Category: Fire in my Bones

Title: Proceed to work with what you have – January 22, 2020

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 20, 2021
No Comments on Title: Proceed to work with what you have – January 22, 2020

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus
Number: Vol. 2, No. 36

“Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.” (Gen 9:20-21NIV)

After the flood of Noah’s days, there were just eight people left in the world, and they were all members of Noah’s family. So, when they came out of the ark that God had used in preserving them, they were all by themselves. There was nobody waiting to welcome them. There was no house for them to rent or move into other than the ark that had come out from. There was no market for them to go and buy whatever they might have needed, even if they still had some money with them. There was no company or organisation waiting to employ any of them. And there was no government or charity foundation to give them aid or relief. All they had was the blessing of God upon them, which said, “Be fruitful and increase in number.” Yet, from these eight people came the billions of people who now fill the earth and from them also came all the civilisations men have known and adored. (Cf. Gen 9:1&18-19)

But how did that happen? How did those people who started out all over again with almost nothing end up laying the foundation for a world in which we are now constantly dazed by the wonders of our own advancement? It was by putting whatever skills they recognised in themselves to work, trusting that God’s blessing upon them would make them fruitful and productive in doing so.

For example, as we see in our opening text, Noah was someone that loved the soil. So he proceeded to plant a vineyard. That means he did something with his passion, inspiration and abilities. And in fact, as some other translations of the English Bible make clear, he was the first person to do this, to cultivate a vineyard. That was why he got drunk while he was trying the wine he had brewed (Gen 9:21). So, talk about breweries, they are not modern day inventions; they had been springing up since the days of Noah.

Then what about the sons of Noah and their wives? Evidently, they also considered what they had passion and abilities for and began to explore and work on them. So, as we are told in the bible, years later, we began to have among them maritime people (men of the sea) (Gen 10:2-4). We even had someone like Nimrod, a great hunter, warrior and developer of cities, among them (Gen 10:6-11).

Now I am showing these things to let you know that you too need to start doing something with your passions, natural abilities or acquired skills, instead of waiting for some family members, friends, governments or organisations to help you or set you up. Noah and his family did not wait for anybody to help them or set them. Even if they had wanted to wait like that, there was nobody for them to wait for or count on. The only one they all had was God. And since He has already put His blessing on them, all they needed to do was to activate that blessing by doing something honest and legitimate with their brains and hands.

In like manner, you too can activate the blessing of God on your life by putting your brains, abilities, skills and even education to legitimate and righteous use. You have waited long enough for help that may never come. Now begin to think and act for yourself, exploring all the possibilities that the abilities, skills or education God has enabled you to have make available. And just like God’s blessing worked mightily in the lives of Noah and his children, causing them to be fruitful and productive in the various fields of interests that they pursued, it will also work in your life and cause you to be exceedingly fruitful and productive in your honest and legitimate use of your brains, abilities, skills or education.

I look forward to hearing your testimonies. God bless you.

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)

Tags 2020, fire, Fire in my bones

Title: Don’t preserve what should be destroyed – January 15, 2020

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 20, 2021
No Comments on Title: Don’t preserve what should be destroyed – January 15, 2020

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus
Number: Vol. 2, No. 35

“The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth — men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air — for I am grieved that I have made them.”” (Gen 6:5-7NIV)

One of the lessons to be picked from the story of the flood of Noah’s days is that we must not preserve what should be destroyed. Without doubt, it was God that created man and placed him here on earth to rule over the works of His hands (Gen 1-2). But at some point, man became rebellious and corrupted his ways. And so bad was his case that God’s heart was filled with pain because of him and his ever-increasing wickedness. In other words, He could not just bear again what His man had become. So, He said to Himself, “I am going to end all this for good.”

