INTRODUCTION

BEFORE THE SUNRISE BY BJ SAM

 

 

Introduction

Today, I find myself at a pinnacle many thought was unreachable. Casting my mind back to the early years when I first started out, I still clearly recall the intense opposition and humiliating rejection that was my lot before success eventually came my way. Yes, the weary days and dreary nights in the desert before the dawn of brighter days. The heat, the daily struggle, the hustle and bustle that I endured before the flower of my life blossomed and became beautiful. My journey helped me to realize that there is a STAR in everyone that longs to rise and SHINE. But we must bear in mind that even the blossoming and flourishing flowers that look so lovely and beautiful in the vine still have to decay before springing forth. Therefore, you cannot reach the Promised Land without passing through the desert. Likewise, diamonds don’t just turn magnificently brilliant overnight; first, they have to go through intense pressure and heat. Know that it is not the same weight or size that goes through the furnace of fire that becomes a polished diamond. Don’t be envious of anyone’s success because you don't know the heat and pain they went through before their lives became beautiful.

The truth is, many people born to be celebrities died on the cusp of their big breakthrough. Often the most challenging and difficult moment in the life of a hero, superstar, champion, or celebrity is the moment before they emerge or gain true recognition. This is because the darkest moment of the night comes just before dawn. This is also the time that many give up, have doubts, misbehave or lose their benefactors. Some even die because the fire is hottest when the finest diamond is about to emerge.
Before the Sunrise is written for those who aspire to be great, to prepare them to break records and accomplish great deeds that will amaze the world. This book is also for those who are already at the top and desire to maintain their position and relevancy. The aim of this book is to inspire growth, to uplift every reader by connecting with their dreams and aspirations, stirring their heart to its depths, and motivating them to take innovative actions that will propel into reality their visions which at some point may have appeared impossible.

This book will help every reader to take a deeper look into their innermost being and properly grasp the hidden beauty tucked away inside them. This will bring out that needed blueprint to help discover their gifts and better utilize them to fulfill their purpose on earth.

This book also explores the factors that hinder stars from shining. We are all born with a star, even though some stars shine brighter than others. In this book, you will find out why many people destined to SHINE magnificently don't often live to see the DAWN. Despite the fact that everyone is born to be successful, many are held back, while some are delayed and others are lost in the twilight, wandering in search of sunshine. For a number of reasons, few have the opportunity to see the outburst of their sunshine after a long, dreary night. One of the major reasons is because they were not physically or spiritually prepared. You have to realize that the closer you get to the peak of success in life, the stronger the forces of opposition you will encounter. You need power in order to rule the world or to be at the top in any field, so you must be strong if you really want to be a champion. Above all, discouragement is inevitable, so you must be prepared to go the extra mile if you really want to win the prize or wear the crown.

Dear reader, this book aims to show that no matter your flaws, you have something special to offer the world. There is a star in you, so you must reach inside and bring out that star, no matter how dark and dreary the night may seem. The star in you is what will attract people to you. It will make them celebrate you and embrace whatever you do. Matthew 2:10 says, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

You may not know how beautiful and special you are until you look into this book. Many diamonds are still in the dust craving to be brought forth because diamonds will never be cherished nor treasured while still in the dust. Do you see yourself as a DIAMOND in the dust? Dig deep and bring it to the limelight. Yes, the world is colourful, even breathtakingly beautiful but do you know that without sunshine, the world would remain in darkness? There was a time when the whole universe was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. This was until God declared, “Let there be light, and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God separated the light from the darkness”.

Before my sunrise, I encountered a series of stormy and gloomy moments. This got to a point where I had to ask myself, how long I would wait for the sun to shine. Because the night seemed so long, I constantly looked through the window because I couldn't just wait to see the dawn—to see the sun rise.

If no parent would love their children to be poor, barren or suffer, why would God, our heavenly Father love his creation to suffer? Yet, many people, even those who refer to themselves as children of God, are unfruitful and languishing in sorrow and poverty. Why? It’s all because they lack knowledge. Matthew 7:11 says, “If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask Him!”

God declares in Isaiah 5:13, “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.”

This book will instil motivation in every reader and put those who may be stumbling back on their feet, and offer a beacon of hope to those who are about to faint or give up the fight.

The only difference between famous and successful inventors, leaders, businessmen, artists and others who are not famous and successful is not so much their talent, skin colour or level of education, but their shiny stars. There are many talented, gifted and hardworking people, yet they never break-forth, and never reach the limelight. Why? Their stars have refused to shine. HOW? WHAT IS THE WAY OUT? Flip through to find out. You will unfold some striking truths and secrets in this book that have been hidden for centuries. Matthew 11:25 says " At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes”. Colossians 1:26 says "Even the mystery which hath been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” This book will prepare the reader to overcome the challenges they will encounter on their way to greatness.

This book is based on my personal experience with revelatory knowledge from the Bible. It attempts to enumerate and explain reasons for delays and hindrances in the lives of many who aim for greatness. It also contains nuggets on do’s and don’ts for celebrities who intend to maintain their status all their lives. We all know that fame and riches can fade away in the blink of an eye. How many of the celebrities and millionaires that were famous ten years ago or even five years ago are still relevant today? Probably few.

If you had known and applied most of the secrets that are about to be unveiled in this book, you would have been miles ahead in life today and most likely, would not have missed out on the flood of precious opportunities that have eluded you in the past.

In this book, you will discover why even as beautiful as you are, no man has approached you for marriage. You will also discover why people just seem to endlessly despise you. It also includes lessons on how to couch your response to criticisms and denigrations, if you really want your star to shine magnificently.

This book will bring careers of many people to full bloom and cause new stars to emerge. If you have been trying to reach the top but you keep falling, then flip through the pages to find out why and what to do. This book is aligned with God’s principles in the Bible that applies to everyone irrespective of colour, race, belief, gender or profession. All the causes and solution to the problems of life is expressly written in the Bible. However, if you can carefully research and dig deeply into the things you’ve been taught outside of the Bible, you will realize how many lies you've been made to believe. For many years, I was misled but now I know the way. For many years I was confused, but now I know the truth. My eyes have seen a lot. I now fully know the difference between truth and falsehood. I am no longer deceived. I dare say, I cannot be anymore bamboozled by anybody.

I used to believe the longer you lived, the wiser you became, but I have come to realise that I was wrong, rather it is the closer you are to the Holy Spirit of God, the wiser you become. Long before I published this book, I shared the content with an elderly professor, whose grand children were older than me, but after our conversation the man was so amazed, he told me that he had never heard such words of wisdom and inspiration in his life.

David said in Psalms 119:99-100 "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts.”

Ecclesiastes 1:10 says “Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us.” And Jeremiah 6:16 says "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is a good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said we will not walk therein.”

Exodus 19:5 says "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine."

Deuteronomy 32:29 says “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end”.

Job 36:11 says “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures”.

2 Peter 1:19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts”.

YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL IN YOU TO OFFER THE WORLD

 

YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL IN YOU TO OFFER THE WORLD.

 

You were born because God has a glorious and beautiful plan for your life. If you find yourself toiling and spinning round and round, it means that you have not discovered God's plan for your life yet. You came into this world for a purpose, and that is your destiny, and you can't fully fulfil that destiny until you get connected to your Maker.
There's something unique in you that the world is either waiting to hear, longing for or waiting to see. Make sure you discover it, polish it and showcase it; because that is what will make you a star. You were born to do one particular thing that no one else can do as perfect as you. You were born to solve one of the problems the world is facing today or one of the problems that will arise tomorrow. Don't be afraid. You can make it. You can reach a height that no one else has ever reached. God has given you a creative mind to do things that no one else in this world has ever done before. Don’t limit yourself by trying to act like others; no matter the great things they have accomplished in life you can do greater and better. Therefore, go the extra mile and do one thing that the world has never seen, heard, perceive, nor imagine. Deep inside you, there is a diamond yearning to burst forth like a flower. If you are inspire to do what no one has ever done before, don't seek men's opinion seek for divine direction because men will discourage you. Everyone is born with greatness. Jesus explained in John 9:3 that even the man that was born blind was born that way for the wonders of God to be displayed through him.
You were not born by mistake even if your birth was as a result of rape or prostitution. God created you because you have an important role to play on earth. I have seen many physically challenged people; lame, blind, deaf and even dwarfs do wonders and have reached heights that amazed the world. Look around. You will see them. Don’t be ashamed of who you are. Always believe you are special. Don’t ever feel intimidated, no matter your shape, no matter your look, there is something special in you. People may mock you, they may laugh at you, but you can make good use of what made them laugh at you. The cliché is so true that if the world throws at you a lemon, make a lemonade out of it. If the lame, blind, deaf and dwarfs could astonish the world with incredible exploits, then you have no excuse not to make it in life. Therefore, brace up and face your fear and challenges, stop looking at your limitation. You can do something unique with your disability. So focus on your potential, you will surely smile if you give yourself that necessary push today. That your parents are not wealthy should not make you a failure. There's no height you cannot reach if you work hard and believe. You might not know what you are capable of doing until you give yourself a push. Who told you that you cannot make it? God has given you all you need to make it in life. You can create, invent, build, discover, and achieve what no one else has ever accomplished. Even if you have failed before, rise up and try again. Though no one believes you now, don't be afraid—no matter what they may say. Really, they don’t matter, whatever they say does not count. But you do. You matter, you are important. And you are necessary. You have all it takes to get there, and you will get there if you believe. You'll make it if you don't quit.
If the blind, lame, deaf, and other physically challenged people could invent, create, compose poems and play music, why can't you? Many people believe that life has been unfair to them, they complain about everything and give different excuses for their failures. They complain about their colour, their height, their shape and their origin, but the Bible tells us that we all are fearfully and wonderfully made. Whatever you think you lack today, the truth is, if God had given it to you before now, it may just have gone into your head and led to your destruction. Your shape, colour or height is not a mistake. God knows what is good and perfect for you. No one is useless in this world unless they choose to be. You can only be useful when you realise your gift and potential and display it.
God said in Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come,” and repeated the same in Matthew 5:16 saying "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” That means there is a star in you.
God is able to turn your disability into ability, your shame to fame, and your failure to favour if you turn to Him today. Exodus 4:10-11 says “And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, who hath made man’s mouth? Or who made the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord?”
No one is born by mistake or born to be a failure. Every child is born at a particular time to fulfil a particular destiny. It was not a mistake that you were born in that location. There is a reason why God allowed you to be born into that family. No one determines the time, place of his/her birth nor family to be born into. You can only decide your passion. You cannot decide your destiny, only our Creator decides our destinies. God has a purpose for every one of us.
There's nothing that anyone has achieved in life that you cannot achieve, just carefully watch their steps, the way they did it and repeat it, even if you fail the first time keep repeating until you master it or achieve it. But don’t limit yourself by trying to act like others; no matter the great things they have accomplished in life, you can exceed their great accomplishments. Go the extra mile and do one thing that the world has never seen or heard or have ever imagined. God loves new things, which is why the psalmist writes “sing a new song unto to the Lord.’’ Isaiah 43:18-19; says “Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing.” Even Jesus Christ the Almighty despite all his earthly achievements promised us when he was about to leave the earth in John 14:12 “the works that I do shall you do also; and greater works than these shall you do.” Therefore, if you are a true follower of Jesus Christ and you die without making an impact then, you have failed. Never count on your ability, you must always depend absolutely on the Holy Spirit because God will never show you things you can accomplish by your own ability, He will only show you things you can accomplish through His help. Jesus said in John 15:5; “for without me you can do nothing.” That is why if God were to reveal to you His plan and vision for your life and you tell others, the natural tendency is for them to mock you and snigger behind your back. This is usually so because they do not ‘see’ what you ‘see’ neither do they ‘know’ what you ‘know’. Above all, they do not understand the power of God nor the amazing benefits of faith in God.
There are two major gifts that God gives to every one of us irrespective of our colour, tongue or location before sending us into the world: talent and star.
Everyone is born with a star. When Jesus was born, people saw his star even from a far country and followed it until they located Him. In Matthew 2:22 it says, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
Jesus prayed and said in John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.”
Numbers 24:17 says, “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob.”
Joseph had eleven brothers, and he dreamt that the eleven stars of his brothers bowed to his star. Genesis 37:9 says "And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.”
Who is a star? A star is someone who excels or shines brighter than others. Just like stars in the sky, stars gives light and beauty to the world around them. There are many musicians but there are only few music stars, there are so many football players but there are only few star players. Many schools, families, and countries are known today just because of the stars that emerged from there. Many families and cities are not known today because no star has emerged from them.

There are local stars, national stars, continental stars and international stars. And the choices you make will determine the duration of your brilliance; and how you use your star eventually determines if you will shine forever or be doomed forever. Daniel 12:2-3, says ''And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”
So, every star who uses their talent and fame to turn people away from God will be doomed forever, while those who use their talent and fame to turn people to God will shine forever. This means that they will reign on earth and reign with Christ Jesus when he returns in glory. Matthew 13:43 says "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear”.
The best gift any celebrity or a star can give to the world is pointing them to Jesus.

A star is a celebrity and every star has fans or followers over whom they have much influence, either positively or negatively. Some fans can readily kill or die for their favourite star or celebrity: that is why the devil always seeks for stars with the promise of riches and stardom just to deceive them and use them to control their followers or fans because every star has the power to turn their fans or followers to either wickedness or righteousness. A star will say something or make a sign, usually coded, and their fans or followers will repeat the same, either evil or good. "If you use your talent to glorify God, God will use his hands to beautify your life."

Even in heaven angels are known as stars. The Bible says in Job 38:7, “When the morning stars sang together”; referring to the angels. Revelation 1:20 says “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the seven angels”. Lucifer was also a star in heaven but he fell because he attempted to exalt himself above the other stars of God. Isaiah 14:12, 13 says “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God”. When Lucifer was cast down, the Bible says in Revelation 12:4, “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven; and cast them to the earth”. So Lucifer convincingly deceived one third of the angels of heaven to rebel against God; and Jude 1:13; says “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever”.

Glory is the brightness of a star. 1 Corinthians 15:41 says “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differed from another star in glory”. The Bible also says in Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”Therefore, a bright shiny star could properly symbolize the reflection of God’s glory upon a man; and according to Matthew 5:45; “God makes his sun (glory) to rise on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust.” This is why many unjust people also prosper in life. But you must strive to be among the just because Romans 2:3-7 says "And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and does the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his (God) goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life”
Though there is a seed of greatness or a star inside of you, but you can only shine when your light breaks forth. Isaiah 58:8 says, “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning.”
No matter how talented and gifted you may be, without your star shining, no one will celebrate you. It is only your star that can bring your talent to the limelight. Many people are gifted and talented in music, football, and so on, but only a few are celebrated, why? Their stars make the difference. When your star begins to shine, you automatically become a force to be reckoned with. Many people will begin to act like you, talk like you, walk like you, dress like you, wear clothes with your name emblazoned on it, even those who are not your friends will claim they are.

Your gift or talent can bring you before kings and presidents but your star (glory) will make kings and presidents come to you. Matthew 2:2 says "for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” Proverbs 22:29 says "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings.” Isaiah 60:3; says “Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 04.02.2020
ISBN: 978-3-7487-2844-3

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