DURING THE 26TH ANNIVERSERY OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST MINISTRY, WORLDWIDE, HELD AT THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL (CEMAC) HALL, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, ENUGU CAMPUS (UNEC) ON 29TH DECEMBER, 2018
PRESENTERS AND TOPICS DISCUSSED
| Topics | Presenters |
| Why Ministers of The Gospel of Christ Make Shipwreck | Pastor (ENGR) Jonathan. Chidubem |
| Role Of Elders And Bishops In The Administrative Setup Of The Church of Christ | Elder ABU |
| Churches or Business Centers? | Evangelist Benjamin Okezuo |
| Politics and Religion as an instrument of disunity, why every child of God should shun them | Bishop Ifeanyi Eze |
| The Making of A Legend | Bishop Fryde Okoh Emmanuel |
Section One
WHY MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST MAKE SHIPWRECK
BY
PASTOR (ENGR.) CHIDUBEM JONATHAN (MNSE, PMP)
(PORT – HARCOURT HOUSEHOLD OF GOD)
BACKGROUND
Right from the Old Testament God and His people agreed that God should always send His own anointed servant as Saviour or Christ through whom God’s people would understand God’s mind or plan for them in each age.
2. In other words without a human being sent by God for His people in each dispensation, people of God would never know the word of God or His plan which forms the gospel (good news) meant for that age. Deut. 18:14-19.
3. Almighty God has faithfully kept to this agreement through all the ages. Neh. 9:26-27 and Heb. 11:32-34 clearly show that human beings have remained Saviours to their fellow human beings in each dispensation just as Jesus was in his own day. Don’t forget the wonderful fact that Jesus Christ was a MAN born into King David’s family 2 Tim. 2:8(KJV).These Saviours come with a message from God specifically for their respective age. That is why it is called GOOD NEWS: the message was not known before, it is new. It is only through that messenger that the elects in that age would receive the Word (Gospel) meant for them. Each messenger from God is the Word made flesh for that age.
4. Christ was alive when the world began, yet I myself have seen Him with my own eyes and listened to Him speak. I have touched Him with my own hands. He is God’s message of life 1 John 1:1 (LB). Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute Luke 11:49 (KJV).
5. God promised to do a new thing in each dispensation but this new thing is brought into reality by the emergence of God’s vindicated servant. Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ WHICH IN OTHER AGES WAS NOT MADE KNOWN UNTO THE SONS OF MEN, AS IT IS NOW REVEALED UNTO HIS HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS BY THE SPIRIT; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel Eph.3:4-6 (KJV).
6. St Paul knew very well that He was sent TO MAKE THE OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES of the Gentiles ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set THEE TO BE A LIGHT of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth Acts 13:47.That I should be THE MINISTER of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost Rom. 15:16 (KJV).
7. In view of the foregoing let us examine some reasons why ministers of the gospel of Christ (Special Messenger) make shipwreck of their calling.
1
INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE AND ACCEPT CHRIST OF THE AGE
1. The success of every minister of the gospel stems from his ability to clearly and convincingly identify the Personality that will make his ministry acceptable to God otherwise he is bound to make shipwreck. Is it not pitiable that an eloquent preacher in the scripture like Apollos narrowly missed salvation in his day? He was boldly preaching the baptism of John thinking that he was getting saved in it not knowing that those passages were stale, no longer news, as they had fulfilled and expired.
2. He was so eloquent and knowledgeable that he mightily convinced the Jews. Who knows how many converts he had made yet he had not received his own salvation. If not God’s intervention by sending Aquila and Priscilla Apollos would have gone to hell fire though he was eloquent in the scriptures Acts 18:24-28.
3. Another set of ministers were in Ephesus preaching expired message while the message for their day is still on the land. About twelve ministers in Acts 19:1-6 were sincerely propagating the gospel in Ephesus preaching John’s baptism but never heard of Jesus and the Holy Spirit: whether He exits or not. If not the Grace of God that sent St Paul to them they would have preached in vain.
4. What about those they had preached to; what would be their fate if they did not have the opportunity of hearing the good news; what if any of them did not accept Paul’s message?.When a man claims to be a minister but has not tangibly identified with the Christ of his day whose Gospel He is supposedly preaching, he is bound to make shipwreck of his calling.
UNCONVERTED HEART.
Jesus said, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven Matt. 18:3 (KJV).
5. One thing is to believe in Christ and follow him even as a minster; another thing is to allow his Word to settle, transform and create the Faith of Christ in you. There should be a total purging of the old leaven, of the old idea, of the old doctrine so that God’s Word can have a place. The twelve apostles of Jesus Christ followed Jesus and ministered in various capacities yet they continued holding to their preconceived ideas about God while the Master was with them. That’s why Jesus told Peter, When you are converted, strengthen your brethren Luke 22:31-32.
6. Imagine the state of others if Peter who was to strengthen them was yet to be converted. That was why Peter easily denied ever knowing Jesus Christ. Believing alone is not enough, even devils believe and tremble. James 2:19 (KJV).
7. When a minster is not converted he can still preach wonderfully but scholastically. Intellectual faith will ultimately lead to shipwreck.
UNFAITHFULNESS.
Faithfulness is the concept of unfailingly remaining loyalty to someone or something, and putting that loyalty into consistent practice regardless of extenuating circumstances.
8. Simply put it means being full of Faith of Christ. Any action contrary to this depicts unfaithfulness. Faithfulness is a must for any minister who does not want to make shipwreck. Faith is the only unavoidable ingredient for pleasing God “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”1 Cor. 4:2 (KJV).
9. A faithful minister carries out the instructions of his master word for word and to the letter much more in the absence of the master. Moses could not continue his journey with the Israelite because he failed to SPEAK to the Rock as commanded by God instead he STRUCK the Rock. Though water came out as God promised, this single action of disloyalty ended Moses’ journey Numbers 20:8-13.
10. If a minister is not faithful he is not steadfast and cannot be depended on so, is liable to make shipwreck of his calling.
IMPATIENCE:
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” Heb. 10:36(KJV).
11. Every minister of the gospel must be willing to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising. God is never in a hurry for He has appointed time for everything on earth.
12. “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” Hab 2:3 (KJV).
13. Abraham patiently waited for twenty-five years before he received God’s promised son Isaac. It was only Joshua and Caleb who patiently followed Moses that did not make shipwreck. It was impatience that cost Saul his kingship. He was not patient enough to wait for the Christ of his day Samuel as he was commanded. David patiently waited for more that fifteen years after he was anointed king before taking over the Throne.
14. The Scripture encourages thus: therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains you too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8 (KJV)
LAZINESS:
Laziness, the habit of being unwilling to work, is sin because: an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Christ works and encourages all his ministers to follow do the same.
15. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work John 5:17 (KJV). I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work John 9:4.
16. Jesus gave his disciples the parable of the talents to underscore the essence of hard work in the ministry. Mat. 25:14-15 (KJV).
17. The Apostles never ceased to labour in the word, in prayer and good works. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth2 Tim. 2:15 (KJV).
18. Any minister that does not work hard giving himself to study and prayers cannot be approved of God. He cannot go far in his ministry because the Word of God is Spirit and Life to every child of God. A lazy minister will always bring disrepute to his ministry.
19. If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel
20. 1 Tim. 5:8(KJV).
21. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth Eph. 4:28 (KJV).
22. that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises Heb. 6:12 (KJV).
23. And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing 1 Thess. 4:11-12 (KJV).
24. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you 2 Thess. 3:7-8 (KJV).
25. Any minister that is in the habit of living a lazy life cannot stand the test of time.
DOING THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY WITHOUT LOVE OF CHRIST
Any minister that does not love his master will carry out his assignments just as a duty: let me do it so that nobody will mention my name. Doing a work as a duty makes it difficult and burdensome. It comes with murmuring and complaining which ultimately results in shipwreck.
26. The servant that received one talent hated his master because of the perception he has about Him. So he selfishly never wanted to work thinking that the reward would be for the Master alone. Matt. 25:24-25. Jesus told Peter if you love me feed my flocks John 21:15-17.
DESIRE FOR POPULARITY.
The Scripture makes it clear that this present world with its systems is under the power and control of the evil one thus, cannot but hate God’s children. Jesus told his disciples that his kingdom is not of this world. Any minister that wishes to be popularly accepted by the world must compromise his calling.
27. You cannot befriend a leper and avoid his handshake. St Paul said that if one does that he cannot be a servant of Christ. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ Gal. 1:10 (KJV).
28. Any minister of the gospel that desires popularity does not follow Christ’s example. Jesus ran away and hid himself when people wanted to forcefully make Him King. They wanted to crown Him King not that they believed His Words but because of the material gains they were getting from Him. Jesus fed and healed them so they thronged and followed Him in thousands Mark 1:33-34.
29. At a certain time the entire city gathered for him. It became Nigeria for Christ! Christ for All! Matthew 15:30.
30. Jesus never jubilated that crème de la crème of the society have identified with him. He rather lifted the Word of the hour and more than ninety-nine percent of those his followers called him devil, deceiver and abandoned him and never came back again. John 6:15 and 66.
31. This is why Jesus warning such ministers said, Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets Luke 6:26.
OVER FAMILIARITY:
By the familiarity of the master the servant is spoilt; Familiarity is like the sea that kills the fisherman and Familiarity breeds contempt.
32. These are all sayings that show that being familiar or acquainted with a personality can be destructive. Aaron and Miriam challenged Moses because of familiarity. The familiarity of Jesus’ own family: father, mother, brothers, sisters and even His occupation made Him appear common to the people He came to save. They said is this not Jesus the carpenter, Mary’s boy, how is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven and they took offence at Him. Mark 6:3; John 6:42, 43.
33. Jesus’ own brothers mocked Him saying, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that Thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest…. If Thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. John 7:3-5 (KJV). Jesus in return said, “Yes, You know me and where I was BORN and RAISED, but I AM the REPRESENTATIVE of one you don’t know and He is Truth
“John 7:28 (LB).
34. Surely, a minister of the gospel can never run away from being acquainted with Christ. However, every minister should guard against getting to a point where Christ will become so common to him that he begins to take Christ’s Word for granted. Any minister that gets to that point is liable to make shipwreck of his calling. This was why Peter in his epistle warned every minister of the gospel to gird up the loins of their minds and be sober watching unto prayer “1st. Peter 1:13; 1st. Peter 4:7”.
OVERCONFIDENCE:
Overconfidence has been blamed for everything from the sinking of the Titanic to the Great Recession. Overconfidence is one of the most powerful cognitive biases because it is so ubiquitous, and causes us to make important judgments and decisions without a sensible degree of consideration. Overconfidence makes a man think that he had already won when the match is still on.
35. It was overconfidence that made the five foolish virgins not take extra oil after all they had enough money. They felt too sure that the Master would not delay. It is like a student who refused to prepare for a supposedly cheap exam or refused to attend the lectures because he felt it was not necessary, his failure is always embarrassing his intelligence notwithstanding. A coach that fields less experienced players based on his underestimation of the opposition always ends up with a humiliating defeat.
UNTEACHABLE SPIRIT:
When a minister refuses to be taught he is bound to make shipwreck. One that is teachable will always say, “Please, show me where I am wrong, for no man can see his fault.” A man examining himself in a classroom will always come first.
36. But if you are teachable, if your Teacher corrects you, you will take it with joy. If your brother corrects you, you will take it with joy. But if you are not teachable, you will always think that you know all things; and that is a deceitful thing. In other words, you are incorrigible.
37. Job, a humble man of God said, “God, teach me and help me to understand where I have failed”. Every minister must take the teachable root – infant root. Unless we become like babies, little, little kids, we cannot be teachable. It is not easy to teach adult. What are you going to tell him? What is it that he does not know? Before you say anything, he has known where you are heading to.
UNGODLY WOMAN:
There is a saying that behind every successful man there is an intelligent woman. Thus, behind every successful man of God there is a virtuous, faithful and spiritual woman who by divine revelation creates an encouraging atmosphere around the husband to enable him succeed in his ministry.
38. The most powerful instrument in the hand Satan to extinguish the ministry of any Man of God is an ungodly woman. An ungodly woman is one that has no fear of God and yet pretends to be highly religious. Such women have caused the downfall of a lot of ministers in all the ages. Eve influenced her husband the first Son of God who God spoke to personally away from the Truth. Genesis 3:17.
39. Delilah never rested until she brought the ministry of Samson to a halt. Jezebel caused King Ahab to displease God. Any minister of the Gospel that listens to the voice of his wife on doctrinal matters must surely make shipwreck.
INTERPRETING, REASONING OR NEGOTIATING GOD’S WORD.
When one reasons or negotiates God’s instructions the effectiveness is tampered with. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Pro. 30:6(KJV).
40. God says what He means and means what He says. Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost
41. 2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV).
42. Sarah reasoned the Word of God when the promise lingered for ten years. She gave it an interpretation: perhaps God’s meaning was to use another woman to fulfill the promise and not herself, after all Sarah has not been named as the mother of the promised Son. Gen. 16:1-4.
43. God sent a prophet on a mission to Jeroboam charging him not to eat, drink, accept gifts or return through the same way he went. On his way back instead of completing his assignment as he was instructed he sat under oak tree thinking about what was offered to him and God’s instruction. This produced doubt in him.
44. The same man that assertively told Jeroboam even If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place weakly responded to the old prophet I MAY not return with thee. He then entered into negotiation with an Old prophet and lost his conviction and made shipwreck.
1 Kings 13:11-22.
45. Whenever a minister starts mixing his reasons with the Word of God he will be in danger.
LACK OF INTEGRITY:
Integrity all about the life or character of a minister and his family. This is where discipline and self-control is needed. It portends honesty, rectitude, honorableness, good character, principle(s), ethics, morals, nobility, right-mindedness, virtue, and so on. It is the aspect of a minister’s life that influences people around him. St Paul in his own words described a man of integrity as a man that has good report
1 Tim 3:7-9.
46. He further said, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
47. Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV).In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you Titus 2:7-8 (KJV).
48. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb. 12:1(KJV).
PRIDE OF LIFE:
When a minister begins to take pride in himself, be it material acquisition, academic attainment, the success of his ministry, etc. he is tending towards shipwreck.
49. Lucifer apparently became so impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, power, and position that he forgot that it was God that bestowed all that on him and began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belonged to God alone. Isaiah 14:12-15.
50. King Saul out of arrogance demanded for respect and honour from Samuel even when he Saul was in error. 1 Sam. 15:16-30.
51. Saul was obedient when he was little in his own eyes. Jesus said, So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:7-10 (KJV).
52. Korah, Dothan and Abiram and other ministers out of pride challenged Moses and Aaron who made them priests thus, made shipwreck. Num. 16:1-4.
53. Any minister that does not want to make shipwreck must learn to condescend just as Christ himself did.
MATERIALISM AND GREED:
For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have WANDERED AWAY FROM THE FAITH 1 Tim. 6:10 (AMP).
54. Some ministers of the gospel see their ministry as a source of profit, a lucrative, money-making business; St Paul advised Timothy to withdraw from such. 1 Tim. 6:3-5 (AMP).
55. Mark abandoned his ministry because of material acquisition; he relocated to a city where business flourished. Judas Iscariot became a thief while serving as treasurer for the twelve disciples; he used to pilfer what was put into the treasury. He was a THIEF yet a bishop and apostle. Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have. Heb. 5:13 (AMP).
APATHY/LACK OF EMPATHY:
The inability of a minister to understand and share the feelings of another his adherents is one of the reasons why ministers make shipwreck. Even God himself in order to save mankind fully identified with man to have a share of our experiences too.
56. Since we, God’s children, are human beings—made of flesh and blood—he (God) became flesh and blood too by being born in human form Heb. 4:14 (LB).
57. Every minister should be able to ask himself this question, “If I were to be in the shoes of my followers will I be happy to be treated as I am treating them now?” Remember the Golden Rule.
Section Two
THE ROLE OF ELDERS AND BISHOPS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
BY
ELDER ABU
(NASSARAWA HOUSEHOLD OF GOD)
2
INTRODUCTION
1. For good understanding of this topic, I wish to say few things on the following terms: Elders and Bishops.
2. Who is an Elder/Bishop?
3. According to Oxford Dictionary, an Elder is ‘one who is older, more aged, or existing longer.
4. One who is older, a superior in age; a senior
5. An aged person, one who lives at an earlier period; a predecessor
6. A person who on account of his age, occupies the office of a ruler or judge; hence occupying an office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as ‘ the elders of Israel, the Elders of the synagogue, the Elders in the Apostolic church’.
7. NOTE: In the modern Presbyterian churches, Elders are lay officers who with the minister compose the church session with authority to inspect and regulate the matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called Elders or Presbyters.
8. The church of Christ started far back in the wilderness by Moses till date. In the days of Moses, he chose a series of Elders that worked with him when God nominated him among his own brethren in the wilderness to go to Egypt and fish out the people of Israel to the promise land. Let us consider some scriptures to see how the Elders helped Him in his ministry:
9. Exodus 12 verse 21 says, ‘then Moses called for all the Elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover.’
10. Exodus 18 verses 12-13 and 27 says ‘And Jethro, Moses’ father inlaw, took a burnt offering and sacrifices to God: and Aaron came and all the Elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses father in-law before God. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening…
11. And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.’
12. Exodus 19 verses 7-9 said; “And Moses came and called for the Elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, all that the Lord had spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Moses, lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.”
13. Exodus 24 verse 1 and 9-10 and 14 says ‘and he said unto Moses, come up unto the Lord, thou and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the Elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off… Then went up Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the Elders of Israel: and they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness… And he said unto the Elders, tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.’
14. This illustrates the significance of Elders in the dispensation of Moses in the church of Christ in the wilderness.
15. In the days of Jesus, he chose Elders and designated them as Apostles and Disciples so as to help him perform certain functions as he might demand from them (fishers of men). As we see it in Matthew 10 verses 1-8 and Mark 6 verse 7.
16. In the days of Apostle Paul, the first messenger of the Gentile age, (Ephesian church age). This is found in Revelation 1 verse 11 saying ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last and what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea’. In the similar vein, the following scriptures are connected with the issue of Apostles or Elders in the church, including the roles they played as duties so as to perfect the saints of God.
17. 1st Peter 5 verses 1-4, it says ‘the elders which are among you I exhort, whom am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being Lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away’. (He has since appeared in 1992).
18. 1st Timothy 3 verses 1-7 ‘this is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work.
19. A Bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he falls into the condemnation of the devil.
20. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil’.
21. Acts 14 verse 23’and when they had ordained them Elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed’.
22. Acts 15 verses 22-23 ‘then pleased it the Apostles and Elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsa-bas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: and they wrote letters by them after this manner; the Apostles and Elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.’
23. Acts 16 verse 4-5 ‘and as they went through the cities, thay delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily’.
24. Other scriptures for your reference include: Acts 1 verse 20, Ephesians 4 verse 11-13,1st Timothy 5 verse 1 and 17-20, 2nd John 1 verse 1, and 3rd John 1 verse 1.
25. In the Ephesian church age, Apostle Paul chose Elders and Bishops who were also assigned duties in the church of Christ. In other words, Apostle Paul was the Christ of the Ephesian church age and all Elders and Bishops appointed by him received instructions and orders from him to work in all the churches under his jurisdiction.
26. In the Ephesian church age, (1st Gentile church age) which was led by Saint Paul, all other messengers that followed: Irenaeus, Martin, Columba, Lurther and Wesley, were all reformers; whose messages could be found either in the church history or in the message of William Branham, all at the back of the bible. While William Branham (the last Gentile church messenger) who led the Laodicean church age whose message restored us back to the Apostolic age. In another way, His message pointed us back to the bible (Genesis to Revelation), where the lost original baton was lying down.
27. There and then, the Son of Man delved into the bible and picked up the original baton where it was lying down. That is what he is using right now at this last age, (where the spoken word is the original seed, once again as it was in the beginning of creation. Genesis 1 verse 3 ‘and God said let there be light and there was light’).
28. The definition of an Elder in many communities as contained in the message of the Son of Man, the Image of God preached on the 15th February 2004 page 77 and I quote ‘in a community, an Elder is an embodiment of customs and traditions of the community. Today Elders receive bribe and give wrong judgment that is why God has abandoned many communities. A family without Godly Elders will make great mistakes. In this faith we have old boundary lines which God warned us not to violate.’
29. In the days of William Branham, the last messenger of the Gentile dispensation (the seventh church age) who foreran the second coming of Christ (Apostle Peter Odoemena). Amos 3 verse 7 says ‘surely the Lord Gid will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets’. Malachi 4 verse 5-6, says ‘behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse’.
30. He preached many messages, just like other prophets of God. During his time, the church of God was not properly set in order until when the Son of Man (Apostle Peter Odoemena) appeared and delved into scriptures and fished out the original lost baton since William Branham was not able to set the church in perfect order. Though he preached the church order in theory, the practical church order was physically absent.
31. This is why in Revelation 1 verse 13 and 16-18 which I quote “and in the midst of the seven candle sticks (the seven church messengers), one like unto the Son of Man clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt around the paps with a golden girdle. And he had in his right hand seven stars (seven messengers) and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead and he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me fear not, I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
32. This quotation and many others I may refer to in this discussion, brought about the appearance of the Son of Man in this generation.Between Apostle Paul, the first Gentile church messenger and William Branham the seventh Gentile church messenger, the remaining ones; Irenaeus, Martin, Columba, Luther, and Wesley, were only church reformers because they operated without bible pattern.
PERSONAL DEFINITION:
33. According to Elder Abu, Elders and Bishops are those selected angels by the Son of Man (who is the Chief Apostle in the church of Christ), that he ordained and impacted his spirit into them so as to enable them help him in preparing and grooming the flock of God for the translation into the kingdom of heaven, so as to avoid the pending/forthcoming global disaster (as it was in the days of Noah and Lot), by teaching and feeding the flock of God with the doctrines that form the totality of his lifestyle.
In the Days Of The Son Of Man Not Jesus But Apostle Peter Odoemena
34. This Son of Man who has appeared in this last days, after the Bible has been opened and closed, that means at the back of the Bible and began trumpeting and proclaiming that he is God, and the world is wondering, asking questions; how comes about this? Little did they know that, every man of God must have a scriptural commission and his scriptural commission reveals the office he occupies.
35. Thus, the man I am talking about is no other person but Apostle Peter Odoemena with the following scriptural commission among others:
36. Revelation 10 verses 1-4 it says:
37. “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head and his face was at it were the sun and his feet as pillars of fire. And he had in his hand a little book open; and he set his right foot upon the sea and left foot on the earth.
38. And cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when (John the beloved) was about to write and he heard a voice from heaven saying unto him, seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered and write them not’” (This scripture is fulfilled in our midst today).
39. Revelation 1 verse 13-18 it says “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the son of man clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his ears were white like wool as white as snow and his eyes were as a flame of fire. And his feet like unto fine brass as if they burn into a furnace and his voice as the sound of many waters.
40. And he had in his right hand seven stars and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when (John) saw him, he fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon him saying unto him fear not, I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive forever more, amen; and have the keys of hell and of death”. This day this scripture is fulfilled in our midst.
41. Revelation 14 verse 6-7 says
42. “And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come and worship Him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountain of waters”. (This day this scripture is fulfilled in our midst).
43. According to Apostle Peter Odoemena, (the God of this age) the definition of an Elder is as follows:
44. In his message titled The Administrative Setup of the Church preached on 30th June 1996 page 49 verse 38 – 42 it says ‘now, by Elders I mean and the Bible means; one, Pastor; two, Bishop. Finally, Apostle. Get it right here, when you hear Elders, this office of the “Elders” is just like saying Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Or, son, father, husband. Father, son, husband; or Pastor, Bishop, Apostle.
45. They are all Elders. When you say Pastor, Bishop; Apostle; you are all referring to the same office. However, now, this Apostle, Bishop; Pastor is only a description of the work that is assigned to each one of the Elders. This one can be a clerical work, this one can be a security work; this one can be a messenger. Thus, Pastor, Bishop and Apostle means the work that is assigned to any of the Elders in the Church.’
46. In The Administrative Setup of the Church page 67 verse 26 ‘an Elder means an elderly man, not only in age. It means somebody that has grown with the ministry, somebody that has followed the ministry from the onset that has a good record and a good conscience towards the ministry, holding the word of life with a good conscience. Hence he is not a novice. He is one that can stand boldly anywhere to declare everything about this faith (Bridal faith).’
