By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The assistant pastor of God’s Greater Grace General Assembly Intl Incorporated, Benin, Pastor Duke Iyamu has urged believers to forget the baggage of the past and move forward with high hope and expectations for a glorious, rewarding and fulfilling life ahead.
He gave the advice while speaking on the topic: “A new beginning” at the Sunday church service in Benin.
Pastor Iyamu said a new beginning means starting all over again on a clean slate.
Taking his bible reading from the book of Isaiah 43:18-19, he said their past might be rough, tough, creating an unpleasant memory in them whenever they have a flashback, but that, they must not allow it to weigh them down because the one who has the ability to make all things beautiful in its time can turn their ash to beauty.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland”, Isaiah 43:18-19.
He said what believers need in their lives is a little launch of faith and with that, they are sure of seeing the great hands of God in action in their lives stressing that, Peter in the bible also had a setback initially having toiled all night long without a catch but when he later launched his net as he was instructed by Jesus, there was a great catch and all his fruitless labour was forgotten in a jiffy.
“And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
“And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
“And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
“And when they had this done, they in-closed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
“And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them.
“And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink”, Luke 5:1-7.
He reminded the christian faithful that God who could cause the dried bones to live again, turned water into wine, cause light to shine in darkness and other mind blowing miracles, is very much able to wipe their tears away.
He however urged them to keep trusting and believing in this great God who is able to do exceedingly and above all that they can ever imagine.
