INTRODUCING R.P.M.

Chapter 2

R.P.M. MEMBERS COMMITMENT TO GOD
Text: Col. 1:18

Our commitment to God’s Word starts from an attitude of Christ-centeredness. Allegiance must first of all be to Him. We make it our aim to please Him. (2 Cor. 5:9)
Our worship and praises should go to God. R.P.M. shall not encourage personal empire builders and any form of human glorification and hero-worship. (Rev. 1:6). Ministering to the Lord is the key thought of the idea of priesthood of all believers. (1 Peter 2:9). Every member’s service is needed in the Church.
Since every believer is a Priest. He must find his place of duty in the church and fill it. Our commitment to God involves:
(1) Worship: this involves: Prayer, Thanksgiving, Praise and Adoration - Phil. 4:4-6; Mt. 22:37-38; Jn. 4:19-23; Zech. 14:17. Worship must come from a sincere heart - Psalm 24:3-5; Eph. 5:18-20. Our worship must also be in truth - Mt. 15:8-9; Jn. 4:24.
(2) Hearing from the Lord and obeying - Jn. 10:27. Each believer can hear God if he is willing to listen and obey. You can hear Him through reading the Bible, listening to sermons and teachings. Other ways we can hear from God include: Listening to our leaders and accepting sound and mature advice from one another.
(3) Honouring leaders given by God for the growth of the body. Eph. 4:7-12.
(4) Receiving from God all that He has planned for the Church, i.e.
(a) Being filled with the Holy Spirit
(b) Operating the Gifts and the Fruit of the Spirit.
These will be for our spiritual growth and for ministering to others. There is always God’s part and man’s part in worship and relationship between God and man. Man also needs to stand before the Lord with a pure heart, clean hands, faith and gratitude. We are called to show forth His praise. Let’s do it individually and collectively.

DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH
The word discipline, which means training, especially of the mind and character, to produce self-control and habits of obedience, is taken from the word “disciple”. Disciple is a translation of a Greek word “Mathetes” which means one who professes to have learned certain principles from another and maintains them on that other person’s authority.

Discipline demands that a Christian orders his or her life in such a way that his actions do not undermine the faith and right expectations of others. (Rom. 14:13-21; Matt.23:13; Isa. 57:14; 1 Jn. 2:10).

INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLINE (Mk. 9:38-50).
The Lord Jesus implies by the words in verses 45 – 50 that: -
a) Everything that endangers our salvation must be sacrificed, no matter the value we attach to it (1 Pet. 2:11; Rom. 8:13; Phil. 3:8; 1 Cor. 9:27; Col. 3:5-6).
b) It takes fire, (self denial, sacrifice, rough-handling of flesh, discipline) to salt (purify, preserve, beaten and make acceptable) our lives and service to God. Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:5-7.
Our commitment to God is often manifest in our commitment to our local Church where God has placed us. The commitment could be judged in several ways including: -

1. Punctuality (Eph. 5:14-16; Jn. 9:4). He that has a heaven to win has enough to do to occupy his time. He must not “waste” time.

2. Regular attendance to Church meetings (Eph. 5:18-19; Heb. 10:25). It is not maturity that keeps people away from Church activities but lack of discipline.

3. Conduct during service (1 Cor. 14:35; Hab. 2:20). All disorderliness, e.g. walking about, side talks, sleeping are marks of indiscipline. The only recorded demonstration of anger physically by the Lord Jesus Christ was in connection with disorderliness in the place of worship. (Jn. 2:13-16).

4. Obedience to Leadership: Everybody called to lead has to be respected and obeyed. One can always seek redress in a proper way later. Pastors, Elders, Teachers, Ushers and Leaders of any group within the church doing their legitimate duty give instructions and it is expected that they should be obeyed.

5. Discipline in Conduct towards others: -
a) When offended by another member, the first option for action will not be to retaliate against the offender, but follow the injunctions in Lk. 17:3-4 and Mt. 18:15-17.
b) Tale-bearing, whether the information is true or not, as long as it will injure the reputation of another and consequently the Church, must be strongly frowned at (Lev. 19:16; 1 Tim. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:15).
c) Every debt must be promptly settled. It is advisable for members not to loan money to other members indiscriminately. Before a substantial loan is given, the lender should in confidence enquire from his Pastor or Church Committee as to the integrity of the borrower.
d) Personal or family matters discussed in confidence during prayers or counselling should not be divulged but be held in confidence.
e) There should be an attitude of respect to age, seniority and gender as obtainable both in the Bible context and the African culture.

6. Discipline towards R.P.M. Activities:-
a) It is a mark of immaturity and indiscipline when a member of R.P.M. leaves his local Church programmes to attend another outside programme(s) without due clearance from his/her church authority.
b) Printed matters like manuals, calendars, etc. produced by R.P.M. should be treated with pride by every member.
c) Every member is expected to air his/her opinions or even criticism of the Church or Mission’s policy without fear or favour but through the right channel(s), not by gossips.

In conclusion, we pray that in co-operation with the Holy Spirit may the attitude of self-discipline be embedded in our lives.

Chapter 3

COMMITMENT TO OTHERS IN THE BODY

The believers (and we hope that all R.P.M. members should be believers) have the responsibility of ministering to one another. This means to support, assist, strengthen, hold up, heal and restore one another. Acts. 2:42-47. The early believers in this passage knew how to share in ministering one to another. This they did through:-
(1) Breaking Bread: There should be in every R.P.M. branch a regular timetable of breaking bread (Holy Communion). Holy Communion was the Lord’s most solemn and last sacrament with His disciples (Mt. 26:20-29).
(2) It was His last desire before He went to the cross that those that will be His own, remember His suffering for them in this solemn feast (Mt. 26:27-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19).
(3) It is to serve as a constant reminder that we all share of the same sacrifice. (Mt. 26:27).
(4) It is to serve a point that there is going to be a place of our final meeting with the Lord – (Mt. 26:29).
(5) It is a time of necessary cleaning and heart searching for the disciples – (Mt. 26: 21-25; Jn. 13:1-11; 1 Cor. 11:28)
(6) It used to be for the Apostles and early Christians a time of mutual fellowship with one another – 1 Cor. 11:33.
In R.P.M. the rule for partaking in the Holy Communion is that a person is born-again, i.e. saved, and is baptized in water by immersion. However, the latter condition may not be strictly followed as long as the church is satisfied that the person concerned is a true child of God but has not had the opportunity of water baptism yet. During communion services, it is expected that members earnestly pray for one another. Those who are sick should approach the time of communion as a place of healing and a time when the Lord will meet many other needs.

Why then do some members absent themselves and never regard communion as important?
(1) Probably they know better than the Lord who gave the command (Lk. 21:19) and see His remembrance in such a manner as unnecessary.
(2) Maybe they are wiser than the early Apostles – Acts 2:42.
(3) Or it is lack of knowledge. Some think that a particular degree of holiness is needed and they do not have it. (See 1 Cor. 11:28 “Examine and then eat” and also 1 Jn. 3:20, 21). Sin need not stop you from the Lord’s Table, only repent from it or the same sin can send you to hell.

Absenting from the Lord’s Table is equivalent to:
(1) An insult to the Lord.
(2) Declaring oneself unworthy of God’s favour – Mt. 22:7-8
(3) A disdaining of the body of Christ.
(4) A self-declaration that one is not a responsible member of God’s family.
(5) Denying the body of Christ the mutual contribution of one’s fellowship.

FELLOWSHIP
What is fellowship? (Acts 2:42)
Fellowship is a mutual getting together of people both to share and to receive from one another. In fellowship every one gives and every one receives. Fellowship demands constant meeting and sharing with one another.
How do we do this?
Several avenues are open to us in this regard, including our weekly Bible Studies, Prayer meetings, Sunday services and Home Fellowship, etc.
In this meetings:
(1) Our presence encourages others.
(2) Our united prayers are answered – Acts 4:31, 32
(3) Physical needs of others are met.
Specialized ministries in the Church in R.P.M. are designed to provide for fellowship and corporate service.

TITHES AND OFFERING.
Every member of RPM is expected to obey God in the area of tithing. Tithing is the practice of giving one-tenth of one’s income to God. Tithing predates the giving of the Law. The first recorded instance of tithing in the Bible occurs in Genesis 14:17–20. Jacob also, long before the law of Moses, promised that he would give to the Lord a tenth of all he received (Gen. 28:22).

The Law of Moses prescribed tithing in some detail. Leviticus 27:30–32 stated that the tithe of the land would include the seed of the land and the fruit of the tree. In addition the Hebrew people were required to set apart every tenth animal of their herds and flocks to the Lord. Malachi indicated that Israel had robbed God in withholding tithes and offerings. Thus the Israelites were exhorted to bring their tithes into the storehouse in order to enjoy the Lord’s blessing (Mal. 3:8–12). In the Old Testament the purpose of the giving of a tenth was to meet the material need of the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless (the orphan), and the widow (Deut. 26:12–13).

The tithe was an expression of gratitude to God by His people. Basic to tithing was the acknowledgment of God’s ownership of everything in the earth. See the following passages for examples and mention of tithing in the New Testament: Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12; Heb. 7:5–6, 8–9.

Christ Himself is our model in giving. Giving is to be voluntary, willing, cheerful, and given in the light of our accountability to God. Giving should be systematic and by no means limited to a tithe of our income. We recognize that all we have is from God. We are called to be faithful stewards of all our possessions (Rom. 14:12; 1 Cor. 9:3–14; 16:1–3; 2 Cor. 8–9).

Besides tithes and offerings there are times when the members of Redeemed People’s Mission are called upon to identify with the concerns and other projects embarked upon by the local church, the District and the Central body (1 Cor. 12:25-25). Such giving should be seen as one of the marks of our belonging to the same body.

Chapter 4

DUTIES OF THE CHURCH TO HER MEMBERS

Every local Church is a part of the body of Christ universal. The Church has several names or titles in the Bible that throw light on her activities, privileges and responsibilities in Christ.
Such titles include: -
1. Family of God - Eph. 2:18; 3:15. Note: It is family, not families.
2. Body of Christ – Eph. 1:23
3. Temple of God - Eph.2:21-22.
4. Sheepfold of Christ – Jn. 10. etc.
Every born-again believer in any R.P.M. branch is a part of the Church universal. He also belongs to a local church. Thus his being a member of a local Church offers him several benefits such as: -
1. Identity:-
As a member of the family of God, one is offered an identity that is valid in the Kingdom of God ( Rom. 12: 3-5)
2. Security:-
As part of the body of Christ, one shares in the security offered by the Head through other parts of the body (2 Cor. 1:21).
This Security could be in terms of:
(a) Spiritual support through prayers in times of need.
(b) Correction when wrong – 2 Cor. 2:6; 1 Tim. 6:20
(c) Comfort – 2 Cor. 2:7-11
(d) Material support when in real need – 1 Tim. 5:3, 9-10
(e) Psychological and social support when opposed by outsiders

3. Training in Righteousness: It is the privilege of every serious member of R.P.M. not only to be prayed for or supported but also to receive such materials (teachings, preachings and other activities) that will make him reach his potentials in Christ.
4. Field for Service: Christians cannot find total fulfilment until they find and take up ministerial responsibilities in the body of Christ. R.P.M. everywhere seeks to widen the scope of service for possible incorporation of every members’ gift or talent – Eph 4:13-16. Members therefore are expected to be participants, not spectators in different arms of the Church
5. Support: during occasions like marriages, bereavement, child dedication, etc.
6. Christian burial when the member goes to be with the Lord.
7. Church Discipline:-
Members of R.P.M. have the privilege of being disciplined by the committee of the Church they belong to as required by scriptures when they go astray (1 Cor. 5:9-11; Jn. 20:23). Being disciplined is regarded as a mark of being accepted as a member of a family. If a member’s lifestyle is not in keeping with biblical standards and he is not disciplined, somehow it could well mean that the Church does not regard such a one as part of her. It is not a sign of achievement when you sin and you are not disciplined (Heb. 12:7-11).

This discipline may be in the form of giving the offender a ‘back seat’, temporal expulsion from fellowship or any other measure deemed fit by the local Church Committee. It must be noted however that discipline is meted out solely for the purpose of correction and warning to others and not for any other purposes.

Chapter 5

MIRACLES AND DIVINE HEALING

Some people say that the time of miracles and divine healing has passed but the more we study the Bible, the more we see that God has not changed. (Isa. 40:25-31). Therefore, R.P.M. believes that miracles still happen. Every member should approach each gathering of God’s people as a miracle time.
BASES OF FAITH FOR MIRACLES; The immutability of God: This means that:
1. God’s life does not change – Psalm 90:2; 93:2: 102:26; Isa. 40:28; Heb. 13:8
a) God’s character does not change - Ex. 3:14, Mal. 3:6, 1 Sam. 15:29; Jam. 1:17.
b) God’s ways do not change – Ps. 13:30; Rom 11:33
c) The truth about God does not change - Ps. 119:89, 152; Jn. 10:35; Isa. 40:6
d) God’s power does not change – Isa. 40:28
e) God’s purpose does not change – Num 23:19; Psa. 33:11
2. There is no distance in God’s sight in terms of time and space between this generation and that of two thousand years ago – 2 Pet. 3:8; Acts. 2:39
3. God expects the same level of righteousness from us as he expected from them of old, therefore we could also expect him to perform similar works for us. Acts. 10:34-35; Jn.15:5.
4. God’s promises make it easier for us to believe in miracles – Mk 11:22-24; Jn. 14:12; Mk. 9:23; Mk. 16:17; Lk. 17:6
5. Practical examples could be cited from testimonies of salvation, His actions in creation and nature in general.
6. The fact that with all of man’s advancement in technology and medicine, he is so imperfect and in need of miracles – 1 Cor. 1:25; 1 Pet. 1:24.

STEPS TO RECEIVING MIRACLES AND DIVINE HEALING
(1) The conviction that miracles are possible (Mk. 11:24; Phil. 4:13; Heb. 11:6b)
(2) Having a real need for miracles: consider – Mt. 4:5-7; 1 Cor. 10:9; Mt. 12:38-39
(3) Faith: Mk. 9:23; Jam. 1:5-6; Rom. 4: 19-21; Mt. 8: 5-11; 9:27-30; Acts. 16:25-34
(4) Holding on to His Word and Promises - Jn. 15:7; Jn. 6:63; Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29; Rom.1:16
(5) Patience – Heb. 10:35-38, Jm. 1:1-4
(6) Readiness to give glory to God: Isa. 42:8; 1 Sam. 2:30b (e.g. 1 Sam. 17: 45-47).

THE CHRISTIAN’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOD’S MIRACULOUS POWER
1. God through Christ is the source of all miracles and divine healing, but believers are His tools for miracles. Lk. 10:19; Mk. 16:17-18; Jn. 15:1-7.
2. Believers have the privilege of asking and receiving miracles: Jn. 1:12; Eph. 2:10; Jn. 16:24; 1 Cor. 3:9; Jer. 51:20.
3. There are believers who are endowed with special gifts of miracle and healing. 1 Cor. 12:9-10. Individuals with such gifts of the Spirit must be careful not to allow pride to destroy them. They have to remain submissive to the Church authority for their covering and maximum utilisation of the gifts.
Furthermore in R.P.M. we believe that every born-again, Spirit-filled member can be used by God to perform miracles of healing, deliverance, etc. Everyone can be a minister. Mk. 16:15-17. We encourage every believer to act in faith in God’s word in his environment and circumstances and is expected to see miracles happen. 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Cor.6.
Those who deny that miracles still happen are not just being humble but are really insulting God. Some of these people do not hesitate in believing the power of the devil through magic, sorcery, charms, witchcraft, etc. but believe that God who created Lucifer who became the devil lost his power, while the devil is having his. What a shame!