HOLD ON! HELP IS ON THE WAY

"Yes, I am the Lord , your God. I will hold on to your right hand. I say to you, “Do not be afraid. I will help you.”- Isaiah 41:13 (EASY)

In the Novel "A Tale of Two Cities" Charles Dickens paints a picture of the French Revolution in 1775. One day, there was a grim procession of prisoners on the streets of Paris to the guillotine (instrument used for beheading people). In one of the processions was Sidney Carton, a brave man and a young weak lady. The young lady noticed the gentleness and courage on the face of Sidney. She said to him "If I may ride with you, will you let me hold your hand? I am not afraid, but I am little weak, and it will give me more courage." So they rode together, her hand in his; and when they reached the place of execution there was no fear in her eyes. She looked up into the quiet composed face of her companion, and said "I think you were sent to me by heaven".

Beloved, did you wake up this day standing before a terrifying gallow? Are you so weak, worried, sick, confused and helpless like the young lady in the above story. Are you few miles away from that horrible guillotine of marital shame, financial embarrassment, emotional trauma and spiritual breakdown? Is your boat about to capsize in the middle of a deep sea with no hope of survival? Is the cloud around you so tight and dark with no ray of light in view? Are you already thinking of committing suicide just to avoid the looming shame and embarrassment ahead? Please hear the word of the Lord:

"....Tell this to the folk in Jabesh Gilead: ‘Help is on the way. Expect it by noon tomorrow.’” The messengers set straight off and delivered their message. Elated, the people of Jabesh Gilead sent word to Nahash:.." - 1 Samuel  11:9 (MSG)

According to the word of the Lord, the help that your destiny is waiting for shall locate you by this time tomorrow in Jesus name. As the Lord God of Heavens lives, your story will end with gladness and great joy in Jesus name. I hereby stand under the canopy of His grace as messenger of the Most high God this day to announce/declare that your Jabesh Gilead shall receive strange, unexpected and timely help throughout this year and beyond in Jesus name. The helper of the helpless shall connect you to the fellow who will hold those weak and feeble hands of yours (financially, emotionally, academically,  spiritually and maritally) and take you from the prison to the palace before this year is over. For your sake, Angels shall be transformed into human beings to bail you out miraculously before this month is over. Yes, the help that you need is already on the way. As the Lord lives, you will not be stranded. 

"Help Is On The Way" is the title of a special song that describes how the Almighty God will send help to your Jabesh Gilead and make you to rejoice again. May I urge you to meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful song below as you look forward to receiving mysterious help from God before this month is over.

HELP IS ON THE WAY by Michael W. Smith

People say time will heal
But you know, they just don't feel what you feel
Times are hard but God is so good
He's never failed you, and He said He never would
He see's your tears
He fights your fears

Chorus:
       Hold on, help is on the way
       He said he'd never leave you or forsake you

Stay strong
Help is on the way
He'd said he'd help you
Just reach out and take his hand
He knows your heart, He lifts your head
He's always close enough to hear every word you said

When you're weak, He said He's so much more
His arm is long enough to reach you where you are
He see's your tears
He fights your fears

I pray for everyone in the troubled sea this day, that God will dispatch help to them speedily.  You will not be humiliated because the Waymaker will make a way for you before it is too late. And very soon, you will sing a new song in Jesus name. However, you must repent and surrender your life to Jesus Christ to receive help from the Almighty God. Please do that today.

Good day and God bless you in Jesus name.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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WILL YOU GO EMPTY HANDED?  

“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil......". John 15:16 (MSG)

"....None of you are to appear before Me empty-handed". Exodus 34:20 (AMP)

One of my favourite hymn on Christian service and soul winning is an old hymn titled "Must I go empty handed?". The hymn was composed  by Evangelist C. C Luther in 1877 after he heard a preacher narrating the story of a young man who was about to die after he had been a Christian for only one month. Although, he was grateful to God for the salvation of his soul towards the end of his days on earth, but he was not happy that he never had enough opportunity to share the gospel with others. This deep burden must have made the young convert to make the following thought provoking statements before he eventually passed on: “I am not afraid to die; Jesus saves me now. But must I go empty handed?”

Ever since I read the lyrics of that great hymn, I can hardly go a week without asking myself the same old question that the young man posed to himself several years ago. The young convert's question summarizes the heart beat of God which must be the top priority of every genuine believer as the countdown to the end of age has began.

Unfortunately, many of us have been saved for years without a handful of converts in the kingdom. Our heads, pockets, wardrobes and shoe racks are full but our hands are completely empty or partially empty. People are hailing us but God is grieved that we are approaching eternity empty-handed. We have many ordination certificates and academic qualifications but as far as God is concerned some of us are a bunch of fruitless christians occupying space in the kingdom. Many people even address us with big titles like Choir Leader, Chief Usher, Deacon, Deaconess, Pastor, Evangelist, Bishop etc but if we should appear before our master today, He would see nothing but empty hands.

Beloved, please be sincere with yourself. Are you heading to Heaven empty-handed? Are your hands full or empty? What have you got to show the Lord for all the years He has saved you? What have you done with all the days you have spent on earth? When your sojourn on earth is eventually over, will you appear before your Saviour empty-handed? Or will you show God your many worldly perishable fruits/achievements like ordination certificates, academic qualifications, expensive rings/jewelries and wristwatches, lovely wears and shoes, posh automobiles and fat bank accounts? Or will you appear before the Lord with things of eternal worth which is countless souls of men that the Holy Spirit has won into His kingdom through you? The choice is yours and I hope you will choose wisely so that you will not end your journey with regret.

May I urge you to please join me this beautiful Thursday morning to prayerfully meditate on the wordings of that lovely hymn below as we trust God to kindle a fresh fire for soul winning in our heart again:

MUST I GO EMPTY HANDED?

“Must I go, and empty handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?

Chorus:
       “Must I go, and empty handed?”
         Must I meet my Savior so?
         Not one soul with which to greet Him,
         Must I empty handed go?

Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.

O the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I'd gladly bow.

O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet 'tis day;
Ere the night of death o'er take thee,
Strived for souls while still you may.

My prayers for you and my humble self today is that God will unleash upon us unquenchable passion for souls and deep burden to share the gospel, so that rather than living a life of vanity that will later be regretted, we shall redeem our time now and bear fruit unto eternal life (John 4:36).  May we receive the grace to be committed and consistent soul-winners everywhere we find ourselves.

Good morning and do have a blessed day full of ceaseless flow of new things that befits your destiny in Christ Jesus.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE CEASELESS FLOW OF NEW THINGS 

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’ —the coyotes and the buzzards— Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me". Isaiah 43:18-21 (MSG)

There is a story of a very poor woman who called in during a radio programme asking for help from God. An unbeliever who was listening to the radio programme decided to make fun of the woman. He got her address, called his secretary and ordered her to buy a large amount of foodstuff and take to the woman. However, he sent it with the following instruction: "When the woman asks who sent the food, tell her that it is from the devil.'' When the secretary arrived at the woman's house, the woman was so happy and grateful for the help received. She started carrying the food into her small house. The Secretary then asked her, ''Don't you want to know who sent the food?'' The woman replied, ''No, I don't even care because when God orders, even the devil obeys!

The above story clearly demonstrates what happens when God decides to show the world that He actually bears the name that our brethren from the Eastern part of Nigeria (The Igbos) call him. They often describe God as the "Oshimiri Atata" which means "The River That Never Runs Dry".  This implies that whenever His children's crucible of oil (physical, financial, emotional, marital, spiritual, academic etc) is about drying up or has already dried up, the "Oshimiri Atata" Himself can trigger the flow of new things again. Often times, he does this by giving order to anyone (including their enemies) to go help/sort His children out. Yes, the "Oshimiri Atata" himself can compel individuals, organisations, governments and even nations to swiftly release all the new things that His children needs to them. And within a twinkle of an eye, the flow of His mighty river (that never runs dry) will turn scarcity to abundance, sickness to health,  failure to success,  stagnation to promotion, ridicule to miracle, embarrassment to celebration, barrenness to fruitfulness etc.

This year, I trust the "Oshimiri Atata" (The River that never runs dry) to channel His ceaseless flow of new things into our home, business, academic, church, nation. And as the river flows, Individuals, organisations, governments and nations shall  be compelled to release all the new things that will make our journey of year 2018 a splendid one. Everyone warehousing our testimonies shall be forced to vomit them into our hands. The river will also quench the fire of embarrassment burning openly or secretly in every area of our lives. The mountain moving power inside that mighty river will forcefully relocate every terrifying mountains standing tall in our way to the promise land. The healing virtue in that powerful river will cure the incurable and leave the medial doctors dumb-founded. As the river flows, wisdom for witty inventions and uncommon creative abilities shall be unleashed upon us. As the Lord God of heaven lives, before this year is over, you and your entire household shall have many reasons to praise the "Oshimiri Atata" for His ceaseless flow of joy, peace, victory, power, wisdom, sound health, provision, preservation, deliverance etc in your life. However to partake of this uncommon flow of new things, you must surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Please do that today and you will never regret that you did.

Beloved, please join me this beautiful Thursday morning to set up a befitting banqueting table of praise and worship before our Everlasting Father by describing Him in Igbo Language as  the "Oshimiri Atata". The lyrics of the song below which was composed by an highly anointed Nigerian Gospel Song Writer and Singer - Preye Odede in  September 2017  speaks volume on the subject. If you are among the people custom-made to praise the Almighty God, then please sing along with me.

Oshimiri Atata (The River That Never Runs Dry)

Whenever I’m broken
You are there to heal me
As My healer
Oshimiri Atata

Chorus:
Oshimiri Atata x2
Oshimiri Atata x2

Men may disappoint, Yes!
And people may fail me
You alone will stay
Oshimiri Atata

My Doctors may give up
and say it’s all over
in thee I put my trust, Yeah
Oshimiri Atata

Mountain mover,
Way maker
Ekueme
Oshimiri Atata

Repeat Chorus.

If you are truly a child of God, I can assure you that the "Oshimiri Atata"  will see to it that your crucible of oil shall never run dry physically, spiritually,  materially,  emotionally,  financially etc throughout this year in Jesus name.

May I use this opportunity to invite you to the January 2018 Holy Ghost Service of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God.  Theme: "Stronger Than Your Enemies". Date: Friday January 5th, 2018. Venue: Redemption Camp,  Nigeria.  Time: 6pm.  Ministering: Our beloved Daddy G.O- Pastor E.A Adeboye.

Once again, on behalf of my lovely Queen and my humble self,  I welcome you into year 2018 and I wish you a very very Happy New Year. Good morning and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

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