AN APPEAL TO SAVE HIDDEN TREASURE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS FOR GOVERNMENT CLOSURE

Joe Engelbird 24 January at 04:47 Report The Power of 10

 

The command that Jesus left us with is clear “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature he who believes and is baptized will be saved but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Think of that command and ask how many will be in heaven because of me? How many will obey the gospel because I obeyed the Lord? We should seek to tell the message of the gospel to everyone we can but we can also assist others in doing that preaching. There is such a man doing the Lord’s work that we can help. Uchenna F. Bekee is the local preacher for the Iriebe Church of Christ in Obiakpo Nigeria. He also oversees the Hidden Treasures Christian School in Rivers State Oyigbo Nigeria. For several years the West Georgia congregation has supported him as part of our mission work. Here is where all of us can help. The Hidden Treasures Christian School is a light in an otherwise dark place. There Uchenna along with his wife Mrs. Pleasure Odiwanma Uchenna operate the school as a place to educate young people both academics as well as ground them in the Bible. Here because of the work these great folks are doing the great commission of our Lord is being faithfully carried out. However because of recent changes in what the Nigerian government allows for schools to operate Brother Bekee desperately needs to raise funds to construct a facility to house the school. Is it possible that 1000 Christians here in the states can contribute $10 each to help continue Christian education in Nigeria? If we really believe the great commission is ours to carry out then this is just a small way we can do it. If you feel you can contribute and be part of the power of 10 please contact the West Georgia Church of Christ by calling 770-834-3750 or write sending correspondence to 1310 North Park St, PO Box 31 Carrollton GA 30117.

 

 

 

Brethren and Friends in Christ,

 

 

I want to come to your hearts and minds, this day with this passionate appeal for assistance towards the Mission School that I began here in Nigeria in 2007. The government of Rivers State and, indeed, This move is going to affect our school, which is the only Christian school affiliated to the Church of Christ in Nigeria. We began this work to help save our children from religious, moral and academic decay that is predominant in this society, to train youths who would become future Leaders of the Church of Christ . At the moment, the School has operated in a rented apartment for the past three years. This facility is one of so many that is not built for the use of a School. We began this work in view that with time, we may be blessed with helpers who will encourage us to materially and financially be able to relocate the School to a permanent location. Right now, the threat to close down schools is coming hard and many schools who are here before us but have being using the same type of premises and facility we use, have began to move to their permanent locations. Others merge with other schools because the majority of them are not faith based as in the Church of Christ family. We can’t merge because that is not the idea and vision for setting up Hidden Treasure Christian Schools. In the year 2009, in the month of August, we began to make payments for a plot of land that will be good for the residential location of the Mission School and a preaching School. The cost on the land was $10,000, and we have being able to pay up to $6000. We are sure that if we can get the land paid off, it will be a good one. Right now, we have all the documents on the Land made for the vendor to assent to if her payment is completed. At the same time, we plead that you, your friends in the Lord, and brethren as a congregation , can be of help in so many ways as to give this work a lasting existence. We have also a rolling plan that will last for years in the developing of that property. It will take every phase of work to be done on the land, $10,000 to build structures fit for study, Hostel accommodations, Church and Chapel hall, Residential apartments for teachers and bible Students, A Clinic, and an orphanage. Right now, we are looking for the first $14,000 to pay off and begin work as soon as possible to save the school, and the kids the damage and difficulty of losing their school. May you have the time to read this note, and give it a consideration the Lord will create in your heart. share it with brethren, friends and all. We know that times are so hard, but may we remember the Macedonian Church in II Cor. 8.

 

IS IT POSSIBLE TO AVOID SINNING?

IS IT POSSIBLE TO AVOID SINNING?
Introduction: There are those, even among our brethren, who teach that man cannot keep from sinning. Others think they cannot sin, and do not guard against temptation.
David, however, not only knew that he might sin but that he could keep from sinning; and he knew how:
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
Spurgeon said that this verse mentions the best thing—God’s word—in the best place—my heart—for the best purpose—that I might not sin.
The heart is intellectual (Matt. 9:4; Mark 2:8), emotional (Lev. 19:17; 1 Peter 1:22), ethical (1 John 3:19-21) and volitional (Rom. 6:17; 2 Cor. 9:6-7) in nature.
To keep from sinning you must hide God’s word in your heart. “But,” someone asks, “How do I hide His word in my heart?”
1 Desire to understand the word of God (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).
2 Strive to understand the word of God (2 Tim. 2:15; Eph. 5:17).
3 Appreciate the power of the word of God (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 4:12; Psalm 19:7).
4 Hold the word of God in high esteem for its value (Psalm 119:105,161).
5 Store up the word of God in our memory (John 8:32; Luke 4:1-12).
6 Apply the word of God to our lives (James 1:22-25; Luke 6:46).
One might well ask, “How does the word of God keep me from sinning?”
1 The word of God imparts counsel concerning sin (Psalm 1:1-2).
2 The word of God warns of punishment for sin (Rom. 6:23).
3 The word of God makes promises for overcoming sin (James 1:12).
4 The word of God informs of God’s love (Rom. 5:5; 1 John 4:9-10, 19; 5:3).
5 The word of God enjoins practical duties (Rom. 12:9-21).
6 The word of God communicates strength (Eph. 6:10-20).
Will we truly be able to keep from sinning?
Yes, this was the reason John wrote his first epistle (1 John 2:1).
Will we be able to perfectly keep from sinning?
Yes, if we perfectly apply these principle

Abraham’s Hospital

Today I would like us to consider an event from the life of Abraham, for I believe it sheds some light on a certain New Testament command. Let us begin by reading Genesis 18:1-8:

“Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from his tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, ‘My Lord, if I have now found favor in your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.’ They said, ‘Do as you have said.’ So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, ‘Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.’ And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.”

Abraham’s hospitality here is worthy of our consideration and emulation. As the Hebrews writer says – “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Heb. 13:1,2). A careful study of Abraham’s actions and words in the beginning of Genesis 18 indicates that he was unaware as to the true identity of his guests. He certainly wouldn’t have offered food had he known his visitors included angels and deity Himself!

Of course, Abraham’s behavior is even more impressive in this light. He treated perfect strangers with kindness and great honor! This is seen in his running to greet them, in his bowing to the ground respectfully, in his offering refreshment to them at his own expense, and in his hurrying to provide the food as quickly as possible. Abraham was truly a hospitable man! He didn’t treat the strangers as an unwanted interruption to his day. He didn’t ignore them or complain to his wife about them popping in unexpectedly. He treated them like family! He was happy to serve them humbly, and that is just one reason why Abraham is so great.

What about us, friends? If we treat our fellow human beings as Abraham did–with unhesitating kindness and generosity–we will be in a better position to truly reach weary souls with the refreshing message of the gospel of Christ! There are any number of excuses that we can come up with today as to why we shouldn’t be hospitable (“It’s not safe”; “You can’t trust people anymore”; “I just don’t have time”; “My house isn’t clean enough”; etc.). These excuses may help sooth our consciences, but they aren’t reasons for disobeying the Lord!

Those who would be shepherds in the Lord’s church must be hospitable (cf. Titus 1:8). In other words, they must love and be friendly to strangers. However, hospitality is not just expected of leaders. Romans 12:13 instructs all Christians to pursue hospitality! Hospitality helps establish and strengthen friendships. Let us always remember the golden rule (cf. Matt. 7:12). Picture how you’d like to be treated, and then let that be your guide.

Our world of wickedness isn’t that much different now than it was in Abraham’s day (e.g., Gen. 19), and Abraham didn’t allow fear or the inconvenience of being hospitable to stop him from doing the right thing. Dear listeners, how are you pursuing hospitality in your life?

The kindness and love of God our Saviour.” – Titus 3:4

The kindness and love of God our Saviour.”
- Titus 3:4

How sweet it is to behold the Saviour communing with his own beloved
people! There can be nothing more delightful than, by the Divine Spirit,
to be led into this fertile field of delight. Let the mind for an instant
consider the history of the Redeemer’s love, and a thousand enchanting
acts of affection will suggest themselves, all of which have had for their
design the weaving of the heart into Christ, and the intertwisting of the
thoughts and emotions of the renewed soul with the mind of Jesus. When we
meditate upon this amazing love, and behold the all-glorious Kinsman of
the Church endowing her with all his ancient wealth, our souls may well
faint for joy. Who is he that can endure such a weight of love? That
partial sense of it which the Holy Spirit is sometimes pleased to afford,
is more than the soul can contain; how transporting must be a complete
view of it! When the soul shall have understanding to discern all the
Saviour’s gifts, wisdom wherewith to estimate them, and time in which to
meditate upon them, such as the world to come will afford us, we shall
then commune with Jesus in a nearer manner than at present. But who can
imagine the sweetness of such fellowship? It must be one of the things
which have not entered into the heart of man, but which God hath prepared
for them that love him.
Oh, to burst open the door of our Joseph’s granaries, and see the plenty
which he hath stored up for us! This will overwhelm us with love.
By faith we see, as in a glass darkly, the reflected image of his
unbounded treasures, but when we shall actually see the heavenly things
themselves, with our own eyes, how deep will be the stream of fellowship
in which our soul shall bathe itself! Till then our loudest sonnets shall
be reserved for our loving benefactor, Jesus Christ our Lord, whose love
to us is wonderful, passing the love of women.

The Church Of Christ

What Is The Church Of Christ?

The church of Christ dates back to the days of the New Testament (Romans 16:16). It was founded by Christ on the
Day of Pentecost, A.D. 33 (Acts 2), not long after His resurrection back to heaven. In the years that followed the, it
rabidly grew to fill Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and finally the whole Roman Empire (Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:23). In
America, the first churches of Christ were planted in the late 1700s as the result of a movement begun to go back to
the Bible and do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names (cf. 1 Peter 4:11).

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:30-31), that the Bible is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and
that Christ will return to take His kingdom home to God (1 Corinthians 15:24). We emphasize sincere worship (John 4:
24), every-member evangelism (Acts 8:4), godly living (Titus 2:11-12), love for each other (John 13:34-35), and
helping those in need (James 1:27). We believe the Bible teaches that sinners are saved by learning of Jesus, faith in
Jesus, repentance of sin because of Jesus, confession of Jesus, and baptism into Jesus (John 6:44-45; 3:16; Mark 16:
15-16; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38). The church of Christ is organized with elders, deacons, preachers, and members,
as in the New Testament times (Philippians 1:1). It has no governing body on earth higher than the local congregation.

The church of Christ is noted for its emphasis upon returning to New Testament Christianity and for its desire to
unite all Christians into one body (1 Corinthians 1:10). We believe that the New Testament is the only rule for faith and
practice in religious matters (2 Timothy 3:17; 2 Peter 1:3), and that God’s Word must authorize all that is done in
Christian worship (Colossians 3:17; Revelation 22:18-19). Thus we try to strictly follow the New Testament. We believe
that it is possible to have religious unity in a day of division by simply following the New Testament pattern and putting
aside human traditions.

To put it simply, the church of Christ is seeking to be the same church one reads about in the New Testament. We
aim to restore its doctrine, its practice, its lifestyle, and its zeal.

Destiny Smiling on His way to School

What’s So Important About Sin

What’s So Important About Sin

UChenna F. Bekee

What is all the fuss about? What is sin anyway? We hear the word all the time and have an understanding that “sin” is something wrong or bad. Society easily views actions like murder, theft and physical abuse as sin and bad for mankind. But what is sin really?

Webster defines sin as: an offense against religious or moral law

The Bible defines sin as breaking God’s law (1 John 3:4), which is the basis for many of the moral laws we have today. This unintended or willful disobedience to what God commands us to do is sin, and can cause us to be lost eternally.

Of course, you may think that you haven’t broken any of God’s laws. You may think that you are a good moral person: you haven’t killed anyone, or cheated on your taxes, you may give to charities and be a productive member of society. And if you are doing these things, you are a good, moral person according to society’s standard. But God has set a standard of living in His word, the Bible, and He wants us to live by it.

So, what’s the importance of sin in your life? The Bible reveals much on the subject of sin and how it affects mankind. Pure and simple, sin causes us to be separated from God.

“But your iniquities (sins) have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.” – Isaiah 59:2

Unfortunately, We have all sinned!

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23

And the apostle John tells us in I John 1:8:

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

The consequence of this separation from God (because of my sinning), if left alone, is spiritual death in Hell for eternity!

“For the wages of sin is death…” – Romans 6:23a

But you might say, “How can this be, if I’m being a good moral person?”

Let’s look at a list of sins that might hit closer to home: greed, evil, envy, murder, strife (fighting), deceit (lying), malice, gossip, insolence, arrogance, boastfulness, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving and unmerciful. This is one of many lists in God’s Holy word of things He does not approve. (This list was part of the verses found in Romans 1:29-31.) Notice how murder is included with gossip as something God disapproves of, all sin is evil in God’s sight. The Bible tells in the book of James,

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” – James 2:10

We are encouraged by the apostle Paul,

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts” – Romans 6:12

Don’t let sin have control of you and your spiritual future. God has provided a way to overcome sin and its evil effects in our life. Paul also tells us that,

“…the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23b

What must you do to receive this gift from God? Look for our upcoming article on repentance,

Don’t Run Empty!

NEVER RUN DRY!

During the days of Elijah — at a time when there was a great drought –
he met a widow who was gathering sticks in order to bake the last bit of
flour and oil she had. Elijah told her to first make him a little cake of
the flour and oil and then make some afterward for herself and her son. He
encouraged her that the jar of flour and the jug of oil WOULD NOT BE EMPTY
until the day God sent rain again. And it was so. (1 Kings 17:8-16)

During days of Elisha (who followed Elijah) there was a widow who was
threatened with having her two children taken to be the slaves of her
creditor. Having asked and found that the woman had nothing left but a jar
of oil in her house, Elisha told her to borrow empty vessels from all of her
neighbors — and not just a few — and then go in behind closed doors and
fill them. As long as she had empty vessels to fill, her jar of oil DID NOT
RUN OUT! (2 Kings 4:1-7)

Imagine, having a vessel (a container) that never ran dry! Every time we
needed to draw from its contents, there would be an ample supply! Would we
say it was a miracle? Would we believe God had to be involved in order for
it to be so?

A mother can give all her love to all her children without diminishing
the love she also has for her husband. She can give and give from what would
seem to be a BOTTOMLESS WELL OF LOVE. Think of our own love that we have for
family and for others. Can we not be such a vessel when God is involved in
our life; as we acknowledge HIS NEVER ENDING LOVE for us? (note Psalm
103:17)

Someone has said, “The ultimate miracle of love is this — that love is
given to us to give to one another.” [original source unknown]

John stated. . .
“(19) WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.” (1 John 4:19 ESV)

Do we know THAT LOVE? Are we experiencing THAT LOVE? Is THAT LOVE
filling our life in such a way that we can continue to draw from it to
extend it to others? To “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge”
we “may BE FILLED with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19 ESV) and one
aspect of the essence of GOD IS LOVE. (1 John 4:8) Therefore, as GOD
CONTINUES TO LOVE US, we should HAVE AMPLE LOVE FOR OTHERS as well. LOVE is
an essential ingredient of life! To His glory, let us be a vessel of GOD’S
LOVE that never runs dry because we are allowing Him to fill us.

Have a great day AS AN OPEN CONTAINER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE!

Being Outward Focused!

Any time people are challenged to look beyond themselves, this is difficult. At our core, we are selfish people. But our attitude is to be like Christ, who did not come to be served, but to serve others (Mk. 10:45). Jesus placed following him and self-sacrifice above all else, even one’s family: ^37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; ^38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt.10:37). The fact is that many turned away from this message. But those who got the message, with God’s help, began to sacrifice, serve others, and reached the entire world for Christ.

This is the attitude that we must cultivate in ourselves in order to really be outward focused.

Paul said,

^5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

^6 Who, being in very nature ^a God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

^7 but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature ^b of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

^8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:5-8)

Found within this passage are the following concepts-

- Seeking – Jesus left heaven to come to earth. He came to us, actively seeking us out.

- Serving – Jesus sacrificed his own comfort, not holding on to his equal footing with the Father in heaven. Instead, he willingly gave up this position to become human and serve others

- Good News (which we Share) – Jesus died for us on the cross, making possible our salvation.

It is a difficult message. But once we take up that cross, sacrifice, and follow Jesus–who came to seek and save lost people–God will greatly bless our lives and our families.

How can we be more intentional about reaching lost people?