BEWARE OF HEROD’S MASTER!

He has been born, He the promised One with a Mission.

But His Mission must be stopped forthwith. Herod was summoned by his master to do the needful fast! Kill all infants so that at the same time the promised One can be eliminated. Herod tried but missed the mark.

Stupid Herod! Herod’s master then took up the battle with the promised One himself. He will attempt to make the promised One act against His Father’s Laws. A devious yet audacious plan!  If you are who you think you are then turn stones to bread he charged. Also jump from the pinnacle of the temple and nothing will happen he cleverly suggested with all the cunning at his disposal. These suggestions are against the Laws of the Father, so the promised One refused to deal. Herod’s master left in shame.

He will not relent and so he used all the Pharisees, the clerics and the other earthly leaders of that time to attack the promised One at every turn. They all hated the promised One with a passion not knowing that they were being used and played as puppets by Herod’s master.  It got to a point where the promised One will have to make a choice: maintain His identity as One sent by the Father and face physical death or flee. Herod’s master had played his last card.

In Gethsemane, the promised One made a firm decision to stand by His Word regardless of the clear consequence. He faced physical death simply for the sake of the Truth He brought. With this He crushed Herod’s master and won the victory. This way, the road to His Word remained open for as many as would embrace it and live by it; this being the way to salvation.

Having lost against the promised One, Herod’s master turned against mankind using the trick he had always used, his biggest trick: lies and confusion! Man must not know that the Mission of the promised One lay solely in bringing His Word of salvation and redemption! The biggest lie he has been promoting for the past 2000 years is that the physical death of the promised One which he engineered is the sacrifice which saves man from his sins! This lie will make man believe that he can be forgiven not by following the Holy Word of the promised One but by a sacrificial death which indeed was an affront against the promised One and the Father Who sent Him and which was a result of the activities of Herod’s master and those who have sided with him, the real enemy of God. Believers in this lie do not see the physical death of the promised One as a dastardly crime that it is. They will rather see the physical death as the main Mission of the promised One not knowing that the Word of the promised One is enough to save! Alas, the believers have succumbed and are happy and pleased to exchange the Word of Truth with an illusory sacrificial death concept! Sadly, believers in Herod’s master’s lies are in the billions in the world today!

Now that you know; do you still want to continue believing Herod’s master?

WHY DO YOU SMILE?

This afternoon, as I was leaving a restaurant some of my friends call Gastehof, a friend during a brief conversation suggested that one should write on the need for us to smile! That would be interesting I thought and probably simple too.

However on a closer look at the subject matter one began to realise that this is quite a serious matter. On delving into it further, it came to light that there are as many types of smiles as there are reasons behind them.

One can smile to mask one’s ignorance! A smile can be used to mock, can be used in arrogance and in looking down on others who are probably even better human beings. Some people also introduce bad and evil habits to others with beaming smiles!

Sadly too, many on hearing words of deep spiritual import especially if such words do

not accord with their present beliefs have ready their arrogant, superior and scornful smile. These of course are to be left to go on their own way and left alone to their illusions and limited understanding for they are being sarcastic and contemptuous whilst passing by the word of Truth!

An unknown author said: “Your smile is a very powerful weapon, use it wisely .You can make someone really happy or unhappy with that little movement of your lips.”

So I ask you dear friend, why do you smile?

Definitely, a smile is a form of communication. One of the first lessons I leant in customer service was to smile even over the phone as this will be felt by the person on the line and will have a positive effect on the conversation.

Now, because smile is communication, then we need to remember the warning voice of Jesus, the Son of God, who told us “Let your communication be yea or nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil!” This means that we must let our communication be simple and true. Therefore our smiles too, since they are communication must be genuine, simple and true.

A genuine smile expresses good will, promotes friendly interactions and like its brother laughter, can be a strong antidote to darkness so far it is not a smile of malicious nature.

Lastly, let us learn from children who when learning how to walk will customarily get up with a smile until they master the art of walking safely. In the same way, let us go through our future path without despair or complain at any fall. Instead, let’s get up with a smile and keep trying whilst learning from each fall through our innate spiritual understanding, our intuition.

As we close one year and start another, may we go on our path cheerfully, thankfully and properly armed with a firm decision to do only what is good!

THE ANGEL PROCLAIMED JESUS WHILE ISAIAH PROPHESIED IMANUEL!

In Luke 1: 31 we read that an Angel appeared to Mary and proclaimed to her: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. And in Mathew 2:21-23 we read that an Angel proclaimed to Joseph concerning Mary that: She will give birth to a son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. In fact the Name Jesus means “Jehovah saves”.  

This proclamation by the Angel is not to be confused with the prophecy given through prophet Isaiah which is set down in Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Imanuel.”  We learn through scripture that this name means “God with us”.

Clearly there are two names here, each with a different meaning.  While the proclamation of Jesus by the angel is clear and was immediately fulfilled, that cannot be said of the prophecy of Isaiah about Imanuel. Indeed, this prophecy of Isaiah has attracted many studies by scholars and at least 28 authors have written their dissertations on it. Yet there is no agreement between the scholars because while some see the prophecy as having been fulfilled in the time of Isaiah, some consider that the fulfilment was meant for a later time.

The Gospel of Mathew links the name Imanuel to Jesus but Jesus never for once referred to Himself as Imanuel. Nevertheless, here are four issues for your consideration:

1.      With the name difference and difference in meaning, it is difficult to accept without question that Jesus and Imanuel refer to one and the same person if we wish to be objective.

2.      The two Personalities: Jesus and Imanuel appear to be linked to the Almighty directly as Envoys coming from Him! In Matthew 3:17 we are told that at the baptism of Jesus a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” Jesus the Son of God later on promised that another like Him will come who is the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit.

3.      The Holy Spirit and Jesus are the two Parts of the Trinity of God that have been active in Creation. In the book of Revelations a most revealing part of scripture, two Personalities also appear. So in Revelations 5:13 we read:  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

4.      Certainly most can decipher who the Lamb is. The Lamb is Jesus the Son of God! Can the other Personality described in the book of Revelations be Imanuel, the Son of Man, the Holy Spirit?

Think seriously about this and do not rest till you have resolved this matter yourself because the time for this has come!

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHO CHRIST IS!

Many today are celebrating Christmas. But who amongst the celebrants of today really understand in the right way, the Person who is the reason for the season?

For the sake of brevity, let us take just three examples of this lack of understanding as there are many examples in fact:

1. Do you still use His Name in jest and in the jokes you share on social media? One joke has even gone viral recently that says that you do not need to rush home for Christmas as He “was not born in your village”. Really?  If you can utter this or anything similar and even have the effrontery to share this with the public, realise from now that you are taking the Name of Christ in vain.  The Commandment recorded for us in Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” may well apply to the Name of the Son of God! With a deep understanding of who He is we will not engage in such jokes or other loose talk that calls His Name at every drop of the hat. If we have been doing so, we will hopefully desist from now on for our own good.

2.Do you still see Jesus as your servant who should serve to fulfill your wishes once you ask Him by the method of the long shopping lists and the outright demands you call prayer? You will say afterwards that He has granted your prayers yet what you really are saying deep in your heart is that He has served your ends. You clearly betray your arrogance sometimes when you say it openly that you hereby “decree”, “command” and “claim”! Yes, some even misquote scripture and maintain stubbornly that they can command even the Almighty! Amazing, incredible and sad! With a deep understanding of who He is you will certainly realise that you are meant to subject your decisions to His Will and not the other way round. Let us always remember the great prayer point given to us by Him which is recorded for us in Matthew 6:10 as follows:  “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

3. Do you still demand that He should remove the consequences of your past wrong decisions which have now come to haunt you? Do you still challenge Him to prove Himself and His power to you by removing your problems? This attitude is exactly the attitude displayed by the robber on His left while on the cross who said: “Are you not the Christ? “Save yourself and us!” However, a better example of a person who understands Jesus and His Teachings is that robber on His right who admitted to himself before all that “We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our actions. But this man has done nothing wrong.” He then followed with the plea akin to what Jesus Himself has taught us about seeking the Lord’s Kingdom first. He eventually got the reward of a place in Paradise! (Luke 23:39-42)

Let us utilize this very special and very meaningful season to rethink what we have been taught about Christ and what we have believed up till now about Him. Let us prayerfully seek to understand our Saviour the way He really is! May we have the courage to seek in the right way and decide to serve the Truth only, leaving behind us the false teachings promoted by men for their own material advantages.

PLEASE MEASURE YOUR FAITH BY MATTHEW CHAPTER 7!

This is the conclusion of earlier essays that invited us to measure our faith by Mathew Chapters 5 and 6. We now conclude with this measurement of our faith with some passages of Matthew Chapter 7.

  

      1.       If you assume that because you have accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour then you will simply walk straight to heaven, then realise today that there is a lot more to be done after your acceptance of Christ. Calling Him Lord, Lord, obeying denominational dogmas and creeds, paying tithes, giving large or tiny donations or even performing miracles in His Name are really not enough! Surprised?  We have to do the Will of the Father in addition which means irrevocably ordering our thoughts, words and deeds towards that which is good and pure in accordance with God’s Commandments.

Realise also that there is no point in looking down on others who are not of your faith or denomination as you are not in a position to judge whether or not they are in the Will of the Lord which is the sole determining factor of their acceptance by the Lord Who is the only Judge in this matter! And so we read in verses 21-23:

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

      2.       If you are of the school of thought that salvation and redemption “is by faith alone” then please read verses 24-27 which certainly enjoins us to put the teachings of Christ into practice. We are to embrace His teachings and actually build on it through our activities including what we think, say and do in our everyday lives and not be under any delusion that we give our Lord any service by the few hours of piousness performed when we are gaily dressed in Sunday attire! Matthew 7:24-27 says: 

    

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

May we receive the power to break free finally from the shackles imposed by our indolence, belief in the illusory  wide and easy road which in fact does not exist, false teachings, dogmas and earthly creeds and hold on only to the redeeming and saving Truth now and at all times!

Sola Adeyegbe

DID CHRIST ABOLISH THE LAWS OF GOD?

We read in Mathew 5:17-18 that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but came to fulfil them. How can we reconcile this to a reading of the Pauline Epistles particularly in Romans 6:14 which says that we are not under the law but under grace; or reconcile it to Ephesians 2:15 which says that Christ has abolished the law?

To solve this riddle, we need to understand straightaway that the word  “law” or “ordinance” as used in the aforementioned Pauline Epistles do not refer to God’s laws!

Indeed, Ephesians 2:15 mentions the abolishment of “the law of commandments expressed in ordinances”. The word ordinance in the passage was translated from the Greek word dogma and refers generally to opinions, judgments, and decrees. Such ordinances could be public decrees by government officials or religious decrees by religious officials. 

The fact that Paul was not referring to God’s law in the above quotes is revealed by his statement about God’s Law in Romans 3:31 – “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.” Still concerning God’s Law, Paul writes in Romans 7:12, “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.”

Even before Paul, Jesus was already said to have taken a firm stand against the dogmas of old, calling them the commandments of men! So, whilst addressing the Pharisees of His time, Christ was quoted to have said: Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? . . . Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: . . . "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." (Mathew 15:3-9)

Certainly, Jesus Christ with the authority and power of the Son of God that He is  abolished the laws, dogmas and traditions added by men to God’s Commandments as these only constituted a yoke and bondage on people who are thirsty for the pure Truth brought by Christ. He set men free from the bondage of such unprofitable requirements but He confirmed the Laws that issued from His Father which we all must keep for our own salvation. Indeed the Laws of God lead us to Heaven!

Now, a word about grace. Jesus brought us the Word of His Almighty Father and this Holy Word is the gift and grace from God which shows us the path to Heaven, the path of salvation. So it is correct to say we are no more under the law (i.e. the yoke imposed by men through their traditions and wrong interpretations of God’s Commandments) but under grace (i.e. the gift of God to man which is the Word of God which at the same time are the Laws of God explained in all Purity by Jesus, devoid of human embellishments).

In conclusion, just as it is written in Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill”, Jesus lived and fulfilled the Laws of His Father fully and He remains a great example to us on the true path to the Light! Therefore, we are told in 1 John 2:6-- Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. And then in John 13:17 it is written that the Lord said: Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

May we receive the strength to be obedient children to the Eternal Laws that issue from He Who in His mercies granted us our existence.

PLEASE MEASURE YOUR FAITH BY MATTHEW CHAPTER 6!

This is the continuation of an earlier essay that invited us to measure our faith by Mathew Chapter 5. We now proceed to Matthew Chapter 6. Maybe we will also learn something here as well.

1. Have you been taught to pray with many words/repetitive words some of which you have memorized and some that you rattle off as you read them from a prayer book? Are you of the firm view that there is some virtue in being labeled a prayer warrior because you can pray loudly with your fist and legs kicking the air non-stop for hours on end? In that case please check whether this is in keeping with verses 7 and 8:

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

2. If your prayers are always centered on invoking fire and brimstone of your enemies seen and unseen then see whether your attitude can stand in the face of the statements in verses 14 and 15.

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

3. If all your prayers are centered on making the next billion of dollars and pounds and you have let some teachers convince you that the god they serve is not poor but a god of silver and gold which he bestows on those who give a tenth of their income or donate huge sums to them, please be advised by the words of verse 24.

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

4. If all your prayer points are mainly about how to obtain visas to travel abroad, promotion at work, having a marriage partner, miracle of sudden riches and exotic cars, then pause and ask: how many times have I pleaded fervently for God’s Will to be done in my life? Have I ever prayed earnestly to be led to the way of righteousness which leads to the Lord’s kingdom? Remember now the words of verses 31-33 which says:

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

We will discuss Chapter 7 in conclusion.

May we all strive from now to seek first the Kingdom of heaven and its righteousness!

PLEASE MEASURE YOUR FAITH BY MATTHEW CHAPTER 5!

Are you a Christian? If your answer is yes, then I respectfully invite you to measure your faith by Mathew Chapter 5. Do so objectively and you might just discover a thing or two.

          1. If you have accepted the teaching that once you are born again, you are no longer subject to the law then your faith runs counter to verses 17 and 18 which says:

17Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

       2. If you have also  accepted the teaching that you have to engage in hate prayers such as asking that your enemies should die or be consumed by fire of any kind, then you have accepted a teaching that is contrary to verses 23-24 and  43-45:

23Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, , 24leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

We shall take Mathew Chapter 6 next and conclude with Chapter 7.

May we all strive from now on to free ourselves from false dogmas and base our lives solely on the Truth as brought by our Lord Jesus!

Love always!

THE ANTICHRIST UNMASKED!

Are you still looking for the Antichrist in some man or institution? Are you also thinking that the prophetic number 666 or mark of the beast will be given to human beings by means of implanting some radio-frequency identification microchip in them? Have you seen videos or write ups that have gone viral regarding a plan by the United States to have an ID chip implanted in citizens? Do you assume that such developments if true are scary and prophetic? You are not alone.

The prophetic number 666 which has always been linked with the Antichrist has also been associated with some human beings and even institutions over the centuries. In 2015, a controversial photo of a baby with curls resembling 666 appeared in a Swedish newspaper causing a stir in social networks. Protestant preachers including John Wesley and Martin Luther have pointed to the Papacy as the seat of the Antichrist! Apart from this revered institution, another one that has been accused is the American Presidency. Every American President since George Washington have been suspected of being the one to usher in the end times. On the individual level, we have had Nero, Napoleon Bonaparte, Hitler and even Henry Kissinger / Mikhail Gorbachev. (Ironically, 85 year old Gorbachev has this bold birthmark on his forehead!). Today, Donald Trump is seen as fulfilling prophecies! Reason among others: A company led by Trump’s son-in-law owns the most expensive single building ever purchased in the United States. That is 666 Fifth Avenue New York. The prophetic number 666 appears again here this time related to the street of business, money and materialism.  And when recently Mr. Trump declared that his country now recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel many regard this as prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes!

But then who really is this Antichrist? Is he a human being or an institution? How can he be identified? If he is easily identifiable, will he be able to have plenty of followers? Prophecy reveals he will succeed in deceiving many! If the Antichrist acts openly will he be able to get the majority of people to follow him? Certainly he will reduce his chances of success by acting openly because many know that by following the Antichrist they will incur the wrath of the Almighty.

I am happy to tell you that the Antichrist has been unmasked! One of the first lectures of the Grail Message, the third one in fact provides guidance in this matter!

Firstly, no human being or human institution can have the strength and power to become the Antichrist! The Antichrist, who is the only real enemy of God has actually been active among men for a long time. His aim is always to deceive man and lead man astray. He also works tirelessly against the salvation of man which can only be attained by man’s adherence to God’s Word of Truth. He earned the name Antichrist when he worked assiduously against Christ’s Work of Redemption. Scripture tells us for example of the attempt by Herod to terminate the earthlife of Jesus at infancy! Eventually, Lucifer, using the leaders of religion at that period fanned the embers of hatred in these people until they brought Jesus to the cross! Meanwhile, these people were under the delusion that they were serving God by silencing this troublesome Truth Bringer! That is the hallmark of the Antichrist. He uses mankind to achieve his aims while deceiving them that they are on the right path.

Today, those who serve him abound and they have no idea that they are under the rule of the Antichrist.

The Antichrist is Lucifer and his weapon has always been the same: enslavement of man through man’s intellect which is the product of the human brain. By this is meant placing the wishes of man’s perishable body (the brain being the highest part) over and above the Will of the Most High.

The sign that one has fallen into the hands of the Antichrist is not by physically bearing the mark 666 on one’s body, or by having a microchip implanted in one’s body no matter how creepy that sounds! The simple sign of being an ardent follower of the Antichrist is this: leaving all decisions to the earthly intellect. Of course this has the result of behaving selfishly, thinking of only material gains and benefits and thinking less of the spiritual and God’s Holy Will. It leads to harming others, imposing upon them, corruption, malice, murders, wars and all the evil prevalent in the world today.  

As every human being carries the over-developed intellect within, let us not look outside again for the Antichrist but look within and now decide resolutely to start putting the Will of God above our own thoughts born of the flesh! May we receive the strength for this!

ENVY AND JEALOUSY

These two are not the same!

We feel envy when we think that someone has a desirable attribute that we lack. Jealousy is what we feel when we sense that something we already have (e.g. a relationship) is threatened by someone else.

So, while envy happens between two people, jealousy is tripartite. Envy is about what we lack and jealousy is about not losing something or someone that we have. However both envy and jealousy can be felt simultaneously if for example a person who we consider a rival for a loved one’s attention also have what we lack!  This way we feel jealous and envious at the same time.

Having said this, let us realise that envy and jealousy are products of our thoughts and thoughts are real otherwise they would have no effect on us. When we think, speak or act out of envy or jealousy, we sow seeds which will later germinate, grow and ripen for us to reap. And because like begets like, the fruits that arise from envy and jealousy are not sweet ones.

Furthermore, when we engage in thoughts of envy and jealousy, these thoughts take on real forms and remain attached to us. Of course a person surrounded by thoughts of envy and jealousy is automatically blocked from receiving the blessings that would naturally flow to those of good will. Sadly, envy and jealousy have many followers and that is why there is so much evil in the world.

What should we do? Let us make a change by giving purity to our thoughts and then base all our words thoughts and deeds on love. The love we need is not the earthly demanding love which comes along with jealousy but pure love that considers only what benefits the loved one.

From now on, especially in this Season of Love, may we resolve to be committed to pure love so that help from above can stream to us, strengthen us, purify our surroundings and also help our neighbours to change for the better.

ON THE FATE OF ISRAEL FOR REJECTING CHRIST:

The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by the United States of America is generating great interest in the media currently. Some are even attempting to link this to prophecy. This essay is not an attempt to analyze the recent declaration by the United States but to bring to mind the serious and momentous events of the past which are perhaps having an influence on the present!

In relation to Jerusalem, Christ was quoted to have said:   “They will level you to the ground--you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God." (Luke 19:44)

And in respect of the evil reception accorded Him and His rejection by the called nation, the Lord Jesus gave a Parable of the Wicked Tenants which is a symbolism of Israel’s rejection of Christ which will result in a just punishment for the tyrannical and vengeful people! In the Parable Israel symbolizes the wicked tenants who refused to give the landowner his dues. The landowner symbolizes the Father Who sent Christ. The people judged themselves when on hearing the Parable they declared that the wicked tenants will be brought to a wretched end and will be replaced by others who will give the landowner his fruits in their seasons.

By the rejection of Christ followed by the atrocious acts on Golgotha, Israel in reality broke a great covenant resulting in the repudiation of their earlier call as a nation.

For the full Parable let us quote Mathew 21 v 33-43:

“33Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

34When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the crop.

35But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

36Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them.

37Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance!’ 

39And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”

41“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they declared, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his fruits in their seasons.”

42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 

43Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” 

May we be discerning in these matters and stand at our own posts ever ready to serve the Almighty alone so that we may succeed and fulfil the duties apportioned to us in this earthlife of ours!

THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY GIFT!

This perfect birthday gift is one you give to yourself!

A birthday anniversary is a very suitable landmark to give oneself the gift of becoming a HAPPY PERSON at last! But how?

We can achieve peace and happiness by keeping our thoughts pure! Keeping our thoughts pure will naturally lead to true, simple and edifying words. It leads eventually to noble deeds. All these will in turn purify us and our environment visible and invisible so much so that the Love of God will be able reach us undimmed with abundant blessings. By keeping our thoughts pure and exercising the power of silence, we free ourselves from all darkness which is the root cause of all the pressure and burden we feel in body and mind!

Just as we ought to use every Sabbath (our day of rest) to reflect on the past week and draw lessons for the future, each of the birthday anniversaries we are permitted on earth are great opportunities to reflect on the past year and decide that going forward we will only do that which is good. Such an honest decision reinforced by a truly heartfelt prayer is capable of redeeming even our past misdeeds. We would have found our way at last, earnestly shedding off undesirable habits. We become light and we feel bliss. We become healthy in body and soul, freed from the burden caused by our unwholesome attitude of the past.

Is this resolution to be pure at heart not a great gift we can give ourselves? Yes, it is!

May each birthday be for us a milestone on our journey to being born anew!

Take care of your body

Our body is a gift given to us through the Grace of the Almighty. It is to be a tool for expressing in earthly visible form, the abilities and wishes of the otherwise invisible human spirit, our inner core. The purpose of living on earth is to learn the Laws of God and thereby gain maturity. However, to be active here on earth, we require the physical body as a tool. It is therefore our duty to take good care of this tool. We must nourish it with health promoting food, drinks and adequate exercise in order to keep our bodies healthy for as long as we are permitted to be here.

 

Over-indulgence in food and drink need to be avoided. Let us eat only when we are hungry and drink enough water which cleanses the body system.  If we must drink other liquids apart from water, then these must be taken in moderation, and we need not drink any liquid to the point of intoxication. Let us work and make time for rest. Inordinate ambition for earthly goals should not ruin the balance we need for healthy living.

 

Now we come to an especially important aspect. Many think that by depriving their bodies of required nourishment they can become pleasing to God or can influence the Lord to grant their wishes. Some people impose all sorts of torture on their own bodies just so that they can boast later about this in self-satisfaction and in order be considered great in the eyes of men. We should not be under any delusion that we can serve the Almighty by imposing hardships on our body.

 

Although not compulsory, some may find it useful to abstain from food occasionally for some of its health benefits or with the aim of creating for themselves an atmosphere of sobriety and a fertile soil for spiritual reflection and prayers. While fasting may be useful to man, it is neither a service to our Creator nor a negotiating tool which can be employed when approaching Him.  

THE BIGGEST QUESTION FACING BELIEVERS TODAY

There is a question that is directed to all those who believe in the Message of Jesus and who profess to be His followers. A poser that has been overlooked, neglected and probably even forgotten over the centuries. It is serious and will separate the wheat from the chaff! It goes to the root of what you claim you believe. It challenges one and all to really examine what is held today as faith. Is your faith really genuine? Are you really a believer of the Message of Christ or a believer in the doctrines and tenets of your church? Is the Message of Christ which should be the basis of faith still being proclaimed today in the sense in which Christ gave it?

These are not my own questions. Yes. The real question was asked long ago and is to be found in the book of Luke, chapter 18, verse 8 which says: ”Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

Let each solemnly conduct his own self-examination in this regard.

INDOLENCE

One person says he believes in God, but believes in a supreme being who is there as his automated teller machine,(ATM), who always gives him unmerited favors, who is very big and yet always on his side to do whatever he the poor creature wants him to do at any time! Another person sees through the folly and arrogance of the first person and says to himself that there can be no supreme being at all just because he finds the belief of the aforementioned religionist unbelievable.

The two types mentioned above are of are of the same tribe. They belong to the class of the spiritually indolent. The indolent religionist believes the impossible about the Almighty and His Will, while the atheist deny and scorn based on the shaky philosophy of the religionists instead of engaging in his own serious seeking to find the Truth. He demands physical proofs for the Godhead.

Now, all those who believe in things which are not in conformity with the Will of God and who will have their God in the way of their own imaginings are no doubt engaging in the dangerous game of hypocrisy and blasphemy. Their so called worship based on these false beliefs are empty and tantamount to continuously attempting to deceive God with something which does not exist. Theirs is no true faith.

For the outright unbelievers, their scoffing is a sign of a careless indifference to a very serious issue and for the simple reason that they have chosen to remain on the material level only, they paralyse themselves and cannot ascend spiritually.

May we all strive seriously to concern ourselves solely with the Truth which alone brings clarity, sets free, redeems and saves!

ESCHATOLOGY

Eschatology is a study concerned with what are believed to be the final events of history, the ultimate destiny of humanity — commonly referred to as the end of the world. Let us go into some of them.

Baha’i Faith

Some teachings like the Baha’i Faith hold that human time is marked by a series of progressive revelations in which successive messengers or prophets come from God. The coming of each of these messengers is seen as the day of judgment to the adherents of the previous religion, who may choose to accept the new messenger and enter the 'heaven' of belief, or denounce the new messenger and enter the 'hell' of denial.

Islam

Followers of Islam are taught that on judgment day, the works of man will be judged on the scales of Justice and believers whose good works outweighs the bad receives eternal life!

Some of these teachings are useful because when we look carefully there are elements of the truth in them.

Prophecy by Jesus

We obtain clarity about the events of these times from the prophecies of Jesus the Son of God. And so as was recorded in the Bible (Mathew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) when Jesus was asked about the close of the age, He warned the disciples to be careful as many false prophets will come in His name to lead human beings astray. We will hear of wars and rumors of wars and there will be famines and earthquakes. Then a period of great tribulation was predicted such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, and never will be! At this same period however is the time when the true teachings of Christ will be preached to the entire world as a testimony to all nations.

We need to note that the End-Time does not mean the end of the world as many often assume, but the end of a great epoch. The Biblical accounts speak of the “close of the age”.  After this close of the age begins a New Time, in which the Kingdom of God is to be established on earth: the Thousand-year kingdom of Peace. The transition from the Old to the New Time is formed by the period of the World Judgment also called the Last or Final Judgment.

Without the World Judgment the New Time cannot begin, because there must first be a thorough cleansing from all evil, so that the foundation for the new Kingdom will be pure and clear.

From all indications and recent severe happenings we can sense that we are at the period that had been foreseen. We stand in the Judgement, the time of reckoning! There is so much to say on this subject but I wish to pause here for now.

ONE OF THE GREATEST PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION EVER SPOKEN!

One of the greatest prayers of intercession ever spoken was uttered by non-other than Jesus of Nazareth from the cross with the words: FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO!

One may ask: why did Jesus utter this intercessory prayer? A plea for forgiveness earnestly directed to the Almighty is only relevant where a sin has been committed. Of course the execution of the sinless Son of God was what was happening at the time the prayer was uttered. Since there will be absolutely no need to forgive a deed that is ordained by God, therefore the statement is a prayer to intercede for the shedding of the blood of the Son of God! Being the Personification of Love, Jesus did not wish to hold this crime against the blind and wicked agitators. So He prayed for their forgiveness. We are also beneficiaries of this intercession because this is what has kept this earth and made it available for you and I to still be permitted the experiences of today. That also is a possible reason why the day this prayer was uttered is known as Good Friday.

PRAYER AS TAUGHT BY CHRIST AND OTHER TEACHERS OF MANKIND

Christ gave us an immeasurable lot when it comes to prayer. Just like He taught us to keep our speech simple He made it clear that this commandment applied to prayer as well. Jesus also gave us The Lord’s Prayer. This prayer alone provides everything for the seeker if he pene­trates into it deeply and grasps it aright. The Grail Message makes it clear to us that the Lord’s Prayer is the very essence of Christ’s Message. It says further that the Lord’s Prayer shows man the whole gospel in concentrated form and is the key to heaven for him who knows how to experience it rightly. It can be both a staff and a torch for the advance and ascent of everyone! This is also the reason why we are not meant to rattle it off as if we are rendering a nursery rhyme.

Unlike the usual begging list men are used to, the Lord’s Prayer contains mainly promises man makes to his Creator. These sentences: “Our Father Who art in Heaven!”, “Hallowed be Thy Name”, “Thy Kingdom come”, “Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” – are actual promises to the Almighty which we should not make with levity as such carelessness have dire consequences.

The very first petition “Give us this day our daily bread!”  comes only after the vows.   And the Grail Message gave the true meaning of this petition thus:

“When I have fulfilled what I promised, let Thy Blessing rest upon my earthly work so that, in attending to my physi­cal needs, I may always retain the time to live according to Thy Will!”

Also, see the workings of the Law of Sowing and Reaping in the petition: “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us!” When you pray this way you express your confidence in the law of sowing and reaping ordained by the Will of God. You are agreeing that the forgiveness of your own sins is conditional upon your having previously forgiven all the wrongs inflicted upon you by your fellow-men. 

Jesus also instructed that we avoid the public and pray in privacy. And we find a good example of this in Mohammed the Lord’s servant sent to the people of Arabia who in preparation for his task went to a lonely spot not far from Medina and there he fasted and prayed for seven days.

Under Mohammed’s spiritual leadership, five prayers a day was decreed in order to be able at all times to live in God’s Will and His Holy Presence. Furthermore, when praying the people were to turn their faces towards the East. Mohammed explained: “The Light comes from the East, you see it with the earthly sun. Open yourselves to the Light that would enlighten you, and look towards it.” Even the prescribed ablutions of the body were meant to remind the people that purity of soul is the indispensable condition for fulfilling the Will of God.

There is a lot to be learnt from a prayer sent up by Lao-Tse another servant of God who was sent to the people of China many centuries ago. One day, he perceived with gratitude how he had been guided from above and sought to show appreciation. So moving were the words in which his prayer was cloaked: “Sublime, Almighty God, I no longer wish to be anything myself. Make me into an ever better instrument of Thine, into Thy servant!”

I hope from all the forgoing we have noticed that prayer is not just about asking and begging for only earthly things. Our core as man is spirit. As such we need to pay more attention to spiritual things and this ought to be the priority as we approach the Throne of our Heavenly Father.

  

WHY ARE THE UNBELIEVERS PROSPERING?

An essay claims that Finland with less than 20 churches, Switzerland with less than 30 churches and Denmark with about 23 churches have the most stable economies in the world. The essay went further to say that these 3 countries are considered largely atheistic in nature while many of the countries that profess belief in the Almighty are reeking in corruption, hate, poverty and greed. Let me first of all add a disclaimer that I cannot confirm the veracity of the statistics of the essay under reference neither can I judge whether a nation can be labelled as atheistic. So I will just address the issue of explaining the material prosperity of believers and unbelievers.

First of all, we have been told that the Lord causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Furthermore, the Power of the Almighty is available to all men to use as they choose. Man can achieve outstanding feats with this pure Power whether he acknowledges this Power or not. However, man is held responsible for how he uses this mighty Power.

Certainly, an unbeliever can be rich! If he works in that direction, the Laws of God will permit him the wealth he has worked for no matter his form of religion and it would not matter even if he has no religion at all.

Let us realise that peoples who are atheistic are already in the warm embrace of Lucifer and we may not envy their material wellbeing because that is not all of our purpose on earth!  Their economic progress belongs to this passing world of matter. On the other hand, the darkness will strike harder at those places where there is still a yearning for the Truth hence the paradox of the hardships that is sometimes evident in the places where the people believe in the Almighty.  Again, the economic well-being of the believers too will depend on how they live their lives. They will not be spared if they are careless or live unscrupulous lives. If they work towards poverty so shall it be for them even if they spend all their hours on earth on their knees praying. What they sow, they will reap!

Of course, believers need to continue to work relentlessly on themselves so as to be really worthy of the knowledge of the Most High mercifully granted them. But definitely, those people who are unbelievers would be able to achieve a million times more than their present achievements if they added the intuitive understanding of the Laws of the Lord to their lives.

“With God all things are possible”

The Almighty is Omnipotent, being the Source of all Power. This Power created, maintains, sustains, heals and develops Creation. In addition, the Lord God is omnipresent and omniscient.

The all-powerful and ever living God in His Power and Wisdom also created the Laws that maintain His Creation. These Laws are the expression of His Will. He speaks and manifests to His creatures through these Laws which are perfect and do not change!

Some believers think that the Almighty can do everything and that with His omnipotence He can act arbitrarily. This is not so. Arbitrariness is only an attribute of humans who in their weakness and foolishness try to show off their abilities in this way. The Lord is however perfect and His Laws are the same yesterday, today and forever. They do not change. So the Lord will not for example go contrary to His Laws, or do anything impure, unjust or act out of hatred. Neither will He demand of His creatures abominable practices such as human sacrifice or self-punishment.

Many will here mention miracles as proof that God can do anything. They think that miracles are happenings which are impossible and are only brought about by arbitrary acts of the Almighty. This is not so. The fact that they happen shows that miracles are indeed possible and it is only men in their narrow mindedness who think they are not. However miracles such as many believers imagine do not exist. Such people only see the hand of God in things which are outside of the Natural Laws. Such happenings cannot be attributed to the Creator and are impossible anyway. Miracles therefore are natural happenings but the difference with a miracle is that the process which according to earthly or human conceptions should take a longer time occurs with immense rapidity and so appears miraculous by reason of its extraordinary speed.

When during the life of Christ on earth events were recorded which are miraculous, it reveals to us that He acted with Divine Power but still within the Laws of Nature which Jesus proclaimed He had come to fulfill. The fact that Jesus will not do anything contrary to these Laws was displayed when He firmly refused the temptations to turn stones to bread or to jump down from the pinnacle of the Temple. We should not forget that the suggestions to do these arbitrary things came from Lucifer who will not suggest anything which accords with the Will of God. 

I wish to conclude by pointing out that the popular meaning which today has been given to the words “With God all things are possible”, do not belong to these words at all! The true meaning and the background of these words can be found in Scripture (Mark 10:26, 27). It happened that Jesus was talking of the high demands of the Kingdom of God on any man who wishes to tread the path leading upwards to Heaven. The disciples on learning of the Lord’s strict demands were amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” We are then told that Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible”. In effect the words mean that the way of salvation though difficult for man, is possible to tread with the help of the Most High. Provided, of course that the man has first decided firmly to follow the Holy Word of Truth!

THE MAN OF THE FUTURE WILL HAVE NORMAL BRAINS

The man of the future will have normal brains which will work uni­formly and thus support each other harmoniously. The cerebellum, called the small brain because it is stunted in its growth, will now grow in strength as it attains to its proper field of activity until it is in the right proportion to the frontal brain. This way man will be able to receive impressions from above through his intuitive brain the cerebellum and pass it on to the frontal brain for visible implementation. Of course only the good can ensue thereby. On the other hand all the impressions from the outside which the frontal brain can gather from day to day experiences can be passed on to the back brain and experienced in a deeper way and kept for future guidance. Man will learn how to keep the Sabbath day holy. He will use his day of rest such that he looks intuitively at all his experiences of the past 6 days and draws lesson from it for his future. This way he will gradually mature inwardly as he lives soberly yet in deep gratitude.

WOMEN AND GIRLS WILL BECOME PRIESTESSES OF PURITY

The Creator in His Wisdom has endowed womanhood with higher intuitive abilities so that she can spread to her surroundings the longing for the Luminous Heights. She is to be a source of hope and strength for man as we wander on earth in pursuit of our maturity. Today this has been distorted to a level of just pushing men toward ridiculous materialism. In the future Kingdom of Peace womanhood will take the lead in chastity, nobility and faithfulness all these being the manifestation of Purity here on earth. Therefore the Author of the Grail Message called out: See your task before you, you women and girls, as the future priest­esses of Divine Purity here on earth, and do not rest until you have acquired what you are lacking towards it!

THE ONGOING WINNOWING!

There's now a separation between those who are for Him and those who are still stubborn and conceited. Make sure that in the ongoing separation you are not found too light!

In the context here, reference is made to the chaff, who are not stable but can be blown away with the temptations of this world! Being too light in this short post therefore refers to when you conduct a separation by winnowing. Wind winnowing is an agricultural method developed by ancient cultures for separating grain from chaff. The chaff gets removed by the air and the real grains remain. What is ongoing in the world today is a winnowing! Consider the various natural catastrophes, the confusion in states, churches and even in the individual. See the mind boggling deeds of madness!  

We should therefore endeavor through our activities to be numbered among the useful grains and not be blown away as chaff!