The Sunday Mail
Apostle Ezekiel and Dr Eunor Guti
Remembering 55 years as we celebrate and give thanks chronicling another anniversary as ZAOGA Forward in Faith held together in the palm of God’s hand.
Victoriously we raise our voices echoing again our thanks for blessing received. Recollecting triumphs and tribulations in the years gone by, steadfast and constant we turn to the victories granted, awed by his radiating love; reborn and renewed yesterdays remembered and tomorrows praised.
From May 12, 1960 to date we track the road travelled. What a triumphant journey. We are celebrating what the Lord has done; we also celebrate the man whom God has set behind the wheel, a father, teacher, author, spiritual leader, global leader and a prophetic voice of our time.
Apostle Ezekiel Guti, a treasure given to this nation, “you set out on a path and even though the path was hard you remained unbound. Your message transcends races reaching beyond the borders of our country Zimbabwe. Yours is a universal message of hope.”
You taught us that the price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand and the determination that when we have applied our best the Lord will do the rest. One by one you have brought us into the kingdom of God from far and wide.
You have marshalled us into a formidable army of God spreading throughout the world and the trumpet continues to sound loud enough. The Lord has been faithful from a humble village in Ngaone in Chipinge, Manicaland where there were no schools or churches.
God was pleased to reveal himself to Ezekiel through his mother who had visited another place where she heard about the last punishment of all sinners and the report she gave triggered his deep spiritual search for salvation.
After several weeks of crying and a deep mourning for salvation, a landmark encounter with God occurred which set in motion the movement we now celebrate. The angelic visitation set on course the movement which also saw his acceptance of salvation and baptism in water and the Holy Spirit.
This history reveals to us that God is real and he is actively involved in the history of mankind.
We celebrate several other milestones: 67 of non-stop preaching, the work done over the years, selflessness, dedication and commitment.
The history of Zaoga Forward in Faith has been kept a sacred treasure for the church for many years, yet it is not a secret what God is doing to hundreds of thousands of lives touched in this ministry.
God’s tiny mustard seed has now grown big and given a shed to nations beyond those mentioned and it continues to grow to unimaginable proportions more than what we anticipated.
The man, the message
You cannot define a man ignoring his message. What we see exists in you, what you have sown we reap today. You have put purpose in our hearts and your message is an example to our generation. We glean over time to see the message you have preached.
Obedience
On a special big Sunday in 1979, Ezekiel Guti was excited at the attendance in excess of 7 000 and over 1 111 new converts and proceeded to contemplate building a big church. All the plans were approved and ready and the believers were ready to give sacrificially.
After the completion of all preparations when the work was about to kick off God rebuked Ezekiel and would not let him build such. But instead God told Ezekiel to spread the kingdom of God over the whole country. From this experience with God Ezekiel Guti has taken opportunity to warn pastors, preachers and leaders, “When God begins to bless you, be careful lest you do your own thing. There is always a possibility of great temptation when God blesses you. I have learnt to wait upon the Lord, humble myself before his throne and obey the voice of my Lord and God. I have seen the blessing of the Lord when I do his will’’.
The Kingdom of God
The church is the instrument for the Kingdom of God but most Christians are in the church, they are not in the kingdom of God. We preach the Kingdom of God in Jesus name and teach people to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and things will be added. (Matthew 6:33).
The Kingdom of God is from generation to generation (Daniel 4:34), the Kingdom is invisible. The church is visible. That is why you have people in the church and they are not seeking the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, they have nothing added to them.
They only have everlasting life which is the future blessing only, because of preaching and teaching which emphasises on the future Kingdom only. Jesus has come to show us the lifestyle of the Kingdom of God, higher level of living like in John 6:10-12 and Matthew 17:27 Jesus demonstrated the Kingdom of God by getting money from the fish’s mouth and multiplying bread and fish to feed the crowds.
God wants us to apply the principles of the Kingdom of God now. God wants us to have a new culture of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17).
That is why you must be filled with the Holy Spirit because the Kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit.
Are you demonstrating the Kingdom of God or are you a church goer? Once you received the Lord Jesus you have eternal life. In the same manner in the ministry many sick have been healed the lame have walked the blind received their sight, the barren received children, the captives have been delivered through the name of Jesus Christ.
This article was preepared by Zaoga Forward in Faith International Ministries
