Apostleship The Making of an Apostle in the Holy Order By Special Senior Apostle David Martins MD
Mission of the Church The mission of the ESOC&S To evangelize and to arouse the African in Nigeria in particular and the whole world in general to the practice of a spiritual Christian life and to those sublime principles of Christian charity and faith as taught by Christ himself
Method of the Church Training and Ordination of the Members Trained and educated under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit through the sharing of the individual spiritual gifts among the gifted members of the congregation The Concept of Sanctuary Education The Contrast of Seminary Education Training and education under the tutelage of biblical scholars that may not even be Christians
Purpose of Ordination Some spirit-filled born again believers have been endowed with specific gifts of the Holy Ghost And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers Ephesians 4:10-12 The progressive ordination of the members prompts them to practice through the ordination ranks and thus provides them the opportunity to probe themselves for hidden gifts of the Holy Ghost The proficiency of performance is usually significantly enhanced when the Gift of the Holy Ghost aligns with the Ordination Rank and Role of the gifted member
Practical Opportunities The General Practice Rabbi: Bible Study Facilitation Pastor: Pastoral Care and Counseling Evangelist: Open Air Service Prophet: Spiritual Guidance Apostle: Leadership The Gifted Practice Specific practice with premier proficiency Neglect not the gift that is in thee (I Timothy 4:14)
Training by Apprenticeship The training of Aaron s sons by Aaron The training of Timothy and Titus by Paul The training of our fathers by the founder House-keeping duties of brothers and sisters A true test and training in humility Prayer sessions of the Aladuras and L/Aladuras An introduction to fasting and abstinence Leadership staffs and skills of the Leaders
Performance-based Progression Membership Ordination Progression Brother and Sister (House-keeping duties) Aladura and Lady Aladura (Prayer Sessions) Leader and Lady Leader (Worship Setup) Rabbi and Dorcas (Bible Study Facilitation) Pastor and Deborah (Care and Counseling) Evangelist and Mary (Open Air Service) Prophet and Prophetess (Spiritual Guidance) Apostle and Mother (Leadership)
Performance Measures Attendance Presence and Participation Bible Study and Sharing Personal and Congregational Contribution Time Talent Tithe
Model of Success Apostles Evangelists P a s t o r s R a b b i s Congregation
The Making of A Baba Aladura From Brother J.S. Olugbusi: Secretary of Leader H.A Phillips Bible Class in 1927 to His Most Eminence Elder J.S. Olugbusi: Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim and Moses Orimolade IV in 1960
Rabbi and Dorcas The First Office of the Priesthood
Power of Anointing Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward I Samuel 16:13
Bible Study and Sharing Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth 2 Timothy 2:15 ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things I John 2:27
Bible Study Importance Bible Study and the Mission Statement of the Holy Order To evangelize and to arouse the African in Nigeria in particular and the whole world in general to the practice of a spiritual Christian life and to those sublime principles of Christian charity and faith as taught by Christ Himself
Bible Study Mnemonic Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth Study it Teach it Use it Disseminate it Yield to it
Bible Study Plan Scheme Topical Study versus Reading Cover to Cover Statistics 1,189 Chapters in 66 books of the Bible by 40 men Schedule 3 Chapters for one hour every Sunday Seven-Year Complete Bible Study Cycle Deuteronomy 31:9-11
Bible Study Facilitation Keep it Steady Bible Class Schedule Facilitating Rabbi Schedule Keep it Simple Biblical Content Review: Not a Sermon Comments and Considerations Keep it Straight Reserve Controversies for the Elders
Pastor and Deborah Pastoral Care and Counseling
Background Pastoral care and counseling Demonstration of the first rule of love as the bounding duty of the members to God and one another in the Holy Order Love for God fosters a sense of divine service Love for one another fosters a sense solidarity Solidarity The ability to give oneself up for the greater good of another driven by the harmony of interest and dedication among the members of the congregation All for One and One for All
Pastoral Care Prescribed personal prayers Intercessory Candle Prayers Intercessory Fasting With the involvement of the Aladuras Congregational well-being Attendance and Participation Home and Hospital Visitation
Pastoral Credibility Expertise Biblical knowledge and practical experience Trustworthiness Talking the talk and walking the walk Avoidance of doubt and dissimulation
Importance of Trust People believe what they see Bible Knowledge and Spiritual Skills People try and test what they believe Prayer Request and Response People trust what they have tried and tested and found to be true Hence the recognition of the Christians in Antioch and the Aladuras in Lagos
Guidance and Counseling To evangelize and arouse the African in Nigeria in particular and the whole world in general to the practice of a spiritual Christian life Definition of Arouse To make aware To evoke a desire To wake somebody up from sleep Make aware and desirous of righteousness II Timothy 3:16
Guidance and Counseling An integral weekly and gender-specific activity in the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Place of Activity Women s Wednesday Morning Prayer Brothers Midnight Service Time of Activity The time slot for advice during service
Guidance and Counseling A general responsibility of the anointed male and female members from the ranks of Pastor and Deborah: Spiritual Advisers The limited scope of the activity The specific responsibility of the prophets and prophetesses The restriction to the place and people
Guidance and Counseling Licensure and Certification Not required for a religious obligation Limited Basis Spiritual basis provided by the authority of the bible and prophecy as the Word of God Liability Beyond the bounds of the biblical authority
Case Study 1 of 3 A female member of the church married to a non-christian man seeks advice on what to do because her husband has threatened to divorce her if she does not leave the church How will you advise this female member? What is the biblical basis for your advice? I Corinthians 7:12-15
Case Study 2 of 3 A member and father of a 21-year old girl that has been impregnated by a 51-year old married elder in the church seeks counsel at the brothers midnight service What should be done with the pregnancy? What should be done to the elder? How will your counsel change if the girl was 14 years old?
Case Study 3 of 3 The wife of the most senior elder in the branch showed up for Women s Wednesday prayer with bumps and bruises inflicted on her by the elder and seeks counsel What will you advise the woman to do? What can the church do about the elder? How will your counsel to the woman change if the husband was not a member?
Evangelist and Mary Evangelism in the Holy Order
Definition of Evangelism II Timothy 4:1-5 with an emphasis on 5 What is the work of an Evangelist? Evangelism is the spreading of Christianity especially through the activities of evangelists Evangelist seek and create opportunities to declare the word of God It is the Holy Spirit that convicts and converts
Types of Evangelism Private Personal outreach Public Seeking connection with individual persons for the purpose of declaring the word of God Population outreach Creating opportunities to declare the word of God to groups of persons at a time
Private Evangelism Personal Connection Personal plight Empathy Probe Spiritual insight Plan of action Intercessory Prayer and Follow up Witness and Promotion of the church
Public Evangelism Public Parade Palm Sunday and Pentecost Sunday Open Air Preaching Yearly and Monthly Theatrical Performances Audiovisual Musical Products Anniversary Invitations
Open Air Preaching Message Language and literacy levels of the people Cultural context of the place Messengers Membership reputation in the community Method Public procession and profession
Prerequisite Courage Strength Strength in the faith of the fathers as laid down by the founding father Moses Orimolade Sensitivity Recognition and respect for the culture and the practice of the people regardless of the position of the church
Preparation Knowledge of God Bible Study Knowledge of the People Race and Ethnicity The African Emphasis of the mission Religious Beliefs Cultural Practices
Promotional Material Church Origin Doctrine Branch Location Contact Information Schedule of Activities
Personalization Accuracy of the information Verification of the information Clarification of the information Ability to respond to the information Resources required to act on the information Assistance available to the respondent Pick up and drop off
Prophet and Prophetess The Controversial Gift of Prophecy
Promise of Prophecy The Promise of the Gift of Prophecy And it shall come to pass afterwards, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions Joel 2:28
Promise Fulfilled Acts 2 :1-4
Equivalence of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost Romans 12:6-8 Ephesians 4:11 1 Corinthians 12:1-14 7. Rulership 1. Apostle 1. Word of Wisdom 1. Prophecy 2. Prophet 5. Prophecy 7. Tongues 8. Interpretation 6. Discernment 4. Exhortation 3. Evangelist 3. Faith 6. Showing mercy 5. Giving (S & S) 2. Ministering 4. Pastor 5. Miracles 4. Healing 3. Teaching 5. Teaching 2. Word of Knowledge
Value of Prophecy But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you 1 Corinthians 14:24-25
Legacy of Prophecy The Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim is a spiritual Christian organization Committed to the arousal of the African to the practice of a spiritual Christian life The gift of prophecy was specifically prayed for by the founder and granted by God for the Holy Order
Targets of Messages A Person Agabus to Apostle Paul A Family Samuel to the family of Eli the High Priest The Church Apostle John to the seven Churches in Asia The World Agabus to the world of Claudius Caesar
Types of Messages Foretell the future: death and disaster Reveal the past: action and events Comfort the hurting: trial and tribulation Reprove and reprimand: offenders Directions for prescribed personal prayers Reveal the thought of the heart Name a Child or an Institution
Duty of the Prophet Reception of Messages Voice Visions Dreams Combinations Voice and Vision Transmission of Messages Delivery under oath Theatrical Performance Trance Communication
Dilemma of the Prophet Simple and Straight Messages Desirable but rare in prophetic communication Difficult and Ambiguous Messages Force Prophets into deeper communion with God Foster collaboration among the Prophets Facilitate the mentoring of the young Prophets Silence of the Divine The temptation to fill in the blanks under undue pressure And the spirit of the Prophet is subject to the Prophet 1 Corinthians 14:32
Vulnerabilities of a Prophet Assumptions and Presumptions Pride and Arrogance Failure to seek counsel and clarification from the other prophets in the house of prayer Personal Interest and Bias Ulterior Motives and Hidden Agenda Sexual Harassment and Seduction
Protecting the Legacy The activities of the Prophets must be limited to the house of prayer The Doctor and the Hospital Analogy All prophetic utterances and transactions must be witnessed and documented by designated officers of the congregation The Elder in charge and the Rabbi
Tracking the Prophets Record of Messages Proper record of messages by the Rabbi Review of the Book of messages Periodic Review of the Book of messages When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him Deuteronomy 18:22
Authentication Prophets Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world 1 John 4:1 Prophecy The Word of God The Worship Setting The Way of Our Fathers
Apostle and Mother Leadership in the House of Prayer
Apostle The word Apostle actually means the one that was sent out The Acts of the Apostles in the ESOC&S Establishment of new branches Apostles and Mothers in Israel (i.e...the Church) Oversight of the established branches Supervising Apostles and Senior Mothers Senior Apostles
Local Responsibility Membership Duty Roster Record of Performance Attendance: Presence and Participation Bible Study:Adults and Children Contribution: Time, Talent and Tithe Review of Performance Group: Monthly Open and Public Meeting Individual: Yearly Closed and Private Meeting
Global Responsibility Increasing the number of Branches in every District Increasing the number of Districts in every Province Increasing the number of Provinces in every CMC Increasing the number of CMCs in the Church
Q & A Session
Closing Prayer
Thank You The End