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!