Posts in category: Articles

Globally, October is recognised as Cybersecurity awareness month. 2022 may have offered some respite from the previous year’s rush to enable a remote and hybrid world, but the increased use of personal devices also left security professionals with even more endpoints to manage and secure. As illustrated by breaches like the March 2022 attack on Shields Health Care Group that impacted two million people and the April ransomware attack that became a national emergency for the Costa Rican government, we all need to be cyber defenders to protect what matters.

The FBI describes the impact and losses from cybercrime as “staggering,” with over $4 billion in losses in 2020 alone. The 2020 Internet Crime Report includes information from 791,790 complaints of suspected internet crime—an increase of more than 300,000 complaints from 2019 Cybercrime is a growing problem that needs to be addressed. Perpetrators behind these crimes range from individuals looking for easy profit to hostile nation-states and terrorist organisations.

The first form of Cyber-attack took place in Genesis 27. This is the story of Jacob and Esau. When Jacob presents himself as Esau to Isaac, his blind dying father, to gain his birthright blessing- he basically performed what today we call an act of Identify Theft. 

With the prevalence of computerised business systems in stores, banks, and government offices, this increase in computer-related crime raises concerns for privacy and safety.

The Bible prophesied that “in the last days perilous times [times of stress] will come” (2 Timothy 3:1). It describes some of these stressors as men being “lovers of money,” unloving, slanderers, brutal, and treacherous (verses 2–4). Computer crimes cause much stress to the victims. Those who perpetrate such crimes while sitting safely behind a computer screen may not fully comprehend—or simply do not care about—the devastating impact on the lives of the recipients of their evil actions.

The growing prevalence of cybercrime is evidence of what happens when people without a godly worldview acquire certain technical skills. We need people with solid Christian ethics involved in these fields to use these potentially dangerous skills to pursue a higher calling, one in which they embody the exhortation in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

I will offer 3 Tips for you to consider.

Tip #1: Use A Strong And Protective Password Manager

What is a password manager, you may be asking? Password managers are encrypted databases that typically use one complex password to safeguard all other passwords. They can then help generate complex passwords for each account without you having to memorise them all. According to Microsoft, more than 80 percent of breaches stem from weak or compromised login credentials, so it is more important than ever to use a strong, unique password for each account.

Tip #2: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere Possible

Even with the growing use of password managers, there is more that you can do to keep your accounts and information secure. Multifactor authentication adds an extra locked door of security to your account. It comes in many different forms, ranging from a code that arrives in an email or text message to a secure token tied to your account. However, Security.org states that 13 percent of account hacks were those using two or multifactor authentication. Building up your layers of security will close that gap.

Tip #3: Be Wary Of What You Click

In today’s world, there are more phishing attacks than ever before. One of the most common occurrences is receiving an email that looks as though it is from a reliable company or professional superior. It is more important than ever to hover your mouse pointer over links in an email and to check the sender’s email address. If anything looks suspicious, play it safe and get a trusted person’s opinion or delete it to be safe. Also, some email providers (Gmail and Outlook are two) have phishing and spam tags that automatically report the issue for investigation.

Everyone has a role to play in cybersecurity, and when we learn together, we are more secure together. 

Written by Elder Raymond Agyemang (Cyber Security Professional)

Two fundamental issues form the thrust of this article: the age of the Azusa Street Revival, and the need for another great revival in contemporary Christianity. The second factor is the call for another revival in the church in this century by participants in the recent non-denominational All-Ministers’ Conference hosted by The Church of Pentecost (CoP) at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana. 

On assumption of office as the Chairman of the CoP in 2018, Apostle Eric Nyamekye challenged Christians to pray for another revival in this century, indicating that “112 years since the Azusa Street Revival occurred is enough; can’t we have a PCC revival that is superior to the Azusa Street Revival?” Throwing this challenge further, he stated, “Seymour is dead and gone,” and we must pray for God to use us to cause a new revival in this generation. 

The import of this statement was visible throughout the All-Ministers’ Conference held at PCC in September 2022 – The presence of the power of the Holy Spirit felt throughout the conference, the unity of the body of Christ, and the yearning for a new revival by the conferees was awesome. The inspiring atmosphere and the enthusiasm of pastors in participating in all activities at the conference suggested that the Christian community in Ghana is not only thirsty but also ready for a new revival that would be superior to the Azusa Street Revival.

A Reflection on the Azusa Street Revival

The Azusa Street Revival occurred in 1906 in Los Angeles, and its dramatic nature precipitated an unprecedented transformation of Christian traditions and missionary activities. The event followed the teachings and prayer meetings of William Joseph Seymour (an African-American) and a group of holiness preachers at 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles. It must be noted that Seymour was trained by a holiness evangelist, Charles F. Parham, in Houston, Texas, but that is not the focus of this discussion.  

Seymour and the holiness movement preachers felt that, since the actual Pentecost day event in AD 34 in the Acts of the Apostles, the spirit of the revival with its characteristics had waned in the church. Their focus was on speaking in tongues (glossolalia) as a sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Seymour and his team were, therefore, praying for another phenomenon like the day of Pentecost to occur in their generation. 

Seymour taught his group that God had promised His children through the prophet Amos that in the latter days, He would pour His Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28, 29, cf. Ac. 2:14-21). For him, the time for the fulfillment of that promise was during their time. He was so optimistic about this promise that he prepared his group for weeks through teachings and fervent prayer meetings so that they could receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, they had the expected encounter with the Holy Spirit, which manifested in speaking in tongues with signs and wonders following their ministry. 

Over 100 years down the lane, Seymour’s concern has been rejuvenated in many Christian meetings today, which usually focus on praying for an unprecedented revival in our generation. With God working progressively, the yearning for a revival today that is superior to the Azusa Street Revival must be our hearts’ desire and core prayer topic. 

The Significance of the Azusa Street Revival

The most significant impact of the Azusa Street Revival was the birth of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements which changed the face of Christianity. Speaking in tongues and the ecstatic phenomenon in the church were part of the signs of the Azusa Street Revival. The revival was characterised by the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit coupled with Spirit-led ministry activities in mission. 

The effect of the Azusa Street Revival added an impetus to mission and evangelism as well as the spontaneous growth of Christianity in the twentieth century. In the aftermath of the revival, several Pentecostal churches were formed and moved so rapidly that by the turn of the twentieth century, Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement had since become the fastest-growing Christian tradition in history. 

Dramatic Events in the Azusa Street Revival

Several things followed the Azusa Street Revival. Apart from the missional significance of the revival, there were dramatic scenes that occurred. For example, on one occasion, Bishop Charles Horrison Mason (1907–1961), who had been sent by the Board of his church to investigate the purported activities of the Holy Spirit in Azusa Street, rather had an awesome encounter with the Holy Spirit. During a time of ministration by William Seymour, the bishop was baptised in the Holy Spirit and he began to speak in tongues. He was so touched by the Holy Spirit that he began to scream and plead for the forgiveness of his sin, probably of his cynicism and intention at the meeting to examine the authenticity of the revival. 

This phenomenon was so common that whenever people were sent to scorn Seymour and his colleagues, the Spirit would apprehend them and, as a result, they too would stay and pray to receive their portion of the revival. This is evident in the publication of the first edition of the Apostolic Faith Magazine (1906), which describes visitors who came there in this way: 

Proud, well-dressed preachers came to ‘investigate’. Soon their high looks were replaced with wonder, then conviction comes, and very often you will find them a short time wallowing on the dirty floor, asking God to forgive them and make them little children.

The above passage gives a vivid picture of the dramatic and spectacular nature of the Azusa Street Revival. Can one assign reasons why it is not good for us to keep praying for another revival in this century? Certainly not. The import of the passage is that whenever a great revival breaks out, the lives of scorners and mockers of God’s church are transformed into the image and likeness of God. They have no option but to obey God’s Word and follow His marching orders. Today, we live in the world of secularism and ungodly ideologies; a time when the call for a revival superior to Azusa Street is needed to change the narrative.

Breaking the Social Barriers   

Another very significant thing about the Azusa Street Revival is the connectedness of whites and blacks who thronged to worship together under the leadership of a black African slave, William Seymour. This situation was socially and legally unacceptable in America in days when interracial gatherings had been illegalised by the Jim Crow Laws (1876-1965), especially in the Southern United States, which enjoined strict racial segregation in all public places. 

Though the law recognised the equality of whites and blacks as humans, it gave the advantage of education and other social privileges to whites whom it recognised as superior to their black counterparts. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans at the time were Christians but they could not succeed in dealing with the racial segregation law until a true revival broke out to transform their society, break ungodly barriers, and replaced hatred with true love in Christ.    

The inference is that when the Holy Spirit manifests himself in human affairs, He changes the social order and destroys all artificial barriers set up by humans’ depraved minds. This truth was evident in the ministry of Pastor William Joseph Seymour – which was a typical example of God’s plan for missions. It tells us that a true spiritual revival must break barriers of ethnicity, racism, gender, animosity, and all kinds of social evils and discrimination. 

The events of the Azusa Street Revival show that revival should undergird our society today, particularly at a time when social tensions, conflicts, and political vendetta are becoming an order of the day. Even the Christian community, too, is experiencing divisions as a result of doctrinal differences and other factors, but our hope and burning desire for a mighty revival will change the dynamics. 

Unity in diversity has always been the result of real Christian revival, just like the revival that followed the Day of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles when people came from various places across the world to experience the Pentecostal fire as they spoke in diverse tongues. The speaking of diverse languages in the same place as experienced on the Day of Pentecost symbolises God’s intention for unity in diversity in the body of Christ. Against this backdrop, it is time for us to respond to the charge for a new revival in our day to move the church to another level of true fellowship and genuine love towards one another as a family of God. 

The Age of the Azusa Street Revival and the Call for a PCC Revival 

The Azusa Street Revival is 116 years old in 2022 and there is a need for another revival as has been seen as the import of this discussion. To reiterate Apostle Eric Nyamekye’s words in 2018, “112 years since the Azusa Street Revival is enough; can’t we have a PCC revival…?” Much of our Christian tradition is a brainchild of the Azusa Street Revival. Therefore, we should not always dwell on that past glory as well enough to make a huge impact on today’s generation. We must cry out with the Psalmist, O Lord, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Ps. 85:6, NIV). 

Is the Stage Set for Another Revival?

Yes, all indications point to the fact that a great new revival is looming! Historically, the Spanish Flu took place about twelve years after the Azusa Street Revival; thus, the juxtaposition is that we need another great revival in the face of the global pandemic in this century – COVID-19. The analogy is that if we recorded both a global pandemic and a great revival in the previous century and now, we are again being confronted with another global pandemic in our generation, then we need a revival that will send a shockwave across the globe for God’s people to rejoice as the world experiences His mighty power. 

Besides, many Christians today are thirsty for revival and are continuously searching for an encounter that could satisfy their desire. We believe there is a mighty revival in the sky; it is approaching, and we must bring it down by fervent prayer and godly fellowship of the saints in Christ, regardless of our denominations and differences. 

Thus, the focus of the possessing the nations’ agenda of the CoP is that the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) can be a place of a new wave of revival through prayer activities by Christians who access the facility. The stage for this desire and expectation was set in September 2022 when 3,000 pastors from 468 Christian denominations converged at PCC to pray for a revival and transformation of their respective ministries and the nation as a whole. 

Another piece of evidence is the 2022 Royals’ Conference organised by the CoP Chieftaincy Ministry at PCC. The conference brought together 1561 chiefs and queen mothers (traditional rulers) from all over Ghana with representatives from Togo and Burkina Faso. The spiritual atmosphere at the conference was very electrifying, the display of the various cultures among the participants was, indeed, an epitome of a true description of unity in diversity, and a sense of revival was felt by the participants. The testimonies that followed the conference from the traditional rulers were awesome. The simple conclusion is that the stage is set for our highly anticipated PCC revival, and it is time for us to be consumed by the desire for another revival and dedicate ourselves to that cause by praying fervently for it.

O Lord, Will you Not Revive us Again?

Our desire is commensurate with the Psalmist’s statement: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” The understanding here is that revival leads to joy among the people of God because it brings unity to the body of Christ and transforms ungodly social orders, including corruption and injustice. This was exactly what the Christians experienced during the Azusa Street Revival when the barriers of racism in the church and society were broken. 

The laws of hostility and social injustice were set aside to give way for the love of God to thrive in the church and society. A new model of global Christianity was defined through the lens of Spirit-led and Christ-centred Christian tradition. The global church was repositioned to reflect the power of God’s Kingdom in the world and the fight against sin took a unique turn. Finally, the praxes of the Christian mission were transformed. Thus, it is worth crying that “O Lord, will you not revive us again?”  

Time to take Action

This is the time to be dedicated to godly fellowship and fervent prayers. A cursory observation shows that the recent All-Ministers’ conference held at PCC demonstrated the characteristics of the Azusa Street Revival. The inspiration received through various ministrations during the conference, the revival and unity experienced, and the joy of participants in the conference re-echo the call for a PCC Revival. A revival that will cause a massive transformation in Christianity today where the church will be repositioned as a Spirit-led prophetic voice to influence its society with the principles and values of God’s Kingdom. 

Having been living by the Azusa Street Revival for 116 years now, the clarion call today is to rise above our diverse Christian traditions bearing with Apostle Eric Nyamekye’s assertion in the conference that “We may not all be on the same chapter, but we should be in the same book.” By the same book, he means God’s Word that brings people together to form the ecclesia (the called-out ones in Christ) community.  

The Azusa Street Revival has left indelible marks on the face of the world’s Christians. Therefore, the kind of revival that we are expecting in our generation must also come along with such an indelible mark on cultures, philosophies, politics, businesses, ideologies, belief systems, human traditions, and institutions. Our expectation and prayer for the PCC Revival are to experience a Christ-centred revival, Bible-centred revival, and Spirit-led revival for a genuine transformation of church and society with values and principles of God’s Kingdom to possess the nations for Christ.

Written by Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (vadentcop@gmail.com / 0555874497)

In Luke 18:1-7, Jesus narrates the story of an unjust judge in a certain city who neither feared God nor respected humanity. In that city also was a widow who kept coming to the judge to seek justice against her enemy or adversary. 

At the time, judges travelled around their countries sitting in tents to pass judgments on cases. They were often part of a corrupt system and would usually sit on a case if they were paid a bribe. Moreover, women at the time were the least respected. They did not have the same measure of legal recourse as their male counterparts. They simply were not heard at all in the courtroom, and there was no justice for them. However, we find in Jesus’ narration that, though the judge for a while was adamant about the widow’s request for justice, her persistence broke the way. 

Jesus told this story to illustrate a point about faith and persistence in prayer. His concern was that His followers would learn to be persistent and diligent in prayer, and not give up until the desired result has been achieved. Verses 6 to 8 read: “The Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So, don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly….’” 

EXAMPLES OF GOD ANSWERING PRAYERS 

The Bible is replete with examples of God providing answers to the prayer of His people. Some of these are summarised below: 

1. Hannah: Having suffered many years of reproach for her inability to conceive a child, she prayed to God for a son. In response, God gave her Samuel (1 Sam. 1). 
2. Samson: When he humbly and sorrowfully prayed for one more chance to fulfil his God-given purpose of defeating the Philistines, God answered and gave him supernatural strength. He was able to push down the pillars of the building where they were celebrating their false gods (Judges 16:21-30). 
3. Elijah: We are shown the answer to four (4) powerful prayers offered by the prophet. All of them brought great honour to God (1 Kings 17-18, James 5:17-18). 
4. King Hezekiah: He became sick and was told by the prophet Isaiah that he will die. Feeling that his life and work were not complete, Hezekiah prayed that God would extend his years on earth. So, God sent the prophet back to tell him he would be healed and given 15 more years of life (2 Kings 20:1-6, Isaiah 38:1-6). 
5. Daniel: He surely prayed to God in the lion’s den, asking the Lord to keep him safe and set him free. God granted his request and shut the mouths of the lions (Dan. 6:10, 16-22). 
6. The Early Believers: They prayed with passion for the release of Peter from prison, and God sent an angel to set him free (Acts 12:3-11). 

These examples should inspire our faith in God that He certainly answers the prayers of His people. 

WHAT IS PRAYER? 

Prayer may simply be referred to as communication or conversation between people and God. It is talking with God, and not to Him. This implies that as we speak to God, we must wait to also hear Him speak to us. The Bible uses other terms or phrases to describe talking with God. These include: Crying out to the Lord (Psalm 3:4); Calling on God (Psalm 17:6); Lifting one’s soul to the Lord (Psalm 25:1); Seeking the Lord (Isaiah 55:6); and Drawing near to God (Heb. 10:22). 

REASONS FOR PRAYING 

So, why do we have to pray to God before He provides our needs, in view of the fact that He is omniscient, and thus knows what we need even before we ask? After all, Matthew 6:8 says ‘Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.’” I would like to share six (6) of the reasons why we ought to pray as children of God. 

1. God is a relational Being, and He made us in like manner. His original intention for creating the human race was for us to have fellowship with Him. Thus, He has ordained prayer to be the means through which we can communicate with Him so as to enhance and deepen that fellowship. 
2. We pray because God commands that we do so. We find several references to this in the Scriptures, such as 1 Chron. 16:11, Psalm 105:4, Isaiah 55:6, Amos 5:4, 6, Eph. 6:17-18, Col. 4:2, 1 Thess. 5:17, Matt. 26:4, Luke 18:1 and John 16:24. 
3. Going before God in prayer gives the indication that we can do nothing without Him and thus affirms our need of Him. It is a sign of our humility before God and dependence on Him. 
4. God has ordained prayer as one of the means through which we can get to know and understand His will and plans for our lives (Exodus 3:1-15, Jer. 1:4-10). If you want to know the thoughts of a person and understand their ways, the surest way is to interact with them. 
5. God has chosen the prayer of His people as the way of causing the fulfilment of His purposes and promises on earth. There are many things that will not happen on earth if we do not pray as Christians. As John Wesley rightly says, ‘God does nothing on the earth save in answer to believing prayer.’ So, in Matthew 9:38, Jesus asked His disciples to ‘Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ 
6. Jesus Himself prayed, consistently. For example, He prayed at the beginning of His earthly ministry (Matt. 4:2); in the early mornings (Mark 1:35) and during the nights (Luke 6:12). Nearing the end of His ministry, he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-46), and even on the cross (Matt. 27:46, Luke 23:46). 

HINDRANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYERS 

We all want to see our prayers answered and get the breakthroughs we so dearly desire. Often, we become upset with God when we don’t receive the answers, and begin to think He is not listening. But there are a number of factors that can hinder or block our prayers from producing the desired results. These may include… 

1. Living in sin (Isaiah 59:1-2, Psalm 66:18); 
2. Keeping a heart of unforgiveness (Mark 11:25-26, Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35); 
3. Unconfessed or unsettled sin (Matt. 5:23-24, Mark 18:15-17, James 5:16); 
4. Bitterness (Acts 8:20-23, Eph. 4:31, Heb. 12:14-15); 
5. Doubt or a Lack of Faith (Mark 11:12-14, 20-24); 
6. Having wrong motives for the things we request in prayer (James 4:3); and 
7. Praying outside God’s will (1 John 5:14-15, Matt. 26:39); just to mention a few. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYERS 

Although prayer has got no particular formula of things to say or do, there are still conditions that must be met for our prayer to be effective. They include the following: 

1. Praying in Faith (Mark 9:14-24; 11:22-24, James 1:5-8; 5:13-15) 

We must have true and sincere faith that God hears prayers, that He has the ability to accomplish what is needed or supply our needs and that He will do what He knows is the best in a given situation. 

• Praying in the Name of Jesus (John 14:13-14, Philippians 2:9-11) 

This does not mean just adding ‘in the name of Jesus’ to the end of our prayers in order for God to hear us. In the Bible, to do something in someone’s name meant doing it with their approval and in their authority. Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with an awareness of His power, compassion and desire to respond to our needs and requests. Praying with this in mind will build our faith and give us peace that He has all things under His control. As followers of Christ, we must be aware of who He is, the sovereign power He possesses and what He wants us to do. 

• Praying According to God’s Will (1 John 5:14, Matt. 26:42, Matt. 6:9-10) 

The effect of prayer is greatest when we ask for things that are in harmony with God’s perfect will (that is, His desires, intentions, purposes and plans). God will not do anything against His sovereign will. We can know His will through His Word. 

It is worth mentioning here that not only must we pray according to the will of God; but we must also live in His will. We can ask for things that are in harmony with God’s will when we are living in His will (Matt. 6:33, 1 John 3:22). 

• Praying Persistently (Luke 18:1-7, Matt. 7:7-11, 1 Kings 18:41-45) 

Praying persistently means that instead of worrying about a situation, we take it to God whenever it comes to mind, realising that He is in control and will do what is best. We must continue to ask until we get our answers. That does not mean begging God over and over again. 

• Praying Corporately (Matthew 18:19-20, Acts 12:3-11) 

Corporate prayer involves two or more believers coming together in agreement to pray about something. Such prayer has so much potency to produce effect. 

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY? 

1. We must always pray with sincerity of heart. God does not respond to empty words, no matter how spiritual they might sound (Matt 6:7). 
2. We can pray silently (1 Sam. 1:13) or aloud (Neh. 9:4, Ezek. 11:13). 
3. We can pray in our own words or use words or ideas directly from Scripture. 
4. We can pray in human language or in the language of the Spirit, that is, in tongues (1 Cor. 14:14-18). 
5. Another way of praying is singing to the Lord (Psalm 92:1-2, Eph. 5:19-20, Col. 3:16). 
6. Deep and continuous prayers should at times be joined by fasting (Ezra 8:21, Neh. 1:4, Dan. 9:3-4, Luke 2:37, Acts 14:23). 
7. Regarding what posture or physical position is best for effective prayer, the Bible speaks of people praying in many different positions, including standing (1 Kings 8:22, Nehemiah 9:4-5); sitting (1 Chron. 17:16, Luke 10:13); kneeling (Ezra 9:5, Dan. 6:10, Acts 20:36); lying on a bed (Psalm 63:6); bowing down to the ground (Exodus 34:8, Psalm 95:6); lying on the ground (2 Sam. 12:16, Matt. 26:39) and lifting hands to heaven (Psalm 28:2, Isaiah 1:15, 1 Tim. 2:8). 
8. Lastly, we can pray at any time, anywhere, as long as we are not faced with any distractions that would shift our attention from the prayers. 

Written by Pastor Samuel Acheampong (Nsakina New Town District Minister) 

If an enemy can undermine the leadership of any group or a nation, he would eventually be able to undermine its people (followers or dependents), because everything (in this world) rises and falls on leadership as John C. Maxwell, an American leadership expert rightly puts it. Also, the scriptures have said, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Zech. 13:7). This is how important leadership is to the survival and success of any group, whether great or small.

The King of Aram (Syria) seems to have appreciated this very fact. Therefore, when he sent his men out to war with Israel, he instructed them, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel” (1 Kings 22:31). They went out and did as their master had commanded. They wounded the King of Israel, and that was the end. All day long the battle raged against the people of Israel because the king, the one who carried the authority of the Lord to execute judgement and justice in Israel, had been eliminated (1 Kings 22:35).

The strategy to “fight the king only” has been the strategy of the devil (or enemy) throughout history. The enemy employed it against Adam when he made him transgress the Law of God by eating of the tree and subsequently brought a wreck on the very first home (marriage) ever created on this earth. The consequences of this have lingered on to date. 

The enemy employed this same strategy against David and made a wreck of one of the most powerful kingdoms in human history when he turned David’s son, Absalom against him. As they conspired against the King at one of their meetings, this is what the enemy planned, “Strike down the king and bring [colonize] all the people… [For] The death of the man [king] you seek will mean the return of all [his followers]” (2 Sam. 17:1-4).

Ultimately, the enemy employed this same strategy against Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour of the world and all the disciples deserted Him and fled (Matt. 26:56). This made many fearful and hopeless. It drove Christianity into darkness and silenced their faith until the King resurrected from the grave! Hallelujah!

The enemy continues to employ this same strategy in contemporary times. This is evident in some marriages and homes where wives fail to recognise the headship of their husbands, and children have become rebellious. 

