Category: Fire in my Bones

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Fire in my Bones

He knows how to save them | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: August 11, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 13

“And God also destroyed the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them until they were ashes. He made those cities an example of what will happen to those who are against God. But he saved Lot from those cities. Lot, a good man, was troubled because of the filthy lives of evil people. (Lot was a good man, but because he lived with evil people every day, his good heart was hurt by the evil things he saw and heard.) So the Lord knows how to save those who serve him when troubles come. He will hold evil people and punish them, while waiting for the Judgment Day.” (2Peter 2:6-9NCV)

Those are apostle Peter’s words to us. And he says them to encourage us to keep walking in righteousness, regardless of how corrupt or wicked those around us are or become. As he points out, it is not just on the day of eternal judgment that the wicked will be punished. Even right here in the world, God will not allow them to go unpunished for their wickedness, if they will not repent. It is only that it is not every time that people can relate the judgment God is bringing on them in this world to their wicked acts.

There are times, however, in which God punishes people in such a way that everyone is able to tell that He is the one punishing them for their sins. For instance, as Peter equally reminds us in our opening bible text, there was a time God had to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them until they became nothing but ashes. Why? It was because of their wickedness and filthy lives. They were so immoral and unreasonable that their men (old and young) even thought of molesting the angels that came into their cities to assess the level of their wickedness. (Cf. Gen 19:1-5)

That, by the way, is something we should keep in mind. God, from time to time, sends His angels to assess and experience firsthand what is going on in our lives, homes, communities, cities and even countries. In fact, this is one of the reasons we are told in the Scriptures to be hospitable and kind to all people, including strangers, for we cannot tell when we will be interacting with God’s angels. What report or testimony, then, will they bring before God concerning us? And what will their testimony about us make God do to us? Will it make Him elevate us or make Him demote or destroy us? (Cf. Heb 13:2)

Two angels were sent by Him to Sodom and Gomorrah to see whether the degree of their wickedness was as outrageous as the outcry against them suggested. Also, they were sent to see if there would be enough righteous people, even if they were only ten, in these cities to make God change His mind about them and give them another chance. So, the fate of these people was resting to a great extent on the assessment of these angels. Yet, that very night that they chose to sleep in the city, the men there were bent on sexually molesting them. And they would have succeeded, if they had just been ordinary men and not angels. (Cf. Gen 18:20-23)

Now what more evidence did these angels need to conclude that these two cities must be destroyed? None! So, they carried out God’s sentence on them and destroyed everybody and everything there. However, that same day, Lot and his wife and two daughters were shown favour and led out safely. Yes, Lot’s wife eventually perished on the way. But it was not because she was a partaker of the sins of the people of those cities but because she disobeyed an angelic instruction. (Cf. Gen 19:12-26)

What is the point of all this? It is that God knows how save those whose hearts are devoted to pleasing Him when He is punishing the wicked for their sins. Why were Lot and his daughters saved on the day that Sodom and Gomorrah were judged? It was because God was merciful to them. And why was He merciful to them? It was because, though they daily saw the wickedness being done in those cities and had their hearts tormented by it, they would not partake in it, encourage it or sponsor it. And they proved their innocence in all these things by welcoming the angels sent by God and bringing them into their house for comfort and safety, when no one else would take notice of them.

In like manner, we too can expect to enjoy God’s favour and mercy anytime He brings judgment on the wicked in our world, if we will not partake in their wickedness or encourage or sponsor it. So, if your heart is already fainting because of the horror of wickedness around you, remember these things and strengthen yourself in the Lord. And someday, you will be glad that you remain steadfast in righteousness, when you are made to witness the judgment of the wicked around you from a place of safety.

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

Where does it lead? | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: August 04, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 12

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Prov 16:25NIV)

When the prodigal son first came to his father to ask for his own share of the man’s property, he felt he was doing the right thing. Yes, he felt that running his own life and affairs without the guidance or control of his father was the right way for him to become the kind of great man he had always dreamt of becoming. So, he asked for his independence and got it. And before long, he was on his way out of his father’s house to some foreign land, where he would be the lord and master of his own life. (Cf. Luke 15:11-13)

But some years later, it became all clear to him that what he thought was a good and wise decision was nothing but a bad and foolish one. The way he thought would lead to a great experience of liberty did not lead to it at all. Instead, it led to an experience of poverty, hunger and shame. And if he had not humbled himself and accepted the reality about the inability of the way he chose to lead him to a life of prosperity and rest and gone back home, he would have perished in that way. (Cf. Luke 15:13-24)

Therefore, that a way of doing things seems right or popular to us does not mean it will lead us to our desired haven. If that way does not agree with the will of God for our lives, it can only lead us to an experience of defeat, confusion, shame, poverty, illness or death. And that is the point Solomon is communicating to us in our opening bible text, saying, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

But how do we know what way is right and what way is wrong? How do we know that this way we are taking to gain riches, fame, power, health, affluence or pleasure is right or wrong for us to take? For some people, if a way feels right for them to take, then, it must be right. So, they will take it. And for some others, if they can see a sizeable number of people taking a particular way to getting what they want, then, it must be the right way to take.

That, of course, explains why, for example, we now have many young and even old people getting involved in internet fraud, which is popularly known as ‘Yahoo’, as a way to becoming rich in life. It is also the explanation for the involvement of many in prostitution, money rituals, drug trafficking and other terrible things people now do as a way to come out of poverty and become rich, powerful or famous.

But, first, we need to know that that something feels right does not mean it is right. As we are told in the bible, in the day when there were no kings in Israel, everyone did what seemed right in his sight. That means these people did not set out to do evil or what was bad. They had a mind to do what was right or what looked right to them. But because most of the things that looked right to them were actually wrong, they ended up experiencing confusion, chaos, insecurity, death of all kinds and even a civil war that almost extinguish a whole tribe. (Cf. Judges 17-21)

So, our feeling or conscience is never the true judge of the right or wrong way to take in life. God is the true judge of these things. And if we want to know whether a way is right for us to take or not, we should consider what He is saying to us about it in His word. That will be our wisdom and salvation from dangerous and destructive paths. (Cf. 1Cor 4:4)

Also, that many people are taking a particular way to have safety, prosperity, good health, a great position in life or a home does not mean it is right. The bible says do not follow a multitude to do evil (Ex 23:2). And that is because God is not going to spare people who do evil just because they are many. He did not spare the people of Noah’s day that were sinning because they were many; instead, he spared the family of Noah, who were just eight in number. And He did not spare the multitudes that were sinning in Sodom and Gomorrah on the day that He rained down fire on them. Instead, it was Lot and his daughters that were spared – only three people. In fact, Lot’s wife did not make it out alive. (Cf. Gen 7&19)

Therefore, if you follow the way of witchcraft, sorcery, theft, prostitution, adultery, murder, drunkenness, kidnapping or any other evil way men may follow in order to solve your financial, health, marital, academic or political problems, just because many people are following it, the same fate that awaits them awaits you, even if you are a child of God. That fate is destruction. And it may not look like you will get destroyed today, tomorrow or even in ten years’ time. But you can be sure that any way you follow that is inconsistent with the will of God will not lead to life but pains, sorrow, shame or death for you.

All of this is why you should take God’s word about every matter of life seriously, for only His word leads to a sure experience of life in this world and throughout eternity (John 12:50).

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

Be careful mighty man | Pst J.O Lawal.

Date: July 28, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 11

“This is what the Lord, the LORD Almighty, says: “Go, say to this steward, to Shebna, who is in charge of the palace: What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock?” Beware, the LORD is about to take firm hold of you and hurl you away, O you mighty man. He will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you into a large country. There you will die and there your splendid chariots will remain — you disgrace to your master’s house! I will depose you from your office, and you will be ousted from your position.” (Isa 22:15-19NIV)

Daniel, once, having received a revelation from God about what the future holds for the kingdoms of men, said these words: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever, wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others…” (Dan 2:20-21NIV) Did you see that? Wisdom and power belong to God. So, regardless of how wise you may think you are, the owner of wisdom is God. And if you will not acknowledge this, humble yourself before Him and use whatever measure of wisdom He has blessed you with to do His will, He will someday deal with you and frustrate your so-called wisdom. This is why we have had wise people that lived and died without leaving any significant mark on the world of their time or accomplishing their lofty dreams.