Now, initially, it looked a like joke to the men of those days when Noah began to preach to them about what God was going to do to them and the world they lived in. But the day eventually came when God fulfilled His word to Noah. He destroyed everybody and all the things they have built their lives around. He spared only Noah, his family and a handful of animals and birds in order to start all over again. But why did God destroy them like that? It was because they were no longer fulfilling the purpose for which He had created them. (Cf. Gen 6-9) And He has also promised to someday destroy this present earth too, along with the heavens we see, to save only those who take Him seriously in it and to start a new heaven and a new earth with them. That is because these present heavens and earth are no longer as He intends them to be. (Cf. 2Pet 3:3-13; Rev 21:1-4)

If God, then, would not hesitate to end a failed system in order to start all over again, even though He was the one that had created it, we too should not fail to end anything that we have created that is no longer serving the purpose for which we created it. And don’t get me wrong here. I am not talking about ending people’s lives. No, I am not saying that you can end anybody’s life just because you think he is no longer serving your purpose. That will be murder, punishable by death under any serious government. And remember that you did not create or own anybody, even your own children. God created and own all men (Ezekiel 18:4). So, He is the only one that has the absolute right to take people’s lives. Then He has also empowered governments in every place to act on His behalf in ending the lives of those that are judged in righteousness to be unfit to continue to live among men.

But what I am talking about has to do with ending programmes, systems, businesses, institutions, facilities, policies and so forth that are creations of men. And I am saying that once we recognise that they are no longer serving the good purpose for which we created them and we also see that there is nothing we can do to restore them, then, we should not hesitate to end them. Unfortunately, many today, individuals, organisations and even governments, still find themselves funding and protecting certain creations of theirs that have outlived their usefulness and purpose. Why? For some of them, it is undue sentiments. They are so much in love with their creation that they don’t want to lose it, even though it is clear that it is already hurting them and others. And for some others, it is unwillingness to admit that their creation is a failure. They just don’t want to face the fact that what they created has become a problem that cannot be redeemed.

Perhaps you too are like that. Because of some undue sentiments or fear of dealing with the truth, you are holding on to a decaying creation of yours that you yourself know cannot be cured. You need to wake up and act like God. End it. Destroy it. Then start all over again. It is better you use whatever is left of your time, resources and energy to recreate than to further waste it on preserving what you ought to destroy. And my prayer is that God will grant you insight and understanding to do what is right in those areas of your life in which you are affected by these words.

Stay immeasurably blessed.

Tags 2020, Fire in my bones

Fire in my Bones

Title: Don’t attack him – January 08, 2020

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 20, 2021
No Comments on Title: Don’t attack him – January 08, 2020

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus
Number: Vol. 2, No. 34

“…And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Gen 4:8NIV)

The story of Cain and his brother, Abel, that we have in the bible is one that teaches us how horrible and deadly jealousy that is not dealt with can be. Exactly how cordial these brothers’ relationship was before the account given in Genesis 4, we are not told. But we do see that Cain was angry with God and also jealous of his brother because the latter and his offerings were accepted by God while he and his offerings were rejected by Him. And despite the fact that God had come to talk to him and warn him to watch his anger, bitterness and jealousy, he still went ahead and attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. In other words, Cain destroyed the very person he was meant to protect. (Cf. Gen 4:1-8)

But notice that Cain did not kill Abel because Abel was richer than him or because he had a more beautiful wife than him; rather, he killed him because God approved of him but disapproved of him. So, when we are talking about jealousy, it can be aroused by anything. I mean that people can become jealous of others because of their progress, family, influence, beauty, age, riches, relationships, jobs, positions, gifts and so forth. In short, people can become jealous of others because of anything. And when such jealousy is not dealt with and eradicated by the power of God, it can result in any kind of evil.

James, in his epistle, says, “Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things.” (James 3:16CEV) Think about that. Jealousy is a powerful force that is able to drive people to do all sorts of horrible things. And examples abound all around us of how people, even friends and family members, have killed, maimed or destroyed others because they were jealous of something in their lives. They felt that since they did not have what those people had, they just had to do something to make sure none of them enjoyed with peace whatever it was they were jealous about. And concerning them the Yoruba proverb is true that says, “Instead for the mouse not to eat ‘Sese’ (a species of beans that is known to be highly toxic), it will waste it.”