He is ruining our nations, eliminating respect for leadership in the name of democracy and “politics of insults” which has been enhanced by the sophisticated social media of our day. All one has to do is to put a camera in front of themselves and say whatever they think about dignitaries. Jude says, “Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand… Woe to them! (Jude 1:10-11)

He is making a wreck of the Church of the Living God. He is trying to eliminate her from the schools and the activities of the society as he introduces imposters into the leadership of the Church whose characters are nothing to write home about and making it look like all church leaders are corrupt, causing many to lose trust and interest in the Church and many others to speak ill of the Holy Church of the Living God.

As believers, we must endeavour to understand this battle strategy that the enemy has been subtly employing and continues to employ against leadership (authorities) all through history so that we do not join in his attack like Absalom did but understand that it is God who establishes authority; as such, those in authority are the Lord’s servants for good. They wield God’s authority (Rom. 13:1-6) so that we would submit to them like Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah and Sarah did; petition God in prayers on their behalf as Apostle Paul instructs (1Tim. 2:1-4), and in wisdom and humility draw their attention to the possible flaws in their leadership like Nathan did with David (2Sam. 12:1-13).

Remember that we can address our issues and concerns to people in authority without undermining their authority. We can help our families, churches, organizations and Nations to succeed without buying into the devil’s scheme of “killing and eliminating our kings”. Let us not join in “killing our kings.” After all, who are we to judge another’s servants? To their own master (God, the author of all authority), they stand or fall. (Romans 14:4).

Written By P/Overseer Isaac Kwabena Tagoe (Nanton District, Tamale Area)

The vital signs are important biological, biochemical, physiological and hormonal indicators of a person’s general health status. They are the objective measurements of the body’s most basic operations. Their processes perform essential functions for the living body. They are “vital” because they are urgently needed; absolutely necessary; a manifestation and sign of life. Even in triaging patients i.e., assessing or sorting patients according to importance or urgency of clinical presentation, the first set of clinical examinations is an evaluation of the vital signs of the patient.

Traditionally, vital signs include the body’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. Generally, vital signs provide a snapshot of what is going on in the body, if the values are outside the normal range, they may point to a dysfunction in the body.

BODY TEMPERATURE

The normal internal body temperature ranges from 36.5 to 37.2 degrees Celsius (Check to verify if you are in this range). Usually, fluctuations in this value indicate there has been a microbial exposure and the body is fighting an infection. When there is a microbial exposure in the body, the immune system sends signals to the hypothalamus to increase the body’s temperature. This process in turn weakens the invading microorganisms and allows the specific body’s immune cells to respond appropriately, halting the pathogenesis of the microorganism. Upon successful victory by the immune cells, the body temperature will return to normal. However, prolong elevated body temperature needs a medical attention.

BLOOD PRESSURE

The blood pressure is the pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the blood vessels. Two numbers i.e., a numerator and a denominator are recorded when measuring blood pressure. The numerator (the systolic pressure/higher value) displays the pressure inside the artery when the heart pumps blood to the body. The denominator (the diastolic pressure/lower value) represents artery pressure when the heart is at rest. The blood pressure is considered normal at 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) (Check to verify if you have this value). Usually, fluctuations in this value indicate a concern for the health of the heart and brain and it associated blood vessels. E.g., coronary heart disease (heart attack), hypertension or stroke (brain attack).

PULSE RATE

The pulse rate is the number of times the heart beats in a minute. It ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm) (Check to verify if you are in this range). Usually, fluctuations in this value indicate a concern for the health of the heart and its associated blood vessels.

RESPIRATORY RATE

The respiratory rate is the number of times anyone breathes in a minute. It ranges from 12 to 20 breaths per minute (bpm). (Check to verify if you are in this range). Usually, fluctuations in this value indicate signs of respiratory illness, signs of a respiratory allergic exposure, respiratory poisoning, heart disease, lung infections, signs of a general infection, pain and emotional changes.

OXYGEN SATURATION

Oxygen saturation means the amount of oxygen saturated-hemoglobin relative to the total hemoglobin in the blood. It ranges from 95 to 100%. (Check to verify if you are in this range). Usually, fluctuations in this value indicate the lack of adequate oxygen saturated–hemoglobin reaching the organs of the body. This can compromise organ functions.

Take note however, that, many sources of internal and external variables affect the scores of these vital signs. E.g., age, external temperature, physical activity, pregnancy etc. Nonetheless, vital signs monitoring is the critical first step for a healthy and long life. Be intentional about monitoring your vital signs.

Are you ready to monitor your vital signs but do not have the equipment and skill? Visit us at the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Pentecost University and we will be happy to help.

Thank you.

Written by Mr. Reginald Arthur-Mensah Jnr, David Sablah & Dr. Abigail Kyei (Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Pentecost University)

INTRODUCTION

The Lord’s Supper is one of the ordinances that Jesus Christ instituted during his stay on earth. He instituted it during His last Passover with the disciples. “As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take this and eat it, for this is my body.’ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many’” (Matt. 26:26-28, NLT). This was Jesus’ instructions to the disciples before His crucifixion. It was to be carried on from generation to generation—any time they meet on the Lord’s Day, in remembering him as they did so. “… Do this to remember me” (Lk. 22:19, NLT).

As followers of Christ, we are bound to observe this ordinance to remember the Lord Jesus’ death and to keep announcing His death till he comes. “For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again” (1 Cor. 11:26). Furthermore, this is a congregational act by which we corporately affirm our faith, celebrate the completed work of Christ, focus on our unity, and visibly proclaim to the world that Jesus is the only way of salvation.

The Church of Pentecost (CoP) is a leading Pentecostal church in Ghana. It is established in 136 countries around the globe (CoP Website). The Church stresses the importance of partaking in the Lord’s Supper to her members. As an institution that seeks the holistic growth of her members, CoP places much premium on the Lord’s Supper and other New Testament rituals in the body of Christ. To ensure that her members partake in the Lord’s Supper without any hindrance, the church sets aside a week in every month for members to prepare themselves for the sacred ritual. This set period is to make members become conscious of the fact that they have a glorious feast with the Lord Jesus Christ. This beholds on them, to continually set themselves apart. This achieves the purpose of ensuring maximum participation by members.

However, there are quite a number of members who do not attend the Lord’s Supper, hence, making the church not to achieve the optimum rate of participation. From the recent Extraordinary Council Meetings held from May 4-6, 2022, at Gomoa Fetteh, it was identified that the participation rate of the church populace for Lord’s Supper was not at optimal level. This is a challenge to the clergy and laity! This, coupled with other factors, led to the writing of this paper. Why will individuals who profess to be followers of Christ stay away from dinning with the Lord Jesus Christ who has commanded us to fellowship with him?

This paper looks into the meaning of ordinance and the Lord’s Supper as an ordinance. Factors accounting for some members not participating in the Lord’s Supper will be highlighted. Finally, some suggestions towards reaching an optimal participation rate for Lord’s Supper in the CoP will be outlined.

THE ORDINANCE OF THE CHURCH

The Encarta English Dictionary defines ordinance as “a law or rule made by an authority such as a city government.” This law must be observed by all under the authority of the government. Failure to observe the law calls for punishment to the offender.Also, it “is something regularly done because it is formally prescribed, especially a religious ceremony such as Communion” (Collins Dictionary).

Protestants have historically recognized two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, whereas Roman Catholics have held to seven sacraments: baptism, Lord’s Supper, confirmation, penance, extreme unction, holy orders, and marriage. There exist differences of opinion regarding terminology. Catholics (and some Protestants) prefer the term sacrament, which comes from the Latin sacramentum, meaning “a thing set apart as sacred”.  

The term sacramentum in the Latin Vulgate was also used to translate the Greek word musterion (Eph. 5:32) and “came to be used for anything that had a secret or mysterious significance.” Saint Augustine of Hippo called it “visible form of an invisible grace.” Sacrament was later defined as an “outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.” It is for this reason that many Protestants (including CoP) have preferred the term ordinance.

An ordinance is usually “not considered a conduit of grace but simply a practice commanded to be performed by the Lord.” It might be defined as “an outward rite prescribed by Christ to be performed by His church.” It is a practice that demonstrates the participants’ faith. Simply put, an ordinance is an act of man in obedience to God.

In the CoP, there are two main ordinances the church upholds and put them into practice. They are the Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper.

THE LORD’S SUPPER AS AN ORDINANCE

Jesus established two ordinances for the church—water baptism (Matt. 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:24, 25). The Lord’s Supper is the continuation of the identity of a believer with the body of Christ which is the church. It is a reminder of God’s commitment to and covenant with his people through Christ.

The name “Lord’s Supper” comes from 1 Corinthians 11:20. Other names for the ceremony include “the Last Supper” (Matt 26:29), “the Lord’s Table” (1 Cor 10:21), “Fellowship” (1 Cor 10:16), “Eucharist” (the Greek word for ‘thanksgiving’ in Matt 26:27; Mk 14:23), “Breaking of Bread” (Acts 2:42, NRSV), “the Mass” and “the Cup of Blessing” (1 Cor 10:16, KJV).

Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper on the eve of his crucifixion during the last supper he shared with the disciples. Jesus was eager to eat the Holy Communion with his disciples during the Passover feast (Lk. 22:7-23, Matt. 26:17-30, Mk. 14:12-26), before his departure from earth. He took bread and, when He had broken it, said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:24). In the same way, he also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:25). After dinning with them, Jesus commanded his disciples to continue in the practice in remembrance of him.

LORD’S SUPPER IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

As said earlier, the Lord’s Supper was introduced by Jesus on the eve of His crucifixion. He wanted to leave behind an ordinance for them to remember, and to practice continually until His return (Matt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-23). This was a new covenant or testament in contrast with the old Mosaic covenant. To enact the covenant, death was necessary because it provided forgiveness of sins, hence, the symbol of the wine. The Lord’s Supper became a key element in the fellowship of believers (Acts 2:42), and was practiced at their daily meetings (Acts 2:46). It later became a Sunday meal during Sunday gatherings (Acts 20:7) in the Early Church. This was later practiced by the Gentile churches such as Corinthians who kept it as an ordinance (1 Cor. 11:17-34).

EMBLEMS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Unlike the Passover feast which uses lamb with bitter leaves and unleavened bread, Jesus used bread and wine for the Lord’s Supper feast. Why did Jesus use these two items? Below are the reasons why no other objects other than these two were used.

Bread is a universal meal. Although there are different types of bread, every culture has bread. God provided bread for the Israelites when he gave them Manna. This food means “What is this?” They fed on this divine bread for forty (40) years (Exo. 16:15:35, Num. 11:7). The Psalmist call manna ‘corn from heaven’ (Ps. 78: 24). The manna was actually the bread from heaven (Jn. 6:31). Jesus gave them the answer to the long-awaited question that was asked in the wilderness experience by saying “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (Jn. 6:41). Jesus is the living bread (John 6:58). The eating of the manna ensured divine strength and energy for their forty years journey in the wilderness. The miracle bread ensured that there was none sick among the Israelites (Ps. 105: 27-40). The breaking of bread was to show his suffering. Jesus broke the bread himself signifying giving up himself for his death. The soldiers were not able to get hold of Jesus until he gave up himself. “And when he said to them, I am he, they went back, falling to the earth” (Jn. 18:6).

Wine was a symbol of joy (Joel 3:18, Prov. 3:10) and the wine represent the blood of Christ. Passover lamb was shared per house-hold but the blood of Christ was for all humanity. Just as the blood of a Lamb caused Passover over of the angel of death in Egypt, so also the blood of Christ has caused Passover over all believers from death to life.

One may ask whether these are the only emblems. Yes! These are those that Jesus Christ used with His disciples. Notwithstanding believers can use close substitutes. E.g., some churches use wafer or biscuit as bread and red wine or soobolo as wine for the Holy Communion, they are the available.

WHO QUALIFIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LORD’S SUPPER?  

Jesus organised it for all His disciples for they were all believers until the fall of Judas. Paul continued to define those who can partake in the Lord’s Supper by giving yardstick—Self-examination. This, according to him, will keep people from being sick and dying.

In CoP, the Lord’s Supper is opened for anyone who recognises their relationship with God as a right such as a believer (1 Cor. 10:11), one baptised in water (Mt. 28:19), and a self-examined person who is right with his or her Maker (1 Cor. 11:27-29). Such a person must have been extended the right hand of fellowship; a solemn act of partnership signifying acceptance, agreement and trust into the body of Christ. Apostle Paul attests to this: “In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews” (Gal 2:9, NLT).

In contrast, the following are not allowed to partake in the Lord’s Supper: children, unbaptised believers, husband of more than one wife and vice versa, and cohabiting individuals. Others are unbelievers, sinners, indulgence in immoral behaviours, witch or wizard, etc.

REASONS FOR NON-OPTIMAL PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE LORD’S SUPPER

Some Christians do not fall short of dinning with the Lord but give flimsy excuses which keep them away from attending the Lord’s Table. Some of them will be discussed here:

Non-extension of right hand of fellowship. Some Christians do not attend the Lord’s Supper not because of any sin they have committed, but as a result of non-extension of right hand of fellowship. Such people attend church on Lord’s Supper Sundays but are not allowed to dine with the Lord.

Evading paying tithes on the Lord’s Supper Day. The payment of tithes, unlike tax, has been very difficult for some Christians in our generation. As a practice in CoP, tithes are paid on every Sunday, with the first Sunday of every month being the closing period. This is to give monthly workers who receive their salaries at the end of the month the benefit to bring their sacrifice to the Lord. It is said that some Christians intentionally refuse to attend church on the first Sunday of the month, which is the Lord’s Supper Sunday, to evade tithes.

Organising child christening on the Lord’s Supper Day. The situation where children are christened on Lord’s Supper Sundays has been one of the factors for low attendance to the Lord’s Supper. Some churches other than CoP hold such ceremonies which attracts some of our members who are family members and friends to the person in question on the basis of solidarity. Others attend anticipating that they will come and support them also during their turn.

Paying visits to friends in different churches on communion days. In addition to the earlier point discussed, some of our members accompany friends to their church for no reason than to pay them visits. And this happens on the Lord’s Supper Sunday. They therefore exempt themselves from participating in the sacred feast.

Holding of and attending to funeral celebrations. Funerals, as human as we are, is part of us. Nothing can be done about it. Since we live in a community, we must attend funerals. Jesus once said as Christians we are to mourn with those who are mourning. This also affects members participation to the Lord’s Supper in cases where members travel and do not attend church. There can also be instances where members lose close relation(s). Since funerals are normally communal affairs, church members often abandon church services (including Communion services) to attend what they regard as ‘important family affair.

The demand for a special kind of apparel often prevents people from partaking in the Lord’s Supper. Some Christians from their background are used to the wearing of white clothes during Lord’s Supper days. Such practice stem from their backgrounds as idol worshippers. It is known from our forebears that idolaters are fond of putting on white apparels during their ritual services. From this same perception, some Christians have carried it over into Christendom. This has eaten them up to the extent that they find it difficult to attend the Lord’s Table when there is no white dress to put on.

Many Christians abstain from the Lord’s Supper because they had sex with their partners. Having sex in marriage is good. Sex should be enjoyed by married couples even on the eve of attending the Lord’s Supper, when the need arises. This does not make married couples unholy. Remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:5, “Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer” (NLT). In other words, couples have to decide together when not to have sex which could either be before or after Lord’s Supper. Where there is no agreement, one should not deprive the other of sexual relations. In this case, it is biblically not wrong to have sex either before or after Lord’s Supper.

Some New Testament believers (women) still see themselves as unholy during their menstrual period. Their belief stems from Leviticus 15:19-28, which regard as unholy women who are in their periods. They believe that such women must not come close to the congregation. They were to stay behind till they were sanctified and rituals performed. A similar one is the emission of semen from men (Lev 15:16-17).

Some Christians stay away from the Lord’s Supper because of what is referred to as “Job’s Syndrome”. They blatantly refuse to partake in the Lord’s Supper with the reason being that perhaps they might have committed evil unknowingly, hence, do not want to encounter the Lord’s wrath at the supper. They take precedence from Job’s prayer on behalf of his children that “…perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:5, NIV). They fail to recognise God’s provision for all those who confess their sins to Him for forgiveness.

Remaining an unforgiving Christian is also one reason why since members abstain from the Lord’s Supper. Until one forgives, his sins are not forgiven. Jesus said, “…forgive, and ye shall be forgiven…” (Lk. 6:37, NKJV). Some Christians find it difficult to forgive for reasons best known to themselves. This makes them harbour grudges within themselves, making it difficult for them to partake in the Lord’s Supper.

An unbaptised believer cannot partake in the Lord’s Supper which is for believers in the body of Christ. Being accepted into the body of Christ begins from baptism by immersion. Jesus commanded the disciples to baptise everyone who believes in him so that they could be admitted into the body of Christ. Thus, a new convert who is not baptised cannot partake in the Lord’s Supper. This is making it difficult for new converts to dine with the Lord.

The issue of Cohabitation also hinders some members from partaking in the Lord’s Supper. This is because the marriage rites has not been fully performed. As a result, some of them feel shy to come to church so they can partake in the Lord’s Supper. They end up not coming at all. Those who are fortunate to attend also become spectators. This discourages them to attend church service on Communion Sundays; thereby, leading to low attendance to the Lord’s Supper.

TOWARDS REACHING AN OPTIMAL LORD’S SUPPER PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST

We have known from the foregoing discussions the reasons why most of our members do not partake in the Lord’s Supper. Below are some suggested recommendations that can help members in CoP in particular and Christendom in general whip up interest in the Lord’s Supper.

The Church of Pentecost has to extend the right hand of fellowship to new converts. Immediately one accepts Jesus Christ and is baptised, an extension of right hand of fellowship must be extended to new converts so they could partake in the Lord’s Supper. This is done when there are no other factors which could prevent them from dining with the Lord. In other words, new converts are allowed to dine with the Lord when they have no other issues that could deny them from enjoying the meal. Apostle Paul, at repentance, was extended the right hand of fellowship into the body of Christ. This afforded him the chance to be recognised as part of the believers, for they feared him because of his initial fight against the church.

Members must be taught to understand that tithes belong to the Lord. It is very appropriate for believers to pay their tithes, and must be paid to where their spiritual nourishment come from—thus to the Local Church or Assembly; tithes belong to the Lord. Abraham paid tithes to the high priest who gave him bread and wine. “…Then Abram gave him a tenth of all the goods he had taken” (Gen. 14:20). It must be noted that one cannot live throughout the month without eating or drinking. Once a person eats, he has to pay tithes. But where one sincerely knows that he received nothing throughout the tithing week, no one can stop them from attending the Lord’s Supper. Attending the Lord’s Supper is having a personal relationship with God, and no one should be denied of it. Jesus did not deny Judas from dining with him though he knew his intentions.

Members have to desist from going to naming ceremony on Lord’s Supper days. Christianity is not ‘scratch my back and let me scratch your back’, but it is having a divine encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people see church as a group or fan club. This should not be so. A church is the association of individuals who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal saviour. They have also accepted to live by the principles of God so their very lives can be transformed to be like that of Christ. In the end, they are assured of having an eternal home in heaven. Attending church is not like engaging in nnoboa. People exchange their relationship with God for such things. Once they accompany you to church, the next time they expect you to do same for them—by accompanying them to church. There are some who attend such ceremonies even on a Lord’s Supper Sunday. There are times when they don’t even have a direct relationship with the one having the ceremony. Those having the programme may be friends of loved ones. I visited an Assembly in my District on a Lord’s Supper Day to find out that almost four-fifth of the church had gone for naming ceremony of a sister who is not a member of our church. I am not saying one should not accompany a relative to such functions. The church should not encourage members to indulge in such manner. This practice must be discarded. One should be firm to tell a relative not to fix such programmes on such days. Leaders must teach members to desist from such practices. At least, the CoP member should go for Lord’s Supper and after that can accompany the friend.

Members must be encouraged to stop paying visits to their friends’ churches on communion days. In addition to the earlier point discussed, some members who are communicants should stop visiting friends and loved ones who are in different denominations, especially on Lord’s Supper days. Such practices must be discouraged. This, when done, will increase attendance to Lord’s Supper. It is not to discourage members from visiting their friends and loved ones.

Members must be encouraged to prioritize the Lord’s Supper during funerals. Funerals are organised either on Saturday or any day within the week in Ghana. Funerals are not organised on Sundays. Even those who celebrate on Sundays do so after church services. It is unfortunate to know that some Christians fail to dine with the Lord when funerals are organised a day preceding the Lord’s Supper Sunday. There is nothing wrong with finding time in the heat of funeral to celebrate the Lord’s Supper with believers. It even shows one’s maturity in the Lord. Such a behaviour indicates that they place much premium on the fellowship of God as against that of man. Bereaved members must come for the Lord’s Supper and later visit the funeral grounds. Those who travel for funeral should make it a point to dine with the Lord wherever they find themselves on Sundays and report to their presiding afterwards.

Again, members must be encouraged to embrace the “no white clothes for communion service”. There is no specified attire earmarked for the observation of Lord’s Supper rituals. Even in the New Testament, there is no prescribed dress for Christians. The closest one is for believers to dress modestly (1 Tim. 2:9-10). Christians without white colour uniforms should come to church without any feeling of inferiority. Jesus did not prescribe dressing for us when attending the Lord’s Table. Put on anything you have provided it decent.

Sexual acts before the Lord’s Supper is not unholy. Having sex in marriage is good. Sex can be enjoyed by married couples even on the eve of attending the Lord’s Supper. This does not make married couples unholy. In other words, God does not prohibit such act by married couples. Once they enjoy themselves at home, they can still partake in the Holy Communion. Remember, the body of the man is for the woman and a vice versa. “The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Cor 7:4-5, NLT).

Bodily discharges is not evil.  In the New Testament, all these rituals have been dealt with by the blood of Jesus. The animals that were used for purification symbolizes Christ the coming Saviour. He was to die as an atonement for our sins. Hence, believers are no more in condemnation. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1, NKJV). A believer can be in her period and can still dine with the Lord or release bodily fluids and still attend the Lord’s Supper provided it was not a self-induced one such as masturbation.

There is also the need for Christians to have a forgiving heart. Until one forgives, his sins are not forgiven. Jesus said, “…forgive, and ye shall be forgiven…” (Lk. 6:37, NKJV). Jesus expects us to forgive each other. The magnitude of the error should not prevent one from stretching forth the hand of forgiveness.  It is better to forgive so you can partake in the meal in Jesus’ presence than to keep away from it and face eternal punishment. One woman told me; it will be very difficult for her to forgive a fellow Christian who has wronged her. Such a person will find it very difficult to attend the Lord’s Supper. We should forgive.

There is no need for Christians to harbor guilt feelings. In order to partake in the Lord’s Supper and to overcome the Job’s syndrome, members must always pray to God for forgiveness of sin, even when they do not remember committing it. And when confessed, they must believe that they have been forgiven. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 Jn. 1:9, NLT).

Christians must agree to water baptism. Once a believer accepts Christ, they must be sent for water baptism which is followed with the extension of right hand of fellowship. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19, NLT). This must be done to pave way for new individuals take part in the Lord’s Supper after going through the appropriate teachings.

Christians must be involved in Biblically and socially accepted marriages. Some members who have not paid their partners’ bride price to some of them, feel shy to attend church and not partake in the Lord’s Supper. They end up not coming at all. Those who are fortunate to attend also become spectators. This does not encourage them to attend church service on Communion Sundays. The men are being encourage to perform their partners’ bride price to enable them dine with the Lord.

CONCLUSION

Eating and drinking the body and the wine in the presence of the LORD is not just chemistry but a mystery. It is a divine meal that affirms our fellowship with the Lord. It is a must for all Christians.

As Christians we should be obedient and determine to dine with the Lord at all times. We should let nothing take us from dinning in the presence of the Lord; there are many benefits in partaking in the Lord’s Supper.

When these are observed and practised, the church will reach an optimal participation rate for Lord’s Supper in The Church of Pentecost, in particular, and other denominations in general.

May God help us all.

Written by Asamoah Emmanuel Foster