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

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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.

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

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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

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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 

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