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The power of saying ‘no’!

By Archbishop (Dr.) Olanrewaju OBEMBE
18 November 2018   |   4:09 am
The quality of our lives is most times, determined by the choices we make. Life is full of choices and you cannot abdicate the responsibility of making choices.

Archbishop (Dr.) Olanrewaju OBEMBE

The quality of our lives is most times, determined by the choices we make. Life is full of choices and you cannot abdicate the responsibility of making choices. There are times when we need to say “NO” and there are times when we need to say, “YES.” Daily, life places requisite demand on our choices and decisions. Our choices and decisions are the very products of our persuasions and convictions. Life does not allow our neutrality – that is, you cannot be neutral about choices and decisions. You are where you are today, by the decisions you took yesterday concerning career, vocation, profession, spouse, etc. Men and women of distinction were those who took decisions based on high values and standards.

It is amazing how so many people could not be captured in God’s Golden Book of Records. These individuals did not take positive decisions that would have enhanced their lives and their immediate generation. The Scripture is replete with biographies and human characters, who displayed exceptional courage, discipline and great faith in times of socio and spiritual decadence. Like it has been said, a man’s greatness can be measured where he stands in times of challenges, adversities and daunting oppositions. Men and women, who are weak, believe in compromising standards, values and integrity; all on the altar of personal benefits and pleasures, from David the king, to Paul the apostle. These were men who majored in the major and minored in the minor. David, declared himself as “a man of ONE THING”. Psalm 27:4 “ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED OF THE LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple.” Paul also called himself, “a man of ONE THING.”

Philippians 3: 13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before; I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” In a world of compromises, pollution, occultism, idolatry, etc, Daniel PURPOSED IN HIMSELF NOT TO BE DEFILED. He refused to partake of exotic meals sacrificed and prepared on the altar of idol worship. Daniel said “NO” when everyone said “YES.” God will always stand for those who stand for Him. Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and HE KNOWETH THEM THAT TRUST IN HIM.” Shedrack, Meshack and Abednego, refused to bow down to idol worship when the Nobles, Governors, Leaders, etc compromised in the public worship of the golden idol, set up by king Nebuchadnezzar. Those who say “NO” to evil will definitely thrive in spite of the pressure of the moment. Esau could not fulfill his destiny. He failed to mortify his appetite. He sacrificed his glorious future, on the altar of stomach infrastructure. Proverbs 1:10 “My son, IF SINNERS ENTICE THEE, CONSENT THOU NOT.”

Through the help of the Holy Spirit, we can always say “NO” to social vices, carnality and sins that easily beset us. We all have our glorious future. Hebrews 12: 1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, and THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us; LOOKING UNTO JESUS the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.” Friend, what is at stake is more than the momentary pleasure of sin. Like Joseph, employ the leg ministry and flee from every appearance of sin and evil. You will surely fulfill your destiny.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for Your Word. I purpose in myself NOT TO BE DEFILED BY THE POLLUTION around me. I receive total cleansing by the Blood of JESUS. Father God, help me through the Power of the Holy Spirit, to stand for You and live a Godly life. LORD, help me.

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