Tag: Fire in my bones

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Make sure they can’t reach you | By: J.O. Lawal | Date: February 21, 2024 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 6, No. 41

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

“So he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it and rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” “I am,” he replied.” (1Kings 13:13-14NIV)

The bible text above gives us a little part of the sad story of a man of God that was deceived by an older man of God. As the account goes, the younger man of God had been sent by God on a particular day to prophesy against King Jeroboam and his altar of idolatry. And when he did, great signs accompanied his prophecy, great signs that baffled and, at the same time, impressed that unfaithful king. So, he decided to entertain and reward him. (Cf. 1Kings 13:1-6)

But was that what God wanted? Did He send His prophet to him so that he could entertain and reward him or so that he could repent of his wickedness? Evidently, He sent him to him so that he could turn him away from his wickedness.

In any case, because God had already known the heart of this wicked king, He instructed the prophet He was sending to him not to eat or drink anything in that land or to return by the way he came there. And he obeyed the voice of God. In fact, he told Jeroboam that even if he offered him half of his wealth, he would not take it. So, he left the place without eating or drinking and by another route. (Cf. 1Kings 13:7-10)

However, an older prophet in that city went after him, found him where he was probably resting and brought him back to his house to eat and to drink. How did he do that? How did he make a man than rejected the king’s wealth to accept just a round of meal from him? He lied to him. He told him an angel of God had appeared to him and had told him to bring him back home to refresh himself. But where was this older prophet when God was speaking to the young man? Did God not see him in Bethel before sending this young man from the land of Judah? (Cf. 1Kings 13:11-19)

Surely, God had seen him in Bethel before passing over him to someone else. Why? We are not told. But the fact that he lied to another man of God, one who only showed him respect as an older prophet, says it all. Unfortunately for that poor young prophet, it was still this same old lying prophet that God used in prophesying his immediate death. What a shame! (Cf. 1Kings 13:20-32)

Well, you can see that it is not a new thing for older believers to deliberately deceive or mislead younger and unsuspecting ones. So, even if someone introduces himself to you as an older and more experienced believer, if you do not know what he has been doing with his life, don’t make the mistake following him. And even if you know what people have been doing with their lives, inasmuch as whatever they tell you is not in line with the body of truth given to us in Scriptures, don’t accept or act on it. Follow people only to the degree they follow Christ. Otherwise, you may end up being devoured by the devil, as that young prophet was devoured by a roaring lion.

But here is a thoughtful question for us to consider: Why was that old prophet able to find and deceive the young prophet and bring about his untimely death? The reason was that the man was resting in the wrong place. He was supposed to be long gone before that old prophet would even hear anything about him, especially since he did not personally witness his ministration against King Jeroboam and his altar of idolatry. Why, then, did he choose to relax very close to a place where he had just been tempted with great wealth to disobey God?

Of course, God did not tell him not to relax in Bethel or anywhere close to it. He only told him not to eat or drink there and not to return by the same way he had come there. But common sense should have told him that the longer he stayed in that place or around there, the greater the possibility of his being tempted to sin against God. So, having completed his job, he should have wasted no time in removing himself completely away from the reach of Bethel and her sinful people. And it was because he did not do that but put himself within the reach of temptation that he was found and destroyed by it.

In like manner, God may not have said that you should not live or make friends with certain people. But if the chances are high that your being near them or with them will put you in trouble, make sure they can’t reach you, not to talk of affect or influence you. Yes, be completely unavailable to them and whatever nonsense Satan may want to use them to drag you into. And may you continually be filled with adequate wisdom to know where is not a resting place for you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Fire in my Bones General Post Youth for Jesus

Title: Borrowed to do good

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: January 17, 2024|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 36

“The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.” (2Kings 14:26-27NIV)

Who did God use in saving the people of Israel from their suffering, as we are told in our opening text? It was their King, Jeroboam son of Jehoash. And what kind of man was he? Here is what is said about him in the bible: “In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.” (2Kings 14:23-25NIV)

So, Jeroboam was an evil and sinful man. Yet God used him in saving His people from their suffering. What is that telling us? It is that it is not only good people that God can use to save, help or lift us. He can use bad and wicked people too. To say the fact, there are times that God may not find any good person in a place to use to save or help the oppressed. For instance, David says this in a Psalm of his:“The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Ps 14:2-3NIV)

Did you see that? It is possible for God to look down from heaven on a particular town, city or country and not see anyone who is not corrupt or who is devoted to doing good that He can use to build that country. What, then, would be the fate of those suffering in that country, if God were to wait until He finds or raises up a good and righteous person to help them? They may have to suffer for a much longer time.

However, because He is a compassionate God, even if using a wicked and ungodly person is what will bring urgent relief and comfort to the oppressed that are crying out to Him, He may decide to use him. And this is one of the reasons He commands us to be submissive to anyone that is in a position of authority, whether he is a good person or a bad one (Rom 13:1-5). He knows that we often resent those who are evil, believing that they are incapable of doing anything good.

So, we may not want to give them the respect and honour they deserve, if they happen to be in a position of authority over us.But the fact that someone is evil does not mean that God cannot borrow them to do good. God can borrow them to do good and He does sometimes borrow evil people to do good. That, of course, does not change the fact that they are evil and will ultimately be judged as such, if they never repent from their evil till they die. But if they are the only tool available for Him to do certain good things He wants to do for mankind, He may not hesitate to borrow and use them.

Also, the fact that someone is evil does not mean that the person does not deserve our respect. The word of God tells us to show proper respect to everyone. So, even if someone is evil, as long as he is occupying a position of authority or advantage, give him the respect and honour he deserves. It is not because of him that you are doing that; rather, it is because God, who has permitted him to be in that position, has ordered you to do so. And by obeying Him, you will be making it easy for Him to borrow him to do you good, even though he is a wicked person. (Cf. 1Pet 1:13-17)

At least, as we are shown in Scriptures, one of the reasons God places people in positions of authority is that He may use them to do good to those under them. And all that He wants from those under such people is to be submissive to them, based on the measure of their authority. That way, even if they are wicked and unreasonable, He will have just reasons to borrow and use them to do good to those under them or to replace them, if they will not allow themselves to be used by Him.

But if those under authority will not be submissive to their leaders, in line with the will of God, even if all those who are leading them are good and righteous people, God may not be able to use them to make life sweet or safe for them. So, don’t look at the goodness or evil in the lives of those who have authority over you before you submit to them. Instead, submit to them because God has ordered you to do so. Also, don’t insist that it is only good people that God should use to do you good. Otherwise, you may have to wait forever for that to happen. Instead, respect God’s wisdom in determining whom He uses in helping or saving you. And as long as He is the one working, He will not offer you corrupt help or salvation, even if He has to use an evil person. Cheers!

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: Adjusted circumstances|FIRE IN MY BONES

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: January 03, 2024|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 34

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” (Ex 13:21-22NIV)

Who is the text above referring to? It is the children of Israel that Moses led out of Egypt. And what is the point being communicated to us about them in the text? It is that they functioned under adjusted circumstances in order to safely get to the land of rest that God was taking them.As we see in the text, when these Israelites came out of Egypt, God provided a pillar of cloud to be over them during the day and a pillar of fire to be over them during the night.

Why? First, it was to give them guidance. Why did they need guidance? It was because they did not know the way to the place God was taking them. Yes, they knew that God was taking them to a place of rest, a land flowing with milk and honey. But how would they get there? They did not know. They needed God Himself, then, to guide them moment by moment till they arrived there safely. And did He guide them or not? He did guide them by providing a pillar of cloud to lead them in the way they should go during the day and a pillar of fire to lead them in the way they should go during the night.

So, when these pillars moved, they also moved and moved in whatever direction the pillars went. And when these pillars stopped moving, they also stopped moving and camped wherever the pillars stopped. That was how God guided them all through the time they spent in the desert until they came into the promised land. So, they were never clueless or ignorant of the direction they should go. (Cf. Deut 9:15-23)

Now God, of course, does not guide anyone in this manner anymore. But He is still devoted to guiding those who commit their lives to Him in the path they should follow to be established in His rest and prosperity. How? Basically, He guides them through His word and by His Spirit. There are also times that He guides them through life’s circumstances, visions, dreams, angelic visitations, prophecies and direct revelations of Himself.

We, however, don’t have to wait for any of these before we daily receive God’s guidance. We just need to give ourselves to reading, studying and meditating on His word. And He, by His Spirit that He has put in us, will teach us what is best for us in life and guide us in the way we should go. That being the case, we too, like those Israelites of old, will never be clueless where others are or be ignorant of which direction we should be going in life where others are ignorant of it.

The second reason God provided the pillar of cloud by the day and that of fire by the night for those children of Israel was that they may be able to travel anytime without hindrance. That explains why the Egyptians who were pursuing them could not move at their pace or catch up with them. Though they were moving at the same time and in the same place, they were operating under different circumstances. Why? It was because God adjusted the circumstances of the time and the place to favour the Israelites. (Cf: Ex 14)

In addition to that, God provided the pillar of cloud by the day for those people to protect them from the intense heat of the desert. Therefore, they could move around freely in the desert without fainting. Also, He provided the pillar of fire for them by the night to give them warmth, so that the cold of the night would not make them sick. And what do you call that? Adjusted circumstances! Now does God still adjust or tune life’s circumstances to favour men? Yes, He still does. He still adjusts life’s circumstances, so that those He favours can be guided, protected or granted speed for accomplishment where others are terrified or clueless.

And all that we need to see Him adjust the circumstances of life that are bound to make others fail, perish or stagnate for our good is to humbly entrust our lives and all that concerns us to Him. That way, even if where we are now is a desert, a dry and weary land in which there is no water, God will adjust the circumstances there to favour us and see us protected and prosperous.A word of caution, however: Always be careful to function only within the boundaries of the circumstances God has placed you in life.

Yes, if those circumstances are not favourable enough, you should talk to God about adjusting or changing them for you. But don’t ever try to run your life on the basis of the circumstances others have been placed in. Otherwise, you may have yourself ruined where they have excelled. Remember that the Egyptians tried to pass through the same Red Sea the Israelites passed through and at the same time. Yet all of them perished there.

Why? The simple reason was that though they were passing through the same place at the same time, the circumstances under which they were doing so were adjusted only for the Israelites and not for them. So, be discerning. Don’t foolishly copy or imitate anyone, just because you think you are operating under the same circumstances. You may just not be operating under the same circumstances. And if you copy them, where that is the case, you may end up having yourself to blame, if you are not shown mercy.Be discerning, then, my friend.

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: Be thoughtful in appreciation|Fire in my bones

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: December 20, 2023|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 32

“When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!'” “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”” (Est 6:6-10NIV)

The bible passage above is clearly a familiar one to many readers of the bible. And it speaks of how the great King Xerxes appreciated and honoured a Jew called Mordecai. As the story goes, Mordecai once exposed certain officers of this king that had plotted to assassinate him. Why did they plot to assassinate him? We are not told in the account. But we are told that Mordecai found out about them and was discreet enough to expose them before they were able to carry out their wicked plot or escape. (Cf. Esther 2:21-23)

However, as the account also further reveals, Xerxes did not appreciate Mordecai at all for this act of kindness done to him. Yes, what he did was recorded in the book of the annals of his kingdom right before him. Nonetheless, he did nothing to appreciate him. Why? We would not know. Maybe he did not consider what he did as anything special at the time. Or maybe he was just in a prolonged bad mood. We wouldn’t know.But there came a time when Mordecai really needed this man to return the favour and spare his life and the lives of his people too.

That, of course, was when God, who does not forget people and who knows how to turn people’s mistakes or omissions around for the good of His people, brought about circumstances that drove this king to revisit the matter. And when he did, he himself was surprised that he did nothing to appreciate Mordecai for his act of kindness and faithfulness to him and the realm. So, he immediately began to think of how best to reward him.Well, as he thought hard about how best to reward Mordecai, that is, in accordance with his own status as an emperor, his most beloved official, Haman, came in. It was he, then, that helped this king in properly dealing with the matter.

Of course, he came up with what he came up with because he had arrogantly thought that the reward was coming to him. But the fact that he put himself in the picture helped in coming up with a sort of appreciation that the king himself could not resist or reject. It was just perfect for him.What, then, is the account teaching us? First, it is that we should learn not to overlook people’s acts of kindness to us. Instead, we should appreciate them on time, that is, when it will make the most sense.

Otherwise, we may end up having God drive us to do what we have neglected to do, in a more expensive or grand way. Looking again at Xerxes’ case: if he had appreciated Mordecai immediately after he saved his life, he may not have needed to go through the trouble of treating him like an emperor. Delayed appreciation, then, will most likely cost you more. So, don’t delay or defer giving appreciation to whom it is due. And even if, for some reasons, you failed to appreciate certain people you should have appreciated, you should still appreciate them the moment your error is brought to your notice.

Why? It is better late than never. Another important lesson from this bible story is the need for us to be thoughtful in appreciating others. Don’t be involved in giving useless or meaningless appreciation or gifts to people. Instead, always be thoughtful about what you want to do. Appreciating people is never mainly about money but about our thoughtfulness in doing it. That great king, Xerxes, did not spend money in appreciating Mordecai. But the kind of appreciation he gave to him was more than what anyone in his kingdom could hope for in a lifetime. He made him wear his royal robe, ride his royal horse and wear his royal crest on his head. Then he had him led through the royal city by his most dignified official, with the herald ‘This is how the king treats the man he honours.’ That, of course, changed Mordecai’s status in the realm for the rest of his life.

So, it is not mainly about how much we are able to spend in appreciating those who have done us good in life. It is mainly about being thoughtful. It is mainly about carefully considering the best way to appreciate them, in the light of what they have done for us and also in the light of our own status. And if we know how to think well about ourselves, as Haman did, we should have no problem coming up with truly nice and pleasant ways of appreciating people. Will you try this, then, as we come to the last days of this year, as we come to this season of thanksgiving and appreciation? And may God load you with sufficient wisdom, determination and resources to appreciate well all the people that deserve your appreciation at this time, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: No one knew what they were|Fire in my bones

fire in my bones
fire in my bones
Date: November 22, 2023|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 27

“One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine. He gathered some of its gourds and filled the fold of his cloak. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it. Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot.” (2Kings 4:39-41NIV)

Who went out into the fields to gather herbs to cook? It was one of the sons of the prophets serving under Prophet Elisha. And what did he bring in to cook for his people? The gourds (fruits) of an unknown wild vine!Interestingly, when he came back with those gourds and began to cook them, nobody queried him or asked him questions, even though they did not know what he cooking for them to eat. Why? As the account shows us, it was a time of famine. So, food was scarce.

If someone, then, brought something into a house to cook, regardless of what it might be, those in that house may not ask him any questions, as long as there was something to fill their bellies with. (Cf. 2Kings 4:38)That was the situation that those sons of the prophets found themselves in. Because they were all starving, they did not bother to query their colleague about what he was cooking for them, even though not even he could tell them what it was. But it was not long after they started eating it that they all realised that it was poison they were eating. 

And if Prophet Elisha had not been around that day to supernaturally heal them and the food they were eating, the story would definitely have ended differently.Now what is the point of this bible story? It is that we must not allow any situation, however ugly it may be, to drive us into accepting to do something or consuming something that we have no adequate knowledge of what it is. 

Otherwise, we may end up consuming poison or getting involved in something that will ruin our lives before we know what has befallen us.How did some people end up being ruined through prostitution or money rituals? It was because when they were about to be introduced into these terrible things, they did not ask enough relevant questions from those introducing them into them. And why did they not ask enough relevant questions from them? They were desperate to come out of poverty and suffering. 

So, when some people told them that there was a way out, they did not bother to find out what way it was and what taking that way may do to their lives. They just sat down to eat what was set before them. And by the time they found out what was happening, they had taken enough poison to totally destroy their lives. If such people are, then, not shown mercy, they will surely be utterly ruined.In like manner, some have ended up in some deadly secret societies or in the practice of sorcery because they would not ask relevant questions from those offering them help to their problems. 

Maybe they wanted to have children, to become influential, to be healed of certain sicknesses or to be protected from some wicked enemies. Then, in their desperation, they agreed to do what certain individuals that volunteered to help them told them to do, without asking relevant questions. And before they knew it, what appeared altogether harmless when they got started became some kind of poison that was ruining their lives, homes and everything else that they held dear. If they also are not shown mercy, they can only be completely ruined.


So, again, before you settle down to eat that free food, know what it is you want to eat. And before you join that group or enlist for that business, know what you are getting involved in and what terms and conditions applied. Many all round this country are running from pillars to posts now because of some debts hanging around their necks. But how did they get into those debts? Almost unconsciously! Those who dragged them into debt did not make it look like a serious thing when they were offering them loans. They did not make it look like something capable of poisoning their world. So, they got involved without considering the reality about their abilities to handle the situations. 


And by the time the reality dawned on them, they had sunk so deep in some rivers of debt that it would probably take series of miracles from God for them to be saved.What is my point? Have adequate knowledge of whatever you are getting yourself involved in or signing up for, regardless of who is introducing it to you. Then you won’t have to needlessly surrender your life and world to be poisoned by some unknown quantity.
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Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: When they are overreaching| Fire in my bones

fire in my bones
fire in my bones
Date: November 15, 2023|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 26

“Two years later, when Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king's sons to come there. Absalom went to the king and said, "Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?" "No, my son," the king replied. "All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you." Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him his blessing.” (2Sam 13:23-25NIV)

It is a natural thing for those who love us or who hold us very highly in their hearts to always look for opportunities to do things that will make us happy. And it will only be proper for us at such times to cheerfully and willingly accept the tokens of their love for us, regardless of how little they may seem. That is because it will show that we accept them as they are and are not ashamed of associating with them, though they may not be as wealthy, educated, influential or spiritual as we are.

However, there are times that such people may actually be overreaching in their attempt to make us happy or satisfy us. And it will only be wise and kind of us to prevent them from making us an unnecessary burden to them. Otherwise, in trying to make us happy, they may end up putting themselves in some avoidable problems. Are we, then, going to be happy to learn that the reason someone who loves and adores us is in a big financial, marital or social mess is that he wanted to please us? We will not at all, if we have any iota of human feeling.

A friend of mine was once very angry with me because of something along this line. What happened? Well, there was this particular bible that she had told me that she would love to have. So, I wanted to surprise her with it on her birthday. But I didn’t have enough money at the time to do so because of some commitments I had. So, I talked to a friend of mine to lend me part of the money for like a week or so. Unfortunately, somehow, she overheard us. And it got her very upset. She was like, “I understand that you are trying to make me happy here. But you did not have to do that. You did not have to borrow to make me happy.” Now, of course, we later resolved the matter. 

But I learnt my lesson, which is that those who truly care about you will not want to receive things from you, just because doing so will make them happy; they will also be concerned about what making them happy will cost you. Will it cost you your happiness? Will it cost you your job? Will it cost you your marriage? Or is it your reputation or life savings that it will cost you? They will be concerned about this and will do whatever they can to stop you from embarrassing yourself because of them. That, of course, is the main message of our opening bible text. 

Absalom was throwing a party for his sheepshearers and requested that his father, King David, and all his officials would be present there. But his father told him that he and his officials would not be attending the party. Why? Was it because he did not love Absalom or appreciate his generous invitation? No! He loved him and also appreciated his invitation. In fact, we are told in the account that he gave him his blessing.Why, then, did he insist that he and his men would not be coming? It was because he knew that their presence at the party would be a great burden for the young man. We are talking about taking care of the king and his high officials along with their servants and guards. 

The money and the logistics involved could be financially paralysing for him. And David did not want him to go bankrupt because of them. So, he simply gave him his blessing and told him not to worry about him and his officials.We too must be like that. We must be sensitive to people’s true conditions and not allow them to paralyse themselves because they want to please us or make us happy. Otherwise, once the harm is done, nothing we do may be sufficient in healing those involved.Then I want you to also keep in mind the fact that it is not every time that people give us the impression that they want to do something in our honour or to make us happy that they really want to make us happy.

 As we see in Absalom’s case, he really did not want David and his men to attend his party. That was because he already had plans of using the party as a cover-up for assassinating his elder brother, Amnon. And the presence of the king and his officials would not have made that possible. So, asking the king and his officials to grace his party was all pretence, something simply done to massage their ego. He already knew that they would not agree to come.

So, don’t ever assume that everyone that is giving you the impression that he will sacrifice himself to make you happy is actually willing to do so. They may just be flattering you and expecting you to stop them. But if you foolishly rest on their words, you will only have yourself to blame when those words break or shatter under you, leaving you injured and disgraced.Finally, it is important that we too are not overreaching in our attempts to make anyone in our lives happy. 

Otherwise, we may end up putting unnecessary and paralysing burdens on ourselves because of them. And are we going to be able to freely talk about the harm we have done to ourselves then? Not verry likely!So, know those things that are beyond your ability to give to people or do for them. And know the people that you have no true intention or ability to entertain and never insist that they visit you or be a part of something you are doing, just because you want to show them how much you respect them or because you want to use them to enhance your prestige. You may end up embarrassing yourself and feeling terrible for the rest of your life, if your best ends up not satisfying them or making them happy. Be wise.
Categories
Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: Be willing to associate with them|Fire In My Bones

fire in my bones
fire in my bones
Date: November 08, 2023|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 24

“…Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” (Rom 12:16NIV)

Twice we are told in our opening bible text not to be arrogant but to be willing to associate with people of low position. Why? First, it is because God Himself was willing to associate with us when we had nothing to offer Him. And why? It was so that He would be able to save us and elevate us to the position of sons in our relationship with Him. So, the bible says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8NIV)

In like manner, by associating with people of low position in our neighbourhoods, workplaces and even the church of God, we can be used by God to elevate them or protect them from some oppressors. Truly, we may not see ourselves as being in any position to elevate or protect anybody. But the truth is that, no matter how low we may think of our current place in life, we will still find people who will wish they were in that position. And that will be because they see us as living on a higher plane of life. 

Now it is such people that the word of God is telling us to be willing to associate with. That way, we may just be able to help them rise in life or save them from some situations that may lead to their disgrace or destruction. Look at Jonathan, the son of King Saul, for instance. Even though he was the crown prince of Israel and a mighty warrior, he was willing to associate with David when he was but a boy. Yes, David did something outstanding at the time for him to be noticed by Jonathan. Nevertheless, if he had been an arrogant prince, he would still not have associated with him, seeing that he was younger than him and also did not come from a wealthy family. (Cf. 1Samuel 18:1-4)

But Jonathan was not a proud prince or warrior. So, he came down to David’s level in order to make friends with him. And because he did this, God was able to use him to save the young man from the jealousy of his father, King Saul, and send him away from the land in peace, so that the purpose of God may be fulfilled in his life. (Cf. 1Samuel 19-20)   

Consider Joseph too. When he was in the prison, he had the rare privilege of meeting two important officials of the king of Egypt. These men offended their master, the king of Egypt, and were imprisoned for doing so. And as people had been used to power and money, they may have chosen not to associate with anyone in the prison, while waiting for the king’s judgment. But they humbled themselves and associated with Joseph, a slave and prisoner. So, God was later able to use one of them to save him from this prison that he had been unjustly sent to and to also open the door for the great dreams He had given to him to come to pass. (Cf. Gen 40-41)

In the same vein, by humbling ourselves to associate with those who are occupying lower social positions than us, we may just be making ourselves available for God to use in fulfilling His dreams of greatness for them. And where that is the case, they also may eventually be used by God in fulfilling certain dreams of His for our lives or be used by Him in rescuing us in some period of trials. But if arrogance had prevented us from associating with them, who are we going to blame, if they too are unwilling to associate with us if life becomes better for them?

So, the second reason we should be willing to associate with people of low positions is that they also may be occupying greater positions than ours tomorrow. See, the fact that someone is occupying a position lower than yours today does not mean that the person is a moron or that you have better abilities or prospects in life than them. David, at the time Jonathan met him, was a lowly Bethlehem boy. But he was also the one chosen and anointed by God as the future king of the land. So, by treating him well, Jonathan was simply helping his own future in the land.

Similarly, even though Joseph, at the time that the chief cupbearer of the king of Egypt met him, was just a common slave and prisoner, he had been chosen by God to be a father to Pharaoh and the saviour of the world of the time from a coming terrible period of famine. So, by associating with him, the man was just unconsciously building a relationship with a future world leader. And think of how he must have felt on the day Joseph was made the prime minister of Egypt by their king.

Well, the point of it all is that don’t allow pride or arrogance to keep you from building great relationships with the people of low position around you. That is because apart from the fact that God can use you to lift them up in great ways, He may also have appointed them to be the people that will lift you too up in a time of need. And if you allow arrogance to despise them now, how do you think they too will treat you, if the tables were to be turned? Only God can tell.

A word of caution, however: don’t associate with people of low position because you hope that God will want to use them to help you someday. That may not be in God’s plans at all. Even if it is, such people may forget your kindness or not permit Him to use them for you. And where that is the case, bitterness may overtake and ruin you, if your reason for helping them now is that they too may help you in the future. So, mind yourself.
Categories
Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: Know when to keep quiet|Fire in my bones

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: November 01, 2023|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 24

“But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”” (2Kings 18:36NIV)

Who were the people that remained silent and would not reply who was talking to them? It was the Jews under the reign of King Hezekiah. Who would they not reply? It was the commander of the army of the king of Assyria. And why would they not reply this man? They would not reply him because their king, Hezekiah, had told them not to answer him.

Now why would Hezekiah instruct his people not to answer this man? It was because answering him would not solve the problem at hand but only escalate it. As the account goes, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria at that time, had sent his commander with a great army to the land of Judah for the sole purpose of possessing the land and its people. And this commander began his campaign by first threatening the people and ridiculing their king and their God.

In fact, at some point, he began to address them in Hebrew, so that his threats and words of annoyance would sink into their hearts more readily. (Cf. 2Kings 18:17-35)That being the case, Hezekiah suspected that some of his people might become provoked by this man’s words and decide to answer him. And that was exactly what the man wanted. He wanted to provoke the people to respond to his threats, so that he would have an easy reason to attack the land. Then all that Hezekiah had been doing to avoid going to war with the Assyrians would have amount to nothing.

As the account further shows us, the army of Judah at that time was actually no match for the Assyrians’. That, of course, was why Hezekiah was doing all that he could do to avoid any kind of direct confrontation with them. And in doing this, he went as far as giving the king of Assyria all the gold and silver that he could lay his hands on in his treasuries. He even took things from the temple of God in order to appease this ruthless king. (Cf. 2Kings 18:13-16)

Nevertheless, Sennacherib would not stop haunting and harassing the nation of Judah. Why? He was bent on possessing it for himself. And he only needed a little insult or provocation from the people to attack them. This was why Hezekiah commanded his people not to answer the commander of his army whom he had sent to insult them.

See, Hezekiah knew that responding to this man’s threats and insults would not solve their problem in any way. Instead, it would only make it worse by bringing quick destruction upon them. The only one that could solve their problem at the time was their God whom the man had been insulting. He, then, was the person they were supposed to be talking to and not the man. And when they talked to Him about the matter, He answered them and turned all the threats of the commander of the Assyrian army into empty and useless threats. (Cf. 2Kings 19)

What is the lesson for us here? Well, it is that we must know when to keep quiet and not respond to people’s arrogant words or threats. Look, there are times that we may come across human opponents or enemies that we clearly do not have enough education, power, influence or money to defend ourselves against.

And these ones may deliberately be provoking us to say or do things that will give them a reason to attack and hurt or disgrace us. Our wisdom at such times, then, will be to be quiet and refuse to respond to whatever they say or do to us against us, however arrogant or annoying it may seem. That is because responding to them will simply make matters worse, something that we ourselves will know, if we are not foolish or reckless. Not replying such people in such situations, however, does not mean we are not to take any step towards defending or protecting ourselves against their nonsense. We must take steps towards doing that.

But our most important step will be to talk to God about what they are doing and let Him rebuke them for us. How He will rebuke them, of course, is up to Him. But we can be sure that if, instead of trying to fight a battle we cannot win, we will entrust the situation to Him, He will handle it for us. And when He is done, we might find ourselves asking, “God, have you not gone too far in dealing with this?”

Categories
Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: Before you risk your life|Fire in my bones

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: October 18, 2023|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 23

“Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father’s family from taxes in Israel.” David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”” (1Sam 17:25-27NIV)

From our opening bible text, we see that one of the reasons David was very much interested in fighting Goliath was the reward offered by King Saul. Yes, of course, he wanted his nation to be rid of the shame that Goliath had brought upon them, threatening them for forty days and making their army look weak and worthless. But he was also interested in what he would gain, if he risked his life to save his country.

Now was anything wrong with that? No! Nothing is wrong with wanting something in return for being patriotic or faithful to our nation, family or organisation. It all depends on what we want in return. We may not want money, a position or the praise of people in return for our patriotism. But even if all that we want is a better standard of living for others, it is still something.

In like manner, nothing is wrong with wanting something in return for helping others or being good to them. It all depends on what we want in return for it. We may not want their money, praise or respect. But even if all we want is to simply see them live better lives or if all we want is God’s praise, it is still something. So, don’t ever say that you don’t want anything for being patriotic or for living a righteous or generous life. That is because we all always want something for whatever we do.

What we want, however, is what will show whether God is the one inspiring us to do what we do or the devil.Well, in David’s case, as I pointed out earlier, one of his reasons for risking his life to fight Goliath was the reward promised by King Saul. King Saul had promised to give his daughter in marriage to anyone who fought and defeated Goliath and to also exempt the person’s family from national taxes.

That, of course, must have sounded very good in the ears of the boy David And since he knew that he was anointed by God to handle such a situation, he did not hesitate at all to take it up. What David, however, did not think carefully about before risking his life in that manner was the character of the man who promised to reward him, that is, King Saul. Was Saul a man of his word? Or was he someone that would say anything to get some relief or peace when under pressure? Thankfully, for David, the reward for killing Goliath was not his main motivation for risking his life to fight him.

The deliverance of his people was his main motivation. Otherwise, he probably would have lost his mind after the whole show and told himself never to fight for Israel again. Why? Saul did not keep his word at all. He did not give David his daughter’s hand in marriage. On the contrary, David had to do the dirty job of killing two hundred Philistines and supplying their foreskins in order to pay the bride price for Saul’s daughter, Michal (1Sam 18:18-27).

Now since Saul did not freely give David the hand of his daughter in marriage, it is safe to also assume that he did not exempt his family from taxes in Israel. Why? Did he forget his promise, one that was reiterated in the ears of all the soldiers of his army and also documented for future generations to read? No! Or was it because he later became jealous of David and did not find it convenient again to reward him as his rival? No!What, then, was the problem with Saul? Why did he not fulfil his promise to David? The simple reason was that he was not actually a man of character.

A man of character would keep his word any day and any time, even if it is his enemy that he is dealing with or even if it is something that will eventually bring him distress. And that is because reputation means a lot to him. Herod executed John the Baptist at the request of Herodias’ daughter. He did not like to do it. He did not want to do it, for he knew that he would be killing an innocent man. Yet he killed him. Why? His reputation was everything to him. He had sworn an oath to give anything the girl wanted to her. And he had to keep his word to her, though it hurt him to do so.

If King Saul, then, had been anything like Herod, as far as reputation matters are concerned, he also would have done the needful in David’s case – he would have given him the reward he had promised. (Cf. Mark 6:17-28)

What is the point of all this? Well, first, it is that we should always see that our motivation for being patriotic or for helping others is rooted in the will of God. In other words, we should be patriotic, generous and helpful to others basically because we want to please God and not because of the reward of men. Otherwise, the reward of men that we are looking forward to may never come or be satisfactory, even if it comes.

Second, we should always consider the character of anyone we are dealing with before we start risking our lives for them. Some have been seriously injured along this line. They sold their properties, gave up well-paying jobs or borrowed huge sums of money to assist some family members, spouses, friends, lovers or even church members in their moment of need. And they got all kinds of promises on how they would be repaid or rewarded for what they did. Unfortunately, none of the promises made to them was kept because those who made them had no character.

So, they were left stranded and dejected. And there have been stories of those who took their own lives or who became deadly monsters because of such things.So, before you start risking your life or giving up your life savings for anybody, be sure you know them well. There can’t be assumptions or guesses here. And you can’t be acting on sentiments here. Otherwise, you may someday terribly regret your actions.

Categories
Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: A test of determination|Fire in my bones

fire in my bones
fire in my bones

Date: October 11, 2023|Series: Youth for Jesus|Number: Vol. 6, No. 22

“When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.” (2Kings 2:1-2NIV)

One of the things we learn from Scriptures about God is that He appreciates determination. Yes, He is a God that gives freely to people without complaining about them (James 1:5). However, there are times that He considers people’s determination to receive from Him before giving certain things to them.Why did many of the children of Israel that Moses brought out of Egypt perish in the wilderness and did not make it into the Promised Land? One of the reasons for this, as we are shown in the bible, is unbelief. They did not believe that God was able to give the land to them.

But something also assisted their unbelief. That was insufficient determination to take what God wanted to give to them. (Cf. Numbers 13&14; Hebrews 3:19)But there were two people from that same generation that made it into the Promised Land. They were Joshua and Caleb. Why did they make it there? They made it there because apart from the fact that they had faith in God, they were also determined to make it there.

So, it is not enough for God to promise to give us something or to show us visions of what He wants us to be or enjoy in life; It is also important that we are determined to have what He wants us to have. If we are determined to have what He wants us to have, we will be willing to go all the day in doing whatever legitimate thing we can do to take what He is giving to us. But if we are not determined, there is every tendency that the challenges that we will encounter on our way (and we will surely encounter challenges) will bring discouragement to our hearts.

We mighty, then, stop believing and taking steps of faith towards taking for ourselves what He wants us to have.As we see in our opening bible text, even though Elijah had made it clear to Elisha that God had chosen him to take his place as the leading prophet in Israel, he was still prompted by God to test his determination to take the place He had already chosen for him. So, when the time came for him to be taken to heaven, he told Elisha to stay in Gilgal and not bother to follow him to Bethel, where God had sent him to go.

But did Elisha agree to stay? No! Instead, he told him that he would not leave him until he was eventually caught up to the heavens. Also, when they got to Bethel and Elijah told him to wait there, since God had sent him to Jericho, he told him that he would still not leave him. And though the prophets there also tried to discourage him from following this man of God, he did not listen to them. The same thing happened when they got to Jericho and Elijah told him to wait there, he would not leave him or pay attention to the words spoken by the prophets there to discourage him. Instead, he followed this man of God on to the Jordan. (Cf. 2Kings 2:1-6)

Why did Elisha act like that? It was because he knew that he had not yet received the spiritual authority and power to function in the prophetic position Elijah had publicly anointed him for. And he was determined to receive these things before the man was taken away from him. Otherwise, all that he would have was just a prophetic title; he would have no authority and power to back it up. Then everything he left behind in order to follow this man of God would have amount to nothing.

Thankfully, because of Elisha’s determination to take the place God had chosen for him, he eventually received from God the authority and power to function as the lead prophet in Israel. But do you know that Elijah had a servant that was serving him before God asked him to go and anoint Elisha in his place? He did. Why, then, was this servant not chosen by God to take his place? We are not told the reason in Scriptures. We are not even given his name. Why? It may be that God saw that he was not someone that was determined enough to serve Him in his master’s place.Look at all that is said about him in the bible: “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there.” (1Kings 19:3NIV)

It was after this, of course, that he received an instruction from God to go and anoint Elisha in his place instead of looking for the servant that he had left in Beersheba. But why, in the first place, was this man not with Elijah when God was talking to him? Why did he agree to stay in Beersheba instead of following his master all the way, regardless of where his path may lead them? We have no direct answers in Scriptures for these questions.

But it is clear from Scriptures that Elisha was utterly different from him. He was not going to leave the man God had appointed him to follow and serve until God’s reason for placing him under his leadership was fully accomplished, regardless of the level of stress that may place on his life. That is determination. And it paid off for him.In like manner, we too need to be determined to have certain things God wants us to have in order for us to have them.

Yes, we need to pass His tests of determination for certain things He has already chosen for us to be ours to possess and enjoy. We may, of course, be faced with all kinds of challenges on our way to taking for ourselves what He has chosen for us. But as long as we trust Him and are determined to have what He wants us to have, He will surely clear the way for us to have it.So, be determined to see God’s promises to you and the visions He has shown you come to pass in your life.

Be determined to go all the way in praying, meditating on Scriptures and taking all the legitimate steps you can take to be that person God has shown you that you can be. And my prayer is that He will count you worthy of His purpose for you and also fulfil every step of faith you take towards becoming all that He wants you to be in this life. Amen.