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As part of the annual week-long activities for Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) – the men’s wing of our dear church, the Church of Pentecost, yesterday, I gave overview of a number of sub-topics, as I handled the topic, “The Faithful Man” in one of our local churches in Kenya.

By the grace of God, I gave overview of what it means to be faithful – “faith-full”; the need to accept your background and history and superimpose each domain with what Christ as a way to galvanizing a Christ-centered identity; handling generational curses by the way of Christ (Galatians 3:13-14); ten legacies to a faithful father can leave for his generations; and a concept I refer to as “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living”.

In this short article, I seek to discuss this concept of “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living”.

Sabbath is a divine principle established by the Lord. The essence of the Sabbath is not just the setting aside of a particular day to rest from work (sometimes whiles our minds wander with worries and anxieties).

Most importantly, Sabbath covers the whole idea of periodically pausing – taking a “SELAH” – to reflect on our lives in the light of the Lord, to rest the mind, and to rest the body. The ultimate Sabbath rest is to place faith in Christ and His Word (Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:8-12).

We are even called upon to give our animals and farmlands periodic Sabbaths so they can have fallow period to renew and refresh. Even our vehicles need Sabbath – by taking them for servicing, renewing of oil etc. – to avoid breakdown and to optimize their performance.

It is within the spirit of Sabbath and in the background of the “Principle of Effective Learning” that I have coined a principle I refer to as “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living” (SATDL). The application of this principle in my personal life over the years, especially since I entered full-time ministry 12 years ago, has been of great help to me.

According to the “Principle of Effective Learning”, for every input we make, we should take at least same amount of time we used in making the input to generate output. Output in this context is defined as the combination of reflecting on the input as well as implementing and sharing the insights gained from reflecting on the input.

What I have added to this principle to generate “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living” is the aspect of restful meditation as the broader atmosphere for reflection, implementing and sharing of insight in inputs.

The core of “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living” is the need to approach our daily activities in piecemeal – in installment – punctuated with restful reflection and meditation.

In simple terms, for a series of activities or “to dos” one has in a given period of time, he/she should put them into blocks of activities and create transitions between them.

That means, after diligently undertaking a bloc of activity, one should come into transition – a period to rest, meditate, and reflect on the block of activity done so far while taking notes on insights from the reflection for implementation and sharing (say through mentoring of others).

In fact, for the Christian, this is a period to generate prayer topics as we restfully think through our actions. So, for instance, if as a leader of a local church, you return from the field, you need to move into transition for a period before another field work.

It is not a wonder that, even in reading the Psalms, we are brought to periods in our reading called “SELAH” – to pause, reflect, pray, and generate insights.

From health perspective, “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living” has benefit in decreasing stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline, etc.), and increasing happiness hormones (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins especially). This readjustment in levels of these hormones resulting from “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living”, translates into great boost in immune system, improvement of concentration & alertness and slowing of the rate of aging.

Let me conclude this article by giving some practical examples of “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living”:

1. It is better to eat small amounts of food at intervals of say 3 hours during the day than to starve and sit by a huge amount of food in the evening or even at lunch time.
2. It is better to give your spouse regular updates of how your day is going especially when the two of you are distance apart than to wait to come home late and force a “date” (chatting or debriefing time) which is a challenge because, often spouses are both tired from work.
3. It is better to give an overview of many topics in a short space of time than to force to treat many topics in details within that time.
4. It is better to give an “elevator pitch” (punchlines) to a seemingly distracted audience than to read a long speech to them.
5. It is better, especially during Sunday church service, to pick a single concept and treat it into details with adequate supporting evidence, illustrations, application and prayer topics than to rush through a tall list of many concepts with superficial approach to explaining them.
6. It is better to meditate on a single passage of scripture a day as part of daily devotional life than to rush through reading three or four chapters in superficial “tick the box” manner.
7. It is better, as a student, to study a particular topic, then to pause and reflect on the topic, jot down your reflections, think through how the topic applies to daily living, illustrate with self-made pictures, diagrams, drawings etc., than to jump from one major topic to the next with a “chew-pour-pass” (rote learning) approach – that leads only to head knowledge without insights.
8. It is better to keep a journal – notes of daily activities (inputs) and outcomes – than to wait for half-year or annual time of reporting to attempt recalling all you have been doing for the reporting period in view.

It is on this note that, I recommend for various institutions to incorporate “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living” into their culture; workers can be given at least 30 minutes of – no talking, no gadgets – quite or siesta time, say an hour after lunch break. Many “8 to 5” workers are effectively productive for only few hours due to exhaustion.

This approach is even more important for students and children in schools; the 7am to 5pm marathon approach to teaching often encounters counter-productivity (diminishing returns) after lunch time and thus, siesta break become handy for restoring alertness and concentration. Alternatively, teachers should give children no home work so they can have adequate time to rest their body and brain over the night.

Let me sign off by restating that, clearly “Sabbatical Approach to Daily Living” is very helpful and makes the life of a person more impactful, excelling, productive and yet relaxed and restful.

Indeed, ‘For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence…’ (Isaiah 30:15). SELAH.

Written by Apostle S. K. Fianko-Larbi (Kenya National Head, The Church of Pentecost)

To ensure human survival and coexistence with nature and the ecosystem, God created humankind to be responsible and embrace hard work. God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15). So, even before the fall, “God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:29). The need for humankind to imbibe a positive attitude towards work became even critical after the fall. As a punishment to man, God said, “…Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil, you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food until you return to the ground…” (Genesis 3:17-19).

It is, therefore, not surprising to witness the suffering and toil humankind, not necessarily men, go through in search of having and living a relatively comfortable lifestyle. Thank God for the caveat in the ruling that established a relationship between the sweat of humankind and its resultant produce of food or profitability. Apostle Paul in In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 only re-echoed that when he said,  “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” On this occasion of Men celebrating their national week in The Church of Pentecost, I salute the National Leadership of PEMEM and all Men in the church for the diverse roles as family heads, husbands and largely the breadwinners in our societal setting.

I would also pay a glowing tribute to all Galant Business moguls and entrepreneurs whose dent of hard work has contributed to the employment of thousands, if not millions of people in the Christian fraternity. Indeed, you are why many households are making earns meet and still having and keeping a stable relationship with their maker. Life would have been unimaginable without some of you and the sacrifices and sleepless nights in standing up to the task of your hard work and entrepreneurship callings. It can only be divine, so God bless and continue to crown your every effort with success. The past three to four decades have indeed witnessed a surge in motivational speakers and celebrated entrepreneurs driving home the topic of imbibing hard work through talk shows, in the academia, business workshops, para-church conferences and even on our pulpits. It is, therefore, not unusual to bump into young men and women poised to start one business venture or the other, no matter how small. Unfortunately, some have consciously or unconsciously crossed certain red lines to what Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 2:15 refers to as “loving the wages of wickedness.” They are, thus, motivated by something that rather appears like greed and not necessarily imbibing the rudiments of hard work. This article aims to outline some posturing, attitudes and business practices motivated by greed but which have nothing to do with hard work. I would also attempt to distinguish between obeying the clarion call of God to hard work and exhibiting the symptoms of greed under the guise of working hard.

Greed is having or showing an intense and selfish desire for wealth or power. Its synonyms are avarice, materialism and money-grabbing. It can also be defined as a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed.

Greed comes from the Old English graedig, or ‘voracious,’ which means ‘always hungry for more,’. The Greek word pleonexia is the word that is most commonly translated as greed or covetousness in the New Testament. Indeed it is greed that gives rise to covetousness. It is always self-centered and never satisfied. I won’t for any moment pretend to be a repository of all knowledge and understanding regarding what constitutes hard work, but I think I have a fair insight of what hard work is not. The source of greed is the Adamic fall or the seed of sin. All humans or living organisms who have been subjected to the consequences of the fall possess traits of greed. However, certain environmental factors make it more visible in some than others.

