FIRST BIBLE LESSON: LUKE 17:1-2
Then said he unto the disciples, it is impossible that offence will come : but woe unto him, through whom they come: It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than he should offend one of these little ones.
SECOND BIBLE LESSON: JOHN 13:18-19
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass ye may believe that I am he.
GOLDEN TEXT: MATTHEW 26:1-5
And it came to pass when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priest and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety ,and kill him. But they said not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
THE CENTER OF GOOD AND EVIL:
Beloved brethren, the wisdom contained in the Holy Bible, from Genesis to Revelations is confounding and indeed mysterious. This is why the Bible is called the Ark of Covenant of God, for it contains all the plans of God. It is worthy of note that all the wisdom, craftiness, evil and good, which abound in the world today are reflected in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible constitutes the tree of Good and Evil as recorded in the revelation of John the Divine. The Bible could be a blessing or a curse, depending the interpretation of it by the individual. The positive interpretation of the Holy Bible bear good fruits while its misinterpretation perpetrates all forms of evil. It is in this regard that you are asked to be careful. From the aforesaid therefore, it should be noted that the Holy Bible constitutes both the beginning and the end of anything man can think of.
The members of cults, secret societies, prayer houses, mystic schools, etc. challenge and criticise the Holy Bible. But they concentrate on the misleading laws of Moses, David, among other prophets. And whenever they are cautioned for practising such, they give biblical backing to those deeds and affirm that God approved same before they were embedded in His Holy book. But this sermon shall not center on this, instead, it seeks to remind you of the word of life which you forgot that has great bearing with the world of today.
In the Golden Text, emphasis is on the feast of Passover. If you could think retrospectively, you would recall that a feast whereby male animals were slaughtered and consumed took place in Egypt and it led to the death of all the first born sons in the land of Egypt. That incident made king Pharaoh free the Israelites. The feast referred to in our Golden text today, commemorates the Liberty God extended to the people of Israel from the land of Egypt. And exactly the Holy Week in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star marks the week which the said feast was conducted, hence, you see most people killing up to ten cows for meat, to commemorate that day. But pathetically, killing many cows for meat to commemorate a day is a misconception and in fact, erroneous: for any appreciation to that effect be expressed in many other ways, without necessarily killing animals.
You know, our Lord Jesus Christ came as the last sacrifice. He came and exchanged His life for the killing of animals for sacrifice. It is to this end that we sing the Spiritual song which says: 'I have no sacrifice to offer, for the Son of the Almighty God is the only sacrifice.'
Beloved, the act of offering sacrifice to God started after Adam and Eve had erred in the garden. People used to offer sacrifices to be reconciled to God. But when Our Lord Jesus Christ came and gave His life as a ransom for the salvation of man and pronounced while on the cross, that sins have finished, all forms of sacrifices ended. His death for the remission of sins clearly spells out to us that He is the one to forgive, cleanse, and draw us nearer to God. Sins are the major cause of our problems in life.
THE HIDDEN KNOWLEDGE REVEALED:
The wisdom of the Father confounds the entire world, hence, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is accused by the world of using an entirely different Bible. But this is not correct. Today, many people do not know the ram Abel offered as a sacrifice to God was Abel himself. Abel did not even know this. But all that had no effect. Aside from the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, no other type of sacrifice could have cleansed man.
This had to be so because it was written that it is only through the shedding of a spotless blood that mankind would be saved, hence, Our Lord Jesus Christ had to offer himself so that the prophecy about him might be fulfilled. Before now, people used to dupe others of money and other valuable items in the name of sacrifice, and after such such sacrifices, their condition is worsened. But the Father, being so merciful, has come to put an end to such deceit and misconception, and streamline things for us. He came and offered Himself as the last sacrifice and declared Himself man's advocate with the Father. And being that He marked the last sacrifice, we must not, on any account, indulge in offering any form of sacrifice any longer. Whoever offers sacrifice needs to pray fervently for himself, for he has committed the worst sin.
In the Golden Text, we are made to understand that the Jews and the Chief Priests did everything humanly possible to make sure Christ was crucified on a day that should not distort the peace, freedom, and joy of the day of the Passover feast. Note that Friday is the day of the Passover feast while Saturday is the Sabbath day for the Jews. So, in order not to bring about confusion on the day of the feast, they all resolved that He (Christ), should be crucified on Thursday. And this conspiracy by the Jews was known by our Lord Jesus Christ, hence, He conducted His Passover on Wednesday, in order to hasten the fulfillment of the scriptures. So, the Holy Week we observe in BCS commemorates that Holy week of Passover.
The doctrines in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star depict exactly what happened during the week Christ was crucified. Hence we keep watch and pray on Wednesday and fast on Thursday. On the Thursday when Our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, great things happened, one of which was the earth quake which claimed lives. The Wednesday night which preceded the Thursday, was a wonderful and terrifying one, which is why I always urge you to watch and pray.
After the Passover that Christ conducted, the Jews got hold of Christ at about 3:00 a.m. on Thursday and crucified Him at about 9:00 of the same day. His crucifixion marked the end of all forms of sins and problems. Therefore, you should refrain from all forms of sins and offering of sacrifices. Sacrifices, you should note, have nothing to do with godliness. That is why I condemn it in its entirety.
In order to fulfill His promises to Abraham, God handed over this kingdom to Abraham (our father). Today, it is the Holy Spirit who reigns in the kingdom and you should, of a, necessity, refrain from all manner of sins so as to be worthy of the kingdom.
The word of God is that which when it falls on the ground, breaks mighty stones. This is why you are advised to take particular note of this gospel. The Everlasting Gospel Center is doing a good work by documenting all the gospel from the Father for posterity.
In John 16:12-14, our Lord Jesus Christ said: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and He shall show you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you."
All that I am doing now in the world is in consonance with above biblical excerpt. It is true that the Holy Spirit personified has taught man all things and brought to his remembrance what he hitherto forgot. Hence, your duty is to witness and practise the injunctions of God so as to testify to his mighty works of redemption on earth. Read the first lesson again.
FIRST BIBLE LESSON: LUKE 17:1-2
Then said he unto the disciples, it is impossible but that offences will come; but woe to him by whom they come.It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
THE SOURCE OF MAN'S PROBLEMS:
The words of our Lord Jesus Christ are very significant and efficacious. From the first lesson it is affirmed that there is bound to be a stumbling block, therefore, no amount of prayer, fasting, ministry work, ritual sacrifices, etc. can prevent same from happening. Our Lord Jesus Christ, in all His endeavors, tried to avoid constituting a stumbling block to people. Recall His conversation with Peter at a certain time as recorded in Matthew 17:24-27. So note that it is as a result of your behaviors, deeds, etc. people derail from the path of rectitude, abuse God, revile and shun Him, you are bound to be punished. In fact, whoever causes his fellow man to be offended receives more punishment than the offending one.
Man's problems occur as a result of his deliberate refusal to embrace with reverence what God enjoins him to do. An adage has it that whichever food is palatable in the mouth of a sick person is what normally kills him. This adage is the whole truth, for many people are dying of falsehood, drunkenness, violence, deceit, adultery, and other sins which God strongly forbids. No other thing but your sin and disobedience cause problems to you.
God did not create Adam and Eve on the same day. He first created Adam. But since Adam saw his stay in the Garden of Eden as a deprivation, resulting in loneliness, he requested God to give him a companion. God obliged, but unfortunately, Adam was ignorantly inviting a stumbling block to himself by presenting such request before God. He Adam, needed a companion who would make his life complete, but pathetically, the same companion Eve, later became the cause of his downfall, curse, suffering, tribulations, and death.
The problems of many people are traceable to the children, husbands, wives, cars, landed property, etc. Yet these are the things we often request from God relentlessly. So, all the problems you experience are caused by you. God has to a great extent regretted ever creating man because man, today, has become a source of sorrow to God.
There is no man who seeks for God's happiness, for man is always ready to offend God in every aspect. Angels, trees, birds and other creatures of God but man are obedient to the creator. And as a result we suffer more than every other creature. We have problems because we have caused God to be reviled, accused falsely, cautioned, mocked at and shunned by most people. Man to a great extent has soiled God's reputation.
Abel was not killed by someone from a far place but a very close person (his brother, Cain). Therefore the cause of your problems, damnation, tribulation, and other shortcomings in life are not far fetched. Watch carefully and you will realize that your downfall and other problems are caused by the very things you claim to be ultimate in your life. It is against this background that you are that you are warned against loving the world and the fullness therein for whoever loves the world and the fullness therein has not the love of the Father in him. Read the second lesson again.
SECOND LESSON: JOHN 13:18-19
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, HE THAT EATETH BREAD WITH ME HATH
LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.
Now I tell you, before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
BEWARE OF THE TRAITOR
Have you now realised that in most cases, it is he who eats with you that often lifts up his heel against you? So, you need to be very careful. Now think of this, amongst all the disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ, He loved and trusted Judas Iscariot the most, hence, He placed him at the highest rank as far as the hierarchy or His administration was concerned. This same Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ to the Jews. Judas' action confirms that it is the person or thing you love the most that constitutes your downfall.
Your problems or shortcomings do not come from afar. It is in this regard that you hear most villagers being the architects of robbery in their respective villages. Take note of the case of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was the disciple He regarded and entrusted most who betrayed Him. Moses, as a matter of fact was betrayed by his brother Aaron. The queen of Sheba who also was very close to Solomon, betrayed Solomon. Sampson also was betrayed by his beloved wife . It was as a result of the magnitude of love he had for the wife that he exposed his secrets to her, thereby exposing himself to danger. To achieve their aims you begin to see those who conspire against you first creating a rapport with you before going on to execute such conspiracy. Your foe does not seek your downfall, instead, it is your friend and lover who seeks to kill you. Hence, you are enjoined not to love the world and the fullness therein, for whoever loves the world has no love for God. So, let all your endeavors, hope, faith, love, etc, be on God.
A woman once handed over her child to a monkey to look after. One day the monkey told the child that if he should die, his mother or father would be the cause of his death. And so it was that when the mother of child told the father of the whereabouts of the child, he out of annoyance loaded his rifle and went to kill the monkey. But mistakenly, he shot the child in the place of the monkey which he originally intended to kill. So, all things that happen to you come from those whom you know closely. Recall how Jezebel convinced those who were very close to her to worship man-made- god and as a result they all perished.
Also, there once lived a king who was very straight-forward and had no friend in his city. Because of his oath towards keeping friends in his city, there was no possibility of harming him, regardless of people's plans to do so. But to ensure that he was killed, the friend he kept outside his city was contacted and the modality on how to trap the king was negotiated. It was this friend of his that he kept outside his city that poisoned him. If I should continue to enumerate the harm done to many people by those who they claim to be their inveterate friends, relatives, colleagues etc., the list is inexhaustible. Hence you are asked to love, trust, and hope in God alone. Because if all your hope, faith, love, etc., are on God, nobody would be able to harm you, for you would be on top of the world. Hoping on man, wealth and other material things is what is causing troubles in the world today.
THE AFTERMATH OF DISOBEDIENCE:
God instructed Adam not to receive any instructions from any man or angel, for he God was always there to direct him. But because Adam violated such divine injunctions, he was cursed by God.
There is so much trouble and confusion in the world today between the Arabs and the Israelis. This is because, biologically, Ishmael, the son of Hagar, was the first son of Abraham, as the Arabs claim. But spiritually, Isaac, the first son of Sarah, was the real first son of Abraham, which is what the Israelites believe. And because of these, there is great confusion in the world today. But if Sarah did not convince Abraham to go into Hagar, her maid, and if Abraham too did not harken to such misleading advice, but had waited for God's promise on them to manifest, there would have been peace in the world today. So it is in fact disastrous to violate God's divine injunctions. It is to this end that the Father does not trust anybody, neither does He hope on man. The teachings I impart to you are the prerequisites for salvation, so , whoever perishes is to blame for trampling upon these teachings. Read the golden text again.
GOLDEN TEXT: MATTHEW 26:1-5
And it came to pass when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto His disciples, "Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover and the son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas. And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him. But they said not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD:
The whole world is ignorant of the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on Thursday. So it is necessary that people, especially the doubting Thomases of our age should be here to receive this truth in order to realize their folly.
Note that the watch and pray we organize every Wednesday commemorates the Passover feast that Christ had with disciples and this exercise should be embraced by everyone.
The teachings imparted here are not found in any part of the world. And my only advise to you is that you love the God with all your heart, mind, and soul, for if you do this, you are whole, filled, and on top of the world. Do not put your hope or trust in any other thing so that you may not regret at the end. But as you continue to love, trust, and put your hope on money, woman, man, etc. you are bound to have problems in life.
It said that a stroke of the cane is enough for the wise. Let those who have ears, hear what the spirit has imparted to the world. May God bless His holy words. Amen
THANK YOU FATHER.
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