The root cause of our present dilemma

Apparently no one seems to have a solution for the widespread crime and violence that are being committed worldwide and I do not believe that anyone is capable of averting it due to the fact that this was already prophesied to happen as we have been duly instructed 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!” And, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2Timothy 3:1-5; 12-13).

Let us therefore do not expect things to improve or get any better because the whole world in on a collision course and the best we can do is to follow the instructions from the apostle John who said he heard a voice from heaven saying; "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” (Revelation 18:4-5).

The crux of the matter is, even the majority of those who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ are not dealing with the root cause of this dilemma but are attempting to deal with the effects of the problem and not the very source of it due to their perception and belief in Jesus Christ which is based simply on a sort of emotional, sanctimonious sentimentalism and regarding some basic principles as metaphors and not taking them literally.

The root cause of what is happening worldwide, is due to what is happening in the spirit realm, first and foremost we have been duly admonished saying; “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (1Corinthians 10:3-6).

Because of this spiritual battle we have been admonished again saying; “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:10-12).

The irony of truth is, we have not been taught the truth as to whom we really are since the advent of Jesus Christ, many people still regard themselves as the old man who existed before the advent of Jesus Christ the last Adam, despite the fact that we have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).

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To be continued, stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

Why is spiritual worship of such great importance (part three)

 

3.         Because of man’s limitations and dependencies                      ,

One thing we should try never to forget is that the main reason why man has been given life is to worship God.  First and foremost it is in Christ we all live and move and have our existence. Man has absolutely nothing that he/she can call his own as we have been duly admonished saying; “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Whatever gifts, talents or abilities we have, they are all given to us by God for to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift, for it is by grace we all have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. And so, in the finale analysis all we owe is a debt of love, gratitude and appreciation for what the Lord has done for us and this is manifested and demonstrated in our praise and worship to Him but it must be done in accordance to His ordained plan since there is another being vying for this honor and glory.

We must all come to the realization that man is not an independent creature; one is either a slave of God which is also a slave of righteousness, or a slave of sin which is disobedience to the laws of God and originated from the devil. For we have been duly admonished saying; “What then? Shall we sin (transgress the laws of God) because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.’

“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Romans 6:15-19).

As this passage of scripture clearly points out our freedom from not being under law does not invalidate obedience to the law, for the scriptures again states; “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31).

And so, although we are not under the penalty of the law due to Jesus Christ Who paid the price of sin in our stead, the law nevertheless is what teaches us how to live and having been set free from being a slave to sin, we now have become a slave of obedience to righteousness. We are not independent creatures; we are either a slave of disobedience or a slave of obedience to the way of life the Lord has established by which man should live.

Again the apostle Paul made this abundantly clear stating; “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…Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:7, 12).

We should also note carefully what the apostle Paul said to Timothy, he said; “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:8-11).

So why is the law not made for a righteous person? Simply because the righteous person is already living within the confines of the law and therefore, the law has no jurisdiction over them just like a driver who is in compliance with all the traffic regulations, the traffic officer has no power over him as compared to the driver who is not in compliance to all the traffic regulations.

If there is one thing we who profess to be believers should always bear in mind is the admonition which states; “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” (1Corinthians 6:19-20).

Since we are not our own and we are ether a slave of righteousness or a slave of sin and principally, having the adversary vying to be worship just as the Lord is worshiped it is incumbent upon us to serve our master in the way He has ordained and not in accordance to the customs and traditions of men because this will be vain and false worship.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Why is true spiritual worship is of such great importance (part two)

2.         Because of the adversary Satan the devil

The second reason why true worship is undoubtedly very important and should under no circumstances be compromised under estimated or overlooked it is because there is an adversary who opposes everything that gives honor and glory to God and he is hard at work trying to redirect all manner of worship to himself, a quest which he has even before the re-creation of this world when he was in Eden the garden of God and 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).

