FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1996 At THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD ONITSHA By THE WATCHMAN APOSTLE PETER ODOEMENA THE SON OF MAN “THE SUPREME INTELLIGENCE” “Truth has no substitute” © BRIDE OF CHRIST MINISTRY WORLD-WIDE
Revelation 21:6. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
KJV.
INTRODUCTION
This book is aimed at streamlining the doctrines of Christ our Lord to the Churches through the apostles and prophets, who had the Spirit of Christ in them. Every section and chapter
of this book is Holy Ghost inspired. God in His mercy has visited His people in these last days by raising apostles and prophets who will tie the Old and the New Testaments together, making people to understand the mind of God for the hour.
This book does not represent the interest of any group or denomination but just an honest attempt to remove all doctrinal differences that tear Churches apart by pointing all churches back to God’s Absolute Truth, which is the Holy Bible.
Readers of this book are advised very strongly to drop all preconceived ideas and opinions about the topics treated in this book and rely only on the Holy Bible. You are free to criticize us and we welcome such constructive and meaningful criticisms. You are encouraged to request for our first publication ‘CRY OUT AGAINST THE’ SYSTEM” and there you will find amazing revelations about the “Mark of the Beast” and the brain behind “Evangelical Movement” or “False Unity.”
This book is dedicated to all real children of God, Elect of God worldwide that love the truth no matter how hard it sounds. Remember that if we flatter men we must reproduce another Sodom and Gomorrah.
Thank you.
For further information, please contact the Church at
Note: The Bible translations mainly used here are(1) King James Version (KJV) (2) The Living Bible (TLB).(3) Good News Bible (GNB) (4) New International Version (NIV.
(5) Amplified Version (AMP).
GOLDEN NUGGETS
– “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” .REV. 19:15(KJV)
– “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God”.
HEB. 4:12 (KJV)
– “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD”.
Psalms 149:6-9(KJV).
“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God”.
Rev.19:13 (KJV).
– “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred”.
Job6:24 (KJV). “For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean . Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts”.
Isa.28:8-9 (KJV).“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein . Also I set watchmen over you, saying , Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken”.
Jer. 6:16-17 (KJV).“As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee”.
Jer. 44:16 (KJV). “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD”.
Ezek. 14:14 (KJV).
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left”.
Isa. 30:21 (KJV). “And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned”.
Isa. 29:11-12 (KJV). “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter”.
Isa. 56:10-11 (KJV). “Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not forever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?”
Prov. 27:22-24 (KJV). “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things”.
1 cor.13:11 (KJV). “For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:”
Acts. 24:5 (KJV). “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me”.
Acts. 20:33-34 (KJV). “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them”.
Acts. 20:28-30 (KJV).
– “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul”.
Acts. 23:12-14 (KJV).
– “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”.
Acts. 26:28 (KJV).
– “But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against”.
Acts. 28:22 (KJV).
– “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you”.
Deut.4:2 (KJV).
– “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar”.
Prov. 30:5-6 (KJV).
– “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book”.
Rev.22:18-19 (KJV).
– “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”.
John 12:48 (KJV).
SECTION 1
1
THE ABSOLUTE
By the word absolute, I mean – the final authority in all Christian religious matters, the ultimate or, rule or standard or plumb line or what we may finally call Christian’s book of correction. This plumb line or rule is a guide, which all Christians MUST accept as being final authority irrespective of their various denominations.
2. This is very necessary now than ever to enable us know when we are right or wrong and to check the fanaticism that is now associated with the various denominations leading to the proliferation of churches with conflicting doctrines yet all of them carrying and quoting the Holy Bible. For example, a ruler is used for measurement. Where there is no ruler people will be arguing and fussing over the length and breadth of any object, and each person will claim he is right.
3. Because a ruler is definite, once it is applied, the accurate length and breadth of the object will become very clear and all arguments and quarrels cease. But one cannot rule out completely, the possibility of a fool who hates the truth, challenging the accuracy of the ruler at last only to find room to establish his own selfish stand and impose it on others.
4. What I am saying in this background is that, it has become very necessary to settle the confusion and chaos that is associated with the various Christian groups by establishing a common standard as God put for all Christians.
5. It is worthy to mention here that some groups regard the words of their general overseers as final authority. Some regard the word of the Pope as final authority because some claim he is the ‘VICAR’ of God on earth, hence the following words are written on the wall behind him in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome: VICARIOUS FILEII DEI – meaning, one standing in place of Son of God. Others regard their church manuals produced by their various conventional headquarters’ and associations as final.
6. Now that all Churches claim to be in the Christian faith in spite of their conflicting teachings and doctrines which has resulted to religious chaos and confusion, and divisions, the need for this final Guide and Authority that will help humanity determine who is wrong and who is right should not be over emphasized again.
7. QUESTION: Who is qualified to be the final of finals, the absolute, ultimate, rule, guide and final authority to all Christians?
8. MY ANSWER: It is no other person than Christ, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith:… “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12.1, KJV).
9. In Revelation 1:8, it is written concerning Him, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
10. He also is the owner and Founder of His Church where we all serve as members – Matthew 16:18-19 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ‘
11. Jesus Christ alone is the only authority all Christians must obey. When He speaks, every man’s opinion or idea ceases. What He speaks may run contrary to teachings of all warring denominations. A wise person who notices from what Jesus speaks that he is holding wrong teachings or doctrines, must surely drop it and follow that of Jesus Christ ‘ Jesus Christ is the Word of God, King of Kings and Lord of lords..
12. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
14. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:1 1.. 16, KJV),
15. He is the only one and true God and eternal life. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20 KJV)
16. Matthew 28: 18, it is clear that all authority in heavens and on earth have been given to Him: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All Power is given unto Me in, heaven and on earth” (KJV).
17. In Matthew 17:5, God Himself confirmed the authority and commanded all men in heaven and on earth to hear Him (Jesus Christ)…
18. “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”. (KJV).
19. In John 3:34, the Word Jesus Christ spoke is the perfect word of God because the Spirit of God was in Him without measure, and in Him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily as also recorded in Colossians 2:9,
20. … “For He whom God hath sent speaketh the Words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him”… ‘For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”. (KJV).
21. Let us also read John. 7:17 and John 14:10, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.’…
22. “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (KJV).
23. From these passages, one can clearly see that God being a Spirit (Holy Spirit), dwelled in Jesus Christ using Him to speak to mankind in His day fulfilling what was recorded in Hebrews 1: 1-3…
24. (God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
25. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. “. (KJV)
26. In Matthew 5:38-42, we can see that Jesus Christ corrected the teachings of Moses… “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
27. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (KJV).
28. In Matthew 19:8-11, He also amended the Laws of Moses and made it even stronger and harder which made His disciples thought of never to marry again:
29. “He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
30. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
31. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. “. (KJV).
32. In Mark 1:22, the Pharisees who heard Christ’s doctrines were astonished and confirmed that He taught them as one having authority and not like a novice or scribe:
33. “And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the Scribes”. (KJV).
34. How did men receive the Word of Jesus Christ after His ascension to heaven?
35. Let us read Matthew 28:20… “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (KJV.)
36. From Luke 24:47-48, we read further … “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.” (KJV).
37. Furthermore in Mark 16:15-16, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (KJV).
38. In all these passages, Jesus Christ commanded His apostles and disciples to go out and preach and teach all men all that they heard and received from Him for the salvation of mankind.
39. Hear what St. John recorded in 1 John 1: 3-4. “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (KJV).
40. He was not only a witness but handled the truth with his hands. Luke 1:3-4, “It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That though mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been Instructed”. (KJV).
41. Here St. Luke wrote with perfect understanding all that he heard and witnessed in Christ Jesus. One can now see that Jesus Christ spoke to the apostles – whom turn spoke to all the nations the same thing they heard from the Master. To maintain uniformity of teaching, doctrines and truth, Jesus Christ promised His disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit as a Guide – …
42. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” (John 16: 13, KJV).
43. The apostles taught the churches what the Spirit of God taught them: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinth 2:12-13 KJV).
44. The entire churches accepted their teachings (apostles’ doctrines) as the teachings of God and not of man -“ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”(1 Thess. 2:I3, KJV).
45. Let us read this passage again from The Living Bible translation for more clarity)… “And we will never stop thanking God for this: that when we preached to you, you didn’t think of the words we spoke as being just our own, but you accepted what we said as the very word of God – which, of course, it was – and it changed your lives when you believed it”.
46. From this exposure, it is very clear that the apostles’ teachings to the Churches were as authoritative as Jesus Christ’s teachings or His Words because they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit and exalted not a man but Christ Jesus.
47. St. John 16:13-15, Jesus promised “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
48. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.” (KJV).
49. And Saint Paul speaking by the Holy Ghost in Acts 20:27, confirmed it: “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (KJV).
50. In 2 Peter 1:3, we read also, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. (KJV).
51. In all these passages, it has become very clear that the Lord Jesus Christ declared all His will and counsels to mankind through His apostles who did not withhold one word from what they received from Him to the Churches as St. Paul put it again,…
52. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures”. (1 Corinth.15:3, KJV)…
53. “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:” (1 Corinth. 11:23, KJV).
54. The apostles delivered to the Churches all that they received from the Lord concerning every matter in accordance to the Holy Scriptures. This was why after their teachings, they placed a curse on anybody, even angels or prophets that will come and teach contrary teachings or doctrines of Christ.
55. ..:But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Gal. 1:8-9,KJV).
56. The apostles were certain of God’s dealings with them who gave them an understanding of His mystery and knowledge of His Word ..:
57. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). (Eph. 3:3-4,KJV).
58. For this reason they spoke with authority that their teachings are to be acknowledged as the commandments of the Lord.
59. If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. (1. Corinth 14:37, KJV)
60. Does the Holy Bible or Scripture contain all of God’s will to mankind, and His Church? The answer is yes, as we read 2 Timothy 3:16 -17 (KJV), …
61. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
62. This passage tells us the essence of the Holy Scriptures and confirms that a man of God can attain perfection by obeying all the word of God:
63. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4, KJV).
64. The Word of God is the will of God … “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” (Col.4:12, KJV).
65. Even in this passage, it is repeated that a man can stand perfect before God when he obeys the Word or will of God. I will discuss this doctrine of perfection later as I proceed in this expository. If man can be perfected by all God’s will made clear in the Holy Bible, then what else do we need to be like if not perfection. What is the essence of Christianity if not to place man perfect in the sight of God?
66. The Lord Jesus Christ warned in Revelation 22:19 against addition or subtraction from His Word: “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (KJV).
67. If any man obeys not the epistles of the apostles, the Bible says Christians should not keep company with such a man so that he will be ashamed …
68. “And if any man obeys not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.” (Thess.3 :14, KJV).
69. Read also 1 Corinth. 4:6, 16 .. “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
70. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
71. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
72. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;
73. And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
74. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” (KJV). Amen.
2
WHY MANY PEOPLE
MISUNDERSTAND THE HOLY BIBLE
Number one, Some foolishly say that it is not understandable. To such people, I say read 2 Peter 3:15-18: “He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and know-ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (NIV).
3. Notice that verse 17 and 18 encourages all Christians, to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ – the Word of God, which is the Holy Bible. How can a loving Father as God write to His children letter which contains all His will for them and make it impossible for them to understand Him?
4. Will He have any basis for judging them? St. John 20:30-31, made us to understand that the Holy Scriptures should be read, believed and obeyed by all in order to obtain eternal life…
5. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (KJV).
6. If one does not understand, how can he believe and obey? In Acts 17:11, we read, … “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (KJV),
7. Here St. Paul commends the people of Berea for their efforts iii searching the Scriptures to find out for themselves whether what they were taught by the apostles were true or false. How I wish Christians of today will cultivate this habit.
8. Many Christians, instead of going to the Bible to find out the truth about any matter, they go to their general overseers who are blind, ignorant and destitute of the truth and they will cancel the truth with their human ideas and philosophies, which have no Biblical basis at all.
9. Such men have a clever way of setting the Bible aside that they may teach their humanly devised fables to their members as if they are the commandments of God…
10. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7 KJV).
11. (2) Some read the Bible with wrong motives to find excuses for their sinful acts and to make arguments, while some hate the truth… “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”. (2 Thess. 2:10- 13), KJV) ….
14. “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the Truth: Men of corrupt mind, reprobate concerning the Truth “. (2 Tim. 3:8, KJV). Some even willfully resist the Truth
15. (3) Some like they did in the time of St. Paul, wrestle with difficult passages very impatiently and twist them to their own destruction.
16. …. “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16, KJV).
17. (4) Some cannot distinguish between the Old Moses law and the new Testament or Covenant which is established on better promises.
18. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
19. Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was their Husband, says the Lord.
20. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. And they will no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know Me [recognize, understand, and be acquainted with Me], from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will [seriously] remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34, AMP).
21. Hebrews 8:6-13(KJV),…“ But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
22. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
23. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
24. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
25. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
26. “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Hebr. 9:15, KJV).
27. Colossians 2:14-16 (KJV), …. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
28. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days :
29. (5) Some do not accumulate enough knowledge of the Scriptures before drawing their conclusion such as Matthew 28:18-20,“ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
30. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
31. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”;
32. And Saint Mark 16:15-16, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
33. (Luke 24:46 KJV) “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”
34. In all these passages, the commands were carried out in Acts 2:38, .. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
35. And from here henceforth, all other water baptisms were done in the name of Jesus Christ to whom alone belongs all those titles as recorded in Isaiah 9:6 (KJV).
36. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of peace.” The Name of God is Jesus Christ or the Word of God.
37. Matthew 28:18-20, provided the formula and not the answer. For example, it will be wrong for one to say that the product of 3 x 3 is 3 x 3. The correct answer should be 9. It will be wrong for one to repeat the formula by saying 3 x 3.
38. (6) Some think that the Bible is a mysterious book or an occult book.
39. (7) Some think it is only meant for the clergy and not the laity hence they go to church even without a copy of the Bible in their hands but solely depend on all their pastor or Rev. Father will tell them with the result that some do not even know how to find places or verses or books in the Bible and still parade themselves as Christians.
40. (8) Some draw their conclusions that men wrote the Bible with a high wisdom and even attribute it to the craftiness of the white man to impose his religion on others. This is the worst group of people.
41. (9) Some lean on their own conscience and feeling and once their consciences are clear to them they feel they are justified. But my dear reader, hear what the Bible says in the following passages:
42. … “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirit to see whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world”. (1 John 4:1 KJV)
43. … “There is a way which seem eth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14 12, KJV).
44. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Prov. 28: 26, KJV)
45. …“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps”. (Jeremiah 10:23, KJV)
46. …“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? (Job 6:24-25, KJV).
47. I want you to understand that St. Paul persecuted the true Church out of a pure conscience. So out of a pure-conscience one can resist, deny, or fight the truth if he is not careful.
48. AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
49. “I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the Saints didn’t shut up in prison, having received authority from the Chief Priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.” (Acts 23:1; Acts 26:9-10, KJV).
50. (10) Some cleverly set aside the Word of God in other to introduce their own man made teachings that make them different from other groups. However, God spoke concerning such people….
51. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
52. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. “. (Mark 7:7-9, KJV).
53. (11) Some will listen to seducing spirit that will teach them doctrines contrary to the Word of God: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
54. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
55. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (2 Thess 2:3-4, KJV). Amen.
3
CONCLUSION
| S |
ince the Word of God alone can make a man perfect, the Word of God is God Himself and is Jesus Christ,.. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made 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 1:1,14, KJV).
2. Jesus Christ alone has the final authority in all Christian matters. Therefore. the Holy Bible is the Christians Absolute or final Authority. My word to all my friends in the “End- Time Message” who follow the teachings of Prophet William Marrion Branham.
3. St. John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
4. Acts 20:32: … “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
5. Brother Branham said in his message he titled “The Absolute”, that many people take him as their absolute, and that he has his own Absolute, the Holy Bible -”
6. (1 Timothy 4:1-3, KJV)…. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
7. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:3-4, KJV).
8. To people that took him as their absolute, he warned them in his Message titled “He cares, Do you care?” (Page 3 of the unabridged series) saying that they should be very careful concerning what they were hearing from him for many of them was of the human side.
9. According to him, he said, “I am a man, and make series of mistakes as a man. If I say anything ‘and it did not agree with the Holy Bible, no matter how good and dandy it looks, do not take it.
10. But when you hear “Thus Saith the Lord”, take it because you know it cannot fail”. As a true prophet of God, he came with “Thus saith the Lord”. But some blind and foolish people forget he is a man that had friends, family, children, and held conversation with many noble and poor and all that such people heard from him including discussions with friends even on carnal matters, they regard all of them (his interactions) as “Thus saith the Lord” even without balancing it with the Bible.
11. Some have completely stopped reading the Holy Bible and go about carrying “Sermon Books” preached many years ago as if William Branham would not have been preaching if he is living up till now. I came across one that said that “The Holy Bible is satanic”, what a blasphemy against God.
12. One said, “the prophet said that the Bible is the question and the sermon book the answer, our “URIM THUMMIM” of today.
13. He (Bro. Branham), called the Church out of the demonic spirits, nations i.e. organized religion and said that the Bride of Christ will come out from the Church. The Bride according to him will go through the translation (Rapture) while be Church will go through Great Tribulation.
14. According to him, the Bride Ministry will be a continuation of the Acts of the Apostles and will obey and manifest every Word of God because it must be the “WORD-BRIDE”: The Ministry of the Bride he said will be the same as the Ministry of Christ the Bridegroom, to reproduce Christ again on two feet in the human form. The Bride Will recognise nothing but the Word of God and in their midst the power of God will come down. As it was on the Pentecost Day.
15. And I asked him a question; Can a man answer a question correctly without knowing it first? Can the answer be reliable without the question? I call this attitude arrrant stupidity and whose mouth should be shut.
16. Bro. Branham said that God permitted him to make dual statements on one issue to trim down the crowd but that the Bride will recognise the truth in the Bible. That was why be said 70 weeks of Daniel remains 7 years, he repeatedly said “Church say after me also. He said 70 weeks of Daniel remains 3.5 years, and he repeatedly said, “Church say after me, 3.5 years is left for the Jews”.
17. Now, the question arises, which one is “Thus Saith The Lord”? The answer is in the Holy Bible but uptill now, it remains one of the topics that raise great controversies among all “End Time Message” churches.\
18. Another controversial doctrine is the mystery of the revelation of the “Seven Thunders” as recorded in Revelation 10: 1-4,
19. … “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
20. And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
21. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.”. (KJV).
22. Some say it is revealed to be “Seven Seals”, some say “Seven Virtues”, some say “Seven Church Ages”, some say “Millemium”, some say “Seven Rainbows”, some say “Returning Ministry’, Some say ‘Polygamy and Marriage and Divorce” etc.
23. In all these versions, each group call the other unbeliever because he does not agree with him. All of them quote Prophet William Branham. Is God the author of confusion? “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” Corinth. 14:33,KJV).
24. They keep on contending about the mystery of the Seven thunders even when many of them (including their Ministers) manifest great shortcomings by living false lives. Some still quarrel, fight, tell lies, steal, cheat, dupe, masturbate, commit fornication and adultery etc., even till this day and break their marriage vows.
25. (Jeremiah 7:8-11,) … Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
26. And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it , saith the LORD.
27. (Is this most holy faith become a house of eveil men? Behold the Lord, had seen it and He will judge’). None of them has ever stopped to ask himself ‘what does the Bible say concerning this matter?”.
28. I therefore, advice you as dear friend to go back to the Word of God which was where the prophet commanded us to go back to and all our differences will be over.
29. Can you imagine somebody that calls himself a Christian and claims he believes the words of the Prophet Messenger, Brother Branham, and goes about telling people that the sermon books of prophet Branham is the Holy Ghost! Is this not blashphemy? Does this show that he understands what the Holy Ghost is?
30. How many copies of the sermon books put together can replace the Holy Bible or form the Holy Ghost? I have been to the houses of very many preachers in the “End Time Message” and I saw heaps of sermon books and cassettes in their shelves and many littered about on the floors of their houses while their families use old and worn-out copies for toilet.
31. Can we then say that those papers were the Holy Ghost in their shelves and windows, and cracks and cravices on the walls of their houses? Is this claim not a sign of complete ignorance on the part of the people that claim such?
32. No wonder one can still see such people parading the streets with copies of sermon books and still live and indulge in all kinds of evils.
33. Let us hear what the Holy Bible said concerning the Holy Ghost… But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26, KJV)….
34. “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
35. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”. (John 16:12-14, KJV).
36. It is clear from these passages that Holy Ghost is a person and is no other person than the Spirit of God Himself in a Man which is the Spirit of Truth.
37. Baptism of the Holy Ghost is baptism of Truth. Many that claim they have the Holy Ghost because they carry sermon books around and still manifest naked unbelief by telling lies, living in immorality, fighting and quarrelling, taking their fellow brethren to police stations and court houses, teaching false doctrines, and even deny every present move of God in His Church, and all other kinds of evil, is this type of life the one the Bible reveals that a man filled with Holy Ghost should live?
38. This question must be answered or such claimers should shut up their mouth forever.
39. I am sure that Bro. Branham, God’s messenger to our generation will rise up in judgment against all these blasphemers that fill the End Time Message and cause his name and ministry to be evil spoken of by the Pentecostals and other religious groups.
40. I came across one in Onitsha in Anambra State Nigeria, that belongs to Joseph Coleman group and still carry sermon books in his hands all about. Every 12: noon, this man will jump outside with an ivory or elephant tusk in his hand and will be jumping up and down in the yard, running round the whole compound, blowing the ivory as trumpet ‘Poo-Poo-Poo”- shouting on top of his voice “The Seven Thunders is Here, Seven Thunders Anointing Is Here, It has come. It Is The Revival, It Is The Rapture,” etc, and he will be making a hell of noise, disturbing the peace of the people in the whole compound.
41. People see what he was doing as foreign, unscriptural and as an occultic act and labelled his group and all that carry sermon books as “The Seven Thunders” and call it a secret society or cult whose founder is William Marrion Branham.
42. For this singular act of Joseph Coleman’s group, all the Pentecostal Churches in the city warned their members never to have any dealings or associate with anybody that calls himself a Christian but carries the Sermon Books of “The seven Thunders”.
43. Who caused this stumbling block to the Gospel and havoc to the truth? And they are unmindful of what the Lord Jesus Christ said concerning such actions ….
44. “Jesus said to His disciples:“Things that cause people to sin are bound to come but woe to that person through whom, they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin” (Luke 17:1-2, NIV)
45. I still repeat that Bro. Branham will rise in judgment against these End Time Message claimers and make-ups who instead of obeying him by going back to the Holy Bible which the entire denominations rejected and threw away, which was the centerpiece of the prophet’s Message they formed for themselves in their different tabernacles, lodges and cults worst than the denominations.
46. It is not out of place even to note that End Time Message has many denominations in their midst, teaching perverse and conflicting doctrines resulting to chaos and confusion among them.
47. This is a sign that they have lost the battle completely for the dog has gone back to its vomit. But we thank the Lord who has left us with a remnant that still live to fulfill the Holy Bible and have received the visitations in various countries throughout the world with clear manifestation of the Holy Ghost and Power as in the Church of Acts.
48. … “Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. “. (Isaiah 9:1-2, KJV).
49. Romans9:29, …“ And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah”
50. The same way Blessed Virgin Mary, will rise in judgment against all Roman Catholics for refusing to carry out her instruction but instead deified her. The same way Brother Branham will rise against evil and adulterous generation.
51. In John 2:1-8, we read an account of what Mary told the people at the marriage feast at Cana: “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
52. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it”.
53. It is noticeable here that Blessed Virgin Mary commanded the people to do whatever her son JesusChrist asked them to do and the people obeyed and a new wine came out. If the servants never obeyed the command that Jesus gavethem, would there be a new wine?
54. Blessed Virgin Mary as a good and loving Christian, saw the Lord Jesus Christ beyond her Son and obeyed all His Words.
55. Let us read the following passages: Luke 24:47-49 (KJV)…” And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
56. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high”.
57. Acts 1:7-8, 12-15: “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.…
58. “…Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
59. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about a hundred and twenty,).”
60. From all these passages above it has become clearer that Mary obeyed the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ by tarrying with the disciples in Jerusalem until the Pentecost day. She received the Holy Ghost Baptism with the disciples which we know is the “TOKEN” or “TICKET” for the translation of the saints (Rapture).
61. If she disobeyed by saying “after all, she is my son etc would she be a recipient of the Holy Ghost? Hebrews 5 verse 9 says, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.’’
62. She (Mary the mother of Jesus) became a partaker of this eternal, salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Brother Branham read the Holy Bible and obeyed it. People who knew him and had interactions with him confirmed that he lived Holy Ghost-filled life. He commanded this generation to go back to the Holy Bible, which is still Gods infallible Word till today.
63. Instead of obeying this instruction, people stopped at repeating what He said while some deified him. One can imagine a situation where Joshua, a follower of Moses the Prophet, could have gone back to Pharaoh saying, “Pharaoh let my people go” only to make sure that he said what Prophet Moses had said.
64. If Joshua had done that, the movement of lsreal to Canaan (their gloryland) would have been stagnant and spiral. But Joshua never made such mistake, he continued his Ministry from where Moses stopped without any contradiction to the doctrines and lives of Moses. He manifested the commandments of Moses. He obeyed Moses filly.
65. I am not defending Bro. Branham nor his ministry, but I tell the whole world the truth as I received from God and not from man and God is my witness…
66. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:”. (1 Thess. 2:4- 5, KJV).
67. I thank God that I am living in a day when the words of the prophet are fulfilling to the letter. Bro. Branham had earlier told us that he would leave the scene one day and that grievous wolves must rise up in the church as they did in the days of the early apostles speaking perverse things and drawing soul unto themselves.
68. This prophecy fulfilled to the letter, when he died, people rose up and told us how they ate with him, slept with him and how he ordained them and started their own movement with their own revelation, all of them drawing souls unto themselves. All of them claimed that God spoke to them (some when they were taking their bath) even when they make contradicting statements on one issue. God will judge.
69. Some based their claim on the statement of the prophet like “Watch New York”. They became so blind that they couldn’t realize that Bro. Braham as a prophet foresaw ahead of time, the great falsehood and reproach that ‘will rise from that city New York. So he warned “watch New York’, and the manifestation of what came out of New York has justified prophet Branham as a true prophet of God, because out of New York rose up a man that have taught the greatest erroneous doctrine among the End time Message believers.
70. From New York a Pastor of a local church became an “apostle/pastor”, handing down his doctrines, revelations, and false interpretation of Bro. Branham’s Messages to various local assemblies worldwide. He calls himself a pastor. Yet he imposes his doctrines on many local assemblies. Blind people that follow him cannot stop and ask themselves “Is this man a pastor or an apostle, ‘or another messenger with his own message?”.
71. They continue to follow him even when he has taught many things contradicting the Holy Bible on the issue of the seven thunders and tithes etc. The only thing that such “caged groups” has to do in order to be free from err and unbelief is to go back to the Holy Bible.
72. Finally my dear friends, I appeal to you the Name of Jesus Christ, who will judge the quick and the dead at His appearing to go back to the Holy Bible with a pure and perfect heart and you will see God’s will for mankind, revealed in His Word.
73. For clarity of what I am saying where were people like Joseph Coleman, Frisby, Jackson, Richard Gan, Robert Barnes etc, when Branham was in his earthly ministry? Some of them were sitting down in The Braham Tabernacle as if they believed him but were only there waiting for opportunities for the prophet to go away for them to appear and deceive the flock.
74. Bro. Branham, as a prophet of God saw these people and understood their motives and even said he was going to call the names of people that betrayed him in the Church in a message he titled “Trail of the Serpent” which he wrote down but couldn’t preach it until he was taken away.
75. God didn’t permit him to do so in his day. He said most of them were his friends he trusted much. He knew them all and was fully aware of what they would do when he left the scene.
76. These wolves in the Message who have seduced the hearts of many, came to Nigeria and other countries and started their churches and flooded in American Dollars to their converts (who had already presented themselves in a beggarly manner). They bribed away their hearts and consciences, some of their big ministers in Nigeria have become Millionaires with the Dollars they collect from these wolves and exchange them for the local currency.
77. For every problem they will rush to America and other oversea countries instead of going to the Holy Bible. These wolves did not spare Bro. Branham’s family. Some of his sons and daughters today and their husbands have followed one version of the “seven thunders group” or the other.
78. They now apply make-ups like perming their hairs, and jerry curling their hairs (pervasion of hairs is something with bleaching or pervasion of one’s skin). Some wear more than one ring on their fingers, while some even wear earrings and necklaces which Bro. Branham in line with the Holy Bible pronounced to be a heathen custom.
79. Some are in the church making dramas or entertainments with the youths as “Youth Quake:. Did the prophet have any time for drama and entertainment? Was there any place the Holy Scripture introduced or taught people drama? Is this not a sign of falling away from the truth?
80. Is this not adding and subtracting from God’s Word and Doctrine, which is what the prophet called denominationalism? Will this type of church be the type of the Bride God revealed to His servant prophet Branham?”
81. What God revealed to His servant, Bro. Branham, was a perfect and holy Bride, arrayed in the full Word of God having no spot or wrinkle or blemish and free from mixed multitude.
82. Dear friends, I pray that God will you to understand where you have missed, go there and meet Him. And that must be back to Pentecost.Thank you.
83. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: (1 Cor. 1:27-28).
SECTION 2
1
TITHE
Definition: One-Tenth.
Before I proceed in discussing this very important topic, I must first cite the quotation where many preachers in virtually all the denominations have based their stand in collecting “One-Tenth or Tithe “from members of their churches.
2. This is found in the book of Malachi the 3rd Chapter, Verses 7-10 “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them . Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
3. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
4. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”. (KJV).
5. This topic has become very necessary for people to know the truth about tithe because many appear to be confused on how it should be calculated and paid and whom it should be paid to, and when it should be paid. To another group of worshippers they are confused whether it should be paid as under the Law of Moses or as under the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law and of the prophets.
6. Many preachers go ahead calling their members who, for one reason or the other refused to pay the tithe robbers because according to them, such erring members steal God’s money and no robber will enter into the Kingdom of God. There is no sincere Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit that will afford to miss Everlasting life.
7. For this reason it has become very necessary to make this all important matter plain to all Christians as the Holy Bible puts it because !f it is not the Holy Bible, it is not true. Having established the Holy Bible as the “Christians Absolute or Final Authority’, I will now proceed to unveil the truth about tithe as I received from Jesus Christ my Lord, who called me and ordained me to be His Apostle in this sinful, crooked and adulterous generation we are living in. Many have preached about tithe in ignorance while some have preached it perversely to satisfy their bellies.
ORIGIN OF TITHE
8. Geneses 14:14-24, ‘And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants , born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
9. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
10. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
11. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
12. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
13. That I will not take from a thread even to ta shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
14. Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. “. (KJV).
15. Please, dear reader, note the emphasis on verses 18-20, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
16. And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.(KJV).
17. ‘Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has helped you conquer your enemies.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered” (TLB).
18. Melchizedek, King of Salem (King of peace), Priest of the Most High God, met Abram together with the King of Sodom whose properties were looted by his enemies and Lot, Abraham’s brother carried captive by those enemies of Sodom.
19. Note Verse 19, Melchizedek blessed Abram first by giving him wine and bread and also by making him possessor of Heaven and earth. I will discuss this man Melchizedek as I continue in this exposure.
20. In verse 20, Abram gave this Melchizedek “TITHES OF ALL.” What Abram gave was one tenth of everything he collected from the battlefield because he was met on his way back from the battlefield where he went and redeemed his brother Lot and recaptured all the goods the enemies looted from the Land of Sodom. Abram was not alone in the battle for there were other men that accompanied him in the battle whose names are written in verse 24.
21. Apart from this place, there is no other record in the Holy Bible that Abram gave a tenth or tenths of all. To begin with, Melchizedek never demanded anything from Abram and the men that were with him in the battle. But Abram, in appreciation of what God has done for him by giving him victory over his enemies, gave Melchizedek tenths of all. Note that the word is in plural “tithes of all”.
22. Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob which was later renamed Israel. Isaac worshipped God like his father Abraham and there is not even one record of a place he either paid or gave tithe or tithes to God.
23. Many Preachers say that Abram paid tithe but the Bible did not say so. Abram never paid tithe or tithes because he was not indebted to Melchizedek but rather he gave tithes out of a free and willing mind and not as obligation.
24. Jacob was recorded as a surplanter or deceiver because he deceived his father Isaac at an old age to take the birth right of his elder brother Esau. I will discuss why God allowed this to happen and did not impute sin on Jacob in my later discussion on “Election and Predestination.”
25. In Genesis 28:15-22, “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
26. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
27. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
28. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
29. And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” (KJV).
30. The Bible records the account of Jacob while he was trying to escape from the wrath of his brother Esau whom he cheated. A time came when Jacob became sore afraid whether he could survive and the LORD God of Israel appeared unto him and comforted him. To this end, Jacob made a pledge to offer unto God a tenth of all that God would give unto him, if only God would provide for his safety.
31. It is worthy to note here that God never commanded Jacob to give him tenth of anything, rather Jacob out of willing heart volunteered and made a pledge of a tenth of all that God will give him for God. This was done in Bethel, a place he made an altar and worshipped God.
32. In other words, the house of God. Jacob was obligated to keep to this pledge. This is why God warned us never to make rash promises when we come before His presence, “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut! Don’t be a fool who doesn’t realize that mindless offerings to God are evil. And don’t make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven, and you are only here on earth. So let your words be few.” (Ecc]. 5:1-2, TLB)
33. Apart from this place, there is no other record anywhere in the Bible where Jacob commanded anybody to make such a pledge as he made to God. Even in Genesis 35:1-5, where Jacob commanded his whole family to worship God with him, he never asked them to make a pledge of a tenth of all they had to God As long as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived. They were not under the law and the LORD never commanded any of them to give Him a tenth or tenths of all they possessed as an act of worship.
WHEN DID PAYMENT OF TITHE BECOME LAW?
34. Leviticus 27:30-34, “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy. If you want to redeem the LORD’s tenth of the fruit or grain, you must pay its value, plus 20 percent. The LORD also owns every tenth animal counted off from your herds and flocks.
35. They are set apart to him as holy. The tenth animal must not be selected on the basis of whether it is good or bad, and no substitutions will be allowed. If any exchange is in fact made, then both the original animal and the substituted one will be considered holy and cannot be redeemed.” These are the commands that the LORD gave to the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.” (TLB).
36. From this passage, it is very clear that money is never mentioned but rather the fruit of the land and domestic animals. If any tampers with the One tenth that is allotted God from all the proceeds of the land, he shall add 20 percent or one-fifth by way of interest whenever he will send the tithe to the house of God.
37. Note verse 33, The tenth animal must not be selected on the basis of whether it is good or bad, and no substitutions will be allowed. If any exchange is in fact made, then both the original animal and the substituted one will be considered holy and cannot be redeemed.”
38. that the giver should not take account how he gets the things he was giving and the nature thereof; whether good or bad. It did not matter whether he loves God or not but just send the tithe to God’s house.
WHY SHOULD TITHE BE GIVEN AND TO WHOM?
39. Numbers 18:21-25, As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will pay them for their service in the Tabernacle with the tithes from the entire land of Israel.”From now on, Israelites other than the priests and Levites are to stay away from the Tabernacle.
40. If they come too near, they will be judged guilty and die. The Levites must serve at the Tabernacle, and they will be held responsible for any offenses against it.
41. This is a permanent law among you. But the Levites will receive no inheritance of land among the Israelites, because I have given them the Israelites’ tithes, which have been set apart as offerings to the LORD. This will be the Levites’ share. That is why I said they would receive no inheritance of land among the Israelites. The LORD also told Moses, “.
42. Here we notice that all other tribes of Israel have inheritance on the land except the Levites. They were to serve in the temple of God and dwell there all the rest of their lives. They were not to cultivate any land but to depend on the tithes from their relations- fellow Israelites as commanded by God.
WHAT WERE THEIR DUTIES IN THE TEMPLE?
43. They were in the temple to make sin offering on behalf of all Israelites unto God “And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue…
44. “And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy…
45. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.” (Lev. 15:15: 14:12-13; Num. 3: 1-7, KJV).
46. No Israelites was permitted to come near the Holy of Holies lest they would die. “Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. Anyone else who comes too near the sanctuary must be executed!” (Num. 3:10, TLB).
47. In other words, they were serving as Mediators between God and His people Israel because the Veil was not yet broken and the middle wall of partition (The Law) was still there which kept people in bondage that they could not see Christ in Plainview
48. Do we have such Levites today who approach God on our behalf and make sin sacrifice for us? Do we need human beings today to become mediators between us and God? Was the Veil not rent into two by the death of Christ making Him accessible to all believers today? The answer is in your heart.
49. Deuteronomy 14:22-29, “You must set aside a tithe of your crops–one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Bring this tithe to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored, and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to fear the LORD your God.
50. Now the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored might be a long way from your home.
51. If so, you may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds and take the money to the place the LORD your God chooses. When you arrive, use the money to buy anything you want–an ox, a sheep, some wine, or beer. Then feast there in the presence of the LORD your God and celebrate with your household.
52. And do not forget the Levites in your community, for they have no inheritance as you do. “At the end of every third year bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in the nearest town.
53. Give it to the Levites, who have no inheritance among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all your work.” (TLB)
54. Here we can see that the fruits of the Land including corn and wine and domestic animals were included in the tithe. One is only permitted to exchange these goods for money only when the place of worship is too far because of the bulkiness of the load. If the money which was got in exchange was tampered with, the giver would pay 20% interest on the amount thereof.
55. The givers and the Levites also were permitted to eat of those goods and to use the money to buy whatever their hearts desired including strong drink. Looking at the whole picture, one can see why the people to whom these Laws were given could not keep them.
56. Can you imagine a situation where a farmer will come back from the farm and would sit down with the family to do counting and sharing of proceeds of the farm each day only to make sure that they did not cheat God and God did not cheat them?
57. When they got wine, they would ask for measurements like bottles and would start sharing only to bring out a tenth for God. I want you to imagine it in your heart. The people were no longer mindful of true righteousness and holiness rather everybody was complaining and murmuring because it was very cumbersome.
58. Just like today, can you imagine a trader who is a Christian only to settle down to share each profit he makes of every item in his shade into ten, only to make sure he does not cheat God. It will be very wrong for him to calculate one-tenth from the aggregate profit because he cannot make equal profit on all his items in his shade and this calculation is done daily.
59. How many books will he keep in his shade for recordings? Will he have time to study God’s Word again? What of the farmer today? Can he spend all his time to count and share cassava, corn, millet, Okro, Ogbono, pear, beans, rice, potato, onion, tomato, wine, fowl, goat, sheep, dog, pigeon, turkey etc? Does it not look cumbersome
60. I have asked these questions for you dear reader to understand why God never intended to make it a permanent Law and found fault with it and changed it at last.
61. Malachi 3:7-10 (TLB), “Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my laws and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
62. “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.
63. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!”
64. God accused his people of robbing him because when the Law was given to them, they all agreed by telling Moses: all that the Lord our God shall say, that we shall do.
65. “And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.”…
66. “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. (Ex. 19:7-4; 24:7; KJV)
67. “Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They all responded again, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded. We will obey.” (TLB).
68. Because they agreed, it became binding on them, but when they discovered it was hard to keep, many started dodging it and being an obligation, they were under compulsion and for that they were legally giving with grudges. Amen.
2
WHO IS MELCHIZEDEK?
This name Melchizedek was first mentioned in Genesis 14:18-20 as Priest of the Most High God and King of Salem whom Abram gave tithes of all and He blessed Abram.
2. In Hebrews 7:1-3, “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
3. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
4. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. “. (KJV).
5. Here, we see this Man Melchizedek as Priest of the Most High God, King of Salem – (King of Peace), King of Righteousness. He has no beginning and He has no ending. He has no father and no mother, He had no descent. He is a High Priest forever, He liveth forever. He is like unto the Son of God. He received tithe of the spoils from Abram and blessed Abram. He is greater than Abraham.
6. Note tithe of the spoils. In other words, Abram gave tithes of the spoils he got from the warfront and not all that he possessed. Melchizedek is no other Person than God in the Flesh revealing Himself to Abraham
CHANGE IN THE LAW AND IN THE PRIESTHOOD
7. Hebrews 6:18-20, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
8. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
9. This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God Himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven, where Christ has gone ahead to plead for us from His position as our High Priest, with the honour and rank of Melchizedek”, (TLB).
10. Hebrews 7:4-28 (AMP), “Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people — that is, their brothers — even though their brothers are descended from Abraham.
11. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser per-son is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
12. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priest-hood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come — one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
13. FOR WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE OF THE PRIESTHOOD, THERE MUST ALSO BE A CHANGE OF THE LAW.
14. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.
15. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” [Psalm 110:4] The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
16. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: `You are a priest forever.’“ [Psalm 110:4] Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
17. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely [Or forever] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
18. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever..
19. Note verse 12 of Hebrews 7, the Priesthood being changed, there was necessity for the change of the Law. In verse 14, the Bible said that Moses spake nothing concerning Priesthood coming out of Judah.
20. Priesthood belonged to the tribe of Levi and Aaron and not Judah. We now have Jesus Christ as the High Priest of our profession in the order of Melchizedek and no longer the old Levitical Priesthood.
21. In verse 11 of the same Chapter, the Bible is clear that perfection could not come and cannot be by the Levitical Priesthood and that is why there was a need for another have that could offer perfection. If the Jewish Priest and their Law had been able to save us as a Priest with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of sending someone with the rank of Aaron, the same rank all other priests had (TLB).
22. And finally, if the priesthood of Levi could have achieved God’s purposes–and it was that priesthood on which the law was based–why did God need to send a different priest from the line of Melchizedek, instead of from the line of Levi and Aaron?
23. And when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it.” (TLB.)
24. If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priest-hood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come — one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.” (AMP).
CHANGE OF THE LAW
25. Matthew 5:17-20, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
26. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tithe shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
27. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (KJV).
28. Bear also in mind that Jesus Christ is the end of the Law and of the prophets “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness which is of the Law, that the man who doeth those things shall live by them” (Rom. 10;14, KJV).
29. In Matthew 23:23-24 (KJV), “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.”.
30. The Pharisees were scolded by Jesus Christ because they based their righteousness in the Law by paying tithes as commanded by Moses but neglected the weightier matters of the Law which was true justice and Love.
31. In Luke 11:42 “But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.” (TLB),
32. Jesus Christ repeated the same thing to those hypocrites of HIS day. In Luke 18:11-14(TLB), ‘The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t sin, I don’t commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
33. “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’
34. I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.”
35. We read the account of another hypocrite, a teacher of the Law, who was trying to justify himself with the Law by fasting three times a week and paying his tithe and Jesus warned us to learn something from the two men who came to His temple. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4, KJV).
36. Matthew 6:19-24 (TLB), “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal.
37. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.
38. “Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
39. This passage has nothing to do with payment of tithe. For perfect interpretation of it, read I Timothy 6:11-19; James 1:27, “But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
40. Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. And I command you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey his commands with all purity. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
41. For at the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No one has ever seen him, nor ever will. To him be honor and power forever. Amen.
42. Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.
43. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life.”…
44. “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” (The Living Bible Translation).
45. In Galatians 4: 1-7, “Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves great wealth for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.
46. They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world.
47. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father.
48. Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.” (TLB).
49. We can see that Jesus Christ was born a Jew and He lived under the Old Testament’s Law of Moses to fulfill it and to redeem us who were kept in bondage under the Law until His appearing.
50. Please follow me as we have a close look at the First Ordinance or Covenant in Hebrews 9:1-10, “Now in that first covenant between God and Israel, there were regulations for worship and a sacred tent here on earth. There were two rooms in this tent. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and loaves of holy bread on the table. This was called the Holy Place.
51. Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing some manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant with the Ten Commandments written on them.
52. The glorious cherubim were above the Ark. Their wings were stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain all of these things now. When these things were all in place, the priests went in and out of the first room regularly as they performed their religious duties.
53. But only the high priest goes into the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, and always with blood, which he offers to God to cover his own sins and the sins the people have committed in ignorance. By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the Most Holy Place was not open to the people as long as the first room and the entire system it represents were still in use.
54. This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and ritual washing—external regulations that are in effect only until their limitations can be corrected.” (TLB)
55. “Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lamp stand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
56. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. [Traditionally the mercy seat] But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. When everything had been ar-ranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.
57. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.
58. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings — external regulations applying until the time of the new order. (NIV)
59. “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all;
60. Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
61. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
62. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
63. Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
64. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” (KJV).
65. Jesus Christ came and ushered us into a New Testament – New Covenant. While Christ lived on earth, no one was called a Christian. He fulfilled all the Law and the prophets and preached Christianity to His followers. While He was here as a person; Christianity was like a “will”. A will is never effective until the death of the person that willed it. It was after Christ’s death that His followers were called Christians.
66. “Now when someone dies and leaves a will, no one gets anything until it is proved that the person who wrote the will is dead. The will goes into effect only after the death of the person who wrote it. While the person is still alive, no one can use the will to get any of the things promised to them.” (Heb. 9: 16-17, TLB). Amen.
3
DID GOD INTEND TO MAKE THE OLD LAW A PERMANENT ONE?
God never intended to make the Old Testament Law a permanent one otherwise, He would not have prophesied for another one to come.
2. Jeremiah 31:31-34, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
3. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD:
4. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
5. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (KJV).
6. This was fulfilled to the letter according to Hebrews 8:6- 13, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
8. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
9. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
10. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (KJV).
11. Here the Bible clearly stated that God Himself found fault with the First Law and He Himself changed it, “8 But God himself found fault with the old one when he said: “The day will come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.” (Heb. 8:8, TLB).
12. In verse 13, He put the first Law away forever and ever – “When God speaks of a new covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and ready to be put aside.” (TLB). …
13.
14. “When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.” (AMP).
15. “By calling this covenant “new”, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and ageing will soon disappear” (NIV).
16. Now if God Himself found fault with the Old Law and put it away, why do people bring it back? If God changed the Priesthood from the order of Levites to the order Of Melchizedek, why do people still go after the order of the Levitical Priesthood?
17. The Law which is the first covenant was a Shadow of good things to come and not the reality. The reality is Christ! Why do people then pursue the shadow instead of the reality?
18. Hebrews 10,1-10, “The old system in the law of Moses was only a shadow of the things to come, not the reality of the good things Christ has done for us. The sacrifices under the old system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
19. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
20. But just the opposite happened. Those yearly sacrifices reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why Christ, when he came into the world, said, “You did not want animal sacrifices and grain offerings. But you have given me a body so that I may obey you.
21. No, you were not pleased with animals burned on the altar or with other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God– just as it is written about me in the Scriptures.’ “
22. Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or grain offerings or animals burned on the altar or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).
23. Then he added, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second. And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.” (TLB).
24. Note here that verse nine said He taketh away the first that He may establish the second, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second” (KJV).
25. The first covenant or Law was likened to a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. But when Christ comes, we are no longer under the school master.
26. Galatians 3:21-29, “Well then, is there a conflict between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could have given us new life, we could have been made right with God by obeying it.
27. But the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God’s promise is to believe in Jesus Christ. Until faith in Christ was shown to us as the way of becoming right with God, we were guarded by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until we could put our faith in the coming Savior.
28. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came. So now, through faith in Christ, we are made right with God. But now that faith in Christ has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
29. So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians–you are one in Christ Jesus.
30. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you.” (TLB).
31. In verse 21, “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”(KJV)
32. “Is the Law then contrary and opposed to the promises of God? Of course not! For if a Law had been given which could confer [spiritual] life, then righteousness and right standing with God would certainly have come by Law.” (AMP) –
33. “Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.”.(NIV).
34. It is evidently clear that the Law could not give Life and could not make people righteous. That which the Law could not do in that it was weak, faith did it for us.
35. The Law was a type of John the Baptist – a forerunner of Jesus Christ. – When John the Baptist told people to behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, he gave way for Christ. Then he introduced us to Christ and Christ is with us (the Word of God) we are no longer under the Law.
36. Remember we were all locked up and kept in bondage under the law because nobody could keep it perfectly well. Some may be tempted to ask this question; “why did God decide to give His people laws they could not keep?” The answer is clear in the Bible.
37. In Matthew 19:8, “He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” (KJV).
38. Jesus said clearly that God gave His people those Laws through Moses because of their hard heartedness. The essence of the Law is to show what sin is Where there is no Law, there is no sin –
39. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” … “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (Rom. 3:20; Rom. 4:15, KJV).
40. The death of Christ not only instituted the new covenant but also blotted out completely the handwriting of the Law that kept us captive nailing it to the cross.
41. Colossians 2:8-23, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
42. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
43. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
44. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
45. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days :
46. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
47. And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
48. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
49. Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.” (KJV).
50. Ephesians 2:11-22 (TLB), “Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders by birth. You were called “the uncircumcised ones” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.
51. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God’s people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.
52. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us.
53. By his death he ended the whole system of Jewish law that excluded the Gentiles. His purpose was to make peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new person from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
54. He has brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and to us Jews who were near. Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles, may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
55. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. We are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
56. We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also joined together as part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.”
57. If these passages cannot convince you my dear reader, let it be known to you that you are not of God because all God’s children, hear and recognize His Voice and not the voice of man – “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”. (John 8:47, KJV).
58. Do not allow yourself to be carried away by carnal and selfish interpretations that you received from your general overseers or superintendants so-called who make merchandise of you and keep you under the Law – perpetually. A Christian is no longer under obligation to keep or observe the Sabbath New-Moon, festival of shelters, festival of trumpets, Jewish over sacrifice, bunting of incense etc which go together with the payment of tithe.
59. Those who teach the necessity of part of the old Law are obligated to keep the whole Law and by so doing are fallen from God’s grace.
60. Galatians 5:3-5, “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (KJV).
61. James also taught that if anyone keeps the Law and offends in one, he is guilty of all, “For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all”. (James 2: 10, KJV).
62. Why do preachers of today collect tithes and refuse to keep animal sacrifice, circumcision, Sabbath order. They call tithe God’s money but they use it to enrich themselves by building fanciful houses, riding very costly flashy cars while the givers live in abject poverty.
63. By this exposure, I have spoiled the business of many General Superintendents and Pastors who make merchandise of men, whose gods are their own bellies.
64. “But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice of your faithful service (that is, if I am to die for you), I will rejoice, and I want to share my joy with all of you.
65. And you should be happy about this and rejoice with me. If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon. Then when he comes back, he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along.” (Philippians 2:17 – 19, TLB),
66. Christians should pay heed to all the Words of Jesus Christ to the Churches through the apostles and prophets.
67. In Hebrews, 5:9, “And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him .” (KJV).
68. Jesus Christ is the Author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
69. ... of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true, and we are b Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ . This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5).
70. In Hebrews 10:26-29, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
71. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
72. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (KJV).
73. It is a punishable offence if any man will refuse to listen and to obey the Word of Jesus Christ who spoke to us through His apostles. Although Christians are not bound by the Law any longer, grace even is made stronger than that now. All Christians are obligated to keep all the Laws of morality as recorded in the Holy Bible such as:- Romans 13:8-10, ‘Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God’s law.
74. For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting—and any other commandment–are all summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.”.(TLB).
75. Galatians 5:19- 15, “But it takes only one wrong person among you to infect all the others–a little yeast spreads quickly through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to bring you back to believing as I do about these things. God will judge that person, whoever it is, who has been troubling and confusing you.
76. Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do–why would the Jews persecute me? The fact that I am still being persecuted proves that I am still preaching salvation through the cross of Christ alone.
77. I only wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves. For you have been called to live in freedom–not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.
78. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”(TLB).
79. Eph. 4:23-32, And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
80. Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
81. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
82. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (KJV)
83. Eph. 5:3-7, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
84. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
85. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”.
86. 1 Cor. 5:11-13, “What I meant was that you are not to keep company with anyone who claims to be a brother Christian but indulges in sexual sins, or is greedy, or is a swindler (419), or worship idols, or is a drunkard, or abusive. Don‘t even eat lunch with such a person (But various religious leaders and their congregations don’t even believe these truths today and so they accommodate every immoral man and woman in their church of God so called). It is not our job to judge outsiders.
87. (Those who do not claim to be Christians). But it certainly is our job to judge and deal strongly with those who are members of the church, and who are sinning in these way. God alone is the Judge of those on the outside. (This is why our Message is directly upon every Christian so called and the Church world in general).
88. BUT YOU YOURSELVES MUST DEAL WITH THIS MAN(who claims to be a Christian but continue to live in sin) AND PUT HIM OUT OF YOUR CHURCH”. (Not to give such a one any back bench, after all the back bench is inside the church building. But hypocrites give such a one a back bench inside the church building and collect offering from the same person they claim to have excommunicated).
89. Jesus Himself even made it clearer that Grace is stronger than the Law. Under the Law one is guilty only when he is caught up in the very act, but under Grace one is guilty ever simply when the thought of the evil has settled inside the human heart.
90. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
91. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”(Matt. 5:21-22, KJV).
92. The same Matthew 5:21-23, we read from, The Living Bible edition for a clearer understanding: “Under the Laws of Moses the rule was, If you kill, you must die: But I have added to that rule, and tell you that if you are only angry, even in your own home, you are in danger of judgment.’ If you call your friend and idiot, you are in danger of being brought bef.re the Court. And If you curse him, you are in danger of the fires of hell”
93. From Verse 27-28 of Matthew 5 we read further, “The Laws of Moses said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’ But I say: Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart”
94. One can then see clearly that so many people are ignorant of what God’s grace is all about. It is stronger than the Law. Grace of God magnifies The Law of God. More holiness is demanded in the New Testament (The Grace, Dispensation) than was required by law in the Old Testament.
95. The Old Testament dealt with outward behaviour only, but the New Testament deals with the heart and motives behind actions, making every worshipper to have no place or room o hide any hypocrisy before God.
96. Under the old Testament one can come to the temple with baskets fill of his tithes, yet his heart is full of grudge and murmuring, after all what is required is just the tithe.
97. But the New Testament is more mindful of the giver than the gift because anyone that God rejected, He rejected his gift also. A sinner is accursed and his gift is accursed also. Amen.
4
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN GIVE HIS OFFERING TO GOD?
Having seen all these basic truths in the light of the Holy Scriptures, how then should a Christian give his offering to God so that he will not fall away from God’s grace or be under a curse?
2. First, let us consider 2 Cor. 3:5-17(NIV), “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
3. If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
4. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
5. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
6. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
NOW THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT, AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS THERE IS FREEDOM
7. In verse 11, it is very clear that Law has been done away with all its strings- “And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!”(NIV).
8. Early Christians gave liberally of their money and materials to meet some special emergencies.
9. Acts 4:32-37, “The group of believers was one in mind and heart. No one said that any of his belongings was his own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. There was no one in the group who was in need.
10. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, and hand it over to the apostles; and the money distributed to each one according to his need. And so it was that Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘one who Encourages’), sold a field he owned brought the money, and handed it over to the apostles”( GNB).
11. These New Testament givers gave more than a tithe because they dedicated their whole lives and properties to God. Therefore it was easy for them to give all the proceeds from their sales to God for the work of the ministry. Contrary to the conduct of the tithe payers under the Law who had to pay 20% as interest as a result of their covetousness and inability to pay ordinary one-tenth of their produce which they agreed before Moses to pay to the Levites.
12. One can as well take note of verse 36 of Acts Chapter 4, that Joseph surnamed Barnabas, a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, who had a land, sold it and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
13. Under the Law it was the full right of the Levites to collect a tithe from all Israelites, but from the above passage, the Levite never collected any tithe, rather contributed willingly to the Church for the work of the ministry because the priesthood has changed from Levitical priesthood (under Aaron and Levites) to Melehizedek (under Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah).
14. Some churches like the one in Macedonia gave even out of deep poverty to help suffering brethren in Jerusalem.
15. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, “Our brothers, we want you to know what God’s grace has accomplished in the churches in Macedonia. they have been severely tested by the troubles they went through; but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they are very poor.
16. I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will they begged us and pleaded for the privilege of having a part in helping God’s people in Judaea. it was more than we could have hoped for! FIRST THEY GAVE THEMSELVES TO THE LORD; AND THEN, BY GOD‘S WILL THEY GAVE THEMSELVES TO US AS WELL” (GNB).
17. Both the churches at Corinth and Galatia were commanded to set aside something at the first day of the week according as God prospered them.
18. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, “Now, concerning what you wrote about the money to be raised to help God’s people in Judaea. You must do what l told the churches in Galatia to do. Every Sunday each of you must put aside some money, in proportion to what he has earned, and save it up, so that there will be no need to collect money when I come” (GNB).
19. What a person gives does not matter but the willing heart matters a lot.
20. Exodus 25:1-2, “And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. “(KJV)…
21. “And Moses spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass…”(Exodus 35:4-5).
22. God accepts them not on the basis of its plentifulness but on the basis of the willing heart.
23. 2 Corinth. 8:11-15, “…Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
24. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.
25. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.” (NIV).
26. Everyone should give as he has purposed in his heart cheerfully and not as obligation, and the giver should not borrow to give because he should give according to what he has, not according to what he does not have, in order to avoid giving grudgingly …
27. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
28. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
29. (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
30. Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
31. While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; “(2 Corinthian. 9:12-13, KJV).
32. He that wants to give anything to God must do it with simplicity and not by boasting about his contribution to the church, … “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.”(Romans 12:8, KJV).
33. A Christian is not permitted to announce publicly whatever he has given as a gift to anyone:
34. “le careful not to do your acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will ha vent, re ward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets (microphones, Radios Televisions, etc), as the hypocrites do in the synagogues (Cathethats, e14 and on the streets (bazaar grounds, Launching arenas etc), to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have ye received their reward in full. hut when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you ‘(Matthew 6:1-4, NW).
35. Christ commended a widow that gave all that she had. The early Christians first of all gave themselves to Christ before giving, any offering and this is acceptable unto God.. when God rejects a man, He also rejects his sacrifice because the sacrifice of a sinner is an abomination unto the Lord…
36. “The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?” (Proverbs 21:27,KJV)…
37. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight ” (Proverbs 15:8, KJV).
38. Offering is sacrifice as can be seen a Philippians 4: 15-18, “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
39. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
40. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
41. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, AN ODOR OF A SWEET SMELL, A SACRIFICE ACCEPTABLE, WELL-PLEASING TO GOD.” (KJV).
42. But today, when it comes to raising money in the denomination, every thief will be invited, all traditional rulers, all wealthy men in the society that have never known God — even many of them with their village titles, secret society badges, will be invited including all corrupt government officials etc, all of them will be recognized and given celebrated seats in the churches.
43. In other words, when it comes to making money in the false churches on the today, everybody becomes a believer and Christian. God will surely judge all men who hold the Word of God in unrighteousness with respect of persons.
44. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1: 18, KJV).
45. The Levitical priesthood was a lazy and imperfect priesthood – but the priesthood from Judah in the order of Melchizedek is an industrious priesthood who said, “…But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (1st John 5:17, KJV).
46. He told us, ‘freely we received from Him, freely also we should give to others, charging them nothing,…
47. “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give “(Matthew 10:8,KJV)
48. But today, many preachers charge people money before they can pray for them. They even go as far as giving people envelopes asking them to indicate how much they will be sending to them either weekly or monthly, some hold their members at ransoms by their so called “seed of faith sowing’ which is another method of defrauding one another through religious 419.
49. Others ask those who attend their crusade meetings to give them certain amount of money or else they can never prosper in their various business endeavours. They claim to have the power to cause poverty. Such preachers end up only to enrich themselves leaving the poor worshippers poorer than when they first met them. Because we are living in a society that believes every kind of gospel provided prosperity, healing, signs, wonders and miracles are attached to it.
50. People because of fear of insecurity, lack of confidence, destitute of the truth, and hardships, allow themselves to be duped by Ministers of the devil who go about parading themselves as ‘Reverend Doctor So and So’ even when it is clear that none of them went to any university even to obtain a first degree. Are they not all liars? According to the Holy Scriptures, all liars will have their portion m the lake of fire….
51. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8, KJV).
52. The new High Priest of our profession is Christ. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house (Hebrew 3: l-3,KJV).
53. The Lord Jesus condemned slothfulness in business and taught the apostles and disciples never to be slothful in business.
54. (Matthew 25:14-30), “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
55. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
56. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
57. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
58. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
59. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
60. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
61. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:
62. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed:
63. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
64. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
65. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “(KJV).
66. These blind leaders of the blind fall back on I Corinth. 9:14, which says. “Even so bath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” ((KJV).
67. But Satan will not allow them to read and understand verses 15-19 of the same chapter that said, “But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
68. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
69. For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
70. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
71. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” (KJV).
72. Acts 20:32-35, let us read further, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
73. I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
74. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.. “(KJV).
75. The apostles taught the members of the church to work with their hands to earn an honest living. St. Paul himself worked with his hands as a tentmaker so that he will not be a burden to the church because according to the Holy Ghost inspired word, we fathers ought to give to our children instead of milking them….
76. “After this, Paul left Athens and went on to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, for Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.
77. Paul went to see them, and stayed ant worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents just as they did” (Act 18:1-3, GNB)…
78. “The man who used to rob must stop robbing and start working in order to earn an honest living for himself and to be able to help the poor” (Eph. 4:28, GNB)…..
79. “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
80. Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
81. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
82. For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
83. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
84. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (1 Corinth. 4:11-20, KJV).
85. Being a servant of God is associated with suffering that others may be saved. Jesus Christ said in St. John 15:18-21, that a servant cannot be greater than his master.
86. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
87. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
88. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (KJV).
89. In St. John 13:13-17 Jesus Christ reaffirmed it very strongly
90. … “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” KJV).
91. But today all Pastors, General Overseers, General Superintendents, Bishops, Archbishops, and Popes (Daddies), do not see themselves as servants but rather as lords over their congregation – (one is not surprised that they are publicly addressed as ‘his grace’, ‘my lord temporal,’ ‘my lord spiritual,’ ‘most holy Reverend’ so and so, etc)
92. They go as far as milking their congregation of their hard earned money in the name of tithes and vows. The Bible said that Christians should not mind high things but condescend to men of low estate.
93. “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16, KJV).
94. Do they believe it to be the word of God to them again? Everyone of these (false prophets and preachers) wish to ride the best car in town and live in the best house in the city and even boast of owing estates from money they crafty duped their members in the name of Jesus Christ.
95. In first Thessalonians 4:11, the Bible encourages us to study to be quiet and to do your own business….
96. “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (KJV).
97. In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
98. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
99. Neither did we eat any man’s bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.
100. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
101. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
102. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
103. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother..” (KJV).
104. Let us repeat verses 6-15 from the Living Bible translation for further clearer understanding of the subject matter… “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from any Christian who lives in idleness and doesn’t follow the tradition of hard work we gave you.
105. For you know that you ought to follow our example. We were never lazy when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so that we would not be a burden to any of you. It wasn’t that we didn’t have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.
106. Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: “Whoever does not work should not eat.”
107. Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people’s business. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people–no, we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living.
108. And I say to the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.
109. Don’t think of them as enemies, but speak to them as you would to a Christian who needs to be warned.”(TLB).
110. The Bible taught us to work hard to earn an honest living and if any man refuses to work, he should not be allowed to eat. Such a person is not following the examples of the apostles of Christ and as such the Bible says we should not keep company with such a person.
111. Today, we hear many preachers saying, ‘we are on full-time gospel work’, and for that they cannot do their own business but rather depend on the poor innocent people in the church.
112. Some of them go as far as visiting prominent and rich people in the society with false prophecies that will either give them false hopes or put them into fear and in their false claim to have an answer to those people’s problems, they will exploit them.
113. Now, I want my readers to tell me whether Saint Paul was not on full time ministry with Barnabas, Timothy, Silas, etc? Did their ministries hinder them from obeying God’s Word by working with their hands? Where then are the present ‘Men of God so-called today copy their examples?
114. In I Timothy 6:6-15 we read as follows, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
115. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
116. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
117. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
118. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
119. That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
120. Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; KJV).
121. It is clear from this passage that Christianity does not make a man rich and all men of God are strictly warned concerning the pursuit of money for which course many must fall away from the faith. The world is my witness today whether the clergy of our day have paid heed to this portion of the Scripture or not. Hear the word of a true servant of God,
122. “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
123. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
124. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake……
125. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
126. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you” (2 Corinth. 4:1-5,8-12; K JV).
127. Can we compare this experience with the experience of Christ? Does it agree with the life style of so-called men of God today? You have the answer in your mouths. One may say this was in the old apostolic days but I want you to understand that we are still living in the Bible days.
128. There is no modern God and no modern Christianity. All Christians today can take the Word of God into their hearts and live by every word of God as commanded in Matthew 4:4, what followed the early disciples must follow them or else they have missed the way because Christ, the Word of God and Author of Christianity does not change as it is recorded in the Holy Scriptures.
129. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever…
130. For I Am the Lord I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Hebrew 13:8; Mal.3:6 KJV).
131. The way of Christ has been the way for the despised few and never a broad road as people want us to believe today .. “Let us, then, go Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore” (Hebrew 13:13, NIV)
132. In Hebrews 11:36-40 we can see further what Christianity looks like …. Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons.
133. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated.
134. They were too good for this world. They wandered over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
135. All of these people we have mentioned received God’s approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.
136. For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can’t receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.” (TLB).
137. These people recorded in the Bible were the people that believed God and lived by every word of God. They were not accursed people because they lived in abject poverty or under great persecutions.
138. But today, false preachers deceive the hearts of their members by making them believe that poverty and lack of material wealth is a curse on every child of God; and by such preaching people are taught to pay tithes and sow the seed of faith so-called, to these preachers in order for them to attain prosperous height in material wealth and the end result is that no one cares to stand for the gospel truth that kindles persecutions, that follow the true church of God.
139. That these signs of persecutions do not follow many churches so-called is a sign that they have compromised with the world and its systems. Amen.
5
CONCLUSION
Hebrews 7:18-19 (KJV), “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by which we draw nigh unto God” (KJV)…
2. “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to Gad” (TLB) …
3. Yes, the old system of priesthood based on family lines was cancelled because it didn’t work It was weak and useless for Having people It never made anyone really right with God. But now we have afar better hope, for Christ makes us acceptable to God and now we may draw near to Him “(GNB)….
4. “The old rule, then, is set aside, because it was weak and useless For the law of Moses could not make anything perfect And now a better hope has been provide through which we come near to God.”
5. The Lord Himself disannulled (cancelled) the first commandment or Law or covenant because of its weakness, unprofitability and imperfection. It is necessary to note that these words the Holy Spirit used in describing the Law – weak, useless, and imperfect (not really right in saving people)”
6. I am not the writer of the Holy Bible. I am just a servant and an apostle of Christ, who received an audible voice from Him and is still receiving audible voices from Him concerning the hour we are living in and His visitation to His Bride.
7. In Galatians 3:9-14 we read, …. “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
8. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
9. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
10. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (KJV).
11. Form the above mentioned passage, the Scripture has made it clear that they that live under the Law till now are under a curse.
12. They which of faith are blessed with faith blessed Abraham. For no man is justified by the Law but rather all men are justified by faith in Christ Who has redeemed us from the bondage of the Law and has ushered us into a new covenant based on the true doctrine of Christ which is handed down to us through His prophets and apostles
13. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph 2:19-20, KJV).
14. From the Holy Scriptures (Gal 3:9-14) one can now see the large number of people that are under God’s curse worldwide though they may claim to be ignorant. But ignorance of the Law is no excuse ….
15. “And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he knew it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity” (Lev; 5:17 KJV)…..
16. “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the Law” (Rom: 12, KJV).
MY ADVICE
17. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage
18. “…For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
19. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
20. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
21. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:1,13 – 18, KJV).
22. Let he that has an understanding understand what Christ has said concerning this controversial issues that have kept many in bondage till this day.
23. In Acts 2:41-42 (KJV), the Holy Bible said …. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”
24. The believers continued in the apostles doctrines and not in the doctrines of Deeper Life Bible Church, or Word of Life Mission mc,. or Bread of Life Mission Inc., or Roman Catholic Mission, Anglican Church or Methodist Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Sabbath, Incense Church, Holy Water Church, White Robe Mission, etc.
25. All denominations have their various teachings based on their carnal personal interpretations, and so whoever joined them must continue in the dogma of the particular group he has joined. This is why a Christian must be born into the Church of God by the Word of God alone.
26. (1 Pet. 1:23)” Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” …..Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11, KJV) “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”……
27. (John 17:17, KJV)… “And ye shall know the Truth (the Ward of God,), and the Truth shall make you free (John 8:32, KJV) … “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
28. The Church of Christ is the ground and pillar of truth, …. “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:15,KJV).
29. The sound and true Word of God, Jesus Christ, is found only in His true Church and no other ground.
30. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 it is written, … “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”.
31. No man should lay any other foundation other than this which is laid on the solid Rock which is Christ Jesus; the Word of God
32. … “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God” (John 1:1)
33. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
34. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
35. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
36. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
37. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
38. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:11-16, KJV).
39. And lastly Galatians 1:8-9,… But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
40. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed..” (KJV).
41. May the peace of God which passeth all human understanding reign in your hearts while you obey His Word in Christ’s Name – Amen.
QUOTE
-AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. (JOHN 8:32)
-STAND FAST THEREFORE IN THE LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HATH MADE US FREE, AND BE NOT ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH THE YOKE OF BONDAGE. (GAL. 5:1)
-FOR WE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH, BUT ONLY FOR THE TRUTH
(11 COR. 13:8. NIV)
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:
1 Thess, 2:4-5