By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend Dr. Israel Akanji, FAR, on Monday, charged Christians to return to Jesus Christ, the teacher.
He gave the charge during the two days Kaduna Baptist Conference 2024 International General Workers’ Conference (North 2 Zone) Southern Kaduna, Plateau South and North West held at Albarka Baptist Church in Kaduna.
“We must deliberately bring back our discipleship, we need to add various dimension of discipleship and be discipled”. He said.
The Reverend was speaking on the theme, “Entering into Newness through Discipleship and Apostleship” taken from Mark 3:14.
He explained that a disciple is a leaner under a teacher and to the teacher, he pledges his allegiance, “hence we are perpetual learner under Jesus Christ.”
According to him, “demons are real, they come in witches and wizards. Christians should not relent from casting them out as they are diverse form who operate in the lives of people physically and spiritually.”
He said, “according to mark 3:14 that Jesus invites everyone to come to Him, the master has called on everyone to come and follow Him.”
The clergyman read from John 15:4 that Christians should abide in Christ, they are to make more disciples and focus on Him to have power over authority and demonic activities.
“In addition for Christian to be able to achieve this, you must first be with Christ before you can be able to cast them out, hence you must take your authority and drive them out.
“However, Jesus is a provider who provided for the crowd and fed them, therefore, Jesus wants us to be like Him in character and our lifestyles should display Godly character,” he advised.
He further said, “you must use what you have as a disciple, Jesus taught many, He was an instructor, he was a teacher.
“A leaner or student has to grow to be like his teacher, you must have good relationship with people to make discipleship of others by living a Godly character because it is Christ that lives in us.
“A disciple embraces good of others, we should not allow the devil to steal our time. Believers should create time to study the Bible, hence they are to apply the Word to their lives on daily basis.
“Christians are on an errand, we are saints therefore, we need to be courageous as messengers of God, we must maintain the value and lifestyles of Jesus Christ.
“Consequently, discipleship is a privilege that Christians learn from Jesus Christ, it is a privilege that comes with responsibility to go and make disciples,” he said.
He concluded that Christians shall be new life that bring in disciples to Christ through discipleship and Apostleship, insisting that learning is a continuous process.
