Christians have been urged to rededicate themselves to Christian work by examining the marks of the early church.
Apostle Anthony Kingsley Miah speaking to more than 1,000 church leaders – elders, deacons and deaconess – picked out at least five signs of the early church, the holy grail for modern-day Christians.
He explained that after the church received the promise of the Holy Spirit between AD 63 to 65 embarked on evangelism that was confirmed with miracles.
Apostle Miah who is also the Berekum Area Head said miracle-backed evangelism requires a care in the selection of certain kind of leaders, deliberate and effective prayer meetings and fundraising for evangelism.
Picking out prayer as another focus of the early church, the Apostle and former missionary to Gabon bemoan weakness of Christians in prayer.
‘Today, Christians can’t pray for even five minutes’, he complained and observed 90% of contemporary Christian prayer is about ‘me, me, me’.
He read out Act 4:29 where the early Christians were seen praying for boldness and courage to declare the gospel despite threats.
This focus is sadly the opposite of many who are interested in prayers for a job, marriage and visas.
Stressing on the power of prayer as seen in Acts 12:5-17 where “Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him”, the Apostle said through prayer Paul and Silas walked out of prison.
“When the church prayers, there is an automatic opening of prison doors, rendering the soldiers useless”, he emphasised.
He expressed shock at Christians who fear and worry about witches and evil spirits when there was no such example of this fear in the early church.
Apostle Miah said when Christians meet to fellowship and pray, they encounter the whole of God’s Kingdom, a meeting which purifies and helps them to consecrate themselves for God.
The aftermath of such consistent encounters is that the glory of God is revealed in the life of the Christian who now attracts glowing testimony from other people.
This, he said, was how the believers in Antioch were first called Christians.
Apostle Anthony Kingsley Miah also pointed out the early church loved to study scriptures. If that church was predominant today, text messages urging them to send it to 25 people and expect a blessing, usually money, will never go viral because it is not a biblical practice.
He rounded up his teachings by picking three more signs of the early church. That they were a united church as seen in Acts 2:45.
He said offenders were disciplined irrespective of their social status, a standard which is missing in many churches.
The Berekum Area Head said selective justice in the church has also resulted in selective justice in Ghana where goat stealers are swiftly and heavily punished while those who steal millions are yet to be brought to book.
Apostolisation is a calendar event across the Church of Pentecost. It is a time for church leaders to meet with Apostles for inspirational teachings and Holy Ghost encounters. It is based on the church’s 2019 theme ‘ I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail”
The Kaneshie Area which spans across Kaneshie, Kwashieman, Nyamekye, Darkuman and several communities has been holding its Apostolisation series from Monday and it set to end Friday.
The Kaneshie Area which is headed by Apostle Mike Etrue has at least 89 assemblies and worship centers.
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