David Olaniyan

May 272014
 

The God of Unity and Diversity.

Our father and God is ONE

However he loves unity and diversity in all his creative works
He also allows diversities of opinion in religious matters.

The early Christians follow Jesus and God examples in unity and diversity in their letters to the congregations during their Apostolic missionary works

For example in Ephesians 2: 8-9, Holy Spirit direct Paul to emphasize
FAITH alone in Jesus Ransom Sacrifice gives us the Free Gift of life.
Not due to You or Your Work, so that no one could boast.
On the other hand,
Apostle James approach was based on Works of Faith. He said Faith without Work is dead. James 2:17
These two Missionaries have diversity of opinions on the subject of Faith and yet both of them have God spirit directing their work.

Another example was how each person view sin and those who commit sins.

Apostle Paul being a lawyer based his view on judgement and view sins as a wicked acts and the sinners should be ex-communicated. 1 Corinthian 6:9-10
However,
Apostle James think differently about sins. He links sins to spiritual sickness that requires prayer and forgiveness. He said in James 5:14-16

14 Is there anyone sick among YOU? Let him call the older men of the congregation to [him], and let them pray over him, greasing [him] with oil in the name of Jehovah.
15 And the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up.
Also, if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.

16 Therefore openly confess YOUR sins to one another and pray for one another, that YOU may get healed. A righteous man’s supplication, when it is at work, has much force.

Diversity and Unity of purpose in Religion.

Thirdly, another areas of diversity is in method of worship or religion. For example, when One of Jesus Disciple , John want to silence another godly person using Jesus Name to expelled demons, because he was not among the disciples of Jesus. Jesus immediately corrected him.

Mark 9:38-39
38 John said to him: “Teacher, we saw a certain man expelling demons by the use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he was not accompanying us.”
39 But Jesus said: “Do not try to prevent him, for there is no one that will do a powerful work on the basis of my name that will quickly be able to revile me

1 Corinthian 12: 1-12
Now concerning the spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want YOU to be ignorant.
3 Therefore I would have YOU know that nobody when speaking by God’s spirit says: “Jesus is accursed!”
and nobody(churches) can say: “Jesus is Lord!” except by holy spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but there is the same spirit; 5 and there are varieties of ministries,(churches) and yet there is the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of operations, and yet it is the same God who performs all the operations in all persons. 7 But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for a beneficial purpose.
8 For example, to one there is given through the spirit speech of wisdom, to another speech of knowledge according to the same spirit, 9 to another faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of healings by that one spirit,
10 to yet another operations of powerful works, to another prophesying, to another discernment of inspired utterances, to another different tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.
11 But all these operations the one and the same spirit performs, making a distribution to each one respectively just as it wills.

12 For just as the body is one but has many members, and all the members of that body, although being many, are one body, so also is the Christ. 13 For truly by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink one spirit.

KJV
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2-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.

3-Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:1, 3-12 KJV)

Diversity about food and Special Days.

Roman 14: 1-10, 22-23
Welcome the [man] having weaknesses in [his] faith, but not to make decisions on inward questionings.
2 One [man] has faith to eat everything, but the [man] who is weak eats vegetables.
. 3 Let the one eating not look down on the one not eating, and let the one not eating not judge the one eating, for God has welcomed that one
. 4 Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand.
5 One [man] judges one day as above another; another [man] judges one day as all others; let each [man] be fully convinced in his own mind.

6 He who observes the day observes (Birthday) it to Jehovah. Also, he who eats, eats to Jehovah, for he gives thanks to God; and he who does not eat does not eat to Jehovah, and yet gives thanks to God
. 7 None of us, in fact, lives with regard to himself only, and no one dies with regard to himself only; 8 for both if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. Therefore both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah. 9 For to this end Christ died and came to life again, that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;
11 for it is written: “‘As I live,’ says Jehovah, ‘to me every knee will bend down, and every tongue will make open acknowledgment to God.’” 12 So, then, each of us will

Mentality of Only Me, Only us, ONLY my religion is serving the true
God is supported by God and Jesus. That was why God corrected Prophet Elijah who thinks that he was the only person serving God in Israel and he was replaced with Elisha.

1 king 19:9-10, 14-18
9 There he finally entered into a cave, that he might spend the night there; and, look! there was Jehovah’s word for him, and it went on to say to him: “What is your business here, E·li´jah?”

10 To this he said: “I have been absolutely jealous for Jehovah the God of armies; for the sons of Israel have left your covenant, your altars they have torn down, and your prophets they have killed with the sword, so that I ONLY am left; and they begin looking for my soul to take it away.”

14 To this he said: “I have been absolutely jealous for Jehovah the God of armies; for the sons of Israel have left your covenant, your altars they have torn down, and your prophets they have killed with the sword, so that I ONLY am left; and they begin looking for my soul to take it away.”

15 Jehovah now said to him: “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and you must come in and anoint Haz´a·el as king over Syria.
16 And Je´hu the grandson of Nim´shi you should anoint as king over Israel; and E·li´sha the son of Sha´phat from A´bel-me·ho´lah you should anoint as prophet in place of you.
17 And it must occur that the one escaping from Haz´a·el’s sword, Je´hu will put to death; and the one escaping from Je´hu’s sword, E·li´sha will put to death.

18 And I have let seven thousand remain in Israel, all the knees that have not bent down to Ba´al, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Elijah think is the ONLY one serving God. But Jehovah says, I Have 7,000 worshiper who have not worship Baal. What a humiliation. God replaced Elijah with Elisha as a prophet. No man or organization is indispensable to God. Jesus
Said he can command the stones to rise up and praise the living God. Jesus said, “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40 NIV)
The point is there is no religion ministry or organization that have the monopoly of True worship. You can’t own God. He is the father of all creations.

Also Moses was replaced by Joshua

Deuteronomy 32:48 -52
And Jehovah proceeded to speak to Moses on this same day, saying:
49 “Go up into this mountain of Ab´a·rim, Mount Ne´bo, which is in the land of Mo´ab, which fronts toward Jer´i·cho, and see the land of Ca´naan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel as a possession.
50 Then die on the mountain into which you are going up, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and got to be gathered to his people;

51 for the reason that YOU men acted undutifully toward me in the middle of the sons of Israel at the waters of Mer´i·bah of Ka´desh in the wilderness of Zin; for the reason that YOU men did not sanctify me in the middle of the sons of Israel.
52 For from a distance you will see the land, but you will not go there into the land that I am giving to the sons of Israel.”

From the above information, one can see that God, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit enjoys diversity of worship and their dealings with people of faith. Therefore Any man or Corporation who fail to honor Jehovah but want to draw men after themselves by introducing, WE verses THEM and ONLY US doctrines Jehovah will humble them and replace them, Just as he replaces Prophet Elijah with Elisha, he also replaces Moses with Joshua. What a lesson for all Christians particularly the Church leaders and elders.

For example
John 4:23says God is a spirit
I john 4: 8 says God is Love

Mar 282014
 

God’s View of Birthday Celebration.

Birthdays and Holidays.

There is no where in the Bible where celebration of ones date of birth becomes a sin. The fact that two pagan Kings killed people on their own birthday in the Bible does not mean that you will also kill people on your own birthday. Is it reasonable to forbid weeding ceremony because two persons kill people on a weeding day? Not at all. For we are not to judge our fellows humans on what they consider important to them. There are many faithful servants of God who had good times and had a big feast on their own days(Birthdays) Let us consider the followings:

The angels celebrated the birth of Jesus.

The Bible presents life as a gift to be celebrated and for which to be thankful. The Bible said, “But the angel said to them: “Have no fear, for, look! I am declaring to YOU good news of a great joy that all the people will have, because there was born to YOU today a Savior, who is Christ [the] Lord, in David’s city. And this is a sign for YOU: YOU will find an infant bound in cloth bands and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there came to be with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: “Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill.” On seeing the star they rejoiced very much indeed. 11 And when they went into the house they saw the young child with Mary its mother, and, falling down, they did obeisance to it.

They also opened their treasures and presented it with gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ( Matthew 2:10, Luke 2:10-14)

Abraham Celebrated Isaac Birthday.
Now the child kept growing and came to be weaned; and Abraham then prepared a big feast on the day of Isaac’s being weaned. (Genesis 21:4,8)

Job Children Celebrated their Birthday.
Job, an “upright and blameless man” celebrated with his children, in what was possibly their birthday celebration.

“And his sons went and held a banquet at the house of each one on his own day; and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And it would occur that when the banquet days had gone round the circuit, Job would send and sanctify them; …”(Job 1:4,5)

God does not object to commemoration, with a number of yearly festivals, memorials, and celebrations in the Jewish calendar.

Paul tells us, “… where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom.” and condemns those that are judgmental, rather than those that celebrate a particular day special. (2 Cor 3:17),

“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. … But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God…?”(Romans 14:5,6, 10)

Jesus Said,
“Truly I say to YOU men, Whatever things YOU may bind on earth will be things bound in heaven, and whatever things YOU may loose on earth will be things loosed in heaven. Again I truly say to YOU, If two of YOU on earth agree concerning anything of importance that they should request, it will take place for them due to my Father in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.”(Mathew 18:18-19)

Since all believers think that December 25, is acceptable day to honor and celebrate our Lord birthday one will not commit a sin for doing so.

ChristMas
The annual festival of the Christian church commemorating the birth of Jesus: celebrated on December 25 and now generally observed as a legal holiday and an occasion for exchanging gifts.

Week Days

From Monday to Sunday each of these days were used to worship idols and false Gods before Jesus Christ mediated the New Covenant and reconciled all humans to the only one true God. Those days are now been used to worship our God. Glory be to Jesus, to our God and to the Holy Spirit.(The Tri-Unity)

“There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving”, and birthdays afford the opportunity to appreciate the joy of giving”.(Acts 20:35)

Mar 272014
 

What Jesus Witness Believe. Since Jehovah God bears witness to Jesus, the Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus, the Angels bears witness to Jesus, the prophets bears witness to Jesus and the early Christians bear witness to Jesus. We too should bear witness to Jesus, based on the following scriptures. ( John 8:18, 1John 5:9-11 , Matthew 3:17) (John 15: 26-27, John 16:12-14) (Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:16)(Acts 1:8 , Act 2:32 , Act 3: 15, Act 4: 33, I Corinthian 15:1-10) Jesus Witnesses Ministries. We rely on Holy Spirit to teach us the Bible truth and that The Scriptures are sufficient to assist us to come to Jesus for salvation.(John 14:26, 2 Timothy 3:15-17) We believed that Jesus is the truth, the Way and Life John 14:6 . Any human Or organization that claim to be the truth is false Christ. Our Preaching is bases on God’s Spirit and Power “And I came to YOU in weakness and in fear and with much trembling; 4 and my speech and what I preached were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of spirit and power, 5 that YOUR faith might be, not in men’s wisdom, but in God’s power.(1 Corinthian 2:3-5, 4:20, Act 1:8) We believed that spiritual gifts is very portent today until the Lords work is fully accomplished. “Therefore, if YOU, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to YOUR children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!”( Luke 11:13, John 20:22, 1 Corinthian 12:1-30. 14:1-2 )(Mark 16:15-18) We believed that all Christians should obey Jesus command to partake his symbolic flesh and blood if they want life after self-scrutiny.(John 6:41-57, 1 Corinthian 11-23-27) We believed that it not the business of any Christian to classify people into Heaven or into paradise earth. That Is God’s own business and jurisdiction(Mark 10:40, Act 1:7, John 1:12 , 1 John 5:1,18-19 ) We believed that our salvation is not based on our own righteousness or based on our own work but based on Jesus grace and favor(Ephesians 2:8-9). We believed in personal relationship with Jesus, our father and the Holy Spirit. Our preaching goal is to direct people to Jesus for Salvation. We believed that the Bible is sufficient to help us to become completely equip for every good work (2 Timothy 3:15-17. 1 John 2:27 John 14:26 ) We invite people to come to Jesus for salvation ( Matthew 11:28-30 John 14:6) We encourage our members to be highly educated because it will assist them to fully utilize their talents and serve God better. We love people unconditionally and we do not practice disfellowshipping and shunning of members. We believe that Jesus is the appointed judge of both the living and the dead. (Matthew 7:1-5 John 5:22. 2 Timothy 4:1 ) Person is counseled with love, grace and humility but never completely isolated from friends and family, and he is still considered a “brother” in the faith (2 Thessalonians 3:15, James 5:13-16) Life Change: = Empowered through the indwelling Holy Spirit who changes heart motivations and strengthens believers to overcome sin and destructive behaviors (Ephesians 1:11-14; Romans 8:1-2, 4-5, 11-17; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Psalm 103:10, 12; Micah 7:18-19). Under the New Covenant given to Christians, and through the blood atonement of Jesus Christ, humans are now able to move from the legalistic standards of “religion” to a personal “relationship” with God, by being “adopted” sons and daughters of God out of Satan’s family and the condemnation of death due to sin.(Hebrew 8:7-13; 12:24)(John 1:12, Galatians 4:4-7). Because no man can keep God’s laws perfectly enough to merit eternal life, animal sacrifices were performed on an on-going bases under the Old Covenant to atone for mankind’s sin and disobedience because, “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). This was where Jesus Christ stepped in to become the ultimate blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity. 1 Peter 2:24 explains: Any member can attend any church without penalty and whoever proclaim that Jesus is Lord is our fellow Christian workers (I Corinthian 12:3, Mark 9:38). HOLY SPIRIT and POWER Faith based Work alone at the direction of Holy Spirit and Power Method of spreading the Good-news is based on available technology, such as, emails, text messages, social media, mass media and public crusades, including house to house evangelism.(1 Corinthian 2:4-5, 4:20, Act 8:1, Ephesians 2:8-12) Jesus Witness Ministries God’s favor: = Freely granted to those who personally accept the forgiveness offered in Christ’s blood (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Romans 4:4-5; 8:1-2; 6:23; 11:6). Rules : = A means of expressing gratitude for God’s unconditional forgiveness (1 John 4:19; John 14:15). Relationship Personal “relationship” with God is far different from a “religion” that tries to earn God’s approval through human efforts. Operating under the “religion” of the Old Covenant given to the Israelites in the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures, the Jews constantly struggled to try to be worthy enough for God’s forgiveness by obeying 613 commandments given to Moses (including the 10 Commandments that encompass the heart of the Law). No matter how hard the Jews tried to be righteous, they always fell short of fulfilling the Law requirements perfectly. This is why Jesus told the followers of His day: “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. …Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”—Matthew 5:20, 48 1. Jesus Witness Ministries Salvation: Forever guaranteed to those who have been bought by the blood of Christ, whose sacrificial death was “sufficient” to cover “all” wrongs forever( Ephesians 2:8-9)(2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 1:9, Roman 8:1-2) MARRY ONLY IN THE LORD Our members are free to marry anyone who is a believer in Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior regardless of the name of their religion. We do not use cultish interpretation of the Bible by applying the counsel to a particular sect because Marry only in The Lord is not Mary only in the Religion. “Everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God, and everyone who loves the one that caused to be born loves him who has been born from that one.”(1 John 5:1, 1 Corinthian 12:3, NWT)( 1 Corinthian 7:39) Birthdays and Holidays We believe that faithful men of old had good times including celebration of birthday and feast. For examples, Abraham had a big feast for Isaac when weaned(turned 3 years old) and Job children had parties on their own days. Furthermore, we are to rejoice with those rejoice and weep with those who weep, our Lord said. We believe that each day of the week was used in ancient time to worship false gods. We rejoice to know that today that same days of the week, Months and Year are now been used to serve the True God and our Lord Jesus Christ. ( Genesis 21:4-8, Prayer & Fasting: Since Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and he stated that no one can perform miracle without fast and prayers we too have chosen Thursday as our fasting and prayer day.(Mathew 17 :14- 21 ,Mathew 4: 1-4 , Easter 4:12-21)(I Cort 12: 1-12 So, to have this personal “relationship” with God, all that you need to do is put your faith and trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and confess Him as Lord and Savior of your life (Romans 10:9), by “coming to” Jesus, asking Him to forgive you of your sins and to give you eternal life (John 5:39-40; 6:37, 39-40; 14:6; 1 John 1:9). In return, Jesus promises: “Come to me, all YOU who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh YOU. 29 Take my yoke upon YOU and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and YOU will find refreshment for YOUR souls. 30 For my yoke is kindly and my load is light“(Matthew 11:28-30). Are you “weary and heavy-laden”? Are you ready for “rest”? This is what a personal “relationship” with Jesus Christ is all about. You come to Him with your sin and guilt and He will give you forgiveness, a clear conscience and “rest” from your wearisome toil of endless human efforts of “filthy rags” of pride Exchange your “rags” of human “righteousness” for His worthiness, and you will be clothed with the righteousness of Christ(Romans 8:1)(Isaiah 64:6). “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”—2 Corinthians 5:21 Jesus Witness Ministries “As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to be teaching you; but, as the anointing from him is teaching you about all things, and is true and is no lie, and just as it has taught you, remain in union with him.” —1 John 2:27, New World Translation Think about it this way. If God is a loving God and He wants everyone to come to know His Truth so that they can be forgiven and receive eternal life, why would He made the Bible so difficult that it would take a religious expert to understand it? Doesn’t it make more sense that God, being the loving God that He is, would send His Holy Spirit to teach spiritual truth to those who are seeking Him? Consider what Jesus declared to His followers: “But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers.” —Matthew 23:8, New World Translation “But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach YOU all things and bring back to YOUR minds all the things I told YOU.” —John 14:26, New World Translation “However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming.” —John 16:13, New World Translation Is Jesus The Mediator For All Mankind? Mediator for All mankind. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all—[this is] what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times. For the purpose of this witness I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—a teacher of nations in the matter of faith and truth”(I Timothy 2:5-7). “My little children, I am writing YOU these things that YOU may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s”(1 John 2:1-2). How many people did Jesus die for? Did he die for only the privilege Few? How many people did Jesus mediate for? Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant for who? “But now [Jesus] has obtained a more excellent public service, so that he is also the mediator of a correspondingly better covenant, which has been legally established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second; 8 for he does find fault with the people when he says: “‘Look! There are days coming,’ says Jehovah, ‘and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; not according to the covenant that I made with their forefathers in [the] day of my taking hold of their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant, so that I stopped caring for them,’ says Jehovah.” For this is the covenant that I shall covenant with the house of Israel after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their mind, and in their hearts I shall write them. And I will become their God, and they themselves will become my people. And they will by no means teach each one his fellow citizen and each one his brother, saying: “Know Jehovah!” For they will all know me, from [the] least one to [the] greatest one of them. 12 For I shall be merciful to their unrighteous deeds, and I shall by no means call their sins to mind anymore”(Hebrew 8: 6-11). What is difference between new covenant and the old convent? Where will God write the new covenants? So that is why he is a mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because a death has occurred for [their] release by ransom from the transgressions under the former covenant, the ones who have been called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. 16 For where there is a covenant, the death of the [human] covenant needs to be furnished”.(Hebrew 9:15) Who is the mediator of the new covenants? What does the old or former covenants produce? 19 Why, then, the Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive to whom the promise had been made; and it was transmitted through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now there is no mediator where only one person is concerned, but God is only one. 21 Is the Law, therefore, against the promises of God? May that never happen! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, righteousness would actually have been by means of law. 22 But the Scripture delivered up all things together to the custody of sin, that the promise resulting from faith toward Jesus Christ might be given to those exercising faith. (Galatia 3:19-22) What is the purpose of the law according to Galatia 3:19? Why is the old covenants not able to give everlasting life? Who were those under the new covenant? Tri-unity of God:TRINITY And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26, 27 KJVA) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1, 2 NIV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. (Colossians 1:14-16, 18 KJVA) Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23, 24 NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:18, 19 NIV) He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7, 8 NIV) Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark 3:28, 29 NIV) And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22 NIV) When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:15-17 NIV) In summary the difference between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Jesus Witness Ministry is clear. Jesus Witness live by faith and grace and live under the new covenants written on believer’s hearts. Conversely, the Jehovah Witnesses live by work and self-righteousness and live under the law covenants written on the pages of Watchtower Publications. Compare (Hebrew 8:6-11 ; Galatia 9: 15; 1John 2:1-2; 1Timothy 2:5)

Mar 232014
 

Our journey began at Genesis through Exodus. On the way, we saw Leviticus recording the Numbers of people at Deuteronomy, while Joshua was waiting at the beautiful gate for Judges to see Ruth calling loudly “Samuel,Samuel”. At a stage, the, first and second Kings of Chronicles were coming to visit Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther for the misfortune of Job, their brother. Then they noticed that Mr. Psalms was teaching his children Proverbs concerning Ecclesiastes and Songs of Solomon. This coincided with the period that Isaiah and Jeremiah were engaged in Lamentation for Ezekiel and Daniel their friend. By that time, Amos and Obadiah were not around. Three days later, Hosea, Joel and Jonah traveled in the same ship with Micah and Nahum to Jerusalem . More also,Habakkuk visited Zephaniah who introduced him to Haggai a friend of Zechariah whose cousin is Malachi. Immediately after the old tradition, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John got involved in Acts with the Romans who were behaving like the Corinthians, who were also always at loggerhead with the Galatians. At that time too, the Ephesians realizing that the Philippians were close to the Colossians, suggested to the Thessalonians that they should first of all see Timothy who had gone to the house of Titus to teach Philemon his younger brother how to read and write Hebrew. On hearing, James asked Peter to explain to him how the three Johns have disclosed to Jude the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mar 052014
 

Is Jesus The Mediator Only for the Saints?

Jesus The Mediator for All mankind.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all—[this is] what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times. For the purpose of this witness I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—a teacher of nations in the matter of faith and truth”(I Timothy 2:5-7).

“My little children, I am writing YOU these things that YOU may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s”(1 John 2:1-2).

How do we know that Jesus die for all humans?

How many people did Jesus mediate for?

Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant.

“But now [Jesus] has obtained a more excellent public service, so that he is also the mediator of a correspondingly better covenant, which has been legally established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second; 8 for he does find fault with the people when he says: “‘Look! There are days coming,’ says Jehovah, ‘and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; not according to the covenant that I made with their forefathers in [the] day of my taking hold of their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant, so that I stopped caring for them,’ says Jehovah.”
For this is the covenant that I shall covenant with the house of Israel after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their mind, and in their hearts I shall write them. And I will become their God, and they themselves will become my people.
And they will by no means teach each one his fellow citizen and each one his brother, saying: “Know Jehovah!” For they will all know me, from [the] least one to [the] greatest one of them. 12 For I shall be merciful to their unrighteous deeds, and I shall by no means call their sins to mind anymore”(Hebrew 8: 6-11).

What is difference between new covenant and the old covenant?

Where will God write the new covenants?

So that is why he is a mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because a death has occurred for [their] release by ransom from the transgressions under the former covenant, the ones who have been called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. 16 For where there is a covenant, the death of the [human] covenanter needs to be furnished”.(Hebrew 9:15)

Who is the mediator of the new covenants?

What does the old or former convenants produce?

What does the new covenants produce?

19 Why, then, the Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive to whom the promise had been made; and it was transmitted through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now there is no mediator where only one person is concerned, but God is only one. 21 Is the Law, therefore, against the promises of God? May that never happen! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, righteousness would actually have been by means of law. 22 But the Scripture delivered up all things together to the custody of sin, that the promise resulting from faith toward Jesus Christ might be given to those exercising faith.
(Galatia 3:19-22)

What is the purpose of the law according to Galatia 3:19?

Why is the old convenants not able to give everlasting life?

Who were those under the new covenant?

The writer opinions:

The Bible does not leave us in doubt as to who was the mediator and for whom.
Humans always want to claim to be more important than others.

Jesus was and is the mediator for all mankind. He said, I came not to judge the world but to safe the world. He also said,”I came for the sinners and not for the righteous”. Therefore, anyone who thinks that Jesus is not the mediator for the whole world is eating from the table of false teachers(John 17:3, John 12:47, Mark 2:17).

All Christians should heed The warning in 1 John 4:1,6. Which says,”
Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world”.

References:

Unchristian Doctrines.

Jesus is not mediator to the Great Crowd of Jehovah’s Witnesses or for the rest of mankind.

“Likewise, the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members.” Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace” pp.10-11

“Is Jesus the “mediator” only for anointed Christians? … So in this strict Biblical sense Jesus is the “mediator” only for anointed Christians.” Watchtower 1979 Apr 1 p.31

The above doctrine sound logical when comparing Jesus to Moses, when he was a mediator between the natural Jews. However, this doctrine contradict the Bible teaching that Jesus came to save the whole world of mankind. This is one the inspired expression of error(1 John 4:1, 6)

And the question is:
If Jesus is only mediator for the few thousand remaining remnant on earth, who is
mediator for the millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses that do not form part of the
144,000?

“The “great crowd” of “other sheep” that is forming today is not in that new covenant. However, by their associating with the “little flock” of those yet in that covenant they come under benefits that flow from that new covenant.” Watchtower 1979 Apr 1 p.31

“They recognize that they are not spiritual Israelites in the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ, nor part of the “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.”-1 Pet. 2:9. Yet they do benefit from the operation of the new covenant. They benefit from this just as, in ancient Israel, the “alien resident” benefited from residing in among the Israelites who were in the Law covenant.-Ex. 20:10; Lev. 19:10, 33, 34; Rev. 7:9-15. To keep in relationship with “our Savior, God,” the “great crowd” needs to remain united with the remnant of spiritual Israelites.” Watchtower 1979 Nov 15 p.27 Benefiting from “One Mediator Between God and Men”

Where is Jesus in that statement?

Most congregations no longer have any of the “little flock” to associate with and the reality for a Jehovah’s Witnesses is that salvation comes from following the Governing Body, the leaders of the Organization. Jesus role as mediator for the Anointed alone underpins the concept that following the directions of a “Faithful and Discreet Slave” is necessary for salvation. (JWFacts)

Mar 042014
 

Anger Management &
Dispute Resolutions, the Christ’s Way.

Today pressures and stress from economic hardship, sickness, crime, and relationship problems makes people to be overly aggressive to family members, to co-workers, and to their school mates. To some extends, it has led some people to result to school shootings, workplace violence and domestic violence. Several books has been written by experts in conflict resolution and in anger management. The efforts of these experts has not stop the increase in workplace violence, the school shootings and domestic violence. Why? Because it is natural for humans to want to revenge and to pay back evil with evil and the vicious cycle has no end.

However hope is not lost because our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is a master of conflict revolution and anger management. The following Scriptures will guide us on how to resolve dispute among our fellow humans and to live peacefully with all people.

In the Book of Matthew 18:15-18 Jesus made the following statements,

“If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back. But if he will not listen to you, take one or two other persons with you, so that ‘every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses,’ as the scripture says. And if he will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally, if he will not listen to the church, treat him as though he were a pagan or a tax collector”(Matthew 18:15-17)

Q.

What are the steps to settle disagreement?

How can we apply this in our home?

Does this apply to criminal activities, like stealing, rape and violence crime?

How many of us agree that we should adopt Jesus Disputes resolution method by show of hands?

What is Murder according to Jesus?

“You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’
But now I tell you: whoever is angry with his brother will be brought to trial, whoever calls his brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ will be brought before the Council, and whoever calls his brother a worthless fool will be in danger of going to the fire of hell.
So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.

What are some of the gifts we usually offer to God?

What does Jesus say we should do first before we offer gift to God?

Why is this important before we can offer prayers to God?

Why does Jesus liking been angry with your neighbour to Murder?

What should we do before we offer prayers and praises to God if we remember
Someone had offended us?

What can you do if someone Sue You?

“If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute with him while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, he will hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine. (Matthew 5:21-26 GNB)

What can you do if someone Sue You?

Godly Qualities of Forgiveness.

“Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering. 13 Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Even as Jehovah freely forgave YOU, so do YOU also. 14 But, besides all these things, [clothe yourselves with] love, for it is a perfect bond of union.( Colossians 3: 12-14)

What are some of the qualities that help us to forgive others?

What are the steps to settle disagreement?

How can we apply this in our work place, in our church and in the family members?

The Parable of Unforgiven Slaves.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven, because the Kingdom of heaven is like this.

Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants’ accounts. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of pounds. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.

“Then the man went out and met one of his fellow-servants who owed him a few pounds. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. His fellow-servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow-servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.” And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:15-17, 21-35 GNB)

What can we do to avoid the attitude of unforgiving slave?

How can we apply this to our marriage partners?

How can we apply this to co workers.

Benefits of forgiveness?

“If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. (Matthew 6:14, 15 GNB)

Why should we forgive others their sins?

How can we apply this to our family members, Your Husband, Your Wife, your Children?

Love Your Enemies.

“But I tell you who hear me: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who ill-treat you. If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back.

Do for others just what you want them to do for you. “If you love only the people who love you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that! And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get it back, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount!
No! Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God.

What is the benefit of praying for your enemies?

How we apply this to our co-workers?

Do not Judge Others
For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you. Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands — all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.”

The parable of a Blind man.

And Jesus told them this parable: “One blind man cannot lead another one; if he does, both will fall into a ditch. No pupil is greater than his teacher; but every pupil, when he has completed his training, will be like his teacher.

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but pay no attention to the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Please, brother, let me take that speck out of your eye,’ yet cannot even see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Luke 6:27-42 GNB)

Why should we not judge others?

How to conquered The World.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also. This is how we know that we love God’s children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands. For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us, because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith. Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:1-5 GNB)

How can we conquer the world?

“Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good”.(Romans 12:18-21 GNB)

Who’s job is to revenge?

Why should we leave revenge to God?

In conclusion, The former President of South African, Nelson Mandela, said, and I quote “Grudges is a poison that you keep within yourself, hoping it will kill your enemies”. From the above we can only conquer and win our enemies by obeying our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by praying for our enemies to have a change of hearts. This seem to be very difficult for us as an imperfect humans but it works like miracle. Yahweh, our God said, “vengeance is mine and do not avenge yourself”. Therefore, Let us live vengeance and revenge to God. He will reward us with peace of mind now and everlasting life in the future. If you follow Jesus counsels and it did not work for you, tell me to stop following Jesus.

What did Former President of South Africa said, about grudge?

What disease can result from keeping grudges?

Heart diseases, High Blood Pressures, Cancers, hormonal skin disorders.

What are the benefits of not harbouring grudges?

This Article was Written By: The Jesus Witness Ministries corp.

References

The Goodness Bible
The Amplifier Bible
The New World Translation Bible

Feb 272014
 

THE PASSOVER and THE HOLY COMMUNION

What is a Passover or Pesah?
A Passover is a Jewish festival that commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and is marked chiefly by the Seder ritual and the eating of matzoth. It begins on the 14th day of Nisan and is celebrated for eight days by Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside of Israel and for seven days by Reform Jews and Jews in Israel.

In Nissan 14 BC , The Passover was Inaugurated:

Jehovah God Said,
“‘And they must eat the flesh on this night. They should eat it roasted with fire and with unfermented cakes along with bitter greens.
9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled, cooked in water, but roast with fire, its head together with its shanks and its interior parts. 10 And YOU must not leave any of it over till morning, but what is left over of it till morning YOU should burn with fire.
11 And in this way YOU should eat it, with YOUR hips girded, sandals on YOUR feet and YOUR staff in YOUR hand; and YOU must eat it in haste.
It is Jehovah’s passover.
12 And I must pass through the land of Egypt on this night and strike every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from man to beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I shall execute judgments. I am Jehovah. 13 And the blood must serve as YOUR sign upon the houses where YOU are; and I must see the blood and pass over YOU, and the plague will not come on YOU as a ruination when I strike at the land of Egypt.
14 “‘And this day must serve as a memorial for YOU, and YOU must celebrate it as a festival to Jehovah throughout YOUR generations. As a statute to time indefinite YOU should celebrate it.
15 Seven days YOU are to eat unfermented cakes. Yes, on the first day YOU are to take away sourdough from YOUR houses, because anyone eating what is leavened, from the first day down to the seventh, that soul must be cut off from Israel.
16 And on the first day there is to take place for YOU a holy convention, and on the seventh day a holy convention. No work is to be done on them. Only what every soul needs to eat, that alone may be done for YOU”.(Exodus 12:8-15)

What is a Passover?

When was it Inaugurated or Started?

What are some of the recipe for the Passover?

How many times was the Passover celebrated?

Holy Communion and The New Covenant:

Jesus Launched a New Covenant.

“As they continued eating, Jesus took a loaf and, after saying a blessing, he broke it and, giving it to the disciples, he said: “TAKE, eat. This means my body.” 27 Also, he took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, saying: “Drink out of it, all of YOU; 28 for this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell YOU, I will by no means drink henceforth any of this product of the vine until that day when I drink it new with YOU in the kingdom of my Father.”(Mathew 26:26-29)

Luke reported:
“Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body which is to be given in YOUR behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 20 Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, he saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in YOUR behalf.”(Luke 22:19)

What is the difference between the Passover and the New Covenant?

Why is the new covenants better than the old covenant?

Jesus further said,
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if ANYONE eats of this bread he will live forever; and, for a fact, the bread that I shall give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the WORLD. “Accordingly Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, Unless YOU eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, YOU have NO LIFE in yourselves.
He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him. Just as the living Father sent me forth and I live because of the Father, he also that feeds on me, even that one will live because of me.”(John 6:51-57)

Why is it important that all believers should per take of the symbolic body and blood of Jesus?

What might be the consequences of Rejecting Jesus blood and body?

What is the average age of Jesus disciples that per took of his body?

How Often Should We partake of Jesus Body?

Apostle Paul remind Christians about the Memorial when he wrote in
1 Corinthians 11:23-25b-26 “Keep doing this, as often as YOU drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as YOU eat this loaf and drink this cup, YOU keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.”

How many times should we eat this Holy Communion in view of Apostle Paul letter to the Corinthian Congregation?

What must individual do before eating and drinking the Lord body?

Then Is the eating of the emblem, the symbolic body of Jesus for every body?

What is the consequence of disregarding this warning of Apostle Paul to do self examination before eating and drinking the Lord body?

Last Comment:

As we have learn from the Inauguration of PassOver in Nisan 14, Bc on Jewish Calendar, the Passover were to be done as a yearly memorial of when God’s executional Angels Passover the Jewish houses and destroy the first born Child of every living being of Egyptians.

Similarly, Jesus Inaugurated the New Covenant with his blood on Nisan 14 CE for all believers to eat and drink the symbolic flesh and blood which he uses to reconciled us back to God and to grant us everlasting life. These New Covenant give us the privilege to become God’s children. Apostle Paul says, as often as we eat the body of Christ we are remembering and proclaiming his dead until he arrives. That shows those who choose to do it annually or four times in a year commit no sin. The bottom line is, it must be eating by all believers.
Therefore, we should examine ourselves and make sure we are fit to eat and drink the emblem of Jesus body.(John 6: 41-58)

What is the most important thing about Holy Communion or Jesus Memorial?

Why should we not judge those who eat it more than one time in a year?

If Jesus arrives in 1914 as some religion organization make us to believe, the memorial suppose to have stopped in 1914 based on I Corinthian 11:25B?

Feb 192014
 

WHAT IS A CULT?

A cult is any group that sets itself up as the supreme authority between God and Man.

Cults claim the following.

1- The Bible is seen as an insufficient guide for spiritual
truth. Cult members are told to use the cult’s literature
for the proper understanding of God’s truth.

2- Group leaders are seen as God’s “channel of communication”
to man. They equate loyalty to the group as loyalty to God.

3- They foster a “we/they” mentality to the world, claiming
that only inside the group can one find truth and ultimate
salvation, and that outside the group is “Satan’s world.”

4- Doubt and criticism of the group or leaders are disallowed.

5- They often claim that “independent thinking” is evidence of
“pride,” and is seen as questioning God and His arrangement
for life.

6- Adherents dispense personal identity for the group mold and
take on the personality and characteristics of the
totalistic environment of the cult.

How can you tell if a religion is a destructive mind control cult or just a religion?

There are all sorts of different beliefs out there and they all have their pluses and minuses. Just because you or I don’t agree with the teaching of a particular group or religion doesn’t mean that they are a destructive cult.

Being a little “wacky” in your beliefs doesn’t make you a mindless cult follower.

Everyone should have the right to believe or disbelieve as the case may be. My view of God may be completely different from yours and that is perfectly okay! What I’m trying to say is this: Mind Control Cults is dangerous to one spiritual, emotional and educational development.

MIND CONTROL CULT

The following is a list of twenty-two cult characteristics that will enable anyone to determine in five minutes what is and isn’t a cult

If the leader or leaders write their own material and claim that it is from God or “inspired by God” or “from the mouth of God” then they are a cult.

If the leadership tells you that you can’t read anything written by any other church or religion and only can read what they write then it is a cult.

If you are forbidden to speak to or read anything written by someone who has left the group for reasons of conscience or belief then it is most definitely a cult.

If the leadership has to write its own version of the Bible and call it “improved” or “more accurate” and the use of that “translation” is unique to that religion then it is most definitely a cult.

If personal choice and independent thought is considered to be “evil” then it is most definitely a cult.

If asking difficult questions is discouraged then it is most definitely a cult.

If, when finding a particular question difficult or impossible to answer you are told to just “have faith” or “wait on the Lord” then you are probably in a cult.

If it is forbidden to disagree either privately or openly with the leadership on any point then it is most definitely a cult.

If you are encouraged to sever ties with anyone not affiliated with your religion then it is most definitely a cult.

If the group actively solicits membership it is probably a cult.

If an interested person is only given enough information to pique their interest but not enough information to scare them away then it is most definitely a cult.

If you are told to teach just “the good stuff” during the initial phase of a person “studying” with you then you are most definitely in a cult.

If there are aspects of your teaching that are purposely kept hidden until the student is very far along in the indoctrination process then you are most definitely in a cult.

If the members are instructed to be especially nice to new visitors then it is probably a cult.
If the leadership teaches that they are the only ones with “the truth” and that everyone else is deceived then you are in a cult.

If the members are encouraged to turn other members in for infractions then it is 100% most definitely a cult.
If you are given a litany of rules and regulations to follow then you are most definitely in a cult.

If your schedule is booked with group activities to the point that you have little or no time to yourself then you are most definitely in a cult.
If you are told to have little or nothing to do with anyone, including close friends and family members, who choose to leave the group, then you are most definitely in a cult.

If your leadership is nameless, mysterious, aloof, unapproachable, unaccountable or otherwise “nebulous” then you are most definitely in a cult.
If your leadership doesn’t have to report their income to you or the government then you are most definitely in a cult.

If higher education is considered evil and strongly discouraged by the leadership then you are most definitely in a cult.

How many of the above characteristics hit your religion? If it was more than five then you are probably in danger of being in a cult. If you answered yes to ten or more than you are most definitely in a mind control cult.

Doug Shields is an activist against religious oppression, control and manipulation. He has many years of experience dealing with this issue because he was an active Jehovah’s Witness himself for over twenty-three years. Doug has been privileged to help elders, ministerial servants, full time pioneers and even a circuit overseer to find the strength and determination to finally face the real truth and leave the organization.

Feb 122014
 

The Deity of Jesus

Divine character or nature, especially that of the Supreme Being; divinity of Jesus

Jesus A reflection of God the Father, YHWH or Yahweh.

“God, who long ago spoke on many occasions and in many ways to our forefathers by means of the prophets, 2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things.
Xxxxxx
3 He is the reflection of [his] glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power; and after he had made a purification for our sins he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places. 4 So he has become better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs”
(Hebrew 1:1-4).

Genesis 1:1
In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Colossians 1:15-17
16 because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist, 18 and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that he might become the one who is first in all things

Who created the heavens and Earth?

Who created all living things?

For whom were all things created?

“Therefore I said to YOU, YOU will die in YOUR sins. For if YOU do not believe that I am [he], YOU will die in YOUR sins.”
(John 8:24. And Deuteronomy 32:39)

Who is the I am HE?

Who is the I am HE? In Deuteronomy 32:39

Deuteronomy. 32:39

SEE now that I—I am he
And there are no gods together with me.
I put to death, and I make alive.
I have severely wounded, and I—I will heal,
And there is no one snatching out of my hand.

“I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:11 KJV) and (Luke 2:11)

Mark 13:5 So Jesus started to say to them: “Look out that nobody misleads YOU. 6 Many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will mislead many.

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then he asked them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: (John 18:5-8 KJV)

Is Jesus as one True God?

Exodus 3:13-15

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. (Exodus 3:13-15 KJV)

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. (John 8:9, 58 KJV)

Who is the I AM?

What Name did God says will be endure for ever?

Did God call himself Jehovah?

Act 4:12
12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”

Which name is above every other name that people can use to get salvation?

Zaharias 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10 KJV)

John 19:37
And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (John 19:37 KJV)

Revelation 1:7
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:7, 8 KJV)

Who is the person pierced in John 19:37 And Zechariah 12:10.?

Who is almighty in Revelation 7:8?

Isaiah 9:6

Who is Mighty God?

Isaiah 43:11
11 I—I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior.”

Luke 2:11
11 because there was born to YOU today a Savior, who is Christ [the] Lord, in David’s city.

John 4:42
42 and they began to say to the woman: “We do not believe any longer on account of your talk; for we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man is for a certainty the savior of the world.

Titus 2:13
13 while we wait for the happy hope and glorious manifestation of the great God and of [the] Savior of us, Christ Jesus,

John 20:28
28 In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord and my God!”

Who is a savior in Isaiah 43:11?

How do we reconcile both Isaiah 43:11 and Luke 2:11?

Is Jesus the same as Yahweh?

John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”

What does Jesus mean when he says me and my father is one?

John 10:7-9, 28
My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 And I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Newspaper Article

“…Jesus’ friends and enemies were staggered again and again by what he said and did. He would be walking down the road, seemingly like any other man, then turn and say something like, ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’ Or, ‘If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.’ Or, very calmly, after being accused of blasphemy, he would say, ‘The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ To the dead he might simply say, ‘Come forth,’ or, ‘Rise up.’ And they would obey. To the storms on the sea he would say, ‘Be still.’ And to a loaf of bread he would say, ‘Become a thousand meals.’ And it was done immediately.”

“We saw it with our own eyes: Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father….We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice.” (2 Peter 1: 16, 17 The Message )

John 5:23-24
23 in order that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Most truly I say to YOU, He that hears my word and believes him that sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment but has passed over from death to life.

The fact is, Jesus carries divine nature of God. Is like identical twins. It is difficult to know the difference between God And Jesus. He bears the qualities and the name of God. The Bible call him God and his disciples recognize him as God. He himself said, if you see me, you have seen my father. Me and my father are one.

For example, if our creator is Jesus and everything in Heaven and on earth is created by him and for Him. If He will gives us everlasting life and His father commands us to worship him, who is me and you, not worship and honour him?

No wonder some people think that Jesus in the almighty God.

Feb 122014
 

DONATIONS and OFFERINGS

What is God’s View On Vow, Donations and Offering

VOW or PLEDGE TO GOD

What is a Vow?
A vow is a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment: to God, marriage vows; a vow of secrecy. A solemn promise made to a God or saint committing oneself to an act, service, or condition.

“In case you vow a vow to Jehovah your God, you must not be slow about paying it, because Jehovah your God will without fail require it of you, and it would indeed become a sin on your part.
23 The utterance of your lips you should keep, and you must do just as you have vowed to Jehovah your God as a voluntary offering that you spoke of with your mouth”Deuteronomy 23:21, 23).

“When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay”. (Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5 ESV)

“In the case of the vow of a widow or a divorced woman, everything that she has bound upon her soul will stand against her.
10 “However, if it is in the house of her husband that she has vowed or has bound an abstinence vow upon her soul by an oath, 11 and her husband has heard it and has kept silent toward her, he has not forbidden her; and all her vows must stand or any abstinence vow that she has bound upon her soul will stand. 12 But if her husband has totally annulled them on the day of his hearing any expression of her lips as her vows or as an abstinence vow of her soul, they will not stand. Her husband has annulled them, and Jehovah will forgive her. 13 Any vow or any oath of an abstinence vow to afflict the soul, her husband should establish it or her husband should annul it. 14 But if her husband absolutely keeps silent toward her from day to day, he has also established all her vows or all her abstinence vows that are upon her. He has established them because he kept silent toward her on the day of his hearing them. 15 And if he totally annuls them after his hearing them, he also actually bears her error.(Number 30:9-15).

What is a vow?

How does view vow?

What happens to a married woman’s vow if her husband disapprove?

What happens if the husband keep quiet?

What is donation?
Donation is an act or instance of presenting something as a gift, grant, or contribution.

What is offering?
An offering is a contribution given to or through the church for a particular purpose, as at a religious service.

What is a restitution?
A restitution is a reparation made by giving an equivalent or compensation for loss, damage, or injury caused; indemnification.

“And when Moses had called them and every man of learning, to whom the Lord had given wisdom, and who, of their own accord, had offered themselves in order to accomplish this work, he handed over to them all the donations of the sons of Israel. And while they were pursuing this work, the people offered what they had vowed each day, in the morning. The artisans were compelled by this to go to Moses and to say, “The people offer more than is needed.” (Exodus 36:2-5 CPDV)

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. But if the man has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the Lord for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for him. And every contribution, all the holy donations of the people of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be his. Each one shall keep his holy donations: whatever anyone gives to the priest shall be his.” (Numbers 5:5-10 ESV)

What is an offering?

What is restitution?

What is holy donation?

How Does the Temple Expense Paid?

We won’t buy goods or grain on the Sabbath or on any other sacred day, not even from foreigners. Every seven years we will let our fields rest, and we will cancel all debts. Once a year we will each donate a small amount of silver to the temple of our God. This is to pay for the sacred bread, as well as for the daily sacrifices and special sacrifices such as those offered on the Sabbath and during the New Moon Festival and the other festivals. It will also pay for the sacrifices to forgive our sins and for all expenses connected with the worship of God in the temple. (Nehemiah 10:31-33 CEVUK00)

“And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,10Accept donations and offerings from these [as representatives of the] exiles, from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon; and come the same day and go to the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah”.(Zechariah 6:9-10, AMP)

He reported, “We have done everything that you commanded. We have taken the money that was kept in the Temple and handed it over to the workmen and their supervisors.” (2 Chronicles 34:16, 17 GNB)

How does the church expense paid for in the first century?

Name some expenses associated with our service to God?

Donation For the Passover/ Holy Communion

On behalf of the laypeople, Josiah donated from his personal holdings thirty thousand lambs and young goats, and three thousand bulls, all for the Passover offerings. His officials also provided spontaneous gift offerings for the people, the priests, and the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the ones in charge of God’s temple, gave two thousand six hundred Passover lambs and three hundred bulls for the priests. Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, along with Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, provided the Levites with five thousand lambs and five hundred bulls as Passover sacrifices. (2 Chronicles 35:7-9 CEB)

Beside money what else can people donate to the church?

Donations to the Poor Jesus advice.

“Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.(Luke 12:33-34 ,AMP)

And Cornelius said, This is now the fourth day since about this time I was observing the ninth hour (three o’clock in the afternoon) of prayer in my lodging place; [suddenly] a man stood before me in dazzling apparel, And he said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and harkened to, and your donations to the poor have been known and preserved before God [so that He heeds and is about to help you]. (Acts 10:30, 31 AMP)

How do we know that God show interest in our donation?

What does Jesus says we should do to assist the poor?

THE TITHE

What is a tithe?
A tithe is a the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like.

“Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.9You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. 10Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.(Malachi 3:8-10, AMP)

“BEHOLD, then, how great this man was to whom Abraham, the family head, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils. 5 True, the men from the sons of Le´vi who receive their priestly office have a commandment to collect tithes from the people according to the Law, that is, from their brothers, even if these have issued from the loins of Abraham; 6 but the man who did not trace his genealogy from them took tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now without any dispute, the less is blessed by the greater. 8 And in the one case it is men who are dying that receive tithes, but in the other case it is someone of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 And, if I may use the expression, through Abraham even Le´vi who receives tithes has paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his forefather when Mel·chiz´e·dek met him”(Hebrew 7:4-9)

“And we shall bring the first and best of our coarse meal, our contributions, the fruit of all kinds of trees, of new wine, and of oil to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God. And we shall bring the tithes from our ground to the Levites, for they, the Levites, collect the tithes in all our rural towns.38And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when [they] receive tithes, and [they] shall bring one-tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the storehouse”(8Nehemiah 10:37-38 (AMP)

What is a tithe?

How does God feel if we fail to pay our Tithe?

What does God promise us if we faithfully pay our tithes?

What should we do if our tithe is been misuse by our Pastors?

Comment:
Tithes is like taxes we pay to the Government. How the government use our taxes is up to them. Similarly, tithe is a flat tax rate of 10% paid to expand the Lord’s work.
It is the responsibility of our religious leader to utilize the tithe wisely but if not, they will render account to God and Jesus. We should not be their judge.

The Widow’s Offering:

“As Jesus sat near the temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money; then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny. He called his disciples together and said to them, “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had — she gave all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44 GNB)(Luke 21:1-4 GNB)

Why did Jesus say about the widow’s contribution?

[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. [Prov. 22:9.]

What is the difference between giving grudgingly and giving generously?

What kind of giving will God bless?

“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever”.(Ps. 112:9)

Who will God bless forever?

How long will God bless every generous giver?

God Blesses those who Give Generously.
(2 Corinthians 6:6-15)

“But as to this, he that sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and he that sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
God, moreover, is able to make all his undeserved kindness abound toward YOU, that, while YOU always have full self-sufficiency in everything, YOU may have plenty for every good work.

9 (Just as it is written: “He has distributed widely, he has given to the poor ones, his righteousness continues forever.” 10 Now he that abundantly supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating will supply and multiply the seed for YOU to sow and will increase the products of YOUR righteousness.)

11 In everything YOU are being enriched for every sort of generosity, which produces through us an expression of thanks to God; 12 because the ministry of this public service is not only to supply abundantly the wants of the holy ones but also to be rich with many expressions of thanks to God.

13 Through the proof that this ministry gives, they glorify God because YOU are submissive to the good news about the Christ, as YOU publicly declare YOU are, and because YOU are generous in YOUR contribution to them and to all; 14 and with supplication for YOU they long for YOU because of the surpassing undeserved kindness of God upon YOU. Thanks be to God for his indescribable free gift.
(2 Corinthians 9:6-15)

How does those who give generously feel about giving their resources for God?

How does GOD reward them?

The Poor, the Widow and the Orphans

“The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world”(James 1:27)

What is the definition of Widows?
A woman who has lost her husband by death and has not remarried.

“Show respect for widows who really are all alone. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first to carry out their religious duties towards their own family and in this way repay their parents and grandparents, because that is what pleases God. A widow who is all alone, with no one to take care of her, has placed her hope in God and continues to pray and ask him for his help night and day. But a widow who gives herself to pleasure has already died, even though she lives. Give them these instructions, so that no one will find fault with them. But if anyone does not take care of his relatives, especially the members of his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Do not add any widow to the list of widows unless she is over sixty years of age. In addition, she must have been married only once and have a reputation for good deeds: a woman who brought up her children well, received strangers in her home, performed humble duties for fellow-Christians, helped people in trouble, and devoted herself to doing good. But do not include younger widows in the list; because when their desires make them want to marry, they turn away from Christ, and so become guilty of breaking their earlier promise to him. They also learn to waste their time in going round from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not. So I would prefer that the younger widows get married, have children, and take care of their homes, so as to give our enemies no chance of speaking evil of us. But if any Christian woman has widows in her family, she must take care of them and not put the burden on the church, so that it may take care of the widows who are all alone.
The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of receiving double pay, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching”.
(1 Timothy 5:3-14, 16, 17 GNB)

How many kinds of widow do we have?

Who are the actual widows and what is their age?

“Now in those days when the disciples were increasing, the Greek-speaking Jews began complaining against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

So the Twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said: “It is not right for us to leave the word of God to distribute food to tables. 3 So, brothers, select for yourselves seven reputable men from among you, full of spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them over this necessary matter; 4 but we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 What they said was pleasing to the whole multitude, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit, as well as Philip, Proch′o·rus, Ni·ca′nor, Ti′mon, Par′me·nas, and Nic·o·la′us, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 They brought them to the apostles, and after praying, they laid their hands on them”(Acts 6:1-6)

What problem arose in the first century congregation?

How was the problems solved?

“For there will always be poor people in the land. That is why I am commanding you, ‘You should generously open up your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land”(Deuteronomy 15:11)

“Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer. Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped”(Proverbs 11:24, 25 GNB).

When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back” (Proverbs 19:17 GNB).

If you give your resources to the Church and to the poor who are you lending to?

Have you seen anyone who is generous and become poor because of that?

Have you see a true servant of God and yet poor?

” I have exhibited to YOU in all things that by thus laboring YOU must assist those who are weak, and must bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving”(Act 20:35)

May all us experience the happiness that result as we give generously..