God’s Kingdom’s feast of tabernacles
huge blessing And for the seven days (13th December 2009 to 20th December 2009) they ate and worshipped in Salem City collectively. For those faithful who had the privilege of attending, there couldn’t be a better way to appreciate God for His faithfulness and blessings over the years. Speaker after speaker spoke. According to the […]
huge blessing
And for the seven days (13th December 2009 to 20th December 2009) they ate and worshipped in Salem City collectively. For those faithful who had the privilege of attending, there couldn’t be a better way to appreciate God for His faithfulness and blessings over the years.
Speaker after speaker spoke. According to the president of GKS, Oseghale Emmanuel Aighalua, “The church is an international Christian organisation; it’s a home-grown organisation, we preach the truth and nothing but the truth. GKS stands for truth and righteousness by God’s grace. We preach the truth and the truth reforms the character of the people.”
it’s biblical injunction
GKS drew this tradition of the Feast of Tabernacles, which they relish, from Zechariah 14: 16-19.
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles”; and the extended readings of the feast in John 7:1-18; 37-38.
why the feast
Brother Benedict Hart, Publicity Secretary, GKS told the celebrants that Christians should celebrate the feast because they are spiritual Jews, being the children of Abraham by faith. (Romans 2:28,29; Romans 9:6-8)
Professor Hope Eghagha, the vice chairman of the GKS Lagos Island branch explained that, “It’s a spiritual event. It was established by God the Almighty. If you read the Old Testament the children of Israel, God commanded them to use it as a memorial to mark their salvation from the captivity of the Egyptians. God commanded that everybody who believes in God should do it and when Jesus Christ came, he also celebrated it.
“To us, it is like a pilgrimage, a time to come to the headquarters of the church for a period of sober reflection; to feast on the word of God, to feast on music and to renew our faith in God Almighty. So it’s also a period of renewal and rejuvenation.”
Professor Eghagha said, “According to the scriptures, it is supposed to be the seventh month, that is August but August is not convenient and following the spirit of the law, we decided to mark it in December where we can have most of our members attend because this is a holiday period – students on vacation, most workers on annual leave or would take some casual leave to come. It is also convenient for the church. choosing this date has not contravened any law because the importance of the feast is reading the laws of God and coming together to honour God almighty.”
women’s role
Indeed, it was a beehive of activities. From children and youth conferences, to women conferences, music festival and great talks delivered by ministers of the church.
The conferences dwelt on the positions of children, men and women in the church and the society. The women conference in particular drew lessons from the story of Ruth in Bible.
Speaking to our correspondent, the chairperson GKS women fellowship national, Sister comfort Okandeji noted that Ruth’s lessons were important to today’s women. Ruth she said though a Moabite became Jew by marriage and she was obedient and respectful to her husband. She also worshiped the true God and refused to return to her parents’ gods.
By these lessons, she said Nigerian women would be able to hold their homes together in peace, and once the family is peaceful, the nation would be at peace a swell.
For the secretary of the women fellowship, Sister Sarah Okotie it had been spiritual lessons of steadfastness and patience.
display of tradition
Besides the colourful rendition of joyous songs from the various kwois, members worshiped God in local dialects.
Some of the performances came from: the Jarawa dancers from Kano, the Zumunta dancers from Suleja, Itsekiti orchestra, the Ugheli orchestra, the Edo choral group, the Accra dance troop from Ghana among others, all praised and worshipped God in their local dances and songs.
THE LESSONS
Thought provoking public lectures were also delivered. Bro Lawrence Edemhanria spoke on “Rapture as Seen through the Holy Bible”.
Brother O. A. Obelikpeyah, Station Minister, GKS, Sapele who discoursed the subject “Are Christians to Perform Miracles in this Age?” Pointed out that the belief that Christians should perform miracles is anchored on the wrong understanding of such texts as Mark 16:17,18 and John 14:12-14.
He said the promise in Mark 16: 17, 18 on the ability to cast out devils, to speak with new tongues, to take up serpents and drink deadly things without being hurt, to lay hands on the sick and effect their recovery was specifically meant for the immediate disciples of Christ, the apostles, and was for the purpose of work at that time when Christianity was at its infancy, and that this fulfilled by as stated in verse 20.
Regarding John 12:12-14, where Jesus Christ said that those who believe in him would do greater works than Himself he explained that Christ was not talking of miracles but the preaching of the gospel which was the primary purpose of his coming to this earth. Whereas Jesus Christ preached mainly to the natural Jews in Israel, the apostles would preach the gospel to people of many nations, to many more people spread across wider geographical areas and for a much longer period than he did.
GKS President delivered the last public lecture of the feast after the great day procession which saw over 15,000 faithful walk through the major streets of Warri, professing God’s Kingdom.
His talk, entitled “Be Strong and of a Good Courage” admonished Christians to be courageous and steadfast irrespective of trials and tribulations because the Lord’s mercies are new every morning.
Gboyega Obafemi, the chairman of GKS London said, “This year’s feast has been spiritually fulfilling. It is one of the exciting feasts I have attended in my life as GKS member. We have been educated and have got moral support. I am proud to be part of it all.”
Aighalua declared the 2009 GKS Christian Feast of Tabernacles closed and ushered in the New Year.