Even after forfeiting his fame and beauty Satan never relinquished his quest to be worshiped just as the Almighty is worshiped as we have been duly instructed saying; “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 in the sight of all who saw you. All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you, you have become a horror, and shall be no more forever." (Ezekiel 28:15-19).

Despite Satan’s degradation, he has not relinquished his quest to be worshiped just as the Lord is worshiped and therefore, one ought to be very attentive and cognizant as to what one does in relation to worship because, there is true and false worship, it is therefore imperative that we be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, we are to resist him, steadfast in the faith, any form of worship that has not been ordained by the Lord is vain and useless.

For thus says the Lord; “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood." Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil” (Isaiah1:12-16).

The truth of the matter is, God has ordained specific times when people are to appear before Him to worship for this is what the Lord spoke to Moses saying: “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” And, 'These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:2, 4).

As clearly seen the Lord has ordained specific times for humanity to come and appear before Him to worship, anything contrary to that is a lie and all lies originates from the devil as we have been admonished saying; “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).

 Satan’s quest to be worshiped is not something that one should take lightly, this is the root cause of the massive divisions that exist in the community of believers, imagine Satan a creature whom the Lord created taking his very Creator up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'you shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew 4:8-10).

So let us consider this for a moment, if Satan had the audacity to ask the Lord who created him to fall down and worship him how much you think he desires feeble mortal man to worship him? Have you tried typing the name Satan with a small “s”, the computer will quickly correct it to a capital “S” or indicate that the spelling is wrong; so much is Satan’s quest to be worshiped just as the Lord is worshiped, hence the reason why we are to be very mindful of what, when and how we worship and so I repeat, any convocation that is not in accordance to the times the Lord has ordained which states; “these are My feasts holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” is unfortunately not being directed to the Father, but to Satan the devil.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Why is true Spiritual worship of such great importance?

I perceived that when comes to worship, everyone has an opinion, everyone has a song, everyone has an interpretation, and everyone has an understanding. Thanks be to the word of consolation where Jesus Christ says; “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Despite the fact that the Lord warned His people saying; “When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.'

You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” They still delight in worshiping God in ways He has not ordained, and neglecting to do things which He requires (Deuteronomy 12: 29-32).

As human beings the most important responsibility we all have is that of worship and it is not any type of worship but true worship as ordained by the Lord and this goes to everything that has breath. Now, there are three important reasons why true worship is so vitally important especially to those of us who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ.

1.         Because of His Sovereignty and Majesty

Because of the Lord’s Sovereignty dignity and power He deserves our worship as we have been duly admonished saying; “For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” (Psalms 96: 4-6).

It is again clearly stated that, “Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God” (Psalms 86:8-10).

Therefore, in order to avoid worshiping God in vain or worshiping a false god it is imperative that we obey His instructions regarding worship which is stated as follows; “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” And again the Lord says; “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:1, 4).

So then, there are definite days which the Lord has appointed for His people to come and appear before Him to worship Him and since there is an adversary whose quest and desire is to be worshiped just as the Lord is worshiped, one has to be mindful of the fact that, if the day or the occasion we come together to worship is not the day or occasion ordained by the Lord we are advertently or inadvertently worshiping a false god.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

Why the disunity in the church, the Body of Christ?

Why is the church the body of Christ so divided when there are these seven stipulated guidelines by which we all should have fellowship with the Father and the Son and with one another? Just to reiterate the seven stipulated guidelines:

1.      Worship the Father in spirit (John 4: 23-240.

2.      Worship the Father in truth

3.      “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples” (1Chronicles 16:23-27; Psalms 96:1-6).

4. 4 “Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name” (1Chronicles 16: 28-29; Palms 96:7-8) 

    5. Bring an offering, and come before Him” (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalms 96:8). 

     6. “Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!” (1Chronicles 16:29; Psalms 96:9). 

     7. “Tremble before Him, all the earth” (1Chronicles 16:30; Psalms 96 9).

We should all note carefully that these principles are addressed to all nations, all peoples and all the earth but unfortunately people rather hold on to the customs and traditions taught by men instead of taking delight and stand in awe of the directives the Lord gave to His people and the only sign He gave to distinguish His people from the rest of the world. For thus says the Lord; “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.” And, “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: 12, 19.20).

Remember, Jesus Christ said unequivocally, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18).

Therefore, the Sabbaths, the seventh day including the annual Sabbaths are perpetual sign God ordained to distinguish Himself and the people who are sanctified. Moreover, in our new dispensation as free moral agents, 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.

Nevertheless, this does not give anyone the license to disregard the Lord’s appointed days and choose other days which the Lord has not appointed. Observing the Lord’s appointed days is simply a matter of love, appreciation, respect, adoration and taking delight in Him who loves us and for what He did for us, which by the way is how we fulfill the first and great commandment.

Truly, these times of ignorance God has overlooked and now commands all men everywhere to repent, the onus is on each individual, for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of ourselves.

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Lucius Joseph

 

The seventh integral component of true spiritual worship

 

7.         Tremble before Him, all the earth.

The seventh integral component of true spiritual worship is to tremble before Him, or take delight in Him meaning that, we are to stand in awe of Him and have the rightful fear by being obedient to His word, for 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 reason why we are to tremble before Him or take delight in Him it is because the church being similar to the captives of the children of Judah and Israel to whom the Lord said; “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it” (Jeremiah 33:8-9).

Remember, Jesus Christ is the Lord God of the Old Testament who created the heavens and the earth, for it is written; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that were made: In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it’, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5, 14).

It is further stated in scripture that; “He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-18).

Now it is a common belief and a biblical statement that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” And when He came into the world He said; "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" (Hebrews 13:8; Mark 2:27-28).

Since Jesus Christ is Lord of the Sabbath, the summons to attend the holy convocation at their appointed times is a directive from Him, and when obeyed we are demonstrating our reverence, glory and honor to Him as “LORD.” For thus says the LORD, “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2).

Similarly, when one disregards or hold in contempt the days which the Lord has summoned them to appear before Him and choose to appear before Him at a time He has not summons them to appear before Him is profanity: For thus says the Lord; "When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear, your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

Having fellowship, in the breaking of bread was the community spirit that prevailed in the New Testament church when it originally started, when Peter said to them, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received His word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:40-43).

The Christian church, the children of God, and the Philadelphia church are all characterized in whole and in part by these seven distinctive marks or attributes, and it is the formula by which the church which is presently so confused and divided can obtain its objective and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

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Lucius Joseph

The six integral component of true spiritual worship

 

6.         Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

The six integral component of true spiritual worship is to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness which denotes worshiping God in the absence of sin, and the way one becomes holy is stated as follows; “Then Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. They shall eat those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but an outsider shall not eat them, because they are holy” (Exodus 29:32-33).

Those who do not regard themselves as priests of the New Covenant should not be present during a holy convocation for it is stated quite clearly, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1Peter 2:9, 10).

Those who stumble are those who are being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed, because our main duty as priests is to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings, for it is written; “They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy” (Leviticus 21:6).

For this reason the church is duly admonished saying; “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?'

“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God as God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore " Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

It is also for this reason why the apostle Paul in an epistle wrote; “not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner --- not even to eat with such a person” (1Corinthians 5:10-11).

And the crux of the matter is, God has absolutely no fellowship with darkness and since a little leaven leavens the whole lump one has to be careful with whom we have fellowship for according to the apostle John; “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” (1John 1:5-6).

So I am truly flabbergasted when I hear people categorizing the church as a sanctuary for sinners and inviting people to come in as you are when in effect, the come in as you are is in the outer court where we conduct our bible studies, crusades, where we go out and preach the gospel and those who gladly receive the message should be baptized and be worthy of partaking of the food for the Lord’s offerings.

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To be continued, stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph