THE GREATEST STAR OF ALL TIME

 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony to share with the churches. I am both the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16‭ (FBV)

During World War II, families with a son in the war would place a star in the window. One day, an old man was walking along with his 5 years grandson when the boy asked “Grandpa, why do all these homes have stars in the windows?” The grandfather explained to the boy what the star symbolized. They walked along and every time they passed a home with a star in the window the boy would smile and clap his hands together. Then, the boy looked up to the sky, pointed to a star and said. “Grandpa, look, God must have given his son too!” (Culled from Our Daily Bread, April 12, 2012)

The pages of history is filled with many great people who have achieved unprecedented feats in their generation. These people are unique individuals who by their superior intellect, heroic courage, extraordinary leadership abilities, divine wisdom and inspiration have greatly impacted their world positively. They are stars shining in the windows all over the world today. We smile and clap our hands whenever their names are mentioned. We set up foundation to immortalised them even when they have gone. As a mark of honour and respect for these stars, we name our children, sporting arena, academic institutions etc after them. 

Friends, it is good to clap for the stars in the windows around us. It is equally nice to give standing ovations to great men and women who have contributed immensely to their world. However, it is much more important to look up like that young boy and his grandpa so that we can acknowledge and celebrate the greatest star of all time - Jesus Christ. The one who knew no sin yet was offered as sin offering to rescue humanity from eternal damnation (2 Corinthians 5:21).

"God made this sinless man to be sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God's righteousness" - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (CJB)

Yes, many Christians need to stop worshipping their Pastors, Bishops, Reverend and General Overseers and start celebrating the saviour of their souls. Unbelievers and backsliders must stop ignoring Christ who is the star of salvation (Hebrews 2:3). Some people need to stop chasing shadows of riches, power and position so that they can focus on the star of eternal life ( 1 John 4:9, Colossians 3:1). 

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life" - 1 John 4:9 (NLT)

One special hymn that describes the great exploit of the Bright Morning star - Jesus Christ, is titled "O Morning Star, How Fair And Bright!". Please meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below and trust God to help you keep your gaze steadfastly on Him till He returns for the rapture of the Church. 

O MORNING STAR, HOW FAIR AND BRIGHT! By Philipp Nicolai (1599)

O Morning Star, how fair and bright!

You shine with God’s own truth and light,

Aglow with grace and mercy!

Of Jacob’s race, King David’s son,

Our Lord and master, You have won

Our hearts to serve You only!

Lowly, holy!

Great and glorious,

All victorious,

Rich in blessing!

Rule and might o’er all possessing!

Come, heavenly Bridegroom, Light divine,

and deep within our hearts now shine;

There light a flame undying!

In Your one body let us be

As living branches of a tree,

Your life our lives supplying.

Now, though daily

Earth’s deep sadness

May perplex us

And distress us,

Yet with heavenly joy You bless us.

Lord, when You look on us in love,

At once there falls from God above

A ray of purest pleasure.

Your Word and Spirit, flesh and blood

Refresh our souls with heavenly food.

You are our dearest treasure!

Let Your mercy

Warm and cheer us!

O draw near us!

For You teach us

God’s own love through You has reached us.

Almighty Father, in Your Son

You loved us when not yet begun

Was this old earth’s foundation!

Your Son has ransomed us in love

To live in Him here and above;

This is Your great salvation.

Alleluia!

Christ the living,

To us giving

Life forever,

Keeps us Yours and fails us never!

O let the harps break forth in sound!

Our joy be all with music crowned,

Our voices gladly blending!

For Christ goes with us all the way—

Today, tomorrow, every day!

His love is never ending!

Sing out!  Ring out!

Jubilation!

Exultation!

Tell the story!

Great is He, the King of Glory!

What joy to know, when life is past,

The Lord we love is first and last,

The end and the beginning!

He will one day, oh, glorious grace,

Transport us to that happy place

Beyond all tears and sinning!

Amen!  Amen!

Come, Lord Jesus!

Crown of gladness!

We are yearning

For the day of Your returning!

It's my prayer that God will keep you and I standing till Jesus Christ returns for the rapture of His Church. May the undying flame of his glory never fade out in our heart till the bright morning star appear again. While awaiting for Him, may we receive grace and boldness to keep telling the story of His love to everyone around us.

Good day and God bless you.  

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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EMPTY YOUR WORRY WAGON

 "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life"- Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 (MSG)

A certain old man heard some people complaining about the same problems every time. Then, one day he told them a joke and everyone roared in laughter. After a couple of minutes, he told them the same joke and only a few of them smiled. When he told the same joke for the third time no one laughed anymore. The old man smiled and said: “You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always grumbling and complaining about the same problem?”

The current state of the nation can be a major cause for concern to many people. The nation seems to be stranded in the jungle and many people are feeling the heat badly. The prices of almost everything in the market (especially staple food items) has skyrocketed and many families are struggling to survive. There is no where in the country that is safe and our leaders appears to be helpless and clueless. Many people are worried, confused and afraid. However, worry or anxiety can never solve our problems but only prayer can (Philippians 4:6). So, instead of complaining or protesting, God expects us to seek for help from Him alone in the place of prayer (2 Chronicles 7:14) .

"Then my people who are called by my name should be sorry. They should be humble and they should pray. They should try to find me. And they should stop doing the wrong things that they have done. Then I will hear them from heaven and I will forgive their sin . And I will make their country better" -2 Chronicles 7:14 (EASY)

Beloved, are you still worried about those same old problems or challenges today? Don't you know that worry won’t solve your problems, rather, it will compound it, waste your time and energy. Don't you understand that every anxiety-inducing circumstances is an opportunity for God to be glorified. God detests worrying, complaining, grumbling or murmuring and warned us to avoid it like a deadly plague (1 Corinthians 10:10-11). No wonder all the Israelites who complained or murmured in the wilderness never entered the promised land (Numbers 14:1-3, 27-29). What a judgement!  

"And let’s not grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the destroying angel. Now these things happened to them as an example, and it was written down as a warning to us on whom the ends of the ages have come" - 1 Corinthians 10:10‭-‬11 (TLV)

Friends, have you been disappointed? Are you worried, angry and afraid about your life and the state of your nation? May I challenge you to cast your burdens on the everlasting shoulder of the Almighty God today. Please resign your appointment as the Chief Complainer General of the Federation or Family (CGF) today and trust the Almighty God to intervene on your behalf. 

One powerful hymn that re-echoes the counsel of God in Philippians 4:6 and 2 Chronicles 7:14 is titled " I Must Tell Jesus". As you meditate on the lyrics of this hymn, please trust God for grace to truly empty your worry wagon on His Everlasting shoulders at all times. It is not wise to continue carrying all those old burdens when Jesus Christ has offered to help you (1 Peter 5:7, Psalms 55:22).

I MUST TELL JESUS  by Elisha Hoffman, 1894.

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;

I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me;

He ever loves and cares for His own.

Chorus:

           I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!,

           I cannot bear my burdens alone;

           I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

           Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;

He is a kind, compassionate Friend;

If I but ask Him, He will deliver,

Make of my troubles quickly an end.

Tempted and tried I need a great Saviour,

One who can help my burdens to bear;

I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;

He all my cares and sorrows will share.

O how the world to evil allures me!

O how my heart is tempted to sin!

I must tell Jesus, and He will help me

Over the world the vict’ry to win.

As we passionately begin to seek God's face for divine intervention, the wind of true change shall begin to blow across our nations, homes, businesses and families in Jesus name. The Great Burden Bearer will step into the affairs of our family and nation with timely help from above in Jesus name. The Almighty God will turnaround the destiny of our nation and restore her lost glory in Jesus name, Amen.  

Good day and God bless you.  

