NATIONAL HOLY SPIRIT CONFERENCE.
OPENING SERVICE ADDRESS
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S GIFTS: A CALL TO SPIRITUAL CONQUEST
BY PASTOR P. ATTA ANTWI -1987
1st Cor. 12: 1-12

SYNOPSIS: This address challenges believers to claim and use the Holy Spirit’s gifts to
conquer spiritual enemies and fulfill God’s end-time purpose.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Guests, Fellow Ministers, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I
deem it a special honour to have been invited to deliver the opening address of this most
important conference. I have described this conference as most important because
unlike other conferences this relates specially to the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
– The Third Person of the Triune God. I consider it an exclusive privilege to speak about
The Holy Spirit, and I am grateful to the organizers for giving me the opportunity.
According to the programme, I am to base my address on The Gifts of The Holy Spirit. At
once we must all feel like taking off our shoes, for the ground we are standing is Holy and
Awesome.
Mr. Chairman, we are living in days when once again there is a glorious visitation from on
High. God is moving sovereignty in the outpouring of His Spirit upon all flesh and quite
unexpectedly many believers are sharing the wonderful experience of Holy Spirit Baptism
– speaking in tongues, prophesying, healing the sick and teaching the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ with tremendous signs following. This glorious manifestation of spiritual
wonders is in consonance with what the Bible teaches.
Mr. Chairman, some of us have in the past few years been victims of some persecution
only for claiming that there is such thing as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We were
mocked at and branded false prophets and even up to today we suffer least respect
because we do not appear orthodox.
My dictionary explains the world orthodox as “Having opinion or belief which are generally
accepted or approved” and terribly enough, Holy Spirit Baptism is one of the opinions not
“generally accepted or approved.” And I dare say that those who have constituted
themselves into authorities to think and determine that Holy Spirit Baptism should not be
accepted or approved as an important belief of Christian teaching are only serving the
interest of Satan because this belief is the power from on high taught by our Lord Jesus
Christ Himself and which is the most dreaded by the devil.
But today, God is working fast and how refreshing for us to come here as ministers and
members of many denominations who testify of changed lives, deepened experiences,
increased love for God, His Word and His people since being baptized in the Holy Spirit
according to the scriptures. (Acts 2: 4). With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in these
latter days there has again been a resurgent, renewal and manifestation of the Gifts of
the Holy Spirit which are indeed, integral too, and inseparable linked with the baptism of
the Holy Spirit.
But questioning have been raised against the manifestation. Sometimes the question has
arisen from mere curiosity, but more of them they have sprung from an honest desire to
understand, experience and enjoy the riches of this Divine Provision. The apostle Paul in
his elucidation on this important subject wrote to the Corinthians “Now concerning
Spiritual Gifts, Brethren, I Would Not Have You Ignorant……….”
The saints in Corinth like other of his many converts, and like most Christians today,
having been brought from paganism and heathenism to the new life of Christ, were totally
ignorant of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Their response to the apostle’s message as
recorded in Acts 18: 8 had been sincere and thorough. They heard, believed and were
baptized with water.
The fulfillment of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit in their new life must be a matter of
course by evidence of the letter the apostle wrote to them some five years later. That
usual signs followed the baptism is also beyond doubts, because the apostle wrote
particularly to clear their ignorance of those things and direct them along the proper lines
for maximum benefit of the church. We must note that the Apostle did not disparage their
possession of the gifts; on the contrary, he rebuked those who would forbid them (1st Cor.
14: 30). He encouraged all to desire, even to covet earnestly the best gifts which would
glorify Christ and edify the church. (1st Cor. 12: 31). St. Paul thus teach against the
exercise of spiritual gifts as intended by God to form an integral part of public worship
today as in the early times of the church. Ignorance prevails as to what, why, how and
when of the gifts of the spirit.
There are ignorant Christians about the gifts of the Spirit because
1. Some blatantly refuse to hear anything about the Holy Spirit even though they sing
traditional songs about Him
2. Family teaching has been spreading about what the gifts are.
3. Traditional environment in a church society which is satisfied with it membership
and does not want anything beyond.
4. Lack of contact with those who have experience of these ministry
5. Fear of false prophet
6. Christians who are simply indifferent.
Also, even within the ranks of Spirit-baptised people today there may well be those who
are unaware of the whole counsel of God in connection with the use of the Gifts and with
accompanying discipline so essential for their operations in the church.
Mr. Chairman nearly twenty centuries separate us from the early church of which the
Assembly of Corinth formed part, and without doubt the church or Corinth reflect and
reveals what a typical church of the early times was like. The early churches had a
tremendous advantage of living in an age which had not yet become encrusted and in the
midst of binding tradition. They still had those among them who had walked and talked
with Christ on earth, who had witnessed His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, who
had been present at the birth of the infant church, having participated in that
unforgettable infilling of the Holy Spirit with its resultant harvest of three thousand souls.
What a tremendous impact the presence of such eyewitnesses must have exerted and
with what eager desire and rapt attention would the relation of their first-hand contacts
have listened to.
The fine gold of divine visitation had not yet dimed. The glory of pristine purity had not yet
been chilled by the advance of worldliness, nor, had unbelief as yet penetrated the vitals
of faith. Persecution and the uncertainty of things natural, kept them alive to and keenly
desirous of things spiritual.
Mr. Chairman, we on the other hand, have advantage of knowing how they fared, how they
reacted, when advice was given and correction administered. We can profit immensely
by their experience with the possibility of avoiding the pitfalls that confronted them.
Mr. Chairman, the other twin evil so abundantly evident around us is indifference to very
many are completely unconcerned about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They are utterly
indifferent as to whether they exist or not. That they did not once exist, every nominal
Christian will agree because the Bible mention them but now well, they don’t know and
really don’t care very much for after all, does it really matter whether they have been
withdrawn or not? In the vast majority of religious gatherings people seem to get along
without them. Very often ignorance is the root cause of indifference ignorance steaming
from faulty teaching and in turn leading to false and fanciful interpretation of God’s word.
We may well wonder at the strange handling of scripture by those who claim to be its
interpreters and teachers. Think for instance, of treatment accorded the context of first
Corinthians chapters 12 and 14, which form the basis of the teaching and function of the
gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 11 is generally acceptable with its instructions regarding observance of the
Lord’s supper but chapter 12 dealing with spiritual gifts is put aside on the pretext that
“All these things have passed away.” Chapter 13 is retained with its wonderful exposition
of Love because Love abideth ever. “Prophecy shall fail, and tongues shall cease.” Yet
chapter 15, the great resurrection chapter is held and proved. Chapters 11 retained, 12
refused, 13 warmly received, 14 rejected or at least coolly neglected, 15 regarded with
favour. That is as to their actual and practical guidance for present day church life and
individual living.
Mr. Chairman, surely such handling of God’s word is unbecoming and unworthy. Surely
the Bible is still a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Ps. 119: 105) and scriptures is
given by inspiration of God and is profitable (2nd Tim. 3: 16). But today, as always,
indifference often moves hand in hand with prejudice and that in turn unfortunately often
leads to open and persistent antagonism to any thing not popularly acceptable. But
whether there is ignorance or indifference, prejudice or antagonism, spiritual gifts are a
reality. They have been bestowed, and they have come to stay until the day of Jesus
Christ. Then that which is perfect will come and there will be no further need of anything
fragmentary. Where Pentecostal fullness flows freely, safely guided by apostolic order,
there the gifts of the Spirit flourish to the glory of the head of the church and to the
spiritual enrichment of its members.
Mr. Chairman, the importance of Spiritual Gifts is place beyond all argument or dispute
by the very fact that they are God given. God knows what is best, indeed what is
indispensable for the perfection of His people. In the early church this was not academic
subject. It was a life issue of vital practical importance. The ministry of God’s servants
(according to Eph. 4: 11) was largely the exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit under divine
anointing. We do well to remind ourselves continually that throughout the whole of this
dispensation, God is unchanged in His attitude, provision and purpose. He has only one
gospel for succeeding generations. In the manner the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the
20th century as of first century believers. The gifts have been given; they are available
now, for they have never been withdrawn, because “The Gifts and Calling of God are
without repentance. (Rom. 11: 29).
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Guests, Fellow Pastors, Brothers and Sisters. It is always
easier to believe regarding the future than for the present. That we shall possess an
inheritance incorruptible, unfading and eternal is assuredly true. It is reserved for us. But
there is a heritage available now, and faith, the substance of things hope for, is the titledeed of the inheritance here and hereafter.
The spiritual Canaan is to be possessed now by Faith. Jordan is the river of death, not the
death that ends our life on earth, but death of the old self life. The Baptism in the Spirit is
not an end in itself, it is a beginning of a fresh, further, fuller beginning of higher yet deeper
life.
Mr. Chairman, we are in the last days as predicted by our Lord and Master. The signs of
our time are eloquent testimony and sure indication that the end-time is approaching.
Many false prophets are emerging out, some are Christ impersonification and are
deceiving people. Consequently, some Christians are departing from the Faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Let us not, therefore, remain on the
threshold, but go right in and possess or inheritance. ‘The gifts of the Holy Spirit’ and their
accompanying treasures to counteract to thwart to gainsay and neutralize the onslaught
of the enemy. Let us not tarry on the Canaan brink of Jordan. The whole land of promise
invites our conquest. Giants must be overcome, battles fought, and enemies
dispossessed.
In their stead, God’s triumphant hosts must his people dwell therein. His land of promise
becomes our treasured possession. For this purpose, the Holy Spirit has come – not
merely to stir our emotion but that the purpose of God be fulfilled in and through our lives.
Baptism in the Spirit. Let us live in the Spirit. Respond to the Spirit. Let us claim, receive
and use to mutual edification the gifts of the Spirit and allow the heavenly guest to
reproduce the fruit of the Spirit within us. Resplendent, thus, with His grace and gifts and
radiant with the glory of His dwelling, we await the return of our blessed Lord, proving in
the meantime that the “Hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets, before we reach
those heavenly fields.