured of her barrenness because her husband prayed for her (Gen 25:21). And a similar thing could have happened to Michal, if she had received her husband and king’s blessings that day. At least, the man actually came home that very day with the inspiration of the Spirit of God to bless his household. But did Michal, his wife, humble herself to receive his blessings? No, she did not! Instead, she took the moment to accuse him of embarrassing himself before the whole nation, all in the name of worshipping God. Therefore, instead for him to bless her, he just walked pass her to go and bless other members of the family. What a shame! (Cf. 2Sam 6:20-23)

Now this remark, which we have as our opening bible text, is added at the end of the story: “And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.” That shows that the reason she did not have any child to the day of her death was that she missed her opportunity to be blessed to be fruitful. Why did she miss it? It was because she despised her husband and king, who was bearing God’s authority to bless her and cure her barrenness.

In like manner, there are people today who, like Michal, have missed or are missing their opportunity to experience God’s blessing to be fruitful in certain areas of their lives because they are despising those sent by Him to them or certain authorities placed by Him in their lives. And unless such people’s eyes are opened to see what they are missing or have missed, so that they may humble themselves before God and obtain His mercy, they may die without ever experiencing His blessings and provisions for them in those areas of their lives.

So, if you are one of those who take delight in despising authorities or spiritual leaders because you feel they are not dignified enough for you, this is a call for you to repent and humble yourself. Otherwise, God’s blessing to experience certain things you seriously desire to have in life may never find expression in your life.

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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FROM PASTOR'S DESK 2022 Pastor's Desk

He will rebuke them for you | Pst. J.O. Lawal

Date: January 23, 2022 | Series: From Pastor’s Desk | Number: Vol. 10, No. 38

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours immeasurably from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. It gives me delight to welcome you to the last week of the month of January 2022. My prayer is that your heart will be taught and strengthened to always make much of the presence of God in your life every remaining day of your life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

One of the most challenging statements of the bible is that which we find in Paul’s letter to the Roman brethren, which says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31NIV) Is God for us? Is He on our side? If He is for us, and He is for us, then, who can be against us? Nobody! I mean that there is no one powerful enough to oppress or harm us in any matter of life since God is for us. We just need to let this soak in our heads and continually walk accordingly.

For example, because of His presence with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, no one could successfully harm, cheat or oppress them. The bible says, “He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”” (Ps 105:14-15NIV) Just think about that. God allowed no one to oppress these people because they were His. And He was ready to afflict or kill anyone who tried to do so. (Cf. Gen 12:10-20; Gen 20; Gen 31:24&29)

It is no wonder, then, that when Moses was leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land, he did not ask God for wealth, food, water or protection for the people. Instead, he asked for His presence. In fact, he plainly told Him that if He would not be with them all the way into the Promised Land, He should not bother sending them up there. Why? It was because he knew that God’s presence was everything they needed. In other words, he knew that as long as God was with them, they would have all the food, water, wealth, good health and protection that they needed and even much more. (Cf. Ex 33:12-17)

Now we don’t need to ask for God’s presence in our lives. That is because we already have it through of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is already with us, in us and for us. In fact, the bible says, “…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”” (Heb 13:5-6NIV) Did you see that? God Himself has said that He will never ever leave us or forsake us. That means we will always and ever have His presence with us.

And how should we respond to that? Well, as that bible text also shows us, we should respond by confidently saying, “I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Whose job is to boldly say I will not be afraid? It is my job. It is your job. And whose job is it to boldly say there is nothing any man can do to me? It is my job to say so. It is your job to say so.

But we are not to say these things because we just want to sound bold or courageous. We are to say them because we know that God is with us all the way to make sure we are adequately taken care of and also protected from all forms of satanic or human oppression. If you, then, know this, get rid of all your fears. Yes, get rid of all your fears of those situations or people that are threatening you, cheating you or oppressing you. That is because God is going to rebuke them and take for you what is rightly yours.

Remember that He rebuked kings, even kings that were being controlled by demons of sorcery and witchcraft, for His saints of old. So, it won’t be anything serious for Him to also rebuke for you anything or anyone that is against your peace of mind, health or progress, regardless of what measure of demonic influence they are exercising. You just make sure you that you always remind yourself that He is with you. And you shall continually witness great manifestations of His power on your behalf.

Have a splendid week.

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)