What is the soul?

 

What is the Soul?

 Full credit has to be given to Mr Sean Buranahiran for a video posted on the internet concerning the story about a king with four wives, and showing the morale behind this story, which gave me the impetus to write this article about the soul.

Permit me to paraphrase the story before dealing with the subject of the soul. The story goes this way, "One day a king with four wives was sick and on death bed, afraid of facing the afterlife alone asked his fourth wife whom he loved the most, and bought her diamonds, gold and expensive jewelry and clothing, he asked her, "will you die with me, and go with me to the afterlife?" She replied, "I can't do that, and walked away.

He then asked his third wife, "Will you accompany me to the afterlife?" She replied, "I love my life too much, and I'm sorry I can't go with you, and when you die, I am going to remarry."

The second wife has always been there for him in his time of need so he asked her, "Will you accompany me to the afterlife?" She replied, "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time, but what I can do is arrange your funeral and I will be there for your funeral.

Then he heard a voice called out and said, "I will leave with you and accompany you, even it is to the afterlife", and the king looked and it was his first wife, but this was the wife that he took care of the least, he felt embarrassed and ashamed and said, "I'm sorry, I should have taken better care of you, and given you more attention when I was alive.

There is morale to this story and it is that we all have four wives and they are as follows:-

1.      Our fourth wife is our body, we like to decorate it with nice jewelry, nice clothing but in the end it can't follow us to the afterlife.

2.      Our third wife represents our possessions. We spend so much time trying to gather possessions but in the end, they can't follow us to the afterlife, it will be given to other people and divided just like the third wife said, she is going to remarry.

3.      The second wife represents our friends and family, we trust them, they are there for us in times of need, but the furthest they can go with us is to our funeral and send us off.

4.      The first wife represents our soul; we usually neglect taking care of it which is the only thing that will follow us to the afterlife.

The wisest thing that we all can do is to care of our body, keep it healthy, enjoy our possessions and the comfort they provide, cherish our friends and family for the love that they provide, but don't forget to take care of our soul, nourish our soul, take time to be alone, take time to pray, take time to meditate because it is the source of all our life, and our most faithful friend.

What is our Soul?

Before one can give duly care and attention to the soul, it is imperative for one to know what exactly the soul is and how it can be nourished. Unfortunately, there are at least three different perceptions or beliefs as to what the soul is. One set of belief is that the soul is synonymous to the body, another belief is that it is synonymous to the spirit, and there is another belief that it is an entity by itself, so what is the truth.

One thing for sure, judging from the words of Jesus Christ, it is obvious that the soul is the most valuable part of a human being, for thus says the Lord, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).

But in order to get to the crux of the matter, I think that it is imperative to begin from the beginning of creation, for it is evident that when the Lord on the fifth day of creation week, created the creatures in the water, the birds in the air, and the creatures in the sea, it was the breath of life that animated them and they as man were regarded as souls.

Also, on the sixth day when the Lord said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; And also created man in His own image, it was also the breath of life that animated all of them, and were all regarded as souls.

Then the Lord gave authority to the man saying, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food" (Genesis 1:28-30).

The fact that everything in whose nostrils is the breath of life are considered souls can be proven by looking at the example of Noah's flood, where it is clearly stated that, "And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.'

"So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: man and cattle, creeping things and birds of the air. They were destroyed from the earth: Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive." And, referring to the time of the flood the apostle Peter wrote; "when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water (Genesis 6:7, 7:21-23, 1 Peter 3:20).

I therefore beg to ask a question at this juncture, what do us personally reckoned and consider being the soul! Is it the physical body, the breath of air that animated the creature, or the life which emanated in the body by the breath of life/air?

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Have you been deceived?

 

HAVE YOU BEEN DECEIVED?

As the world is going through this period of trial and testing, let me ask a thought provoking question; Are you among the many who have been deceived? To some people this question may sound rather preposterous and inconceivable in this modern era of higher learning, science, and technology.

Nevertheless, inconceivable as it may sound we have been forewarned saying, “Let no one deceive himself, if anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1Corinthians 3:18-19).

