BEWARE OF BAD FRIENDS

".. Remember that wise people say this, “Don’t have friends that do bad things, or they will get you to do bad things too.”- 1 Corinthians 15:33‭ (PEV)

One day a farmer grabbed his gun to shoot at a flock of pesky crows. Unfortunately, he didn’t see his sociable parrot that had joined the crows. After firing a few shots, he walked over to the fallen birds and was surprised to find his parrot badly ruffled with a broken wing. When the farmer’s children saw the injured bird, they asked, “Dad, what happened?” The farmer simply replied, “Bad friends.”

An African adage says "Don't make a goat your friend if your skirt is made of plantation leaves, or else it will strip you naked". This adage emphasizes the danger of keeping bad company.

In 1 Samuel 13:2-32, Amnon's decision to hang around Jonadad led to his premature death. Jonadad was a wayward young man that fuelled the fire of lust and ungodliness in Amnon. Unfortunately, King David (Amnon's father) did not know that his supposedly calm and sanctimonious parrot had joined the league of polluted crows in Israel. For about two years, Amnon succeeded in deceiving his father. But one day, while hanging out with Jonadad, Amnon got struck by the gun of judgment, his wings got broken and his life was cut short prematurely. Amnon finally paid the expensive price of death for his friendship with Jonadad. What a sad and unfortunate way to end one's journey in this world!

"I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people" - 1 Corinthians 5:11 (NLT)

In 1 Corinthians 5:9-11, God categorically warns believers to avoid the harmful influences of those who exhibit ungodly character traits like Jonadad around them. These people can easily lure any careless believer into sin, and wreck their lives and testimonies. 

Friends, you cannot afford to make a goat your friend if you don't want your covering of leaves to be eaten by the goat. You must stop hanging out with "Jonadad" if you don't want to end your journey on earth like "Amnon" (Psalms 1:1-4). It is impossible to scoop fire in your bosom and not be burnt (Proverbs 6:27). Therefore, please walk away from the company of Jonadad today. Turn your back on everyone who can influence you negatively to engage in ungodly vices like fornication, adultery, lying, occultism, drunkenness, etc. 

One wonderful poem that clearly mentioned some of the consequences of keeping company with bad friends is titled "Bad Friends".

BAD FRIENDS by Qiniso Mogale

Friends can be our worst enemies

Friends are often our foes

Friends are better placed to plan our downfall

Friends can In fact be our downfall

Be wary of friends.

Friends can be snakes

Friends can be back stabbers

Friends can be Judas Iscariot's

Friends can be sell outs

Our enemies at times prove to be best friends

Our enemies at times have our backs

Friends become poisonous.

Let's choose friends wisely

Let's take time in our selection

Lest we regret our choices

Lest we dread the day we met them

Lest we curse the day we allowed them into our lives.

Lets chose our friends wisely

Many are in hell because of bad friends

Many are in jail because of bad friends

Many are divorced because of evil friends

Many are in debt because of corrupt friends.

May God open the eyes of every Amnon in the company of Jonadad today and help them to escape the gun of judgment in Jesus name.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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FIRE FIGHTERS WANTED

"And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me" Isaiah 6:8 (ASV)

Once there was a great forest fire. All the animals fled to the edge of the forest and froze in fear not knowing what to do. They watched as the flames began destroying the beauty of their home. Finally, a tiny hummingbird flew to a body of water and took a few drops into its beak. It then flew quickly towards the fire allowing the drops to fall on the raging flames. Over and over the tiny bird continued. Drop by drop. Back and forth. Again and again, The other animals watched from the edge of the forest, and called to the little bird, "What are you doing?" The hummingbird replied, "I am doing what I can."

There is a raging inferno that is causing serious havoc all over the world today. The source of that fire was man's blatant disobedience to divine agenda (Romans 5:19). This inferno is sending many precious souls to hell daily but we don't seem to be concerned. God is raising His end-time rescue team but we have refused to play our part in the rescue operation. This is quite unfortunate!

In Isaiah 6:8, when the inferno was escalated to heaven, God placed an advert in the newspapers for the recruitment of firefighters. He wanted to engage many hummingbirds that will fetch water of life and drop it into the heart of every hell-bound soul on earth. People who will be so concerned about the eternal destination of man. People who will fast and pray for God to rescue sinners from the raging fire of hell.

Friends, heaven is still recruiting end-time firefighters in this generation. God is looking for a group of hummingbirds who will always do what they can to save souls from hell. Those who will not fold their hands and watch fire consume those precious souls that Christ came to die for. God is looking for men and women who will be working while others are idle in the kingdom. God is searching for many hummingbirds who will continue to fetch water when others are complaining and grumbling. People who will not wait until they can speak Queen's English before witnessing to unbelievers. Those who trust God to use the little tracts in their hands to win souls into His kingdom. Men and women who will not wait until they have huge bank accounts before being a blessing to the needy. Those who will not be disturbed by what others are saying, but will keep doing what they can do to rescue hell-bound souls around them.

Beloved, are you ready to join the divine firefighters of God on earth today? Enough of that jamboree Christianity you have been practicing. The greatest service you can render to God is to preach the Gospel and rescue hell-bound souls for Him. If you are ready, the lyrics of this powerful hymn below should be your prayer points till you see Christ in glory:

I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD

I heard the voice of the Lord

Saying, Whom shall I send?

I heard the voice of the Lord

Saying, Who will go for us?

And I said, I’m here, send me, Lord.

I pour out the cost of my life;

My future is vain—my destiny’s Christ;

Christ is everything!  The people who know their God

Will rise up and show strength!

People who thus know their God

Will take action and move!

We will spread You, Lord, through the earth.

Lord, make us faithful to the end,

Our life and our all be utterly spent,

Spent for the church.

Who’ll bring Your kingdom to come?

These whose hearts are burned with fire.

Who will fight the spiritual war?

They descend as mighty ones!

O Lord Jesus, capture our hearts;

Lord make Your desire our desire!

Your worth’s nothing less than all of our life!

Our life’s to bring You back!

May God capture our hearts and set them on fire like the Apostles of old so we can become His faithful witnesses everywhere we find ourselves on earth. May His desire become our desire and His business become our business till He returns to take us home.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE REAGENT FOR GLORIOUS TRANSFORMATION

"We show the power of the Lord to other people.... He is changing us so that we become more and more like him. We show how great God is more and more clearly. It is the Lord who does all this, by the work of his Spirit " - 2 Corinthians 3:18 (EASY).

There is an intriguing response when new converts in the Island of Madagascar were asked what first make them consider becoming Christians. They usually say that the changed conduct of others who had become Christians was what first caught their attention. They say,  "we knew this man to be a thief; that one was a drunkard; another was very cruel and unkind to his family. Now they are all changed. A thief is an honest man; the drunkard is sober and respectable; and the other is gentle and kind in his home. In their opinion, there must be something amazing in Christianity that can make such changes possible.” (The Biblical Museum, Volume II, J. C. Gray) 

In organic chemistry, the term "reagent" denotes a chemical ingredient introduced to cause the desired changes in an organic substance. After the eviction of man from the garden of Eden, it became obvious that there was the need to change the defiled nature of man to what it was before he erred (Genesis 3:23-24, Romans 3:23). Therefore, God introduced Jesus Christ as the only potent reagent that is capable of causing the desired changes in the life of man (Acts 4:12, John 3:16). Anyone who genuinely embrace this great reagent (Jesus Christ) will be drastically changed or transformed from inside out (2 Corinthians 5:17‭).

"Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come" 2 Corinthians 5:17‭ (GNB)

There are many instances of such transformation in the Bible. For example, Saul of Tarsus was actively persecuting Christians until the great reagent (Jesus Christ) met him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-30). Instantly, all the nature of "The highly dreaded Terrorist" in him died and he became "The Apostle" publicizing the gospel of Jesus Christ that he had zealously persecuted and condemned in the past. Also, after the great reagent touched the destiny of Zacchaeus that renowned thief, he became a disciple of Jesus Christ (Luke 19:1-11). Obviously, these are undeniable testimonies of great transformations! 

Friends, Christianity is a journey of transformation from glory to glory. Where are you on this awesome journey today? Are you still being changed into the image of Christ or you have abandoned this journey? Is your life pointing people to God or chasing them away from the narrow path? Have you experienced the undeniable transformation that Zacchaeus and Saul of Tarsus experienced? You can experience that great transformation now if you dare to genuinely embrace the great reagent - Jesus Christ. If you do, the Holy Spirit will change your innermost being to conform to the image of His only begotten son (2 Corinthians 3:18). Then, through the continuous transformation on your inside, your life will be transformed outwardly to attract multitudes into His kingdom.

The lyrics of this powerful song below re-echoes God's desire to transform us into the image of His Son: 

FROM GLORY TO GLORY HE'S CHANGING ME By Alan Hall  

From glory to glory He's changing me

Changing me, changing me

His likeness and image too perfect in me

The love of God shown to the world

For He's changing, changing me

From earthly things into heavenly

His likeness and image too perfect in me

The love of God shown to the world 

By the power of the Holy Spirit, may our journey of glorious transformation never end until Christ returns to take us home.  May our lives become a permanent signpost directing unbelievers to the only true God and His redemption plan for humanity in Jesus' name.

Good day and God bless you, Amen

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE GLORIFIED GUEST MINISTERS

"These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work"- 1 Chronicles 4:23 (KJV)

Many years ago a young man went to China as a missionary with an income of $2,500 annually. A company decided they wanted this young man to work for them and offered him a $5,000 salary. He declined the offer, and it was raised to $7,000 and then to $10,000, but he still declined. The company then asked him, is the salary not big enough to make you accept our offer? The man answered, “Oh, the salary is big enough, but the job is not.”  (The Speaker’s Quote Book, Roy B. Zuck)

God is still asking us the same question that the Chinese employer asked the missionary in the above story. God is saying; can big salary make you abandon your primary duties in the kingdom? Can an enticing offer make you renege on your promise to God? Is your personal ambition or career so strong or big enough to make you neglect your divine mandate on earth (Romans 8:35)?

"Can anything separate us from the love of Christ?...." Romans 8:35 (CEV)

The Children of Judah seem to understand the importance of the questions God is asking us today. No wonder, they decided to serve God wholeheartedly rather than serve men for pay cheques. According to 1 Chronicles 4:23, they valued their place in the kingdom more than anyone else could pay them. They believed that no earthly reward was good or big enough to make them abandon their divine assignment on earth. They refused to join those who used economic reasons as excuses for not working diligently for God. These people preferred to dwell in hedges and plantations for the kingdom business than live in luxurious apartments to satisfy their inordinate affection. They knew that serving God is a special privilege hence, would do everything possible to work for Him. It was obvious that they were not glorified guest ministers or commercial workers.

Unfortunately, there are many glorified guest ministers/ commercial workers in the church today. They have stylishly commercialized their skills and are now offering it to the highest bidders in the kingdom. Instead of waiting patiently to serve with their Elishas, they are busy running after Naaman to collect forbidden pay cheques like Gehazi (2 Kings 5:15-27). 

Friends, are you one of those "glorified guest ministers or commercial workers" in the kingdom today? Are you dwelling with the King of kings for His work or for the pay cheques you get from men? If you are working for the pay cheques, please repent today. Nothing in this world is good or big enough to make you renege on your promise to serve God. No matter how big the pay cheque is, it's not worth losing your place of divine assignment for. Yes, your place is much more important than the pay cheque that anyone can offer you. 

This powerful hymn below re-echoes the scripture in 1 Chronicle 4:23:

WE HAVE A GLORIOUS KING By A. B. Simpson, 1782. 

1. We have a most glorious King;

The heavens, He says, are His throne;

All worlds are His mighty domain,

All kingdoms His scepter shall own.

He dwells with His people below,

He loves in their trials to share;

We dwell with the King for His work,

His burden we willingly bear.

2. I’m dwelling with Jesus my King;

I’ve found where He dwells with His own;

I’ve opened the door of my heart;

He’s made it His temple and throne.

Like Mary I sit at His feet,

Like John I recline on His breast;

His presence is fulness of joy,

His bosom is infinite rest.

 

3. I dwell with the King for His work,

I’ve part in His glorious plan

To bring in His kingdom to earth

And tell His salvation to man.

The world has its work and rewards,

I count them but folly and loss;

My business is only His work,

My message is only His cross.

 

4. I dwell with the King for His work,

The work, it is His and not mine;

He plans and prepares it for me

And fills me with power divine.

So duty is changed to delight,

And prayer into praise as I sing;

I dwell with my King for His work

And work in the strength of my King.

 

5. We’ll dwell with the King for His work

And work thru each day of the year.

Perhaps ere it passes, the King

In glory Himself shall appear.

Oh, then in some closer embrace,

Oh, then in some nobler employ

We’ll dwell with the King for His work

In endless, ineffable joy!

May we continue to be relevant in God's glorious plan. May His business continually be our work and His cross our message till Christ returns in Jesus name, Amen.

On this 81st birthday of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, I want to invite you to the March 2023 Special Holy Ghost service on Friday, March 3, 2023 at the Redemption City, Nigeria. Theme: THE GOD OF BREAKTHROUGHS. Time: 6pm.

Happy new month and God bless you. 

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

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Twitter: @tammytaiwo