The Power of Celebration
SUNDAY SERVICE
April 14th, 2024
(1st Service)
YEAR OF FLOURISHING AND THRIVING SUPERNATURALLY
The Power of Celebration
By Pst Sunday Adebamiro
John 12: 1-8 (NKJV)
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been
dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served,
but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very
costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the
house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s
son, who would betray Him, said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii
and given to the poor? ‘This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief,
and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone;
she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you
do not have always.’”
What is Celebration?
It is the appreciation of someone’s gifts, talents, contributions, sacrifices, position, value and
what they represent.
Principles of Celebration:
Everybody has a need for celebration irrespective of how or whom they are. Pastors, leaders,
wives, fathers, workers and followers all need to be celebrated. Just because people do not ask
for celebration does not mean they do not want or need it. Jesus did not ask for Mary to wash
His feet with her alabaster oil, but He did not stop her as well.
When celebration is properly done, everybody will accept it. You do not explicitly need a
person’s approval at every moment to celebrate them. Most people do not feel the need to be
celebrated because they close their minds to the possibilities of it from those that they expect it
from.
When we celebrate people, we are telling them that what they do matters to us. Celebration is
not carnal because if it is, Jesus would not have been invited to a dinner set up by Lazarus and
his sisters. Also, the first miracle of Jesus was performed at a celebration venue – a wedding
party.
Essentially, celebration is not a sin. What makes the difference is the intention of the
celebration and the atmosphere of it. Celebration is not an end to itself, but a means to an end.
There is nothing that reveals the true heart of people like celebration.
Celebrate people within the windows of opportunity that you have. In other words, always
seize every moment to celebrate everyone around you. Make celebrating people a lifestyle.
Celebration is powered by gratitude and gratitude is driven by recognition. You would never be
a grateful person if you are not a thoughtful person and for everyone who is not thoughtful,
you may not be grateful for things you categorize as small things. It is not celebration if it is only
said in words; celebration should be shown through actions. In conclusion, it is important to
speak the language of celebration that people will appreciate.