OPERATION #Hear&Do! (The Ultimate Action)

"It's not what your eyes can see only but what the Spirit of God is saying. I have been a minister for almost 30-something years...I can prophesy without closing my eyes and I can tell you that this brother and sister can become a good couple."
-Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah

We received an instructive message on 'Knowing the Perfect Will of God' by our Papa, Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah during the G-Youth Camp 2015 all-night Service.

He taught us to know the will of God before stepping out to do something. Sometimes, we get into difficulty in business, ministry, marriage, etc. because we don't seek the will of God.

Reading from Romans 12:2, we discovered that God wants us to be in His perfect will. There are two dimensions to the will of God:

# The permissive/imperfect will of God.

# The Perfect will of God.

When you are in God's perfect will, you do what is on the mind of God. The things you do fit in the plan of God for your life. The perfect will of God causes you to excel.

On the other hand, people who find themselves in the permissive will of God are at cross-purposes with God. Even though God does not approve of it, He still permits you to go ahead and do it.

Referring to three Scripture passages, Bishop cited instances of people who had swayed into the permissive will of God.

The first passage was when the Israelites requested for a king (read 1 Samuel 8:4-8). It was not God's perfect will for them to have a king. Nevertheless, he okayed their request for one. Bishop cautioned us to beware of doing things without God in it.

The next case we saw was that of Balaam the prophet (read Numbers 22:9-24). Balak, king of Moab, was bent on destroying the nation of Israel, so he figured that he could do that by taking the battle from a spiritual dimension. He decided to go and see Balaam the prophet so that he would curse the nation of Israel. However, Balaam knew that Balak's request was an obvious impossibility- you cannot curse the nation of Israel; it won't work!

Initially, Balaam was headstrong about his conviction not to go with the princes Balak sent. God's perfect will for Balaam was for him not to go with the princes of Moab.

Yet, Balak sent more honourable princes to Balaam. Well, it seemed he was getting dissuaded from his previous conviction of not going with them. Thus, he told the princes he would not go but that he would pray about it.

Bishop drew our attention to that portion: The problem with a lot of people is that they change their mind, even after they have heard God's voice clearly, when people they respect get involved in the situation.

When you keep talking to God about the issue, you may change your mind and land yourself in the permissive will of God.

Remember, if you don't walk in perfect will of God, you will face difficulty; Balaam found himself locked between walls and a mighty angel.

Bishop said, "Sometimes, earthly considerations lead us into the permissive will of God."

The third reference was from 1 Chronicles 21:1-8 which talks about the time David numbered the people that he had. God had clearly stated that it was not supposed to be done. Actually, it was Satan who incited David to move against the will of God.

Bishop went on to show us how to know the perfect will of God viz.:

# We can see the will of God through His Word. That's the standard.

# We can know the will of God when God speaks to us through His prophets. God speaks to you through your pastor. (Read 2 Chronicles 20:20; 2 Samuel 7:4-7)

Often, if you don't follow the will of God, it will end in confusion (read Genesis 11:4)

It is also possible for God to tell you to do something which is seemingly foolish in the eyes of men. We see that in the case of Abram, when God called him (Genesis 12:1-2).

If you don't know the will of God, you may miss God.

Remember, if you move out of Christ, you have moved out of God's will.

# You can know the will of God through the Holy Spirit (speaking to you, in a dream or in a  vision). [Read Acts 16:1-10]

Learn to ask the Holy Spirit about God's will for your life.

Remember, it is possible for you to follow God's will and still be hindered by the devil; it will not be a smooth sail.

Prayer also features in knowing the will of God. You need to be led.

When you obey the will of God, He will give you provision; He will give you people who will help you.

DO!: It is possible to know the perfect will of God. Today, where do you stand? Are you in God's perfect will or His permissive will? Right now, just take a few moments to talk with the Lord; ask Him to lead you into His perfect will. His Word is also available to you to discover His perfect will. Study it to know what He is saying every day. Spend time in fellowship with the Holy Spirit daily.

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #22)

"Don't despise yourself and hide that talent...begin with the end in mind. Your vision can be progressive. Break it into manageable chunks."
- Mr. Kojo Ohene-Kyei

This is the concluding part of Mr. Kojo Ohene-Kyei's message on 'How to create your desired future.' Yesterday, we learned about the importance of being specific in our goal setting. The following is the continuation of the tips for reaching your goals:

# Form a habit of continuous learning. Successful people read something every day. "Reading maketh a man."
Remember, if you can't read, at least, one book a year, you can't compete.
Read at least, a book a month, in addition to your studies. As you read, your perspective begins to change.

# Set priorities. They help you to do first things first.

# Preparation & practice is important. Remember, people will pay premium for excellence. Don't be complacent with your achievements.

Learn to distinguish between assets and liabilities in your life by asking, "Does it advance my cause?"

Postpone consumption today for your desired future otherwise you will be eating away the future you desire.
We first make our habits and then our habits make us.

# Develop a network of relationships.
'Alone we can do little; together we can do more.' Networks are even more important than money.

# Set yourself challenging targets.

# Be accountable to somebody. Your mentors can help you.

# Be flexible.

# Be aware of the unchangeable.

# Keep hope alive in difficult circumstances. If you keep hope alive, you will move mountains.

# Build your relationship with God. Set goals with regard  to your prayer and  meditation on the Word.

It's about balance. Keep stuff documented in your mind.

Finally, let us observe these winning attitudes:

# Discipline

# Fortitude

# Passion/Confidence

# Integrity. Don't cut corners. Integrity is simply doing what you said you would do.

# Keep your focus.

# Show proper respect and humility.

The rewards for using your talent are long lasting.

Remember that all things are possible but God expects you to play your part.

DO!: Now, you have more tips for reaching your goals. Have an increased appetite for knowledge. Learn daily. Enrich yourself spiritually through prayer and meditation on the Word every day. And incorporate the winning attitudes into your life.

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #21)

"Don't despise yourself and hide that talent...begin with the end in mind. Your vision can be progressive. Break it into manageable chunks."
- Mr. Kojo Ohene-Kyei

Every human being has, at some point in life, desired a future more glorious than it was at the time of inspiration. Many a time, those dreams look so abstract that all one can do is just see it as that- a dream.

However, the good news is that you can actually create your desired future. There are practical steps you can take to bring your dreams to fruition.

The CEO of IFS Financial Services, Mr. Kojo Ohene-Kyei, walked us through specific tested and proven principles for creating our desired future.

"For so many people," he began, "the gap between where they are now and their desired end is huge."

He emphasised that money is helpful BUT money is not everything. Building the life you desire begins with you.

His theme text was Matthew 25:14-30, which is the parable of the talents (please read it today).

He postulated the need for us not to despise ourselves nor hide our talents. He further said that the talent God gives you comes with grace. Exercise courage to DO. God expects you to trade profitably.

Certain roles for you are mandatory not optional. If you don't determine where you're going, anywhere is OK.

Begin with the end in mind. Your vision can be progressive. Break your vision into manageable chunks. Have clarity of thoughts; know what you're good at.

Learn to start from your comfort zone and if there is an industry you seem not to be knowledgeable in, partner with someone you know who is skilled in that area.

The reason many of us do not reach our goals is that we are not specific enough. Here are some tips for reaching your goals:

# Be specific.

# Pray about it to validate the things you want to do.

# Write your thoughts down and remind yourself of them every day. Provide a service that adds value to the world. What you set out to do must be genuine and add value to people.

# Find a mentor; mentors shape your thoughts and guide you.

# Have a sustainable plan.
Remember this:
An idea + a convincing plan + credibility/integrity = successful startup

Getting partners is done through preparation of a comprehensive plan.

Take good care of your integrity right from now!

# Work at your goals.
Procrastination and laziness sabotage your effort. Set dates/milestones. Don't postpone it even if you're tired. Pinch yourself and work at it.

# Learn to crawl before you walk. Invest your money in your life and build your life before you think about FUN! Don't spend your money frivolously.

Remember, money that comes into your hands is not always for consumption.

Allocate 10% each of your finances for your tithes, emergencies and investment.

Also, learn to cut your coat according to your cloth. "Your life is not about the car you drive. Don't try to gain acceptance." Learn how to invest. Have an investment account.

To be continued...

DO!: Indeed, it is possible to create your desired future. Start putting your talent to work; don't hide it. Set goals and work at them. You now know that specificity in setting your goals is very important. And so if you have a very broad view of your goal in mind, find a way of breaking it down in such a way that you can start working on that vision right away. Talk to God about it and you'll receive wisdom about the way you should go. On the other hand, if you don't have any goal, you better sit down now with a pen and paper in hand and write one down. With all that God has endowed you with, you can't afford to live a goalless life!

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #20)

"My (Hyundai) Accent 6229-09 that was taken away led to good things; it was very good."
- Honourable Ato Sarpong

Today, we continue with the remaining principle from Genesis 1:2,31.

Dreams must be backed by decisions. The decisions you make either deform or transform you. There are three basic decisions every human being must make (consciously or unconsciously):

# Your decision about eternity.

# Your decision about your career.

# Your decision about who to marry.

The sixth point he gave was on discipline. Discipline makes a huge difference between the productive and unproductive. Pay attention to your use of time. Learn to live on 55% of your earnings. Your 'yes' must be your 'yes' and your 'no' must be your 'no'.

Also, determine to be diligent. Do whatever you're given to do with all your heart. Do it, and do it well.

Finally, have drive and determination. In all things, give thanks. Despite the opposition, press on. "There is no situation like 'hopelessness'; it's just a process."

In closing, Honourable Ato Sarpong told campers that positive advertisers are necessary for advancement. He urged us to ask God for such people. A good name will open doors for you.

DO!: The remaining four principles have been given to you today. Add them to the first four and apply them to your life and you'll see a marked improvement in your life.

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #19)

"My (Hyundai) Accent 6229-09 that was taken away led to good things; it was very good."
- Honourable Ato Sarpong

Yesterday's Hear&Do! was the beginning part of this message by Honourable Ato Sarpong. We learned that in order to get from the promise of God to the position of prosperity, we need to go through the process. Today, we'll discover 8 principles based on the theme Scripture (Genesis 1:2, 31) used by the Honourable Minister:

# God was dissatisfied with the earth as it was at the time. Be dissatisfied with your current state/environment?

# Before taking action, have a definite purpose.

# You must discover your potential/talents and monetize it.

# Have a DREAM.

# Your dreams must be backed by decisions.

# Be disciplined.

# Be diligent.

# Have drive and determination.

OK, so let's break down each of these eight principles:

First of all, you must be dissatisfied with your environment, just as God was dissatisfied with the darkness that was upon the face of the deep. "Anytime you become satisfied with your current condition, you are limited because you wouldn't create a pathway for progress." Remember, CHANGE responds to your level of dissatisfaction. Notice that because God was dissatisfied, he took action. What do you want to do?

Secondly, God took action. However, He had a definite purpose before taking action. You must have a definite purpose before taking action. He explained further, "We all frame what we want to be by the people ahead of us...If you don't have a purpose in life, you won't end anywhere in life."

The plan of life is influenced by our purpose.

Isaac Newton said, "If I have seen any further, it has been by standing on the shoulders of giants."

When you have purpose, you are not distracted. Purpose leads to humility and passion.

Thirdly, you must monetize your talents. We fail because we don't have the willpower and the zeal to continue, not because we don't have talent.

Put your talent to use and you'll be rewarded.

There is a lot of work between discovery of your talent and monetizing it. Be ready to leave certain things. There are some friends who are toxic- cut them off!

Next, you must have a DREAM. A DREAM is that broad inspirational picture of what you want to do. Here's an acrostic to help you DREAM:

Desire- a dream is always started by a desire.

Resourcefulness- you don't need resources; YOU must be resourceful.

Enthusiasm- What pushes you to do what you do?

Action- Sometimes, you aim too many times; you must shoot.

Motivation- Keep that picture in view always.

To be continued...

DO!: You have the first 4 principles in the process of getting you to the position of prosperity. Start putting them to work. Don't get comfortable with you current state; be dissatisfied. Have a definite purpose. Discover and monetize your talents, and have a DREAM.

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #18)

"My (Hyundai) Accent 6229-09 that was taken away led to good things; it was very good."
- Honourable Ato Sarpong

Sometimes, when challenging seasons show up in life and victory sounds like such a foreign word to the ears of people, they cry out to God, "Why me?" But is that how God teaches us to respond to debilitating circumstances?

Nope!

Honourable Ato Sarpong, the Deputy Minister of Communications, elucidated on the journey from hopelessness to greatness in the morning session of Day 5. If you have found yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place in life, this message is for you. It will turn your fortunes around and put springs in steps as you lift your head up and walk with confidence to make the most of the life God has called you to.

With wit, anecdotes and testimonies, Honourable Ato Sarpong presented his discourse. He had two verses serving as his background text encapsulating his entire message:

And THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID; AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, IT WAS VERY GOOD. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
(Genesis 1:2,31)

Before expounding the above verses, the Honourable Minister noted that, "God has made all of us a promise that He'll prosper us."

Thus, referring to the verses, he said that the whole earth was a chaotic mess in verse 2. However, in verse 31, the Bible says that 'everything was very good.'

He therefore adumbrated an intensive three-step journey that will lead to the prosperity God has promised us viz.:

           PROMISE

               ⬇

           PROCESS

                ⬇

        PROSPERITY

Before you can get to your position of prosperity, peace or progress, you must go through a process consisting of these three key elements:

# Each of us has a potential that must be tapped.

# Practice with your potential (performance)

# Persevere through challenges.

Remember that adversities are important in life.

There are certain seasons that you must go through in life; you need to move from a position of INSIGNIFICANCE to FRUSTRATION to UNCERTAINTY to INJUSTICE to SILENCE to ADVERSITY to BREAKTHROUGH!

It's ALL for the good of the final destination.

To be continued...

DO!: God has a made a promise to prosper you. In order to get from your current state to your final destination, you must go through the process. And that is what involves discovering and using your potential, and persevering through challenges. What is that unique ability God has graced you with? Start practising with it. Are you going through terrible challenges today? Persevere through them; the Bible says count it all joy when you go through diverse tests (James 1:2).

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #17)

"The difference between success and failure is training and preparation."
- Mr. Bernard Avle

The afternoon session of Day 4 at Camp 2015 put boosters in the hearts of participants to influence their world with God's investment in them. Mr. Bernard Avle, Director of News Programming at Citi fm, delivered a message on 'Developing the Leader in you.'

He began by pointing out that what we become in future is dependent on what we do in our childhood. He assured campers that everyone present in the meeting is a leader.

He also said, "The world is waiting for you...the difference between success and failure is training and preparation."

Quoting from 2 Corinthians 4:7, he declared that, "If there is something precious in you, the outside of you has to be beaten for it to come out."

He moved on to his theme Scripture reference, Matthew 5:13-14:

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."

What are the uses of salt? It enhances taste, preserves, influences, kills germs, cleanses and seasons.

If you want to season one pound of meat, you need just a pinch of salt.

That means, as the salt of the earth, you are supposed to be leading and influencing people's lives.

In the Amplified Bible salt stands for taste, that is strength and quality. In other words, if we are not on this earth, it will be destroyed.

The world is the operating system of the earth.

Every day you live your life without impact, you are abusing it.

What is the use of light?
It leads, gives sight, direction, confidence, life, brings clarity, heals, shows the way and reveals the true nature of a thing.

When you walk into a place, people should receive light. The purpose of leadership is not so that you can get glory for yourself.

Verse 16 of Matthew 5 talks about men seeing your GOOD WORKS, so that they will give glory to God.

There are two dimensions to your good works:

# The power of your example (what is within you that causes you to lead and influence lives, moral excellence)

# The example of your power (the outward expression of the investment within you)

You ARE before you DO!
Leadership  is about who you are not what you do.

Positions, titles, money, etc. are physical adornments.

Spend your time developing your inner man. God looks at the hidden side. The heart of a king is on his inside.

Remember, preparation is the secret to success.

Leadership is from inside out.

Learn how to be led by the Spirit.
Fast. Pray. Wait on God.

People will respond to what is inside you. The only thing that is priceless is what is inside you.

True greatness is not what you can do in Church; we must deal with the world.

Great leaders exhibit leadership in the world circles.

It's better to be called from the back to the front than to be called from the front to the back.

Discover your assignment on time and that's how you'll be a leader.

Be disciplined.

He cited the following quotes as he ministered:

# "Leadership is influence."
- John C. Maxwell

# "What you love is a clue to what you contain and what you hate is a clue to what you must solve."
- Dr. Mike Murdock

DO!: You are the salt of the earth and the light of world. God has called you to lead men out of darkness into His light. Invest in your inner man by spending time with the Holy Spirit in prayer and meditating on the Word. Broaden your scope of knowledge. Make an impact in your environment- your school, the corporate world, etc.

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #16)

"The Lord says He's okay with YOU!"

- Apostle Henry Dodoo-Amoo

Psalm 102:13 says, "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come." Apostle Henry Dodoo-Amoo read out this verse of Scripture under a strong Prophetic unction declaring, "We are in the time of God's favour!" He went on to define favour as 'to have support', 'to be assisted', 'to be shown special privileges'.

Remember that because of the favour on your life, no one can compete with you.

These are some of the features of favour:

# When you have favour and you show up in a place, people there just like you.

# The favour of God opens doors for you, even when the door is shut.

# Favour gives you advantages in the midst of difficult circumstances. (Read Psalm 44:3)

Meditate on Luke 4:18-19.

When you're born again, there's a plus on your life that cannot be taken away! Only you can take it away, through ignorance (of the Word).

Ephesians 2:10 says that you were created in Christ Jesus for good works. "God has mapped out success for YOU, good works for YOU!"

From the reference in Luke chapter 4, you will notice that the set time of the Lord's favour came with Jesus Christ, and you are in Him now!

How can you activate God's favour in your life? Apostle Dodoo-Amoo showed us the way to do so as follows:

# Humility
(Meditate on Proverbs 3:34 and 1 Peter 5:5)

It does not pay to be proud. Remember this: Humility will always bring you before great men.

# Diligence in seeking God.
(Meditate on Proverbs 11:27 and Proverbs 12:2)

Anybody that has favour with God will automatically have favour with men.

DO!: Have you faced disappointments in life? It's not a sign that you're hopeless or 'favourless'. Change your way of thinking today. Once you've been born again, you're living in God's favour daily (Psalm 5:12). Believe it. To activate it in your life, appropriate the two principles given to you: be humble and diligently seek God.
Also be a ready to show favour to others!

REVIEW: What are the key lessons you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #15)

"The work of a watchman is 'blood business'."

The Bible records in John 10:41 that John the Baptist did no miracle. That verse of Scripture was Apostle Divine Norteye's opening reading. But why didn't John do any miracles? John preached repentance void of compassion. The man of God had no compassion; it is compassion that will enable you to perform miracles.

Ezekiel 3:17-21 talks about how God has chosen you to be a watchman. Your job is to warn the unrighteous to turn away from their own ways and to embrace God's grace. Otherwise, if they die in their sins, God will hold you accountable for their souls.

Apostle Divine intimated that the work of a watchman is 'blood business.' This is because the reference above says that if the wicked die in their sins, God will require their blood at your hand. Can you account for someone's blood?

Young Timothy followed after the faith of his mother and grandmother. You must carry the zeal of your forefathers in the faith.

Making reference to mind boggling deeds of darkness in certain parts of the world, the man of God announced that, "It is ONLY the Gospel that changes animalistic behaviour in human beings."

He then moved on to his theme of Becoming an Effective Shepherd. Apostle Divine said there are two kinds of shepherds:

# Meaty shepherds (like Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli the Priest) [read Ezekiel 34:1-6]

# True Shepherds (like Samuel the Prophet)

As you preach the Gospel, nothing shall by any means hurt you.

There are invisible forces in operation to help you carry out your ministry (read Joshua 5:13).

God is counting on you to reach your generation with the Gospel.

Don't go and preach condemnation like John the Baptist did. The Gospel is a message of God's love.

Watch over your sheep; pray for them. The shepherd is a caring and loving guide to the sheep.

Remember, people are the sheep.

Set time aside to CARE, FEED, and GATHER the sheep.

Arise and join the great work of winning souls to the Lord. Now that you're young, seize the opportunity to preach the Gospel.

Also remember, the words you hear today light you up on fire to go and preach the Gospel.

Keep this thought: The power of the Spirit is what is necessary for change in people's lives.

DO!: God wants all men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). What are you doing about it? Arise and preach the Gospel today. Spend time in fervent intercession as well.

REVIEW: What are the key lessons you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #14)

"You don't only preach; the people must remain."
- Apostle Victor Badger

In the morning session of Day 4, we received the ministry of Apostle Victor Badger on Church on Campus.

There are over 7 billion people on earth now and majority of these people are Buddhists and Muslims. And even some of those called Christians are not committed to Jesus. This places on us a BIG responsibility to evangelise the world.

Turning over to Matthew 16:13-20, Apostle Badger showed us the first reference that was made of the Church.

He charged those on Campuses or yet to enter the tertiary institutions to:

# Report to your pastor if there is no Gospel Light Church on Campus, so that one can be set up.

# Join a Gospel Light Church when you get on Campus.

He declared, "You are great because there is an investment in you- God is in you. The Bible talks about a treasure that is in us."

Be of service to God.

John 15:16 says, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." Apostle Badger explained that the secret to being blessed is in GOING to preach the Gospel. You don't only preach; the people must remain.

Apostle Badger gave us 3 benefits of having Church on Campus viz.:

#1: Church on Campus enables you to preach the Gospel and help fruit to remain.

#2: When you have Church on Campus, you have the opportunity to grow your gifts. The Lord wants your gifts to manifest.
God delights in using young people. David was young but he defeated Goliath.

Without the Campus Ministry, the future of the Church is jeopardized.

#3: Church on Campus gives us the opportunity to be trained.

If you've never been on missions before, desire to go on missions.

Don't be a pew-warmer- one who has not used his talents (read Matthew 25:14).

The future of the Church depends on you.

Finally, Apostle Badger charged us to give ourselves to the study of the Word.

DO!: Are you getting ready to enter any tertiary institution, or already on Campus? This is an opportunity for you to be involved in making sure Gospel Light becomes a household name on Campus. Join the Church today if you are not in it. And if you're already in the Church, give it your best- serve faithfully!

REVIEW: What are the key lessons you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #13)

"A different person has a unique lifestyle that can motivate others."
- Rev. Robert Quaye

On Day 4 of Camp, Rev. Robert Quaye exhorted us during morning devotion with a message entitled, 'You are Different!' In his message, he announced three peculiarities that make us different.

#1: First of all, you are a new creature. (Read 2 Corinthians 5:17)
It is very vital for you to be aware that you now walk in the newness of life. Thus, you must be different before the eyes of God.

#2: You are complete in Christ. (Read Colossians 2:10)
Mingle with people who are also complete in Christ!

#3: You are God's Temple. (Read 1 Corinthians 3:16)

DO!: BEING different enables you to LIVE differently because before you can do, you must BE. God has imparted a unique gene into your spiritual framework. Thus, you are different from the rest of the world. You neither operate by their systems nor live as they do. Let the consciousness of your being different stir you to live differently every day!

REVIEW: What are the key lessons you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #12)

"Sometimes, you can preach to yourself when you're alone."
- Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah

Bishop shared briefly on The Art of Preaching and Teaching during the Worship/Praise Night of Camp 2015.

He noted that preaching is a public work which needs to be taught even though one can learn by observation.

He exhorted us to be properly dressed, adding that, "Your dressing is also a statement. You must look decently dressed."

Bishop treated three aspects of preaching.

The first was IMPROMPTU PREACHING. He explained that this is often done when presenting an evangelistic message. That is, you do not necessarily preach from a sermon outline or notes which have been prepared. He noted that quotable Scriptures in such an instance include John 3:16 and Romans 3:23. The man of God emphasised the need for us to be brief when doing impromptu preaching. He delineated the dichotomy between the love of God and the judgment of God, explaining that when you're preaching about God's love, do not deviate to God's judgment. Furthermore, he said you can pick a theme, for instance, about how to be born again (Read John chapter 3). This form of preaching (impromptu) is often done outside Church (in the community, at work, at the market, on the streets, etc.)

Secondly, Bishop shed some light on two principles for preaching in Church, or among a group. He talked about maintaining eye contact with all your audience, and pointed out that the trick is to survey the room or place where you're preaching with your eyes. That way, you can get everyone to be aware that the message is for them!

He then animatedly described another principle for teaching: hermeneutics. He noted that hermeneutics denotes demonstrating your message. You must dramatise it in such a way that your message will be livened up. It was a great joy to receive an array of demonstrations on stage by campers who volunteered to dramatise their message through hermeneutics!

Finally, Bishop charged us to do a lot of research when preparing to preach. He also explained that whereas PREACHING appeals to one's emotions, TEACHING appeals to the heater's conscience. He said that every message has 3 major components: the introductory/leading verse, the body and the conclusion. He then concluded by remarking that when you get to the climax of the message, don't delay; descend and conclude!

DO!: Preaching the Gospel is God's Number One Job. Learn to make it your utmost passion. With the knowledge of impromptu preaching, it's very clear that you're sure to 'nail it' when opportunities come your way to preach the Gospel. If you're an M.O.D. during a Chruch Service or you're leading a home cell meeting, you should be able to maintain eye contact with the congregation and make good use of hermeneutics.

REVIEW: What are the key lessons you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #11)

"If you don't have a good relationship with God, you can't have a good relationship with others."
- Lady Apostle Frances Dodoo-Amoo

Many young people battle with uncertainties concerning relationships and sometimes, in their eagerness to find answers choke their lives with many sorrows as a result of unwise counsel. But thanks be to God! G-Youth were blessed in the 2nd session of Day 3 of Camp 2015. Myriads of questions pertaining to relationships were answered. It's possible that your question (in your heart) is in here somewhere...with the answer based on God's word.

With three great women of God in attendance namely Lady Apostle Frances Dodoo-Amoo (has enjoyed her marriage for 3 decades!), Lady Rev. Mrs. Daisy Sackey and Lady Rev. Mrs. Abeasi, we were definitely blessed to receive answers to our questions. Study these questions and answers carefully and apply them to your current situation, or arm yourself with them to make informed decisions in future.

Q: "When are you ready to marry?"

A: "You are ready to marry after you have settled down. When you have a job, a place to live and are independent (that is, you can take care of your basic needs), then you will know that it is time for you to get married."

Q: "How long should you date?"

A: "Dating should not last for more than one year. Most prolonged courtships eventually do not lead to marriage."

Q: "What are the advantages and disadvantages of marrying someone ten years older than you are?"

A: "The differences in times may be a challenge to both of you. The older one may seem old fashioned for the younger one, and the younger may be restricted in his/her outings. It is best to marry someone who is not more than five years older than you are.

Q: "Is it good to be in a relationship?"

A: "It is OK for you to be in a relationship as long as the intent of the relationship is to end up together (in marriage), and both parties do not indulge in what married people do.

Q: " How can you tell if the lady you have in mind to get married to is the right person?"

A: "Watch out for a person who fears God. She must be responsible i.e. be able to cook, do house chores, etc. A supportive person."

Q: "If you observe that the qualities in the woman you love are way higher than yours (in terms of education, money and possessions), what should you do?"

A: "Upgrade yourself. Aim high. Improve upon yourself. If you have not been to the university, make sure you attend and get a degree. Learn more. Don't stay where you are."

Q: "Are intimate Internet relationships necessary?"

A: "No. They are not. How can you claim to love someone you barely know- ignore such relationships."

Q: "What is the foundational purpose of marriage?"

A: "Companionship. It is for helping each other."

Q: "Is it right for a lady to propose to a man?"

A: "It's OK."

Q: "How can you tell if a lady is genuinely in love with you?"

A: "The lady will be nice to you. She will often inquire about your future plans and she will definitely accord you lots of respect."

The discussion was very insightful, hilarious and fruitful.

DO!: You have got a few tips on how to prepare for marriage. Pray about your relationships. God will speak to you concerning what to do.

REVIEW: What key lessons you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #10)

"If you don't have a good relationship with God, you can't have a good relationship with others."
- Lady Apostle Frances Dodoo-Amoo

Lady Apostle Frances Dodoo-Amoo shared on Godly Relationships on Day 3 of Camp 2015. It was a refreshing session. She began by explaining the two key words in the title of her message: GODLY and RELATIONSHIP.

Here are the definitions:

GODLY- Having the mind of God; being Christlike.

