Category: Youth for Jesus

It is uncertain | Pst. J.O. Lawal | May 25, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 5, No. 2

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date May 28, 2022
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fire in my bones

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1Tim 6:17NIV)

What is the Spirit’s instruction to those who are rich in this present world, as we see in our opening text? It is for them not to be proud or to put their hope in earthly riches. Now, of course, this instruction is not applicable to those who are rich alone but to all men. That is because it is not only those who are rich who can be proud. Those who are poor can also be proud. And I have seen under the sun very poor and lowly people who are full of themselves, just as I have seen under it rich and influential people who are meek and easy to get along with.

So, to say the fact, it is not wealth that makes people become proud. People are proud because Satan has succeeded in making them have an opinion of themselves that does not exist. And wealth may just be the one thing that will underline that pride that has always been in them.

In any case, we all, not just the rich among us, are being warned by the Spirit not to be arrogant or to put our hope in wealth or earthly riches. And why are we warned not to put our hope in earthly riches? It is because they are uncertain. In other words, wealth is unreliable. Yes, wealth is undependable. So, it can disappoint you or put you to shame when you least expect it to do so.

Unfortunately, many do not know this. So, in a crazy fashion, they run around the world, getting involved in all kinds of foolish and harmful things in order to become rich. And will that definitely make them become rich? No! Eagerness for money or earthly riches will not necessarily make you rich or wealthy. And there are millions all around the world today whose lives are proving this to be the fact. They have been running around for money all their lives. Yet they are poor, very poor today.

Then, even if you have become rich or wealthy, whether through diligent and honest labour or otherwise, it still does not mean that you are going to have the happy, peaceful and rich life your heart desires to have here on earth. And there are many wealthy people today that are not happy. Yes, they are rich in earthly goods. But their riches have not been able to give them peace of mind, a sound body, a great marriage or fantastic children. Why? It is because wealth has no power to give anybody anything God has not given.

Besides all that, wealth can be lost. It can fly away. It can disappear into thin air. As we are told in the bible, in one day, righteous Lot lost all the possessions he had used his entire life to labour for to the fires that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah. And in one day, blameless and upright Job, who was considered to be richest and greatest of all the men of the eastern part of the world of his time, lost everything he had laboured for all his life. Did these men lose their wealth because they were evil? No! Rather, they lost it because life’s circumstances went against them at some point in their lives. (Cf. Gen 19; Job 1; Prov 23:5)

So, the uncertainty of earthly riches can manifest to any man, whether they are righteous or wicked. And if that should happen, what will determine what happens to them afterwards is where their confidence lies all along. If their confidence lies in their wealth and they have been building their lives on it, then, they will most likely perish with it, if it perishes or disappoints them. But if their confidence lies in God, then, He will comfort them and restore them, even if their wealth fails or disappoints them. That was what happened in Job’s case. He did not lose his life and eternity along with his wealth because his confidence was never in it but in God. And though life circumstances really messed him up, God eventually showed up at the right time, comforted him and also restored him. (Cf. Job 42)

Now this same God is always ready to heal, comfort and restore you, regardless of what life throws at you. But you have to put your confidence in Him and not in money or anything else. That is because He is the only one that is certain in His devotion, love and care. But all other people and things can fail you and will fail you, if the circumstances are right.

Copyright © 2022, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)

Tags It, Proud

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Don’t overstep your boundaries | Pst. J.O. Lawal | May 18, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 5, No. 1

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date May 18, 2022
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fire in my bones

“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. They confronted him and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God.” Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him.” (2Chron 26:16-20NIV)

What led Uzziah to enter the temple of the Lord to burn incense? It was pride. Here was a king that began reigning at the age of sixteen and then went on to reign for fifty-two long years. Even the great King David reigned for only forty years (2Sam 5:4-5). But this man enjoyed many fruitful years of reign as a king over the land of Judah. Why? It was because the Lord gave him rest, good health and success in all his ways. In fact, the Scripture says that this man was marvellously helped by God to become famous, powerful and great (2Chro 26:15).

But then, after many years of enjoying the goodness of God, he began to think of himself as some special breed. At least, he had succeeded as a king, as a military leader, as a farmer and as a land developer (2Chro 26:6-10). So, as he thought, if he should go into priestly ministry as well, nothing should stop him from succeeding. That was why he entered the temple of the Lord with incense in his hands to burn.

However, as the priests in the land boldly told him, it was not in his place to burn incense to the Lord. In other words, he had already overstepped his boundaries. He had taken upon himself to do something that he was neither anointed nor trained to do. As the bible shows us, even those who were anointed as priests at that time could not just show up before the Lord anyhow or offer any kind of incense to him and not suffer for it.

Why did Nadab and Abihu die before the Lord, even though they were his anointed priests? Was it not because they offered a strange fire before him? (Cf. Lev 10:1-3) Then why did God, through Samuel, tell King Saul that his kingdom would not endure? Was it not because he took up the priestly duty of Samuel in offering some sacrifices to the Lord on an occasion? Yes, he did what he did because he was frustrated and under great pressure from those around him. Nevertheless, he did it at the cost of his kingdom. (Cf. 1Sam 13)

Now these two accounts were well documented in the Scriptures for someone like Uzziah to learn from. But apparently, he learnt nothing from them. So, the very day he overstepped his boundaries to assume priestly functions in the land was the day God struck him with leprosy on his forehead. God struck him with something he could not hide from anybody. So, he had to step down from the throne for his son, Jotham, to reign in his stead. And even when he died, public sentiments would not allow the palace to bury him with his ancestors. Instead, he was buried in a field near them. (Cf. 2Chronicles 26:21-23)

What is the point of this? It is that while it is good to diversify in life, especially when God is increasing us in good things, we must know our boundaries in life and not overstep them. That you are successful in a certain line of business or vocation does not mean that you have what it takes to succeed in any other kind of business or vocation.

So, if it is not something you are absolutely sure you have abilities or training for, don’t allow pride, greed or the smooth talk of men drive you into doing it. Otherwise, you may meet with utter disgrace by getting involved in it. And only God knows how many successful people that have met with certain death, disgrace, illness or destruction by getting involved in politics or some sort of businesses that they did not have the ability, training, influence or experience to succeed in.

Then, regardless of how successful you may be in life, don’t ever disregard spiritual authority or carelessly interfere in spiritual functions that God has not given you abilities for. Yes, every child of God is anointed and not one of us is more anointed than others. However, each of us has their own place in the kingdom. And it is only by staying in that place where God has anointed you to be that you can prosper. If you should, then, begin to address yourself by a name or title that God has not given you and to take up tasks that He has not gifted you to do, at some point, disgrace or destruction may break out on your forehead. And you won’t be able to hide it. So, mind yourself.

Tags Boundaries, Boundary, Overstep, Your

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Offer the best | Pst. J.O. Lawal | May 04, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 51

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date May 5, 2022
1 Comment on Offer the best | Pst. J.O. Lawal | May 04, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 51

fire in my bones

“So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians.”” (1Kings 5:6NIV)

Those were the words of King Solomon to King Hiram of Tyre in his letter to him in which he expressed his desire to build a temple for the Lord. And one thing that is clear from what he said to that king is that he recognised the skills of his men in handling timber. According to him, no one at that time was as skilled as the Sidonians in felling timbers. So, if anyone wanted the best of timbers and was willing to pay for them, they were the ones he must consult and engage.

What is the point of this? First, it is that if you are the best at what you do, even the wisest of men will consult and engage your services. And they will not mind coming from the ends of the earth to find you, simply because you have what they want. So, if people are ignoring your work or trade, it may just be that your skills in handling it are not sharp enough to attract them to you.

Then, if you are the best at what you do, people will be willing to pay handsomely for your services. As we see in our opening text, Solomon was willing to pay Hiram any amount for the services of his men. That, of course, does not mean that he may not bargain at all or ask for discounts. He may do that. But it means that he recognised that those people would be offering him the best of timber services he could get anywhere. So, the power of setting the price to pay did not lie with him but with them.

In like manner, if you are the best at what you do, the power of bargain is with you and not with those engaging your services. So, they will be the ones begging or persuading you for discounts on the goods or services you are providing them. And because they want nothing but the best, because they do not want an alternative to the best, they will not go away from you but stick with you.

For example, I have observed that there are some brands of items that people keep buying from our family shop, regardless of how costly they get. Why? Those buying these items believe that they are the best around. And since they want the best, they are willing to pay the price for it.

So, if people are ignoring your work or business, it may not be because your price is too high. Yes, overpricing is one of the things killing some people’s businesses or trade. But truth be told, if you offer the best, those dying to have the best will not mind paying whatever it may cost them to have it.

If you, then, are looking forward to earning more, then, the secret is in offering the best of whatever you do. And why can you not offer the best of what you do? Why can’t you be the best? It is all about renewing your mind. If you renew your mind to be the best at what you do, then, you will give yourself to whatever training or discipline you will need to be the best. But as long as you continue to think that being the best is not necessary or achievable, you will not aim for it.

Now what you don’t aim for may never be yours. And what is not yours you cannot give. So, if you want to be the best or be offering the best, renew your mind to always aim and go for the best. And may God’s grace overflow over your life to make this happen, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tags Be, Be the best, Best, Offer, Offer the best, The

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Your opportunity to learn | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 27, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 50

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date April 27, 2022
No Comments on Your opportunity to learn | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 27, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 50

fire in my bones

“Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?”” (John 14:9NIV)

Among the things we must know how to maximise are opportunities to learn. Truly, education, whether in spiritual things or natural things, is never cheap. But there are times in life that we are presented with opportunities to learn or to be educated in certain matters of life free of charge. And what we make of such opportunities at such times may be the difference between failure and success for us in life.

Therefore, wherever you are, always keep your eyes opened to recognise opportunities to learn, especially for free. And once you recognise them, be determined to make the most of them. Pay attention. Ask relevant questions. Volunteer to serve. Go some extra miles. Stay longer than you are required to. Just make sure you do whatever honourable thing you can do to learn whenever and wherever opportunities to do so show up. And you will someday be glad you did.

But will you recognise your opportunities to learn and make yourself better fit to handle life? And if you do recognise them, will you do all you can to make the most of them?

In our opening bible text, our Lord Jesus queried one of His apostles, Philip, for asking Him a certain question? Why? It was because the man had stayed long enough with Him to know the answer to the question he was asking. So, hanging around someone of great knowledge, wisdom or substance for a very long time does not mean we are going to learn anything at all from them or even recognise our opportunities to learn from them.

Rehoboam, son of Solomon, was forty-one years old when he became king in his father’s place (1Kings 14:21). So, he must have had at least thirty years of diverse opportunities to learn from his father, Solomon. Yet when he became king, he proved through his conduct that he did not learn enough from his father to sustain the kingdom he had handed down to him. Yes, his father was the wisest man that ever lived before our Lord Jesus came. But all that did not matter, seeing that he did not make the most of the privilege and opportunities he had to have such a man as his father.

Perhaps you too are now making the same mistake Rehoboam made. You are ignoring or despising the opportunities or privileges you have to learn where you are or from certain people you are living with, working with, studying with or fellowshipping with. You need to wake up before it is too late. You need to drive yourself to learn as much as you can from them before the opportunity or privilege to do so is totally or finally taken away from you.

See, laziness, procrastination, pride or lack of concentration will not help you in this matter. These things are your enemies. So, you need to get rid of them along with any other evil trait that is preventing you from making the most of your opportunities to learn. Otherwise, a day may come when you, like Rehoboam, will lose what God has already graciously given you because you did not get enough knowledge, wisdom, understanding or discipline when you should have.

So then, let those words of Jesus to Philip wake you up from your slumber, as you ask yourself, “I have been here for such a long time. But how much I have learnt?”

Tags Learn, Opportunity, Your opportunity to learn

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Familiarity that breeds contempt | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 13, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 48

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date April 23, 2022
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fire in my bones

“When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” (Matt 13:53-58NIV)

Why couldn’t Jesus do many miracles in his own home town, among His people? Unbelief! But why were they unbelieving? They were unbelieving because they allowed their familiarity with Him to result in contempt for Him.

As the account shows us, these people thought they knew Jesus well. That was because He and His siblings grew up among them. They knew their parents. They knew their family occupation. And while He and His siblings were growing up among them, they most probably did not show any special sign that they would be better off or greater than other children in the town. But what they did not understand was that they only knew Jesus as a natural man; they did not know Him as a spiritual man. They did not know who He was on the inside and what measure of authority He carried in His Spirit.

So, when He began to teach them and to perform miracles, they were shocked to their bones. And instead for them to rejoice that God was using one of their own sons to do big things in the land, they allowed bitterness to take roots in their hearts against Him. So, they began to ridicule Him and to tell useless stories about His past and His years of growing up among them. And by doing so, they shut the door against God’s blessings of healing, deliverance and restoration that could have been theirs.

In like manner, many today are allowing their familiarity with certain family members, neighbours, friends or church members to hinder the flow of God’s blessings in their lives. But the fact that you are close to someone, see them every day, live with them or eat with them does not mean that you know the place they hold in God’s scheme of things. So, do not allow your exposure to their natural state to become the very thing that will hinder you from enjoying the goodness of God through their lives. Instead, see how you can make the most of it in experiencing God’s favour, exaltation, healing or restoration.

For example, though Mary was Jesus’ mother, the very mother that nursed Him as a child and brought Him up with the word of God to be a man of character, she did not allow that to prevent her from seeing the spiritual man in Him. That was why she was instrumental to the first miracle He performed at Cana in Galilee, the miracle of turning water to wine. (Cf. John 2:1-11)

Also, though Hanani was Nehemiah’s brother, he did not begin to treat his brother with contempt when he became the governor of Judah. He did not go around town messing up and saying, “What can Nehemiah do to me? Is he not my brother? He may be your governor, but he is my brother. So, I can relate to him as I please.” If he had behaved like that, he would most probably have ended up being killed by Nehemiah’s guards. But that man so conducted himself well that Nehemiah later entrusted the whole city to him, for he considered him to be a man of integrity and one that feared God more than most people. (Cf. Neh 7:1-2)

So, if God has caused those close to you to be great in one way or the other, don’t allow your closeness to them breed contempt in you for them or bitterness in you against them, so that you begin to misbehave as you relate to them. Instead, learn how to relate to them with respect and caution, so that whenever the opportunity arises, their greatness will serve you well.

Then, don’t ever assume that the greatness of someone close to you will certainly or automatically work for your good, whether you have character or not. If the person is truly a great person, then, they will not use their greatness to sponsor or promote you, if you lack character and diligence. So, if certain great people in your life will not help you, you may want to check out your life for character and diligence. And even if, though you have these things, the great people in your life will still not notice or support you with their greatness, don’t be upset or bitter against them. Instead, rest your matter in God’s hand, for no one, however, great they may be, can help you, if He does not help you.

Tags Breeds, Contempt, Familiarity, Familiarity that breeds contempt

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

A false sense of security | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 20, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 49

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date April 20, 2022
1 Comment on A false sense of security | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 20, 2022 | Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 49

fire in my bones

“Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!” (Amos 6:1NIV)

When reports of what King Xerxes had decreed against the Jews, at the instigation of Haman, came to Esther’s ears, she was indeed distressed. But she did not see how she could be of any help to them, neither did she sense that she herself was in danger. And it took some very harsh words from her uncle, Mordecai, for her to deal with the false sense of security she felt she had in the king’s palace. (Cf. Esther 4)

As the account goes, the edict of the king was for all the Jews in his kingdom to be annihilated on a certain day. And though Esther was the queen, she too was a Jew, something unknown to the king at the time. So, the edict was going to affect her as well, once it was brought to public notice that she was a Jew too. That was because the edict given was irrevocable. It couldn’t be changed or altered. So, in order to save the Jews, another edict had to be issued by the king, giving them the right to defend themselves against any form of hostility. You can see, then, that if Esther had been complacent because she was the queen and had done nothing to help her people at that time, though she was in a position to do so, her false sense of security would have been her undoing. (Cf. Esther 8)

In the same vein, there are many today that are carrying around a false sense of security in places where disasters are already brewing. They think because they are in certain positions in life or are related to certain people, no harm will come to them. But the disasters that they think will not come to them will surely come to them and in fact overtake them. Why? It is because they are failing to utilise the positions they are in or the influence they have at the moment to end or prevent the evil that is about to swallow them and their people up.

As we see in our opening bible text, God was once angry with certain leaders of His people and was also set to bring judgment on them. Why? It was because though the people were looking up to them to use their positions and influence to save them from their miseries, they were doing nothing to help them. And why were they doing nothing to help them? It was because they had a false sense of security. They felt that the problems of their people would never become their personal problems. They felt that their wealth, position and influence would be able to save them from whatever calamity that would befall the land.

But they were wrong. They were wrong because God, the true judge of all, could see their complacency, hypocrisy and selfishness. And He was determined to make them the first among those would experience the coming calamities. (Cf. Amos 6:1-7)

Therefore, if you are in a position to alleviate the sufferings or pains of any group of people that you are a part of, don’t be complacent about it. No, do not think that their problems will never affect you or become yours because of certain measure of security your position, money or influence now offers you. That is because if you fail to act on time, God will soon enough make you see that what you have is a false sense of security. Then the problems you have always thought would never be yours would not just become yours but may also end up swallowing you up.

Tags A false sense of security, False, Security, Sense, Sense of security

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Don’t be a stumbling block | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 06, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus. | Vol. 4, No. 47

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date April 9, 2022
2 Comments on Don’t be a stumbling block | Pst. J.O. Lawal | April 06, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus. | Vol. 4, No. 47

fire in my bones

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Matt 23:13NIV)

What is the Lord accusing the Jewish religious leaders of in our opening bible text? He is accusing them of being stumbling blocks to the people of God. But how are they being stumbling blocks to them? It is by preventing them from doing the will of God through their teachings, practices and traditions.

As the Lord points out, it is bad enough that these leaders have no intention to do the will of God in their personal lives and affairs. But by deliberately doing things that will keep others also from doing His will, they are heaping up His wrath on themselves. And that is why the Lord says, “Woe to you…” In other words, it will be much worse for these religious leaders than the people they are misleading when God’s judgment eventually comes.

What is the point of this, then? It is that we need to be careful not to be a stumbling block to anyone that wants to do the will of God, just because we ourselves do not want to do it. But why will any child of God not want to do the will of his Father? The reason may be fear, selfishness, envy, pride or complacency. Whatever it may be, we must let it stop with us, if we will not repent of it, and not spread it to others. Otherwise, God will see to it that we surely get the punishment we deserve for sponsoring or encouraging rebellion against Him.

For example, why would Korah, Dathan and Abiram not accept the leadership of Moses and Aaron? Envy! And if they had allowed their envy to live and die in them and among them, God may have spared them. But they allowed it to spread to several other leaders of the people, so that their rebellion against the will of God began to gain ground. Therefore, God judged them in a most remarkable way. He made the ground swallow them and their families and possessions up. When next you, then, think of sponsoring others in rebellion against God, whether in the church or elsewhere, think also of these men. (Cf. Numbers 16)

Also, why would the Jewish leaders not accept Jesus as their Messiah? Pride! Envy! Greed! Stubbornness! They knew somewhere in their hearts that He was the real deal and that accepting Him was the will of God for them. But they would not accept Him for the reasons I already mentioned. Instead, they began to prevent their people too from accepting Him as their Messiah. Therefore, it would be much worse for them than all the people they hindered on the day of God’s righteous judgment. And if you too, because of greed, stubbornness, pride or envy, have been working against others’ acceptance of the truth of God where you are, know that your sin will surely find you out someday, if you fail to repent on time.

Furthermore, why did ten out of the twelve spies sent out by Moses to spy Canaan not want to go up and take over the land? Fear! Unbelief! And if they had kept their fear and unbelief to themselves, God might have spared them. But they poisoned the whole nation of Israel with these things. Therefore, they were the first to die of a plague before the Lord that very day. (Cf. Numbers 13 & 14)

So, you really need to be careful what you spread among people, especially God’s people. Be careful that you are not spreading things that will promote unbelief, bitterness, fear or rebellion among them. Otherwise, you may end your life before you start enjoying it.

Then, be careful not to allow anyone to discourage you from doing the will of God because of their own personal problems with God or men. In other words, don’t make anybody’s fear your fear, their bitterness your bitterness or their rebellion your rebellion. Or else, on the day they are judged for their wickedness, you too may not be spared.

Tags Block, Stumbling, Stumbling block

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Don’t follow the path of rebellion | Pst. J.O. Lawal | March 30, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 46

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date April 1, 2022
4 Comments on Don’t follow the path of rebellion | Pst. J.O. Lawal | March 30, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 46

fire in my bones

“But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who observed my commands and statutes.” (1Kings 11:34NIV)

There are indeed times that God chooses people to change things or set things right in a place, so that He may bring comfort and rest to the afflicted. But He will never choose the path of rebellion for such individuals to attain the position He wants them to occupy. That is because rebellion is contrary to His nature. And anyone who follows its path will certainly be punished by Him for it, sooner or later, even if the person succeeds in their rebellion. (Cf. Rom 13:1-2)

Look at David, for example. Though God anointed him to be king in place of Saul, while Saul was still alive, he did not follow the path of rebellion to take over. Yes, twice he had very rare opportunities to end Saul’s life and become king in his stead. But he would not utilise those opportunities. Why? He knew that there was no way he would go by the way of rebellion in removing the Lord’s anointed from office and not suffer for it at some point. (Cf. 1Sam 24&26)

So, he told his men, who were urging him to seize the moments and kill Saul, to calm down and wait for the Lord Himself to remove the man at His right time. That way, they would not be guilty of rebellion and bloodshed. And that was exactly what happened. God removed Saul in His own time and in His own way. So, David was able to take what belonged to him without following the path of rebellion and sinning against God.

In the same vein, you too, against all odds, can become all that God wants you to be without following the path of rebellion, treachery or bloodshed. All you need is trust Him to fulfil His word or promise concerning you. And you will find that He does not disappoint, if you will be patient with Him.

Now, of course, I am not saying that people, even those that God has specially chosen for certain tasks, cannot succeed at all by following the path of rebellion. They can. But their rebellion can only work if the time set by God for them to take charge has already come. Otherwise, it will not work but simply result in their shame or destruction.

Why, according to bible accounts, did Hazael succeed in his rebellion against his master, Ben-Hadad, killing him and becoming king in his stead? Was it simply because God had chosen him to be king after his master? No! Rather, it was because his master’s time was already up on God’s schedule of things. Otherwise, he would have been terribly hurt or destroyed in his rebellion. (Cf. 2Kings 8:7-15)

Also, why was Darius’ rebellion against King Belshazzar a success? It was because God had already announced that the latter’s time was up. Otherwise, that rebellion would have ended up being a disaster. (Cf. Dan 5)

But the case wasn’t the same for Jeroboam, Solomon’s servant that God anointed to take away the larger part of the kingdom from his family. God had to expressly tell this man through the prophet that ordained him that He had made Solomon ruler all the days of his life. And why did He tell him this? It was so that Jeroboam would understand that if he should try to take over from Solomon through rebellion, it would never work. So, he would need to wait until this king died a natural death before he could become what God had chosen him for. (Cf. 1Kings 11:26-40)

But what if that truth had not been revealed to Jeroboam? Given the kind of person he was, he would most likely have attempted a coup. And that may have cost him even his very life. This explains why some, who really could have been used by God to make life better for their people, never made it. Instead of waiting for God to clear the way for them in His own time to be where He wanted them, they went through the path of rebellion, met with forces too powerful for them to handle and got ruined in the process.

You, however, do not have to be like them. And surely, you do not need any revelation from God to know that it is foolishness to take the path of rebellion in order to accomplish His purpose for your life. That is because there are already enough revelations about this in the bible. What you simply need to do is to take them seriously and act on them. In other words, let God Himself get you to wherever He has promised to take you instead of trying to follow the path of rebellion to get there. Otherwise, you may end up never making it there. And even if you make it there, your sin of rebellion will someday and somehow find you out.

Be wise, then, and take counsel.

Tags Don't, Don't follow, Don't follow the path, Don't follow the path of rebellion, Follow, Path, Rebellion, The path

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

When your survival depends on it | Pst. J.O. Lawal | March 23, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 45

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 23, 2022
4 Comments on When your survival depends on it | Pst. J.O. Lawal | March 23, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Vol. 4, No. 45

fire in my bones

“Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.Then the word of the LORD came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.”” (1Kings 17:7-9NIV)

Why did Elijah go to the widow at Zarephath during the years of famine that the nation of Israel experienced in his time? It was because the Lord asked him to do so. The Lord had been supernaturally taking good care of this man during those days of famine, even though he was not working. He had been sending some birds to bring him food both in the morning and in the evening. (Cf. 1Kings 17:1-6)

So, here is our first lesson from this account: the Lord is able to take care of His people even in a time of famine, regardless of what sort of famine it may be, a famine of food and water or a famine of good jobs. He may not give them all they will need in a year at once. But He will make sure that they are well taken care of, according to every day’s need. And all He wants is for them to always put Him first and to always depend on Him absolutely for all that they need.

Our second lesson from the account is that we must learn to use our resources with an understanding of the times we are living in. God did not feed Elijah three times but two times a day during those years of famine, even though He had the power to do so. And did the man complain or grumble as a result of this? No! Instead, he received every meal, which was the same type all the time, with thanksgiving. That is contentment.

In like manner, we too must learn to be grateful for God’s provisions for us and also to be contented and wise in using them, however little they may be. So, instead of grumbling or complaining that what God is providing for you now is too small, first be thankful for it. Then, as you trust Him to supply you with more, use what He has provided with wisdom. For example, don’t consume in one day what you can actually use for three days, if well managed, and then start complaining that God is unfaithful. He is ever faithful. You are the one being foolish, not understanding how to administer God’s provisions according to life’s seasons.

Well, as the account we are considering goes, some time later, when the brook that Elijah had been drinking water from dried up, God told him to go to Zarephath because He had instructed a widow there to take care of him. So, he was not going to meet a woman that had no clue as to what God wanted her to do but one that had been well instructed by God to minister to him.

But why did God send him to this woman, when He could have kept the brook from drying up and when He could have continued to send birds to bring him food? It was because He wanted to preserve the woman and her son throughout those years of famine. Exactly what the woman did to attract God’s mercy and favour in this manner is what we are not told. But we are told that her survival and the survival of her son depended on her generosity to this man of God that was sent to her.

It was up to her, then, to either do the will of God and be preserved or do her own thing and be destroyed. Thankfully, she did the right thing. Therefore, she and her son were preserved throughout those years of famine. Not only that, her son was rescued from an unexpected death that would have taken him away from her, famine or no famine, if the man of God had not been living with them. (Cf. 1Kings 17:7-24)

In like manner, there are times in life that our survival, exaltation or fruitfulness in certain matters depends on our generosity to certain people. Some of these people, like our parents, church leaders, the poor around us and so forth, have already been revealed to us in the bible. AND WE SHOULD TAKE OUR GENEROSITY TO THEM VERY SERIOUSLY. But there are among them people that we can only recognise by divine revelations. So, our prayer should always be that God, in His kindness, will enable us to recognise such people on time and also strengthen us to do for them what He wants us to do for them, so that we can receive the reward of doing so.

However, we must not allow anybody to use this story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath as a tool for manipulating, threatening or pressuring us to do for them what we are not convinced in our hearts that we should be doing. Even if we are convinced in our hearts that it is the will of God for us to be generous to someone, our generosity to them has to come from a willing and cheerful heart. Otherwise, there will be no reward from God to us for doing so. (Cf. 2Cor 9:6-7)

The widow of Zarephath was not manipulated, coerced or threatened by Elijah to do what she did. Rather, she did what she did because God had already spoken to her about it. So, if God has not plainly revealed it in Scriptures or spoken to you through a revelation about giving to someone or supporting them, don’t give in to any manipulation, threat or pressure to do so. And may you be kept from any devourer that may way to prey on your life or soul on account of this, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tags depends, depends on it, survival, when your survival depends on it

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Don’t be used by them | Pst. J.O. Lawal

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date March 19, 2022
6 Comments on Don’t be used by them | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones

Date: March 16, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 44

“On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.” (Matt 14:6-12NIV)

The bible story of the death of John the Baptist is another confirmation of Jesus’ words that men love darkness instead of light because their works are evil (John 3:19). John the Baptist was evidently a man of God, a true prophet of God. That was, in fact, the reputation he had among his people, the Jews. Therefore, though he stayed mostly in the wilderness, many continually went to him to hear the word of God, to confess their sins and to be baptised in water as a pledge from a heart that is ready to give up sins and live for God.

Now, in his quest to see the land rid of unrighteousness, John preached against the sins of all categories of people. And in doing this, he did not leave out the religious leaders of the land. Instead, he rebuked them severely for their hypocrisies and insincerity. Even soldiers and tax collectors (who were at the time regarded by many as the worst of sinners) were coming to this prophet to learn the way of righteousness. (Cf. Matt 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-18)

However, as the bible further shows us, when John began to rebuke Herod the tetrarch, the king of the land, for his unlawful marriage to his brother’s wife, he had him arrested and locked up (Luke 3:19-20). Sadly, there are still people like Herod today. And you need to be on your guard against them. That is because besides the fact that they do not love to be confronted with the truth, they are also willing to go to any length to punish, harass or harm anyone who confronts them with the truth. These ones must just do something to make you fee that you are wrong or out of line to tell them the truth.

At any rate, as we see in the bible, though Herod had John locked up, he really did not know what to do with him. Why? It was because, just like the rest of the people, he too considered this man to be a true and righteous man of God. He even listened to him preach from time to time, though he would not act on his messages. Why then did he arrest him? It must have been because his lover, Herodias, wanted him to do so. The bible says that this woman nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him because he had spoken against her marriage to Herod. And she would really have killed him, if Herod had not intervened and protected him. (Cf. Mark 6:17-20)

Nevertheless, it was clear that Herod, against his wish and belief, was being used at that time by his lover to harm an innocent man. And to make a bad situation worse, during a birthday celebration of his, he made a careless promise to Herodias’ daughter, a promise on oath to give her anything she wanted up to half of his kingdom, just because the girl impressed him with her dance. Then the girl, knowing that she was not wise enough to make the right request, innocently went to consult her mother. Unfortunately, the woman saw that as an opportunity to use her too. She told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. And as the story goes, she got what she wanted. (Cf. Matt 14:1-12; Mark 6:21-27)

Now that girl could have become one of the richest or most powerful persons in the land that day, if she had made a wise request, as did Solomon when God told him to ask for anything he wanted. But that did not happen at all. Instead, what happened was that she became a tool in the hand of her mother, a tool used by her to destroy an innocent man that did not offend her. Therefore, instead of being remembered today as probably the richest girl that ever lived, she was being remember as the foolish girl that was used by her mother to destroy one the greatest prophets of God that ever lived.

What is the point of all this? It is that we need to be careful in relating to those who have one form of influence or the other over us. Otherwise, they may end up using us for their dirty works or to fight battles that we have no business fighting. I am saying that if we are not careful, even our parents, siblings, family members, friends, lovers, bosses, teachers or neighbours can use us as tools to do things contrary to the will of God. They can influence to waste opportunities given to us by God to change our lives forever or to make our world a better place on meaningless or useless fights or endeavours. And when all has been said and done, all we may have left are regrets and a bad reputation.

So, regardless of how much you love or respect the people in your life, always conduct yourself in a manner that will let them know that you are not someone they can use to do anything they like. Also, be very careful not to seek or take any kind of favour or benefits from people that may enslave you to them or make it possible for them to blackmail you. I pray that God will always keep you safe from the traps of anyone who may be seeking to use you to do evil. Amen.

Tags Don't be used by them