We value:
The Apostle's Doctrine
As a five-fold ministry with an apostle as our spiritual leader, we believe according to Ephesians 4:11-16, that Christ is still giving gifts to men: some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ..." We believe in laying down no other foundation except that which the original apostles have already laid -- Christ Jesus. We believe that miracles, signs and wonders shall follow those who believe. We believe that the kingdom of God has come when demons are cast out. We believe in preaching the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We believe in preaching repentance for the remission of sins, water baptism by full submersion, and the laying on of hands to impart the Holy Spirit. We believe in raising up disciples to be future apostolic leaders and sending them out on assignment to advance the kingdom.
RELATIONSHIPS
We believe God is a God of covenant and that he honors covenant relationships. We believe God's original intent for romantic/sexual relationships is to be experienced within the holy covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that when believers casually "date" as "boyfriend/girlfriend" without a purpose or intent, it can lead to a false sense of ownership and entitlement to one another. God doesn't play house. He builds families. The Bible says a believer who is single should be concerned about how to please the Lord, while believers who are married may care about pleasing one another (1 Corinthians 7:32). The Bible warns believers to flee youthful lust (2 Timothy 2:22), put no confidence in the flesh (1 Corinthians 10:12), guard their heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23), and to not awaken love before time (Song of Solomon 8:4).
We believe that when believers open themselves up to a romantic relationship outside of marriage, it can lead to lustful desires and sexual temptation. Such relationships do not bring honor to God because of the lack of intentionality or covenant within the relationship --And when these relationship comes to ruin, it can cause trust and abandonment issues, bitterness, heartbreak, hurt and pain within the body of Christ, which should not be so. God didn't send Jesus to die for a soul just for it to be played with and left broken.
At OBICIL, we place a high value on loving one another to the protecting of the soul. We don't believe in placing ourselves or another believer in a predicament to be tempted or to stumble into sin. We believe in loving one another sincerely as brothers and sisters in the faith, out of a pure heart, and not with selfish motive or ill intent. We believe in empowering disciples to believe that they are more than boyfriend/girlfriend material, but rather husband/wife material. We believe it is possible to get to know someone and build a foundation as friends without having to be in a romantic dating relationship with them. We believe and have witnessed God's ability to reveal and confirm who one's spouse is without one having to play a guessing game or serial date multiple individuals until eventually finding the right one. We believe in inviting the LORD into our decision-making processes, especially when it comes to whom we choose to marry-- allowing Him to ordain our relationships and not just choosing externally based on our physical type or preferences. What God joins together, let no man put asunder.
We believe that when believers open themselves up to a romantic relationship outside of marriage, it can lead to lustful desires and sexual temptation. Such relationships do not bring honor to God because of the lack of intentionality or covenant within the relationship --And when these relationship comes to ruin, it can cause trust and abandonment issues, bitterness, heartbreak, hurt and pain within the body of Christ, which should not be so. God didn't send Jesus to die for a soul just for it to be played with and left broken.
At OBICIL, we place a high value on loving one another to the protecting of the soul. We don't believe in placing ourselves or another believer in a predicament to be tempted or to stumble into sin. We believe in loving one another sincerely as brothers and sisters in the faith, out of a pure heart, and not with selfish motive or ill intent. We believe in empowering disciples to believe that they are more than boyfriend/girlfriend material, but rather husband/wife material. We believe it is possible to get to know someone and build a foundation as friends without having to be in a romantic dating relationship with them. We believe and have witnessed God's ability to reveal and confirm who one's spouse is without one having to play a guessing game or serial date multiple individuals until eventually finding the right one. We believe in inviting the LORD into our decision-making processes, especially when it comes to whom we choose to marry-- allowing Him to ordain our relationships and not just choosing externally based on our physical type or preferences. What God joins together, let no man put asunder.
THE PROCESS
We believe "THE PROCESS" is a systematic procedure performed on the sons and daughters of God to prepare them for their position in the kingdom. We believe this process -- carried out by various trials, tribulations, tests, conflicts, confrontations, etc. that the Lord strategically orchestrates -- is used to refine our character and to conform us into Christ-likeness.
1 Peter 4:12-13
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
1 Peter 4:12-13
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
THE Playbook
We believe that God is our Coach and he has designed a playbook for us to use to win every test and trial that we may be faced with. The "Playbook" consists of the "Fruit of the Spirit", found in Galatians 5:22-23 and "Love" found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. We believe that if we run these plays in every situation and circumstance, we will always win.
The great commission
We believe that true disciples have a heart after God's own heart--And God has a heart for the lost! We believe the ministry of evangelism and the Great Commission to become fisher of men is a mandate from the Lord Jesus that all disciples should follow and not just select individuals on an outreach team. We believe in challenging fear and timidity by training and equipping disciples to go out to the highways and hedges to compel the lost to come to Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
Matthew 4:19
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
Matthew 4:19
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Sitting at the FeeT
We believe in taking the time out to get to know the God whom we serve, and not just being a busy body in the Kingdom. Before placing a novice or babe in a position of authority within the ministry, we believe in sitting them down at the feet (of God's word), where they may take up Christ's yoke and learn of Him. We believe in being washed by the word of God so we can have the right heart before operating in the gifting of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by much serving. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
1 Timothy 3:1, 6, 8
Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. [...] He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. In the same way, deacons [...] must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by much serving. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
1 Timothy 3:1, 6, 8
Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. [...] He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. In the same way, deacons [...] must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.