Now your name may not be Cain. But if you are jealous of someone else because he has something you don’t have or because he is progressing where you are failing, you are just another Cain. And if you won’t deal with your jealousy now, if you won’t ask God to enable you to get rid of this monster that has come to stay in your life, a day may come when it will drive you to destroy the very people you are supposed to love, cherish and protect. Then, like Cain, you will have exposed yourself to a curse of unfruitfulness, barrenness and miserableness, something you may never be free from for the rest of your life, unless you seek God’s mercy (Gen 4:10-12).

So, get rid of the jealousy you have in your life and don’t attack that person that Satan has been inciting you to attack. Instead, talk to God about your life and whatever you think is missing in it. And He will not ignore your honest and heartfelt prayer but will rise and begin to move things in your favour. But don’t go down the path of jealousy, for the end of it is destruction. (Cf. James 4:1-3)

Tags 2020, Fire in my bones

Fire in my Bones

Title: You have no power to change evil – January 01, 2020

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 20, 2021
No Comments on Title: You have no power to change evil – January 01, 2020

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus, Number: Vol. 2, No. 33

“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”” (1Cor 15:33NKJV)

One of the saddest things said about King Ahab of bible days was that he sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. And he did so with the encouragement of his wife, Jezebel. (Cf. 1Kings 19:25-26) Therefore, God judged him and his house ruthlessly, cutting off all his male descendants and destroying his wife in disgrace (1Kings 21:17-24; 2Kings 9-10:17).

Unfortunately, despite the fact that what happened to Ahab and his house was common knowledge in the land, we still found one foolish young prince that saw no other woman fit to be his wife other than one of this man’s daughters. Here is the bible’s commentary about him:

“When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father’s kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” (2Chron 21:4-7NIV)

Did you see that? Why did Jehoram walk in the evil ways of the kings of Israel? Why did he end up killing his own brothers and some other princes in the land, men who were better than him, as pointed out in Scriptures? It was because he married a daughter of one of their kings, Ahab. And his association with that evil woman that was raised in an evil house destroyed whatever good that might have been in his life. So, he ended up being an evil king that everybody was happy to miss, when he eventually died after a short reign (2Chro 21:20).

But read about Jehoram’s father, Jehoshaphat, and his grandfather, Asa, and you will see that they were good and upright men, who loved God and served Him and their people with wholehearted devotion (2Chro 14-20). Why, then, did he not walk in the ways of these men? Was it because he had no goodness in him? No! Rather, it was because whatever measure of goodness that was in him was corrupted by his marriage to an evil woman.

All of this is why Paul warns us in a letter to the Corinthians not to be deceived or misled to think that we can use the good in us to change the bad in other people. And many people, including Christians, often make mistakes along this line, especially in marital matters. They foolishly allow themselves to fall in love with individuals who clearly have no character or a reputation for taking God seriously. And they do this under the notion that they will be able to change them, if they show them enough love or do them enough acts of kindness. Then, after they have been married for a while, the reality begins to dawn on them, which is that none of us has what it takes to change anybody. But by that time, much good will have been destroyed and, if God does not intervene in the matter, they themselves may be utterly ruined.

See, the only one who has all the goodness it takes in life to change all people is God. Yet He has not succeeded in changing all men, despite the fact that He has been exceedingly good and kind to them all (Ps 145:9; Matt 5:45). So, evil is not something that we, even if we are as wise as King Solomon, possess the ability to drive out of people’s lives, regardless of how good or upright we may be. On the contrary, it is something that possesses enough power to ruin us and corrupt us, if we unduly stay long enough in fellowship with those whose lives have been enslaved by it. This is why we are passionately warned in all Scriptures not to keep company with evil people. Otherwise they are going to corrupt us and make our lives unfit for the fulfilment of God’s good purpose here on earth. (Cf. 1King 11:1-11; Prov 22:24-25; 2Cor 6:14-18)

So, friend, if you are in friendship with anyone that does not take God seriously or someone that does not have a reputation for uprightness or goodness, you are into something that is capable of ultimately destroying you and everything that you hold dear. And the best thing you can do for yourself is to seek God’s help to get out of it, for it may not at all be easy for you to do so. But if you will do so, you will be glad someday that you did.

