Pastor Poju Oyemade has encouraged Christians not to remain trapped in offence over how people have treated them, teaching that painful experiences can sometimes precede a significant transition.
Using Jonah as an example, Oyemade said Jonah could have remained focused on how the sailors treated him when they threw him overboard without knowing whether he would survive.
“If Jonah was in the belly of the whale talking about the way they threw him, he wouldn’t have come out of that place,” he said.
Oyemade also pointed to Jesus’ crucifixion, using it to illustrate the importance of looking beyond painful treatment rather than becoming consumed by whether everything was handled fairly.
Referencing a message he attributed to Kenneth Copeland’s grandson, Oyemade said some people are still carrying “the dust” of how others treated them years ago.
“You can’t get where you’re going if you don’t shake it off,” he said.
His message was that holding on to old offences can keep people emotionally connected to seasons they should have moved beyond. He encouraged believers to release past hurts and remain open to the possibility of a new season and breakthrough ahead.