Category: Youth for Jesus

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Why the longer route? | J.O. Lawal

from pastor's desk

Date: March 09, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 43

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” (Ex 13:17-18NIV)

Have you ever wondered why it is taking God so long to fulfil certain dreams of yours in life or to fulfil certain promises of His to you? At least, He is all-powerful and there is nothing too hard for Him to do. And we have examples in the bible of the manifestation of His great power in changing circumstances of life almost in no time. For instance, we are told in it of how, in the days of Prophet Elisha, He ended a very severe famine of some unspecified time in just one day. And since this is the case with Him, it really should not be taking Him long or forever to fix our problems or to exalt us from where we are to where we should be. (Cf. 2Kings 6&7)

Yet, often, it looks like it is taking Him forever to accomplish His good purpose for our lives. There are, in fact, times that we may feel like He may never get the job done in our entire lifetime. So, we are tempted to give up on Him and take our lives and future in our own hands. But once we do that, are bound to create problems for ourselves that may stay with us for generations to come.

Remember, for instance, what Abraham and Sarah’s impatience with God brought on them. God had told them that He would give them a child of their own, even in their old age (Gen 15). And though they believed Him when He made this promise to them, the older they got, the more impatient they became with Him. Eventually, at some point, based on Sarah’s suggestions, Hagar, her maidservant, was brought into the scene, so that they could build a family through her. Unfortunately, that decision almost ruined their beautiful marriage. It would, in fact, have ruined it, if Abraham had not truly loved his wife, Sarah, and listened to her. Nonetheless, it brought into the world generations of a man of violence, a man that does not know how to live at peace with anybody, even his own brothers. (Cf. Gen 16)

So, we need to learn to walk with God with patience. That is because if He has promised to do something for us or if He has shown us visions or dreams of His purpose for us, He will surely fulfil them, however long it might take Him. And remember that we are the ones that are often worried about time. He does not worry about it at all, for He is the author of time. So, as Peter says, whether it is a day or a thousand years, it makes no difference to Him – what He has promised to do, He will surely do. (Cf. 2Peter 3:8)

But then, for our comfort and encouragement, we are shown some reasons in the bible why it may take God a longer time than we expect to bring about the fulfilment of His purpose in our lives. And we have one of such reasons in our opening bible text. There we are plainly told why God led the children of Israel through a longer route, when He brought them out of Egypt.

As the account shows, these Israelites came out of Egypt ready for battle. But were they really ready for battle? In their own estimation, they felt that they were ready for battle. But God knows that they were not ready for it. He knew that if they saw war in the state they were at the time, they would certainly change their minds and turn back to Egypt for help. Therefore, He did not take them through the land of the Philistines, though it was a shorter route. Instead, He took them through the desert road and towards the Red Sea.

Now was He right about them or not? He was right about them, for when Pharaoh came out with his army against them in order to bring them back into slavery, they did not march out to fight him. Instead, all they did was cry and blame Moses for delivering them. That shows that they were not ready for battle at all. And if God had not been the one behind their deliverance, they would not have escaped Pharaoh’s chains of slavery that day. (Cf. Ex 14:5-10)

So, there are times that we ourselves are the reasons God is taking long in fulfilling His purpose concerning us. We are not just ready to handle what is coming. We may think we are ready for it. But when we are confronted with some circumstances, we will see clearly that we are not just ready to handle the promotion, increase or independence our hearts are yearning for. And our failure at such times may so fill us with discouragement and fear that we may totally turn away from all that is meant to be ours. Can you relate to that?

Well, in order to prevent such things from happening to us, God, in His wisdom and patience, may decide to take us through a route where challenges and trials of life will not frighten us and drive us permanently away from His purpose for us. This route, however, may be long and winding. But if we are patient with the one leading us, he will surely bring us home in one piece and at the right time.

So, when next you are worried that the fulfilment of certain promises of God to you or certain dreams and visions of yours is taking too long, remember how God dealt with the Israelites and stay encouraged. Then keep on praying that He will perfect all that is lacking in your readiness to take and enjoy what He has prepared for you.

See you at the place of your dreams!

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)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Rule over us | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: March 02, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 42

“The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us — you, your son and your grandson — because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.” But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)” (Judge 8:22-24NIV)

Why did the Israelites come together as one man to ask Gideon to become their king? Why did they want him to establish a dynasty with his family line among them? It was because he delivered them from the cruel rule of the Midianites.

