BEWARE OF DECEPTION

BEWARE OF DECEPTION 

"Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I’ve given you fair warning". -  Matthew 24:4-5, 24-25 (MSG)

Once upon a time there was a lion that grew so old that he was unable to kill any prey for his food. So, he said to himself, "I must do something else or I will die of starvation". He kept thinking and thinking and at last an idea came to him. He decided to lie down in the cave pretending to be ill and then whosoever will come to inquire about his health, will become his prey. The old lion put his wicked plan into practice and it started working. Many of his well-wishers got killed. But this evil was short lived.

One day, a fox came to visit the ailing lion. As foxes are clever by nature, the fox stood at the entrance of the cave and looked about. His sixth sense worked and he came to know the reality. So, he called out to the lion from outside and said, How are you, sir? The lion replied, I am not feeling well at all. But why don’t you come inside? Then the fox replied, I would love to come in, sir! But on seeing, all foot prints going to your cave and none coming out, I would  be foolish enough to come in. Saying so, the fox went to alert the other animals.

The above story reinforces the Olivet discourse where Jesus listed the events that will preceed His second coming. It is however worthy of note that, the first item on that list was deception -"Watch out for end time or doomsday deceivers" (Matthew 24:4). This prophecy is already being fulfilled in this generation. It is no longer news that there are many hungry lions in the deception business everywhere in the world today. They deploy tricky methods and illusive strategies to harvest many souls (including that of believers) into the place of eternal torment (Matthew 24:24). Like the lion in the above story, they engage many enticing schemes to lure their victims sheepishly into the wicked slaughter slab/house. 

Friends, I hope you have not been deceived. I hope you have not walked carelessly into the den of those end time deceivers. If you have, then, please deliver yourself and run for your dear life today. Return to the narrow path before the trumpet sound.  Are you one of the false leaders performing lying wonders and signs in town? Have you been using occult power to deceive and lead people astray, including the most sincere believers? As the Lord lives, your cup of judgment is almost full. The blood of those careless and undiscerning believers you have deceived is crying seriously against you like the blood of Abel. You are gradually approaching the end of the road. The cat will soon be let out of the bag. Repent now or you will be doomed forever (2 Corinthians 11:15).

"They are false apostles, lying workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ. That does not surprise us, because even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.  So it does not surprise us if Satan’s servants make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end those people will get the punishment they deserve" - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (ERV)

Beloved, if King Solomon, the wisest mortal man who ever lived could pray for discernment (1 Kings 3:9-10), then don't you think  you and I also need to pray the same prayer? Therefore, I urge you to please let us make the lyrics of this powerful hymn below ;"Lord, teach me to discern the spirit" our prayer point till our saviour returns. 

DISCERNING THE SPIRIT by Witness Lee

Lord, teach us to discern the spirit
From soul that we Thyself may know;
Thou art the Spirit in our spirit,
In oneness mingled with us so.

Lord, teach us to discern the spirit,
The soul-life ever to deny,
And ever follow Thee in spirit,
 Thyself, the Spirit, to apply.

Lord, teach us to discern the spirit
That we may never set our mind
Upon the flesh but on the spirit,
 That sin and self no more may bind.

Lord, teach us to discern the spirit
That we may never soulish be,
But truly spiritual, in spirit
To know all things discernibly.

Lord, teach us to discern the spirit
That subtle self exposed might be,
That by the cross to it applying
We’ll live not by ourselves but Thee.

Lord, teach us to discern the spirit
That we may be transformed in soul,
Till we’re conformed to Thine own image,
Till we’re matured and reach the goal.

Lord, teach us to discern the spirit,
To us Thy living Word so give
That soul from spirit be divided
And in the holiest place we’ll live.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that Holy Spirit will baptise us afresh with gift of discernment so that we shall never become prey to the end time hungry lions and their  wicked manifestations of falsehood and deceptions till Christ returns. And everyone deceived and held captive in the slaughter slab/house of those hungry lions shall be delivered this day in Jesus name. Amen

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 September 2019 Holy Ghost service. Date: Friday- September 6,  2019. Theme: Lifted Into Glory 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 morning and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -
http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Twitter: @tammytaiwo
Instagram: @lawontaiwo
Facebook: Okanlawon Taiwo

A DONKEY IN A LION’S SKIN

A DONKEY IN A LION’S SKIN

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV)

In the ancient Aesop’s fables, a donkey walking through the forest finds the skin of a lion. Hunters had killed the lion and left the skin to dry in the sun. The donkey put on the lion’s skin and was delighted to discover that all the other animals were terrified of him and ran away when he appeared. Rejoicing in his newfound respect, the donkey brayed his happiness only to give himself away by his voice. 

In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus Christ made one profound statement twice in this short passage to lay bare a salient truth. He said "By their fruits you will recognize them".  That is, the fruits reveals the identity of the tree. The only way to know the value of a tree is to examine its fruits. Hence, the real worth of a man cannot be ascertained by checking  the gorgeous apparels (leaves) he flaunts around but by looking at the fruits of his life. Fine clothes may deceive, expensive cars may mislead, big title or position may be used to disguise, but a man's actions or dispositions will reveal who he is. 

The Holy Spirit documented many examples in the bible to drive home the above point. For example, In 2 kings 5:19-27, by merely looking at his outward appearance of Gehazi, everyone in Israel thought he was a true prophet-in-training. They shower much love and respect upon Gehazi because they believed he is going to possibly receive double portion of Elisha's anointing. Although, Gehazi exhibited the charisma of a prophet but his corrupt and rotten fruits were cleverly concealed from public view. Then, one day, after Naaman had been healed of leprosy, the wind blew heavily and all the beautiful leaves  that had covered the terrible fruits growing in the life of Gehazi were blown away. For the first time in Gehazi's life, the fruits of deceit, lies, hypocrisy, worldliness and covetousness covered up in him were suddenly  exposed. Those terrible and corrupt fruits began to fall and everyone was surprised to discover that Gehazi was actually a donkey in a lion's skin. It's obvious they have been judging the tree of Gehazi by its leaves and not its fruits. Then, leprosy cut down the tree of Gehazi's prophetic ministry prematurely.    

"Then Elisha said to Naaman, “Go in peace.” So Naaman left Elisha and went a short way. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has let Naaman the Aramean go without accepting the gift that he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after Naaman and get something from him." Now you and your children will catch Naaman’s disease. You will have leprosy forever!” When Gehazi left Elisha, his skin was as white as snow! He was sick with leprosy."- 2 Kings 5:19-20, 27 (ERV)

Beloved, there are many donkeys in lion's skin all around us today. The fruits growing inside them are completely different from what people see on the outside. These people display adorable skin of lion but their real nature (fruits) is that of a polluted donkey. They claim to have the doggedness or tenacity of a lion but their attitude and disposition is that of a lazy and confused donkey. They exhibits the charisma and boldness of lion even though their true genetic composition is that of a coward donkey. They cover up the fruits of donkey in them with the skin of lion. They have perfected the art of deceiving people around them just to earn their respect and trust. What an hypocritical lifestyle?  

“Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. ... A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned". Matthew 7:16-20 (MSG)

These people have not come to terms with the fact that their true nature or fruits will soon be uncovered. Their pretence and deceitful lifestyle will not continue forever. Every corrupt fruit growing secretly on their tree will soon be exposed. Nobody can hide the fruits of his/her bad action or lifestyle from everybody forever. Those fruits of ungodly vices; greed, pride, stubbornness, fornication, adultery, arrogance flourishing silently in many life today will soon become breaking news in town. Yes, those bad fruits will soon draw the attention of the whole world to the ugliness of your life. It's a matter of time and everyone will know the real you. 

Friends, hope you are not a donkey in a lion's skin? If you are, then God is calling you this day to repent and amend your ways. Please do it now so that God will not cut your tree down in its prime. But if you refuse to repent,  then, please be assured the event that will expose those terrible and ugly fruits in your life will soon happen. The silent voices of those corrupt fruits growing secretly under that deceptive frame of yours will soon become audible enough to betray you. Everybody will soon know that you are a fraudster and backslider. And people who had once respected and celebrated you will begin to look down on you. You may end up as the Gehazi of this generation. 

Several years ago, God inspired Witness Lee (1905 - 1997), a renowned Chinese preacher and hymnist to compose a hymn that re-echoes a powerful prayer point that Gehazi should have prayed seriously before that fateful day. The hymn is titled " Remove My Covering, Lord". Please join me to make the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below our prayer points so that we will not be disgraced like Gehazi. 

REMOVE MY COVERING, LORD by Witness Lee

Remove my covering, Lord,
That I may see Thy light,
And be deceived no more,
But all things see aright.

Refrain:
     Oh, may Thy living light, Lord,
        Scatter all my night, Lord,
        And everything make bright, Lord,
        For this I pray to Thee.

I hardly know myself;
Deceived so much by pride,
I often think I’m right
And am self-satisfied.

I know Thee even less;
In doctrine, shallowly;
True revelation lack
Of Thy reality.

As for Thy life within,
In darkness I mistake—
If spirit or the flesh,
One for the other take.

As for Thy way, O Lord,
I often am not clear;
I toward seclusion tend
And from the pathway veer.

As for Thy will for me,
I do not know it well;
I substitute my own
And often would rebel.

As for the church, I need
Thy revelation more,
The Body-life to know,
Thy wisdom to explore.

I long to be unveiled,
In everything made clear,
No more to be deceived
Or to my pride adhere.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that God will graciously remove every leave covering the corrupt fruits on our trees. The mercy of God will restore our backsliding backsliding heart. His grace will keep us standing upright and blameless till He returns in Jesus name.  Amen. 

Please join us at the Arena of Wonders for our Healing Stream Service tagged "Be Made Whole" on Sunday 25th, 2019. Venue: RCCG, Kingdom Life Parish, 109, Shasha Road, Abati Bustop. Egbeda, Lagos. Nigeria. Time: 8am. Please come expecting, the Great Physician is waiting for you. 

Good morning and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -
http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Twitter: @tammytaiwo
Instagram: @lawontaiwo
Facebook: Okanlawon Taiwo

PUT ON YOUR APRON

PUT ON YOUR APRON

"For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth" - Luke  22:27 

One day, while attending an early morning prayer meeting on the Island, the Pastor announced that brethren should please wait behind to help rearrange the chairs and dismantle the canopies. After the service, I gladly waited and joined to serve. On my way back to the office, someone approached me and told me that he was surprised to see me parking chairs and dismantling canopies. I told him that he should rather be surprised if I had not waited to serve. If Jesus came to serve, then what audacity or effrontery do we have not to do likewise (Luke 22:27). Indeed, it is a great privilege to walk in the Master's footsteps. Our saviour demonstrated the above scripture, when he wore his apron, rolled up his sleeve, fetched water and began to wash his disciples feet (John 13:4-17). What a great display of genuine humility and true service to humanity by the Anointed One himself? 

Beloved, there are two categories of people in the household of faith today. The first category are those who are always ready to roll up their sleeve for God. People in this category are very few in the vineyard and are known as "The Labourers"- (Luke 10:2). The second category are those who watch others do the work while they sit and look. These people have anointing for excuse and compliant. Their designation in the kingdom is " The Glorified Supervisor (GS)". 

"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."  - Luke  10:2

Jesus Christ detests the Glorified Supervisor in every generation but He loves to see the Faithful Labourers increase in his vineyard.  According to Luke 10:2, He told His disciples categorically to pray for God to send more labourers and not supervisors into his vineyard. Our saviour couldn't have done otherwise since God The Father himself was not a supervisor but an active or super committed worker/labourer ( John 5:17, 1 Corinthians 3:9). The Bible also records that Jesus did not supervise the Evangelistic Outreach in the early church but he worked/laboured with them as co-labourer  (Mark 16:20). As highly anointed as Apostle Paul was, he did not promote himself to the office of Supervisor in the early church. The only title they called themselves in those days is "fellow labourers" not "fellow supervisors" (Philippians 4:3). Unfortunately, many people in church today have ordained themselves into the office of "glorified supervisors". They are sitting on the fence, watching few people serving. Then, I begin to wonder whether these people are more anointed than Jesus Christ or Apostle Paul!

Friends, which category do you belong to? Please be sincere with yourself. Are you a kingdom labourer or supervisor? Do you still feel excited doing menial work in the vineyard of God? Have you become too big to serve God in roles that are self-effacing? I hope your achievement has not gone into your head. I hope your ordination and bible college certifications have not turned you to a kingdom supervisor. No wonder your life is barren! Have you forgotten that God never promised to reward the supervisors in His kingdom. Only the hired labourers are qualified to be blessed, honoured, decorated here on earth and in the city of Gold (1 Timothy 5:18, Matthew 20:8, John 12:26 ). If our Saviour can put on His own apron, then I urge you to please put on your own apron today and start serving God and humanity with humility. 

"God In An Apron" is the title of a great poem that shows the true humility and service that Jesus Christ demonstrated in John 13:4-17. May I urge you to prayerfully meditate on the words of this poem below and trust God for grace to resign from the exalted position of a supervisor you created for yourself in His vineyard.  

GOD IN AN APRON! by Macrina Wiederkehr

God in an apron!
Tenderness encircled us
 as He bowed before us.
He knelt and said,
 “I choose to wash your feet
 because I love you.”

God in an apron, kneeling.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I was embarrassed
 until His eyes met mine.
I sensed my value then.
He touched my feet.
He held them in His strong, brown hands.
He washed them.
I can still feel the water.
I can still feel the touch of His hands.
I can still see the look in His eyes.

Then He handed me the towel
and said,
“As I have done,
 so you must do.”
Learn to bow.
Learn to kneel.

Let your tenderness encircle
 everyone you meet.
Wash their feet–
 not because you have to–
but because you want to.

It seems I’ve stood two thousand years
 holding that towel in my hands.
“As I have done, so must you do,”
 keeps echoing in my heart.

“There are so many feet to wash,”
 I keep saying.
“No.” I hear God’s voice
 resounding through the years.
“There are only My feet.
What you do for them,
 you do for Me.”

My prayer for you and my humble self is that we shall receive grace to put on our apron of true service to God and humanity this day. May we see every opportunity to serve as a platform to act as Christ's ambassadors in our world. And as we render faithful service to God, the rewarder of labourers Himself shall honour us here on earth and in the city of gold above in Jesus name. Amen.  

Good morning and God bless you in Jesus name.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -
http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Twitter: @tammytaiwo
Instagram: @lawontaiwo
Facebook: Okanlawon Taiwo

THE HIDDEN DISCHARGE WARRANT

THE HIDDEN DISCHARGE WARRANT 

"..The Lord God will save everyone who asks him for help. But people will never ask Christ to help them if they have not believed in him. And they will never believe in him if they have not heard about him. And they will not hear about him unless somebody tells God's message to them"- Romans 10:13-14 (EASY)

John Currier was found guilty of murder in 1949 and sentenced to life in prison. In 1968, Currier’s sentence was terminated, and a letter bearing the good news was sent to him. But John never saw the letter, nor was he told anything about it. Ten years went by. Then a state parole officer learned about Currier’s plight, and told him that his sentence had been terminated. He was a free man living behind the bars. (Source: The No-Guilt Guide to Witnessing, George Sweeting)

The above story reaffirms the penitent issue that Holy Spirit raised in Romans 10:13-14 on the need to take the gospel to everyone living inside the prison of sin, judgement and death around us. The truth is that God had already terminated the sentence of death hanging over the soul of man. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the discharge warrant that God used to release man from captivity of Satan (John 8:36). But unfortunately, millions of people in the world today are still living in that terrible prison of judgement where Satan kept them. There are many John Currier around us today who are languishing behind the bars despite the fact that they had been set free. The souls of these people must be rescued before it is too late. The liberation power in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ must not be withheld or hidden from unbelievers (Matthew 28:18-19). Otherwise, the devil will continue to keep those precious souls behind the bars for the rest of eternity.    

"..By Christ, we have become God's friends instead of his enemies. And he wants us to bring other people to be his friends also. This is the job that he has given to us. God wants us to tell people that, by Christ, he was bringing the world to himself. He was bringing all people in the world back to himself, to be his friends. God was not continuing to remember all the wrong things that people do. This is the message that God has given to us. He wants us to tell people that he has brought them back to himself" - 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (EASY)

Christians have been entrusted with the most important message in the world (2 Corinthians 5:18- 19). However, many of us never deliver that message to those who have been condemned and sentenced to life imprisonment (2 Corinthians 1:9). Friends, why are you hiding the discharge warrant that God used to liberate you from those who are still in captivity? Could you imagine where you would have been today if someone had hidden the discharge warrant from you? Don't you know that the greatest atrocity that anyone can commit is to withhold, hide or suppress the discharge warrant or the letters conveying the good news from those condemned prisoners (unbelievers) around them. Don't you understand the comment that Apostle Paul made in 1 Corinthians 9:16 about the repercussion of hiding the discharge warrant from those in captivity? This is a serious issue! Hope you are not guilty?

"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"- 1 Corinthians  9:16

One special hymn that summarises our saviour's directives in Mark 16:15 -16 is titled "Go and tell the glad tidings". The hymn places a demand on us to take the discharge warrant to every condemned prisoner in our world today. Beloved, have you been set free from the prison of sin, judgement and second death?. Then,  please make the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below your watchword till you see Jesus Christ in Glory. Are you among those condemned souls in the cage or prison of sin, addiction, lesbianism, gay, occultism, alcoholism, adultery,  fornication, homosexual etc?. Then, I have a good news for you. This is your day of emancipation from the wicked grip of sin and judgement. Please call upon Jesus Christ now (Romans 10:13), He will help you and set you free.  

GO AND TELL THE GLAD TIDINGS by Isaac G. Mitchell.

Go and tell the glad tidings
Make all the world to hear the news
Who hears and believes shall be saved
Those who refuse shall be condemned

I’ll reveal to you great mysteries
Ye shall show forth my word of truth
In all the works that I have done
And the miracles ye shall do.

Go heal the sick and raise the dead
In my great name cast out demons
Let not prophet ever far
Though Jews and Gentiles should deride

Teach all the world my commandments
And lo, I am with you always
To me belong all pow'r and might
I can kill and make alive

A light encircled Him around
He ascended in great glory
The news was proclaim'd far and near
the ascension of our saviour

My prayer is that everyone held captive in the prison of Satan shall be set free today. The wicked grip of the devil over their destinies and families shall be destroyed in the mighty name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will empower and use us mightily to bring many condemned prisoners into perfect liberty that we enjoyed in the kingdom of God.  And after being mightily used by God, we shall not hear "I know you not" on the day of reckoning in Jesus name.  

Good morning and God bless you in Jesus name.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -
http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Twitter: @tammytaiwo
Instagram: @lawontaiwo
Facebook: Okanlawon Taiwo