THE WISDOM OF AN EAGLE IN WARFARE

"Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite. So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God ’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably..... "- 1 Samuel 1:7, 9-11 (MSG)

"The Eagle does not fight the snake on the ground. It picks it up into the sky, changes the battle ground and then releases the snake into the sky. The snake has no stamina, no power and no balance in the air. It is useless, weak and vulnerable unlike on the ground where it is powerful, wise and deadly. Take your fight into the spiritual realm by praying and when you are in the spiritual realm, God takes over your battles. Don't fight the enemy in his comfort zone, change the battle grounds like the Eagle and let God take charge through your earnest prayer." –(Unknown).

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah fought the battles of barrenness, loneliness, and frustration in their comfort zones for many years without any victory. She must have used the weapons of age, experience, exposure, status, beauty, connection etc, to fight all to no avail. Then, one day, she engaged the wisdom of an eagle in warfare. Like the eagle, Hannah was smart enough to change the battle ground to a place where her problems or challenges will become weak, powerless and vulnerable like a snake in the sky. Immediately, she changed the battle ground, Heaven responded with her much awaited "Samuel". Glory be to God!

The cheapest way to win any battle in life is to drag the opponent into the spiritual gym of prayer where we can secure the backing of the Almighty, and whenever we have God’s backing, no situation can turn its back on us. There is no problem our God cannot solve if only we dare to take it to Him in the gym of prayer. There is no battle that we cannot win if we make God our only ally in the gym. Hannah seemed to understand this fact and she practically dragged barrenness and loneliness into the spiritual gym of prayer in Shiloh. 

Beloved, how long have you been fighting that intense battle of stagnation, delay, shame, sickness, loneliness, barrenness and disappointment in the enemy's comfort zones? Don’t you think the time to emulate the wisdom of an Eagle in warfare is nigh? It is time to climb Jacob's ladder in prayer. It is time to sincerely change the battle ground to the gym of prayer. It is time to pray until the closed womb of your "Hannah" is opened. The only one who has the keys of David is waiting to see you on your knee in Shiloh like Hannah. What are you still waiting for then? Please note that you cannot access the spiritual gym if you are not born again. Therefore, I urge you to repent of your sins today and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal saviour. Please do it now. 

‘Take It To The Lord in Prayer’’ is a popular Christian hymnal chorus which re-echoes the need to always deploy the wisdom of an eagle in warfare at all times. 

TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER By Joseph Scriven 1855

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

  All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

  Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

  O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

  Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

  Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

  Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

  Take it to the Lord in prayer

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

  Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

  Thou wilt find a solace there

May we receive grace to truly take all issues of life to the gym of prayer at all times. 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor. E. A. Adeboye, I would like to invite you to June 2024 Holy Ghost Service. Theme: THE ROD OF FIRE. Date:  7th June 2024. Venue: The Redemption City, Mowe, Nigeria.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE COLONY OF TERMITES

"The sins of some men are conspicuous (openly evident to all eyes), going before them to the judgment [seat] and proclaiming their sentence in advance; but the sins of others appear later [following the offender to the bar of judgment and coming into view there] " - 1 Timothy 5:24 (AMP)

Several years ago, there was a big flourishing tree in the middle of an ancient village. The tree had developed a very deep root system that makes it practically impossible for it to be uprooted by rain and stormy wind. The strong root system also provides massive support for its flourishing branches and ever green leaves. Over time, this big tree became an envy of every other tree in the village.

On one sunny day, the villagers suddenly discovered that this enviable tree had fallen. But to their surprise, the tree was not pulled down by severe rains, storms or earthquake. When they closely examined the inside of the tree, they saw several insects. Obviously, that mighty tree was pulled down/ destroyed by those small insects - termites. For a long time, the small insects were busy quietly and secretly eating the soul of the tree and nobody in the village knew anything about it. The tree looked good outside but its trunk was being destroyed by those small termites from within. The evil mission that was impossible for strong stormy wind and earthquakes was orchestrated with ease by many tiny insects that appeared to be harmless. 

Unfortunately, many people are like that enviable tree in this generation. Even though they look very charming and glamorous outwardly, the colony of termite of the soul (sin) has secretly devoured them completely from within. They are nothing but a mobile corpse and a bomb about to explode. The termite of the soul has secretly eaten up their glorious destiny and may soon dump their carcass inside that Horrible Lake of Fire (Rev 21:8). 

Sin is a highly destructive termite and cancer of the soul. It is more deadly than Zika, Ebola or Lazza fever virus. It secretly destroys the soul of a man from within. The bible and history is full of many great destinies that have been destroyed by these evil insects. Yes, those small sins may appear harmless, but they are capable of secretly digging grave for someone in Hell. Please don’t ever think that because God has not done anything now means it is alright to continue in sin. Our God is simply patient, wanting us to get rid of it ourselves (2 Peter 3:9-10). 

Beloved, are you one of those enviable tree with colony of termites underneath? There is a way out for you. God can help you fumigate your soul with the blood of His dear son - Jesus Christ so that you will not be pulled down prematurely by the terrible colony of termite of the soul. But you have to confess your sins now and repent before the door of mercy is closed. There is no repentance in the grave  (Heb 9:27).

The hymn below describes the beauty of the mansions that  has been prepared for those who have escaped the invasion of the colony of termites in this world. 

I HOLD A CLEAR TITLE TO A MANSION By Wade Mainer, 1971

I've heard people talk about heaven, and describe it's beauty so rare,

so one day I purchased a title to that heavenly mansion so fair,

oh it was given to me without money, but it cost my dear Savior his life,

he died on the cross without murmur, for me he paid a dear price.

Chorus:

I hold a clear title to a mansion, that Jesus has gone to prepare,

fire cannot harm it, thieves cannot touch it, and it never will need a repair,

the termites can't harm it's foundation, for on the rock of ages it stands,

I feel it is almost completed, and it's ready for me to move in.

My deed was both signed and recorded, the day Jesus saved me from sin,

my name is engraved in gold letters, oh in that Lamb's book of life safe within,

now I'm an heir to a mansion in Glory, and from this life here I will roam,

I'm waiting for Jesus to call me, I'm gonna lay down my cross and go home.

So often I think of that city beyond the dark river of death,

someday to that land I'll be going when from here I've drawn my last breath,

they tell me that in that fair city, no sad disappointments will come,

no sorrow, no sickness, no dying will be known in that city above.

My prayer is that the power of the Holy Spirit will rage through the enclaves of our soul like a consuming fire to destroy the colony of termites that is eating us up secretly. And every enviable tree already destroyed by the termite of lust, anger, greed, hatred, pride, etc shall be restored in Jesus name. 

Good day and God bless.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo 

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KING HEZEKIAH'S COUSINS

“‭‭Hezekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth—his silver and gold, his spices and perfumes, and all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them" - Isaiah 39:2 (GNT‬‬).

During World War II, the United States government became concerned that a number of German spies were operating in America, sending information back to Germany regarding Allied war plans and specific troop and ship movements. To keep them from impacting the war effort, the Office of War Information launched a national campaign around the slogan “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” It was a solemn warning to people not to repeat information that might be damaging or even deadly if it fell into the wrong hands.

There is a Yoruba Proverb that says, "Ti isu eni ba ta, afo wo bo je" meaning "If your yam is ready, you cover it and eat". This proverb warns against being careless with the information we share in public about ourselves. Anyone who disregard this wise counsel can be said to be suffering from "A Chronic Loose Lips Sydrome". 

One of the easiest way to identify people who are suffering from this deadly disease is to check what they say or post about themselves or their families on social media. Everything that happens in such people's lives usually appears on social media within 24 hours. It is obvious that these people are nephews and cousins of King Hezekiah who loves to impress his Babylonian friends by showing off all that he had (Isaiah 39:1-4). The Babylonian emissary must have been very impressed with what they saw and thereafter responded with some "likes", "love" and "good comments" on social media. King Hezekiah felt very good but he never knew that his loose lips would eventually make his children and the entire nation to become a fugitive in Babylon (Isaiah 39:6). That singular careless act of his sank the ship of Israelites like lead. What a terrible blunder! 

It is unfortunate that many people in this generation have not learn any lesson from the repercussions of King Hezekiah's loose lips. They are still impressing their Babylonian friends on Facebook and other social media platforms by showing off everything they have. They seem to have forgotten that the modern day Babylonians are still deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). 

Beloved, please stop trying to impress your Babylonian friends like your Uncle - King Hezekiah. Stop showing off your possessions in public. Don't use your lips and fingers to drill holes in the ship of your destiny. Not everything that happens to you must appear on social media for people to like, love or comment on. The wisest man that ever lived describes anyone with loose lips as a fool (Proverbs 29:11). I hope you are not a fool. 

"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” Proverbs 29:11

This powerful hymn re-echoes the need to exercise discretion with the words that come out of our mouth at all times: 

OH, BE CAREFUL by Anonymous

Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say,

Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say.

There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,

Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say.

Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do,

Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do.

There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,

Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do.

Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go,

Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go.

There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,

Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go.

May we not use our tongues and hands to sink the glorious ship of our destiny in Jesus name, Amen. 

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo 

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THE THUMB STANDS ALONE

''Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you'' - 1 Corinthians 6:17 

There is an African fable about five inseparable friends - four fingers and a thumb who lived together on the same hand. One day, they noticed a gold ring lying next to them and conspired to take it. The thumb said it would be wrong to steal the ring, but the four fingers called him a self-righteous coward and threatened him. However, instead of bowing to their threat, the thumb decided to maintain a safe distance from them and all their unwholesome practices. This is why, the fable ends with this saying "the thumb still stands separate from the other fingers".

There are two types of people in the world - the fingers and the thumb. According to 1 Corinthians 6:17, God expects to see a visible distance between these two sets of people in every generation (Psalms 1:1, Ephesians 5:11). Then, the question is, what does the fingers and thumb represent in this context?

The fingers represent people who lack the fear of God and can do anything to satisfy their personal appetite for riches and power. Some of their popular slogan includes ''It is not really bad, after all everyone is doing it'' and "If you cannot beat them, you better join them". These people are ready to mortgage their birthrights for a plate of pottage like Esau (Genesis 25:29-34). They cut corners and engage in unwholesome practices just to meet their needs or to keep body and soul together. 

On the other hand, the thumb represents people who value their right standing with God more than earthly riches and power. They would rather loose their jobs or positions with their integrity intact rather than keep it or even get promoted without integrity. People around them may call them ''fools'' but they prefer that name than to have God shut the gate of eternity against them. These are people like Job, Daniel, Noah and Joseph who will rather die in purity than compromise their integrity for earthly gains.  

Beloved, which group do you belong to? Please be sincere with yourself. Are you a finger or a thumb? if you are a finger, then, you need to repent today. But, if you are a thumb, then, I say "a big congratulations to you!". However, please continue to make conscious effort to maintain a visible distance between you and all the fingers around you. Don't ever take the evil carrots the fingers are dangling before you. Always remember that anything acquired through dishonest means will definitely dwindle away (Prov 13:11, Jer 17:11).

''Wealth gotten hastily with iniquity will diminish; but he that gathers for himself with godliness shall increase..' - Prov. 13:11 (BST)

"Walking In Integrity" is the title of a wonderful song that describes how we can maintain visible distance from all the fingers around us in every generation. 

WALKING IN INTEGRITY

Please, judge me, Lord, observe my loyalty;

Observe my trust in you and my integrity.

Examine me, and put me to the test;

My mind and heart refine,

That my soul might be blessed

 

Refrains:

      But as for me,      

      Determined I shall be

      To walk eternally In my integrity.

 

I do not sit with wicked men of lies.

I hate the company of those who truth despise.

With evil men, take not away my life;

My soul, with those whose hands

Are full of bribes and strife.

 

May God help us to keep walking in integrity until we finish our race on earth in Jesus name, Amen. 

Good day and God bless.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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PLAY YOUR PART

"If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part" - Matthew 6:15 (MSG)

Several years ago, a famous 19th century conductor, Sir Michael Costa was conducting a rehearsal in which the orchestra was joined by a great choir. About halfway through the session, with trumpets blaring, drums rolling, and violins singing their rich melody, the piccolo player muttered to himself, "What good am I doing? I might just as well not be playing. Nobody can hear me anyway." So he kept the instrument to his mouth, but he made no sound. Within moments, the conductor cried, "Stop! Stop! Where’s the piccolo?". (Daily Bread, November 17, 2003, Richard W. De Haan)

"..No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, “Get lost; I don’t need you”? Or, Head telling Foot, “You’re fired; your job has been phased out?.." 1 Corin. 12:21 (MSG‬‬)

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-22, God clearly warned believers against the danger of behaving like the Piccolo player who sits on the fence while others are working. They believe that nobody will notice if they choose to be docile in the orchestra. They fail to understand that there is no weak link in the orchestra of God. All believers are unique and God has a definite role for everyone in His orchestra (Romans 12:4). 

There are many piccolo players everywhere in this generation. People who have succeeded in deceiving everyone that they are playing their part but they are not. Everyone recognizes and celebrates them yet Heaven has not heard a sound from their corner for a very long time. They are visible in their duty posts yet God is still saying "Where is the Piccolo?" As far as God is concerned, they are obviously missing in action. Heaven has not felt their impact for a long time. This is quite unfortunate! 

Friends, are you playing your part faithfully in God's orchestra? Please be sincere with yourself! Your team leader, Pastor, General Overseer may not notice that you are now very docile but God knows. Yes, the Great Conductor (God) is really concerned that you are no longer playing your part in His orchestra. 

This powerful poem below clearly re-echoes the subject matter:

YOU HAVE A PART TO PLAY  By M.S.Lowndes

Each one of God's children

Has a special part to play,

Whether it be great or small,

We are needed every day

If your part seems very small,

Don't feel you're insignificant

Don't feel that you can't offer much

And you wouldn't make a difference

Though you're tempted to give up

And let another take your place,

Remember, God gave you your gifts

And you cannot be replaced

And these gifts that God has given,

He longs for you to share

You're just as important as anyone,

So don't be in despair

The only one who matters most

Is watching for your part,

With much anticipation

And excitement in His heart

So do not disappoint Him

By not taking your cue,

Though you think it unimportant,

This part is made for you

Don't let God walk away

With a disappointed heart

Because you felt so unworthy

Of your very special part

The parts that we've been given

Isn't based on size at all,

But rather on the abilities

And the gifting of the Lord

For each part is important

To make the whole thing work,

So do your part with enthusiasm

And know that you have worth.

May we receive grace to continue to play our part with enthusiasm in God's orchestra. And when our days on earth are finally over, we shall receive bountiful reward for our labour on the Golden Shore. 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor. E. A. Adeboye, I would like to invite you to May 2024 Holy Ghost Service. Theme: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRE. Date:  3rd May 2024. Venue: The Redemption City, Mowe, Nigeria.

Good day. Happy  new month and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit:

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