As the account goes in the bible, the Midianites had oppressed these people for seven years before they were delivered by Gideon. And their rule oppressive rule was so severe that the Israelites had to hide in caves and mountain cliffs in order to survive. They simply made it a business to impoverish these Israelites and keep them in misery and shame.

But at some point, the Israelites remembered the God of their forefathers who brought them into the land they were occupying and cried out to Him for help. And it was in response to their cry that He raised Gideon for them and used him to deliver them from the cruel rule of the Midianites.

Now, having being delivered from the Midianites, who should these Israelites naturally praise and yield to His absolute dominion over their lives and nation? God! Was He not the one that raised Gideon for them? Was He not the one that built courage and faith into him, so that he was able to confront their enemies with only 300 men? And was He not the one that caused all their enemies to turn against one another and slaughter themselves? He was the one who did all these things.

Yet, after the people had gotten their liberty and comfort, they immediately turned away from the one that delivered them unto the instrument that He used in delivering them and asked him to rule over them. And if Gideon had been a foolish man, if he had quickly forgotten that it was not by His power that he delivered these people from their enemies, he would have listened to them. That, then, would have been the beginning of his ruin.

But Gideon was not foolish or thoughtless. He knew how God brought him up and empowered him to rescue his people. He knew that everything came from Him and so all the glory and honour of their victory should go to Him. So, very politely, he refused the offer made to him by his people to rule over them. And not only did he tell them that he and his family would not rule over them, he also told them the one that would over them. He said, “It is the Lord that will rule over you.” In other words, he was saying that it was the Lord who saved them that would continue to be their king. Therefore, He was the one they should submit to.

What, then, is the point of all this? It is that regardless of what great things God has used or is using anybody to do for us, we should not give them the place of God in our lives. Otherwise, apart from the fact that we will be guilty of idolatry, we may also end up becoming slaves again, slaves of those that God has used in saving us helping us at one time or the other.

And how many today have become slaves of certain family members, neighbours, colleagues at work, men of God or women of God in this manner? They were helped by these people at some point in their lives, and they were truly grateful for the help. But they also went too far by trying to replace them with God, the God who made everything possible in the first place, in their lives. Therefore, before they knew it, they had put themselves under another form of slavery. And if they do not repent of their sin of idolatry and allow God to take His rightful position in their lives, it may take forever before they and their generations after them become free.

But then, I do not want you to miss my point here. I am not saying that you should not be grateful to those God is using to bless, lift or save you. Be grateful to them, for the word of God teaches this. However, the word of God also tells us not to become slaves of human beings. Why? It is because we are God’s properties and not men’s properties. (Cf. 1Cor 6:19-20; 1Cor 7:23)

In like manner, don’t make yourself anybody’s God and begin to rule over them because you have helped them in certain ways. Remember that you can only help or save those that God has already saved. And you can only do good to anyone because God has enabled you to do it. So, even if some people that you have helped are, in their ignorance, pushing you to take the place of God in their lives, be wise enough to quickly reject the offer. Otherwise, you may end up receiving glory, honour, responsibilities and even wars that are never yours to take and bring yourself to ruin. So, be smart and learn from Gideon or be foolish and end up like King Nebuchadnezzar or King Herod of Peter’s day. (Cf. Dan 4; Acts 12:19-22)

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)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

What makes you defenceless | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

February 16, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 40

“A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.” (Prov 25:28TLB)

Apart from the defence that we can employ through the use of arms, ammunition and trained security personnel, there are other forms of defence that we can daily take advantage of for our safety in this life. And these are mentioned in the bible. Money, for example, is described in it as a form of defence (Ecc 7:12). This, of course, is true, for there are problems we can successfully defend ourselves against with plenty of money.

Also, wisdom is described as a form of defence, for with it you can keep yourself safe from unnecessary problems and wars and win even wars that money cannot win (Ecc 7:12). Faith in God is equally described in the bible as a form of defence, for with it you can protect yourself against any attack (spiritual, physical or mental) of the devil on your life (Eph 6:16).

It will be good of us, then, to possess all these forms of defence in the right measure. That way, our safety and peace of mind in this life will be guaranteed in most situations.

But there is another kind of defence that is mentioned in the bible, which our lack of it can render our possession of all the other forms of defence useless. Solomon speaks about it in our opening bible text. He refers to it as self-control. And according to him, if a man does not have self-control, if a man does not have a grip over himself – his passions and appetites – he is as good as defenceless in life. In other words, it does not matter what quality or quantity of security personnel, money, wisdom and faith he has, he will still be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive influences and circumstances. And he will be the very one making himself vulnerable to these things.

For example, as mighty as Samson was in battle, his lack of self-control in sexual matters ended up making him vulnerable to Delilah. He could protect himself against all the hosts of the Philistines. But he could not protect himself against this one woman and her evil schemes, even though he knew what she was up to. So, eventually, he lost his ministry of saving his people and died a brutal death with his adversaries. And only God knows how many people have, just like this man, become defenceless and lost their lives, marriages, empires or purposes in life because they could not control their sexual passions. (Cf. Judges 16)

What about Esau? What prompted him to sell his birthright, something that wishes, tears or all the wealth in the world could not give to him? Godlessness fuelled by lack of self-control! Yes, he was very hungry that very day, hungry to the point of fainting. But he did not have to eat Jacob’s red stew in order to quench his hunger. He could have eaten anything else and be fine that day. But because he could no control his appetite just for some minutes, he lost not just his birthright but also his right to partake in the covenant God had made with his forefather, Abraham. So, though today we have the nation of Israel among us, the nation of Esau has disappeared into oblivion. (Cf. Gen 25:29-34)

In like manner, everyday many all around the world are becoming defenceless and losing their lives and other precious things that money, time, wishes or weeping cannot buy through their inability to control their unclean appetite for things they can do without, things that perish with time. Therefore, you have to give serious attention to those passions and appetites of yours that have tendencies to take over your life and lead you to act against common sense or against the word of God, so that you may take advantage of the grace of God to utterly subject them to your control. Otherwise, you may not know at what point they will leave your life, home, business or accomplishments defenceless for your enemies to destroy.

My prayer is that God will supply all that is lacking in your self-control, so that you may take the control of your life back from the hands of those passions and appetites that have become unclean and have been controlling you and exposing you to destruction, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

He can make you outstanding | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: February 16, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 40

“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” (Ps 144:1NIV)

All kinds of wonderful things are reported in the bible about David’s exploits. First, we are told of how he killed a lion and a bear while taking care of his father’s sheep. Then we are told of how he killed that warrior-giant, Goliath, with just a sling and a stone. Also, we are told of how he never lost a battle or war, since he began to lead the armies of Israel in their campaigns. He was, in short, such a great warrior and warlord that even God testified that he shed much blood on the earth.

But how did a shepherd boy like him grow up to become as skillful and talented as he was in matters of warfare? He answers this question for us in our opening bible text. There he tells us that it was God Himself that trained his hands for war and his fingers for battle. That means he got his warfare skills and abilities through the blessings of God. Yes, he too must have subjected himself to thorough discipline, training and education in war matters. But if God had not blessed him with the abilities to comprehend warfare and to fight and win, all his devotion to training himself in the art of warfare would not have amount to anything.

Now one may wonder and ask, “But why would God make a young man like David a talented killer and warlord?” Well, it was to save and protect His people, the nation of Israel from their enemies. Remember that he did something similar with Samson. He gave him supernatural strength and abilities to kill for the protection of His people. And He still acts in similar ways today. I mean that He still gives people special abilities to create things or systems or to acquire skills and education useful and relevant in war matters in order to protect their nations. So, those nations that are now seen as world powers are what they are because they have been gifted by God with individuals who have special abilities for warfare and who are also willing to use those abilities to keep their nations safe.

But then, it is not only in war matters that God enables people to be outstanding in life. He equally enables people in other areas of life to become outstanding. In fact, there is no aspect of life in which God is not able to empower people with abilities that will make them outstanding enough to bless those in their world. For example, as we are equally told in the bible, David was not just a skilful killer and warlord, he was also a great psalmist, musician, organiser, leader and architect.

Just consider some of the things said about him in the following bible texts:

“These are the last words of David “The oracle of David son of Jesse the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs…”” (2Sam 23:1NIV)

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” (Ps 78:72NIV)

“Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the LORD, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.” (1Chron 28:11-14NIV)

“All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan.”” (1Chron 28:19NIV)

Now since God was able to make David outstanding in these various areas of life, He is also able to do the same for you and me. He is able to empower us with the abilities and aptitudes we need to acquire skills, training and (or) education that will make us outstanding in one or more fields of life. But first, we too, like David, will need to love and trust Him with all our hearts, knowing that we cannot accomplish anything apart from Him. That way, He can guide us into those fields of life where He wants to use us, for it is in those fields of life where He wants to use us that He will make us outstanding. (Cf. John 15:5; 2Cor 3:5-6)

Second, we need to rid our lives of laziness and yield ourselves to get the necessary training, discipline or education to become outstanding. If we are lazy in our minds or in culture, it does not matter how blessed of God we are, we will never be outstanding in life. Instead, it is people with lesser abilities and skills that will take the places meant for us.

Third, we need to cultivate the right mentality, the mentality of the man God makes outstanding. And who does He make outstanding in life? It is that person that is always seeking to use the abilities He has blessed him with to do those in his life or world good. So, if we are always seeking to do others good or make life better for them with the abilities God has given us, however small or insignificant those abilities may be, He will certainly empower us to become outstanding with them. Then, someday, people will adore us for standing out in life as special with professions, abilities or skills that many consider as ordinary or useless.

My prayer, then, is that God will work out in your life all that is required by Him to make you outstanding with His gifts in your life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Prepare yourself for the top | By: J.O. Lawal Date: February 09, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 39

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training…”

(1Cor 9:25NIV)

Most people start out in life desiring to be at the top. And nothing is wrong with that. That is because even God wants all His people to be at the top in life (Deut 28:13). That, of course, means there is enough room for everyone at the top. This, however, is not to say that all of us have to occupy the same office in life or be dignified in the same way. Rather, it means that each of us can distinguish himself from others in this life as unique through the things he does and by the way he does them.

But will everyone end up at the top in life? No! Why? It is because it is not everyone that develops or trains himself for the top. As Paul shows us in our opening bible text, there is a measure of discipline that we must strictly put ourselves through in life in order to accomplish certain things or attain certain heights. Of course, accomplishing anything at all in this life goes beyond the amount of effort or skills we put into it. God Himself, the creator and ruler of all things, must also permit or enable us to accomplish what we set our hearts on accomplishing. Otherwise, whatever we do to get it done will not work. (Cf. Ps 127:1-2; Ecc 9:11)

However, even if God wants us to get something done or attain some position in life, if we do not possess the discipline or character needed to be there, we won’t get there. And even if by virtue of our relationship with some people we do get there, it won’t be long before we drive ourselves out of there through our lack of fitness or character.

So, if you desire to be at the top in any field of life, identify the discipline you require and strictly give yourself to getting it. Also, identify what discipline or skills you will need to stay at the top and begin to develop or acquire them. That is because one may possess what it takes to get to the top and not possess what it takes to stay there. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, had all the natural advantages he needed to be at the top of the kingdom his father left behind for him. But he did not possess the character to remain at the top of it. Thus, he lost a very large part of it. What about King Saul? He had all the natural attributes needed to become king. But he lacked the qualities needed to retain the kingdom for himself and his descendants after him. (Cf. 1Sam 9-16; 1Kings 12)

If you, then, do not want to end up like any of these men, don’t just trust in God to lift you to the top, also begin to train yourself for the top. Remember Joseph. He not only trusted God to take him to the top in life; he also developed himself for the top. He used every opportunity he had to serve in life to train himself and to prove himself as someone that could be trusted with people and resources at any level, in in the prison. And when the time came for him to be set above a whole nation, nobody thought it was a bad idea to do so. (Cf. Gen 39-41)

Remember David too. Yes, he trusted God to take him to that high place He had anointed him for. But before that time came, he developed himself for it. First, he so mastered his skills of playing the harp and of relating to people that when the king of the land needed someone to play for him, he was the best hand that could be found around. Also, he used the opportunity he had to directly serve the king during that period to learn all he could learn about the palace life and how to be royal and majestic. In addition, he used his time in the army to learn and show all the people that he could lead them well, from victory to victory. So, when he was given a high rank in the army, all the troops and their officers as well were pleased with it. And when he eventually became king, the whole nation had no problem following him. (Cf. 1Sam 16:14-25; 1Sam 18:5)

So, again, I am saying that if you desire to be at the top someday in life and to also stay there, then, prepare yourself for it. Get the skills and the discipline you need to be there and to stay there. Also, drop whatever attitude or mentality you have that does not belong at the top. And may the good Lord Himself give you wings to rise to that place at the top that He has prepared for you in this life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Humble yourself for His perfection | Pst. J.O. Lawal

Date: February 02, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 38

“Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” (2Kings 5:13-14NIV)

One of the things the bible story of Naaman teaches us is the need for us to humble ourselves, if we want to experience God’s perfection in our lives. Naaman, as the account goes, was a great Syrian army general. He was a man that was highly valued by his master, the king of Syria, for through him God had given Syria victory over their enemies all around them. You can, then, imagine the kind of life he must have been living in the land. (Cf. 2Kings 5:1)

However, though Naaman was great and mighty in the land and before his king, there was something imperfect about his life. And it was that he was leprous. Now we know how lepers are treated in most of our cultures, even today. They are treated like some plague that must be avoided at all cost. That is because leprosy not only ruins and disfigures the body of the one who has it but is also contagious. Therefore, regardless of how wonderful, intelligent, rich or educated a leper is, he will surely be abandoned by all people, including those who love and care about him, if he does not get cured on time.

You can then see why Naaman, as bible account shows, took seriously the business of getting cured of this imperfection in his life. He did not want to end up abandoned by all the wonderful people in his life in some lonely place. He did want to end up wasting away with all his skills and abilities in some forsaken outskirts of his city because of his unfitness to live among men. And so seriously did he take his desire to get cured that when his wife’s maid told him that there was a man of God in Samaria that could cure him, he lost no time in getting the permission of his master, the king of Syria, to go and meet him. (Cf. 2Kings 5:2-19)

Now, of course, it must not have been convenient for him at all to go to Israel at that time. That is because Israel was an enemy nation. More so, Israel was not as powerful as his country was at the time. So, going there to seek healing must have required a great humbling of this man’s soul. But because he wanted to be well at all cost, he humbled himself that one time and came to Israel to see the man of God that his wife’s maid had told him to meet.

Unfortunately, when he eventually came to that man’s of God’s place and was told what to do to get cured, the pride that he had set aside rose up in him again to hinder him from receiving the perfection of his health. Remember that he was a great man, one that was used to issuing orders and having people run around to carry them out. But when he came to Elisha, the man of God in Samaria, the tables were turned. It was then his turn to go and carry out the instruction of the man of God.

In fact, as the account goes, the man of God did not even come out to welcome him or honour him. He just sent a messenger to him to tell him what to do. This, of course, infuriated him and made him turn away in anger. He had thought that the man of God would come out, perform some rituals and touch the spot of his leprosy and ‘end of story’. But when that did not happen, he got seriously upset and was ready to go back home.

Thankfully, however, his servants that had come with him to see the man of God went to him to reason with him. They told him that there was no reason for him to be angry or arrogant. According to them, though the man of God did not come out to meet him, he, at least, sent someone to tell him what to do. Moreover, what he asked him to do was nothing serious, nothing beyond his ability to do. Yes, it may be beneath his status as a great Syrian army general to take his bath in any of the waters of Israel. But if that was all that getting cured of his leprosy would cost him, should anything stop him from doing it?

Well, to cut a long story short, Naaman listened to his servants, humbled himself and went to do what the man of God had told him to do. And as he did it, he was cured of his leprosy and his flesh that had been wasting away was restored like that of a young boy. So it was that Naaman received the perfection of his body by humbling himself before the man of God and his word.

Now when this man came back to thank the man of God, he did not stay inside as before, he came out to meet him and to rejoice with him. But why did he not come out the first time? Though we are not given any specific reason in the bible, I strongly believe it was to reveal that pride, all along, was one main reason Naaman had not been cured of his leprosy. Thank God, he finally dealt with it and was cured. But if he had not dealt with, he would certainly have gone back to his land with his leprosy. And he may have stayed leprous till the day of his death.

In like manner, there are many today that pride is preventing them from receiving God’s perfection in certain areas of their lives. Truly, He wants to heal them, lift them up or save them. But they too, like Naaman, would not just humble themselves before Him or in relating to the people He wants to use to perfect what is lacking, failing or dead in their lives. And until they humble themselves to act on His word or receive the people He has given for their perfection, regardless of how low the state of those people may be in life, the perfection they so seriously seek in their lives will not be theirs. Then, if care is not taken, they may end up leaving the world without ever experiencing it.

Now it is possible that you too have been seeking for a while perfection in a certain area of your life and are yet to find it. It is possible that there is an aspect of your life that needs to be perfected in order for everything you need to be where you ought to be to fit in. What is standing in the gap? What is keeping you from experiencing this perfection? Could it be pride? Could it be that you have been relating to God and men in arrogance and stubbornness? If it is, I pray that God Himself will bring about situations that will reveal it to you, so that you may repent, as Naaman later did, and humble yourself to receive His perfection wherever you need it in your life. Amen.

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)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

She missed her opportunity | By: J.O. Lawal | Date: January 26, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 37

“And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”

(2Sam 6:23NIV)

Why did the Spirit of the Lord move the writer or writers of 2Samuel to inform us that Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death? It was because He wanted us to see why she had to live and die without having any child of her own?

And why did Michal live and die without having any child of her own? Was it because she could not get married? No! She got married. She got married to David, the man of God. In fact, she was his first legal wife. What, then, was the problem with her? Why could she not conceive for her husband, not to talk of have her own child? Was it because her husband had health issues? No! Her husband was fine. In fact, her husband had several children from his other wives. (Cf. 1Chro 3:1-9)

So, the problem was with Michal. She was the one that was barren and could not conceive. But we do know from Scriptures that she was not the only barren woman in bible days. There were other barren women that are mentioned in the bible. Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah, Manoah’s wife and Elizabeth are all familiar bible names. These ones were barren for years too. Yet they were all cured of their barrenness. In other words, they did not die without having their own children.

Why, then, was Michal’s case different? Why was she not cured of her barrenness? Was it because there was no cure in the land? No! God was always there with them in the land. And He had already told them that as long as they were serving Him, He would cause His blessings to be on them, so that none of them would miscarry or be barren (Ex 23:25-26). So, though Michal was barren for years, the blessing of God was able to take away her barrenness, especially since the whole nation at that time was being led by David to truly worship God.

However, that did not happen. God’s blessing did not work in favour of Michal to take away her barrenness. Why? It was because she missed her opportunity to receive it. As the story goes, the very day God’s Ark was brought into the city of David and placed where he had prepared for it, he went back home to bless his household. Interestingly, who was the first to come out and meet him? It was Michal. And what should she have done when she came to him? She should have knelt down to receive his blessings. That, of course, would have been the end of her years of barrenness.

Remember that the bible shows us that Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, was cured of her barrenness because her husband prayed for her (Gen 25:21). And a similar thing could have happened to Michal, if she had received her husband and king’s blessings that day. At least, the man actually came home that very day with the inspiration of the Spirit of God to bless his household. But did Michal, his wife, humble herself to receive his blessings? No, she did not! Instead, she took the moment to accuse him of embarrassing himself before the whole nation, all in the name of worshipping God. Therefore, instead for him to bless her, he just walked pass her to go and bless other members of the family. What a shame! (Cf. 2Sam 6:20-23)

Now this remark, which we have as our opening bible text, is added at the end of the story: “And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.” That shows that the reason she did not have any child to the day of her death was that she missed her opportunity to be blessed to be fruitful. Why did she miss it? It was because she despised her husband and king, who was bearing God’s authority to bless her and cure her barrenness.

In like manner, there are people today who, like Michal, have missed or are missing their opportunity to experience God’s blessing to be fruitful in certain areas of their lives because they are despising those sent by Him to them or certain authorities placed by Him in their lives. And unless such people’s eyes are opened to see what they are missing or have missed, so that they may humble themselves before God and obtain His mercy, they may die without ever experiencing His blessings and provisions for them in those areas of their lives.

So, if you are one of those who take delight in despising authorities or spiritual leaders because you feel they are not dignified enough for you, this is a call for you to repent and humble yourself. Otherwise, God’s blessing to experience certain things you seriously desire to have in life may never find expression in your life.

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)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

When you need spiritual solutions | By: J.O. Lawal | Date: January 19, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 36

“The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.” “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'” And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.” (2Kings 2:19-22NIV)

Why did the men of Jericho approach Elisha about their city? It was because they sensed that they needed more than natural solutions in solving its problems. As they pointed out to the man of God, this city was well situated. In other words, it was settled in a place where it could attract the people and things that it needed to become great. But it was not great, neither was it about to become great. Why? It was because the water was bad and the land was unproductive.

Now who wants to stay in a place where the water is bad and useless for drinking, cooking, bathing and so forth? That kind of place is unsuitable for healthy living. And who wants to stay in an obviously barren and unproductive land? You will just be wasting your resources and hard labour there.

Since Jericho, then, was such a place, a place where people’s health was continually being endangered by the water and where their resources and hard work were being wasted, people began to avoid it. So, though it was well situated and could have been a great city, that was not the case with it at all at the time.

But thankfully, there were still men in that city who believed in what it could become. And these ones also knew that its problem could not be solved in a natural way; it would require supernatural intervention. So, when Prophet Elisha came passing through it, they took that as their opportunity to see it healed. They humbled themselves, went to him and told him their predicament. And in response, the man of God ministered to the land by the Spirit of God and healing and wholeness was brought upon it.

What lesson, then, does this teach us? It is that we too must learn to recognise when the issues we are confronted with require divine solutions or intervention. Yes, by putting the mind God has given us to work, there are problems we are able to readily solve. And He expects us to solve those problem instead of waiting on Him to solve them for us. At least, the reason He has blessed us with a mind to think, learn, understand and evaluate things is that we may use it in dealing with the matters of our lives. So, if we are praying, fasting and waiting on Him in handling matters that He expects us to use our head to fix, we are simply wasting our time.

However, there are matters that a mere application of human knowledge, understanding and wisdom cannot handle. Such matters need divine solutions. But if we fail to realise or acknowledge this or if we, in our arrogance, think God does not matter at all, then, those problems would not be solved at all. Instead, they will only keep going from bad to worse, regardless of what we do or say.

Now perhaps that is the kind of problem you are confronted with now, a problem that requires divine intervention for it to be handled. You yourself can tell that unless there is a supernatural altering or removal of certain things that are fundamentally wrong with the matter at hand, all that you are doing will never amount to much. Then admit it and seek God’s face about it. And you don’t have to do this all alone. Engage the people of God in your life too for prayer support and spiritual counsel on the matter. And before you know it, there will be a divine release of all that you need to change the situation, whatever it may be, and move from where you are to where you ought to be.

Stay blessed.

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)

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Fire in my Bones wisdom for living Youth for Jesus

Get the right team | By: J.O. Lawal | Date: January 12, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 35

“Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.” (1Chron 11:15-19NIV)

Often, when people talk about the greatness of David of bible days, they overlook the fact that he did not become great all by himself. Yes, the bible says that he became great because God was with him (1Chro 11:9). But that was not all that it says about how he became great. It also shows us that there were men that God put in his life that helped him to become great. And if he had not identified those men and allowed them to come into his life and help him, he may not have become as great as he did.

Now what qualities of men did this man choose to be with him? Loyal and competent men! For example, we are given an account in our opening bible text of how three of these men once risked their lives to get water for him. He was very thirsty on that occasion and wanted water not just from anywhere but from a particular well near the gate of Bethlehem. He just mentioned it as his desire; he did not expect anybody to work with it. But to his surprise, three of his men broke through the enemy lines and got water for him from exactly where wanted it. And so shocked and humbled was he by their action that he offered the water they had brought to him as an offering to the Lord.

Why, then, did those men do that for David? First, it was because they were absolutely loyal to him. And because they were loyal to him, his desires were their desires. So, he did not have to command them to do anything for him. Once he said anything or expressed his desire about something, they would take it as their command and run with it, even at the risk of their lives. No wonder he regarded them as chiefs among his mighty men.

Another reason they did what they did for David on that occasion was that they were competent. Loyalty is good and must be cherished above all things in every relationship. But it cannot take the place of competence. If you do not have the ability to do something, then, you do not have it. You may be loyal to the person you are with and passionate about helping them in any way. But if you lack the ability to help them, they will still find you useless to them in many ways.

Those men of David were not just loyal to him but were also mighty in combat. According to bible records, there was a time that one of them killed eight hundred men in one encounter. So, these were not just boys when it comes to war matters; they were lions. And that was why God was able to use them to help David in becoming king and also in establishing his kingdom. (Cf. 2Sam 23:8-12; 1Chro 11:11-14)

Now what is the point of all this? It is that you too need the right team of people to work with, if you must attain certain level of greatness in life. Yes, God may have shown you all kinds of fantastic things about where He is taking you in life. But you may never get there, if you do not have the right people in your life. And certainly, God, who has destined you for greatness, will, from time to time, bring all kinds of people your way, as He, in the beginning, brought all the animals He had made to Adam to see what names he would give them and what kind of relationship he would build with each of them. And it is on you, as it was on Adam, to identify the ones among those He is bringing your way that are suitable to help you get to where He wants you to get to and to hold fast to them. (Cf. Gen 2:18-23)

How, then, would you recognise or identify such people among all the ones in your life? It is by considering those two qualities that we see in David’s three mighty men. And these are loyalty and competence. Those who do not have these two qualities cannot help you much in life, regardless of how much you love them or how much they claim to love you. Is that to say that you are to utterly do away with them? No! As long as they are not against you, they are for you and will do you some measure of good in life too. But when it comes to matters that concern realising your God-given dreams in life, don’t waste time with them or entrust things that are very important to you to them. The results you will get by doing such won’t be pleasant.

Instead, apart from utterly relying on God for everything, commit important matters of your life and future only to those who are loyal to you and who are also competent to handle them. And if you do not have any of such people yet in your life, then, your journey to greatness is not about to start. So, make it your priority to find them. May God fill your heart with divine revelations to make the right decisions about this, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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)

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Watch out for them | Pst. J.O. Lawal

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: January 05, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 34

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matt 7:15-20NIV)

Recently, I was saw a short video clip of a so-called man of God bathing members of his church in a basin and right in a church meeting. That, of course, is alarming. But it is not strange. Similar and even worse things are happening all around the world in many of our so-called churches. I mean that people do all kinds of terrible things in the name of Jesus. But has the Lord Jesus sent them? The answer is ‘No!’

See, our Lord Jesus, when He was physically here on earth and ministering to people from place to place, made it very clear that He was sent by God to set people free from their sins and from all kinds of satanic bondage (Luke 4:17-21). So, if anybody is doing anything in His name that puts you into any kind of bondage, you should know that such a person is not sent by Him.

As we see in our opening text, He Himself warns us to watch out for false prophets. Why does He want us to watch out for them? First, it is because though He has not sent them, they may come to us in His name. Second, it is because they are beasts, ferocious wolves. Therefore, their coming to us is never going to be for good. Rather, it will that they may devour or ruin our lives.

How, then, can we save ourselves from them? It is by recognising them. And how do we recognise them? Jesus says it is by the fruit they bear. As the Lord points out to us, we can’t recognise a false prophet, teacher or believer just by merely considering the miracles or signs they perform or the things they say. We can only recognise them by looking at the fruit their lives are bearing.

What kind of fruit is the life of this so-called man of God you are chasing up and down bearing? Is it bearing the fruit of love, peace, gentleness, purity, self-control and everything else that is consistent with the righteousness of God? What about his practices? Are they consistent with the truth of the Scriptures and the practices of the saints of old?

If the life of a so-called man or woman of God is not bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit and if her practices are contrary to what we find in Scriptures, then, you should know that she is one of those the Lord wants you to watch out for. And you will do well to stay away from such or to guard yourself against them. Otherwise, they may end up corrupting, defrauding or injuring you.

There are many today who no longer want to have anything to do with Jesus or Christianity because they were polluted, defrauded or injured by certain so-called prophets or believers. Who, then, is to blame for their predicaments? They are to blame. They are to blame because they did not heed the Lord’s warning about false prophets. If they had heeded His warning, they would not have been victims of any false prophet or believer. And if you too do not want to have yourself to blame someday for being ruined, corrupted or injured by some prophet or preacher, you had better heed His warning and watch out.

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)