Also, regardless of how powerful you may be, regardless of what position of power you may be occupying in life, never forget that God is the owner of power. So, if He had not permitted you to be in that position you are now occupying, you could not have been there. And if you will not acknowledge this and use your position to make life better for others, He is able to remove you from your secure position and put someone else there.

Now Daniel witnessed this in his day. First, he saw how that mighty emperor, Nebuchadnezzar, was driven away from his throne by God because of his pride. This man ran mad and lived as an animal among animals for some years. And if God had not been merciful to him, forgiven him and restored him, he would have perished as an animal. (Cf. Dan 4)

In addition, Daniel saw how this man’s son that became king after him, Belshazzar, was judged by God as unfit for the position he was occupying and taken away in death the very night he was judged. But this man had been forewarned about the looming disaster. Why did he do nothing about it? Procrastination, most likely! Appararently, this man had no idea that the judgment God had announced was coming on him the very night of the day Daniel warned him. He probably thought he had more time to fix things. Unfortunately, he died that same night and lost his position to another, just the way God had said. (Cf. Dan 5)

Furthermore, as we see in our opening bible text, God told Shebna, the palace administrator during the reign of King Hezekiah, that He was going to judge him, break his power and send him far away to a strange land to die there. Exactly what this man did to merit this kind of judgment we are not told. But it is evident from the context of the text that he had been abusing his power and acting in arrogance, thinking he was some mighty man. In fact, he had even prepared an expensive tomb for himself in some choice place, as though he were in charge of his own future. But God, speaking through His prophet, Isaiah, said that He would uproot him from his position of power, throw him away like a ball and replace him with a better man. (Cf. Isaiah 22:15-24)

So, regardless of how mighty you think you are now, be careful. Yes, watch how you use that might or power that you have. That is because God, the owner of all might, power and dominion, is watching your every move. And if you are already failing Him, He may, at some point, have to show you that He has the power to uproot from your secure position and throw you away to a place where you may remain useless or irrelevant for the rest of your earthly life. How soon can He do this? It can be as soon as now. So, waste no time to repent of every abuse of your position or power. That may just be the difference between elevation and disgrace for you.

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

Know who you take things from | Pst J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: July 21, 2021                | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 10

“Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost.  “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.” (Prov 23:6-8NIV)

From what we see in the bible, love must be the motivation for anything we do in life (1Cor 16:14). Therefore, anything that is not based on love will be rejected by God as useless, regardless of how grand it may be in the sight of men. And since that is how it is with God, since He will not accept from our hands anything that is not based on love, we too must study not to accept from people anything that is not based on love.

The point I am making is that it is not every gift or act of kindness from people that we can accept or must accept. It is true that love does not just give but also receives. But it is not every gift that people give or everything that looks like an act of kindness or generosity from them that is borne out of love. And it will be wisdom for us to be able to tell when what someone is trying to give to us or do for us is not being motivated by love, so that we may reject it. Otherwise, someday, we may have to pay a very costly price for something that we thought was free.

For example, in our opening bible text, we are warned not to eat the food or delicacies of anyone that we know as stingy. Why? It is because stingy people always think more about the cost of what they want to give out than their relationships with those they want to give to. So, their giving is hardly motivated by love but by necessity. This being the case, you cannot trust them to give you anything of quality. And even if they should give you something of quality, it will certainly come with a price.

Now, of course, once you receive the gift or help of a stingy person, you will have to say ‘Thank you’ to them. But as Solomon further tells us in that bible text, soon enough, you will realise that you have wasted your compliments or thanksgiving. Why? It will either be because what they have given you or done for you is utterly worthless or that the price you have to pay in order to use or enjoy it is even greater than thing itself. Then you end up blaming yourself for receiving their gifts or allowing them to help you.

Therefore, if you don’t want to be wasting your compliments on anybody, if you don’t want some so-called gift or help done for you by some person to eventually become a terrible burden for you, know who you receive things from and what you receive from them. Some people are not stingy but arrogant. These ones like to boast, even to the point of exaggeration, about what they do for others. So, you can always expect them to take more credit for whatever they do for you or give to you than they deserve. And if care is not taken, at some point, they may start making everybody believe that they made you. So, regardless of how needy you may be, mark them and do your best to stay away from their help or gifts. Or someday you may regret ever receiving anything from them. (Cf. Gen 14:21-24)

Then some others only give to others and do things for them for the sole purpose of being able to use them at some point or trap them. That means their help or gift is either a bribe or a trap and not a love sacrifice (1Sam 18:20-21). You equally must do your best to stay away from their help or gifts, even if you are in serious need of what they are offering. Otherwise, whatever you receive from them may end up leading to your fall or enslavement. And may God fill your heart continually with wisdom to know what sort of help or gift is not good or appropriate for you to accept, 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 pastor@abcministryng.com  or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

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Fire in my Bones

Share your prosperity as well – July 14, 2021

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus Number: Vol. 4, No. 9

“When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” He sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa and Racal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where David and his men had roamed.” (1Sam 30:26-31NIV)

As we see in Scriptures, God’s people must learn to bear one another’s burdens. In other words, they must learn to be there for one another in their moments of trials or pains. That is because it is one of the things that show that we see ourselves as members of the same body of Christ and also love one another. (Cf. Gal 6:2; Phil 2:1-4)

To say the fact, there have been people that left the fellowship of the brethren because they were abandoned or ignored in their moments of need. And even now, there are people who are no longer taking their fellowship with other people of God seriously because they have been offended along this line. Certain trials of life came upon them, and they expected the people of God in their lives to show concern, even if they could not help. But no one was there for them. Everybody was just busy with their own thing.

So, with time, those people began to see their devotion to Christian fellowship as a waste of time and to seek fellowship elsewhere, where they would be loved, wanted and cherished. And this, in fact, is the reason some people joined some secret cults or help societies. They wanted in their lives and around them people who would not leave or forsake them in their hour of need. While, of course, it is only God can play that role in our lives, it is people that He often uses to do so. And when His own people that are supposed to be readily available to be used by Him to comfort one another in this sense will not make themselves available, others that have inferior things or nothing at all to offer are bound to fill in the gap.   

Therefore, wherever we are, as children of God, we must not get so carried away by our lives’ affairs that we forget to care for other children of God in our lives. We must not be like Cain, whose mantra is ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ We are our brethren’s keepers. And we must take this very seriously, for God will hold us accountable someday for the roles we play or fail to play for their fall, shame or destruction, if any of this should happen to them.

But then, it is important to also note that it is not only our burdens that we should want people to share with us or bear for us but also our prosperity and increase. See, one of the reasons some people of God no longer give themselves to supporting others in their moments of need in any serious way is that they have experienced diverse manifestations of ingratitude from those have helped or supported in the past. You too may know one or two people that you supported at some point in their lives but who, when things began to go well for them, would not let you know about their progress or totally severed their relationship with you. And it is people like such that often kill in us the desire to help or support others.

It is true that God’s children are not to help others or support them because they want their praise or gratitude. Otherwise, they would not have the praise and reward of God for any degree of help they are giving. (Cf. Matt 6:1-4) However, that is not to say that it is wrong for people to show us gratitude for being there for them in their moments of need. It is not wrong but right. In fact, God Himself wants us to learn to be grateful, not just to Him but also to those that He is using to help or comfort us. Otherwise, we will be shutting the door of more or greater help or support against ourselves.

So, if God has used anybody to share your burden or bear your burden in the past, remember to share your prosperity or increase with them in the day of your comfort (Gal 6:6). It will make their hearts leap for joy and also encourage them to help you or others in the future, should they need their help. David once demonstrated his understanding of this, as we are shown in our opening Scripture. He and his men went against certain raiders that had taken their families and possessions away, defeated them and brought back a great plunder. And instead of just taking everything for themselves, David decided to send some of the plunder to the elders of the different towns that had accommodated and supported them, when they were roaming around as fugitives.

