WHEN I AM GONE.

Gone. Cold body. Eyes closed. Lifeless. Six feet under. And in a lonely world. That's death. One truth we tend to run away from is that one day we shall all leave this world and all our works shall be revealed and tested. Whenever I have an opportunity to visit the family of someone who has passed on, I try to check the little comments people say concerning the fellow who just passed on. Then I ask myself, what will people write about me when I am gone? You might hear comments like: "Thank God he’s dead. His own was too much. I just hate him, he’s too zealous. With his greed now what is he taking away?" Or people say: "I wish he was still around, he was a great man. He was so hardworking, kind, loving, a genuine believer and he put smiles on the faces of people around him". "He lived a good life and his life is a positive lesson for us. How I wish he was still alive. Maybe God will look at his good deeds and bring him back. He gave to the poor and needy, he fed the hungry, he was a true child of God and he will forever live in our hearts". I tell people these days: “I am not living a holy life because of you or because I love you. But because of three things; love for God, fear of God, and Heaven.” Most of us live our lives as if we won’t die. Some of us are so wicked, cruel, deceitful, and unfaithful and we forget we will surely give an account one day. My father does not like me saying this but it is the truth. I might not live long here on earth, but one thing I have begged God for is fulfillment of purpose. Life is not just about wealth, position, fun, and others, but about the fulfillment of purpose. When I pray for a group of people, I frequently say: “Peradventure death will not allow us to see each other next time, help us to make it to heaven”. So many people hardly say amen. However, you cannot live forever. One day, personal or general rapture will catch up with you. In the last six months, I have heard about the death of loved ones, which got me so emotional, especially for a close friend of mine. We are like flowers that fade quickly; here today, gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean, a vapour in the wind (from the lyrics of Casting Crown's Who am I) So live a good life. Many of us want our names mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records, Times Magazine, Ovation, Most Influential Man or Woman, Richest Man or Woman, and it’s all good but the real question is "Is your name in this book of life?’’ As I write this last paragraph, tears run down my eyes. I remember my special friend who has gone to be with the Lord and I also live daily looking unto Jesus so I will meet with Him on the last day. When you are gone, what will people say about you? Where will you spend eternity? Death will surely come at the appointed time and we shall all give account of our lives. So live prepared and ready. Romans 12:2. If you will miss anything, don’t miss heaven, the kingdom of God is at hand. When I, Ayodeji Samson Oluwadamilare Oke Anifowose, am gone, what will you say about me? Feel free to drop your comments.

WAIT!!!

Over time, I have discovered that many Christians have changed their approach in the way they make their requests known to God. Whenever I say a prayer like "Father, I thank you for the prayers you answered and those you chose not to answer, it doesn’t change the fact that you are God", so many people look at me like an outcast or alien. Maybe we have forgotten He is the Almighty God who can do as he likes, and not one creature can question Him. He is God over everything on earth and in the heavens, and He remains unquestionable. There are certain prayers we say that are very wrong and we need to ask for forgiveness. An example is: “God if you don't answer me this year, I will never follow you again”. Who will lose if you choose not to follow God? Let’s stop deceiving ourselves, He is a sovereign God and nothing is impossible for Him to do. Therefore we should always ask for His mercy to receive all we desire. Most of the things we pray for are wants, not needs at the moment. Because God loves us, He won’t necessarily give us everything we want so we don’t kill ourselves. He has a perfect plan for our future and knows all we need at every moment or season of our lives. He knows how and when to deliver all these needs to us without problems. Proverbs 10:22 says “The blessings of the Lord maketh rich and He adds no sorrow with it”. He will never leave His children who are living a holy life (pursuing righteousness according to Matthew 6:33) stranded because He has wonderful plans for each one of us. Just wait on Him. Why do you need to wait on God? Most times, what we desire at a particular time might not be what God wants for us. And as a loving Father, He won’t give us until the appropriate time. It took me 7 years to write my first book. I had planned to publish it several times, but God didn't allow me because it was not yet time. Waiting on the Lord is a good deal, it enables you to get the best after waiting for that period. "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint’’ Isaiah 40:31 ESV When you (a believing Christian) desire to have your spouse or children at a specific time and they are not forthcoming, it doesn't mean God is wicked, bad, slow, or unfaithful. He is loving. When we finally get what we want, we will be glad indeed. I was ill some years ago. I prayed and begged God to keep me alive even when the doctors said I would not live long. If God had decided to take me away then, there is nothing anybody could have done to God but honor and revere Him as Almighty God. It is good to desire good things, but God has a perfect timing for us to get them. There is a perfect time to get married, have your children, have your home not just a house, and have your car or jet as you desire. Just keep believing and trusting in the Lord for the miracle. He has done it before and He can do it again. Stop the habit of threatening God when praying. Whether He decides to give you what you need or not, He is still God. We need to always seek His mercies in all we do so we can obtain favor. Decide from today to always talk to God with respect while you make your requests. Remain blessed as you wait on God for the change you need in your life. AYODEJI ANIFOWOSE Twitter: @gfatherghusband Instagram: @gfather_ghusband, @ayodeji.anifowose Facebook: www.facebook.com/greatfathergreathusband, www.facebook.com/ayodeji.anifowose E-mail: ayollc.company@gmail.com www.ayodejianifowose.com

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO?

A time comes in the life of every man when he'll be totally confused and unsure of what to do. Whether to move forward, backward, to the left, to the right, or remain at the spot will seem unclear. When you are faced with the battles of life and nothing seems to make sense, what do you do? You have tried everything humanly possible but nothing seems to work positively for you. Solutions to problems came easily before, but suddenly you have become someone who does not know how to handle issues and you are completely perplexed. So what do you do? In Luke 5:1-11, Simon was a very good fisherman. He was experienced, tutored, and full of knowledge. There came a time when it seemed as if he had never caught a single fish in his life. The question is what did he do? Let me share my personal experience. I graduated from a university where I was one of the student pastors. I was busy with the things of God and my academics at the same time. I was doing pretty well to the extent that I created time to teach my colleagues. When I graduated from the university, I went home expecting a call when my results were ready, to clear me for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Then I got the news that broke my heart. I was informed that I failed eight courses and the results of five courses were missing. This was a few months from when we were supposed to go for NYSC. I was at a breaking point. What do I do when I don’t know what to do? If I had retaken all the courses, the results wouldn't have been ready before my batch left for NYSC. At that point, some people were already giving me the option of forging results to pave the way for me to leave. How would I have explained that a student pastor was involved in such a criminal act? What would Jesus do? I was sincerely confused and had almost taken that advice, but thank God for the Holy Spirit. I remember Jesus promised us when He was ascending into heaven, that the Holy Spirit would teach us all things. John 14:26. One of the things to do when you don’t know what to do is to “HOLD UNTO JESUS AND HIS WORD” In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus said in verse 4b; “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught” and in verse 5c Simon said; “Nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net”. At the end of the day, Simon had a net-breaking harvest by holding unto Jesus and His word. When I was perplexed, I also held unto the word of God which is Jesus (John 1:1). Romans 8:37 says ‘’No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us’’. Without any effort from me, all thirteen courses were released to the glory of God. This happened because I held unto His word even when it didn’t make sense and I was able to go for NYSC. The Bible says in Mark 13:31 ‘’Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away’’. Hold unto God’s word. I know there is a scripture for every situation you are going through. It might sound stupid, senseless, and unreasonable, but just hold unto Jesus and His words which remain forever (1 Peter 1:25). Finally, no matter the circumstances or how turbulent the storm might be, just KEEP YOUR EYES FOCUSED ON JESUS who is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Peter almost sank into the sea because he wasn’t looking unto Jesus at a point (Matthew 14:22-32). This will also help you get the message God is sending to you through that mess, storm, situation, or circumstance. When you fall in the journey of life, there are four things you must do to get the message; 1. Check your back to know what made you fall. 2. Check the floor to know what you lost in the process of falling. 3. Look to your front to know how far you still need to go. 4. Then look up to Heaven and let GOD know you need Him in the RACE so He can give you GRACE to run the RACE. No matter what you face in life, hold unto Jesus, His words, and keep your eyes focused on Him till your change comes Job 14:14. God bless you and have a great week ahead. AYODEJI ANIFOWOSE Twitter: @gfatherghusband Instagram: @gfather_ghusband, @ayodeji.anifowose Facebook: www.facebook.com/greatfathergreathusband, www.facebook.com/ayodeji.anifowose E-mail: ayollc.company@gmail.com www.ayodejianifowose.com

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? PART 2

In the first part of this topic, we discussed some important facts about the names we bear and our identity in Christ Jesus. Before I go further, please note that no one can have a better revelation of the mystery behind your name than God. Reading from Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 6, Jeremiah denied his name and identity which God specifically told him in verse 7. “But the Lord said unto me, say not, I am a child: for thou shall go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shall speak”. Verse 8 continues; “Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.” God didn't allow Jeremiah to rename himself, He was already ordained as a Prophet from his mother’s womb. This means that before you were conceived, God had ordained you for a particular mission attached to the name He gave you. This is what determines your future. No wonder so many Nigerians change their names after accepting the life of Jesus Christ. Many of them bear names that give them up to an oracle, a demon, a principality, or a name from the kingdom of darkness. So most of them who are not saved end up failing and wallowing in several kinds of bondages. You need to ask God to reveal every mystery behind your name to you. This will help you know more about who God calls you, your purpose, and your identity. Many of us might not know one of the major reasons Solomon failed. In 2 Samuel 12:25, when Solomon was conceived, God called him Jedidiah (Beloved of the Lord). But his mother, after she found peace because she lost a child, named him Solomon which means peace. While meditating on this, I discovered a link between Jedidiah (beloved of the Lord) and Jesus. In Matthew 17:5, God also refers to Jesus as His beloved son. They were both sons of David. I don’t want to preach a sermon here, I can do that on the pulpit. But the truth is you need to stick to whatever name God has given to you! Ask your parents why they gave you the name you bear and know your identity in Christ Jesus. If there is a need after revelation, change your name. Finally, follow God’s plan and purpose for your life. Solomon did a lot of things against the Lord who called him His beloved. But he was called Peace. They are both good names, but God knew what He was doing before giving him that name. You can’t be wiser than God. Upcoming parents, in particular, ensure you ask God for the names of your children because it determines their future, purpose, and calling in life. Solomon managed to have 700 wives and 300 concubines who eventually turned his heart away from Almighty God. There’s an adage in Yoruba that says “Any river that forgets or abandons its source will dry up”. As a child of God, our default identity is in 1 Peter 2:9, but we need to recognize, accept, and walk in this identity as we live our lives according to God’s will and standards. Matthew 6:33. In conclusion, your name might be a reason for your present location in life, but your life can be transformed when you accept the life of Christ and change the name to what God desires for you. As you have read this article, I pray the Lord will reveal to you all you need to know about your name, purpose, and calling in Jesus' name. Amen! Remain blessed. AYODEJI ANIFOWOSE Twitter: @gfatherghusband Instagram: @gfather_ghusband, @ayodeji.anifowose Facebook: www.facebook.com/greatfathergreathusband, www.facebook.com/ayodeji.anifowose E-mail: ayollc.company@gmail.com www.ayodejianifowose.com