JESUS COMMISSIONS CHARLY BOY

GOD IS QUIETLY RAISING APOSTLES TO OPEN THE EYES OF "CHURCH-GOERS" WHO SERVE MEN DOING RELIGION RATHER THAN GOD'S KINGDOM WORK. WE WELLCOME CHARLY BOY INTO GOD'S ARMY.

Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, shared a divine dream in which he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus. Claiming that Jesus sent him to all Nigerians in this exciting piece. "I had a divine dream last night, and Jesus has sent me with this message to you. It was clear to see that our Lord and Saviour is deeply worried about His Nigerian Creation.

"He instructed me to tell you all, that Nigerians should NOT substitute prayers for hard work. The whole of chapter 2 of the Book of James corroborates this, especially verses 18, 20 and 26. It says faith (prayers, night vigils etc) without (hard) work is dead. No be me talk am o, na the same Bible wey una dey carry.

"It was clear in the vision I had last night that Jesus is not happy with Nigerians. Most Nigerians now live in the church 24/7 from Monday to Monday, wives have abandoned their husbands for night vigils, everyone is praying for miracles and miracles and more miracles. It’s either this or for God to strike their enemies dead and all those who steal their luck. "Jesus is so very upset with Nigerians’ prayer requests and shopping list, always calling His Name for the most trivial matters, things that would come to them naturally without sweat were they not a lazy and an unthinking bunch.

"The one that really gets to Him, as He told me, is when some evil men and women parade themselves as God’s messengers, deceive their congregation for their own personal aggrandizement, promising heaven, money, husbands, children and wives. Titus chapter 1:10 talks about this.

"Fellow Nigerians, Jesus wants His good name back! Naijas have so bastardized the name. He wants Naijas to put the creative and entrepreneurial mind He gave them to work and stop chasing quick fixes. He wants an upgrading of our work ethic. He wants to see genuine love for our neighbour’s, not lip or eye service kinda love. 

"He had asked me to warn those in leadership to be mindful of where they are steering the country to or face His wrath. He said this present administration has just a few good people in it but they must stand firm before they become polluted. Jesus said I should tell them that He’s giving them till the end of this year to make a meaningful impact otherwise….

"In case you’re wondering (like am still dazed myself) why its me Jesus should be talking to when we have the likes of Adeboye, T. B. Joshua, Pastor Chris Okotie, etc. Well, I was surprised too, and as if He read off my bewildered thoughts of “Why me” on my face, He just gave me this hard look and asked me to go to work at once, calling my attention to Matthew 7:21-23. Go and read it to see what it says.

"As a matter of fact, at some point my thought was…does He want me to start a church, why is He entrusting this duty to me, abi Him want me to begin preach? Of course it’s Jesus now; so He knew what I was thinking and replied my inner thought saying as far as He’s concerned, I already have a church, a mega congregation of youth and families that I touch with my messages, that in case I don’t know, I am already preaching and this is why He came to me because He reckons that I have the platform He can use to get the word to the people. Who then am I not to run the errand of Jesus? So I got up, and began to put pen to paper.

"I’m not sure I have successfully communicated the disgust and disdain Jesus expressed when He spoke to me last night but am only hoping that this my gentle appeal to you all goes into the very fibre of your beings like a two-edged sword, and cause a true change of heart and attitude in all and sundry."

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Introduction

Jesus Christ taught about the Kingdom more than any other subject. The terms “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” are only found in the New Testament. In the NKJ version of the Bible the former term is found 70 times in 10 different books while the later appears 33 times in the book of Matthew alone. In Luke 4:43, Jesus said He must preach the good news of the Kingdom because that is the reason God sent Him to earth. In Matthew 9:35 Jesus went about teaching and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus commands us to seek after the Kingdom above all else. We should therefore make the Kingdom the central focus of our Christian lives. Think of this Kingdom as any other kingdom – an empire that has a supreme being heading it who must be venerated, it has loyal subjects, a reward and a punishment system, a security system, a regeneration system, an economic system, resources, and of course, a binding constitution.

The Kingdom of God versus the Kingdom of Heaven

Bible scholars have argued for centuries whether the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven refer to different things or the same thing. The problem has arisen by the interchanging usage of the terms in the scriptures.  

While speaking to the rich, young ruler in Matthew 19:23, Jesus used the two terms interchangeably. Again, while narrating this discourse, the other three gospels use the two terms without observing any particular protocol. Compare Matthew 11:11-12 with Luke 7:28; Matthew 13:11with Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10; Matthew 13:24 with Mark 4:26; Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30 and Luke 13:18; Matthew 13:33 with Luke 13:20; Matthew 18:3 with Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16; and Matthew 22:2 with Luke 13:29.

Dake’s Annotated Bible suggests that the two refer to different things. It says that the Kingdom of God refers to God’s entire Kingship structure and possession, while the Kingdom of heaven refers to only its earthly components. That is, the Kingdom of heaven is subsumed in the Kingdom of God.

Another view claims that the two terms have different doctrinal connotations. It suggests that the Kingdom of God refers to God’s eternal spiritual kingdom while the Kingdom of Heaven refers to a futuristic physical kingdom on earth with its capital city in Jerusalem in which Jesus Christ will reign for one millennium (1,000 years) immediately after the seven-year Tribulation period.

Which school of thought is right and which one is wrong is not important. The important thing is for each of us to make sure that we part of God’s Kingdom and to live our daily lives with Kingdom understanding, knowledge, vision and purpose. Jesus’ mission on earth was to bring God’s Kingdom to us, to enable us to enter it and to enable us to live according to Kingdom principles.

The Bible teaches that the Kingdom of God is what Jesus was born for. He taught that only righteous people would see the kingdom. We can qualify to enter the Kingdom of God only while on earth. Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to many things on earth using in parables so that we may be fully informed about it. Jesus also sent His 12 disciples to preach the Kingdom and heal the sick in Luke 9:2. Apostle Paul preached, taught and disputed with unbelievers about the Kingdom of God in Acts 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31). Philip likewise preached the Kingdom of God (Acts 8:12). The Kingdom of God cannot be seen physically because it lives inside believers (Luke 17:20, 21).

How we can become members of God’s Kingdom

If Jesus Christ came to give us the Kingdom and he taught about it more than anything else, then the scriptures must be replete with information on it, including how to enter it. Yet many Christians have closed the eyes of their understanding and prefer to violate the scriptures.

We call Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples, “The Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20). In these verses Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all men and to baptize all those who hear, believe and act on the message. Mark 16:16 also says that baptism is part of the actions a believer must take. Romans 10:9 & 10 teach that believers need to confess Jesus as Lord. The grace of God is involved according to Ephesians 2:8. Faith in the message must also be exercised according to Romans 10:17 and Hebrews 11:6. All these are necessary ingredients for those who would like to enter the Kingdom of God. One must hear the message, believe it, confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour in faith and act on it by submitting to water baptism.

The importance of water baptism in the process of entry into the Kingdom of God should be emphasised. Jesus said we can only enter by the water (baptism) and by the blood (His death and resurrection).  “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Jesus too came by the water and the blood (1 John 5:6). Water baptism is therefore essential part of the process of salvation, yet too many of Christians do not accept this. They think baptism is a just a simple formality that does not take us to heaven.

The book of Acts contains many incidents of belief immediately followed by baptism by full immersion in water. Infant baptism and water sprinkling practised by some Christians are not found in the scriptures. The Holy Spirit’s infilling of believers happens only after water baptism. Jesus Himself was only given the Holy Spirit after He submitted himself for water baptism by John the Baptist. Same goes for all human beings.     

Once we have been brought into the Kingdom of God, we are expected to live and act as citizens at all times. Luke 9:62 says those who enter the Kingdom of God but do not practice Kingdom principles are not fit for it.

The message for now

Kingdom understanding and Kingdom consciousness are at low ebb in the church today. Christians today are instead submerged and pre-occupied with routine church activities. Christians today work more for the physical growth of their church organisations rather than for the spiritual growth of the Kingdom.

But, thank God, there is a fresh awakening by God’s mercy. Individual Christians all over the world are questioning many traditional church doctrines and practices and are deciding to go back to the practice of what the scriptures say only. Some have left mainline denominations and are fellowshipping in home churches or other para-church organisation. God is also raising apostles and prophets to champion this revival. Don’t be left out. Feel free to contact us if you are so led though our office address, email address and phone numbers supplied in this newsletter.

PIIMA, piimaprays@gmail.com, 20/02/2016

SERMON OUTLINE: DO CLOTHES MATTER?

DO CLOTHES MATTER?
Gen. 3:
10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
 11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
 21  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

PROVERBS 7
 10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

1 COR. 11
14  Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
 15  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. note
 16  But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom,

1 PETER 3
 3  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
 4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

WHAT SHOULD WE PUT ON?
1 Cor. 15:53-54 corruption must put on incorruption then death would have been swallowed up in victory.
Gal 3:27 those baptised into Christ have put on immortality
Eph. 4:24-25 put on the new man which is created in righteousness and holiness
Eph. 6:11-18 put on the whole armour so that you can fight the fight of faith successfully - helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the word, feet covered with the gospel at all times, shield of faith.
Col. 3:10-17 put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge, in the image of the Creator Christ, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.

BAPTISM ABANDONED

Without exception, television and radio evangelists will preach the gospel of salvation, make an altar call and then tell those who responded that they are now born again, period. But this procedure has left out a most vital part of the salvation process - water baptism.
The Bible clearly teaches that water baptism by full immersion MUST IMMEDIATELY follow conversion. Reading through the Book of Acts confirms this. Even Jesus Christ who never sinned and the most improbable person to need water baptism, needed to be baptised. Jesus said it is required to meet God's demand. When Jesus did it God sent the Holy Spirit to infill Him and authorise Him for ministry.
It is not different for us. We need to be water baptised in order to fulfil all righteousness so that we can be filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered for God's work. All who receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour need to be told that they should ask to be baptised. Television and radio evangelists do a great disservice to the gospel when they don't mention the baptism part.
John the Baptist said Jesus would baptise believers with the Holy Spirit and with power. Peter told the 3,000 believers on the day of Pentecost to repent and be baptised. In the Great Commission Jesus commanded, "Preach to all nations. Those who believe, baptise them. Thereafter, teach them". So why is the church so careless about Bible instructions? Why have we abandoned water baptism?