THE 3 MUSKETEERS (Part 3)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor stands in the path of sinners; nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1, NKJV).

In order to avoid the fatal consequences of unwholesome association, how then should we walk, stand, and sit?

• Divine direction: Christ is our only security against this wicked world because He is the firmest foundation in the entire universe. God speaks to us in the Scriptures, with signs, and in His ‘still, small voice’. His word is ‘yea’ and ‘amen’. When God gives a man direction, such a man can never be confused or lost. So, we've got to follow God's direction at all times so there's no room for the 3 Musketeers. There is divine direction in His word - Let's read it; meditate on it and obey. There is divine direction in His voice - Let's listen to it and obey.

• Character: Another way to guard against toxic companionship is to be an embodiment of godly character such as integrity, humility, and wisdom to mention a few. Integrity is a mark of honour and this trait is not found in corrupt cliques. Humility speaks of modesty and this has no place in a crowd of the arrogant. Wisdom depicts knowledge, insight, intelligence and good judgment but foolishness is the hallmark of the ungodly (Ps. 14:1-7). Other admirable character qualities include courage, perseverance, discipline, faithfulness and as in the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

• How to walk:

 Ask God:

“Cause me to know in which way I should walk, for I lift my soul to You” (Ps. 143:8b).

Only God can show us the Way (John 14:6) and we must learn to heed His direction (Is. 30:21). And when we follow God’s direction, our walk becomes crisis-free (Prov. 4:10-12).

 Get the Best Walk Strategy:

(1) Walk with integrity (Prov. 10:9).

(2) Walk with humility (Micah 6:8).

(3) Walk with wisdom (Prov. 13:20).

(4) Walk decently (Rom. 13:13).

(5) Walk in truth (Ps. 86:11).

(6) Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

(7) Walk worthily (Eph. 4:1-2).

(8) Walk in the light (1 Jn. 1:7).

(9) Walk in obedience (2 Jn. 6).

 Get the Best Walk Technology:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

We are not to live under the influence of what we see (wealth, fame, praise, physical appearance, eloquence, intelligence, all the things the world worships) but we are to live in the confidence of the future promised us by the Almighty God - the promise of eternal life, the incorruptible crown of glory, the abiding presence of the Redeemer, the indestructible wealth, the glories of heaven (2 Cor. 4:18).

 How to stand:

 In awe of God: “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him” (Ps. 33:8).

He is an awesome God indeed, the God of creation, the Almighty God and all mankind should revere Him in all that we do. The song says;

“I stand, I stand in awe of You (2ce);

Holy God, to You, all praise is due;

I stand in awe of You!”

 Firm in the Faith:

We are encouraged to stand secure in what we believe. The question is, “What do you believe?” “Some trust in chariots (armies), and some in horses (weapons); but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Ps. 20:7). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

A famous hymn captures this truth, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”. Let your faith in God be and remain unshakeable. It pays.

 Together: “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).

The battle for the gospel and the purpose of serving the Lord is best fought in unison – standing together. An old adage says, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’. “But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matt. 12:25).

 With caution: “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).

There are pressures everywhere and temptation happens to everyone. If one is not careful, he can be pulled down and many believers have fallen from grace to grass. We need to learn the lessons from the events of old in the Scripture and heed the advice to ‘watch and pray’. “My son, if sinners entice you, do not follow them” (Prov. 1:10).

 In the ‘Standing attire’:

“Therefore take up the whole armour (arsenal) of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:13).

The remaining verses 14-20 describe the complete suit –

1. Truth girded at the waist (belt);

2. The breastplate of righteousness (jacket);

3. Feet shod with the gospel of peace (shoes);

4. The shield of faith (bulletproof vest);

5. The helmet of salvation (cap);

6. The sword of the Spirit (weapon) which is the word of God; and

7. Prayer and supplication.

 How to sit:

 Don’t sit with ‘them’: It is better to stay alone than to keep company with scoundrels. Develop a righteous anger for the delinquent (Jer. 15:17) and a voracious hunger for the dutiful and the responsible.

 Sit with the right company: The believer’s VIP corner is at the Lord’s side (Heb. 1:13). The ring side seat is also the privileged bench of the redeemed of the Lord (Eph. 2:6). The believer who perseveres to the end gets to sit with the Lord on His throne (Rev. 3:21). In the meantime, let's sit with fellow brethren to share His word; sit at the feet of Jesus to study His word; and encourage one another.

 In industry: Much as sitting connotes resting and relaxation, it should not be done as an idle pastime (Prov. 31:27). There is always something to do for the Lord, even while sitting. Sit down to share the gospel with others; sit and send gospel messages to people from your phone; sit to help and pray for the poor, the needy, and the afflicted; sit and praise God, and also, sit and develop a kingdom-product/service of commercial value.

Conclusion:

If our souls are satisfied with the Lord, and find delight in fellowship with Him, and in submission to His blessed Word, there will be no desire for the companionship of the ungodly.

To maintain a close relationship with God, we have to put aside our old bad ways of doing things, old bad habits, the wrong activities we participate in, and the sleazy people we spend our time with.

"The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray" (12:26).

THE 3 MUSKETEERS (Part 2)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor stands in the path of sinners; nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1, NKJV).

‘We’ and ‘Them’:

As teenagers, we like to seek the approval of people around us. We like to be liked. Sometimes, for us to be accepted, we tend to conform to other people’s pattern of life. We conform in dressing, in behaviour, in thinking, and even in language.

Of course, it is not a bad idea for one to adapt to his neighbourhood, to make friends at school, to work amicably in a new environment and among new people. However, this ‘conforming’ can be dangerous to the Christian. It can lead to the compromise of godly principles and the loss of one’s soul. 

The Scripture lets us know that we are different from ‘them’. This difference is so weighty that our relationship with God depends on it.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:14-16b).

“Bad company corrupts good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). A notable adage says, “Show me your friend and I’ll tell you who you are”. Another says, “Birds of the same feather flock together”. These should be critical concerns for the believing teenager as he journeys through life in order to escape the wiles of unpleasant companions.

How do we find ourselves in their vicinity? 

Some are within our control, others beyond but in all cases; we have a choice to either stay around them or vote with our feet (like body, soul, and spirit). Some of them are our family members (nuclear and extended). We didn’t choose them but, along the line, we chose God over them. In other respects are our friends and acquaintances. We probably attended the same schools, lived in the same neighbourhoods, worked in the same organizations, had mutual friends, hung out in the same ‘watering holes’, are partners in business and may have even met in the same church. 

How can these affect us?

Their ‘counsel’, ‘path’, and ‘seat’ may influence us in a manner contrary to the will of God. They can appear in many forms and the Scripture has revealed them and warned us against associating with them (Prov. 20:19; 22:24-25; 24:21-22). Any intimate association with others that hinders us spiritually must be discontinued. We have to separate from anything that will degrade us morally and spiritually.

They can influence us by their conversation, opinions and ideas; their literature – books, magazines, and advertising; their entertainment – music, films, movies, cartoons, radio, internet, etc; their lifestyle – flamboyant, immoral, dishonest, and impertinent, etc.

As familiar as we may have been with them, when we gave our lives to Christ, it became our responsibility to obey God, not them. The onus then is on us to walk the divine path, stand firm in our faith, and sit in honorable assembly.

THE 3 MUSKETEERS (Part 1)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor stands in the path of sinners; nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1, NKJV).

“God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God”. (Ps. 1:1, CEV)

“Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather”. (Ps. 1:1, AMP)

“Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God”. (Ps. 1:1, GNT)

Introduction

The Scripture is filled with diverse counsel on how believers should live their lives here on earth for their own good. Of particular mention is the Book of Proverbs which, typically, is packed with wise sayings.

Our text above is of profound significance for it captures succinctly, three important activity areas of mankind – walking, standing, and sitting – and how they impact on our spiritual lives.

The advice here is quite straightforward. The person who desires to be blessed will not walk under the direction of the ungodly; will not stand in the route of sinners; and will not sit in the meeting of the scornful. In other words, the individual that seeks divine favour will not hobnob with people who are immoral, reprobate, and contemptuous.

I have taken the liberty to quote from different versions of the Scripture just to make the phrases in the New King James version clearer.

Musketeer No. 1: The Ungodly:

The ‘ungodly’ are also referred to as the ‘wicked’. By asking those seeking to be blessed to ‘reject their advice’ means that the ungodly are up to no good. Their counsel can only be unto disobedience and iniquity and these do not attract the blessing of the Almighty God. Any wonder we are instructed to keep away from them?

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on” (Prov. 4:14-15).

The verse 16 of that passage describes the major preoccupation of the ungodly – evil and violence. It gets worse (Prov. 1:10-19) and worse (Prov. 2:12-15). The truth is this - the ungodly have nothing virtuous to offer, certainly not to believers (2 Pet. 2:10-19) – better to keep far away from them.

Musketeer No. 2: The Sinners:

Sinners, on the other hand, are the degenerates who have deliberately chosen a life of corruption and depravity. In some dictionary meaning, they are described as miscreants and rebels. What does it mean to ‘stand’ in their path? It means to toe their line, to hang out with them, and follow their example, just to mention a few.

Sin is contagious and ruthless. It has the tendency to drag others into its decadent net (1 Kings 14:16). Close association with sinners brings about a poisoning of attitudes and thoughts (Mk. 7:20-23) and it should be the determination of every believer to stay away from their circle (1 Jn. 5:18-21). No matter how pleasant their amity, the most sensible thing will be to reject them as role models (Matt. 5:29-30).

Musketeer No. 3: The Scornful:

The ‘scornful’ are another kettle of fish in the hierarchy of unsavory characters. They are known for being disrespectful and contemptuous of the principles of the word of God. They have rejected God, ignored His proclaimed word, and exhibited outright disobedience towards Him. ‘Sitting’ here would connote a meeting or an assembly or alliance with them. It could also mean resting and relaxing in their company; feeling comfortable in their midst.

A relationship with the ‘scornful’ brings only trouble and misery to individuals (Ps. 123:4) and even to nations (Hab. 1:10) in a relentless manner (2 Pet. 3:3-4). What will a believer be doing, ‘sitting’ in the company of those who have no use for God?

To be continued next week...

My Gift, My Way

Proverbs 18:16, “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men” (AMP).

The word “gift” has 2 main meanings;

1. A thing given willingly to someone without payment; like a present. For example, a wedding gift, a birthday gift, donation to charity, etc.

2.   A natural ability or talent; aptitude or skill.

My focus will be on the second meaning of gift which is, “natural ability or talent”. God has given every one of us a gift or talent. It is something we were born with. It is this gift that will enable you to fulfill your purpose in life. It is this gift that will make a way for you in life. When you exercise this gift, you will discover that you are happy, fulfilled and content.

The Bible does not say that it is a man's education that makes room for him or his family background or his connections or his beauty but that it is his gift that will do so. It is a true success principle that many people do not understand. It is your God-given gift will make room for you! That is why God gave it to you – to help and support you and make you succeed in life.

Education is good. I will encourage all of you to get a good education. I also pray that God will provide your parents with the means to give you a good education but in all the education you are getting, use them to identify and develop your gift from God. For no matter how intelligent you are, if you do not exercise your gift, it is very possible for you to be poor. If you're educated but do not develop your talent, it is possible that you'll be unhappy; you’ll struggle and you’ll be frustrated.

The second part of that Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift…brings him before great men”" (AMP). Your gift is loaded. People may notice you as a result of your family background, fame or how well groomed you are but when you exercise your gift, not only will the world respect you, but it will also pay you for your gift. When you discover your gift and develop it, you will become a commodity that people are looking for.

Today, a lot of you teenagers are still in school and some of you are already planning your career and future ambition. Let me give you a piece of advice - don't do what people say will make you a lot of money; instead do what you were born to do, because that is where you will make your money and you will be happy too!

Let me share 4 stories of some ordinary people whose gifts made them extraordinary;

1.           Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born scientist and engineer who invented the telephone. He had a gift for creativity. He believed that sound could be converted into electrical impulses and transmitted by wire. As a result of this gift, we are enjoying his invention of the telephone. He exercised his gift and created a unique product like the telephone.

By the time he died at the age of 75 in 1922, Bell had received numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities and dozens of major awards, medals and other tributes and even long after his death.

2.           On October 28, 1955, a baby boy was born. His parents named him William Henry Gates. We know him simply as Bill Gates. He was fascinated with electronic machines and computers. He wrote his first computer program as a teenager. Today, he is the co-founder of Microsoft, the largest PC software company in the world and one of the wealthiest men in the world. Bill Gates wines and dines with presidents of countries, heads of governments and very important people all over the world.

3.           Pastor EA Adeboye is a pastor and the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He was a Mathematics lecturer at both the universities of Lagos and Ilorin. When he joined the RCCG in 1973, he began to translate the sermons of the then Pastor and founder, Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, from Yoruba into English. In 1981, Pastor Adeboye was appointed the General Overseer of the church after the death of the Founder. His gift to teach and his skill in the Yoruba language opened the door of his destiny through which he has positively, affected millions of lives.

4.           Chidinma Ekile was born on the 2^nd of May 1991 in Ketu, Lagos State. She started singing at the age of 6, and by age 10, she joined her church's choir. In 2010, she won the third season of MTN Project Fame West Africa. Her music is played all over the world and she has been winning awards both locally and abroad. She is also an MTN Brand Ambassador. Once an ordinary girl child, her gift of singing and music has opened unbelievable doors for Chidinma.

I have brought out these 4 examples of people whose talents brought them before the whole world. And there are many more. So, this morning I’m asking you, “What is that gift that God has given you”? “What are you doing with it”?

Daniel 1:17 ESV,“As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams”.

James 1:17 ESV,“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change”.

Skills are learned but gifts are inborn. But skills help to bring out and to develop our natural gifts. We can use our gifts for our future career or business desires. 

I therefore, encourage you to do all you can, as teenagers, to get the knowledge and information you will need to find your own gift so that you can achieve God’s purpose in your life.

1 Peter 4:10 ESV, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…”

Key takeaways:

·         Money is not everything. Do not be driven to make money with your gift. Use your gift to create and/or add value and money will come to you ( note 1 Tim. 6:9-10).

·      Acquire skills. A skill is the ability and expertise to do something well. There are different types of skills and it is important to acquire a good number of them. There are academic skills that are good for you in school (e.g, studying skills); technical skills which help you with your job/vocation; and life skills (e.g cooking, swimming) which help you to cope with life needs and situations.

·     Develop your gift. Your gift points you to what you love doing. When you have identified this, do all you can to develop it. Many years ago, I realized that I loved training. Training has to do with imparting information and knowledge that will enable people make better decisions and live better lives. I developed my gift (including public speaking) through acquiring information, reading voraciously, being technology savvy, and participating in training seminars and conferences.

·         Learn to use technology. Nearly everything we see and do today is supported by technology. They are getting new nearly every day. As a teenager, it is important that you have knowledge of technology so that you can use it to develop your gift.

·         Change your mind set. Contrary to previous belief, not everyone who finishes school will get paid employment. The job space is getting smaller due to the poor economy and the wide use of technology. This is the time for teenagers to think deeply about the best ways to express their gift in the marketplace.

 ·   Don't be a victim! Hosea 4:6a says, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge”. Ignorance has been differently described as ‘a curse’, ‘evil’, ‘bad’, ‘wicked’, etc. When you are ignorant, it means you lack information and knowledge. Ignorance weakens your ability to identify and to develop your gift. Learn to study the word of God. It will point you to your gift area. Learn to read books. They will provide further exposure concerning your gift area. Get a mentor. Someone who is more matured, knowledgeable and experienced in your gift area, to help and support you.

Conclusion:

Who is the beneficiary of your gift? The gifts of our 4 examples have served the whole world. Your own does not need to go that far if only one person can benefit from it. Some of you are gifted in playing instruments, what are you doing with it? Some of you are good at certain subjects, are you using your gift to help those struggling with theirs?

At the end of the day, remember that we would be asked to account for the use of the gift that God has given us. In the story of the 3 servants in Matthew 25:14-30, the Master asked for a report from his servants. What will you say to the Lord in such a time?