Heb. 12: 1 – 2; 6:1-2
Introduction:
Shall we rise up and sing #41, To God Be the Glory…2times
As I told you last week that we shall be celebrating our NBC here today. Incidentally the NBC President also ordered it to all 101st Session Messengers that we celebrate it today
What are we celebrating?
Why are we celebrating?
Where are we celebrating?
How should we celebrate?
These are just the few questions that today’s message will answer.
1. Where are we celebrating?
We are celebrating in Nigeria, Nigeria itself (or herself) that celebrates her 100year of amalgamation. This year Celebrating Nigeria comes with a lot of mixed feelings. As a nation, as we have many things that we can point at as developments but, unfortunately the evils that have befallen us in so many areas leave us with mix feelings and confusion if not for God’s grace and mercy.
Insecurity – at all levels
Unemployment/Under-employment
Retrenchment
Leadership problems
Inadequate Social amenities
Religious Crises (e.g. Boko Haram)
Insincere and corrupt leaders at all levels
Yes, many more but one thing is sure, God has been faithful, kind and gracious to us, Jeremiah’s word is fulfilled on us, that it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed (Lamentations 3:22)
This is made possible by the intercessory ministry of the Church. Were it not for the church, perhaps, what we are now celebrating as a nation could have been a mirage.
Our emphasis today is not on Nigeria but on us as denomination (NBC) because at some better levels, the rulers of Nigeria have done that, even celebrating Nigeria outside Nigerian soil. May God have mercy?
2. We are celebrating our Faith?
What faith? Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our faith as a Baptist people (Faith of our Fathers). We were not the first Missionary organization to step on the soil of Nigeria. But by 1850 T.J. Bowen brought Baptist Faith to Nigeria (Delve a little on History from the program bklet)
It will interest you that so many churches were founded between 1850 till date totaling about 10,000 and membership running to millions
In addition, before 1976, abut 50 secondary schools were founded. The NBTS, Ogbomoso the first degree-awarding institution in Nigeria was founded in 1998. Note the Premier University started as a College of the University of London in 1948. There after there were hospitals/health centers, all functioning well to the glory of God till today.
Alongside all this, personnel was being raised and developed, such that today the Yoruba Association of 1914 (p.11 of Program Bklet) of about 50 messengers is now called NBC wherein over 15,000 messengers converged. Once again, glory to God in the Highest
3. The next question is, why are we celebrating?
We are celebrating because:
a. God has been good to us
b. Inaddition to other denominations, NBC has raised notable leaders in all areas of life
c. God has used NBC to raise evangelicalism in the land. There is hardly any latest
church group or ministry, today in Nigeria that some or many of their members were not from Baptist denomination. We call them Baptists in the diaspora
One of such hosted the NBC pastors at his church Headquarters last week. One of such is Brother Isaac (baptized at Oritameta BC Ibadan) occupying the seat of governor in one state in Nigeria today.
d. We are a solid people. We can be different in our opinions, we hold a common faith. It is on us that the scripture (Eph.4: 4 – 6 is fulfilled
e. Even here in Osun State, several leaders emerge from the Baptist (even
from among you) who are doing great exploits in their different ministries today outside the Baptist
We are celebrating the widening of vision even as we break new frontiers. We can say today we are a global church
f. Yes, we are celebrating because we are sure of heaven. We believe that Jesus
died, but rose again, He’s at the right hand of God (interceding for us) and He’s coming back someday to rapture us home. None of us will miss heaven.
So many reasons to celebrate, but, the other side of this message is “Renewing Our Commitments”
This leads us to our passage of meditation (Heb. 12: 1-2 and 6:1-2) Read
As we have shared before, there is an expectation in view of all this opportunity.
In addition to the Biblical witnesses who are heroes and heroines of faith (see. Heb.11) we have our own heroes too who have now become the witnesses (dead and alive) watching us as we handle the baton of ministry they handed over to us. So many of them. Because they surrounded us we are commanded to:
Run the race set before us
Throw off everything that hinders
Fix our eyes on Jesus
And according to Heb. 6:1-2
We are to “leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity. Simply put having gone this far, we ought to be or do more than we are doing
Our situation was like that of Joshua (in Chapt 13). Even when he had conquered many lands and he was old, the Lord still told him that there were more lands to be covered.
In like manner, we have many more lands to be covered. No wonder we are admonished to throw off any and everything that entangles. This must be so, so that we can run the race well. You ask, what race?
It is the race for heaven
It is the race for life (abundant and eternal)
It is the race to live with God for ever
It is the race for perfection
It is the race for righteousness and justice (a world of godliness and fairness to all)
It is the race for the Promised Land, the eternal land where we will live for ever with God
It is the race to live in the new heavens and earth
It is the race to know God, to commune and fellowship with Him both now and for ever.
This is the great Christian race, the great goal toward which every believer is running
No wonder then it is worth it, that every entanglement and sin must be laid aside and put off in order to be able to run the race well. That is how to run the race.
Conclusion:
4. How should we Celebrate?
Now as we celebrate the Centenary and rejoice in our legacies we have some serious challenges in our hands.
Our nation is facing a lot of crises (from leadership to security, to un-employment; etc)
The church faces a lot of crises (in terms of syncretism and adulterated gospel leading or giving room for materialism)
We have our own challenge as a denomination and as a church, hence the need to renew our commitments.
You say what commitment?
1. To the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour & Master
2. To serious church membership
3. To meaningful soulwinning and discipleship
4. To committed ministry and service
5. To faithful involvement in ministry activities
6. To faithful financial commitment to church ministries and projects
7. To live christlike life anywhere no matter what our experiences are.