One can, therefore, be conceived, delivered, and bred within the confines of a chapel by the Priest but still manifest a high concentration of greed in their interactions. Gehazi was always with Elisha, the double portion Prophet of God, yet greed didn’t spare him. Apostle Judas wasn’t limited either, even though he was one of Jesus’ carefully selected 12. Besides the seed of sin, which houses greed, other factors that easily breed and nurture it are but are not limited to;

• One’s upbringing and value system.
• Friends and associations.
• Silent competition of material possessions amongst peers.
• Ill-advised comparison of achievements.
• Misconceptions about what constitutes true wealth and riches in this life.
• Admiration, recognition and special acknowledgement of the wealthy in our society irrespective of the mode of acquiring those resources.
• The lack of law enforcement or punitive measures and sanctioning of those found to be guilty of ill-gotten riches out of greed.

Merriam-Webster defines Hardworking, on the other hand, as constantly, regularly, or habitually engaged in earnest and energetic work. Hardworking people are usually termed industrious and diligent. One, therefore, wonders why such a godly activity would have to bear the brunt of the greedy in our society, thereby mixing or confusing the meaning between them. Proverbs 22:28 reads, “Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.” Greedy people, in their quest to get more, usually temper things that do not belong to them to annex them. The love of money, gifts, material possessions, bribery and corruption, which has become a stronghold in our society today, can all be traced back to greed.

In 1 Kings 21, a story is told of a whole King in Israel named Ahab who once wished to acquire a parcel of land from one of his subjects to use as a vegetable garden. Although he usually would have jurisdiction over all the lands within his dominion, it was not out of place to desire another person’s property if acquired through legitimate means. From the narration, the King was attracted to that particular parcel of land belonging to Naboth by its proximity to his palace. Property acquisition is not greediness, but the innate desire to acquire and add to what one already possesses at whatever cost and no matter the means, smacks of something more than just being hardworking. King Ahab told Naboth, “I will pay you whatever it is worth.” (1 Kings 21:2b). Naboth refused to sell the property, so the King went straight to his bedroom, disturbed and refused to eat. Having a vegetable garden, starting one business or the other or helping our men to venture into lucrative businesses is one great vision of the Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM). The response to the first slogan of PEMEM is, however, “The image and glory of God” and not “To acquire and grab by fair or foul means”, failure to which hell must break loose. Lying at one corner on his bed, sullen, angry, sulking and refusing to eat and cooperate with his wife, Jezebel reminded him he was the King and could, therefore, have whatever pleases him in case he had forgotten. (1 Kings 21:7). She schemed with some scoundrels and had Naboth assassinated and afterwards handed over Naboth’s parcel of land to her husband Ahab for his vegetable garden venture. This is what greed is all about. It uses every power and influence available to get whatever one craves irrespective of the cost to self or others.

“Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Say to him. This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property? Then say to him, This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!” It is quite instructive to learn that although King Ahab had started putting to good use the seized Land of Naboth, God did not acknowledge his “hard work” in that vegetable farm but called him a murderer who had seized someone’s property.  Ahab could have avoided God’s judgment on his entire household should he had played the game of “hard work” within the boundaries of its ethical standards. After Naboth was murdered, King Ahab and his sweetheart Jezebel died with dogs licking their blood as decreed by God. Greed is, therefore, one of the few two-edged swords with the propensity to kill its victims and their culprits.

And to the entire household of King Ahab, God said, “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.” (1 Kings 21:24)). In their quest to acquire and grab more by multiplying their possessions under the guise of hard work, many family heads have accrued needless suffering and pain on their households and generations after them. In 2 Kings 10:8-11, seventy sons of Ahab were slaughtered. Jehu also killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining as spoken by Elijah, the servant of God. Meanwhile, none of his children was in the picture when Jezebel was masterminding the assassination of Naboth.

Of course, there is a relationship between hardworking and increased profitability or wealth. 1 Timothy 6:6-10, however, cautioned all who have a strong affinity for wealth and riches. It reads, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Some view the above scripture as a demotivator of the principles of hard work. They forget that it was the same Apostle Paul who espoused that the one unwilling to work should not eat. Hardworking has nothing to do with piercing oneself with all sorts of grief just because of greed.

The greedy may appear hardworking, but not all hardworking people are greedy. Why not? We all get motivated and inspired by calls and the captivating presentations on modern trends in establishing businesses and imbibing the rudiments of hardworking, but wait a minute! If you are falsifying documents and lying through that new enterprise you intend to set up; it is not hardworking. It is dishonesty. When greed is allowed to take over the heart and mind, one behaves like a hypnotised person, unresponsive to logic and reasoning. If not so, Judas wouldn’t have also asked Jesus at the last supper the betrayer He was talking about when he had already pocketed the 30 shekels of silver to betray Him (Matthew 26:24-25). Greed is, therefore, the underlying health condition of some pathological liars and the cause of some high-profile murder cases which haven’t been resolved for decades. It is greediness If you have to slander and mudsling others to get your business enterprise booming. It can’t be entrepreneurship, so stop throwing dust into our eyes. If your businesses are thriving and being sustained by cheating, taking advantage of others and the weak and vulnerable institutions, then I am afraid it cannot be hardworking. If you are evading the various tax regimes but busily setting up new enterprises to evade more and rake in more, it is called dishonesty and greediness and not hardworking. If you have to eliminate others by rough tactics for your business(s) to thrive, you have become a murderer and not the hard worker you want the world to celebrate. Let us not demonise the word “hardworking” by our actions and evil desires. The spirit of hardworking is what is needed in our time, and being blessed to become one doesn’t make one allergic to honesty and truthfulness.

Then come those who argue vociferously that enough wealth must be left for the children, so they don’t suffer but live comfortably. They, thus, use the family and children they will be living behind as the primary reason for their cravings but not necessarily being motivated by greed. It is, however, worth noting that Father Abraham, with all his great material possessions, could not insulate his covenant child Isaac from the realities and hazards of life’s challenges. Genesis 13:2, “Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.” When Abraham died, God also blessed Isaac in addition to whatever his Dad had bequeathed to him (Genesis 25:11). Amazingly, this wealth was, after all, not enough to bail Isaac from a severe famine that hit the Land of Cannan in those days. So in Genesis 26:2, Isaac contemplated moving to Egypt in search of greener pastures. God intercepted Isaac’s move and promised him to stay and wait for His blessings. Isaac, who had been trained and taught by Abraham to listen and obey God’s voice, obliged and stayed in Gerar (Genesis 26:6). “Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.” (Genesis 26:12). The Lesson to all fathers is the need to spend quality time investing in the spiritual life of the members of our households so they can hear and obey God’s voice anytime He speaks. Men must  lead  the family to imbibe Kingdom values and its righteousness. Even though the riches handed over from Abraham dwindled drastically over a period, no one could take the legacy of his relationship with his maker from him. There can, therefore, never be any sustainable thing, such as working hard to acquire enough properties for all the generations that follow after you. With all the blessings Isaac also handed over to his sons Jacob and Esau, they equally faced severe hunger and drought at one time or the other in their lifetime. Joseph, who became the shining star amongst Jacob’s children and hosted his father and brothers, was also loaded with great blessings from God. Although they settled in Gershon or the best part of the Land of Egypt, the sons of Jacob and their generation would have left Egypt empty-handed after staying and working hard there for 430 years, but for God’s intervention during the night of their departure.

Besides the above Biblical accounts, the incredible impact of Covid-19 and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts have proved that no amount of investments made out of one’s dent of hard work can provide enough buffer from the hazards and uncertainties of this life. Like Job, one can wake up one morning and, within a spate of seconds, lose everything that has been inherited together with one’s acquired possessions.  The parable of the prodigal son also teaches that a child who chooses to pick up wild living can squander everything bequeathed within a short period whiles the Parents are still alive. Men must, therefore, take up the arduous task of raising godly children in the home. It is the reign of Christ in the hearts of the children that becomes the anchor when the storms of life begin to hit hard at their boats. Even when we are dead and gone as Fathers, we can rest assured that they will sail through the storms. If the search for wealth and riches constantly prevents you from spending quality time with God, family and children, then the indication is symptomatic of something much more severe than just being a hardworking Parent. After all, Solomon said in Ecclesiastes  5:10, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This, too, is meaningless.”

Meanwhile, the very children, because we are running helter-skelter in ensuring they live comfortably, haven’t also vowed to be good-for-nothing when they grow. If anything, our hearts must rather be at peace with the scripture, “I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25). Using the children as the sole excuse for the wanton amassing of wealth under the guise of hardworking is, therefore, not tenable.

Today, you can hardly correlate the income levels of some per their professions, appointment letters and remuneration with their acquired assets. It becomes even more problematic when there seems to be no proper compliance and enforcement of the declaration of assets and liabilities before people’s engagement. Many have, thus, been touted as hardworking by society but amassed wealth through bribery and corruption as well as what can be best described as “induced gifts” out of greed. Offering gifts out of a genuine and generous heart is an everyday gesture that even attracts God’s blessings. So, Naaman’s offer of gifts to Prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 5:15 after his miraculous healing was not out of place. Greedy people are fast and appear intelligent and sharp at times because Gehazi hurried after Naaman and, within split seconds, fabricated stories and lies using Elisha’s name to add to his possessions.

Gehazi, the servant of the Prophet, thinking he was smart, pursued Naaman saying, “My Master was too easy on Naaman by not accepting from him what he brought. He continued, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him” (2 Kings 5:20). The tagging of God’s name to our ill-gotten treasures and businesses at times through testimonies is not a new development. It is pure greed under the cloak of religiosity. One sure mark of the greedy is their excessive desire for more. Although Gehazi asked Naaman for a talent of silver when he got to him, when he was offered two, he collected them. (I Kings 5:23). Be hardworking, Sir, but your unrestrained appetite for riches and wealth can only be motivated by greed or covetousness. What greedy people refuse to appreciate is what Elisha told Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:26b, which is, “There’s time to take money or accept gifts”, or it is not every money or gift you must so passionately desire for. The tragic end of Gehazi is enough lessons for all who are working hard but occasionally allowing greed to take the better part of their sense of judgment. Naaman’s leprosy clinched Gehazi and his household forever. Greed is indeed a sword that wounds and kills. So, in Proverbs 15:27, “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.”

Ironically and contrary to logical reasoning, greed is not synonymous with the needy in our society. The rich and wealthy are even more predisposed to that condition than the poor (2 Samuel 12:2-4). In this era in our Christian community, where so much is being propagated about entrepreneurship, investments, and savings, care must be taken to ensure that in our quest to be hardworking, we don’t wear ourselves out. In Luke 12:15b, Jesus confirms that “Man’s life doesn’t depend on the abundance of the things he possesses”. Indeed, He continues to signal that those who lay up treasure for themselves may not even live to enjoy them (verse 21). Greediness and covetousness have never paid its victims any good thing except disappointment, misery, untold hardships and ultimately, death. In (Josh 7:19-26), Achan met his untimely death and never enjoyed what he coveted (i.e. silver, gold etc.,). It is also instructive to learn that Colossians 3:5 equates greediness to idolatry, and in 1 Corinthians 6:10, the greedy will never inherit the Kingdom of God.

As the bride of Christ waiting for our bridegroom, let us imbibe every rudiment of hardworking but be on guard and eschew all forms of greed and covetousness as and when they become the subtle driving force. “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves to sensuality to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth in Jesus.”  (Ephesians 4:19-21). Be hardworking, but greed is alien to the Christian calling and teachings. Stay blessed.

Written by Pastor James Orhin Agyin

Overview of Secular Humanism

Secular humanism is a type of worldview. Worldview is the “lens” through which people see and interpret the world – seen and unseen – around them. The Christian Worldview is “Jesus Christ revealed in the Bible and glorified by the Holy Spirit is God, Savior and Lord over all creation”. As Christians we reflect on all issues of life through this worldview.

Each era in history has had a driving force on which the predominant worldview of the era thrives. There have been three eras to date; these include the pre-modern era, modern era, and post-modern.

Pre-modern era was up to 1800s – it was largely a wind of SUPERNATURALISM (FAITH); nearly everything was viewed from the angle of God and the supernatural. It was an era that gave a good environment for religion to thrive.

Modern era was from late 1800s to 1980s; it was an era of SCIENCE (FACTS); people began to do away with God and the supernatural; everything was viewed through science; life was all about reason, facts and logic; if something could not be proven scientifically, people would not hold it as truth. It was an era for lots of scientific discoveries.

Post-modern era is the era from 1980s to date; it is an era of SKEPTICISM (FREEDOM). It is an era where people can even doubt God and the supernatural and also doubt scientific findings. This is the era we find ourselves in, now. In this post-modern era, each person is to have their own set of truth and live by them; what is truth for you, may not be truth for another person. This is the era driving the predominant worldview of secular humanism.

Secular humanism mainly holds that, one must examine and discard religion and hold their own truth and seek their own happiness without harming others. The word “secular” means, the physical world as we see it whiles the word “humanism” means the happiness and pleasure of human being should be the purpose in all things; humans, not God, should be at the center of all aspects of life.

Thus, according to secular humanism, there is no God and no supernatural; all we have is what we see and how we can use all that we see through scientific means to reduce human pain and make humans happier. This means, as long as what you are doing breaks no law or harms no one, do it! Secular humanism says, enjoy your life for all you can, because “You Only Live Once” (YOLO). The symbol for secular humanism is the “Happy Human”.

Secular humanism positions human being as their own “god” to be served and made happy. Paul in 1^st Corinthians 15:32 says, “…if there is no resurrection of the dead, then, let is live and eat for tomorrow we die”. Paul’s point is that, the hope of the reality of the resurrection is the reason Christians reject secular humanism; nothing more, nothing less. We believe, the resurrection (which I define as “heavenly realities replacing earthly things”) is the reason for our rejection of secular humanism and for our faith in Christ.

It is worth noting that, in principle, secular humanism began in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) when Satan succeeded in convincing Eve to reject and ignore God, free herself from God’s commands and rather focus on fulfilling her won pleasures. At the core of secular humanism is the efforts to “free” people from what they call, the “control” of all organized social systems such as family, church, religion and the state.

Secular humanists, therefore, seeks to stand against religion (belief in God) of any shape and form especially in public life; if for nothing at all, to them, be religious in your private life but never in public, else, you will be discriminated against and cancelled. Secular humanists are political since they seek numbers to make their beliefs into laws so as to dominant the whole world in their dire desire to stand against the Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ. (I have an eschatological dimension to this aspect, but it is beyond the scope of this article).

Secular humanism is not just against Christianity, but against all forms of Christianity. However, their main target is Christianity because to them, Christians hold that there is only one way to salvation, namely Jesus Christ. Secular humanists therefore try to create enmity between Christians and other religious people in a “divide and rule manner” so as to dominate. For them, if they cannot do away with all religions at all, then there should be inter-religious factions then they come in with counterfeit unity approaches such as inter-faith movements.

Secular humanism holds that one does not need a God or belief in the supernatural external force in order to be virtuous; that, human beings are inherently good. Thus, secular humanism upholds many noble expressions in this world, such as cooperation, reason, education, science, humor, inquiry, democracy, compassion, tolerance, imagination, open debate, human rights and spirituality (connecting with one’s inner self through yoga, meditation etc.). According to secular humanism, vice or “sin” is only when you break national laws and/or prevent others from living to please their pleasure and happiness when they do not contradict any national law or global conventions. Hence if someone is chastised for say, having a side chic, secular humanists will ask, “Why are you against it? Does it contradict any law? Is it a crime? As long as they are happy, who am I to judge?”

As stated, this worldview further posits that humans can express all virtues without God. Christians believe that, we can be virtuous not based on the good in us but by the power of the Holy Spirit and with the sole purpose to glorifying Christ. It is important to note that secular humanism creates their own versions of Judaism and Christianity by taking away all the God factor and the supernatural from the bible. It might interest readers to know that since Thomas Fredrick in 1974, there has been secular humanistic chaplains in various universities in the West – notably, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  In fact, we have to restate that, there are people who go to church and claim to be Christians and yet in their hearts, they deny the power of God and the supernatural; they even speak against “fellow Christians” who spend time to pray – even if, they are getting miraculous results and transformation.

Alice Bailey, one of the key proponents of secular humanism, who lived from 1880 to 1949 propounded a 10-point plan for the destruction of Judeo-Christian systems with the aim to establishing a New World Order through the spread of secular humanism ideologies on the wings of postmodernism. These 10-points are as follows:

1. Take God and prayer out of the education system
2. Reduce parental authority over the children
3. Destroy the Judeo-Christian family structure or the traditional Christian family structure
4. Make sex free and if sex is free, then make abortion legal and make it easy
5. Make divorce easy and legal; free people from the concept of marriage for life
6. Make homosexuality an alternative lifestyle
7. Debase art; make it run mad through obscenity
8. Use media to promote and change mindset
9. Create interfaith movements so as to water down the exclusive claim of Christianity as the only way for salvation
10. Get governments to make all these into laws and get the church to endorse these changes

The False of the Secular Humanist Postulation on the Link between Belief on God and Development of a Nation

As we stated earlier, as part of their broader agenda to stifle Christianity and the “God factor”, secular humanists often say that, nations develop better when they do not believe in God or in the supernatural. This postulation is falsehood, at least for two factual reasons as follows.

1. Nations who believe in God are the most developed: Human Development Index (HDI) is the indicator that tells us how developed a nation is; it measures health (long & healthy life); education (level of knowledge); and income (decent living). It is worth noting that, the top ten developed nations in the world as at now are Norway; Ireland; Switzerland; Hong Kong; Iceland; Germany; Sweden; Australia; The Netherlands; and Denmark. The average population of these nations who are Christians is 61.33% (that is above 50%) whiles their average HDI score of these ten nations is 95%. On the other hands, the bottom ten (least developed) nations are Eritrea; Mozambique; Burkina Faso; Sierra Leone; Mali; Burundi; South Sudan; Chad; CAR; and Niger. The average population of these nations who are Christians is 39.65% (that is below 50%) and their average HDI score of these ten nations is 45%. This shows that, contrary to secular humanistic postulation, high Christian population percentage is positively correlated or associated with development

2. Most Nobel Prize winners are Christians: Nobel Prize is given annually to people who distinguish themselves in science, advancement and development on the global scale. Since 1901, 65.4% of winners have been Christians; and 21.4% are Jews. This means 86.8% of Nobel Prize winners in science etc. since 1901 are from the Judeo-Christian stock

Christian Response to Secular Humanism

Finally, in this article, I wish to discuss some practical ways Christians can respond to the attacks of secular humanism on the Christian faith, in their sphere of life and to possess that sphere for Christ.

1. Christians should know why they are Christians not just because their parents taught them or the church says so or because the bible say so. The scientific methodology for knowing God/Christ is to “Taste and See”. Christians should have REASON – catalogue of testimonies – that shows that, indeed they have tasted, tested, trusted and tried the Lord Jesus Christ and seen Him to be God, Savior and Lord who indeed redeems our hearts from bondage to sins, addictions, inordinate lusts & affections, shame, guilt, condemnation, witchcraft manipulation, anxiety, stress and fear of the unknown. Secular humanism has no solution to these existential challenges of humanity; the solution is only in a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ and we encounter Him through the study of the Word of God and sincere outpouring of the content of our hearts to Him in prayer.

• Christians should know that, secular humanism is another anti-Christ “religion” seeking to enslave people with the pretense of giving them freedom. How does, living by the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life set one free? Never! Rather, it enslaves one into various forms of addictions to materialism and the ego leading to all forms of bondages, in the quest for “freedom” that is only a mirage outside of Christ. To this end, we need to see the double standard of secular humanism. Secular humanism stands against organized religion but secular humanism itself is an organized religion that has tenets, groups, rules etc. with the aim to promote sense of belonging as well. In American laws, secular humanism is considered a religion.

• Christians should understand the global impact of Christianity on national development and use that to debunk the false postulation by secular humanists that, when a nation believes in God and the supernatural, they become least developed. At least, in this article, in the immediate paragraphs above, we have established two facts that debunks this notion. There are even more facts; not to talk about the impact of Christianity on healthcare, education and other sectors of various national economy for many years to date.

• Christians respond to flood of secular humanism in the hearts of the unsaved through reaching out to engaged the unsaved through listening to their perspectives, intentional intercessory prayers, demonstrating the fruit and power of Christ in our space, sharing the gospel without manipulation or castigation of the “religious” positions of the unsaved and ensuring their discipleship by studying the Word of God with them, praying with them and responding to the issues in their hearts with the Word of God. It is the Holy Spirit who breaks down these worldview – strongholds, high things, arguments, and imaginations – that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ, in the hearts of the unsaved when we respond in the godly ways discussed

• Secular humanism thrives when Christians create a mutually-exclusive situation between Common Grace and Redemptive Grace. Common Grace involves all the physical resources God has given us on earth to make life on earth decent. Redemptive Grace is faith in Christ that brings about forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit into the heart of a person. Receiving Christ does not mean shutting our minds from critical thinking, innovation, creativity etc. so as to maximize Coon Grace. In fact, having the Holy Spirit rather should make us like “Bezalel and Oholiab” – people who are given to excellence, integrity and sincerity. Christians must demonstrate excellence in their spheres of influence to show that, the Holy Spirit living in us is the Spirit of Excellence. Building systems to maximize Common Grace is not opposed to digging deep in spirituality to maximize eternal life. The Holy Spirit has given us divine power to harness resources to build excellence whiles also enjoying eternal life (life in God’s presence for all eternity). On this note, we need to thank Chairman Eric Nyamekye and the Executive Council of the Church of Pentecost (CoP) for recognizing CoP members who excel in their fields at Opening Ceremony of every Council Meeting.

Concluding Remark

Let me conclude this article by saying that, secular humanism is not new; as we have discussed earlier, it started in principle from the Garden of Eden. There is no need to panic or be overwhelmed by secular humanism as a Christian. Secular humanism is like “Goliath” and “the Image in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream” representing any ideology that stands against God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the power to bring down secular humanism with THE STONE – the Lord Jesus Christ!

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him (1 Samuel 17:48-50, NIV).

In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces (Daniel 2:44-45, NIV).

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete (2 Corinthians 10:3-6, NIV).

Written by Aps S. K. Fianko-Larbi (Kenya National Head, The Church of Pentecost)

Adolescence is a challenging time for young people, bringing on not only the physical changes of puberty, but emotional transformation as well and in some cases, the emergence of serious mental health conditions. For parents, it can sometimes seem like their affectionate, adoring child has become a different, distant person and that their teen friends have become more important to them than their family. But some of these changes are part of the essential process of moving toward independence and parents who are able to offer more empathy than judgment can continue to be a source of guidance for their kids, and emerge from this period with their relationship intact.

Below are some tips to help parents navigate the delicate period of their ward’s teen stage.

1. Make it a high priority to eat meals together with your teenage child as often as you can. Meals are a great opportunity to talk about the days’ events, to unwind, reinforce and bond. They are also your best opportunity to keep in touch with your teen’s life and challenges, and to spot brewing problems.

• Every teen parent hopes their child would do well in life. But hope alone does not shape your child’s destiny. Keep phones and laptops out of bedrooms. Using gadgets in the sitting room minimises the possibility of “sextexting” and access to pornography on the internet.

• Let your teen invite their friends home, but keep bedrooms out of bounds for visitors. This may sound archaic, but most teens engage in their first sex at home or in a friend’s house. Also, keep hard (alcoholic) drinks out of your house. Most teens taste alcohol for the first time at home simply because it was accessible.

• Teens crave the security of knowing that their parents understand them, appreciate them, and love them no matter what, so they want the relationship between them to be more of a friendship. But they also need to feel like they have some independence, so sometimes they may shut you out. If you can navigate your closeness in an acceptable way, he or she would be more likely to open up and share with you.

• Does a close friendship erode your teen’s respect for you? No! Don’t you respect your friends, and treasure those who are really there for you emotionally? Likewise, if you offer your teen respect, consideration, and authenticity, that’s what you would receive in return.

• No matter how close you want to be with your teen, you do not always have to give in to their wishes. If you are doing this often, that is a red flag. Teens look up to their parents to set limits they cannot set for themselves. Therefore, sometimes, you would need to stick by your values and say NO, whether that is to an unsupervised party or a very late bedtime. Alternatively, with your guidance, your teen could come up with a win-win solution that addresses the concerns you may have regarding their request.

Be an intentional parent. While prayer for kids is paramount, create systems that will help your child stay on the narrow and the straight. The main reason most children do not watch porn, engage in sex and drink booze in most schools is because schools have put up checks and balances. Regrettably, many parents drop the ball and ride on empty hopes that their child or children would turn out all right.

Written by Elder Blankson Appiah-Anning (PhD)

The Holy Spirit is the shy member of the Trinity. His ministry is to point away from himself to the wonder of God the Son and God the Father. Being filled with the Spirit means being filled with love for Christ. When Jesus promised the Spirit (in John 16:14), he said, “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” The Spirit is shy; he is self-effacing. When we look toward him, he steps back and pushes forward Jesus Christ.

Therefore, in seeking to be filled and empowered by the Spirit, we must pursue him indirectly. we must look to the wonder of Christ. If we look away from Jesus and seek the Spirit and his power directly, we will end up in the mire of our own subjective emotions. The Spirit does not reveal himself. The Spirit reveals Christ. The fullness of the Spirit is the fullness that he gives as we gaze on Christ. The power of the Spirit is the power we feel in the presence of Christ. The joy of the Spirit is the joy we feel from the promises of Christ. Many of us know what it is to crouch on the floor and cry out to the Holy Spirit for joy and power, and experience nothing; but the next day devote ourselves to earnest meditation on the glory of Jesus Christ and be filled with the Spirit.

Therefore, when the time came for the eternal Son of God to be sent by his Father into the world, the work of the Holy Spirit was a quiet, unobtrusive work in the service of the Father and the Son. Through him the Father caused the Son to be conceived in Mary the virgin. So from the very beginning of Christ’s incarnation the Holy Spirit was quietly doing what needed to be done to put forward Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Saviour of man.

The Quiet Work of the Spirit in the Incarnation

Our first encounter with the Holy Spirit is when He convicts us of our sin, shows us that none of us can live up to the righteousness of Jesus, and reveals to us the judgment that is coming to those who die without a Saviour (John 16:8-11). As we repent, confess our sins and receive the gift of Salvation the Holy Spirit regenerates our dead inner human spirit which now becomes sensitive to the spiritual things of God (John 3:1-16; Acts 2:38).

There is a second work of the Holy Spirit when He baptizes a believer (Acts 2:1-4).  It’s available to all (Acts 2:39) and a gift of empowerment, helping the believer to live a holy life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Helper, we become more like Jesus and are directed to do the Father’s will. Furthermore, the gift is primarily for the empowerment to witness to others (Acts 1:8).

We are encouraged to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us up on a regular basis. When you feel depleted or need strength, ask Him to replenish you (Ephesians 5:18).

It’s not enough to exist with the belief that The Father and the Son are first and the Holy Spirit is secondary. They are equal and work in harmony with each other. The uniqueness of the Holy Spirit is His presence within us. Jesus said before he ascended to heaven that the Holy Spirit would come and dwell within us as a believer. With that, He empowers us to live victoriously for the cause of Christ and glory of the Father.

Written by Elder Dr Blankson Appiah Anning, Asuoyeboa District, Kwadaso Area

Chiefs and queens have been charged to rule with the fear of God, by relying on His divine providence so that there will be peace, security and development in the land.

The National Co-ordinator of the Chieftaincy Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh, gave the admonition at the 3^rd Royals’ Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) on Thursday, June 2, 2022.

This year’s conference was on the theme, “Equipping Royals As Gatekeepers To Possess The Nations” (1 Samuel 18:24-28; Isaiah 21:11; Matthew 13:25-30; Ephesians 5:27). The conference, which took place from 31^st May to 3^rd June 2022, was attended by over 1,500 chiefs, queens, and other royals from Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso.

Speaking on the topic, “The King/Queen As A Priest,” with the main scripture reading from Proverbs 16:10-15, Apostle Anane Denteh, who doubles as the Director of the Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) and a member of the Executive Council of the church, indicated that by virtue of the fact that believers are the children of God, they are by default royals.

According to him, Jesus Christ was born a king (Matthew 2:2) as he came into the world preaching about the Kingdom of God. He added that Jesus died as a king (Matthew 27:37). He stated that though the leaders of Israel made frantic efforts to change the narratives, they could not succeed since Pilate intimated that “what was written was written.”

“As long as you follow Jesus Christ consistently, no one can change your kingship. As long as your kingship and kingdom are vested in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are secured because Jesus is the absolute priest and king. He is the Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:5-7; 7:1),” he declared.

Reading from 1 Peter 2:9, the PEMEM Director held that Christ’s kingship has been inputted in all those who believe in him, including traditional rulers, hence they have become kings and priests to their subjects.

“Our kingship was ordained and established by God. Our royalty was activated when we accepted Christ. Our royalty must, therefore, reflect the values and principles of God’s kingdom,” he stressed.

Apostle Anane Denteh explained that since the Lord has made Christians a royal priesthood, it should have a bearing on the way they should live and do things.

“Working as a priest means that you have to stand ready for God. Once priesthood is associated with your kingdom, you have to stand right before God,” he said, adding, “Every king/queen who acts as a priest must be able to protect and care for his/her people like a shepherd.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Father’s Promise and its Fulfilment on the Day of Pentecost

In one of Jesus’ last moments with His disciples before the crucifixion, He told them about His ascension to the Father. On hearing that, they became very sad as they wondered how they were going to cope without their Master. Seeing their grief, Jesus exhorted them, saying, ‘…very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you’ (John 16:5-7; 14:16-17).

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven after His death and resurrection, He met again with the disciples on Mount Olives where He reminded them of the Father’s promise of baptising them with the Holy Spirit, and encouraged them to wait in Jerusalem for it (Acts 1:4-5). They returned after Christ’s ascension as they had been admonished.

In the upper room where they were staying, the disciples all joined together in constant prayers, with a heart of oneness, waiting for the promise. On the tenth day which was the day of Pentecost (a Jewish festival also known as the Feast of Weeds), while they prayed, ‘Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting…. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them’ (Acts 2:1-4).

The Promise is for all

When the crowd that had gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost heard the loud voices of the disciples, they were bewildered at their utterances, because each one heard their own language being spoken. There were some who however thought the disciples were drunk and hence made mockery of them (Acts 2:5-6, 12-13). At that instance, Peter stood with the other eleven and addressed the crowd, giving clarity to the phenomenon and referring them to the Old Testament prophecy of Joel which declared that in the last days, God would pour out His Spirit on all people; that young men and women shall prophesy and see visions, while the old dream dreams (Acts 2:17, Joel 2:28). Peter further indicated that this promise of the Father is for all – both young and old, male and female, white and black, rich and poor (cf. Acts 2:38-39). The only requirement was for them to repent of their sins, and believe in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. This truth stands today and forever.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Jesus is now gone (in body) to heaven, but the Holy Spirit He promised to send is with us here on earth. He is here to have fellowship with us, and to help us experience victorious Christian living. To enjoy fellowship with the Spirit, it is imperative that we seek to know Him, having had an experience of Him. And, to know Him, we must seek to learn more about Him. Thus, we shall attempt to discuss His personality and deity as revealed in the Bible, and proceed to consider His service to the Christian believer and how to experience His outpouring and daily infilling.

The Personality of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is NOT some wind, cloud, light or smoke that floats around. It is biblically wrong to think and teach that way about the Spirit of God. He is a complete Person, like Jesus Christ. The difference, however, is that He has no bodily form as Jesus had while on earth.

It must be realised that what makes someone a person is not the human body, but the fact that that one has an intellect, emotions and a will. We find in the Bible, several characteristics of the Holy Spirit that affirm that He is a Person who can be related to or communed with. Examples include the following:

1. He has a mind or an intellect that searches and reasons (1 Cor. 2:10-11, Rom. 8:27). As a Person with intellect, He can instruct as well (Neh. 9:20)

2. He has emotions and can therefore be grieved (Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30).
3. He has a will, and therefore decides for Himself (1 Cor. 12:11, Acts 16:6-7).
4. He has the capacity to love (Romans 15:30).
5. He speaks (John 16:13, Acts 8:29; 10:2, 19).
6. The masculine pronoun ‘He’ is used in reference to Him throughout the Scriptures (John 15:26; 16:7-15).

The Deity of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not only a Person; He is God. We find proof of this in several passages of the Bible. For example in Acts 5:1-4, we read: “But there was a man named Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira, sold some property that belonged to them. But with his wife’s agreement, he kept part of the money for himself and handed the rest over to the apostles. Peter said to him, ‘Ananias, , why did you let Satan take control of you and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property? Before you sold that property, it belonged to you; and after you sold it the money was yours. Why then did you decide to do such a thing? You have not lied to human beings – you have lied to God?’”

From the passage, we learn that a lie to the Holy Spirit is a lie to God, affirming the deity of the Spirit.

In Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14, the Holy Spirit is revealed as the third Person in the Trinity or Godhead. He is third not because He is the least, but because He is the last among the Trinity to be known by us. The Father was made known first to us, then the Son, and now the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures provide several attributes of the Holy Spirit that confirm His deity. The following are some of them:

1. He is omniscient, which means He knows all things – including the past, present and future. He knows what is hidden in our minds and hearts. He knows what goes on in the dark or secret places (1 Cor. 2:10-12, John 14:26; 16:13, Psalm 139:2-4, 6). The Spirit teaches us all things because He knows all things.

2. He is omnipresent, which means He is everywhere at the same time (Psalm 139:5, 7-10).
3. He is omnipotent, meaning He has all power and authority – in heaven, on earth and under the earth. The Holy Spirit is the power of the Godhead, and has authority over all things – human beings, angels, Satan, demons, all diseases, death, etc. As God the Father and Son have power to create and give life, so does the Holy Spirit has power to create and give life (Job 33:4, Rom. 15:18-19, John 6:23).
4. He is eternal or immortal, which means He never dies. The Holy Spirit has no beginning nor end; He has been in existence prior to creation, and will forever exist. Thus, in Hebrews 9:14, He is called the Eternal Spirit.

Understanding the Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit through His Emblems

The Emblems of the Holy Spirit are those physical or natural things used in Scripture to represent the Holy Spirit; they are only symbols or representations, and NOT what or how He actually looks like. They only help us to understand certain qualities of the Spirit. For example, if we say a person runs like a horse, it does not necessarily mean he or she is a horse. Instead, it helps us understand the speed at which he/she runs.

Briefly discussed below are five of the emblems used for the Holy Spirit.

1. Dove (Matt. 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32)

At the baptism of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit descend like a dove on Him. The Holy Spirit is NOT a dove; John saw Him descend IN BODILY FORM LIKE a dove. The dove is a symbol of purity, peace and gentleness. Hence it emphasizes the purity of the Spirit and the peace He produces in the heart of the believer after conversion. Again, doves are noted to be always devoted and faithful to their partners – the male to its female partner, and vice versa. Similarly, the Holy Spirit, as He seeks fellowship with us, requires that we stay faithful to Him as He remains faithful to us.

• Wind (Acts 2:1-4)

On the day of Pentecost, while the disciples were gathered together at one place praying to receive the Father’s promise, a mighty wind suddenly came and filled the entire house where they were. This marked the outpouring of the Spirit. The representation of the Holy Spirit by that heavy wind emphasizes His might and strength, and His infilling work. Just as the wind filled the entire room, so does the Spirit fill the entire being of the believer. Also, wind is independent of humankind and hence cannot be controlled by us. In like manner, we cannot control or manipulate the Holy Spirit. He is the Boss, not us. Again, as wind can be found everywhere, so is the Spirit present everywhere.

• Fire (Acts 2:1-4)

Following the mighty wind was the appearance of ‘tongues of fire’ on the head of each of the disciples, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, fire depicted ‘the Presence of God’ (Ex. 3:2), ‘the Approval of God’ (Lev. 9:24, 1 Kgs 18:38-39), and ‘the Judgement of God’ (Lev. 10:2). The Holy Spirit is the One who conveys God’s presence to us. Wherever He is, the presence of the Godhead is fully there. When we allow Him to lead us in everything we do, we earn the Father’s approval because He becomes pleased with what we do. The Spirit judges the heart of humankind, convicting us of sin, of the righteousness of God, and of judgement (John 16:7-8).

Fire also represents purification and revival (1 Pet. 1:7). When the Holy Spirit indwells us, He continually purifies or refines us by burning every chaff in us. He also quickens and keeps us spiritually active (Rom. 8:11, 1 Pet. 3:18).  As fire provides light on our paths, so does the Spirit provide illumination in the journey of life.

• Water (John 7:37-39)

The ‘rivers of living water’ mentioned in verse 38 of the Scripture reference given is clearly explained in verse 39 as a reference to the Holy Spirit. Water symbolises eternal life (John 4:14). It is by the Spirit that we secure the life we receive through faith in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:13). His leading brings life.

Water also symbolises purification, heavenly blessings and joy. As we allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in our lives, He cleanses our hearts from all forms of unrighteousness through the Word of God. As we follow His leading, He guides us into plentiful blessings and fills our hearts with unending joy (Isaiah 12:3).

Again, water symbolises restoration (Psalm 23:2-3). One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to restore us when we become spiritually weary or exhausted. He does this as we make time to study His Word, pray and join other believers for fellowship and worship.

•  Oil (Isaiah 61:1, Acts 10:38)

In the two verses cited above, the Holy Spirit is described as oil for anointing others. In the Old Testament, kings were anointed with oil as a sign that they had been chosen and ordained by God to rule (1 Sam. 16:1-13, Psalm 89:20). Again, oil was used to sanctify priests (Exo. 29:7; 30:30) and the tabernacle as well as all its furnishings (Exo. 40:9). Prophets were also anointed with oil to signify their ordination (1 Kings 19:16). The giving of the Spirit to the believer is proof that they have been chosen or ordained by God to serve as priests and kings (Rev. 1:5-6). In 1 Peter 2:9, believers in Christ are rightly described as ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood….’

In the Jewish community, oil was sometimes used as a symbol of richness, joy and health (Jer. 31:12, Heb. 1:9). The reality is that, the Holy Spirit is the One who brings healing to the sick, richness to the poor and joy to the saddened soul.

Again, the anointing oil signifies ‘power from on high’. Thus, when a person is anointed with the Holy Spirit, he/she becomes endued with heavenly power (Acts 10:38). This power is meant to equip us for ministry unto the Lord, the body of Christ and unto the lost world (Acts 1:8).

The Ministry of the Spirit in the Life of the Believer       

The Holy Spirit has been sent by the Father to help us in diverse ways. Our knowledge of His ministry in our lives is essential to the value we place on our need for Him. We shall thus turn our attention to briefly discussing the work He does in and for us. Some have been mentioned early on and may therefore not be repeated here.

1. He teaches us and helps us to remember all things (John 14:26). As our Teacher, He helps us to understand the Word of God and other issues of life better.

2. He guides us into all truth (John 16:13). When allowed, the Spirit directs us into making right choices or decisions in every aspect of life – in our education, vocation/occupation, marriage and family life, etc.
3. He prays through and intercedes for us (Rom 8:26). This usually happens in times that we are weak and at a point where we know not what and how to pray.
4. He convicts us when we go wrong (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit points out our wrongdoings to us, and by so doing makes us aware of them so we can repent of them.
5. He empowers us to do the work of the Lord – the work of witnessing about Christ both in words and works/deeds (Acts 1:8).
6. He strengthens us to stand for the Lord (Eph. 3:16). When we are tempted by the devil; when we seem depressed by tribulations and afflictions, it is the Spirit who strengthens us to remain steady in the Lord and not faint.
7. He imparts spiritual gifts onto us (1 Cor. 12:7-11, 28, Rom. 12:6-8). The gifts include a word of knowledge, word of wisdom, prophecy, discerning of spirits, faith, healing, working of miracles, speaking in diverse tongues and interpretation of tongues. These supernatural abilities are to be used for the building of the Church, and to bring glory to God. They are not for the purposes of seeking fame nor amassing wealth.
8. He produces the character of God in us. This is what is mostly referred to as the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

Experiencing the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

When a person ace pts Jesus as Lord and Saviour, they experience regeneration or rebirth (John 1:12-13). After this encounter, the next very important thing that should happen to the new convert is the experience of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which can further be described as the Baptism and daily Infilling of the Spirit.

1. What is the Baptism of the Spirit?

This is a spiritual experience where the whole being of the Christian believer is immersed in the Spirit, and thereby become filled or saturated with the presence and power of the Lord. This experience is officiated by Christ Himself, unlike water baptism which is officiated by a clergy.

• It’s Significance

This experience is very important to the Christian, at least for these reasons:

• To receive power for witnessing about Christ to the lost world (Acts 1:8)
• To receive spiritual gifts for service to the Lord and the church (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 18, 28, Rom. 12:3-8).

1. The Initial Evidence

Although the experience of the Holy Spirit’s baptism is spiritual, there is a physical manifestation to prove its occurrence. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence. There are, of course, other evidences that will follow with time, but the very first is speaking in that unknown, heavenly language. Below are some biblical examples:

• The example of Paul (Acts 9:17, 1 Cor. 14:18)
• The example of Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-46)
• The example of the Ephesian disciples (Acts 19:1-7)

• The Significance of Speaking in Tongues

So, why is it important for the Spirit-filled believer to speak in tongues?  Here are a few of the many reasons.

• We edify or build up ourselves when we pray in tongues (1 Cor. 14:4, Jude 20).

• We speak mysteries (that cannot be unravelled by the devil) unto God (1 Cor. 14:2).
• Through tongues speaking, we magnify God (Acts 10:45-46).
• Tongues speaking produces spiritual refreshing (Isaiah 28:11-12).
• It allows our spirit to commune with God in prayer (1 Cor. 14:14).
• Through tongues speaking, the Spirit prays through us, making intercessions for us and others (Rom. 8:26).

• How to Experienced the Baptism of the Spirit

Every person who has experienced regeneration or rebirth (that is, has become a Christian), automatically qualifies to also experience the baptism of the Spirit. Here are a few steps that could be followed afterwards:

• Develop a heartfelt desire for the baptism (Prov. 10:24).

• Believe that you will receive when you ask for it (Matt. 21:22, Mark 11:24).
• Ask, and keep asking until you have received it (Luke 11:9-13).
• There are times that the believer may receive the baptism while meditatively listening to a Spirit-filled message (Acts 10:44:46).
• The experience may also occur through the laying on of hands by a Spirit-filled minister or church leader (Acts 19:5-6).

• The Daily Infilling of the Holy Spirit

It is not just enough for the believer to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. We as well need His daily infilling. We need new empowerings, new anointings, new outpourings of the Spirit daily in order to remain spiritually buoyant and victorious in our walk with the Lord.

After the outpouring of the Spirit on the 120 disciples on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), they experienced repeated outpourings and infillings. In Acts 4:23-31 when the believers gathered to pray following the release of Peter and John from imprisonment, the Bible recounts that ‘…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit….’ When Paul converted and became a believer in Christ, Ananias prayed for him, and he got baptised in the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). Later when Paul confronted Elymas the sorcerer, the Spirit filled him again (Acts 13:9).

Having this continuous experience would require that we make time to fellowship with the Holy Spirit in prayer, praise and worship, and to meditate on His Word daily (Josh. 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3, 1 Thess. 5:17).

• Hindrances to the Daily Infilling of the Holy Spirit

The following behaviours can hinder us from experiencing fresh outpourings of the Spirit:

• Lack of involvement in spiritual disciplines like having personal devotions and retreats, and fellowshipping with other believers, among others.

• Lack of unity with other Christian believers (Psalm 133:3).
• Lack of obedience to God’s Word, the leading of the Spirit and to the godly counsel of God’s people.
• Living a life of self-indulgence, self-centredness, materialism and secularism.
• Grieving the Holy Spirit through bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, lies, etc. (Eph. 4:30-5:2, Acts 5:1-11).
• Resisting the Spirit by rejecting or ignoring His leading (Acts 7:51).
• Following the desires of the flesh and pleasures of the world (Isa. 59:1-2, Gal. 5:16-170).

Walking in the Spirit

To enjoy a continuous fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and experience the fullness of His presence, wisdom, power, grace and glory, it is required that the believer learns to walk in the Spirit daily. Walking in the Spirit enables us to receive fresh outpourings of Him.

To walk in the Spirit means yielding to His control, following His leading, and allowing Him to influence every step we take (Luke 4:1). It requires that we do not live according to the dictates of the flesh, for the desires of the flesh conflict with those of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-17). When we walk in the Spirit, we do not gratify the desires of the flesh, instead, we bear the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and in self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23).

Those who walk in the Spirit rely on Him daily to guide them in their thoughts, utterances and deeds (Rom. 6:11-14). They live their whole life according to the Word of God (Josh. 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3), and allow the Word to dwell in them richly (Col. 3:16).

Those who do not walk in the Spirit produce the works of the flesh – sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and carousing. When we walk in the Spirit however, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no dominion or power over us.

Conclusion

May we yearn to have broader knowledge, deeper understanding, and an intimate, personal relationship with the Holy Spirit whom the Father has forever given to us to be our Comforter, Counselor and Advocate.

Written by Pastor Samuel Acheampong (The Church of Pentecost – Nsakina New Town District – Anyaa Ablekuma Area)

Introduction

This article is a response to a misinterpretation of Acts 1:8 that is fast spreading. It is in connection with the Greek word µάρησρες, transliterated martyres, which is the plural form of the genitive noun µάρτσς, transliterated as martys. Teachers of the interpretation in question claim that Act 1:8 means that the disciples will receive “power to die” and not power for witnessing Christ including evangelism. One would hear proponents of such a school of thought opine, “What Acts 1:8 is talking about is not evangelism.” They would say, “The witness here is from the Greek word martys which means martyr.” For these preachers, martys means martyr in the Acts 1:8 context, and from their statements, every other place martys is used in the Bible. Their interpretation is one of the worst biblical hermeneutics Christianity can be confronted with. The interpretation of Acts 1:8 is that disciples of Christ would be empowered for Christian mission. In this very short treatise, I shall show that they do not have enough knowledge of µάρησς (martys) and have seriously misinterpreted Acts 1:8 ignoring the original (ordinary) usage of martys. This interpretation is a false teaching that needs to be repulsed and thwarted.

Background of Acts 1:8: A Call unto Missions

The text of concern reads, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NIV). In the Greek, it is rendered (just for your attention), ἀλλὰ λήµυεζθε δύναµιν ἐπελθόνηος ηοῦ ἁγίοσ πνεύµαηος ἐθ‟ ὑµᾶς, καὶ ἔζεζθέ µοσ µάρτσρες ἔν ηε Ἰεροσζαλὴµ καὶ ἐν πάζῃ ηῇ Ἰοσδαίᾳ καὶ Σαµαρείᾳ καὶ ἕφς ἐζτάηοσ ηῆς γῆς. The immediate background to this text is located in Luke 24. In this chapter, Jesus Christ after his resurrection showed himself to his disciples and commissioned them with these words, “46This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses [µάρησρες] of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:46-49, NIV). This is not to say that other contexts in which the martys is used could be rendered “martyr” in the English language. In this commissioning exhortation, Jesus referred to his disciples as “witnesses”- µάρτσρες to his ministry hence they should go and testify about him. The sequel to Luke continues Evangelist Luke’s account of Jesus’ post-resurrection time with his disciples and his departure message in the sequel bears the same idea. So his charge to them that “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high,” is consistent with this charge of Jesus to his disciples: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” to bear witness or testimony of what they have seen, heard and experience of Jesus Christ. They are to witness or testify of the Gospel everywhere through evangelism, working miracles, signs, and wonders, or missions. This is what we see them doing after the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost. Later on, Ananias who prayed for Paul to gain his sight relayed the same original meaning of µάρτσς (martys) when he exhorted Paul. Paul reported this event thus: Then he said: “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness [µάρτσς, martys] to all people of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:14-16, NIV). How will the meaning stand if the µάρτσρες (martyres) in Luke 24 is to be rendered martyrs? Would it mean that Jesus said “You are martyrs of what is written that “The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance for forgiveness of sins . . .”? Was Jesus in this instance speaking to dead disciples? Rendered this way, it will be complete absurdity! This is what the exponents of the interpretation in question will be saying. How is Acts 22:14-16 going to be understood if µάρτσς (martys) used there is to be rendered martyr? Here, the Lord God was calling Paul into the mission field. Paul did exactly that, bearing witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. In another example, bearing witness or testifying about the resurrection of Christ is the main criterion used to elect an apostle to replace Judas Iscariot. Acts 1:21-22 accounts for it thus, “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness [µάρτσς, martys] with us of his resurrection (NIV). This is also very clear that martys is used to designate one who testifies about Jesus based on what he has seen concerning the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. These examples are not exhaustive.

In my consultation with Professor Allan Anderson, a renowned scholar of the University of Birmingham, UK, on the hermeneutics of Acts 1:8, this is what he said, “It is power for witnessing/mission. The connection with martyrdom is because the Greek word for “witness” is the word from where we get the English word ‘martyr’ but this is not its ordinary usage.” This has also been confirmed by Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah of the Pentecost University, Ghana.

“Martys Does Not Mean Martyr”

R. Magnusson Davis, the historian and founder of the New Matthew Bible Project posits that William Tyndale did a correct translation of martys when he consistently translated it as “witness” in the New Testament. Davis draws attention to three New Testament passages that were modified to hide the primary meaning of martys as “witness”; Acts 22:20; Revelations 2:13 and Revelation 17:6. She blames that on the analogy James Strong drew between martys and martyr. Davis rightly noted that “the original Greek did not carry such an analogical meaning.” The argument alleges that such a meaning arose in the mind of some early Christians long after the Bible was written due to the persecution that the early Christians who witness or testified about Christ faced which led to the death of some of them. The Encyclopedia Britannica which Davis cited explains the development of the word “martyr” from martys in this light. It is right to hold unto the original meaning the Lord Jesus and the writers of the Bible carried across to us in the Scriptures and not to merely use later events to change the ordinary meaning.

Concluding Remarks

Pentecostalism remains the most successful missionary movement in recent times. The reason is not hard to find. The main reason for this is the emphasis on mission and evangelism. The basis for the coming of the Holy Spirit is missions. The missionary fire of Pentecostalism has been burning its way into every place. The Pentecostal Christian tradition has fully embraced and placed importance on Acts 1:8 and indeed the Lord Jesus who promised to empower them to witness to the ends of the Earth, once again proving he is faithful. Pentecostals are entering every place with the Gospel. Pentecostalism is growing and maturing to the glory of the Lord. We must continue to seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit to advance the mission of God. He charged us; “This message of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the earth as a witness and then the end will come …” (Matt. 24:14). This is the reason for the power we receive when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. The Holy Spirit has come upon millions of Christians and empowered them to bear witness to what they have seen, heard, experienced, and known about the Lord Jesus Christ. In this week of Pentecost 2022, and beyond, may there be a renewal of the movement of the Spirit around the world through the baptism in the Holy Spirit for witnessing.

Written by Elder Dr. Stephen Ofotsu Ofoe

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is God Himself. (Matt. 3: 16-17) and plays many distinctive roles in the lives of the believer. He sanctifies, (2 Thess 2:13), guides (Jn 16:13), strengthens (Eph 3:16), indwell (Gal 5:16-18), baptises (Acts 2:4) among others.

The Holy Spirit is the person of God himself; God’s personal presence and God’s empowering presence^[1].

One of the distinctive mark of the Pentecostal Movement is speaking with tongues, whether we like it or not, it has made Pentecostalism the most distinct and recognizable entity in the twentieth century.^[2]

BIBLICAL BASIS

John the Baptist, who was the forerunner of Jesus, spoke about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and mentioned Jesus as the one who baptises:

‘I baptize you with water, But one more powerful than I will come… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire’. (Luke 3:16)

‘I would not have known Him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’  (John 1:33)

Jesus then confirmed the words of John:

 ‘I am going to send to you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high’.  (Luke 24:49) ‘For John baptized with water; but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit’.  (Acts 1:5)

The promise of the father as Jesus mentioned was the prophesy of Joel in 2:28 which God said He will pour His Spirit upon all flesh.

Peter described what happened in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, ‘…All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them’.  (Acts 2:2-4) as the fulfilment of the promise (Acts 2:16-17)

From their experience, the disciples knew that they had been baptised in the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues. Even though the Holy Spirit is invisible, the effects which He produces can be seen and heard^[3]  so the outcome of the baptism was unconceivable; the sound of the mighty wind, the appearance of tongues of fire, the infilling with the Spirit resulted in the speaking of a new tongues. Peter said the fulfilment of the promise was for them, their children…and all those that the Lord will call’   (Acts 2:15- 39)

As mentioned by Peter, the promise was also fulfilled among some other believers:

‘While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcision believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues, and praising God…’  (Acts 10:44-46)

When Peter met the Jewish believers after Cornelius house incidence, he said ‘Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit: (Acts 11:16)

Again at Ephesus:

‘When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied’.  (Acts 19:6)

Upon these scriptural basis, Classical Pentecostals believe that the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues has not ceased but still fulfilling and relevant even today for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Moreover, the out pouring, coming upon and over shadowing of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost did not mark a distinction between the operations of the Spirit in the lives of the Old and New Testament saints.^[4] However, Pentecost signalled the fulfilment of the ancient promise of God to graciously pour out his Spirit like a downpour and rivers of living water on all believers to incorporate them into one body in Christ.^[5]

Parham was astonished when his students reported their findings that, while there were different things that occurred when the Pentecostal blessing fell, the indisputable proof on each occasion was that they spoke in other tongues.^[6]

CONCLUSION

The advent of the baptism of the Holt Spirit that happened on the day of Pentecost is not just a historical incident but an ever-renewed presence of God through His Spirit into the world.

Written by Pastor Charles Boadi, National Head, Eswatini (Swaziland)