TAKING SOMETHING FROM NOTHING

'You cannot put something on nothing, it will fall, and it will certainly fall’.

The year was 2005, and I was in a cartography class. Our first assignment in that class was to write the above words with a Cartographic pen and template. That was a task. But long after the task, these words remained with me. In that statement, is a wealth of truth.

Today’s world -more than any time ever- demands that you use what you have. It demands that you search within and call upon the unique core brand that God has given you. We all have something we can give. We all have been equipped by God; He hasn’t sent anyone into this world empty. Emptiness is a lack of sight and understanding, not the depiction of a void.

I have heard many complain about their lack of talents and gifts. Why would they have been created empty? Why would the Creator leave them as empty vessels? The parable was told of the King who gave different gifting, and talents unto three of His subjects. He didn’t give them equally, nor did he give them the same thing. In truth, he gave them according to their abilities and capacities- but none could complain he had nothing. They all had something. They were all given enough to make impact. Yet one of them hid all he had. He hid it. He was barren. He lived a void life. (Matt 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-26).

Now He that is full of wisdom made a worthy statement, ‘For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him’ Luke 19:26 (Emphasis mine). How can you take from nothing? Wait a minute, I thought he had nothing! How can you take from he who is barren? Let’s explain this in monetary terms. We all have a way of understanding monetary terms. A man has a balance of $0.0 in his account, but someone withdraws $500,000.00 from that very account. Now, either there is a problem with the bank, or there is some information hidden to the man. He may just lack knowledge of what he has.

The Creator has got no problem. The problem is with the uninformed and misinformed man. It is time to give room and a lot of time for self discovery. You are made for bigger things. You are wired for impact. Quit living on Rejected Avenue, quit racing with roaches, for its time to join the elite class of men who are living in the fullness of who they are. You may not have what someone else has, but you have something! You are uniquely woven to impact your world. You are specially branded by God with your special gifts to be you.

Paul and Peter of old summed it up in two separate letters, ‘For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.’ (1 Corinthians 7:7), and ‘As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.’ (1 Peter 4:10).

You were not put here for nothing and on nothing; God gave you something with which to build your life and the lives of others. It is yours; so discover it…and use it!

Fisayo Adeniyi

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STOP THIS, ‘I WISH…’

If there is one thing common to all men, it is that we all, without fail, have gifts. God has equipped you as a solution for certain things on the earth.  We all carry on our insides, treasures, untold assets capable of building us to significance. We all are moving masses of precious things.

However, not everyone is aware of and appreciates their gift. Today I seek to encourage and enlighten you to discover your treasure house. We live in a world where many people are satisfied with ‘Oohing’, and ‘Aahing’ at the gift of others, while inside of them are much more awesome treasures. You are uniquely designed of God to stand out. There is something you have, a precious thing that you trivialize and make common, but which amazingly is unique to you. If well polished, it could be your way maker, your ground breaker and your key to significance. Some people write effortlessly, I have seen people compose songs without breaking a sweat, I have seen people dance as if they were made in that part of heaven where the only thing they do is dance… need I continue?

It is therefore worrisome to note that many people are lost in the land of ‘I wish’. They wish they could be the other person; they wish they had another talent or ability. Stop wishing you were someone else, and start celebrating who you are! God doesn’t make a mistake; He purposely designed you as you are for a reason. He has given you all that you will ever need to make a difference. But until you look deeply within, until you appreciate who you are, until your attitude towards yourself is right, you will continue a mediocre. You life begins with you! 

‘A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth’. Pro 17:8. 

The verse shares a timeless truth, which is that until you see your gift as a precious stone, it will be worth nothing to you. It is first about the possessor of the gift. Those we salute and celebrate are not super humans; they are folks who have an understanding of how special their gifts (of management, leadership, innovation, help etc) are; therefore they deploy their gifts and their prosperity is assured.

How then do you see you? How special do you think your gifts and abilities are? If you think they are ordinary, then you will deal with them without due diligence, but if you know they are precious stones, then you will do all you can to diligently polish them.

There is only one you, and the world needs your answers. We need your solutions, ways, innovation, grace, care, help, art, skill, leadership etc. You matter to the world. You have within you, the precious stone that shall be the foundation for new frontiers. We need you to release your potential, to polish the gem, to unlock the treasure house that is in you.

My heartfelt desire is that you find grace as you unwrap and polish the REAL YOU.

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

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Words can KILL....

“Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--you choose”.

                                                                                                                       - The Message, Proverbs 18:21

One thing I learnt long ago was the import and power of words. Our words are not just mundane things, they shape our worlds. What you become tomorrow is as a result of what you say today. In truth, no other person’s words have as much power over your life as yours. Be careful what you say! Be careful of the word you release.

Last night, I was reading through the book of wisdom in my Bible, I found the words of Solomon, ‘A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.” Pro 18:20. As I read, light came and I saw what dear Solomon meant. I discovered yet another proof to the greatness of your words, not the words of another. Do note that the word of your Pastor, Prophet or Mentor is not as efficacious as your words. You- and not another person-, have the most right and power over the moulding of your destiny.

Solomon said that your words are seeds, and like every seed, when sown, they must germinate, all things being equal. A farmer eats of the fruits of his seed – whether directly or by profiting. The words you release today are the seeds, the fruit of which you will feed on tomorrow. Many times in life, the things we see don’t just happen, they happen as a result of process. The rain that comes upon the earth at noon is a result of a process that starts far before the noon. Your present state is a result of what started long ago.

What are you filled with today, what are you experiencing today? If your life is full of varying degrees of bitterness, failure, pain, disappointment etc, it may be because of the things you said long ago; you may be eating of the fruit of your mouth. A sure way to change your life is by starting to sow the right seeds. Heaven and earth respect your words – “Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you” Numbers 14:28. Life is more about the seed we sow than about the harvest, for your harvest is determined by the seed sown.

Life is always about the foundation, the beginning. You can’t make changes by focusing on the fruit. You don’t make changes on the product, you change the raw material, and you change the process! If your fruit makes your mouth bitter, your belly and life sour, you need to change your seed, for the seed determines the harvest. We release word, and yes, it’s within our powers but after words are released, the law of seed and harvest takes charge.

Today, understand that you feed on your release; you have with you the power to determine whether your coming years shall be filled with fruit of life or death. Like Solomon was interpreted by The Message, ‘Words kill, words give life; they are either poison or fruit - - you choose’. I know many say that your destiny is in your hands, but permit me to say, ‘it is in your mouth’.

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

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A LITTLE YEAST

Recently, a microbiology student I know was doing a study on yeast. I was amazed at the multi- types of yeast existing and their varied uses. More astounding is the almost ubiquitous nature of yeast and the fact that it is so important to our survival and nature. The study of yeast has therefore become an important area of discourse to researchers and teachers. The bible also speaks of the yeast.

“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9. That statement is so obviously true. You don’t need much yeast to see its effect on bread; just a little will do the work. But the Bible is not a book for the baker’s son; it is a book for the King’s sons. God must therefore be referring to something that has great significant in our lives, other than mere bread. God has a way of teaching us life lessons from the common things that can easily be understood.

In Galatians 5, Paul started this section of his letter by imploring believers to ‘Stand Fast…”. It is a call to stand firm in Christ’s entire true message; a call also to resist the deceit and the fraud of the enemy. It is in this light that he further said a little yeast is enough to influence the whole bread. The message of Christ does not need much error to be messed up, it only needs a little yeast – little deception, dark revelation, fake doctrines and prophecies.

As believers, we must understand that just a little stain makes us impure. It is Christ or nothing else, the word of God or the devil’s, Grace or Works, Light or Darkness. The Christian race is not an ‘Afro-Christo religion’ or a ‘Christo-Americana religion’. It is completely Christ. You can’t add to it or remove from it. You can’t combine it with religion, tradition or your cultural standards. If it’s God, then it must be completely God. You can’t make a little allowance for deception, lie, re-adjustment of standards, or leaving the ways of God. Your walk with God must be pure and undefiled. You can’t afford to add little drugs, a little booze, a little voodoo, a little bribe, a little sin, a little giving of your body to gain favour, a little lie, a little heresy etc. For just a little of these things will completely ruin your Christian testimony. I remember a song we use to sing a long time ago: ‘God will never readjust the standard of righteousness to the level of man’.

Today, decide and make a commitment to be careful of strange yeast that threatens to derail you from your walk with God and soil your Christian testimony. Christ warned His disciples of certain deceptive doctrines, “Jesus warned, "Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of Pharisees and the followers of Herod." Mark 8:15 (The Message).

Brethren God is for us, His teaching grace is available to guide us against error…

Have you ever watched anyone bake with yeast? The just add in a little yeast. At no time do they pray or speak in tongues that the flour may rise. It is just natural; once the yeast gets in, the flour rises. That is how easy and how natural it is for strange doctrines, and error to mix with the pure treasures of God on our inside. My sincere prayer for you today is that you may run well, being unhindered and completely obeying the grace of God.

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

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THE 300 – The Movie, the People

Sometime in 2008, I saw a movie directed by Zack Snyder and distributed by Warner bros. It was titled 300. It tells a tale of the king Leonidas, himself a Spartan who was faced with the aggression and intimidation of Xerxes, the god-like king of Persia. The movie spoke of how Leonidas’ 300 men almost triumphed over an army of thousands but for a traitor named Ephialtes. The movie was about courage, tactics and a relentless passion to fight for what rightly belongs to one. But unfortunately, the battle claimed lives, of the 300. They were mere men. Despite their courage and great effort, they were defeated.

Long before 2008 however, I was in children church and the teacher told of certain 300 men led by Gideon who defied an army of a nation. This was so like Leonidas but unlike Leonidas, this was reality, this was true and much more importantly, this ended in victory. They were not mere men; they obtained the victory. Faced with great uncertainty, and much disability, they appeared to have no chance of victory. They were outnumbered. They faced an army that was better equipped, more armed and better prepared. But still they had the victory!  The difference maker was Jehovah. By God, Gideon and his crazy 300 men turned a suicidal mission to a telling victory!

Everywhere I look, I see the 300 of my generation, the 300 crazy men of my time. Men who were faced with great seemingly insurmountable challenge in their search for significance; men who have defied all laws, who encountered daunting problems on their march to greatness, yet they conquered, yet they won, and all they had was God. I look back at people who keep winning in the battles of life, and say, ‘who would have thought’.

No one gave them a chance. Life didn’t start good. Tales of silver spoons were things read in books, for these were men brought up with no spoon. Yet despite all, they have risen above their challenges. Yes, they were courageous, believing and relentless like Leonidas. And unlike him, they had an asset: God. He was the difference maker. He was the only force that could guarantee not only their victory, but their life. Now like Gideon, they can tell the tales of their triumph themselves, for they lived to fight another day. These are my gladiators, my Spartans, my 300…they are everyday people.

Some have shot out of poor miry backgrounds, to become kings in their clan. Thanks be to God who gives the victory. This piece is dedicated to all my friends and many more others who I do not even know. I know where you started from, I know where you are today, and this can be nothing but God. Blessed be God for the courage and grace. I raise my wineglass to more victories in your life.

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

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ONE PERFUME, TWO FRAGRANCES

I have always being enthralled by perfumes; their varied fragrances and packages. I remember a friend of mine in the university once wore a perfume I had earlier come across, I told her the name of what she was wearing and she smiled because I was right. A brand of a perfume always comes with the same fragrance. I have never seen one with two fragrances.

Perfumes have been worthy compliments of men from time immemorial. Anytime I read Esther 2:12, I am amazed at the vast preparation these beautiful ladies were subjected to for a whole year, “The young women were given beauty treatments for one whole year. The first six months their skin was rubbed with olive oil and myrrh, and the last six months it was treated with perfumes and cosmetics. Then each of them spent the night alone with King Xerxes.(CEV)”  But even after this treatment, the beautiful virgin would still have one sweet, strong fragrance.

Daily, I see the miracle of a fragrance. From the dusty villages, to the dense street of Lagos to the market at Aka Offot in Uyo to air conditioned halls in Abuja; a fragrance.  Sometimes the fragrance comes from sweaty backs, sometimes from high flyers in gorgeous suits. Different, yet with no distinction. They are the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. They are Christians.

They are a fragrance, just one fragrance, one sort, one brand, one people. One united fragrance, but two outward savours. Their fragrance lasts forever, and differs in aroma depending on the man savoring it. To some, they are a scent of life leading to life, to others, a scent of death leading to death.

“But thanks be to God! He always leads us triumphantly in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of knowing him. To God we are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a living fragrance. Who is qualified for this?” 2 Cor 2:14-16 ISV

The next time you see those folks with their permanent perfumes infused into their genes; understand that you have seen a spiritual miracle, men whose spirit can never die. God’s trademark in perfumery; they are Christians and they are special. Depending on who you are, they constantly stick in your nose, reminding you of your choice, witnessing to you of who you are, and where you are ultimately headed. The way of Death or Life!

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

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DON’T BE UPSET

The sun was high, the road dusty and busy, this was typical of Besara Road at a time like this in Galilee. On a normal day, he would have sent a servant but this was no normal day for him and his household. He could remember 12 years ago when his daughter was born, oh what joy! But now death threatens. Jairus knew Jesus of Nazareth could help, but how do you nail down this miracle worker. Thankfully someone told him He just came to town. Hurriedly, he matched on to where he believed his 12 year old daughter’s salvation lay.

Jesus said, ‘Let us go’…His joy knew no bounds. Salvation comes with me. No one knows the pain of waiting for the conception of this girl – this dream. Then, the devil seeks to take her away. He mused ‘By God, Jerusalem will not mourn for me’. Just then he discovers the journey drags on; Christ was crowded, and the crowd would not allow God to move at Jairus’ speed. Can someone tell this people I have an emergency case?

Then suddenly He stopped, and looking around He said who touched me. My, my, this Jesus! Seriously, it would have been hilarious, but that laughter had no place in Jarius’ soul – ‘my girl is dying’, ‘my vision, my hope is losing life’. This must be a desperate miracle seeker – then a woman like a flash came into the scene, completely healed after 12 years of infirmity. Sincerely ‘is my daughter not 12 years old’. A flow of blood as long as his daughter had lived!

And just when they could break loose from that moment, he saw the man. Even before he spoke, he knew what had happened, ‘your little girl is dead’. It just got worse. ‘I believed she would live but now she is dead – she was losing life but now she is dead. Hopes vanished, dreams gone, thoughts disappeared. It was first the beginning of the end, but now it had all ended’.

Have you ever ran to Jesus with a situation, and instead of it getting better, it grew worse? The health situation deteriorated, the account went from red to fade; from little contract to no contract. It seems God is just interested in doing things for every other person but you; somehow He seems to have forgotten that you are there. You have done all you know to do, yet nothing is transforming for the better. Yet, the last time you were in church; the preacher kept jumping up and down passionately claiming that God is not partial, ‘What He does for one He does for all’ he roared.

Allow me to add to the preacher’s note by reminding you of The Message rendering of Jesus response to the sad, disgruntled, frustrated and tired Jairus, ‘Jesus overheard and said, "Don't be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right." (Luke 8:50). It is still the same admonition He has for us, ‘don’t be upset…’ Don’t be jealous of the good of another, you need not worry nor fret. Let the faith that brought you to Him, keep you with Him. Though the moon may have faded away, and the night becomes darker, yet He who is the light will lighten your path. He is the light; He needs no source of light.

Only believe, don’t be upset with another’s miracle, God is on the march, He is doubtless coming to you. Yes, He might seem delayed in coming, but there will yet be a miracle. Your Vision will yet live; your baby project shall not die. Because He lives, you also shall live. Remember Jairus laughed at last. Hold on, don’t be upset; Trust Him, Cling to Him, Stay with Him, He will yet perform that which you seek.

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

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