On Sunday 16th August 2020, Apostle Ernest Onwukwe (East Central Nigeria) conducted a YouTube Divine Service from Abuja where he spoke on the teachings and experience of Jesus while also urging Christians to imitate Him. The service was assisted by Bishop Isaac Adelabu.
 
The Apostle based his sermon on the text word Luke 7:33-35, “For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

The teachings of Jesus

The personality and teachings of Jesus Christ was an unusual phenomenon. What Jesus was teaching challenged the way people believed and perceived God at the time past and in the present times we are in, because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the incarnate of God. This means His teachings is still very relevant in our time.

Jesus taught us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, to love our neighbours as we love ourselves and accept the house of God as a holy place of prayers.

Jesus compared His liberal and people centered life with the strict teachings of John the Baptist. Despite His people-focused, all-inclusive and easy going way of life, He was greatly criticized.

Those who criticize Christ and are using Him for their personal benefits are living a life of heavy burden. We may have stepped into this group in one way or the other yet, Jesus has called us to ‘come unto Him all ye who have laboured and are heavy laden, He will give us rest.’


The imitators of Christ

Jesus Christ has a group of people who are His followers. Those who imitates Jesus make the effort to remain with Him no matter the situation they find themselves. They are certain and believe Jesus has the word that gives eternal life and they enjoy the fellowship of the brethren.

They enjoy the communion of the Church of Christ. They are repentant with contrition and have a broken heart when they sin against God and are certain their salvation is in the Lord.

Being imitators of Christ does not deny us any benefit of living and enjoying what God has created.

Those who imitate Jesus are sure their names are written in the lamb's book of life. They are sure they will be raptured by Christ.

Jesus loves us all no matter our root or the groups we belong to. He wants to rapture all men.
He wants us to come to Him and imitate Him. That will lead us to eternal fellowship with Christ and continue to enhance our Joy.

Those who imitate Christ listen to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit comforts them.

This is our target and our purpose. Let us remain steadfast in God's house.

Concluding the sermon, the Apostle enjoined the congregation to stay in the circle of the brethren who imitate Christ. He said the justification of this wisdom is that God will accept us in grace.

The imitators of Christ are in the process towards perfection. On the day of the Lord, if we remain steadfast, He will perfect all things that concern us.