Protocol
for nourishing the inward man
Despite of Jesus’ unequivocal
statement which states; “For My flesh is (real) food indeed, and My blood is (real)
drink indeed.” The majority of us professing Christians take little or no
thought or consideration as to when, how and why we should be partaking of this
spiritual nourishment despite the fact that there are specific ordained
principles, guidelines or protocols as to when and how one should partake of
this spiritual nourishment.
Jesus Christ who is the same
yesterday today and forever and the Lord God of the Old Testament gave a
specific command to Moses saying; “Command the children of Israel, and say to
them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to
Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time' (Numbers
28:2).
Please note carefully that, this
spiritual food is both the nourishment for the inner man and the food for
whatever offering one intends to offer to the Lord whether it is a
thanksgiving, fellowship, monthly, yearly or sin offering. A thorough study of
the 23rd chapter of the book of Leviticus and the 28th
and 29th chapter of the Numbers one can have a better understanding
as to the precise time and rationale for offering the Lord the food for His
offerings at the time He has ordained.
For example the ordained times
for the Lords offering are carefully documented and they are as follows:
1.
Regular
or Daily offering
This offering is to express our
gratitude to God for His loving kindness and faithfulness as explained by King
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 lovingkindness in the morning, and Your
faithfulness every night” (Psalms 92:1-2).
2.
On
the Sabbath/s (weekly and yearly)
This offering is known as a peace
or fellowship offering, it is the medium by which members have fellowships with
one another and with the Father and the Son. As we have been duly instructed
saying: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge
for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion
(fellowship) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion
(fellowship) of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one
body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1Corinthians 10:14-17).
It is also the main objective for having a
holy convocation 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).
Please note carefully that, this
offering is the rationale or main objective for having a holy convocation it is
in addition to observing the Sabbaths and besides whatever gifts vows or free
will offerings one may want to offer to the Lord.
Even when the apostle Paul had to
chastise the church for the way they partook of the Lord’s Supper by saying to
them; “Now in giving
these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the
better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions
among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you,
that those who are approved may be recognized among you.’
“Therefore when you come together
in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes
his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What!
Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God
and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you
in this? I do not praise you” (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).
But after chastising the church
in the manner in which they partook of the Lord ’s Supper and asking them to
first examine themselves before partaking of the Lord’s supper he then said to
them; “Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one
another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together
for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.” (1 Corinthians 11:33-34).
As one can clearly see, offering
the Lord the food for His offerings is the main objective for having a holy convocation
without which we do not have access to the throne of grace, no fellowship with
one another and with the Father and the Son. Offering the Lord the food for His
offerings is the new and living way by which we draw near to the Father and
have fellowship with one another.
3.
Monthly
(new moon)
The other appointed time to offer
the Lord the food for His offerings is as we have been duly instructed saying;
“'At the beginnings of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the
LORD…this is the burnt offering for each month throughout the months of the
year.” This of course is at every new moon which commemorates the beginning of
a new month (Numbers 28:11, 14).
If one truly knows, understands
and believe the terms and conditions of the New Covenant, the second
established will of God and the reformation that took place in their
implementation, should know that the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the form
of the bread and wine have replaced all burnt offerings since Jesus Christ gave
Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma
that should be offered to the Father at the appointed time and Himself as High
Priest must have something to offer on behalf of our sins.
God has overlooked these times of
ignorance and now commands all men everywhere to repent, but it is high time
that we stop receiving the grace of God in vain.
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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