Pastor Okunola Barnabas

‎

CELEBRATE FORGIVENESS!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE."Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may 

my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go?[As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!" (Matthew 18:21, 22 AMP)

Many people are living in the bondage of un forgiveness as a result of ignorance. When you understand the truth about forgiveness,you will forgive easily . Whenever you forgive,it is for your good. On the other hand,un forgiveness is unacceptable in the kingdom. The side effects of un forgiveness are innumerable. If you do not forgive others, God will not forgive you. Un forgiveness exposes you to all kinds of incurable diseases.
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed......" James 5:16KJV.
This simply means settle your differences and forgive one another so you may be healed. If forgiveness can bring healing it means un forgiveness brings sickness.

Un forgiveness is a form of demonic captivity. If God does not forgive you because of your un forgiveness, His presence will not be with you. Safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of God! His absence from your life will make you vulnerable to all forms of attack. As a Christian you should act like your heavenly father because you are a god. God never recalls your offences.

The first reason why you should celebrate forgiveness is because it keeps the door firmly closed against the devil. When you do not forgive, you allow bitterness and malice, both of which are satan's keys of destruction. Celebrating forgiveness makes the power of God in your life flow unhindered. It also keeps you in good health. Ensure you always forgive those who have wronged you. If you forget how merciful and gracious God has been to you, you may find it difficult to forgive others. But when you appreciate the mercy you receive daily from the Lord you will forgive easily.

Like our opening scripture says you must keep forgiving no matter how many times you have been wronged. Jesus said you should do it seventy times seven which is four hundred and ninety. It is impossible for one person to offend you that much. Jesus was simply saying you should continue to forgive.

Today's Confession.
Father, I refuse to allow un forgiveness,bitterness and malice in my life. I have the capacity to overlook the faults and shortcomings of others in Jesus name. Amen

Pastor Okunola Barnabas

YOU WILL BE CELEBRATED!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE."When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her." (Luke 1:57, 58 MSG)

Your life will not end this way. You will be celebrated in that same place where you have been despised! Your tomorrow is better than your today. The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof. You will end your life well. In our opening scripture, Zachariah and Elizabeth were very old and people had given up on them,thinking they would die childless.
"But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old." (Luke 1:7 MSG).

In Hebrew Zachariah means "The Lord Remembers" while Elizabeth means "The Lord is a vow". In spite of their old age the covenant keeping God who never breaks a vow remembered them. Those who did not know they were a combination of remembrance and vow thought all hope was lost. They gave up hope of ever bearing children and their family, friends,medical science,brethren shared the same view. Unknown to them,as far as they kept calling their names they were calling the God of 'vow' and 'remembrance'.

Most people did not expect any form of celebration from their household but secretly awaited their death and burial as a childless couple. But the God of 'remembrance and 'vow' insisted that they must be celebrated. They were no longer praying for a baby but our faithful God remembered His vow.

An Angel of God came with the prophecy and Zachariah did not believe. When God says "YES" even "un belief" cannot say "NO". In due season, Elizabeth(God of vow) gave birth to a baby boy called 'John' meaning God is gracious. Hallelujah!
God cannot fail,His word must always come to pass. He will remember His vow to bless you abundantly and His grace will bring it to pass. The name of your miracle baby will be "God is gracious".

"Her neighbours and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her." (Luke 1:58 MSG) This year, your neighbours and all those who mocked and despised you will come to celebrate with you. In that same neighbourhood, you will prove to them that you serve a living God. The people who have been asking if your God is dead shall see evidence that He is a God of remembrance.

The Bible said all the relatives gathered because they saw that God had overwhelmed her with mercy. They celebrated her. Wow! The mercy of God is at work in your life. You will be celebrated this year. Get ready! It is your year of multiple celebration.

Today's Response.
Give thanks to God for His vow and remembrance of you, for grace and mercy for celebration in your life.
.

Pastor Okunola Barnabas

‎

CELEBRATE GOD AT WORK IN YOU!

SCRIPTURE."......... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12, 13 KJV)
God is at work in you for your best to come out in your line of duty. It feels so good to know that God is working in you. Praise God!

A Christian lady told me recently that she went for deliverance. I asked her from what? she said from, "serpentine spirit". I laughed and asked if God lives in her and she said yes. I asked again are you saying God and serpents are co-tenants in you? She answered "no impossible", the truth dawned on her immediately and she began to say God is at work in me I cannot have serpents in me. Hallelujah!

The truth of God's word is sweet. You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.(John 8:32). God is at work in you. Stop living in ignorance! God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit reside in you. You are overloaded and have no space for any foul spirit. Ha ha ha ha! No vacancy! Tell the devil you are fully occupied! The greater one is in you therefore no dirty low- life spirit can be in you.

Moreover, God is at work in you, both to will and do of His good pleasure ie the will and drive to live a Godly and celebrated life come from the Lord. You cannot please the Lord on your own except He puts that desire in you. The desire to do the things of God is an evidence that God is at work in you. You do not have to struggle to serve Him. He is at work in you at all times! All you need do is yield yourself to His will and you will receive grace to do the things of God effortlessly. You cannot do it on your own. By strength shall no man prevail.(1Sam .2:9)
As you acknowledge God at work in you,your multiple celebration is guaranteed. You will celebrate!

Tonight's Response.
As you go to bed tonight say,Father thank you for you are at work in me,both to will and do your good pleasure in my life! I recognise and celebrate you as the one working in me!

.

Pastor Okunola Barnabas

‎

SERVE HIM AND CELEBRATE!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE."But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

Waiting upon the Lord does not mean sitting down and folding your hands. It means serving the Lord actively! We are called as soldiers into active service to God and humanity. You were created to function in committed service to God and your fellow men.

The opening scripture says the more you serve the Lord, the more He renews your strength and empowers you to celebrate. Therefore you must take whatever you do in life or God's house seriously. Always be willing to give your best and go the extra mile to deliver . Do not be weary or complacent. Do everything as unto the Lord for He rewards service. Service is one of the secrets of a sound,healthy and vibrant life.
" Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;" (Rom 11:12KJV).

The above scripture is very instructive. The reason why many Christians are not successful is because they are lazy at work. You are created as the light of the world, an example,a pacesetter. Nobody should be more diligent than you in school,at work etc. Every service to man is counted as serving the Lord. If you are slothful in your business God will not be praised. Slothfulness(laziness) is ungodly!You are saved to serve wherever you are. Do not be involved in any kind of corrupt practices. It is a sign of laziness. Give yourself to service and you will become a celebrity.

In addition,be fervent in the spirit! Being fervent means you should be eager to carry out your assignment briskly. Whatever you can accomplish today there is no need postponing it until tomorrow. Avoid procrastination! Ensure you do not disappoint your customers,your boss or those you are accountable to. Be the first to finish whatever duty is assigned to you. Men will not only applaud you because of your diligence, God also commends diligence.

Finally, serve the Lord! In your local church be involved in service. If your secular job makes you inactive in the house of God you are not fulfilling the word of the Lord. Incomplete service is being active in your secular job and giving excuses for not participating in God's work. Your blessings from God are tied to serving Him!
"If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.(Job36:11).
Your prosperity,pleasures and celebration this year is a function of your obedience and service.

TODAY'S PRAYER.
Father in Jesus name, from today I make up my mind to serve humanity and you with the best of my ability for my celebration. Amen.
.