1. Growing up in Lagos I heard the song of the beggars. It was a placatory sing song. Often in pairs, and sometimes in triplicates the beggars would pause in front of my grandfather’s house, begging for mercy. #Illuminare

2. The principal beggar, who was often blind led the song. His counterpart doubled as eyes and guide. He handled the one-word lyrical refrain, Babianla. Efun mi kobo, Babianla. Efunwa sisi, Babianla. Olorun ab’ashiri, Babianla. #Illuminare

3. The session would end with a prayer – Akoba, adaba, Olo’un maje ari. That roughly translates as, May we not be located by enterprising evil; and may we not accidentally bump into one. #Illuminare

4. It’s a linguistic variant of a line from the Lord’s prayer - Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:13. #Illuminare

5. There are enterprising evils in this world, and there are situations anthropomorphically referred to as Predicaments. Think of a contumacious demon, that’s predicament. The Yoruba word will be Ijakadi. #Illuminare

6. When a predicament in the form of a deadly disease afflicts us, or a major catastrophe is being enacted in slow motion in our very life, our life becomes a bizarre wager in a villainous poker game. #Illuminare

7. Over and over the summary of the flights of our thought will be, this is not a drill, this is real. #Illuminare

8. When you’re facing a major crisis in your life a cast of torturous emotions will come after you. The first of these fiends is the spirit of fear. It is a tormenting spirit. 1 John 4:18. #Illuminare

9. Satan hacks into your system and hijacks your creative faculty. He uses your imagination to run computer models and simulations of apocalypse. Because it’s all taking place inside your head the scenarios present themselves as prophetic immersive experiences. #Illuminare

10. But God has not given you the spirit of fear but of power, of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7. #Illuminare

11. The next thing that hits you is a feeling of aloneness. Even when you have devoted support and partnership you’ll still feel alone. But you’re not alone. #Illuminare

12. God promised never to leave you. “I will never under any circumstance desert you, nor give you up, nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless, nor will I forsake or let you down or relax my hold on you.” Hebrews 13:5 AMP. #Illuminare

13. The next emotion that will come after you is regret. You begin to have regrets about things you should have done, opportunities missed, provisions you should have made, especially for your family. You feel for your partner. #Illuminare

14. You suddenly realize your primal place in many lives. You will find it difficult to entertain thoughts of how your family will cope if you demise. But you are not dead yet. Stop worrying about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Matthew 6:34. Face what is at hand.

15. Then steps in the spirit of accusation. Satan will tell you your predicament came about because of something you did or failed to do. He’ll remind you of a past or current sin, or some other misbegotten sin tucked away in the womb of time. #Illuminare

16. The whole point is, you brought this upon yourself. It’s an old but effective trick. As long as you’re accusing yourself you can’t face Satan. #Illuminare

17. When he sees that the “You brought it upon yourself” strategy isn’t working he switches to “God put it on you to teach you a lesson.” But who will lay a charge against God’s elect? No one – for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Romans 8:33. #Illuminare

18. Then comes judgment. Satan will pronounce a death sentence on you. He will remind you of friends and relatives who died in similar condition. But the word of God says you should condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. Isaiah 54:17. #Illuminare

19. Then he’ll unleash the time pressure strategy. If you’re working on a project Satan will tell you, you won’t complete it before your expiration. #Illuminare

20. But the Lord is your life and the length of your days, and you will dwell in the land of promise. You will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. The Lord will fulfill your days. Deuteronomy 30:20, Psalm 116:9, Exodus 23:26. #Illuminare

21. If he sees you pulling yourself together and standing on God’s word, he’ll quickly change tack. He’ll seek to plant doubt in your heart - “How do you know you’ll be delivered for certain?” #Illuminare

22. But you will not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief. You will be strong in faith, giving glory to God. For you’re fully persuaded God is able and mighty to keep his word, and to do what he has promised. Romans 4:20-21 #Illuminare

23. When those emotions come, counter them with the word of God is the lesson I’m trying to pass across. The most fundamental thing you need to know is that God loves you. God is not judging you. Jesus has been judged on your behalf. #Illuminare

24. God is not going to gain ANYTHING by destroying your life. What kind of father destroys the life of his child to teach her a lesson? If she dies what’s the usefulness of the lesson? #Illuminare

25. Because of your faith in him, your daily portion will be a father’s help and deliverance from evil. Psalm 37:39-40 TPT. #Illuminare

26. As per all those accusations of sinfulness, Jesus was wounded for your transgressions. He was crushed for your wickedness – your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing. The punishment required for your wellbeing fell on him. By his wounds you were healed. Isaiah 53:5 AMP.

27. Know that God is personally interested in your case. You will be led forth by your Leader, the Lord himself, and his word, with peace. Isaiah 55:12 AMPC. What the devil meant for evil God will turn around for good. #Illuminare

28. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree. Isaiah 55:13. If anyone fiercely attacks you the attack is not from God. Whoever attacks you will fall because of you. Isaiah 45:2 AMP. #Illuminare

29. Believe God’s promises. Confess them. No weapon fashioned against you will prosper. Isaiah 54:17. That includes biological weapons. Diseases are biological weapons. #Illuminare

30. No matter the sin you’ve committed the blood of Jesus avails for you. Even if you arrived at this juncture by some mistake you made or some sin you committed the blood of Jesus will redeem you. #Illuminare

31. If you feel you have offended God, ask for his forgiveness. He will forgive and forget. 1 John 1:9. Do it now and get it over with. Now. #Illuminare

32. Don’t allow Satan to continue to beat you over the head with accusation. It will never end. You didn’t sin against him, what’s his business? Having confessed your sin stand in your righteousness. #Illuminare

33. In the New Testament your righteousness is not based on your conduct it is a gift from God. You received it the moment you got born again. You have a constitutional right to boldly approach the throne of grace – #Illuminare

34. – the throne of God’s unmerited favor, that you may receive mercy for your failures and find grace in good time for every need – appropriate help, well timed help, coming just when you need it. Hebrews 4:16 AMPC. #Illuminare

35. Sometimes the path of life takes us through the deep sunless valley of the shadow of death. David said, “Lord, even if your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! – #Illuminare

36. – You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear.” Psalm 23:4 TPT. Confess those words. #Illuminare

37. Stop crying. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Grab hold of God’s word. Start pumping it into your heart. Begin the journey of faith. Faith is a progressive journey. God will give you a word of direction for each day. #Illuminare

38. How will you recognize those words? It’s simple. As you read your Bible certain verses will come alive, a song will be in your heart, a bible reference will be on your mind. Read it. #Illuminare

39. Listen to messages by men of God who are specialists in the area of your need. You need to listen to those messages over and over again. Consume hundreds of hours. Get to the point in which you’re so full of God’s word you feel so light. That’s spiritual buoyancy. #Illuminare

40. Take the word of God like food. Eat it in the morning, afternoon and night. Develop faith muscles. You need to get to the point in which you’re angry at the enemy. #Illuminare

41. Attack the problem from every angle, with every means you’ve got. Sow a seed of faith. Take communion daily. You can take it on your own. Simply read out the narrative in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 and follow the cues. #Illuminare

42. See Jesus battered for you. His body was crushed for your diseases, his blood was shed for your deliverance. You have a covenant of prosperity. #Illuminare

43. When you take medicine accompany it with a confession – “By wisdom from God my days are multiplied and the years of my life are increased.” Proverbs 9:11. Medicine is wisdom from God. #Illuminare

44. You must be relentless. Tolerate no other viewpoint except the truth of God’s word. Jesus came that you might have life and have it more abundantly. John 10:10. You will live. #Illuminare

45. Throw yourself at the mercy of God. God is famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to his surprises. Job 5:8-9. The Lord has delivered your soul from death, your eyes from tears, and your feet from falling. Psalm 116:8-9. #Illuminare

46. Even in the time of disaster God watches over you. You will always have more than enough no matter what happens. Psalm 37:19 TPT. #Illuminare

47. The Lord has extended lovingkindness to you and given you favor in the sight of men. Whatever you do the Lord makes to prosper. Genesis 39:21,23 AMP. Jesus did not come to destroy the life you have with your family. Rather he came to save it. Luke 9:56. #Illuminare

48. In closing this message I have just one question for you: What do you lose by trusting God’s word? #Illuminare

49. I want you to give your life to Jesus. Please pray this prayer: “Father I come to you in the name of Jesus. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. I am saved. Amen.” #Illuminare

50. To read Song of the Beggars go to http://www.myilluminare.com/song-of-the-beggars/. #Illuminare

51. *To understand the Christian walk from a contemporary perspective, read my book, Conversations of a 21st Century Saint. Order at https://lekealderstore.com . #Illuminare

52. © Leke Alder | [email protected]. #Illuminare