THE CATALYST FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

THE  CATALYST FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

"Jesus answered, “Have faith in God. The truth is, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, mountain, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, then God will do it for you. So I tell you to ask for what you want in prayer. And if you believe that you have received those things, then they will be yours". - Mark 11:22-24 (ERV)

During a time of great drought, a man and his family prayed for rain in the morning. While leaving home in the afternoon, his daughter took an umbrella along with her. The man asked his daughter “What do you need it for?,” and his daughter responded “Daddy, but you prayed for rain this morning, and don’t you expect God will send it?” That same day, it rained heavily and the daughter took shelter from the drenching storm under the umbrella. 

The above story reiterates one salient truth that our saviour -Jesus Christ highlighted in Mark 11:22-24 on the exploit of faith - the catalyst for answered prayer. Jesus clearly emphasises that faith is a catalyst which commands result in the school of prayer. Nothing lies outside the reach of faith in the school of prayer. Those who approach the throne of God with this great umbrella or catalyst of faith will always return with answers to their petitions/requests. There are many accounts of great exploit of faith in the Bible.  For example, In Matthew 8:1-10, the centurion left his house believing God for the rain of healing for his servant. He approached the Great Physician with the umbrella of faith (the catalyst) and his servant was healed instantly. In Mark 5:25-34, the Holy Spirit described how that awesome catalyst for answered prayer drew out healing virtue from the helm of Jesus' garment when the woman with the issue of blood touched him. The catalyst turned her twelve years of mockery and pain to miracle and praise. The stone of shame hidden in her body was rolled away and she began to swim in the ocean of unending glory.

"And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague"-  Mark  5:34 (KJV)

"When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those who were with him, “The truth is, this man has more faith than anyone I have found, even in Israel. Then Jesus said to the officer, “Go home. Your servant will be healed the way you believed he would.” Right then his servant was healed". - Matthew 8:10, 13 (ERV)

Beloved, are you currently in the dry season maritally,  financially,  academically etc? Have you asked God for rain? If you have, then, are you really expecting the rain? Where is your umbrella of faith? Where is your catalyst for answered prayer? How I wish you can trust God like that little girl in the above story!  How I wish your faith can forcefully command the rain of result from heaven like the centurion!  How I wish your faith can touch your testimony like the woman with the issue of blood! If you do, then I can assure you that God will respond and answer your prayers. The floodgate of heaven will be let loose and you will end this year drenched in rain of glory. 

One special hymn that describes the faithfulness of God in the school of prayer is titled " God Answers Prayer" . This wonderful hymn was composed by George Bennard in 1917. Could you please join me to meditate on the lyrics of this hymn below as we trust God to increase our faith and answer all our prayers.  

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

God answers prayer, O do not doubt Him;
God answers prayer, believe His Word:
God answers prayer, now venture on Him,
His Word the test of time has stood.

Refrain:
             God answers prayer, O soul, believe Him;
             God answers prayer, I’ve proved Him true
             God answers prayer, now venture on Him;
             He answered me, He’ll answer you.

God answers prayer, fear not to trust Him;
God answers prayer, He longs to save:
God answers prayer, look up believing,
For this His only Son He gave.

God answers prayer, O child so weary;
God answers prayer, pure you shall be:
God answers prayer, His blood availeth;
From self and sin He’ll make you free.

God answers prayer, I dare believe it;
God answers prayer, O praise His name:
God answers prayer, and here this moment,
His love sets all my heart aflame.

God answers prayer in times of trial;
God answers prayer when all seems dark;
God answers prayer, He’ll safely guide you,
He loves and knows the way you take

My prayers for you and my humble self  is that we shall become living proof that God truly answers prayers this year. God will increase our faith so that our labour in the school of prayer and fasting for the past 49days shall not be in vain. We shall receive boldness to take the necessary steps of faith that will trigger the miraculous breakthroughs we have prayed for . Every roof of limitation covering our destiny from manifesting shall be torn into pieces by the awesome power in the force of faith this week in Jesus name. And as the Lord lives, you and I shall end the first quarter of year 2019 swimming in the deep ocean of glory maritally,  spiritually , materially,  emotionally,  financially, academically etc.  

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 March 2019 Special Holy Ghost service. Date: February 28 - March 2nd,  2019. Theme: Swimming In Glory - Part 3. Time: 6pm (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 ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF LOVE

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF LOVE

"Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us"- Romans 5:6-8 (ERV)

On the eve of Valentine's day few years ago, I stopped by at a shopping mall to pick up a valentine gift and card for my Queen. The shopping mall was gorgeously arranged and stocked with a lot of beautiful gifts, red hearts, chocolates, flowers, perfumes, greeting cards and all kinds of lovely gifts with the inscription: "You're beautiful and I love you." The gift I chose was really beautiful but the price was far above what I had planned for. As I considered the exorbitant price again, the blood of an Accountant  in me started flowing with strong  justifications why a relatively cheaper gift would have been good for the occasion. I was about buying a cheaper gift when I remembered these powerful statements below: 

"Marriage is like a bank account. It is what you deposit into your bank account that you can withdraw. If you don't deposit love, peace and care into your marriage, you are not a candidate of a blissful home. There is no free love in marriage, you cannot love without giving and sacrificing" ( Unknown Author)

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life". John 3:16 (Amplified)

In John 3:16, God made it very clear that true love is actually not cheap. The depth of love is a function of what one is willing to give or sacrifice for those we claimed to love. Genuine and true love will make someone to go an extra mile, to spend and be spent for a noble course. God demonstrated this fact to us by sending his only begotten Son - Jesus Christ to be a sacrificial lamb for the sin of humanity. By implication, love actually cost God the most expensive gift in the shopping mall of heaven - His only begotten Son. Obviously, that singular act is the greatest deposit or sacrifice of Love in the Bank of the Universe. Don't you think it will be quite amazing to make withdrawals from that bank of love. Have you been making withdrawals from this ultimate deposit? If you have not, then, you don't know what you are missing.

Friends, love is all about giving and sacrificing. If you are married, then everyday should be Valentine's day in your home. You  should always look out for opportunity to make some deposits of love in your marital bank account. You may never know when you will need to make withdrawal from those deposits in future. So, please go ahead and put a smile on the face of that special person in your life today. However, it is impossible to show true love if you have not had an encounter with God who is the originator of love (1 John 4:8-9).

"The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.] By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him". - 1 John 4:8-9 (Amplified)

There is no better way to reciprocate the ultimate deposit of God's love than by giving Him the most expensive gift in the shopping mall of our life - which is our soul. On this Valentine's day, with or without those beautiful red hearts, chocolates, flowers or greeting cards, I urge you to please fall in love with the real and true LOVE (GOD). Make a huge withdrawal of salvation, deliverance,  healing etc from the ultimate bank of love. Tell the Saviour from your soul how much you love Him. Please make Jesus your Val today by starting a genuine love relationship with Him and you will begin to swim in the overflowing ocean of glory and dominion.

In September 2010, the understanding of this ultimate deposit of God's love must have inspired  Dan Muckala and Brown Bannister of MercyMe musical band to compose a song titled “Beautiful”. The lyrics of this song described the full measure of God’s love as displayed on the cross where the ultimate deposit or sacrifice of love was made for humanity. As we meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful song, let us trust God to remove the evil covering cast stopping many people from realising how deep, true and rich the love of God is. May God help arrest every of demon of lust and sexual perversion/immorality on assignment all over the world to ruin destiny as people celebrate Valentine's day today. Finally, may God help depopulate hell by throwing sinners into the overflowing ocean of God's love for genuine repentance today. 

BEAUTIFUL

The days will come when you don't have the strength
When all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart they'd see too much

Refrain:
            You're beautiful
            You're beautiful
            You are made so much more than all of this
            You're beautiful
            You're beautiful
            You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
            You're beautiful

And praying that you have the heart to find
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you've held inside so long
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross

Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skies above
You're the one He madly loves
Enough to death

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
In His eyes
You're beautiful
You were meant for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You're meant for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His

My prayer for you and my humble self is that we shall not lose our beauty and sacredness in the light of eternity until we see our Saviour in glory. Through us, everyone deceived by the devil shall be delivered and start swimming in the ocean of God's love in Jesus name. Amen. 

Happy Valentine's day. Good morning and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS LOST SHEEP

THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS LOST SHEEP

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”– Luke 15:4–7 (ERV)

A shepherd had many sheep in his flock. He kept the sheep safe from wild animals by watching over them day and night. One day after taking inventory of the sheep, he discovered that one was missing. Then, the shepherd left the remaining sheep in a safe place and went to look for the missing one. He searched high in the mountains and far into the wilderness. When he finally found his sheep, the shepherd rejoiced. He put the sheep on his shoulders and carried it home. The shepherd called his friends together and told them how he had found his sheep. They celebrated together.

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." John 10:11 (KJV)

"Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds" -Psalm 95:7 (MSG)

Jesus Christ is the good shepherd (John 10:11) and we are the sheep of His pasture (Psalms 95:7). Whenever we wander away from His flock, the shepherd go into the wilderness to look for us. He does not give up on us when we backslide or went astray from the Way. The good shepherd does not condemn us. His loving concern for the lost sheep is steadfast and sure. He will seek far and wide to bring us back home to Himself. And when we repent and return to Him, heaven is set agog into lavish celebration and rejoicing. (Luke 15:7)

Friends, are you among the ninety-nine (99) laying safely with the good shepherd or are you the lost/missing sheep in the flock of Jesus Christ? Is your soul lost in the wilderness of life? Are you a backslider? Has the wolf of riches, ungodly friends etc lured you away from the tender care of the good shepherd? You are trending on a dangerous path and you do not seem to understand. The wicked wolf of this world will destroy you soon if you are not rescued from its evil grip on time. Things may appear to be going on very well for you today but please don't forget that lost sheep usually end up as a prey in the wolf's den. Please let the good shepherd rescue you today before it will be too late. The good news is that It does not matter how far you have walked away into the wilderness, the good shepherd is eagerly looking forward to bringing you back home. Please repent today and walk into the ever-waiting outstretched arms of the good shepherd. 

"Like a good shepherd, he takes care of his people. He gathers them like lambs in his arms. He holds them close, while their mothers walk beside him". - Isaiah 40:11 (ERV)

"There Are Ninety And Nine That Safely Lay" is  wonderful Christian hymn which summarises how the Good Shepherd care for lost sheep and go in search of them despite all odds. This hymn was composed in 1874 by Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane. As we meditate on the lyrics of this hymn, I trust God to give us the heart of the Good Shepherd and use us mightily to rescue every lost sheep in our communities, villages, cities, and nations this week in Jesus name. 

THERE WERE NINETY AND NINE THAT SAFELY LAY

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the flock,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off in the cold and dark;
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night which the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the bleak desert, He heard its cry—
All bleeding and helpless, and ready to die.

“Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
 That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
 Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

And all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a cry to the gate of heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”

My prayer for you and my humble self this week is that God will pour into us fresh passion for souls so that every lost sheep bleeding, wounded, and about to die in this generation would be brought back into the tender care of the Good Shepherd - Jesus Christ. And we shall not be satisfied with our 99 until we have rescued the missing 1 from the wicked grip of Hell in Jesus name. Amen.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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