SKELETON IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

"..things are hidden only temporarily, until the appropriate time comes for them to be known"- Mark 4:22 

A boy incidentally broke the base of a flower vase and instead of informing his parents, he turned the vase around in such a way that the broken part became hidden from everyone. Initially, the boy's plan worked out perfectly, but as the days went by, he began to live in fear. The image of the broken flower vase became a scary skeleton inside his cupboard. He began to imagine what would happen when his parents eventually discover his little secret. The unconfessed secret began to hunt him and he could no longer enjoy the company of his parents as he used to. Hardly could any day pass without him wondering whether the moment of truth has finally arrived. But instead of confessing his sin to his parents, he remained adamant and unrepentant. 

The word "secret" does not exist in the dictionary of God. Everything tagged "secret" here on earth is laid bare before the Almighty God (Luke 8:17). Yes, every cleverly concealed misdeed will one day show up in public at the most embarrassing moments (Mark 4:22). King David would not have eliminated Uriah, if he knew that one day the All Knowing God would use Prophet Nathan to uncover his cleverly concealed dirty secret ( 2 Sam 12 :7- 9). Ananias and Sapphira would not have played a prank with the omnipresent God if they knew that their secret plot will become an open scandal in the church (Acts 5:1-11). 

"It may be a secret on earth but it's an open scandal in heaven" - Lewis Sperry Chafer

Friends, how long will you continue to hide what cannot be hidden? If those cleverly concealed sins of King David were exposed, there is no secret sins that will not come to light. Yes, those secret love affairs will soon be exposed. The sources of all ill gotten power, affluence and wealth will soon be exposed. Every ungodly itinerary would soon be brought to light and made known to all. The true paternity of those children will soon be known. The wolves in sheep's clothing would soon be exposed. It is a matter of time, everyone will soon know that certain people who have been pretending to be genuine pastors and Imams all along are actually ritualists, herbalists and pedophiles in disguise. 

Beloved, is there any skeleton in the living room of your soul? Are there secrets that you have cleverly concealed from everyone? Don't you know that the longer those secrets are concealed, the more it drives a quiet wedge between you and your maker (Isa. 59:1-2). 

Please confess and forsake every secret sin today before the door of mercy is shut against you. Make up your mind to truly bid farewell to every sin that is tormenting your destiny. 

"FAREWELL TO SIN" by Daniel S. Warner, 1893

I will part with thee, old master;

This is my firm resolve;

And I’ll boldly state my reason,

Why we must now dissolve

Refrain:

         The wages of sin is death,

         The wages of sin is death,

         The wages of sin is death, and woe,

          And bitter remorse; I’ve found it so;

          Bitter, bitter,

          Bitter remorse and woe.

I have served thee long and faithful,

Confessed you were my lord;

All your way was dark and painful,

And what is my reward?

I have given time and talents,

My health and honor, too,

And exposed my soul to torments,

And what did you bestow?

But the blood of my Redeemer

Has saved me through and through,

So, in Jesus’ name, forever

I bid all sin adieu.

It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will convict us of all our secret sins and grant us grace to truly bid "adieu" to sin before the door of mercy is finally closed. 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, I will like to invite you to the March 2025 Special Holy Ghost Service (The 39th Anniversary of Holy Ghost Service). Theme: JOY UNSPEAKABLE. Date: 6th-9th March, 2025. Venue: The Redemption City of God, Mowe, Ogun State. Time: 6pm (WAT).

Good day and God bless you

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

THE GATHERING OF PEBBLES

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" - Psalms 126:6

One night a group of nomads were preparing to retire for the evening when suddenly they were surrounded by a great light. They knew they were in the presence of a celestial being. With great anticipation, they awaited a heavenly message of great importance that they knew must be especially for them. Finally, the voice spoke, “Gather as many pebbles as you can. Put them in your saddle bags. Travel a day’s journey and tomorrow night you will either be glad or sad for the rest of your life”

After having departed, the nomads shared their disappointment and anger with each other. They had expected the revelation of a great universal truth that would enable them to create wealth, health and purpose for the world. But instead they were given a menial task that made no sense to them at all. However, the memory of the brilliance of their visitor caused each one to pick up a few pebbles and deposit them in their saddle bags while voicing their displeasure. They traveled a day’s journey and eventually reached into their saddle bags and discovered every pebble they had gathered had become a diamond. They were glad they had diamonds. They were sad they had not gathered more pebbles. 

Soul winning is the art of gathering many pebbles into the eternal saddle bags for Christ and this is the primary responsibility of every genuine believer (Mark 16:15). Unfortunately, many believers still consider this divine task as a menial job with no earthly or eternal reward. They cannot understand why God will hide their much desired precious diamonds inside such a pebble-like task of His (John 4:35-36, Psalms 126:6). It is hard for them to believe that the greatest pebbles anyone can gather into his/her saddle bag on earth is not riches, friends, awards or academic qualifications but lost souls. Every single pebble we dare to gather or pick for Christ will trigger great celebration in heaven (Luke 15:10).

"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." - Luke  15:10 

Beloved, every Christian is either a soul winner or backslider. Yes, you are either a fisher of men or freezer of men. You are either gathering or scattering diamond. Please be sincere, which one are you? How many pebbles have you gathered for Christ in your sojourn on earth? Is your saddle bag full or empty? Do you want to finish your journey with great regret like those nomads? I urge you to please retrace your steps back to the mercy seat today and tarry in the upper room until you are endued with power from on high to witness Christ (Acts 1:8).   

"Gather Them In’’ is a special hymn that reiterates the great commission recorded in Mark 16:15 and Luke 14: 22-23:

GATHER THEM IN! By Fanny Crosby

Gather them in! for yet there is room

At the feast that the King has spread;

O gather them in! let His house be filled,

And the hungry and poor be fed.

Refrain: 

     Out in the highway, out in the byway,

     Out in the dark paths of sin,

     Go forth, go forth, with a loving heart,

     And gather the wanderers in!

Gather them in! for yet there is room;

But our hearts—how they throb with pain;

To think of the many who slight the call

That may never be heard again.

Gather them in! for yet there is room;

’Tis a message from God above;

O gather them into the fold of grace,

And the arms of the Savior’s love.

May God give us genuine burden and passion for lost souls. As we pray for lost souls and attempt to gather them in, the Holy Spirit will take over and bring them in like sheaves into the kingdom. 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord- Pastor E.A Adeboye, I would also like to invite you to LIGHT UP LAGOS. Date: Sat, Feb 22nd, 2025. Time: 8am, Venue: Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Nigeria.  

Good day and God bless.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

THE HARVEST HANDS - 3

“What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands." - Luke 10:2 (MSG)

 One important thing that we need to examine closely in the above scripture is the solution that Jesus Christ proffer to the shortage of harvest hands. He told us categorically to go on our knees. This solution is very apt and profound. It is interesting to know that the Saviour was not asking us to go begging the absconded harvest hands to return to work. The option of compiling and submitting their names to our senior pastors for necessary sanctions or blacklisting them for ordination purposes was not even considered. Rather, we were advised to present the matter to God for necessary action. And of course, the Lord of the Harvest who would not want His fruits to waste will quickly intervene by recruiting and dispatching another set of harvest hands into the field. The implication of this is that those absconded harvest hands will automatically be replaced on the harvest field forever. Yes, they will no longer be relevant again in the transformation agenda of God on earth. This is a very serious matter!

 Friends, it is sad to know that the Lord of the Harvest has replaced many professing believers on His harvest field. The names of many believers are now on the redundancy and eviction list of Heaven but they are still busy raising shoulders and playing politics in the church. They have already been fired from the harvest field but they don't seem to know. They still come to church but they have lost their place in God’s transformation agenda forever. Hmmm! This is quite pathetic!

 Beloved, are you among the absconded harvest hands? Do you know that your name is already on the redundancy and eviction list of Heaven? Do you know that Heaven is about to replace you with someone that is possibly below your age, status and qualification? Your mighty but disobedient Saul is about to be replaced with a small but faithful David (Acts 13:22). Yes, God is about to give up on you like Ephraim (Hosea 4:17). Please repent today and cry to the Lord of Harvest before the door of mercy is finally shut against you.

 "But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do."  Acts 13:22 (NLT)

 The lyrics of the powerful hymn below clearly re-echoes the wordings of the advertisement published for the vacant post of harvest hands on earth:

 HARVEST FIELDS ARE WAITING By W. J. Kirkpatrick

 Harvest fields are waiting,

White the waving grain;

Christ the Master calleth,

Soon the day will wane.

Hasten at His bidding,

Join the reaper band,

Help them at their labor,

Work with willing hand.

 

REFRAIN:

   Harvest fields are waiting,

   Labor while you may;

   Time is swiftly flying,

   Come and work today.

 

Harvest fields are waiting,

Do not linger long;

Borne upon the breezes,

Comes the reaper’s song.

Patiently, O toiler,

Pluck the golden grain,

Ere the shades of evening

Fall o’er hill and plain.

 

Harvest fields are waiting:

Who will come today,

Join the band of reapers,

Bear the sheaves away?

Soon the day of toiling

Will be ever past;

May the Master’s greeting

Be Well done at last!

 May God not replace us on His harvest field in Jesus name. Amen,

 Are you one of God's Harvest Hands in our generation? Then, please join us for the 83 days of transformation in RCCG as we shine the light of Christ to the world.

 On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord- Pastor E.A Adeboye, I would also like to invite you to LIGHT UP LAGOS 4-IN-1 TRANSFORMATIVE CRUSADE. Date: Sat, Feb 22nd, 2025. Time: 8am, Venue: Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Nigeria. 

Good day and God bless.

 Maranatha!

 Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit:

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

https:// okanlawon.webnode.page/ 

THE HARVEST HANDS -2

“What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands." - Luke 10:1-2 (MSG)

“When I was in Boston I used to attend a Sunday school class, and one day I recollect my teacher came around behind the counter of the shop I was at work in, and put his hand upon my shoulder, and talked to me about Christ and my soul. I had not felt that I had a soul till then. I said to myself, ‘This is a very strange thing. Here is a man who never saw me till lately, and he is weeping over my sins, and I never shed a tear about them.’ I don’t remember what he said, but I can still feel the power of that man’s hand on my shoulder tonight.” - ("The conversion story of L.D. Moody, History of American Revivals, Frank Grenville Beardsley)

God wants to put His hands on the shoulders of every lost souls all over the world. That is, the great transformation agenda of God for man. He wants to pull all hell-bound souls out of the raging fire of judgment (Jude 1:23). He needs a hand to save another L.D. Moody in our generation. Its harvest time but the harvesters are nowhere to be found. Heaven has declared that many harvesters are missing in action (Luke 10:2).

Beloved, where are the harvesters? It is obvious that they have misplaced their priority and lost focus of their primary assignment on earth. Instead of holding the sickle they are carrying the title around. Harvesters are now being coerced and cajoled before they show up for evangelism or follow up activities. They often fabricate flimsy excuses to justify their non-availability on their harvest fields. The sight of over-ripe and almost rotten fruits around them does not move them to action.  They are busy chasing the mundane things of this world while sinners are heading to hell beside them everyday. This is quite pathetic!

Friends, please be sincere with yourself. Are you among the harvesters that are missing in action? Are your hands available for the end-time harvest or are you too busy running the rat race on earth? 

‘’Bringing in the Sheaves" is the title of a short but very powerful song that summarizes the role of the harvesters on earth. 

BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES by Knowles Shaw, 1874

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;

Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:

       Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,

       We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;

       Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,

       We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,

Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;

By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,

Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;

When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

May God stir up genuine burden and passion for lost souls in us. And as we throw in our sickles to harvest lost souls, the Holy Spirit will convict sinners of their sins and bring them in like sheaves into the barn of Heaven. When the season of harvest on earth is over, our Commander shall bid us "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23). Thereafter, our season of unending joy and celebration with the Chief Shepherd shall begin in Jesus name.

If you are one of His Harvest Hands, please join us for the 83 days of transformation in RCCG as we shine the light of Christ to the world. 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord- Pastor E.A Adeboye, I would like to invite you to our February 2025 Holy Ghost Service. Theme: GLORY AHEAD - 2. Date: Friday, Feb 7th 2025. Time: 6pm (WAT). Venue: The Redemption City of God, Mowe, Nigeria. 

Good day and God bless

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit:

https://okanlawon.webnode.page/

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com