THE IMPACT OF THE PROPHETIC MINISTRY ON CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES IN THE ADENTAN MUNICIPALITY, ACCRA- GHANA
| Format: Ms Word | 1-5 Chapters | Table of Content|
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ABSTRACT
Prophetism in contemporary Ghanaian Christianity has received a lot of media attention and publication because it has spiritual, social and psychological effects on its patrons. Scores of people in ministry and those entering are aiming for the prophetic ministry because of its attraction to both Christians and non-Christians. Given the spate at which prophetic ministries are springing up in the capital cities especially, this research study sought to examine and evaluate the impact of the prophetic ministry on charismatic christians and churches. The study explored the prophetic ministries of three selected prophets in the Adentan Municipality where the prophetic phenomenon is predominantly practised as part of Charismatism. Three research instruments namely participatory observation, interview and questionnaires were employed in carrying out the research. Patrons shared their personal experiences on the prophetic and these impacts were captured accordingly. The study ultimately employed the discursive and analytical approach to tackle the topic and evaluate prophetic impact on patrons. It was obvious from the study that the prophetic ministry is still in existence and that it is influencing scores of charismatic christians and churches. The study concludes by outlining some of these impacts that the prophetic ministry has on both charismatic Christians and churches
DECLARATION I
ABSTRACT II
DEDICATION III
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV
TABLE OF CONTENT V
CHAPTER ONE 1
INTRODUCTION 1
Background to Study 1
Statement of the Problem 3
Purpose of the Study 5
Research Questions and Hypotheses 5
Research Questions 5
Research Hypothesis 6
Research Objectives 6
Significance of the Study 6
Delimitation of the study 8
Limitation of the study 8
Definition of Terms 9
Prophetic Ministry 9
Prophet 9
Prophecy 9
Prophetism 9
Charismatism 10
Organization of Study 10
Chapter Summary 11
CHAPTER TWO 12
LITERATURE REVIEW 12
2.0 Introduction 12
The Prophetic Call 16
The Prophetic Gifts 17
The Prophetic Practices 21
Prophetic Apostles 25
Prophetic Counsellors 25
Prophetic Evangelist 25
Prophetic Intercessors 26
Prophetic Preacher 26
Prophetic Seer 27
Prophetic Social Activist 27
Prophetic Writers 28
The Theology of False Prophets 30
The Theology of True Prophets 31
The First Phase 33
The Second Phase 34
The Third Phase 35
The Fourth Phase 36
The Fifth Phase 36
2.6.5 The Sixth Phase 37
False Prophet/Prophecy 45
Skepticism and Obsoleteness 45
Pride 46
Materialism 47
Sexual Immorality 47
CHAPTER THREE 49
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 49
Introduction 49
Research Design 49
Study Area 51
Population 53
Sampling Procedure 53
Data Collection Instruments 54
Data Collection Procedure 78
Data Analysis and Evaluation 79
Chapter Summary 80
CHAPTER FOUR 81
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 81
4.0 Introduction 81
Gender of Respondent 82
Age of Respondents 83
Christian Denomination of Respondents 85
Highest Level of Education of Respondents 87
CHAPTER FIVE 100
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 100
Summary of Findings 100
Conclusion 101
Recommendations 102
Suggestions for Further Research 103
REFERENCES 105
APPENDIX 116
QUESTIONNAIRE 1
INTRODUCTION
Background to Study
The Prophetic is a prominent feature in both the church and the world. This is so because, there is a new hunger amongst people and they are ready to go lengths in search of satisfaction. This hunger stems from an increasing desire for direction as they take steps towards an unknown future. Their primarily objective is to have some guidance as they navigate their paths through the confusion and chaos that this world of ours is characterized with (Joyner, 1997).
The fear of the unknown circumstances of life is a phenomenon of life. This has inspired the need to seek for guidance amongst God’s people. The reason the prophetic ministry is a necessity. In fact, the prophetic ministry has been an essential part of God’s communication strategy since the beginning of time. Through the prophetic, God was able to relate to His people in the Old Testament days and is still doing so in our times.
Thus, the prophetic ministry has an important place in this New Testament era as it had in the Old Testament era. In New Testament Christianity, the prophetic ministry forms an essential part of the believer’s life and religious practice. It is a major key that unlocks the realms of the supernatural and grants the believer access to fragments of God’s knowledge, wisdom and authority. Thus, believers are given revelations regarding the past, present and future. Through the prophetic, God partners with His people and brings to past His plans and purposes for them.
A scriptural trace of the prophetic ministry indicates that its role in the life of the believer is to help him/her have a wide area of influence and impact. A thorough biblical search shows that wherever the prophetic was given a place, it became very beneficial to the people group who allowed its expression and manifestation. The prophetic brought the revelation of God right into the now for them and confirmed God’s abiding presence and protection over them as was seen in the victories they obtained (Francis, 2000).
A biblical search into Old Testament prophetism shows that, prophets were God’s chosen messengers or spokespersons. Through these prophets, God conveyed His messages to His people. Some of these prophets wrote the divine messages God gave them and used such to warn and/or instruct God’s people to keep to their covenant with God. As prophets, they served as counsellors who gave guidance and divine direction to people concerning the future. They revealed divine mysteries and prophesied about the coming of the messiah (Ayikwei, 2018).
The New Testament also shares some insights on the ministry of the prophet as well. According to Awulley Ayikwei, prophets in the New Testament era were vessels that voiced God’s word to the people and not just the laws. Thus, prophets were spokespersons who delivered God’s word in order to have each person experience God’s inscription of the law in their own hearts. Prophecies by prophets had the gospel as the central message and their role was to speak God’s word and interpret the word of God to God’s people.
Today, the prophetic ministry has taken a different turn in contemporary Christianity. Besides the original purpose for which the office
of the prophet was established by God as seen in the old and new covenants, many other reasons have prompted the emergence of prophets unto the Ghanaian Christianity scene. The prophetic ministry has become a welcome news to many charismatic and pentecostal churches because prophets have positioned themselves as solution-bearers to social problems plaguing people.
Given the rampant rate at which prophetic ministries are springing up in almost every area in Ghana and the number of people that throng into charismatic churches that are involved in prophetism, it becomes necessary for an enquiry to be made into its operations and establish the social and spiritual impact it has on charismatic Christians and churches.
This research study was conducted in a setting where the prophetic phenomenon is known to be practised in order to find answers to the many questions on the minds of people concerning its impact on patrons.
Statement of the Problem
The Prophetic Ministry has become a prominent feature in contemporary Christianity in Ghana. Prophets are the sensation of most spiritual gatherings in recent times and people go there for various reasons. People that visit and seek for the counsel and guidance of prophets often do so because they desire to acquire information on their existential needs or solutions to their struggles on issues relating to their businesses, career, education, health, marriage, promotion, abroad travels etc. (Onyina, 2000).
Many Ghanaian Christians and non-Christians have resorted to seeking the counsel of Christian prophets because they believe the
prophets have powerful spiritual connections and can elicit the relevant information they need for them. For many, Christian prophets are preferred because society has become more ‘Christianized’ and ‘civilised’; making it ‘uncomfortable and unwholesome’ to visit traditional priests for such relevant spiritual information and hence their choice of Christian prophets. Christian prophets are perceived as ‘true prophets whose words are beyond challenge or questions’ (Grudem, 1990).
As a result of this perception and development in the Christian scene in Ghana, it is not much of a wonder to see people who subscribe to other religious belief systems in prophetic services organized in Charismatic churches.
Consequently, this prophetic phenomenon has led to the rise of prophetic ministries all across the country. In fact, it is very difficult to number the prophets in the regional capitals of Ghana, especially Accra and Kumasi.Their numbers are increasing by the day and their prophetic activities within the Christian and Ghanaian community at large have become questionable. Concerns have been raised by both Christians and non-Christians alike in society and that prompt the questions; i) ‘Is the prophetic ministry really impactful on the lives of Christians? ii) Does the prophetic ministry have any meaningful effect or impact on the church in Ghana?
The above concerns constitute a problem for the Christian faith and until satisfactory answers are given to these questions, then the
prophetic ministry is more of a nuisance than a necessity to the Christian community and the larger Ghanaian community.
Purpose of the Study
Most contemporary charismatic christians and churches have welcomed the prophetic ministry and its practices as a solution to some spiritual and social problems. In recent times, the prophetic ministry has become a media sensation and seen some publications because it is perceived to proffer solutions to the socio-economic and psychological problems people are confronted with.
There have however also been instances where the prophetic ministry have been implicated in the media as a platform on which some prophets make financial and material gains from ignorant or innocent people and does not necessarily have any positive impact on the patrons.
It is in the light of these concerns that the researcher conducted this study to explore the prophetic ministries and prophets in present operation, the authenticity of their prophecies and prophetic activities and a critical evaluation of the impact that these prophetic practices have on charismatic christians and churches.
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