Author: Pastor J.O. Lawal

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FROM PASTOR'S DESK 2021 Pastor's Desk

You will always have His protection By: J.O. Lawal

Pastor J.O. Lawal
Pastor J.O. Lawal


Date: May 23, 2021 | Number: Vol. 10, No. 3

Beloved: grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Welcome to the last week of the month of May 2021. My prayer is that you will continue to be shielded by God from every form of evil, regardless of where it is coming from, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now I offered that prayer for you because it is in keeping with the word of God to us. And what does His word say? First, His word says, “If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge — then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” (Ps 91:9-12NIV) Did you see that? As long as we are living in God through Christ Jesus, no harm will befall us and no disaster will come near our dwelling places. Why? It is because He will see to it that we have His Holy angels all around us to protect us in all our ways.

But do you know that you have God’s angels all around you to protect you? The bible tells us that those of us who have come to God through Jesus Christ have come to an innumerable company of angels in a joyful assembly. Then it also tells us that all these angels are receiving instructions from God everyday to serve us. Can we see them with our natural eyes? No! But they are all around us, working hard to see to it that we are safe to experience a total fulfilment of the will of God in our lives. (Cf. Heb 1:14&12:22)

You can now see why the consistent position of the Scriptures is that disasters, terrors and oppression will be far from us (Is 54:14-15). And don’t miss the point being made here. It is not that bad thing will not want to happen to us. As long as we are in this world, Satan will always labour to see that bad things happen to us, whether we are God’s children or not. But because we are God’s children, we always have His protection through His mighty angels. And they will always see to it that regardless of what Satan does, the disasters he has plotted to bring upon us never come near us.

Remember what happened when the children of Israel just came out of Egypt. No sooner than they left that Pharoah gathered his army and pursued them. But the bible says, “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.” (Ex 14:19-20NIV) My! Think about that! The angel of the Lord that was watching the nation of Israel saw to it that the Egyptian army could not come close to them. And He made sure this was the case until the entire army of Egypt that was pursuing them perished in the Red Sea.

In like manner, there are angels appointed to watch over you too. And they will always see to it that regardless of how close or hard the disasters or calamities or plagues or sicknesses sent by the devil come towards you, they will never touch or harm you. So, get rid of all your fears and walk all the time with the consciousness that you have your own personal guards sent by God to keep you. Otherwise, through fear, you may use your own mouth to bring trouble on yourself (Prov 18:21).

Then you also need to be devoted to staying in the will of God and walking only on the basis of His righteousness and not yours. Otherwise, you may just expose yourself to satanic afflictions. Why did Jonah end up in the belly of a fish? It was because he disobeyed clear instructions from God. Why did Lot lose his wealth in one day? It was because he pitched his tents with people who were living contrary to the will of God? And why did God permit Job to experience all the terrible things he experienced at some point in his life? One of the reasons was to show him that he had been walking in self-righteousness all along, thinking that his good works qualified him to earn God’s protection.

So, if we don’t want to expose ourselves to disasters, we need to take all of God’s instructions very seriously and also rely on Him solely for our protection and not on our good works. As long as we are functioning like this, even if certain people’s misbehaviour, disobedience or evil schemes should bring some calamities or disasters our way, God will always ensure that His angels are there to preserve us by shutting the mouths of the lions that are sent to devour us. (Cf. Dan 6; Acts 27)

Do have a lovely week.

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FROM PASTOR'S DESK 2021 Pastor's Desk

A promotion that can’t be condemned

from pastor's desk

Date:May 16, 2021|Number: Vol. 10, No. 2

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I welcome you to another week of the month of May 2021 and pray that, starting from the week, you will, like never before, begin to experience divine elevation that people cannot condemn or despise, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now one of the things that will make it possible for people to see you get elevated and not despise your elevation is the obvious presence of the wisdom of God in your life. For instance, the bible says this about David, “So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.” (1Sam 18:5NKJV) Did you see that? Even though David was a very young man when he joined the service of King Saul, he was made a commander over the soldiers.

But why was this young man made a commander like that? Was it simply because he killed Goliath? No! Or was it because he was a friend of the king’s son, Jonathan, who happened to be the crown prince at the time? No! Indeed, David, against all odds, killed the Philistine champion, Goliath. And that made him become a very popular person. Also, he was indeed a friend of a very powerful and respected prince, Jonathan. But all these things did not mean that he was qualified to lead other soldiers, who were mostly older men, or motivate them to success.

See, we are talking about leading soldiers here, men who were trained to face death anytime, any day and anywhere. So, David would need to be more than a prince’s friend to lead them. Also, he would need to be more than a warrior to lead them. He would have to earn their respect for them to follow him. And for him to earn their respect, he would have to show that he had what it takes to protect them and lead them in victory, regardless of the circumstances.

And that was exactly what he did. He behaved himself wisely in handling whatever assignment he was given by his master, King Saul. That means all the soldiers who were observing him could see that he was handling all the military affairs committed to him with wisdom and prudence. So, when he was set over them as their commander, they all accepted him as worthy of the position. Nobody thought of him as being overrated or as being given an undue advantage. Instead, they all celebrated him and submitted themselves to his leadership.

Now that is the kind of elevation or promotion you too need in your life. You need a kind of promotion that even those who hate you will agree that you deserve. And for you to have it, you also, like David, need to be conducting yourself wisely wherever you are and regardless of your age or social status. So henceforth, whatever task you are given at work, in school, in your neighbourhood, in your family or in the church, handle it diligently and wisely and not anyhow. Yes, make sure you put a stamp of excellence and wisdom on anything that you do.

And why is that important? It is important because people are always watching you, whether you know it or not. And how you handle whatever is under your care is one of the things that will determine whether they see you as someone that deserves a higher position in life or not. Truly, God does need people’s opinions to promote or elevate you. He can promote you with or without their approval. However, if you are going to enjoy your promotion and increase in usefulness with it, you need those around you to accept you as worthy of being in the position you are. Otherwise, you may end up hating that elevated position, when you are being despised by the very people that are supposed to work with you or cheer you up.

Thankfully, through Christ Jesus, we all now have access to all the treasures of wisdom, knowledge and understanding (1Cor 1:30; Col 2:2-3). And all we need to see their expression in our lives is to devote ourselves to God’s word and prayer. So, as you go this week, renew your devotion to His word and prayer, and you will be amazed at the way His wisdom will become obvious in your life in all that you do and at the way people will start accepting and celebrating your progress.

Do have a great 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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FROM PASTOR'S DESK 2021 Pastor's Desk

God and People | J.O. LAWAL

Date: May 09, 2021 | Number: Vol. 10, No. 1

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours forever from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to another week of the month of May 2021. I pray that God, by His divine power, will fulfil all your good and righteous desires for the week, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This week, it becomes exactly nine years that we have been meeting in this town as a church. So, first, we ought to thank God for calling us out of darkness into His wonderful light in order that we may fellowship with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. We also ought to thank Him for making us representatives of His eternal kingdom in this world of darkness. May His Holy name be exalted forever. Amen.

Now, as we begin another year together in this wonderful fellowship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and with one another, there are two things I want you to take very seriously. First, take your relationship with God very seriously. Don’t forget that what qualifies all of us to be members of this assembly is our relationship with God. Yes, it is because we all are God’s children that we are fellowshipping together as one family and enjoying His love and the love of one another.

Therefore, above everything else, your relationship and fellowship with God must be taken very seriously. Until you take it as seriously as you ought to, none of us can be blessed through our fellowship with you the way we ought to be blessed through it. So, put God first in all things. And prove that by making it your goal to rely on Him for everything you need and to do what pleases Him in all things. As you do this, He will see to it that everything about your life is made perfect and that you do not lack anything you need to live a fruitful and meaningful life. (Cf. Matt 6:33)

Then I also want you to take all the people God has planted in your life very seriously, starting with members of your immediate household. Why is this important? It is important because it is the will of God for you. Read through the Scriptures, and you will see that God is always concerned about people and how they are doing (Ps 8:3-8). Even though He is God and can afford to ignore us or do without us, He still cherishes us and always wants to do us good. And that is because He loves us and wants the best for us at all times.

Since we, then, are His children, we are not expected to act differently from Him. In other words, we too must be lovers of people, just as God is. And we must be genuinely concerned about them, especially the ones He has put in our lives, and always consider how we may do them good. Until this is the case with us, we cannot be good ministers of Jesus Christ.

You know ministry is not just about serving God; it is also about serving people. To say the fact, it is because God wants us to serve people that He blessed us with all the gifts of the Spirits we have and all the resources we have access to, as His church (1Cor 12:4-7). So, we cannot claim to be serving Him, when we are not serving people. And we cannot serve people adequately and appropriately, if we are not interested in them and what is going on in their lives. Do you know that we cannot even take care of our husbands, wives, children, parents and siblings well, if we are not truly interested in their lives?

So, apart from your confidence in God, another important thing that will make you a good minister of Jesus Christ is your genuine interest in people. How interested are you in the lives and progress of your family members? How interested are you in the lives and progress of members of this assembly, with whom you fellowship week after week? And how interested are you in the lives and progress of all other people that are close to you in one way or the other? Your degree of interest in these people is what will drive you to seek God’s face for them and to also put to work the abilities, skills and resources God has given you in helping them.

If you, then, can see that your level of interest in people is low, you need to start praying to God seriously about it. That is because it is showing that you are not allowing His love in you to flow freely. It is love, God’s love, that makes us take genuine interest in people’s welfare. And where this is not flowing freely, we will hardly be concerned about others. Pray, therefore, that God will cause His love to flow freely in your life, as it ought to, so that you can be used by Him to bless all those that He intends to bless through you.

Once again, I welcome you to another year of great fellowship with God and with another and pray that we all will increase in fruitfulness and usefulness like never before in it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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 pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones

They stayed at a distance | J.O. LAWAL

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: May 05, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 3, No. 51

“When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”” (Ex 20:18-19NIV)

After God had safely led the children of Israel out of Egypt, their house of bondage, He told Moses to get them ready for a meeting with Him. And part of the instructions he was given was that the people should not come near the mountain of the meeting or go up it until they heard a long blast of a ram’s horn. Otherwise, death would be the penalty. (Cf. Ex 19:10-13)

However, when God eventually stepped on the mountain of the meeting, Mount Sinai, and the people saw His terror, they no longer desired to relate to Him directly anymore. In fact, they would not even go up the mountain again with Moses. They just stayed at a distance from God and His mountain and missed that fellowship experience that would have changed their lives forever. (Cf. Ex 20:21)

Now someone may ask, “Why did God appear to the people in that manner? Why did He have to show them His terror and make them sick with fear? He could, at least, have appeared to them in a gentle and yet majestic way. Then they would not have been so afraid of Him that they would not want to have anything to do with Him again.” Good questions! Good thoughts! But we are not in a position to choose for God how He is to manifest Himself to us. Rather, He is the one to determine how He will manifest Himself to us. Otherwise, His purpose in manifesting Himself to us will not be accomplished.

What I am saying is that God has reasons He manifests Himself to people. And it is the reason for which He wants to manifest Himself to them that will determine the means He uses in manifesting Himself to them. If we, then, do not want to miss the purpose of His manifestation, we need to look beyond the means He is using to Him. In other words, we should not get carried away by the awesomeness of the means He using to reveal Himself to us or get frightened by its terror. Instead, we should fix our gaze on Him. That way, we will be able to experience what He wants us to experience through His manifestation of Himself to us.

In the case we are considering, God chose to reveal Himself to the Israelites the way He did so that they would also know Him as a God to be feared. They had known Him as their saviour and deliverer, one that they could call upon anytime and any day for mercy and help and who would answer. But they also needed to know Him as one who must not be taken lightly, as one who could destroy them, as He destroyed their enemies, if they would not obey Him.

Unfortunately, they did not want to know God that way. They did not want to embrace Him as a God of terror and justice. So, they would not meet with Him or have Him talk to them directly anymore. Instead, they asked Moses to be the intermediary and mediator between them and Him. And that was how they lost the opportunity of knowing God personally and intimately and have their lives changed forever by their knowledge of Him.

Now there are many today like these Israelites, who do not want to have any intimate relationship with God. These ones have no problem accepting Him as a God of goodness, favour and mercy. And they have no problem accepting Him as a saviour and deliverer. But they have problems accepting Him as a God of justice and terror. What they want is a God that is good and kind and who will not punish sin or wickedness. They will be comfortable with that kind of God. But that kind of God does not exist. The true God must not just be loving, kind and merciful but also just and righteous. That is because it is not only His love and mercy that will change our lives and make them right but also His justice and discipline. And until we are willing to embrace His love, mercy, justice, discipline and whatever else He stands for, our lives will never be what they are meant to be.

For instance, why was Moses, whom the Israelites chose to represent them, different from them? Why did he end up becoming a man that God Himself commended as faithful in all His house? He too was a man like them. He too saw the same things they saw, heard the same things they heard and was as afraid of God as they were. But he had a burning desire to know God personally and intimately, regardless of the means He might use in making Himself known to him. Also, he was ready to embrace God in all His fullness, to embrace whatever was revealed to him about Him. So, he approached the thick darkness where God was in order to meet with Him and fellowship with Him. And that experience was not like anything he had had before in his life – it changed his life and ministry forever. (Cf. Ex 20-34)

If we too want our knowledge of God to change our lives forever, we must be willing to know Him in His fullness and regardless of the means He is using to make Himself known to us. And we must be willing to accept whatever He reveals to us about Himself, even if it is something shocking and awesome to bear. That is because, as I pointed out before, it is only as we embrace Him in all His fullness that our lives can be perfected. So, stop relating to God at a distance and stop looking for intermediaries between you and Him, especially since you are not coming to Him in the same manner as did the Israelites (Heb 12:18-24). Instead, freely and boldly draw near to Him through Christ Jesus and embrace all that He is showing you about Himself. And you will be amazed at how your life will be transformed from whatever it is now to all that it is meant to be.

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

O ṣi le ṣe ju bẹẹ lọ – J.O. Lawal

Ojo: Ebibi 02, 2021 | Nomba: Vol. 9, No. 52

Olufẹ: ki oore-ọfẹ, aanu ati alaafia jẹ tirẹ titi lailai lati ọdọ Ọlọrun Baba wa ati Jesu Kirisiti Oluwa wa. Inu mi dun lati ki ọ kaabọ sinu oṣu tuntun yi, oṣu Ebibi 2021. Adura mi si ni pe ki aṣeyọri pẹlu irọrun jẹ tirẹ ninu gbogbo iṣẹ rẹ ti o tọna ninu oṣu naa, ni orukọ Jesu. Amin.

Ọrọ iyanju mi si ọ, bi a ṣe n bẹrẹ oṣu yi, ni pe ki o tunbọ fi ara rẹ jin siwaju ati siwaju si ni ṣiṣe iṣẹ Oluwa. Ki si ni idi? Akọkọ, idi ni pe ifẹ Ọlọrun fun ọ ni eyi. Pọọlu, ninu lẹta rẹ si awọn ara Korinnti, sọ pe, “Nitori naa ẹyin ara mi olufẹ, ẹ maa duro ṣinṣin, laiyẹṣẹ, ki ẹ si maa tẹsiwaju ninu ṣiṣe iṣẹ Oluwa nigba gbogbo, niwọn bi ẹyin ti mọ pe iṣẹ yin kii ṣe asan ninu Oluwa.” (1Korinnti 15:58) Njẹ o ri bayi? Ki ni gbedeke igba ti o fi yẹ ki a ma fi ara wa jin fun iṣẹ Ọlọrun? Ko si gbedeke igba fun eyi rara. Gbogbo igba ni o ye ki a ma fi ara wa jin fun iṣẹ rẹ. Eyi tunmọ si pe nṣe ni o yẹ ki a gbajumọ nkan ti O fẹ ki a ṣe ninu ijoba rẹ, ki a si ma ti ọwọ ọlẹ tabi imẹlẹ bọ ọ.

Nkan ti mo n sọ ni pe Ọlọrun fẹ ki a ma pọ si ni iwulo ni ijọba rẹ, ki a ma si ṣe dinkun rara. Nitorina, bi o ṣe wu ki awọn nkan ti o n ṣe ninu ijọba rẹ le pọ to, o ṣi le ṣe ju bẹẹ lọ. O le bukun fun awọn eniyan pẹlu ọrọ Ọlọrun, adura rẹ, ẹbun rẹ ati bẹẹbẹẹ lọ ju bi o ti ṣe n ṣe ni akoko yi. O kan nilo lati mọ lọkan rẹ pe Ọlọrun n gboju le ọ lati ṣiṣẹ siwaju ati siwaju si fun un, ki o ṣi bẹrẹ si ni rin ni ibamu pẹlu afiyesi yi.

Idi keji ti a fi nilo lati fi ara wa jin lati ṣiṣẹ Ọlọrun siwaju ati siwaju si ni pe gbogbo igba ni Ọlọrun, Baba wa, funrarẹ gan n fi n ṣiṣẹ. Gbogbo igba ni O fi n bukun fun awọn eniyan, yi aye wọn pada, tu wọn silẹ, wo wọn san, gbe wọn soke ati bẹẹbẹẹ lọ. Ko fi igba kankan su u lati ṣe rere fun awọn eniyan ati lati ṣe idajọ ododo ni orilẹ aye. Eyi i gan ni o fun Jesu ni oriya lati ma fi gbogbo igba gbajumọ iṣẹ rẹ nigba ti O wa ni aye yi. Si ranti pe O sọ pe, “Baba mi n ṣiṣẹ titi di isinsinyi, emi si n ṣiṣẹ.” (Johanu 5:17) Niwọn igba ti awa na si jẹ ọmọ Baba, a gbọdọ tẹra mọṣẹ.

Idi kẹta ti a fi ni lati pọ si ninu iṣẹ Ọlọrun, gẹgẹ bi Pọọlu ti ṣe fi ye wa, ni pe iṣẹ wa ki i ṣe lasan. Ki ni itunmọ eyi? Eni, o tunmọ si pe ohun ti a n ṣe jẹ pataki si Ọlọrun. Iwaasu wa, adura wa, fifi-funni wa, ṣiṣiṣẹ lati sọ awọn eniyan di ọmọ ẹyin ati bẹẹbẹẹ lọ ṣe pataki si, nitori pe O n lo awọn nkan yi lati mu ete rẹ ṣẹ ninu aye awọn eniyan. Eji, o tunmọ si pe Ọlọrun yoo pin wa lere fun gbogbo iṣẹ ti a ba fi tọkantọkan ṣe fun un. Awọn eniyan le ma kọbiara tabi yin wa fun laalaa wa ninu ijọba Ọlọrun. Ṣugbọn Ọlọrun ko ni fi igba kankan foju fo ohunkohun ti a ba ṣe fun un, bi o tilẹ jẹ pe a kan fun ọkan lara awọn ọmọ rẹ ni omi ni (Matiu 10:42). Nitorina, a ni awọn idi ti o gbamuṣe lati fi ara wa jin fun iṣẹ rẹ.

Amọ ṣe o wa ṣeeṣe fun wa lati fi ara wa jin siwaju ati siwaju si fun iṣẹ Ọlọrun, lalai ṣaarẹ tabi rẹwẹsi? Bẹẹni, o ṣeeṣe. O ṣeeṣe nitoripe a ko fi wa silẹ lati da iṣẹ rẹ ṣe. Oun gangan yoo wa pẹlu wa ati ninu wa ni gbogbo igba lati ṣe ohunkohun ti O ba fẹ ki a ṣe. Ki a tilẹ sọ otitọ, a ko le ṣe iṣẹ rẹ kankan rara, ti ko ba ti ipasẹ wa ṣe. Ohun ti o ba ṣe ninu wa, pẹlu wa ati nipasẹ wa nikan naa ni o le mu ete rẹ wa si imuṣẹ, ti O si tun le fun wa ni ere le lori. Idi si ni yi ti Pọọlu ṣe sọ pe, “Nitori pe Ọlọrun ni n ṣiṣẹ ninu yin, lati fẹ ati lati ṣiṣẹ fun ifẹ inu rere rẹ.” (Filipi 2:13)

Nitorina, a ko ni idi kankan lati bẹru iṣẹ rẹ ti o wa niwaju wa, bi o ti wu ki iṣẹ na dabi ẹni pọ to tabi dabi eyi ti ko le e ṣeeṣe to. A kan nilo lati ma rin pẹlu afiyesi pe a ko ni da ṣiṣẹ rẹ — Oun funrarẹ wa pẹlu wa lati ṣe e. Bi O ba si ṣe n ṣiṣẹ ninu wa ati nipasẹ wa, a le ma reti ki oniruuru iṣẹlẹ iyanu bẹrẹ si ni ṣẹlẹ ninu aye wa ati ninu aye awọn ti o wa ni awujọ wa. Gẹgẹ bi a ṣe kọ iwe rẹ: “Wọn si jade lọ, wọn si n waasu nibi gbogbo, Oluwa si n ba wọn ṣiṣẹ, o si n fi idi ọrọ naa kalẹ, nipa ami ti n tẹle e. Aami.” (Maaku 16:20) Nibakanna, ti awa na ba gbajumọ iṣẹ rẹ, lori gbedeke oore-ọfẹ rẹ lori wa, yoo ba wa ṣiṣẹ, yoo si tun mu wiwa rẹ pẹlu wa daju nipa oniruuru iṣẹ ami ati iyanu ti yoo jẹ ki awọn eniyan ma gboriyin fun.

Ki o ni oṣu Ebibi 2021 ti o larinrin.

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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FROM PASTOR'S DESK 2021 Pastor's Desk

You can still do more – J.O Lawal

Date: May 02, 2021 | Vol. 9, No. 52

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours forevermore from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I am delighted to welcome you into a new month, the month of May 2021. My prayer is that success with ease will be yours in all your righteous endeavours all through the month, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

My admonition to you, as we begin this new month, is that you give yourself more and more to the work of the Lord. Why? First, it is because that is the will of God for you. Paul, writing to the Corinthian brethren, says, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:58NIV) Did you see that? How regularly are we to give ourselves to God’s work? Always! All the time! That means we must continually be busy with whatever He wants us to do in His kingdom and not be lazy or slack about it.

What I am saying is that God wants you to increase and not diminish in usefulness in His kingdom. So, regardless of how much you think you are doing in His kingdom right now, you can still do more. You can bless more lives with His word, your prayers, your gifts and so forth than you are doing at the moment. You just need to realise that He is counting on you to do more and more for Him and then begin to function accordingly.

The second reason we are supposed to give ourselves more and more to God’s work is that God, our Father, Himself is always working. He is always blessing lives, changing lives, delivering people, healing people, lifting people and so forth. He is just never tired of doing good to people and of giving justice on the face of the earth. This, of course, was what motivated our Lord Jesus to be busy all the time with His work, when He was here on earth. Remember that He said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (John 5:17NIV) Since we too are the Father’s children, we must keep working.

The third reason we are to abound in God’s work, as Paul points out, is that our labour is not in vain. What does this mean? One, it means that what we are doing is important to God. Our preaching, praying, giving, discipling of people and so forth are important to Him, for He is using them to fulfil His purpose in people’s lives. Two, it means that God is going to reward us for all the work we faithfully do for Him. People may not notice or appreciate our labour in the kingdom. But God is never going to overlook anything we do for Him, even if it is just a giving of one of His children a cup of water (Matt 10:42). So, we have very good reasons to be devoted to His work.

But is it possible for us to give ourselves more and more to God’s work and not faint or become discouraged? Yes, it is possible. It is possible because we are not left alone to do His work. He is going to be with us and in us all the time to do whatever He wants us to do. In fact, we cannot do His work at all, if He does not do it through us. It is only what He does in us, with us and through us that will accomplish His purpose and that He will reward us for. That is why Paul says, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Phil 2:13NIV)

So, we have no reason to be afraid of His work before us, however enormous or impossible it may look. He Himself is with us to do it. We just need to walk with the consciousness that we are not alone in this. And as He works with us and through us, we can expect all kinds of fantastic things to begin to happen in our lives and in the lives of those in our world. Just as it is written: “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20NIV) In like manner, if we too will go about doing His work, according to His grace on us, He will work with us and confirm His presence with us with all kinds of signs and wonders that will make men praise Him.

Do have a fabulous May 2021.

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

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)