₦airaland Forum

TEXT: ACTS 2:47
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

TOPIC: THE CHURCH

The term church is derived from a Greek word EKKLESIA, ekklesia means the called out. Understanding the definition of Ekklesia is an important component of understanding the church. Ekklesia is a Greek word defined as “a called-out assembly or congregation.” Ekklesia is commonly translated as church in the New Testament. For example, Acts 11:26 says that “Barnabas and Saul met with the church (Ekklesia)” in Antioch. And in 1 Corinthians 15:9 Paul says that he had persecuted the church (Ekklesia) of God. The “called-out assembly”, then, is a congregation of believers whom God has called out of the world and “into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). The Greek ekklesia is the basis for our English word ecclesiastical (pertaining to the church) and ecclesiology (the study of doctrine concerning the church).

The word in the New Testament was also used to refer to any assembly of people. In his address to the Sahedrin, Stephen calls the people of Israel “the assembly (Ekklesia) in the wilderness” Acts 7:38. And in Acts 19:39, ekklesia refers to a convening of citizens to discuss legal matters. However, in most contexts, the word ekklesia is used to refer to the people who comprise the New Testament church. It is important that the church today understand the definition of ekklesia. The church needs to see itself as being “called out” by God. If the church wants to make a difference in the world, it must be different from the world.

English dictionaries defined church as a religious building especially Christian religion, these English definitions make us think physical buildings are the Church of Christ. Church as intended in the Bible is group of called out people.

Eph 5:25-27
"25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,
27 That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless."

Church as used by apostle Paul in the above text are Christians, so, to the early Christians, church is not a building but group of called out people. Jesus Christ would present Christians to God and not the buildings we call church today. After establishing that church is group of called out people, that is Christians, the next question is how do we know if we are really Christians/part of the called out people? As part of the church/called out people, what are the things or characteristics that must be evident in my life? To answer these questions, I will point out two characteristics of the early church.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARLY CHURCH

1. THE EARLY CHURCH LEFT ALL

Mark 10:28-30
"28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

The early apostles were the first church because Jesus Christ called them out from the world to follow Him, the above statement of Apostle Peter confirmed that the twelve apostles left everything they had to follow Jesus Christ. In Matthew 4:18-22, Simon peter left his boat and fish nets while James and John left their father to follow Jesus Christ.
The first thing church/Christians must do is to leave everything to follow Christ, as peter left his boat and fishing net, Christians must leave shady jobs or dealings that wouldn’t allow them to fully follow Christ. And just as James and John left their father, Christians must avoid ungodly relationships, any relative who doesn’t support your faith should be ignored.

Heb 11:27
"By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."

Moses forsook Egypt to follow and serve the God of his fathers, our own Egypt is this world. Just as Moses forsook Egypt, church must forsake this world in order to serve God the way He wants. Everything in this world, the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life are contradictory to God’s purpose.

If you are really part of the church/called out people, you would not find it difficult/hard to drop anything for God. The fact that we have problem dropping some things for God suggests we have not forsaken the world or understand what being a Christian entails. You have problem with your church/local assembly’s doctrine because you are not yet part of the church, church is always ready to follow Christ at any expense.
Since church/called out people are already out of this world nothing of this world is of value to them, so, leaving it will never be difficult or controversial.

Notice apostle peter’s statement in Mark 10:28 “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee”, they all left all. You are not qualified to be called a called out until you have left all. Left all as used in this context means the twelve had no other ambition in life than to follow and please Jesus Christ just as church has no other purpose in this world than to please God. Then, if pleasing God is your priority, you would not find it hard to forsake that ungodly relationships, immoral behaviors, bad habits, and sinful acts.

Today, we want to be in the kingdom/church and at the same time partake in worldly things, forgetting we have been called out of the world. Is there any worldly thing you find difficult to drop for God? Drop it today for you are a called out.

2. They Followed Jesus Christ daily

The early apostles and church followed Jesus Christ daily, the twelve disciples were always around Jesus Christ, listening and asking Him questions. It is even recorded in the book of Acts of Apostles that the early church met daily to fellowship and share bread. Though, we have no physical access to Jesus Christ like the early apostles, Jesus Christ gave us himself in His word that is Holy Bible. Just as the early apostles were always with Jesus Christ, the church of today should always be with Jesus. These apostles followed Jesus christ when it was convenient and when it wasn’t, these people were human but I didn’t see in the scripture where anyone of them complained of weariness. I see here that I have no excuse not to serve God and follow Him daily.

Today, we have Christians who listen to God’s word only on Sundays, Christians who don’t have personal time to study the scripture. A called out would give his/her best time to studying and meditating in the scripture because he/she knows in the scripture lies his/her strength, success and eternal life. You don’t create time for God because you don’t know you are a called out.

Salt is different from the food it flavors. God has called the church to be separate from sin (1 peter 1:16), to embrace fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42), and to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14). God has graciously called us unto Himself: “come out from them and be separate,” says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you (2 corinthians 6:17).

SHALOM
www.logos6715..com

One Saturday night, a pastor was working late and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10:00 PM, but his wife didn't answer the phone. The pastor let it ring many times. He thought it was odd that she didn't answer but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few minutes. When he tried again, she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung at their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used that Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night. The pastor couldn't figure out what the man was talking about.
Then the man said, "It rang and rang, but I didn't answer."
The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he'd intended to call his wife.
The man said, "That's okay. Let me tell you my story. You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, 'God if you're there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now.' At that point, my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God'. I was afraid to answer!"
The church that the pastor attends is called Almighty God Tabernacle.
www.logos6715..com

visit www.logos6715..com for christian articles, stories, dreams interpretation etc. it is a new blog dedicated to sharing the gospel and offering spiritual help.

visit www.logos6715..com for christian articles, stories, dreams interpretation etc. it is a new blog dedicated to sharing the gospel and offering spiritual help.

TEXT: MATTHEW 16:13-19
TOPIC: WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?


In the above text, Jesus Christ asked his disciples who people said he was. His disciples answered Him, some said He was Elijah, some one of the Prophets, some john the Baptist. Jesus then asked His disciples “who do you think I am?” Jesus Christ had to ask His disciples this important question because it is ok if the people of the world do not know whom He is but it is disastrous for His disciples not to know Him.
Thank God one of Jesus’ disciples Simon peter knew who He was and gave Jesus the right answer. Jesus Christ is asking you the same question He asked his disciples at Phillipi that “who do you think I am?”
From the text above, I can see that there are two sources of God’s revelation, I mean one can know God via two ways. The first source is from other’s people testimony about God and the second one is through one’s personal revelation of God.
REVELATIONS OF GOD FROM OTHERS

As good as this source of revelation is our Lord Jesus Christ is not satisfied with it. This source of God’s revelation rely solely on someone else’s revelation or testimony about Jesus Christ. This source of revelation is good because no one can become a Christian/disciple without it. We became Christians because someone witnessed to us about Jesus Christ, someone told us who Jesus Christ is to him personally. This source of revelation is good but not the best because it doesn’t encourage spiritual growth and development, any disciple/Christian who solely rely on this revelation will ever remain a baby in faith.
Today, we get revelations of others about Jesus Christ through mentorship, preaching, Christian articles, literatures, novels, e.t.c. As I said earlier, it is good to get revelations of Jesus Christ through these means but you can see in the above text that Jesus Christ was not satisfied with what other people tell you He is, He want to know what He is to you.
Today, we have Christians/disciples whose national anthem is my pastor/mentor/general overseer says, it is good to quote and believe what our spiritual heads told us but it is best for us to get our own revelations from Jesus Christ directly. The danger of relying on people’s revelation is that the revelation might be wrong or not good enough because it is human revelations (Matt 16:17 living bible translation). Let us consider people’s view about Jesus Christ to see how dangerous it is to solely rely on others revelations of Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist; some Israelite see Jesus as John the Baptist. These people are wrong because Jesus is not John the Baptist.
Elijah/Jeremiah; Jesus Christ is neither Elijah nor Jeremiah.
One of the Prophets: people with this view are close to the answer because Jesus Christ is a prophet but more than a prophet.
Can you see that only one out of the three answers is close to what Jesus Christ really is? There is danger in relying on what other tell you Jesus Christ is. continue on www.logos6715..com

visit www.logos6715..com for christian articles, stories, dreams interpretation etc. it is a new blog dedicated to sharing the gospel and offering spiritual help.

Hi,
I am christian brother with passion to sharing God's word, I created a christian blog of recent. The blog is to share God's word, I want those with similar passion with me as contributors on the blog. These contributors would join me in posting their christian write ups, stories and articles on the blog. The blog is on free site for now until I have enough write ups on the blog, my aim is to buy domain name and hosting when I have been able to sustain the current blog. We have thousands of blogs in Nigeria but small number of active christian blogs, join me in propagating the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You don't need to be professional to be contributor on the blog, your 'normal' sermons, ideas, revelations etc are enough. if the people of the world are using their gift for themselves, let us use ours for God.
Interested people should call/WhatsApp me on 08067153764 or drop your contacts n I will contact you.

which stations are showing the match?

how can I create a blog with #5000? I need expertise help.

anyone interested in ntax WhatsApp group shud drop their phone no

liverpudian9:
i just received my phone call today and my friend also received phone call today as well

which state?

interested people shud drop their contacts for WhatsApp group

OlalekanMultiD:
07066677777 pls add me... I got invite for pre selection training

which state of origin and r u there?

Oyo applicants, this was my question to vaids on twitter "@vaidsng i learnt u have called some interviewed succesful applicants in oyo state for training. Do other interviewed applicants in oyo have chance to b invited?"
This is their reply, “Hello, calls are still being made to successful applicants as the exercise is being conducted in batches. We are also doing our best to recruit as much competent applicants as possible, but you need to understand we cant possibly hire everyone. We will keep trying and at the same time please stay on N-Power's page for more volunteer updates. Best wishes.”

add 08067153764

has anyone received message for training?

Dortunn:
Wow! Please, what's on your profile? student/participant?.... How was the interview? What questions were you asked?

participant
I was asked three questions
have u done nysc?
will u b available for d program?
what is importance of tax?

i didnt receive mail but I just did my telephone interview with Npower.I am in Oyo state.

Wised:
Kano state.

tanks. what was d interview like?

[quote author=Wised post=59107974]I did my interview on tuesday, on the attendance sheet given to us I saw my score. I scored 31 patiently waiting for there SMS for the training.[/quote
which state?

Npower might have removed it.

embassyrich:
Pls i clicked on test it directed me to the assesment i wrote. The list did not come out

search for participant/applicant/student on your page n click on it.

sparkles007:
can't seem to find where i can login to my profile...plz help

click on d menu n choose test.

Ceterisguy:
. Thanks so much. I really appreciate. Like Oliver Twist, lol, I have one more question, is the interview conducted in the Applicant's State of residence ( i.e where the person chose during registration) or everybody is meant go to Abuja for the interview? Once again, tanx so much.

I interview is done in applicant's state of residence but d one week training is Abuja.

Ceterisguy:
Is the invitation by SMS alone or through Email as well? The Cafe guy that registered my details made a mistake on my phone number. I discovered this after waiting several weeks for SMS for test. I was able to log in with the wrong phone number but to receive SMS now for Interview is a problem. Pls will they also send email notification? Thanks.

both, check ur email daily

Ceterisguy:
Is the invitation by SMS alone or through Email as well? The Cafe guy that registered my details made a mistake on my phone number. I discovered this after waiting several weeks for SMS for test. I was able to log in with the wrong phone number but to receive SMS now for Interview is a problem. Pls will they also send email notification? Thanks.

Both, just check ur email daily

Hamstrong001:
Can u pls screen grab n let's see

I am also an applicant o

[quote author=tsquare299 post=59082545][/quote]

Blazegab:
So this listed are the shortlisted candidates. 89136 in number?

there are two lists, one is participant/applicant which contains 31845 names while d other which is student list contains 89136 names. one of the lists is successful applicants list.

hey, I noticed something when I logged into my Npower account. I saw a list of participants which is 31845 people. you people should please log into your acct to verify. I already cross checked, I searched for someone I know was called for interview on d list and his name was there. May be the list contains names of successful applicants for interview.

LaClicKLaBenDin:
I don't know if it's just me or has anyone noticed that all those who came to this thread before going for the interview or training are all being silent...No one wants to talk about their experience or something...

I don't know y they r ignoring us o. God dey sha.