Categories
Pastor's Desk

Use your spiritual gift

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I am happy to welcome you to another week of September 2020. And I pray that God will open your eyes to recognise every good thing He has deposited in you and also strengthen you to increase in usefulness with it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Each of us, as we are clearly told in the bible, has been blessed by God with at least one spiritual gift or the other. In other words, there is no child of God that He does not intend to use in remarkable ways to bless other children of His and the world. (Cf. 1Cor 12:7) Unfortunately, because of their ignorance, many of His children are not acting responsibly with the gifts He has given them. So, we see that, in most assemblies, it is usually few people that are seriously involved in faithfully using their gifts to minister to others. The rest of the brethren just wait around all the time to be ministered to.

Perhaps you too are one of those who wait around all the time to be ministered to by others. Every time you want someone to pray for you, but you are not willing to pray for anybody. Or you want someone to visit you, but you are not ready to visit anybody. Or you want someone to give to you or help you to handle one thing or the other in your life, when you are not interested in helping anybody. I want you to know that this is contrary to the purpose of God for His church. It is never His idea or intention that only a handful of His people would be involved in ministry. Otherwise why did He give everybody at least a gift?

See, what God wants is for each of us to recognise the gift or gifts He has given us and learn from Him how to faithfully use them for the good of everyone around us. That way, we all will be mutually edifying ourselves and supplying whatever is lacking in our faith, character or resources. And as we mutually edify ourselves this way, we will be able to reach maturity in our knowledge of the person of Jesus Christ and in demonstrating His character in this world of darkness. (Cf. Eph 4:11-16)

All of this is why Paul, while writing to the Roman brethren, says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Rom 12:6-8NIV) Also, Peter, in his first letter, says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Peter 4:10-11NIV)

Look at the words of those apostles. They are all pointing to the fact that each of us must recognise the gift or gifts God has given them and begin to use them for the edification of others and the praise of God. So, what is your spiritual gift or what are your spiritual gifts? And don’t say, “I don’t have any,” for to say that is to say that you are not a child of God. If you do not yet know your own gift or gifts, then, pray to God to open your eyes to see what they are. Also, talk to other believers that you trust to tell you what gifts they have seen in you. Then, once you know what your gift or gifts are, begin to use them in love. And God will honour every step of faith you take in doing so and use those gifts to bless others in ways no one can imagine.

Finally, don’t ever be found saying anything like, “There is nothing to the gift I have. So, who will recognise it or be blessed through it?” The bible tells us that there is no gift of the Spirit that is insiginificant. What makes gifts insignificant is our refusal to use them. Dorcas was not a preacher. But she was recognised by the church because she used her gift of giving faithfully and generously (Acts 9:36-42). If you too will put that gift to work, it won’t be long before other people around you will start praying to God to give them your kind of gift. And may the Spirit of God strengthen your heart to do what is right about this. Amen.

Do have a splendid week.

Copyright © 2020, 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)
By: J.O. Lawal | Date: September 13, 2020 | Series: From Pastor’s Desk | Number: Vol. 9, No. 19

Categories
Latori tabili Paitor

Lo ẹbun ẹmi rẹ

Olufẹ: ki oore-ọfẹ, aanu ati alaafia jẹ tirẹ lati ọdọ Ọlọrun Baba wa ati Jesu Kirisiti Oluwa wa. Inu mi dun lati ki ọ kaabọ sinu ọsẹ miran ninu oṣu Owewe 2020. Adura mi si ni pe ki Ọlọrun ṣi oju rẹ lati mọ ohun rere gbogbo ti O ti gbin sinu rẹ, ki O si tun fun ọ ni okun lati le pọ si ni wiwulo pẹlu rẹ, ni orukọ Jesu. Amin.

Ẹnikọọkan wa, bi a ti ri kedere ninu bibeli, ni Ọlọrun ti bukunfun pẹlu, okereju, ẹbun ẹmi kan tabi omiran. Eyi tunmọ si pe ko si ọmọ Ọlọrun kan ti Ọlọrun lero lati lo lati bukufun awọn ọmọ rẹ yoku ati awọn ara aye yi ni ọna ti o ga. (Wo: 1Korinnti 12:7) O wa ṣeni laanu pe, nitori aimọkan, ọpọ awọn ọmọ rẹ ni ko fi taratara wulo ni lilo awọn ẹbun ti O fi fun wọn. Nitorina, a ri wipe, ni ọpọ awọn ijọ wa ati ni ọpọ igba, ni o jẹ wipe awọn perete ni o n lo ẹbun wọn pẹlu imura ati ni ododo lati fi ẹbun na sin awọn miran. Nse ni awọn ọmọ ijọ yoku a ma fi gbogbo igba duro de awọn ti yo sin wọn tabi misi wọn.

Boya iwọ na gan jẹ ọkan lara awọn ti o n fi gbogbo igba duro ki awọn miran wa sin wọn. Gbogbo igba ni o n fẹ ki ẹnikan gbadura fun ọ, ṣugbọn iwọ gan ko fẹ gbadura fun ẹnikankan. Tabi o n fẹ ki ẹnikan wa bẹ ọ wo, ṣugbọn iwọ gan ko ṣetan lati bẹ ẹnikẹni wo. Tabi o fẹ ẹni ti yo fun ọ ni nkan tabi ṣe iranwọ ohun kan tabi omiran fun ni aye rẹ, ti o si jẹ pe iwọ gan ko tilẹ nifẹ si a ti ran ẹnikẹni lọwọ. Mo fẹ ki o mọ pe eleyi lodi si ete Ọlọrun fun ijọ rẹ. Ko ki i ṣe aba tabi ero rẹ nigbakankan pe perete ninu awọn eniyan rẹ ni yo ma kopa ninu iṣẹ isin. Ki wa gan ni O fun ẹnikọọkan wa ni, okereju, ẹbun kan si?

Wo o, nkan ti Ọlọrun fẹ fun ẹnikọọkan wa ni ki a mọ ẹbun tabi awọn ẹbun ti O fun wa, ki a si bẹrẹ si ni kẹkọ lọdọ rẹ lori bi a se le lo wọn fun rere gbogbo awọn ti o wa ni ayika wa. Lọna yi, gbogbo wa yo dijọ ran ara wa lọwọ, a o si pese fun awọn nkan ti o ku diẹ kaato ninu igbagbọ, iwa ati nkan ini wa. Bi a ba si ṣe n ran ara wa lọwọ lọna yi, a o bẹrẹ si ni dagba si ninu imọ Jesu Kirisiti ti a ni ati ninu fifi iwa rẹ han ninu aye okunkun yi. (Wo: Efesu 4:11-16)

Idi yi gan wa ni Pọọlu, ninu lẹta rẹ si awọn ara Roomu, ṣe sọ wipe, “Njẹ bi awa si ti n ri ọtọọtọ ẹbun gba gẹgẹ bi oore-ọfẹ ti a fun wa, bi o ṣe ti isọtẹlẹ ni, ki a maa sọtẹlẹ gẹgẹ bi iwọn igbagbọ wa; Tabi iṣẹ iranṣẹ, ki a kọju si iṣẹ iranṣẹ wa: tabi ẹni ti n kọ awọn eniyan, ki o kọju si kikọ rẹ; Tabi ẹni ti o n gba awọn eniyan niyanju, si igbiyanju: ẹni ti o n fi funni ki o maa fi inu kan ṣe e; ẹni ti n se olori, ki o maa se e ni oju mejeeji; ẹni ti n saanu, ki o maa fi inu didun ṣe e.” (Roomu 12:6-8) Lafikun, Peteru naa, ninu lẹta rẹ akọkọ, sọ wipe, “Bi olukuluku ti ri ẹbun gba, bẹẹ ni ki ẹ maa ṣe ipinfunni rẹ laarin ara yin, bi iriju rere ti oniruuru oore-ọfẹ Ọlọrun. Bi ẹnikẹni ba n sọrọ, ki o maa sọ bi ẹni ti Ọlọrun n gba ẹnu rẹ sọrọ; bi ẹnikẹni ba n ṣe iṣẹ iranṣẹ, ki o ṣe e bi agbara ti Ọlọrun fi fun un: ki a le maa yin Ọlọrun logo ninu ohun gbogbo nipasẹ Jesu Kirisiti, ẹni ti ogo ati ijọba jẹ tirẹ lailai ati lailai. Aami.” (1Peteru 4:10-11)

Iwọ na gbe ọrọ awọn apositeli yi yẹwo. Gbogbo rẹ n tọka si pataki ki ẹnikọọkan wa mọ ẹbun tabi awọn ẹbun ẹmi ti Ọlọrun ti fun un, ki o si bẹrẹ si ni lo fun imudagbasoke awọn miran ati fun iyin Ọlọrun. Nitorina, ki ni ẹbun ẹmi tabi kini awọn ẹbun ẹmi rẹ? Ma si ṣe sọ wipe, “Emi o ma ni ẹbun kankan,”nitori lati sọrọ bi eleyi ni lati sọ wipe o ko ki i ṣe ọmọ Ọlọrun. Ti o ko ba mọ ẹbun ẹmi tabi awọn ẹbun ẹmi tirẹ, nse ni o yẹ ki o gbadura si Ọlọrun ki o si oju rẹ ki o ba le mọ wọn. Lafikun, o tun le ba awọn onigbagbọ ti o le fọkan tẹ sọrọ pe ki wọn sọ irufẹ awọn ẹbun ti wọn ba kofiri ninu aye rẹ fun ọ. Nikete ti o ba si ti mọ ẹbun tabi awọn ẹbun ẹmi rẹ, nse ni ki o bẹrẹ si ni lo wọn pẹlu ifẹ. Ọlọrun yo si bukunsi gbogbo igbesẹ igbagbọ ti o ba gbe lori lilo ẹbun rẹ, yi o si tun lo lati bukunfun awọn eniyan ni ọna ti o kọja ero ẹnikankan.

Lakotan, ma ṣe jẹ ki a fi igba kankan gbọ ki o ma sọ ohunkohun ti o ba jọ eyi, “Ẹbun temi ko ma ja mọ nkankan. Nitorina, tani yo tilẹ se bi pe wọn ri mi tabi ta gan ni ẹbun na fẹ wulo fun?” Bibeli sọ fun wa pe ko si ẹbun ẹmi ti a le ka si yẹpẹrẹ. Nkan ti o le sọ ẹbun ẹmi di yẹpẹrẹ ni ki a kọ lati lo. Dọkasi ko ki i ṣe oniwasu. Ṣugbọn awọn ọmọ ijọ rẹ ka si eniyan pataki nitoripe o lo ẹbun fififunni ti o ni pẹlu otitọ ati pẹlu akunyawọ (Ise Aposteli 9:36-42). Ti iwọ na ba ṣe amulo ẹbun rẹ, ko ni pẹ rara ti awọn ti o wa ni ayika rẹ yo fi bẹrẹ si ni fi ẹbun rẹ tọrọ lọwọ Ọlọrun. Mo si gbadura pe ki Ẹmi Ọlọrun fi okun kun ọkan rẹ ki o ba le ṣe ohun ti o tọ lori ọrọ yi. Amin.

Ọse ayọ o.

Copyright © 2020, 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)
Lati owo: J.O. Lawal | Ojo: Owewe 13, 2020 | Atelera: Latori tabili Paitọ | Nomba: Vol. 9, No. 19

Categories
Fire in my Bones

Watch how you follow them

“At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there — the one who told me I would be king over this people. Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.””

(1Kings 14:1-3NIV)

We have in the bible the story of King Jeroboam, the first king of the northern nation of Israel, that is, after God had divided the nation into two. This man was ordained to be king by God Himself. And He did this through the hand of His prophet, Ahijah (1Kings 11:29-39). But as soon as this man became king and was firmly established, he created new gods for the people and also personally ordained priests to serve them. Why did he do that? Was it because he did not believe in God, the one who ordained him king? No! Rather, it was because he was desperately trying to keep a kingdom that he did not give himself. (Cf. 1Kings 12:25-33)

Categories
Latori tabili Paitor

Ma jẹ ki wọn fa ọ lọ

Olufẹ: kaabọ sinu ọsẹ keji ninu osun Owewe 2020. Ki ore-ọfẹ Oluwa wa Jesu Kirisiti ṣan nitori rẹ, ki o si jẹ ki o dara fun ọ ninu ohun rere gbogbo ninu gbogbo ọsẹ na. Amin.

Bi a se bẹrẹ ọsẹ tuntun yi, mo fẹ gba ọ niyanju pẹlu ọrọ Apositeli Peteru ti o sọ pe, “Nitori naa ẹyin olufẹ, bi ẹyin ti mọ nnkan wọnyi tẹlẹ, ẹ maa kiyesara, ki a ma ba fi iṣina awọn eniyan buburu fa yin lọ, ki ẹ si ṣubu kuro ninu iduro ṣinṣin yin.” (2Peteru 3:17) Ki ni koko ilana ti Peteru fun wa nibi yi? Ohun na ni pe ki a kiyesera fun iṣina awọn eniyan buburu.

Njẹ awọn wo gan ni eniyan buburu? Wọn jẹ awọn kan ti ko bikita rara nipa ododo, iwa bi Ọlọrun, idajọ ododo, alaafia tabi ohunkohun ti o ba fi ogo fun Ọlọrun. Wọn jẹ awọn ti o ma n jẹ ki ibi dabi rere, ki rere si dabi ibi. Mo n sọrọ nipa awọn eniyan ti wọn n gbe igbe aye ti o n jẹ ki a ro wipe awọn olootọ, awọn olododo, awọn ti n wu iwa bi Ọlọrun ati awọn ti o n gbe igbe aye afarajin ya omugọ ti ko le gbadun aye yi tabi jamọ nkankan ninu rẹ ati pe awọn alarekereke, awọn alaimọlọrun, awọn onisekuse ati awọn alagabagebe nikan ni yoo gbadun aye.

Se otitọ wa ni pe iwa ododo ko lere lori pupọ ati pe iwa ika ni o lere lori julọ ninu aye yi? Bẹẹkọ, eyi ko ki ṣe otitọ rara. Lotitọ, o le dabi ẹnipe awọn ika, awọn oniṣekuṣe ati awọn alaisododo eniyan nikan ni o n jẹgbadun awọn nkan daradara ti aye yi, ti wọn si n ri awọn ipo pataki ti aye yi fi lo igba. Sugbọn eyi kan jọ bẹẹ ni; ko ri bẹẹ rara. Nitorina, ma jẹ ki a mu ọ ni omugọ tabi ki a tan ọ jẹ nipasẹ awọn igbe aye ẹtan ti ọpọ ika eniyan ti o wa ni ayika rẹ n gbe.

Ti o ba ka Saamu 73, iwọ na yo ri nkan ti ẹni ti o ko orin yi ni i sọ lori jijowu awọn eniyan ika. Bi ọkunrin yi ṣe fi ye wa, akoko kan wa ni igbesi aye rẹ ti o bẹrẹ si ni fi igbesi aye rẹ we ti awọn ika eniyan ti o wa ni ayika rẹ, awọn ti wọn n fi gbogbo igba pọ si ninu ọrọ, agbara ati iyi ninu iwa ika ati igberaga wọn. Nitori eyi, ọrọ aye rẹ su u, o ṣi bẹrẹ si ni ro wipe ofo lasan ni gbogbo ifarajin rẹ lati sin Ọlọrun ati lati rin ninu ododo rẹ. (Wo: Saamu 73:2-14)

Ṣugbọn ọpẹ si Ọlọrun ti O dari olukọ Saamu yi sinu Ile Mimọ rẹ, ti O si fi otitọ han nibẹ nipa igbe aye awọn ika eniyan. Nibẹ ni o ti wa ri funrarẹ pe ko si bi ika eniyan ti le ni ọla ati agbara to ninu ika sise ni aye yi, airoju ati irora ayeraye ni yo jẹ ipin rẹ nigbẹyingbẹyin. O tun ri ninu Ile Mimọ Ọlọrun pe ko si nkankan ti aye yi ni lati fun wa ti a le fi we nkan ti Ọlọrun ni lọkan lati jẹ si ati lati fun awọn ti o gbẹkẹle, ti wọn si tun fẹran rẹ. Nitori eyi, o wa sọ wipe, “Ta ni mo ni ni ọrun bi ko se iwọ? Ko si si ohun ti mo fẹ ni aye ayafi iwọ. Aarẹ mu ara ati ọkan mi: Ṣugbọn Ọlọrun ni agbara ọkan mi, ati ipin mi laelae.” (Saamu 73:25-26)

Wayi o, iwọ nilo lati ri Ọlọrun gẹgẹ bi agbara ọkan rẹ ati ipin (ere) rẹ ninu aye yi. Aijẹbẹ, ki o to mọ nkan ti o n ṣẹlẹ, o ti gbagbe ara rẹ, a o si ti fa ọ lọ lati mu o ṣina nipasẹ ikuna awọn eniyan ika ti o wa ni ayika rẹ, ti wọn o ma fi igba gbogbo gbiyanju lati tan ọ jẹ ati lati jẹ ki o ro wipe o n padanu awọn nkankan nitoripe o ko tẹle wọn lati rin irin omugọ. Ranti pe Peteru sọ fun wa pe ti a ko ba kiyesara lori ikuna awọn eniyan wọnyi, a o subu kuro ninu iduro ṣinṣin wa ninu Kirisiti. Eyi tunmọ si pe o ṣeeṣe ki eniyan jabọ kuro ni ibi ti ore-ọfẹ ati oju rere Ọlọrun wa, ki o si run aye rẹ, ti ko ba kiyesi lati pa ọkan rẹ mọ kuro ninu aiwabiọlọrun ti o wọpọ ninu aye yi. Adura mi si ni pe iwọ ko ni subu tabi sọ aaye rẹ ninu ete Ọlọrun nu. Sugbọn iwọ na gbọdọ ṣọra, ki o si ri wipe ọkan rẹ ko tele itanjẹ awọn alaiwabiọlọrun ti o n rin ni ọna iparun.

Ki o ni ọsẹ ire o.

Copyright © 2020, 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)
Lati owo: J.O. Lawal | Ojo: Owewe 06, 2020 | Atelera: Latori tabili Paitọ | Nomba: Vol. 9, No. 18

Categories
Fire in my Bones Others

Don’t be carried away

Beloved: welcome to the second week of the month of September 2020. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ overflow on your behalf, causing you to prosper in all good things, all through the week. Amen.

As we begin this new week, I want to admonish you with Apostle Peter’s words that say, “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.” (2Peter 3:17-18NIV) What is Peter’s main instruction to us here? It is that we should be on our guard against the errors of lawless men.

Categories
Fire in my Bones

Know your enemy

“So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.”

(Job 2:7NIV)

One of the things anyone that is involved in any kind of warfare must know is who their enemies are. Why is this important? It is important because unless we know who our real enemies are and what they are capable of doing, we will most likely underestimate them or give ourselves to fighting the wrong persons. And that will surely result in defeat and perhaps destruction for us.

Categories
Pastor's Desk

Be fully responsible

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I am glad to welcome you to the last Sunday of this month and pray that God will teach and strengthen your heart to live responsibly in all your relationships and affairs this week and throughout the remaining part of your earthly life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Categories
Latori tabili Paitor

Jẹ ẹni ti o n ṣe ojuṣe rẹ lọna gbogbo

Olufẹ: ki ore-ọfẹ, aanu ati alaafia jẹ tirẹ lati ọdọ Ọlọrun Baba wa ati Jesu Kirisiti Oluwa wa. Inu mi dun lati ki ọ ku ikalẹ sinu ọjọ isinmi ti o kẹyin osu yi, mo si gbadura pe ki Ọlọrun kọ ọ, ki O si tun fi okun kun ọkan rẹ lati ma fi gbogbo igba gbe igbe aye ẹni ti o wulo ninu ibasepọ ati iṣẹ ọwọ rẹ gbogbo ni ọsẹ yi ati ni iyoku ọjọ aye rẹ. Amin.

Categories
Fire in my Bones

What bad company can do

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.””

We don’t need to look into the bible for illustrations or examples in order for us to know that what Paul says to the Corinthian brethren in the above Scripture is true. That is because all around us are people that are illustrating the truth of it with their lives. I am talking about people whose lives were great and organised until they started moving with some individuals that got them involved in certain destructive practices that changed them from being good, kind, honest, trustworthy and loving individuals to wicked, corrupt, dishonest, violent and lazy people. So, indeed, bad company corrupts good character.

Categories
Pastor's Desk

Give him no opportunity to work

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I welcome you to the last week of the month of August 2020 and pray that you will be kept safe from every evil scheme of the devil all through the week and throughout the remaining part of the year, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now while it is good and appropriate for me to pray for you in the manner I did, it is also important that you too do not give the devil any opportunity to work in your life and defeat you. Paul, writing to the Ephesian brethren, says, “Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work.” (Eph 4:27GW) Why does he say this? He says this because of his awareness of the devil’s character. And what is his character? According to the bible, he is a liar, thief, killer, destroyer and devourer (John 8:44 &10:10; 1Pet 5:8).