Are we worshiping a false Messiah (contd)

Let us be realistic, what is at stake here is whether we are worshiping the true Messiah or a false messiah, whether we are giving to Jesus Christ the glory and honor due unto Him as LORD or are we worshiping Satan the devil whose desire is to be worshiped in place of God. It is not a matter of being judgmental for why do we judge our brother? Or why do we show contempt for our brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. What I am emphasizing is the error of vain and false worship, to avoid people from giving to Satan the honor and glory which should only go to the Lord.

So then, since we know what time Jesus Christ´s body was placed in the heart of the earth, it should not be difficult to determine the precise time of His resurrection, because the one and only sign that He gave to prove that He was indeed the Messiah is that, He would spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Therefore, the precise time He was placed in the heart of the earth, is the precise time that He resurrected from the dead after spending three days and three nights.

Remember, when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb before the dawn of the first day of the week while it was still dark, they were greeted by an angel who said to them; “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 Him at the first instance because 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, they came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. (Matthew 28:8-10; John 20:10-18).

Now consider this for a moment, if Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb when the evening had come, and as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week when the women went to the tomb, Jesus Christ was no longer in the tomb, He was already raised from the dead, signifying that, Sunday which is the first day of the week is in no way 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 which is the Friday night and one day which is Saturday in the tomb, and this would consider Him to be an impostor, because He would not have risen as He said which is three days and three nights and thus not fulfilling His only miraculous sign to prove His Messiah ship.

Now consider this again, if the day which followed the Preparation Day, the High day Sabbath was the weekly Sabbath  (Saturday), 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 in the night after the Sabbath before 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 which is the High Day Sabbath which followed the crucifixion 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 (Saturday), 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 the High Day Sabbath, the second day was Friday, the preparation day for the weekly Sabbath, the day the women bought and prepared spices and ointments, and the third day was the Saturday the weekly Sabbath, and at the end of the weekly Sabbath, precisely the same time Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb, He 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 you one of those who believe in a Good Friday crucifixion and an Easter  Sunday resurrection? When Jesus Christ was not crucified on a Friday, nor was He resurrected on a Sunday. The choice is yours.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we worshiping a false messiah

 

Since the length of time that Jesus Christ spent in the heart of the earth was a test sign to prove that He 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. Then Jesus 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).

The scriptures confirmed that, after Jesus Christ was resurrected, after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came 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 from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

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).

 Please note carefully that, the time Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb it was still dark and was just beginning to dawn towards the first day of the Week, signifying that it was not yet the first day of the week and therefore, confirming the fact that, a new day does not begin either at sunset or at midnight.

Now, to get to the crux of the matter, we need to confirm and establish the time that Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb because, the exact time He was placed in the heart of the earth is the exact time He would raise from the heart of the earth. Because Jesus unequivocally said; For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Therefore, the sign of the true Messiah begins with the time His body was placed in the tomb in the heart of the earth.

Jesus Christ died at the ninth hour of the day which is synonymous to three O´clock in the afternoon as we have been duly admonished saying: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" And, Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit” (Matthew 27: 45, 46, 50).

Consider this again for a moment, if from sixth to the ninth hour of the day darkness covered the earth and Jesus gave up His spirit at the ninth hour of the day and this time period is twelve to three O’clock in the afternoon, how cans a new day begins at either sunset or at midnight? Food for thought!

Now, when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb (Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:42).

Please note carefully that, it was already evening when Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, so by the time he went and bought the cloth, took down the body, clean, embalm as the custom of the Jews is to bury, wrapped it in a clean cloth and laid it in the new tomb, this must have taken a couple of hours into the late evening to accomplished. Therefore, it is logical to say that the time the body of Jesus Christ was laid in the tomb was late in the evening of the Preparation day, and the High Day Sabbath drew near.”

It is imperative to note that while Joseph and Nicodemus were embalming the body and laid it in the tomb late in the evening Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were present sitting opposite the tomb, then the following day which was a High Day Sabbath they rested, and later we are told that, “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him” (Mark 16:1).

Please note carefully that, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary bought and prepared the spices to anoint the body of Jesus after resting on the High Day Sabbath, but after they bought and prepared the spices and fragrant oils they again rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment: Thus signifying that there were two Sabbaths during the period of Jesus’ death and resurrection which were the High Day Sabbath which followed the crucifixion and the weekly Sabbath that proceeds the first day of the week. (Luke 23:56).

So let us analyze this carefully because we are talking about true or false worship, we are talking about worshiping the true Messiah verses a false messiah. Since there were two Sabbaths between the day of Jesus’ death and His resurrection and a day in between the two Sabbaths on which the women bought and prepared the spices and fragrant oil before resting on the Sabbath according to the commandments, the question is, when was Jesus Christ crucified? Was He crucified on a Friday and rose on a Sunday?

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we worshiping the true Messiah

 

When it comes to the observation and celebration of the Feast of First Fruits, the Sunday the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to the Father after His Resurrection, let us examine the scriptures and see 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. 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” ((1 Peter 4:6;John 5:25).

Jesus Christ at least on three occasions predicted His death to His disciples when He said to them 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.” And, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:19; Luke 24:46).

So then the provoking question 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

With brotherly love 

Lucius Josepjh

How prevalent is vain worship (part eight)

 

 

·         Passover/Days of Unleavened Bread

The spiritual intent or the rationale for observing the Passover and days of Unleavened Bread is to express our appreciation and gratitude to the Lord for delivering us from sin as we have been duly admonished saying; “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed 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” (1Corinthians 5:7-8).

With the children of Israel, Passover was to commemorate their deliverance from the slavery of Egypt, but this was only the copy of the reality. The reality is man’s deliverance from sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the real Passover Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world.

The spirit intent of the Passover and days of Unleavened Bread is to commemorate and express gratitude to the Lord for paying the price of sin in our stead, and to remind ourselves to put sin out of our lives.

·         The Feast of First Fruits

The spiritual intent of this festival is to express our gratitude to Jesus Christ for giving us a new life in Him at His resurrection from the dead by conquering death and to commemorate and celebrate the day that He presented Himself to the Father after His resurrection on our behalf.

Remember, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He met Mary outside the tomb weeping and said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' Then, the same day at evening, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:17-21).

The spiritual intent of the festival of First Fruits is also to honor and glorify Jesus Christ as the true Messiah and therefore, to avoid worshiping a false messiah it is imperative that we take a thorough examination  and make 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, it is Satan who wants to be worshiped in the place of God, and therefore, if what we are doing is not the truth and in this regard  we are looking at the sign of the true Messiah, our worship is not only in vain but we are actually worshiping the devil.

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part seven)

 

·         Monthly

There is ample biblical proof that the New Moon was observed both in the old and in the beginning of the New Testament era. For example:

·         King David

David knowing that King Saul intended to cause him harm said to Jonathan “Indeed tomorrow is the New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. But let me go, that I may hide in the field until the third day at evening.” Then Jonathan replied to him and said; "Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty:” The story continues stating that; “David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast. Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.” (1 Samuel 20:5, 18, 24-25).

When David became King, his last instructions to the Levites was that, they were “to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening; and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD” (1Chronicles 23:30-31,

·         King Hezekiah and the prince of Israel

During the reformation conducted by King Hezekiah, he appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 31:3).

The same principle was also applicable to the prince of Israel, for it is written; “Then it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 45:17).

It is part and parcel of the manner of worship, for it is written; “Thus says the Lord GOD: "The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.” Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the LORD on the Sabbaths and the New Moons” (Ezekiel 6:1,3).

·         Prophet Elisha

The New Moon is an ordained time to seek God’s guidance because when the son of the Shunammite woman son was dead and she called to her husband, and said, "Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys that I may run to the man of God and come back." The husband asked her, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath." And she said, "It is well" (2 Kings :23).

·         New Testament

In the New Testament era we have been admonished saying; “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

Please note carefully that the scripture did not refer to those things as “were a shadow of things to come” which would signify that they were things of the past, but rather; “which are a shadow of things to come,” denoting that they are still current, but the substance, the true objective is Christ.

Remember, the Old Testament was a copy and shadow of the reality, but now we have the reality itself which is Christ. Therefore, the reality of the food and drinks is the body and blood of Jesus Christ which is to be presented to the Father on the festivals, new moon and Sabbaths.

·         In the future

The observance of the new moon is something that will continue into the future for thus says the Lord; “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me, So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:22-23).

The New Moon is a memorial day just like the Sabbaths, for we have been admonished saying; “Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God" (Numbers 10:10).

The reason why those days have been forgotten it is due to idolatry for we have been admonished saying; “Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall deliver her from My hand.  I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her New Moons, her Sabbaths --- All her appointed feasts.  And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, of which she has said, ' These are my wages that my lovers have given me.' So I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.  I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers; But Me she forgot," says the LORD” (Hosea 2:10-13).

It is also due to the Lord’s anger against His people as it is written, “The Lord was like an enemy. He has swallowed up Israel, He has swallowed up all her palaces; He has destroyed her strongholds, and has increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of Judah. He has done violence to His tabernacle, as if it were a garden; He has destroyed His place of assembly; The LORD has caused the appointed feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion. In His burning indignation He has spurned the king and the priest. The Lord has spurned His altar, He has abandoned His sanctuary; He has given up the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have made a noise in the house of the LORD as on the day of a set feast” (Lamentations 2:5-7).

Contrary to what we have been taught the first day of a new month is not without a natural phenomenon, the word “New Moon” in the Hebrew language is “Rosh Chodesh” the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar. Therefore, every New Moon is the beginning of a new month. Now, the word ‘month’ itself is related to the moon. It originally measured how long it took for the moon to complete a cycle around the earth, so ‘moon’ and ‘month’ come from the same root.

Therefore, the rationale or the spirit for worshiping the Lord on the New Moon is what it has been from the beginning of creation, which is, to herald the beginning of a new month. This is not the same as the fear expressed by the apostle Paul when he said, “But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain” (Galatians 4:8-11).

There is a huge disparity between the days, months, season and years which the apostle Paul expressed great concern about observing, with the days, months, seasons and years which the Lord asked His people to observe. Those which the apostle Paul cautioned the people about were to serve those which by nature are not gods, but those which the Lord asked to observe are to serve the One and only true God. For this is what the Lord spoke to Moses saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:4).

Here again we see another area of huge deception, for example, how many of us believe the perception that we can have two full moons in one month which they call “blood or red moon”, and two new moons in one month which the called a “black moon”?

I therefore beg to ask the question, how can we have two full moons or two new moons in one month when according to the natural laws of the Creation every new moon is the beginning of a new month and a full moon is either on the fourteenth or on the fifteenth day after new moon?  Here again is proof of vain worship and how deceived we have been.

To be continued 

With brotherly love 
Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part six)

 

·         The Weekly Sabbath

The spirit intent and rationale for worshiping the Lord on the seventh day weekly Sabbath is to express our gratitude and appreciation for His creation. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Let me emphasize this point again by saying;, the main objective for appearing before God is to offer to Him the food for His offerings as we have been duly instructed saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day ---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus 23: 37-38).

The reality of this burnt offering is the body and blood of Jesus Christ represented by the bread and wine and Jesus Christ the High Priest offering it to the Father as the redemption price for our sins. This is not a yearly, quarterly, monthly, Fortnightly or just a weekly requirement , but it is the protocol by which one draws near to the Father, it is also as previously mentioned a daily regular requirement, morning and evening.

This is also the means by which one has fellowship with the Father and the Son and with one another, for we have been admonished saying; "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for your-selves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10: 14-17).

Let us again pause and wonder and ask ourselves tis logical question, why do some people have more regards and reverence to the first day of the week than the seventh day? Where did the instructions to observe the first day of the week instead of the seventh day came from! Who authorized it?

So then, without being judgmental, I beg to ask the question is this not plain vain worship? Because Jesus stated plainly; “and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men --- the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:7-9)

So let us once again re-emphasize the spirit or objective for observing the seventh Day Sabbath:

a.      It commemorates the creation and gives honor and glory to the Lord as the Creator

For thus says the Lord; “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

b.      It is a perpetual sign between God and His people to remind them that God is the One who sanctifies or set them apart and therefore it is holy to them.

For thus says the Lord; “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you” (Exodus 31:13-14, Ezekiel 20:12).

c.       It is a perpetual covenant between God and His people and it is holy to the Lord.

For thus says the Lord; “Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed " (Exodus 31:15-17).

d.      It is a sign to differentiate the Lord from other false gods

For thus says the Lord; “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.” I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2; Ezekiel 20:19-20).

It is very important to note that, the Sabbath being a perpetual sign and a perpetual covenant between the Lord and His people is applicable not only to the weekly seventh day Sabbath but to the annual Sabbaths as well.

e.       Everyone who has entered God’s rest must follow the example of the Lord

For it is written; “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:9-10).

f.        It will continue to be observed in the future

For thus says the Lord; “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain.  And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:22-23).

 I therefore beg to ask the question, what that is so difficult in the above-mentioned scriptures that one who profess to believe in Jesus Christ and has the Holy Spirit is unable to understand? If they are unable to understand it is because they have the blindness of disobedience. 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, What a travesty!

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part five)

 

Let us now examine the days and occasions which the Lord has set aside for His honor and glory, but before doing that, let us pause and wonder and ask ourselves one simple question, which is, why are we so excited, jubilated, passionate and overwhelmed with our own celebrations and the customs and traditions of men, but when it comes to those which the Lord has ordained and said “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.” We somehow, become disillusioned, skeptical and under duress, considering them to be legalism and being in bondage?

This leaves me to wonder whether we have not blinded ourselves with the blindness of disobedience as the Lord spoke to the prophet Isaiah saying;; "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, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden" (Isaiah 29:13-14).

The way one’s heart is far removed from the Lord regardless of them drawing near to Him with their mouths and honoring Him with their lips it is because they don’t love Him, because, the way we know that we know Jesus Christ is by keeping His commandments. For, he who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him: By this we know that we are in Him” (1John 2:4-5).

So then, let us re-examine the appointed times which the Lord ordained that we should appear before Him to worship and glorify Him as He instructed 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).

Regarding these appointed times the Lord said, “'These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day ---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus 23: 37-38).

As one who is not spiritually blinded can clearly see the main objective for observing these appointed times is to offer the Lord the food for His offerings which is in addition to everything else we offer  to the Lord including the appointed time itself, so let us re-examine these appointed times.

·         The daily regular offerings

The spirit and intent for this time of worship is to express gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord for His loving kindness in the morning and His faithfulness in the night as alluded to by the Psalmist David who wrote; “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night” (Psalms 92:2).

The regular daily offering is the first command given to the children of Israel that they should be careful to observe as Moses was instructed by the Lord saying; “This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs in their first year without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening” (Numbers 28:4),

This is also part of the last words which King David gave to the Levites asking them, “to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening; and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD” (1Chronicles 23:30-31).

Please note carefully that the regular daily offering is besides or in addition to all other offerings whether it is the weekly Sabbath, the New Moon or the annual festivals. And the burnt offering was a copy and shadow of the reality which is now the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the form of the bread and wine.

 So then, what is the main goal and objective of the regular daily offering? It is to present the worshiper perfect and sinless before God and allowing him/her to have fellowship with the Father and the Son. For this is what the apostle John wrote; “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1John 1:5-7).

In order to have fellowship with the Father and the Son one has to be cleansed from his/her sins because God has no fellowship with darkness, and it is the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, represented by the wine we drink when appearing before Him that we become cleansed from all sins if we confess them.

One main goal of a true believer is to fulfill the Lord’s desire which states; “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” And the way one becomes perfect is by abiding in the word (Matthew 5:48).

And this state of perfection is attainable through the regular daily offering which is the mechanism by which sins are cleansed daily, for we have been instructed saying; “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” It is also stated that; “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1John 3: 5, 6, 9).

But how could this be possible when the scriptures clearly states that, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  And, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1John 1:8, 10).

This is made possible only If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and it is the blood of Christ represented by the cup of the New Covenant that cleanses us from all sins: Hence the reason why the daily regular offering is so vitally important to keep us always in fellowship with the Father and the Son.

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part four)

 

1.      True worship is to worship God in spirit

The third distinctive aspect of vain worship is when it is not done in spirit. And to worship in spirit denotes that, no physical object should be associated with the worship of God because it is tantamount to committing idolatry, for thus says the Lord; “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).

Worship in spirit also implies worshiping God wholeheartedly, with a clean clear conscience, and so the admonition is, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

It must also be from one’s own volition, not under any compulsion, coercion or grudgingly but willingly from the heart fully convinced in one’s own mind, because God loves a cheerful giver. Worshiping in spirit is not merely feelings and emotions for thus says the Lord “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?” Faith requires works, because faith without works is dead.

Worshiping God in spirit also denotes having the intent, and precise objective for observing the day that is set aside for worship and applying the protocol that is associated with all forms of true worship as we have been duly admonished saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holyconvocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day ---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:37-38).

The heart and core of all true worship is to offer the Lord the food for His offerings as we have been duly instructed 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).

To anyone who is skeptical or doubtful of the appointed times should consider the fact that, in the Old Testament the people were observing and celebrating the copy and shadow of the reality, but we now have the reality, therefore, our focus must be centered on Jesus Christ the reality and how these appointed times are applicable to Him and gives honor and glory to Him as the Lord.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part three)

 

1.      True worship is to worship God in spirit

The third distinctive part of vain worship is that true worship must be in spirit, signifying that, no physical object should be associated with the worship of God which would be tantamount to committing idolatry, for thus says the Lord; “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).

Worshiping God in spirit also denotes having the intent, and precise objective for observing the day that is set aside for worship and applying the protocol that is associated with all forms of true worship as we have been duly admonished saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day ---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:37-38).

The heart and core of all true worship is to offer the Lord the food for His offerings as we have been duly instructed 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).

To anyone who is skeptical or doubtful of the appointed times should consider the fact that, in the Old Testament the people were observing and celebrating the copy and shadow of the reality, but we now have the reality, therefore, our focus must be centered on Jesus Christ and how these appointed times are applicable to Him

For example:

·         The daily regular offerings

The spirit and intent for this time of worship is to express gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord for His loving kindness and faithfulness as alluded to by the Psalmist David saying; “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night” (Numbers 28:4, Psalms 92:2, 1Chronicles 23:30-31).

One main goal of a true believer is to fulfill the Lord’s desire which states; “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

The way one becomes perfect is to abide in the word as we have been admonished saying; “He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1John 2:4-6).

This state of perfection is attainable through the regular daily offering which is the mechanism by which sins are cleansed daily, for we have been instructed saying; “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” It is also stated that; “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1John 3: 5, 6, 9).

But how could this be possible when the scriptures clearly states that, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  And, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1John 1:8, 10).

This is made possible only If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and it is the blood of Christ represented by the cup of the New Covenant that cleanses us from all sins: Hence the reason why the daily regular offering is so vitally important to keep us always in fellowship with the Father and the Son.

·         The Weekly Sabbath

The intent and rationale for worshiping the Lord on the seventh day weekly Sabbath is to express our gratitude and appreciation for His creation. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Let me emphasize this point again by saying;, the main objective for appearing before God is to offer to Him the food for His offerings as we have been duly instructed saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day ---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus 23: 37-38).

The reality of this burnt offering is the body and blood of Jesus Christ represented by the bread and wine and Jesus Christ the High Priest offering it to the Father as the redemption price for our sins.

This is also the means by which one has fellowship with the Father and the Son and with one another, for we have been admonished saying; "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for your-selves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10: 14-17).

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph