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| Pastor (Dr.) J.A.O. Magbagbeola |
By Boluwatife Oparinde
Pastor (Dr.) J.A.O. Magbagbeola, a Senior Lecturer & Director, JUPEB & University Affiliations, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Pastor Kunle Magbagbeola, has declared that peaceful living is possible and attainable throughout the new year 2022.
Pastor Magbagbeola said this in an exposé of the 2022 WatchWord of the Christ Apostolic Church which says "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded (2 Chronicles 15:7).
According to him, "having peace and obtaining peace is a possibility for any person or a group of people, only that the prerequisite for it be followed through."
The cleric, in a charge titled "God's Antidote for Peaceful Living in Life and Ministry" exposited 2 Chronicles 15:6-15, taking cues from the Biblical character, Asa, to encourage how contemporary Christians should live their lives daily in the year.
Pastor Magbagbeola who highlighted that Asa took courage like his predecessors (Moses and Joshua) did, removed abominable idols everywhere, and renewed God's altar; stated that "encourage yourself and give yourself the needed courage that will carry you through."
The cleric continued that, "all you will need majorly to obtain that which the Lord has for us this year is a good courage. Whatever may stand as idol, or to you is an idol, let them be removed. As what is needed as preparation for peaceful living, it is important you Renew God's altar - prayer and study of the word, altar of worship and evangelism."
In identifying the ways forward to peaceful living, he stated that, "Assemble or gather the people to learn from God; Sacrificial offering to the Lord; Covenant to seek God; Voice agreement to the covenant that we have all resolved to seek God; Declare God's praise; Walk at peace at all cost; and Seek rest roundabout."
"As much as possible, everything within our reach should be done to seek God this year - in the morning, afternoon and night.Let's seek God this year and have that covenant with Him to seek Him."
The cleric further explained that, "Peaceful living is attainable as long as we keep ourselves within the dictates of it and abide by it, not burdensome rules. At every point in time, God desires that we will be in peace as long as our heart stays on Him."
"Our watchword for this year 2022 is reminding us to be ensure that we are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might as declared by Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:10). Again, that our hands should not be weak connotes that we get busy for the Lord and not the other way round, for an idle mind is the devil's workshop. Go all out for God this year for souls harvesting and enlarge God's kingdom. Preach the gospel as never before. Live holy and be steadfast in righteous living. Remember all these works shall be rewarded to you and I by God," he concluded.