UNDERSTANDING "CHRISTIAN" IN THE CONTEXT OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY. CHRISTIAN IS NOT A NAME OF INSULT AS MAJORITY DECEPTIVELY BELIEVE. IF YOU'RE NOT A CHRISTIAN, DEFINITELY YOU'RE SATANIST.

Acts 11:25-26 states: "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." From here, we find that Barnabas and Saul, are the only disciples known by names. Barnabas sought for Saul a clear indication that believers in Christ, a disciple, should seek for a fellow believer to strengthen one another in faith. BROUGHT HIM INTO ANTIOCH, that is the metropolis of Syria. THAT A WHOLE YEAR THEY ASSEMBLED THEMSELVES WITH THE CHURCH. In other words, Barnabas and Saul, later called Paul joined their fellow believers in Christ. We didn't find the phrase "THEY WENT TO CHURCH," hence it is not only acceptable, but blasphemy to call denominations as churches. DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS, from Jesus Christ they preached as the Saviour of lost souls; from Christ their Master they serve, just as PLATONISTS, and PYTHAGOREANS, had their names, identifications from their masters PLATO and PYTHAGORAS respectively. The identity of CHRISTIANS were given to all disciples, including Barnabas and Saul. But the question remains: Who gave them? Were they believers or unbelievers? Were they insulted by being called Christians or was it meant to give them credit for their faith? Some think that the disciples were called CHRISTIANS because they were ridiculed, mocked, insulted, or presented as laughing stock. Most people had been brainwashed to reject CHRISTIAN identity, based on this. They reject being called CHRISTIANS, finding themselves fighting Christ and their salvation. But this fake belief, is mere speculations propagated by false teachers, written in Bible commentaries. The Greek word CHREMATISAI, translated CALLED in the King James Version Bible meant to APPOINT, WARN or NOMINATE, by DIVINE DIRECTION, not just what mere people could think of their fellows. God appointed disciples to be his children, representatives on earth. He warned the world not to do them evil, and he nominated, enrolled them in his Book of Life before the world began. It was the converted believers who called the disciples CHRISTIANS, and not unbelievers. It was not identification for disrespect as commonly thought, but of true faith. The name, or identification, CHRISTIANS was given, revealed by God to the converted believers who called the DISCIPLES, to display God's grace and holiness, which are essentially required and implied on any soul saved by Jesus Christ. It was identification for both the Jews and the Gentiles. It was not a NICKNAME as rebellious self righteous unbelievers put it. Before its use the Jews and the Gentiles converted, were called NAZARENES, GALILEANS, MEN OF THE WAY OR SECT, MOVERS OF SEDITION, and perhaps by other names which are not come down to us. In Matthew 16:15-17, we find out how Jesus Christ asked his disciples whom he was. The record states: "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." In other words, it was God who revealed to Peter to be Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ, and not Peter himself, and by this, Peter declared Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God responsible for the salvation of Peter's lost soul. FLESH AND BLOOD is a Hebrew PERIPHRASIS for man generally, and should not be mistaken to mean CARNAL REASON or the UNREGENERATE PRINCIPLE in man. You cannot make yourself Christian by way of denomination, pastor, your friends, or what you study. If God has not revealed to you the mystery of salvation, then you will never be a Christian. If you are not a Christian then you are equally not a believer, and not a disciple of Jesus Christ. You are Satanist! Period! Jesus Christ said in Matthew 11:27, that: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." This is the great truth concerning salvation, and CHRISTIAN identity. None can fully comprehend the nature and attribute of God, but Christ, and none can comprehend the work of salvation done by Christ but God. Only God will deliver you to Christ. Only God will make you a Christian. Only God will assemble you to his Church. You cannot become a Christian by yourself, even by arguments, neither by your selfie photos. You cannot make up the Church of Jesus Christ by your denomination. Early Christians considered themselves ONE FAMILY; hence the appellation of BRETHREN was frequently among them. It is the design of God to make all who believed of ONE HEART and ONE SOUL, whereby they considered him as their Father, and live and love like the children of the same household. Herod Agrippa understood CHRISTIAN as a person belonging to Jesus Christ when he told Saint Paul the apostle that: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 26:28. If you believe like king Herod Agrippa, that Paul's teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is correct, then you must acknowledge the identity of being a CHRISTIAN; but you might choose whether you would get identified as CHRISTIAN, and confess this truth, or not. You can't be a believer and not a Christian. Stop daylight deception of yourself. Peter spoke of a CHRISTIAN belonging to Jesus Christ in this way: "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf," 1 Peter 4:16. If a CHRISTIAN be persecuted because he belongs to Jesus Christ, let him not be ashamed, to be called CHRISTIAN, but let him rather glorify God on this very account. Christ suffered by the Jews because he was holy; Christians suffer because they resemble him. Denying that you're not a Christian is actually revealing that you are Satanist, hypocrite. A CHRISTIAN, therefore, is the highest character which any human being can bear upon the earth; and to receive it from God, as those appear to have done - how glorious the title! But the next question is: "WHO IS A CHRISTIAN IN COMPARISON TO GREEK PHILOSOPHY?" As PLATONISTS and PYTHAGOREANS had their names from PLATO and PYTHAGORAS respectively, because they attended their teachings, and credited their doctrines, so DISCIPLES were called CHRISTIANS because they took Jesus Christ as their teacher, crediting his doctrines, and following the RULE OF LIFE laid by him. Nevertheless, there was more insight than that. When Pythagoras in his lifetime visited market place called in Greek AGORA, thronged by his fellow Greeks, he publicly spoke: "I HAVE SEEN TWO KINDS OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE SURROUNDING ME, IN MY GATHERING HERE. THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND DOCTRINES OF PYTHAGORAS, AND THOSE WHO ADMIRE PYTHAGORAS, BUT HAVE THEIR OWN RULES, REGULATIONS AND TRADITIONS." Pythagoras called those living in his spirit and doctrines as PYTHAGOREANS, and those admiring him, but have their own rules, regulations and traditions as PYTHAGORISTS. This statement of Pythagoras is true when applied to the Word of God, also known as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this world, like the market or agora which Pythagoras visited, there two kinds of believers who claimed to be Christians. There are those who live in the Spirit and doctrines of Christ. They have Christ in their spirits, souls, and they do in accordance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are the true CHRISTIANS. There are those who admire Jesus Christ, but they have their own doctrines, their own denominations, which they deceive themselves as churches. These are FALSE CHRISTIANS, who should be properly called CHRISTINISTS. Jesus Christ told the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in Sychar, that: "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him," John 4:23. It is this time, HOUR, and this day, right now, that true CHRISTIANS must have God in their spirits, and must walk according to the truth prescribed by God alone in his Word, for only those are the people sought seriously by God. God cannot call you, and later permit you to establish your church, which you know act independently from the Church of Jesus Christ. God cannot call you to pray on Saturday, or Sunday, but allow you to commit wickedness for the days remaining in the week. The worship in denominations is defective worship, for they accept those deceiving by lips as Christians, those shedding crocodile tears as saved, and the general immoral, corrupt characters as men or women of God. This is the worship of FALSE CHRISTIANS, properly called CHRISTINISTS. The worship of God, having God in your spirit, discovered the true nature of God, salvation, of the human soul, of the earthly and of the heavenly things; and because of this, it is put in opposition to the defective worship in denominations. Jesus Christ continues to speak to the Samaritan woman, in John 4:24, that:"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." God is a Spirit because he fills both heaven and earth. He is the cause of all things, the fountain of perfection, without PARTS or DIMENSIONS, for he is ETERNAL, PERVADING, GOVERNING and UPHOLDING all things. Solomon after completing building the temple, gave this prayer: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" 1 Kings 8:27. The Spirit of God cannot dwell in the buildings made by man, and if denominations claim one, then it is the god of this world called Satan, 2 Corinthians 4:4. The glory of God, not only could not be contained in the whole vortex of nature, but much less it cannot be contained in any building used for denomination, which is false, deceptive worship. God is pleased only with that which resemble him, and therefore a Christian must have the Spirit of Christ in order to worship God in truth. A man worships God in SPIRIT, when under the influence of the Holy Ghost, he brings all his affections, appetites, and desires to the throne of God, and he worships him in TRUTH, when every purpose and passions of his heart is guided and regulated by the Word of God. Abu Fazel, Arab philosopher said: "THE ENLIGHTENED PART OF MANKIND KNOWS THAT TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AN UPRIGHT HEART; AND BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN ONLY BE WORSHIPPED IN HOLINESS OF SPIRIT." Part of the Hindu tradition believed that God respect a person as the most devout, who hath faith in him, and the person must worship or serve God with a soul possessed by the Spirit of God. In Romans 8:1, it is written: " There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Even though everybody must appear before the judgment of God, the guilt and penalty has been removed by God to all true Christians, who have received salvation for their lost souls in Christ. You must have the Spirit of Christ to get that offer. But those who WALK AFTER THE FLESH, are condemned here on earth, and thereafter in heaven. 2 Corinthians 3:17 states: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." NOW, at this very hour, day, moment, THE LORD Jesus Christ is THAT SPIRIT who dwells on the believer called CHRISTIAN, and this person possessed by the SPIRIT OF THE LORD, is the only one who has been saved, liberated from sin, and its consequences - THERE IS LIBERTY. This agrees exactly to what Jesus Christ spoke in John 8:36 that: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." In other words, if you have the Spirit of Jesus Christ, then you will be free from sin, and the stratagem of Satan. This alone is the SALVATION of the lost souls. You can cry like the Pentecostals or worship idols like the Catholics, or talk about prophecies, and observe Sabbath like the Adventists. If you don't have Jesus Christ in your spirit, then you are not a Christian, and you are not saved. A true Christian, having the Spirit of Jesus Christ is FREE INDEED, and is not concerned with what is happening in the world. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher defined FRIEND, as the soul or spirit of one person living in two or more bodies. At community welfare meetings, the family of the deceased, of the late, presented themselves in the name of the deceased. This revealed the notion that even though the person is dead, being the late, his spirit still lives on the family he left behind. Jesus Christ called his DISCIPLES as his FRIENDS in John 15:14-15. This exactly meant even though he died for our sins, raised up and ascended into heaven for our justification, we as Christians are proofs that Jesus Christ is still living here on earth. We have his Spirit, we are his representative, hence described as his FRIENDS. To be a Christian is to take the Spirit of Jesus Christ, to be united to Christ: to continue in the mind of Christ, c.f. Philippians 2:5. It is absurd to talk of being children of God, and absolute, final perseverance, when the soul has lost its spiritual union, either by way of denomination, political greed, or the love of earthly good. There is no perseverance but in CLEAVING TO THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD. He who denies the Lord in his works, cannot accept the Gospel without adding his denomination, politics, or his own rules, interpretation, or understanding, does not CLEAVE TO THE LORD'S SPIRIT. Such a person is not of God, and is not a Christian whatsoever. His claim of Christian title has no basis. He is preaching a sectarian Jesus, who is not Jesus Christ of the Bible. He is preaching about heaven, when he is a hell material. If the person had ever had salvation from God, then he has lost it. He has fallen from grace. Nor is there a word in the Bible of God, fairly and honestly understood, that says such a person shall ABSOLUTELY AND UNAVOIDABLY ARISE from his fall. As presented in Acts 11:24, a true CHRISTIAN, having the Spirit of Christ, must be: 1. A GOOD MAN, that is, HIS BAD HEART is changed, his EVIL DISPOSITIONS rooted out, and the Spirit of Christ planted in him. One who can only do good to his family, but can sacrifice others, including friends for his evil, or opportunism, is not a Christian whatsoever. 2. FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST. He is holy, because the Spirit of holiness dwells in him, which is from Jesus Christ himself. It is not enough to claim transient visitations or drawings from that Spirit. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is a RESIDENT in the soul of that person. It is LIGHT in his UNDERSTANDING. It is WISDOM in his JUDGMENT. It is FIXED PURPOSE and DETERMINATION in righteousness in his WILL. It is PURITY, directing one to love THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND, and to love THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF, Matthew 22:37,39. 1 Corinthians 13:13 indicates: "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." LOVE is the fulfilling of the Gospel, John 3:16. In a word, the Spirit of Jesus Christ has sovereign way in the Christian heart; it governs all PASSIONS, and is the MOTIVE and PRINCIPLE of every righteous ACTION. 3. FULL OF FAITH. He implicitly credited his Lord, and never doubted him whatsoever. Christian faith should never fail because it is laid on God who never change. Hebrews 11:6 indicates: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." That is, WITHOUT FAITH, you cannot have the Spirit of the Lord. You cannot become a Christian. HE THAT COMETH TO GOD, is he that has the Spirit of Christ. That person in exercising his duty of true worship, must act or do it in conviction that the Spirit of the Lord is infinite, eternal, unoriginated, self existence; the cause of everything on earth; on whom everything depends, and by whose energy, bounty, and providence, all other beings exist, live, and are supplied with the means of continued existence and life. The infinite skill, power, and continual ENERGY of God is above humans. So God cannot align himself, neither approve what people think Christian to be, which is outside his Word. Without the indwelling Spirit of Christ, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD, and anyone who does not please God ignites his wrath. A CHRISTIAN IS A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST, A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST, AMBASSADOR OF JESUS CHRIST, AND A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN. I personally, is not ashamed for being called a CHRISTIAN. (From my old preaching notes).

WICKED AGRIBUSINESS OPPORTUNIST COMPARED TO A RELIGIOUS LEADER.

Read Luke 12:16-19. THE GROUND OF A CERTAIN RICH MAN BROUGHT FORTH PLENTIFULLY. Suppose this RICH MAN was a religious leader, from theological seminary, parading himself as called of God, Christian celebrity, demanding to be respected as servant of God, and then the GROUND is the field of spreading the Gospel, the Great Commission. THE GROUND... BROUGHT PLENTIFULLY, in the sense that the religious leader converted many people into Christian faith. But the converts did not know the religious crafty intentions of this person.

The man said in his heart: "WHAT SHALL I DO, BECAUSE I HAVE NO ROOM WHERE TO BESTOW MY FRUIT." In other words, this man, in our case, the religious leader reasoned within himself: "What shall he do, seeing he had converted so many people which could be translated into material wealth in terms of money offerings and tithes for himself?" The man, then suggested: "THIS WILL I DO: I WILL PULL DOWN MY BARNS, AND BUILD GREATER, AND THERE WILL I BESTOW ALL MY FRUITS AND GOODS." In our case, the religious leader will not puzzle himself with the converts he had won for himself. He will demolish his small ministry, and build mega churches, in the size of stadia globally which could accept even gay priests, permit divorce for remarriage, in order to fatten his bank accounts, and increase his fame or reputation globally. Thereafter the man consoled his soul: " SOUL, THOU HAST MUCH GOODS LAID UP FOR MANY YEARS; TAKE THINE EASE, EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY." To the religious leader, he will say to his soul: "Soul, thou hast many followers in your religious network globally, relax, get yourself personal jet, posh cars, have a house with sauna, swimming pool, lounges, tour the world enjoying, celebrate your better life now, and be numbered among the greats of the world." Great possessions are generally accompanied with pride, idleness, and luxury; and these are the greatest enemies to salvation, for they choke souls. BUT GOD SAID UNTO HIM, THOU FOOL, THIS NIGHT THY SOUL SHALL BE REQUIRED OF THEE; THEN WHOSE SHALL THOSE THINGS BE WHICH THOU HAST PROVIDED? This is the foolish extent of denominations, and everybody who fellowship there deceiving that he/she had received salvation. It is also equally foolish to politicians, and business fraudsters who go there to give tithes/offerings.

Job said (Job 15:34), that: "For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery." Imagine that a man's comfort and peace, who risks them on temporal things, religious conmanship, instead of Jesus Christ. What a dreadful awakening of a soul, long asleep in denominational sin! This night, Jesus Christ, will require your soul, for you have stolen souls, which are meant for His salvation to establish your religious empire. Hell will be your home. GLORY TO GOD.

THE LESSONS CHRISTIANS CAN LEARN FROM PETER AND FELLOW FISHERMEN ON THE NIGHT THEY CAME WITHOUT FISH.

From Luke 5:5, in King James Bible, it states: "And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." MASTER. The word translated Master (Greek EPISTATES) is not the same as that (Greek DIDASKALOS, Hebrew RABBI, teacher) in the other Gospels, and often in this also, and is peculiar to St. Luke. It implies a distinct recognition of our Lord's character as a Creator or Chief Engineer, a Navigator, experienced Fisherman, and was more the language of general respect, such as workmen might use of their MASTER. The term MASTER, also properly signifies a prefect, or one who is set over certain affairs or persons: it is used also for an instructor, or originator. Peter considered Christ, from what he had heard, as teacher of a Divine doctrine, and as having authority to command, etc. He seems to comprise both ideas in this appellation; he listened attentively to His teaching, and readily obeyed His orders. To hear attentively, and obey cheerfully, are duties we owe, not only to the sovereign Master of the world, but also to ourselves. No man ever took Jesus profitably for his teacher, who did not at the same time receive him as his Lord. WE HAVE TOILED ALL THE NIGHT - We have worked tirelessly on the dead times when people had retired to bed without any fruit realization. They had cast the net several times in the course of the night, and drew it to shore without success, and were now greatly disheartened. Personally, I, Israel Laban, have seen several laborious draughts of this kind made without fruit. All labor must be fruitless where the blessing of God is not; but especially that of the ministry. It is the presence and influence of Christ, in a congregation, that cause souls to be gathered unto himself: without these, whatever the preacher's eloquence or abilities may be, all will be night, and fruitless labor. AT THY WORD I WILL LET DOWN THE NET - He who assumes the character of a fisher of men, under any authority that does not proceed from Christ, is sure to catch nothing; but he who labors by the order and under the direction of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, cannot labor in vain. Several lessons to be learnt here are these: 1. YOU ARE DEEMED TO FAILURE IN YOUR WORSHIP WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST. How often do we reason among ourselves? Because You, Jesus, say so I will do it. Because I have so much faith in You and in Your word, I will do it. Or do we have doubts… Are we afraid to fail… Most people are imprisoned in denominations because they want decent luxurious burial to be offered to them upon their death. Tell Jesus Christ that you have laboured all your life in denominations, ministries, but you have received nothing concerning the salvation of your lost souls, and because He invited you to His Church, who are His followers, you will fully honour and obey the calling immediately. Philippians 4:13, King James Version Bible, states: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." These fishermen were unable to make a catch, although they had used all of their skills, abilities and time, until Jesus blessed them. You can attend theological seminaries or universities, but without the power of the Holy Ghost, you cannot understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ whatsoever. Jesus Christ Himself said in Matthew 11:27, King James Version Bible, that: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." The Lord was teaching a lesson that we all need to learn; there is failure without Him. TO DO THE GOSPEL WORK WITHOUT HIM WILL BRING DISAPPOINTMENTS… Not only is there failure, there is disappointment that comes with that failure. In our service to the Lord, we can have all of the tools for greatness only to find the disappointments and the frustration of not seeing God’s blessings. The blessings of God's work, not religious fraud, come from having Jesus Christ. We need Him. That’s the reason we need to daily be in His Word. We know that we must have Him. TO WORK WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST WILL BRING DISCOURAGEMENT… Discouragement can hinder the work. Washing nets which have caught no fish is not any fun. That is running denominations where all souls are lost, deceiving yourself that you are planting churches.. There will be times in your Christian walk when you will not see results; you only are “washing nets which caught no fish”. If this is so because you were simply going through the motions without His blessings, then this is a real tragedy. The Lord’s presence and the Lord’s instructions brought the Lord’s blessings to Simon Peter and the rest of the fishermen. Two boats nearly sank because of the large number of fish… after the blessings came. II. WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN HIM… Let’s take another look at the passage once again: "And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." When we have faith in The Lord, we show this by being obedient to His Word. Peter at first argued that they had spent the night without any success, but then took the Lord at His Word. If it was the current generation, they could have argued with the Lord that the lake has no fish, but frogs, snakes, crocodiles, tortoises, and that they are not going back to redo fishing... This teaches us that we often do things our way only to find that our ways, alone, doesn’t work. It gives us no visible result and often frustrates us and then we have a whole new host of emotions… Anger, resentment etc. WE SHOULD HAVE FAITH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD OF CREATION … "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 before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:16-17, KJV) Now Jesus could have either called the fish to the net or created them in the net. Either way what happened was a miracle. When Jesus shows up… “Look for a Miracle”. We Should Have Faith that He is The Caring God… "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, KJV) There has been no greater comfort to Christians than just knowing that the Lord cares about us… So much so, if we do what we should, He will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. Just as He provided the fish for the fishermen, He can provide our Christian needs if we pray … “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 KJV) III. WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO FORSAKE ALL FOR HIM… Look now at verse 11 "And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him." ( Luke 5:11, KJV). This should be the attitude and the disposition that marks the true disciple. To say the Peter and his company sold the large catch for cash thereby becoming rich and prosperous, is deceptions, mostly used by Word of Faith Movement. They left everything and followed Him. Luke’s Gospel tells us this in Luke 14:33: "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33, KJV) This Involves Surrender… To surrender is to turn loose anything that has a hold of you… This could be a job, a friendship, a comfort zone, a crutch (by that, I mean anything that you are trusting in that will hinder you from following Him). This Involves Submission… When Peter said. But because you say so, I will let down the nets. He was submitting to the will of the Lord. IV. WE SHOULD FOLLOW HIM COMPLETELY… We’re not done with verse 11 "And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him." ( Luke 5:11, KJV). Who better to Guide than Jesus? To follow Him is to follow Him through the Scriptures. His Word will point you in the right direction… " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105, KJV) "Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me." (Psalm 119:98, KJV) "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.." (Psalm 119:11, KJV) You want a good compass in your life to let you know when you’ve strayed from the path. Read Ps 119 as a foundation for setting that compass. Then… Let His Word be a light unto your path. He Will Lead Us As The Good Shepherd… One only has to think of the good work of the shepherd who leads, guides, and protects his sheep. Our Good Shepherd certainly leads us well. He Will Lead Us By His Word in Scripture and The Holy Spirit…

YOU CALL YOURSELF CHRISTIAN! REALLY! ARE YOU GENUINE OR SPURIOUS?

Mt. 10:32 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”

“Confess me,” that is, acknowledging personally that you belongs to Jesus Christ, not any other way. It is pointless to preach about the message you had doubts about. You must belong to Jesus Christ in full aspects, not attributing your fellowship to Roman Catholic, Protestants, or any other religion. It is surprising, as well as shameful to hear someone admitting he was born Adventist, or a Catholic. Did Catholic or Adventist, knew him from his mother’s womb? The truth of the matter is that heaven is for Jesus Christ, and His disciples, called Christians. None Christians will ever set their feet there.

Catholics belong to the Pope. Adventists belong to Ellen Gould White. Jehovah witnesses belong to William Miller. Christian scientists belong to Mary Baker Eddy. Mormons belong to Joseph Smith. Methodists belong to John Wesley. Lutherans belong to Martin Luther. Anglicans belong to Queen Elizabeth, and the Royal Family. Muslims belong to Mohammad, through Allah who is Satan. Buddhists belong to Gautama Buddha. The list goes on and on, to cover Evangelicals, Charismatics, Pentecostals, and so on. These are the ways human beings are domesticated in the corrupt worship, their minds pathetically poisoned, and completely enslaved in religious madness, until they die, if they had not have their eyes opened by the Holy Ghost.

Confession of Jesus Christ here involves commitment to Him as the One and only Lord and Saviour, and the resulting acknowledgement of Him by life, from the heart, which the lip loudly testifies. In reality, secret discipleship is a practical impossibility, even though the Church of Jesus Christ is invisible, being none among denominations, but fully functional, for Christ is alive forever.

Jesus Christ constantly called for an open confession of Himself by His followers, known as the genuine Christians. Christians must be willing to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and with all that these terms apply. That confession must be “before men,” clearly indicates that it is publicly done. You must tell publicly that you don’t belong to Roman Catholic, Protestants, Islam, and neither any other religion, no matter the insults or oppositions you will get. This denial of religions, ministries, is the clear acknowledgement of belonging to Jesus Christ, which our Saviour, will alternatively confess in respect to His followers, before our Father which is in heaven. This true Christian faith is a vital necessity.

To confess, rendered Hebrew yadhah; Greek homologeo, is used of abiding in the faith, and walking according to the truth. That faith is Jesus Christ, and not denominations or religions. That truth is Jesus Christ, and not religious or political figures. To confess is openly to acknowledge the truth in anything, as in the existence and authority of God, and accept that man is guilty of sin, and nothing he could do by himself whether religious or political to get himself out of the spiritual quagmire. Occasionally it means to concede or allow (Jn. 1:20; Acts 24:14; Heb. 11:13). 1 Jn. 4:15, states: “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” The idea is that of confessing Christ out of a state of oneness with Him. “Abide in me and I in you…” (Jn. 15:4), basically revealed confessing Jesus Christ. It implies identification of the confessor with the Confessed, and thus takes confession out of the category of mere formal or verbal acknowledgement. The true confessor of Christ, that is, a genuine Christian, is one whose faith rests in Jesus Christ.

Thus, to confess, takes the following order: First, the person must surrender himself to Jesus Christ. He must be a willing slave. Second, the person must be ready to believe in Jesus Christ. He must be free from religious or denominational attachment. Third, the person must publicly profess to be solely the property of Jesus Christ. Fourth, the person must be thankful to Jesus Christ for saving his soul which was lost in the kingdom of darkness, and Fifth, the person must promise to walk a Christian walk in his entire life on earth. But there are consequences to those who feel that the Christ they hear, claimed to have, must be added to other traditions, leaders, or doctrines, or religious establishments.

Mt. 10:33, states: “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

The Greek aorist tense, referred not to a single, abrupt denial, but to an entire lifelong resistance to Jesus Christ which shall never cease. Therefore, it is not a single act of denial which makes one unworthy of being disciple, but a refusal to confess Christ as the sole Owner of him at all, that eliminates one from being a true Christian.

To deny, Greek arneomai, meant: First, is to disown Jesus Christ. To say you don’t recognize Him as the Saviour of lost souls. Second, is to reject God for polytheism, prescribing to all faiths, thinking that all worshippers belong to God, thus going to heaven; and Third, to repudiate Jesus Christ in the face of the Gospel you claimed to be proclaiming or after getting the better knowledge of the Scriptures. You personally betrayed Jesus Christ at the expense of loving the world. Heb. 10:26-27, states: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries.”

Anyone who will confess being a Catholic, Adventist, Pentecostal, Muslim, and any other ministry, denomination, or religion, had publicly denied of himself to be a follower of Jesus Christ. This person will be denied by Jesus Christ before our Father which is in heaven. To deny Jesus Christ is to refuse His salvation, to think you can worship by proxy, and to prevent Him from accessing your life. This is the conversation the Gospel saboteurs used to attack the genuine Christians: “How can you be a Christian without having any denominational fellowship?” then the person laughs! This person is a fool big time. Jesus Christ will tell him right straight in his face “I never knew you.”

Catholics are not Christians. Adventists are not Christians. Pentecostals are not Christians. Mormons are not Christians. Jehovah witnesses are not Christians. Any person attached to religions or denomination, is not a Christian whatsoever. In all, these are people who had denied Jesus Christ. The glory of Jesus Christ, cannot be shared with the Pope, not with Ellen Gould White, not with Joseph Smith, not with William Miller, not with Mohammad, not with David Edward Owuor of the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness in Kenya, and not with any other person, be religious figure. When you call yourself “reverend” when reverence meant worship, who is God to you, when you’ve taken His place? David, the son of Jesse spoke of God in this wise: “He sent redemption unto his people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever, holy and reverend is His name,” Psalm 111:9. To say you are reverend so, and so, is plainly declaring that you’re god before them. Anyone who confesses Jesus Christ, along with any person of religious or political figure in the world, had in the real sense publicly denied Him. That person will be denied by the very Christ, and will find himself shamefully in hell. You call your pastor “his holiness,” when in the real sense he is a sinner, being immoral, and engaging in all manners of fraud! You call your bishop “reverend,” when you know he does not match God who created him, and is not a deity to be worshiped! You call Pope your “father,” when God is only the Father in heaven! You engage in demonic tongues, crocodile tears, and demonic miracles, to prove your salvation, when you know truly you are still in the kingdom of darkness, not saved! You preached the Bible, along with the messages written on books by religious leaders, knowing very well that these books contain satanic messages! How horrible is your situation! You should be ashamed of yourself. The people you deceive, is not the same as Jesus Christ, whom you think you will deceive, and bypass in the next world. The Son of God will reject you. Thereafter there will be shame, and torments in the everlasting fire in hell.

To conclude the message, here is the recapitulation: FALSE CONFESSION EXPOSED. “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,” 1 Jn. 2:4. WARNING AGAINST FALSE CONFESSION. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord , Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven,” Mt. 7:21. CONFESSION IS COMPULSORY FOR SALVATION. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation," Rom. 10:9-10.

THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT TITHING, AND GIVING.

1. Tithe paid by spoils of war. Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek, king of Salem, now called Jerusalem (Heb.7:2; Gen.14:20). This was done by the Hebrew patriarch, after defeating the Gentile kings. Heb.7:4 indicated that “… the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of spoils." The Greek word akrothinion, for spoils, meant the top of the heap or best of the spoils, which was reserved for a deity. In those ancient days, when a king was defeated in war, he and his subjects were taken captives, plus the entire treasures of his kingdom. This is exactly the spoils Abraham had. Tithe, Hebrew maser, Greek dekale, meant the tenth. Abraham did not go home, in order to give Melchizedek tenth of his properties. The Scripture, is clear that he gave tenth of the best of the spoils. Since Abraham was a Hebrew and the defeated kings were Gentiles, it is logical or precious to conclude that the best of the Gentile slaves were given to Melchizedek. This, in broader sense, was that Gentile Christians were given as a tithe to Hebrew faith by Abraham the father of faith, in which Melchizedek was a type of Jesus Christ. Therefore it is illogical for Gentiles who are already tithe in Christian faith to pay tithes. Taxes do not offer taxes. Gentile Christians are already tithes by themselves given to God.

2. Tithe paid by sacrifice. When Jacob made a covenant with God at Bethel, he concluded the transaction with the promise of tithing (Gen. 28:16-22). He said: “I will surely give the tenth unto thee,” Gen. 28:22. This was voluntary on Jacob’s part for God had not enforced it, before giving the Law. This tithe was a sacrifice which Jacob would perform, of all the increase of livestock God would give him.

3. Tithe paid by produce¸ not money. The Scribes and Pharisees paid tithe of mint and anise and cumin (Mt. 23:23) and rue and all manner of herbs (Lk. 11:42). Money was not paid as tithe, but was deposited in the treasury box, which was outside the temple area of worship (Lk. 21:1-4). This money was not considered as tithe in the first place. Also tithes were paid from first fruits (Prov. 3:9), as well as the firstlings of the flocks (Ex. 13:12-13). In tithing of the flocks, every tenth animal that passed under the rod, regardless of its kind, was taken, no substitution allowed (Lev. 27:32-33). In early times, those who tithe, were allowed to enjoy the tithes with the receiver (Deut. 14:22-23; 15:19-20), an act of celebration. Those who lived in far places, could turn their tithes into money, and later purchase flock, and farm produce needed (Deut. 14:24-26). It was an act of purchasing tithe.

4. Who collect the tithe and who to receive. In Num. 18:21, God Himself said: “And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” There are several facts learnt here: (i) Only the Levites were allowed to collect tithes. (ii) Only the Levites were to serve in the priesthood, that is Aaronic (Num. 18:23). (iii) The tithe was for their inheritance (Num. 18:21), for they were not allowed to have any inheritance in Israel (Num. 18:23; Deut. 18:1-2). (iv) The Levites were to collect the tithes from the children of Israel (Num. 18:26), and again tithe the tithes collected as an heave offering of it for the LORD (Num. 18:26). Heb. 7:5, states: “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have commandment to take tithes of the people according to law, that is of their brethren though they came out of the loins of Abraham.” (v) The purpose of tithing was for the service of the tabernacle, that is, Temple worship (Num. 18:21,23).

In the covenant of grace: (a) Any man can serve the Gospel in any capacity, either as bishop, apostle, deacon, teacher, evangelist, and so on. In the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there should be no archbishops, archdeacons, reverends, and other big religious titles. (b) No person is authorized to collect tithes whatsoever. No person is compelled to give tithe. (c) Majority had inheritance, unlike the Levites. (d) There is the Church of Jesus Christ, which is completely different from the Temple of Solomon, even though the former was a type of the latter.

(e) And no one is allowed to start, establish any religious organization and call it a church. 1 Cor. 3:11, states: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Majority who had established their ministries, denominations, had eyed themselves in tithes, defrauding their followers their hard earned money. These people served their own bellies, appetites, or earthly good; their god is money, being focused on material possessions as blessings they know; and by false doctrines flatter and deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom. 16:17-18; Philip. 3:17-19). Do not make yourself a priest in your own priesthood, which is neither Aaronic nor Melchizedek where Christ belongs to. Do not have your own church in order to make yourself bishop, apostle, reverend, and so on. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ. The tithes which were incumbent upon the Israelites can be summarized as follows:

A. The tenth of the remainder after the first fruits were taken, this amount going to the Levites for their livelihood (Lev. 27:30-33). There were no Levites among the Gentiles. B. The tenth paid by Levites to priests (Num. 18:26-28). C. The second tenth paid by the congregation for the needs of the Levites and their own families at the Tabernacle (Deut. 12:18), and D. Another tithe every third year for the poverty stricken (Deut. 14:28-29). These were the tithes that the Israelites, in Malachi’s day were withholding from and hence robbing God (Mal. 3:8; cf. Neh. 13:10). The offerings were separate from the tithes. The offerings in Israel were the first fruits of corn, wine, and oil (Deut. 18:4).

5. Where tithes were kept. Mal. 3:10 states: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you a blessing, that shall not be room enough to receive it.” The storehouse was the chambers in the Temple, built by Solomon, where tithes were brought into (cf. Neh. 10:38; 13:12). This Temple was built by God’s command, not human thinking of what was best for them, and their style of worship. Establishment of ministry or denomination was not God’s command to man in order to have his own church. The popular message by the Gospel saboteurs, that, the storehouse referred to denominations presented as local churches, is a deception, used to win trust of adherents, whereby they can be monetarily defrauded. “Meat in mine house”, referred to food enough, in abundance, that were used by priests, and their families, generally the Levites. “Prove me now herewith,” that is, God issued a challenge to the children of Israel, to attempt to outgive Him.

The response for tithing was made clear. First, “if I will not you the windows of heaven,” that is, to bring rain, which continually flows, for your crops (cf. 2Kgs. 7:2). God’s blessing is not money. Therefore it is not money flowing from heaven. Simon Magus, was rebuked for attempting to purchase the gift of the Holy Ghost with money (Acts 8:18-24). Second, pour you out blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it, that is, a hyperbole: the thought is that God would provide superabundance. They would have increase in flocks. The blessing would come not because God got 10% of the wealth, but because in giving the tithe they were in the place of obedience and subjection to God. The outward sign of their obedience and subjection was the giving of the tithe. God the Owner of all the silver and gold, including everything in this world does not depend on the tithes given. 6. The principle of tithing does not hold today.

This is because: (i) The Temple of Solomon was destroyed by Titus, Roman General, in 70 A.D., bringing it down to its knees. No Levites, is serving there, for it has not been rebuilt. No temple employee is in Jerusalem to be supported with tithes. All the tithes collected were taken to Jerusalem, unlike the current which ended into individual, personal fat accounts. If one wants tithes, let him make himself a Levite, rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem, and serve right there, and thereafter collect tithes from fellow Levites. (ii) There are no Levites among the Gentile blood. Levites are descendants of Jacob, Israelites proper. (iii) The Church of Jesus Christ is made up of genuine Christians across the globe. Peter called the genuine Christian as lively stones; their Gospel responsibility as holy priesthood; and their faith as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:5). Paul called them the body of Christ (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12). The Church of Jesus Christ is completely different from the Temple which was made of dead stones. Solomon was the builder of the Temple. Jesus Christ is the Builder of the Church. (iv) The local church, a cryptic way of identifying denomination, is not the Temple, neither its chambers called storehouse. People who support their local churches with their gifts of ministries, from the money they have, or believed to be entrusted with, are supporting religious fraud, Vatican projects, conspiracy, and overall corrupt worship. (v) Preachers today had inheritances: lands with title deeds; large estates; convoy of cars/ fleet of buses; personal jets; magnificent homes/ residences fully equipped with swimming pools, health clubs, sauna, with pianos which play by themselves; had record labels or book contracts; charge money for the seminars they host, and are engaged in stock and bond market. Their bank accounts are super fat. These preachers are servants of their own bellies, or appetites (Rom. 16:17-18; Philip. 3:17-19). They are completely different from the Levites, and therefore should not be supported with tithes. (vi) Tithing is not the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth, as preached by religious conmen, specifically Word of Faith Movement, otherwise called Charismatics, plus Pentecostals. Jesus Christ publicly said: “My kingdom is not of this world”… (Jn. 18:36). The kingdom of God does not need fraud to advance it. When tithes are given, it is the planting of manmade churches. In fact it is the advancing of satanic kingdoms which hold religions, ministries, and denominations together.

(vii)) And when the priesthood was changed from Aaronic to Melchizedek; from Levi, to Jesus Christ, there must also be a change from Law to the Gospel (Heb. 7:12). The priesthood of Aaronic accepted only Levites, who were supported by tithes. The priesthood of Jesus Christ, on the other land, accepted Christians from all parts of the globe, who preached the Gospel freely, and are not supported by tithes. Matt. 10:8 “… freely you have received, freely give”.

7. The act of giving is not tithing. The measure of giving is summed up in 1 Cor. 16:2, which states; “ Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come”. Here, we understand the following solid facts: (a) That giving must be regular, and planned (“upon the first day of the week”, that is, Sunday). (b) That giving must be all inclusive. All Christians, including preachers. None is exempted (“let every one of you”). The rich and the poor, slaves and free, all were to have a part in the sacrifice of giving of their possessions. (c) That giving must be systematic (“lay by him in store”). (d) And that giving must be proportionate (“as God hath prospered him”). The amount of each giving must be proportionate to the givers’ income.

The principle of giving in the New Testament surpasses the tithes which the Levites collected, and its purpose also outweigh the priests, or preachers as well. To begin with, the measure is “as God hath prospered him.” It is possible for a person to deceive himself by giving tithes of the money he receives, or the wealth he had accumulated. But provided it doesn’t match up the prosperity given him by God, he is robbing God. As he continue prosper materially, he must increase his giving. There should also be the motive of giving. 2 Cor. 9:6-7, states: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

“He which soweth sparingly,” that is, one who does not give as God had prospered him (cf. Prov. 11:24; Lk. 6:38; Gal. 6:7). One’s return, or prosperity, is determined by his giving. Before God you don’t invest, but give. Since God owned everything, including you, then He is at His own liberty to deny, or give you the prosperity. That giving must be undiscriminating, as well as unrestrained, is perfectly understood here. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart.” That is, the giving must be from open heart. There is no minimum quota, nor a minimum percentage. For each individual it is a mount to be determined in accordance as God had given you in your daily survival. “Not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” There is to be a willing heart and sincere desire on the part of the one giving in order to participate. God is not interested in your money neither the preacher of the Gospel (Ps. 50:10-12). Prov. 22:9 indicates: “He that hath bountiful eye shall be blessed: for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” “Cheerful,” is rendered Greek hilaron, from which the English term “hilarious” derives. Giving is not a joke; it is a serious Christian responsibility. Secondly, giving should not be hypocritical, neither the platform for seeking public reputation. The left hand should not know what the right hand is doing (Mt. 6:1-4). Hypocrites’ aim is to win human praise, whose parade and pretense is spiritually futile. Thirdly, giving is for the benefit of all saints (1 Cor. 16:1; 2Cor. 9:1), including the preachers (1 Cor. 9:1-14). James 1:27, states: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this. To visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Visiting the orphans, and widows, emphasize the act of giving. Destitute brothers and sisters in Christ, should also be assisted by giving (James 2:14-17). Fourthly, anyone regardless of race should be assisted through giving. In Mt. 6:42, Jesus Christ said, that: “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Not only giving is commanded, but borrowing as well. “Him that would borrow of thee.” Jesus Christ made it crystal clear that a loan should be looked upon as a potential gift. When genuine Christians lend something to someone, they should not expect to receive in return. Yet spurious, greedy Christian impostors would ask: “Is this practical?” The answer is: “Yes it is!” But that which is spiritual, in accordance to faith which Christians walked by, is not always that which is practical. There are many statements in Proverbs against borrowing, lending, and surety (cf. Prov. 6:1; 11:15; 22:7; 27:13). While the genuine Christians are warned of the dangers of borrowing and lending, Jesus Christ made it crystal clear that the believer ought to be willing to lend to those in need.

“Give him that asketh of thee.” Even the beggar on the street should be ministered to through the provision of giving. This Gospel message forms the basis of all Christian giving, and provides the proper social application of the statement to the physical needs of man as well as his spiritual needs. In the world, the obsession with material goods and possessions, makes them recoil at the thought of giving away what they have acquired. However, if you take the opposite direction, not the will of the majority, in the world; if you were willing to concentrate on the treasures of heaven, and be content with only necessary food and clothing, you would accept these words literally, willingly, and practically. The message from Jesus Christ presupposes that the person who asks for help has a genuine need, or purpose of doing so. Since it is impossible to know whether the need is illegitimate in all cases, it is possible to give to a score of fraudulent beggars, than risk turning away one legitimate person in the real need. Before God you have the case to answer, when brought forward in the judgment day. If the person who asked for the giving was fraudulent, con artist, then he will be judged as a thief. If the person was genuine but you assumed him to be fraudulent, then you will be judged as a liar, as well as greedy person. Everything in this world belongs to God. Use them right here, for you will not take them along with you in the next word.

Greed is sin, and if one doesn’t know, it is condemned in the Gospel. Majority, notably those parading themselves as Christians revealed their true wicked characters, and at the same time judgmental when they are requested for help, or to give. Jesus Christ even appreciated the giving of cold water to His disciples, called Christians (Mt. 10:42). If one doesn’t have money, surely he cannot miss water. Christ revealed that upon His Second Coming, in the judgment day, He will tell the greedy who are the goats separated from the sheep, that: “Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” Mt. 25:4. Things not done, or rejecting the acts of giving towards the needy will be considered as the work not done to Christ Himself (Mt. 25:42-45). Christ again will say to the generous, who exercise giving, that: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” Mt. 25:34. Reason provided in Mt. 25:35-40. Giving is not salvation, but is a good behaviour shown by a person who is saved, born again, experienced regeneration, and living in Christ. Humanly speaking, according to the nature of living in the current world, such behaviour as Christ calls for here is impossible. Only genuine Christian, who is controlled by the Holy Ghost, can live a self-sacrificing life. Only as Jesus Christ, the only Saviour is allowed to live His life in the genuine Christian can insult (Mt. 5:39), injustice (Mt. 5:40), and inconvenience (Mt. 5:41), be repaid with love. This is “the Gospel of the second mile.” Fifthly, giving had no limit. It flows continuously. Lk. 6:38 states: “Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Here is the principle that giving cannot outgive the Creator. God is the Creator, because He created everything in this world, for His own personal use, including human beings. Therefore we use everything in this world, for the short life we have, not because we owned them, but as caretakers, for we leave them right here, in the world when we die. Naturally, all our substance belongs to God. But as we give it back to Him, He is always generous in returning it to us again. Every cheerful giver knows both the joy of giving and the joy of God’s blessed provision. God entrusts more wealth to those who He knows will properly dispense it.

Love manifests itself in giving (Jn. 3:16; Eph. 5:23). The Christian living is a ministry of giving, expenditure. Those who give generously are rewarded generously. The picture is of a man with a large apron – like fold in the front of his garment. Currently pockets, in trousers, had replaced this. The man uses it for carrying seeds. The more widely he broadcasts the seed, the greater his harvest. It is a fixed principle in Christian life that we as the genuine Christians reap according to our sowing, that our actions react upon us, that the same measure we mete to others is the same that shall be measured to us again. If genuine Christians sow material things, they will reap spiritual treasures of inestimable value (cf. 1 Cor. 9:11). It is also true that what we keep, we loose and what we give we have (cf. Mk. 8:35). Much was spoken by our Lord regarding giving. Giving can be in in the form of money, farm produce, real estates or properties, clothing, and many more, from the smallest gifts to the largest gifts. The Lord spoke so, because these things touches everyday life, and is so liable to misuse, especially money. In fact both Solomon in Proverbs, and Jesus Christ gave many warnings regarding wine, women, and wealth. Here is the sum:

WINE. It is a mocker, in the case of Solomon, and is consumed by people lacking moral standard, who in turn are eternally perishing. In the Gospel, drunkards would not inherit the kingdom of God.

WOMEN. To Solomon, avoid strange women that can seduce you into adultery, fornication. In the Gospel, marriage is the cure for immorality, and must be permanent as placed, instituted by God, and is undivorceable, as commanded to man.

WEALTH. To Solomon, wealth is vanity, an avenue for temptation, and fraud. In the Gospel, wealth should be the source of Christian giving. The destitute should be helped wherever the need warrants. This is quite different from the armed forces manifestos, which is wine, women, and war, the three W. Sixthly, the giver is blessed more, as compared to the receiver. In Acts 20:35, Paul the apostle spoke: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” These words of Jesus Christ are not in the Gospel, though they may be included in the many things John the apostle mentioned were not written (Jn. 21:25). But to be “more blessed to give than to receive” might illustrate: (i) Reward from the Father for the secret alms giving (Mt. 6:4). (ii) Laying up treasurer in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Mt. 6:20). (iii) The attitude to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt. 6:33). (iv) Reward for continuous giving (Lk. 6:38). (v) That God loveth a cheerful giver, in 2 Cor. 9:7, is an indication of blessings. (vi) The giving of God’s kingdom to the genuine Christians who are described as little flocks. Lk. 12:33 states: “Sell that ye have, and give alms: provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasurer in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.” (vii) Giving fundamentally illustrates the character needed for a neighbour. The case of a Good Samaritan who helped the robbery victim, served as an example (Lk. 10:30-37). The victim was attacked, robbed, and stripped of clothes. Here: First, the giver must be proved a true neighbour. Second, he must have a compassionate heart. Third, he must have a helping hand. Fourth, he must have unlimited concern. Fifth, he must give up personal comfort, physical energy, and valuable time. The truth is this: Greedy person says what’s mine is mine. Fraudulent person says what’s yours is mine; and a Giving person says what’s mine is yours, we’ll share. In other words, the giver is blessed more than the receiver. Psalms 19:9-11 states: “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honey comb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”

RUN AWAY FROM DENOMINATIONS, MINISTRIES, RELIGIONS. THESE ARE CHURCHES OF THE DEVIL, SATAN.

1 Cor. 10:14 “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” The Christian walk is encountered with various temptations, which must be avoided at all costs. Part of the Lord’s prayer indicates: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil …,” Mt. 6:13. “Wherefore,” Greek dioper, a strengthened form of dio, literally “for this reason,” not “Therefore” as in NKJV. The reason clearly stated. The apostasy of Israelites can be duplicated upon those calling themselves Christians today. “My dearly beloved.” People loved by Paul, and Jesus Christ, whom they wonderfully serve. These are genuine Christians, not hypocrites, who openly speaking are occultists in the modern world.

“Flee from idolatry.” These words have a triple significance: 1. They contain a concern because they are addressed to people, Christians, whom Paul loved. 2. They express a command, not sympathy, they are given in the imperative mode. 3. And they express a consequence. Because of carelessly receiving the Gospel, in a way of fraud, deception, majority are lying to their hearts that they are Christians, born again.

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