The way of life in the Spirit

How is one able to live the life through or by the Spirit! Is there a law, a stipulated code by which this is accomplished, or is it a vague, nebulous ideology with no stipulated guidelines?

We have been duly admonished saying; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh (sinful nature) lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:16-18).

Living and walking in the Spirit, is not something one does haphazardly, or without any guidelines and stipulations. One can be assured that, it is a well-defined and stipulated way of life, for we have been instructed saying; “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Living and walking in the Spirit therefore, is as practical and realistic as living and walking in the flesh. And for this reason we have been admonished saying; “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).

Unfortunately, our education system has failed us miserably in this vital aspect of life, because their emphasis has been mainly on the physical aspect of life and not on the spiritual, not taking into consideration that man is the descendants of two Adams.

From the first Adam, we inherited life in the flesh which could have last forever, if only he had not sinned and had partaken of the tree of life, but since his downfall, the ultimate result is dust you are and to dust you shall return. Before the advent of the second Adam, man`s spirit was dead, in other words, separated from God and God`s relationship with man was maintain only through a few chosen people such as, Enoch, Noah, Job, the fore fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the prophets.

All those who died before the advent of the second Adam were offered life during the time the Lord spent in hell, as it is written; “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine long-suffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.” And Jesus said; “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live” (1 Peter 3:18-20; John 5:25).

But with the advent of the second Adam, mankind has received a new life in the spirit as it is written; “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:1-9).

So from the advent of the second Adam, man not only has life in the flesh, but also life in the spirit and so we have been given the assurance saying; “There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man” (1 Corinthians 15:5-9).

How often do we hear people saying; “there is one life to live!” These they say in the context of let us eat and drink, have fun and be merry. Yes of course there is one life to live, but how to live this life is of paramount importance. If the dead do not rise, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this perception of life, but if there is life after death one should take into consideration how to live this life, whether to live it in accordance to the flesh or whether to live it in accordance to the spirit.

To be continued.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we worshiping the true Messiah (part two)

 Since the sign was a test sign to prove that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, anything short or beyond the stipulated three days and three nights would render him a hoax and an impostor.

After Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, on the road to Emmaus which is about seven miles from Jerusalem, two of His disciples were talking with each other about everything that happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” After relating all what happened to Jesus Christ, they said, “And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place” (Luke 24:13-28).

At the precise time of Christ’s resurrection, which was hall-marked by a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

The angel said to the Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who went to look at the tomb, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:1-6).

 To get to the crux of the matter, we need to confirm and establish the time that Christ was placed in the tomb? According to all the four gospels, Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea accompanied by Nicodemus when the evening had come, or as the Sabbath drew near (Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:42).

According to Luke’s gospel, Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was the Preparation day, and the High Day Sabbath drew near.”

Since we know what time He was placed in the heart of the earth, the other important question is, what time was Christ resurrected from the dead?

According to the gospel of Matthew, “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:1-6).

Mary Magdalene was still outside the tomb crying, when Jesus met her. She was not allowed to touch Jesus at the first instance. Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them. I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and to your God.

Later on that same day when Jesus met them and they came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. (Matthew 28:8-10; John 20:10-18).

If Christ was placed in the tomb when the evening had come, and at the dawn of the first day of the week when the women went to the tomb, He was no longer in the tomb, He was already raised from the dead, signifying that, Sunday, the first day of the week is not associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now, if the Sabbath which followed His death was Saturday, the weekly Sabbath as commonly taught and assumed, then, Jesus Christ only spent one night – Friday night, and one day – Saturday in the tomb, and this would consider Him to be an impostor, because He would not have risen as He said and thus not fulfilling His only miraculous sign to prove His Messiah ship.

If the day which followed the Preparation Day was the weekly Sabbath, and the Jews and the women who followed Jesus Christ rested on the Sabbath Day according to the commandments, and it is stated that, “The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate and said, “Sir, we remembered how that impostor said, while He was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore order the sepulcher to be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples go and steal Him away, and tell the people, He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the sepulcher by sealing the stone and setting a guard” (Matthew 27:62-66).

