When I was about resigning from my telecoms job in Lagos, about 10 years ago, I went to meet the MD/CEO of our company to share my decision with him. After listening to me for a while, he said; “If you don’t mind, I can open a new location for our business in Akure which you can manage for us as you relocate to that city for church work.” It looked like a great idea. But it was not a God idea. I appreciated his kind gesture but humbly declined. God was the one sending me to Akure on a mission, not my telecoms boss.
Friend, you must learn to refuse an alternative to your destiny (Hebrews 11:24-26). A lot of people have added logic to divine assignment, and it has grounded them and the assignment. Some things look good but are not God (Romans 12:2). The fact that I could manage to continue my telecoms job in Akure while still doing the church work looked great. But it’s a complete violation of the consecration required for my calling.
If the devil cannot stop you from obeying God, he would attempt to join you on your journey of obedience. I think for most people, it is not just satanic opposition but satanic infiltration (Acts 16:16-18). Don’t let the devil infiltrate your life and call. What if Paul could not discern the damsel in Acts 16? He would have accommodated the devil on the road to fulfilling a divine call.
Taking up a side job with church work is not wrong. In fact, for most people, that’s the way to go. But everyone must hear God for himself (Romans 8:14). We must not follow societal trends while missing out on God’s perfect will. We must not allow the fear of what to eat or how to survive paralyse our faith in God and for divine assignment. God will take care of you (Isaiah 46:4). The assignment will take care of you.
For a lot of people, there are other voices they listen to apart from the voice of God (1 Corinthians 14:10). Another boss is ruling over their decisions when the Boss in heaven has revealed his own plans for them. Who else do you listen to and obey after God has spoken to you? Do you listen to the voice of fear, realism, trends, flesh, or concerned family members? While we must listen to counsels, it is important we don’t allow counsels to cancel our destiny in God (Psalms 1:1-3).
Beware of alternative destiny. Most times, the alternative to your destiny will not be something bad. It would be something good, logical, and appealing (Isaiah 11:3). This is where sensitive comes in. This is why you must understand what God is actually telling you. If Jesus had allowed them to make him king, He would have forfeited His main mission of saving humanity (John 6:15). What is that thing that wants to keep you from God’s best?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria