Prof Ben Onyeukwu HERE ARE AM I, SEND ME

HERE ARE AM I,
SEND ME:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu

   The Prophet Isaiah's encounter with the LORD sets out the requirements for every generation of those called, or  would become Ministers of GOD. The prophet voiced out his first encounter when he said, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"
   The cited Scripture shows that the LORD revealed to Isaiah the splendor of his glory and character which HE can never compromise. The LORD is HOLY, and anyone who must work with HIM, or become his minister, must be uncompromisingly holy, as HE has nothing to do with anyone, no matter how highly placed, who plays around with the filth of sin in whatever guise. Here, the ethical code, for the clergy or layman, remains, "be holy, for I AM holy"
   In furtherance, a credible source cites that, the awful vision of the Divine Majesty overwhelmed the prophet with a sense of his own vileness. Thus, he exclaimed, "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." This equally reveals the unworthiness of anyone called, or would be called to serve in GOD'S vineyard. Isaiah's acknowledgement of his hypocrisy and sinful nature, brought him to the point of DIVINE cleansing, which every preacher or minister of the Gospel of CHRIST requires. To this end, it becomes obvious that, pretentious and sanctimonious lifestyle will never offer a chance for DIVINE calling.
   Having stressed the above, Isaiah was finally cleansed to make him suitable for his sacred assignment, as he said, "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged." This, undisputably shows that before GOD sends anyone into the field of the gospel or ministry, HE definitely would sanctifies or consecrates them, to make them suitable.
   In conclusion, this Gospel piece stands out as a pointer that, those truly called and sent by GOD must carry the credentials of DIVINE encounter, which results in the revelation of  His PERSON and GLORY, as well as a sense of their human unworthiness, cleansing, and a sense of a personal calling into the ministry, as anything short of the aforementioned, makes one's ministerial claims doubtful. PLEASE, EXAMINE YOURSELF! (See Isaiah 6:1-8).

   

Prof Ben Onyeukwu PREACHERS OF THE PEOPLE

PREACHERS OF
THE PEOPLE:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu

   By way of explanation, the topic under review, is employed to accommodate all those who wear religious titles as, apostles, pastors, evangelists, prophets, teachers, bishops, and a host of others, whose common duty is to proclaim the WORD of GOD, but have compromised the tenets of their faith and calling, which undoubtedly reshaped them into becoming men-pleasers. The message equally points to those who were self-called into the gospel ministry, or were appointed by certain calibre of people, who they preach to please, for material gains.
   In keeping with the above, the Apostle Paul remarks that, ..."the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves (false) teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables".
   No doubt, the cited Scripture truly pictures today's world, where too many preachers have turned the Gospel of CHRIST into licentious and money making ventures, and have either hired themselves out to religious groups, or have been raised and engaged by people, who are no longer comfortable with sound biblical teachings, but only want messages that gratify their fleshly desires.
   The present day scenario, definitely, showcases a disturbing multitude of preachers, whose stock-in-trade is to render unholy motivational messages to the admiration and applause of the people, who no longer endure sound doctrines. 
   Biblically speaking, such a conscienceless category of preachers, who preach to please the carnally minded individuals, who blindly praise and admire them, are fingered by JESUS CHRIST, when HE said, "woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets", just as the Apostle Paul, in a hearty rejection of men-pleasing attitude, asks,..."do I seek to please men? For, if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of CHRIST".
   In conclusion, let every modern preacher of the Gospel, by this, be informed or reminded that, JESUS CHRIST says, "whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven", as HE warms in the Book of Revelation that,... "everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life"...REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See 2 Timothy 4:3, Galatians 1:10 Matthew 5:19, Luke 6:26 and Revelation 22:18-19)

Prof Ben Onyeukwu THE CALLING OF THE MIDWIFE

THE CALLING OF 

THE MIDWIFE:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu 

  By way of introduction, it may be an eye-opener to certain individuals that, midwifery is not just a medical profession, but GOD'S ministry instituted in the medical profession. It is the oldest ministry in human history, just as the midwife is the first minister appointed by GOD for both ministerial and medical services in hospitals and maternity homes. 

   The midwife, who is GOD'S Minister in the medical profession, is the first person that ministers in prayer to GOD, in the labour-room for the safe delivery of the child, and equally the first to thank GOD in prayer, when the child is finally born. 

   Before birth, the midwife, like the pastor, takes care of the child in the womb through antenatal services, as a way of equipping the child for a successful and healthy delivery into the world, just as a pastor takes care of the soul of the believer in preparatory for the kingdom of Heaven. This demonstrates the fact that the midwife shoulders a sacred and noble responsibility the must not be abused. 

   But, regrettably, certain midwives are fingered today, in despicable behaviour of child- switching and sales in hospitals and maternity homes., while many others work in baby factories, where they breed and sale babies for rituals and other wicked purposes. It is equally common knowledge that child traffickers heavily rely on some criminal midwives for the sales and supplies of innocent babies from unsuspecting parents, who repose unflinching trust on them. What a breech of trust, and crime against GOD and humanity!

   Having stressed the above, the present day midwives, should do well in following the footsteps of the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and puah, who played godly roles, when the King of Egypt said to them, "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive....

   In conclusion, today's midwives should take to heart that, every breech of GOD'S WORD in their places of service are divinely recorded, and will definitely serve as the menu for their judgement, now, and in the world to come. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!(See Exodus 1:15-21).

Prof Ben Onyeukwu MONEY FROM MARINE KINGDOM

MONEY FROM 

MARINE KINGDOM:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu 

   Without mincing words, every wealth, money and luxury associated with the Marine Kingdom, are just the unholy and destructive gifts, from the "Queen of Harlots",  who is incharge of the ancient City of Babylon, which this Gospel Piece seeks to x-ray. From a reliable source, the writer gathers that, "the wickedness of this Babylon is very great; she had forsaken the true God, and set up idols, and had drawn all sorts of men into spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury kept them in her interest". According to the Scripture,.."all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." 

   The foregoing, therefore, draws attention to the ever-increasing Marine Kingdom outlets which, at present, advertise the "so-called" huge financial blessings, to the unsuspecting public, who are not aware of the  impending doom, which GOD will definitely unleash on the patronizers of such demonic money channels, from marine spirits, that mostly feature female representatives or images of water goddesses, in  advertorials that often display unquantifiable amount of money on social media, which a lot of people today blindly fall for, especially, the youths.

   Eschatologically, the fulness of the operations of the cited Babylonian goddess will be devastatingly outrageous during the reign of the anti-CHRIST, when the Apostle John says in his revelation that, "after these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird, which served as the center for every immorally gotten wealth and luxury.

   In conclusion, however, this Gospel Message stands out as a clarion call that seek to bring to the notice of all those who are trapped by this evil money goddess, of the need for repentance, as the  LORD says,..."come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues". REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See Revelation 18:1-4).

Prof Ben Onyeukwu RECKLESS TRANSITION TO ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICE

RECKLESS TRANSITION TO ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICE:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu

   One of the problems ravaging the Church of JESUS CHRIST today is having certain elements with certain academic or professional backgrounds, that have nothing to do with Church Administration or any other ministerial assignments, assuming pastoral duties without theological or pastoral training. It is a reckless decision for medical doctors, lawyers,  journalists, university lecturers, or people trained in other professions, who may have been called of GOD, amid their secular services, to assume duties as a bishop or pastor, in the assumption that their previous education, equally qualifies them for sacred duties.
   The office of the bishop or pastor, is a sacred office that demands the highest level of moral and spiritual discipline, which cannot be obtained in any secular institution or schools without spiritual or moral undertone. This makes it vital, for those coming into the Gospel Ministry from other professions, to be trained ministerially, so as to become qualified and suitable for the holy job which demands uncompromised socio-spiritual discipline.
   Having stressed the above, it becomes important to draw attention to a subtle infiltration of certain undesirable ministerial patterns which are often introduced to the Church of JESUS CHRIST today, by some individuals called from secular professions, who refused to be trained for their new duties as bishops or pastors. For instance, the idea of consulting a pastor with certain stipulated fees before prayer", which nowadays portrays the Body of CHRIST in bad light, is often traceable to certain elements who joined the ministry from medical or legal professions, without pastoral education. Also, journalists who joined the ministry without pastoral training, may have been the brain behind the "brown-envelope" syndrome, to the Christian Church, which is a dint in the journalism profession.  The list is endless, as there are noticeable blackspots, from un-ministerially trained church personnel, from other fields of human endeavour, on the Church of JESUS CHRIST, and so, portrays it, as business center, instead of a soul winning foundation.
   In conclusion, it is difficult for those who come to the ministry with just secular education to truly understand and adopt the ministerial standard which says that,..."a bishop (or pastor) then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence. He must equally not be a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil". REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See 1 Timothy 3:1-7).

