LOVING THE UNLOVABLE

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty". Matthew 5:43-45 (MSG)

Some years ago, a man walking in a desert stumbled upon a snake that had become hopelessly wedged between some fallen trees. The man decided to help the snake, but in the process the snake tried to bite him. The man tried to free the snake a second time. Again, the snake tried to bite the man. Finally, on the third attempt the man succeeded in freeing the snake. And still, the snake coiled and attempted to strike its liberator. The man’s companion, who had observed from a safe distance, asked the man why he continued to risk himself to free the snake. The man responded, “The snake was attempting to strike because that is its nature. My nature is to love. Should I cease to love because the snake attempts to strike?”

In Matthew 5:43-45, our Lord and Saviour told us categorically that we must love people who are unlovable. That is people who want to bring the worst out of us. People who deliberately harm us without any justifiable reason. They attack and vomit their venom upon anyone that cross their path. Do we still have such people around us today?  The answer of course is "yes". But God wants to demonstrate His nature of love to them through us. We are to respond to them with energy of prayers and not hatred, bitterness or revenge. We must not allow their unlovable nature to suppress the loving nature of God in us.

Beloved, have you been bitten recently by people with the nature of a snake?  Is someone making life extremely difficult for you at work or in your neighbourhood, business or ministry? Hope you are not planning to retaliate or seek revenge? Why not respond like the man in the above story? Why not do what our Saviour did when he was being crucified on the Cross of Calvary ( Luke 23:33-34). Yes, you can respond to them with the energy of forgiveness, prayers and love. You can do it too. It's not stupidity or foolishness, it is simply God way of manifesting His nature to the world. And who knows whether through your prayers, good dispositions and show of love, that fellow may eventually come to embrace the Light of this world (Jesus Christ) and be saved.

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." -Luke  23:33-34

The lyrics of a wonderful old time song title "Love Your Enemies" which was composed by Mrs Kate Carpenter (1730 - 1784) speak volume. Could you please join me to meditate on the lyrics of this song as we trust God to help us demonstrate His nature to everyone and especially those who have the nature of snake around us today.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Big bad Saul had a lot of hate.
Tried to send a spear though a man named Dave.
Dave in a cave had to make a choice.
He chose to listen to the heavenly voice.

Chorus:
       If you love those who love you, God is not impressed.
       If you love those who BUG you, that?s when you?ll be blessed.
       Look him in the eye and love the meanest guy.
      Jesus will be pleased.
       Pray for those who persecute you.
       La la la la la la la la love ----- your enemies.

Bloody man dying on the Jericho Road
Priest and the Levite just turned up their nose
Good Sam, what a man, stopped to help that guy
Bound up his wounds so he wouldn?t die.

Now we'll sing a song about deacon Steve,
Willing to die for what he believed in
Got stoned, broken bones, but before he died
Prayed for the guys who tore up his hide.

No one could do it like Jesus could.
Whipped and slapped and nailed to the wood.
Sin couldn?t win ?cuz the Lord, He forgave
And we got the power (we got the power)
We got the power (we got the power)
We got the power when He popped through the grave!

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord,  the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God,- Pastor E. A Adeboye,  I will like to invite you to the June  2018 Holy Ghost service. Date: Friday, June 1st,  2018. Theme: Stronger Than Your Enemies -6 , with the subtitle: Victory Through Praise . Time: 7pm. Venue: Redemption Camp,  Nigeria.  Ministering: Our beloved Daddy G.O - Pastor E.A Adeboye and other anointed Ministers of God.

Good morning and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE GREAT RESCUE MANDATE

"Help those who have doubts. Rescue those who are living in danger of hell’s fire." Jude 1:22 (ERV) 

Our Saviour described what Hell is like in the Holy Scriptures. Hell is an eternal torture chamber designed to house the devil and anyone who refused to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ while on earth. People in Hell will be permanently separated from God, and they will live in great agony forever (Matthew 8:12). It is a place of absolute unrestrained evil where no one would like to be. In Luke 16:27-28, the rich man who died and went to Hell pleaded that someone be send to rescue his five brothers who were still alive so that they will not join him in that place of eternal pain/torment. That is the rescue mandate! 

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the feast in heaven. The rich man died and was buried,  The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father's house,  where I have five brothers. Let him go and warn them so that they, at least, will not come to this place of pain.’"- Luke 16:22, 27-28 (GNB)

Unfortunately, many believers have jettisoned the rescue mandate of Jesus Christ and millions of precious souls are walking majestically into the raging fire of Hell everyday. Friends, I hope you are not among those careless Christians who have refused to join the rescue team. Please hear what God said about those who refused to join His rescue team:

“If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked man, wicked woman, you’re on the fast track to death!’ and you don’t speak up and warn the wicked to change their ways, the wicked will die unwarned in their sins and I’ll hold you responsible for their bloodshed"- Ezekiel 33:6 (MSG)

Beloved, there are many people living in the danger of Hell around us today that Jesus wants to rescue. Can God send you to rescue them? Have you been rescued? Will you gladly share your rescue testimonies/experiences with those who also need to be rescued? Will you join His Rescue Team? If your answer is "Yes", then may I urge you to spend quality time today interceding for those perishing souls, as you prepare to join us on Saturday 25th May, 2019, for the Global Outreach Day to witness Jesus to everyone in our neighbourhood and communities.

In 1869, God inspired the renowned hymnist Fanny J. Crosby to compose a hymn "Rescue The Perishing" that should be our Anthem for the Great Rescue Operation. May I urge you to please prayerfully meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below, and trust God to empower and strengthen you to rescue everyone living in the danger of Hell's fire around you this weekend. 

RESCUE THE PERISHING

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Refrain
          Rescue the perishing,
          Care for the dying,
         Jesus is merciful,
         Jesus will save.

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that; through us God will rescue multitude from the blazing furnace of Hell. Everything that we require to rescue others from the grip of Hell shall be supplied and we shall remain relevant in the agenda of God for the rescue operations till Christ returns. And may we not lose our reward for serving in the rescue team.  

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, I want to invite you to the June 2019 Holy Ghost service. Date: Friday- June 7,  2019. Theme: Swimming In Glory - Part 6 (Born To Sing God's Praise). Time: 7pm (Nigerian Time). Venue: Redemption Camp, Km 46 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, Nigeria.  Ministering: Our beloved Daddy G.O - Pastor E.A Adeboye and other anointed Ministers of God.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE ICARUS PARADOX AND DANGER OF DISOBEDIENCE

"The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.". Proverbs 30:17

"The Icarus Paradox" is a Business Strategy term coined from an ancient Greek tale by Danny Miller, Ph.D in 1990. The story is about a young man called Icarus and his father who were imprisoned by King Minos of Crete. While planning to escape from the prison,  Icarus's father made two sets of wings for himself and his son from beeswax and feathers. And the old man warned his son never to fly too close to the sun but rather to follow his path of flight at all times. However, immediately they flew out of the prison, Icarus ignored his father's warning. He was so excited about his ability to fly and he kept flying higher and higher towards the sun. Suddenly, the heat from the sun melted the wax in his wings, his feathers fell and he eventually plunged into the Sea and died.

"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Proverbs  29:1

The scripture above clearly shows that disobeying parental (biological or spiritual) counsel/guidance carries serious consequences. Disobedience is like a wild fire. When Dinah touched that wild fire, she got her fingers burnt and her destiny ruined (Genesis 34:1-2). And for the rest of her life, she lived with that ugly scar, disgrace and deep pain on the table of her heart. Also, disobedience is a capital offense which attracts death sentence. Samson thought he could handle the consequences of his actions until he was crushed to death by falling bricks in the house of Dragon (Judges 16:30). The final judgment of God upon any disobedient child in Proverbs 30:17 cannot be reversed, appealed or overruled by anyone anywhere in the world. And that was why Samson's two eyes were plucked out by a raven and eaten by wicked eagle in Gaza. Like Icarus, the same feathers/wings that enthrone Samson as a Judge in Israel was what eventually dethroned him through stubbornness and disobedience. What a paradox!

"And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house". - Judges  14:2-3, 16:1 & 21

Beloved, disobedience is too expensive but unfortunately many pigheaded individuals in our generation are still eager to pay the huge price tag. What an absurdity! I hope you are not one of those disobedient people around. I hope you are not walking in the path that Dinah and Samson tread. If Jesus, the Son of God could obey His earthly parents, why can't you obey your own parents (Luke 2:51-52)?. Please repent and amend your ways today so that the time bomb of disobedience will not detonate and pluck out your two eyes like that of Samson's. My prayer is that everyone held hostage in the prison house of disobedience like Samson will be set free today. And every Dinah already burnt and wounded in the house of Shechem (The Prince of the Land) shall be healed and restored. As the Lord liveth, every fetters of brass holding many people down in Gaza (the strong city of disobedience) shall be broken into pieces this day.

One special hymn that express the mind of God on this subject is titled "Obedience To Parents" . May I urge you to join me to meditate on the hymn below as we trust God for grace to obey our parents' godly counsel and warnings at all times. The hymn was composed by Isaac Watts in 1715.

OBEDIENCE TO PARENTS

Let children that would fear the Lord
Hear what their teachers say;
With reverence meet their parents' word,
And with delight obey.

Have you not heard what dreadful plagues
Are threaten'd by the Lord,
To him that breaks his father's law,
Or mocks his mother's word?

What heavy guilt upon him lies!
How cursed is his name!
The ravens shall pick out his eyes,
And eagles eat the same.

But those who worship God, and give
Their parents honour due,
Here on this earth they long shall live,
And live hereafter, too.

Good morning and do have a blessed day.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE COUNT DOWN TO THE END HAS STARTED

"Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely". 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (MSG)

Early this morning, while going through this year's prophecy, my attention was drawn to two of the prophecies that begins with the phrase "count down" . The prophecies are  (1) "Count down to the end has started" and (2) "Count down to judgment and harvest has began". And while ruminating over these prophecies,  I remembered the above scripture (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) and the story of an unfaithful carpenter narrated below:

"Several years ago, an experienced carpenter told his employer of his plans to retire from the house-building business. The employer was not happy to see such a good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house for him as a personal favour. The carpenter agreed, but it was obvious that his heart was no longer in his work. Therefore, he decided to deceive or cheat his employer by using incompetent labourers and inferior materials to build. When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the key of the house to the carpenter and said, “This is your house, my sendforth gift to you and I hope you will really like it ”. The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had known he was building his own house, he would have done it differently."

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be". - Revelation  22:12

It's obvious that the count down to the end has began. The day of reckoning is closer than we could ever imagine. Every man will be rewarded according to his work. Any moment from now, the one who employed us will show up to inspect every work done on earth. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, that the inspection will be systematic and very thorough. Blazing fire will be used to test the quality, character and worth of every man’s work. Every edifice built with planks of deceit, nails of manipulations and roofing sheet of unrighteousness shall be exposed and their builders disgraced openly. While every building constructed with materials of integrity, righteousness, loyalty, faithfulness and other godly virtues shall be openly acknowledged and the builder celebrated and rewarded handsomely for their meritorious service .

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." - Revelation  20:12 

Beloved, the count down to judgment and harvest has began. The Chief Judge of the universe will soon mount the judgment seat and the books opened before Him. When He does, I hope you will not be ashamed  like the carpenter in the above story? I hope you have not being building for the master with inferior materials? I hope you have not being putting in less than the very best into the master's business? If your response is "Yes" , then don't be surprised when the key of that terrible house you are building today is eventually handed over to you as your reward on that day?

My prayer for every carpenter/builder/worker/minister/Pastor/Evangelist/Bishop etc in the kingdom today is that, by the grace of God, on that inspection day, we shall receive our full reward with this resounding commendation: " Well done, thou good and faithful servant: .....enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew  25:21). May I urge you to please join me to meditate on the lyrics  of this wonderful hymn below  as we trust God for our full reward on that day:

FULL REWARD

There's a full reward awaiting us in glory;
'Tis for service given unto God's dear Son;
It will make the joys of heaven all the brighter;
We'll receive it when the victory is won.

Refrain:
         Crown of life and Crown of glory,
         Crown of righteousness, and joy.
         Crown unfading, full of splendor,
         And to see Him by and by.

There's a crown of life for humble service rendered;
There's a crown unfading given for our zeal;
Crowns of joy and glory for the hosts unnumbered,
And thro' faith we all may have them if we will.

There's a crown of righteousness awaits our wearing;
It shines brighter than all others in His Word,
'Tis for all who wait and look for His appearing,
And have crowned Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

But to sit with Jesus in His coronation,
Will be better than to wear the crowns above,
So we'll cast them at His feet in adoration;
'Twill be heaven just to realize His love.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord,  the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God,- Pastor E. A Adeboye,  I will like to invite you to the May 2018 Holy Ghost service of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God. Date: Friday, May 4th,  2018. Theme: Stronger Than Your Enemies -5 , with the subtitle: Habitation of The Almighty. Time: 7pm. Venue: Redemption Camp,  Nigeria.  Ministering: Our beloved Daddy G.O - 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
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