₦airaland Forum

biggboy:
How To Find A Local Church & Stay Committed There
By Olanrewaju Alonge.

The local church refers to a gathering of believers in a particular location and is a part of the universal church, the body of Christ which consist of believers in every part of the world (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Eph 2:12).

Finding a local church, as simple as it may sound requires the wisdom of God’s word and so does getting and staying committed there.
The issue will not be to locate the venue of one especially since there’s almost one or two on every street nowadays.
Deciding on which local church to identify with is a serious matter and should be done PRAYERFULLY AND PURPOSEFULLY.

Its closeness to your place of residence, a common consideration with many people today would be unwise, because many travel sometimes all the way abroad to study or to get medical attention, which is an indication of a desire for the best available, therefore the same attitude should be employed for something as important and eternal as locating a church to attend.

If you take your Christian life seriously, you should choose to attend the best local church around you.
While it’s easy to get carried away by GOOD MUSIC, SHORT MESSAGE & SERVICE (SMS) AND NICE LOOKING USHERS and FIRST TIMER GIFTS AND FOOD PACKS.

Some are even carried away by activities, they are not learning the word of God or growing up spiritually in the church they play the keyboard, play the drums, are in drama group etc.

They would rather be involved in activities than grow up spiritually. Others yet still are in a particular church because “It’s our family church”,” my friends are in the church” or “I have connections there”.
All these considerations though may make sense to the carnal man, have no spiritual benefit.
Before you choose a local church, ask yourself these questions:

1. DO I WANT TO GROW SPIRITUALLY?
If yes, then you must choose to attend a local church where the teaching of God’s word is given first place and every member is closely mentored and monitored to understand every bible doctrine.
WHY? Because spiritual growth will only come with growth in the knowledge of God’s Word - Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 9-16, 1Peter 2:2, Acts 20:20).
Spiritual growth will come by the revelation of who Jesus is, all he has done for us and all we can do because we are in Him (Col. 1:9, Eph 1:19, 3:16-19, Philemon 6).

2. DO YOU WANT TO CONSISTENTLY SEE GOD’S DIVINE HAND IN ALL YOUR AFFAIRS IN LIFE?
If yes!
Then you must attend a local church where a lot of time is devoted to prayer and particularly praying in the spirit (in tongues)
WHY?
Because prayer is a demonstration of our trust in and our dependence upon God.
By prayer, great power; God’s power is made available for everyone in life situations and circumstances, thus the bible teaches us to pray fervently (James 5:16) and to pray always in the spirit (Eph 6:18) praying in the spirit is praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 15, 18, Jude 20).

3. DO YOU WANT TO WALK IN THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE?
If yes again!
Then you must choose a local church that Is in the will of God.
And how can you tell?
It must be a local church where EVANGELISM and reaching the lost is not treated with levity or taken as a pastime but, is approached with a deep sense of purpose and responsibility and is receive, as a commission of JESUS CHRIST, the head of the church (Matthew 28:18, Mark 16:15-20).
WHY?
Staying in the will of God for your life starts with obeying God in general instructions and paying attention to light in His word with which comes more specific instructions (Romans 12:2).

4. DO YOU WANT TO LIVE FAR ABOVE THE FORCES OF DARKNESS OF THE WORLD?
Again if Yes!
Excitedly so! Then you must attend a local church where there’s an atmosphere of LOVE, JOY AND FAITH IN GOD’S WORD.
WHY?
Because the system of this world is ruled by the god of this world, the devil (2 Cor. 4:4, Eph 2:2).
The believer will only win in life all the time by putting on the whole armor of GOD (Eph 6:10-18)
How is that Possible?
1John 5:4
a faith filled life.

5. DO YOU WANT TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS AND FLOW WITH THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT?
Sure Yes!
Then you must attend a local church where room is given to each one to express things of and things pertaining to the spirit, tongues, interpretations of tongues, prophecies, among other (1Cor. 14:12-15).
WHY!
Because things of the spirit will only improve with practice (1Cor.12:31, 14:39, Hebrews 5:14).
Staying committed to this local church must be with the understanding that the local church is God’s plan for the believer, a place where he has a pastor who teaches and trains him spiritually, who is responsible to bring to him correction, reproof, and instructions in righteousness
(2 Timothy 3:16).

The local church therefore has spiritual leaders who have Christ’s authority to lead you (Heb 13:7) and your response to them must thus be submission in love and obedience as unto God (Heb 13:17).
Have a great weekend , We Win!

(Lanre Alonge is the Pastor of Saints Community Church Igando, Lagos Nigeria)

Source : http://www.thebelievershub.com/2018/04/how-to-find-local-church-stay-committed.html?m=1

crunchyg:
Yea we all know that going to church is not a prerequisite of making heaven, but the bible commanded us not to forsake the gathering of the believers. So my question is if the trumpet of God sounds now and maybe you are in your bed sleeping , or in the field playing football or in the hotel enjoying yourself, what excuse will you give to God that made you not to go church today?

EnEnPeecee:
this dady freezer na ogu go punish u

HigherEd:
Huh such a manipulative drama king. Adeyemi, ropu, ibyeomie, ashimolowo all do this yearly without any funfair.
If you like feed 1 million children but if in your heart you are doing it so people can perceive you better than the pastors you criticize then you have wasted your effort as God is concerned. Christian charity must emanate from true Love. Knowing who freeze is and his antecedents I am nearly sure he is doing this so he can be better perceived by his followers. The good news is at least the children go chop from this well acted script.

Mind you, it wouldn't cost Oyedepo or Adeboye much to do a bigger publicity stunt if they wanted. Just placing a few cameras here and there and many foolish ppl would be screaming about their generosity.

I have followed up on Oyedepo's givings and it is EXTREMELY hard to follow or notice. I brought the news of Oyedepo's gift to sierraleone to nairaland after having to look deep before I could get a source that quoted the gifts.
It wasn't easy getting to know Oyedepo funds 20 public secondary schools in kwara or that he built a town hall in same state or that he funds 15 NGOs. It wasn't easy getting to know he had made landmarks agriculture free of tuition. I don't know if Oyedepo and Adeboye are giving in the right proportion to what they have but I love their desire to conceal and not make a media frenzy out of any aid giving.

Adekorya:
It's so funny how celebrities/people with little understanding or no understanding of how the things of spiritual works are trying to analyse the spiritual things through the knowledge and logic of this world.

Although, she's right about the fact that we all have access to God through Jesus Christ, but what she failed to put into cognisant is that our callings are different and everyone on earth don't have the same communication line with God, and that's exactly the way it's with every religion realm.

Paul the Apostle never had direct contact with Jesus Christ but he did better in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus to the world than those that had direct contact with Jesus when he was on earth...

Instead of her to be talking about our unrighteousness that's standing between our communication line with God, she's attacking Pastors.

What I know is that, the attacking of Christians from outsiders seems not to be working again. And now the devil has now devised a way to make the Christians be their own antagonist (just the like the way it was during the time of Jesus Christ).

Note: Ability to be able to read and write is not enough for you to understand the mystery of the Bible... You might have read the bible from Genesis to Revelation and still knw nothing until someone with anointing and calling higher than you open your eyes to its mystery. There is nothing like reading the bible with spiritual mind, You people should go and get a Job. Jesus christ feed the 5000 people and today More than 5000 thousand feed this Thieves Calling themself Pastor and GO. God is Angry with this theives who collect so call tithes from Politicians who stealing from our treasury thereby making Nigeria a living hell, they collect from cultist, they collect from poor people instead of Giving the poor,
They used your money to build schools which your children cannot attend. If you are still giving them your money instead of help or giving to the poor which is the only commandement Jesus ask us to do as a christian and You are still giving them your January salary as a first fruit, You will remain poor and by time you clock 60 above, you have no investment for your family because they theives are telling you that your treasures are in heaven while they are using your money to buy all the properties. Please Go to University of Lagos Second Gate and see for your self or Visit Deeper Life church in Gbagada.

mabea:
The Lord revealed this secret to me in 2015. They feed on human blood, they create crisis in order to fill their blood tank. It is important as a believer to possess your territory and the city where you live. They are spiritual hierachies which control territories, we have principalities, powers, rulers of darkness etc. down to the witches. This is why you see certain things common with a particular environment like hooliganism and promiscuity e.g lagos island, drugs and drunkeness, violence e.g mushin etc.

Chikita66:
Daddy freeze is useless.

naijababe:
There is a special place in hell for opportunist pigs like Freeze who use the misfortune of others to push their own personal agendas!

lightblazingnow:
Judge freezer..... This guy I know is not of God Almighty.

He has lots of sins yet judges as if by himself he is righteous. Why disturbing another man's servants, When you can not even change anything. How many lives have he changed??

Social media opportunists!!!!!

Equal2DeTask:

Cheap attention seeker at it again!



Must you be against the work of God?

Must you attack the anointed ones?

MUST YOU! MUST YOU!! MUST YOU!!!



Remember, Very soon we will hit rainy season and the thUNDER that will fire your mouth is loading....

kaluxy007:
So freeze criticized Pastors to gain followers and very soon he'll start getting donations from people but will he show his members the cheques he's been receiving.
All this while I've been silent concerning this bros matter, all my life I don't think I have attended church a hundred times but I can see through many of this so called spiritual leaders.
Freeze supporters please answer this questions
- How well has Freeze studied the Bible that he would come out openly to say he will lead multitudes
- In his case who called him?? We all know he called himself na
- A man that couldn't save his marriage is he the one that would give you directions on how to go about your lives?

Make una think wella, I know most of you support his teaching because you seek justification for not paying your dues, You say you won't pay to pastors but how many people have you helped with the 10%??
Simply say you can't let go of 10% rather than ranting on how Pastors leave large

Note- I too hasn't paid tithe but I won't use fraudulent pastors as excuse

damosky12:
Don't be deceived o! This has nothing to do with Daddy Freeze.

Freeze, like demons do, only pounced on an imperfection to paint the church of Christ in a bad light.

Freeze is not of God. Anyone quite familiar with the scriptures shouldn't find that hard.

onatisi:
You are misleading people with your post topic and content and it violates nairaland rules and laws, don't post misleading contents.
The video message is about "first fruits" and NOT TITHES .
Unfortunately,many dumb ppl too won't bother to watch the video before commenting.

Callmemike:
I will try to be very brief. My son is some months shy of 4 years old. However he has not started talking. When he was almost 2 years we took him to FMC owerri for examination. The result said he was ok. Unsatisfied we went after some months. They referred us to the International Speech and Hearing Centre Enugu.

There the result was that his hearing is limited. They said we should come for a reevaluation when he is past 3 years to see if his hearing has improved or if he needs a hearing aid. But we were advised to enroll him into a school to increase his interactions. The problem with this then was his repeated bouts of illness after each two weeks in school. We tried homeschooling him for a term and half afterwards. This term we have enrolled him into a new, regular school and he has adapted just fine.

Between this period, we have visited other hospitals for evaluation and they said it is ok. That he is just a late developer.

We just went for a reevaluation and they said he does not need a hearing aid and that his hearing is very OK now. They recommended a professional speech therapist to help him pronounce words, since all he does is just babbles. He captures things fast and can act out a full cartoon movie.

So please if any info is available about a speech therapist in Owerri, it will be appreciated. Other advices are also welcome.

Mods, please help me push this to the front page. A child needs your help and i believe in your epatant care. Thank you

Inspire01:
My niece has exactly the same issue as described by the op. She is almost 4 years old now