Regardless how wise one may think he/she is in regards to the things of this world, he/she cannot understand the spiritual things, because the natural mind does not receive the things of the Spirit, they are foolishness to him/her and he/she cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

And so,we have been forewarned by the greatest Teacher of all times saying; “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” He said again, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

He also predicted of the time when, “False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect,’ and said, ‘See, I have told you ahead of time” (Matthew 24:4, 5, 10,11, 24, 25). 

There is also the prophetic word which reminds us of the great whore [church] who sits on many waters [nations] with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication [intimate political relation], and intoxicated [deceived] the inhabitants of the earth with the wine of her fornication.

Since it is predicted that the many and not the few that will be deceived, the thought provoking question is, “Are you among the many that are deceived?” The deception will be so intense and widespread, if it would have been possible, even the very elect would have been deceived.

So then, what assurance can one have to ascertain that he/she is not deceived! For example. with this Corona virus pandemic who should receive the highest level of love and affection! Is it first and foremost our neighbor by getting vaccinated, or is it first and foremost to God our Creator by having faith in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men, and ourselves by not  defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit and then extend love to our neighbor?

First of all a deceived person does not know that he is deceived. He is one who has been misled, or made to believe as true something that is false. A deceived person is sincere, but is sincerely wrong. One makes himself/herself vulnerable to spiritual deception when he/she begins to diverge from the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints. And this was prophesied to happen long ago.

Jude a servant of Jesus Christ wrote saying, “Beloved, being very eager to write to you of our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For admission has been secretly gained by some who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).

Ungodly persons have perverted the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ by placing the wisdom of men over the power of God, by placing love towards our neighbor above the love of God and by showing more respect to the defiled corrupt human body than the natural undefiled human body. What a deception!

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

                                       

Times of ignorance

 

Times of Ignorance

Ignorance of God, ignorance of the laws which governs our universe, and ignorance of who we are, ignorance of the laws which governs man’s relationship with God, and with his fellowman is the main reason why we suffer the way we do, fail miserable in our pursuits of the good life, and not enjoying the abundant life which Jesus Christ referred to when He said; “I am come that they may have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Many people are oblivious of the fact that, “God gives to all life.” This life is absent from death, as illustrated by Jesus Christ who said; "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11: 25-26).

This life is what man inherited from the Last Adam, Jesus Christ, for according to the scriptures; “The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” And humanity was begotten by Jesus Christ at His resurrection, for it is stated; “.Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” It is in Christ Jesus that we all live, move, and have our existence (1Corinthians 15: 45; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Acts 17:28).

Many people are also oblivious of the fact that the same God who gives to all life, also gives to all breath. Signifying that man is dual in nature, having life which is spiritual and eternal, and breath which is the air drawn into and forced out of the lungs, and sustains the physical life. This breath is inherited from the first Adam, for according to the scriptures; “The first man Adam became a living being" (1Corinthians 15:45).

Now the reason for receiving from God both life and breath, is for mankind to come to know the one and only true God. For, “He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring. Jesus also prayed saying; “You have given Him (Christ) authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Acts 17: 26-28; John 17:3).

Man is dual in nature, the same way Jesus Christ is God and Man: Mankind is also flesh and spirit. For this reason we are told that “For it was fitting for Him (Jesus Christ), for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You. And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me" (Hebrews 2:10-13).

Now in order to live both the life, which is life in the spirit, and breath, which is life in the flesh successfully, God has also given to man all things which pertain to life and godliness. And so it is written; “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:2-4). 

Man’s endowment of life and breath, is figurative to two different types of trees as alluded to by Jesus who said; “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7: 17-20).

Man therefore as a living being, with a free moral agency has the prerogative to choose whether to live his/her life in accordance to the spirit, or live in accordance to the flesh, with each having its own end results. For it is written; “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart“(Galatians 6:7-9).

The admonition therefore is, “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans: 6: 13).

And to this end we have been further admonished by the apostle Paul saying; “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Because of our dual nature, there is a constant battle that takes place in our mind between the flesh and the spirit. Therefore we have been instructed saying: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5: 16-17).

But truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17: 30-31).

A believer therefore should no longer live to satisfy his/her flesh. It is not a question of let us eat, and drink, for tomorrow we die.” For, if in this life only, we have hope in Christ: we are of all men most pitiable.” But we have not so learned Christ, if indeed we have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that we put off, concerning our former conduct, the old man (life in the flesh) which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and that we put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24).

Let us by the mercies of God, present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. And let us not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

God provides for His people

 

God provides for His subjects

 Having been raised under the system of the lesser of two evils many of us have not experience or do not know what it is to live under the ruler-ship of God. Remember, the relationship that we have with God when living under the system of the lesser of two evils is conditional and that is, “we are to fear the Lord and serve and obey Him and do not rebel against His commands,” But if we do not obey the Lord, and if we rebel against His commands, His hand will be against us, as it was against our fathers

 The conclusion of the whole matter according to wise king Solomon is to, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this are man's all: For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

And according to the prophet Micah, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

From the beginning of creation God created man to be His subjects. Man was supposed to look upon God as his Creator, his Provider, his Sustainer, his Healer, his supreme King and Lord.

At the beginning God provided Adam with everything. It is written, “The Lord planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil: Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads” (Genesis 2:8-10).

This period of time epitomized the 23rd Psalm which reads, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

But as soon as Adam and Eve rejected the authority of God over them, by being disobedient to God, and choose to believe the devil, and partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God instructed him not to eat; Adam had to start defending, and providing for himself.

Partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, gave Adam the power of worldly wisdom to choose for himself what is right and what is wrong. For, “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6).

It is at this juncture God said to Adam, “Because you have heeded the voice of you wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:17-19).

What has eluded the minds of most people is that, when Adam disobeyed God, and obeyed the devil, he cut himself off from God’s sovereignty, and placed himself under the sovereignty of the devil. For it is stated; “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness” (Romans 6:16).

Therefore, regardless of what we are going through God promised to provide for His subjects and so we have received the consolation saying; “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5-7).

This is indeed a time of trial for the people of God who rather exercise their faith in the power of God than in the wisdom of men.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Is there hope for our future generations (part two)

 

It is stated categorically; “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.’

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:1-4).

It is because our system is established and operates on Satan’s method of ruler-ship, Jesus Christ had to fore-warned us saying; “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

It is quite evident that our society worldwide is controlled by mammon. Without money to solicit the services of a professional competent lawyer, it is almost inconceivable to find justice in a court of law, regardless of how much evidences and facts one may present in court.

It is quite apparent that without the power of mammon, one who requires surgery or treatment for certain diseases, sickness or accidental injuries may not be that fortunate to survive which somehow portrays God as one who favors the rich, and neglects the poor. Even our modern day preachers are inclined to portray God in this light.

But contrary to their prosperity gospel, the word of the Lord says; “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.”

“You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, you shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and the needy, in your land” (Deuteronomy15:7-8; 10-11).

We are admonished by the Lord to, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

The spirit of covetousness and pride is not of God, it originated from the prince of the power of the air, hence the reason why we have been duly admonished saying; “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Living through the COVID-19 pandemic should be a vivid example and experience to everyone as to how fragile and insecure the material things are and how we should be focusing on the spiritual aspect of life instead of the materialistic things, for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

And how fast can someone leave behind everything he/she has worked and toiled for and according to wise King Solomon; “For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:21-23).

Since something dramatically has to happen in order to give hope to our future generations, and this change will certainly not come from the system, it will necessitate that the change or changes that are required comes from us individually which is first and foremost to set our minds on things above and not on the things of this earth and follow the advice of the wise king Solomon who wrote; “nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24).

It is therefore imperative that we train ourselves and the future generations to focus on the spiritual things, for God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Is there hope for our future generations?

With the world in such turmoil, high cost of living, financial crisis, global warming, volcanic eruptions, aids epidemic, wars and rumors of wars, violence, massive frauds, hunger, famine, drugs and human trafficking, exploitation, deceptions, sickness and flue epidemics, COVID-19 pandemic is there any glimmer of hope for our present and future generations?

For any glimmer of hope a dramatic change in the way we live must be effected, and must be effected without delay. But one thing is certain let no one expect the changes to come from the system, it is programmed on autopilot heading to destruction, and possible annihilation of the human race. Our system is set on a course which is irreversible, and instead of expecting a lull, we have been forewarned saying,

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" We are further warned saying: “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2Timothy 3:13).

Please note carefully that the root cause of our present predicament and the perilous times that we are in is man's selfishness, pride, greed and the love of money which is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Jesus Christ also warned us saying, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be: And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

Our system which is established on covetousness is the root cause of our present dilemma. The premise on which it is established and operates did not originate from the principles which God has ordained for humanity. It originated from another source apart from God’s, hence the reason we have been admonished saying, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who dos the will of God abides forever” (1John 2:15-17).

Our present system and sin originated from Lucifer the fallen cherub who was given ruler-ship of the earth. The prophet Ezekiel gives a vivid account of what transpired with Lucifer, he wrote; “You were the anointed cherub who covers. I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.’

‘You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones.’

‘Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings that they might gaze at you. You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; therefore I brought fire from your midst; it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth” (Ezekiel 28:14-16).

As one can see from all indications, sin originated from Lucifer and the root cause was covetousness, which came about because of the abundance of his trading; and pride because of his beauty and splendor.

Lucifer became so vain and covetous, he was not satisfied with just the earth as his domain, he said in his heart, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars (angels) of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14).

It was in this attempt by Lucifer to overthrow God on His throne that Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” From all indications Satan will once again attempt to take control in heaven. For it is written; “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelations 12:7-9).

The first time Satan was cast out from heaven he fell like lightning because he was the light bringer whose light instantly dissipated as the flash of lightning, but the second downcast he was cast out as the great dragon the devil and Satan who deceives the whole world, and so we have been admonished saying; “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).

Therefore, it is our compliance and subjection to this sinful system of governance, the way of life which originated from Satan and placing our faith in the wisdom of men rather than in the power of God that produces our woes and calamities and so the warning to God´s people is; “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues: For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelations 18:4 -5).

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph 

Have we been transformed?

 

Have we been transformed

The apostle Paul  made an earnest plea to all believers by saying; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

I therefore, beg to ask the question have we been transformed.  And if we claim to have been transformed what evidence do we have to prove our transformation? Please note carefully that the transformation the apostle Paul is referring to comes as the result of the renewal of the mind and not necessarily from one physical condition to another.

The transformation the apostle Paul is referring to has to do with mindset, which includes our attitude and disposition towards the law of God because naturally we are told that; “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:7-8).

A transformation from this disposition means that, instead of being carnally minded which leads to death, one should now be spiritually minded resulting in life and peace because, the transition from being carnal to becoming spiritual is that the spiritually minded individual is in harmony with God being subject to the law of God and forever will be.

This transformation also means that the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But with the transformation from carnal to spiritual it means that  the spiritual man is now able to understand spiritual things because God has revealed them to us through His Spirit which He gives only to those who obey Him, and he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

Why are the leaders of this world unable to recognize and acknowledge the profanity, the obnoxious and the blasphemous consequences of their mandatory Corona Virus vaccinations? Simply because they minds are carnal and have not been transformed, they have not been able to perceive the impact and consequences that this will have on the spiritual life of man.

Being carnally minded is the main reason why even the church, the body of believers are so divided and are unable to fulfill another earnest plea from the apostle Paul which states; “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1Corinthians 1:10).

Many of us have not been able to make that clear distinction between being carnally minded and being spiritually minded and according to the apostle Paul this is the cause of the division in the body of Christ for he wrote; “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? (1Corinthians 3:1-5)

Being carnally minded also hinders one from being able to discern the spirits as we have been duly admonished saying; “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world” (1Peter 4:1-3).

What is imperative to all those whose minds have been transformed is that we set our minds of things above and not on things of the earth as we have been duly admonished by the Lord saying: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

 But unfortunately, without being judgmental, the majority of those who profess to be spiritual are fascinated with signs and wonders which are specifically for unbelievers and are mostly concerned with breakthroughs and worldly possessions than being obedient to God and setting their minds of things above, ascribing to the Lord the glory due to His name.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph