IS IT REALLY A GOOD FRIDAY?

"It was about twelve o'clock when the sun stopped shining and darkness covered the whole country until three o'clock; and the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and died.  There was a man named Joseph from Arimathea, a town in Judea. ...He went into the presence of Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin." -Luke 23:44-46, 50, 54 (Good News)

It was a dark Friday that eventually turned out to be the best Friday in the history of man. Heaven and earth stood still as the deadly nails of sin pierced through the flesh of the Saviour. The terrible hammer of judgment broke the phalanges of the only begotten son of God. He was beaten, bruised and humilated on that old rugged cross for the offenses he did not commit. He fought with the beast of second death and won galantly. What a good day! What a victory! But that Friday was not a Good Friday for everyone in Jerusalem. For those who betrayed Jesus, it was the beginning of their dark days on earth and in Hell. For those who surrendered their lives to him, those who loved him like John the beloved, Mary Magdalene and the other disciples, it was a Victorious Friday, when the cleansing flood from Calvary mountain swept the sting of the second death away. For the thief who repented on the cross at the last minute,  it was indeed a good and glorious Friday (Luke 23:43). For the second thief who was adamant and unremorseful, that Friday was the beginning of his journey into the city of unending pains which is located in the dark dungeon of Hell ( Matthew 13:49-50).

Beloved, as you celebrate Good Friday today, please consider these questions: Is it really going to be a Good Friday for you? Have you obeyed the Lord's call of salvation?  If you have not, then, like those many unrepentant people in Jerusalem, this Friday cannot be a "Good Friday" for you. That is the hard truth! And that is why you must repent today so that the precious blood that was shed for you on this day, over 2000 years ago can wipe away your stain of sin. Please don't delay it any further. If you are saved, please tell someone about Jesus today and am sure you will not miss your reward in heaven.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. .....Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him." John 3:16-18 (MSG)

The wordings of a wonderful poem written by Rose Newman explains how that dark or black Friday in Luke 23:44 became a "Good Friday" for us.  Please join me on this beautiful Good Friday morning to meditate on this poem below as we realign our lives with the story of God's love: 

HIS LOVE

Have you ever stopped to wonder
Why they called Good Friday “good”?
It seems to me that sad, black day
Could be misunderstood.

How His Father must have anguished
As He watched His dear Son die,
And not for crimes that He had done,
But for sinners such as I.

What kind of love could be so great,
To suffer willingly
The penalty for someone else;
His blood was shed for me.

But then when Sunday came around
And death had lost its sting,
That glorious morn’ was victory
For Jesus Christ, the King!

Now He’s alive for evermore.
The Father’s will was done.
Forgiveness, pardon, full and free,
By trusting in God’s Son.

It was a “good” Good Friday
For the thief who died there too;
He took his place in Heaven
When that long, dark day was through.

I am grateful to my Saviour:
My life to Him I owe.
I’ll serve and love Him always,
Because He loved me so".

May I use this opportunity to invite you to our Easter 2018 Let's Go a Fishing program. The theme is: Alive. Date: Friday, March 30 - Saturday, March 31, 2018. Venue: Abati Nursery & Primary School. 14, Abati Close, off Samuel Street, Vulcanizer Bus stop. Akowonjo. Lagos, Nigeria, Time: 4pm. Ministering: Our beloved Daddy, Pastor Amos Olu Adebayo (PICZ-Victory, LP 38).

Good morning and do have a fantastic and blessed Easter Celebration.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit - http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
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FROM TRAGEDY TO TESTIMONY

"And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;  And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it". Genesis  37:23 -24

Few days ago, I overheard someone narrating the plight of some of his friends who were recently laid off by their employer after serving the organisation for more than a decade. I understand many of the people affected by the downsizing exercise had threatened to do everything possible including seeking legal redress against their employer for their reinstatement. While the fellow was still speaking the Holy Spirit flashed these two stories into my mind: the Joseph's (Genesis 37) and the cotton farmers stories. Below is the cotton farmers story:

Several years ago, every farmer in a particular community cultivate cotton. But as the years rolled by, a serious pestilence infested the area in the form of a small beetle that punctured the boll of the plant. As a result, it became almost impossible to bring the plants' growth to maturity. Then, a young scientist who was deeply concerned about the situation began intensive research to see if there is any substitute crop that could be grown in that part of the country. He eventually discovered that planting peanuts would be a more profitable alternative as the crop can be planted and harvested with very little loss. Everyone in the community embraced the idea and few years thereafter, cotton plantation business was forgotten in that community and the community became an outstanding peanut centre of the world. Soon the farmers' profits far exceeded what they had earned from their best cotton yield. Eventually, they discovered that the destructive insect they had feared had actually triggered the research that brought them prosperity. The cotton farmers eventually succeeded in turning around what appears like a tragedy to a testimony.

At times, God often send some destructive beetle into our farms, lives, business, home just to remind us that our season of cotton plantation business is permanently over. That was exactly what God did to Joseph in Genesis 37:23. When the season of his cotton plantation business in his father's compound was over, God arranged for some wicked beetles to puncture the boll of his highly cherished coat of many colours. To everyone in Israel, that was a great tragedy but It was after those wicked beetles had invaded the life of Joseph and stripped him of his much desired coat of many colours that heaven gave him a royal garment (Genesis  41:42-43). Yes, our God is capable of turning what we felt was a tragedy to a blessing. Several years later, everyone understood that God deliberately sent those wicked beetles to push Joseph out of his most cherished cotton plantation business in order to position him for the fulfilment of his God ordained dream/destiny as the paramount ruler (Prime Minister) in a foreign country.

"And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt". Genesis  45:7-8 

Beloved, many people are still planning to continue their old cotton plantation business even when God had informed them that their days in the cotton plantation business is permanently over. Instead of responding positively to the beetle's invasion like Joseph, many people are crying, complaining, fighting, cursing and playing the blame game. They don't seem to understand that those "beetles" were sent by God to redirect their path towards discovering the "peanut" that will produce the award winning harvest that God had destined for them.

My prayer for everyone that is still struggling with their cotton plantation business even when it is obvious that their season of cotton farming has ended, is that God will release some destructive beetles into their farmland before this month is over. God will trigger an unusual event that will help them discover and cultivate the "peanut" that will bring about their much awaited testimonies and breakthroughs. And for anyone who has become a victim of satanic beetle invasion, before this week is over, the east wind will blow upon their farmland and every destructive beetles sent from the pit of hell to waste their harvest shall be destroyed in Jesus mighty name.

This morning, may I urge you to please join me to prayerfully confess and meditate on lyrics of the song below as we trust God to turn what appears like tragedy to testimony. The song which is titled "Turning Around For Me" was composed by VaShawn Mitchell.

TURNING AROUND FOR ME

Sometimes discouraged, but not defeated
Cast down, but not destroyed
There are times I don't understand,
But I believe it's turning around for me

I've had struggles and disappointments,
There are times I felt so alone
Some of my friends, they let me down
But I still believe it's turning around for me

Around for me around for me
Around for me it's turning around for me

Around for me around for me
Around for me it's turning around for me

I can see the breaking of day,
God is making a way
A change is coming for me
If I stand strong and believe
There's no reason to doubt,
I know He's working it out
It's turning around for me

And it won't always be like this
He will perfect that concern in me
And sooner or later, it'll turn in my favor
(Sooner or later, turn in my favor)

It's turning around for me
It's turning around for me

As the Lord God of Heavens lives,  there shall be a major turnaround for you even before this month is over in Jesus name. Amen. But you must surrender your life to Jesus if you sincerely desire this great transformation or turnaround.

Good morning. Trust you will have a great day and a blessed weekend.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit - http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
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THE SCHOOL OF EMOTIONAL MATURITY

“I will tell you about Leviathan’s legs, his strength, and his graceful shape.  No one can pierce his skin. It is like armor!   No one can force him to open his jaws...... Arrows don’t make him run away.  Rocks thrown at him seem as light as chaff.  When a wood club hits him, it feels to him like a piece of straw. He laughs when anyone throws a spear at him". - Job 41:12-14, 28-29 (ERV)

Few weeks ago, I walked out of a meeting with a deep wound in my heart after a false allegation was made against me. I was really embarrassed and felt so bad that I was not even given any opportunity to defend myself on the matter. The accusation really got to me and I was emotionally down for days until God spoke to me from the above scripture in Job 41. And while praying and mediating on these scripture, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the story of two warriors cited below:

"There lived an old warrior in a village. One day a young warrior who arrived at the village heard about the exploit of the old warrior and he decided to challenge him (old warrior) so that he will be the first person to defeat him. The young warrior was very smart, strong, energetic and had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent with ease. Until his arrival in that village, nobody had ever lasted more than a few minutes in a fight with him. The old warrior accepted the young warrior’s challenge and as the battle began, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old warrior. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself and left feeling ashamed. The villagers were surprised and then asked the old warrior the following questions. “How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?" The old warrior replied, “If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it, to whom does the gift belong?”.

Like the Leviathan, the old warrior had developed a thick emotional muscles/skin that can fend off the strongest and sharpest arrow in the forest of life. Instead of fighting, crying or yelling, he remained calm and even laughed when spears of accusations was thrown at him by the young warrior. The sizes and weight of the stones of insult and embarrassment could not throw him off balance. 

"Pilate asked him, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?” He answered, “If you say so.” The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations. Pilate asked again, “Aren’t you going to answer anything? That’s quite a list of accusations.” Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed". Mark 15:2-5 (MSG)

Beloved, many of us need to enrol in the school of emotional maturity where that old warrior and our Saviour - Jesus Christ graduated from with distinction. We need to develop strong emotional muscles and stamina that can ward off any verbal gifts of abuses, insults, accusations, reproof and negative cristicism unleashed to throw us off balance. Hence, we must earnestly desire to be more like our Lord and saviour every passing day. Therefore, the lyrics of an old Christian hymn "I want to be like Jesus" should be our watchword and heart cry till we see Christ in glory. This hymn was composed in 1945 by Thomas O. Chisholm. May I urge you to please join me this beautiful Thursday morning to prayerfully sing and meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below:

I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS

I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek,
For no one marked an angry word
That every heard Him speak.

I want to be like Jesus
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain-top,
He met His Father there.

I want to be like Jesus,
I never, never find
That He, though persecuted, was
To any one unkind.

I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good,
So that of me it may be said,
She hath done what she could.

I want to be like Jesus,
Who sweetly said to all,
Let little children come to Me:
I would obey the call.

But oh, I'm not like Jesus,
As any one may see;
Then, gentle Saviour, send Thy Grace,
And make me like to Thee.

My counsel to every old warrior in the journey of life, is that they should continue to trust God for emotional stamina and strength that will make them to keep smiling when persecuted, assaulted or embarrassed unjustly. To every young warrior in the journey, I urge you to please repent and surrender your life, will and emotions to the Almighty God so that He can mould you into the perfect image of His dear son -Jesus Christ.

Good morning and do have a blessed day.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit - http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
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FAKE SOLDIERS ON DUTY

"So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders" - 2 Timothy 2:1-4 (MSG)

The story is told of the military legend Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia. One day on the war path, Alexander and a small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city and Alexander raised his voice and demanded to see the king. When the king arrived, Alexander ordered him to surrender the city and everyone inside. The king laughed, “Why should I surrender to you? You can’t do us any harm!”  But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up in single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a cliff. The people of that town gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, his soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths!  After 10 soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side. The people of that town and their king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to die at the command of this leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.

Unlike the soldiers of Alexander the Great who are genuine and true soldiers indeed, there are many fake soldiers on duty in the kingdom today. Although, they dress and look like a true soldier of the cross but their actions and dispositions toward God's word and their leaders instructions clearly shows that they are fraudsters or criminals in military regalia. Their repentance is not genuine and the depth of their devotion to God is shallow. Their obedience is not total and their love for God has waxed cold. Many earthly kings had refused to surrender to the King of kings because these fake soldiers did not go off the cliff for Christ as commanded. They are a bunch of hypocrites who pretend to be serving God without pledging their complete allegiance to the Commander In Chief of the Armies of the entire Universe.

Beloved,  I hope you are not one of those fake soldiers on duty in the kingdom today. Do you prefer your comfortable cathedral more than the mission field? Do you prefer that your big fully air conditioned sanctuary more than that small church that God is sending you to go and labour for Him? Can you gladly sacrifice your comfort just to please your Commander-In-Chief? Are you truly a man who takes orders like the Centurion (Matthew 8:9)? Can you boldly say what Apostle Paul told the church in Philippians 1:21-" For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" If your answers are not in the affirmative,  I urge you to please repent today and seek God's face for a fresh beginning with Him.

"I’m a man who takes orders and gives orders. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes; to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; ...."Matthew 8:9 (MSG)

The lyrics of a popular Christian hymn titled "Stand Up For Jesus" composed in 1859 by George Duffield Jr.  speaks volume on the subject matter.  Please join me this beautiful Thursday morning to sing and meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful hymn as we trust God to transform us into a true and faithful soldier of the cross till we see Him in glory.

STAND UP FOR JESUS

Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed.

Refrain:
        Stand up for Jesus
        Ye soldiers of the cross;
        Lift high His royal banner,
       It must not, it must not suffer loss.

Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
The trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict
In this His glorious day.
Ye that are men, now serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger.
And strength to strength oppose.

Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you;
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor,
And, watching unto prayer,
Where duty calls, or danger,
Be never wanting there.

Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
The strife will not be long:
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh
A crown of life shall be;
He, with the King of glory,
Shall reign eternally.

As the Lord God of heaven liveth, the song of victory shall be heard in your home this month as you stand up for Christ. And you and I shall be numbered among the overcomers when the battles of this life is finally over in Jesus name.

May I use this opportunity to invite you to the March 2018 special Holy Ghost service of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God. Date: March 1st - 3rd, 2018. Theme: Stronger Than Your Enemies - 3. Time: 7pm daily.  Venue: Redemption Camp,  Nigeria. Ministering: Our beloved Daddy- Pastor E.A Adeboye and other anointed Ministers of God.

Good morning and Happy new month.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit - http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Follow on Twitter: @tammytaiwo
Follow on instagram: @lawontaiwo