Dateline: 28th to 30th October 2012 was like any other days but these days were different in that on these three days at Royal House Grace International Church, Port Harcourt pastored by Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, the double Chairman, Rivers State Christian Association of Nigeria and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria unusual happenings took place. What that was and is, is mystery of the unfolding of the supernatural through instrumentality of the Holy Spirit through these anointed servants of God: Prophet Gilbert from Ghana and the Chief Host, Apostle David Zilly Aggrey during the solemn anniversary thanksgiving of twentieth years of the Royal House of Grace International Church the closing of the gate of two decades and the opening of the gate of the third decades. A spiritual act that Apostle Zilly Aggrey led that brought the manifestation of the power of God in an unusual way.
The Mystery: Mystery the hidden, eternal plan of God that is being revealed to God’s people in accordance with His plan. In the Old Testament, “mystery” occurs only in the Aramaic sections of Danmiel (Dan.2:18, 27-30, 47:4-9). Some of God’s mysteries were revealed by God to His servants through His Spirit. As such, it is an “open secret”. “Mystery” occurs three times in the Gospels. Jesus told His disciples, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mt.13:11; Mk.4:11; Lk. 8:10). Jesus explained the mystery of God’s kingdom to His disciples. But to others He declared, “All things come in parables” (Mk.4:11). Most of the occurrences of the word mystery are in the Pauline Epistles. “Mystery” refers to the revelation of God’s plan of salvation as that plan focuses in Christ. The gospel itself is a “mystery which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom.18:25). This mystery was revealed by God through the prophetic Scriptures to Paul and the Church (1 Cor.2:7; Eph.6:19; Col. 4:3). “Mystery” also refers to the future resurrection of Christians (1 Cor.15:51), the summing up of all things in Christ (Eph. 1:9), the inclusion of Gentiles in the Church (Eph.3:3-9), the future salvation of Israel (Rom.11:25), the phenomenon of lawlessness (2 Thess.2:7), and the godliness of Christ (1 Tim. 3:16).
“Mystery” in relation to Christians and the Church is different from the abracadabra of mystery religions of occults, cults and mystical powers secret religions that flourished in Syria, Persia, Anatolia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other nations several continues before and after the time of Christ. The mystery religions were quite popular in the first century A.D. and thus provided strong religious competition for Christianity. They were called mysteries because their initiation and other rituals were kept secret. These religious included the cults of Eleusis, Dionysus, Isis and Osiris, Mithras, Cybele (the Magna mater, or Great Mother), the Dead Syria, and many local deities, all of which promised purification and immortality.
By means of the secret rituals of these religions which might involve ceremonial washings, blood sprinkling, drunkenness, sacramental meals, passion plays, or even sexual relations with a priest or priestess their followers became one with their god and believed that they participated in the life of that god. But not so with the mystery of ministrations and miracles that occurred during the 20thj solemn anniversary of the Royal House of Grace International Church from 28th to 30th October 2012, Graceland, Port Harcourt, Nigeria under the Guest Speaker, Prophet Gilbert from Ghana and the Chief Host, Apostle David Zilly Aggrey. When Prophet Gilbert took charge, the mystery was revealed by God through prophetic Scriptures – Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel” While his ministrations centered on Luke1:26-55. In “operation free yourself” and “the oil for divine favor”, the expository insights and unfolding of the mystery by Prophet Gilbert was such that the words uttered carried a prophetic power of the Holy Spirit that momentarily the whole crowd were enveloped “Shekinah glory” the presence of God in the Spirit.
Not people just being “slay in Spirit” but secrets unfolded of demonic oppression and dealings of wicked people revealed and people were set free, the sick healed and the entire assembly gathered burst out in joyful celebration. Because “Immanuel”- “God is with us” was real. Prophet Gilbert’s ministration was extra-ordinary and a true prophet of God carrying a message of grace to impart this generation. Not because of the miracles, nor the spiritual insights or revelations that he brought out from these prophetic Scriptures rather, I felt convinced in my Spirit witness and the words he spoke were in tandem with God’s word. Also his modus operandi lined up with the word and edifies. Before now I don’t believe him. In previous encounters, I took him for one of the make up prophets from Ghana. In Ghana it looks for you to succeed in ministry, you have to be a prophet but not so with this honored servant of God.
Look at some of the words that stirred my soul: “What God is about to do it does not make sense …God does not have a watch but has a time. God work according to his set time … whatever God has said about me, He will bring to pass no matter what some say about me…. My mistakes cannot stop God’s blessing, what He has purposed, plan to do in my life” “Africans know how to pray but breaks rules principle of life… what is important is the purpose of conception not how the conception took place. How can God have purpose in sin? The virgin birth? Virgin a person with no preconceived mind. What you say can abort God’s plan. Don’t tell what you are going through to people – keep them to yourself and God” …“You can’t understand everything but trust God” …“Go for people who have experience of what you are going through … Mary went to Elizabeth, because both understand God’s mystery”.
The Ministrations: The ‘Ministrations” of both Prophet Gilbert and Apostle David Zilly Aggrey at these Church services – the closing gate of two decade and entering gate of third decade of the Royal House of Grace Church International Church imparted lives – many souls were saved, the sick healed, marriages restored, politicians, people chosen to serve in public square were given seats – enthroned as Local Government Chairmen, House of Assembly members, House of Representatives and Senators, Governors, etc. Can I describe or explain the coronation and enthronement these people? Except these Scriptures says it all: 2 Cor.3:7-18, “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The Miracle: The accuracy of prophetic ministrations, the release outpouring of the oil of divine favour, that Prophet Gilbert displayed coupled with the prophetic activities engineered by Apostle David Zilly Aggrey giving the history of the Church, announcing the closing of the two decade gate with it goes all manner of sicknesses, diseases, setbacks, failures and all evil so associated. The opening of the third decade gate was with prophetic declarations and covenant of the Holy Communion that bind all members in faith and fellowship of the Holy Spirit thereby evoking and releasing the resurrection power of Jesus Christ into the Congregants with outstanding miracles, signs and wonders.
Testimonies abound-outstanding miracles that accompanied the ministrations of Prophet Gilbert and Apostle Zilly Aggrey men “attested by God to you by miracles, signs and wonders which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22 NKJV) By the prophetic actions, Apostle David Zilly Aggrey took in declaring these prophetic Scriptures-Psalm24:7, 9: “Lift up your heads, O you gates and be ye lifted up O you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in”. The Church Congregants – priests, pastors and members burst into joyous celebration and dance in keeping with Psalms 100:4: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name”. With oil of divine favour flowing through Prophet Gilbert, the people began to tap into this grace of ministrations as spoke of in 2 Corinthians chapter 9:11-13: “While you are all enriched in everything for liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God. While, through the proofs of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men.”
The Church moved into a new realm of miraculous level of spiritual experience, prosperity and abundance. Apostle Zilly Aggrey used the opening of the new gate of the third decade to pray for the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigeria Nation, Governors especially Gov. Seriake Dickson, Gov. Amaechi and Gov. Emmanuel Udughan as point of contact to all others .What a mystery, ministration and miracles! It was an awesome, imparting and life changing experience. You wonder why? It is because Jesus Christ was involved.
Dr. Lewis Akpogena
08055059656
E-mail: akpogena@yahoo.com
