IT’S A YEAR OF REPOSITIONING THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST

Monday April 29th – May 8th, Wednesday

The year 2024 saw Nigeria in the light of very serious economic hardship unparalleled in its existence next to a state of war ridden atmosphere breeding depression because of bad governance and unbridled exploitation by the powers that occupy the executive offices from the national to the state, local governments and the least place of authority in the nation.

Our currency had become so weak in strength of purchasing power both home and abroad. It had lost a place in Economic Commissioning of West Africa and had no locus standing with the almighty American Dollar and the British Pound sterling and other first world currencies. Inflation rose so high, uncertainties everywhere. We started hearing of people selling their children to make a living. Numerous reports of suicide in the once happiest people on earth, it just kept getting worse, insecurity increased on all hands.

Everything was failing, the judiciary the last hope of the common man perished. Justice was thrown away through the window, those who paid more won every court case. The church has been in the midst of the crises. Lots of clergymen became crooksters to survive. The pulpit became bastardised humorously. The bigger churches turned out to become a great enterprise. Gloominess, darkness hung over the horizon. Every suffering had a demon behind it and you have to pay for your deliverance. Everything is gotten through prayer with maximum ignorance on rampage in the nation. We became a people sitting in the dark tunnel walking to get out to the other end to see the light.

At such time, God sent the silent yet spoken prophet-teacher in the person of Prof. Chinyere Onwubiko. His words became the realistic answer to the dry fasting and deliverance prayers we were having for so long. He is indeed a light shining in darkness. You will see the evidences in the testimonies of his expository teachings which solved mysteries of over the whole lengthy period of time counting from the 1970’s to 2024 in which Christianity in Nigeria started for practical experiential record. He took I Cor 15:33 for a text.

At the Aba centre, which is the African Headquarters of Berean, Prof. Chinyere dealt with the subject of SUFFERING. All scripture quotations in the conference he used the NIV 1984 edition. We learnt from Eden the very source of suffering which God never created nor wished for man resulted from deception. Satan deceived our first parents into disobedience and brought in the sufferings beleaguering mankind to date. Worse of all ever since then deception has become the very characteristic in the fabric of all men. No exceptions, saint and sinner alike. It justifies God’s analytical declaration of the state of the human heart in Jer 17:9.

This is a brief relief and a sharp rebuke to the false teachings like ‘entire sanctification’ that ravaged Christianity in Nigeria in the extreme. Thus we rather listened to his warning for watchfulness at all times every day in this pilgrimage on earth. It is delusional to pursue sinless perfection or claim such on earth. He justified the message with the word of God from biblical examples of saints and sinners all manifesting deception alike. It also has bad consequences for God is not partial. Only our Lord Jesus Christ who did not have the fallen nature as a man was free from deception. It is abhorrent to God and draws his judgement.

True to fact that Jeremiah accused God of deceiving him but that’s not the meaning. The content reveals that it is an outburst of the prophet in anger against God for making him a prophet and allowing him to suffer the much he did in the hands of his people. But he was wrong for God had forewarned him of such sufferings but promised to be with him in all and to make him prevail. So, God is no deceiver neither did Jeremiah mean to say that.

The teachings from Prof. Chinyere keeps instructing, correcting and strengthening us into righteousness. He prescribed the remedy to deception which includes continuous learning through correct teaching of the entire word of God as revealed in the scriptures touching every aspect of human life. Being spiritually minded is the best antidote to deception especially against pulpit deception by preachers making things flashy with falsehood. After every congregational fellowship next for the believer is to guard against corrupt company lest we be ruined. Spend more time with believers who are spiritually minded and be not deceived.

There are many types of sufferings with diverse causes, there abound specific and general causes. Suffering is inevitable. From sins, personal, general, natural causes and divine judgement to persecution of Christ’s followers as he predicted. Even in the Old Testament saints suffered persecutions too as seen in Heb 11:25-25 for example. We need the right response to suffering instead of complaining. It has demerits but also has merits as seen in different lives and circumstances mentioned in the bible. David testified to learning to do good from suffering or affliction. Job responded positively to his trial in the beginning. There must be a purpose for suffering because God has a hand in it. Count on God’s grace in suffering that although you suffer now, it is nothing to be compared to the glory that awaits you in heaven Roms 8:18.

At Obigbo Berean Fellowship Centre in Rivers State he delivered the lecture titled: “BE HEAVENLY MINDED” with Col. 3:1-4 as his text. He pointed out sample church practices which are not found in the bible that makes men concentrate on earthly heritage taking their attention away from being heavenly minded such as child dedications, Christmas, Easter etc. I am witness to the fact that some ministers among us have been discouraged at such expositions making them withdraw from total attendance and or partial involvement in Berean Ministries here. They stick to these traditions which Prof. Chinyere proved to be taking men away from being heavenly minded. Together with lots of diverse regulations, dogmatic instructions and cachtumen that hinder the true gospel which men ought rather to be free from, spelling orders like touch not, taste not as was in Colossae.

He gave a shocking revelation of the text showing how that though on earth Christians are already in heaven, are citizens of heaven. Showing from the scriptures that in recreating us God has given us all it takes, as Apostle Peter also testified, God has given us all “very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desire” 2 Peter 1:4 NIV. In so doing God has right to give us his laws, or commandments and we have no excuse not to abide by the same. Particularly, here in Nigeria such doctrinal awareness is lacking and believers fall easily into trials they ought to overcome.

As a matter of fact, the teachers here teach Arminian doctrine telling the people that they have to fight to make heaven and advantage themselves by creating so much religions activities to guarantee victory thereby making merchandise of the people. They ever run in uncertainty hoping to be saved only at the end if they die in righteousness. But Prof, Chinyere proved the falsehood of such dogmatism showing that in faith God already sees Christians as already in heaven. This is a divine rest given to us through faith in Christ. By the same we worship God from assurance of salvation and security with continued joy as in the beginning. This being so will make us heavenly minded, desiring and seeking things that are related to heaven. As it is said, “Set your hearts on things above”.

Any attraction to the things of this world more than the things of God proves that we are not seeking the glory of God or being heavenly minded so to say. We should think about where our Saviour Christ Jesus is. He is at the right hand of God, but God is a spirit and has no corporeality. Paul is saying that Christ is seated in heaven with the honour that befits God, and we should seek him so. This must be our attitude. While doing so, any time we fall into sin, we must confess it in repentance and get refilling of the Holy Spirit to be under his control. Learn to resist and to overcome temptation to retain the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This makes us keep living in the plane of God.

On Friday May 3, the company of Prof. Chinyere the Berean Ministries International were in Okoko-Item, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. His teaching was titled “JESUS PREPARES HIS DISCIPLES FOR HIS ARREST” With the biblical text of Luke 22:35-38. He emphasized that only Luke the writer that recorded the preparation that Christ gave his disciples for his coming death. He did it because after his death, which they would witness, men’s attitude towards them will change radically negatively. He meant to teach them that violence is not the proper response to negative attitude of people towards them. Over here we are engulfed with the blunder of misinterpretations and quote Jesus statement that: “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force” (Matt 11:12) to justify ourselves when we take a force of violent action in response to negative action from unbelievers. Sometime ago a Pentecostal father in Nigeria once stated, “that when Jesus said when they strike you on the right side, you turn the left side also” then he asked, do you know what he meant?. That you do not know what is on the left side of the person. Implying a violent response, it was in response to Northern Islamic threat to Christianity at the time of the military regime.

Prof. Chinyere has succeeded to take the sword of flesh, mortal weapons from our hands but armed us with the sword of the Holy Spirit proper. Ministry in Nigeria today is more of display of power, miracle, signs and wonders and that gives you a large following and dignity as a true clergyman. This has made it possible for magicians, sorcerers and false prophets to flourish, but Prof. Chinyere is not such an acrobatic jingoist but character oriented gospel prophet teacher. I call him a prophet because knowing the lifestyles and religiosity he spoke at different centres proves him to be a prophet because he spoke as if he was given a report about them. Jesus asked his disciples a question to make them understand that he is in control of the universe. For them to know that he had power to make people hospitable to them. That those on his mission will not lack anything. His saying that he did not come to bring peace but a sword has nothing to do with mortal violence but discord among men because of converting to him. He taught them to know that the sword is not enough for defense. How much is two swords worth to defend against the military world of unbelievers? People will persecute them because they have the wrong view or ideas of who Jesus Christ is. And they do not need to fight back in self defence. They should depend on him at all times because His love for them will not change despite the persecution or sufferings they will go through. He himself suffered and did not speak back to his killers leaving us an example that we should follow. That we should not forget how Isaiah the prophet prophesied that the people will take Jesus for a criminal and will kill him. Isa 53:12. So the Jewish people in particular will deal with them after his departure as followers of a criminal and tag them a criminal group or sect. They should not fight back but suffer with him to be glorify with him later.

At Amaseri Berean centre on Saturday May 4th, his text was Col. 3:16-17. His message was “THE RESIDENCE OF THE WORD OF CHRIST”.

It’s not about doing good things and expecting God to be happy with you as people think generally but understanding the word of God and the obligation of obedience is the crux of the matter. It brings peace to the believer and makes him a threat to Satan instead of being his slave. Satan has devised several means of distracting Christians in local churches with programmes and activities to take the place of the teaching of the word of God. It is the only means of building people to maturity. Paul knew it and so taught the believers to let the word of God dwell richly in them. The word – word, is either the teaching of Christ, the word of Christ or from Christ.

The expression “the word of Christ” is as it is in the entire Bible. It is regrettable that some people put stress on the New Testament of words of Christ in red forgetting that the whole Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) is the word of Christ who is God. He is the God who spoke – authored the entire Bible. 2Tim 3:16. The Godhead inspired the Bible. By so saying the argument that Paul spoke about a specific word from God here falls flat. By use of the definite article ‘the word of Christ’ Paul means the entire message of the Bible.

When these words are taken into the soul of a person then it brings forth its benefit. It becomes integrated, habitually dwelling richly abundantly in measure, so the whole life of the person is guided by the saturation of the word of God in him. Learning, hearing and meditation is the process to make the word dwell in one. It then transforms the believer and he will know how to interact with other believers. And be able to take in correction not as judgment as some do. But be like Apollos who Priscila and Aquilla met and updated him on the message of God for that day.

The acrobatic singing and dancing done in churches with emptiness of the soul doctrinally is a sin. It is only when the word of God dwells in us richly that it will be done in a godly way.

On Sunday May 5th, 2024 we had church service at the Berean Ministries International Headquarters off De Naz via Ebiogwu Road, Federal Estate Ogbor-Hill, Aba, Abia State.

The Prof Chinyere took the centre stage and first conducted the communion service of the Breaking of Bread before moving on to deliver his teaching based on Hos. 13:7 & 8 titled THE LORD’S PUNISHMENT TO ISRAEL FOR FORGETTING HIM!! Israel had forsaken the Lord and gone into apostasy, into idolatry. They took him for granted as s loving God who would not be angry enough to do them any evil. He now meant to shock them, to jolt them for the seriousness or severe punishment in a surprising way that is coming to them for their backslidings. Israel broke off the yoke and turned off the bridle. Their rebellion is great and their backsliding many. He will come upon them like a lion, like a leopard will work by their path, such a figure of speech.

Surprising punishment from a position they did not expect. “Like a lion robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open. Like a lion I will devour them, a wild animal will tear them”, 13:8.

We are in the same kind of situation in the world today. Preachers are not warning people of the dangers ahead. They are only enriching themselves by preaching prosperity messages. The false hopes they received from false prophets did not prevent them from the suddenly surprising judgments from God. Every believer who consistently rejects truth will also receive sudden destruction. However, if you live in accordance to truth you do not need fear of such disaster that overtakes the wicked. Prov. 3:25-26; 28-18.

The wild animal spoke of the manner the violent destruction that will make them fear and repent. Note Psa 50:22.

The Berean Train moved to the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ELU-OHAFIA in Ohafia Local Government Area in Abia State on 6th May, 2024. He taught on the subject of “EXPECTED CONDUCT OF BELIEVERS” based on 1 Thes 5:6-11.
Christians he said are different from others in the world. They are not partakers of the wrath of God. Christ died for believers so they can have relationship with God eternally. Paul therefore gave them what is expected from them. They should live exemplary lives before inviting others to join them.

It same call for us today not to sleep in sin but be awake in righteousness by constant filling of the Holy Spirit. Learn doctrine and pay heed to our prayer life for without the intercessions of Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit we would have perished.

Being on guard and exerting self-control by the help of the Holy Spirit is a must not to sleep in sin with the world.

He dealt defense weapons to enable us be alert so we be not drawn out by the devil with a bait and destroyed. Faith is defense against temptation, love causes us to persevere and not get irritated under trial to fall. The hope of salvation keeps up till the final day of salvation. Never fall into the temptation of thinking that the helmet is for the head and the breast plate for the chest (so we were taught in the past). There is no head and heart salvation. It simply teaches us to give attention to every detail of our life to know who is in control of our life. Prof. broke a jinx with this teaching, set many free in their minds to serve God without fear of failure. We have no reason not to have self-control for God has not put us up for wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. These are the only two things everyone on earth will receive from God on the day of the Lord. But that day is not for us, ours is only judgment for works. Our relationship with God is secured because of what achieved in the cross Rom 14:8. Thus we are citizens of heaven, are at peace with God escaping his wrath and keep fellowship with him and other believers here as it shall be in eternity after here no matter where you go.
In Akpuoga, Berean Fellowship Chapter in Enugu State, the Man of God taught the subject of “WHAT IF I SIN AFTER SALVATION”. His text was 1 John 2:1-2. He proved from the teachings of other apostles like Paul that after salvation a Christian can fall into sin. If anyone denies that he can ever sin after being saved he is a liar and the truth is not in him as John says. So as dear children also today God is saying we should not sin but if any does he must get up quickly to repentance by confession of sin and receive refilling of the Holy Spirit. Do not play with sin.

You may sin and beat your chest because you are not punished immediately. Rejoice not for it is coming. Instead fear. As a believer you will not go to hell because you sinned because Christ our forerunner is surety and secured us by the seal of the Holy Spirit. The accuser Satan will go about his job, we may be punished but he cannot get us to lose salvation in eternity. We don’t even confess our sins before Christ steps on before the Father to intercede for us. It is he alone who is the author and finisher of our faith. He is our Advocate. He takes up our case for us and we are safe. We lose the joy of fellowship by sin, neither is it sweet.

Your sin affects others. Sin causes mockery and shame to oneself and others Prov. 14:3.

Lastly, Berean was at BEREAN FELLOWSHIP CENTRE IN EMENE- ENUGU on 8th May. His message was in question form, “DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR FIRST LOVE FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST LIKE WHEN YOU GOT BORN AGAIN?. Text: Rev 2:4-5.

The believer faces life challenge of maintaining enthusiasm or being excited or being on fire about salvation as at the beginning. The new converts seems never to have had enough of the word of God. He is positive and goes to any length to know the more of the word of God. In Matt 24:12 Christ reveals that the increase of wickedness will make the love of many to grow cold.

The church here lost her first love, abandoned, let go of it. They forsook it. It was not automatic but gradual until it faded.
It is an established style of falling away. Being inconsistent is the modality. From that to quitting involvement. It could have been the result of persecution which they had endured before but in continuation failed to persevere.

The Reformation came out of Rome; the Methodists out of the Anglican and such other denominations but all have fallen. They are only standing on fundamentalism but are dead significantly. It’s a negative change. The command is to repent and do the things you did at first. Its a timely message for them and to us today. Let us change our life style and return to evangelism and be in fellowship with the Lord in joy.

The halls were filled from end to end as the pictures show. Bibles, Prof. Chinyere books were given in every centre. All that attended Aba Conference from different Berean Centres were fed and transported free by Berean Ministries: widows were taken care of in their zones. The Motherless Babies Homes got their gift of money as the last group on Monday 13th May, 2024.

We are so grateful to God Almighty and our Lord Jesus Christ for 2024 Conference. We thank the Berean Headquarters in USA for sponsoring the coming of Prof. Chinyere again to us as a father takes care of his children. We pray that all who made sacrifices, financial contributions and every other supports for his trip be blessed more and more till the time we shall meet the Lord in Glory.

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