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KHARIS KHARISEpsilon Iota Edition Edition2013 2011
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Ghana’s premier Christian magazine
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KHARIS Iota Edition 2013
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Contact KHARIS Books (The book publishing department of Kharis Media Ltd.) For all your excellent publishing needs. Mobile: +233 (0)544 000042 +233 (0)245 202626 Office: +233 (0)30 3309956 Enlightening the World through Christian & Inspirational books.
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SALES & RENT Circular and Square Formwork Molds FORMWORK Molds into which concrete are poured to form columns..
For All constructions works.. Houses, Bridges, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Family Life
Yes I do
REV. SAM KORANKYE–ANKRAH
Grace vrs. Law
TRAILBLAZER (VITAC EDUC. INST.)
The EXPERIENCE
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CONTENTS THE TEAM Publisher’s page 7 Columnist 8 Charles H. Spurgeon I.M.W.C 11 Impact of Social Media On Family Family Life 14 Making your Relationship Fireproof Relationship 16 U can Make it Marriage Life 21 Rev. Sam Korankye- Ankrah Profile 24 REACH BEYOND YOUR GRASP Keep FIT 33 VITAC – A Beacon of Hope Trailblazer 39 The Heart of Leadership Inspiration 49 God’s Two Creations Equipping the Saints 51 Jokes 56
PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Randy Osae Bediako
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Lois Osae Bediako (Esq.)
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Douglas Kutin - Mensah
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Osei-Wusu Charles (Luvtouch Innovations)
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Benjamin Terkper Sarnyingmor
INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
Henrietta Excellence Adu-Kessie (Mrs.) (U.K)
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Klenam Koku Fiadzoe (YOUGORA)
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A message from the publisher
GRACE rules
U
nderstanding the power of grace in our lives is essential to being able to tap into it in order to do things that bring glory to God. Our whole Christian experience, from living holy lives to fulfilling our individual assignments, requires the grace of God.
Grace is the supernatural ability of God that empowers us to live in a way that pleases God and to serve Him acceptably. This power is available to every Believer; it is resident in our recreated spirits. We don’t have to try to accomplish things in our own strength when we have a revelation of what we possess inside of us. In fact, God will never let us compete with His grace. When we try to do things in our own strength or try to get God’s attention by merely obeying a set of rules and regulations, we are actually operating in pride because we are essentially saying that our way is better than God’s way. Even as it relates to changing certain negative behaviours we may be involved in, will power or LAW is not the answer. God has empowered us to overcome our flesh through His grace so we don’t have to rely on ourselves to get the job done. Revelation 4:11 declares, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
God has created us to do good works, and the works of God that we are ordained to carry out can only be done through our relationship with Jesus Christ. The grace of
beings who were born again so that we can fulfill a destiny and calling from God. Every gift, talent, and ability God has given us is for the specific purpose of ultimately glorifying Him. The paths that He has preplanned for us are good paths that lead to abundance. The grace of God on our lives gives us the ability to do everything He has called us to do, as we allow our steps to be ordered by Him. The process of releasing the grace of God to do the works of God begins with the Word of God. Grace comes through faith and faith is obtained in the Word. Therefore, in order to have the faith to activate grace, we must immerse ourselves in the Scriptures and meditate on the truth about grace. The more we begin to renew our minds to the supernatural ability of God that is available to us, the more our faith in grace will grow in our hearts. When grace is appropriated, power is released, and we get results in our lives.
andy OsaeBediako R In this edition of Ghana’s awardGod is the catalyst that enables us to do these things. God created you for a good pur
winning BEST Christian Magazine, we take you on a phenomenal grace tour where you would appreciate the immense authority and power grace has over law.
pose, and that purpose is designed to bring Him pleasure and glory. Sometimes we can become so earthly-minded that we forget that we are first and foremost spiritual
Enjoy GRACE and remain blessed.
Please send your comments to randy@kharismagazine.com or call +233
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Iota Columnists Bishop Charles Agyinasare
Presiding Bishop of Perez Chapel Int’l
Rev. Dr. Derek & Mrs. Linda Larbi
(Action Chapel Int. Tema, Comm. 9)
Mr. Joseph Mintah President, All for Christ Youth Missions
Mrs. Lois Osae Bediako (Esq)
Associate Publisher, Kharis magazine
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Rev. Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh Executive Director of Databank
Mr. & Mrs. Mintah
CEO’s of JOMINT
Mr. Kofi Wusu
Relationship and Marriage Counselor
Mr. George Kojo Addison
M.D. StarLife Assurance
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Impact makers and world changers
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he world has come to know Charles Spurgeon as the “Prince of Preachers,’’ but he was also a gifted teacher, counselor, author and philanthropist. More than any other individual of his time, he revived a sybaritic English society into God-fearing, Christ-serving people. Spurgeon was steeped in the writings of the great puritans and they shaped his theology. His preaching, like theirs, was based on the authority of scripture and aimed to set forth the saviour. Faith laughs at which fear weeps over. There can be no such things as perfect happiness till there is perfect holiness. Happy the church when God gives her holy ministers: But unhappy the church where wicked men preside. Every believer in the cross must bear the cross. These are just a few of the numerous quotes or writings by a man who impacted this world with his ministry.
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Charles H. Spurgeon was born on June 19, 1834 at Kelveton, Essex. His father was an independent minister in 1849. Charles was appointed as an usher in a school at New Market, after attending Colchester School. He joined the Baptist in 1850. When Charles Spurgeon was sixteen, he gave his life to Jesus and became an instrument in God’s hands. He began to preach the gospel of Christ immediately he got converted in the little village of Tevesham, three miles from the University City of Cambridge. Spurgeon’s extraordinary ability was immediately known and he began pastoring the first church in 1852. By the time he was eighteen, he preached 412 times and that by 1853, he preached over 600 times, though not yet twenty years old. There is no doubt that, in England, Charles was the greatest preacher of the century. The street of London became blocked with traffic in the neighbourhood of his chapel or wherever else he preached in the small metropolis. People were attracted to the small church. Charles Spurgeon began publishing his sermons at twenty, and continued without interruption for thirty–four years. In 1853, Charles Spurgeon published his first print when he was pastor of The Baptist Church in Waterbeach also near Cambridge, and it was rated number one of the Waterbeach tracts. Charles Spurgeon became famous in London through his printed materials. At the age of twenty-two, a volume of sermons was issued in New York entitled the Modern Whitefield: the Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon of London. His sermons were an introduction and sketch of his life. The volume was said to have reached fifty editions. When Charles was twenty-eight years old, six volumes of his sermons had been published in America.
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Charles Spurgeon often spoke in Surrey Music Hall, with a seating capacity of 10,000; occasionally, in the Agricultural Hall, seating 20,000; and in Crystal Palace, London, where 23,000 people gathered. Charles preached to not less than 10,000,000 people in his thirty-four years of ministry. Because of the massive attendance at his meetings, Spurgeon once admonished his usual listeners to stay away from the next service to make room for new-comers. Tabernacle became even more jam packed. The quality of sermonic, devotional, and literary materials that flowed from the lips and pen of Charles H. Spurgeon is beyond anything of equal quality produced by any other preacher in modern times.
A classification of his tests will reveal the proclamation of the gospel of grace of God from almost every page of the Holy Scriptures Charles Spurgeon lived vigorously everyday reading widely, interviewing men and women concerning matters of soul; entertaining many of the distinguished Christian servants of the age; absorbing everything that was of interest; meeting life face
to face with all of its richness and infinite possibilities both for good and for evil. All of these were poured out graphically in his writings. His sermons moved through the word of God from Genesis to Revelation. A classification of his tests will reveal the proclamation of the gospel of grace of God from almost every page of the Holy Scriptures. Spurgeon believed in and lived by what he preached. He saw abundant results from his messages as he preached every day, to the glory of God. Charles was easily understood, and each person in the congregation felt that the message was talking to him or her personally. Charles equally understood the problems and needs of his people. He prepared his sermons with greatest care, constantly collecting materials, ever keeping in mind the needs of his people, and waiting upon God for the right text for each service. Charles Spurgeon lived a surrendered life to God. This excellent quality made God to use him. He lived his life serving the Lord he loved so much with all his strength. His wife, Susannah, declared of him: “His whole life...all his spiritual force, was in it.
Spurgeon believed in and lived by what he preached. He saw abundant results from his messages as he preached every day, to the glory of God
Charles Spurgeon also kept close to the word of God. He wrote in one of his volume of writings that: Read, above all things your Bible. Whatever keeps me from the Bible is my enemy; however harmless it may be [or] harmless it may appear to be. Whatever engages my attention when I should be meditating on God and the eternal does injury to my soul. The Bible is to be studied, believed, accepted and practised in order to receive its blessings. It gives life meaning, joy, victory, destiny and glory. Personal reading of the Bible is the
Read, above all things your Bible. Whatever keeps me from the Bible is my enemy; however harmless it may be [or] harmless it may appear to be. Whatever engages my attention when I should be meditating on God and the eternal does injury to my soul.
The Bible is to be studied, believed, accepted and practised in order to receive its blessings. It gives life meaning, joy, victory, destiny and glory. Personal reading of the Bible is the principal means of fruitful Christian living and spiritual growth
Riviera. He died in 1892 at the age of 57, the entire nation lamenting that his voice was stilled. It might almost be said that he worked himself to death. His activities were prodigious and his reputation as a preacher of the world-wide influence remained unsurpassed and undiminished to the end, nor has his influence passed away. His works ‘follow him’. More than a century after his death, his life and works continue to inspire millions of believers across the globe especially for those who will love their God as passionately and serve Him with so much single-minded dedication.
What will you be remembered for?
principal means of fruitful Christian living and spiritual growth. Spurgeon declares, ‘’ Nothing ever outgrows scripture; the book widens and deepens with years.’’ It is quite easy for a man of such immense spiritual endowments, loved so much by his people, to fall into the sin of pride. But Spurgeon was always on guard against this. An entry in his diary reflects his attitude: ‘’Forgive
me, Lord, if I have ever had high thoughts of myself.’’ During the later part of his ministry, Spurgeon did not enjoy good health and at intervals he had to spend the winter months at Mentone on the
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Impact makers and world changers
Charles Spurgeon was also a man of intense prayer. It was said of him that when he prayed it was as if Jesus was close by. He was a man of deep prayer. He always urged his people to challenge God for new assignments. He said, “‘Ten minutes’ praying is better than a year’s murmuring.”
IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE FAMILY.
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acebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, MySpace and Pinterest are some of
the most common names in social media sites today. Various people of all ages, beliefs, cultures and race spend a great deal of time interacting on diverse social media platforms everyday. Today a great percentage of children use the Internet and other social media sites globally.
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With so much emphasis being placed on social networking and so much time being spent using these sites, how is the interaction of the family system being affected? According to some experts social networking and cyber technology are having a negative effect on the family structure, because social networking has replaced the intimate interaction and bonding which use to occur within families, our young teens being the most affected by this growing trend. While social networking is not
bad in itself, allowing the cyber relationships to replace true family interaction is very dangerous. Other experts believe that cyber technology is hindering the ability of our children to develop social skills, and nurture interpersonal relationships. Family conversations have been replaced by texting sessions. Family activity time has given way to countless hours of Internet surfing, and as a result families do not enjoy the special bond that comes from intimate interaction with those who are closest to us.
With less supervision and more unrestricted time, it’s important to have well-defined rules for children on when and how to use social media. How should the family limit the negative effects of social networking, while keeping pace with the newest trends in technology? Some simple ideas and guidelines should make it possible for the family to enjoy both social networking and intimate family time. Truly, the ability to keep things in perspective exists with the parents. The onus lies on adults to set aside some rules that govern online social networking such as:
1) Ensure that the social networking sites are age appropriate. Many of the most popular sites require the user to be of a certain age. Many kids bypass this requirement by creating fictitious profiles which make them older than they really are. Parents must know which sites their kids are interacting on, and what requirements the sites have for membership.
2) Set time limits on cyber activities.
sation time are worthwhile family bonding activities. As parents, we should want our teens to feel as comfortable talking to us as they do texting cyber friends.
5) Teach your children not to encourage communication with 3) Educate your- unknown people. self. Having a strict set of rules on when the computer can be used, and what surfing options are appropriate will help the adults to monitor the interaction of their children.
As a parent, you must know the basics about what is available to your children. It is hard to protect our children if we are clueless about their activities.
4) Set the example, and set aside time for intimate family interaction. If our children see us spending entire days on social networking sites, then obviously we are encouraging them to do the same. Develop a regular and consistent activity schedule which includes spending time together as a family, minus the technology. Simple approaches like family dinners, Bible discussion time, walking and exercising together, and open conver-
“There is a lot going on through the Internet and predators know that’s a place they can prey on children. Parents’ first responsibility is to ensure a child’s safety, so make sure your children understand this rule is to protect them.” By following these simple guidelines, and by balancing technology with intimate family interaction, most families should be able to enjoy a diverse lifestyle. The key to success is to remember that social networking offers a world of positive benefits, and modern technology is here to stay. The use of modern technology can be of great value to the family that includes it within the structure of having intimate interaction on a regular basis.
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Mr. Kofi Wusu
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RELATIONSHIP FIREPROOF
n recent times it is heartbreaking to see beautiful relationships and marriages go out in smoke leaving onlookers shocked and wondering “what went wrong?” Relationships and Marriages need to be made fireproof and in doing so, three major approaches may be adopted – exactly as builders fireproof buildings by using preventive materials, protective measures and preservation methods.
THE THREE APPROACHES 1. PREVENTIVE MATERIALS (Avoiding the use of combustible materials) “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” (Proverbs 6:27). Relationships ought to start right so that they do not become time-bombs waiting to explode. When two people decide to give love a chance, explosive conflicts in the future can be prevented
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or eliminated when the following areas are addressed with absolute honesty:
a. Core values- If you believe in integrity, family and sacrifice you have no business stringing along a potential partner who is double-tongued and full of self. b. Belief system- Our future is guided
by our belief system so it is very important to understand the belief system of your partner and decide if you will be comfortable with it and more, for the rest of your life because what you are seeing is truly what you are getting.
2. PROTECTIVE MEASURES (Using fire safety measures) Common fire safety measures are usually systems that help detect and extinguish fire in its early stages. Couples need to jointly be friends with other couples who have healthy relationships. Research shows that couples who befriend other
couples who have healthy relationships/ marriages are less likely to suffer breakups or divorces.
3. PRESERVATION METHODS (Employing fire-resistant materials) “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3). One very serious question everyone must answer before saying “I DO” is related to honour. The question is, “Am I respected, honoured and valued in this relationship or I am just desirable for pleasure?” Love, honour and respect are far better values than just being seen as nice and desirable because when you are valued in a relationship, the relationship thrives.
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Mr. & Mrs. Mintah
MAKE IT
Contentment is not a natural propensity of man.
diligent work, based on the grace God has given to us.
Discontentment and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles,
Proverbs 10:4 says that “working with negligent hands brings poverty but diligence makes rich.” So our word to you is that be ready to soil your hands in the dirt of marriage and bring out something that you can be proud of. Your hard work alone cannot help you make it. You need the wisdom of God and an attitude that tells you that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. The material in your hand can be used to form something good. You must see the good potential in it.
for they come up naturally enough because they are indigenous to the earth. In the same vein we need not teach men to complain, they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we want to have maize we must be ready to plough and sow. If we want flowers, there must be the garden and all the gardener’s care. Contentment is one of Heaven’s flowers and if we would have it, it must be cultivated. It will not grow in us by nature; it’s the new nature alone that can produce it and even then we must be especially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has shown us. This long passage quoted from SPURGEON’s is to tell us that good marriages are the product of hard and
Marriage life
YOU CAN
See the beautiful things out of the clay in your hands, not the clay. See what can come out of it and begin to form it as you keep the product in sight. Your working tools are the
Your hard work alone cannot help you make it. You need the wisdom of God and an attitude that tells you that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
word of God, prayer and a teachable spirit. So be a DILIGENT PUPIL IN THE COLLEGE OF MARRIAGE.
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The ARK FUND is a long term ethical mutual fund with environmental and social considerations as prominent features. The Proverbial Noah’s Ark represents a place of security from destruction(poverty) and a place of God’s grace (accumulated wealth after investing) Join the Databank ARK Fund vessel today for a more rewarding and profitable future.
Disclaimer. “Past performance of ARKfund is not a guarantee of future performance”
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KHARIS KHARISEpsilon ZetaEdition Edition 2011 2011
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My
Investment
‘Lyfe’ 3.
I
was first introduced to mutual fund investment in 2004 during a Christian fellowship meeting at the Volta Hall, University of Ghana, Legon. The excitement to know that ‘me too’ I could invest a little sum of money for my future was so overwhelming. I quickly marshaled my resources, jumped aboard a ‘troski’ (public transport) and made my way to Pension House, where I opened my first investment account in the Databank Epack Investment Fund. I have been investing ever since, braving the downturns and riding on the gains of my bold and wise decision to invest in mutual funds. The tangible benefits of my investment decision have been enormous and life-enhancing. I financed part of my wedding expenditure and have opened investment accounts for my children. “A good man,” the Bible says, “leaves an inheritance for his children.” Investing in Mutual Funds is one of the easiest ways of growing one’s wealth. Additionally, it ushers one into a new world of understanding financial investment terminologies and opportunities, thereby overcoming the naivety or ignorance of the financial environment. I’d like to describe a mutual fund as a pool of funds mobilized from investors and invested in securities such as stocks, bonds, real estate etc. How does it work? It is as simple as putting on your shoes! Kojo and Adjoa walk into Databank and request for some investor education on investing in mutual funds. After they are exposed to the various options, they might then be asked the following questions:
1. 2.
Why do you intend to invest? Your tolerance- how will you react to reduction in the value of your
4.
investments? How long will you wait to make withdrawals? Do you have emergency funds?