Now that is what it means to be grateful. I am saying that to be grateful means to be willing and ready to share your joy, comfort and prosperity with others who have also shared in your burdens or borne them for you. And have you been doing this? Have you really been sharing the good things of your life with the people that have been there to share the bad ones with you? If you have not, you are wrong and need to repent. Otherwise, it is not only yourself that you will be shutting the doors of future help against but also some others that you may not even know.

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

Exalt the man with the solution | Pst J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: July 07, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 8

“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”” (Gen 41:41NIV)

As the bible shows us, when Pharaoh of Joseph’s time had two dreams that troubled him, he lost no time to summon all the magicians and wise men of the land to come and interpret them for him. Why did he do that? It must have been because they had been interpreting dreams or solving very difficult riddles for him in the past. But on that occasion, none of them could tell him the meaning of his dreams. (Cf. Gen 41:1-8)

Now, while this king was yet troubled and wondering what those dreams he had could mean, one of his officials, who had benefited immensely from Joseph’s gift of interpreting dreams, remembered that the young man was gifted to handle such matters. So, even though he knew that Joseph was not their citizen but a foreigner, slave and prisoner, he still recommended him to Pharaoh. And did he disappoint him or not? No, he did not disappoint him at all.

On the contrary, as the bible further shows, he delivered beyond everybody’s expectations, including Pharaoh. That was because he not only interpreted the king’s dreams, he also told him the solution to the problem at hand. So, without wasting time, Pharaoh set him free from the prison and put him in charge of the whole country. (Cf. Gen 41:9-57)

But Joseph was merely a foreigner and a young man too. What does it matter? This young foreigner came up with solutions that could make the nation richer and greater and also keep it from going into extinction. And that was at a time that all the old magicians and wise men in the land were utterly lost and helpless. So, who should be exalted to manage the affairs of the entire country, if it was not him? None other!

So, Pharaoh did what he had to do. He did what any true lover of his people and their welfare would naturally do. He put Joseph in charge of the whole nation of Egypt. And remember again that he did not do this because somebody recommended the young man or because he was an Egyptian or because he was his family member. Rather, he did this because the young man proved himself as one possessing what it would take to wisely lead the nation and save it from future ruins.

That, of course, is one sure way to make any nation, society, family, business or organisation experience true progress and safety. We look beyond people’s tribe, ethnic group, colour, social status, sex, age or family relationship to what they are actually capable of doing to make life better for all in determining what we recommend them for or what position we place them in life. Unfortunately, we don’t usually do this, when we are given an opportunity to recommend or put people in certain offices or positions that require some level of competence or intelligence to handle. What we usually do is to recommend for or put in those positions our friends, families, neighbours, tribal or town’s people, religious group members and so forth, even when we know quite well that they are not fit for them.

Why, then, do we act like this? Sometimes, it is because we want people who will always be loyal to us to be in positions where we can use them for our own benefits. At other times, it is because we want the praise or approval of men, especially those close to us or related to us. Then, there are also times that we do this because we want to reward people for certain acts of kindness they have done for us or to us.

Now is it really wrong to have people who are loyal to us occupying certain positions of advantage in life? No! Or is it wrong to use our position to elevate or promote the welfare of others, especially those who are related or close to us in one way or the other? No! Then is it wrong to reward people for the good they have done to us in the past, when we are in a position to do so? No!

However, if we recommend for or put someone in a position they are not competent to handle, we will certainly be hindering the progress of whatever society or organisation we want them to serve, regardless of how loyal they may be to us. And if we want to use our position to elevate or promote the welfare of others close to us or to reward them for whatever good they also have done to us, we should mind their level of competence or capability in determining what we do for them. That means we should elevate, promote or reward them on the basis of their competence or capability. Otherwise, we will never be able to build lives, institutions, organisations or societies that are strong, healthy, fruitful, productive, safe and progressive, regardless of how hard we try.

So, next time you are thinking of exalting someone or recommending someone for elevation, think about these things. Exalt or recommend the man or woman with leadership solutions or competence and not just anybody you feel like picking. By doing so, you may just be saving all of us from years or decades of hardship and pains.

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 will you ask for? | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: June 30, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 7

“The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”” (1Kings 3:4-5NIV)

Often people pray or wish that they would be connected someday to some great, influential, powerful or important person that will do something for them that will change their stories or lives forever. And nothing is wrong with that. But what many do not understand is that having our lives changed forever goes beyond meeting some great person in life; it also involves knowing what we need any great person that we are privileged to meet to do for us. I am saying this because there are people who meet everyday with certain persons that could be used by God to change their lives forever but who don’t just know how to use such meetings to better their lot in life.

For instance, there are people who sit down day after day to wine and dine with their rich or influential friends. These ones are satisfied with going from party to party or club to club with these people and have them buy all kinds of expensive food, drinks or cars for their enjoyment. But their brains have never opened for once to ask them to use the money being wasted on them to support them in some profitable ventures, which will take them away from the realm of being unduly dependent on others and make them become responsible persons too. And those brains may never open until that door of opportunity is closed against them. Then they will start saying, “I wish I had asked for something better when that person was still with me.”

So, it is not just about having access to individuals who could give you a serious lift in life; it is also about knowing how to legitimately use that access to benefit your life. Otherwise, even if God Himself should visit you, you would still not know what to make of that visit.

Look at King Solomon, for example. As we are shown in our opening bible text, there was a time God paid him an unexpected visit. And to his surprise, He asked him a very simple question, which was, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” That is like giving someone a blank cheque to fill. How much would he write on it? That, of course, would depend on what he knows about the worth of the person in question.

But we are dealing with God here, the creator and owner of all things. Therefore, when He asked Solomon to ask Him for anything he wanted, He knew that there was nothing he could ask for that would be too much or unavailable for Him to give. It was up to the man, then, to think carefully about what he needed from Him and to ask.

Now, as God would later say, Solomon could have asked for long life, wealth or the death of his enemies. And He would have granted his request. But if he had asked for any of those things, he would have wasted that very rare opportunity that God was giving him to change his life and story forever. Thankfully, he did not ask for any such thing. Instead, he asked for wisdom and a heart of discernment to make the most of his position at that time as king. (Cf. 1Kings 3:6-9)

Therefore, God not only commended him for asking for the right thing, He also told him that He would give him more than he had asked for. He was going to give him wealth and honour in addition to a wise and discerning heart, which he had asked for. And that was what changed the man’s life and story forever. Yes, that was what made his name become a household name, even centuries after he had lived and died.

Do you want your life and story to change too? Then learn to ask for the right things in life. Learn to ask for those things that will enable you to make the most of your current circumstances in life to rise and shine. And those things may not even be money, a car, a house of your own or the death of your enemies. What you need may just be an opening of your eyes to a job to do, a trade to take on, a skill to acquire or some course to study. Whatever it is, the only person that can make you know it is God Himself. So, pray to Him that He will enlighten your heart thoroughly about that very thing you need to do to change your life and story forever. And He will answer you. Then, when the opportunity of support to do it comes, you will know the right request to make.

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

Learn to deliver on time | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: June 23, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 6

“Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.” (2Sam 20:4-5NIV)

One of the things everyone who wants to continually increase in relevance in their job must learn is how to work with time or deliver on time. Every task has the right amount of time to be invested in it. And it is important that we know this and function accordingly. Even the devil, according to the bible, knows that he does not have all the time in the world to mislead humanity and bring them to ruins. So, he is not ready to lose time at all. Instead, he and his demons are daily working hard and fast to destroy sinners and to also lure God’s people into error through immorality, greed, envy, bitterness and so forth. (Cf. Rev 12:12)

Therefore, if you are given any task, whether by your employer or by a client, don’t handle it as though you had all the time in the world to do it or as though it were the only task for you in life. Instead, first find out or determine the required amount of time to invest in it. Then proceed to handle it with the aim of finishing on time or even earlier. That way, you can always make yourself ready to take on something else and increase in usefulness. Also, that way, you can avoid losing your place of relevance in your job or trade to others, who perhaps are willing to do anything to have it.

In our opening text, for example, we are told of how Amasa, the general of Israel’s army, did not finish the task given to him by King David on time. What was this task? It was to muster the army of Judah together to snuff out a growing rebellion before it got out of hand. But this man failed to deliver on time. And why did it take him so long to get this task done? We are not told.

Mind you, gathering the army was not even the main job at hand. The main job was to quell a rebellion. And if it was going to take him ages to gather the men, when exactly would the real thing be done? It is clear, then, that Amasa did not work with an understanding of the seriousness and urgency of the matter at hand. Therefore, he ended up losing the job to another person, Abishai, who knew what it takes to deliver on time. Also, by failing to deliver on time, he gave Joab, another general, who desperately wanted his office as the commander of the army, a reason and an opportunity to murder him in cold blood and take his place. (Cf. 2Sam 20)

In like manner, if you too will not learn to finish every task that is given to you on time, it won’t be long before you lose your relevance or place. Understand that your employers or clients won’t forever endure your slothfulness or excuses for not getting their jobs ready on time, regardless of how good you are at what you do. At some point, they will do whatever they can to find a replacement for you, instead of allowing you to ruin their work.

Besides, there may just be around you individuals who are waiting for you to slip up a little, so that they may use the occasion to get rid of you and take your place. And if you allow slothfulness or distraction to keep putting you behind schedule in handling your job, you may someday become their victim. So, wake up and be diligent.

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 is your excuse? | Pastor J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: June 16, 2021 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 5

““Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.” (Jer 1:6-8NIV)

When the Lord first appeared to Jeremiah to tell him of His purpose for his life and His readiness to use him, his excuse was that he was too young for the job. But did God not know that he was a young man before approaching him? He knew. Was He not the one that selected him for this task even before he was formed in the womb? He was the one. And did He not know his potential and limitations? He did.

So, what excuse could this young man possibly give God to make Him change His mind about using him? None! That was why He told him to drop his excuses and fears and get set to be useful and fulfil His purpose for his life. And He promised him that he would never be alone in doing the job He was giving him. Instead, He would always be with him to guide, protect and make him successful. All he would need, then, was to believe and act accordingly.

Now did Jeremiah believe God or not? He did. And did He fail him? No, He did not fail him. Instead, as He had promised, He stood by him all through those years that he faithfully proclaimed His word to all the people and nations that He sent him to. Yes, he encountered all kinds of trials – betrayals, rejection, persecution, imprisonment and even death. But God protected him in all these things and made him stand before the world as a true prophet of His.

In like manner, you too had been known and chosen by God for greatness before you were formed in the womb. And you don’t have to be a prophet or a president of a nation before you stand before Him as a great person. You just need to identify fully with His purpose for your life and fulfil it. That will be your greatness.

Also, you do not need to see a vision, have a dream or receive a special revelation from God before you know what His purpose for your life is. You just need to begin to diligently work with those good and righteous desires you have in your heart, and you will be good to go. The bible says it is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose (Phil 2:13). That means those good and righteous desires that are rising in your heart are not coming from the devil but from God. And the skills, abilities and education you now possess to do good and righteous things in life have also become yours through His enablement.

Therefore, instead of making excuses that you are too young, poor, uneducated and so forth to be a world shaker, start putting these things to some honest and legitimate use. And unless, like David, you receive a specific message from God not to do something good and righteous that you have the ability to do, let nothing stop you from doing it (1Chro 17:1-14). Then God, who was with Jeremiah, will be with you too to guide, protect, and make you succeed.

See, as long as God is on your side, you are not too young, poor, uninfluential, weak or uneducated to fulfil His purpose for your life and become a highly useful and great person in His sight. It all depends on the purpose He wants to use you to serve in life. Don’t forget that the bible makes it very clear to us that it is not those who think of themselves as great or those who are called great by men that are truly great in the sight of God. It is only those whom God Himself calls great that are actually great. (Cf. Luke 16:15; 2Cor 10:18)

So, do away with all the excuses you are making for remaining irresponsible, useless and insignificant in life and get to work, making the most of every good thing God has endowed you with. And you will always find Him ready to see you through and make your life truly count. Then, even if you have wasted several years of your life wandering in irresponsible living, it is still not too late for God to make the remaining years of your life count for something. If He could pick up Moses at age 80 and make the remaining years of his life a wonder, He could do similar or greater things for you, if you too will reach out for His restoration and renewal. So, reach out for Him, and you will find Him waiting and ready to help you.

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

Why they may not want to help you? – June 02, 2021

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 4, No. 3

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.” (Luke 15:13-16NIV)

One of the excuses people who are living in poverty often give is that no one is willing to help them or give them anything. And it is true that many today who are in a position to support or lift those around them usually don’t want to do so. Why? A lot of times, it is because they are ignorant of the mind of God about greed, selfishness and generosity. But it is not every time that people do not want to support others because they are greedy, selfish or ignorant of the gains of generosity. There are times that they do not want to do so because they just cannot trust those they want to help with the help they want to give them.

For example, almost twenty years ago, a beloved elderly woman that I met in church tried to help me start a business by freely providing me with books to sell. She did that because she felt that the business, if managed well, would soon enough put me in a position where I would have access to more resources to function well in life. And I was so sure that I would do well with it since it was something I really loved to do.

But loving to do something is not synonymous to knowing how to do it and prosper with it. Many have gone into certain businesses or professions because of their love for them. Yet they failed and got frustrated out of them because they did not have what it takes excel in them.   

Well then, though I loved that business, I did not pay enough attention to what those who were helping me to handle the books were doing. I also did not settle down to create a system that would ensure that the business was progressive and protected. Therefore, before I knew it, the books were all gone and there was no money to pay the person that helped me with them.

Now, for a while, I tried to avoid the woman that helped me set up the business, giving her all kinds of excuses for not showing up to pay back her money as scheduled. And later, when I could see that what I was doing was getting me nowhere, I went to meet her and told her the whole truth. Did she get angry with me? No! Rather, she appreciated the fact that I opened up about the whole matter. She also encouraged me greatly not to give up and cancelled by debt. But did she give me more books to start all over again? No! Even if she had offered to give me, I would most likely have rejected the offer, out of fear that I might disappoint her again.

Consider, then, how this woman would likely treat any other person that came to her after my case for financial support or help? Would she readily agree to support them? I don’t think so. And would she not think twice before she would commit her hard-earned resources into the hands of someone that may prove to be unprofitable? Certainly, she would.

What is the point I am making, then? It is that you should not just be praying and looking for help or support to rise in life; you should also be preparing yourself not to waste whatever help God eventually sends to you. You may think your problem is that there is no one to help you or lift you. But that may really not be your problem. Your problem may be that you don’t yet have what it takes to handle that sum of money or job that God will want to make available to you. And if He should go ahead and give it to you, you may end being another prodigal son.

If we take the story of the prodigal son literally, what was his problem? Was it that he left his father’s house to go and stay on his own? No! On the contrary, it was that he lacked the wisdom and financial intelligence needed to manage the wealth he was given. So, he ended up wasting everything and shutting many doors of favour against himself. As the account goes, when he got into trouble, nobody but his father wanted to help him? Why? It was because they knew him to be irresponsible with money.

In like manner, there are many like the prodigal son today who are living in abject poverty, even though they are being well-paid at work or had in the past been blessed with well-paying jobs or great financial support from some friends or family members. Some even won huge sums of money in lotteries and so forth or inherited great wealth from their parents. Yet they are now swimming oceans of poverty that they created themselves. So, nobody is interested in helping them or associating with them. And unless they seek God’s face for favour and submit themselves to be taught how to be responsible with one’s resources, skills or education, however little these things may be, they may end up dying in that condition.

So, if you sense that people don’t want to help you or support you, even though you are praying for God’s favour, it may be that they just don’t trust you. You, then, will have to show that you can be trusted with more resources, a better job or a higher position by making the most of what you have and where you are now. Show everybody how much you can accomplish with the little resources you have or with the low state you are in. And God, who is watching you and who alone has the power to lift up, will consider you and move people and situations to lift you up in due season, if you don’t give up and would also keep yourself humble (Luke 16:10-12; 1Pet 5:6).

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)