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Aug 17, 2004 Praise the Lord Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praise to my God While I have my being Psalm 146: 1-2 A new wind of spontaneous and exhilarating high praises is currently blowing across the body of Christ in Africa. It does seem to me that something akin to a praise revival is in the offing. More and more people are coming into the church seeking for a deeper relationship with God. Truly, there is excitement in the air. The church is being set on the Pentecost fire again, a fire of explosive praises onto God. All over Africa today and especially in Ghana the wind is blowing. There is a wind of rejoicing and celebration. This wind is bringing in the glory of God upon His people. This wind is blowing the fire of God upon the church burning and cleansing her of all her dross. This is a wind of jubilation. Scriptural prophecies are being fulfilled in our generation. “Princes shall come out of Egypt; E-thi-o-pia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God Psalm 68:31”. Here is Ghana there is a lot of dancing and singing. The church is celebrating Jesus. And with the peace in the polity, Thanks to democracy, which is taking root in the political governance, I do believe this move is of God. Indeed, God has strategically positioned Africa as the trigger through which the gun of the last revival will be shot into the whole world. For example, look at the Living Faith church in Lagos with Bishop David Oyedepo. By the grace of God they have built the largest church auditorium on planet earth that can sit over 50,000 members. There was a time over 5000 souls surrendered their lives to Jesus on a Sunday morning service. In Ghana the praise revival has already began which will lead to prayer revival culminating in the mass evangelical campaign before the king of kings and Lord of lords showed up in the sky and we shall be caught up to be with Him forever. I want the church to understand the pattern. The last revival will begin with high praises whereby churches will devote a greater part of their services to praising God and of course with intensive worship. More Christian music will filled the airwaves. This is already happening in Ghana. And on the womb of those who will yield their hearts to the Holy Spirit and dwell in God’s presence new songs will be birthed. And as believers are praising their God and celebrating the King of Kings the Holy Spirit will burden the hearts of Christians to begin praying for souls. More praise more groaning for souls. And as the volume of praises poured forth to heaven, intercessions of souls going on, there will be a growing enthusiasm and willingness to go out and witness for Jesus. The glorious gospel of Christ will shine forth into every heart and the pew will be filled and there will be more celebrating and the waves will continue… Make no mistake about it, (I believe I am speaking prophetically now), the fire of the gospel is about to engulf the whole Earth. From coast to coast, shore-to-shore the awesome power of God will be demonstrated. From Africa to United states of America, to Europe to Asia and the Far East the good news of salvation which is ONLY through Christ will be proclaimed. Presently in Accra, almost all the mega churches are investing heavily in their music ministry because they have realized that praises onto God is a mighty weapon for evangelism. You bet it, in Ghana people love to go to churches with robust praise sessions on Sundays, praises before, during and after sermon! In Ghana the love for singing and dancing is legendary. It is both cultural and natural. It is like drinking water. From work songs to highlife and Christian songs. And there are many song to sing in twi, ga, ewe, Yoruba and English. From the sacred works of Dr Ephraim Amu, J.H Nketia, Boateng to over 200 gospel musical groups and they all write their own songs. For their high praise to exhaustive and inspirational preaching many people are coming to church now. Churches that are the cutting edge of this praise revival are: Pure fire miracle ministries, with pastor Enoch Aminu. Winners Chapel, senior pastor, Bishop George Agyman, Word miracles church international, head pastor, bishop charles Asare, International Central Gospel Church Dr Mensa Otabil, Royahhouse chapel international Rev Sam Korachie Ankrah, Light house chapel Bishop Hewald Mills, Action chapel international, Bishop Duncan William. Even the so-called orthodox churches are not leftt out in this praised revival that has hit Ghana. Calvary Baptist Church headed by Rev Fred Degbe has just hired a first class music director in the person of Cyrus Darpoh who has resigned from the music department of Ghana Broadcasting corporation.. The Methodist church has been organizing a citywide crusade with the economist evangelist Lawrence Tetteh. In Accra alone there over two hundred musicians, the most prominent are Diana Akinwumi, Cindy Thompson, Joe Becham Veronica Lamisi and Mama Esi. There are over ten FM radio stations in Accra all claiming to have strong Christian values as their policy. The latest and the most vibrant is the Sunny 88.7 FM with it loveliest presenter, loviet Ajoke Abiola filling every home and offices with her inspirational soul music everyday. Having gone round most of the churches I do believe what is lacking now is for the people to have the requisite knowledge about what praise is all about. You see, praise and worship is much more than singing and dancing. It is an attitude of the heart and it should be a way of life. When the church is properly taught the people will do it according to heavenly pattern. Indeed, praise is appreciating God for His person; we praise Him for who HE is. We praise God for His greatness, His goodness, Love and faithfulness. Praises acknowledges the attributes of God while thanksgiving acknowledges His deeds. It involves the flowing forth of gratitude from the depths of our heart to God. There is an Africa proverb which say “if you know how to think, you will know show to thank God”. Praise is a celebration of our triumph in Jesus. Triumph over the power of sin, sickness, and poverty. Were it not for Jesus what would have been my fate. For me, I would have been a fetish priest in the village. I quite remember at the age of six when the devil afflicted me with terrible stomach pains. For days I was crying like hyena in the village. My parents and the entire villager were weeping profusely thinking I was gong to die, but the Lord rescued me. As if that was not enough just at that early age, I would spread oracles on the floor in our house in the village and begin to foretell everybody’ past present and future. I think the devil have a premonition that I will be an end time prophet of God and he want to surcharge my destiny. But thanks be to God who made me to triumph in Christ and make manifest the savor of His knowledge by me in every place. And for these and more reason I must praise Him. ------------ About the author: PROLIFIC WRITER, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER MATTHEW OYE ARIKANKI LIVES IN GHANA. EMAIL: matthewoyebo@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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