THEME: Sustaining Your Stamina for the End-Times (Last Days)
TEXT(S): Mathew 25:1-10; Daniel 11:32; John 17:20-23
INTRODUCTION
No true Christian with eyes on the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ will doubt the fact that we are in the last of the last days in the history of the world. All the signs of the eminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ is being fulfilled in our very eyes today especially the last sign which Jesus Himself stated in Mathew 24:14- “And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to the nations, then the end will come”.
At first some of us found it very difficult to comprehend the possibility of sending the gospel to the whole world, especially the Muslim territories but now at the press of a button on our iPads , the gospel message easily gets to every corner, home, office and room of the globe. Thanks to the Internet and media technology.
Jesus Christ compared the end-time Christian life, journey and service to the Parable of the Ten Virgins who took their lamps to go out to meet the Bridegroom (Mathew 25:1-13). And He said Five were foolish who took their lamps without extra oil; And the other Five were wise who took extra oil along with their lamps. When the Bridegroom tarried they all fell asleep. But at the midnight hour, a bell went out with a cry: “the Bridegroom comes”!!. They all trimmed their lamps, but the foolish virgins found out that their lamps were going out and began to beg the wise to give them some of their oil which they refused with the explanation that it cannot serve both they and them. They should go to the town to buy their own which they did. But when they returned, the Bridegroom had gone in with the Five-wise virgins to the wedding banquette. Later the Foolish virgins came from the purchase of the oil and began to knock at the door to the banquette hall saying: “open us” but the Bridegroom answered them and said: I never knew you. Watch therefore, for you neither know the day nor the hour.
Looking at the emerging events of our day and time, I can prophetically say that the Church age is fast approaching the mid-night hour of Christ Second coming, and for that matter, the Church is now found or looking asleep or sleeping in many aspects of her functions like evangelism, regular Church attendance, and relating or fellowship with other Christians of other denominational Churches (GPCC). The sleeping Church at this end times has resulted in many wolves (false prophets and Pastors) sneaking into the Kingdom business, and stealing God’s sheep to form their own Churches. Now some of these wolves have found their way to join the GPCC but they cannot share true fellowship with us as our GPCC weeklong programs proves. Those of us who are yet to go to sleep must arise and work while it is day for the night is fast approaching when no man can work.
HOW DO WE SUSTAIN OUR STAMINA IN THESE END TIMES SO THAT WHEN WE ALL GO TO SLEEP AND THE LAST TRUMPET SOUNDS OUR LAMPS WILL NOT GO OUT FOR LACK OF OIL?
The answer to this great question can be answered from Daniel 11:32; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Tim. 2:1-7.
1.0 The people who know their God will stand firm and do
exploits (Dan. 11:32). Here the knowledge of God comes
through daily intimate communion with the Lord and the
study of His word (Isa. 40:3031; Jas. 4:8; Job 8:5-7;
2 Tim. 3:15-17).
1.1 The knowledge of God also comes by the awareness and
intimate communion with the presence of the in-dwelling
Holy Spirit in us (believers) as our teacher, counselor, guide,
helper, comforter, healer, and revealer of the mysteries of
God and His word, plus the manifestation of Christ life:
Character, power, anointing, ministry of good works, and the fullness of Christ in us as we sustain personal daily intimate
communion with Him as a Person and our Lord God.
2.0 We must learn from the life and example of Christ and
mature Christian Leaders around us (1 Cor. 4:16-17; 11:1).
3.0 We must pay more careful attention to Jesus final priestly
prayer for Church unity (ecumenism), in these last days
as stated in John 17:20-23. GPCC strongly believes in and
practices Church ecumenism so if you find any minister,
Church Leader toying or playing with this prayer of Jesus
Christ that spells out Church ecumenism like GPCC, he or
she is not standing aright in the eyes of God. He cannot
sustain the stamina needed for the hot Christian race in these last days. He will preach what he does not practice. Our Unity in the Spirit must not only be trumpeted in our National and Regional Delegate Conferences but must be demonstrated during the accepted GPCC week programs at the Zonal and Regional Levels. Our offerings during these programs show the love we have for Jesus Christ and obedience to His prayer for Church ecumenism. The Spirit and understanding of Church ecumenism among the Regional Executive Council in Greater Accra -GPCC can be described as one of the best one can find on earth, which I appeal to all delegates to emulate and
Impact other ministers and Church leaders with this ecumenical spirit in the whole of Greater Accra region as my term of office comes to an end today. This will affect all other Regions, and the Nation at large. This will clamp down the surge of false Prophets and Apostles in Ghanaian Christianity.
4.0 We must put on the whole armor of God to be able to stand
against the schemes of the devil in these last days (Eph.6:10ff
5.0 The above principles if put into practice will make us strong in
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that Paul was telling his
faithful mentee, Timothy, in 2 Tim.2:1. Grace is all we need
daily for stamina to ran the race marked out for us in the
Kingdom business of the Great Commission .
I once again wish to salute and thank you all for enjoying your love, cooperation, support in diverse ways in my three year leadership and administration of this great Council. God bless you all. I pray you give all the necessary respect cooperation and support to the next Chairman to move this Council to higher heights.
Presentation by Apostle Emmanuel Achim Gyimah,
Outgoing Regional Chairman, GPCCC, GT. ACCRA
FOR THE 2017 1ST HALF-YEAR REGIONAL DELEGATES CONFERENCE HELD ON 27TH APRIL AT THE LIBERTY ASSEMBLIES OF GOD AUDITORIUM, ABEKA LA-PAS.