THE REMNANT STRATEGY – 2

''..Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!'' 2 Corin. 2:10-11 (MSG)

In continuation of our discussion on the remnant strategy, the wise sayings of Dr. Nelson Mandela (the former president of South Africa) on forgiveness comes to mind. When Dr. Mandela was asked whether he hated the people who imprisoned him for 27 years, he responded by saying, "Absolutely I did, because they’d imprisoned me for so long. I was abused. I didn’t get to see my children grow up. I lost my marriage and the best years of my life. I was angry. But as I got closer to the car that would take me away, I realized that when I went through that gate, if I still hated them, they would still have me. I wanted to be free. And so I let it go.”

The phrase "to let go" literally means "to forgive". Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of forgiveness when he narrated the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35. Forgiveness is not an option, but rather a must if we want to enjoy true freedom. Our Saviour demonstrated how to forgive when he chose to let go of the offenses committed against Him on the cross of Calvary (Luke 23:34). Like Dr. Mandela, Jesus shows that forgiveness is the key that unlocks the prison gates of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. Therefore, anyone who refuses to forgive or let go has deliberately endorsed his or her warrant of arrest and detention in the prison of bitterness and dungeon of hatred. Unfortunately, many people who appear to be free today are actually living in the prison of unforgiveness. They have been tied down with the invisible chains of bitterness and the fetters of hatred. 

“Unforgiveness is like drinking poison yourself and waiting for the other person to die” - Marianne Williamson

Those who walk in unforgiveness may think they are punishing or trying to get even with the offender but they are hurting themselves unknowingly. Sometimes, forgiveness could be extremely hard; However, our feelings are not superior to the Word of God. Forgiveness is not a piece of advice in the Bible; it is a command (Matt 6:12). Hence, we must obey God by forgiving everyone that offends us. What you stand to gain by forgiving is more than what you think you will lose. Please leave the matter to God; don’t seek revenge. God will do a better job than you. He is the God of justice. He will fight for you. Don’t open your life to the devil through unforgiveness. Don’t let him take advantage of you to hang carcasses of dead dogs in your life (2 Corin 2:10-11).

Beloved, don’t be ignorant of the devices of the devil. Unforgiveness is still a very potent weapon in the devil's armoury. Unfortunately, many careless individuals are falling sheepishly into this wicked bait everyday. I hope you are not one of them! If you are, I urge you to please let go of those offenses like Jesus Christ, our perfect example. Please emulate Dr. Mandela by walking out of the prison of bitterness and resentment today.

The lyrics of this song below summarizes what should be our desire till we finish our race on earth: 

A HEART THAT FORGIVES by K. L Gray 2010

I want a heart that forgives

A heart full of love

One with compassion just like yours above

One that over comes evil with goodness and love

Like it never happened, never holding a grudge

Ohhh, want a heart that forgives

When the pain is so deep and it's so hard for me to speak about it

To any one just like your son

I give up my rights to hold it against them with hatred inside

I want a heart that loves everybody, even my Enemies

May God's love permeate our heart and help us to let go of all resentments so that we will not become a victim of this wicked bait of the devil.

Good day & God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com 

THE REMNANT STRATEGY

I won’t speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this dark world is coming. But he has no power over me, for he has nothing to use against me -  John 14:30 (TPT)

The story is told of a man who sold his house for an incredible bargain with just one stipulation: he would retain ownership of one small nail protruding over the door. After several years, he wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell it. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the single nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable and the new owner was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, the ultimate price for the recovery of the great possession that man lost in the Garden of Eden was paid for (1 Corin 6:19-20). The transaction was consummated with an incredible price and the devil thought he had struck a good deal. The old owner (devil) was super excited about the deal that he gladly vacated his abode for the new owner (God) to move in. While the old owner was still basking in the euphoria of the amazing bargain, he suddenly realized that the deal was a very bad one (1 Corin 2:8). Then, he began to think of how best to recover his lost grounds and territories without much efforts. Several options were considered but he decided to exploit the Remnant Strategy that Jesus described in John 14:30.  

The remnant strategy is one of the most potent approach that the devil (old owner) uses to take possession of his lost grounds in every generation. For example, Moses was captured because he refused to get rid of the nail of anger that the old owner left behind in him and he paid dearly for it.  Judas Iscariot and Gehazi became candidates of hell because they never paid attention to the nail of greed hung around their necks and they ended up in the gallow of shame. Samson died prematurely because he refused to deal with the nail of lust cleverly packed inside his highly anointed frame by the old owner.

Beloved, we thank God for the salvation of your soul but are you sure there are still no little nails somewhere that the old owner can use to harvest your soul into hell? Are there remnants of bitterness, lies, anger, pride, greed, unforgiveness, stubbornness, lust or immorality that the old owner can use to hang carcasses of dead dogs in your life? Can you boldly say like Jesus Christ that there is no remnant of the old owner in you? A little sin, like a little leaven, can corrupt the whole lump (1 Corin 5:6-7). What are those little leavens of the old owner in you? Please stop pretending as if those little things does not matter. But if you decide to leave only one small sin in your life, Satan will hang his rotten garbage on it to make your life unlivable. Therefore, please prayerfully confront and eliminate every remnant/sin in your lives before they grow and dismantle your life and destiny. The best way to eliminate those little nails is by constantly praying for sanctification so that God can remove every little nail that the old owner can use to hinder you from making it to Heaven. 

The lyrics of this powerful hymn below should be our watchword: 

NOTHING BETWEEN By C. A. Tindley (1905)

1 Nothing between my soul and the Savior,

naught of this world's delusive dream;

I have renounced all sinful pleasure;

Jesus is mine, there's nothing between.

Refrain:

Nothing between my soul and the Savior,

so that His blessed face may be seen;

nothing preventing the least of His favor;

keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

2 Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;

habits of life, though harmless they seem,

must not my heart from Him ever sever;

He is my all, there's nothing between. 

3 Nothing between, like pride or station;

self, or friends shall not intervene;

though it may cost me much tribulation,

I am resolved, there's nothing between. 

4 Nothing between, e'en many hard trials,

though the whole world against me convene;

watching with prayer and much self denial,

triumph at last, there's nothing between. 

May we receive grace to prayerfully confront every remnant that is capable of disqualifying us from finishing our race on earth well in Jesus name.

Good day & God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

GO, TELL EVERYBODY

After that, Jesus said to his followers, “You have to go out to everywhere in the world and tell everybody the good news about me" - Mark 16:15 (PEV)

Fritz Kreisler, the world-famous violinist, saw an exquisite violin on one of his trips, but he wasn’t able to buy it. After saving enough money, he returned to the seller with the hope of buying the beautiful instrument. But he was surprised that it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the collector’s home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Kreisler was keenly disappointed and was about to leave when he had an idea. “Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?” he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector’s emotions were deeply stirred. “I have no right to keep that to myself,” he exclaimed. “It’s yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it.” (Our Daily Bread, February, 4, 1994)

From the above story, we can say that there are two categories of people in every generation - The Collectors and Distributors. The collectors gather valuable things about God but are unwilling to share them with others. They have archived God's redemption agenda for mankind in their hearts like a prized possession. They have stockpiled many beautiful evidence or testimonies of God's faithfulness in their heads. They have warehoused the sound of the rhyme of grace and liberty in their heart like an exquisite violin meant for them alone.  Unfortunately, many people around them are going to hell daily because they refuse to get on the platform and play the soul transforming music of salvation to them. This is very pathetic!

Unlike the collectors, the distributors are always ready to share what they have collected with everyone around them. The urgency and importance of the great commission highlighted in Mark 16:15 always stirs them up to action. These people understand the terrible implications of living like a collector that Apostle Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:16. So, they eagerly seek for opportunities to take the gospel to others without being coaxed. 

"..It would be agony to me if I did not constantly preach the gospel!"- 1 Cor 9:16b (TPT)

It is obvious that the number of the collectors in this generation is more than that of the distributors. Majority of Christians who go to church every week to collect sermons never bother to share what they learned with unbelievers around them. They are busy building up their Bible knowledge database and testimony catalogues without paying any attention to the pitiable conditions of sinners around them. What a myopic mindset!

Beloved, I sincerely hope you are not one of the collectors in this generation. If you are, then, please repent today. You don't have any right to keep the Gospel to yourself. Please stop giving flimsy excuses for not witnessing to unbelievers around you. Remember, you will be held accountable for the blood of every sinner you refused to witness to (Ezekiel 33:6) 

This powerful hymn below expresses Christ’s call to spread the gospel. The hymn stirs both the heart and feet for mission, reminding us that Christ’s command is still urgent today.

GO, PREACH MY GOSPEL By Isaac Watts

“Go, preach My gospel,” saith the Lord.

“Bid the whole earth My grace receive.

Explain to them My sacred word;

Bid them believe, obey, and live.

“Go, heal the sick; go raise the dead;

Go, cast out devils in My name;

Nor let My prophets be afraid,

Though Greeks reproach and Jews blaspheme.

“While thus ye follow My commands

I’m with you till the world shall end;

All power is trusted in My hands;

I can destroy and can defend.”

May God destroy the collector mindset in us and energize us to take the gospel to the world as Christ commanded.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com