THE WAY-FORWARD: A BRIEFING TO THE SPIRIT-FILLED WORKERS OF ST. JOSEPH'S CHOSEN CHURCH OF GOD, LAGOS REGION

It was a memorable occasion for the Spirit-filled workers and Ministers of St. Joseph's Chosen Church of God, Lagos region on Monday, June, 17, 2024 at Kirikiri branch of the church. The Islamic holidays on this Monday was a very good timing to have such an important briefing to enable government workers to participate fully. It was on this note that the church auditorium was filled to its capacity. The time conscious Regional Apostle Ken Osanebi was sited at the church before others and could. He gave very little grace to form a reasonable audience before he started the programme. 

        The event as usual started with an opening prayer from Staff Pastor Isaiah Udo after which visions were given by the Visioneers which formed the basis for the gathering. The visions were all centered on the confirmation of the presence of God at the event, the need for cleansing of members and the expectant blessings that are associated with Holiness and uprightness in worshipping of God.

        Spirit lifting praises and worship songs followed with members exercising themselves to the various tones. An opening of the event further took the turn of Sacred Songs and Solos SS&S 22 proclaiming the holiness of God Almighty. The hymn which was written in 1826 by Bishop Regnald Heber were the doctrine of the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost was no less needed that morning to invite His Holiness for the day’s proceedings.

       

In line with the lineup of activities for the day, Staff Pastor David Chimobi Oleka was called to the podium to deliver the first Sermon which dealt with the three segment of operating spirits in the world. He saw then as thus; Human Spirit, Demonic Spirits and the Holy Spirit. His teachings were based on the bible verses of Prov. 20:27, 1Corn. 2:11, Eccl. 12:7, Mark 1:23, 5:8-9, John 15:16, 14:26, Eph. 5:18. Oleka could not hide his emotion on the rot that has bedeviled the spirit-filled workers whereby one cannot differentiate between demonic spirits in operation in the place of the spirit of God. 

        He therefore warned the ministers to be in alert because many of the disappearing native Doctors he referred to as Ezenwanyis are today in the churches. This teachings were watered down with SS&S No. 616, "Take my life, and let it be." A song of consecration written by Frances Ridley Havergal around 1870. 

        At this juncture the Regional Apostle called on Deaconess Nchekube to give a pep talk on the lyrics of the hymn. The talk which was well handled by her, turned to a short but beautiful sermon all together as the spirit led her.            Another hymn followed as the Regional Apostle rhetorically said it was a day of praises as praises promote the work of Holy Spirit. The congregation sang together SS&S No. 601, "All to Jesus I surrender." 

       

This hymn ushered in the Apostle in charge of Kirikiri branch, Apostle Godwin Ogbemudia whose Sermon was based on the following bible verses; 1Kg22:19 and Heb. 6:18. Apostle Ogbemudia without mincing words warned the Spirit-filled workers to stop seeing themselves as equal to the ministers in terms of looking for remunerations. 

        He reiterated that it is on this note that many of them are now engaging on private practices to attract wages. He therefore warned that it is not appropriate to say "Thus said the Lord, when the Lord did not say anything."

        As the programme by now was building up to harness the reason for the gathering, Hymn SS&S No. 606 "Oh Jesus, I have promised" written by John Ernest Bode in 1870 on consecration and supplication was sang with symbolic oath taking as Apostle Osanebi ask members to place their right hands on their chest. 

       

It was his turn to summarize the day’s activities which he started by asking the congregation to pray a prayer of forgiveness of sins and asking God to do some of the things they so much desire. This was further followed by answering and clearing some of the questions that arose from the previous sermons. With a powerful Sermon which were based on the followings 1Corn.14:24-34, Amos3:7, Jere. 14:14-16, 23:25-32, Rm.12:6, 1Jn4:1, 1The.5:20, Eze.33:1-10, Apostle Osanebi carried out a surgical round up on the work of the Spirit-filled workers, their limitations and the growth of the church through their accuracies.

        In the process of his teaches, he noted that the problem most of the time is the messenger and not the message. He confirmed that visions could take some time before they come to pass as some may have conditions attached to them. 

       

Finally he warned that all stations should stop listening of Dreams verbally. That the messages from dreams should be sent ahead of time to the station pastors in writing or voice notes.

        As the programme was coming to an end, every attendee was asked to step forward to be anointed. An inventory of all the spirit-filled workers from every station was thereafter taken and the records kept. SS&S No. 23, "To God be the glory" a praise song written by Fanny Crosby who was known to have many pseudonyms brought the programme to a close. 

       One beauty of the song is that it also has related songs in "How great thou art", Praise my soul, the king of heaven" and others. It was a thing of glory that our mother General in the person of Dr. (Mrs.) Pat Alile found time to attend. 

THE CHURCH MAGAZINE IN THE MAKING