FISHERMEN MUST FISH - 5

"When he saw the crowds, Jesus was deeply moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He told his disciples, “The harvest is large, but there are only a few workers"- Matthew 9:36-37 (FBV‬‬)

Two men approached D.L. Moody during one of his evangelical tours to enquire about the secret of his exploits. Moody took the men to the window of his hotel room and asked them what they saw. One by one, the men described the people in the park below. Then, as Moody looked out through the window, tears began to roll down his cheeks uncontrollably. "What do you see, Mr. Moody?" asked one of the men. "I see thousands of souls that will one day spend eternity in hell if they do not find the Saviour." (Today in the Word, February 1, 1997)

In Matthew 9:36, the Greatest Fisherman demonstrated that compassion is a very crucial success factor in the kingdom fishing business. Compassion can be defined as ''the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it''. It is the approved gasoline for powering the engine of a fisherman for kingdom harvest. This gasoline drove the engine of Jesus Christ from His highly exalted position in Heaven to the humble manger in Bethlehem (Philippians 2:6-8). He accomplished the reconciliation agenda and executed many mighty works for God on earth.

Dear Fishermen, we have not been able to catch any fish for God because our bowel of compassion is completely empty and our engine grounded. The terrible plights of sinners does not move us. Affluence, power, riches and positions are our motivating factors for kingdom service. Our lackadaisical attitudes towards soul winning clearly attest to this fact. This is very sad! (Matthew 9:37).

Beloved, the Great Shepherd is looking through the window today. If you are not yet saved, please surrender to Jesus Christ to escape from hell. If your engine is among those knocked or grounded in the kingdom today, please cry to God for mercy before it is too late. Then, let the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below be your prayers till Christ returns.  

"MOVE ME WITH COMPASSION" By Lanny Wolfe

1. The crowd was tired and weary, lost and scattered everywhere.

To the Master they were just like sheep, without a shepherd's care.

He felt of their infirmity, so much that it made Him weep.

His heart was filled with pity and compassion for His sheep.

Chorus:

   Lord, please move me with compassion for the lost I pray.

   For the millions who are lost and can not find their way.

   Melt my callused heart with love no matter what the cost.

   Lord please move me with compassion for the lost.

2. This world is so tired and weary, lost and wandering aimlessly.

Just like sheep without a shepherd, they're as lost as lost can be.

Consume me now with a love for the lost,

let that love become a light that brings lost sheep into the fold,

before there comes the night.

May God melt our callous hearts and refurbish every worn out or knocked fishermen's engines. May God move us to have genuine compassion for lost souls like D.L Moody. And may every sinner or backslider that crosses our path be rescued by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name, Amen

On behalf of our esteemed Father in the Lord, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, I will like to invite you to the March 2024 Special Holy Ghost Service with the theme "ON EAGLE'S WINGS". Date: February 29 to March 2, 2024. Venue: Redemption City, Nigeria.  

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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FISHERMEN MUST FISH - 4

''‭‭The only way people come to me is by the Father who sent me — he pulls on their hearts to embrace me. And those who are drawn to me, ....'' - John  6:44 (TPT)

Fishermen have developed and deployed several advance fishing techniques like hand-gathering, spearfishing, angling and trapping in order to enhance their productivity. Many prototypes of these fantastic fishing techniques are now being deployed even in the Kingdom fishing business today. However, as important as these techniques may be, they cannot replace the father's draw or pull mentioned in the above scripture.  

According to the Greatest fisherman (Jesus Christ), the Father's draw or pull is the most effective tool or technique for kingdom exploit (John 6:44). It is the only trigger for genuine conviction and salvation of souls (John 16:8). The Father's pull was activated when the Holy Ghost descended upon the believers in the early church. His Spirit was a proof of His backing for the rescue mandate (Matthew 28:20). It is practically impossible to pull souls out of the ocean of this world into the kingdom of God without His backing. The early Disciples understood this and they waited patiently in the upper room for several days to secure His backing via the Baptism of Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). And after they were endued with power from on High, those illiterate fishermen became unstoppable achievers in the kingdom. 

Beloved, thank God for all those fantastic fishermen's techniques, oratory skills, impeccable charisma or expensive designer dresses of yours. But the truth is these techniques or tools are not enough to draw/pull fish into the net for God. They will only increase the numbers of mixed multitude in our midst. Every fantastic technique or tool that is not thoroughly incubated in the upper room will produce superficial believers. It's unfortunate that many people in church today are products of human techniques and not upper room encounters. How many techniques did Peter use before he won 3,000 souls in one day (Acts 2:41-47)? How much was Phillip's budget before the whole Samaria turned to Christ through him (Acts 8:5-8)? It's obvious that what we really need in our generation is more of His big backing and not our big budgets and techniques. 

"The first thing he asked them was “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” “No,” they replied. “We’ve not even heard of a holy spirit.” - Acts‬ ‭19:2‬ (‭TPT‬‬)

Dear Fishermen, you have not been able to catch any fish like the fishermen in Ephesus because you have not received the Baptism of Holy Spirit. Please desire this special gift today and earnestly pray for it. 

The hymn below reiterates the question that Apostle Paul asked those fishermen at Ephesus in Acts 19:2:

HAVE YE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST? By Le­lia N. Mor­ris

1. Ye are the temples, Je­sus hath spok­en,

Temples of God’s Ho­ly Spi­rit di­vine;

Have ye re­ceived Him, bid­den Him en­ter,

Make His abode in that poor heart of thine?

REFRAIN:

Have ye re­ceived, since ye be­lieved,

The bless­èd Holy Ghost?

He who was pro­mised, gift of the Fa­ther,

Have ye re­ceived the Ho­ly Ghost?

2. He who has par­doned sure­ly will cleanse thee,

All of the dross of thy na­ture re­fine;

Cleansed from all sin, His Spi­rit will en­ter,

Fill you and thrill you with pow­er di­vine.

3. Showers of mer­cy, full­ness of bless­ing,

Ever the Spi­rit’s in­dwell­ing attend;

’Tis the en­due­ment, pow­er for ser­vice,

Fruits for your la­bor He sure­ly will send.

May the Holy Ghost descend upon us mightily and equip us with power that will make sinners to be drawn into His kingdom whenever we witness to them in Jesus name. 

Please join us for the 82days Soul Winning Challenge to celebrate the 82nd birthday of our esteemed Father in the Lord - Pastor E.A Adeboye from December 12, 2023 to March 2, 2024.  

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

https://okanlawon.webnode.com

https:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

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Twitter: @tammytaiwo

FISHERMEN MUST FISH - 3

''They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters''- Psalms  107:23

The location or positioning of a fisherman is a crucial success factor in the End-time Harvest of souls into the kingdom. The ocean where fish resides can be divided into three parts namely - The Shoreline, the Shallow waters and the Deep waters. The type of fish in each of these sections of the ocean differs. For example, it is impossible to see a shark on the shoreline or shallow waters. Therefore, the type of fish that a fisherman will catch is a function of where he chooses to stand or position himself at any point in time.

Beloved, the deep waters is where the real kingdom business is expected to be done for the end-time harvest (Psalms 107:23). The real fish are in the great waters. They don't usually come to the shoreline where they can be easily spotted and caught. The implication of this is that sinners don't come to church again. Hence, fishermen needs to leave the shoreline of the church and go out into the deep waters to prayerfully drag them in for God.

In Luke 19:1-10, Jesus Christ - the Greatest Fisherman demonstrated this when He left the shoreline and went into the deep waters to drag out a man called Zacchaeus and his household. This Zacchaeus would never have been saved if Jesus had limited His fishing business to the shoreline of the synagogue.

''‭‭All the people who saw it started grumbling, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner!” - Luke‬ ‭19:7‬ (‭GNT‬‬)

Beloved, if Jesus Christ can be involved in Street To Street and House To House Evangelism then, what excuse do you still have. If our role model can carry the gospel to sinners in their hideouts why can't we joyfully emulate Him. Are you not ashamed that you are a Fisherman by title and not by deed. Do you know that you are a spiritual murderer? Yes, your hands are stained with the blood of many sinners that you refused to preach to (Acts 20:26-27, Ezekiel 3:18). Please repent today. A word is enough for the wise.

''‭‭If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths'' - Ezekiel  3:18 (NLT).

''Launch The Life Boat'' is a powerful hymn that re-echoes the need for fishermen to leave the shoreline and moved into the deep waters for a great catch for God.

LAUNCH THE LIFE BOAT By F.E Belden

1. Launch the life-boat! see; the ship is stranding!

There are loved ones you may save:

Launch the life-boat from the gospel landing!

The storm is on the wave.

CHORUS:

   Launch the life-boat! launch the life-boat!

   Tho' the surges roar;

   Launch the life-boat! launch the life-boat

   From the gospel shore!

   Wrecks of manhood on the rocks of evil,

   Wrecks of youth upon the shoals:

   Quickly launch the blessed gospel life-boat,

   And gather in the souls.

2. Oft beneath youth's mild and sunny waters

Hidden shoals of danger lie;

Where's the pilot for our sons and daughters,

To guide them safely by!

3. Oft upon life's dark and stormy ocean

Sturdy manhood's bark is tossed;

Where's the faith that stills the wild commotion

Before a soul is lost!

4. O for hearts to love as did the Master

Those who sadly fail in life!

O for willing hands that labor faster

The fiercer grows the strife!

May we receive grace to obey the Lord's bidding to carry the gospel everywhere that sinners are hiding and rescue them from eternal damnation.

Please join us for the 82days Soul Winning Challenge to celebrate the 82nd Birthday of our esteemed Father in the Lord - Pastor E.A Adeboye from December 12, 2023 to March 2, 2024.  

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

FISHERMEN MUST FISH - 2

''And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.'' - Matthew 4:19-20

One of the most important role in the Church that has remained unattractive to many believers is that of Fishers (Matt 9:37, Isaiah 6:8, Jeremiah 16:16). The question is why? This Latin phrase - ''Nemo dat quod non habet'' seems to provide an answer. The phrase simply means ''No one can give what they do not have''. That is, many believers are not interested in fishing for souls because there is a question mark behind their salvation. Yes, it is practically impossible to give what one does not have. One of the easiest way to prove that one is genuinely saved and value his/her salvation is to become a passionate fisher of men like the Samaritan woman (John 4:28-30). For instance, Immediately, this woman was saved she could not wait to be ordained as Deaconess or Pastor before she started throwing the net of the Gospel around. She abandoned her waterpot and ran straight to the river side with the hook of the gospel to catch multitude of fish. She knew that a fisherman must catch fish for Christ. She was not a fisherman by title but by deed.

"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?  Then they went out of the city, and came unto him'' - John 4:28 - 30

Beloved, you cannot give what you do not have!. The fact that you are no longer interested in fishing for Christ is a clear signal that something has gone wrong in your walk with God. Yes, something has gone wrong! You cannot be following Him and not love what He loves (1 John 2:6, 1 John 4:17). Our Saviour came to rescue sinners and we ought to do the same thing (Jude 1:23). Unfortunately, many of us are only running after titles and following our Pastors or Bishops from a distance instead of following Christ. What an error and misplacement of priority. Please retrace your steps back to God today and let Him make you a fisher of men.

''Come, Follow Me'' is the title of a powerful hymn that re-echoes what the Greatest Fisherman (Jesus Christ) told His disciple during their induction ceremony into the fishing ministry in Matthew 4:19:

COME, FOLLOW ME By John Nicholson, 1839–1909

1. “Come, follow me,” the Savior said.

Then let us in his footsteps tread,

For thus alone can we be one

With God’s own loved, begotten Son.

2. “Come, follow me,” a simple phrase,

Yet truth’s sublime, effulgent rays

Are in these simple words combined

To urge, inspire the human mind.

3. Is it enough alone to know

That we must follow him below,

While trav’ling thru this vale of tears?

No, this extends to holier spheres.

4. Not only shall we emulate

His course while in this earthly state,

But when we’re freed from present cares,

If with our Lord we would be heirs.

5. We must the onward path pursue

As wider fields expand to view,

And follow him unceasingly,

Whate’er our lot or sphere may be.

6. For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow’rs,

And glory great and bliss are ours,

If we, throughout eternity,

Obey his words, “Come, follow me.”

May we receive grace to genuinely and continuously follow the Greatest Fisherman (Jesus Christ) so that He can turn us into useful vessels in His hands for the end time harvest of souls into His Kingdom in Jesus name, Amen. 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, I will like to invite you to our February 2024 Holy Ghost Service with the theme '' FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOP - 2''. Date: Friday 2nd February 2024. Venue: The Redemption City, Ogun State, Nigeria. Time: 7pm  

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