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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BEWARE OF MEPHIBOSHETH'S NURSE

"Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth. He was five years old when the news came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed. The woman who cared for Mephibosheth picked him up and ran away. But while running away, she dropped the boy, and he became crippled in both feet".2 Samuel 4:4 (ERV)

One of the most pathetic stories in the Bible is that of Mephibosheth- a young man born to reign as Prince in Jerusalem but became an asylum seeker in Lodebar. His destiny took a downward turn the day his nurse decided to run while carrying him. On that fateful day, Mephibosheth fell and lost his two legs in the process at a very tender age. He became a victim of another person's action and was ostracised to the land of nothing (Lo Debar). This is so pathetic!  

There are many people like that Mephibosheth's nurse all around us today. I hope you are not one of them. Through their actions, many precious souls have been destroyed or paralysed spiritually, maritally, financially and emotionally in the race of destiny. They walk about with deadly ammunitions of indecent dressing and shameless lifestyles. They fire arrows of lust and ungodliness into the atmosphere and heart of careless souls. They practically dress to kill their victims. They have become a terrible stumbling block turning people over to the path of damnation and hell. 

Are you like Mephibosheth's nurse? Have you ever considered the terrible implications of making someone fall or turn away from God (Matthew 18:6‭-7)?. Please cry to God for mercy today and make your ways right with Him before it will be too late. 

“If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied round his neck and be drowned in the deep sea. How terrible for the world that there are things that make people lose their faith! Such things will always happen — but how terrible for the one who causes them!" -Matthew 18:6‭-‬7 (GNB)

Friends, is your story similar to that of Mephibosheth? Have you lost your place in the race of life because of someone's error or action? Don't give up on your dream and God's plans for your life. Please keep trusting God for the restoration of everything you have lost. I perceived your season of favour and complete restoration has finally come.  Like Mephibosheth, God will restore not only what you have lost but what your parents had lost in the time past. I see the strong and mighty arm of the Lord orchestrating great things in your home this month. I see the King of kings sending emissaries to fetch you out of your Lodebar before this month is over. Your invitation to sit at the king's table is on the way. 

This powerful song titled "Mephibosheth, Put Your Fears To Rest" summarises how the Almighty God restored Mephibosheth back to his place in destiny. Could you please prayerfully sing this song with me and trust God to stir up the heart of kings to urgently send emissaries to fetch you out of your Lodebar before this month is over. 

MEPHIBOSHETH, PUT YOUR FEARS TO REST

In a place called Lodebar lived a young man who was crippled from a fall

His name was Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul

He was trying to survive since Jonathan and Saul were slain

It seemed all hope was in vain

And each lonely night was spent in fear of what another day would bring

Chorus:

        Mephibosheth, forever put your fears to rest

        Come and be my table guest

        To you I'll be a father and my son you'll always be

        Mephibosheth, please accept the invitation

        I've made all the preparation

        Mephibosheth cried, Oh how can this be?

        That a king could ever love someone like me

But one day King David said, There is one thing I'd like to do

Is there one of the house of Saul? Someone I can show my kindness to?

Someone said, Down in Lodebar there lives the son of Jonathan

Mephibosheth, the crippled one

David said, Go and find him and bring him this message from the king

Living in Lodebar where there's not comfort for a troubled soul

Just a place full of broken hearts, never knowing what the future holds

But now that I've met the King there's nothing like His love for me

Now I'm part of the Family

Since someone came and knocked upon my door

With this Message from the King

I rejoice when I recall the day I watched those bridges burn

When I said goodbye to Lodebar never to return

It is my prayer that every soul locked up in Lodebar of sin and judgement shall be relocated to their palace and stand before the king soon in Jesus name. Many Mephibosheth and their nurses will say goodbye to Lodebar, burn the bridge behind them, never to return to their vomit again in Jesus name. As the Lord lives, your invitation to sit at the 

King's table shall be dispatched and delivered speedily in Jesus name, Amen. 

Good day and God bless you.  

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

http://okanlawon.webnode.com

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Twitter: @tammytaiwo