Chairman of the Church of Pentecost Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah has used the occasion of Easter to urge Christians not to be swayed by sinful lifestyles packaged as modernity.

The Apostle who presides over the largest Pentecostal church in Ghana said the prospects of eternal life should motivate Christians to "aim to resurrect to everlasting life with Christ"

The theme of eschewing immoral lives dominated his statement as Apostle Opoku Onyinah warned Christian to be wary of "illusions", "delusions", " deceptive appearance" of what is basically sin.

The Apostle who is also the President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council mentioned "drinking, smoking, exhibitionism, homosexuality, promiscuity, body-piercing, tattoos and indecent exposure as some of the immoral lifestyles Christians must refrain from.

"The more people engage in these vices, the more they feel frustrated", the Apostle who is set to retire by June after 40 years in the ministry said.

"They do not bring joy and satisfaction," the Christian leader who began his full-time ministry in 1976 said and urged Christians to go back to God for help and solutions to their problems.

Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah is the author of numerous books and articles including: “Pentecostals & Charismatics,”“Spiritual Warfare,” “Resting In The Lord,” “Are Two Persons The Same?” “Pressure of Success,” “Taking The Ultimate Step In Marriage” and “African Christianity In The 21^st Century.”

READ FULL STATEMENT

THE BASIC MESSAGE.

By: Apostle Professor OPOKU Onyinah.
(Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Worldwide.)

EASTER MESSAGE FROM APOSTLE PROFESSOR OPOKU ONYINAH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST AND THE PRESIDENT, GHANA PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC COUNCIL, 2018

Easter reminds us of our Lord Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death. It tells us that at a point in time in the history of humanity God sent His Son Jesus to die for us because of our sins and that after three days He resurrected from death. The resurrection is a reality which should remind us of our temporary lives on earth. We are strangers and foreigners who will one day leave for our eternal home. The lives we live here will determine where we dwell, whether to be with the Lord or not. 

Therefore, we must not live illusive lives which the world offers. Illusion is something with deceptive appearance such as watching films and seeing people killed and burnt. These only appear so real but not.

Other things which are illusionary include drinking, smoking, exhibitionism, and engaging in deviant sexual lives, such as homosexuality and sexual immorality, with the aim of making merry. The more people engage in these vices the more they feel frustrated.

Easter should cause us to come back to God for help and solution. Easter speaks to us about the loving heart of God which is ready to offer mercy to all who come to him. He forgives and restores.

Easter also reminds us of the good heritage that the loving Father has given to His children— the loving Father bringing back his wayward children to His home and restoring to us all that we have lost which include forgiveness, love, respect, peace, and hope.

Thus Easter must remind us of the good culture that the Lord has given us by respecting one another, offering a helping hand to the needy and making our homes the centre of the family life.

We must not accept lies from the evil one, in the name of modernity such as living individualistic lives, abandoning the family life, disrespecting one another, abusing one another, piercing our bodies in the forms of tattoos, and making ourselves half-naked. These are only delusions. They do not bring joy and satisfaction. 

The resurrection of Christ is a reality that should change the way you live as an individual. You must not live as someone who does not believe in God and life after death. You must aim to resurrect to everlasting life with Christ.

This will come as you accept Jesus, the Son of God into your life as your Lord and Saviour. His power will change you and make you the type of person that you will like to be—the child of God living in dignity and hope.
 

Happy Easter to you all.