47. This is the man that has been ordaining Elders, Bishops in his church, fulfilling Matthew 25 verse 31-34 and I quote
48. “when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on the right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blest of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”.
49. These Angels, (selected human beings) that he came down with, are the ones that he has appointed some, as Elders and Bishops.
50. He also highlighted the importance of Elders, realizing their duties, whenever they are ordained into their offices in one of his message titled; Unity and Organization of the Church preached on 30th October 1993 at Abagana, Anambra State on page 113 verse 74 and it says ‘if I never hand down this teaching, it would have been impossible for me to do it because ordaining people when they do not know their rights and privileges, they don’t know their functions, is useless. You first of all train them, let them know their responsibilities.’
51. Based on this aforementioned, I am going to strictly base my lecture on these Elders that the Son of Man has appointed in his church, (the church of Christ). Some of the Elders and Bishops that have been ordained by the Son of Man are as follows:
52. 1. Apostle Kelechi 2. Pastor Dan 3. Pastor Thomas 4. Pastor Christian Dike 5. Pastor Chizoba 6. Elder/Bishop Nnachor 7. Apostle Luke Orjiakor 8. Pastor Ugochukwu 9. Bishop Okoh 10. Bishop Obadiah 11. Bishop Isaac 12. Elder Ugala 13. Elder Akparanta 14. Pastor Attah Daniel 15. Bishop Ezemachiri 16. Apostle Abraham 17. Pastor Mike 18. Bishop David 19 Pastor Rotimi 20. Apostle Monday 21. Apostle Ayuba 22. Pastor Chukwudubem 23. Apostle Sunday 24. Pastor Paul 25. Elder Phinehas 26. Bishop Joe Ukpong 27. Pastor Abel 28. Elder Yusuf 29. Elder Abu 30. Apostle Ugonna 31. Apostle Okey, to mention but a few.
53. Other Elders and Bishops that have been mentioned in this write-up before the Son of Man’s appearance on the scene were also Elders in the church of Christ.
54. Note, the church of Christ is a continuous process of its kind in all the ages.
3
DUTIES OF ELDERS AND BISHOPS IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
1. The following are some of the duties of Elders and Bishops, in the church of Christ
2. The feeding of the flock of God with the word of God as they received it from the Son of Man (one source). In John chapter 21 verse 17 ‘he saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him,, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.’ That was in the time of Jesus as well as it is in the time of the Son of Man (Apostle Peter Odoemena), the God of this age.
3. Counseling members from time to time on certain issues, especially concerning the church teachings and doctrines. From his message; Leadership, Prophecies, Identification of the church of the Only Living God page 30 verse 17-19 it says ‘ A brother will go to Mr. ‘A’ and give him a different thing, will go to Mr. ‘B’ give him another different thing and before you know it, because of the story he or she gives to this one, he will give you counsel based on what you told him, the same thing continues.
4. If you have problem, you go to the Apostles, if the Apostle could not solve it, they will tell God about it (The Son of Man) that is how leadership goes brethren. If we miss this symphony, we have missed God. Moreover if we do it this way, God must surely bless us. Let us cool down and accept the leadership which the Lord has placed. If you do it that way, God will certainly bless you and if I do it that way, God must certainly bless me. Know that it must take man to lead his fellow man. Let us submit ourselves to the leadership of man.’
5. Inhis message, The Administrative Setup of the Church page 93 verses 13 – 15 ‘these Elders are to have rule over the churches by way of feeding them with doctrines, taking good care of them in their necessities and afflictions. Remember it is not the pastor that will feed you with doctrine, feed you in the time of necessity with all that you need. There must be other offices also.
6. I will now show you that it is in the office of the Bishop to administer gift to the church. If there are some needy brethren in the church, Apostle decided that this gift will be given to the Bishops. They are to arrange for them, see to them and do everything about them.
7. You will see it from your bible in the Acts of Apostles.’ In the message, The Image of God, preached on 15th February, 2004 page 77 it says ‘to have an elder is a blessing if that Elder is from God. Whoever avoids an Elder is avoiding wisdom. In a community an Elder is an embodiment of customs and traditions of the community.
8. Today Elders receive bribe and give wrong judgment that is why God has abandoned many communities. A family without Godly Elders will make great mistakes. In this faith, we have old boundary lines which God warned us not to violate. In the faith, it is the duty of Elders to call ministers to order using their “wealth of experience”.
9. They are standing in the best position to counsel the youths on how to live their lives. As an Elder do not let the confidence God place in you to be a “misplaced one”. Try as much as you can to discourage the youths from following the ways that will be detrimental to their well-being.
10. As many as are Elders here, the Lord is going to make you prophets of the last days. If there is anything called sin; you are now living above sin.
11. If they (the Elders) speak to us and we do not obey, God will record it against us. I believe that we must give account of our ministry to He that is above all (Apostle Peter Odoemena, the God of this age).’
12. Elders/Bishops are to guide the believers against error that may set into the church by false teachers (brethren).
13. In his message, The Administrative Setup of the Church page 67 verses 27, ‘As a result when it comes to the matter of doctrine, come, sit down with him and he will open your eyes as an Elder. In addition, these are the keepers of the church. They keep the church from error. They keep the church from falling.’
14. Elders’ offer possible solutions to spiritual needs of the brethren.
15. Elders can render assistance to the needy brethren in the church where possible. In his message, The Administrative Setup of the Church page 94 verses 15 ‘if there are some needy brethren in the church, Apostle decided that this gift would be given to the Bishops. They are to arrange for them, see to them and do everything about them. You will see it from your bible in the Acts of the Apostles. Moreover you see the office of the deacons also.’
16. Elders always work in agreement with other ministers (showing division of labour).
17. Elders can settle disputes among brethren. In his message; Prophecies, Leadership, Identification of the church of the only Living God, page 28 verses 13 – 16 “you must be very careful and guide yourself for the bible said that you should repent and become a believer and forget your old Pentecostal experience.
18. Thus, wherever God has placed you, accept the leadership and it shall be well with you. Because I can find out that if there was a time we wanted to have quarrel in our midst whereby you will have a problem, then you go to a brother, give him a version of the story and from the story that you gave him, he will give you his own advice; then you will leave him and maybe go to the evangelist, you give him another version of the story and from that version of the story, he will give you his own advice.
19. Thus you will be going and before you know it, their voices will now contradict themselves, and before you know it, you will begin to quarrel among yourselves. Who caused the problem? The same one man because the way he supposed to go, he did not go that way, thereby causing problem among brethren”.
20. Elders can organize, teach their members to follow the administrative setup of the church (so that things should be done decently and in other).
21. Elders should be able to study and approve themselves according to the teaching and doctrines of the church. In 2nd Timothy 2 verse 15 it says ‘Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’
22. Elders should not be lazy in providing for their families. In 1st Timothy 5 verse 8 “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel”. Here God is encouraging us to work with our own hands so as to provide for our families.
23. Elders should be able to teach their families to know the doctrine of God, that we are serving. In Proverbs 3 verses 1 – 3 ‘my son forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart’
24. Elders should be able to put brethren in remembrance of the teaching they have acquired from the Son of Man (Christ of our day). In 2nd Peter 1 verses 12 “wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth”. ’In 2nd Timothy 2 verse 14 of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.’
25. Elders should be able to edify and perfect the saints of God. Ephesians 4 verses 11 – 13 ‘And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:’
26. An Elder/Bishop can be delegated by the Chief Apostle (The Son of Man, Christ of our day) to lay hand on other ministers. Acts 8: 5 – 18 ‘then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them and many take with palsies, and that were lame were healed.
27. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man called Simon which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
28. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
29. Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John (Apostles): who when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money…(there and then he was rebuked) ’
30. An Elder/Bishop should not be a novice. The Administrative Setup of the Church page 67 verses 26 ‘An Elder means an elderly man, not only in age. It means somebody that has grown with the ministry, somebody that has followed the ministry from the onset that has a good record and a good conscience towards the ministry, holding the word of life with a good conscience. Hence he is not a novice. He is one that can stand boldly anywhere to declare everything about this faith.’ In 1st Timothy 3 verse 6 ‘Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.’
31. The chief elder, the Apostle that is leading the church, the God of that church can impart his spirit and gifts into other elders. The Administrative Setup of the Church page 68 verses 29 – 32
32. Note, this is the Roman church. St. Paul was longing to see them so that he may impart into them some spiritual gifts. Now the question arises: will he manufacture them? He will impart something that is in him. The same way I have imparted the faith that is in me into you. Because you are sanctified by the faith that is in Me.
33. The same way I am able to impart the same faith in you, the same way I am also able to impart some spiritual gifts that I posses into some of you. If I have the gift of signs and wonders, I can impart it to you. If I have the gift of prophecy, anything that is in me, I can impart it into you provided you have believed the message I have preached unto you. Thus, by this message, you are all sanctified. Before the faith came; you have no faith. Now nobody is shaken again, your faith is fully established. Moreover, it will be more established now when I will impart the gifts that are in me into you. When you see these things coming into manifestation in the ministry, then you will be more established. Whether I am there or not, you have no problem.
34. Even if St. Paul is in Macedonia, the church in Corinth is not shaken, (in a similar vein this is what the Son of Man is doing with the Elders). The church in Ephesus is not shaken (the church at Nassarawa is not shaken): absent in the body but present in the spirit. Because the whole thing that was in him, he has emptied all into earthen vessels, so he can relax.’
35. Elders would give account of the flock they feed to God. The Administrative Setup of the Church page 95 verses 21, 27 – 29 ‘there are people that will give account of you before God, somebody is here that will give account of you before God. In addition, the word there is plural; “them that have the rule”. T.H.E.M. they could be many that have authority.
36. Hence I believe in division of labour; Christ preaching true division of labour. In other words, his recommendation is final. Church of God be spiritual. Natural things type spiritual. That God is saying these people are overseers over you, they have rule over you. That you must obey them, obey them that they might do their work with joy. Remember that they must give account of you before God.
37. Hence, if you are in the church, and God has decided to make them overseer, if they say you are stubborn and stiff necked; that is final before God. Whatever they recommend to God concerning you is final. You cannot say, “God, you know pastor hates me, Apostle hates me; Evangelist hates me!” that is rubbish. He is the man God has decided to appoint to look over you, his recommendation is final.
38. It is the same with husband and wife affair. Whatever the husband recommends to God concerning his wife is final. If you like cry from here to the next world, you are wasting your time. If your husband says you are stubborn and disobedient, God marks it immediately because when you are serving your husband you are serving God.’
39. Elders are to live by example. Able to lead and live a Godly life. The Administrative Setup of the Church page 121 verse 40 ‘you know i am closest to you than people outside, do you know that? Now, if you cannot condemn me, who can condemn me? Nobody can condemn me. That is why we stand in the pulpit to be judged of all. Every teacher in the pulpit is standing before judgment. Thus, we live by example. Not by telling others, we lead and others will follow. Elders, note it.’ 1st Thessalonians 5: 12 – 13 ‘ And we beseech you brethren, to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.’
40. Elders are always to strengthen the church. The Administrative Setup of the Church page 123 verse 44 ‘ I am coming closer. Have you now seen the picture of the Bishop that is not even one Bishop in one church or one Bishop overseeing the activities of many churches? Rather, many Bishops helping to strengthen a local church. Yet, nobody has over riding power over the other. Nobody said, “I am a superior Pastor, I am a super overseer; I am this,” no.’
41. Finally, I want to thank Almighty God in the name of Apostle Peter Odoemena who has given me this privilege to address my brethren on the role of Elders and Bishops in the church of Christ. Thank you and Remain Blessed All.
Section Three
******
CHURCHES OR BUSINESS CENTRES?
******
BY
EVANGELIST OKEZUO BENJAMIN
(08141218501)
(OBOSIMA HOUSEHOLD OF GOD)
4
INTRODUCTION
Oxford advance learner’s dictionary 7th Edition defines church as a building where Christian goes to worship, the institution of the Christian religion. It also defines Business as the activity of making, buying, selling or supplying goods or services for money. It defines Christianity as the religion that is based on the teaching of Jesus and the belief that He was the Son of God. Churchgoer is defined as a person who goes to church services.
2. From the Apostles definition, Apostle Peter Odoemena (The Son of Man) said “Now, the word “church” is derived from a Greek word “Ecclesia”, which is to be interpreted, “A called out” and this called out fully describes the church because God has called the church out of this sinful unbelieving world since the word of God calls for total separation from unbelief”. (From his message- The revelation of the church pg 167 vs 3, preached Sunday 1st October, 2000).
3. Please note, that despite people’s opinion and individual perception about worshiping God through religious practices, God is not a religionist. He Almighty God is not a Christian, neither is He a Muslim. These are two prominent religions that troubled the world. They preach peace and practice violence.
4. What is more, they are a political association that’s why they cannot unite children of God. Once it comes to religion, people’s colour will emerge. This means that God is not relying on any of them neither is He identified with any of them. God has His own church, while individuals, group of persons have their own churches which they now run as business centers.
5. The worst slavery is religious slavery. Members of churches are now turned to business commodities or article of trade. As counterfeit churches discover that making more members means making more money, they now device several strategies to make their churches become entertainment and social centres. When people get attracted, they cage them religiously giving them the impetration that they are serving God while they are only serving the devil and his agents who now turned as angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:13 – 15)
6. Any man who sees God and call him devil and sees devil and call him God does not know either God or devil. The earlier you know the mind of God concerning this church-business dominating everywhere today the better for you. If you worship in any of this church business centres; your life is in danger because God does not recognize your worship. The essence of this lecture is to separate the true church of God from the counterfeit churches which are now business centres.
7. The Church is so important that God started it from the very beginning. God is the founder of the Church and has never allowed his Church to run anyhow. The time it took God to plan and establish his Church or Kingdom has already determined how important the church is to him.
a. Remember, if there must be a church today, that church must be a carbon copy of the church in the wilderness. If there was church in the wilderness, God in the beginning was there; God at the middle was there, God at the end there. It was the church in the wilderness that was produced in the Acts of the Apostles. It must be that same church that will be in the translation.
8. Jesus the Christ in His day predicted it, the prophets of old and the New Testament Apostles and Prophets Spoke of the same religious’ deception we are seeing today. Remember before you change a man’s mode of worship, you must change his mode of thinking, reasoning, spiritual perception etc. until you understand the truth and practice it you can’t be set free from this long aged brazing serpent.
9. Nobody without the true faith of Abraham can be addressed as a child of God because the faith of Abraham is God’s approved faith for he never staggered one bit in unbelief. Today people mix grace with law, faith with works, God’s righteousness can only be imputed by faith in the revealed Christ of your day, not by your self-righteousness or your church righteousness. These two holds majority hostage, only the true children of Abraham have the faith of Christ through which salvation is made possible.
10. Pagan worship is now transformed into Christian terminology. So called prophets are nothing but transformed and brandished native doctors who are now religious. Only God can spot out the devil. People present the picture of the devil as being black, just to present a negative picture, but is it so? Have you forgotten that the devil is a handsome Angel? The secret of all these false prophets and false churches have been exposed and their sources of powers unraveled.
11. Some are very esoteric in nature, worshipping fallen angels all in the name of Jesus. All of them are afraid as police and other security agents who have been arresting, detaining and prosecuting some of them for criminal offences perpetrated in the churches. Can you believe that ritual practices are going on in the churches today?
12. All organized religious group have gone into apostasy they are fallen from the faith and will rise no more for they are daily manipulating, inventing more evil, perfecting in religious criminality. Let us consider mainly the areas that concerns churches or business centres?
WHO IS THE FOUNDER AND OWNER OF THE CHURCH?
13. Christ is the owner, head, leader and builder of His church. Matt. 16:18-19 –“And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” KJV. Read also–(Cols. 1:18, Ephs. 1:22-23, Ephs. 4:15, chapter 5:22-27, 1 Peter 5:2-5, Act 20:28) these scriptures confirms Christ as the owner of His Church. What happened now that people are claiming ownership, founder, and General Superintendant. The reason for this is that they discovered how lucrative church business has become.
a. Let us briefly trace God’s true church and know how God planned it Prophesied about it, prepared it and finally established it. (Ephs. 3:9-11, Act 7:3-8)
14. According to the book of Amos 3:7 – The Lord God does nothing with first of all revealing His plan to His servant the prophet.
15. God’s plan to establishing His church (Kingdom) started in the days of father Abraham (that was the Patriarch Age) God’s promise that through Abraham’s seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed –(Gen. 12:1-3). Confirmed this also in (Gal. 3:26-29). All children of God are called children of Abraham.
16. Prophecy of the prophets from old times concerning the church – (Isa. 2:1-3, Psalm 22:27, Daniel 2:36-44, Isaiah 2:1-3)
17. The church was prepared in the days of Jesus the Christ – Malachi 3:1, Matt. 11:10, Mark 1:2, Luke 2:27, Isaiah 40:3, Matt. 3:2-3, Mark 1:15, Matt. 10:7.
18. God established his church in the days of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost according to his promise (see Luke 24:47-49, Acts 1 vs. 4-12, Acts 2:27-47)
19. Note the sequential order; (A) from patriarchal Age to (B) mosaic Age to (C) Christ Age to (D) Apostolic Age (E) to the Christian Age called the seven Church Ages (F) to finally, the Bridal Age-(perfection Age)
5
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
From scriptural records, God ordained offices in His church. They were not voted in politically. God gave the gift without consulting anybody that is why they must please God alone and be accountable only to Him –as people that must give account of their stewardship whenever they are called to do it. So all ordained ministers of God must have the fear of God and minister as the Holy Ghost gives them utterance. They speak as oracles of God –Ephesians 4:11-14.
2. The offices in the true church of the living God are assigned by God for specific reasons and functions. True ministers of God help in the perfecting of the saints and for the work of the ministry of Christ. They also edify the body of Christ.
3. They are also assigned to help in unifying the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God (God made flesh). This is also to avoid the church from being unstable or influenced by any kind of doctrine and to avoid deceit of crafty men who claim to be men of God.
4. Apart from, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, God also permitted the appointment and ordination of the Bishops and Deacons by the Apostles of Christ, to help in the church administration. This is true because in the house of God, everything must be done decently and in order.
5. Each local church or assembly is purely independent, having the same faith, doctrine, conduct and order. The local churches were administered by Bishops, (Elders, Pastors, Presbyters) who feed, tend oversee and rule the flock among them with apostolic doctrines as delivered to them by Christ. (Read, 1Peter 5:2-4, Acts 20:17-28, 1Timothy 3:1-7, 1Timothy 3:8-13, Philippians 1:1).
6. It may interest you to know that in the apostolic days, local churches may have more than one Bishop, Pastor, Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists and even Deacons. Even then there was no place for senior apostle, Senior Prophet.
7. The exaltation of man of God beyond his scriptural commission has always been the origin of Apostasy. All ministers see themselves as servants of the church and of God who called them into his vineyard. They know the implication or arrogating powers they do not posses.
8. They also know that God debases those that exalt themselves but exalt those that humble themselves before Him. He (God) did that to Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Saul and other who exalted themselves. Lucifer was cast down because pride was found in him.
9. This made him to exalt himself even above God. Pride they say leads to downfall. This same Luciferian spirit anointed all the self-acclaimed and self-appointed and politically ordained men of God who take delight in exalted positions.
10. You may read these scriptures using any translation of your choice to confirm how it was done in the days of the apostles –(Philippians 1:1, 2:5-8, Romans 1:1, Colossians 4:1, Philemon 1:1, James 14:7,10, 1 Peter 4:11, 1 Peter 5:1-6, Proverb 16:18, Matthew 23:9)
11. Therefore, anyone introducing any office, conduct, order or doctrines of any kind which do not confirm and truly agree with the laid down and approved way Christ, His Apostles and prophets did it, is in error and is only representing Satan’s ministry. He is working in Satan’s vineyard.
12. Today, we see such unscriptural apostasy in administrative organogram. People without fear answer titles like Pope, Archbishop, General Overseer, Senior Apostle, Senior Prophet, Senior Evangelist, Senior Pastor, mother general, Reverend father etc, just to mention but a few. They forgot that only God Almighty can be reverend
13. see psalm 111:9- “He sent redemption unto his people, he hath commanded his covenant forever, holy and REVEREND is his name” KJV
14. The Apostles maintained unity of the faith-(Ephesians 4 vs. 3-6, 1 Corinthians 1 vs. 10, Philippians 3:15-17, Thess. 2:3-7)
15. Religious preachers in the churches of today fulfilled scriptures to the latter. Remember, God say they are his enemies for turning the preaching of the gospel into business venture, profit making and selfish gains. Their God is their belly and material acquisition. It is also a sure sign that they are people that could not find any meaningful employment or those whose businesses failed and they ran into one Bible College or the other with the pretext that God called them to be his ministers. Such are liars.
16. How can God call a man and he refuses to carry out God’s word who called him but dances to the tune of a man who pays him wages monthly? It is total blindness! It is spiritual amnesia! Woe to such people!.
17. Let us also consider (Jeremiah 48:10) KJV –“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his word from blood”
18. God’s judgment and curse must fall on those who pretend to be working for God while they are working for their own selfish gain and turn the churches (they call God’s church) into private investment.
19. Do you know that when they are registering their churches or business centre’s in the corporate affairs commission, they use only their family members as board of trustees? In the invent of their demise their wives or sons take over the ownership and leadership of such churches.
20. No wonder why problems arise among church members who discover that the certification of incorporation of the church is made up of only family members. This really means that the churches of today are family business ventures and investments.
21. There is no doubt any longer that church- business has become the most lucrative business today in the hands of uncalled and unrepentant preachers and yet Government does not task them. They deceive the Government into believing that they are “Non-profit making organization”.
22. (Yet very many of them have lodged millions of dollars in their personal accounts, riding assorted flashy cars, and building different multi-million dollar personal houses) And still claim that they are non-profit makers.
23. Who is deceiving who? Liars and deceivers! I think the earlier the government starts looking into the accounts of these business centers and prayer houses in the name of churches, the better for the nations because the more they crave and compete for material acquisition in the name and under the umbrella of Religion or churches, the more criminal tendencies are encouraged. So also the acquisition of great wealth among politicians led to unbridled tendency for material acquisition among the youths in the society today. This anomaly led to the rise of crimes of all sorts because the scriptures said that the love of money is the root of all evils. (1Tim. 6:10)
WHAT THE TRUE CHURCH IS CALLED.
A. The Church is called Gods Kingdom-Colossians 1:13,2Peter 1 vs. 11
B. God’s building- 1Corinthians 3:9, 1Cor. 6:19
C. House of God-Ephesians 2:19, 1Tim 3:15, Eph 2:21
D. Body of Christ- Col. 1:18,
E. Kingdom of Heaven –Mathew 16:18-19
F. The family of fellowship-Ephesians 3:9-19,
G. Church of God-Acts 20:28
H. The true church is addressed according to the towns, cities and locations 1 Cor. 1:1-2, Acts 5 vs. 11.
But today, churches owned by individuals, organizations etc answer different names as decided by their leaders and owners such as Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Methodist, Baptist, Deeper Life, Assemblies etc having different administrative organogram, systems and organization. No priest of any of the Churches can officiate in another Church yet they claim to be one. The true church is not a denomination. False Churches have all denominated.
WHAT ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE TRUE CHURCH CALLED?
They are called disciples (Acts 20:7, Acts 11:26)
(b)Saints (Ephesians 1:1)
(c) Beloved of God (Roman 1 vs. 7)
(d) Brethren (1 Cor. 15 vs. 6 )
(e) Children of God (1 John 3:10)
(f) Sons of God (1 John 3:10)
(g) Heirs of God (Romans 8 Vs 17)
(h) Royal priest hood (1Peter 2 vs. 9)
(i) Children of Abraham ( Gal. 3 vs. 7-9)
(j) Mount Zion (Hebrew 12 vs. 22-23)
(k) The true Church is called the Bride of Christ – Rev 19:7-9, john 3:29, Rev 20:17, Rev 21:9, Rev 21 :2, Rev 3:12)
(l) Called a city whose builder and maker is God-(Heb 11:10)
HOW CAN ONE BECOME A MEMBER OF THIS TRUE CHURCH?
24. Members are called and predestinated_(Ephesians 1:4-5, Romans 8 vs. 29-30, Jeremiah 1 vs. 4-5) (b) Members are those who gladly hear the word and believe –(Acts 2:39-41) Acts 1:14 (c) Members are called by the name of the lord – (Acts.15:17-18) (d) Members are ordained to eternal life- ( Acts 13:48) (e) Members are true believers – ( John 6:40-47, john 3:14-16) (f) Members are those who really belong to God – ( 2Timothy 2:19, john 10:14-26) (g) Members are truly born again with the incorruptible word of God ( 1peter 1:23, John 3:3-8, Ephesians 5:26, Ezekiel 36:25-27)
25. Note: Church business Centres run contrary to these God’s approved patterns though they claim to be God’s Church. In respect to this, in (Mathew 23:8) KJV- “But be not called Rabbi; for one is your master, even CHRIST; and all Ye are brethren”
26. But today the founders and General superintendents of these churches answer and arrogate names and titles as they choose simply because no member under them will ever challenge it, even their wives or women answer great women of God.
27. Women preachers have caused a lot of havoc since women invaded the pulpit, influencing the men who became sissified and forgot their position. Why do they answer titles that are not scriptural? It is only because one that owns a business centre has the right to create an office as he desires to compete or become more influential and popular than others.
28. What is found among the fake churches is ungodly competitions motivated by unbridled tendency and craves for useless material acquisition. Christ called his followers brethren and never arrogated or allowed any to make himself or herself something among the brethren. This is the rule and the same order in the true Church even till today.
29. Read these scriptures to know women position in the churches (Gen. 3:16, 1Tim 2:11-15, 1 Cor. 14:33-40, Luke 8:1-3 and 1 Peter 3:1-6)
HOW DO CHURCHES MAKE MONEY?
30. Since Church business is prospering everywhere, we need to understand why the reasons are not farfetched:
31. Mandatory payment of tithes and offerings.
32. Mandatory giving of offerings.
33. Introducing other money making ventures and programmes such as sowing of seed, harvest and Bazaar, braking of curses, festivals and ceremonies of all sorts laying emphasis on money generation claiming that it is God’s money when it was dived into their private accounts and personal use all in the name of Church program.
34. Remember, that tithe was abolished along side with the Jewish laws and Levitical Priest hood. Lets read (Hebrew 7:11-12) to confirm this truth. Offering should be given as one purposed in his or her heart according to how God has prospered him or her. (1 Cor. 16:1-2, 2 Cor. 9:4-5, Acts 20:7, Act. 16:16, Acts 9:13)
THE GREAT COMMISSION: FREELY YOU RECEIVED, FREELY YOU GIVE
35. Mathew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (vs20) teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world”.
36. Know that this commission was carried out accordingly by the Apostles who baptized in the name of Jesus the Christ which was the revelation of the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Confirm it in these scriptures: (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16) what is the new name of God today? You cannot know it unless it is given to you (Rev: 2:17)
37. “Heal the sick, cleanse the leapers, raise the dead, cast out devils freely you received freely you give” (Matthew 10:8)
38. (Matthew 28: 18-20, Matthew 10:8, Daniel 5: 1-31, 2 Kings 5:1-27, Acts 8:9-25, Isaiah 5:1-2, Romans 3:24, Ephs. 1:27, Rev. 21:6)
HOW CHURCHES TURNED INTO BUSINESS CENTRES
39. By Becoming an organized religion (2) By Commercializing (Prayer, Preaching, Crusades) (3) By introducing money making ventures and ceremonies/Programmers (4) By their traditions, Creeds and dogmas- Systems that are against Christ’s doctrine (5) By emphasizing on Prosperity, materialism and worldly competitions not on eternal life. (6) By their system of full- time ministry so called without a viable and visible means of livelihood, only depending on the church salary payment, milking and extorting their members
WOE UNTO PASTORS THAT SCATTER AND MISLEAD GOD’S CHURCH (FLOCK OR PEOPLE)
40. This group of modern pastors and church leaders are likened to Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus day. Let’s confirm it with these scriptures (Jer. 23:1-4, Math. 23: 13, Jeremiah 10:20, Ezekiel 34:1-31, Psalm 78:70-72, Isaiah 56:11, John 10:7-17, Acts 20:28, Acts 20:33-35- The Apostles worked with their hands to earn their living. They were never a burden to the flock of God unlike those who claim they are called to be into fulltime ministry. FALLING AWAY FROM THE TRUE FAITH OF CHRIST- (2 Tim. 4:1-4, 1 Tim. 4:1-4, 2Tim. 1-9)
COMMENTS RELATED TO CHURCH OR BUSINESS CENTRES-
The Son of man (Apostles Peter Odoemena) “said and I quote,
41. Teaching is life, when you receive sound teaching, you will have life. When you listen to what Churches are preaching, you will notice that Churches have raised more criminals than any other organization. If you say churches are “Business Centres” they will be offended. We are the most holy faith an earth: believe it if you can. The presences of God makes everything holy. You cannot come to the son of man unless you are of the son of man “
42. Any Church that is here on Earth, established outside the words spoken by the Apostles and prophets vindicated from God, that church is a counterfeit church. It can never save any soul, for it is not of God, it is satanic, man-made earthly and sensual. It is more or less a business centre. Or you may call it a Philanthropic organization. It is a social club (from his messages compile in the Bridal compendium pages 80:4 and 81:4, first published in 2018).
43. “PASTOR ADEBOYE IS CREATING BUSINESS CENTRES, NOT CHURCHES” –FEMI FALANA. (Information Nigeria)
44. “Pastor Adeboye is creating business centres, not churches”
45. Pastor Enoch Adeboye once said he wants to establish more churches so that everyone can have a church within a walking distance.
46. The statement caused controversy as many condemned the idea.
THE PAINFUL TRUTH BY JOHN O. Enlyten@hotmail.com pg 8/12
47. THIRD is that we need a product. Jesus is usually a good commodity. God is always for sale, and Jesus is the bait Since It’s acceptable to most people to accept Jesus (even though they know nothing about Him), then we’ll use Jesus as our lure.
48. CONCLUSION:
49. Matthew 21:12-13 – (vs13) “And He said unto them my house shall be called the house of prayer but ye has made it a den of thieves” 1 Peter 2:1-4 (vs3)- “and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbered not”.
50. Making Church a business of the devil God is against it. Beware!.
God bless you all
Section Four
POLITICS AND RELIGION AS INSTRUMENT OF DISUNITY
WHY EVERY CHILD OF GOD SHOULD SHUN THEM
BY BISHOP IFEANYI EZE
(EHA – AMUFU HOUSEHOLD OF GOD)
ABSTRACT
Politics and religion constitute two important planks upon which a society is based. As important institution of the society, they influence to a very large extent how well a society goes about to achieve its goal. They determine the extent such a society could be highly united or divided over issues that matters most to it. For this reason, the purpose of this paper therefore is to investigate or find out how politics and religion could be instruments for disunity and unity. It tends to find out or investigate why a child of God should shun them. In other words, politics and religion by their nature and the way they operate engender conflict than cooperation and they are instruments of disunity.
6
INTRODUCTION
1. Today, the world despite its claim to enhance large scale interactions among various people of the world is beset by deep seated division and conflicts. Politics and religion have raised most dust in human relations at both national and international level.
2. These two issues or phenomenon in historical and contemporary terms have separated people and caused more problems than it had resolved. According to Kukah (1999), “they are all highly emotive issues over which blood has been spilled; nations, cultures and hopes have been extinguished and now more than ever before, new wars are being plotted and executed”
3. In other words, as far as politics and religion are concerned, distrust, tension, war, disharmony, animosity, suspicions, disaccord, bigotry and hatred has become part and parcel of social life (Aruwan,Sparuwan@yahoo.com). In the name of politics and religion, segregation had been established among people. In Nigeria for example, the Northerners were told not to believe in the Southerners while the Southerners were told not to trust the Northerners.
4. The same way Muslims in the South were told to align with Muslims in the North while the Christians in the North were told to align with the Christians in the South (Aruwan,Sparuwan@yahoo.com). Besides Nigeria, there has been negative application of both politics and religion all over the world. The Rwanda 1994 genocide, the Sudanese wars are empirical example of such cases leading a nation to political instability, corruption, mal-administration, religious and ethnic conflict and other phenomenon coming through the wrong usage of our institution (Aruwan,Sparuwan@yahoo.com).
5. As could be seen therefore, the entire world right from historical to contemporary times had been characterized by litany of woes of all types orchestrated by politics and religion. Politically, we had witnessed the rise and emergence of dictatorship, bloody wars, revolution and killings of all types because of politics which trend on division.
6. The various wars and conflict that continued to characterize the rise and formation of human societies are classical examples. Some of them like the first and second world wars caused huge and collateral damage to human and material resources that organizations were formed mainly to prevent such wars. However, politics because it is conflictual in nature had remained a phenomenon that had not unified people. Rather than uniting, politics has generated more bickering and disagreement and therefore disunity among people.
7. At the religious level, bizarre and violent experiences right from ancient times had been the hallmark of religious practices and identities. As Canci and Odukoya (2016) noted “Africa is laced with some of the most obstinate conflicts, most of them constructed differences in religious and ethnic identities”.
8. In other words, religion had been identified as a phenomenon that generates conflicts that are intractable in societies. Religious history reveals that societies had been in disquiet because of efforts of many groups to propagate and impose their religious ideas on others.
9. The Bride of Christ Ministry in their work “Cry Out Against the System” aptly captured this view when it stated “The Church history is deeply immersed into the blood of the martyrs, only at the Second Vatican Council which lasted from 1962 to 1965, it was agreed that the curse which was placed upon the Jews by the papacy would no longer be valid. They were classified as “Christ Murderers”. Because of this curse repeated by the successive popes upon the Jews, they were persecuted; their possessions were taken.
10. They were driven from place to place and killed by the multitude. The same has happened to all who believed differently. But who knows what was behind the Spanish Inquisition or St Bartholomew’s Eve in France? Who knows what the Huguenots went through and the Mennonites in Europe? Who knows something about the Waldensians in Austria, who were expropriated and driven out from their properties and dwelling places”.
11. Going beyond these above situations, other religious controversies, conflicts and wars which had generated fault lines by religion and with subsequent clashes of civilization had continued to characterize human relations. Holistically, the world had witnessed bloody crusades and jihads. In other words, religion had not united but divided human beings along fault lines. Wars and terrorist attacks as witnessed in Northern Nigeria, Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt, Iraq and so many other areas of conflict in the world had been exacerbated by religion. Even though some studies had tried to underscore the positive function of religion in promotion of peace (Canci and Odukoya, 2016). Empirical situations had painted other pictures as seen in the name of religion all over the world.
12. Having noted the divisive nature of politics and religion, it is important to examine the extent politics and religion is instrument of unity or disunity. In the light of the foregoing, this study sets out to find out the extent politics and religion is instrument of disunity. It also investigates and delve into why a child of God should shun these phenomenon. To discuss however the issues involved, the conceptualization of politics and religion becomes imperative.
Clarification of Concepts
Politics
13. The word politics means so many things to different people; acquiring various connotations and denotations (Odoziobodo and Madubuegwu, 2016). Its definition is highly perhaps essentially contested as there is considerable disagreement on which aspect of social life are to be considered political (Mclean and Macmillan, 2009). As noted further, by Mclean and Macmillan (2009), at one extreme are those (notably but not only feminists) who assert that the “personal” is political; meaning that the essential characteristics of political life can be found in any relationship such as that between a man and a woman. However, there is another usage suggesting a narrower domain for politics which assumes it only occur at the level of government and the state and must involve party competition.
14. Generally speaking, politics is part and parcel of social relationship permeating the entire fabric of the human society. Mahajan (2013) had argued politics exist everywhere and is all pervading and is as old as human beings. He states inter alia; “politics prevails in every sphere of life. Whether one likes it or not, virtually no one is completely beyond the reach of some kind of political system.
15. A citizen encounters politics in government of the country, town, association, trade union, club and host of other organizations”. According to him, they had given birth to empires, nations, wars, revolutions, symbols, institutions, constitutions etc. Besides this general understanding of politics, there are specific ways politics had been conceptualized by scholars.
16. Anifowoso (1999) noted that a search through political science textbooks confounds the students with numerous definitions. According to him, “politics is a process of making and execution of government decisions or policies; authoritative allocation of values or who gets what, when and how; the quest for power, order and justice; the art of influencing, manipulating and controlling others, a process of resolution of conflict in a society and a struggle among actors pursuing conflicting desires on public issues.
17. For Odoziobodo (2016), it is any human activity that involves two or more persons in which each tries to gain advantage over the other in getting the scarce resources available to the members of a given society through the process of angling, bargaining or negotiation while for Dyke (1986), it is a struggle among actors pursuing conflicting desires on public issues. Further definitions include that by David Easton which sees politics as the authoritative allocation of values for a society (Easton in Odoziobodo, 2016).
18. Winter and Barrows in Odoziobodo (2016) combined the definitions of Vermon Dyke and David Easton and defined it as the struggle for between actors pursuing conflicting desires on issues that may result in an authoritative allocation of values.
19. Defining politics further, Wright in Odoziobodo (2016) while referring to international politics sees it as the art of influencing, manipulating or controlling major groups in the world so as to advance the purpose of some against the opposition of others.
20. Be that as it may, politics exist in two levels; they include politics that involves everyday relationship among people called micro politics and macro politics which is the politics that involves the authority that maintain law and order in the polity called government and its institutions (Odoziobodo, 2016). Odoziobodo (2016) noted further that micro politics means politics that takes place in a very small scale or scope like in the family, school, church, among friends etc. According to him, whenever issues or needs arises in our family, in the church, in the school and among our friends or associates, we try to resolve them which is political.
21. With regards to macro politics, Odoziobodo (2016) noted also that it is the politics that takes place in a very large scale or scope or capability. According to him, it involves the activities of government, political parties, politicians and political activities. It involves politics at the realm of state and government. That also between states or between countries is also classified as macro politics.
22. Though a phenomenon that pervade human activity, there is no gainsaying of the fact that politics continue to be a sore point in human interaction. To the ordinary man in the street, politics is a byword for crafty behaviour, bargaining, angling, scheming and maneuvering for advantage. (Chikendy in Odoziobodo, 2016).
23. Okoli and Okoli in Odoziobodo (2016) noted that to most Nigerians, (many other people all over the world inclusive), the word ‘politics’ or ‘political’ holds no charm, no special appeal. If anything, it connotes deceit, graft, double talk and that is evil, as it is a term devoid of honour and respectability.
Religion
24. Religion unlike other disciplines like music, geography, history, mathematics, chemistry and host of others has no universally acceptable and satisfactory definition being looked at from different perspectives based on the angle which one understands (Sulaiman, 2016). Today in this globalized world, no single definition can describe numerous religion in the world (Aruwan,Sparuwan@yahoo.com). In other words, a definition of religion is difficult even though it is a phenomenon that existed long before the category ‘religion was created during the enlightenment period in order to study the human behaviour indicated as religion. (Beyers, 2015)
25. A number of attempts however had been made to define and expound the meaning of religion. It had been noted as deriving its origin from the Latin words; relegere (to unite or link) and religio (relationship, bond) (Sanic, Fox in Sulaiman, 2016). Kukah (1999) notes further on the definition of religion an explanation of it within the context of set of rituals by which human being relates with the higher being has come to be accepted while its derivation from the Latin word religare (to bind) has come to be understood as reflecting the effort by fallen man to re-establish contact with his creator.
26. Man and religion are therefore inseparable in all human cultures (Sulaiman, 2016). Other definitions of religion include; man’s expression of his acknowledgement of the divine or a system of belief and practices relating to the sacred and uniting its adherents in communities (Webster’s Dictionary of English Language).
– the belief in the existence of a god or gods and the activities that are connected with the worship of them (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.
– religion is concerned with the worship of transcendent or supernatural beings whose existence is outside or above the realm of the normal which is mortal and temporal (Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics, 2009).
– religion is a system of symbols which act to establish powerful, pervasive and long lasting mood and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic (Peter, Tanner, in Sulaiman, 2016).
– Religion also is the consciousness of one’s dependence on transcendent being and the tendency to worship him (Sulaiman, 2016).
– Religion is a social, psychological and material concept relating man to the transcendence (Moyser in Sulaiman, 2016).
27. All these definitions point to the core issues of a system of beliefs centered on the worship of a higher being(s) in form of a god or gods. Religion consists of behaviour as well as convictions (Fox, in Beyers, 2015)
28. In Africa and Islamic states, the influence of religion on the society is pervasive and holistic. In its most historically important and ethically demanding form, monotheism as exemplified in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religion, concern is concentrated into a single God who is omnipotent, omnipresence and omniscience; the creator of the universe (Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics, 2009).
POLITICS AND RELIGION IN NEGATIVE HISTORICAL CHARACTERIZATION
29. A number of issues in historical and contemporary terms had negatively characterized politics and religion as part and parcel of social life. they remain sore points that had marred the phenomenon as instrument of unity. Rather than being instrument of unity, politics and religion become that of disunity. These issues are discussed as follow:
30. Terrorist Attack – Terrorism had been part and parcel of human interaction from historical times to the world of today. Terrorist group had emerged and developed as a result of politics and religion while some are based on politics Irish National Army (IRA) in Northern Ireland. Others are based on religion like Boko haram, Al-Queda, Alshabaab, Islamic state (ISIS) etc.
31. These groups had engaged in gun battles, arson, bombing and stabbing in promoting their ideology. (Warner in Canci and Odukoya, 2016). In other words, the world is witnessing religious looking enhancing international terror campaigns (Canci and Odukoya, 2016).
32. Religious Violence – this is the threat or actual implementation of acts which have the potential capacity to inflict physical emotional or psychological injury on a person or a group of persons for religious end (Sulaiman, 2016). The world had witnessed violence motivated by or in reaction to religious precepts, texts or doctrines and they include violence against religious institutions, people and objects (Sulaiman, 2016).
33. Religious violence occur and are nurtured all over the world as seen in many hot spots of religious conflict in Egypt and other parts of North Africa, Iraq, Northern Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan. Presently, the military had reacted violently to the activities of Shiite Muslims in Nigeria. Incessant religious violence had been a worldwide affair with obvious consequences of creating and fostering instability and divisions in the world.
Wars – various wars orchestrated or fought in the name of politics and religion in both historical and contemporary times had characterized the world. While there had been political wars like the first world war, second world war and national wars, we had also religious ones like the crusade and various jihads. Inter-religious conflicts are so intense that they have turned into wars in different parts of the world. In Nigeria, they are between the Muslims and Christians (Canci and Odukoya, 2016). Violent revolutions and coups had characterized political and religious activities.
34. Loss of Human and Material Resources – politics and religion had been characterized by loss of human and material resources. There has been an untold hardship inflicted on groups, states and individuals in terms of loss of lives and property in both historical and contemporary terms.
35. Mistrust and Suspicion – mutual mistrust and suspicion had remained the integral part of politics and religion. Political and religious activities had seen mistrust and suspicion among the various people of the world. Among Nigerians for example, there is mutual suspicion because while some Christian think that Christianity is an agent of American and European imperialism, others think that Muslims have closer ties with Saudi Arabia (Suleiman, 2016)
36. Massive Exploitation of the People – Karl Marx had noted that religion is the opium of the masses; and politics (activities concerning the state) is an instrument of the ruling class. Massive exploitation of the ruled had been achieved using politics and religion. It is a truism that politicians and religious leaders manipulate the people using politics and religion.
37. Intolerance – intolerance had remained an integral part of interactions among people. A blind and fixated mental and psychological negative attitude towards belief and practices that are contrary to one cherished beliefs and practices (Balogun in Suleiman, 2016). These belief and practices could be in political or religious term.
Why Politics and Religion should be Shunned by a Child of God
38. In the light of issues discussed already, it is evident that both politics and religion should be shunned by every child of God. This is because they generate activities that remain unacceptable to a child of God who should not only desire but live the type of life that is for the good of the society. The following reasons why a child of God should shun politics and religion are discussed below:
39. Intolerance – being a feature of both politics and religious intolerance had also been a product of the two phenomenon. Individuals, groups and even nations had been intolerant of one another. A true child of God should freely allow others to live in with their convictions.
40. It Creates Mistrust and Suspicion among People – politics and religion because of its partisan nature creates mistrust and suspicion among people. For this reason, the two phenomenon should be shunned or avoided by a child of God desirous of working for the betterment of the society he belongs.
41. Harbinger of Violent Activities – politics and religion should be shunned by every child of God because they are harbinger of violent activities. Wars, killings, revolutions, terrorist acts, coups and other forms of violent activities had emanated from political and religious activities.
42. Massive Exploitation of the People – a lot of atrocities that include fretting of public wealth had been committed through manipulations of politics and religion.
43. Loss of Lives and Properties – while they remained feature of political and religious practices, they are also generated by the manipulation of politics and religion for divisive ends. A lot of loss of human and material resources had always accompanied politics and religion among the people, traced historically and in contemporary times, politics and religion had led to depletion in human population and loss of material resources courtesy of violent activities that accompany them.
44. They Operate Contrary to Godly Instruction – while a child of God is amenable to such godly instruction as given in Jeremiah 29:7, Mathew 5 vs 9 and Hebrews 12 vs 14, politicians and religious adherents are divisive and violent.
45. CONCLUSION
46. Having discussed politics and religion in the light of their status as instrument of disunity, it is evident that the two phenomenon should be shunned by a true child of God. Attempts were made to underscore why it is so. The contention in this paper however based on characterization that is both historical and contemporary and reasons outlined above, shows the fact that a child of God should avoid them.
References
Anifowose R (1999) The Nature and Scope of Political Science. In Remix Anifowose and Francis Enemuo (end) Elements of Politics, Lagos Sam Iroanusi publication Aruwan S., Sparuwan @yahoo.com
Beyers J. (2015), Religion as Political Instrument: The Case of Japan and South Africa. Journal for the Study of Religion 28 (1)
Canci H and Odukoya O. (2016), Ethnic and Religious Crises in Nigeria. Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes.
Cry Out Against the System; Bride of Christ Ministry Publication.
Kukah M (1999), Democracy and Civil Society in Nigeria; Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd.
Mahajan, V.D (2013) Political Theory (Principle of Political Science). New Delhi: S Chand and Company Pvt ltd. 5th Edition.
McLean I and Macmillan A (2009) The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 3rd Edition.
Odoziobodo I (2016) Meaning, Nature and Scope of Political Science in I Odoziobodo and Chibuike Madubuegwu (end) Political Science: An Introductory Reading. Enugu: I genius Creations Service Ltd
Suleiman K (2016), Religious Violence in Contemporary Nigeria: Implications and Options for Peace and Stability Order. Journal for the Study of Religion 29 (1)
The Holy Bible
Section Five
THE MAKING OF A LEGEND
BY BISHOP FRYDE OKOH
(ENUGU HOUSEHOLD OF GOD)
7
INTRODUCTION
1. Legend is a loan word from old French that entered English usage circa 1340. The old French noun, legend, derives from medieval latin legenda. The Longman contemporary dictionary of English Language defines a legend as “an old, well known story, often about brave people, adventures or magical events”.
2. Every group of people on earth had legends or folklores that explained the past. These collection of stories were oral tradition which were passed down from generation to generation. Most of those legendary stories were woven around some Chinese, African and Rumanian legends.
3. It centered more around their belief system as regards to creation and heavens. This is not particular of all the legends, some legendary activities revolves more around the deeds of godlike men and women or strange or wonderful lands. With time many legends were later written down but some came to be thought of as facts.
4. Though, many other myth found in history are often based on Greek mythology or biblical subjects, but are nevertheless relevant to modern times. In many old cultures, the greatest challenge historians confronted then was lack of basic and reliable information and dynamic level of details regarding those legendary stories, but today, as we can rightly see, historians are faced with a new problem-too much information.
5. With the advent of computers, more information can be gathered and filed in, in seconds than what volumes could be assembled in the past. This drastic change from not enough to a great deal of information is called the “Information Revolution”. James .A. Froude wrote “we live in days of progress and enlightenment; nature on a hundred sides has unlocked her store house of knowledge”.
6. Based on this new wave of “information revolution” historians can now differentiate between facts and opinion. As defined by Webster dictionary, a fact is “a piece of information that is known to be true”, something that can be proven true or false by cross-checking books, records or other resource materials. An opinion is “your ideas or belief about a particular subject”, something one believes, thinks or feels. It cannot be proven true or false. Empirical evidence are naturally needed to determine if those legendary stories handed down to mankind holds any iota of truth; if they are believable or just a myth. There is always a tail to the tale, if not, the tale becomes a concocted story.
7. An unknown writer wrote “the truth against the world-yes, certainly fiction writers, at least in their braver moments, do desire the truth: to know it, speak it, serve it. But they go about it in a particular and devious ways, which consists of inventing persons, places and events which never did and never will exist or occur, and telling about these fictions in detail and at length and with a great deal of emotion, and then when they are done writing down this pack of lies, they say, there! Thats the truth”.
8. They may use all kinds of facts(invented) to support their tissue of lies. To get to the roots, many archeologists, historians, and anthropologists or scientists who study the origin and development of humans, became curious about how much of those legends was fiction and how much was fact.
9. To have an in-depth knowledge into this ancient lore will be an added advantage in dislodging this ancient deceit that had created a hallucinated aura around our psyche and history. This inquisitiveness created the forum for more search and research as regards the truth behind those legendary stories we are fed today with, which to my mind, are subjects, subjected to innumerable rumours.
10. It will be a remarkable lesson if we can separate these classes of legends-myth and real. This move may help us kill the erroneous and broad day intellectual deceit about many myth which has stamped a false conclusion and imagery in our subconscious minds. Those stories created a mystifying and unimaginable scenario, giving the impression that those legends(imagined or real) achieved great feat of mythic proportions.
11. Those very great or famous mythical stories have clattered down to many centuries bringing into focus combinations of what supposed to happen and what people wanted to happen. For example, the story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, which William Shakespeare used for his famous play-where artificial legend. Dante Aligheri, a Florentine poet(1265-1321) who was regarded as the finest and certainly the most famous of all Italian Poets wrote a legendary long philosophical poem. His poem centered on the story of imaginary journey through hell, purgatory and paradise called “DIVINA COMEDIA”. This was another legendary story.
12. All these conceptual frameworks which are imaginary can be regarded as a treasonable illusion of the past and when the intellect won´t or can´t compensate for that wrong information, the result is a profound bewilderment, (greatly confused), a feelings that everything literally has come loose. This clearly makes it imperative that human mind has absolutely been blinded by their own bigotry-believing sensational stories that are baseless.
13. Many may argue and some may see this as a scathing criticism, but most of what we hear or read about legends, past and present creates an unhealthy climate around the whole landscape-a traditional fantasy. We should note that the most dangerous, empty and primitive part of the mind is that, that accepts rhetorical impressions without sieving it. Can’t it be accepted that those stories have tainted track records of pious fictions that reveal glaring inefficiencies or are they metaphorically symbolic?. However, those myth are part of broad cosmologies that enable man to cope with harsh and unpredictable environment.
14. They had their beauty and power which the chief feature was its acceptance. It represented the naive trust of that age. To them then, it was a mystery but today all those abstract stories have been exposed. The results have been embalmed in scholarly papers.
8
WHO IS A LEGEND?
1. Looking critically at what makes one a legend, our analytical minds would form an intricate and extremely effective picture of a valiant. “One who acts with valour, showing hero-like characteristics in the midst of danger “or” a person whose natural reflex is to be selfless and make an extraordinary effort to put others before themselves”.
2. Yes, that’s a reasonable fact but there were/are those who had these stirring qualities but were never accepted by their entire generation. People like Jesus the Christ was not only a legend of his time but a God in human flesh but was rejected by the Jews and killed. Adolf Hitler, the German dictator, a legend of history but remain rejected by almost the entire world population because of his nefarious activities that caused the second world war.
3. But that notwithstanding, there were those whose ideals, visions and ideas survived through the passage of time because they were careful, they never openly undermined or vilified the existing order. Those vibrant stars weren’t exempted from the strains of fallibility, because the ugly nature of the track they passed through was highly challenging.
4. They had threaded through a maze of rumbled and jumbled terrain littered with all forms of deadly obstacles but undettered they wrested a degree of victory from the jaws of death and finally they arrived their destinations memorably. Today the great seeds of achievement they sowed had graciously dispersed to all corners of the universe, making their names indelible in history of time.
5. It wasn’t easy to leave behind such legacies for mankind. According to Peter Strople “legend is not leaving something for people, it is leaving something in people”. Leonard Sweet added also “what you do is your history what you set in motion is your legacy”. Their lives were also encumbered with physical challenges; in most cases they faced public hostilities or imprisonment. They had great virtue such as tolerance, endurance, love, forgiveness, service, sacrifice, focus and large hearts e.t.c.
6. Some of the personalities such as John Sobieski, King of Poland, in the 17th century, is highly celebrated as a legend in Poland till date. Leonardo Da Vinci, an Italian artist. accepted as a universal genius is still regarded as a legend till date. Another great figure was King David who made a tremendous mark on the Hebrew nation. He was perhaps the greatest figure in all Hebrew history.
7. There are numerous others who had left an indelible mark in their various fields whom we cannot enumerate here because of time and space. Their marvelous contributions can be noticed in the field of science, literature, visual arts, architecture, medicine, engineering, politics, military, music, sports, agriculture, philosophy, leadership etc.
8. To deny these facts would be a detestable act before God and man. There is a saying that “man may rise and fall like winter wheats but these great achievers, their names will never die.”
9. Presently, what was reserved for great minds and achievers have been over used-everyone is now called a legend whether one merits it or not.
10. I am standing here basically to talk on the topic
“THE MAKING OF A LEGEND”.
11. We have gone through the introductory stage which we winnowed the myth and the real from the word ‘legend’ and from that we can now recognize the theoretical dichotomy between the two. This is a very sensitive topic and I pray that God will lead me through. I want to talk about a “SUPER LEGEND”.
12. I have to classify Him so because He merits it. The personality that I am to speak about is a special personality. Such a figure appear on the earth surface once in a generation. He is a personality that is embued with esoteric knowledge and exoteric wisdom and who has an ingrained secret seal with nature, and also led by the oath of truth.
13. These natural qualities always help Him to stabilize His strong, noble and stable obedience to His calling. What type of adjective does one need to qualify a man whose personality was earlier covered like drapes of curtain (hidden from the public) when He was coming of age; sprouting up like a precious cedar tree with a pleasant Divine aura.
14. He was hidden from the eyes of the religious world until the appointed time when He was revealed. (God is always revealed in a man.) He was then skyrocketed to a position above all names-a position of comparative divine excellence. God will never cease to amaze the human mind. HIS BIRTH
15. One pleasant and cold morning, the sun was trying to find it’s space behind the cloudy weather of the harmattan wind. The lights seemed to be draining out of the trees, leaving a blacking glow in the thickness of ragged bough. There were chirps of insects and birds. The steadily shifting angle of the sun created a sequence of contrasts so dramatic that it seems as if the earth itself was about expecting a cosmic adventure to unfold. The rising sun, the vast sky, all seemed to quiver, not because of the chilly harmattan, but because of the mysterious signals which were glittering with striking fingers of rays in the sky, stretching to endless infinity.
16. The Uvuru rural community, in Mbaise, previously part of old Eastern region of Nigeria, then East Central State and now Imo state were not aware that a great light, divine incarnate, supernatural Being that will envelop the entire universe with his centrifugal and centripetal (repulsive and attractive)forces was about to be born.
17. A star that will be extraordinary to our human wisdom and strategies. The personality that will wear the “creator star”, which is known in Hebrew as the seal of Solomon. This mega event took place on the 27thday of December 1955, sixteen years after the end of the second world war and towards the end of the Piscean age.
18. He was born into the family of late Elder Peter Ohaeri Odoemena (okwute) who was a wood worker and late Cathrine Onyenjam Ohaeri Odoemena, the mother, who was a seamstress and a petty trader, all of Uvuru Mbaise. This is a traditional village setting like any other rural community in Igbo land.
19. Their roads had been narrowed into tracks of over grown bushes, and footprints of collapsed traditional buildings of ancient architecture could be seen, some with cracked and age tinted walls, yet, they seemed to have an elderly dignity and a stillness that amounted to loveliness. It was a dominant Christian environment with few traditional believers.
20. Roman Catholic faith was their official religion. He lived in that harsh environment as a toddler under strict poverty which hampered his academic life.
21. When he was on earth, it was prophesied by his forerunner prophet William Marion Branham on 4thOctober 1965 at Phoenix, Arizona USA-Hear him “There is a little sheep out there somewhere and will not be satisfied until that one comes into the fold. By the help of God, and by a vision, and thus saith the lord, I am returning across the sea-THAT LAST LITTLE SHEEP may be a BLACK ONE, down there, for all i know…where they don’t even think they have a soul, but God knows different “. He went further to describe his height, weight or character. “A black man with average height, average weight, full of compassion, very calm and humble”.
22. Also many evidences abound about the visit of a great being that informed Apostle Peter Odoemena´s father about His coming.
23. One dark night, a man was waken by a terrifying dream, lifted his head from the earth and starring into the darkness of the night, under the uncontrollable emotion, reflected about the mysterious personality that visited him in the dream and left an amazing instruction. He said “That great strange Being looked straight at me and informed me of the coming of the male child. It was the most powerful presence of an extraordinary Being, full of confident voice and utter conviction” He didn’t panic but rejoiced in his heart. The father was actually given the profile before he was conceived and born. His late father never denied the fact that the “Child was an extraordinary Being and he, himself could not actually understand the mysterious radiations and happenings around his son”.
24. That visit before the birth of the child was in his word “an experience I will never forget in my life”. As Pythagoras affirmed, “the God may speak in the form of geometry as well as in the shapes of dreams; in the harmony of pure thought as well as on words”. This is not a facade. It is real, absolute truth that are verifiable. Truth that looks like lies.
25. It is recorded in the scriptures that Serah, Abrahams wife, Manoah’s wife, Zacharia and Mary the mother of Jesus were all visited and informed about the birth of their sons. So, all these references and examples are the nexus of spiritual relationship between the present and the former. For an avatar, a redeemer to arrive on the earth plain in any generation, a message regarding his arrival must be made known through messenger of God, dreams or through any other method that He( God) requires to get the message to the source; some through audible voices..
26. His coming at this end time is to separate two entangled chains (truth and falsehood) and would also help some of us have the saving virtue of recognizing the ridiculousness of our former position which was based on deceitful religion. The man this arduous task rests upon his shoulders is no other person than this personality before us today, a Black man, a Nigerian, an Igbo man born of a woman like Jesus the Christ.
27. The man we are talking about came from that part of the country that people will always refer to as evil minded- MBAISE, is that true? We should remember that Jesus the Christ was a Nazarene, he came from Nazarreth, a town that has no honour. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth”, is an old saying. God always place a stumbling block on the way, to block the minds of religious hardliners who can never, or ever believe that God is a Blackman, Igbo man and a Nigerian.
a. Apostle Peter Odoemena, the very Son of Man, God of this age was born and bred in Mbaise and after his birth, his late father named him “Oshimiri-ata-ata” meaning ocean never dries.
GROWING UP
28. He grew up in a fairly hostile atmosphere, lived in a tiny, cramped little building with only a narrow window. Everything was worn and old, too small and too poor. The entire village was extremely local, the traffic was thin and exclusively pedestrian. Though few areas of the entire village are still visible with signs of minor development (not minding the influence of our western colonizers) but many still reflect their tortured evolution so dramatically as can be noticed today as in it’s prehistoric infancy.
29. The environment looked peasant in nature, but there was a strange stir of reverence and peace across the village. That environment, his background and the circumstances of his birth, all helped in influencing his character. At the early age of his development, he was confronted with some disabilities like stammering, dumbness e.t.c but His eyes were blazing and piercing unlike ordinary human eyes where remarkable brightness showed astonishing vitality in a boy of his age.
30. He was a creature that defy the human imagination and another strange quality of his was lack of primitive fear and superstition. He sees all those qualities as old fashioned concerns and beliefs that is almost in direct proportion to the drabness of their lives.
31. At that early stage he had become obsessed by the secrets of heaven and earth; the corrosive and corrugated effects both can have on the human mind. He behaved like an alien, always hiding or moving alone, always hunted, totally indifferent like Jesus who was bashful and shuns company during his own time.
32. One would not wonder why he behaved in such a manner because he always say “I am the self existing one”. His parents likened him to a certain kind of mysterious computer that could perform superlative well anytime but what marveled them was who was the operator, operating it. He handled/handles all the problems set before him wisely and in most cases, those who expected him to give them an answer that would please them, found him coming from the opposite direction.
33. As a man of magnetic personality, a wise thinker, and one endowed with personal courage, he doesn’t look at people’s faces while saying the truth, no matter whose ox is gored. He was an extraordinary boy with boisterous intelligence. His memory was perfect and often said something unusual or did something that intrigued the mind and it was absolutely clear they couldn’t fathom him. He could be relentlessly stubborn and one aspect of his stubbornness was that he was always deaf to vain prattle.
34. As He grew older, changing from day to day, he had become less familiar to his parents. When he speaks, there was a brickness in his voice and an assurance in his manner that indicated that he was/is a paradox. As a paradox, nobody knows how or what to do to please him. What you feel will please him might anger him.
35. For quite an early age, he believed that he had been influenced by a greater force which wasn’t very clear to him. He gradually, as days unfold, came to realize that he had been called for a great assignment-to deliver his people (God’s people) from the religious bondage. A very challenging task which he has finally proven to the entire human race.
36. As a little boy he was sold into slavery to Chief Iloaku of Ogbunike. He later had his primary education at Okpala and secondary education was at Faith Tabernacle secondary school also in Okpala; 1972-1977. That was the highest pinnacle He could attain academically.
37. Later, He played professional football few years after his secondary education before joining Federal ministry of labour, Employment and Productivity where he rose to level of a director due to dint of hard work. He married a beautiful and virtuous wife, Sis Nzubechi Odoemena who doggedly stayed behind him through thick and thin till this date.
38. Both had seven children, four girls, three boys. He is now an elder statesman having retired meritoriously from the Federal service and also a grandfather. People may be wondering how can a man who call himself God would marry and have children.
39. The generation that Jesus came, he was a bachelor (biblical history)and his forerunner John the Baptist was also a bachelor. In this generation, Apostle Peter Odoemena (The very son of man) came and got married and his forerunner, prophet William Marion Branham was also a married man. Can we see that God is dynamic and not static.. Nothing is impossible before Him. His ways are not our ways.
HIS VINDICATION/COMMISSION.
40. We have heard about his birth and human experiences. Let’s move to the Divine aspect of his life. I pray that we should have an open mindset and keep them blocked from human reasoning or intellectual analysis. It is believed that the Haitians were the most superstitious people on earth due to their belief in stories of werewolves and evil spirits.
41. How about we Africans? The African lives all his life in constant state of dread. He is afraid of the witches, he lives in terror of the evil spirit, he is afraid of the dark, the things that are in it. \
42. The worst is that he has been brainwashed and confused; all he believe is religious lies that he is fed with…recreating god in it’s ugly image and likeness. All am about to enumerate here are not fantasies. They are truth backed with circumstantial evidences. They may sound like a psychotic delusion but are they? Some will like to tag it as a magnificent piece of sensationalism. They are verifiable facts. Dennis Diderot said “we swallow greedily any lie that flatter us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.”
43. Apostle Peter Odoemena has been proclaiming to the entire world the good news, the way of salvation but the religious extremists have found it absolutely difficult to eliminate this virus from millions of cubic miles of religious ocean they inhabit which makes it impossible for them to believe. With typical aggressiveness and empty rhetoric they label him all sorts of names.
44. Some call him Satan or whatever they like but the end, we believe, will reveal all things, for God has placed upon us two judges of human act, conscience and history. He journeyed through many religious organizations searching for truth but all were illusive. What He found was religious myth full of logical fallacy.
45. Then in 1990 he joined the End time Ministry. He abandoned other organizations because what they were preaching never had a resting place in his heart. Though before joining End time, he inquired and asked questions. He always affirm this truth that the factual mistakes that people honestly make usually result from a failure to ask the right questions and drawing their conclusions from erroneous information.
46. This glorious move started openly on 30th December 1992 and on 3rd of march, 1993, Almighty God commissioned His servant before many witnesses where a prophecy came out of the mouth of pastor Okechukwu Nwankpa proclaiming that, He Almighty God have anointed him(Apostle Peter Odoemena) with his spirit.
47. In December 1995 camp meeting during prayer line in the night, there was a supernatural illumination, greater than any light rays the human eye can behold, that engulfed the entire hall and cut off all electrical gadgets that was in use and the Son of Man lifted his hand intending to praise God when a voice roared with very thunderous and Deity like power “thus, it behoveth the Son of Man to fulfill all righteousness”- a terrifying spectacular. This can be likened to what happened while Jesus was speaking with some of his disciples on top of a hill as recorded in Mathew 17:5(LB) “
48. But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said “this is my beloved son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him”. Another incident took place on 31stMarch, 1996. That remains a date that cannot be forgotten. While the whole congregation was praying with their eyes closed, the footstep of a being was heard moving in the congregation and all the brethren got frozen with fear and the silence was like that of a cemetery and there are many other experiences which tend to prove that this man in our midst is not an ordinary human being.
49. These experiences defy racial or religious boundaries and will remain a mystery to the religious minded individuals who can never accept/believe the truth when they hear it. We are all aware that the deception of religion is the oldest and most esteemed ritual that has survived an extended regime and will continue to vilify the established truth of our day because all religionists are blind. No intellectual mind would be able to accept this truth without critically analysing them from a suspicious point of view.
50. So if these expositions strike you as too terrible, or unbelievable, remember it is all in the mind, so if you can’t swallow this bitter truth then you cannot accept it because acceptance comes before understanding. Immediately He was commissioned, He began His missionary trips. He visited places like Eha-Amufu, Enugu Ezike, Opi, Enugu, Nsukka, all in Enugu state. He also extended His missionary trips to Isiala-Ngwa in Abia state, Ohuba and Obosima in Imo state, Jos and Dadinkowa in Plateau state, Godogo in Kaduna state e.t.c..
51. Today the Bridal ministry has grown, encompassing other towns. The enemy of the faith prophesied “that His ministry will not cross Upper Iweka’ an area of Onitsha, Anambra state, It has not only crossed Upper Iweka or Nigeria but has engulfed the entire world like a flame through our website which attracts many visitors to it on daily basis.
52. He was armed and armoured with the present truth which was a divine shield and any who believes this truth will have Godly security and eternal life.. Even at the inception of this move, some of his earlier followers challenged him, hated him, castigated him even to the point of wishing him dead, and it came in an arrogant and brutal manner. He never deterred, shivered or was afraid, rather he brought the charging `bulls´ down to a low ebb and with spiritual thrust and stubborn resolve he moved on. The greatest challenge from those ravaging minds was when he revealed himself in full as the Almighty God of this age.
53. His messages offended and are still offending many orthodox and religious leaders as was in the days of Jesus the christ. They stabbed him with their quill pens. He continued to affirm to any ear that will believe-“I am the cause of all causes and of all effects; one who governs the whole cosmos”. Believe it if you can.
54. From the message- LEADERSHIP. An unknown author wrote “this is the God who appears to man during the last days but is hidden in a man. He resides among man, true and real, like the burning sun and the flaming fire, filled with power and brimming with authority”. Please answer me, who is this man? Is He not talking like a supernatural being? Tell me, that God that hide in a man in this age, in whom is He hiding? Who gave Apostle Peter Odoemena such power to command such an authority? If He is not Almighty God in person. Then tell me who He is?
55. The man you are looking at is a masquerade covering the Deity and He came in a new name as God does in every generation. The masquerade only distorted his features and we see a man, who is hundred percent man and hundred percent God. Who is the man behind the mask? He can never be judged, never measured, never assessed, and if he is to be compared, it will be with Himself at an earlier age- in the beginning, for it is the same man that has been coming and going.
56. Yes, many who could not understand where he was/is coming from thought they have found a new religious settlement where they can hide and compromise between the new and the old only to find out that they cannot abide.
57. This extraordinary man we are celebrating today is endowed with a variety of characteristics. He is extremely patient, very hardworking, always conscious of his Divine calling and dignity which is the great message He has come to put across to mankind to disentangle them from death which is religion.
58. He debunked the doctrine of trinity, collection of tithe, women preaching, lack of Godliness, the law of Moses e.t.c.. His ministry has had a fascinating history of devotion to it’s aims, of success, and of struggle often against over whelming odds.
59. He made it clear that nobody should expect Jesus again to come back but Christ is back again in another form and name. An unknown author wrote again clarifying certain issues that bug the human mind. He said “The name Jehovah is a particular name for the people of Israel who lived under the law.
60. In each age and each stage of work, my name is not baseless but holds representative significance. Each name represents one age. `Jehovah´ represents the age of law, and is the honorific for God worshipped by the people of Israel”. So it is clear now that Jesus will not come again If we can understand this. There is no other Divine personality that will come after Him.
61. He alone can unlock the mysteries, like the 7th seal, that hangs beyond the reason of Man and He remain the cosmic spirit of living light whom the entire existence of Man hangs upon His perfect point of decision. His messages are filled with wits, common sense and often serious moral pointers. He is revered by his adherents because they have witnessed physically all signs and Divine manifestation of his. Divinity. His remarkable works and message apparently filled numerous volumes.
CONCLUSION
62. “When investigating past events, we must carefully sift the evidence so as to separate the reliable from the unreliable, and accept what seems reasonable and acceptable to human intelligence in the light of the other similar cases”. J.B. Shams wrote, “I would rather appear foolish now and see the wisdom of the Almighty God unfold than appear wise now and turn out a fool later”.
63. The purpose of the coming of Son of Man in this dispensation is to free the bonded minds; human mind has been caged by false religious doctrines so believing the truth becomes hard.. Some may see this assertion as a melodramatic story and others would love to have a historical or supernatural backdrop needed for them to accept this proclamation as fact and when that is proven, they will go further to attribute these paranormal events weaved around the personality in question(SUPER LEGEND) to mythological gods. How can that be? He has revealed Himself to the entire world and up till date people who listen to or read His sermons always marvel and some even proclaim, “this man is extraordinary”. Those messages has also radically altered the long established traditions of religious beliefs and doctrines. With his little academic background, he has stunned and staggered the human intellect with his eloquence like Jesus did in His own era.
64. Who taught them? Professors, religious leaders, eminent personalities all bow down before him. His messages normally relieve tension and removes the conflict (lies versus truth) in the human mind because “truth awakens us out of the slumber of ignorance and out of deep sleep of sin”. James Allen.
65. Nobody can fight the truth and win a case against it. All his prophecies are fast fulfilling and while the world would be chasing monitory gains, politics e.t.c. Events will overtake all of them unprepared. Steve Bauman noted “a Godless race that worship capitalism alone”.
66. The end is at hand and one who will bring everything to it’s conclusion is here before all of us today. Believe it if you can. An unknown author revealed thus “I shall not be called Jehovah, or Jesus much less the Messiah but shall be called the powerful Almighty God Himself and under this name I will bring the entire age to an end. I was once known as Jehovah.
67. I was also called the Messiah, and people once called me Jesus the Saviour because they loved and respected me. But today, I am not the Jehovah or Jesus that people know in time past-I am the God who has returned in the last days, the God who will bring this age to an end”. Note! that who will bring this age to an end.
68. Well, another splendid civilization is about to collapse for the sake of riches, and all in the name of religion, politics whose end every nation had been waiting for with baited breath. Finally, can anyone fault this man? If you have any evidence to disprove these facts, bring them. We are realists, our messages and claims are verifiable.
69. Yes! Today is a memorable day as we mark twenty six years of this glorious ministry. God made everything possible by His stirring inspiration and magnificent speeches, by invoking all the best practical direction of this ministry’s movement, from grand strategic plans down to the smallest but still important details, He took this ministry through those challenging years to ultimate victory, Great move, and Great actualization.
70. Let’s celebrate it with shouts of joy and praises to Almighty God. For without Him we won’t have anything to celebrate today.
71. The great achiever is in our midst. He is the Sage, Elohim, the paradox, the king of kings and Lord of Lords. We salute you sir.
I thank you all for listening and for this opportunity.
God bless.