Prof Ben Onyeukwu DON'T WASTE TIME DISPUTING WITH HERETICS

DON'T WASTE TIME
DISPUTING WITH HERETICS:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu

   By way of introduction, the Holy Scripture says,..."avoid foolish disputes on genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless, stating further that the Church must reject a person who is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, knowing that such an individual has become warped and sinning, being self-condemned. And, for the purpose of understanding who is a heretic, the EN English Dictionary renders that, a heretic is, "someone whose beliefs and teachings are contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion they claim to belong to".
   Every truly called and well informed Gospel Preacher vividly understands that, they are not called to debate the gospel, but to preach the irrefutable truth of salvation, which JESUS CHRIST Himself, commissioned them to preach. It is true that certain open clarifications may be necessary whenever false teachings show up, but to constantly give personal attention to heretics or false teachers makes them feel relevant, as well as gives them the opportunity to market more of their falsehood.
   The above narrative, is not to erase the importance of Christian Apologetics, or defenders of the faith, in the Body of CHRIST, but to cite biblical approach in handling false teachers and their false teachings. In keeping with this, it is important to note once more that, the Apostle Paul sternly admonishes that, one who is a heretic must be rejected, after first and second admonition. This does not mean to ignore the dangerous spiritual poison that go with the teachings of false teachers, which often destroy the faith of the weak christians, but to remind the preacher of the gospel of the need to always bear in mind that, he is called to defend the faith of the believers, and not to win arguments, which open gospel debates often drive at.
   Having stressed the above, the writer canvasses that, in the apperent manifest of  rampaging false teachers, meticulous steps must be taken by the concerned preacher to critically examine every content of the message of the heretics, or false teachers,  and in turn, internally correct the members of his congregation, as a way of saving them from the adverse impact the misleading message(s) may have on them, instead of engaging in open debates with the deceiving teachers, which the Scripture refers to as unprofitable and useless effort.  Furthermore, correctional Gospel Refutals could be written and made public, with no citations or  reference to the works or preachings of the false teacher, as a long term measures that seeks to gradually correct the negative effects, which the permanent, written or oral works of the heretic(s), may have had on the unsuspecting gullible public.
   In summary, every preacher should again, know that they are called to win souls, not arguments. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! (See Titus 3:9-11).

Prof Ben Onyeukwu PULPIT INTRUDERS

PULPIT INTRUDERS:

By Prof Ben Onyeukwu 

   The alleged statement credited to one Sofo Kyiriabosom, who claimed that, after twenty-eight years as a pastor, now believes that JESUS CHRIST is not real, and that heaven doesn't exist, marks out an intruder in the Christian Pulpit, who was never called to preach the gospel. 

   In human world, before one assumes a duty in any place of work, one is expected to first know the employer, and the assignment one is hired to do. This is applicable to any DIVINE assignment. But, the ex- preacher under review, did not bother, or deem it wise, to first know JESUS CHRIST, as LORD and personal SAVIOUR, who he claimed to have preached in his vineyard for twenty-eight years? Probably, he may have been engrossed by certain human interests, which he believed the LORD may have granted him, as his earthly reward, with no idea that, JESUS CHRIST does not endorse anyone not called by HIM, nor does HE assign any portfolio to such individuals. 

   Having said this, it is important to biblically stress that, for one to be qualified as a preacher of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, one must first be called to repentance, which brings one to the experiential knowledge of CHRIST, that enables one know HIM in a personal way. The second calling, is the call to the ministry, which often comes when the prospective preacher must have had a deeper knowledge of the LORD, as well as a better understanding of the scripture, which is the principal tool for his work.

   In keeping with the above, the Holy Scripture says, "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. But how shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? Or, how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?"...

   Strictly speaking, only those with the above qualifications, or awareness, can really know, with certainty, that JESUS CHRIST lives, and that heaven is real. Without mincing words, the lack of the cited spiritual background was really the problem of Sofo Kyiriabosom. And, with all sense of fairness, he is not alone in such a spiritual blindness. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!

(See Romans 10:13-15).