THE SIX HOUR TRANSFORMATION  

"Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,"- John  4:5 -7 & 28

Few days ago while praying and mediating on God's word, the Holy Spirit flashed a phrase into my heart. The phrase is - "It's about the sixth hour". The sixth hour can be described as the hour of total transformation. The Bible is full of many examples of people whose lives were miraculously transformed by God, but the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4 was quite unique.

In John 4, Jesus transformed the destiny of a Samaritan woman at the sixth hour. Before that sixth hour encounter at the well, the story of that Samarian woman was not a pleasant one at all. Her destiny was decorated with stickers/logos of loneliness, failures,  stagnation, disappointment and rejection. But when she entered fully into her sixth hour of transformation, she became a living testimony herself. Within a twinkle of an eye,  she moved from the "Waiting List of Life" (WLL) into the "Blessed List of Life" (BLL). What a great transformation? What a sudden change of story? .

But how did it all happen? One day, it was few minutes to the sixth hour when the woman left her home alone to fetch water on a sunny day from Jacob's well. Ideally, women traveled together to the well in the cool of the day to escape the heat of the sun. But this woman walked by herself alone during the hottest time of the day. Instead of avoiding the scorching sun, she went to the well at noon to avoid the scorching pain of others' rejection and judgment. She was practically running from those who knew of her failures, shame and imperfections. As far as this woman was concerned,  being alone was even better and easier than hearing the condemning words and seeing the scornful looks of others. But she did not know that that same hour/day/month will be her time of total transformation. She got to the well frustrated and confused but left with great joy bubbling within her soul. After that sixth hour encounter with the living water, Heaven terminated her loneliness and her entire life changed completely. Jesus spoke words of assurance and acceptance into the broken, insecure, empty places of her heart.

Beloved, I have a good news for you. It's about the sixth hour of year 2017 and the God of All Flesh is ready to give you your sixth hour testimony of transformation. The same power that changed the destiny of that Samaritan woman will invade your destiny in the month of June and give you your long awaited, complete and total transformation in Jesus name. How will that Samaritan woman explain her transformation? Will the people believe her story? Yes, am sure her story will be too difficult to believe. Therefore, In the name that is above every other names, before the sixth hour of this year is over, my God will give you the kind of testimony that will be too difficult to believe in Jesus name. How I wish your faith can handle this? How I wish you can trust God for your own sixth hour testimony this month? Friends, are you ready for a change of story?  If you are ready, then please surrender your life to Jesus and God will use your life to showcase his wonders to the whole world.

Happy new month and God bless you In Jesus name.

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

DO YOU HAVE AN ANCHOR ? - 2 

"These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he says something, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. So these two things are a great help to us who have come to God for safety. They encourage us to hold on to the hope that is ours. This hope is like an anchor for us. It is strong and sure and keeps us safe. It goes behind the curtain". Hebrews 6:18-19 (ERV)

Early this morning, while meditating on the above scripture, I remembered the story of Mrs Ruth Caye Jones. It was shortly after the World War II in 1943, when the world economies were at breaking points with rations everywhere. Everyone was living under incredible strain. And in the midst of the hardship, the Holy Spirit beam the light of God's word in the above scriptures into the heart of Mrs Jones and she composed another wonderful hymn titled:"In Times Like These We Need An Anchor". Since that day the hymn has been a blessing to countless Christians at special times of need. It has brought comfort during illnesses, has been used widely at funerals, has encouraged and challenged believers, and has drawn many to salvation.

Beloved, in times like these everyone needs an anchor. But the question is; Do you have an anchor? Who is your anchor? Is it your Uncle, your spouse, your boss, your parents, your clients, your business partners, your Pastor, Federal Government or Jesus Christ? Is your anchor holding the Solid Rock? Dear friends, In times like these you must be very sure that your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock. But If you are not sure, then I urge you to please connect your ship to the True Anchor - Jesus Christ today and He will go behind the curtains of life on your behalf and calm the raging seas for you.

This morning, may I urge you to please open up your heart and meditate on the wordings of this beautiful hymn.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE WE NEED AN ANCHOR

"In times like these we need a Savior;
In times like these we need an anchor.
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the One.
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these we need the Bible.
In times like these O be not idle.
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, the One.
This Rock is Jesus, God’s only Son!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!"

In case, you are experiencing untold hardship and pains today, please be assured that the Great Anchor is right beside you. Therefore, you cannot perish in the World War of Life. His everlasting arms are right underneath your ship , so you cannot sink in the oceans of life. And as the Lord God of Heavens lives,  before this week is over, the Great Anchor will reverse the downward trend and give you many reasons to celebrate in the midst of it all.

Good morning and do have a blessed week in Jesus name.  Amen.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

DO YOU HAVE AN ANCHOR? 

".... So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us. We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary". Hebrews 6:18-19 (GNT)

Several years ago, a farmer who owned land along the Atlantic seacoast constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.  Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk,  and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up!  A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the livestock feeds had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the cages, and the doors were barred.The shutters were tightly secured.  Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

Beloved, can you sleep when the wind blows? Yes, you can if only you have an anchor that is fastened to the Rock of Ages which is safe and secure (Heb 6:19). The hired hand in the story above was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. Why not secure your life against the raging storms today by fastening your soul completely to the Great Anchor of Life?.

"Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, “Master, save us! We’re going down!” Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?” Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: “Silence!” The sea became smooth as glass"-  Matthew 8:23-26 (MSG)

A wonderful hymn written by Priscilla J. Owens in the late 1800s speaks volume on  the subject. Please join me to  sing and meditate on the wordings of this wonderful hymn titled "We Have An Anchor".

WE HAVE AN ANCHOR

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain:
         We have an anchor that keeps the soul
         steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
         fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
         grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rave, and the wild winds blow,
shall the angry waves then your bark o'erflow?

Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,
when the waters cold chill your latest breath?
On the rising tide you can never fail,
while your anchor holds within the veil.

Will your eyes behold through the morning light
the city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
when life's storms are past for evermore?"

In case, your boat is in the middle of a stormy sea today, as the God of Heaven lives, before this week is over, God will arise on your behalf to calm the raging sea and rebuke the wide wind. Yes, it is written, that stormy sea shall be as smooth as glass for you in Jesus name.

Good morning and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles please visit - http://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com.ng

WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER 

"Then I saw a large white throne. I saw the one who was sitting on the throne. Earth and sky ran away from him and disappeared. And I saw those who had died, great and small, standing before the throne. Some books were opened. And another book was opened—the book of life. The people were judged by what they had done, which is written in the books.  And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire" Revelation 20:11-12, 15 ERV

In 1893, James M. Black, a Meth­od­ist Sun­day school teach­er and the President of a Youth Fellowship met a girl of fourteen, whom he invited to join the Fellowship and to attend Sunday School. She attended for a time, but one evening, when the fellowship’s roll of members was called, and each member responded but there was no response from this girl. She did not show up, and Mr Black was dis­ap­point­ed at her fail­ure to ap­pear and he made a com­ment to the ef­fect, “Well, I trust when the roll is called up yon­der, she’ll be there.”

Remarking on her absence,  Mr. J. M. Black, further spoke of the sadness of anyone being absent when the names were called of those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and then added the prayer, “O God, when my own name is called up yonder, may I be there to respond!”. After this prayer, he searched the hymn book, for a suitable hymn to sing but could not find any. On reaching home that evening, the wordings of this powerful hymn below came to his mind:

WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER

"When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain:
           When the roll is called up yonder,
           When the roll is called up yonder,
           When the roll is called up yonder,
           When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there."

Beloved, the book of life will soon be opened and the roll called up yonder. But the question is-  Where will you be on that day? The truth is that if you are not genuinely saved/ born again and sanctified you can't be there. My prayer is that on that glorious morning, when the Register of Eternity is opened and our names are called up yonder, you and I shall be there to answer and be ushered into our glorious mansions in the City of Gold.

Good day  and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

THE LAST HURRICANE IS APPROACHING

"When he sees the enemy approaching, he sounds the alarm to warn everyone. If someone hears it but pays no attention and the enemy comes and kills him, then he is to blame for his own death. His death is his own fault, because he paid no attention to the warning. If he had paid attention, he could have escaped" - Ezekiel 33:3-5 (GNT)


"Isaac’s Storm" is a very interesting book about the hurricane that wiped out Galveston in 1900. One of the main plot lines of the book is about how everyone was convinced that a hurricane could never strike Galveston, even as one approached. The author vividly describes how people went about their business as if nothing was wrong and no one fled from the storm that was about to strike. They did not  worry because Mr. Issac Cline, the National Weather Service Officer in Galveston, had assured them that it would not be a severe storm. Some simply believed that Galveston was invincible. Others thought that since they had never seen a hurricane strike Galveston before, one would never happen. So, for a number of reasons, people assured themselves nothing bad would happen. But when the storm eventually struck,  over 6,000 people died on that fateful day in September 1900.

Beloved, the last hurricane is fast approaching the earth. The enemy of man (Satan) is set to harvest the soul of sinners into the place of everlasting torment - i. e. Hell. Unfortunately, many of us are still living carelessly today like the people of Galveston. We believe the hurricane will not strike. Who knows whether this arictle will be the last alarm that God is sending to warn you. So, I urge you to please repent  today and run into the ever waiting arms of our Lord and Saviour- Jesus Christ today. Tomorrow may be too late.

To all my fellow believers who are at ease in their Zion, please listen to what the Spirit of Lord is saying to you today:

"If, however, the lookout sees the enemy coming and does not sound the alarm, the enemy will come and kill those sinners, but I will hold the lookout responsible for their death. Now, mortal man, I am making you a lookout for the nation of Israel. You must pass on to them the warnings I give you" Ezekiel 33:6-7 (GNT).

Beloved, why not sound the alarm so that all the "People of Galveston" around you can hear the warning and be delivered from the terrible hurricane that is approaching ? Please blow the trumpet now so that you will not be held responsible for the death of every unbelievers around you.

The lyrics of a wonderful hymn titled "Sound the Alarm" which was written Fanny J. Crosby speaks volume on the subject.  May I urge you to please join me to sing and meditate on the lyrics of this hymn as we trust God to rekindle in us fresh fire and passion to be faithful Watchmen/Evangelists for Him till He comes.

SOUND THE  ALARM.

Sound the alarm! Let the watchman cry!
“Up! for the day of the Lord is nigh;
Who will escape from the wrath to come?
Who have a place in the soul’s bright home?”

Chorus:
           Sound the alarm, watchman! Sound the alarm!
           For the Lord will come with a conqu’ring arm;
           And the hosts of sin, as their ranks advance,
           Shall wither and fall at His glance.

Sound the alarm! Let the cry go forth,
Swift as the wind, o’er the realms of earth;
“Flee to the Rock where the soul may hide!
Flee to the Rock! in its cleft abide!”

Sound the alarm on the mountain’s brow!
Plead with the lost by the wayside now:
Warn them to come and the truth embrace;
Urge them to come and be saved by grace.

Sound the alarm in the youthful ear;
Sound it aloud that the old may hear;
Blow ye the trump while the day-beams last!
Blow ye the trump till the light is past!

Good day and God bless you.  Amen

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

SWIMMING IN THE DEEP END 

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; ............" -  2 Corinthians  12:15  .

Whenever a new employee resumes at Apple, he/she receives an inspirational note that reads thus :

"There’s work and there’s your life’s work. The kind of work that has your fingerprints all over it.The kind of work that you’d never compromise on. That you’d sacrifice a weekend for. You can do that kind of work at Apple. People don’t come here to play it safe. They come here to swim in the deep end. They want their work to add up to something. Something big. Something that couldn’t happen anywhere else. Welcome to Apple" - (http://www.cultofmac.com, May 7, 2012)

In 2 Corinthians 12:15, the Holy Spirit gives an account of someone who decided to have his fingerprints boldly inscribed on everything committed into his hands. His name is Apostle Paul. He was affirmative about his desire to go extra miles in order to make his calling and election sure. Apostle Paul was ready to "swim in the deep end" at all times. He wanted to give the very best of everything he had, that is - "to spend and be spent" so that his kingdom service or stewardship can add up to something great. Unlike, Demas, Apostle Paul wasn't going to render a "play it safe" service. He wasn't planning to render "eyes service" either, but he was set to do the kind of work that will enable him put an indelible mark of great exploit on the sand of time. Unlike Gehazi and Judas Iscariot, he wasn't ready to render a "Is there anything in it for me service?".

Apostle Paul created a culture of kingdom work ethics that made him outshine his colleagues and even his superiors in the race of destiny.  Due to his dodged commitment and unflinching loyalty to the heavenly mandate, his life and kingdom exploit became a reference point for everyone in his generation even up till this day. According to Bible scholars, Apostle Paul witnessed to uncountable soul and God also used him to write 14 out of the 27 books of the New Testament. That is a feat that only someone who  truly "swimmed in the deep end" for God can achieve.

Beloved, as God called Apostle Paul, God is calling you and I to go "swim in the deep" for him. There is  work for all to do. The harvest field is ready but committed workers, who are willing to swim in the deep end are very few (Luke 10:2). Please be sincere with yourself. Are you among this few ones? Are you swimming in the shallow portion or deep end? Do you really want your works to add up to something great? Then get actively involved in the kingdom work like Apostle Paul. Whenever you do his work wholeheartedly, God will definitely give you a pat at the back and decorate you with the Crown of Rejoicing. A wonderful hymn "There's a work for all to do" which was composed by Katie Sheffield in 1924, corroborates this fact. May I urge you to please join me to meditate on the lyrics of this hymn.

THERE'S A WORK FOR ALL

In the harvest field now ripened
There's a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.

Refrain
           Little is much when God is in it!
           Labor not for wealth or fame.
          There's a crown — and you can win it,
           If you go in Jesus' Name.

In the mad rush of the broad way,
In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus' love and mercy,
Give to them the Word of Life.

Does the place you're called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He'll not forget His own.

Are you laid aside from service,
Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle,
In the sacred place of prayer.

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
"Welcome home, My child — well done!"

Good morning and do have splendid week. God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo