Mystery of the wisdom of God (part 2)

1.       Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to destroy the devil and his work

Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death, Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to condemn sin in the flesh by not succumbing to sin, and so we have been instructed saying; "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8: 3-4).

So in order to destroy the work of the devil which is sin which results in death, Jesus Christ likewise shared in the same sinful flesh, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil and since He is the Creator of all things, lived a perfect sinless life in the flesh and so His death is sufficient to pay for the offences of all humanity.

And so, through the death of Jesus Christ in whom all things consist, His death paid the price of sin for all humanity and so all humanity died with Him at His death as we have been duly instructed saying;  “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again”(2Corinthians 5:14-15).

What this means is that, humanity is now indebted to Jesus Christ Who have purchased us with His blood and therefore, we should no longer live and consider ourselves as slaves of sin but rather as slaves of righteousness, for we have been duly instructed saying; “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” (1Corinthians 6:19-20).

Unfortunately, not everyone with this knowledge and the majority of us who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ continue living our lives as in the past not taking into consideration the fact that we are to put off, concerning our former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and that we are to put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Please note carefully that, the new man we are to put on is not something that we are developing or creating on our own but a new nature, a new man which has been created in us by God in true righteousness and holiness and so our responsibility is to grow and develop it.

And the way the new man is developed is by putting on the character of the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him and so, we have been duly admonished 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” (Colossians 3:10; Romans 12:1-2).

Since we all died with Jesus Christ when He died our duty and responsibility is to do away with everything that has to do with our former nature and allow the nature of Jesus Christ to be formed in us.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

The wisdom of God in a mystery

The wisdom of God in a mystery

In order to truly understand who we are as a new creation it is imperative that we have a clear understanding and appreciation of the process by which we attained this new creation, a process which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1Corinthians 2:8,10).

So here are seven secrets that were hidden from the rulers of this age (Satan and his demons) which if they knew, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1.      Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to experience life like a human being

Consider therefore, the Lord the Creator divesting Himself of His awesome power and glory and took on the nature of sinful man, in order to experience life like any ordinary man so that sin in the flesh could be conquered: A plan which was foreordained before the foundation of the world for our glory.

An so, having divested Himself of this awesome power and glory the Lord took on the nature of man, lived a perfect, sinless life, He conquered sin in the flesh by not succumbing to sin and by this the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made us free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:2-4).

And so we have been duly instructed saying; "For inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same". Jesus Christ Himself suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted: Also, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 2:14, 18; 5:7-8).

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To be continued with brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

What it means to be a new creation (part 2).

 

1.     The Holy Spirit who now dwells in us does the work

The second important thing to note for being a new creation is that it is no longer the individual who lives and does the work but it is Jesus Christ who lives in us that does the work as illustrate by the apostle Paul who wrote:

a.       “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

b.      “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

c.       “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

d.      “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21),

e.       “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27).

Therefore, Christ living in the believer through the presence of the Holy Spirit is the new creature who has been created as foreordained by God even before the foundation of the world as illustrated by the apostle Paul who wrote; “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::6).

Unfortunately, most professing believers do not know, understand and believe in the process by which we became a new creation and what is required of us for being a new creation.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

What does it means to be a new creation?

What it means to be a new creation?

Being a new creation is something I do not think that the majority of us who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ have taken seriously or have a clear understanding of what it means to be a new creation even though it is clearly stated; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The question is, what old things that have passed away and what all things that have become new? The old things that have passed away is our old independent, carnal, sinful nature whose inclination is to decide for itself what is right and what is wrong since the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

And the all things that have become new consist of the following:

1.      A spiritual mind

A spiritual mind which is now in harmony with the laws of God and is and will always be in subjection to the laws of God because according to the terms of the new covenant which applies to the new creation the Lord says; “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).

In the new creation, the heart has replaced the table of stones on which the laws were written so that the new creation will observe and keep them out of love, sincerity and truth and the laws placed on their minds so that they will always be mindful of them and keep them, For we have been duly instructed saying; “for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified” (Romans 2:13).

And so, we have been duly instructed saying; “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Corinthians 2:11-14).

So first and foremost what has become new is a new spiritual mind in which the Holy Spirit dwells and for this reason we are to set our minds on things above and not on the things of the earth Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth for we died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

What does trusting God entails (part 4)

Since the life of the believer is hidden with Christ in God our perception concerning life should be like that of Jesus Christ and the original apostles who made some very clear statements such as;

·         Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works” (John 14:10).

·         I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

·          “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

·         “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1John 4:4).

Since in a believer it is Christ who lives in them and the life which they now live is by faith in the Son of God who loved them and gave Himself for them, a believer’s trust therefore, must be in the following:

·         God’s name.

For it is written, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name” (Psalms 33:20-21).

·         In God’s Word

For according to the Psalmist David, “Let your mercies come also to me, O Lord – your salvation according to Your word, so shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word” (Psalms 119:41-42)

·         In Jesus Christ

In whose name Gentiles will trust: Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Matthew 12:21; Philippians 2:9-11).

Therefore, those of us who profess to have surrendered our lives to God: let us truly examine ourselves in this time of global disasters, pandemic and financial crisis and ask ourselves the question where our trust is? Is it in God, is it in our security? Is it in the wisdom of men? Remember, we have been admonished saying, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” He is faithful in keeping His part of the covenant let us keep our part of the covenant by learning to trust Him and having our faith in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men.

And so, we have been duly admonished saying: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

It is therefore imperative that we focus our attention more on the inward man than the outward man therefore; we are not to lose heart because, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day and our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2Corinthians 4:16-18).

Remember, with a true believer it is no longer the individual who lives but it is Christ who lives in them and the life that we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us, for it is Christ in us the hope of glory. This is part and parcel of the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

What does trusting God entails (part 3)

If we profess to be believers in Jesus Christ and trusting in God’s Name, His Word, and Jesus Christ, we should not be placing our trust in any other since we have been given the assurance saying; “He  (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-18).

Let us consider this for a moment, since Jesus Christ is before all things and in Him all things consist and the same power He used to create all things is now in the believer why should one who profess to believe in Jesus Christ place their trust in the following?

a.       Weapons to defend themselves against their enemies

For it is written; “It is through God we will push back our enemies, it is through God’s name we trample our foes, we do not trust in our weapon, our weapon does not bring us victory, but God gives us victory over our enemies, He put our enemies to shame” (Psalms 44:5-7).

b.      Wealth:

Whether it be a hefty solid bank account, a good comprehensive insurance, a good solid pension plan, a reliable investment, or a secure job, because, those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches, can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. The instructions given to us by the Lord therefore is, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

In light of this, Jesus Christ gave a parable of the ground of a certain rich man which yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?” So he said. I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry,” But God said to him, ‘You fool! This night your soul will be required of you, then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21).

Instead of being anxious and fearful when things seems gloomy, we are admonished to, “Consider the birds of the air who do not sow or reap, have no store room or barn; yet God feeds them. And consider how the lilies grow, they do not labor or spin, yet even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. And if God feed the birds which have neither storehouse or barn: and clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He feed and clothe us, who are of more value than birds and lilies.

Therefore, we are not to set our hearts on what we will eat, or drink; nor have any anxious mind. For all these things the Gentiles (those who do not know God) seek after, and our Father knows that we need these things. But seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you” (Luke 12:27-31).

Those who have placed their trust in God are to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving, should make their requests known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guide their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 6-7).

If one who has surrendered his/her life to God becomes despondent, discouraged, fearful, and anxious when the situation looks bleak, it simply means that his/her trust is not in God, but in the things which makes him/her feels secure.

c.       Leaders

Those who have placed their trust in the Lord are admonished to; “Not to put their trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save because when their spirit departs they return to the ground, on that very day their plans come to nothing” (Psalms 146:3-4).

d.      Man.

 For it is written; “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength, whose heart depart from the Lord.” One can never know when a man will stop being faithful to God, and turn away from the way of God (Jeremiah 17:5).

e.       Works

Anyone who places his/her trust in works and their treasures strengthens him/herself in his/her wickedness. For thus says the Lord; “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches, but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23; 48:7, Psalms 52:7).

f.       Righteousness

For thus says the Lord, “When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed he shall die” (Ezekiel 33:13).

If we have truly surrendered our life to God our trust should not be in the things of this world and in the wisdom of men but should be completely in the power for it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ATINGS6

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

What does trusting God entails?

 

If we profess to be believers in Jesus Christ and trusting in God’s Name, His Word, and Jesus Christ, we should not be placing our trust in any other since we have been given the assurance saying; “He  (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-18).

Let us consider this for a moment, since Jesus Christ is before all things and in Him all things consist and the same power He used to create all things is now in the believer why should one who profess to believe in Jesus Christ place their trust in the following?

a.       Weapons to defend themselves against their enemies

For it is written; “It is through God we will push back our enemies, it is through God’s name we trample our foes, we do not trust in our weapon, our weapon does not bring us victory, but God gives us victory over our enemies, He put our enemies to shame” (Psalms 44:5-7).

b.      Wealth:

Whether it be a hefty solid bank account, a good comprehensive insurance, a good solid pension plan, a reliable investment, or a secure job, because, those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches, can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. The instructions given to us by the Lord therefore is, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

In light of this, Jesus Christ gave a parable of the ground of a certain rich man which yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?” So he said. I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry,” But God said to him, ‘You fool! This night your soul will be required of you, then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21).

Instead of being anxious and fearful when things seems gloomy, we are admonished to, “Consider the birds of the air who do not sow or reap, have no store room or barn; yet God feeds them. And consider how the lilies grow, they do not labor or spin, yet even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. And if God feed the birds which have neither storehouse or barn: and clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He feed and clothe us, who are of more value than birds and lilies.

Therefore, we are not to set our hearts on what we will eat, or drink; nor have any anxious mind. For all these things the Gentiles (those who do not know God) seek after, and our Father knows that we need these things. But seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you” (Luke 12:27-31).

Those who have placed their trust in God are to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving, should make their requests known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guide their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 6-7).

If one who has surrendered his/her life to God becomes despondent, discouraged, fearful, and anxious when the situation looks bleak, it simply means that his/her trust is not in God, but in the things which makes him/her feels secure.

c.       Leaders

Those who have placed their trust in the Lord are admonished to; “Not to put their trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save because when their spirit departs they return to the ground, on that very day their plans come to nothing” (Psalms 146:3-4).

d.      Man.

 For it is written; “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength, whose heart depart from the Lord.” One can never know when a man will stop being faithful to God, and turn away from the way of God (Jeremiah 17:5).

e.       Works

Anyone who places his/her trust in works and their treasures strengthens him/herself in his/her wickedness. For thus says the Lord; “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches, but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23; 48:7, Psalms 52:7).

f.       Righteousness

For thus says the Lord, “When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed he shall die” (Ezekiel 33:13).

If we have truly surrendered our life to God our trust should not be in the things of this world and in the wisdom of men but should be completely in the power of God.

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077M5T68T

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYGDD7M

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Trusting God what does it entails

The admonition to trust God is replete in the scriptures. In one instance we are told to, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him: God is refuge for us” (Psalms 62:8).

The majority of people especially those who believe in God profess to have trust in God, but what does trusting God entails? Trusting God I am afraid is more profound than many of us have realized. To trust God is to have a firm belief or confidence in the honesty, truthfulness, justice, and power of God. And when an individual on his/her own volition surrenders, or gives up his/her life to God, trusting God then signifies that the individual has covenanted with God to give him full control and jurisdiction over his/her life.

Now since surrendering one’s life to God is a covenant between the individual and God, it is the individual’s responsibility to allow God to have full control over his/her life, and believe it or not it is incumbent upon God in whom the individual has placed his/her trust, as a matter of responsibility and obligation to exercise full control over the individual. In this regard we have been comforted with these words, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

Because of the confidence and rest, due to the trust one has in God, He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked” (Psalms 91:1-8).

These promises however are conditional, they do not occur automatically even though one professes to believe in God, it is God’s due responsibility to those who have made the Lord their refuge, who have placed their trust in God, because the psalmist continues; “Because (conditional) you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For, He will give His angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.”

Again, conditionally, “Because he cleaves to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation” (Psalms 91:9-16).

We can therefore have full trust and confidence in God to keep His part of the covenant, because as He says, “God is not man, that he should lie or a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?” And thus says the Lord, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore, you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”

Now since God in whom we place our trust and confidence to be our refuge, shelter, protection, safety, security from danger and trouble, and Who is trustworthy and just, and does not change, why then should we believers who profess to have trust in God,  murmur, and complaint when things are not going well, especially our way?

Especially when we have been admonished to, “Do all things without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault, in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” The reason why we are not to complaint and argue it is because, “It is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure”(Philippians 2:13-15).

Furthermore, we have been duly instructed saying, “All things works together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

The obvious reason why those of us who claimed to have surrendered our lives to God become disillusioned, discouraged, despondent, disenchanted, fearful, and pessimistic it is because we do not trust God. It is that simple.

To be continued

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYGDD7M

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph
 

The Lord's Sabbaths are they current or obsolete?

The Lord’s Sabbaths are they current or obsolete?

I beg to ask a question When the Lord spoke to Moses saying; “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths (plural) 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” Are these instructions current or obsolete? (Exodus 31:13).

Because the Lord also spoke to the Prophet Ezekiel and said to Him; “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.” Also,” 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 20:12, 20).

As far as I can perceive the Sabbaths, is a perpetual sign between God and His people to be observed throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. This is the period that God has specifically ordained for His people to appear before Him and to have fellowship (communion) with Him and with one another and Jesus Christ our High Priest, the One and only Mediator between God and man, presenting His flesh and blood which we present to Him in the form of the bread and wine in order to grant us access with boldness to the throne of grace.

In order for us to have fellowship with God the Father and with one another, 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).

Please note carefully that the cleansing is current and not something of the past, it is something that transpires during the time of fellowship, because according to the apostle John; “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all un-righteousness: If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1John 1:8-10).

Thus signifying that, in order for one to have fellowship with the Father one must be free from sin and since no one can say I have no sin, or I have not sinned it is imperative that one is cleansed from his/her sin before having fellowship with the Father and it is only through partaking of the cup of the New Covenant that one receives forgiveness for sins.

And hence the reason why the Lord 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).

Therefore, it is the God’s given responsibility of every individual to find out and be fully convinced for themselves when is God’s appointed time to offer to Him the food for His offerings as He has ordained because, the crux of the matter is, every individual has the prerogative to observe or not to observe but for certain we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

One should also take into consideration the fact that, salvation is of the Jews and Gentiles are to glorify God together with His people and so the perpetual covenant which the Lord made with the children of Israel for all generations is also applicable to all who profess to believe in Jesus Christ.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The Feast of First Fruits

I am deeply perplexed and overwhelmed to see how so many of us who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ are failing to give to Him the glory and honor that is due unto Him when the scriptures quite explicitly state; “'You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:30;26:2)

It is by observing the Lord’s Sabbaths that we ascribe to the Lord the glory that is due to His name for example;

·         The seventh day weekly Sabbath (Saturday) gives glory and honor to the Lord as the Creator who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

·         Passover / days of Unleavened Bread given glory and honor to the Lord as our Redeemer and Savior

·         Feast of first-fruits gives glory and honor to the Lord as our resurrection and the life

·         Pentecost gives glory and honor to the Lord as our Helper, Guide, Teacher, Healer, Provider

·         Feast of trumpets gives glory and honor to the Lord as our Conqueror, Deliverer

·         Day of Atonement gives glory and honor to the Lord as our High Priest and sin bearer

·         Feast of Tabernacles gives glory and honor to the Lord as our King of kings and Lord of lords

·         Eighth Day gives glory and honor to the Lord as our circumcision and the Eternal God.

What is even more perplexing is that the majority of those who observe the weekly Sabbath and are so passionate in doing so have totally rejected the observance of the yearly festivals and what is even more shocking is that, even those who are observing the annual festivals such as the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread have completely shut their eyes and mind with regards to the Feast of First Fruits, the question is Why?

Why is a festival which is of such great significance to the believer and gives such great honor and glory to the Lord be totally ignored or disregarded by those who proclaim to know and believe in Him when the scriptures state clearly that this festival is an ordinance or statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings?” (Leviticus 23:9-14).

The Feast of First fruits is one of the Lord’s ordained festivals from which one arrives at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) for we have been instructed saying; “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:13-16).

Now since this statute is a law or decree made by God forever throughout the generations and in all our dwellings, why is this festival not being observed today? When we are admonished to;" Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!? (Deuteronomy 32:43, Romans 15:10).

Furthermore, the death of Jesus Christ made both Jews and Gentiles one as we have been duly instructed saying; “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

One must take into consideration also what Jesus said to the, Samaritan woman He said to her; “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews:” And the admonition given to the Gentiles states as follows: “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 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!" And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope." (Romans 15:7-12; Deuteronomy 32:43).

So now, in our new dispensation, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male nor female; for we are all one in Christ Jesus. So when Jesus Christ presented Himself to the Father after His resurrection He reconnected the human spirit which was disconnected from God since the fall of Adam and Eve, to the Spirit of God and gave humanity a new life in the spirit.

And so, the rationale, the purpose, the objective, the intent and the spirit for observing this festival of First Fruits it is to express one’s gratitude and thanksgiving to Jesus Christ for being our hope in receiving a glorified immortal body as summarized by the apostle Paul who wrote; “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first -fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.” (1Corinthians 15:20-23)

One should also note as well that, when Mary Magdalene first saw the risen Lord He 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.' "

And later the same day at evening, being the first day of the week (Sunday) when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you" (John 20:17, 19).

So the crux of the matter is, worshiping God on the day and for the reason why this day was ordained by Him is not in vain or thus says the Lord; “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:23).

Surprisingly, I have heard some who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ instructing others saying that, one simply has to believe in Jesus Christ and not necessarily have to observe these festivals. Can this be true? 

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph