Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo's Blog: 2023

A TEARLESS OR BLEEDING HEART

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is, that they may be saved" - Romans 10:1 (ESV)

A few years ago, I was privileged to work with a group of believers in witnessing to people within a particular community during Easter Let's Go A Fishing Program. Prior to the set date, a detailed location mapping was carried out and workers divided into groups for effective door to door evangelism. However, on that fateful day, over 60 percent of the people expected never showed up. Interestingly, majority of these people were Ordained/Altar Ministers, Choristers, Ushers, Sunday School teachers and House Fellowship leaders. So, the question is why were they not available? Don't they understand the importance of winning souls? Are they not concerned about the eternal damnation and horrible plights of sinners?

"Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then, you're not saved yourself, be sure of that" - C. H. Spurgeon.

It is quite disheartening to see believers exhibiting unusual complacency in preaching the gospel. God wants us to have an unquenchable passion for souls that will move us to pray for sinners and also drive us to go out and plead with them to repent. This passion for souls will change our tearless hearts to bleeding hearts like that of Apostle Paul (Romans 10:1) and John Knox.

"Father, give me Scotland or I die" -John Knox

"The gospel of a broken heart demands the ministry of bleeding hearts. When our sympathy loses its pang we can no longer be the servants of the passion. We can never heal the needs we do not feel. Tearless hearts can never be heralds of the passion. We must pity if we would redeem. We must bleed if we would be ministers of the saving blood." - Dr. Jowett

Beloved, do you have a tearless heart or bleeding heart? Are you always looking for opportunity to preach the gospel. Although, many of us look like serious Christians but something has gone wrong within us. We have become self-centred and out of tune with God and His agenda for our lives. We have lost our passion for souls and a tearless heart have replaced the bleeding heart that we once had. Oh! This is really saddening.

Friends, another Let's Go A Fishing is here. Don't you think you desperately need a heart transplant before the season of harvest on earth is over? Don’t you think you need a bleeding heart like Apostle Paul and John Knox? Please be sincere with yourself.

This wonderful hymn below summarizes the heart beat of God, the prayers of Apostle Paul and John Knox:

LORD, GIVE US SOULS

Gathered are we in the name of our God,

Lord, give us souls, Lord, give us souls;

Trusting His grace and His wonderful Word,

Lord, give us souls, we pray.

Refrain:

Seals to our labor, and souls for our hire,

This blessèd Lord, is our one great desire;

Souls for whom Jesus His precious life gave,

Lord, give us souls, we pray.

Loved ones are lost, and our friends are astray,

Lord, give us souls, Lord, give us souls;

Help us to win them while yet it is day,

Lord, give us souls, we pray.

Come, Holy Ghost, on Thy people descend,

Lord, give us souls, Lord, give us souls;

Make our hearts holy, Thy kingdom extend,

Lord, give us souls, we pray.

Harvest is passing, yes, soon ’twill be gone,

Lord, give us souls, Lord, give us souls;

Bring us at last to our heavenly home,

Lord, give us souls, we pray.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that God will rend our tearless hearts and replace it with bleeding hearts of a true Disciple before the end time harvest is over on earth.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor. E. A. Adeboye, I would like to invite you to the 2023 Holy Ghost Congress. Theme: DIVINE REPOSITIONING. Date: Dec 4th - 9th, 2023. Venue: The Redemption City, Mowe, Nigeria.

Happy New Month and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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TIME TO GIVE

"Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures" - Deuteronomy‬ ‭15:10‭ (MSG)

In 1783, the harvest in France was a terrible one, and there were many who suffered as a result. However, Lafayette’s farms were unaffected by the devastating crop failures. One of his workers then offered what seemed to be good advice to Lafayette, “The bad harvest has raised the price of wheat. This is the time to sell.” After thinking about the hungry peasants in the surrounding villages, Lafayette disagreed and said, “No, this is the time to give.” (Lesson Commentary, August 2009, Daniel Lioy)

In recent years, food prices have been on the rise across Nigeria. The situation deteriorated due to the impact of government policies such as the removal of subsidies on petrol, among others. According to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the food inflation rate in October 2023 was 31.52 per cent, which was 7.80 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in October 2022 (23.72 per cent).

It is obvious that year 2023 has been a very challenging year for most families in Nigeria; they groan endlessly as prices of food stuff and other essential commodities keep on increasing astronomically on a daily basis. However, in the midst of this harsh economic condition, God still have some Lafayettes who are enjoying divine sustenance in the land.

Beloved, are you among "the Lafayette" in the land? We thank God for your life and pray that God will continue to preserve and sustain your harvest till Christ returns. However, as you prepare to enjoy your harvest during this Yuletide season with your loved ones, please remember the hungry peasants around you. In such a time like this, it is not wise to hoard your wheat from the needy. God never blesses you for your own benefit only, but that you can be a blessing to others in need at all times (Deut 15:7-11). Every act of kindness to the needy is a loan to God and would be repaid in due time (Proverbs 19:17). However, the rewards for withholding help from the needy are heavy rain of curses and impoverishment from God (Proverbs 28:27 & 11:24-25).

"If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord, and He will repay you!" - Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)

One special poem that summarizes God's position on the subject matter is titled "Ten Things God Won’t Ask On That Day":

TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK ON THAT DAY

1. God won’t ask what kind of car you drove,

He’ll ask how many people you gave a lift to who didn’t have any transportation.

2. God won’t ask the square footage of your house,

He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your wardrobe,

but He’ll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4. God won’t ask what your highest salary was,

but He’ll ask if you compromised your testimony to obtain it.

5. God won’t ask what your job title was,

but He’ll ask whether you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6. God won’t ask how many friends you had,

He’ll ask how many people to whom you made sure you were a friend.

7. God won’t ask in what neighbourhood you lived,

He’ll ask how you treated and behaved with your neighbours.

8. God won’t ask about the colour of your skin,

He’ll ask about the quality and growth of your character.

9. God wont ask you how much of your time you used watching television,

but He will ask how much you used caring for others?

10. God won’t ask why it took you so long to seek salvation;

He’ll just demonstrate how pleased He is to have you and take you to your mansion in heaven.

May our lives continue to be a blessing to others till our days on earth are over.

Please join us for Jesus Supermarket 2023 as we trust God to meet the needs of many families in this season. Venue: RCCG Place of His Power, 8 Gbeminiyi Street, Off Ijaiye Ojokoro Road, Opposite LADO filling Station, Lagos. Date: 24th of December, 2023. Time: 8am.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year in advance.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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A SOUL IN HEAVEN IS NOT LOST (TRIBUTE TO MR DELE BABATUNDE)

"Our bodies are like a tent that we live in here on earth. One day, that home will come to an end. But we know that God will give us a new home. It is not a house that a human builder has built. God has built it for us in heaven and we will live there forever. We would like to go away from our body here on earth. Then we would go to be at home with the Lord. And that would be better!" - 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:1‬ & 8 ‭(EASY‬‬)

A little girl whose baby brother just died asked her mother where Baby had gone? “To be with Jesus,” replied the mother. A few days later, talking to a friend, the mother said, “I am so grieved to have lost my baby.” The little girl heard her, and remembering what her mother had told her, looked up into her face and asked, “Mummy, is a thing lost when you know where it is?” ''No, of course not”, replied the mother. The little girl said: “Well, then how can Baby be lost when he has gone to be with Jesus?”

The comment of this little girl above clearly re-echoes the fact that the passing of a Christian is not a loss at all. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, God affirms that a Christian owns two homes: the temporary old tent on earth and the enduring new home in heaven. Therefore, death is an immediate translation from one of the homes to the other. It is a medium for exchanging: our tents on earth for His buildings in heaven, the temporary for the eternal, the pain of groaning for the joy of glory. What a word of consolation!

