Everlasting Gospel
First lesson: Romans 13 : 7
“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour”.
Second lesson: Philippians 2:4 - 5
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”
Golden text: Romans 15 : 2
“Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”
3.1 Emulate Jesus Christ
Beloved, I want you. members of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star to understand that those to inherit the kingdom are those who seek the well-being of their fellow men. Those who only seek their selfish Interest or benefit do not have any share in the kingdom. This group of people can stay in the world where selfishness is accepted and encouraged. God is the Father of ability, possibility and equality.
The kind of people needed in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star are those who render selfless services to others and also believe in the principles of equality and oneness. Such group of people do not cause segregation. Our Lord Jesus Christ possessed this spirit of oneness. Though innocent and sinless. He experienced torture, disgrace and crucifixion for our sake, without protesting. This is the divine example which we must emulate.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
...for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17 : 19).
In the light of this, we should minister to the helpless and needy one without seeking compensation or reward. We should be merciful to the orphans and destitutes. The work of God is to bear one another burden without complaining. Re-examine the First Lesson:
First lesson: Romans 13 : 7
“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom customs-fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
3.2 The divine path
Brethren, having re-examined the message from God in the above text, you are required to thoroughly search yourself to see if you have complied with the instruction. How many people have you administered to, as you have been enjoined? How many orphans or destitutes have you catered for without seeking compensation? The duty of Brotherhood is to exhibit mercy, willingness, grace and love This should be done for the interest of others. The expected virtues constitute the divine path which our Lord Jesus Christ enjoined us to follow. His instructions to us include rendering free services to others and defending the weak. Therefore, you have to go out and perform what He has assigned us.
Focus your attention on this hidden truth; toiling relentlessly for your sustenance does not attract any reward to you. But the day you begin to seek the well-being of other people, you would, from that time, be recognised as having begun the work of God. For that reason, we are enjoined to do everything within our power to cultivate the attitude of rendering .selfless services to others, if you do not possess this quality, you cannot be considered as a worker of God.
We should not behave like sycophants, hypocrites and self-centred people. We are advised to try our best to help others as well as appreciate their efforts towards us. The more desirous you are to solve the problems of others, the more unconsciously you fulfill the assignments of the Almighty God. These are the kind of people required in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. The scriptures affirm this fact in the following lines:
“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” (Matthew 20 : 26 - 27)
This excerpt has explicitly stated the divine truth; you have to adjust your thinking and actions to conform to this instruction of God. That is all our Lord Jesus Christ requires from us. If you do not minister freely to people, you cannot be regarded as a man of God, not even His servant.
3.3 Your responsibility in the kingdom
In Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, we think of, teach and practise the instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospels of the Kingdom should equally be taken to all countries, continents and planes of existence, for they constitute the source of peace to the entire mankind. As a member of the kingdom, you have been fed with the word of God and have been saved by practically demonstrating it.
Why have you not remembered your brethren who are in the world, who have not known or heard about God and His good tidings? By the command of Christ, it is your sole responsibility to take the word of God to them. You were not called into Brotherhood of the Cross and Star to get the truth and store it away in your cupboard or sleep with it on your bed. Rather, you were brought into the kingdom so that you would inturn n disseminate the word of God that you have heard from the Father to all and sundry as a way of bringing-salvation to humanity.
Re-examine the Second Lesson:
Second lesson: Philippians 2:4-5
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you. which was also in Christ Jesus.”
3.4 The compulsory task for the children of God
The Second Lesson affirms these words of courage that, the afflicted should no longer lament for the Redeemer is not on His way but right In our midst. We are aware that many of our brethren have been locked up behind bars, detained in dungeons, forced into asylums, abandoned in refugee camps without care and attention. There are also many who are bedridden in hospitals without attention, love or comfort It is your duty to visit, comfort, and provide them with their needs.
Go to the destitutes, the oppressed, deserted and distressed. Demonstrate the presence and love of the Father to them. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide water for the thirsty. Be sure that you do not discriminate against anybody when rendering the services. Continue to attend to them wherever and whenever you see them.
3.5 The directives for evangelism
Paul refused to build on another person's foundation; he refused to minister in places that Christ had, during His earthly ministry, already propagated the word. Paul sought to evangelise places that had not heard about Christ. This is confirmed in the scriptures (Romans 1l 20), thus:
“Yea. so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation”.
It is for this reason that you are asked to go to places where Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is unknown. Do evangelise the heathen; pitch your tent where people are utterly ignorant of the existence and true nature of God. The gospel should be propagated among those who do not know anything about the Comforter and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit on earth. When you get to such places, you should liberate the people with your thoughts, words and actions; for as long as you are led by the Spirit of God, your thoughts, words and activities are bound to be godly. One of our spiritual choruses queries, "where are you whom I saved?"
We all have been saved by God, and as a token of our appreciation we should take the good news of redemption to other people so that they too may be saved. The work of God has nothing to do with eating, drinking or-relaxing. Dissemination of the gospel is not a pleasure trip where you indulge in fornication, adultery, idolatry or drunkenness. Go out and preach and also practise the word of God among the various tribes, regions and races without seeking to be compensated.
3.6 Exhibit compassion to all brethren
Being aware of the fact that you are not serving man but God you should therefore not grumble, complain or be stubborn when embarking on it. Bear in mind that all human beings are God's creation and we all are brethren. Whenever you observe fasting ensure that it is beneficial to those who cannot fast. Also. each time you pray, make sure you make requests for those who cannot pray. Do not forget to extend your help to the incapacitated in whatever way you can. Always consider the problems of others and find solutions to them. We should be mothers to the motherless, fathers to the fatherless, children to the barren, brethren to those who do not have relatives. Let us protect the orphans and destitutes. It was for his reason that God created you and called you into His kingdom. Re-examine the Golden Text.
Golden text: Romans 15 : 2
“Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3.7 Identify your responsibility
Having re-examined the content of the above text, why have you continued to loiter in the Headquarters? Why have you not gone out to redeem mankind or do I assume that you are not aware of your responsibility? Employ the weapon of the spoken word; the moment you utter the word, "Let", all the problems of man will instantly be solved and mankind will be liberated from the bondage of darkness. Why have you neglected your divine duty? If you heed this advice by going out to preach to people and persistently pray for them, peace would be restored to the whole world. Your non-chalant attitude could make people think that you desire the destruction and not the salvation of the world.
This important point should be made clear to you: if you relentlessly seek the well-being of others, you would have abundant testimonies in return. Can you now see why the children of the kingdom do not joke with divine assignments? We, children of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, visit all places and people without fear, since we have been given the mandate to do so. The more frequently we visit these places, the greater the joy, peace, prosperity and salvation for those opportuned to have our presence.
Besides, you are required to demonstrate these virtues to the worldly people to enable them emulate you. There is no place, no matter how tight its security network is, that cannot be penetrated by the members of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. The children of Brotherhood spread their tentacles to various places to bestow peace, joy. love and salvation on their inhabitants. For instance, though there s no free entry for visitors into the Kirikiri maximum prisons, a member of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star was granted permission into the place, and by going into the place, he extended peace and salvation, not only to the inmates but also, the workers in the wards.
3.8 Support the hopeless
It is written in the scriptures that:
“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find ft”. (Matthew 10 : 39)
So we should not only be meticulous and considerate when certain things concern us, but should also show interest in things that concern others. It is incumbent on us to work for the joy, prosperity and salvation of our fellow brethren. All of you are mandated to go out and demonstrate love, peace, joy, among other godly qualities, so that salvation may be brought to the entire humanity. This is God's divine assignment for us. And it is the reason behind our call into the kingdom. Recall Christ's reply to those who inquired from Him what they should do in order to gain entrance into the kingdom of God. He admonished them that, whoever has two coats should give one to his brother. His admonition also applies to food. The scriptural affirmation of this divine lesson is found below:
“And the people asked him, saying, what shall we do then? He answered and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none: and he that hath meat. let him do likewise. (Luke 3:10 - 11 )
Endeavour to share whatever God has endowed on you with others who do not have such; be it wealth, wisdom, power or life.
3.9 Gather the sheep of God
To have fervent belief or faith in God does not constitute in mere words, but action. The demonstration of your love for God should be by going to save the children of God who are in bondage. Seek and bring to the Father those who do not know the path that leads to God. It is pathetic that a lot of people are still gazing at the sky, expecting our Lord Jesus Christ to crashland while you are seeing Him face to face. Why have you not gone out to ask them to look down? Moreso, why have you not enlightened them about this truth so that they too may be saved?
You have witnessed Him heal the sick, make the lame to walk restore sight to the blind, the dumb are made to speak, the dead raised to life, amongst other numerous mighty works. You are also a living witness to the lavish love, peace, faith, joy, humility, kindness, benevolence, honesty and patience found in the kingdom. Having witnessed these, why then have you not taken these virtues out by practically teaching them to people so that they may emulate you and be redeemed?
3.10 Those who have seen God in flesh
Persistently, you insist on going to Jerusalem or Mecca which will not attract any benefit from God. What exactly do you go to Israel or Saudi Arabia to do? Have you not seen the destitutes, orphans and those ignorant of the true knowledge of God around you? Why do you not go into their midst and help them by sensitizing their minds about the truth and presence of God now on earth with man? When you go to Israel, you should merely go there to inform her inhabitants that you have seen what they are still expecting. Many people erroneously think that one would see God when one goes to Jerusalem, Mecca, Rome or Egypt. This is a sad misconception. God is not found in any of these places.
The entire members of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star have seen God and felt His presence. The only set of people in the whole world who can declare God to mankind are the children of the New Kingdom of God on earth, which is Brotherhood of the Cross and Star; for they are the only people who have seen Him as He is. Recall that the twelve apostles declared the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to all in spite of the stiff oppositions.
Beloved, a stroke of cane is sufficient for the wise. Let he who has an ear hear what the Holy Spirit has imparted to the world. May God bless His holy words, Amen.
THANK YOU FATHER