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

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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.

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 City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit –

https://okanlawon.webnode.com

https:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

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Twitter:@tammytaiwo

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