UNDERSTANDING AND ENJOYING THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST JESUS

UNDERSTANDING AND ENJOYING THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST JESUS

I was in high spirit awaiting with unspeakable joy and full of glory this year’s BEREAN MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE. I left my place Ogbu Edda in Afikpo South (Edda) L G A. at 5:25 am to Owutu Edda to pick a vehicle to convoy me to Aba for the conference. We took off at 7:05 am and touched Aba about 9:26 am, then to my lodging next 38 minutes.

This year’s message went above the high way of the kings of the Earth. You can’t beat the reach, tempo, resonance, echo, implosion and explosion caused by the transfiguration power in the message. What a meeting! Professor Chinyere Onwubiko is indeed like a wind as those born of the Spirit according to the scriptures. You can hear the sound but cannot tell where he is coming from and where he is going. Therefore, being unpredictable unlike many here, one must humbly sit quietly under his tutelage to capture his message vividly. He clears every dust of questions he raises to make way for clean visibility creating certainty, cheerfulness, confidence and courage. He gives a master stroke to every bit of wit he takes on.

By 2 pm I arrived at the hall for the conference and 36 persons had already registered and were waiting for Professor. Ten of us were workers in the program. At 4:30 Professor and his team came into the hall and after opening prayers by Pastor Prince, he was ushered to the stage at 15 seconds to the hour 5:00 pm. by the African Director, Rev. Simon Onwubiko.

He stirred us up with the shocking reality, “The way things are on Earth is the same with how it’s going to be in heaven when we get there.” He sampled Abraham and Lazarus. Lazarus in heaven remains poor in Abraham’s Bosom who was rich also here on Earth. Thus, we should labour to be rewarded mightily for only salvation is by grace, not rewards. Run from being saved so as by fire.

He thus proceeded to introduce the subject matter of this year’s conference as, “THE SUPERIORITY OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST JESUS OVER THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD.” The message like the mission of Jeremiah the prophet uprooted the pseudo-Christianity that is prevalent from the Orthodox through dead Protestant to formal Pentecostal and cold Evangelicalism. On the third day in particular, all the smiles vanished from people’s faces and dead seriousness ensued. The job was done indeed.

One shocking truth that baffled me was when he cited the Berean passage in Acts 17:11 once more. And made the comment that it was only Jewish believers that had the scriptures that was meant in that Berean event, not Gentiles. I quickly went to the text and saw it in v.10. “How blind and stupid I have been,” I mused to myself. Then I saw the root of the dense darkness hanging over our churches. We need teaching and true exposition like this to save us now as Gentiles, and not quoting Bible at random. How true, but the misinterpretation has resulted into people quoting scriptures out of context to meet personal intentions while wholly ignorant of the true meaning, knowing neither the original languages nor observing rules of interpretation, and by having sufficient biblical materials for consultation. My heart bleeds till now. In fact, the Nigeria Church in general has become a social centre to lay hold on God to satisfy our ego. We need healing.

Ignorance of the change of the priesthood and the law of the priesthood is the trademark responsible for the kind of Churches over here. Thank God we were here together like Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai to receive the New Testament Priesthood and Law. No man of God has undertaken to do so in Nigeria that I know of till date. Not even a book written by any one of them to that effect. Even our prayer life is more like David, the Psalmist, after the code of Moses, fire for fire. It sales because it tallies with the unregenerate version of syncretic Christianity here as obtainable. Shall we even be saved at the last day in doing so, let alone being rewarded? We are pleasing ourselves here. God save us.

Prof. Chinyere Onwubiko is indeed as a balm of Gilead unto us. He brought Jesus back and alive and real in Heaven as a High Priest Forever after the Order of Melchizedek. What a Scripture base as Hebrews 7:2-28 for five days. How he condensed what he otherwise would not exhaust in four weeks is a masterpiece and an art of a wise master builder who obtained grace from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord for our own good.

He destroyed the occultist interpretation of Jesus as reincarnate Melchizedek. He proved the humanity of Melchizedek and the God-Man person albeit deity of Jesus Christ. What a reproof and relief he brought with that clearance. Whoever knew that Christ our High Priest ever secures all our forgiveness even before we would confess any sins? What a mediator High Priest and guaranteed intercessor. Professor does not come as a religious teacher but as a Prophet-Teacher who breaks down the mysteries of the kingdom for initiates to drink and thirst no more. Our High Priest lives forever and in heaven. He is indestructible, immortal, perfect, great, righteous, sworn in with an oath and unchangeable. Waooh!! This is superiority indeed.!!!
His death is the death of the weak, helpless, death causing Levitical Priesthood and the ceremonies and sacrifices thereof. Tithing, child dedications, thanksgiving cows and goats and what have you all swept off. Let’s offer God the sacrifice of our lips. This was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. With this stroke he broke the old order and removed it, transporting us to the New Testament proper under the New and eternal High Priest Jesus. Armed with this we parted to enjoy it and reform our churches to do the same and preach and teach others too. We are thankful he came in this manner to give us real good and perfect beginning in ministry.

It was a full house with ministers and church workers, members, some Royal Highness and other dignitaries in attendance, even the blind ones. From Rivers, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia States of Nigeria we conglomerated to hear the Prophet- Teacher of our time and went home with refreshment from the Presence of the Lord.

On Sunday May 6th, it was the Lord’s Supper and a timely message at Berean Church in Ogbor Hill, Aba. He dealt with stress, wounds, injuries. We saw in it how often we keep blaming others for our self-inflicted wounds instead of the Jewish way of reaching out only to God to discover it’s source in covenant terms, family life and personal, churches etc. What a correction he gave us. So we confessed to God and got ready to do it right. Afterwards, we visited the Ngwa Road Motherless’ Babies Home where Professor delivered a gift of four hundred thousand naira (#400,000) to them, signed. The boy named Godluck who received a gift sent by a lady member of Berean in the USA was also documented with a photograph. Two shirts, two trousers, one shoe, one canvas and a back bag.

On Monday May 7th , all roads led to Ohafia. With the Berean team from Aba loaded in a bus fully came to Ohafia. Professor took to the theatre of Gospel arena to showcase how Jesus came to bring,”Division (sword) in the Family not Peace.” Luke 12:50-53 made the believers expect division with unbelieving relations as normal and not strange. It would rather be strange if we do not have such meaning our faith is vain as it marries with worldly viewpoints. We therefore must show godly characters in the face of such opposition’s and be good ambassadors of Christ Jesus thus daring to be different. The Presbyterian prelate a Professor of Theology and Minister for 35 years commented on the message saying,” That was an excellent delivery fit for our time and place. Thank you Professor. Then we were consummated and went home readying for Enugu next day.

By around 11 am we were already in Emene, Enugu. The hall was rather hot and Professor requested to go and cool off a little. To a hotel nearby we went. Their light supply was infrequent off and on but God did something. He sent the rain and in 45 minutes the atmosphere over us was cooled. God honors his servant everywhere he went meeting his needs. At 12:30 pm he took up center stage by the sovereign plan of God thirty minutes late because of Aba brethren being late to bring up his speaker equipment.

With Heb. 4:15-17 on hand he taught us that Jesus did not need to be a sinner to sympathize with our weakness as some say. Being God-Man, His temptations were more severe and he easily can help us in weakness not sin. He died for sin so we should be dead to sin. We should go to him for help in time of trouble and not give lame excuses. He had no sin at all.

In the final day at the Methodist Church Cathedral in Amaba, Isuikwuato, he drove home the message of, “REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING UNTO GOD.” As always the case with him, he went the higher lane. Instead he said, give thanks to God that somebody else has become a Christian as did Paul as in his writings. Let us get unselfish and not just give thanks that God saved us and did this and that for us. With lifting us from being selfish in our thankfulness to God, he closed this year’s mission.

There were 525 people registered in attendance in Aba. 483 Bibles were given with a bundle of Professor’s books. In Ohafia, 207 people, 200 Bibles and books; Enugu, 270 people, 150 Bibles and books; and in Amaba 217 people and 197 Bibles and books given out. All the workers were given more than equitable envelopes of money. Gifts for widows, other helps. The African Director is doing an excellent job.
We express our gratitude to God and to the Berean Ministries International for parental care over us. Praying that we may grow up to do what you are doing in the Lord. Thank you Professor Chinyere and your team.

Secretary,
Pastor Peter Chima

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