She added, "When you are Godly, everything about you points to Christ!"

RELATIONSHIP- The way in which two or more people are connected, for a purpose.

She continued by expounding on our relationship with God, saying that it is the first kind of relationship you must have. She emphasised, "If you don't have a good relationship with God, you can't have a good relationship with others...God should be your NUMBER ONE lover!"

She urged us to receive the supply of God's love through communion with Him.

She also taught us a practical way of embracing God's love daily: by meditating on His goodness.

Lady Apostle Dodoo-Amoo admonished us not to take God out of our decision-making: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:4,5)

Remember, the unconditional love of God does not expect something  from another. That's the kind of love we must have!

Based on the Scripture quoted, she excavated two major points:

#Delight yourself in God.

#Commit yourself to Him.

Then she asked a very important question: Do people see God in you?

Learn to respect people, no matter who they are.

One MAIN thing that destroys relationships is ATTITUDE.

Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

If you don't correct your attitude, it becomes your character.

"How do you talk to people?"

# Work at being friendly.

#Be kind

# SMILE ��

# Respect one another.

# Love one another.

Remember, people desire to be comfortable and celebrated. It's your divine calling to ensure that in their lives.

God brings certain people (mostly whom we don't really like) our way to correct us.

Learn to keep people's secrets with you.

⚠ Lady Apostle charged everyone to memorize 1 Timothy 4:12:

"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

You should be a signboard for people to come to the House of God!

Be strong in character, like Joseph.
Be sober, like Ruth.
Be wise, like Solomon.
Be kind, like Abigail.
Be patient, like Jacob.

Serve God faithfully whiles waiting for the blessings. Improve on yourself. Aim high! God has better plans for you- stay cool!

Make sure you don't disappoint people. Be honest with people.

DO!: Prioritise your relationship with God above all else; that will help you to relate well with others. Today, meditate on 1 Timothy 4:12.

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Pause & Hahgah)

Action #7 (Lady Bishop (Elect) Naana Addae-Mensah on 10 reasons why you must win souls)

The day you give your life to Christ, you become an EVANGELIST; He gives you the power to preach the Gospel. Preach It!

[Meditate on: Mark 16:15-16; Daniel 12:3; Proverbs 11:30; Romans 10:15; Luke 15:7,10]

Action #8 (Lady Bishop (Elect) Naana Addae-Mensah)

When you preach the Gospel, you're free of the blood of sinners and it shows that you are not ashamed of the Gospel. Proclaim the Gospel to people today!

[Meditate on: Matthew 10:32; Ezekiel 33:3-4; Matthew 9:36;  Luke 14:21; Romans 1:16]

Action #9 (Apostle Nana Yiadom-Boakye on Why you must plant Churches)

If a shepherd does not have a pen to keep his flocks, they will all scatter. Planting churches fulfils the Great Commission. You're a potential church planter!

[Meditate on: Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 18:20; Luke 19:10; John 15:16]

Keep 'hahgah-ing'...   ��

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Pause & Hahgah)

Action #4 (Rev. Dr. Anthony Cudjoe on Servanthood)

The secret of GREATNESS is service. Submit yourself to your authorities (in Church, school, home, etc.) and serve them faithfully. Remember, before Jesus ascended He descended!

[Meditate on: Mark 10:35-45; John 13:1-15]

Action #5 (Rev. Dr. Anthony Cudjoe on Servanthood II)

Servanthood is not an attractive thing to do; it is thankless, BUT it's the path of GREATNESS. Examine your disposition in serving and match it with your actions.

[Meditate on: Ephesians 6:6-7]

Action #6 (Rev. Dr. Anthony Cudjoe on Servanthood III)

Be constant. Be close to your master. Be confidential with their secrets. Be content in your service. Never run away from servanthood prematurely lest you lose your portion or inheritance.

[Meditate on: Genesis 16]

Keep 'hahgah-ing'...   ��

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Pause & Hahgah)

Joshua 1:8 enjoins us to meditate on God's Word day and night. The Hebrew word translated 'meditate' is 'hahgah' and it means 'to ponder, to mutter, to roar.' God commanded Joshua to meditate on the Word because He was aware that was the only way His Word would have a lasting impact on the young man's life.

People who commit suicide do not do it on impulse. Such suicidal tendencies keep lingering in their minds until they finally yield to those wrong thoughts. Conversely, doing the Word is a result of consistent meditation upon it- flood your heart with the messages; dominate your thinking with them.
Now, it's your turn to let the messages enter into you so that you become united with the Word and it literally even directs your steps when you walk!

We have gone through the messages that were shared on days 1 and 2 at Camp 2015. We are going to recap them in summaries to help us actually act upon what we heard. And so Pause & Hahgah takes you back a few days into what you have read previously in summary, before we move on to the next actions. The key Scriptures are there for you to meditate on as well.

Action #1 (Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah on Bring After your own Kind)

Honour God with all your life by living by His Word and setting a good example in the midst of corrupt people. Live differently!

[Meditate on: 1 Samuel Chapters 2 & 3]

Action #2 (Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah on Bring After your own Kind II)

Be spiritually minded. Respond to the call of God to do His work of winning souls!

[Meditate on: 1 Samuel 8:1-7; 7:8-10]

Action #3 (Rev. Albert Bartlett-Mingle on The Power of Potential)

There is an immense wealth of potential inside of you; don't go to the grave with all that investment. Determine to use what God has put inside the you fully, here on earth!

[Meditate on: Genesis 1:11-12]

Keep 'hahgah-ing'...   ��

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #9)

"If a shepherd does not have a pen to keep his flocks, they will all scatter."
- Apostle Nana Yiadom-Boakye

As part of our mandate to preach the Gospel, church planting is so vital in making disciples of the people who believe the Gospel. It's like giving birth to a newly born child; it needs a home in which the mother would nurse it and train it to adapt to the new environment that it has found itself in.

On the same evening that we received 10 reasons to win souls, we were blessed to receive the ministry of Apostle Nana Yiadom-Boakye, who shared on Why you must plant churches everywhere you go.

He severally hammered on this point: Every child of God is a potential church planter. This is because the Bible says that we are priests (see 1 Peter 2:9). Turning to Joel 2:28, he declared that by reason of the Holy Spirit in us, we have been given all the power required in order to plant churches.

Due to time constraints, he was able to outline 7 reasons we must plant churches everywhere we go, as follows:

#1: When you plant churches, you fulfil the Great Commission ( read Matthew 28:18-20).

#2: You must plant churches because you are a priest (read 1 Peter 2:9).

#3: You must plant churches because where two or three come together in the Name of Jesus, He is there with them (read Matthew 18:20).

#4: You must plant churches because as you do, you are fulfilling the heartbeat of Jesus Christ (Luke 19:10)

#5: You must plant churches so that we will see the Spirit of God using you to bring after your kind and so that your fruit will remain (read John 15:16).

#6: You must plant churches because that was the pattern of the Early Church.

#7: You must plant churches so that those souls that have been won will not be scattered.

Today, believe in yourself that you're a church planter!

DO!: Since Tuesday, you've revised along the lines of preaching the Gospel. And today, you have learnt about the importance of churches.
New believers need to be fed with the Word of God for establishment in the faith. People like you and me are needed to build them up with the Word. It's time to work on helping the new converts in your area to grow. Pray to God and inform your pastor about your desire to plant churches and you'll be guided concerning how you should go about planting a church there. If you come to a new community, preach the Gospel, gather the people and have Services with them (co-ordinate with your own pastor always before you begin).

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #8)

"The day you give your life to Jesus, you become an EVANGELIST; He gives you the power to preach the Gospel."
- Lady Bishop (Elect) Naana Addae-Mensah

The remaining five reasons why you must preach the Gospel are as follows:

#6: Winning souls is a sign that one will confess Jesus, whom also Jesus will confess before the Father. (Read Matthew 10:32)

#7: When you preach the Gospel, you are not guilty of the blood of your friends and loved ones. As such, when they die they won't go to hell! (Ezekiel 33:3-4)

#8: Soul winning proves that you are showing the compassion Jesus had for you. (Read Matthew 9:36)

Anytime you see a gathering of people, that is a time you have to preach.

#9: You must preach the Gospel to fill the House of God. (Luke 14:21)

#10: Soul winning shows that you are not ashamed of the Gospel. (Romans 1:16)

DO!: You have got five more reasons to preach the Gospel. Step out there and preach it today!

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind

OPERATION #Hear&Do! (Action #7)

"The day you give your life to Jesus, you become an EVANGELIST; He gives you the power to preach the Gospel."
- Lady Bishop (Elect) Naana Addae-Mensah

Every believer is called to preach the Gospel, but why is it so important to preach it? We received 10 reasons to preach the Gospel from Lady Bishop (Elect) Naana Addae-Mensah.

The following are the first five reasons for which you cannot afford not to preach the Gospel:

#1: Preaching the Gospel is the SUPREME commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ (read Mark 16:15-16)

Preach the Gospel to your kind, and they'll be saved!

#2 Soul winning makes you shine like the firmament. (Read Daniel 12:3)

#3 Soul winning makes you a wise Christian. (Proverbs 11:30)

#4 Winning souls will let your feet brighten as Jesus. (Read Romans 10:15)
When you step anywhere, you take over. When your feet are beautiful, you don't get into trouble.

#5 Winning souls brings great joy in Heaven. (Read Luke 15:7,10)

To be continued...

DO!: You have 5 reasons to preach the Gospel now. Don't hesitate to preach it. Meditate on the verses associated with the reasons and be inspired to reach your world today.

REVIEW: What is the key lesson you have learnt from today's Hear&Do? Please share to bless a brother or sister.

#BringafteryourownKind