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-WIDERevelation 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.
SECTION 3
1
IDENTIFICATION OF THE TRUE
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Holy Father, I pray Thee to give me your unction and guide me perfectly to put down all that you revealed to me concerning your church which is your Body, for the whole world to
recognise it and give all glory, honour and praise to your dear Son, Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only One and True God and Eternal life in Jesus Name I pray – Amen”.
2. This topic is a very important one that has been attempted by a lot of Bible Professors and teachers in various ages but none ever succeeded because they all relied on human understanding and philosophy which they acquired from various Bible Colleges. But that has never been God’s way of revealing Himself or His will to mankind.
3. In Amos 3:7, one can see that God can do nothing but reveals His will to His chosen and ordained servants, the prophets … “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secrets unto His servants the prophets “(KJV).
4. In Ephesians 2:19-22, it is clearly written that the church of God is built upon the Words or foundations laid by the apostles and prophets….“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the house hold of God.
5. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone, In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (KJV).
6. These men can only be called and chosen by God Himself according to His eternal purpose and can never be raised from any theological institution established by man to consolidate and propagate the teachings and beliefs of his group or denomination.
7. As a result of the proliferation of churches in the world today, all of them carrying the Holy Bible, calling on the Name of Jesus Christ, but all teaching conflicting doctrines, many sincere people are confused about which church to follow because all of them claim to be the true and perfect and original church of Jesus Christ.
8. For example, Roman Catholic Church claims to be the first and original church from where others came out. No man can disprove this age long claim on earth if not God Who Himself through His Word and history will tell us whether this claim is true or false. Some are of the opinion that the first and original church of Jesus Christ is no longer on the earth but has been phased out in the course of history of the world.
9. Now, follow me as we go to the Word of God and find out the truth about this all important subject. Hebrews 8:5 … “Who serve unto the example and shadow of Heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, see, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the Mount” (KJV).
10. Exodus 25:40. “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount”. Here Moses, the prophet and servant of God was under strict command to build the Tabernacle of God according to the perfect plan that was given to him on Mount Sinai. If he made any mistake during the foundation laying or in the finishing touches, God must cancel it.
11. In 1 Corinth 3:9-15, the Bible recorded, “For we are labourers together with God: Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 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.
12. But let every man take heed bow he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest:
13. for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man‘s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath build thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man‘s work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; Yet so as by fire” (KJV).
14. We are all likened to master builders and everyone of us must make sure he builds according to the revealed pattern through the apostles and prophets, knowing fully well that the day will reveal all the buildings. The Bible said that some will suffer a great loss if they build outside the pattern while some will receive a reward if they build according to the revealed pattern. Amen.
2
DEFINITION OF THE CHURCHThe Church means a called out group, a separated group, a sanctified group (Ecclesia). In Matt. 16: 18-19, we can identify the Owner and Founder of this Church l am about to discuss “
2. And I say also unto thee, that thou at 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 that thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven “(KJV).
3. The Word said “upon this Rock, I will build ‘MY’ Church”. The word is ‘MY’ not our or his or their church. In order words, the Church is the property of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. He alone is the Founder, The General Overseer, The General Superintendent or The Pope (Papa) of His Church. He cannot share rulership of His Church with any individual.
4. And we know from the Book of St. John 1:1-14 that Jesus Christ is the Word of God. 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).
5. His Name is the Word of God… “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: AND HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD” (Rev. 19:13, KJV).
6. Since we know these facts to be true and indisputable, the Word of God should be the final authority in God’s church and not the word of man. We have discussed this issue of final authority of the church in the message “The Christian’s Absolute”. People can only become Christ’s disciples if they continue in His Word.
7. “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” (John 8:31-32, KJV).
8. Any time they (followers of Christ) fall away from God’s Word even if it is one verse, God must surely disown them … “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come; IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebr. 6:4-6, KJV).
9. In Acts 20:32, it is clearly written that it is only in keeping God’s Word that all christians will have their inheritance among the sanctified of God…. “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 of them which are santified” (KJV).
10. Therefore any church, no matter the name it is called, that does not allow the Word of God to be their Ultimate in all things, let it be known to you that such is a false church. No one should know about the church more than the Owner Himself and no man knows how to control or organise it more than the Owner which is the Word of God.
11. Any Church so called where the word of a human General Superintendent or Overseer is final, even when it is contrary to God’s Word is a false church and is man-made, poisonous and as such, deadly.
12. The word of God which has rule over His church disfellowships people with contrary characters from the Church of God regardless of their position in the church as we clearly read from 1 Corinth 5:9-13 and 2 Thess. 3:14, …. “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But, now l am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the Church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “EXPEL THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOU”(1 Corinth 5:9-13 NIV)
13. …If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH HIM, in order that he may feel ashamed” (2 Thess. 3:14 NIV).
14. Let us read again verse 13 of 1st Corinthians 5 from King James Version and The Living Bible Version of the Holy Bible, … “But them that are without God judgeth. THEREFORE PUT AWAY FROM AMONG YOURSELVES THAT WICKED PERSON” (KJV)
15. “God alone is the Judge of those on the outside. BUT YOU YOURSELVES MUST DEAL WITH THIS MAN AND PUT HIM OUT OF YOUR CHURCH” (TLB).
16. The language is the same, no matter who is guilty of ungodly character in the church of God must be put away from God’s Church because a sinner is a wicked person before God. Unfortunately today, very many churches and all denominations give such people “back seat or bench” and go ahead to collect his tithes and offering from the person that God commanded to be put away from His Church. Others show false compassion to such wicked person on claiming that they love such a one.
17. Hear such false lovers “How can we put him out of the Church, where else will he stay and repent, he has laboured very much for this church”, and so many other such words they say thereby making the word of God of none effect.
18. Is there any place in the Holy Bible where such a provision is made? Is the back seat or bench not in the Church? Why retaining such person and collect his tithe? Does God accept the sacrifice of a sinner? Oh, blind and rebellious people why not simply obey the gospel then you will get a perfect result!
19. God knows that a sinner, the moment he is thrown outside the church and the Blood of Jesus Christ, he goes back into the hand of the devil who in turn torments him and if he is a child of God he will surely come back to the church pleading for mercy and pardon with a true repentant heart and if he is at last forgiven and pardoned by the Church of God he will make no such mistakes deliberately any longer, but if he is of the world, the moment he is thrown outside the Church he will relax in the world having no desire to come back to the Church and Word of God any longer.
20. A child of God is like a fish that cannot live without water. He can’t feel comfortable in the world where the Water of Life – the Word of God is lacking. By this, you know them who are deliberate sinners and those who were over taken by a fault undeliberately.
21. But the love to fill the benches inside the Church building with multitudes of ungodly, dead and unrepentant sinners has led the denominations to disobey the Word of God because they are only interested to count or boast of numbers of their congregation not minding whether they are dead and rotten or not.
22. This practice can only be witnessed in false churches or denominations. In some they do not take any action at all even where the sins are naked and pronounced. Another identification of a false church is that whatever evil the founder and general overseer commits, no man has the right to disfellowship him from the Church because the Church belongs to him.
23. After all he registered it under the “companies Act”. In other words, he is the chairman, president and managing Director or the Chief Executive Officer of the conglomeration or group of companies. He alone appoints the trustees, the laity are just mere factory workers producing the milk and therefore has no right to challenge the M.D. or Chief Executive.
24. For example, there are cases where many “general superintendents” of churches (denominations) in Nigeria and abroad have manifested naked unbelief by cheating, lying, committing adultery and fornication even with members of their groups, stealing etc. instead of obeying the Bible by disfellowshipping them, their members go about gossipping against them while some stop going to church.
25. Nobody can take the Scriptural action against them because it is their personal business (enterprise or comapny) which they spent time and much money (on Bill Boards Adverts, Radio and Television Adverts, and Newspaper etc Adverts) to establish and afloat. They in turn do not disfellowship their erring members not merely because they want big population but to enlarge their offering bags.
26. The Bible said we should have not the Word of God which is the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons (prejudice, favoritism, partiality) “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory, with respect of persons” (James 2:1 KJV).
27. Sin is sin, no matter where it is found. If is found in me, it is sin, and if it is found in you, it is sin. If sin is found in Peter, Paul, James, John it is sin. If sin is found in the “general superintendent or Daddy or Pope or President General Overseer”, sin is still sin and receive equal punishment unless God is a partial God, but our God is a perfect God not a partial God. Amen.
3
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE CALL THE CHURCH?The Body of Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ Himself is the Head … “And He is the Head of the BODY, THE CHURCH: Who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things, He might have the pre-eminence” (Colossians 1:18, KJV).
2. (2) The House of God and 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 THE CHURCH of the living God, the Pillar and ground of the truth” (l Tim. 3:15, KJV). As a house of God, the Church is the family of God with Jesus Christ as the husbandman of that family.
3. (3) It is the household of God… “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints, AND OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD” (Eph. 2:19 KJV).
4. (4) It is the Kingdom of God and heaven of which Saint Peter has the Key – of the Church or Kingdom of heaven… “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 he bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:18-19, KJV).
5. (5) It is the Kingdom of Christ … “For this you 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” (Eph.5:5, KJV).
6. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son” (Colossians 1:13, KJV).
7. (6) It is a family of fellowship… “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God. According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph 3:9-11, KJV).
8. (7) A call into the Body is an holy calling … “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:9, KJV).
9. (8) It is the Body of the saved – No principalities nor powers of darkness has authority over the church. All these powers are under the feet of the church because Christ is the Head… “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace, ye are saved) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus … For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:5, 6, 8 KJV).
10. “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, WHICH IS THE BODY, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:21-23, KJV).
11. (9) Christ is the Head of the Church and no other.“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the Church: and He is the Saviour of the Body “(Eph. 5:23, KJV). The Bible said clearly that we obtained our salvation and redemption in Christ alone and not in our “general superintendents”
12. “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the common wealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the World. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:11-13, KJV).
13. One should always bear in mind that Christ is the “WORD OF GOD” and no man is above it. Whatever the Word of God condemns is condemned and whatever the Word of God justifies is justified. Now, having seen what the Bible describes the true church to be, and who is the head of the true church, let us now go a little further to know how the true churches whose continuation we are, addressed their local churches. Remember the Church still remains that of Matthew 16:18 – “MY” Church as Jesus called it.
14. (1) It was addressed as the church at Jerusalem. “And Saul was consenting unto his (stephen‘s) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles “(Acts 8:1, KJV).
15. (2) Addressed as the Church in Acts 5:11 ”And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things” (Acts 5:11, KJV).
16. (3) They ordained elders in every church “And when they had ordained them elders in every Church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on Whom they believed” (Acts 14:23, KJV).
17. (4) Addressed as the Church of God in Acts 20:28 …. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flocks, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God which He hath purchased with His Own Blood” (Acts 20:28, KJV)
18. (5) The Church – Romans 16:5 … “Likewise greet the Church that is in their house (house of Priscilla and Aquila) Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ” (KJV).
19. (6) The Church of God in Corinth… “PAUL, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinth 1:1-2, KJV).
20. (7) -Churches of Jesus Christ … “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The Churches of Christ salute you” (Romans 16:16, KJV)
21. (8) Body of Christ … “And hath put all things under His feet and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, Which is His Body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.”“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ” (Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:12, KJV).
22. In all these address to all the Churches of Jesus Christ, scattered all over the world but all united by His Word, none of them took any denominational name which Prophet William Marrion Branham called blasphemous names according to the Holy Scriptures in Revelation 17:3
23. “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There l saw a woman sitting on a scarlet (Red) beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns” (NIV).
24. This woman is the whorish mother of all denominational harlots. She is the so called “Mother Church” from where all others migrated. She first organised (denominated) and took a blasphemous name, and all others took various blasphemous names after their mother, as it is said like mother, like daughter.
25. Therefore, a whorish mother gave birth to harlot of daughters… “And upon her forehead vas a name written, MYSTERY (with occultic mysterious religion), BABYLON THE GREAT (Babylon means confusion-she has the greatest confusion in her midst, various factions) THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (She is the mother of all denominational harlots and all the evil that is on earth)” (Rev. 17:5, KJV).
26. FOR MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS WOMAN, PLEASE REQUEST FOR THE BOOK “CRY OUT AGAINST THE SYSTEM”.
27. In the beginning of the early apostolic Church, none answered Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Methodist Church, Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Holy Sabbath Church, Deeper Life Church, Assemblies of God Church, Grace of God Church, Pentecostal Church, Spiritual Church, Orthodox Church, African Church, Kingdom Hall Church etc.
28. All the churches of Jesus Christ were united in doctrines, conduct and order, but these false churches (denominations) have their different doctrines and every one goes to all lengths to defend his own. That is why one can always hear them say “we Methodists, we Anglicans, we Catholics, we Baptists, we Sabbatharians etc”
29. Sometimes they boldly declare “I am proud to be a Catholic, I proud to be an Anglican, I am proud to be a this or that”, but one can hardly hear them say “we Christians” because they are all products of various denominations and defend their various denominational interests.
30. Nowadays they want to unite in a system (Ecumenism or togetherness) through Satan influenced preachers that preach like prophet Balaam (a blind preacher who was paid to merge Israel with Moab In “Ecumenism”) saying, “come together, we are one. Let us forget our differences, it doesn’t really matter which nation or denomination you come from whether Israel (the true living church) or Moab (the false church)”
31. And as a result of this false proclamation all denominations are now being led into registering their churches like other companies with the Corporate Affairs Division of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and finally become affiliate members of World Council of Churches through their membership of Christian Association of Nigeria, Christian Council of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, African Instituted Churches of Nigeria and finally The National Evangelical Commission which all wind up in taking the Mark of the beast!
32. I know very well that this exposure will cost me my life because men are destitute of the truth. The Lord who called and commissioned me has already told me what I must suffer for His Name’s sake that this Gospel Truth will resurface again in these dark ages we are living in.
WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ARE CALLED
33. (1) They are called disciples … “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26, KJV)
34. …”And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread. Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 2O:7 KJV).
35. (2) They are called Saints (they answered saints when they are alive not when they died and became canonized as we witness today) … “Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinth 1:2, KJV).
36. … “PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus (Paul did not write to dead, buried, exhumed and canonized people but to the living christians at Ephesus), and to the faithful in Christ Jesus”, (Eph, 1:1, KJV)
37. (3) Beloved of God. “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints; Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ”. (Romans 1:7, KJV).
38. (4) Brethren … “After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep” (1 Corinth. 15:6, KJV) …. “But be not ye called Rabbi: for One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren”, (Matt.23:8,KJV)..
39. (5) Children of God… “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45, KJV) … “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: Whoosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 John 3:10, KJV).
40. (6) The Sons of God … “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not” (1 John3:1 KJV)… “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14, KJV).
41. (7) Heirs of God ….“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; so be, that, we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Rom. 8: 17 KJV).
42. (8) Royal Priesthood … “But ye are a chosen generation royal priesthood, an holy nation, a perculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called out of darkness into His marvellous Light” (1 Pet. 2:9 KJV).
43. (9) Christians …“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called CHRISTIANS first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26, KJV).
44. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16, KJV)
45. I have decided to bring out this truth for one to understand what a christian should be in the sight of God and why God who as his Father expects him to live a holy and perfect life without rebuke, unblameable and without spot or wrinkle as God his Father is Holy, perfect and righteous in all His ways as the Scriptures said …
46. “And ye shall be holy unto Me: for I the LORD am holy, and have I severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (Lev. 20:26, KJV) .. “Be ye therefore perfect; even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48, KJV) …
47. “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15, KJV) … “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Thess 4:7, KJV).
48. Any Church that does not believe that one can be holy and perfect in this world is a false church. Such false churches base their claim on the traditional adage which says “a fish cannot live without water.” So they add, “as a fish cannot live without water, we cannot live without sin”.
49. But this statement contradicts the Holy Bible which said, ”He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the dvil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for HIS SEED (God’s Word according to Luke 8:11) remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:8-9, KJV).
50. Any church that does not believe that one can be a Saint while he is still alive here on earth is a false church. If one is not holy, perfect and a Saint before he dies, he can never resurrect as a holy, perfect and saint of God.
51. The grave does not change anything in a man but his habitation. If a crooked tree falls down it remains crooked and no death can straighten it up. Same way if one dies a sinner he must resurrect a sinner to face judgment of God, for there is no repentance in the grave “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebr. 9:27, KJV)
52. After death follows judgment, there is no provision made for purgatory or a sinner to repent in the grave. If one dies a saint, he will resurrect a saint also. Mary, the Mother of Jesus was conceived of the Holy Ghost and what was in the womb was Holy.
53. In other words, every tree must reproduce after its kind or likeness. Whatever God produces must be God and whatever the devil produces must be devil. That is why the only people that can hear and obey God’s Word are God’s children… “He that is of God heareth God’s Words: ye therefore hear them not; because ye are not of God” (John 8:47, KJV).
54. We preach as everybody will be saved but hear the Words of Jesus Christ Himself … “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 he do them. I speak not of you all l know whom l have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me” (John 13:16-18, KJV) …“But He said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given” (Matt. 19:11, KJV).
55. Not all men will receive the truth from God because from the foundation of the world, men hate the truth. God only knows those that are His and He speaks to them. Although there may be many people in the world, not all belong to God, after all not all Isrealites are real Israelites …“Not as though the Word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not Israel, which are of Israel” (Rom.9:6, KJV). Amen.
4
HOW CAN ONE BE A MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH?Many a time we hear people saying that they are now “born again”. When you ask them when or how, they reply by saying “I am now in Grace of God Church, or Deeper Life Church, or one group or the other.
2. In other words, they have come out from their former churches. This makes me laugh. Why?
3. To be born again means more than changing from one church to the other. If l am not a member, truly born in Jones’ family, no matter how long I have stayed in that family, I may even build a good house there, beget some children and yet that cannot qualify me to answer Jones’ name.
4. People are born into the family of God and not join the family. In 1 Peter 1:23, people are genuinely born again by the Word of God which is Jesus Christ into the Kingdom or family of God ….“Being born again, not of corruptible (perishable) seed, but of incorruptible (imperishable), by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (KJV). This does not in anyway contradict St. John 3:3-8 which says… “
5. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
6. Jesus answered, Verily, Verily! I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be horn again.. The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof; but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit” (KJV).
7. In John 6:63, we can notice that the Word of God is the Spirit and also the Life….”It is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing: the Words that I speak unto you they are spirit, and they are Life “(KJV).
8. Every christian knows the Word of God to be the Water that cleanses the heart from stains of sin, unbelief and wickedness against God… “Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will l cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:
9. and l will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them “(Ezek. 36:25-27, KJV).
10. Jesus confirmed that our cleansing can only come through His Holy Word… “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3, KJV).
11. Apostle Paul preached that the church is washed and cleansed with the washing of water by the Word … “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word” (Eph. 5:26, KJV).
12. Due to the fact that people change churches and do not allow the Word of God to take its rightful place in their hearts, they are even worse than in their former places. For example, we all are living witnesses that there was a great revival on the land especailly in Onitsha; Anambra State, Nigeria, immediately after the Civil War.
13. God used young men (please permit me to mention few of their names here) such as, Chukwuedozie Mbah, Paul Nweke who is now the General Superintendent of Grace of God Mission Incorporated, Augustine Nwodika, John Uba, K.O. Onoye, etc under the auspices of Riches of Christ Mission Inc., to usher in a Pentecostal revival that was basically unknown to many of us that time.
14. In their honest attempt to serve God and save souls, they preached against worldliness, covetousness, Materialism, Boasting, Competition with the world, immorality, idolatry and engraved holy living in the life-style of Christians.
15. The fear of God was among the people. But today, many of them have gotten good houses, cars, children, wealth, and have become popular, and borrowed a foreign culture like American Culture as if God will present His Church to the Americans, Romans, or any other foreign country.
16. What do we see nowadays? All that they condemned earlier, they have gone back into them drawing their inspirations from perverted foreign religious cultures that is mixed with worldliness and carnality as witnessed in various television programmes.
17. One can clearly notice their carnal dressings, worldly disco and jazz music with “the name of Jesus” being the only difference, carnal dances, men and women with jerry curled hairdos and other cosmetics and makeup applied all over them, everything spells – WORLDLIESS in the church.
18. All that criticized and condemned Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists etc, are now worse than the people they condemned fulfilling the Holy Scriptures that the dog has gone back to its vomit…
19. “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow (pig) that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Pet.2:21-22, KJV).
20. What am I trying to establish? I am saying that entering into the Body of Christ which is the church, is not by changing from Church to Church or by having your name written in any church book. This is only how one can enter:-
21. (1) By hearing the gospel Truth and not man-made fables – Rom 10:13-17… “For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
22. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things: But they have not all obeyed the Gospel For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (KJV).
23. (2) Believe in Christ (the fullness of God’s Word) – Acts 16:31… “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (KJV).
24. (3) Repent of past sins, confess and forsake them completely … “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall ha ye mercy “(Prov. 28:13, KJV) …
25. “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47, KJV) ….
26. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30, KJV)
27. (4) Confess faith in Jesus Christ… “But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy mouth and in thy heart. That is the Word of faith, which we preach: That thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:8-10, KJV)
28. … “But with out faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebr. 11:6, KJV).
29. (5) Baptize into Christ… “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4, KJV)
30. …”For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27, KJV).
31. (6) In the Name of Jesus Christ.. “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” (Acts 2:38, KJV).
32. …“And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
33. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
34. When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve” (Acts 19:1-7, KJV). …
35. “And now why tarriest thou, arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the Name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16, KJV).
36. “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter3:21, KJV)
37. … “There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6. KJV).
38. …“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Colossians 3:17, KJV)
39. ….. “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:18-20, KJV).
40. Why baptism should be in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ only. Read the following passages and pray the Holy Ghost to help you understand it John 14:6 ….“Jesus saith, unto him, l am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (KJV),
41. 1 Tim. 2:5-6…. “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time “(KJV),
42. Acts 4:12 … “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (KJV),
43. Acts 16:31… “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (KJV). The God Whom we serve has exalted the Name of Jesus Christ above every other name in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth, that at the Name of Jesus Christ, every knee must bow down, and every tongue must confess Him as Lord to the glory of the Father. Remember that no man knows the Father except the Son and to whom the Son will reveal Him…
44. “All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him” (Luke 10:22, KJV).
45. Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, he that was dead and now alive forever, and He that is to come the Almighty God …“I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginthig and the Ending, Saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”(Rev. 1:8 KJV) ….
46. “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me ‘Fear not; lam the First and the Last: I Am he that liveth, and was dead and behold, I Am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:17-18, KJV).
47. He that rejects the Son rejects the Father and lacks eternal life…. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:11-12, KJV).
48. Why do people pray in the name of Jesus Christ, perform signs and wonders in His name, cast out devils in His name, heal the sick in His name, BUT REFUSE HIS NAME IN WATER BAPTISM which is the only laid down principle in the Holy Bible?
49. Is it not a repetition of what happened when Peter and John healed the sick in the name of Jesus Christ and the Scribes and Pharisees were witnesses and could not deny it but after scourging these innocent christians, they warned them never to preach the Gospel in the Name of Jesus Christ any longer? (Read Acts 4:13-18).
50. The time of this ignorance God winked at (overlooked) and now commands men everywhere to repent and be re-baptized taking the Name of Jesus Christ the only Saviour of mankind and escape wrath of God that is quickly coming upon the children of disobedience …
51. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every to repent” (Acts 17:30, KJV); We must obey the Lord Jesus Christ for us to be partakers of eternal salvation that is in His Name…. “And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebr. 5:9, KJV).
52. Follow me as we read 1 Sam. 15:22-24 “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hath rejected the Word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said unto Samuel. I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice” (KJV).
53. Note also 1 Sam 16:14-16… “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our Lord now command thy servants which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass. when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well” (KJV).
54. Whenever the hand of God leaves any man of God, an evil spirit from God Himself will torment that person and he will loose his sense of vision. He will now resort to entertaining himself with musical instruments of all kinds ranging from American jazz, reggae, to disco, all in the name of Jesus Christ. His worship becomes an entertainment and social worship that will attract every Tom, Dick and Harry in the town (cage of unclean birds).
55. The person goes back to the things he condemned earlier like Saul who killed all witches and wizards when God was with him. But immediately the hand of the Lord left him, he went back to consult the witch at Endor who at once recognised him as Saul King of Israel though he disguised himself. Is this not the picture of all false churches on the land today?
56. You are my judge over this matter. Verse 23 of 1 Samuel 16th Chapter will tell you exactly why people use music to keep mad people and people that are tormented by the devil together and not the people of God. The people of God are kept together by His Word and His Love. Now read 1 Sam. 13:13-14 …
57. “And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which He commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy Kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee” (KJV),
58. Compare it with the following Scriptures (Jer. 7:21-24; John 8:31-32; Acts 20:32; Hebr. 5:9) …. “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
59. But this thing commanded I them, saying, OBEY MY VOICE, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you, But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ears but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward” (Jer. 7:21-24 KJV) …
60. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in My word, then are ye are my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”. (John 8:31-32 KJV)
61. “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” (Acts 20:32 KJV)…
62. “And having been made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY HIM” (Hebr. 5:9 KJV).
63. One can see that God demands obedience to His Word than foolish sacrifices. Rebelling against God’s Word is as sinful as the sin of witchcraft. One can imagine how many witches and wizards that go to churches today carrying the Holy Bible and calling upon the name of Jesus Christ, yet reject God’s Word.
64. Of what use is your offering of praises, thanksgiving, money, time and worship when you are not willing and ready to obey God’s Word by living in accordance to the Bible approved pattern and teaching only the sound doctrine of God?
65. How many verses of the Bible will one disbelieve and become a sinner in God’s sight? Read Hebrews 3:7-19 …. “Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear His Voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.
66. Therefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. So l sware in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
67. But exhort one another daily. While it is called today; lest any of you be harden through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, today if ye will hear His Voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
68. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was He grieved forty years? Was it not them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believe not? SO WE SEE THAT THEY COULD NOT ENTER IN BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF” (KJV).
69. Let us go further and compare the above quoted Scriptures with 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 (NIV)… “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.
70. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual Rock that accompanied them, and that Rock was Christ.
71. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were.
72. As it is written: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry’. We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
73. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel THESE THINGS HAPPENED TO THEM AS EXAMPLES AND WERE WRITTEN DOWN AS WARNINGS FOR US, NOW WHOM THE FULFILLMENT OF THE AGES HAS COME. So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall”
74. Read also Hebrews 4:11; Romans 11:20; Jude 5-6 (KJV) “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief’“ (Hebrews 4:11 KJV).
75. “Well, because of unbelief they were broken off and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear” (Romans 11:20 KJV) …..
76. “I will therefore put you in rememberance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day“ (Jude 5-6 KJV)
77. From all these passages, one can see the awful effect of unbelief: Therefore one must be baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ to fulfill all righteousness. He that say ‘I do not believe it”, should better be careful.
78. (7) After water baptism, they were added to the Church and they all continued in the apostles’ doctrines … “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. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
79. And all that believed were together, and had all things in common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved”. (Acts 2:41-47, KJV).
80. They did not continue in any other doctrine but that which was taught to the churches by the apostles that received the Word from the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinth. 2:12- 13…. “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” (KJV).
81. 1 Thess. 2:13…. “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of, ye received it not as the word of men, but in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (KJV)
82. All the churches received the words of the apostles not as the word of men but as the Word of God. Even angels and prophets that may claim to come from heaven were placed under a curse if they teach contrary to the teachings of the apostles…
83. “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).
84. Can a cursed man or woman enter into the kingdom of God? In Deuteronomy 28:1-22, the children of Israel were blessed as they continued in the Word of God but were under a curse whenever they drifted away from it. They were under a strict command never to add one word to the Word of God given to them as Christians of today are also under a strict command never to add or to subtract one word from the revealed Word of God to us…
85. “Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deut. 4:2, KJV). ….
86. “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). ….
87. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the Words of prophecy of the Book of this prophecy, 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). Amen.
5
WHAT IS THE MODE OF WORSHIP?Observes the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week; not during the day but at night time after night meals…
2. “The cup of blessing which we bless, Is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinth. 10-l6, KJV)
3. “When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
4. For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My Body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me” In the same way, after supper He took die cup, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My Blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me”
5. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the Body and Blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
6. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the Body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep…
7. …So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. IF ANYONE IS HUNGRY, HE SHOULD EAT AT HOME, SO THAT WHEN YOU MEET TOGETHER IT MAY NOT RESULT IN JUDGMENT” (1 Corinth 11:20-30, 33- 34, NIV). ….
8. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7, KJV).
9. (2) Pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in PRAYERS” (Acts 2:42, KJV).
10. “Pray without ceasing” (l Thess. 5:17, KJV),
11. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Colossian 3:17. KJV).
12. (3) Giving of offering. Free-will offering and not tithe…. “Now concerning the collection for the Saints, as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, AS GOD HATH PROSPERED HIM that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letter, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me” (1 Corinth. 16:1-4, KJV).
13. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 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: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad: He hath given to the poor: His righteousness remaineth for ever” (2 Corinth. 9:6-9, KJV).
14. (4) Teaching and Preaching… “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift the Holy Ghost For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call, AND WITH MANY OTHER WORDS DID HE TESTFY AND EXHORT, SAYING, SAVE YORSELVES FROM THIS UNTOWARD GENERATION.
15. 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” (Acts 2:38-42, KJV).
16. “Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2, KJV)….
17. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 2O:7, KJV).
18. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Eph. 4:11-12, KJV).
19. (5) Foot washing – John 13:7- 7, … Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
20. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
21. 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)
22. Feet washing is instituted by the Lord as an ordinance, the same way the Holy Communion was established and the early apostolic churches observed it. It is still an ordinance that is being observed by the true church of Jesus today.
23. (6) Singing of praises and not use of musical instruments like people use today quoting Psalm 150:3-5 etc. For one to understand the acceptable way of praise unto God he should read Ephesians 5:18-19, and Colossians 3:16.
24. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit SPEAKING TO YOURSELVES IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND IN SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD”. (Ephesians 5:18-19 KJV)
25. … “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD” (Colossians 3:16 KJV)
26. Let us compare it with Matthew 26:30, where we have a record of how Jesus and His disciples sang praises in order for one to have an insight of what I am talking about this matter…. “AND WHEN THEY HAD SUNG AN HYMN, THEY WENT OUT INTO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES”.
27. One can make melody in his heart and speak to one another in Psalms and Spiritual Songs. In the whole of the New Testament churches, there was no church that ever used musical instruments in worship. The Lord Jesus Christ never taught it to His disciples and apostles nor did He practice it. The apostles never taught it to the Churches but rather warned the church on the dangers of it in 1 Corinth 10:6-11… “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, like people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” (1 Corinthians 10:6-7 KJV
28. Let us repeat this verse from the Living Bible Translation… “Nor worship idols as they did (The Scriptures tell us, “The people sat down to eat and drink and THEN GOT UP TO DANCE” in worship of the golden calf). (1 Corinthians 10:8 LBT)
29. “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand (23,000). Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come“ (1 Corinthians 8:8-11 KJV).
30. In the old testament, there was not even a single Chief priest that introduced it in worshipping God. The Holy Temple was a very quiet, holy and orderly place and not all men were permitted to come near it. David was a traditional ruler or king and not a Priest.
31. He was only called a man after God’s own heart because he feared the Lord and was ready always to repent of his sins no matter what it will cause him. He was a very humble king that esteemed God very high in his life. He never officiated in the sanctuary to render or offer any sacrifice to God, unlike the Lord Jesus Christ Who is a High Priest, a man of sorrow that had no time for entertainment at all.
32. Early Christians also as royal priesthood that offer acceptable sacrifices unto God, had no time for dancing and merriment. They were men of sorrow who were always made a laughing stock and being driven about from one place to another as a result of cruel persecution
33. …. “And some women, through faith, received their loved ones back again from death. But others trusted God and were beaten to death, preferring to die rather than turning to God and be free – trusting that they would rise to a better life afterwards. Some. Were laughed at and their backs cut open with whips, and others were chained in dungeons” (Hebr. 11:35-36, TLB).
34. Can you tell me my dear reader where St. Paul had the time to come and play Piano, Organ, Guitar, Harps, Strings, Cymbals, etc or play the American Jazz and Rock and Roll music which we witness in the churches today?
35. Is it not arrant nonsense? Wherever there is instrumental music in the church, lust and fornication and every kind of uncleanness will be found there in the cloak of “Christian love”. This is more pronounced among the choir group who pay no attention to the Word of God but spend most of their time practising singing and playing music as if that is a ticket to heaven.
36. Even one of their band leaders confirmed that there’s no difference between the religious entertaining singers and the musicians of the world. According to him “music is music and can hardly give one room to be spiritual but rather it keeps one carnal and social as a result the Word of God hardly occupy our hearts”.
37. Run away from such group and have nothing to do with them or else the wrath of God will come upon you. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinth. 6:14, KJV).
38. Do not say let me remain there and reform them after knowing this truth because you can not succeed. I know that I am already in my grave because, my God had told me so and for that reason, I must expose all that the Lord had given to me concerning all these false churches on the land that held people. “
39. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things though you know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea I think it meet as long as l am in this tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance, knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance” (2 Peter 1:12-15, KJV)
40. (8) Only men are permitted to preach and teach both in the church and outside the church. Women are to learn in silence… “Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not (permit not) a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed then Eve.
41. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in child bearing, if they continued in faith and charity and holiness with sobreity” (1 Tim 2: 11-15, KJV),
42. Also in 1 Corinthians 14:34-38 the Holy Bible teaches further on this matter…. “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the Law.
43. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church – what? Came the Word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant let him, be ignorant” (KJV).
44. One can notice very clearly here that this commandment is the commandment of God and not of man. Is it any wonder why some women in the attempt to preach the Gospel enter into fornication the same way Eve was deceived by Satan. Some women are filled with the Holy Spirit, and there is no doubt about that. But inspite of their avowed commitment to God, they are easily deceived by men.
45. That is why one can see a well educated woman professing godliness, yet messing up with a young boy even in the same church especially among the Choir group. Now that it is clear that God never permitted women to preach or teach, why do many churches today permit them contrary to God’s Word?
46. The truth is that they are false churches that have no regard to God’s Sacred Word and use these ladies to advertise their businesses. If they are not business houses, why the much advertisements in the Radio, Television, Newspapers and posting of bills on all street walls in the cities. Some now use bill boards like Coca-cola, etc. Who is deceiving who?
47. Why the competition and counter-competition among them? Cross Check the Holy Bible and tell me where they claim to copy their examples. The truth is that they copy their examples from the world as they think that there is need to introduce modernism into christianity But the Holy Bible spoke very dearly that… “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebr. 13:8 KJV).
48. For more details on the role of women in the Church of God call for the book –“CRY OUT AGAINST THE SYSTEM”. Amen.
6
WHEN WAS THIS CHURCH ESTABLISHED?It is of necessity that one should know when this church was established and compares with where he or she is claiming to worship God. The greatest mistake people make is comparing churches with present day churches instead of comparing churches with the Word of God and the original church as in the Acts of the Apostles.
2. Christianity is a relay race. The original baton, that one the church took off with will be the same baton that will finish the race although it will, pass through many hands in the course of the race. Christianity never started with us. But it was handed over to us through the Holy Bible by the Apostles and we must finish the race with the Holy Word of God and not catechism or any other church manual.
3. For the avoidance of doubt, let us read Acts 7:38- 39, and Matthew 16:18-19 “This is He, that was in the Church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust Him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt” (Acts 7:38- 39KJV)…
4. “And l 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” (Matthew 16:18-19 KJV).
5. This Church as we can see, started in the wilderness with Moses and Jesus Christ was there as the Angel speaking to them yet they could not obey Him but rather desired the world – Egypt. Jesus Christ is the Spirit that moved in the midst of the Candle sticks or seven church Age dispensations as we read in Revelation 1 verse 12-13 & 20… “And I turned to see the Voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle … The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candle sticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” (KJV).
6. Christ followed Moses in the Church in wilderness…. “And did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them. AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST” (1 Corinth 10:4, KJV).
7. Let us again read Hebrews 11:24-26 …. “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for season; Esteeming THE REPROACH OF CHRIST greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward” (KJV).
8. From this passage, it is evidently clear that Moses saw the Excellency of Christ in the Church in the wilderness. With all these truths, it has become clearer that the church never started with us. Christ has been the Owner from the beginning and will remain the owner forever.
9. Now let us go deeper into the Holy Scriptures and find out God’s eternal purpose for His Church. God from the beginning of the world, planned the coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Church according to His eternal purpose. …
10. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:9- 11, KJV).
11. It is worthy to note that time and effort spent in planning and executing any project or plan undoubtedly shows its importance to the person. This Church was promised in the days of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. It was at this time that God gradually started unfolding His eternal purpose to establish the Church. Genesis 12:1-3, …
12. “Now the LORD had said unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy fathers house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shall be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (KJV).
13. Galatians 3:7-14… “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God will justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all nations be blessed So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse: For it is written, cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
14. 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.. …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)
15. Galatians 3:26-29 …. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Cbrist There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ’s then ye are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (KJV).
16. Acts 7:38….. “This is He that was in the church in the wilderness with the Angel which spoke to him in the mount Sinai and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us” (KJV).
17. By this time Christ was not yet revealed to any man as the Son of the living God. The Lord preserved Israel for the purpose of establishing them as His own Church or nation. He separated them from other people as a holy nation unto Himself. And gave them a law never to mix with other race or peoples or nations because they are a holy people unto Him….
18. “And ye shall be holy unto Me: for I the LORD Am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be Mine” (Lev. 20:26, KJV).
19. Deuteronomy 28:9…. “The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as He hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in His ways” (KJV).
20. Acts 10:28 …. “And he (Peter) said unto them, ye know how it is unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean“ (KJV).
21. It was as a result of this law of separation that Peter the Apostle misinterpreted the vision God gave him concerning the Gentiles. Jeremiah and Zechariah the Prophets prophesied of a new covenant coming and a new kingdom where men of all nations would unite to worship and serve God
22. “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: 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 brake although I was an Husband unto them, saith the LORD: 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 part and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying know the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer. 31:31-34 KJV) …
23. “And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be My people and l will dwell in the midst of thee and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent Me unto thee” (Zech. 2:11, KJV).
24. Let us also read Psalms 22:27-31, Psalms 10:17, …. “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindred of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD‘S: and He is the Governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before Him: and none can keep alive his own soul. A seed shall serve Him; It shall be accounted to the LORD for a generation. They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this”( Psalms 22:27-31 KJV)
25. “LORD , Thou hast heard the desire of the humble. Thou wilt prepare their hearts, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear” (Psalms 10:17 KJV).
26. All these prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His Church. He came and instituted a new covenant as prophesied by Jeremiah … “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.
27. 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 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 not, saith the LORD.
28. For this is the covenant that l 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 neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the LORD: for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. In that He saith, a new Covenant He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxed old is ready to vanish away” (Hebr, 8:6- 13, KJV).
29. The Lord Jesus came and began to reign over His Kingdom, the Church,…. “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither did His flesh did see corruption.
30. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses, Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
31. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:30-36, KJV).
32. Ephesians 1:19-23 “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised, Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (KJV).
33. Let us also read 1 Corinth 15:25-26.. “For He must reign, till He that put all enemies under His feet The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (KJV).
34. The Church is being described in the Holy Bible in many places as Kingdom Matthew 13:11, 18-19, …. “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given……Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the Word of the Kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side” (KJV).
35. From Colossians 1:13 we read further. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (KJV). Revelation 1 verses 6 and 9 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen ….. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (KJV).
36. The prophets of God inspired by the Holy Spirit, also prophesied the time and place of the establishment of this Church of Matthew 16:18-19. The prophet Isaiah prophesied it to be during the last days and in Jerusalem. ….
37. “The Word that Isaiah the Son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
38. And many people shall go and say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:1-3, KJV).
39. The Church is also described as the Lord’s house as in 1 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 3:6. “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 truth” (1 Timothy 3:15 KJV) … “But Christ as a Son over His own House; WHOSE HOUSE ARE WE, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Hebrews 3:6 KJV).
40. Moreover the Almighty God Himself; speaking to us through prophet Daniel, who saw the beginning and the ending of the gentile dispensation, told us specifically, the time of the establishment of His Church in the Book of Daniel Chapter 2 verses one through forty five. While you read this passage, I want you my dear reader to take note of the following illustrations in the various verses:
41. (1) The image – four world kingdoms (Dan. 2:36-40) “This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the King. Thou, O King, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all.
42. Thou art the head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things : and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. (KJV).
43. In the days of the fourth kingdom which is the last kingdom, God was to establish His Kingdom or Church …. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2.44, KJV).
44. (2) Prophet Daniel identified the first three kingdoms namely:- (a) GOLD – Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. (Dan. 2:36-38; Dan. 1:1) “This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beast of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over all. Thou Art This Head of Gold” ….. “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim. King of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem and besieged it” (KJV).
45. (b) SILVER-2nd Kingdom (Dan. 2:32 & 39)…… “This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass; And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth “(KJV). This second kingdom of silver is named in Daniel 5:25-31, as Medes and Persians Kingdom (Medo-Persian)
46. “And this is the written that was written, ‘MENEMENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN’. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
47. Then commanded Belshazzar king of Babylon) and they clothed Daniel with scarlet and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans (or Babylon) slain. AND DARIUS THE MEDIAN TOOK THE KINGDOM, BEING ABOUT THREE SCORE AND TWO YEARS OLD” (KJV).
48. (C) BRASS – 3rd Kingdom (Dan. 2:32 & 39 as quoted in (b) above). This third kingdom is named in Daniel 8:20-21 as the Grecian Empire “The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king” (KJV).
49. All history books in the whole world today bear witness of this truth that these kingdoms emerged in this world according to this order as put down in the Holy Bible. God can not tell lies. He knows the end from the beginning.
50. “I have declared the former things from the beginning; and I showed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declare it to thee; before it come to pass I showed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, my idol hath done them; and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
51. Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not yet declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, behold, I knew them.
52. Yea, thou heardest not; Yea, thou knewest not; Yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. For My name’s sake will I defer My anger, and for My praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off” (Isaiah 48:3-9. KJV).
53. Now let us consider the fourth kingdom. Daniel 2:40-43… “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: for as much as iron braketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that braked, all these, shall it brake in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, for as much as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men! But they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay” (KJV).
54. Both history and the Holy Bible confirmed this to be truth. In Luke chapter 2 verses one and two, and Luke Chapter 3 verse 1, the Bible recorded as follows…. “And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed and this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governor of Syria …. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tibeius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being Governor of Judaea, and Herod being Tetrach of Galilee, and his brother Philip Tetrach of Ituraea, and of the region of Trachonitis, Lysa-nias the Tetrach of Abilene” (KJV). We notice here the roman empire in action.
55. The Church was to be established during the last days of the kings as God’s Kingdom – Dan. 2:44…. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall brake in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (KJV).
56. The Church was prophesied to begin in Jerusalem during the last days and in the days of the Roman empire. All these records and prophecies shows how important God’s church is to Him that he spoke about it in expectation, to see it established in their day. The Church was still being prepared in the days of Christ which was the days of the Roman empire too (as we read in Luke 3:1).
57. John the Baptist preached about this kingdom as being very near Matt. 3:2 …. “And saying, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (KJV). Jesus Christ Himself preached that this kingdom was at hand and added that the time is fulfilled. “And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: Repent ye, and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15, KJV).
58. Jesus Christ also commissioned His apostles to go out and preach that the kingdom of God is at hand “And as ye go, preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 10:7, KJV) He promised to build His Church on the revelation of Saint Peter the apostle (as written in Matt. 16:18-19), and not on Peter as some people teach. Ephesians 5:25,…. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it”
59. And Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His Own blood” (KJV).
60. These passages prove very clearly that Jesus Christ is the Owner of His Church and cannot share the ownership with anybody on earth for ever and ever. Amen.
7
WHEN THEN WAS THE KINGDOM ESTABLISHED?After the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, people still waited for the Kingdom – THE CHURCH, which He promised to establish with power of the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ taught His disciples that His Kingdom would come with power before some of the living apostles of those days would taste of death…
2. “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with Power” (Mark 9:1, KJV)
3. Men like Joseph of Arima-thaea also waited for the kingdom of God. …. “(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea a city of the Jews: WHO ALSO HIMSELF WAITED FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD” (Luke 23:51, KJV).
4. The Lord Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they receive this power which would be accompanied by the Holy Ghost…. “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem …… 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” (Luke 24:47 & 49. KJV),
5. And Acts 1:8 …. “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 Judaea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (KJV).
6. In all these records, nobody received the name “Christian” but the church will be presented to the followers of Christ – Christians. and not the world.
7. Acts 1:4 & 12 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, which, saith He, Ye have heard of Me …Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey” (KJV)
8. Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”. (KJV);
9. Acts 2:1-11… “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
10. And there was dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold are not all these which speak Galileans?
11. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers of Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and Proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (KJV).
12. This last passage (Acts 2:1-11) gives the full account of the presentation of this church. Here, God’s Word went forth from Jerusalem as St. Peter the Apostle stood up and preached the first public sermon (before every nation under heaven) and said that the last days have come …..
13. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: ……. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
14. Therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His Soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
15. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens; but he saith himself the LORD said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
16. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them Repent, and be baptised 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
17. And with many other Words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation. 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. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
18. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, and eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:16-17, 29-47 KJV.)
19. This all happened at about A.D 33, Cross-Check the history of the Church Ages if you are in doubt. God can never make a mistake. All references to the Church before the day of Pentecost were future. The day of Pentecost marked the beginning of the establishment of the church “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, AS ON US AT THE BEGINNING” (Acts 11:15 KJV).
20. The church or the Kingdom after Pentecost was considered being established “And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things” (Acts 5:11, KJV)….
21. “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1, KJV).
22. The apostles identified the church as a kingdom and members are translated into the kingdom… “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, AND HATH TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON” (Colossians 1:13, KJV).
23. Christians are called into the kingdom….. “That ye would walk worthy of God, Who hath called you UNTO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY” (1 Thess. 2:12, KJV); …
24. “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the KINGDOM and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:6,9, KJV)…
25. “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6, KJV); … “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood out of every kindred and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests: AND SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH” (Rev. 5:9-10, KJV); …
26. “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…But to which of the angels said He at any time, sit on My right hand, until I make thine enemies Thy footstool?” (Hebr. 1:3, 13, KJV); …
27. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the KINGDOM to God, even the father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. FOR HE MUST REIGN, TILL HE HATH PUT ALL ENEMIES UNDER HIS FEET. The Last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinth. 15:22-26, KJV).
28. “This Church must grow to perfection as to be able to be caught away from the earth to meet the Lord – the Bridegroom in the air …..“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE, OR ANY SUCH THING; BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH” (Eph.5:25, 27, KJV);
29. 2 Peter 1:11 “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (KJV)…. “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the Voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17, KJV).
30. The five-fold ministry ordained from the foundation of the world, who are God’s dress wear, will take the Church to perfection by feeding and nourishing her with the Word of God….”And He gave some, Apostles: and some, Prophets and some, Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers: For the PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God (WORD OF GOD), unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13, KJV).
31. These five-fold ministers are charged strictly to feed God’s Church with only the Word of God earnestly…. “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” (Acts. 20:28, KJV).
32. God’s Church is very dear to God because it cost Him His Blood when He manifested in the flesh and died for Her. And He would not live to see all these uncalled men today with blasphemous titles like Rev. Dr., Archbishop, Cardinal, Rev. Father, Monsignor, Popes, Canon, Catechist etc titles that never fell into the range of God’s dress wear, the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4:11, to rise up and mislead the Church of God into false unity contrary to God’s Word.
33. Now, the Kingdom of God is among men into which we have been translated if we are in the original church… “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, AND HAD TRANSLATED US (past tense) INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON” (Colossians 1:13 KJV)
34. Many will see the kingdom and will not enter. But strive that ye may enter in. NOBODY IS SAVED OUTSIDE THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST! All that was in God, He emptied into Christ (the Son of God), and all that was in Christ, He emptied into the Church (the Body of Christ)…. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER is given unto Me in heaven and earth” (Matt. 28: 18, KJV)…..
35. “For in Him (Christ), dwelleth ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col.2:9, KJV)….
36. “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, EVEN SO SEND I YOU” (John 20:2 1, KJV). Which means that ALL power and ALL the fullness of the God head bodily now dwells in the Church of God. The Church and Christ is one, like the man and his wife is one. No flesh is saved outside the church. It is this Kingdom that Christ will deliver to His Father on that day which Christians OR Saints of God are members thereof.
37. My dear reader, from this exposure, how do you see the place you are now, in the light of the Holy Scriptures? One can clearly see that the Church of God is known by the doctrine and life of Jesus Christ which she upholds faithfully. If where you are is established by a human being and upon a human foundation that also takes pre-eminence over the flock by trampling upon God’s Word forfeiting the Word of God for man-made catechisms, creeds and dogmas, Church manuals etc, Please, come out of such place before it is too late. If one’s Church is not a carbon copy of the Church of God which is established by Jesus Christ Himself as He said in Matt. 16:18-19, let it be known to such a person that it is man-made and false and will lead him or her to hell fire. One should not allow Satan to blind him that he could not see the handwriting on the wall. Amen.
8
ORGANISATION OF THE CHURCHEach local church or assembly is purely independent. Jesus Christ, the Word of God is the Head, Founder and Owner of the Church with its headquarters in heaven …
2. “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the first born, WHICH ARE WRITTEN (REGISTERED) IN HEAVEN, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebr. 12:22-23, KJV); ….
3. “Which is His Body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:23, KJV);… “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the Church: and He is the Saviour of the Body” KJV);…… “
4. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear son” (Col. 1:13, KJV).
5. Each local Church is administered by Bishops, (Elders, Pastors, Presbyters) who feed, tend, oversee and rule the flock among them. “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the Church…. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His Own Blood” Acts 20:17,28, KJV);
6. 1 Peter 5:2-4. “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre (what you will get out of it; not greedy for money; not for mere pay) but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (KJV).
7. Let us read also 1 Timothy 3:1- 7,.…. “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of a good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but Patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (KJV).
8. Deacons are ordained by the apostles in the churches to serve in various capacities as assistants (Helpers) “Like wise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved, then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 3:8-13 KJV),
9. Phillipians 1:1, …. “PAUL and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons “(KJV).
10. My dear reader, the time has come for all children of God to tell themselves the truth and stop comforting ourselves in naked unbelief Many are tired of going to Church because of the evils going on among the members. But I want to give you this advice. We cannot throw away every genuine money in our pockets because we have some counterfeits. Same way, we cannot conclude that all women are prostitutes because there is widespread prostitution on the land: Where ever there is a counterfeit, the original must be some where. Without the original, there is no counterfeit. Many a time people ask whether the same old original Church of Jesus Christ that was established on the Pentecost day at Jerusalem is still on the land today and the answer is emphatically YES. But this Church can only be recognised by the elect of God because God said that in these last days, all men will be deceived by satan through many signs and wonders except the Elect. …. “For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very Elect” (Matt. 24:24,KJV).
11. We thank the Lord that it is not possible to deceive the very elect and for that reason, they as sheep, recognise the Voice of the Shepherd whenever they hear it. Only the word of God draws the elect back to God.
12. May the Lord and my God bless you as you read and obey His Word in the name of Jesus Christ. I am sure that a good number of hired and paid Pastors and Preachers know these facts to be truth but cannot propagate these Bible truths for fear of being put away from their churches or being transferred by their General Superintendents to the rural areas under very harsh conditions or even their appointments being terminated and their positions replaced by the applicants that have just left the Bible colleges. It is so because ‘he that pays the piper, dictates the tune’.
13. If you are afraid of being put away from your denomination or synagogue because of the truth you have known and believed you will end up fulfilling the following scriptures……. “Nevertheless among the Chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43 (KJV). ….
14. “These words spake his parents (of the blind man who was healed, delivered or saved by Christ) because they feared the Jews: for the Jews (Religious people) had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ (The Truth), he should be put out of the synagogue” (John 9:22 (KJV).
15. If you are in this category, it’s a sure sign that your god is your belly “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things”(Phil. 3-19 KJV).
16. It is a sure sign that you are among the people that could not find any meaningful employment or those whose businesses failed and they ran into one Bible College or the other with the pretext that God called them to be His ministers. Such are liars. How can God call a man and he refuses to carry out God’s word who called him but dances to the tune of a man who pays him wages monthly. It is total blindness! It is spiritual amnesia! Woe to such people!
17. It is not in doubt any longer that church – business has become the most lucrative business today in the hands of uncalled and unrepentant preachers and yet Government does not tax them because they deceive the government into believing that they are “non-profit making organisations”. (Yet very many of them have lodged millions of dollars in their personal bank accounts, riding assorted flashy cars, and building different multi-million dollar personal houses). And still claim that they are non-profit makers. Who is deceiving who? Liars! I think the earlier the government starts looking into the accounts of these “business centres and houses” in the name of churches, the better for our nation.
18. But the true church of God is not a business centre. It is a house of prayer and worship. ….“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all of them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called THE HOUSE OF PRAYER but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matt. 21:12-13 KJV).
19. It is not a house for “419” or stealing by trick. It is not a house for bazaars where the cheapest thing is sold costliest. It is not a house for lotteries, worldly games, public donations of money etc. It is rather called a house of prayer.
20. The true Church of Jesus Christ is the ground and pillar of truth where sincere people meet the life transforming power of the Lord Jesus. The members do not mingle themselves with the affairs of this present world (including themselves in various dubious businesses) because they are true soldiers of Christ….
21. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life: that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (And as Christ’s Soldier do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for them you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in His arm.) 2 Tim 2:2-4.
22. The true church fix their affection on things which are above (heavenly)….. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1-3, KJV).
23. They do not conform with this present world. When the world and its evil systems and lifestyles move to the left, a ‘Christian moves to the right. They are content with what they have and do not compete with the standards of the world in business, politics, religion etc “AND SO, DEAR brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God Let them be a living sacrifice, holy – the kind He can accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? DON’T COPY THE BEHAVIOUR AND CUSTOMS OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE A NEW AND DIFFERENT PERSON WITH A FRESH NEWNESS IN ALL YOU DO AND THINK.
24. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you (Rom. 12:1-2, The Living Bible)…. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”
25. (James 4:& KJV)…. “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” (1 Tim 6:6-8, KJV).
26. Unfortunately, Preachers of today want to be popular and friends to the whole world contrary to the Scriptures…. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him for everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17, NIV).
27. Let us read this passage again from The Living Bible Translation for more understanding …. “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things, you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, these evil desires – the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance – these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself. And this world is fading away. and these evil forbidden things will go with it but whoever keeps doing the will of God will live forever”
28. Jesus Himself revealed the relationship that will exist between the true Church and the world… “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 OF THE WORLD, THEREFORE THE WORLD HATETH YOU (John 15:18-19 KJV).
29. The world loves false preachers and their groups today because such preachers have lowered down the standard of Christianity and compromised with the world. The only way out is to repent or perish.
30. My dear reader and friend, May God bless you as you accept this present truth and walk in it till we meet in the air with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
SECTION 4
1
GREAT DOCTRINES OF GOD: INTRODUCTION
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
2. Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. (Deut 32:1-2 (KJV).
3. The word doctrine means teaching, or belief or ideology or philosophy which one or a group of people have and propagate. Doctrine has been the main cause of the differences and divisions in the churches today. That one group differ from the other is as a result of the doctrine of that group. For example, what separate Roman Catholics from Anglican, or protestants of all sects, is nothing but doctrine.
4. Take away doctrine, all churches become one, and it is this aim that brought about “Ecumenical movement” where all religion will cast away their differing and conflicting doctrines and come together as one. “This is false Unity”.
5. There is no way God can do away with his doctrines. It is dctrine that Separates God from the devil. it is doctrine that tells us who is in the truth and who is on the wrong side.
6. I have heard many people professing to be Christians saying, “Let us throw away doctrines and be born again and god will be happy. This is a foolish and ignorant statement. Because a man cannot be born again without doctrines. Doctrine is life and nobody can live a life that is higher than his doctrine.
7. God is mindful of his doctrines and that was why He commanded Moses to teach the people of Israel His doctrines He went further to make us to understand that when the people of Israel were without a teaching priest, the true God was no longer in their Midst.
8. (II Chron. 15:3 KJV). Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
9. In other words, a teaching priest was necessary to teach and to point the people back to the true God. We see in the book of Judges, when there were no teaching Priests, the people hired Priests for a pay and were doing things as they seemed right in their own eyes and God was not pleased but the priest and his people were pleased with such.
10. Judges 17:6-13…. In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. And there was a young man out of Bethlehem-Judah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
11. And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehem-Judah to sojourn where he could find a place : and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
12. And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem-Judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place .
13. And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
14. And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
15. Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
16. For those who do not know the necessity of doctrines, I want you to follow Me as we read these Scriptures together in (John 7:16-18 KJV)
17. “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19. It is clear that Jesus Christ had his doctrines which were the doctrines of God because these doctrines exalted God above all and not man.
20. In (John 18:19-23, KJV) … The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
21. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
22. Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
23. The Jews asked about his doctrines and one of them even slapped him because of the way he replied to the High priest. One will not be surprised if a true Christian is treated this same way again in our day by the disciples of the so-called “great man of God” who go about preaching ecumenical movement and are being hailed to a high esteem by the world, even by the government. in other place, the Jews namely the Pharisees, asked, what was his doctrine and how many people had believed him.
24. They even made a law that anybody that believe His doctrines would be thrown out of the synagogues. The same type of law will be made by the modem Pharisees of our day and is already in operation against the truth.
25. Many of their followers have read our book “CRY OUT Against THE SYSTEM” some have heard us preach or taught in the buses, public places, streets, house to house and believed our message to be of God and truth, but for fear of being put away from their churches or losing their very highly placed positions in their churches and in the society, they cannot identify with this truth and reconcile with the true God.
26. (John 9:22 KJV). These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
27. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
28. 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. (John 12:42-43 KJV)
29. In all these we can notice that Jesus Christ has doctrines which he handed down to the churches through the apostles and prophets.
30. (Eph. 2:19-20 KJV) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but follow citizens with the saints, and of the house hold of God: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; at another place, the Jews were astonished at the doctrines of Jesus Christ because he taught them with authority (Mark 1:22 KJV). And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
31. All I am trying to establish in this back ground is that the church of Jesus Christ has her doctrines and can never do without them. Doctrine is the back bone of the church of Jesus Christ. And being that he handed down to the apostles’ all his doctrines, they in turn handed it unadulterated to the churches.
32. In (Acts 2:42 KJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
33. The church continued in the apostles doctrines. Read this warning in (Acts 20:28-30 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.
34. 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.
35. The apostles warned against grievous wolves that would come and seduce the hearts of the church away from the wholesome doctrine of Christ.
36. In (1 Tim. 6:3- 5KJV) “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
37. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.
38. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
39. All doctrines must be in line with the wholesome words and doctrines of Christ.
40. (Heb.6: 1 KJV) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.
41. (Titus 2:1 KJV) But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.
42. (1 Tim 4: 16 KJV) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
43. Every true Christian cannot overlook the importance of doctrine. It is in continuing in them that we save those that hear us and ourselves; and that is why GOD said that we must take heed about doctrines and to teach only that which is sound doctrine that would produce sound Christian life.
44. In (2 Tim. 4:1-4KJV) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
45. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
46. 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
47. (1 Tim.. 4:1-2KJV) 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;
48. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
49. (2 John 9-10 KJV) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
50. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed:
51. From all these scriptural passages, “Why then do people ask us to throw away doctrines and be born again?” Can a man be born again without the doctrine of Christ on Salvation?
52. (1 Peter 1:22-23 KJV) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
53. 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth forever.
54. We as Christians are under strict obligation to teach the doctrines of Christ to men and if anyone fails to believe it, that person should count himself or herself unworthy to enter into everlasting life because God’s word (the truth is life).
55. Common sense will even make you understand that no man will live a life higher than the doctrines he received. If you receive a social doctrine, which is based on prosperity, signs and wonders, miracles and social interactions etc, you will certainly behave according to the doctrines you received.
56. Watch all that belonged to all these churches where the doctrine of holiness perfection, sanctification, or separation etc are not strictly enforced, their lives bear witness that that they are deceived.
57. That is way, as a result of social doctrine, some of them established some christain-sects or social clubs in their churches and give preferential treatment to their members because of their social status like wealth, posts or qualifications etc., contrary to the word of God, that said, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
58. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
59. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
60. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? (James 2:1-6 KJV).
61. It is in disrespect of this word of God that people form churches and class fellowships in their different denominations today such as (1) I.F.L. International friendship league in Deeper Life Bible Church(2) The Gideon’s International (3) Daniel’s International (4) The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, (5) V.I.P. fellowship etc.
62. All these groups are mere class fellowships where only wealthy men and working class citizens with high-social standing meet themselves. Poor people and uneducated people like Jesus Christ and his illiterate followers are not allowed in this type of gather for it is another Sanhedrin’s cult of our day. They give the impression that they worship God, because they carry Bible and sing praises etc while all of them are hypocrites.
63. They tell lies, cheat, dupe, commit adultery and fornication and even deals in contraband goods. Some are Tax defaulters while some printers in their groups still print fake labels of various types of medicines, chemicals and spare parts in the market and even indulge in book piracy and yet call themselves Christians; Most of them compete with the world in everything even in politics; no sign of difference. None of them is ready to follow the example of St. Paul or Jesus Christ.
64. Many Lawyers in their midst still tell lies in courts only to win their cases and make money. These are mere dressed-up for a far social interaction. Watch what is going on in their so-called “Breakfast, Dinner or Lunch”.
65. They throw their invitation to all wealthy Men to attend any of their Meetings with the pretext that they would use the opportunity to preach the word of God to them. Can a teacher give the pupils what he has not? Some first class ladies in banks and other big places who have lost the hope of marriage, rush to them to see whether they would be lucky to seduce one of them into marriage.
66. Some of these false churches go as far as having what they call “Single Seminar” in hotels, where they create a forum for the bachelors and spinsters in their midst to recognize themselves. Some use these chances to exchange their business complimentary cards.
67. The question then arises, what is the difference between this type of gathering and recreation or sports club? No wonder a wealthy man in End-time message sponsored a Tennis tournament in Nigeria. But what is the cause of this type of mess in the churches so-called?
68. The answer is that they all are no longer mindful of the doctrines of Jesus Christ and because of that, they all turned to the doctrines of demons which made them to behave like the heathen in the world.
69. The greatest stumbling block people meet in Christianity is one who calls himself a Christian but behaves carelessly like a pagan.
70. As a result of all these mess, one popular musician in Nigeria concluded hi one of his lyrics, that there is no difference between churches of today and village traditions again; according to this Musician, all that take traditional, titles or play important roles in masquerades; land disputes, and all kinds of customary traditions are all recognized and honoured men in the churches.
71. And I a witness that this man’s testimony is truth. For it is the picture of all false churches in Nigeria and all over the world today. Where people are not mindful of the doctrines of Christ but treat the word of God with contempt and contumely and cause others to do likewise
72. But the true Church of God, is very much concerned with the doctrines of God which is the only thing that will give her an inheritance among the sanctified. See (Lev.20:23).
73. All these people that have been going out making a hell of noise and still disobey God’s word with impunity, are they ashamed?
74. (Jerem. 6:15 KJV). Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
75. Also see (Jerem 8:12 KJV). They can never be ashamed because they have lost all feeling of shame as in (Eph. 4:17- 22 GNB) In the Lord’s name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn.
76. They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint. That was not what you learned about Christ! You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus.
77. So get rid of your old self which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires.
78. They now behave like the heathen, because they know the truth and could not keep pace with it; GOD handed them over to the spirit of delusion to believe lies.
79. (II Thess. 2:10-12 (KJV). And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
80. 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.
81. What an awful condition for one to be given over to a reprobate mind or spirit to act or behave as he wishes without restraint.
82. (Rom 1:28-32 KJV). And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
83. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
84. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
85. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
86. Having laid a solid back ground on doctrines, l’ll proceed to unveil great doctrines that are completely overlooked by many churches or so-called Christians today and that is why they cannot live consistent Christian lives from day to day, week to week and year to year. Amen.
2
GREAT DOCTRINES OF GOD (1): HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
2. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 14-16KJV).
3. And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. (Lev. 20:26 KJV).
4. The bible also said in (Deut. 28:9 KJV) The LORD shall establish thee a holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
5. First, I want you my reader to believe that God cannot speak any word in vain for He doesn’t play with the word of his mouth (Isa 55:10-11) He meant all that He ever spoke to the letter, He cannot break his word or cause his word to be of none effect. The word of God remains effective forever and ever.
6. (Psalms 119:89; Psalms 89:34-35) GOD expects all his children to be like himself whether we like it or not; for it is a condition all of us must attain or else we cannot meet Christ in the air.
7. There is no other interpretation any man should give it but LIVING HOLY LIFE BEFORE GOD. Many think that God is no longer mindful of it. Such people are already deceived for whatever GOD hated in the beginning, he will hate it forever.
8. What God loved in the beginning, He will love it forever. No sinner is holy. For sin is sin whether it is found in me or in you any other person, the name God calls sin is sin and it must be got rid of or else the person has laboured in vain.
9. Before one can be HOLY, he must first of all separate himself from every unbelief and from every mixed-multitude.
10. (Neh. 9:1-2 KJV). Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.
11. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
12. (Lev 20:26 KJV) And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
13. (Rom 9:6-7 KJV) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
14. (Rev. 2:9 KJV) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
15. From these passages, one can easily notice that not all that claim to be Christians are Christians actually. Although they may hold exalted positions in their churches like general overseers, pastors, Archbishops, popes, etc; yet they speak great blasphemy against the written and vindicated word of God.
16. No man with the spirit of God calleth Jesus and this word accursed.
17. (1 Cor. 12:3KJV) Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost..
18. A true child of God must be completely severed from all mixed multitudes. The mixed multitudes are in the greater majority and cause a lot of discouragements just as the tares and grass are in the larger majority in the farm and discourage the farmer.
19. Read about the characteristics of the mixed multitudes in the following passages: (Ex.12.37-38 KJV) And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
20. (Numb. 11:4-6 KJV) And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
21. We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
22. (Num. 14:1-10KJV) And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
23. And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
24. And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
25. And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
26. And they spoke unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
27. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
28. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
29. (Numb. 14:20-31 KJV). And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
30. But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
31. Surely they shall not see the land which I swore unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
32. But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
33. (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron saying,
34. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
35. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
36. Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
37. Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
38. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
39. From these passages, you can see the awful consequences of moving with a mixed multitude. They are full of discouragement. They always like to go back to the worldly systems and living. Whenever the Journey becomes tough or hard as they never expected, they start murmuring, and speaking blasphemies against their Ministers who are also suffering with them.
40. They are not ready to make sacrifice, although they had their cattle and sheep and goats and fowls, and even their cooking pots, they were all looking on Moses to provide all things they needed as if they were doing a service to Moses by Leaving Egypt: Saprophytes and ingrates in the church.
41. (Heb. 3:16-19 KJV) For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
42. And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
43. (Heb. 4:1-3 KJV) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
44. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
45. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
46. (Rom. 11:17- 25 KJV) And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
47. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
48. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
49. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
50. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
51. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
52. The above passages are my warnings to all Christians who play and make mockery of the “Doctrine of Holiness” by associating or mixing up with every kind of group. Mixed Multitudes cause divisions in the church.
53. (1 cor. 3:3 KJV) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
54. (Matt. 7:21-23 KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
55. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
56. (II Cor.11:14-15KJV)And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
57. (2 cor. 11:3-5) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
58. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
59. (Rom. 16:17KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
60. (Deut 20:1, 2 Tim. 2:14-20) Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
61. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
62. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
63. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
64. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
65. (James 1:21-27) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
66. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
67. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
68. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
69. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
70. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
71. (Jude 3-23 KJV). Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
72. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
73. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
74. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
75. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
76. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
77. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
78. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
79. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Koran.
80. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
81. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
82. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
83. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
84. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
85. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
86. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
87. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
88. (Acts 6:1 KJV). And in those days, when the number of the disciples were multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
89. (1 Tim. 1:18-20 KJV). This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare;
90. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
91. (1 John 4:1-6 KJV) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
92. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
93. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
94. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
95. (1 John 2:18-19 KJV) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
96. They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
97. From all these Scriptures, no man will be in doubt again that many, after carrying the bible and preached to others, may at last miss everlasting life because they defiled and neglected the doctrines of Christ.
98. GOD has been GOD of separation from the beginning of the world and will ever remain the same. God’s people are a holy people unto God alone and are strongly forbidden from mixing with other people and their traditions lest they be guilty of spiritual fornication.
99. When the book of the law was missed in the days of Ezra the high priest, the people of GOD made grievous mistakes. Read the following accounts with me gradually.
100. (Neh. 2:4-10) (Neh.2: 19-20 KJV). But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it , they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
101. Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
102. We can notice that the , enemies of the children of God namely Sanballat and Tobiah were against every move of GOD’S people to rebuild the holy city Jerusalem, and even laughed them to scorn.
103. (Neh. 4:1-5) But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
104. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
105. Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
106. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
107. And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
108. In this passage, the people were determined to accomplish the work God gave them and Sanballat again was provoked to wrath and spake great blasphemy against them but God was with his people.
109. In Ezra 4:2-4 KJV) Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do ; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
110. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
111. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.
112. The enemies who spoke against God’s people now have noticed that nothing could stop them from reaching their goal; they were now convinced that it was God leading them and they became interested and wanted to help them with the pretext that they would worship the God of Israel.
113. But I want the BRIDE of Jesus Christ to be careful here, because they must surely come in this same subtle way: “Apply Wisdom”.
114. Notice that the people of GOD could not accept their voluntary help because GOD commanded them to do it alone.
115. (Neh.6: 17-19 KJV) Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
116. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
117. Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.’
118. Note here that saboteurs from Judah, the people of GOD were exchanging correspondence with God’s naked enemies, making them to understand their secrets. But such people were still claiming to be real children of GOD and still keeps allies with unholy enemies of God, even went as far as making marriage vows with their daughters contrary to God’s voice. This is a perfect picture or description of End -time message claimers.
119. Read (Neh.7l-4: Neh. 7:64-65; Ezra 2:62-63) here, a perfect record was kept of the priesthood. All uncalled ministers whose lives were questionable, who had always mixed up with the true priests were identified and dis-fellowshiped from the congregation of God’s people. Thus the people of God separated themselves from the mixed multitudes.
120. (Neh. 13: 1-9 KJV). On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God forever;
121. Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
122. And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
123. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
124. But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
125. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
126. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
127. (Neh 13:20-28KJV). So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
128. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
129. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
130. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying , Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
131. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
132. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
133. Even as a result of the mixed marriages or spiritual fornications, their children were partly Jews and partly pagans or Heathens, O’ what an awful look! I wonder if this is not what the End-time message followers so-called has produced in all its factions and differing doctrines, yet all of them are carrying and quoting the sermon books preached by William Braham.
134. But the Bride of Jesus Christ being (the word-bride,) as a royal priesthood, holy and undefiled must separate herself from all the mixed multitudes and profess Holiness in the fear of GOD. For the people who can understand what the Holy Spirit is explaining here, follow me as we read the following passages in the Holy Bible.
135. (Luke 1:74-75 KJV). That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
136. (1 Cor.3:17 KJV). If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
137. (2 Cor.7:1:KJV) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
138. God is looking for a man or a woman that will fulfil these Scriptures in the evil day; but it is certain that this type of life can only be found in the midst of the BRIDE OF CHRIST and not in any other group.
139. (Eph. 4:22-24 KJV). That ye put off concerning the former con versa- lion the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts: 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 Loliness.
140. (1 Peter. 1:14-16) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
141. 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.
142. (Titus 2:11-12) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
143. (Heb. 12:14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
144. Read these passages:- 1 Peter 2:5-9; Rev. 1:6; Rom. 12;1-2)
145. My dear reader, if after reading these passages you cannot be convinced that God said that we should be holy and even perfect here on earth, (Matt 5:48, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.) and that there is someone like you who is maintaining this God’s standard even in this same corrupt world, not by saying it like every other man but by doing it to the letter.
146. (Amos 1:22-23) let it be known to you that you are misled (Titus 1:14-15 KJV). Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth, unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
147. Read (John 3:19-20); Then be careful, do not allow the foolish statements that people make to deceive you any longer, as some of them propagate that “we all are like fishes in the ocean, that we cannot live without water or deny water; that means, the person is saying that God cannot live without sin, because his children must reflect God’s own type of life here on earth as it is in heaven.
148. Note, the Bible said that there is no unrighteousness in GOD, Jesus Christ was tempted like us but in. all the temptations he sinned not; so to be tempted is no sin but when you yield yourself to that temptation then you commit evil (sin) let it be clear to you that everything a Christian says he believes, he must be tested by it and when he overcomes it God will approve him, so temptation is not limited to you alone as a believer but it is common among all men. (1cor. 10:13 KJV).
149. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you -. He: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
150. See, it is common to all men but God promised to see His children through (Psalms. 119:11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.
151. Finally Jesus Christ is the true vine and we are the branches, if the vine is holy, the branches must be holy like him. Our God is the Lord he changeth not. Amen.