Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo's Blog: November 2021

STUBBORNNESS IS A CAPITAL OFFENCE

"If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover" Proverbs 29:1 (GNT)

On March 13th, 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia and hundreds of passengers died on that fateful day. Investigation later revealed that the accident was not caused by technical fault or bad weather. Several people perished simply because the two captains were too stubborn to change direction. They both knew that their ships were heading towards each other and may soon collide. A little change of direction by either of them would have averted the tragedy. However, neither of them was willing to change course and give way to the other. They were too stubborn to yield and by the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

A German proverb describes stubbornness as the energy of fools but God describes it as a capital offence that attracts instant destruction. The story of Saul, the first king of Israel clearly affirms this truth. King Saul's obstinacy to God's instructions triggered his dethronement as king in Israel (1 Sam 15: 23). The glorious ship of his destiny sank into the ocean of stubbornness like stone and there was nothing anyone could do to remedy the situation. His stubbornness made God to use His divine bit and bridle on him. King Saul died on mount Gilboa together with his three sons, personal assistant, chief of staff, bodyguards and others in one day. Then, his body was taken away, dismembered and hanged on the wall of Beth Shan (1 Sam 31:1-13). Hummmm! What a terrible ending!

"Refusing to obey is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Being stubborn and doing what you want is like the sin of worshiping idols. You refused to obey the Lord’s command, so he now refuses to accept you as king.” 1 Sam 15:23 (ERV)

Unfortunately, many people in this generation have not learned from that terrible mistake of king Saul. Rather, they have decided to make king Saul their mentor. They are stubborn to wise and godly counsel despite repeated warnings. They do not seem to understand that every act of man's stubbornness adds fuel to the fire of God's wrath and judgement (Romans. 2:5).

"You’re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire....Make no mistake: In the end you get what’s coming to you— Real Life for those who work on God’s side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire! "- Romans. 2:5-8 (MSG)

Beloved, I hope king Saul is not your mentor. Hope you have not turned your back on God like those stubborn Israelites (Deut 9:6-8). Hope you are not like those stiff-necked Jews in Corinth who rejected Christ and even went ahead to maligned the Way (Acts 19:9). Please do not forget that everyone who stubbornly rejects God's Sweet Will on earth will be doomed for the rest of eternity. This article may be the last warning God is sending to you before He will eventually turn you over to the hardness of your heart. Friends, time is running out. Please repent today and yield totally to His Sweet Will before it will be too late.

"Stubbornness and stupidly are twins" - Sophocles

One wonderful hymn that re-emphases the need to desist from every act of stubbornness is titled "Sweet Will of God".

SWEET WILL OF GOD By C. H. Morris, 1900.

My stubborn will at last hath yielded;

I would be Thine, and Thine alone,

And this the prayer my lips are bringing,

"Lord, let in me Thy will be done".

Refrain:

Sweet will of God, still fold me closer,

Till I am wholly lost in Thee;

Sweet will of God, still fold me closer,

Till I am wholly lost in Thee.

I’m tired of sin, footsore and weary,

The darksome path hath dreary grown,

But now a light has ris’n to cheer me;

I find in Thee my Star, my Sun.

Thy precious will, O conqu’ring Savior,

Doth now embrace and compass me;

All discords hushed, my peace a river,

My soul a prisoned bird set free.

Shut in with Thee, O Lord, forever,

My wayward feet no more to roam;

What pow’r from Thee my soul can sever?

The center of God’s will my home.

I pray that everyone drowning in the ocean of stubbornness and stupidity today shall be rescued before it will be too late.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD

"Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence"- 1 Corinthians 10:11‭-‬12 (MSG)

One day, a little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was so scared that he told his little daughter, ‘Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don’t fall into the river.’ The little girl said, ‘No, Dad. You hold my hand.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ Asked the puzzled father. The little girl replied ‘There’s a big difference, If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go.’

The story above reaffirms one of the lessons that the Holy Spirit taught us in Mark 14:29-72. As the time for Christ arrest and crucifixion drew near, Apostle Peter began to tell everyone that he has what it takes to hold on firmly to Jesus Christ. He boasted that he can never deny Christ or backslide no matter what happens. He was practically flaunting his ministerial resume instead of asking for grace to be engraved permanently in the hollow of the everlasting hand of God. Then, few minutes later, a maid confronted the same over confident Apostle Peter and he denied Jesus blatantly. The tyres of Apostle Peter's ego and self confidence was completely deflated and he began to weep profusely.

Beloved, Christian life is full of many bridges and rivers. And in the heat of the moment, there is tendency that many believers will turn their back on the Saviour sheepishly like Apostle Peter. They will deny Christ openly and secretly without any remorse. As we approach the end of age, many professing Christians are already falling away from faith into the river of error and hypocrisy like Judas Iscariot (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

"Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead"-1 Timothy 4:1‭-‬2 (NLT)

Therefore, it is obvious that the admonition of Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 10:11-12) is still very relevant in this generation. We must never forget that the best of man can fall and fail woefully without the help of the Almighty God. Our human charisma, wisdom or expertise are not God's prerequisite for navigating the Christian journey. The only sure means to remain in faith is to ensure that the everlasting arms of God is underneath you at all times. Jesus Christ gave us the assurance that nothing can make us fall by the road side or be snatched away from Him (John 10:28-29). What a great assurance!

"I give them eternal life; they shall never be lost, and no one can snatch them from me. My Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone else; no one can snatch them from him" - John 10:28‭-‬29 (FBV)

One powerful hymn that describes the prayer that every believer must pray daily till they reach the golden shore is titled "Take My hand, Precious Lord". If you have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, please make that decision now. If you do, the saviour will take those feeble hands of yours and guide you till you reach your mansion above.

TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD By Thomas A. Dorsey, 1932.

Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, let me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light:

Refrain

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,

Precious Lord, linger near,

When my life is almost gone,

Hear my cry, hear my call,

Hold my hand lest I fall:

When the darkness appears

And the night draws near,

And the day is past and gone,

At the river I stand,

Guide my feet, hold my hand:

It's my prayer that the precious Lord will take the hands of all backsliders/hypocrites and restore them today. As the Lord lives, none of us shall be snatched away from the hands of eternal father in Jesus name, Amen.