At the September anointing service Senior Pastor, Taiwo Odukoya began his message, by reading from the book of James, the first chapter, from verses 1 to 5. Before getting into the crux of his message, he raised an addendum to the earlier shared testimonies stating that joy always comes at the end of every test.
In verse 2, the Bible said “count it all joy when you fall into various trials…” Pastor Taiwo said these trials, when (not if) they come, should be celebrated through our praises and worshipping, knowing fully that these trials create patience and when this patience is complete within us, we lack nothing. He continued that famous people have serious lacks which is why suicide is commonplace amongst them.
Pastor Taiwo also said that counting it (the trials) as joy means that one has to count whatever we do not have, as joy. These trials, he said, are temporal and not our normal situation, and shouldn’t be considered okay.
He continued his message from 2 Chronicles 20: 3-18. This was the story of King Jehoshaphat who led his people against the armies of Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir. Jehoshaphat prayed a prayer, as recorded in verse 12. This prayer represented his trial especially as the leader who was greatly distressed.
In conclusion, the Senior Pastor reassured the congregation that things might seem lost, but we should be confident that we are coming back to testify. He added that praise and worship is “an articulation of joy; the language and demonstration of joy”. When we need to praise and it doesn’t seem to happen naturally, even faking it is allowed. God will reward our intentions.
