l. to r.: Apostle Israel Onoriobe, lady evangelist, Pastor Hulston, me, Sis. Ese, Bro. Sam

Return and Celebrate!!

By Helen Jesze, 2^nd September 2022

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine … and go after that which is lost until he find it? And when he hath found it he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me…”

Luke 15:4-6 KJV

“I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness… and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]… the father said … let us … make merry. Because this my son … was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry.”

Luke 15:18, 20, 23, 24 AMP

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables. The first is of a shepherd who goes after his lost sheep. The second is of a woman who loses a silver drachma. The third is of the lost or ‘Prodigal Son’, as we often call it. The sheep went its own way but could not find the way back; the silver piece was lost and had to be found by a person; the son, however, made the choice to go away, then chose to return home. In each case, there was great rejoicing when the sheep, the drachma and the son was found.

We often see our self in one of these three parables at some time in our life. We go astray, wandering from God’s ways like the sheep, and our Lord or the Holy Spirit seeks to bring us back. Before we became Christians we did not know we were lost in sin, bound for a Christless Eternity, like the silver piece. The lost son went away from the father’s house, squandered his inheritance, ended up in a pig-pen, but – he “came to himself” – and decided to return home. Sometimes God allows us to come down in Life, or be put in a very difficult position because our disobedience and pride kept us from putting our relationship with our Heavenly Father in order.

But when we make the decision to return, and start on our way back, like the father in this story, our Heavenly Father runs to meet us, cleaning up our past, showering his forgiveness upon us, and reinstates us to Sonship in him. We may not have heard it literally, but in verse 10, Jesus said: “Even so, I tell you, there is joy among and in the presence of the angels of God over one [especially] wicked person who repents (changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with abhorrence of his past sins).” AMP There was great celebration in Heaven, the day you and I came to Jesus!

But it could be that one of my readers today has not yet “returned” to the Father, putting off the day or feeling too wicked to come and ask for forgiveness again. I would encourage you to not put it off any longer, but to “return” today, and you will find the joy of the Lord will fill your life, and “celebration” will come!

I wrote this devotional because of something I heard last Saturday, when I attended the 12^th year Anniversary of Dominion House Church in Nottingham, pastored by Pastor Hulston Omare and his wife, Sister Ese. George and I got to know them about 12 years ago and we ministered there several times. George always called him a “son of the giants” because of his physical stature!! I was one of their Trustees for 8 years, so we were able to follow the development of the church and see how God has blessed and increased them through the years.

In prayer, the Lord had showed Pastor Hulston that the church’s theme for this year should be “Return and Celebrate!!” and this was printed on the back of their T-shirts. It was a weekend of rejoicing, dancing and celebration, with jubilant, triumphant praise and worship, led by drums, guitars, trumpets, saxophone and the youth choir. Apostle Israel from South Africa ably ministered the Word under a strong anointing of the Holy Spirit. Our good friend Pastor Francis Waive from Nigeria was also invited, but unfortunately, some health issues prevented him from coming to minister.

There are many churches that have been started but somewhere along the way, they close down. Building a church or a ministry is not to be attempted by the faint- hearted. So we congratulate Pastors Hulston and Ese and their ministry team for keeping on when the going was tough, and, with the enabling and power of the Holy Spirit, reaching this 12^th Anniversary! It was indeed, a cause for celebration!

Pastor Hulston, Ese and other ministers with the beautiful Anniversary cake on Sunday!