They are then advised on investing in a suitable mutual fund based on their responses to questions asked and then the investment kick starts. I must stress that it is essential to stick to a regular investment plan instead of adhoc investments or investing only when returns are good. It is only ‘natural’ for people to invest more when returns are good. Let me, however, point out to you that it is rewarding to go against the tide when investing (well, most of the time). A tried and tested investment principle is that of investing when prices are trending downwards and selling when prices are trending upwards. This is how successful investors and the world’s top wealthiest made it. Relating this to everyday life, during periods of price reductions, we know how people go to great lengths to purchase large quantities of items. They are able to buy more for less. The same principle applies in investing. In my experience in mutual fund investing and management, I realize that most funds record the highest inflows and number of clients when returns are soaring and vice versa when returns are low. Let me bring home the point with this illustration. Fund A returns to shareholders 10% at a price of GHS0.10, Fund B returns to shareholders 35% at a price of GHS0.50. In the normal scheme of things, Fund B will record a higher level of inflows and number of clients than Fund A. However, what many investors fail to realize is that with GHS 500 an in-
Edna Ahunu
vestment in Fund A will give you 1,000 shares while an investment in Fund B will give you 200 shares. Shareholders who invested in Fund A stand to benefit more than shareholders in Fund B. I must also indicate that it is nearly impossible to time the market. Therefore most smart investors decide on a regular investment plan, usually a monthly plan. Sticking to a regular investment plan enables them even out their average costs. Moreover, you also develop the habit of investing regularly when you execute a regular investment plan. An investor who invested GHS50 monthly in the Databank Ark Fund, Ghana’s premier ethical fund, from January 2010 to December 2012 would have made GHS2,202. If, however, he had saved the money without investing, he would have accumulated GHS1,800. Another cardinal rule to investing is the need to remain realistic when developing your plan. I remember in 2004, when the investment craze was on, some of us decided to go as far as sacrificing our meals for our investments. Of course, we all know that this is not sustainable even in the short term. What happens is that in no time, you ‘de-gas’ (run out of funds) after deploying such an unrealistic strategy. Once you have a budget, you may allocate a realistic portion of your funds towards your investment as well as your bills. This I believe was what some of us should have done to sustain the investment momentum. In conclusion, I recommend that an investor looks out for a fund manager with experience as well as a fund with a relatively low cost structure. I shall expound on these two considerations in the next edition of My Investment Lyfe.
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M A S . V RE E Y K N KORA AH ANKR
R
ev. Sam KorankyeAnkrah’s life is a momentous testimony to the transforming power of the Word of God. Growing up in a typical polygamous African family was tortuous for him. He had to virtually scramble for space, food, love and care for survival; his many other siblings gave him stiff competition for parental attention. The fifth of seven children born to the late Mr. James Nii Ocran Ankrah of blessed memory and Madam Victoria Atsupi Ziddah, the young Korankye Ankrah just knew he could not give up on himself. Better still, God was not ready to deny the world of this miracle child. God had a plan for him. His mother played a pivotal role in grooming him in the ways of God. “The best thing that ever happened to me in my childhood was that I had a God-fearing mother; she gave me all the spiritual support I needed to go through the different phases of my life,” Rev. Ankrah says fondly about his mother. The celebrated man of God had a difficult beginning seeking formal 24 KHARIS
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education. That quest was as competitive as seeking parental love and care for survival in the family, given the number of siblings he had to contend with. He concedes his difficult beginnings and gives praise to God for his eventual breakthrough: Growing up was difficult considering the circumstances under which we grew up. We had to scramble for everything from food to space, love and care. Education was no exception. Fortunately, God had blessed me with wisdom and understanding that helped me gain a scholarship to further my education. After graduating from Ghana’s premier university, the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1984, Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah obtained various certificates in Christian leadership, Management and Entrepreneurship from Haggai Institute in Singapore and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) respectively. Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah is a multi-faceted and a multi-gifted man of God. He is an apostle, a prophet, pacifist, philanthropist, an
entrepreneur, educationist, author, a motivational speaker and the founder and Apostle General of Royalhouse Chapel International. The church is one of the most prominent and fastest growing Charismatic and Pentecostal ministries in Ghana, with numerous thriving local assemblies and international missions. He is also the Senior Pastor at the headquarters (Ahenfie), which currently seats thousands of vibrant and enthusiastic worshippers in weekly attendance in Accra, Ghana. He is a voice for the voiceless, a passionate worshipper and preacher of God’s Word. Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah’s ministerial impact both home and abroad is stupendous. The glaring transformation of lives that have been touched by his unique ministry bears ample testimony to this truth. Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah’s call to ministry was a dramatic one. Determined to excel in academics, he made a trip to Holland in 1990 after his university studies. However, the thoughts of man are not those of God’s. An uncommon encounter with God in his room on that fateful June 19, 1991 rewrote the story of his life. In that divine encounter, God gave him the following three core messages
in affirmation of the call on his life:
The young Korankye Ankrah just knew he could not give up on himself. Better still, God was not ready to deny the world of this miracle child. God had a plan for him.
• Bring people into my presence through prayer, praise and worship. • Preach salvation, healing and deliverance as well as messages of hope that are relevant to the needs of people. • Bring comfort to people and provide them with a place and an atmosphere of love, care, sharing and fellowship. He operates effectively in all the five– fold ministry and is a well soughtafter revivalist and international speaker, with passion for God and compassion for humanity. Through his ministry, the lives of street children, the homeless in society, drug addicts, commercial sex
workers, single parents, widows and widowers as well as the aged have been significantly affected with philanthropic initiatives like ‘’Outreach for Comfort ‘’, ‘’Rescue to the Needy’’ ‘’Ministry to the Aged’’, ‘’Hospital and Prisons Outreaches’’ and ‘’Scholarship Schemes for Bright but Needy Students’’. Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah’s multimedia evangelistic campaigns such as Power in His Presence (a weekly TV telecast) and Powerline (radio broadcast), reach millions of viewers and listeners locally and globally. He also mentors an extensive network of ministers through the Covenant Ministers Fellowship Incorporated which he founded. Besides his partnership with corporate organizations in Africa, Europe and USA, Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah serves on the executive boards of reputable and high powered religious councils and associations, and he is also a well-known figure in
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conflict resolutions between traditional leaders and Ghanaian churches. He has also pioneered reconciliation meetings between high ranking political figures in Government and the Opposition. Rev. Sam KorankyeAnkrah is also a Christian statesman, advisor to leaders in government, and mentor to a number of religious leaders who have submitted to his apostleship. The Apostle-General is currently the First Vice President of the ten (10) million-member Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council. Through his philanthropic initiatives and dynamic radio and television ministries, Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah has transformed the lives of millions of people in Ghana and abroad. In recognition of his outstanding virtues and in appreciation of his services to the nation, he was awarded with the title, dignity and privileges 26 KHARIS
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of MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE VOLTA on 3rd July, 2008 by the then President of the Republic of Ghana, President John Agyekum Kufour. In 2009, he earned the prestigious award, THE ANGEL OF THE YEAR, from Pristine Hub Limited and TV Africa. In April 2011, Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah received the “William Seymour” award for Excellence and Humility in Leadership from the Azusa Revival Directorate based in the USA. He is happily married to Rev. Rita Korankye -Ankrah, a God-fearing woman and the Founder and President – General of the internationally acclaimed Women’s Ministry of Royalhouse Chapel International (known as Royal Ladies Ministries). She is also the Premier Lady and the Director of Social and Practical Ministry of Royalhouse Chapel. They are blessed
with four wonderful children namely, Nana Akos, Paapa, Naa Dromo and Mawuena. Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah’s ministry is a definition of excellence and fulfillment. His vibrant prophetic gift and his passion in declaring the uncompromising Word of God through love, are compelling attributes of his calling and character that draw many to Christ. Royalhouse Chapel International (AHENFIE), with its 120plus assemblies in all the ten regions of Ghana, will be incomplete without tracing its success to the obedience and vision of this altruistic man.
Prayer, he stresses, has always been the driving force that has seen him and Royalhouse Chapel International (RCI) come this far.
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Rev. McDaniels A. Gyamfi [Founder and Pastor of Faith Harvest Chapel, Sterling, Virginia, USA.] For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17 “The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.” – D.L. Moody
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here is a revolution going on around the world as you read this piece. What is going on that I haven’t heard? you may ask. Friend, the Spirit of God is fanning the globe with the powerful force of His love. The purpose is to unveil the hidden mysteries, truths and principles which have been hidden from the Church for centuries and to bring us to a place of really knowing who He is and who we are in Him through the finished work of Jesus Christ. There is nothing greater than God’s love for us; it’s the most powerful force known by man. Your understanding of your covenant position in God is the most vital key to helping you access the unspeakable gift of the quality life of God on this side of eternity, as divinity invades the heart of humanity. However, here is the place of contention or ignorance; the difference between the two covenants – the Old Covenant of Law versus the New Covenant of Grace. 28 KHARIS
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What is so necessary about this difference, you may ask! Do you know that ignorance about the word of God can cause you to believe wrongly, and that a wrong belief system can lead to a twisted life? For instance, your belief in divine healing hinges on Covenants. Should we have to merit healing through self effort or we should embrace healing through faith in the finished work of Christ as new creation? Before we go further to unearth the difference between the covenants of law and grace and the efficacy of your covenant through Christ Jesus, let me give you a taste of this difference to give you clarity to understand the question I just asked you and whet your appetite to plunge into the length, height, width and the breadth of God’s work in Christ. “The Old Covenant of Law points to ‘what you have to DO; the burden rests on your self efforts, whiles the New Covenant of Grace reveals what has been DONE for you through the finished work of Christ Jesus on Calvary Cross. The clause is FAITH.” The Pharisees of Jesus’ day had this form of humanistic conformity to man’s doctrine and an attitude of neglect to revelation and insight. Therefore, they rejected the word of truth which had the power to have set them free from bondage. Many genuinely believe the Word and are doing every-
thing they know to do, yet things still haven’t worked out for them. I have experienced that too—personally and with many people I’ve ministered to. So, what’s the problem? Actually, there are many problems, but I think most of them can be summed up by what Jesus said in Mark 7:13 - Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition. What a startling statement! Wrong teaching—specifically religious doctrines, a mixture of law and grace— makes God’s Word of no effect. The most significant revelations I’ve received from the Lord all have to do with renewing my mind from the old ways of thinking that I learned in church. As I was freed from the traditions, the simplicity of God’s Word set me free. Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was a British Particular Baptist preacher who also shines light on what is on the table more than a century ago, and I agree and share the same sentiment with him 110%. He had this to say: There is no point upon which men make greater mistakes than upon the relation which exists between the law and the gospel. Some men put the law instead of the gospel: others put the gospel instead of the law; some modify
the law and the gospel, and preach neither law nor gospel: and others entirely abrogate the law, by bringing in the gospel. Many there are who think that the law is the gospel, and who teach that men by good works of benevolence, honesty, righteousness, and sobriety, may be saved. Such men do err. On the other hand, many teach that the gospel is a law; that it has certain commands in it, by obedience to which, men are meritoriously saved; such men err from the truth, and understand it not. A certain class maintains that the law and the gospel are mixed, and that partly by observance of the law, and partly by God’s grace, men are saved. These men understand not the truth, and are false teachers. In this article I shall attempt—God helping me—to show you what the design of the law is, and then what is the end of the gospel. The coming of the law is explained in regard to its objects: “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.” Then comes the mission of the gospel: “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Buckle your seatbelt and be excited for a ride of a life time, my friend! You will be empowered by this fantastic good news to live a burden-free and a profitable life as we unearth powerful truths to equip you to live an effortless life through the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Let us first find out what grace is.
WHAT IS GRACE?
So many people have a wrong perception when they hear the word grace. To some grace is that which causes God to be tolerant with our sins or the licence to sin. Many others also believe that grace is just limited to unmerited favor to give you all access to some closed door breakthrough and ends there. Due to our misunderstanding, certain quarters of the Church of Jesus Christ sees grace preachers as preaching cheap, greasy gospel contrary to what Jesus preached. The “grace” that is spoken about in the Bible, is the undeserved and unearned favor of God. This undeserved and unearned favor was brought to us by Jesus
Christ. Jesus paid the ultimate price to provide us with this great grace, but many of us have no idea what that practically means or what all Jesus has secured and freely made available to each and any of us that believe. In the English New Testament the word “grace” is always a translation of χαρις (charis), a word that occurs in the Greek text over 170 times (the reading is uncertain in some places). In secular Greek of all periods, it is also a very common word, and in both biblical and secular Greek it is used with far more meanings than can be represented by any one term in English. The fundamental idea behind grace is that God’s blessings bestowed on us are freely given, and not in consideration of any claim or merit. The New Testament word, charis, from chairein, “to rejoice”, denotes first of all a pleasant external appearance – loveliness, agreeableness, acceptableness – and has such meanings in Luke 4:22 and Colossians 4:6. A more prominent meaning of the word, however, is favor or good-will (see Luke 1:30; 2:40, 52; Acts 2:47; 7:46; 24:27; 25:9). It may denote the kindness or beneficence of our Lord (II Corinthians 8:9), or the favor manifested or bestowed by God (II Corinthians 9:8,referring to material blessings; I Peter 5:10). Furthermore, the word is expressive of the emotion awakened in the heart of the recipient of such favor, and thus acquires the meaning “gratitude” or “thankfulness” (Luke 4:22; I Corinthians 10:30; 15:57; II Corinthians 2:14; 8:16; I Timothy 1:12). In most of the passages, however, in which the word “charis” is used in the New Testament, it signifies the unmerited operation of God in the heart of man, affected through the agency of the Holy Spirit. While we sometimes speak of grace as an inherent quality, it is in reality the active communication of divine blessings by the inworking of the Holy Spirit, out of the fulness of Him who is “full of grace and truth” (Romans 3:24; 5:2, 15; 17:20; 6:1; I Corinthians 1:4; II Corinthians 6:1; 8:9; Ephesians 1:7; 2:5, 8; 3:7; I Peter 3:7; 5:12).
WHAT IS “THE LAW”? The phrase “The Law” refers specifically to the compilation of decrees found in the first five books of the Bible. This whole body of law was given the name Torah. Obedience to this law was the awesome obligation of God’s people as they attempted to merit His favor and blessing. After all, Israel was His special people, and they were bound together in a solemn covenant with Him. So the decrees, and not just some rules laid down by the tribal chief, were the law of the covenant community. When the law was transgressed, the covenant was broken, and so was the relationship with God! That’s why the law occupied such a huge place in the life of Israel. In order to restore the broken relationship, sacrifices were required and penalties were prescribed. Yet all these sacrifices were really inadequate. They tried to lay the culprit’s guilt on a sheep or a goat which was then killed - as though that scapegoat could really take away the guilt. True, God prescribed all this, but could such pitiful attempts at making amends ever really be adequate? In the Bible God is portrayed as so holy and just that sin could not be brushed aside. Actually the Bible presents sin as so horrendous that it merits death. This is the basic human predicament. In the New Testament, “the law” refers back to that old situation when people looked at obedience to the commandments as the way of acceptance with God. The apostle Paul often contrasts this with the forgiven state believers now enjoy because of God’s grace. Paul loves to make that contrast between the impossible situation of trying to merit forgiveness, and the new situation of forgiveness by sheer mercy because of Christ’s sacrifice.
OCEAN OF MERCY Why didn’t God give the Ten Commandments to Adam and Eve after they failed in the garden but waited until 2,500 years before He gave the law? The reason is that the law was never God’s best. God didn’t want us to KHARIS Iota Edition 2013
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know the depths of our sin. He didn’t want Adam to feel so bad that He ran from Him. God extended grace and mercy to people for 2,500 years, but they were taking His lack of judgment as approval. For instance, Cain’s greatgreat-great-grandson, Lamech, killed a man in self defense. Lamech told his wives: If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. – Genesis 4:24 Lamech felt more justified in his murder than Cain was. He thought that, if God protected Cain (which He did because there was no law to convict him) then He had to protect me that much more. Men began losing their standard and grew worse yet they felt they were alright. God had to do something to set a high standard which would not help man to overcome sin, but to strengthen sin so that man would come to the end of himself and ran to God for help. The law did not bring man closer to God in a personal relationship, but rather it motivated fear and torment in meeting God’s standard of righteousness, which was not possible by any means in the life of fallen man. So are we still supposed to keep “the law” today? Obviously all those laws about sacrifices are finished in the one and complete sacrifice of Christ. All the dozens of laws about the land, foods, and rituals of Israel don’t pertain to us either; nor can the keeping of any set of laws give us eternal life.
THE LAW – A STANDARD TO CONDEMN AND SHUT EVERY MOUTH The strength of sin is the law – I Corinthians 15:56. The letter [of the law] killeth – 2 Corinthians 3:6. There are a lot of Christians who will fight you tooth and nail with an attitude of “we have to keep the law, for it’s the law that makes us holy”. That is not the truth. The law wasn’t given to make you holy or help you. It was 30 KHARIS
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given to condemn you, to make you feel unworthy, to take away your selfrighteousness until you cry for mercy. The devil has caused honest preachers to be strong advocates of the law, not on the terms to which it was given. Rather ignorantly, they have set a legalistic attitude of duties and performance in the Church. This stance has reduced the Church to a weakling, condemned, guilty, and ashamed body of Christians bound in hypocrisy and pretensions. Beloved, it’s only the truth which will set you free. The power of the so-good-to-be-true news of Jesus Christ plus nothing of your self-righteousness or effort is the only means to the righteousness which is of faith. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:19-20 (KJV) The best among us – the morally good, the religious, the Gentile, the Jew, the Pharisee, and what have you – were all guilty by the law by the dominion of sin without an excuse that everyone will come to Jesus for salvation. I so much love the law for the reason to which it was given, but after Jesus has fulfilled the demands of the law on my behalf, I do not go back to engage myself in fulfilling the duties of the law. Paul says it this way: What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Romans 7:7-9 (KJV) Sin had no control without the law and it’s not the law which causes us to sin. The law only awakens the sinful desires of the fallen nature which was acting as alright without a savior. The law revived sin and the wages of sin was death – guilt, shame, condemnation, disconnection from God, torment and the like. But Jesus came to bring us back to the Father independent of our effort to earn righteousness and peace, which was contrary to the demands of the law. To help you understand the purpose of the law, let me give you this illustration: You go to work every morning driving through a particular street. This street has no speed limit therefore speeding is not a problem. For many years you have been speeding without any cop having to pull you over for a ticket or citation because there are no rules. Without the law
there is no sense of guilt even though there is a desire in you that compels you to speed. One day you realized there are speed limit signs all over the place; some areas had 20MPH and other areas had 40MPH. You started breaking the rules and got tickets every now and then because the standard was too high for your speeding evil heart. It was not the road sign which caused you to speed above the speed limit, but it rather revealed your imperfection. In other sense, the law is not bad but it knocks you flat on your face before God saying, “If this is what You demand, I have no chance. Have mercy on me, a sinner!”
THE LAW POINTS TO CHRIST “...but Christ did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it”! Why did you then say we should not continue to follow the law? It is extremely important for us to understand that none of us is going to make it to heaven because we’ve been following the law as law-abiding citizens. Heaven is neither for morally good people nor is it for perfect people. Heaven is for those who have been forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and not the blood of goats and bulls, which temporarily covered sin under the law. Every minutest element of the Old Testament was a shadow which points to the reality of what was to come under the New Covenant through Christ Jesus. The sacrifices of animals, holy days, Jewish celebrations, the Ark of the Covenant, cleansing, anointing with oil, etc. (Colossians 2:916) were all established in preparation for the coming of Christ. In speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus said: Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. Matthew 5:17 NLT Jesus Christ didn’t come to raise the standard of the law but to meet the high standard demands of the law which men could not meet so that we can have access to God on the basis of grace, which is independent of our performance. Going back to the law wouldn’t help men to have eternal life. In John 5:39-40 (NLT), Jesus said they have missed the real purpose of His coming to earth which the law and the prophets had already declared: You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. Until our eyes are open to the unmerited favor through Christ Jesus
and we unplug our cable lines from the socket of legalism and plug in to what Jesus has done, Christ shall profit us nothing. Jesus spoke to two of His disciples at the post resurrection on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:1727). These disciples are like many in the Kingdom of God; they were blind to the new and were still lost in despair because they did not know that the Scriptures have been fulfilled. Jesus joined them in their pity party conversation to awaken them to a brighter and better day. Jesus addresses them as being foolish or dull to what has been written. He meant to say, “Why are you troubled; today in your eyes what the law represents and the prophets said has been fulfilled so rejoice. Don’t live in despair!” In the Book of Acts when Paul arrived in Rome he spent an entire day with Jewish leaders to explain the fulfillment of the law through Christ that they will see their sin and come to their redeemer. So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. Acts 28:23 (NLT)
A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE OLD COVENANT OF LAW AND THE NEW TESTAMENT OF GRACE The law was a schoolmaster, a custodian, and our guardian to bring us to Christ. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against KHARIS Iota Edition 2013
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the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Galatians 3:19-25(KJV) In identifying the distinction: -The law was given to show people their sins -The law was temporal and was established to last until the coming of the child who was promised - The law could give new life - Apart from Christ all mankind are prisoners of sin - The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith - Now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
BY GRACE YOU ARE SAVED THROUGH FAITH The transaction of the new covenant of grace is not based on the human effort of law, but by faith in the person of Christ to experience the very life of God in our born again spirit. We did nothing having to be accepted, loved, forgiven, favored and empowered to live victoriously over the influence of sin. We are not under the reminder of sin but under the powerful force or persuasions of grace to live the quality life. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this
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through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. Romans 3:23-28 (NLT) We see powerful transformational truths in the Scripture above about the efficacy of grace through our covenant with Christ. Beloved, this must cause great joy in your heart and renew your mind that God is not angry with you and trying to punish you with some sickness. You have a right standing with God without any sense of guilt or shame. Halleluiah! - We are made right with God by faith in Him (verse 22) - God declares we are righteous (verse 24) - God freed us from the penalty of our sins (verse 24) - God declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus (verse 26). Beloved, you have been shaped by love through the influence of grace. The force of grace must be embraced daily to experience the love of the Father unconditionally. You are not under the Old Testament Law but under the New Covenant. A better covenant!
Now after being born again, God is not imputing our sins unto us. God is not angry with you and neither is He trying to knock you down with some disease to test your faithfulness. You are totally free to relate with Him based on unconditional, effortless love. Christ has redeemed us from the law; we should learn to discern what Jesus has done for us, who God is, and who we are in Him through the realities of the finished work. There is so much to download as you read the Pauline epistles through new covenant eyes. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; and do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:5-14 (NLT) Enjoy The Freedom of Grace!
KEEP FIT - REV. DR. LARBI
REACH BEYOND YOUR GRASP
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n training for competition, athletes set as their goal a higher standard than the best they have previously achieved. The body building experts advise that, to increase muscle size, you must gradually increase your comfortable weight in weight training. This strategy employed in athletics is duly reflected in advice on Christian maturation in Paul’s counsel to the Philippians in Chapter 3 of his letter. In his quest to be like Christ in dauntless glory –If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead – (Philippians 3:11) Paul exhorts that he consciously “forgets”. “But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” (Philippians 3: 13)
The attitude is one of “reaching beyond your grasp”. It is the only sure way to maintain vital growth. Big businesses, enterprises (and what have you) always grow by discontent with where they are. Paul set as his target the “out of this world” dream of understanding fully all of GOD’s mind in sending Christ to die for him.
“Most Christians expect little from God, ask little, and therefore receive little, and are content with little” - A.W. PINK.
There is a world beyond what you have attained (grasped), whoever you are, so REACH for it. REACH beyond your GRASP.
“But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.’’
(Philippians 3:12)
The Apostle will be satisfied by nothing less than this lofty aspiration and to this end he presses on. “I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:14)
FORGETS…SETS ASIDE, ERECTS A HIGHER STANDARD, DISCOUNTS PAST MEDALS AND HONOURS, STRETCHES HIS COMFORT ZONE, REFUSES TO REST ON HIS OARS.
Growth in maturing in Christ suffers when Christians lose a sense of a “HIGHER CALL” in our lives. We settle for something short of God’s ideal. We settle at what we have grasped –be it knowledge, spiritual gifts, experience, revelation, ministry in Christ – and we are poorer for it.
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Chow pai! You’re invited. 34 KHARIS
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Let’s take the fun with meals online visit www.coca-cola.com.gh
Fighting
Temptation We all face temptations. Daily.
OD
ur ability to defeat the giant of temptation is so important. avid is known equally for the giant he slayed -Goliath and the one that slayed him – temptation – lust for the woman named Bathsheba.
You will be known for two things in life, the problems you solve and the problems you create. KHARIS Iota Edition 2013
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In James 1:12-15 (NLT), we read:
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
Temptation comes from evil desires inside us, not from God. It begins with an evil thought and becomes sin when we dwell on the thought and allow it to become an action. 36 KHARIS
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Like a snowball rolling downhill, sin grows more destructive the more we let it have its way. The best time to stop a temptation is before it is too strong or moving too fast to control. People who live for God often wonder why they still have temptations. Does God tempt them? God tests people, but He does not tempt them by trying to seduce them to sin. God allows Satan to tempt people, however, in order to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence on Christ. God doesn’t allow any temptation that is beyond what you can bear.
That is why in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT), it is written that,
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey His Word. It is easy to blame others and make excuses for evil thoughts and wrong actions. We use excuses such as: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
It’s the other person’s fault I couldn’t help it Everybody’s doing it It was just a mistake Nobody’s perfect The devil made me do it I was pressured into it I didn’t know it was wrong God is tempting me.
A person who makes excuses is trying to shift the blame from himself or herself to something or someone else.
A Christian, on the other hand, accepts responsibility for his or her wrongs, confesses them, and asks God for forgiveness. In a culture filled with moral depravity and sin-inducing pressures, Paul encourages us about temptation. He says that: 1. Temptations happen to everyone, so don’t feel you’ve been singled out. 2. Others have resisted temptation, and SO YOU CAN. 3. Any temptation can be resisted because God will show you a way out. God will aid you in resisting temptation by helping you 1. Recognize those people and situations that give you trouble 2. Run from anything you know is wrong 3. Choose to do only what is right 4. Pray for God’s help and 5. Seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted. Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory. In 2 Timothy 2:22, we are told to “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts”. Running away is sometimes considered cowardly.
But the wise people realize that removing themselves physically from temptation often can be the most courageous action to take. Joseph at Potiphar’s house (in Egypt) will tell you if you have the opportunity to ask him.
Timothy, a young man full of zeal and passion for God, was warned to run from anything that produced evil thoughts. Do you have a recurring temptation that you find difficult to resist? Remove yourself physically from any situation that stimulates your desire to sin.
Knowing when to run is as important in spiritual battle as knowing when and how to fight. Douglas Kutin-Mensah / Tyndale House Foundation
I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE
I
have seen the future and I don’t like it! I have seen young godly ladies striving to lead pure lives Giving themselves to service and the study of God’s word Denying worldly pleasures and embracing modesty Only to be rejected by men and relegated to the background Haggard, Needy and Pitied as they plod along, and time passes them by I have seen this future and I don’t like it! I am beautiful; this cannot be my future! I must seize the day, for time and tide waits for no man Let me give a little and take a little… Show a little and advance a little… Let me ride on the wings of my youth, Even if I feel empty, tired and afraid I have seen an alternative future, this time through the eyes of LOVE Things are clearer now, and oh, so glorious I have seen that life cannot be measured by the abundance of possessions Or the satisfaction of bodily needs; for charm is deceitful and beauty vain I have seen that The Master is pleased with the sister I despise, oh, only if she knew I have seen that success is determined by Him alone, and in His plan nothing is delayed I have seen this future, oh my sister… and I Love it! Come with me sister, come go with me… Mrs. Linda Larbi KHARIS Iota Edition 2013
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VITAC a Beacon of hope
for AFRICA & beyond
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r. Oliver Van DeMille, author of “A Thomas Jefferson Education”, describes three different types of education and I paraphrase: The first is the
“
Conveyor Belt Education”, which tries to prepare everyone for a job, any job, by teaching them what to think.
Second, the
“
Professional Education”, from apprenticeship and trade schools to law, medical and MBA programs, which creates specialists by teaching them when to think.
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“Leadership Education” that teaches students how to think and prepares them to be leaders in their homes and communities, entrepreneurs in business and statesmen in government. Thirdly,
This is the ideology behind VITAC Educational Institute. Sixteen years ago, VITAC Educational Institute was birthed by Mr. Divine Dompreh and Mr. Delali Dompreh. Right from their very beginning, they realized their FLARE and the GREAT PASSION they attached to teaching and after realizing the IMPACT they were making after assisting students to understand their courses or subjects for a whole decade in an abandoned drinking spot, then to the homes, they finally started VITAC Learning and Professional Systems in 1997. After 10 years of a successful story, VITAC grew to VITAC Educational Institute, which now embraces a Senior Secondary School, Remedial School and Professional Institute. VITAC gave room and hope for students and people who couldn’t match the defunct formal educational system that have been operating since the late eighties. If a large number of students who pass their Junior Secondary education cannot pass their Senior Sec-
ondary education or make a profession out of what they have been studying, it brings a question of what went wrong. As far as the late 80’s, during every school vacation, students trooped to their home to learn. Within a short time, they couldn’t contain the number due to the positive impact of their teaching with high passing rate. The students were recommending other friends to them. Eventually, their home was named Cambridge .This was during the Ordinary and Advanced level regime where on the average, about four hundred students could gather. By 1997 VITAC was duly registered as a business entity to run as a remedial school. Countless number of students had their lives impacted positively and had moved on successfully. Today, we can mention personalities in various institutions or professions, who at a point in time were thought to be failures or had no hope with education, were inspired, motivated and given hope to achieve educational exploits by VITAC.
“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.”
Mr. Delali Dompreh and Mr. Divine Dompreh
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- C.S. Lewis.
VITAC Educational Institute, which runs a full time Senior High School, began with eight students in 2007 with a current population of 150 students. In all these levels of achievement, it has taken the wisdom and the grace of God and His leading. God is the foundation, the cornerstone and pillar upon which the institution was built. With His abundant grace, VITAC has metamorphosed from a Learning and Professional System into VITAC Educational Institute, offering secondary education and higher education programmes. The name VITAC is an acronym for VISION, INTELLIGENCE, TRANSFORMATION, ASSERTIVENESS and taking CHARGE. The above acronym reflects the intentions of the founders of the school to provide an educational institute committed to developing talents for excellence and career exploits. These the founders hope to achieve by providing a learning community characterized by active engagement in teaching and learning. The school carves out an identity of its own in
academic excellence and high level of integrity through a package called the total student concept, a course that seeks to provide opportunities that take class work to another level. It is a programme designed to meet community needs, develop leaders committed to providing solutions to the interconnected programmes we face as a society and how they can be catalysts for change.
In VITAC, students are motivated to know that a little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to a glorious success.
The Total Student Package embraces the need for a world class leadership education guided by inspiring mentors, not professors, who direct children how to think.
VITAC Educational Institute is located in the premises of the United Pentecostal Church in Community Eight (8) Tema, Greater Accra Region - offering secondary education in Business, General Arts, Visual Arts, Home Economics and General Science. VITAC also offers professional courses like Advanced Business Certificate Examination Courses notably Diploma in Business Administration, Accounting and Office Management. Other programmes available are SAT, GRE, GMAT and TOFEL.
“Greatness is the first rule of leadership education” and that “greatness is fostered by coming face-to-face with greatness.”
Our greatest joy is that we have begun a school that would mould the characters of future generations and offer them some hope for the challenging times ahead.
For topnotch education, come to VITAC where quality and excellence stand out. Contact us: Comm. 8, Tema. Tel: 020 9238 831 / 020 8224 319
KHARIS Iota Edition 2013
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an
A F R I C A
leadership
initiative
entrepreneurship
®
technology
WOMAN 2.1 SUMMIT 2013
self-development
Developing a new generation of women leaders to improve the state of Africa and inspire the next generation.
Unleash Your Power
THEME
speaking:
Ellen Maama A. Hagan CEO, L’AINE Services Limited
Constance E. Swaniker CEO, Accents & Art Limited
Anne Welsh
Chair, Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation
Betty Enyonam Kumahor MD for Africa, Thoughtworks Inc.
Monalisa Okojie
CEO/Founder, Nehita Inc.
Matilda Asante-Asiedu
Head of Corporate Communications, Access Bank
Sefa Gohoho
Joyce Ababio
CEO, Songhai Africa Group
Yvonne Witter
International Entrepreneurship Consultant
CEO, Joyce Ababio College of Creative Design
Gloria Buckman Yankson Senior Partner, PlanIt Ghana
Eunice Ijeoma Aku Ogbugo
Monique Thomas
Founder/CEO, Eugo Terrano Limited
Soul Songtress and Speaker
..and over a dozen other successful business leaders and change agents with story-driven keynotes, interactive panels, mentoring sessions, breakout sessions, exhibitions and live performances to transform your professional and personal life.
October 18 & 19, 2013 NATIONAL THEATRE, ACCRA-GHANA
sponsored by:
Kharis Media
42 KHARIS
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Ltd.
Kharis Media Ltd.
Hosted by
Anita Erskine
CONFERENCE. EXHIBITION. RECEPTION.
to register, call 0209 855 888 for more, visit
www.woman21summit.org
M
ay the grace of our Lord Jesus abound unto you now and forever. God has a plan and purpose for each of us. When we give our lives to the Lord and surrender our will and desires to Him, He sets us on paths to fulfilling these plans and callings.His plans and purposes for each of us are good, perfect and awesome and we cannot find such beauty for our lives anywhere. However, by our own choices and desires we can veer off these awesome plans God has for our lives. One major thing that I believe can tilt us off God’s plans for us is COMPARISON; comparing ourselves to others around us. Paul said in II Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV), “...but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” All our problems begin with comparing ourselves with other women. God has given you a great husband, you have no problems, he is loving, God fearing and provides for your family. You are happy and on the way to fulfilling greater things the Lord has destined for you as a couple, until you meet your friend’s husband, or a colleague at work and begin to compare. Then you think; if my husband had more money, if he was more sensitive, if he was more classy.
Hello Woman!
That is when you begin to exchange the glory of God for your life for nothing. Because not only do you become discontented, you now begin to take your life out of God’s plan and embark on a journey to also get what your friend has. You begin to criticise your man and spoil the beautiful marriage God gave you. Trace your marriage problems back to when it started and you may find a little bit of the pitfall of comparison somewhere. It may be in your achievements, ambition, looks or even in your kids. You are always satisfied with what you have, or who you are until you begin to look at another person and ask why it’s not you. The plans of God for each of us are different. The person you are comparing yourself to may be where she is because of years of obedience or sacrifice. If you focus on the Lord, He will take you past that level.
You are always satisfied with what you have, or who you are until you begin to look at another person and ask why it’s not you.
If you are in step with the Lord, you will appreciate who you are and what you have, and He will direct your path to that wonderful plan He has for you. You have always been happy with your one room apartment. If not, you would not have rented it in the first place. Then you visit Ama in her two bedroom flat then suddenly, your one room looks so small. Sweetheart! Your life is good. What you have for now is great. I am not talking about getting inspiration from others to better your life. But, are you living under pressure to become someone else or get things because someone has? If so, then you are comparing. Hold on to the Lord and keep your relationship with Him alive. He will grant you your heart’s desires and will do for you exceedingly, abundantly above what you can even imagine or think of. My dear, that will be more than what she has that you think you want or deserve. Get your perspective right. God bless you.
Mrs. Lois Osae Bediako (Esq) KHARIS Iota Edition 2013
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from LAUNCHPAD to
GROWTHPAD Nelson KORKOR
L
egendary entrepreneurs like Ken Ofori-Atta, Kwasi Twum, David Packard, Bill Gates, Ted Turner - just to name a few – are definite examples of the excitement and glory of starting something from scratch and watching it grow to outstanding proportions. But the excitement of initiating new business ventures is not enough. Ultimately, there is the need to put every new enterprise on a growth trajectory. Organic growth is great, and every start-up must seek to pursue it with all the seriousness it deserves. Whether you are an entrepreneurial start-up or an established organization seeking explosive growth, the following points may be useful to you:
i. Commit the entire enterprise into God’s hands: As Christians, every aspect of our lives is intricately interlinked with our faith. Actually, God is interested in whatever we do as believers including our businesses. So, God is interested in your new business venture and desires to be a strategic partner. Just get Him in and let Him lead you. Seek His face concerning every aspect and stage of your enterprise and you will experience the growth you are looking for.
ii.Invest In Your Team: The greatest asset of any organization is its people and yet many enterprises re-
Inspiring Organic Growth in New Business Ventures ally do very little about developing and growing the capacity of their people. Remember, the better the team, the better the productivity.
iii. Get Your Strategy Right: The kind of business model you have will determine your competitive advantage. To experience continuous growth in your new business venture, your strategy must be unique to your case and applicable as a start-up.
iv. Focus on Your Core Business: Many an entrepreneur never get to experience organic growth, because they are often tempted to seize everything that looks like an opportunity. So, people are more likely to follow the latest craze than identifying an area of business and focusing on it.
v. Institutionalize Clear Systems & Structures: One of the biggest obstacles to growth in many new venture creations is the lack of clear systems and structures as they are key to improving daily operations and overall productivity.
vi. Management of Finances: Very often, new venture creators are tempted to diverting company’s finances. Anyway, this happens even
in larger corporations. When the profit that accrues from the business is invested in other expenditures, organic growth of the enterprise remains a mirage.
vii. Strategic Leadership Orientation: Growing your new enterprise will require a strategic leadership orientation of the entire team. Doing things the right way and working so hard to get things better will bring you the needed growth as a new venture creator.
As Christians, every aspect of our lives is intricately interlinked with our faith. Actually, God is interested in whatever we do as believers including our businesses.
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PRESS STATEMENT
A New Dawn With Perez Chapel International (PCI)
Most Reverend Dr. Char
Presiding Bishop of
les Agyinasa
Perez Chapel Intern re (MV) ational
“According to th e leadership of th e church, it is a n ew direction; a div ine purpose which empowers the church to make Christ known as the saviour and to liberate man y in different parts of the world with the power of God.� KHARIS Iota Edition 2013
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PRESS STATEMENT
T
he Word Miracle Church International (WMCI) is taking a bold step at reaching the ends of the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In support of this vision, the church has been
renamed Perez Chapel International (PCI).
The church, which is under the anointed leadership of Most Reverend Dr. Charles Agyinasare (MV), seeks to take giant strides and spread the gospel far and wide in the next few years. This has necessitated the name change since words such as “miracle”, “healing” and “salvation” pose a barrier to some religious cultures.
Bishop Charles Agyinasare acknowledges the impact the church has made in the lives of many around the world and believes God is prepared to cause even greater impact. Bishop Agyinasare, whose ministry is characterized with healings, prophetic ministrations and mighty signs and wonders, has held many large crusades in Pakistan, India, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Japan, Brazil, North America and many parts of Europe among other nations across the globe. The church, which was birthed about 26 years ago in Tamale, has seen significant growth in branches and leadership multiplication, both within Ghana and the outside world. It currently has about 200 branches in 20 countries across the globe. The headquarters of the church, the Perez Dome situated at Dzorwulu in Accra, seats 14,000 people making it the largest single auditorium in the country. It has been de-
scribed as one of the wonders of architecture in Ghana.
“Perez” biblically means “breakthrough”. The name change is a statement of 48 KHARIS
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purpose; it is a step to fulfil destinies, send the good news to many, heal the sick, craft new paths for the lost and transform generations. It will reinforce the significant milestones the church had chalked over the years and reach people both home and abroad to experience the huge spiritual impact derived from God and embrace His message.
Inspiration
THE HEART OF
LEADERSHIP
L
eadership is all about others and not about a particular individual. Leadership begins when we stop focusing on ourselves and begin to focus on the very people we lead. There have been several theories and theses on leadership – the functions, styles, outcomes, and the processes of leadership. This treatise is not meant to discuss theoretical views on leadership. It is rather meant to look at leadership as a reason for our very existence.
THE SOURCE OF ALL LEADERSHIP
The source of all leadership abilities and gifts is from the Leader of all leaders – God, the Creator of all creatures. God created man/woman in His own image and charged them to rule the earth and not man (emphasis mine), have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Pow-
er and authority were given to man to have rule over the earth and not over fellow human beings. The first couple’s responsibility was to empower their seeds/children and children’s children to be leaders over the earth as God commanded them. They were charged to use their minds and hearts to have rule over all the earth and to create their kind so that they would also subdue the earth – reign while they are on the earth. We are all to lead first ourselves before we lead others.
THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY OF A LEADER.
The word “leader” is used only three times in the Scriptures. Compare this with the word “servant”. It appears 462 times in the Scriptures. Do you know what this means? And the majority of those who were ascribed as servants in the Scriptures were leaders who served God and man faithfully. This is where
I want to take you to. Leaders must lead themselves but serve others. We must be servants to others but leaders to ourselves. It is in serving others that we lead them. The major responsibility of a leader is first to provide leadership to himself/herself. Leadership is all about how the leader influences himself and others and this depends on the leader’s vision, his thoughts, his attitude, philosophies, language, convictions, perspectives about leadership, his motivation as a leader, his or her team, his passion, his style, and the expected outcomes/fruits of his leadership mandate – to make the people he leads better than he first met them. Most leaders get it all wrong from the beginning. They take charge of the position, power, and the people entrusted into their hands and forget to take charge of themselves. They direct and
Mr. George Kojo Addison
[M.D. StarLife Assurance]
issue instructions to their followers to execute tasks and forget to direct themselves. They are so much enthusiastic in leading others but forget to provide leadership to themselves.
THE LEADER’S LEGACY
A true leader will always ask: What would I be remembered for? How will I pass on the baton of leadership to others? How will my work as a leader stand the test of time and space? If I have the opportunity to lead again after I am gone, would I have a consolation that I paid my dues as a leader when I first got the opportunity to serve my people? Will the house I built with and for my people whilst I served as a leader stand against the rapid socio-economic, cultural and technological storms?
Every good leader will always look at the outputs of his leadership service and not the inputs and the processes. Let’s look at the examples of two leaders and the outputs of their reign: Gadhafi and Libya; Mandela and South Africa. The first leader, Gadhafi was forced to hand over power to nobody and the process of transferring power was very pugnacious and the second, Mandela, voluntarily and democratically handed over power to a successor and the process of transferring power was peaceful.
True leaders serve, they don’t lead.
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THE HEART OF A GOOD LEADER 1. A good leader is Humble and ever ready to say I am sorry if he ever judges wrongly. Arrogance is the ache heels of a leader. Show me an arrogant leader and I will show you the output of his leadership – a heavy fall and disgraceful end! The end may take some time, but an arrogant leader cannot hide forever.
2. The leader must seek to understand
others first in all things before seeking to be understood. A good leader must possess an Empathetic mindset. Generational empathy is a requirement of the 21st century leader. The leader’s actions and inactions must take into account the survival and success of the generations yet unborn. Joseph in the Bible possessed this leadership quality. He made his kinsmen comfortable in Egypt even though they had earlier betrayed him. He charged his people that when God finally visits them, they should not forget to carry his bones. If Joseph had maltreated them, what would have happened to his instructions to the kinsmen about his bones?
3. According to Yoshi Kalpa, when your Attitude is positive, every problem has a solution. Most leaders are overwhelmed with problems because their attitude is not right. Problems and solutions are two sides of a coin (challenges). A good leader with a positive attitude will always look at the solution side of their challenges instead of the 50 KHARIS
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problem side. Some leaders specialize in the problem side of challenges whilst others specialize in the solution side of challenges. Where do you belong?
4. Good leaders are Realistic. They communicate
what the situation is instead of what the situation is like. They don’t sugar-coat situations and challenges. When challenges are sugar-coated, it is just a matter of time for the real substance of the challenges to be exposed. The credibility of the leader is then at stake when it thus happens.
All good leaders are Teachable. They believe that 5.
they are not an island to themselves to inhabit everything under the sun. They submissively offer themselves to be educated on issues they have very little or no knowledge about. Good leaders never stop to learn. Every encounter they get with people is an opportunity to learn. When a leader is prepared to offer himself or herself on the basis of the above traits, he or she has succeeded in propelling his/her HEART for the leadership job. When leaders succeed in mastering the HEART of leadership, then the ANATOMY of leadership – strategy, structure, and systems – also follows. The leader then places the HEART in the centre of the ANATOMY.
What do you expect? A living and forward-looking organization! Most leaders are experts in designing the
ANATOMY but lack the creative will and desire to acquire the HEART – the core of leadership. There are a lot of organisations in Ghana with scintillating strategies, stunning structures and showy systems (ANATOMY) but without a leadership HEART. If we can acquire the leadership HEART for our organizations, the ANATOMY of the organisation will function effectively. Many institutions place premium on building the ANATOMY and give very little attention to the HEART. In most cases, the HEART fails and the organization slips into oblivion. When little attention is paid to the HEART, it deprives the ANATOMY of the required life. The result could be death! This is one of the many reasons why our institutions are reeling under severe corruption and mismanagement. Let’s seek to refresh the Leadership HEART and the ANATOMY of our organisations would be stronger and more effective. As fish rots from the head, so do organisations fail and collapse under the weight of leadership failure.
Creations The First Adam was tempted by the devil and he failed. The Last Adam was tempted in all points and yet did not sin (Hebrews 4:15).
S
o God has two creations; the old creation and the new creation. The old creation was headed by Adam. The new creation is headed by Christ who is the Last Adam. Everybody coming into the world is in the first Adam. But when you believe in Jesus, you are transferred into the Last Adam. The entire New Testament is full of phrases like ‘In Him’, ‘In Whom’, ‘In Christ’ etc. All those scriptures are describing the condition of those who have been translated into the Last Adam. For instance, scripture says that those who are in the Last Adam are not condemned (Romans 8:1-2), In Him (The Last Adam) we have redemption (Ephesians 1:7), We are the righteousness of God in Christ (The Last Adam) (2Corinthians 5:21) etc. The old creation is under the power of the devil. The nature of the old creation is dust. When Adam sinned, God told him that he was dust (Genesis 3:19), He also told the devil that he would eat dust all the days of his life (Genesis 3:14). So anything that bears the nature of the first Adam (dust) is an appointed food for the
devil. That is why the whole world is under the control of the devil (1 John 5:19). Because the world is just an extension of fallen man whose nature is dust. Jesus took the old creation and crucified it on the cross. Anything that came because of the fall of man was taken to the cross and terminated. But it becomes reality for only those who believe in Jesus.
Jesus took the old creation and crucified it on the cross. Anything that came because of the fall of man was taken to the cross and terminated. Even though Jesus has put an end to the old creation, there are a lot of people in it. Putting an end to the old creation doesn’t mean it ceases to exist. It simply means He has pronounced a death sentence on it.
Equipping the saints
God’s Two
Joe Mintah
Now it looks like the world (Satan’s empire) is growing. But no matter how tall it grows, it can never defeat God’s purposes. It will surely come to ruin one day.
Now it looks like the world (Satan’s empire) is growing. But no matter how tall it grows, it can never defeat God’s purposes. It will surely come to ruin one day. A lot of people, even Christians, are making wrong investments. However, seeing that this world has been declared doomed to destruction, it is very unwise to put all your hope and investments in the world (1Corinthians 15:19, Mathew 6:19-21). Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33), and so has everyone who believes in Him (1John 4:4).
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Jerry first heard of the Starlife Family Protection Plan when he started working with his company, Future Savings and Loans. He attended a seminar on the StarLife Family Protection Plan about securing one’s family wellbeing against unforeseen events. He grasped the import of the policy and went with it.
Unperturbed by the attack on his faith and dependence on God, Jerry went ahead and signed on. Crisis struck Jerry’s employment just two years after signing on to the policy. The company he worked for had run into debt and management was forced to downsize the workforce. Consequently, Jerry’s appointment was rudely terminated; the axe of redundancy fell on him, crushing his future with devastating impact. Nothing meaningful was given him as compensation for all his years of dedicated hard work.
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The family’s situation was compounded by the fact that Betty’s scanty income could not meet the family’s budget. Jerry and Betty were beside themselves with anxiety and grief. When will Jerry land a job? How would they meet the financial demands of their children’s education? The spell of re-
fter completing his tertiary education, Jerry was employed by a private savings and loans company. He soon rose to the position of supervisor due to his hard work, honesty and diligence. With two kids in private schools, he thanked God for his work since the fees kept on increasing.
dundancy and joblessness haunted them like living nightmares. Then, Jerry’s countenance brightened up. “Betty!” he called his dear wife excitedly. “What’s it, Jerry?” Betty asked in a confused voice. “The policy I took! The StarLife Family Protection Plan! Yes! Thank God, we’ve a future to live for!” The ecstatic family accompanied Jerry to the offices of StarLife Insurance Company with the receipts. They returned home richer; Jerry’s wise decision and StarLife integrity fetched the Family a cash dividend of GHS 10,000.00! What are you waiting for? Don’t wait until redundancy comes calling at your workplace.
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rand the b tian s i ’ s NCE Chri ERIE annual nized by P X ‘E he Orga HE of t ncert o lt and K re e o m u s C s a na hip lobal Con ompanie s of s r o c W ny G Law oth i Dest Media. B nder the ent adviBAY orated u e investm nt servicp d e incor hey provi anagem services. t m t r n d e e n h ra et em d tog ent and b d manag n vesta , a n v an in ince s Ghan ervices, e ntation a a off as s e s sory ist repres arted ley. She h of varit s n t t o Stan s par es, ar orris o M Morgan Ghana, a ring. o d i in ith xplo lia A Eme banker w edia firm s she is e onm e al C nt i b t n n i o e l n w i o m portu y tra iny G p her Dest banker b e has set u usiness op f o H in per. CEO r and ous b o is t adviso worship p teams e h w n h , i e e t k h a e c s or stm on on eri Fred s an inve a passi everal w s. Every rait of r s i t so sult, e is al directed r the yea unique on in H e s ti i v c . d h e o g f n a in to na per t.. As a d t a s e h r e o t m G f t hear e havgroo on and h can a hunger od’s c it Lond orked w tail and ouches G experien r years e t t w s d f t a s v n o ha to ha ion orship t also has in Londo t n e t e w at io ger, h ering Stud rend cer/arran Digital a. ‘Exy n u r the ealo f prod n Destin g to Gha a the r u Ghan ing r relocatin ll to nsion of ons to a e w o e e i befor McD to a n ext e nat lliam as just a draw th lf Away” i W ing yse ert w re to Bring ce’ conc am’s desi I Give M rist. h n i “ orperie n of Will ration of ause of C The a c a o . l i l e t c a a e h e t z r d i of d und r for et an the sense e of e w profo ed hunge s , er inate osph aging e renew s eng int to elimof an atm aders lik a w e g s l o e n i mor inner rship it a p even The rs made setting to ship! Wo , Soul W rience e r y e ganiz l concert ing to wo ny Nette tiful exp a u r n c a e a i e h p t b D y a t e it a rch g ettle, a chu el, Joe M rs all mad best e g the it is n i g Denz agoe Sist us. in s ether to br and T feet of Je tted ople, wh isters – as i m e com ger at th ’s pe min rs are e to God national o be a big e z i n nter orga ienc ses t The ip exper sters or i ar promi i h e n s wor local mi . Next y ncert. o from eads them erience’ c l p x d o ‘E G etter and b
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Young Man: Do you have a boyfriend? Young Lady: Nope. I don’t want to have a boyfriend. Young Man: Genesis 2:18: The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Young Lady: But I don’t love you. Young Man: 1 John 4:8: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Young Lady: And how do I know you mean those words? Young Man: Matthew 12:34b: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Young Lady: But how can I be sure that you’re loyal and honest? Young Man: Mark 13:31:”Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Young Lady: But why me? There are a lot of girls out there. Young Man: Proverbs 31:29: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Young Lady: But what is in me that you like? Young Man: Song of Songs 4:7: “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.” Young Lady: But I’m not all that beautiful...you’re exaggerating. Young Man: Proverbs 31:30: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Young Lady: What happens if I say yes? Young Man: Genesis 2:24: “Therefore man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Young Lady: How come you know the scriptures this much? Young Man: Joshua 1:8: “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and you will have good success.”
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Young Lady: Wow! I can see you really love God. Young Man: Psalm 34:8: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Young Lady: Mmmm. Ok, please give me time to think about it. Young Man: Philippians 4:8: “Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Young Lady: Oooh! I love you already! Young Man: Revelation 22:21b: “Amen!”
A young woman teacher with obvious liberal tendencies explains to her class of small children that she is an atheist. She asks her class if they are atheists too. Not really knowing what atheism is, but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks. There is, however, one exception. A girl named Lucy has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. “Because I’m not an atheist.” “Then,” asks the teacher, “What are you?” “I’m a Christian.” The teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks Lucy why she is a Christian. “Well, I was brought up knowing and loving Jesus. My mom is a Christian, and my dad is a Christian, so I am a Christian.” The teacher is now angry. “That’s no reason,” she says loudly. “What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was a moron. What would you be then?” A pause and a smile. “Then,” says Lucy, “I’d be an atheist!”
When a society rejects God in its thinking...
FOOLISHNESS is all that follows! from top to bottom
“ since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done� Rom 1:26
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