GREETINGS ...

In Mathew 18:20 Jesus looked ahead to a new day when He would be present with his followers not in body, but through his Holy Spirit. In the body of believers (the church), the sincere agreement of two people is more powerful than the superficial agreement of thousands, because Christ's Holy Spirit is with them. Two or more believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, will pray according to God's will, not their own; thus their requests will be granted. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 (KJV)

Many fail to recognize the POWER and AUTHORITY in the church because their grief blinds them; they are incapable to see Christ because they don't expect to see Him. Jesus is near you, and He is calling your name. Can you, like Mary, regard Him as your Lord? In Matthew 20:18 Mary did not meet the risen Christ until she had discovered the empty tomb. Then she responded with joy and obedience by going to tell the disciples. We cannot meet Christ until we discover that he is indeed alive, that His tomb is empty. Are you filled with joy by this good news, and do you share it with others?

Our Home Church extends the invitation to all to come to Jesus and experience the joys of salvation in Christ. The gospel is unlimited in scope — all people everywhere may come. Salvation cannot be earned, but God gives it freely. We live in a world desperately in need, and many are dying of thirst. But it's still not too late. We invite everyone to come and drink. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

We'd like to support you with prayer, and to offer you some materials that you can use as you grow in Christ. Just fill in your name and share any prayer requests or comments you may have. We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). We want to keep in touch with you by all means. Please include your email address on the form below and click Submit. - Pastor Telema W. Okobi

Eternal life is a free gift from God. It is not something that we earn, nor something that must be paid back. Consider the foolishness of someone who receives a gift given out of love and then offers to pay for it. A gift cannot be purchased by the recipient. A more appropriate response to a loved one who offers a gift is graceful acceptance with gratitude.

Our salvation is a gift of God, not something of our own doing (Ephesians 2:8,9). God saved us because of his mercy, not because of any righteous things that we have done (Titus 3:5). How much more we should accept with thanksgiving the gift that God has freely given to us. It is impossible to be neutral. Every person has a master — either God or sin. A Christian is not someone who cannot sin, but someone who is no longer a slave to sin. He or she belongs to God.

You are free to accept or decline the offer of Eternal Life in Christ Jesus, but you are not free to manipulate the consequences of your choice. The payment of sin is death. That is all you can expect or hope for in life without God. Christ's currency is eternal life — new life with God that begins on earth and continues forever with God. What choice have you made?

Established Upon Better Promises

Jesus' promise in Matthew 16:18 has enormous implications for the foundation of Our Home Church. Each of the five words in this brief declaration "I will build My Church." reveals an essential truth of our Christian life and service.

First, this promise discloses who will build the church. "I (Jesus) will build My church." Jesus is the builder of the church, not man. He wants to use us in the process, but He is the builder. We understood this arrangement. "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation" (1 Corinthians 3:10). By the grace of God, we served the Lord. As we go about proclaiming Christ, the Lord is using us to lay the foundation (Christ) in lives that are being saved and individual churches that are being started.

Second, Jesus' promise reveals the certainty of His church being built. "I will (assuredly) build My church." There is no room for doubt. Jesus will do what He is promising. The only question for us is whether or not we will be available as a part of this wondrous process. The Lord wants to make us usable for His work: "sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).

Third, this promise indicates the manner in which the Lord wants to work. "I will build (construct) My church." As with any construction project, there are both the quantitative and qualitative aspects. The Lord saves souls, adding them to His church in a quantitative increase. "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). The Lord also enriches those He saves, bringing to His church qualitative development. "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33).

Fourth, His promise settles the issue of ownership. "I will build My (Jesus') church." The church does not belong to the Pastor, the Church Board, or the District Office. It is Jesus' church. He paid the price to redeem us: "the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).

Fifth, this promise specifies exactly what Jesus is going to build. "I will build My church (His people)." The church is not a building. This word (church) literally speaks of "a called out people." "But you are...His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God" (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Dear Lord Jesus, we honor You as the builder of the church. we rest in the certainty of Your task being accomplished, both quantitatively and qualitatively. we see that the church, Your redeemed people, belongs to You. Also, we humbly ask that You equip us and use us as You fulfill this grand promise, Amen.