The General Overseer of All Nations Evangelism Ministries, Archbishop Dr. Yimam Orkwar has identified holding onto the past as main cause of stagnation in the lives of many Christians. The cleric admonished Christ adherents to continue to press forward for a better and more glorious future.
Preaching on 17th July, 2022 at Faith Cathedral Makurdi on the topic "Yesterday Is Gone", Archbishop Orkwar said that Christians should not allow their past to contend with and hinder them from fulfilling their destinies.
He said that the greatest obstacle against progress in one's life, and living a fulfilled life is when people have allowed memories of the past to keep them perpetually in bondage.
Archbishop Orkwar remarked that the past could be memories of achievements or failures stressing that some little past successes have become stumbling blocks to some people since they are so comfortable with those memories and would not want to leave them behind and press forward for a bigger future. To others, he said, their stumbling blocks are memories of past failures, hurt or deprivation in which they have dwelt and refused to let go.
The cleric maintained that irrespective of one's past whether good or bad, the paramount thing is to always strive to achieve more in the present and future, stressing that the past is irredeemable, but the present and future is mendable.
Citing the books of 1 Corinthians 5:17 and Isaiah 43:18, Archbishop Orkwar stated that the world is not interested in recitation of past predicaments that had befallen people, but in celebration of marks that people have attained presently and in the future.
Giving examples of Joseph and the children of Israel, the cleric declared that Joseph put his predicament behind him even when he was betrayed by his own brothers and pressed forward to actualize God's purpose on his life, and became prime minister in a foreign country. He said that Joseph's story was in contrast with that of the children of Israel who resigned to their ill-fate and chose to return to Egypt to be eating vegetables. That was not all. The cleric also exampled a US TV superstar, Oprah Winfrey who, despite early abuse in life, abandoned her past and rose up to be one of the most influential women in the world.
The difference amongst the three examples, according to the cleric was the decision to leave the past behind and create a positive present and the future.
Archbishop Orkwar opined that widows who lost their husbands face challenging moments but must put the past behind them and move on, just as orphans who don't have anybody to take care of them, stating that many with chequered backgrounds have risen variously through their tortuous past to sit in positions of influence and reckoning.
He admonished Christians to stop looking for sympathizers of their past but take bold decisions so that their present and future will be better through Christ that strengthens them.
The power packed service started from 8:00am and lasted up to 12noon.
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