Tags 2021, Fire in my bones

Fire in my Bones

Title: Are you trapped? – February 10, 2021

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 18, 2021
No Comments on Title: Are you trapped? – February 10, 2021

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus, Number: Vol. 3, No. 39

“Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.” (Judg 16:4NIV)

The bible story of the fall of Samson is one the most instructive stories ever told on how important it is for us not to surrender to destructive desires. Samson, as bible account shows, was most likely the strongest man that ever walked the face of this earth. There may have been stronger men. But the things that are recorded about his exploits show that only few people could have been stronger than him, if there were any.

For instance, we are told of how, on one occasion, he caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs in order to punish the Philistines. Just think about that. This man caught three hundred foxes, not hens, not goats, and even tied them tail to tail in pairs. How did he do that? Only God knows. Then he went on to kill in one day one thousand trained armed men of the Philistines with just a jawbone of a donkey. How stronger could anyone else get to be? (Cf. Judges 15)

On another occasion, this man, with his bare hands, removed the doors of a city gate, with its two posts, bar and everything else, and carried them on his shoulders to the top of a hill (Judges 16:1-4). You don’t even want to imagine how heavy those doors and their posts must have been. Yet removing them with his hands and relocating them all by himself seemed to mean nothing to Samson. And that was because he was specially blessed by God with unusual might.

Unfortunately, even though Samson had more than enough physical strength to protect himself and his people from any kind of physical assault, he lacked the inner strength to protect himself from his desire for ungodly women. God had already warned His people, the Israelites, against having any form of sexual relationship or marriage with the pagan nations around them. That was because He did not want them to be polluted by these people and so come under His wrath. And if there was anyone that ought to take this instruction very seriously, it was Samson, for he was born as a Nazirite (special messenger) of God. (Cf. Deut 7:3-4)

But that was not the case for him. His very first love was a Philistine. And he put so much pressure on his parents about getting the lady for him that they gave in to his demand. Yes, of course, God used the occasion to punish the Philistines at that time for their hostility towards His people, Israel. Nevertheless, that did not change the fact that He did not want His people intermarrying with their pagan neighbours. And Samson ought to have use that occasion to learn that their own ways were different from the ways of these people. At least, from the way he and his so-called fiancée were shamefully treated, he should have seen that there was no way light could fellowship with darkness.

Yet Samson could not just get over falling in love with these pagan women, including their prostitutes. Perhaps it was the way they dressed and carried themselves that caught him. We are not told in plain terms in the bible. But it is clear there was something about these women that held him in love bondage to them. Eventually, he fell into the hands of one of them that care nothing for his love but for the money she could make on his head. And even though it was very clear to Samson that this woman, Delilah, did not really love him but only wanted an opportunity to hand him over to his enemies, he did not stop loving her or going to her. So, it was not because he did not know what Delilah could do to him that he gave in to her but because he had become a slave to the wrong love he had for her. And that, of course, was what led to his fall. (Cf. Judges 16:4-31)

In like manner, there are many today that are in love with things or people that they know will ultimately destroy them. They just know that what they are involved in is something that will definitely ruin their lives and that it is only a matter of time before it does. But why will anyone stay involved in something that he knows will certainly ruin him? Often, the reason is that they think they cannot help doing so. That means they have been trapped; they have been enslaved. And if they are not set free on time from this enslavement, they will certainly be destroyed.

Perhaps that is your situation now. You feel trapped in this thing or with this person that you are in love with but that is equally destroying you. I want you to know that you don’t have to go down this way. You don’t have to be led to the slaughter house like a helpless sheep and have your life wasted. That is because you can get help from God, if you will cry out to Him. The bible says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So, cry out to Him today, if you truly want to be set free, and say, “Oh Lord, Jesus Christ, save me from this thing (person) that is bent on destroying me.” And He will save you, for He has done this for many in the past and will not make an exception in your case, if your cry to Him is genuine. (Cf. Rom 10:11-13)

Copyright © 2021, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to alaythiabiblechurch@gmail.com / alaythia4all@gmail.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

Tags 2021, Fire in my bones

Fire in my Bones

Title: What about wine and party? – February 17, 2021

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 18, 2021
No Comments on Title: What about wine and party? – February 17, 2021

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus ,Number: Vol. 3, No. 40

“Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave.”” (2Sam 13:28NIV)

Recently, I saw a viral video of a young man that cleverly put some substance in the cup of drink of another young man when they were all dancing together in a party. Why he did that or what became of the person whose drink he dropped that substance in, nobody knows? But something is clear, and it is that he could not have succeeded in doing that, if his victim had not been in that party and also in high spirits from the wine or beer or whatever it was that he was drinking.

Now this, of course, reminds me of the bible account of how Amnon, the first son of King David, was assassinated in cold blood. Of course, he was killed because of his own evil act. Nevertheless, killing him would not have been an easy thing for his murderers, if he had not attended Absalom’s party at all or got drunk there. Is that to say that it is wrong to attend parties? No! It all depends on the kind of party you want to attend. What is it about? What kind of individuals will be there? And what will they be doing there? If you go to a party where ungodly things are bound to be done or one that will be loaded with your enemies or those who want your fall, then, you can expect ungodly or wicked things to happen to you there.

Also, am I saying it is wrong to drink wine or beer? No! The bible never says it is wrong for people to drink wine or beer or anything alcoholic, even for pleasure. But it warns severally against drunkenness (Prov 23:29-35; Eph 5:18; 1Tim 3:3; Titus 2:2). It also warns against drinking or doing anything else that can destroy other people’s life or faith in God or our own very lives. So, you can drink wine or beer if you are confident that you won’t get drunk by doing so and that you will not be endangering your life or another person’s life or faith through it. (Cf. Rom 14:20-21; 1Cor 8:13)

But then, why does the bible warn us in particular about drunkenness? It is because it takes away our self-control and our ability to think clearly and make sound judgment. And once this happens, we become vulnerable to disgrace and all kinds of terrible things. For instance, the first recorded case of drunkenness in the bible was that of Noah. And though this man did not get drunk deliberately, he got drunk nevertheless and lay naked in his tent, unconsciously exposing himself to disgrace. Only God, then, knows the number of people who daily subject themselves, their families and other people in their lives to public shame because of drunkenness. (Cf. Gen 9:20-23)

Also, as we see in our opening text, the instruction that Absalom gave to his men was for them to wait until Amnon was high in spirits from drinking wine or drunk before they would strike him. Why? It was because he knew that killing the man, who was most likely a soldier himself, when he was in his right frame of mind may be an impossible task for them. So, he asked them to wait until wine took charge of him before attacking him. And because they followed his instruction, they succeeded in carrying out their wicked plot.

Why am I sharing all this with you? First, it is so that you will begin to watch closely where you go and the company you keep. Second, it is so that you will never again give yourself to anything that makes you lose your self-control or your ability to think clearly and judge wisely. These two things, of course, represent God’s wisdom for your safety. So, take them very seriously, and there are some miracles of protection you may never need in life.

Tags 2021, Fire in my bones

Fire in my Bones

Title: Give them what is right and fair – January 13, 2021

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 18, 2021
No Comments on Title: Give them what is right and fair – January 13, 2021

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus, Number: Vol. 3, No. 35

“Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.” (Col 4:1NIV)

It is a fact that everyone who invests his money or resources in acquiring something or enjoying some services wants real value for it. This is why we often go into endless bargaining with those selling their goods or services to us. We don’t ever like to find out that we have paid more than we have been offered in terms of goods or services. And nothing really is wrong with functioning like that.

Nonetheless, as those who believe in God and in the fact that He is the Great Judge over all, we need to watch out for greed or the love of money in all our business dealings. Otherwise, in our quest to acquire things or get things done at a good price, we may end up cheating others. And cheating is stealing.

So then, in our opening text, Paul admonishes us, as he admonishes all employers of labour, to provide those who work for us or those who provide us with goods or services with what is right and fair. That means we need to consciously see to it that, in paying people for whatever they sell to us or do for us, we do not pay them less than they are offering us and cheat them of their profit.

Of course, it is not always easy to tell the real monetary value of all the goods we are buying or services we are getting. So, there will be times in which we will ignorantly pay more or less than the real value of the goods or services we are getting for others. And God can understand our limitations along this line. But when we know exactly the worth of what we are getting from people and yet decide to unduly take advantage of their ignorance and pay them less for it or when we manipulate or threaten them into taking from us something less than what they are offering, we have become cheaters and thieves. We are like the individuals described in Solomon’s proverbs, when he says, “”It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.” (Prov 20:14NIV)

Can you relate to that? You should be able to relate to it. I mean that you probably can remember situations in which you discredited some items you wanted to buy just so you could pay less for them or situations in which you minimized the worth of someone’s services just so you could pay them less than they were offering. Then when you eventually got what you wanted, you began to boast to others about the great worth of you got. All such things are not righteous. And God, who is the Great Judge over all and who is forever watching us, knows what we are up to and will reward us accordingly here on earth and not just in heaven.

Now how God will reward us here for consciously cheating others is not something I or anybody can speak of. Sometimes it may be by denying us the enjoyment of what we have gotten or by allowing us to lose more than we have gained. Exactly how He will judge in matters like this is beyond what anyone can really tell. But He will certainly judge them and make sure everyone involved in cheating others gets what is appropriate for them.

So, make up your mind that you will always be careful to give those who make goods or services available to you what is right and fair before God and before man. In fact, it is always better to pay people more than they offering us than to pay them less. That way, we can keep our lives free from the troubles that come with being found by God as a thief of the fruit of other people’s labour. Therefore, when next you want to trick, manipulate or threaten others to take from you something less than they are offering you, remember that God is watching you and will reward you accordingly.

Fire in my Bones

Title: Why do people commit crimes so readily? – January 27, 2021

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 18, 2021
No Comments on Title: Why do people commit crimes so readily? – January 27, 2021

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus, Number: Vol. 3, No. 37

“Why do people commit crimes so readily? Because crime is not punished quickly enough.” (Eccl 8:11-12GNT)

According to the Scriptures, the natural man is naturally delinquent and so will readily do wrong things, especially if the opportunity is there to do so (Rom 3:9-18). But then, it is not only because human beings are naturally prone to do evil that they readily do wrong things; it is also because wrong things are often not quickly punished by those in a position to do so.

For example, we have in the bible an account of how Amnon, the eldest son of King David, raped his half-sister, Tamar, and also threw her out of his house (2Sam 13:1-19). And what did the law of the land say against that kind of atrocity? First, the law says that is wrong for a man to marry his sister, even if she is his half-sister, not to talk of having sexual relations with her (Leviticus 20:17). People who do such things must be cut off from the assembly of God’s people. Second, the law says if a man rapes a virgin that is pledged in marriage to someone else, and the virgin is absolutely in a helpless situation when this happens, one in which no one could rescue her, that man must be put to death (Deut 22:23-27). Third, the law says if a man rapes a virgin that is not pledged in marriage to anyone, he must be made to marry the girl, and he cannot divorce her as long as he lives (Deut 22:28-29).

Therefore, if Amnon’s case were to be judged, the most merciful judgment he could get was a lifetime married life with his sister, Tamar, a married life away from the royal house and away from the land of Israel. Unfortunately, even though King David heard about this matter, as bible records show, he only got furious with Amnon; he did not judge his crime or sentence him in any way. Yes, he may have called him and reprimanded him. But if that young man were not a prince, would he only reprimand him and not make him face the full wrath of the law of the land? I don’t think so. (Cf. 2Sam 13:21)

Now that, of course, was not the first or only time David, a God-fearing man, would be reluctant to judge an obvious crime because of his relationship with the one involved. For instance, when Joab, his nephew and army commander, murdered Abner, Israel general, who had come in peace to him in order to end the war between his house and Saul’s house, he only wept and fasted for Abner. He did not punish Joab in any way. And that only strengthened the man to commit more acts of wickedness, for, years later, he would murder in cold blood another Israel’s general, who was even a cousin of his and whose only crime was that he was made his senior in the army. Yet what did David do about this? Nothing! He simply passed the matter on to Solomon, who became king after him. (Cf. 2Sam 3:17-39; 2Sam 19&20; 1Kings 2:5-6)

In like manner, because Amnon was his son, his eldest son and perhaps the one he was grooming for kingship at that time, he overlooked his crime. And because he overlooked his crime of rape, he unconsciously encouraged Absalom, another son of his and brother to the raped girl, Tamar, to take matters into his hand and murder Amnon, who was his own brother as well. So, Solomon, who was aware of all this, says to us in our opening text, “When we fail to judge and punish people’s crimes on time, we are strengthening wickedness in the land.” And when we strengthen wickedness where we are because we will not use our position or authority to judge it, lawlessness will at some point take over. Then there may come a time in which we too will become victims of it.

Therefore, regardless how little your authority to judge or punish evil may be where you are, make sure you are using it appropriately and adequately, without partiality. That way, you will be discouraging those around you from giving themselves to wickedness.

Tags 2021, alaythia bible church, Fire in my bones

Fire in my Bones

Title: What can set your life on fire? – January 20, 2021

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 18, 2021
No Comments on Title: What can set your life on fire? – January 20, 2021

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus, Number: Vol. 3, No. 36

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6NIV)

Self-control is a major virtue that everyone who does not want his life ruined before it even gets started needs to possess. And one area of our lives in which we need to cultivate self-control is that of the way we use our tongues. In other words, we need to learn to control what we say with our tongues. Otherwise trouble will never be far from us.

To say the fact, one major reason some people will never have any moment of peace in this life is that they do not know how to control their tongues. They just say anything that comes into their mind and in exactly the way it comes into it. It is true that we may not always be able to control what thoughts come into our mind. But we surely can control what we do with those thoughts. I mean that we can determine which among the thoughts of our hearts we give expression to with our mouths and which ones we are going to remain silent about. And that is because it is not everything we think in our hearts that will do us or others good, if we should express it with our mouths.

Unfortunately, some people don’t even think at all before they open their mouths to speak. Once they are angry, depressed, happy or excited, they will just say anything that enters their mind, without considering how it may affect them or others. So, they end up putting themselves, others or even generations of people in some difficult situations or in some path of destruction.

Look, for example, at the case of one Herod of bible days (Mark 6:17-29). This man on a particular birthday of his gave a banquet for his high chiefs, army commanders and the leading men of Galilee. And was anything wrong with that? No! But when the daughter of his wife, Herodias, got him excited with her dance, he did not know when he, on oath, promised to give her anything she wanted, even up to half of his kingdom. And who does that? Even if that young lady was the most tender person in the world, was she capable of managing a household, not to talk of a kingdom? Had she been proved worthy of managing her own life, not to talk of managing an entire half of a kingdom that probably took several years of hard labour, diligence and wisdom to build?

Yet because this Herod got carried away in his moment of excitement, he made a promise to that girl that her mother took advantage of to get rid of John the Baptist, a righteous man that she considered to be her enemy. And because of his oath, there was nothing he could do about it. So, even though he did not deliberately kill John the Baptist, he would someday have to take responsibility for his death before God. But how did he find himself in this mess? It was through the careless use of his tongue.

Now there are several other examples both in the bible and in life of how people got themselves into trouble and set whole lives on fire because they could not tame their tongues. You yourself may even be able to speak of cases in which you got into trouble or lost some good things because you did not use your tongue wisely and carefully. Did you learn anything from such cases? If you didn’t, then, take advantage of these words that are coming to you now to learn the relevance of taming your tongue.

See, as apostle James makes very clear to us in our opening bible text, it is true that the tongue is a very small part of our body. However, it is also a fire that is capable of setting someone’s entire life of fire and devouring it. And the truth is that it has devoured many lives. I am saying there have been lives, homes and even nations that have been set on fire and ruined because of some people’s careless or foolish words. You may even know some of them. And if you don’t want to set your own life or other people’s lives on fire with your tongue, if you don’t want to shut the door of God’s favour against yourself or continually get trapped in problems that are never meant to be yours, you need to begin to consciously and consistently control the way you use your tongue.

Look at what the bible says to us about this: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.” (1Peter 3:10NIV) Did you see that? If you want to enjoy your life and see many good days, what do you need to watch? The way you use your tongue! And may God enable you to tame your tongue to be blessing to you and others and not a curse of fire that will burn down your life and every good thing you have.

Tags 2021, Fire in my bones

Fire in my Bones

Title: Don’t add it to your own – January 06, 2021

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 18, 2021
No Comments on Title: Don’t add it to your own – January 06, 2021

fire in my bones

Series: Youth for Jesus , Number: Vol. 3, No. 34

“The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.”” (Josh 7:10-12NIV)

The bible is very clear about the fact that God hates stealing. In other words, He does not want us to take anything that does not belong to us or that is not given to us by its owner and add to our own things. And it does not matter how we do this, whether it is force we are using or tricks, stealing is stealing before God.

Now stealing, apart from the fact that it exposes us to the danger of eternal judgment, is also able to expose us and even those in our lives to all kinds of afflictions here on earth. For instance, look at what God says to Joshua in our opening text. He says he and the people he is leading are vulnerable to destruction. But why? It is because one of them stole certain items that God had given them instructions to destroy. (Cf. Joshua 7:1)

Just think about that. The things the man, Achan, stole were not anybody’s properties. Rather, they were just items that God said that they should destroy. So, he must have said to himself, “Since these are mere items and not people, they cannot report to anybody that I took them or rise up to fight us back. More so, they are not anybody’s properties. Why, then, can’t I take some of them and keep for myself?” And that was exactly what he did. He took some of those things devoted to destruction and made them his own.

Unfortunately, what Achan did not know was that it was God he was stealing from. And the presence of those items he had stolen in the camp of his people, not just in his own house, turned God against them and made them vulnerable to destruction. So, when they went out to fight their enemies, enemies that were not as powerful as the ones they had initially conquered, they could not stand before them. Instead, they were soundly defeated. And as Joshua prayed about the matter, God told him that they had stolen items devoted to destruction and added them to their own possessions and that unless they got rid of those items and destroyed them, He would not be with them and they would remain vulnerable to defeat and destruction. So, the man had to do what he had to do – he found Achan, made him confess his sins and made sure that he, family and the things he had stolen were utterly destroyed. And that was the salvation of that nation. (Cf. Joshua 7)

Now perhaps the reason you too do not have peace in your life and are constantly defeated is that you have taken what belongs to God or to other people and added them to your own. Whatever your reasons may be for taking them, the fact remains that those things are not yours and so should not be in your possession. And because they are not yours, they can open the door for God’s judgment or demonic afflictions to come into your life, if you are not shown mercy. So, if the Lord is leading you to return such things, you should by all means do so. And if He is not, you should ask that He should, in His mercy, destroy whatever wrong influence those things have brought into your life or relationships.

Then it may be that what you need to experience progress or soundness of body is to pay what you have refused to pay certain people for the work they did for you. See, from what we are shown in Scriptures, other people’s properties that we have wrongly taken or added to our own can cry against us. And when they begin to do this, God’s judgment will certainly manifest against us. What forms this will take is not what I or anybody can say. But it is never going to be something you want or wish for. So, inasmuch as it is still within your ability to pay up what you owe, do so and free your life from unnecessary limitations or troubles. (Cf. James 5:4)

As we are shown in the bible, God, at two different times, punished two very powerful kings for taking the wife of Abraham to be theirs. But these two kings acted in complete ignorance. I mean that they acted on Abraham’s lies. Yet God was ready to destroy them and their households, if they would not return the man’s wife. But in what way were they wrong? They were wrong because they did not make enough findings about the woman before taking her in. Their lust for her beauty would not allow them to do so. And they got punished for that. (Cf. Gen 12 & 20)

Therefore, we can also get into trouble for ignorantly, foolishly or carelessly adding to our own what does not belong to us. That is because we may not be able to tell what sort of grief we are bringing to the owner of what we have ignorantly taken for ourselves. So, we need to be very careful in all our dealings with people in order for us not to unconsciously add to our own things that do not belong us and open the door for wrong influences to work in our lives. Then we need to learn to pray to God to continually open our eyes to see those things that don’t belong with us and that we need to send out of our lives and to recognize every satanic trap that may lead us into adding to our possessions things that don’t belong to us. And may His hand of mercy continue to keep us safe from every trap to steal and get into trouble, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tags 2021, Fire in my bones