By Olivia Obijiaku
Members of Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Nigeria (CCRN), Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja have been charged to seek an encounter and develop deeper relationship with God through His Word.
The charismatics were given this charge at the 2024 Pentecost Conference for Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Nigeria (CCRN), which took place at St Pope John Paul II Parish, Papal Ground, Along Kubwa Expressway, Federal Capital Territory Abuja between Thursday, 16th and Sunday 19th May 2024,Wrapping the event themed ‘I Will Pour out My Spirit on All Men,’ Rev. Fr. Augustine Isek of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria intimated that it is not enough to hear the Word of God ushering them into an encounter with it.
He explained that though Adam and Eve lost the very close relationship they had with God in the Garden of Eden to sin, the Voice returned on the Day of Pentecost.“The voice of God came back on the day of Pentecost to bring back Eden.” The priest asserted. “It came like a sound and a mighty rushing wind and settled on their heads. It was the voice of God that walked in the Garden, walking and looking for Adam and Eve (cf. Gen. 3). That is to tell you that your natural life is to have an encounter of the voice. But the voice of relationship and intimacy with God disappeared because of sin.”“The voice came back as fire on their heads. It divided on the heads of the disciples and became tongues of fire upon each and every one of them.
They were filled with the Holy Ghost and from being tongues on their heads they started talking in tongues. Just like the voice spoke in the Garden and Adam answered, the voice came back and became resident in a man and started speaking through man,”Fr. Isek enlightened that the Voice is the creative power of God linking that the people were succeeding in building the Tower of Babel so fast when there were no technology because they were using the language of God.
He encouraged them to speak in tongues, because, ‘they that speak in tongues speak mysteries, the hidden wisdom of God. The hidden mysteries of God ushers one into dimensions of authorities and power.”
