Luciusministry

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Sunday, February 25, 2024

A perfect sacrifice of thanksgiving (part 3)

Jesus Christ in no uncertain terms said to Thomas; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” But the multi-million dollar question is how literal and practical is this statement? (John 14:6).

· Jesus said; I am the way

The Way to the Father is the example of life Jesus Christ lived whilst in the flesh, and set us an example that we should follow His steps. This Way is the new and living way which He consecrated for us in His flesh. This Way is His body, the Church. In several passages in scriptures, the church is referred to as the Way.

For example; Saul before he became the apostle Paul, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem (Acts 9:2).

When Saul became converted and became known as the Apostle Paul, he confessed saying; “I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison” (Acts.22:4).

On one occasion, “Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God, but some of them became obstinate: they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.’ Also, “About that time, there arose a great disturbance about the Way (Acts 19:9, 23).

This Way is what all believers are called to witness about. The objective of this Way is to; “Open the eyes of men [Jews as well as Gentiles], and turned them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ” (Acts 26:18).

This Way identifies the church, the body of Christ, and distinguishes it from all others. This Way is called, “The fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:9-12).

This Way is the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory”(1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

This is the hidden mystery of the ages which the Lord revealed to the apostle Paul, and he unveiled it to the church at Corinth when he said to them; “For I received from the Lord what I also pass on to you. The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you: do this in remembrance of Me. In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying: ‘this cup is the new covenant in My blood: do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1Corinthians 11:23-23-26).

This proclamation is the responsibility of the church (the body of Christ) to demonstrate to the principalities and powers of the heavenly places, the manifold wisdom of God.

The apostle Paul wrote; “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread: we, who are many, are one body, for, we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

Therefore, following the example of the life of Jesus Christ, and partaking of His flesh (Unleavened Bread), is the new and living way to the Father.

To be continued

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Friday, February 23, 2024

A perfect sacrifice of thanksgiving (part 2)

The changes that took place due to the reformation are as follows:

a. We now have direct access to the throne of grace

For we have been duly admonished saying; “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” (Hebrews 7:18-19).

And the Holy Spirit indicating that, the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience ---concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 8:10).

Now, today with the reformation we do not have an earthy tabernacle because, Jesus Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; (Hebrew 9:11, 24).

b. We now have a perfect sacrifice that can present us holy and perfect in the presence of the Father

And so, we have been duly admonished saying; “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1-4).

But with the advent of Jesus Christ we are told that; “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)

Some people have the wrong perception of what this once and for all denotes, this once and for all denotes that, once and for all there is now a perfect sacrifice and offering which the Father desires, takes pleasure in and fulfills His will, just as He chose us in Him (Jesus Christ) 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 1:4-6).

Therefore, the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the form of the bread and wine is the perfect sacrifice which was ordained before the foundation of the world for the salvation and redemption of our souls. It is this sweet smelling aroma which satisfies the will of the Father as we have been duly admonished saying; “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).

The partaking of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the form of the bread and wine and having Jesus Christ Himself as our High Priest interceding on our behalf is the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1Corinthians 2:7-8).

c. We now have a perfect, sinless and eternal High Priest

And so we are duly admonished saying; “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.’

“For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:11-15).

The priesthood has changed we are no longer under the Levitical priesthood but rather under the Melchizedek priesthood as we have been duly instructed saying; “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law” (Hebrews 7:12).

The changes that took place is the Priesthood and the sacrifices by which we can draw to God and so we have been duly instructed saying; “And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

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” (Hebrews 7:15-19).

The prescribed offering for the order of the Melchizedek priesthood has been the same from the beginning and remains forever for this is what we have been duly instructed saying; “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And to Jesus Christ it is testified saying; “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:17).

Therefore, the appointed time stipulated by the Lord to offer to Him the food for is offerings have not changed for this is what the Lord said; “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).

So what the reformation brought about was a change of venue, a change of food for the offerings and a change of priesthood but the appointed times are left unchanged. Jesus in no uncertain terms said to Thomas; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

But how literal and practical is this statement?

To be continued

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Saturday, February 17, 2024

A perfect sacrifice of Thanksgiving

A Perfect Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

A perfect sacrifice of thanksgiving constitutes some basic elements, such as:

· The presenter is urged in view of God's mercy, to present his/her body a living sacrifice, in a holy and acceptable way to the Lord, which is his/her reasonable service, or his/her spiritual act of worship.

This is made possible only by offering the Lord His food for His offering, which gives us the boldness (confidence) to enter the holiest of all in the presence of God. As a matter of fact, the main reason why we come before God to worship is specifically to offer to Him His offering.

The Lord said to His disciples, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

This offering is so important to God that 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).

The appointed times to offer the Lord His offering according to the scriptures are found in Numbers chapter 28 and chapter 29 and Leviticus chapter 23 and they are as follows:

1. Morning and Evening as a regular or daily offering (Exodus 29:38-46)

2. On the Weekly Sabbath Day

3. At the beginning of months which is at every New

4. At the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread including the Feast of First Fruits which is the Sunday that falls during the days of Unleavened Bread.

5. At the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost which is fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits.

6. At the Feast of Trumpets

7. On the of Atonement

8. At the Feast of Tabernacles

9. On the Eighth Day of the Feast of Tabernacles

The changes which came about due to the reformation did not do away with the appointed times that we are to present ourselves before God and offer to Him the food for His offerings, they are still in effect and the changes which have been made are as follows:

To be continued

Wit brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Sunday, February 11, 2024

The Christian Life

With so many divergent views, and contrary opinions that are being circulated regarding the Christian life, many innocent, God-fearing people are in confusion and discombobulated not knowing who to believe. But somewhere we need to strike a balance, and rescue these innocent victims.

The Christian life is not that wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction and many are going through it, but it is a straight, narrow, and difficult way which stands between two extremes. It stands between the rough deadly and turbulent waters of legalism on one side, and the calm, placid, but highly toxic and deadly waters of liberalism on the other side.

The Lord’s instruction to us therefore is; “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7: 13-14).

The individual who desires to live the Christian life must be extremely vigilant and steadfast, so as to maintain his/her equilibrium and not stumble and fall in either extremes.

The reality is, there is not one single aspect of life that does not have or requires a set of living, practical principles which governs its growth and perpetuation. Every single aspect of life is governed by immutable laws without which it cannot exist. And the truth of the matter is, Ignorance of those laws is no excuse, if we know them and apply them, happy are we; on the other hand if we don’t know them and don’t apply them, we will have to pay the consequences.

This living principle is clear, for it is written; “And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:47-48).

These living principles are so impartial that one automatically reaps the benefits of obedience even when they are not knowledgeable of these existing laws, for it is written; “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Romans 2:12-6).

The Christian life is no exception, there is a thin line between law and grace, and if one is ignorant of it, he/she is apt to stumble and fall in either legalism or liberalism.

The thin line which exist between law and grace is that straight, narrow and difficult way that can be understood by understanding the apostle Paul’s statement which states; “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge; for they being ignorant of the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believe” (Romans 10:2-4).

Notice, the apostle Paul did not say that Christ is the end of the law of righteousness, what he said is, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, signifying that He did not do away with the law of righteousness, but did away with the law as the means of attaining righteousness.

The apostle Paul again addressed this issue by saying; “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” And in the same breath he says; “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

He asked again, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin (transgressing the laws of God) that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who have died to sin live any longer in it? He also said; “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet” (Romans 6:14-15; 1, 2, 7).

This law is found inscribed in the Lord’s everlasting covenant - the Ten Commandments. The thin line that exists between law and grace is simply this; It is utter folly to think and believe that there is no law, it is utter folly also to believe that there is no sin, because technically, and logically, sin is not imputed when there is no law. So the crux of the matter is this, the law though it exists and is in force, because it is spiritual, and eternal, it however, cannot save man from sin, it cannot produce the righteousness of God, and so Christ became the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For it is only through His sacrifice man is redeemed and saved from sin.

Even having faith in Christ does not annul or make null and void the law because the apostle Paul again says; “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31).

The conclusion of the matter is, to the legalists although we agree that the law is holy and the commandment holy and just and good, when obeyed, it should not be under command, coercion or compulsion, but rather obeyed through faith and love, for it expresses our reverence, gratitude, and appreciation to the Lord. And whoever does and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

And to the liberals, it is ignorance and stupidity on your part to believe that our Loving God, our heavenly Father would allow every man to walk after the imagination of his/her own sinful heart, does what seems right in their own eyes and not directing them in the way that they should go, so that all may be well with them. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Thursday, February 1, 2024

The third reason why we are alienated from the life of Christ

1. Having faith in the wisdom of men

The third reason why we are alienated from the life of God and unable to bear spiritual fruits it is because, we have placed our faith in the wisdom of men instead of having our faith in the power of God. Despite the fact that we have been duly admonished by the apostle Paul saying; “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1Corinthians 2:4-5).

The stark reality is, the wisdom of men regardless of how brilliant it appears to be will ultimately result in death as alluded to by the wise king Solomon who wrote; “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).

The huge mistake which most people make is to affiliate and associate the works of man’s wisdom with the power of God. Man has been given the power to achieve whatever he sets his mind to achieve. From the moment Adam ate the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." And during the time of the tower of Babel the Lord said; “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them” (Genesis 3:22; 11:6).

In our present age of technology the world is even more united than it was during the days the tower of Babel was being constructed and nothing that man in their wisdom proposes to do will be withheld from them. So man has the capability of achieving whatever they set their minds to achieve. Therefore, to attribute all of man’s achievements to God is gross error on our part for thus says the Lord; “I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; for how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another” (Isaiah 42: 8; 48:11).

The irony of truth is, God does not share His glory with man’s wisdom for it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God; it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1Corinthians 1:19-21).

There is therefore, a huge disparity between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. Man indeed has the power to achieve things that are both good and evil, but the good that are to be attributed to God are those which are administered by the Holy Spirit and believers should be able to echo the apostle Paul’s sentiment by saying; "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Because, it is the Holy Spirit living in us that does the work and not we ourselves or electrical gadgets.

And so the admonition is; “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy --- meditate on these things.” And of course set out to do it in faith because, faith without works is dead and knowing that it is not by our might nor by our power but by the Holy Spirit, for it is Christ living in us who does the work.

To be continued