The fifth prerequisite to ascertain God's intervention

5.      Turn from our wicked ways

The fifth pre-condition of assuring that God will hear us from heaven, and will forgive us of our sins and heal our land is our willingness to turn from our wicked ways, which should automatically follow the desire to seek the face of the Lord, for thus says the Lord; “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:6-9).

God is longsuffering toward us, He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. On numerous occasions we see where the Lord is asking people to turn from their wicked ways for example we see where the LORD testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets” (2kings 17:13).

On another occasion the Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah and said, “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good." And they said, "That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart" (Jeremiah 18:11-12).

Again, the Lord spoke to the prophet Ezekiel and said to him; “Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die O house of Israel?' (Ezekiel 33:11).

What we should try not to forget is the fact that, God’s law especially those regarding the worship of God is spiritual and eternal and this has been the main downfall of God’s people down through the ages as the Lord explained to the prophet Ezekiel saying; “And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them.' Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them'; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. So I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, 'flowing with milk and honey,' the glory of all lands, because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.’

“Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness. But I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. 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” (Ezekiel 20:11-20).

Any open minded person can see clearly that, disobeying the laws of God and profaning His Sabbaths is the main reason why the Lord has allowed so many calamities to befall His people for it is written; “Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them'; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness.

Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols. "Therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 20:21-26).

Turning away from the ways of God to serve idols, profaning the Lord’s Sabbaths, not just the weekly seventh day Sabbath but also the annual Sabbaths and walking after the imagination of one’s evil heart and doing what seems right in one’s own eyes is not something new, this has been the main problem from the time God introduced His way of life to Israel, because the word of the LORD came to Zechariah saying; "The LORD has been very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, 'thus says the LORD of hosts: "Return to Me," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. "Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, 'thus says the LORD of hosts: "Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds." But they did not hear nor heed Me," says the LORD” (Zechariah 1:2-4).

And so the question is asked, “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? Yet surely My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? (Zechariah 1: 5-6).

Thus signifying that the words and statutes which the Lord commanded His prophets especially the hallowing of His Sabbaths extend beyond human existence and therefore, turning from one’s wicked ways and returning to the Lord encompasses obedience to the words and statutes of the Lord and the hallowing of His Sabbaths.

In the final analysis turning from our wicked ways is synonymous to what the prophet Isaiah wrote saying; “Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."

Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree." For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

"Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants---Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant ---Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations" (Isaiah 56:1-7).

To turn from our wicked ways basically means, to keep justice, do righteousness, keep from defiling the Sabbaths, choose what pleases God and hold fast to His covenant, which is the New Covenant.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

The fourth pre-requisite to ascertain God's intervention

 

4.      Seek the face of the Lord

The fourth pre-condition of assuring that God will hear us from heaven, and will forgive us of our sins and heal our land is by seeking His face; and the way one seeks the face of the Lord is by taking delight in appearing before Him at His appointed times. For according to King David; “Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore!”

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore! (1Chronicles 16:8-11; Psalms 105:1-4).

Nevertheless, one has to respect and reverence the sovereignty and majesty of God and should appear before Him at His appointed times. For thus says the Lord; “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:4).

Seeking the face of the Lord at a time He has not appointed is both an abomination and profanity, for thus says the Lord; “Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD: "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.’

“When you come to appear before Me, (seek my face) 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 1:10-15).

To seek the face of the Lord is to seek an audience with Him, have fellowship with Him and seek to be instructed by Him by following the established protocol as we have been instructed saying; “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand” (Psalms 95: 1-7).

So to seek the face of the Lord our God and finding Him, one has to seek Him with all their heart and with all their soul and obey His voice which has only been heard by the children of Israel, for thus it is written; “For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard.’

“Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire” (Deuteronomy 4:32-36).

Remember the Lord our God has only revealed Himself to the children of Israel and all other nations are to glorify Him according to the instructions He gave to the nation of Israel, for we have been instructed saying; “Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: " For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name." And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" (Romans 15:8-11).

Therefore, for anyone to seek the face of God, they will have to follow the instructions and protocol which the Lord gave to the children of Israel through the reformation process, for on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and un-profitableness, 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. And this better hope is through the blood of Jesus Christ which gives us boldness to enter the most holy place, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh and Himself being the High Priest to intercede on our behalf.

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Lucius Joseph

The third pre-condition to ascertain God's intervention

 

3.       Prayer

The third pre-condition of assuring that God will hear us from heaven, and will forgive us of our sins and heal our land is through prayer, the means by which one communicates and make their requests and supplications to the Father.

Prayer basically consists of five (5) integral parts;

a.       Adoration

Which is to exalt the name of God for His sovereignty and majesty as demonstrated by Nebuchadnezzar who said; “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?" (Daniel 4:34-35).

b.      Confession

Because no one can say, I have no sin, or I have not sinned and light has no fellowship with darkness it becomes imperative that sin be confessed and forgiven when communicating with the Father, as we have been admonished saying; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9).

c.       Supplications

Which is to entreat the Lord in a humbly manner on behalf of others as we have been admonished saying; “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Timothy 2:1-4)

d.      Intercessions

For we have been duly admonished 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. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:14-18).

e.       Thanksgiving

For we have received the consolation saying; “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Jesus also consoles us by saying; “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Philippians 4:6-7; John 21:22).

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Lucius Joseph

The second pre-condition in assuring God's intervention

1.      Humility

The second pre-condition of assuring that God will hear us from heaven, and will forgive us of our sins and heal our land is if we humble ourselves which is the recognition of one’s true position before God and this factor involves at least five things:

a.       One’s sinfulness

In approaching God’s throne of grace one must acknowledge his/her sins because, God does not co-exist with sin, light have absolutely no fellowship with darkness: Now, since 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, it is imperative therefore, that we acknowledge our sinful nature when appearing before the sovereign Lord.

A typical example is found in a parable Jesus spoke to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others, He said; "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men --- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" Luke 18:9-14).

b.      One’s unworthiness

In approaching the throne of grace one needs to acknowledge his/her unworthiness just like the example of the prodigal son who, when he came to his senses said, “'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:17-21).

c.       One’s limitations

In the case of our limitations we should imitate the example of David of whom it is stated; “And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days" (1King 3:6-14).

d.      God’s holiness

One very important prerequisite in approaching the throne of grace is that of holiness, for this is what the LORD spoke, saying: ' By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified” (Leviticus 10:3).

This has also been supported by the prophet Isaiah who wrote; “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: " Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged." Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me" (Isaiah 6:1-8).

In our new dispensation there is a different method by which our iniquities are taken away and our sins purged but the rationale remains the same, it is to cleanse us before appearing before the Lord.

e.       God’s righteousness

When approaching the throne of grace we are to consider the fact that it is through the righteous act of Christ that we are able to have access to the throne of grace, as it is written; “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Romans 5:17-18).

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Lucius Joseph

 

How effective is a national day of prayer and fasting?

How effective can a national day of prayer and fasting be for any nation who seeks God’s intervention in dealing with a crisis in their country! How assured can we be? Citing for example the biblical statement which reads; “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14).

The effectiveness of a national day of prayer and fasting is conditional depending on the successful implementation of five important things namely:

1.      If My people who are called by My name

First and foremost, the appeal must come from God’s people who are called by His name because God does not hear the prayers of sinners for it is written, “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

So the important question is who are those who are called by the name of God? The crux of the matter is, Jesus Christ said plainly “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:2-23).

The irony of truth is, there are those who are children of God and those who are children of the devil and it is imperative that we make a clear distinction between the two. For example Jesus said to the Jews, “You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father --- God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:41-44).

The apostle John echoed a similar sentiment when he wrote; “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 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. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1John 3:8-10).

Therefore, there are specific identifying signs that differentiates a child of God from a child of the devil and they are; one who loves Jesus Christ, understand Him, able to listen to His word, believes in Jesus Christ, has repented of his/her sins, has been baptized and is in receipt of the Holy Spirit and is practicing righteousness. For thus it is written; “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

It is only when our human spirit which was separated from God due to Adam’s transgression is connected to the Spirit of God that one becomes a child of God, for this is what we have been admonished saying; “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” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

It is only when the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth is connected to our human spirit that we become a child of God and so we have been admonished saying; “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors --- not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God: For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Bear in mind also that God gives His Holy Spirit only to those who obey Him (Romans 8:9-16; Acts 5:32).

It is at this juncture that 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).

It is important to note that the transition from being a child of the devil to becoming a child of God will result in a change of heart and mind, a transformation from hostility to being obedient and in harmony to the laws of God, for we have been duly admonished saying; “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8).