If the day which followed the crucifixion, or the High Day Sabbath was the weekly Sabbath – Saturday, on which both the chief priests and the Pharisees rested, what time did they go to Pilate  and receive the orders to make the tomb secure as they knew how, by putting a seal on the stone, and posting the Guard?

It would have to be “After the Sabbath toward the dawn of the first day of the week, exactly the same time when the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone and sat on it. But ironically, if the Friday crucifixion has any merit, it tends to suggest that guards were already posted by the tomb even before the orders were given, because the guards who were guarding the tomb were so afraid of the angel, that they shook and became like dead men?

So then, what is the truth of the matter? The irony of truth is, the High Day Sabbath which followed the crucifixion and the Jewish Passover was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which according to the scriptures, the Passover lamb was killed at twilight, at the going down of the sun, and eaten with unleavened bread, and as they have been instructed saying; “So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance” (Exodus 12:6, 14-17).

On that day the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the women who followed Christ and His disciples rested. “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought and prepared spices and ointments, so that they might go and anoint Him” (Mark 16:1).

It was also after the High Day Sabbath that the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate and said to him, “Sir, we remembered how that impostor said, while He was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ And Pilate gave them the permission to secure the tomb as best as they can.

Then, on Saturday, the day after the women bought and prepared the spices and ointment, they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. (Luke 23:56).

Then after the (Weekly) Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, meaning that, it was not yet the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb, and behold there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it (Matthew 28:1-2).

Therefore, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Messianic sign precisely as He foretold: He spent exactly three days and three nights in the heart of the earth: The first night was the night He was placed in the tomb on the preparation of the High Day Sabbath, the night of the Passover, which was on a Wednesday: The second night was Thursday, the end of the High Day Sabbath and the third night was the Friday.

The first day was Thursday, the day light part of Feast of Unleavened which was a Sabbath, the second day was Friday, the preparation day for the weekly Sabbath, and the third day was the Saturday the weekly Sabbath, and at the end of the weekly Sabbath, precisely the same time He was placed in the tomb, Christ was resurrected.

This amazing truth has eluded the minds of those who have rejected the annual festivals of the Lord. Had they not rejected these festivals they would have known that Jesus Christ our Passover was crucified for us exactly on the day of the Jewish Passover.

The only difference was that Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples on the night before the fourteenth day, instead of the night of the Passover, since He as the real Passover had to die at the precise time of the evening sacrifice. So He partook of it with His disciples before He died, and instituted the New Covenant of His blood for the remission of sins.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread should still be observed by Christians today, because the apostle Paul admonished us saying, “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven (typical of sin) leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was crucified for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

The question now remains, whom are you worshiping! Are you worshiping a false Messiah, a hoax, an impostor who only spent a night and a day in the heart of the earth, or are you worshiping the true Messiah, who spent three nights and three days in the heart of the earth as He said He would?

Are we worshiping the true Messiah?

It is imperative that we take a thorough examination of this question and resolve it by making the right decision because, even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).

Now, in order to resolve any matter, it is imperative that we get to the root cause of the problem and not simply dealing with the effects because, the root cause of everything that is happening especially in the area of worship, is Satan who wants to be worshiped in the place of God, and therefore, if what we are doing is not the truth we are worshiping the devil.

So, let us look at the question of whether we are worshiping the true Messiah, or whether we are worshiping an impostor? I will try to condense this article as much as possible since most of us do not like reading long articles, but first, let us establish the facts.

On two occasions the Jews requested from Jesus Christ a sign to prove His Messiah-ship, the first occasion was after His first recorded miracle of turning water into wine, and soon afterwards driving out both men and animals from the temple, and over turning the tables; the Jews demanded of Him saying, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this!”

Jesus’ reply was, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple He was referring to was His body (John 2:18-21).

On the second occasion, some of the teachers of the law (Scribes) and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” Jesus answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:38-40).

There was no ambiguity in the mind of Jesus Christ, as to how many hours constitute a day and a night; because, when He was told that Lazarus, the one whom He loved was sick, He replied, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” But His disciples replied, “Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and you are going back there?

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light” (John 11:4-10).

In this context one has to conclude that, when Jesus said that He was going to spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, He literally meant seventy-two (72) hours, and not part of a day as a day, as it is commonly taught.

On another occasion some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to Him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal (be perfected)” (Luke 13:31-32).

This He said in reference to what He would be doing during the three days and three nights He would spend in hell, as alluded to by Peter who wrote; “For Christ died for sin once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water’ (1 Peter 3:18-20).

These spirits to whom the gospel was preached whilst in hell were judged according to men in regard to the body (1 Peter 4:6). And those who heard the voice of the Lord lived. As it is written: “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live” (John 5:25).

On many occasions Jesus Christ explained to His disciples that, “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:19; Luke 24:46).

So the provoking question however is, did Jesus Christ fulfill His miraculous sign precisely as He foretold, and proved His Messiah-ship? Since the sign was a test sign to prove that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah, anything short or beyond the stipulated three days and three nights would render Him a hoax and an impostor.

Stay tuned

To be continued

How is love towards God expressed

This world is truly under a heavy cloud of deception as Jesus Christ forewarned us saying, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5).

It is a shame and disappointing to see that, the majority of things we claim to believe and practice as believers are in diametric opposite to what is expected of us, reminding me of what Jesus admonished the people saying; “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6: 46).

Take this simple admonition as a practical example, we are all calling Jesus Lord, Lord,´ but the multi million question is, how are we expressing and demonstrating our belief and conviction that Jesus Christ is truly the LORD? Although the answer is very easy and straight forward, I wonder how many of us have the eyes to see, the mind to believe and to understand!

Because of the huge cloud of deception that is hovering over the earth, many of us who profess to be believers have fallen into the category of those who have been blinded due to disobedience. Therefore, we are admonished to: “Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with intoxicating drink.

“For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, "Read this, please." And he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, "Read this, please." And he says, "I am not literate." Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men” (Isaiah 29:9-13).

This is very alarming and disturbing because this is what the Lord said concerning His people; “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).

Not only is the rejection of knowledge and disobedience to the laws of God gets one spiritually blinded but tragically being rejected from becoming priest unto the Lord which is the highest honor anyone one can receive from the Lord.

So then, how do we express and demonstrate our belief that Jesus Christ is Lord? The answer to this question is one of the simplest question to answer, for thus says the Lord; “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2).

If we are therefore calling Jesus Lord, Lord, what is so difficult in this passage of scripture to believe and implement?

Now to the main issue, how is love towards God demonstrated? Remember a teacher from the Pharisees asked Jesus a question saying: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22: 36-40).

What I have perceived is that, the majority of people are not making a clear distinction between the love towards God and the love towards our neighbor: I am fully aware of the passage which states; “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:14).

Also the one which says; “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4: 20-21).

However, apart from expressing love towards God through loving our neighbors, there is a distinctive way of expressing our love towards God and that is by keeping His commandments. Because Jesus said quite explicitly, “If you love Me, keep My commandments”. And, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him" (John 14:15, 21).

The apostle John echoed a similar sentiment by saying; By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:2-3).

So what really differentiates the love of God from the love of our neighbor? It is “Worship” for this is where we express our love, gratitude and appreciation to God for who He is and what he has done for us. But it must be done at the appointed time which the LORD has ordained.

For thus says the LORD; “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

Notice carefully that, it is not the LORD`S ordained festivals that are an abhorrence to Him, but man`s appointed festivals, because, with reference to the Lord`s Passover which is today, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread starting tomorrow, this is what the Lord says, “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.” And, “So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance” (Exodus 12: 14, 17).

With the children of Israel their deliverance was from the physical bondage of slavery in Egypt, through the protective blood spilled by physical lambs, but with mankind today especially those of us who claim to be believers, our deliverance is from sin and death by the blood of the Lamb of God. For; “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

So let us be realistic and not deceive ourselves, if the Israelite's are to observe their physical deliverance from physical slavery throughout their generations as an everlasting ordinance, should we not observe and commemorate our spiritual deliverance from sin and death throughout our generations as an everlasting ordinance?

The choice is yours, but truly, these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. The question is will you?

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Is there a protocol by which one can draw near to God!

Since the outbreak of the Corona virus pandemic the word protocol has been widely and frequently used, so most people should be used to it by now, a word which applies to rules for any procedure. And so, I beg to ask the question, is there a protocol by which one can draw near to God! Or can one draw near to God anytime and anyhow? And this I mean in the inner court, in the presence of the Most High.

We have been duly instructed saying; “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and non profitability, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7;18-19).

Because of the massive delusion, confusion and lies that are being promulgated by the many false prophets and teachers who themselves are deceived and are deceiving others, I will have to take some time to define both the former procedure that has been annulled, and the new way and better hope that has been implemented by which we can draw near to God.

1.      In the former procedure the deficiencies of former protocol were as follows:

·          It was weak, unprofitable, because it made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:18-19)

·         The way to the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing” (Hebrews 9:8).

·         It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience , it was concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 9: 9-10).

·         The (ceremonial) law being a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, could never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect (Hebrews 10:1).

·         These sacrifices could present the worshiper perfect; if they could they would not have ceased to be offered: For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins (Hebrews 10:2).

·         But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year, for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins (Hebrews 10:3-4).

·         The high priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy place only once a year on the Day of Atonement. As it is written, “But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance” (Hebrews 9:7).

·         Please note carefully that, all these procedures (protocols) were copies or, shadows of the things in the heavens, and their objectives were to purify the people; but we are told that, the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these (Hebrews 9:23).

The principal thing to note is that, the objective or the rationale for the Old Testament protocol by which one could draw near to God has not been changed, it remains the same, only the method that has been reformed but not obsolete: So let us now look at the reformation:

2.      The new protocol by which one can now draw to God whose objective and rationale remains the same but requires different procedures are:

·         While the former procedure because of its weakness and non-profitability could not make nothing perfect; we now have on the other hand, the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God (Hebrews 7:19).

·         As long as the first tabernacle was still standing, the way to the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed: Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these” (Hebrews 9:23).

·         While the sacrifices in the old procedure could not present the worshiper perfect, but Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

·         While under the old procedure, the high priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy place only once a year on the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for the sins of the people, under the new procedure, we are admonished to, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

So we see clearly that, the protocol by which one can draw near to God has not been made obsolete, but rather has been reformed, bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Therefore, the new protocol in drawing near to God is simply this:

1)      We now have a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, but a tabernacle which is in heaven (Hebrews 9: 11).

2)      The sacrifices of animals, has now been replaced with Jesus’ own body and blood when He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption: Because, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9: 12, 14-15).

3)      The High Priest: For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer (Hebrews 8:3).

However, the prescribed manner and the appointed times of worship have not been reformed, for the Lord spoke to Moses saying; "Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time” (Numbers 28:2).

And the appointed time to offer the Lord the food for His offerings is clearly chronologically defined in the 28^th and 29^th chapter of numbers, which are:

v  The thanksgiving daily offering, to thank the Lord for His loving kindness in the morning and His faithfulness in the evening.

v  The peace or fellowship offering, on the weekly and annual Sabbaths.

v  On the New Moon, which is the beginning of a new month. Therefore, we are without excuse.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

True repentance (part seven)

7.       From a spirit of fear, to the Spirit of power, love, and sound mind

Here again is another literal conversion that takes place in the life of one who is truly converted, for we have been given the assurance saying; “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

With a truly converted individual, it is no longer the individual who exercises the power, but the Holy Spirit who dwells in him/her. Like the apostle Paul wrote saying; “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

He also said; “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:13-16).

Those walking and living in the Spirit has the consolation saying; “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us: By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:1-6).

But the multi-trillion question is, how do we confess and manifest the belief that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? Is it simply a thought! This is definitely more profound than being merely a thought or belief, because one of the many reasons why Christ came in the flesh is to set us an example of how to live; “For to this we were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

"Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness --- by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:21-24).

More of this topic in future articles: stay tuned.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

True Repentance (part six)

6.      From having faith in the wisdom of men, to having faith in the power of God

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying; “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

Most people unfortunately, want to equate the wisdom of men especially in the field of medical science with God. But regardless of how many brilliant things man’s wisdom is able to accomplished, and nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them: Nevertheless, the ultimate result is always death, and God is not associated with them, because the Lord does not share His glory with no other.

For thus says the Lord, “I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images:”… “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another” (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11). 

One of the most critical and difficult areas of conversion is learning to place our faith in the power of God instead of placing faith in the wisdom of men through the process of healing. Healing, which is the restoration of health comes as a result of God`s power through intercession, repentance, prayer, faith and God`s word.

From the inception we see where Abraham prayed to God on behalf of Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants for not being able to have children and God healed them, then they bore children (Genesis 20:17).

One should note however, that it is conditional, for thus says the Lord; “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians: For I am the LORD who heals you" (Exodus 15:26).

Jesus Christ demonstrated and exercised His authority to heal, because He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them” (Matthew 4:23-24).

There were many other instances when for example a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him" (Matthew 8:6-7).

And, when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses" (Matthew 8:16-17).

This was fulfilled on the cross which now gives us the confidence to say; “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's” (Psalms 103:2-5).

Jesus Christ also gave the gift of healing to His faithful servants, for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:8-11).

And to this end we have been instructed saying; “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5: 14-16).

But the huge question is how many of us truly believe the word! And how many are willing to have our faith in the power of God, instead of having our faith in wisdom of men, with all their vaccinations and medications?

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

True Repentance (part five)

5.      From being citizens of the kingdom of darkness to becoming citizens of the kingdom of light

This aspect of conversion necessitates a redirection of our loyalty and primary focus, for this reason we are to; “Give thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14).

Now since this conversion has been effected, the converted has been instructed saying; “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which areabove, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth: For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-11).

But the million dollar question is, how do we differentiate the laws and regulations that govern the kingdom of light from that of the kingdom of darkness? Let us look at something very basic such as, when is the beginning of a new day, a new month and a new year. Most people, including myself at some point in time, were taught to believe that a day starts in the evening, and ends either at midnight or to the majority of Sabbath observers at sunset.

But let us be realistic, when does a day truly begins? Despite the fact that, God created lights in the firmament of the heavens, to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years, man rather disregard, and pay little, or no respect to those natural phenomenon which God has ordained to fulfill His purpose, and choose to hold tenaciously, to what sinful man has established.

Remember first and foremost that, before time came into existence the whole earth was in total oblivion, in complete darkness: There were no seconds, minutes, hours, days/nights, months and years, it was only when the LORD said: “Let there be light” that time came into existence and He called the light day and the darkness which was in existence before time was created He called night. Therefore, a new day begins at sunrise and not at sunset or at midnight:

With regards to a new month and a new year, now is the best time to give light to the truth and expose the lies and deception of the kingdom of darkness. In the next couple of days the Christian community all around the world will be observing the Lord`s Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, while some people call it “Good Friday and Easter Sunday. But my humble question is, what date did the LORD institute to observe the Passover? This is what the scripture says:

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.” The LORD further instructed them saying: Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight: He also told them; “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance” (Exodus 12: 1, 2, 6, 14).

So then, if on the eighth of April 2020 will be the 14th.  Day of the first month of the year, according to the laws of the kingdom of light, when was the first day of the year, and how was it herald? I do not think it is that difficult for anyone to prove, that the sun was created to rule the day, and therefore it is the sun that heralds the beginning of a new day; and the moon was created to rule the night, and to herald the dawn of a new month, since every New Moon is the dawn of a new month. But instead of following the patterns established by God, man has chosen to despise, and reject the way God ordained to count days, months, and years, and have instead adopted the system, established by the kingdom of darkness.

Will be writing more about this in future articles, but God has overlooked these times of ignorance and has commanded all men everywhere to repent: The question is will you?

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph