Luciusministry

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Sunday, March 22, 2026

In pursuit of higher learning (part 3)

Godliness

Which is holy living as an absolute necessity because it is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1Timothy 4:8).

Unfortunately, this state of life has been perverted by men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth who suppose that godliness is a means of (material and financial) gains. God fearing people have been warned to, ‘Withdraw themselves from such people, because godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and it is certain we can carry nothing out, but if we have food and clothing with these, we shall be content. One should therefore avoid covetousness, and be content with such things as he/she has.

3. Faith

Which is believing that God is who He is, and a re-warder of those who diligently seek Him. And, having confidence in the testimony that God has given us with regards to His Son through the medium of the scriptures, preaching, and the gospel. The testimony which God has given concerning His Son is that, “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has (the real) life; he who has not the Son of God has not (the real) life” (1John 5:11-12).

The apostle John said, “I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” This assurance should give everyone the motivation and impetus to pursue a higher learning in the life in the Spirit because, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And since it is clearly stated “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? “And, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (Hebrews 11:1; James 2:20; 26).

It is therefore imperative that we learn to exercise our faith and experience the results as stipulated by Jesus Christ who said; “I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Also, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you” (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6).

The exercising of faith is a personal responsibility as we have been duly instructed saying; “Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves; And again, whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:22-23).

Therefore, it is everyone’s individual responsibility to come to the knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ and what He has bestowed upon humanity and express our gratitude and appreciation for what He has done for us and learn to have trust and confidence in Him and the power and authority He has bestowed upon us.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Friday, March 13, 2026

In pursuit of higher learning (part 2)

In pursuing a higher learning, a Godfearing individual should, shun the desire to be rich, and the love of money by which men fall into temptation, into a snare, and into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction, and aim at the six(6) things that are truly worthwhile and re-assuring. They should make it their aim to pursue:

1. Righteousness

Which is the state or condition which has been imputed to man by God’s grace; but nevertheless, has to be developed and perfected by practicing the law of righteousness. As it is written: “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray, he who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

Incidentally, this righteousness is not based on man’s standard of right and wrong for there is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. This righteousness is based entirely on all of God’s commandments, which according to the scriptures, “All your commandments are righteousness.”

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our righteousness because His death fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law, by paying the penalty of sin in full, which is death, and conferred His righteousness to all those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness, and will reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

As the result of this one act of righteousness, justification which brings life, came for all men. As the scripture clearly states; “But now, the righteousness of God apart from law has been made known, to which the law and the prophet testify. This righteousness from God; comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 5: 17-19; 3: 21-22).

This righteousness has not only been imputed, but has to be practiced as well, because we have been duly admonished saying; “you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.’ And, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteousness just as He is righteous” (1 John 2:29; 3:7).

This act of righteousness is the only righteous act that can produce holiness, because according to the prophet Issiah “But we are all like an unclean thing and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Also, “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Issiah 64:6; Romans 3:20)

Therefore, this act of righteousness is to become slaves to God as priests, to offer to Him His food for His offerings at its appointed time, and having become slaves to God, the benefit we reap leads to holiness, and the result is everlasting life.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

In Pursuit of higher learning

IN PURSUIT OF HIGHER LEARNING

Being present at a graduation ceremony regardless of what level of education, is a thrilling and exhilarating experience, especially if you personally or someone very close to you is on the verge of becoming a graduate, and better yet graduating with high honors, or a recipient of a reward. Every graduation is a mile stone, an achievement in higher learning, and a momentous occasion.

The greatest concern however is that, people are not as exuberant, zealous, and enthusiastic in pursuing a higher learning in the spiritual aspect of life as they do for the physical mundane life. Apparently, it has not yet dawn on the mind of many people that there is definitely and practically a life in the flesh, and a life in the spirit.

I have no qualm about anyone seeking to improve his/her lot in life by raising their standard of education, thus enabling them to earn a better salary and improve their living conditions. As the common saying goes, “If you think knowledge is expensive, then try ignorance.” Ignorance I believe plays a major role in the plight of human misery. The Lord said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me” (Hosea 4:6).

A heavy prize to pay for ignorance. The serious concern is, the seemingly total neglect, and absent mindedness of persons to pursue a higher learning in the life in the spirit as they pursue that of the flesh.

In reality, the same emphasis which is placed in pursuing a higher degree of learning in the physical realm in order to gain recognition, fame, and material gains, should also be placed in attaining a higher plateau in the spiritual life, because in the final analysis the life in the spirit is everlasting and far superior than the life in the flesh.

The apostle Paul wrote: “I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification” (Romans 6:19).

Similarly, the members of the human body can be used to either promote the growth and development of the human life, or promote the growth, and development of the life in the spirit. There is wisdom of men –the wisdom of this age; which is doomed to pass away, and there is wisdom of the Spirit which endures to everlasting life.

In every aspect of life, the main objective is of paramount importance. The objective of Higher learning in the physical realm is to improve the quality and conditions of life, and to attain material gains. Unfortunately, human wisdom and all its material gains are fleeting and temporary, and worse of all, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction” (1Timothy 6:9).

Many people after their graduation are under severe stress to repay their student loans, and even after they have succeeded in paying it off, may not even live long enough to enjoy the fruit of their labor. The reality of the whole situation is, we should all take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. And even if one is successful and fortunate enough to have his/her heart’s content, and can say to his/her soul, Soul, you have ample goods, a good pension plan laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry; There is the likelihood that God may say to this individual, “You Fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:19-20)

In light of this therefore an appeal goes to all those who have the fear of God in them to shun this perspective and objective of higher learning. Do not be conformed to the ideals of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, in order to test and approve what is God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.

If money is the rationale and main objective in pursuing higher learning, then one should seriously take heed to the Apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy which states, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs” (1Timothy 6:10).

To be continued