Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo's Blog: September 2019

THE GARMENT OF HUMILITY

THE GARMENT OF HUMILITY

"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit". Proverbs 29:23 (KJV)

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name"- Philippians 2:5 -9 (KJV)

In the late 1800s, D.L. Moody was the most famous evangelist in the world and people from all over the world attend his Bible Conferences. One year a large group of pastors from Europe were among the attendees who were given rooms in the dormitory of the Bible school. As was the custom in Europe, the men put their shoes outside the door of their room, expecting them to be cleaned and polished by servants during the night. But there were no servants in the American dorm.

One night, while Moody was walking through the halls and praying for his guests, he saw the shoes and realized what had happened. He mentioned the problem to a few of his students, but none of them offered to help. Then, he humbly gathered up the shoes and took them back to his own room where he began to clean and polish each pair. So, despite the praise and fame that D.L. Moody received because of God’s blessing on his life and ministry, he remained a humble man till he passed away.

"People who think they are better than others will be made humble. But people who humble themselves will be made great" - Matthew 23:12 (ERV)

One special attribute of truly great minds is their depth of humility. Humility is a state of being humble; absence of pride or self-assertion. While many consider humility as a logo of stupidity, the wise ones understand that it is the ladder for climbing the height of true and ensuring greatness in all spheres of life. The exodus of king Nebuchadnezzar to the kingdom of the beast is a clear evidence of what pride or self-assertion can do to anyone (Daniel 4:30-37). It was pride that humilated that king of Babylon. Pride dragged him away from his throne and ridiculed him in the thick forest of insanity for seven years. But by the time he returned to the palace, he understood better that no man can remain relevant in life without a humble heart and disposition.

"But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:" -Daniel 5:20 (KJV)

Unfortunately, there are several people in our generation today who has nominated Nebuchadnezzar -the king of Babylon as their mentor. Their cherished slogan and motto is "If You Have Got It You Have To Flaunt It". If you are one of them, then I urge you to please retrace your way back to the path of humility before God pronounce judgment upon you as He did to your mentor - king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

According to Philippians 2:5-9, Jesus Christ wore the garment of humility throughout His days on earth. Unlike many of us, he never assert himself or show off His power, affluence and glory. "If you have got it you have to flaunt it" was not in His Dictionary. Despite His exalted position as the only begotten Son of the God and King of Heaven, He chose to humble himself until He finished His mission on earth. If that renowned Evangelist D. L. Moody can emulate our Saviour, don't you think you and I need to do same?

One special hymn that describes the humble disposition that Jesus Christ demonstrated is titled "Oh, To Be Nothing". The lyrics of this wonderful hymn below should be our heart cry as we approach the finished line on earth.

OH, TO BE NOTHING By Georgiana M. Taylor, 1869

Oh, to be nothing, nothing,
Only to lie at His feet,
A broken and emptied vessel,
For the Master’s use made meet.
Emptied that He might fill me,
As forth to His service I go;
Broken, that so unhindered
His life through me might flow.

Refrain:
Oh, to be nothing, nothing,
Only to lie at His feet,
A broken and emptied vessel,
For the Master’s use made meet.

Oh, to be nothing, nothing,
Only as led by His hand;
A messenger at His gateway,
Only waiting for His command;
Only an instrument ready
His praises to sound at His will,
Willing, should He not require me,
In silence to wait on Him still.

Oh, to be nothing, nothing,
Painful the humbling may be,
Yet low in the dust I’d lay me
That the world might my Savior see.
Rather be nothing, nothing,
To Him let all voices be raised:
He is the Fountain of blessing,
He only is meet to be praised.

Beloved, will you like to live as Jesus lived? Will you like to give up your rights and reflect His humility in all your endeavours? Then, you need to lay down at His feet like a truly broken and empty vessel so that He can glorify Himself through you. May we truly become nothing indeed in our own sight so that the world might see the saviour through us. May the robe of pride and arrogance upon us be torn into pieces so that God can cloth us with his beautiful robe/garment of humility that Jesus wore on earth. May the evil crown of pride upon our head and the rod of pride in our hands be trodden underneath our feet from this day in Jesus name (Isaiah 28:3, Proverbs 14:3).

Please join us at the 2019 Men's Conference tagged "Wake Up, Men!" on Saturday 28th September 2019. Venue: RCCG, Court of His Majesty Mega Parish, Gate Bustop, Ipaja Road, Lagos. Nigeria.

Good morning and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE ACID TEST OF FIRE

THE ACID TEST OF FIRE

"Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad. That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God." 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 (MSG)

During the famous California Gold Rush, the people who were searching for gold had a way of finding out if the metals they found were indeed gold and not some inferior base metal. One simple and quick test used to affirm that the metal was indeed gold, was the Acid Test. If the metal fizzed and showed corrosion after acid is applied on it, then, the metal is not pure, genuine gold and is likely made of less precious base metals like iron, copper, nickel and zinc.

There are two categories of Christians in the kingdom today - " The Gold believers" and " The Base Metal believers". The former serves God with right motives while the later do for selfish/ulterior motives. Base metals can be decorated and repackaged with expensive dresses, nice hats and make ups in order to deceive everyone on earth, but God cannot be fooled. No matter how a base metal is 'panel beated' or refurbished with stunning charisma and eloquent grammar, it can never be classified as gold in the sight of God. Yes, God cannot be fooled.

"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire". 1 Corinthians 3:13 -15 (KJV)

According to 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, there will an acid test of fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ to ascertain whether the works and deeds of true believers is "a gold" or "a base metal". The test will disclose whether a believer deserves to be honoured or rewarded for his/her labour or works on earth. What a day that will be! Unfortunately, this test may not turn out the way many people would have expected. Yes, there may be some surprises on that day. Some of the great exploits that make newspapers headline here on earth may not even pass God's acid test of fire in heaven. Many outstanding achievements people display or flaunt around may go up in flame when the acid test of fire is applied. The ulterior motives behind those so called excellent results obtained for God by many believers may finally be uncovered and condemned. Many skyscrapers erected in the name of God may eventually fall like pack of cards and go up in flames when the acid test of fire is conducted. Just like in the California Gold Rush days, God will only reward "The Gold Believers" whose works and deeds passes the test of fire. The base metal believers will be exposed and embarrassed as they watch the smoke of their inferior works and bad deeds on earth rise into the sky. What a day that will be!

"Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." 1 Corinthians 4:5

Friends, don't you think it is rather too early to boast about your achievements on earth, because we have not reached the golden shore where the acid test of fire will be conducted. Don't you know that judging others peoples works and castigate them blindly here on on earth is a grave blunder. Don't you think that bragging and raising your shoulders about your exploits in the kingdom now is really not necessary as God will still need to subject your works to the acid test of fire. Don't you know that trying to impress people here is a pointless effort since man's recommendation is not part of the evaluation criteria on the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Beloved, if your works and deeds are subjected to the acid test of fire today, what will be the result? Will your works survive the acid test of fire? Are you going to be honoured or embarrassed on that day? Are you serving God with the right motives or with ulterior motives? Are you a gold believer or base metal believer? Please examine yourself and make your way right with God as you meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below.

WHAT COMFORT I COULD FEEL ANON By Watchman Nee (1903-1972)

If I would only stray a bit,
Then ease my lot would be;
But I recall how Christ my Lord
Did suffer faithfully.

The world I have forever left
And severed all its ties;
The way may yet more narrow grow
And all against me rise.

But though the worldlings glare in rage;
I seek His smiling face.
Though outward glory others choose,
I, His “well done” through grace.

My heart’s desire is not for fame
Nor profit in these days;
I humbly wish to serve my Lord
And gain that day His praise.

Unto the judgment seat of Christ
I daily look away;
May all my living and my work
Abide the fire that day.

You may your reputation hold,
Wealth, friends, and glory gain;
You may win all success and praise,
A following great obtain.

But I would be but lonely, poor,
With no prosperity;
My heart desires to follow Him
And finish faithfully.

My Lord, when here on earth, I know,
Gained nothing but the cross.
I only hope to be like Him
And for Him suffer loss.

My glory’s in the coming age,
Today I’ll patient be.
I’d ne’er enjoy ahead of Him
This world’s prosperity.

That day I shall receive the crown,
He’ll wipe away my tears.
So faithfully I’ll journey on
Till He at length appears.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that God's grace will uphold us till we reached the Golden Shore undefiled. And when we appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ, all our works shall survive the acid test of fire and we shall be decorated with many crowns on that glorious day in Jesus name. Amen.

Please join us at the Garden of Prayers for our Prophetic Sunday Services and Night of Evidence tagged "Glorious Evidence" on Sunday September 15 & 22nd, and Friday 20th 2019. Venue: RCCG, Kingdom Life Parish, 109, Shasha Road, Abati Bustop. Egbeda, Lagos. Nigeria. Time: 8am.

COMPETENT BUT USELESS

COMPETENT BUT USELESS

“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you"-John 15:1,2 & 16 (MSG)

An elderly woman who was blind and could neither read nor write became a Christian. In order to share her new found faith with others, she went to the missionary and asked for a copy of the Bible. When she got it, she asked the missionary to underline John 3:16 in red and mark the page it was on so she could find it. The missionary wanted to see what she would do, so one day he followed her. In the afternoon, just before school let out, she made her way to the front door. As the boys came out when school was dismissed, she would stop one and ask if he knew how to read. When he said “Yes” she would ask him to read the verse that was marked in red. Then she would ask, “Do you know what this means?” and tell him about Christ. Eventually, twenty-four of the school boys that woman led to the Lord became pastors. (Source: The Supremacy of Christ, R. Kent Hughes)

One salient truth that the above story reinforces is that God can engage the available feeble hands when the competent ones are not available for His use. Heaven places huge premium on availability over competence and whatsoever is not available for God can never be useful to Him (1 Corinthians 1:27, Luke 19:40). And by implication, everything that is not useful to God will become totally useless (John 15:2).

Beloved, there are many "Competent But Useless" Christians in the kingdom today. They have many excuses for not preaching the gospel. The plight of the lost souls around them does not prick their conscience. Despite their competence, heaven cannot account for a handful of souls that have been added to the fold through them. Obviously, they have nothing tangible to show for the number of years they had been saved. They are nothing but bunch of "Competent But Useless Christians" in the vineyard. Hope you are not one of them?

On the other hand, there are a few believers who are not too competent but are available and extremely useful in God's hands. Like the old woman in the above story, they love God passionately and are addicted soul winners, givers and prayer warriors. While others are busy cracking dirty jokes and gossiping, they are prayerfully looking for opportunity to share the Gospel. While everyone is hustling for juicy positions, their heart cry is "Lord, please send me to someone who needs to be saved today". While others are dodging evangelism or Let's Go A Fishing programmes, they will arrive at the venue of the programme hours before others to prayerfully prepare the ground for bountiful harvest. While others are criticising their pastors, ministers and HODs, they are secretly pleading with God to turn their weakness or incompetency around and use them mightily to win souls into His Kingdom.

Friends, which of these categories do you belong to? Are you among the "Competent But Useless Believers" or the " Available And Useful Believers" in town? What is your excuse for being useless, when staunch illiterates are useful to God? When the blind and lame are available and relevent for the Master's use, then, what is your own excuse? Are you not ashamed of yourself? Have you forgotten what God planned to do with all "Competent but Useless or Unproductive Believers" in the church. They will soon be eliminated, evicted or deleted from the Vine (John 15:2). What a verdict! Are you not terrified by that statement? How I wish your name is not on the list of Useless Christian in His Church? Unfortunately, many believers names are on that terrible list. Why not repent today and plead for mercy. Then, ask for grace to be available and useful to God till Christ returns.

One special hymn that should be our watchword as the coming of our Saviour draws near is titled "Take My Life And Let It Be". Stanza three of this hymn re-echoes the heart cry of all feeble but available and passionate soul winners like that old woman above. May I urge you to please to prayerfully meditate on the lyrics of this powerful hymn below and trust God to make you more useful and productive in His kingdom till He comes .

TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE By Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that we shall remain useful and relevant in God's agenda. We shall receive grace to completely surrender our hearts, intellect, voices, resources to Him for the end time harvest. God will engage our feeble voices and available hands to rescue many drowning souls from the sea of this wicked world before the sound of the trumpet. And finally, when the great rescue operation is over, may we never hear "I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity" in Jesus name (Matthew 7:23).

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 6th, 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.

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo's Blog

THE GARMENT OF HUMILITY

THE ACID TEST OF FIRE

COMPETENT BUT USELESS

THE BIOGRAPHY OF A BACKSLIDER

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