FIRST NATIONAL HOLY SPIRIT CONFERENCE
THE CHURCH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE HOLY SPIRIT: WELCOME TO THE SOURCE OF REVIVAL (WELCOME
ADDRESS)
OPENING SERVICE
1984

SYNOPSIS
This welcome address establishes the Holy Spirit as the Church’s Superintendent,
enabling spiritual revival, unity, and global Kingdom conquest.

PREAMBLE
Beloved in the Living God and His Christ, Grace and Peace be unto you!
I welcome you to the First National Holy Spirit Conference in the name that is above every
name, the Blessed Name Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. Ten days ago, the whole
world celebrated the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas time is always, a period
of reflection on the Love of God in sending Jesus to come and save the world, and the
issue of peace and righteous relations in society, goodwill among men. Although
Christmas has become very commercialised, the church has not lost her vision totally of
the true significance of the coming of Christ. At Easter we shall celebrate the victory of
Christ, yea of mankind over sin, death and the devil. Even as we reflect on these great
events, we always come to the important question of the mission of the church in the
world. It is for this cause the Holy Spirit came. For this reason, Pentecost Day is another
great event for the church, the coming of God not in the flesh but in Spirit to come and
dwell with man.
“For God so loved the world He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16)
“For the Father and the Son so loved the church that they gave the Holy Spirit that
whosoever believeth in Him should not live in darkness but in light and work the works of
God.”
The coming of the Holy Spirit and His practical manifestation on the early church has
been recorded so the church does not live in doubt as to His true operation in and
administration and general superintendence of the church. Over the years believing
saints and groups have walked in the floodtide of the Holy Spirit, with mighty works
following their individual and collective ministries.
At the same time, however because iniquity has abounded the love of many has waxed
cold. As a result, not only has there been a denial or denunciation of the Holy Spirit, with
men depending on their minds, human wisdom and man’s own spiritual force, the arm of
the flesh, there has gradually arisen the inevitable denial of Jesus Christ in the church.
Without the Holy Spirit, who testifies of men, men cannot but deny the truths about
Christ. As a result, men have built religious bodies with doctrines of men, with a form of
godliness but denying the power of the Word, the Blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, a still further development is the entry into the church of doctrines of devils.
Men have formed churches in alliance with the demonic hosts of fallen angels, teaching
false doctrines and practicing diverse religious and spiritual rites unrelated to the Holy
Scriptures, in fact in outright denial of Christ. Yet these churches operated in the name of
Christ. Accordingly, the church has assumed multifaceted character confusing many
genuine seekers.
The Lord Jesus Himself warned and the Holy Spirit through His servant Paul confirms that
false Christ, false teachers, doctrines of men and doctrines of devils will arise. But he
who will let will let. The important point to consider is that if the entire church were led by
the Holy Spirit, apart from diversities caused by gifts of the Holy Spirit and their
operation/administration, there would have been no confusion regarding the doctrines of
God and His Christ. Another important point worthy of note is the fact that whosoever is
genuinely seeking God will find Him.
The Lord revealed Himself to Paul when he was persecuting the church. It is certain that
because of His name misused, the Lord Jesus will reveal Himself and the truth about the
Holy Spirit to the people who daily persecute Him. Yet because of the lust of money and
fame, and the righteousness demanded of the Holy Spirit, men would seem always to
prick against the good.
This Conference we believe is yet another opportunity being created by Jesus Christ to
reveal Himself and His ways to the church. The Conference is designed as a forum for
teaching and discussions on the Holy Spirit and for promoting a healthy and authentic
fellowship by individual saints and the church as a body with the Holy Spirit. By this not
only will the church as a whole be drawn together by the Holy Spirit for her testimony in
the world……so we all be one in spirit and in truth…. But also, will bring revival in the
church and transformation in society. The testimony of the church cannot be carried out
in the weakness of the flesh, in the wisdom of men nor in the power of the human spirit.
We need power from on high. The SPIRIT OF TRUTH, to teach, quicken and endue with
power for carrying out The Great Commission.
“Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of Truth is come, HE will guide you into all truth; for He
shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He
will show things to come.” (John 14: 13)
This is the theme of this year’s Holy Spirit Conference, the first in an annual series
designed to bring revival, to equip the church and help build the Kingdom and bring the
King of glory. For the coming of the Holy Spirit is also the opening of heavenly doors for
the power of God, divine power to pour upon all believers, all flesh as prophesied by Joel
and confirmed by the Holy Spirit through Apostle Peter on the Pentecost Day.
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not
away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And
when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgement; of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my
Father, and ye see me no more; of judgement, because the prince of this world is
judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye hear them now.”
He shall glorify me: For He shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you.
“For John truly baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not
many days hence. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (John 16: 7-12, 14; Acts 1: 5-8)
We enter unto a threshold of power when we come into abiding fellowship with the Holy
Spirit. At this Conference, there will be a general discussion of the Person, Ministry and
influence of the Holy Spirit on the individual, saint and in the church as a body. Speakers
have been drawn from various churches and ministries within Ghana. Participants are
from all parts of the country and from various denominations and walks of life, including
the clergy and evangelists. Opportunity is being provided for all not only to search the
scriptures but also to commune with God whilst here in a special way with the Lord and
particularly the Holy Spirit. We will encourage those of you who can declared a day of fast
for renewal.
It is the prayer of the Conference Committee and the organizers that we will all avail
ourselves of the opportunity to open our hearts and minds and to yield our spirits to the
Holy Spirit, so He quicken and anoint us in a special way during the conference.
The Bible teaches in Acts 2: 38-39, that the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all believers who
repent and are baptised for the remission of sins. Perhaps, some of us assembled here
are not very sure whether the Spirit of Christ is in fact dwelling in us and what will be after
death. Whilst here, you may kindly pray about and discuss this all-important subject with
other participants. The Holy Spirit will lead you to the witness of Christ within you as
described in 1st John 5: 10-13.
The expression in Acts Chapter 8 and Acts Chapter 10, as testified in Acts 11: 15-16,
shows that there is some spiritual experience beyond the born-again or salvation
experience. This tallies with John the Baptist’s testimony that the baptism of Jesus Christ
is with the Holy Spirit (and with fire) (Matthew 3:11), as distinct from the baptism of John
which is unto repentance (Acts 19: 1-6)
We will pray that participants will make it a subject of deep spiritual yearning for authentic
fellowship with the Holy Spirit during the entire Conference. There will be workshops to
bring you into a practical appreciation of the working of the Holy Spirit in your life, your
ministry and the church or fellowship.
The coming of the Holy Spirit is accompanied with power, love and joy. We believe that
those who will open up will experience this power, love and joy, obtain a clearer vision of
their ministries and the requirements of preparation for the Lord’s work. Arrangements
will be made for those of you who need special counseling to meet some of the pastors
and elders for discussion. Counseling requests should be handed over to the ushers or
places in the special boxes provide for Counseling Requests.
In conclusion, the Ghana Evangelical Society has been led of the Lord to create a new
forum through the National Holy Spirit Conference to promote revival in the church and
transformation in society. We envisage that these conferences shall not only inspire
teaching and study on and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, but also that the entire church
of Christ shall acknowledge and honour the Holy Spirit so the whole church of God in
Ghana shall enter into the full dimensions of the authority and power the Lord Jesus
Christ and the Father have bestowed upon the Church. In the Holy Spirit dwelleth the
regenerative power of God that changes the hearts of men. With Him as partner shall the
church subdue kingdoms and thrones, dominions, principalities and powers in the world
bringing them under the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth that guides
into all truths, receives from the Father and Son for the church and equips the saints for
their respective ministries in the church and the world. He is the General Superintendent
of the church. He is God. If the church embraces the Spirit of Truth, there will be no more
doctrinal problems dividing the church. The church shall come unto the vision of the
Lord………for which He prayed – “That we all be one.” We trust that all participants will
catch this vision, learn of and from the Holy Spirit and go to all churches, bringing all
things under Christ.
“Go ye therefore and teach………. that they all might be one……….”
So, Ghana be saved. So, Africa will arise, and the earth be full of the knowledge of the
LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Amen!