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| vanity in the world without God |
FIRST
BIBLE LESSON: MATTHEW 7:2
"For
with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye
mete, it shall be measured to you again."
SECOND
BIBLE LESSON: 2 TIMOTHY 3:13
"But
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being
deceived."
GOLDEN
TEXT: MATTHEW 26:51-52
"And
behold one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his
sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear.
Then
said Jesus unto him, put up again thy sword into its place for all they that
take the sword shall perish by the sword."
Brethren, the
above texts summarize our sermon. Any person who claims to be wise and
civilized without the knowledge of this gospel, deceives himself. Some people,
communities or nations may be referred to as being civilized. The entire world
is led to believe that the whites are so civilized.
If people
were to be that civilized, and the whites so developed, why is armed robbery,
killing, deceit, division, covetousness, among other sins, so rampant in the
world? Are the whites, the blacks and their institutions of higher learning
truly civilized? THE ONLY CIVILIZED PERSON WHO IS ALL KNOWING IS OUR LORD JESUS
THE CHRIST. Such persons as Moses, Abraham, and the rest of the patriarchs were
not civilized, and thus, they knew nothing. If Abraham were civilized, he would
not have gone to war and destroyed, then, loot the city that held his nephew
Lot captive.
When ones
eyes are said to be open, reference is not made to the carnal eyes. Ephesians
6:12 states that , "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers..." It is not a physical warfare
but a spiritual one. Why do you fight, tell lies, covet, cheat, commit adultery
and fornication, and steal and commit other vices, yet you claim to be
civilized? Is sinfulness a measure of civilization? The Holy Spirit has advised
us not to call any person on earth a teacher. He is the only teacher in heaven
and on earth. Since He is the only teacher, you have to practise all His
injunctions. Do not allow any of His words to escape your memory.
The greatest
of all the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one that explains that
whatever evil one does unto others, same shall also be done unto him. Whoever
kills shall be killed. If you steal anybody's property, yours must be stolen.
In other words, the evil that men do lives after them. It is therefore
expedient that we should refrain from evil in order to escape the laws of
retribution for whatever you do unto others, same shall be done unto you.
To attend a
university and graduate in any discipline does not constitute civilization.
Those of you who can speak foreign languages fluently, can these foreigners
whose language you speak, speak your language? Where then is the civilization
of this world?
WHOEVER IS
CIVILIZED DOES NOT PRACTISE DISCRIMINATION, NEPOTISM, TRIBALISM, OR OPPRESSION.
Those at the peak of government who could rightly be considered to be civilized
are even the worse set of fools. They begrudge, hate, backbite, and petition
against one another. Once one is promoted or his salary is increased, others
will petition against such achievement. What then is the wisdom in such
practises? Does it not reveal man's foolishness and vanity? Also, if your
village is at war with another, perhaps because of boundary dispute, and you
kill people from that village, do you think the other villagers will not kill
your people? These catastrophes, in fact are the end result of the forbidden
tree whose fruit men did eat: THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL.
Whatever a
man does constitutes good and evil and is retributive. Therefore, there is no
carnal wisdom that can lead men unto eternal life. The significance of that
good and evil in the fruit of that tree in the garden could be explained as
follows:
If you
successfully cart away someone's property, you will regard yourself as being
lucky. This is the good side of the fruit. However, the repercussions of that
action is the evil effect, and its consequence is death.
The world is
so filled with evil in such a way that sincerity is cast away. For instance, if
a child picks up some money on the road, or on the field, and he is sincere
enough to hand it over to the owner, his parents, neighbors and friends will
regard him as being foolish. But somebody who would pick up money and promptly
runs home with it, even if the owner was there weeping, such a finder will be
hailed and considered to be very fast. Is such a person actually clever?
Is there any
sign of cleverness in such an action? That is the tree of good and evil.
Therefore, when you cheat somebody, know that you are cheating yourself. If you
kill somebody, know that it is yourself you are killing.
Whatever you
do unto another person, know that you are doing it unto yourself. This is a
secret wisdom. This is the kind of knowledge that is not obtainable in any
conventional or carnal school or church. It is the wisdom of truth I have brought
unto the entire world.
If Adam or
Abraham were to be my father, did they possess this knowledge? It is said that
a child must resemble the Father. People claim that Brotherhood of the Cross
and Star originates from Biakpan, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, etc.
Does the wisdom of truth given in this gospel form part of the culture of these
places? This teaching is not from here and it had never been anywhere else. It
originated from Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the truth which the entire world
had rejected. This is the time for mankind to practise this long rejected
teaching. It is high time the world knew that if you point a finger at
somebody, three of the fingers from the same hand point at you.
Brethren, the
wisdom of God supersedes that of man. Initially, this kingdom was called just
BROTHERHOOD. It was later that the words CROSS AND STAR were added unto it. The
reason is that God knew that human being can hardly forgive. Every person
believes and lives in vengeance. Therefore, God emphasized the need to bear one
another's burden, (CROSS) so they may pass unto the STAR (THE GLORY OF GOD). If
you cannot carry one another's cross, how can you receive the glory from God?
Being passed from Cross to Star). This gospel is in fact reminding you of just
this.
FIRST
BIBLE LESSON: MATTHEW 7:2
"For
with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye
mete, it shall be measured to you again."
RETRIBUTIVE
JUSTICE:
Brethren,
this lesson explicitly emphasizes on the law of retributive justice- what you
do unto others, so shall it be done unto you. On the other hand, one good turn
deserves another.
On this note,
therefore, members of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star have gladly accepted to
carry one another's Cross. We have accepted to suffer, to be disdainfully used
so that we will move into the state of joy which is the Star.
Do not cheat
or oppress or discriminate against any person. The Father is the owner of
heaven and earth and everything therein. Galatians 3:28 states that,
" There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for we are all one in Christ Jesus." No human
being therefore should claim ownership of anything. If you drive away somebody
from your office, house or village or country, so also will another person
drive you away from his office, or house or village or country. This is the
simplest and most joyous gospel to practise. It leads unto eternal life, glory,
peace, prosperity, joy, and the good things you can think of. PRACTISE EQUAL
RIGHTS AND FAIR PLAY AT ALL TIMES WITH EVERYBODY. PRACTISE ONENESS. THAT IS THE
TRUTH AND THE TEACHING IN THIS KINGDOM. IF YOU REGARD EVERY PERSON AS YOURSELF,
THEN YOU ARE FREE. DO NOT FOLLOW THE PATH OF YOUR FOREFATHERS, OTHERWISE YOU
WILL PERISH THE SAME WAY THEY DID. (JOHN 8:44).
ALL MEN ARE
EQUAL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. DO NOT IMPUTE SINS UPON ANY MAN, ANIMAL, PLANT,
INSECT OR ANY OTHER THING CREATED BY GOD. Whatever anybody does to you, do not
be angry with him, rather bless and pray for him, (and all those who
despitefully use you and persecute you. SEE MATTHEW 5:43-44). The
scripture advises us not to be exasperated when we are chastened.
When God
created all things, He gave man the power to superintend over all His
creations. This therefore implies that you have to take good care of everything
created by God, including all the animals and insects, be they domestic or not.
If you cheat or maltreat them, you will be held responsible. It is your
responsibility also to care for all the poor and needy. It is your duty to feed
the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the wanderer and console the
down-hearted." 2 Corinthians 8:15 states that, "He that
gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little has no lack."
Be your brother's keeper. One is made rich so that through him, the poor and
the needy, the less privileged, would be fed, clothed, sheltered and made to
feel a sense of belonging. With equality, oneness, and love, practiced by
individuals, societies, companies, and governments, the world will be in peace
and harmony. No one will lack and no one will have in excess. Of all the things
in this world, what matters most is equality, oneness and love. If you fail to
help the less privileged, and in fact those in need, remember that the same
shall be done unto you. But if you bestow your wealth upon the needy whenever
you go to, the same benevolence will be returned to you. Although this gospel
may appear impracticable, it is the most simple and most rewarding gospel to
practise. No matter how powerful you may be, there must always be another
person more powerful than you. No matter how wealthy and knowledgeable you may be,
there has to be another person who is wealthier and more knowledgeable than
you. Therefore whatever you do, unto another, same shall be done unto you and
even more. A local adage has it that "A child that never allows the mother
to sleep at night, because of his wailings, cannot sleep either." If you
discriminate against and despise anyone for not being a member of your church,
another person will surely do the same to you.
SECOND
BIBLE LESSON: 2 Timothy 3:13
"But
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being
deceived."
THE EVIL THAT
MEN DO LIVES AFTER THEM:
If you cheat
or oppress somebody because of the power you have, he will use another medium
to revenge. The person may employ the services of armed robbers or assassins to
obtain sweet revenge. If somebody is indebted to you and he is unable to pay
back and because of that you decide to take him to court to teach him a lesson,
the person will also think of teaching you worse lessons in his own way.
However, the time for such foolish practices had since passed. This is the time
for us all to surrender everything unto God. This is the time to refrain from
every form of vices. Do not judge or condemn any person. God in his infinite
wisdom made and kept all things in their respective positions. Day break in one
country may not be the same in another country. Similarly, a poor man today may
not be poor tomorrow. The poor man is made to complement and engage the
attention of the rich man. Your poverty is another's prosperity and vice versa.
This is why you do not have to laugh at another person's misfortune, for the
vicissitudes of life spare no one. The word of God never changes and it will
never change.
Brethren, let
your conscience be your guide. Whatever you abhor, never do it to others. If
you abhor lies, do not lie to others. If you hate cheating, why do you cheat?
If you hate evil, why then do you do evil to others? But if you do evil unto
others, it will surely come back to you. If you do not want to be troubled,
desist from troubling others. 2 Corinthians 8:9 states, "For ye
know the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your
sakes, He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." If you
sponsor the children of the poor and orphans in schools, feed and clothe them,
in the end, it is you that they will serve.
The birds,
the fishes, the ants, are useful, not only to themselves but to mankind too.
Man,
therefore, has to reciprocate the gesture. That is why it is recorded in the
Second Bible Lesson that, "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving and being deceived." As you continue to kill the ants,
the fishes, the birds, etc., so also have you condemned yourself to death. As
you continue to kill the mosquitoes, so will they attack you more and more.
With whatever weapon you use to kill another person or animal, the same shall
be used in killing you.
From the
beginning of the world, man, and animals lived together in peace and harmony.
Hostilities and hatred began when man started hunting and even killing the
animals. This is why the snakes, mosquitoes, ants, lions, and so on are biting
and eating man too. It was this same situation that warranted Our Lord Jesus
Christ to warn Peter against using the sword in cutting off the ear of the high
priest's servant. He said, "....for all they that take the sword shall
perish by the sword." (MATTHEW 26:52).
GOLDEN
TEXT: MATTHEW 26:51-52
"And
behold one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his
sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear. Then
said Jesus unto him, put up again thy sword into his place for all they that
take the sword shall perish with the sword."
ONE GOOD TURN
DESERVES ANOTHER:
Is there any
person in the entire world who has this wisdom? If you ask God for eternal
life, yet you continue to kill the animals, ants, and other insects, where will
the long life come from? Any life you destroy, you stand before God's judgement
to answer for it. The leaves, the flies, the water, the air, and all the
creations including human beings have life. They too, have their respective
roles to play. In order to be led by the Father and live without any curse, you
have to pray always and commit yourself to Him only. If you go ahead and do
anything on your own volition, you are definitely fighting against the Father.
Our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:29 said, " Are not two sparrows
sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your
Father." Upon the wisdom man claims to have, who can mention exactly the
number of hairs on his head? Upon all your wisdom and thinking ability, can you
turn one black hair white? Matthew 5:8 States that, "Blessed are the pure
in heart, for they shall see God." Hitherto, brethren, refrain from cheating,
fighting, quarrelling, oppression, segregation, and all evil tendencies so that
you can be worthy of God and inherit the kingdom of God. Be kind even to your
enemies and adversaries. No one can use force to change or rule the evil. God
uses love, peace, mercy, meekness, patience, and other godly virtues to rule.
None of these qualities is too painful or too strenuous to practise. Many
people are unable to come to Brotherhood because they are unable to practise
these teachings. They are scared of carrying one another's burden. But know
that whosoever continues in evil is lost.
The
illustration below will explicitly explain this gospel. Once there lived a
certain man who had a son. Incidentally this man fell sick, and he was taken to
various hospitals and churches, all to no avail. When the son had tried his
utmost without any improvement, he decided to abandon his father. He later took
his father to a village called Mbat Edet Ekeng, along Akpabuyo in Cross River
State. When he returned home and he was asked about his father, he told people
that he had taken him to a hospital elsewhere. The old man suffered in the bush
and until his death. Consequently, this boy grew up and he also begat a son.
When his son grew up, he too became sick and his son also tried all forms of
treatments to no avail. He too decided to abandon his father somewhere until
his death. Just like the father before him had done to his grandfather, this
boy took the father to the same spot in the same village his grandfather was
abandoned. At this juncture, his father called him and narrated the whole
incident about his father and how he died. He told his son that it is the same
sickness which his father died of that had befallen him. He then advised his
son to take him home for his own good, otherwise the trend of dying in that
valley would continue to other generations yet unborn. After the narration, the
two of them wept and the boy took his father home. Thus that chapter of
retribution was finally closed.
You must
learn to suffer and bear other person's cross. That is the essence of the Cross
between Brotherhood and Star. We were conceived in iniquities and born in sin.
Therefore if you want to dig into what was done to your great, great,
grandfather and what others have done to you, there will never be an end to
evil and vengeance, and you will not repent, and you will thus run short of
God's grace. Therefore, this cross demands that you should put your sword into
its sheath for whoever takes up the sword, shall die by it. This is an ample
opportunity for you to repent and forget about your past experiences in order
to have eternal life. This therefore calls for forgiveness to one another.
Follow the exemplary life of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He forgave His enemies and
even on the cross He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what
they do." (LUKE 23:34). Similarly, Stephen also forgave those who
stoned him to death as he said, "Lord lay not this sin to their
charge." (ACTS 7:60). If you do not ask God to forgive those who
offend you and you do not forgive your offenders, salvation will elude you. If
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not forgive His enemies, He would not have risen from
the dead. It is said, "Rejoice with those who are rejoicing and mourn with
those who are mourning." When somebody is befallen with a calamity and you
go about laughing at him, when the vicissitudes of life visit you, another
person will also laugh at you. A chapter has therefore been opened and the
trend continues. You are however advised against this attitude. Pray always for
the Father to give you the ability to practise this gospel.
May the good
Lord bless His Holy Words, Amen.
Thank You
Father.
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