How prevalent is vain worship (part seven)

 

·         Monthly

There is ample biblical proof that the New Moon was observed both in the old and in the beginning of the New Testament era. For example:

·         King David

David knowing that King Saul intended to cause him harm said to Jonathan “Indeed tomorrow is the New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. But let me go, that I may hide in the field until the third day at evening.” Then Jonathan replied to him and said; "Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty:” The story continues stating that; “David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast. Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.” (1 Samuel 20:5, 18, 24-25).

When David became King, his last instructions to the Levites was that, they were “to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening; and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD” (1Chronicles 23:30-31,

·         King Hezekiah and the prince of Israel

During the reformation conducted by King Hezekiah, he appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 31:3).

The same principle was also applicable to the prince of Israel, for it is written; “Then it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 45:17).

It is part and parcel of the manner of worship, for it is written; “Thus says the Lord GOD: "The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.” Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the LORD on the Sabbaths and the New Moons” (Ezekiel 6:1,3).

·         Prophet Elisha

The New Moon is an ordained time to seek God’s guidance because when the son of the Shunammite woman son was dead and she called to her husband, and said, "Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys that I may run to the man of God and come back." The husband asked her, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath." And she said, "It is well" (2 Kings :23).

·         New Testament

In the New Testament era we have been admonished saying; “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

Please note carefully that the scripture did not refer to those things as “were a shadow of things to come” which would signify that they were things of the past, but rather; “which are a shadow of things to come,” denoting that they are still current, but the substance, the true objective is Christ.

Remember, the Old Testament was a copy and shadow of the reality, but now we have the reality itself which is Christ. Therefore, the reality of the food and drinks is the body and blood of Jesus Christ which is to be presented to the Father on the festivals, new moon and Sabbaths.

·         In the future

The observance of the new moon is something that will continue into the future for thus says the Lord; “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me, So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:22-23).

The New Moon is a memorial day just like the Sabbaths, for we have been admonished saying; “Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God" (Numbers 10:10).

The reason why those days have been forgotten it is due to idolatry for we have been admonished saying; “Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall deliver her from My hand.  I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her New Moons, her Sabbaths --- All her appointed feasts.  And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, of which she has said, ' These are my wages that my lovers have given me.' So I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.  I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers; But Me she forgot," says the LORD” (Hosea 2:10-13).

It is also due to the Lord’s anger against His people as it is written, “The Lord was like an enemy. He has swallowed up Israel, He has swallowed up all her palaces; He has destroyed her strongholds, and has increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of Judah. He has done violence to His tabernacle, as if it were a garden; He has destroyed His place of assembly; The LORD has caused the appointed feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion. In His burning indignation He has spurned the king and the priest. The Lord has spurned His altar, He has abandoned His sanctuary; He has given up the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have made a noise in the house of the LORD as on the day of a set feast” (Lamentations 2:5-7).

Contrary to what we have been taught the first day of a new month is not without a natural phenomenon, the word “New Moon” in the Hebrew language is “Rosh Chodesh” the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar. Therefore, every New Moon is the beginning of a new month. Now, the word ‘month’ itself is related to the moon. It originally measured how long it took for the moon to complete a cycle around the earth, so ‘moon’ and ‘month’ come from the same root.

Therefore, the rationale or the spirit for worshiping the Lord on the New Moon is what it has been from the beginning of creation, which is, to herald the beginning of a new month. This is not the same as the fear expressed by the apostle Paul when he said, “But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain” (Galatians 4:8-11).

There is a huge disparity between the days, months, season and years which the apostle Paul expressed great concern about observing, with the days, months, seasons and years which the Lord asked His people to observe. Those which the apostle Paul cautioned the people about were to serve those which by nature are not gods, but those which the Lord asked to observe are to serve the One and only true God. For this is what the Lord spoke to Moses saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:4).

Here again we see another area of huge deception, for example, how many of us believe the perception that we can have two full moons in one month which they call “blood or red moon”, and two new moons in one month which the called a “black moon”?

I therefore beg to ask the question, how can we have two full moons or two new moons in one month when according to the natural laws of the Creation every new moon is the beginning of a new month and a full moon is either on the fourteenth or on the fifteenth day after new moon?  Here again is proof of vain worship and how deceived we have been.

To be continued 

With brotherly love 
Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part six)

 

·         The Weekly Sabbath

The spirit intent and rationale for worshiping the Lord on the seventh day weekly Sabbath is to express our gratitude and appreciation for His creation. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Let me emphasize this point again by saying;, the main objective for appearing before God is to offer to Him the food for His offerings as we have been duly instructed 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).

The reality of this burnt offering is the body and blood of Jesus Christ represented by the bread and wine and Jesus Christ the High Priest offering it to the Father as the redemption price for our sins. This is not a yearly, quarterly, monthly, Fortnightly or just a weekly requirement , but it is the protocol by which one draws near to the Father, it is also as previously mentioned a daily regular requirement, morning and evening.

This is also the means by which one has fellowship with the Father and the Son and with one another, for we have been admonished saying; "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for your-selves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10: 14-17).

Let us again pause and wonder and ask ourselves tis logical question, why do some people have more regards and reverence to the first day of the week than the seventh day? Where did the instructions to observe the first day of the week instead of the seventh day came from! Who authorized it?

So then, without being judgmental, I beg to ask the question is this not plain vain worship? Because Jesus stated plainly; “and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men --- the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:7-9)

So let us once again re-emphasize the spirit or objective for observing the seventh Day Sabbath:

a.      It commemorates the creation and gives honor and glory to the Lord as the Creator

For thus says the Lord; “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

b.      It is a perpetual sign between God and His people to remind them that God is the One who sanctifies or set them apart and therefore it is holy to them.

For thus says the Lord; “Surely My Sabbaths 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. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you” (Exodus 31:13-14, Ezekiel 20:12).

c.       It is a perpetual covenant between God and His people and it is holy to the Lord.

For thus says the Lord; “Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed " (Exodus 31:15-17).

d.      It is a sign to differentiate the Lord from other false gods

For thus says the Lord; “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.” 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” (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2; Ezekiel 20:19-20).

It is very important to note that, the Sabbath being a perpetual sign and a perpetual covenant between the Lord and His people is applicable not only to the weekly seventh day Sabbath but to the annual Sabbaths as well.

e.       Everyone who has entered God’s rest must follow the example of the Lord

For it is written; “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:9-10).

f.        It will continue to be observed in the future

For thus says the Lord; “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain.  And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:22-23).

 I therefore beg to ask the question, what that is so difficult in the above-mentioned scriptures that one who profess to believe in Jesus Christ and has the Holy Spirit is unable to understand? If they are unable to understand it is because they have the blindness of disobedience. Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, What a travesty!

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part five)

 

Let us now examine the days and occasions which the Lord has set aside for His honor and glory, but before doing that, let us pause and wonder and ask ourselves one simple question, which is, why are we so excited, jubilated, passionate and overwhelmed with our own celebrations and the customs and traditions of men, but when it comes to those which the Lord has ordained and said “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.” We somehow, become disillusioned, skeptical and under duress, considering them to be legalism and being in bondage?

This leaves me to wonder whether we have not blinded ourselves with the blindness of disobedience as the Lord spoke to the prophet Isaiah saying;; "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden" (Isaiah 29:13-14).

The way one’s heart is far removed from the Lord regardless of them drawing near to Him with their mouths and honoring Him with their lips it is because they don’t love Him, because, the way we know that we know Jesus Christ is by keeping His commandments. For, 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” (1John 2:4-5).

So then, let us re-examine the appointed times which the Lord ordained that we should appear before Him to worship and glorify Him as 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).

Regarding these appointed times the Lord said, “'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).

As one who is not spiritually blinded can clearly see the main objective for observing these appointed times is to offer the Lord the food for His offerings which is in addition to everything else we offer  to the Lord including the appointed time itself, so let us re-examine these appointed times.

·         The daily regular offerings

The spirit and intent for this time of worship is to express gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord for His loving kindness in the morning and His faithfulness in the night as alluded to by the Psalmist 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 loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night” (Psalms 92:2).

The regular daily offering is the first command given to the children of Israel that they should be careful to observe as Moses was instructed by the Lord saying; “This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs in their first year without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening” (Numbers 28:4),

This is also part of the last words which King David gave to the Levites asking them, “to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening; and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD” (1Chronicles 23:30-31).

Please note carefully that the regular daily offering is besides or in addition to all other offerings whether it is the weekly Sabbath, the New Moon or the annual festivals. And the burnt offering was a copy and shadow of the reality which is now the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the form of the bread and wine.

 So then, what is the main goal and objective of the regular daily offering? It is to present the worshiper perfect and sinless before God and allowing him/her to have fellowship with the Father and the Son. For 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).

In order to have fellowship with the Father and the Son one has to be cleansed from his/her sins because God has no fellowship with darkness, and it is the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, represented by the wine we drink when appearing before Him that we become cleansed from all sins if we confess them.

One main goal of a true believer is to fulfill the Lord’s desire which states; “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” And the way one becomes perfect is by abiding in the word (Matthew 5:48).

And this state of perfection is attainable through the regular daily offering which is the mechanism by which sins are cleansed daily, for we have been instructed saying; “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” It is also stated that; “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” (1John 3: 5, 6, 9).

But how could this be possible when the scriptures clearly states that, “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” (1John 1:8, 10).

This is made possible only If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and it is the blood of Christ represented by the cup of the New Covenant that cleanses us from all sins: Hence the reason why the daily regular offering is so vitally important to keep us always in fellowship with the Father and the Son.

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part four)

 

1.      True worship is to worship God in spirit

The third distinctive aspect of vain worship is when it is not done in spirit. And to worship in spirit denotes that, no physical object should be associated with the worship of God because it is tantamount to committing idolatry, for thus says the Lord; “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).

Worship in spirit also implies worshiping God wholeheartedly, with a clean clear conscience, and so the admonition is, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

It must also be from one’s own volition, not under any compulsion, coercion or grudgingly but willingly from the heart fully convinced in one’s own mind, because God loves a cheerful giver. Worshiping in spirit is not merely feelings and emotions for thus says the Lord “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?” Faith requires works, because faith without works is dead.

Worshiping God in spirit also denotes having the intent, and precise objective for observing the day that is set aside for worship and applying the protocol that is associated with all forms of true worship as we have been duly admonished saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holyconvocations, 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).

The heart and core of all true worship is to offer the Lord the food for His offerings as we have been duly instructed 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).

To anyone who is skeptical or doubtful of the appointed times should consider the fact that, in the Old Testament the people were observing and celebrating the copy and shadow of the reality, but we now have the reality, therefore, our focus must be centered on Jesus Christ the reality and how these appointed times are applicable to Him and gives honor and glory to Him as the Lord.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part three)

 

1.      True worship is to worship God in spirit

The third distinctive part of vain worship is that true worship must be in spirit, signifying that, no physical object should be associated with the worship of God which would be tantamount to committing idolatry, for thus says the Lord; “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).

Worshiping God in spirit also denotes having the intent, and precise objective for observing the day that is set aside for worship and applying the protocol that is associated with all forms of true worship 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).

The heart and core of all true worship is to offer the Lord the food for His offerings as we have been duly instructed 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).

To anyone who is skeptical or doubtful of the appointed times should consider the fact that, in the Old Testament the people were observing and celebrating the copy and shadow of the reality, but we now have the reality, therefore, our focus must be centered on Jesus Christ and how these appointed times are applicable to Him

For example:

·         The daily regular offerings

The spirit and intent for this time of worship is to express gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord for His loving kindness and faithfulness as alluded to by the Psalmist David saying; “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night” (Numbers 28:4, Psalms 92:2, 1Chronicles 23:30-31).

One main goal of a true believer is to fulfill the Lord’s desire which states; “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

The way one becomes perfect is to abide in the word as we have been admonished saying; “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: He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1John 2:4-6).

This state of perfection is attainable through the regular daily offering which is the mechanism by which sins are cleansed daily, for we have been instructed saying; “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” It is also stated that; “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” (1John 3: 5, 6, 9).

But how could this be possible when the scriptures clearly states that, “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” (1John 1:8, 10).

This is made possible only If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and it is the blood of Christ represented by the cup of the New Covenant that cleanses us from all sins: Hence the reason why the daily regular offering is so vitally important to keep us always in fellowship with the Father and the Son.

·         The Weekly Sabbath

The intent and rationale for worshiping the Lord on the seventh day weekly Sabbath is to express our gratitude and appreciation for His creation. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Let me emphasize this point again by saying;, the main objective for appearing before God is to offer to Him the food for His offerings as we have been duly instructed 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).

The reality of this burnt offering is the body and blood of Jesus Christ represented by the bread and wine and Jesus Christ the High Priest offering it to the Father as the redemption price for our sins.

This is also the means by which one has fellowship with the Father and the Son and with one another, for we have been admonished saying; "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for your-selves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10: 14-17).

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalent is vain worship (part two)

 

1.      Vain worship is to worship God in accordance to the customs and traditions of men

Detecting vain worship from true worship is as easy as ABCD, since Jesus Christ our Lord who ought to be honored and worshiped just as the Father is worshiped, defined vain worship by two distinctive actions and true worship also by two distinctive actions. This should be quite clear and simple to anyone with an open mind and who trembles at God’s word. For thus says the LORD: “Thus says the LORD: " Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:1-2).

The meaning of vain worship cannot be made clearer than how it has already been defined; it is to teach as doctrine the commandments of men and laying aside the commandments of God and holding on to the traditions of men. And so we have been admonished saying; “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile.” Men´s traditions are an exchange or a substitute of the truth of God for the lie (Satan), and they worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Additionally, the Lord does not share His glory with no other, 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.” (Jeremiah 10:2-3; Romans 1:25; Isaiah 42:8).

There should therefore be no apprehension in saying and believing that, those who worship on Sunday as the weekly Sabbath instead of Saturday is both false and vain. It is not that one cannot worship on a Sunday, because there are certain days of worship that were ordained to be observed on a Sunday. For example, the Feast of First fruits which is the Sunday that falls during the seven day of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Pentecost which is fifty days following the Feast of First Fruits and sometimes during the Feast of Tabernacles.

But to change the weekly Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday is a complete violation and dishonor to the Creator who created the heavens, the earth the seas and the springs of water for it is written;, “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Genesis 2:1-3).

In inscribing the Ten Commandments the Lord wrote saying; “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).

In establishing the Sabbath law, the Lord said to Moses; “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths 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. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:13-17).

Our guarantee in entering God’s rest is by resting on the Sabbath day just as God rested from His, for we have been admonished saying; “For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest."

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."

For if Joshua had given them rest, and then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:4-10).

The same principle applies to the annual Sabbaths, if any annual festival is instituted by man and not by God, like Christmas for example, it is also vain and sinful. For thus says the Lord, “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.” And these appointed times are clearly defined in scriptures as a time which distinguishes God and His people.

For thus it is written; “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.” Also, “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, 12, 19, 20).

The Sabbaths as clearly stated in scriptures is a sign between God and His people forever , they will continue to be observed in the future for thus  says the Lord; “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, " So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD. “And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me: For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh",(Isaiah 66:22-24).

Here again we have the confirmation that the main objective for the Sabbaths is to worship the one and only true God, so by disregarding these appointed times and substituting other days instituted by man and following their customs and traditions is vain and idolatrous..

To be continued  

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

How prevalant is vain worship?

 

How prevalent is vain worship?

How prevalent is vain worship in our new dispensation of grace? Should vain worship be a matter of concern, since it is one if not the worst indictment that has been labeled on those who confess to know the Lord! Judging from the way the majority of us who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ accept and do anything in the name of Jesus Christ and termed them worship, I wonder if the act of vain worship is no longer applicable and anyone can do and follow anything as long as the name Jesus Christ is affiliated to it. This for me is of great concern since Jesus Christ chastised the Pharisees and Scribes and said to them:

"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ' This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men --- the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:6-9).

This chastisement form Jesus Christ clearly shows that, laying aside or rejecting the commandments of God and substituting them with the customs and traditions of men is vain worship. He also explained what constitutes true worship when He said; “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. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:22-24).

I therefore beg to ask the question, the things that we do and associating them with God are they in accordance to the stipulated laws of God whether they are spiritual, physical or moral? Or are they in accordance to the customs and traditions of men? Remember in order to avoid worshiping God in vain four things are of paramount importance.

1.     1.  True worship must be in accordance to God`s commandments

Because, the law is holy, spiritual and the commandment is holy, just and good, they are God´s manuscript , His blueprint to teach man how to live , how to do things for our own good and to please Him, as the apostle Paul rightly states; “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 7:7).

So although it is concluded that, a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law, nevertheless, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith, the question is asked; “ Do we then make void the law through faith?” And the logical answer is, “Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans 7:28-31).

So for example, although one has the liberty to observe or not to observe the days that the Lord has ordained and set aside for His people to appear before Him, because it is stated clearly that, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:5-6).

However, to disregard these appointed times and substituting them with days that are not ordained by God is a clear sign of vain worship which brings us to the second act of vain worship.

To be continued

with brotherly love

Lucius Joseph