October 8 – 14, 2018 has been set aside by The Church of Pentecost and all churches affiliated to the Ghana Pentecostal And Charismatic Council (GPCC) to mark this year’s “GPCC WEEK”. The theme for the weeklong celebration is “Practical Holy Living: Evidence Of A Transformed Life” (Ephesians 4:20-24).
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and was taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:17-24
The theme for the past year was “Divinely Empowered for Transformation” and the focus had been on how we can experience transformation as individuals through Divine (Holy Spirit) Empowerment and then use that as a basis to bring transformation into other aspects of life (business, academia, media, arts and entertainment, governance and international relations, environment etc.)
The fact, however, is that today, many who call themselves Christians and should have exhibited the transformation that should come with their claim are still living in sin and living defeated lives. The purpose of this year’s theme is to link transformation to practical holy living in such a way that members will understand that holy living is not abstract but that it should be practical and a necessary result of a transformed life that should be visible to all. The text above, which contains the theme text, draws a contrast between the pre-transformation and post-transformation lives (Verse 19-21 cf Verse 22-24). This contrast is further emphasized in 2 Corinthians 5:17, where Paul again says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” The new life the Bible talks about, must manifest in practical holy living.
Today an emphasis on holiness seems to have all but disappeared not only from the general society but even in the Church. Every once in a while we pull it out of storage, talk about how great and important it was, and then put it back. We behave as though holiness is out of fashion or as though we have outgrown its usefulness. The truth, however, is that holiness is never out of fashion. It does not belong to a bygone era. It is still useful and also “fashionable” as it ever was. As Christians and for that matter, Pentecostals and Charismatics, holiness is not optional. As God’s people, we are to be holy in all we do because He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). It is God’s purpose that we be holy (1 Thessalonians 4:3a), and without holiness, we will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
All members are thus encouraged to participate fully in the weeklong celebrations.
From: GPCC National Secretariat