Christians are not suppose to be overtaken by grief when their believing friends, colleagues, and family members pass on to glory (1 Thess. ‭4:13‬). The departed souls will surely be missed in their earthly tents but we must come to terms with the fact that they have only transited to a better side of eternity where everyone of us will surely go one day. It is, therefore, absurd to grieve excessively over a thing that is not lost in the sight of eternity.

‭‭''Christian friends, we are going to tell you now about people that have already died. We don’t want you to be sad when you think about them. Other people, that don’t believe in Jesus, they don’t know what will happen to them after they die. So when their friends die, they get really sad. But if our Christian friends die, we don’t have to be really sad like those other people. Listen, we want you to understand this properly'' - 1 Thess. ‭4:13‬ ‭(PEV‬‬).

Beloved, these earthly tents of ours will be destroyed one day (Hebrews 9:27). How prepared are you for that day? Where will your soul be heading to as soon as your earthly tent is destroyed? The only way we can be prepared for that day of transition is to repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Saviour (Acts 4:12). Please do that now.

This hymn below reiterates the need not to sorrow for Christians that God recalled to be with Him on the other side of eternity.

WHY SHOULD OUR TEARS IN SORROW FLOW By William Hiley Bathurst

1. Why should our tears in sorrow flow

When God recalls His own,

And bids them leave a world of woe

For an immortal crown?

2. Is not e’en death a gain to those

Whose life to God was given?

Gladly to earth their eyes they close

To open them in heaven.

3. Their toils are past, their work is done,

And they are fully blest;

They fought the fight, the victory won,

And entered into rest.

4. Then let our sorrows cease to flow;

God has recalled His own;

But let our hearts, in every woe,

Still say, "Thy will be done."

Good night Engineer Yinusa Bamidele Babatunde (YBB), fondly called "The Landlord" by my team. It's hard to believe that God has recalled you back home to be with Him forever. Your caring heart and supportive hands will surely be missed in this earthly tent of ours. We earnestly look forward to that day when we shall meet to part no more. The EPIN team love you but God loves you more. Please continue to rest in the bosom of your Lord and Saviour. E sun re oo Oga Dele (The Landlord).

May the Holy Spirit console every family that is mourning the passing of their loved ones at this moment. May God help to fill the great vacuum left behind by the departed souls. And as the Lord lives, afflictions shall not rise again in those homes in Jesus name.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE PERFECT AND PERMANENT REMEDY

''Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation'' - Hebrews‬ ‭9:28‬ ‭(MSG‬‬)

A man left his family behind and travelled to a far country in search of greener pastures. After a long time, he got enough money and sent for his family. The wife’s heart leaped for joy as she took her boy to board a ship to meet her husband. However, a few minutes into the journey, the cry of “Fire! Fire!! Fire!!!” rang through the ship. The lifeboats on board were released but they were not enough for the rescue operations. When the last boat was about to leave, the woman pled with them to take her and her boy. “No,” they said, “we have got as many as we can hold.” She entreated them again earnestly, then at last they said they would take one more person. Immediately, she lifted her boy, gave him one last hug, and dropped him into the lifeboat. “My boy,” she said, “if you live to see your father, tell him that I died in your place.”

In the beginning, the ship of this world was set ablaze by sins and the judgment of death was pronounced on everyone on board (Rom 3:23, 6:23). In order to rescue man from the power and penalty of sins, the search for a perfect and permanent atonement began. The blood of animals was the first option. Many animals were slaughtered every year, yet the penalty for sins could not be reversed. This meant that the blood of animals is only a temporary and imperfect atonement for sins. It could only provide ceremonial purity, not a once and for all remedy.

The search for a ''once and for all'' remedy continued until God did what the woman in the above story did. God gave His only begotten Son as the perfect remedy for the atonement of man's sins (John 3:16). The Son of God, one who knew no sin was made to suffer for the sins of mankind (2 Cor 5:21). He died and rose again to revoke the judgment of hell hanging on the shoulders of man once and for all (Heb 9:26-28, 1 John 2:2). He laid down his life so that we might live. He was wounded, bruised, humiliated, and killed just to write off the huge debts of sins in our books. That perfect and permanent remedy is Jesus Christ!

''...He’s Jesus Christ, the Blameless One who gave his life to pay for our sins. In fact, he not only paid for our sins, he also paid for the sins of the whole world'' - 1 John‬ ‭2:1‭-‬2‬ ‭(RAD‬‬)

Beloved, please don't be deceived. The blood of animals is not a perfect and permanent remedy for the remission of sins. The charms, armlets, and other fetish things men carry around can never reverse the penalty of death hanging upon them. This myopic mindset is a high-level deception from the pit of hell. The only perfect and permanent remedy for sins is the blood of Jesus Christ.

Friends, have you met the Son of God who settled your debt of sins with His precious blood? Have you been to Jesus for His cleansing power? Are you really sure you have been washed by the blood of the Lamb? If you are not sure, please dip yourself into the fountain that is flowing from Christ today. You will never regret you did!

The lyrics of this hymn below re-echoes some of the salient questions I strongly perceive God is asking us today:

HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER? By Elisha A. Hoffman

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

REFRAIN:

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,

O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

May there be deep conviction and genuine repentance in the hearts of those who have not encountered the cleansing power in the blood of the Lamb today. And may we receive more grace to remain steadfast and undefiled till the Bridegroom returns to take us home with Him.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor. E. A. Adeboye, I would like to invite you to the 2023 Holy Ghost Congress. Theme: DIVINE REPOSITIONING. Date: Dec 4th - 10th, 2023. Venue: The Redemption City, Mowe, Nigeria.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

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THE FLUORESCENT TUBE BELIEVERS (MY BIRTHDAY EDITION)

"The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine"- Proverbs 4:18 (MSG)

''How long a fluorescent lamp lasts is usually determined by the manufacturer. At Shine Retrofits, we carry quality fluorescent lamps that last from under 10,000 hours to over 50,000 hours. A fluorescent lamp near the end of its life will typically show a few signs: One clear indication is the light being emitted begins to flicker. Another more subtle issue is that the colour of the fluorescent light may start to appear off. The fluorescent lamp may also stop producing light in areas of the bulb. Another sign is that either end of the tube turns black'' (The lifespan of a fluorescent lamp, Shine Retrofits).

In Proverbs 4:18, God made it categorically clear that man was not created to work or function on earth like a fluorescent tube. That is, the lamp of God in man is expected to keep burning brighter and brighter as each day goes by. It is therefore totally unacceptable for anyone to tell stories of how he/she used to be very fervent for God in the past.

Unlike fluorescent lamps, God (our manufacturer) expects that the nearer we get to the end of life, the brighter our light should shine in our territory of influence for Him. I often appreciate this salient truth better whenever I listen to my father in the Lord (Pastor E.A Adeboye) at 83 years still saying "We have not started yet". Unfortunately, there are many people who are less than 70 years old but are already tired like fluorescent tubes in church. The lamps of many believers are dying off gradually on a daily basis even when they are still several miles away from the departure luncheon of this world. It is quite sad to see believers serving God with a fluorescent tube mentality.

Beloved, is your light flickering every passing day? Are you telling stories of how you used to be very fervent for God? Do you still go for evangelism and follow-up as you used to do before? Have you stopped giving, fasting, and praying as you used to do? If your answers to these questions are not in the affirmative, then it is obvious you are a fluorescent tube believer. You need to repent now before it will be too late.

The lyric of this powerful hymn below re-echoes the subject matter:

SWEETER THAN THE DAY BEFORE (Author Unknown)

1. Every day He grows a little dearer,

Sweeter than the day before;

Every day He gets a little nearer,

Sweeter than the day before.

Refrain:

Every day with Jesus,

Sweeter than the day before;

Every day with Jesus

I love Him more and more;

Jesus saves and keeps me,

He’s the one that I adore;

Every day is sweeter,

Sweeter than the day before.

2. Every day this old load gets lighter,

Sweeter than the day before;

Every day my pathway gets brighter,

Sweeter than the day before.

3. Every day He hears my fervent pleas,

Sweeter than the day before;

Every day He gives my poor heart ease,

Sweeter than the day before.

4. Every day He guides me all along,

Sweeter than the day before;

Every day He shields me from all harm,

Sweeter than the day before.

As I begin a new year on earth this week, may every new day of this year be sweeter than the days before. May I never become a fluorescent tube minister, husband, and father till I say farewell to this world. Please pray for me.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor. E. A. Adeboye, I would like to invite you to the 2023 Holy Ghost Congress. Theme: DIVINE REPOSITIONING. Date: December 4th - 10th, 2023. Venue: The Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria. Ministering: Our beloved Daddy G.O - Pastor E.A. Adeboye and other anointed Ministers of God.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

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THE ANCHOR OF LIFE

"Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat and he was sound asleep!.." Matthew 8:23-26 (MSG)

A farmer who owned land along the seacoast constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the seacoast. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the seacoast, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.

Then, one night when the wind was blowing heavily, the farmer jumped out of bed, grabbed a lantern and rushed to the hired hand's room. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the livestock feeds had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the cages, and the doors were barred. Everything was tied down and nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

Beloved, the wind of life can blow at anytime. When the wind blows, everything that is not properly tied down will be violently uprooted and forcefully relocated. The wind does not respect our academic qualifications, skin colour, nationality, social status or wealth. The wind does not even respect our age, experience, charisma or affluence. The only thing that the wind obeys is the anchor. In Matthew 8:23-26, God illustrates how we can truly be fast asleep when the wind is blowing.

Friends, do you have an anchor? Can you sleep when the wind blows like Jesus Christ? Yes, you can if only you have an anchor that is fastened to the Rock of Ages which is safe and secure (Heb 6:19). The hired hand in the story above was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. Why not secure your life against the raging storms today by fastening your soul completely to the Great Anchor of Life?.

''We Have An Anchor'' is a powerful hymn that reiterates the need to secure our destinies against the stormy wind of life by staying connected to the anchor of life - Jesus Christ.

WE HAVE AN ANCHOR by Priscilla J. Owens

1. Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,

will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

2. Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,

when the breakers roar and the reef is near?

While the surges rave, and the wild winds blow,

shall the angry waves then your bark o'erflow?

3. Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,

when the waters cold chill your latest breath?

On the rising tide you can never fail,

while your anchor holds within the veil.

4. Will your eyes behold through the morning light

the city of gold and the harbour bright?

Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,

when life's storms are past for evermore?"

May the Anchor's grip upon our soul remain firm till we reach the city of gold in Jesus name.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, I will like to invite to the Holy Ghost Congress 2023. Theme: Divine Repositioning. Date: 4th to 10th December 2023. Venue: Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

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Twitter: @tammytaiwo

THE WORLD OF NABALS

''A fool does not think before he unleashes his temper, but a wise man holds back and remains quiet'' - Proverbs 29:11 (TV)

In one of 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.

There is a popular saying that ''Silence is Golden''. One of the ways to identify a fool is to pay close attention to his/her temperament. The words and temperament of a fool will always expose him/her. A donkey may command the respect of a lion as long as it remain silence. A donkey can clone the appearance of a lion but the voice and temperament of a lion can never be cloned. The real being behind those impressive facade that many people are showcasing now will be unraveled sooner or later.

''A fool is known by his speech, and a wise man by silence." Pythagoras

In 1 Samuel 25, before the visit of David's men to Nabal's house, everyone thought that he was a wise man. He was perceived to be the brilliant/great mind behind a successful cross border business entity. But after that visit, the narrative changed as the real identity of Nabal was unraveled to the whole world. Everyone eventually discovered that Nabal was an aggressive, hot-tempered, stubborn, greedy, rude and arrogant man. He was simply a fool (Eccl 7:9).

''Don't be quick to fly off the handle. Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head''- Eccl 7:9 (MSG).

Today, we live in a world of Nabals. A world where everyone wants to fully display their emotions and express themselves vocally or otherwise at the slightest provocation. A world where silence is no longer regarded as golden but foolishness. A world where people strive to get even with those who dare to step on their toes. A world where many people are extremely selfish and unkind to each other. Unfortunately, it is a world where many Nabals have become victims of the sword of David and his men. And many glorious homes or relationships have been scattered or torned apart by those violent emotions and careless utterances of Nabals. A world of Nabal is indeed a world of foolishness (Eccl 7:9).

Beloved, I sincerely hope you are not one of the Nabals in town. If you are, then, you need to genuinely repent and plead for the salvation of your soul. And if you do, I can assure you that the Holy Spirit will help you to control your emotion and tame your tongue till you finish your race on earth.

This wonderful hymn below re-echoes the need to avoid the path that Nabal followed:

ANGRY WORDS By Horatius R. Palmer, 1867

1. Angry words, oh, let them never

From the tongue unbridled slip;

May the heart’s best impulse ever

Check them ere they soil the lip.

Refrain:

“Love one another,” thus saith the Savior;

Children obey the Father’s blest command;

“Love one another,” thus saith the Savior;

Children obey His blest command.

2. Love is much too pure and holy,

Friendship is too sacred far,

For a moment’s reckless folly

Thus to desolate and mar.

3. Angry words are lightly spoken,

Bitt’rest thoughts are rashly stirred,

Brightest links of life are broken

By a single angry word.

May God help us to control our temperament so that we will not be defiled by that reckless and destructive spirit of Nabal that is ravaging our world today in Jesus name, Amen.

On behalf of my esteemed Father in the Lord, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, I want to invite you to the November 2023 Holy Ghost Service with the theme: THE WALLS MUST COME DOWN. Time: 6pm. Date: Friday, 3rd November, 2023. Venue: Redemption City, Ogun State, Nigeria. #rccgworldwide #HolyGhostService

Happy New Month and God bless you, Amen.

Maranatha

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

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Twitter: @tammytaiwo

JOIN THE CHARIOT

''‭‭And the Spirit said to Philip, “Approach and join this chariot.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet and said, “So then, do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “So how could I, unless someone will guide me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him'' - Acts 8:29-31(LEB‬‬)

While passing by a big department store, a young man perceived God was leading him to go and preach the Gospel to the owner of the store. He obeyed and was led into the store owner's office where he spoke to him on the need for the salvation of his soul. Finally, tears began to roll down the store owner's cheeks, and he said: “I’m seventy years of age. More than a hundred ministers and five hundred church workers have known me as you have, to do business with, but in all these years you are the only man who ever spoke to me about my soul.” (The Ministers Manual, G. B. F. Hallock)

In the early Church, the disciples were committed to witnessing Christ passionately to everyone who crossed their paths. They were always looking out for available platforms to preach the Gospel. They eagerly watched out for opportunities to join the chariot in order to reach out to unbelievers. They believed there was always someone in the chariot who needed to hear the Gospel before it was too late. They were very sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and yielded instantly to His leading. What an amazing testimony!

Beloved, are there still some Philips in the church today? Are we not too preoccupied with irrelevant activities that we have no more time to discharge our primary assignment as believers? Do we still hear and obey God's instruction to join the Chariot like Philip? Can we willingly cancel our personal agendas or programs like Philip just to rescue hell-bound souls? Are we truly passionate about the Great Commission like Philip? If we are to be sincere with ourselves, the answer to these questions is ''No''.

''‭‭But how can people call on someone they don't trust? How can they trust someone they haven't heard about? How can they hear unless they're told?'' Romans 10:14 (FBV)

However, there are many Ethiopian Eunuchs around us who need to hear the Gospel and be delivered from the grips of death. There are also many vacant seats on the chariot that need to be occupied. The Holy Spirit is always beckoning on us to join the Chariot. Will you obey God and run like Philip to do the Lord's bidding? What He says to one, He says to all - friends, please join the Chariot now (Mark 13:37). What a privilege and honour to be God's ambassador and mouthpiece on earth!

The hymn below re-echoes the instruction of the Holy Spirit to Philip and all believers in every generation on the subject (Acts 8:29).

GO, PREACH MY GOSPEL, SAITH THE LORD, By Isaac Watts

1 “Go, preach My gospel,” saith the Lord.

“Bid the whole earth My grace receive.

Explain to them My sacred word;

Bid them believe, obey, and live.

2 “I’ll make My great commission known,

And ye shall prove My gospel true

By all the works that I have done

And all the wonders ye shall do.

3 “Go, heal the sick; go raise the dead;

Go, cast out devils in My name;

Nor let My prophets be afraid,

Though Greeks reproach and Jews blaspheme.

4 “While thus ye follow My commands

I’m with you till the world shall end;

All power is trusted in My hands;

I can destroy and can defend.”

May God raise and empower many Philips for the end-time harvest of souls into His Kingdom in Jesus Name. Amen.

On behalf of my esteemed father - the Pastor in Charge of the Triumphant Province (LP 38), Pastor Nicholas Akin-John, I want to invite you to Praise Showers 9.0 with the theme: SOUND OF REJOICING. Date: Friday, 27th October 2023. Venue: Eduland Children's School, 53 Akowonjo Road, Egbeda, Lagos. Time: 9pm.

Good day and God bless you, Amen

Maranatha!

Bro Okanlawon Taiwo

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DON'T LIVE FOR THINGS

"Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” - Luke 12:15b (MSG)

There is a tendency for man to believe that life can only be defined by the things that money can buy and then forget about the things that money cannot buy. 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 centre of life, rather, they are the add-ons we receive when God is given the rightful place in our hearts (Matthew 6:33). Therefore, anyone who lives for things and ignores God will lose both. While those who put God first will have God and the good things that God wants us to enjoy.

"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. My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. " - 1 John 5:11-13 (MSG)

Beloved, life is not found in things that fade, decay, and lose their value. Life is found in a Person, and that Person is Jesus Christ, God’s Son! The true worth of a man is not in the size of his bank accounts, properties, or material possessions. Therefore, it is not wise to be running after things and ignore God in this transit station of life. Nothing can really satisfy or quench the thirst of man like a genuine walk or relationship with God.

Friends, are you still running after things at the expense of your eternity with God? Do you think silver and gold can fill the huge vacuum for God in your soul? Do you think you can truly become what God wants you to be without submitting to the Master's plans for your life? The answer is a capital ''NO''. Therefore, I urge you to make your way right with God now, so that you can start living for the true riches that will last for eternity. I hope you will act wisely today by choosing Jesus like the writer of this wonderful hymn below:

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"

May God grant us grace to remain faithful and true to Heaven's cause till Christ returns to take us home in Jesus name, Amen.

Please join us at our beautiful garden of Prayer and Praise (RCCG, Place of His Power) for All Sisters' Conference 2023 with the theme: Flowing In His Power and Purpose. Date: Thursday, 12th October to Sunday, 15th October 2023. Ministering: Pastor (Mrs) Tosin Olu-David and other anointed Ministers of God.

Good day and God bless you, Amen

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE DELIVERY ROOM - 2

''Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God'' - Isaiah 66:9 (KJV)

One of the key roles of a midwife in the delivery room is to help rupture a pregnant woman's membrane. This means, to assist in breaking the water (the fluid-filled sac) around the baby in the uterus. This sac serves as a survival and protective cushion for the baby in the mother's womb. As soon as the water breaks, the baby will no longer be comfortable in the womb again, hence, the time of delivery has come.

Whenever the divine midwife breaks the water of any man, some unusual things happen. For instance, when the midwife broke the water of Peter, all the fish that had been avoiding his net all night suddenly began to run into his net (Luke 5:1-7). When the midwife ruptured the membrane of Mordecai, the king became restless until he was adequately compensated and promoted (Esther 6:1). When the midwife ruptured the membrane of Joseph, Pharaoh was troubled by strange dreams that made the Butler remember and mention his name in the palace (Genesis 41:1, 8). When the midwife ruptured the membrane of David, everyone in his father’s house stood until he returned from the grazing area. That is, God took away their comfort and rest until the testimony of David was delivered (1 Samuel 16:1-12).

Beloved, the divine midwife is still in the delivery room and ready to rupture the membrane of anyone who dares seek His help. Will you allow him to break your water? I'm sure you will however, you must be genuinely saved to be able to enter the delivery room. You may want to ask ''What do I need to do to be able to enter the delivery room?''. Just repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Please make that decision now because tomorrow may be too late.

This wonderful hymn below describes what pregnant women do anytime they enter the delivery room:

THE ROYAL TELEPHONE By Frederick M. Lehman, 1919

1. Central’s never busy,

Always on the line;

You may hear from Heaven

Almost any time;

’Tis a royal service,

Free for one and all;

When you get in trouble,

Give this royal line a call.

Refrain:

Telephone to glory,

O what joy divine!

I can feel the current

Moving on the line,

Built by God the Father

For His loved and own,

We may talk to Jesus

Thru this royal telephone.

2. There will be no charges,

Telephone is free,

It was built for service,

Just for you and me;

There will be no waiting

On this royal line,

Telephone to glory

Always answers just in time

3. Fail to get the answer?

Satan’s crossed your wire,

By some strong delusion,

Or some base desire;

Take away obstructions,

God is on the throne,

And you’ll get your answer

Thru this royal telephone.

4. If your line is grounded,

And connection true

Has been lost with Jesus,

Tell you what to do:

Prayer and faith and promise,

Mend the broken wire,

’Till your soul is burning

With the Pentecostal fire.

5. Carnal combinations

Cannot get control

Of this line to glory,

Anchored in the soul;

Storm and trial cannot

Disconnect the line,

Held in constant keeping

By the Father’s hand divine.

As God breaks your water in the delivery room today, there shall be no more comfort for everyone sitting on your entitlements. As the Lord lives, you and I will not leave the delivery room of this year empty-handed in Jesus name.

Please join us at our beautiful garden of prayer (RCCG, Place of His Power) as we position ourselves in the Delivery Room to push some awesome testimonies into manifestation this month. The Divine Midwife is waiting for you, please come and take delivery of your long-awaited babies.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE DELIVERY ROOM - 1

"The Lord your God says, ‘When I bring a baby to the moment of birth, the child is always born. I do not stop its birth'’ - Isaiah 66: ‬9 (EASY)

On Saturday, 11th July 2009, my wife was having serious contractions and we quickly set out for the hospital. On getting to the hospital she was examined, then moved into the delivery room and I accompanied her. When she had dilated enough, the midwives asked her to start pushing and she did. After sometimes she couldn't endure the excruciating pains anymore and she was almost asking for Caesarean Section when one of the midwives said to her "Madam, I can see the head of your baby, just push harder". I quickly looked in the direction the midwife was looking and I saw the baby's head too. Then, I said to my wife, "It is true, our baby is almost out. Please push harder my dear". She did and the baby came out safely to the glory of God.

Everyone who is currently discouraged and on the verge of giving up today needs to hear what the divine midwife (Holy Spirit) is reaffirming in Isaiah 66:9. The greatest midwife who does not lie is saying "I can see the head of your baby". You may be feeling some excruciating pains now but just hang on and keep pushing because your baby is on the way. If you entered the delivery room of this year alive then, there is nothing that can stop you from walking out with your heart desires. The size and weight of those challenges should not make you give up on your God-given dreams. Please don't yield to those negative and suicidal thoughts that are bombarding your mind. It is certain that the hard times will soon come to an end.

Beloved, I strongly perceive that your moment of delivery has finally come. Can you see what the Almighty God is seeing from His Delivery Room in Heaven? Can you hear what the sweet Holy Spirit is whispering into your ears now? If you can, then you will know that the delivery of your testimony is much more closer than you can ever imagine. Yes, your baby(ies) will definitely arrive any moment from now if you don't stop pushing and praying. Those excruciating pains you are feeling now will soon be replaced with joyful moments that will never end. You will soon step out of the delivery room with your twins, triplets, quadruplets etc in your hands. How I wish you can believe God and His midwife (Holy Spirit) today? How I wish you can trust Him enough for more grace and strength to push your testimony forth before this month expires?

"All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer" - R. A. Torrey

This wonderful hymn below re-echoes the need to keep pushing/praying until our baby is delivered.

DON'T STOP PRAYING By Edna R. Worrell, 1906.

Don’t stop praying! the Lord is nigh;

Don’t stop praying! He’ll hear your cry,

God has promised, and He is true,

Don’t stop praying! He’ll answer you.

Don’t stop praying for every need,

Don’t stop praying! the Lord will heed;

No petition to Him is small;

Don’t stop praying! He’ll give you all.

Don’t stop praying when led to sin;

Don’t stop praying! that good may win;

Christ was tempted and understands;

Don’t stop praying! He’ll hold your hands.

Don’t stop praying when bowed with grief;

Don’t stop praying! you’ll get relief;

Troubles never escape God’s sight;

Don’t stop praying! He’ll make it right.

Don’t stop praying, but have more trust;

Don’t stop praying! for pray we must;

Faith will banish a mount of care;

Don’t stop praying! God answers prayer.

As the Lord lives, you and I will not leave the delivery room of this year empty-handed in Jesus name.

Please join us at our Beautiful Garden of Prayer and Praise (RCCG, Place of His Power) as we position ourselves in the Delivery Room to push some awesome testimonies into manifestation this month. The Holy Spirit, Our Divine Midwife is ready to help us pray through. Please come and take delivery of your testimonies.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE BELIEVER'S KPI

"....None of you are to appear before Me empty-handed"- Exodus 34:20 (AMP)

A story was told of a young man who was about to die after he had been a Christian for only one month. Although, he was grateful to God for the salvation of his soul towards the end of his days on earth, but he was not happy that he never had enough opportunity to share the gospel with others. Before he eventually passed on, he said: “I am not afraid to die; Jesus saved me now, but must I go empty-handed?”

The young man's statement above clearly summarizes the Believer's Key Performance Indicator (KPI). The desire to achieve this KPI must be a top priority for every genuine believer as we gradually approach our departure time on earth. ''I must not go empty-handed'' should be our slogan till we cross the narrow bridge. We must be intentional and passionate about soul-winning at all times.

Unfortunately, unlike that young man, many of us have been saved for years without a handful of converts in the kingdom to our credit. Our heads, pockets, wardrobes, and shoe racks are full but our hands are empty. People are hailing us but God is grieved that we are approaching eternity empty-handed. We have many ministerial, academic, and professional certifications but as far as God is concerned we are a bunch of fruitless Christians occupying space in the kingdom. People even address us with big titles like Choir Leader, Chief Usher, Deacon, Deaconess, Senior Pastor, Apostle, Evangelist, Arch Bishop, etc. but if we should appear before our master today, He would call us "unproductive and useless believers".

“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit,....". John 15:16 (MSG)

Beloved, please be sincere with yourself. Have you been meeting heaven's expectations or not? Are you heading to Heaven empty-handed or are your hands full? What have you got to show the Lord for all the years He has saved you? What have you done with all the days you have spent on earth? When your sojourn on earth is eventually over, will you show God your many worldly perishable fruits or achievements like ordination certificates, academic qualifications, expensive rings, wristwatches, lovely wears, shoes, posh automobiles, and fat bank accounts? Or will you appear before the Lord with things of eternal worth which is countless souls of men that the Holy Spirit has won into His kingdom through you? The choice is yours and I hope you will choose wisely so you will not end your journey with regret.

This wonderful hymn below re-echoes the need to rekindle the fire and passion for soul-winning in the body of Christ in our generation:

MUST I GO EMPTY-HANDED? C. C Luther, 1877

“Must I go, and empty-handed,”

Thus my dear Redeemer meet?

Not one day of service give Him,

Lay no trophy at His feet?

Chorus:

“Must I go, and empty-handed?”

Must I meet my Savior so?

Not one soul with which to greet Him,

Must I empty-handed go?

Not at death I shrink or falter,

For my Savior saves me now;

But to meet Him empty-handed,

Thought of that now clouds my brow.

O the years in sinning wasted,

Could I but recall them now,

I would give them to my Savior,

To His will I'd gladly bow.

O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,

Up and work while yet 'tis day;

Ere the night of death o'er take thee,

Strive for souls while still you may.

May God unleash upon us an unquenchable passion for souls and a deep burden to share the gospel, so that rather than living a life of vanity, we shall redeem our time now and bear fruit unto eternal life (John 4:36).

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE RADAR OF HEAVEN

''Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. He can clearly see all things and everything is open before him. And to him we must explain the way we have lived'' - Hebrews 4:13 (ERV)

A group of friends gathered, one morning, to help their friend paint his large two-story building. At the end of the day, when they thought they were done with the painting, they realized that a small part of the building was untouched. One of them said, " I guess we don't need to paint that part as no one can see it." Another hurriedly went for a ladder and said, " That's not true. God can see it. "

Many atrocities are committed behind closed doors all around the world, with the notion that it will be invisible to the radar of Heaven. That man can cleverly conceal his misdeeds so that no one else will know about it. Unfortunately, this notion is untrue. Every atrocity perpetuated by man, secretly, will be exposed one day.

For example, in Genesis 3:1-13, when Adam and Eve were eating the forbidden fruit they thought it would forever remain their secret dessert or appetizer in the Garden of Eden. King David plotted the assassination of Uriah - the husband of the woman he impregnated with the notion that no one on earth and in Heaven will ever discover his wicked act (2 Samuel 11:14-17). Judas Iscariot sold his master for 30 pieces of silver (worth $336 today) with the notion that nobody would know about that terrible deal of betrayal (Matthew 26:15-16).

All these cleverly concealed atrocities eventually showed up in the open space somehow. The radar of heaven was too sharp and accurate to miss out on capturing all these atrocities committed behind closed doors on earth. The Holy Spirit was too smart to forget to document the accounts of all atrocities and their immediate consequences in the Holy Bible.

Friends, you do not need a prophet to tell you again that nothing can be hidden from God. The omnipresent God can see, clearly, everything done behind closed doors even if it is done in the darkest region of the earth. The radar of heaven can pick up what man's radar cannot pick. In fact, God does not need a ladder or a torchlight to see all the atrocities perpetuated by man, be it in the darkest or highest place on earth. Therefore, only a fool will believe that his/her secret misdeeds will forever remain a secret. No way! Those secret sins or misdeeds will eventually, sooner or later, become the town's breaking news.

Finally, please note that secret misdeeds have serious consequences. The seed of secret sin will eventually grow and produce bitter fruits that you will have to harvest (James 1:15). You can not override the law of harvest (Galatians 6:7). Fortunately, you do not have to wait till harvest time to confess, repent, and amend your ways with God. Please do so today as tomorrow might be too late.

The poem below describes some of the consequences of hiding our sins from God:

HIDDEN SIN By John Boyle O'Reilly, May 21, 2012.

A buried sin is like a covered sore

That spreads and festers 'neath a painted face;

And no man's art can heal it evermore,

But only His—the Surgeon's—promised grace.

Who hides a sin is like the hunter who

Once warmed a frozen adder with his breath,

And when he placed it near his heart it flew

With poisoned fangs and stung that heart to death.

A sin admitted is nigh half atoned;

And while the fault is red and freshly done,

If we but drop our eyes and think,—'tis owned,—

'Tis half forgiven, half the crown is won.

But if we heedless let it reek and rot,

Then pile a mountain on its grave, and turn,

With smiles to all the world,—that tainted spot

Beneath the mound will never cease to burn.

May the Great Surgeon of Heaven pierce our hearts open today to remove every hidden sin before the trumpet sounds in Jesus Name, Amen.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE VALID TICKET

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" John 3:3

Basically, there are two types of passengers at the airport: those with valid tickets and those on standby (without tickets). The posture and confidence level of these two types of passengers are not the same. While those with tickets are very calm, those on standby are worried as they stand the chance of missing their flight.

Everyone on earth are passengers waiting for the last flight to eternity. When the plane arrives, only the passengers with valid tickets will board while others will be turned back at the boarding gate. The boarding process will be very systematic and thorough. It will be practically impossible for anyone without a valid ticket to board. Then, the question is, how can one obtain a valid ticket before the last flight arrives?

In John 3:1-16, Jesus Christ told a prominent Jewish religious leader- Nicodemus that the only way to secure a seat in the plane to eternity is to be born again. Salvation is the ticket to the City of Gold above. There is no other name that can secure a place for man in heaven other than the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" - Acts 4:12

Beloved, the earth is a transit station (Hebrews 11:13-16). The time for our final departure is gradually approaching. The check-in counter and boarding gate will soon be closed. But what will be your fate on that day? Do you have a valid ticket or are you still on standby? Is your name on the kingdom manifest of Heaven (i.e. the Book of Life)? Do you think being religious like Nicodemus can earn you a valid ticket to heaven? It is too risky to miss the last flight out of this world. Therefore, please secure a seat on the plane to eternity with God today by repenting and surrendering your life to the pilot of our soul. I can assure you that you will never regret you did.

The hymn below summaries the conversation that Jesus had with the religious leader in John 3 about the valid ticket:

A RULER ONCE CAME TO JESUS By W. T. Sleeper (1819-1904)

1. A ruler once came to Jesus by night,

To ask Him the way of salvation and light;

The Master made answer in words true and plain,

Refrain:

“Ye must be born again!”

“I verily, verily say unto thee,

Ye must be born again!”

2. Ye children of men, attend to the word

So solemnly uttered by Jesus, the Lord,

And let not this message to you be in vain,

“Ye must be born again.”

3. Oh, ye who would enter that glorious rest,

And sing with the ransomed the song of the blest;

The life everlasting if ye would obtain,

“Ye must be born again.”

As the second coming of Christ approaches or draws nearer, may we not tear or throw away our valid tickets before our departure time in Jesus name, Amen.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE RAIN OF BREAD

"The Lord told Moses, “Just watch! I'm going to rain down bread from heaven for you!... -" Exodus 16:4 (FBV)

In August 2020, residents of Olten, Switzerland, were startled to find that it was snowing chocolate! A malfunction in the ventilation system of the local chocolate factory had caused chocolate particles to be diffused into the air. As a result, a dusting of edible chocolate flakes covered cars and streets and made the whole town smell like a candy store.

God is still in the business of surpassing man's expectations (Ephesians 3:20). He can order the delivery of a timely intervention package to those who are at their wits' end. That was precisely what God did to the children of Israel in the wilderness. The Israelites slept one night very hungry but woke up to see the rain of bread on their houses. And the rain fell in the wilderness for forty years (Exodus 16:36). Like the residents of Olten, the Israelites would have been surprised and elated. This is simply unbelievable!

Beloved, God can surpass our expectations. He can do anything just to meet the needs of his people. The rain of bread is not a fluke (Exodus 16:4). God has the ability to turn the sky into a bread factory and chocolate dispenser for a season. He can make any sophisticated equipment to malfunction for a while just to settle some people's needs in their wilderness. God can tamper with the brain box of anyone on earth just to settle the needs of his children. That was precisely what God did to the Syrian troop that made them abandon all their belongings to the Israelites (2 Kings 7:3-16). Our God is simply amazing! He can even engage the most stingy bird on earth to dispatch food to His people in times of famine (1 Kings 17:2-16). Yes, what God cannot do, does not exist indeed!

This month, God will touch the brain box of someone on your behalf. He will cause something to malfunction in them so that the atmosphere around your home, business, and career shall be filled with the sweet aroma that your destiny requires in Jesus name. However, please note that you must first repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour before this rain can fall upon you. Please do that today.

"The Heavenly Manna Falling" is the title of a wonderful hymn that re-echoes God's ability to rain down bread and chocolate of pleasant surprises upon us:

THE HEAVENLY MANNA FALLING

1. When out from Egypt's bondage

The chosen children fled,

And journeyed through the desert,

They fell in need of bread;

Their cries to heaven ascending.

From famine-stricken earth,

God showered down the manna,

Supplying all their dearth,

REFRAIN:

The heavenly manna's falling

Along the pilgrim's way,

And angel food's our portion,

While his word we obey;

Yes, heavenly manna's falling

Along the pilgrim's way,

And angel food's our portion,

While his word we obey.

2. We too, like them, are pilgrims

AIong the desert way

That leads through earth to heaven.

The laud of endless day;

And as we journey onward,

In answer to our calls,

In rich and full abundance

The manna daily falls.

3. Oh, bread sent down from heaven,

We'll ever feed on thee,

And trust our loving Father

For grace, abounding, free;

Till ends the pilgrim's journey,

And all our needs supplied.

We'll feast our souls in heaven,

With all the sanctified.

This month, God shall surpass your expectations. The rain of bread shall continually fall upon every wilderness situation around you. And Ravens shall release your daily needs until you see Christ in glory.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, I will like to invite you to the 71st Annual Convention of the RCCG, with the theme: BEYOND EXPECTATIONS. Date: 7th - 13th August 2023. Venue: Redemption City, Km 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Happy new month. Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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REVENUE OF THE WICKED

“In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble”—Proverbs 15:6

In 1993, four executives of a rental company were convicted and jailed for defrauding their customers. Using what con artists have long referred to as the “salami technique”, they cheated at least 47,000 customers over a four-year period. They had modified the billing software to overcharge little amounts in hopes that no one will notice and that those little amounts will build up to a large amount of money over time. It took a long time to uncover the scam because most of the customers were only charged small amounts sometimes as little as $2.00'' (Network World Security Newsletter, M. E. Kabay, 24th July 2002)

''The end justifies the means'' is part of a political philosophy called consequentialism. This phrase simply means if a goal is morally important enough, any method of getting it is acceptable. Unfortunately, this philosophy has become an acceptable norm in our world today. Many people believe that any method used to acquire riches, wealth or affluence will always be acceptable. However, this philosophy is not in consonant with God's word.

“God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard" –Prov. 11:1 (MSG)

In the above scripture, God confirms that whatsoever we obtain through dubious means is not acceptable to Him. This implies that God is more interested in the method we use than the result we obtain. Men may celebrate our results even when they know we used dubious methods but God will never condone unrighteousness for any reason. Every unrighteous method deployed by man on earth is simply a display of wickedness in God's sight. And as an impartial judge, God will not allow the wicked to escape without being punished (Prov 11:6 & 21). And God's verdict for the wicked is ‘’Revenue or Inflow of Trouble’’ in perpetuity (Proverbs 15:6).

"A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked" - Psalms 37:16

Friends, I hope all those things you consider as treasures in your hands today are treasures indeed in the sight of God. Hope you are not using the proceeds of wickedness and manipulations to pile up fortune of vanity and agony for yourself and your household. Don’t wait till those dubious gains turn to gravel in your mouth (Prov 9:17-18). Please repent now. It is better to be in right standing with God and go to Heaven than to be rich in this world and end up in the place of torment in Hell (Luke 16:19-31, 1 Tim 6:6-7). However, nobody can truly live a righteous life in this corrupt world without a genuine encounter with the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21). That is why I am pleading with you to please surrender your life to Jesus Christ today.

''Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, So we cannot take anything out of it'' - 1 Timothy 6:6‭-‬7 TLV

"Secret To Be Content'' is the title of a wonderful hymn that re-echoes the need to be contented in the journey of life.

SECRET TO BE CONTENT (Author Unknown)

1. Greatly I rejoiced in the Lord,

Because your thinking for me

Now at length anew has blossomed,

Which you had indeed taken thought,

But lacked opportunity.

Refrain:

Not by lack so that I speak,

But Christ my secret,

For I have learned in whatever circumstances

To be content.

2. I know how to be abased,

And I know how to abound,

To be filled, to hunger or lack,

In all things and in everything

I’ve learned the secret.

May we receive grace to be contented with whatsoever God has given unto us until we finish our race on earth in Jesus name, amen.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, I want to invite you to our 71st Annual Convention with the theme - BEYOND EXPECTATIONS. Date: 7th - 13th August, 2023. Venue: Redemption Camp, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Good day and God bless.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

https://okanlawon.webnode.com

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THE COLD FEET SYNDROME

''Sometimes I think, ‘I will say nothing about the Lord or his message.’ But then his message burns like a fire inside me. It gives me pain in my mind and my body. I cannot keep his message to myself. I have to speak it''- Jeremiah 20:9 (EASY)

At age five, Hannah made an insightful statement about her newfound faith. She told her mother, “I think Jesus has moved out of my heart.” With curiosity and concern, her mum asked where Hannah thought Christ had gone. She replied, “He has moved to my throat, because all I want to do is tell people about Jesus.” (Mature Living, March, 2009)

Every genuine believer has a deposit of fire that will make them restless until they witness Christ to the unbelievers around them (Jer. 20:9). This deposit is the authenticating factor for exploit and wisdom in life (Pro. 11:30). Every believer who refuses to connect and draw from this deposit will suffer from a terrible spiritual disease called ''The Cold Feet Syndrome''. One noticeable symptom of this spiritual disease is the lack of passion for evangelism and follow-up.

In John 21:1-17, the disciples suffered from this disease after Christ was crucified. Peter went back to his fishing business and other disciples followed him. They abandoned their duties and a sacred commitment to God. Their spiritual tanks became empty, and their love for God waxed cold. To remedy the situation, Jesus Christ had to come and stir up the fire within the disciples' souls again. Then, when the Holy Ghost descended upon them on the day of Pentecost, they went everywhere preaching the gospel (Acts 2:1-3). The fire turned those timid believers into an unstoppable movement in their generation for Christ (Acts 5:28-29). Like Hannah, they became mobile signposts pointing people to Calvary where humanity was rescued from eternal pains and agony.

Beloved, have you experienced what that five-year-old Hannah experienced? Do you feel like telling everyone around you about the love of God? Or you have abandoned your primary duties in the kingdom like Peter and other disciples? Are you among the absentee believers in this generation? Don't you think your lack of interest in evangelism and follow-up is a clear sign of spiritual coldness? Please repent today and ask God for mercy.

''Jesus said to his followers, “Lots of people need to hear about me. They are ready to listen, but nobody is telling them. They are like a big crop of food plants on a farm that are ready for the workers to get their seeds for food. But there are only a few workers. The farmer needs a lot of workers to bring all those seeds into the shed, and in the same way I need a lot of workers to tell people about me, and bring them to God. So you have to ask God to send more workers out to tell everyone about me, just like the farmer has to ask for more workers for his crop” - Matt. 9:37-38 (PEV)

The song below re-echoes the instructions of Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 9:37-38:

WIN THE LOST AT ANY COST By Leon H. Ellis, January 1, 1959

1. As we look around us

All the fields are white

Ripened unto harvest

And so swiftly comes the night

Christians must get busy

There is work to do

Here's an urgent task awaiting you

CHORUS:

Souls are crying men are dying

Won't you lead them to the cross

Go and find them help to win them

Win the lost at any cost

Go out and win rescue from sin

Day's almost done low sinks the sun

Souls are crying men are dying

Win the lost at any cost

2. Christ our loving Shepherd

Went out from the fold

Seeking for the stray lamb

That was lost in darkened cold

Tendеr hands of kindness

Raised Him from the ground

Now thе little lost one had been found

3. Check your fold my Christian

Are the children in

Are there yet some straying

Lost in blackened fields of sin

You must go and reach them

Go without delay

Soon the shades of night

Will end the day

May God heal His church of all symptoms of spiritual coldness and raise many workers for the end-time harvest in Jesus name, Amen.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE STINGY DISEASE

''There was a man called Ananias, and his wife was Sapphira. They sold some land too, but they kept some of the money for themselves. Ananias only gave some of it to Peter and to Jesus’s other special workers, for them to share with the other Christians. Ananias lied to them. He said, ‘'This is all the money we got for our land’’. His wife knew what he was doing, and she agreed to it’’ – Acts 5:1-2 (PEV)

"Cirrhosis of the Giver" otherwise known as the stingy disease was discovered in A.D. 34 by the husband-wife team of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). It is an acute condition that renders the patient’s hands immobile when he/she is called on to move them in the direction of his wallet or her purse, and from thence to the offering plate. This strange malady is not clinically observable in places like supermarkets, restaurants, social gatherings, or parties. The best therapy for this disease is to get the individual’s heart right with God.

The Church is a divine spiritual diagnostic centre where believers are screened in readiness for their return trip back home (Ephesians 5:26-27). Everyone who test negative is celebrated while those who test positive are reprimanded. For instance, in Acts 5:1-5, Holy Spirit carried out a detailed diagnostic review of the believers' hearts and discovered that Mr. and Mrs. Ananias were suffering from chronic "cirrhosis of the giver" - the stingy disease. Their test result shows that they had withheld a portion of the proceeds of their land from God and the needy among them. Obviously, their hearts were not right with God and they underestimated the power of the divine x-ray (Holy Spirit) that is at work in the church. Unfortunately, they were exposed, died prematurely, and left their loved ones behind to mourn and suffer for their selfishness and self-centeredness.

Beloved, the x-ray of the Holy Ghost has not lost its potency. The Spirit of God that published the test result of Mr. & Mrs. Ananias in the early church is still active in His diagnostic centre today. All our hidden selfish and greedy thoughts, actions, motives, plans, aspirations, and desires are clearly under the powerful radar of Heaven. Everything we give to God and the needy are being scrutinized to ensure that it passes the stingy test of Heaven. Therefore, please don't become a victim of the spirit of stinginess that is afflicting many believers today. Always remember that you are a custodian of God's resources on earth (1 Corinthians 4:7). Giving to the needy and God is a special privilege; please don't ever take it for granted. The Almighty God gave man the greatest gift which is His only Begotten Son, hence no one can ever out-give Him (John 3:16). The greatest gift anyone can give to God is his/her soul. Have you given your soul to Jesus? If your answer is not in the affirmative, please make your way right with God now. And never forget that every opportunity you have to give unto God and the needy is an opportunity to be blessed (Prov 11:24, Malachi 3:10, Prov 19:17).

The hymn below summarizes how Jesus Christ carried out the diagnostic review in Mark 12:41-44.

JESUS SAT AND WATCHED THE CROWD By Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2000

Jesus sat and watched the crowd

At the temple treasury.

Some that day were rich and proud,

Making sure that all could see

Their great generosity.

Then a widow came along

Who had nothing she could spare.

Yet her faith in God was strong

And she gave as few would dare:

All she had, she chose to share.

Just a penny, nothing more,

Yet Christ said her gift was best.

What a risk, for one so poor!

What rich faith her gift expressed!

Trusting, giving, she was blest.

Lord, you see the way we live;

All within our hearts, you know.

Like that widow, may we give.

Trusting you, our gifts will grow

And our joy will overflow.

May God grant us grace to be faithful stewards of all His treasures in our custody. May we never withhold our time, talents, skills, intellectual abilities, etc from Him till Christ returns.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, I want to invite you to our 71st Annual Convention with the theme - BEYOND EXPECTATIONS. Date: Monday 7th - 13th August, 2023. Venue: Redemption Camp, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

https://okanlawon.webnode.com

https:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

Instagram:@lawontaiwo

Twitter:@tammytaiwo

THE MARTHA'S AGENDA

''Martha was busy with all the entertaining. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are anxious and upset about many things, but few things are needed—actually, only one...”- Luke 10:40‭-‬42 (RAD)

Busyness has become a badge of honour in our world today and many people have loads of it hung on their necks. To validate this assertion, please ask any lukewarm believer this question: "Why were you not available for evangelism and follow-up throughout the first six months of this year? I guess the response would be: "The timing of the program always coincides with some crucial meetings". You may even wish to probe further by saying, "You have not been attending digging deep, faith clinic and workers meeting. You also come late to church on Sundays. Is anything the matter? The response again may likely be: "I have been very busy lately, and I know God understands".

"It's not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about" - Henry D. Thoreau.

Beloved, if heaven could play back the video of our activities in the first six months of the year 2023, will it show that we were busy doing things that have eternal value? I sincerely don't think so! The video may reveal how many of us were busy running the rat race; jumping from pillar to post in pursuit of our self-aggrandizing Martha's agenda. Our days may be full of activities, but in the light of eternity, we were simply busy doing nothing. We were pursuing Martha's agenda while neglecting the most important things God expects of us. Like Martha, we have misplaced our priorities and lost focus of eternal purpose.

Friends, how busy are you and what have you been doing for God in the first six months of this year? Have you been feeding your body but starving your soul? Don't you know that what matters to your Martha does not really matter to God. So, why not step down from that lofty position of yours in "The Busy Martha Ministry" now and make time for things that really matter in the sight of God? Please don't be too busy to honour God with your gifts, talents, and resources. In the remaining six months of this year, don't just be busy, be productively busy serving God with the whole of your heart. Even in the midst of your hectic day at work, please find time to connect with your maker.

A typical daily routine or activity log of a busy person is summarized in this poem below:

NO TIME FOR GOD (Author Unknown)

I knelt to pray but not for long;

I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work

For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer

And jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done.

My soul could rest at ease.

All day long, I had no time

To spread a word of cheer.

No time to speak of Christ to friends.

They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do;

That was my constant cry.

No time to give to souls in need,

But at last the time, the time to die.

Beloved, does the poem above describe your daily routine? Has busyness separated you from your maker and His Kingdom duties? It is never too late to retrace your steps back to the feet of the Master. I hope you will do the needful before time eventually flies away.

"The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you are the pilot" - Michael Altshuler

My prayer is that we shall be good pilots of our time in the journey of life. May every second we spend on earth count in the light of eternity. And finally, when the Book of Life shall be opened up yonder, our names shall not be missing in Jesus name.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, I want to invite you to the July 2023 Holy Ghost service. Date: Friday - July 7, 2023. Theme: THE ALL SUFFICIENT GOD. Time: 7pm. Venue: Redemption Camp, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

https://okanlawon.webnode.com

https:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

Instagram:@lawontaiwo

Twitter:@tammytaiwo

THE TEST OF ALLEGIANCE

''If you only want to look after your own life here on earth, you will lose it. You will not live forever with me. But if you are ready to give up your life here, and live my way, and tell other people the good news about me, then you will find real life, and you will live with me forever"- Mark 8:35 (PEV)

The first two Scottish missionaries sent to the New Hebrides Islands were killed and eaten by cannibals on the day they arrived. Thereafter, everyone refused to volunteer as missionaries to the Island. Eventually, when John G Paton agreed to go, many people tried to dissuade him that he would be eaten by cannibals. But Paton replied, “If I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.” After fifteen years of fruitful ministry, almost everyone on the Island had become Christian. (Missionary to the New Hebrides, John Gibson Paton, and James Paton)

The test of allegiance is the divine filter that God uses to separate the men from the boys in His kingdom. It is an important criteria for enlisting believers into the highest seat of honour in Heaven's Hall of Fame. God will never empower and use anyone who has never passed His test of allegiance on earth. For example, In Philippians 2:8-12, Jesus passed the test of allegiance before His name was inscribed into the Hall of Fame.

In Acts 21:10-15, Apostle Paul passed the test of allegiance before God could use him to rescue many Gentiles from eternal agony. His unwavering allegiance to divine mandate made him embark on a missionary journey to Jerusalem even when he knew that he may be imprisoned or killed (Acts 20:22-24). By that singular act of loyalty, Heaven filtered Apostle Paul's name out from the list of "the boys" in his generation. This ''If I perish, I perish'' mentality opened doors of great exploits and turned him into a masterpiece among his contemporaries and superiors in Ministry.

“..But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it in finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God'' Acts 20:22‭-‬24 (NLT)

Beloved, God is still conducting the test of allegiance in our generation. Heaven is still in the business of separating the men from the boys. The question is; will you pass or fail the test of allegiance? Do you value your life and possessions more than God? Will you obey the Lord's command even when it appears risky? Please be sincere and set your life in order.

The lyrics of an old-time Christian song below should be our watch word until we see Christ in glory:

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE LAMB By Ray Boltz

1. I have heard how Christians long ago

Were brought before a tyrants throne

And they were told that he would spare their lives

If they would renounce the name of Christ

Chorus:

I pledge allegiance to the lamb

With all my strength

With all I am

I will seek to honor His commands

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

2. But one by one they chose to die

The Son of God they would not deny

Like a great angelic choir sings

I can almost hear their voices ring

3. Now the years have come and the years have gone

But the cause of Jesus still goes on

And now our time has come to count the cost

To reject this world, to embrace the cross

4. And one by one let us live our lives

For the One who died to give us life

Till the trumpet sounds on the final day

Let us proudly stand and boldly say

May God grant us grace to truly reject the world, embrace the Cross and honour His command at all times. And if you have never pledged allegiance to the Lamb of God that bore your pains, shame, and eternal sorrow on that old rugged cross, I urge you to please do so now.

Good day and God bless you. Amen

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

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Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo's Blog

A TEARLESS OR BLEEDING HEART

TIME TO GIVE

A SOUL IN HEAVEN IS NOT LOST (TRIBUTE TO MR DELE BABATUNDE)

THE PERFECT AND PERMANENT REMEDY

THE FLUORESCENT TUBE BELIEVERS (MY BIRTHDAY EDITION)

THE ANCHOR OF LIFE

THE WORLD OF NABALS

JOIN THE CHARIOT

DON'T LIVE FOR THINGS

THE DELIVERY ROOM - 2

THE DELIVERY ROOM - 1

THE BELIEVER'S KPI

THE RADAR OF HEAVEN

THE VALID TICKET

THE RAIN OF BREAD

REVENUE OF THE WICKED

THE COLD FEET SYNDROME

THE STINGY DISEASE

THE MARTHA'S AGENDA

THE TEST OF ALLEGIANCE

THE BIOGRAPHY OF A BACKSLIDER

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