MY CONCERNS AND BURDEN

Written by

Emeka Orji

September 2023

 

 

With much respect to our spiritual fathers in the Lord upon whose shoulders we stand and in appreciation to God for what He has been doing through them over the years, I want to use this medium to give expression to my concerns and burden.

Indeed, I am deeply concerned about the “MINDSET and APPROACH” of most of our Church denominations particularly in Nigeria and it seems that’s one of the reasons our society has not attained a desired level of transformation.
We are all watching the alarming decadence in our society and it seems it is traceable to the misplaced priority or the approach of the Church which we all know as the LIGHT OF THE WORLD and the SALT OF THE EARTH (Matthew 5:13,14).
ARE WE REALLY SHINING?

HAVE WE LOST OUR SAVOUR/FLAVOUR?

THESE ARE QUESTIONS FOR ALL OF US (Both leadership and followership).

Obviously, we’ve been able to gather multitudes through various means and we have large followership but unfortunately, it appears we have not been able to raise or make many disciples out of the multitudes.

I’ve always said that any Revival or Spiritual awakening that doesn’t lead to individual/personal transformation with a resultant societal transformation is questionable.

Historically, we have seen the Reformations and Spiritual awakenings of the past resulting to Societal transformation.

Permit me to take us on a trip down memory lane;

We are all aware of the revival that began in the 1st century in Jerusalem (Acts 2) and spread to Europe. We are also aware of the persecutions, adulterations with traditions of men, erroneous teachings, practices and pursuits that took place prior to the following reformations;

  1. The 16th century Protestant reformation catalysed by Martin Luther and John Calvin
  2. The 16th century Scottish Revival led by John Knox which led to the birth of the Presbyterian Church.
  3. The 18th century English Revival led by John Wesley which led to the birth of the Methodist Church.
  4. The Welsh Revival of the early 20th century that birthed the Apostolic Church.
  5. The Azusa street Revival in Los Angeles USA in the early 20th century, that began the Pentecostal movement.
  6. The Revivals that began in the USA after the 2nd World War that began the Charismatic movement. Which produced the men of God in America most of us hear their names today.

 

All these Revivals led to missionary activities around the world including Africa. It was in the course of this missionary activities that God used a British missionary of The Apostolic Church named Sydney Granville Elton to guide and give focus to a Revival that began in Nigeria in the early to mid 20th century. This faithful man of God began his missionary work in Nigeria in 1937 and continued until he passed on to glory in 1987 and was buried in his residence in Ilesa, Osun state Nigeria. He mentored most of the Church leaders we hear their names today in Nigeria. His only daughter is also a missionary in Nigeria as well as Nigerian citizen.

Stories have it that this faithful servant of God, S. G. Elton tried his best to correct some of the erroneous approach of the Church in Nigeria and even gave a prophecy thus;
“Nigeria will be known for corruption worldwide but the tide will turn and Nigeria will also be known for righteousness worldwide. Many shall take hold of him that is a Nigerian, saying, “We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

You will agree with me that the one half of that prophecy has been fulfilled, the part about corruption. But we pray that the other part, the part about righteousness will be fulfilled as well if we do what’s expected of us.

I believe that time has come when we need to;

  1. Re-examine our THEOLOGY and APPROACH in carrying out our core assignment of soul winning.
  2. Examine if some things we do are hindrances to genuine soul winning.
  3. Re-examine our definition of RESULT in ministry.
  4. Re-examine our definition of fruitfulness as Christians.
  5. Re-examine our definition of KINGDOM STEWARDSHIP

I would like us to consider the following as we examine this subject- KINGDOM STEWARDSHIP

With the unnecessary denominationalism/ denominational obsession I see today, it’s important for us to remember that Church denominations are not the KINGDOM OF GOD, they are only agencies of GOD’S KINGDOM that facilitate our access and well-being in THE KINGDOM. It’s also important for us to remember that God is bigger than a single “man/woman of God” and his/her ministry or a single Church denomination. One can only communicate the dimension of God revealed to him/her.

On the other hand, we should also be reminded that the Body of Christ otherwise known as the “The Church” is in dire need of building up and edifying, that we may all attain unity of faith and fullness of Christ *(Eph.4:11-13).*Therefore, for this to be achieved, every individual member of the “Body” (the Lord Jesus being the head), is expected to be performing their functions effectively and efficiently.

God’s agenda has always been to restore HIS KINGDOM that was lost at the fall of man. It is to this end that Jesus Christ came. To the glory of God, Jesus Christ accomplished His mission by restoring GOD’S KINGDOM on earth and has been establishing it in the hearts of men close to 2000 years now (Luke 17:20,21) furthermore, we believe and are convinced that He will return very soon for the physical establishment  *(Isaiah 9:6,7, Daniel 2:44, 7:27)*, though this will be preceded by some events as foretold in the Scriptures.

God’s desire is that we become CITIZENS of HIS KINGDOM as well as RETAIN our KINGDOM CITIZENSHIP.
THIS OUGHT TO BE OUR PRIORITY AND PURSUIT (Matthew 6:10, 33)

Through SALVATION/NEWBIRTH/SPIRITUAL BIRTH EXPERIENCE we become KINGDOM CITIZENS (John 3:3-7, Col.1:13, Eph.2:19) but by doing the WILL OF GOD/WALKING IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD we RETAIN OUR KINGDOM CITIZENSHIP AND PARTAKE OF THE BENEFITS therein (2 Peter 1:10,11, Mathew 7:21-23).

KINGDOM STEWARDSHIP

This simply means using our God given resources which include; OUR TIME, GIFTS (spiritual & natural), STRENGTH, FINANCE etc, to serve God and His interests on earth.
God’s interest on earth is SALVATION OF SOULS AND TRANSFORMATION OF LIVES.

We can serve God through PRAYER and other ACTIVITIES aimed at SALVATION OF SOULS AND TRANSFORMATION OF LIVES.
This ought to be our priority and pursuit in life.

Serving God is not only in our CHURCH DENOMINATIONS but also in our various spheres of influence/contact such as; FAMILY, COMMUNITY, GOVERNMENT, MEDIA, BUSINESS/CAREER/VOCATION, etc.

*AS WE COUNT DOWN TO THE RETURN OF THE LORD, MAY WE ALL REMAIN STEADFAST AND FAITHFUL IN JESUS NAME!*🙏🏿