MY KINGDOM ANTHEM AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.  For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.  But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit" - Mark 13:9-11 (NLT)

On July 10, 2016, the venue of EURO 2016 final ( Stade de France in Paris) was filled to full capacity as the national football teams of Portugal and France matched majestically into the stadium to compete for the highest football trophy in the whole of Europe. As the footballers lined up and began to recite their national anthem as a mark of devotion and loyality to their respective countries, the Lord asked me a question:  Son, what is your Kingdom Anthem? While struggling to answer the question, some scriptures and lyrics of my favourite hymns on Christians devotion and loyalty flashed into my mind. I thought I had answered the question until few days ago when God ministered to me through the lyrics of a hymn titled- "I pledge allegiance to the Lamb". After meditating on the lyrics of the hymn, I was persuaded that there is no better Anthem to reaffirms Christians loyalty and devotion to God like this wonderful hymn. The hymn was written by Raymond Howard "Ray" Boltz in 1994. May I urge you to please join me this beautiful monday morning to sing and meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful hymn of devotion and loyalty below:

I PLEDGE ALLEGENCE TO THE LAMB

I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tryant's throne
And they were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they choose to die
The Son of God they could not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring.

Refrain:
          I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
          With all my strength, with all I am
          I will seek to honor His commands
          I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

Now the years have come, and the years have gone
But the cause of Jesus still goes on
Now our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the one who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say

To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

Beloved, have you pledge allegiance to the Lamb of God that bore your pains, shame and eternal sorrow on that old rugged cross? Have you forsaken the world completely and embrace the cross. Have you received the gift of eternal life? Have you denied the Son of God for worldly gains, approvals and applauds? Can you boldly say that your name is in the book of life? If the trumpet sounds today, are you sure you will rise to reign with Christ in the city of Gold?  If your answer to these questions are not positive,  then, I urge you to please pledge allegiance to the Lamb by surrendering your life to Him today. If your answer is positive, please call upon God to help you remain steadfast until the trumpet sound. May God grant us grace to endure to the end in Jesus name.

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved"- Mark  13:13 (KJV)  

Good morning and do have a blessed week and glorious new month.

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles please visit - http://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com.
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LORD, HELP ME TO CONTROL WHAT I  SAY

"A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell" James 3:4-6 (Message)

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and  the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. Words can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

There is a Yoruba proverb that says - "Eyin lohun, toba ti jabo kose ko mo" meaning "words are like eggs, once it falls you can't pick it up again". As it is impossible to put together a broken egg so it is to recall a bad or unkind word spoken in anger. King David's sound  understanding of the effect of unkind words made him cry to God for help as follows:- "Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad. Take away any desire to do evil. Keep me from joining the wicked in doing wrong. Help me stay away from their feasts"- Psalms 141:3-4  (Easy to Read Version)

Beloved, can you imagine the numbers of people that are living with scars/deep holes/wounds in their hearts today as a result of those wicked nails of unkind words that you hammered into the fence of their life.? How many verbal wounds have you inflicted on your children, spouse, neighbours, siblings, friends, colleagues, parents, In-Laws, church members? I urge you to please ask for their forgiveness today. Like king David, please pray that from today God will to set a guide on your mouth and forcefully take away the desire to do evil or say unkind/bad words to everyone around you in Jesus name.

Reverend Andrew Pratt's hymn below on the subject speaks volume. The hymn ends with a prayer point that I love. The prayer is "God give us grace to speak with care". May I urge you to please make this prayer your heart's  cry to God this week.

REIGN IN YOUR TONGUE
Reign in your tongue, have self control,
Then think of all you do or say,
We need to answer ill with Love,
To find that there's another way

Things that we say, or think, or do,
Can change  the way that we behave,
Can alter how we treat our friends,
As little ripples forms a wave,

God give us grace to speak with care,
To cherish truth, give others worth,
To build each other up in love,
By speaking good throughout this earth.

This week, for everyone who have been careless with the nails and hammers in their tongues, I pray that God will give them the grace to speak with care henceforth. For those who were victims of those deadly nails and wicked hammers; people who are living with deep verbal wounds in their heart, as the Lord God of Heaven lives, before the sun set today, God will heal those deep wounds and give you grace to forgive everyone responsible for the scars in Jesus name. Amen

Good morning and do have a week full of pleasant surprises in Jesus name. Amen

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles please visit - http://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com.
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ARE YOU TRULY SAVED?

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" - John 3: 3,15 - 17

Several years ago, the Lord inspired a young lady to ask a man who was about to  give his offering a question, The question was,  Sir,  Are you truly saved? The man replied and said " Yes,  off course" but the lady was not satisfied and she pursued the matter further: "I mean, have you really given your life to the Lord?". At this point, the man thought he should enlighten this persistent woman concerning his identity: "I am the chancellor of a university, I am also the President of its school of theology." The lady considered his response for a moment, and then replied, "Sir, it doesn’t matter what position you occupy, or what you have accomplished, you can still be genuinely saved."

Friends, I perceive God is asking you and I the same question today. Are you truly saved? If Jesus returns today, will you be able to go with him to the City of Delight? Will you breast the tape at the finish line? The wordings of this great christian hymn composed by Mrs C.H Morris speaks volume on the subject:

HAVE YOU GIV'N YOUR HEART TO JESUS

"Have you giv’n your heart to Jesus, do you now to him belong?
Will you be among the number of the happy blood-washed throng
Who around God’s throne forever sing the hallelujah song?
Will you, will you be one?

Refrain:
Yes, by God’s assisting grace I will run the Christian’s race,
And I’ll be among the ransomed over there;
In that city of delight where our faith is lost in sight,
By the grace of God I’ll meet you there.

Will you be among the number who their golden sheaves will bring
To the feet of their Redeemer and unite to crown him King,
Joining in the shouts of triumph making heaven’s arches ring?
Will you, will you be one?

Will you be among the number of the soldiers brave and true
Who, in spite of all against them, with their Lord are going through?
Will you gather in the homeland at that glorious, grand review?
Will you, will you be one?

As the virgins wise were waiting, are you watching day and night
For the coming of the Bridegroom, with your lamps all trimm’d and bright;
Ready with the saints to gather dressed in garments spotless white?
Will you, will you be one? "

Beloved, it's possible to receive many awards/titles and qualifications on earth and still have your name missing in the Lamb’s ultimate book of Honour in heaven. It's possible to be called a "Deacon, Deaconess, Pastor, Apostle, Evangelist, Bishop or even Pope" here on earth and still end up in hell like Apostle Judas Iscariot and Deacon Demas. It's possible to build cathedrals on earth for God and still end up in the place of eternal torment. It's possible to preach "great sermon" on earth and still miss the "great banquet" in heaven. It's possible to be a wonderful song writer and worship leader on earth and still not be among the Choirsters singing Halleluyah in heaven like Lucifer the Great singer.

Friend, please be sincere with yourself today. Are you truly saved? Will you be among the ramsomed ones over there? If your answer to these questions is "No", I urge you to please repent and surrender your life genuinely to God today. But, If your answer is "Yes", then, I trust God to grant you grace to run the eternal race faithfully to the finish line in Jesus name. And as for me and my family, by the grace of God, we will see you there (City of Delight) in Jesus name. Amen.

Good morning and do have a blessed week.

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

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DON'T WITHHOLD YOUR BEST WINE

"All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee." - Numbers  18:12 

There is a story about an old village in Spain. The people of this village heard the king planned to visit them. They were excited because no king had ever done that before. So naturally, they wanted to offer a great celebration that would show their adoration and that would honour the king. But what could a village of such "poor" people offer?  Someone proposed that since so many of the villagers made their own wines,  very good wines,  they could offer that to please the king. And they decided that they would all take some of their best wine, and combine them as a gift for the king.


On the day of the king’s arrival, they all came to the village square early in the morning with a large cup of their finest wine and poured their offering into a small opening at the top of a large barrel. They were excited to see the king enjoy the best wine he had ever tasted. When the King eventually arrived, he was escorted to the village square where he was ceremoniously presented with a silver cup and invited to draw wine from the barrel. He was told the villagers were delighted to have him taste the best wine they had to offer. He filled his cup from the spigot/valve,  and when he drank the wine, to his surprise he tasted only water. Had someone stolen all of the wine that was meant for the king? The answer is "No". Each villager had reasoned, "I’ll withhold my best wine and give water. There will be so many cups of excellent wine poured into the barrel that mine will never be missed.”

Beloved, many of us are like the people in the story above. We are fond of giving the leftovers to the King. We withhold our best wine from God, our employer, spouse, children, natural or departmental groups in church, business partners, customers, leaders and of course our nation. We believed no one will miss that little input of ours. We are fetching water for the King instead of brewing the best wine for Him. Friends, May I urge you to please offer your best wine to the King of kings (God) and everyone that comes your way this week. Don't withhold your best wine but rather pour it all out into the barrel this week. Yes, give it your very best shot.

No other hymn clearly expresses God's mind on this subject matter like the hymn titled "Give of Your Best to the Master". This wonderful hymn was composed by Pastor Howard Benjamin Grose in 1902. May I urge you to please make the lyrics of this beautiful hymn below your watchword this week.

GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE MASTER

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor,
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

Refrain:
           Give of your best to the Master;
           Give of the strength of your youth;
           Clad in salvation’s full armor,
           Join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration;
Give Him the best that you have.

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

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles please visit - http://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com.ng
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DON'T OFFLOAD YOUR CARGO INTO THE SEA

"Next day, out on the high seas again and badly damaged now by the storm, we dumped the cargo overboard. The third day the sailors lightened the ship further by throwing off all the tackle and provisions. It had been many days since we had seen either sun or stars. Wind and waves were battering us unmercifully, and we lost all hope of rescue" - Acts 27:18-20 (MSG).

The storm of life is capable of luring people into things they may later regret in future. In the heat of the moment, people do things that they would not otherwise have done ordinarily. That was exactly what happened in the above bible passage where the people in the ship were offloading their precious possessions into the sea. In order to survive the storm, they threw caution into the wind and  embraced the "quick fix" approach. They don't seem to remember the wise counsel of an old and experienced seaman below: 

"During the fiercest storms the only way a ship can survive is to keep its nose pointed straight into the wind. If you try to turn to the left or the right, the ship may capsize. If you try to run from the wind, the waves can surge over the stern." (Unknown)

While searching for "quick fix" or "shortcut" in midst of a stormy sea, many precious jewels have been offloaded into the belly of the sea carelessly. Many sailors are now looking left and right for an easy way out instead of focusing on cruising safely to the finish line. They have become diabolic and callous. Some highly revered believers and religious leaders have offloaded their cargoes into the sea while searching for power, affluence and wealth. Their anointing have been poured into the sea and they are now nothing but celebrated herbalists, spiritualists and occultists. What a great tragedy? 

Beloved, I hope you have not offloaded any of your cargo into the sea yet? Is your cargo of salvation,  consecration,  sanctification,  holiness still on board or have you thrown it into the sea? Have you thrown your virginity, dignity and integrity into the sea? What about the seven locks of hair upon your head? Where is the aura of God's glory and presence you used to carry? Are you sure you have not offloaded it into the sea? If you have, I urge you to please retrace your steps to where you lost it. Repent and plead for mercy today because without genuine repentance, am afraid your ship will soon capsize in the middle of the sea of life. 

Friends, are you in the middle of a threatening sea financially, maritally, emotionally today? Have you already considered some of the "quick fixes" or "shortcuts" with the future negative consequences? Please don't do it!. Remember the wise counsel of Apostle Paul and that of the old seaman above. In the midst of the raging storm, please don't turn away from God. Don't look for "shortcuts" or "quick fixes". Don't offload your cargo into the sea. Don't offload your love for God. Don't offload your God given dream, visions and passion for His Kingdom. Don't offload your commitment to God and His Kingdom. Yes, please don't stop giving, witnessing, praying and fasting. Don't close down the house fellowship in your house. Don't offload your attendance at church and house fellowship. Don't even jump out of your boat. Don't blame yourself, your spouse, your parents for the storm. But rather, please act wisely  by turning towards God, seek His face and serve Him faithfully. Remember, things will never look up for you until you start looking up to God alone.

One special song that summarises the counsel of Apostle Paul to everyone on board the ship with him is titled " The Church Triumphant". 

THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT by Gaither Vocal Band (released Sept 8, 2009)

Let the church be the church, let the people rejoice.
Oh, we've settled the question,
We've made our choice.
Let the anthems ring out, songs of victory swell
For the church triumphant is alive and well

This ship's been through battles before
Storms and tempests and rocks on the shore

Tho' the hull may be battered,

Inside it's safe and dry
It will carry its cargo to the port in the sky

Let the church be the church
Let the people rejoice.
Oh, we've settled the question,
We've made our choice.
Let the anthems ring out, songs of victory swell

For the church triumphant is alive and well.

Is alive, is alive, is alive
For the church triumphant is alive and well.

God has always had a people.
Many foolish conqueror has made the mistake

of thinking that because he'd driven the Church of Jesus Christ out of sight, 

that he had stilled it's voice and snuffed out it's life
but God has always had a people

The powerful current of a river is not diminished
because it is forced to flow underground.
The purest water is the stream that bursts crystal clear into the sunlight

after it has forced its way through solid rock. 

There are charlatans, who like Simon the magician
sought to barter on the open market this power which cannot be bought or sold
but God has always had a people;
men who could not be bought and women who were beyond purchase

"With our appetite for both food and life long gone, Paul took his place in our midst and said, “Friends, you really should have listened to me back in Crete. We could have avoided all this trouble and trial. But there’s no need to dwell on that now. From now on, things are looking up! I can assure you that there’ll not be a single drowning among us, although I can’t say as much for the ship—the ship itself is doomed"- Acts 27:21-22 (MSG)

This day, I stand like Apostle Paul to declare that from now on, things shall begin to look up for everyone in the middle of stormy sea financially, academically, spiritually, materially,  emotionally,  maritally in Jesus name. The Almighty God who specializes in calming raging storms will step into your ship today to rescue and help you to sail smoothly to your desired destinations even before this month is over in Jesus mighty name. And as the Lord lives, you and I shall be among those faithful ones that will reach the Golden Shore with our cargoes intact. The stormy sea of this world will not swallow our faithful service, rewards and testimonials in Jesus name.  

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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