Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo's Blog: May 2021

THE TRUE WORTH OF A MAN

"And he went on to say to them all, “Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because a person's true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be.”Luke 12:15 (GNB)

Every year, the list of richest men and women in the world are published with their respective networth. These people are ranked based on the value of the material possessions they had acquired over a period of time. So, the yardstick for measuring their networth is in terms of the things that money can buy and not things that money cannot buy. However, according to Luke 12:15, this measuring yardstick is completely myopic and not in line with God's standard for ascertaining the true networth of a man. It is good to have the things that money can buy provided we have not lost the things that money cannot buy. The good things that God wants us to enjoy are not the most important things in life, but rather are the extra benefits we receive when God is given the rightful place in our hearts (Matthew 6:33). Anyone who lives for things and ignores God is the poorest person in this world. A rich man without God is just a poor man with money. Anyone who puts God first will have God and the good things that God wants him/her to enjoy.

“So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly" -Matthew 6:33 (TPT)

This world is a fake gold museum and the true worth of a man cannot be ascertained from things that fade, decay, depreciate, or lose their value over a period of time (1 John 2:17). The true worth of a man can be found in a person and that person is Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father! Any man who does not have Christ is absolutely worthless in the sight of God. One may be rich by human yardstick and still be considered extremely poor by God's standard.

Friends, what is your worth in the sight of God today? Are you worthless/poor or extremely rich/blessed? Have you embraced the person of Jesus or are you are still chasing shadows in this fake gold museum? Are you enjoying everything the world can offer even when you know that you are not at peace with your maker? Are you still wallowing in the deep ocean of sins in a bid to make ends meet? Please repent and embrace Jesus Christ today so that you can start living for true riches that will last for all eternity. I hope you will choose Jesus today.

"This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life." - 1 John 5:11-12 (MSG)

One powerful song that re-echoes what God says in Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:15 is titled - "I'd Rather Have Jesus". Yes, I will rather have Jesus than anything in the fake gold museum of this world. What about you? Please reaffirm your desire to chose Jesus ahead of everything else in this fake gold museum of ours:

I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS! By Rhea B. Miller, 1943

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold

I'd rather be His than have riches untold

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land

I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hands

Than to be the king of a vast domain

And beheld in sins dread sway

I'd rather have Jesus

Than anything this world affords today

I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause

I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause

I'd rather have Jesus than world wide fame

Yes, I'd rather be true to His holy name

Than to be the king of a vast domain

And beheld in sins dread sway

I'd rather have Jesus

Than anything this world affords today

My prayer for you and my humble self is that the glittering gold and pleasures of this world (which will soon fade away) will not deny us the privilege of reigning with our saviour in the real City of Gold (Heaven) in Jesus name. Amen.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE UNBRELLA OF FAITH

"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 11:24 (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 drew out healing virtue from the helm of Jesus' garment when the woman with the issue of blood touched him. The umbrella of faith 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.

"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 seriously drenched in rain of His glory and power. However, please be sure you are in right standing with God because the prayer of a sinner is an abomination to Him (Proverbs 28:9).

One special hymn that describes the faithfulness of God in the school of prayer is titled " God Answers Prayer". 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 By George Bennard, 1917

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 prayer 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 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. And as the Lord lives, you shall end this second quarter of year 2021 swimming in the deep ocean of glory maritally, spiritually, materially, emotionally, financially, academically in Jesus name, Amen.