Avoid vain worship

·         The Eighth Day

In accordance to Jewish law and tradition the eight day is associated with a time of cleansing, dedication, circumcision and a time to offer the Lord an offering. The Eighth Day which follows the Feast of Tabernacles fulfills all the spiritual aspects of the Eighth Day. It is the day the Lord was dedicated, circumcised, and cleansed the guilt of every nation and joined them with the commonwealth of Israel as we have been duly admonished saying; “And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21).

One should also take into consideration the power that is associated with the name that was given to Him on the eight day of His birth which states; “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” ( Philippians 2:9-11).

That day also represents the day on which Gentiles who were considered as strangers and foreigners to the commonwealth of Israel were brought to God as we have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh --- who are called Un-circumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands ---that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:11-13).

Remember, circumcision is the sign of the everlasting covenant that God made with Abraham when God said to him: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:9-13).

The middle wall of division between the Jews and the Gentiles was broken down by the blood of circumcision of Jesus Christ as we have been duly admonished 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” (Ephesians 2:14-15).

And through the blood of the cross Jesus Christ reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:16-19).

So essentially, what it means to worship God in spirit, it is by not making for oneself a carved image, or the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, we are not to bow down to them nor serve them; And, having the right intent and purpose for observing what we are observing in honor of God.

The crux of the matter is, no one should be forced, coerced or intimidated to worship the Lord, this is something one has to do of his/her own volition, for we have been duly admonished saying: “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).

It is imperative however to note that, “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 4:23-24).

Therefore, even though no imposition is placed on anyone to observe the days the Lord has instituted to be observed in His honor. The Lord is however seeking for the true worshipers to worship Him and since the Lord describes Himself as a jealous God don’t we think that, by disregarding or blatantly rejecting the days which the Lord has ordained to honor Him as Lord and instead placing so much attention to the days and occasions instituted by man and even our own personal celebrations, are we not provoking the Lord to jealousy?

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The error of vain worship

·         The Feast of Tabernacles

The spiritual intent or the rationale for observing this festival is to worship the King of kings and the Lord of hosts a title that was assigned to Jesus Christ from His birth, because the prophet Isaiah prophesied of the arrival of the King of kings by saying; “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

 As the scripture clearly shows the kingship of Jesus Christ began from the time of His birth because when the wise men from the East came to Jerusalem they said; "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).

Appearing before Pilate Jesus was asked; “Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37).

The Feast of Tabernacles as one can clearly see is intertwined and associated with the honoring and worshiping  of the King of kings and Lord of hosts, for thus it is written: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16-19).

Therefore, without any shadow of doubt one can see clearly that, the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the worship of the King of kings and the Lord of hosts are synonymous. When one celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles they are in effect worshiping the King of kings and Lord of hosts, and to honor and worship the King of kings and Lord of hosts one does that by observing and celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles.

I therefore beg to ask the question, why have we who professed to be believers in Jesus Christ disdain and blatantly reject this festival and instead, observing the pagan festival of Christmas to honor the birth of Jesus Christ? Is this not worshiping God in vain and provoking Him to jealousy?

The feast of Tabernacles therefore commemorates the arrival of Jesus Christ the King of kings and the Lord of hosts to the earth. The day the Word became flesh and tabernacle  among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This festival also foreshadows the millennial reign of Jesus Christ when He will establish His kingdom on earth.

God has overlooked these times of ignorance but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we guilty of vain worship

 

·         The Feast of Pentecost

The spiritual intent of this appointed time is to commemorate and to celebrate the day the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples as clearly stated, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

It is very important to note that, the disciples of Jesus Christ were observing this festival because it states clearly that, “when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” This festival always falls on a Sunday because, it is ordained to be celebrated fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits which is the Sunday that follows the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the day He ascended to the Father after His resurrection and so we have been admonished 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 23:15-16).

This is a clear indication to prove that the disciples were observing the Feast of First Fruits and the Feast of Pentecost before the Holy Spirit descended upon them and therefore, there is absolutely no justification for anyone to alter the seventh day Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday and trying to justify it by saying that Jesus Christ resurrected on a Sunday which is absolutely false or because the disciples received the Holy Spirit on a Sunday because these two festivals are part and parcel of the annual festivals which God ordained and instructed Hispeople saying, “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:4).

History shows that the apostle Paul who became converted years after the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost observed the Feast of Pentecost, for Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16).

Let me repeat myself again and say that, observing the Lord´s festivals has absolutely nothing to do with one´s salvation which is a free gift from God. For it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. What I am referring to is a matter of worship, whether we are worshiping the Lord according to His commandments, or whether we are worshiping Him according to the customs and traditions of men which ultimately are vain and futile.

·         Feast of Trumpets

The spiritual intent of this festival is first and foremost to commemorate the beginning of a new month and systematically a day to present an offering to the Lord, but it is more than just a New Moon celebration because the Lord instructed Moses saying; "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD" (Leviticus 23:23-25).

This festival serves as an alarm, a warning to God’s people alerting them of the other up-coming festivals during the seventh month and an opportunity for the leaders to, "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up their voice like a trumpet and tell God´s people of their transgressions warning and preparing them to return to their Savior.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

·     

Are we worshiping a false Messiah (contd)

Let us be realistic, what is at stake here is whether we are worshiping the true Messiah or a false messiah, whether we are giving to Jesus Christ the glory and honor due unto Him as LORD or are we worshiping Satan the devil whose desire is to be worshiped in place of God. It is not a matter of being judgmental for why do we judge our brother? Or why do we show contempt for our brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. What I am emphasizing is the error of vain and false worship, to avoid people from giving to Satan the honor and glory which should only go to the Lord.

So then, since we know what time Jesus Christ´s body was placed in the heart of the earth, it should not be difficult to determine the precise time of His resurrection, because the one and only sign that He gave to prove that He was indeed the Messiah is that, He would spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Therefore, the precise time He was placed in the heart of the earth, is the precise time that He resurrected from the dead after spending three days and three nights.

Remember, when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb before the dawn of the first day of the week while it was still dark, they were greeted by an angel who said to them; “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:1-6).

Mary Magdalene was still outside the tomb crying, when Jesus met her. She was not allowed to touch Him at the first instance because Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them. I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and to your God. Later on that same day when Jesus met them, they came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. (Matthew 28:8-10; John 20:10-18).

Now consider this for a moment, if Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb when the evening had come, and as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week when the women went to the tomb, Jesus Christ was no longer in the tomb, He was already raised from the dead, signifying that, Sunday which is the first day of the week is in no way associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now, if the Sabbath which followed His death was Saturday, the weekly Sabbath as commonly taught and assumed, then, Jesus Christ only spent one night which is the Friday night and one day which is Saturday in the tomb, and this would consider Him to be an impostor, because He would not have risen as He said which is three days and three nights and thus not fulfilling His only miraculous sign to prove His Messiah ship.

Now consider this again, if the day which followed the Preparation Day, the High day Sabbath was the weekly Sabbath  (Saturday), and the Jews and the women who followed Jesus Christ rested on the Sabbath Day according to the commandments, and it is stated that, “The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate and said, “Sir, we remembered how that impostor said, while He was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore order the sepulcher to be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples go and steal Him away, and tell the people, He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the sepulcher by sealing the stone and setting a guard” (Matthew 27:62-66).

If the day which followed the crucifixion, or the High Day Sabbath was the weekly Sabbath – Saturday, on which both the chief priests and the Pharisees rested, what time did they go to Pilate  and receive the orders to make the tomb secure as they knew how, by putting a seal on the stone, and posting the Guard?

It would have to be in the night after the Sabbath before the dawn of the first day of the week, exactly the same time when the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone and sat on it. But ironically, if the Friday crucifixion has any merit, it tends to suggest that guards were already posted by the tomb even before the orders were given, because the guards who were guarding the tomb were so afraid of the angel, that they shook and became like dead men?

So then, what is the truth of the matter? The irony of truth is, the High Day Sabbath which followed the crucifixion and the Jewish Passover was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which according to the scriptures, the Passover lamb was killed at twilight, at the going down of the sun, and eaten with unleavened bread, and as they have been instructed saying; “So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance” (Exodus 12:6, 14-17).

On that day which is the High Day Sabbath which followed the crucifixion the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the women who followed Christ and His disciples rested. “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought and prepared spices and ointments, so that they might go and anoint Him” (Mark 16:1).

It was also after the High Day Sabbath that the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate and said to him, “Sir, we remembered how that impostor said, while He was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ And Pilate gave them the permission to secure the tomb as best as they can.

Then, on Saturday, the day after the women bought and prepared the spices and ointment, they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment (Luke 23:56).

Then after the weekly Sabbath (Saturday), toward the dawn of the first day of the week, meaning that, it was not yet the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb, and behold there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it (Matthew 28:1-2).

Therefore, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Messianic sign precisely as He foretold: He spent exactly three days and three nights in the heart of the earth: The first night was the night He was placed in the tomb on the preparation of the High Day Sabbath, the night of the Passover, which was on a Wednesday: The second night was Thursday, the end of the High Day Sabbath and the third night was the Friday.

The first day was Thursday, the day light part of Feast of Unleavened which was the High Day Sabbath, the second day was Friday, the preparation day for the weekly Sabbath, the day the women bought and prepared spices and ointments, and the third day was the Saturday the weekly Sabbath, and at the end of the weekly Sabbath, precisely the same time Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb, He was resurrected.

This amazing truth has eluded the minds of those who have rejected the annual festivals of the Lord. Had they not rejected these festivals they would have known that Jesus Christ our Passover was crucified for us exactly on the day of the Jewish Passover. The only difference was that Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples on the night before the fourteenth day, instead of the night of the Passover, since He as the real Passover had to die at the precise time of the evening sacrifice. So He partook of it with His disciples before He died, and instituted the New Covenant of His blood for the remission of sins.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread should still be observed by Christians today, because the apostle Paul admonished us saying, “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven (typical of sin) leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was crucified for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

The question now remains, whom are you worshiping! Are you worshiping a false Messiah, a hoax, an impostor who only spent a night and a day in the heart of the earth, or are you worshiping the true Messiah, who spent three nights and three days in the heart of the earth as He said He would? Are you one of those who believe in a Good Friday crucifixion and an Easter  Sunday resurrection? When Jesus Christ was not crucified on a Friday, nor was He resurrected on a Sunday. The choice is yours.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we worshiping a false messiah

 

Since the length of time that Jesus Christ spent in the heart of the earth was a test sign to prove that He was indeed the Messiah, anything short or beyond the stipulated three days and three nights would render him a hoax and an impostor.

After Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, on the road to Emmaus which is about seven miles from Jerusalem, two of His disciples were talking with each other about everything that happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him. Then Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” After relating all what happened to Jesus Christ, they said, “And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place” (Luke 24:13-28).

The scriptures confirmed that, after Jesus Christ was resurrected, after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

The angel said to the Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who went to look at the tomb, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:1-6).

 Please note carefully that, the time Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb it was still dark and was just beginning to dawn towards the first day of the Week, signifying that it was not yet the first day of the week and therefore, confirming the fact that, a new day does not begin either at sunset or at midnight.

Now, to get to the crux of the matter, we need to confirm and establish the time that Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb because, the exact time He was placed in the heart of the earth is the exact time He would raise from the heart of the earth. Because Jesus unequivocally said; For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Therefore, the sign of the true Messiah begins with the time His body was placed in the tomb in the heart of the earth.

Jesus Christ died at the ninth hour of the day which is synonymous to three O´clock in the afternoon as we have been duly admonished saying: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" And, Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit” (Matthew 27: 45, 46, 50).

Consider this again for a moment, if from sixth to the ninth hour of the day darkness covered the earth and Jesus gave up His spirit at the ninth hour of the day and this time period is twelve to three O’clock in the afternoon, how cans a new day begins at either sunset or at midnight? Food for thought!

Now, when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb (Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:42).

Please note carefully that, it was already evening when Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, so by the time he went and bought the cloth, took down the body, clean, embalm as the custom of the Jews is to bury, wrapped it in a clean cloth and laid it in the new tomb, this must have taken a couple of hours into the late evening to accomplished. Therefore, it is logical to say that the time the body of Jesus Christ was laid in the tomb was late in the evening of the Preparation day, and the High Day Sabbath drew near.”

It is imperative to note that while Joseph and Nicodemus were embalming the body and laid it in the tomb late in the evening Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were present sitting opposite the tomb, then the following day which was a High Day Sabbath they rested, and later we are told that, “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him” (Mark 16:1).

Please note carefully that, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary bought and prepared the spices to anoint the body of Jesus after resting on the High Day Sabbath, but after they bought and prepared the spices and fragrant oils they again rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment: Thus signifying that there were two Sabbaths during the period of Jesus’ death and resurrection which were the High Day Sabbath which followed the crucifixion and the weekly Sabbath that proceeds the first day of the week. (Luke 23:56).

So let us analyze this carefully because we are talking about true or false worship, we are talking about worshiping the true Messiah verses a false messiah. Since there were two Sabbaths between the day of Jesus’ death and His resurrection and a day in between the two Sabbaths on which the women bought and prepared the spices and fragrant oil before resting on the Sabbath according to the commandments, the question is, when was Jesus Christ crucified? Was He crucified on a Friday and rose on a Sunday?

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we worshiping the true Messiah

 

When it comes to the observation and celebration of the Feast of First Fruits, the Sunday the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to the Father after His Resurrection, let us examine the scriptures and see whether we are worshiping the true Messiah, or whether we are worshiping an impostor. I will try to condense this article as much as possible since most of us do not like reading long articles, but first, let us establish the facts.

On two occasions the Jews requested from Jesus Christ a sign to prove His Messiah-ship, the first occasion was after His first recorded miracle of turning water into wine, and soon afterwards driving out both men and animals from the temple, and over turning the tables; the Jews demanded of Him saying, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this!”

Jesus’ reply was, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple He was referring to was His body (John 2:18-21).

On the second occasion, some of the teachers of the law (Scribes) and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” Jesus answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:38-40).

There was no ambiguity in the mind of Jesus Christ, as to how many hours constitute a day and a night; because, when He was told that Lazarus, the one whom He loved was sick, He replied, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” But His disciples replied, “Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and you are going back there? Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light” (John 11:4-10).

In this context one has to conclude that, when Jesus said that He was going to spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, He literally meant seventy-two (72) hours, and not part of a day as a day, as it is commonly taught.

On another occasion some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to Him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal (be perfected)” (Luke 13:31-32).

This He said in reference to what He would be doing during the three days and three nights He would spend in hell, as alluded to by Peter who wrote; “For Christ died for sin once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water’ (1 Peter 3:18-20).

These spirits to whom the gospel was preached whilst in hell were judged according to men in regard to the body. And those who heard the voice of the Lord lived. As it is written: “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live” ((1 Peter 4:6;John 5:25).

Jesus Christ at least on three occasions predicted His death to His disciples when He said to them that; “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” And, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:19; Luke 24:46).

So then the provoking question is, did Jesus Christ fulfill His miraculous sign precisely as He foretold, and proved His Messiah-ship? Since the sign was a test sign to prove that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah, anything short or beyond the stipulated three days and three nights would render Him a hoax and an impostor.

Stay tuned

To be continued

With brotherly love 

Lucius Josepjh

How prevalent is vain worship (part eight)

 

 

·         Passover/Days of Unleavened Bread

The spiritual intent or the rationale for observing the Passover and days of Unleavened Bread is to express our appreciation and gratitude to the Lord for delivering us from sin as we have been duly admonished saying; “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1Corinthians 5:7-8).

With the children of Israel, Passover was to commemorate their deliverance from the slavery of Egypt, but this was only the copy of the reality. The reality is man’s deliverance from sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the real Passover Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world.

The spirit intent of the Passover and days of Unleavened Bread is to commemorate and express gratitude to the Lord for paying the price of sin in our stead, and to remind ourselves to put sin out of our lives.

·         The Feast of First Fruits

The spiritual intent of this festival is to express our gratitude to Jesus Christ for giving us a new life in Him at His resurrection from the dead by conquering death and to commemorate and celebrate the day that He presented Himself to the Father after His resurrection on our behalf.

Remember, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He met Mary outside the tomb weeping and 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.' Then, the same day at evening, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:17-21).

The spiritual intent of the festival of First Fruits is also to honor and glorify Jesus Christ as the true Messiah and therefore, to avoid worshiping a false messiah it is imperative that we take a thorough examination  and make the right decision because, even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).

Now, in order to resolve any matter, it is imperative that we get to the root cause of the problem and not simply dealing with the effects because, the root cause of everything that is happening especially in the area of worship, it is Satan who wants to be worshiped in the place of God, and therefore, if what we are doing is not the truth and in this regard  we are looking at the sign of the true Messiah, our worship is not only in vain but we are actually worshiping the devil.

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph