Prof Ben Onyeukwu BEAUTIFUL WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP

BEAUTIFUL WORSHIP 

AND FELLOWSHIP:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu 

   Worship and fellowship are indispensable ties of any religious life, christian or non- christian. By way of definition, worship is one's devotion to GOD. It is a feeling of strong or fervent affection and dedication to one's Creator. On the other hand, fellowship, has to do a feeling of friendship or connection between people.

   Worship is strictly being connected to GOD, in an unbroken relationship in which every worshipper is enjoined to remain faithful. Thus, the Holy Scripture, stresses that, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth". 

   Furthermore, worship can only be beautiful, when it is done in holiness. In keeping with this, the Holy Scripture, equally admonishes that, we must always "give unto the LORD the glory due to His NAME, as well as worship HIM, in the beauty of holiness".

   The crux of the matter is that, worship belongs to GOD alone, whether in places of worship or not, as fellowship is a corporate worship, or the coming togather of a people, in any place of worship, to express a collective adoration to GOD. The epistle to the Hebrews urges that, we must not be in habit of..."forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching". 

   In conclusion, please note that , beautiful worship and fellowship always bring people and GOD together in mutual Love and friendship. This, you cannot afford to miss. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See John 4:24, Psams 29:2 and Hebrews 10:25)

Prof Ben Onyeukwu NEEDLESS ADVERTISEMENT

NEEDLESS
ADVERTISEMENT:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu

   The records of the miraculous works of JESUS CHRIST, as we have in the Holy Scripture, were just simple journalistic reportage, which catalogued the infallible miraculous signs that go with genuine preachers, and not intentional media or personal advertisements that seek to market or magnify any individual. This is because genuine miracles will always attract the people to the source, and not the source advertising them.
   The Gospel according to Matthew, narrates that, "JESUS went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. This, resulted in great multitudes that followed Him, from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan."
   Worthy of note, is that, the biblical account of the miracles of JESUS CHRIST above, carries no trace of His personal or media advertisement, trying to showcase Himself as a great miracle worker, as most modern preachers presently do, for self-projection, which has often resulted in rented crowd and fixing of miracles. But, JESUS CHRIST, our exemplary LEADER, was never in the habit of attention seeking, or the advertising of His miracles, which HE demonstrated when..."a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, "see that you tell (or advertise it) to no one; but go and show yourself to the priest, (to confirm your healing), as well as offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them".
   From the afore-stated, it becomes obvious that, the present day "advertising of miracles", by most preachers, is not a biblical practice, but a dubious strategy to deceive the unsuspecting public, or to divert the attention of the gullible individuals in society. To this end, this "Gospel Treatise" becomes a clarion call that seeks to alert the general public  of the need to be wary of the unsubstantiated claims of miracles, from certain religious leaders or quarters, as advertised in both social and other media platforms. Furthermore, since, genuine miracles can never cease, just because JESUS CHRIST, the SOURCE of real miracles, is the same yesterday, today and forever, there is, therefore, the need to checkmate the excesses of certain self-aclaimed "faith-healers", who are all out to take undue advantage of the people.
   In conclusion, please, be certain, that media advertisement of the miraculous works of GOD, by the standards of JESUS CHRIST, is not biblical, but if the self-willed deviants insist on doing so, they should be compelled to backup their claims with medical certificates from experts, as the evidence(s) of the genuineness of their claims, just as JESUS CHRIST sent the lepers HE cleansed, to the priests of His time, who also served as medical personnel, to confirm their healing. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See Matthew 4:23-24; 8:2-4, Mark 1:44 and Luke 5:14).

Prof Ben Onyeukwu MINISTERS WITHOUT THE MESSAGE

MINISTERS WITHOUT
THE MESSAGE:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu

   Without controversy, CHRIST is the core MESSAGE of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul confirms this irrefutable truth, as he says,..."we preach CHRIST crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness". The Holy Scripture, also shows that, CHRIST is lubricated in the WORD, when it says, "in the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD. He was in the beginning with GOD. All things were made through HIM, and without HIM nothing was made that was made. In HIM was LIFE, and the LIFE was the LIGHT of men".
   The above cited Scripture, clearly reveals that, the written WORD explains CHRIST, and throws up HIS LIGHT that illuminates the human race. This, equally implies that, no religious dogma is close to becoming the message of the Gospel of CHRIST, which has nothing to do with any religious codes, that are often designed for blindfolding indoctrination, as in the case of the Jewish Religion, where the Gospel is viewed as a stumbling block.
   Furthermore, the Message of the Gospel, is not a philosophical stuff, which the educated folks, like the Greeks, often treat with disdain, or see as foolishness, for lack of worldly distinctions and glamour, as the true message of the Gospel of CHRIST advocates that, nothing else be known ..."among the believers except JESUS CHRIST and HIM crucified". So, any Gospel Minister whose message(s) lack(s) the above description, is a minister without the message.
   Having, biblically, established the unchallengeable truth that, CHRIST is the Main Message of the Gospel, and that, the written WORD explains the truth about HIM, it becomes glaring that, most Gospel Preachers have not, and do not preach the true message of the Gospel of CHRIST. If the above assertion is anything to go by, how does one explain the ethnically biased messages, by some preachers, that are vested with bitterness and rancour, against people of other tribes or religions, in the name of preaching the Gospel of CHRIST, who, in love died for the redemption of all? Or, how does one brand any religious discourse the message of the Gospel of CHRIST, without an uncompromised emphasis on HIS LORDSHIP?
   For your information, the message of the Gospel of CHRIST must be CHRIST-centered, embellished with the biblical truth that sincerely highlights HIS PERSON and not the preacher, or any other object or personality. Without mincing words, anything short of this, is but a ruse, and not the message of the Gospel of CHRIST, and suggests that, the preachers whose messages are below the aforestated standard, are indeed, Ministers without the Message. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See 1 Cor 1:23, John 1:1-4, 1 Cor 2:2).

Prof Ben Onyeukwu IDENTIFIABILITY OF PRAYER

IDENTIFIABILITY 

OF PRAYER:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu 

   Prayer is DIVINELY designed for identifiable persons, animals, places or things, that require it. In other words, prayer targets specific, animate or inanimate objects, which the person(s) who pray(s) must aim at, for  desired results. Biblically speaking, there is nothing like random shooting of the arrows of prayer, which anybody can claim by chance. This is why the Apostle Paul could say, "brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved", just as the Prophet Samuel specified Israel, for prayer, when he said,..."far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you"....

   The cited scriptural references, and a host of others littered everywhere in GOD'S WORD, readily cast a clear shadows on the randomization of prayers, which many unscrupulous preachers aimlessly shoot out as firecrackers, on social and mainstream media platforms, which they believe people could claim, by just saying amen, is not just stupid, but an unconscious bastardization of the holy principles of prayer.

   In prayer, we talk to GOD, and expect HIM to answer. Certainly, the LORD identifies the particulars of everyone who prays, as well as the request they make for themselves or for other people. This means that GOD takes records of every prayer, and determines when, and how to answer them. So, the idea which seems to portray certain individuals as having the power to invade or open the TREASURE HOUSE of the Kingdom of GOD, and in turn, distribute the valuables at will, is a demonically inspired act of falsehood, and spiritual criminality taken too far. 

   Worthy of note also, is that GOD desires specificity in prayer. HE needs to know one who prays, as well as the persons, places, animals or things one is praying for. In furtherance, the LORD requires identifiable prayer points, for identifiable persons who desire identifiable answers to their prayers. Therefore, it is always correct to pray, or ask someone to pray for you, on a specific prayer requests, but always wrong to have a poor, or nonchalant attitude to prayer, yet with the unholy readiness to say amen, in an effort to claim the answers to the prayers offered to GOD, for those who had long waited for them.

   In conclusion, please, note that prayers are requests from individuals to GOD, for self, or for other individuals who have specific addresses for the delivery of the answers to the prayers, and so, GOD does not send answers to prayers, to those who are not identifiable with specific addresses, as HE equally has no business sending answers to prayers to those who the prayers were not prayed for. So, random prayer for anybody, is prayer for nobody, and those who pray such prayers, or say amen to them, on social media or elsewhere, are but "Prayer Robbers" on the Highway of prayers. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See Romans 10:1 and Samuel 12:23)

Prof Ben Onyeukwu POWER OF GOD'S GRACE

POWER OF 

GOD'S GRACE:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu 

   The Grace of GOD is the POWER to overcome sin, and not, a LICENSE to continue in sin, under the guise of GOD understands our human weaknesses.

   In keeping with above, the Holy Scripture says, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age".

   Equally, the Grace of GOD is the only means of SALVATION from sin. This, the Apostle Paul observes when he says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast".

    In conclusion, please note that, the Grace of GOD does not permit sin, but removes it. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!(See Titus 2:11-12 and Ephesians 2:8-9)

Prof Ben Onyeukwu WORTHLESS WEALTH

WORTHLESS 

WEALTH:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu 

    People acquire worthless wealth, when they become materially wealthy, but poor toward GOD. JESUS CHRIST remarks in a parable about a certain "rich man" who became rich, but mindlessly was concerned about his wealth, without any sense of regards for the LORD. And so, "God said to him, you fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' So is  everyone who lays up treasure for themselves, and are not rich toward God." 

   King Solomon, in a heartrending summary of the worthlessness of godless wealth, describes such wealth as, ..."vanity of vanities"... Also, in an insightful sermon which depicts the human soul as more valuable than all the treasures of this world, JESUS CHRIST asks,..."what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" 

   In conclusion, please, note that worthless wealth is in place, when the possessor of such a wealth is not a possessor of CHRIST. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See Luke 12:16-21, Ecclesiastics 1:2-3 and Mark 8:35-37).

Prof Ben Onyeukwu FUTILITY OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

FUTILITY OF 

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu 

   Self-righteousness is any religious good work done in an effort to please GOD outside CHRIST. Such religious duties are, indeed, useless before GOD, since they cannot attract the approval of any favour from the LORD, just as they cannot grant entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. 

   To this end, the Apostle Paul cried out with dismay, when he says, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law, for righteousness to everyone who believes". 

   The above narrative, definitely shows that, without a personal relationship with CHRIST, all our religious efforts, seeking to please GOD, are just a waste of time and resources. The Prophet Isaiah concretizes this, as he says, "we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away". 

   For your information, our religion, and services to GOD and humanity, cannot attract GOD'S approval and eternal rewards, if they are not done in relationship and partnership with CHRIST. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See Romans 10:1-4, and Isaiah 64:6).