By Pastor (Dr) Senior Gabriel Okpako Uyeh, Vice President, The Apostolic Church Nigeria/Chairman, Lagos, Western and Northern Areas LAWNA Territory
In today’s world, many question the relevance of the Church and its role in their lives, asking, “What is the Church doing for me? What is Christ doing for me?” This is why we are now called to contend for the faith. Our forefathers in this Church stood firm in their beliefs: one fold, one shepherd; one faith, and that unity is what we must maintain as the Church.
1. One Baptism:
Baptism symbolizes our entry into the Body of Christ. We use water, whether from a typical source, a stream, or a river. The Bible tells us that unless we are baptized with water, we cannot enter the kingdom. Our current fellowship is of the Spirit, and although we should not force anyone into water baptism, it remains a vital step in our faith journey. Baptism signifies the renunciation of past beliefs and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. We are all baptized into the Body of Christ, with Jesus as the head.
2. One God and Father:
We worship one God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who appeared to Moses. This God is whom we must believe in and follow until the end. Understanding this unity is crucial as we prepare to pass our faith on to future generations.
Psalm 11:3 asks, “If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The Lord will establish us on the true foundation, Jesus Christ. As we fight for the faith, we must also prepare to contend for the faith of our fathers. How do we achieve this? By building ourselves in the most holy faith (Jude 20) and on the Rock, Jesus Christ, who is the truth. We must handle this truth well, as Proverbs 23:23 and Isaiah 55:1 urge us to “buy the truth and sell it not.”
3. Spiritual Purging from Sin:
We must decisively deal with sin through the blood and fire (Luke 3:17; John 15:2; 1 Corinthians 5:7). If we play with sin, it will play with us. An incident in the Bible where Phinehas averted a plague by removing sin (Numbers 25) serves as a reminder. Leaders, especially, must rise and stand against sin. Sin is delicate and must be addressed seriously within the Church.
4. Sacrifice of Self:
Romans 12:1-2 and Galatians 2:20 call for us to dedicate ourselves as living sacrifices. The devil cannot cast away devils; we must have power over sin. Paul said, “I am crucified with the Lord; leave me alone, because I have the mark of Jesus.” To have that mark, we must sacrifice ourselves.
5. Mortification of the Flesh:
The deeds of the flesh must be subdued and buried for the Spirit to reign. True worship must be ignited and rekindled. Our worship must be filled with the power of the Holy Ghost, not just routine prayers. Galatians 3:3 reminds us not to start in the Spirit and try to perfect ourselves by the flesh.
6. Upholding Apostolic Heritage:
We must hold onto our Apostolic Heritage, which many have forgotten. The power of the Holy Ghost should not be disregarded in favor of mere education. Spiritual unity is crucial for our faith and life in Christ. Spirituality cannot be secondary; it must be primary.
As we conclude, let us ask ourselves: Are we ready to contend for the faith or hold it loosely? Are we prepared to receive new power during this Convention? To contend for the faith, we must do God’s will, not our own. We must hold the truth firmly, as hypocrisy and deceit have no place among us. Jesus, the truth, sets us free. Equip yourself from this Convention by seeking the power to contend for the faith.
TO BE CONTINUED