And so, instead of being hostile to the law of God we become obedient to it and begin living in harmony and within the confines of the law, because we have received the consolation saying; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

This transformation of the mind is from that of being carnal which       is enmity against God and not subject to the law of God, to becoming in harmony and subject to the law of God, for this is what the Lord says; “But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Hebrews 8:10-12; 10:15-17)

So the first criterion for having an effective day of prayer and fasting for a sinful nation is for God’s people, who are classified as follows; "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 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” (1 John 2:3-5).

Let us therefore, “Examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. Test ourselves. Do we not know ourselves that Jesus Christ is in us? --- Unless indeed we are disqualified. But I trust that we will know that we are not disqualified.

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Lucius Joseph

The sixth and seventh once and for all phenomenon

 

6.    The establishment of the kingdom of God on earth

The sixth once and for all phenomenon is the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth but it is futuristic. for it is clearly stated that, "In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold --- the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure" (Daniel 2:44-45).

It was clearly revealed to Daniel that, “Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth: But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever” (Daniel 7:17-18).

It is also stated that, “the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his (Satan) dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him' (Daniel 7: 26-27)

As clearly seen, once this kingdom is established on earth without any shadow of doubt it will be a once and for all phenomenon, it will be an everlasting kingdom and shall stand forever.

7.    Jesus Christ surrendering everything back to the Father

The seventh and the culmination of the once and for all phenomenon is Jesus Christ handing over everything back to the Father. As it is written; "Then comes the end, when He (Jesus Christ) delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power: For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

For, "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is exempted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

The once and for all terminology which has so many sincere and devoted people bamboozled and discombobulated is simply the fact that:

·         Once and for all Jesus Christ the Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea and spring of water died to reconcile man to God.

·         Once and for all we have access to the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, but to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.

·         Once and for all there is now the perfect sacrifice, not the blood of goats and calves, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ who entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

·         Once and for all we have Jesus Christ as our perfect eternal High Priest of the good things to come.

·         Once and for all the will of God is fulfilled:

Because man can now have fellowship with the Father in a perfect, holy, blameless and irreproachable state thereby, fulfilling what was predestined even before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

·         The establishment of God's kingdom on earth forever

·         The handing over of everything back to the Father that God may be all in all.

This my brothers and sisters is the meaning of the once and for all phenomenon which has so many sincere but uneducated believers confused, bamboozled and discombobulated, but these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The fifth once and for all phenomenon

 

5.    The will of God is fulfilled

The fifth once and for all phenomenon is that once and for all the will of God is fulfilled. As clearly seen, the earthly tabernacle, the animal sacrifices and the Levitical priesthood were all symbolic, shadows and copies of the reality, thy all served the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For he was told, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

But now, once and for all, Jesus Christ has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.

Then I said, 'Behold, I have come --- In the volume of the book it is written of Me --- To do Your will, O God.' Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:5-10).

The will of God for man even before the foundation of the world was that man be holy and blameless before Him; For it is written: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6).

The apostle Paul’s final plea to the church in Thessalonica was, “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness: Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit” (1Thessalonians 4:1-8).

As one can clearly see the once and for all phenomenon is all encompassed in the sacrificial body of Jesus Christ and He interceding on our behalf as our Eternal High Priest as confirmed by the apostle Paul who quoted Jesus Christ saying; “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second.’

“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all and every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:9-14).

Again, we should note carefully that the offering for the forgiveness of sins was a once and for all phenomenon, but the process of confession, forgiveness and cleansing is continuous with strict adherence to protocol.

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To be continued, stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The fourth once and for all phenomenon

 

4.     An Eternal High Priest

The fourth once and for all phenomenon is that, once and for all we have a perfect, sinless, eternal High Priest who is interceding on our behalf. For the Lord has sworn and will not relent, ' You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek"), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.’

“ For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever” (Hebrews 7:21-28).

The implementation of this once and for all phenomenon is the office of Jesus Christ as our eternal High Priest, who, as High Priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices on behalf of the people, for it is written; “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,” And, “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 5:1-3; 8:3).

The Melchizedek priesthood is everlasting and the food for the offering by this priesthood has been the same from the very beginning because When Melchizedek first appeared on the scene we are told that, “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18).

This was also confirmed by the apostle Paul who wrote; “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually” (Hebrews 7:1-3).

Therefore, as one can clearly see, bread and wine which represents the body and blood of Jesus Christ has been the foreordained food for the Lord’s offerings even before the foundation of the world and we are to be careful to it to Him at the appointed times. This I am afraid is an area where most professing believers are falling short and ignorance of the law is no excuse.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph