Everlasting Gospel
First Lesson: Matthew 20: 28
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Second Lesson: John 3:17
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved”
Golden text: John 13: 10:11
“Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not have to wash his feet, but is clean every whit and ye are clean, but not all for he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, ye are not all clean”.
3.1 A ransom for our sins
Brethren, the gist of this sermon come from the above Biblical excerpts. What did Our Lord Jesus Christ say? He opined that anyone who is not with him is against Him and anybody who does not gather with him, scatters his sheep. (Matthew 12:30). Christ had His mission on earth and He did just that. We must examine ourselves to uncover our mission on earth. As explained in the first lesson, the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but rather to administer to others. He came to give Himself as a ransom to mankind The second lesson has it that, Christ was not sent by the Father to judge the world; but to save the world.
A woman who was caught in the act of adultery was brought to our Lord Jesus Christ. The people told Christ what the law of Moses said about adultery and asked him of His opinion. In His reply, Christ asked the people that any of them who knew that they had never committed sin should pick up a stone, and stone the woman to death. Christ evaded to give His opinion because, God did not send him to judge or to condemn anybody. He was not sent to the world to justify anybody either. He came so that those who believed in him should have salvation. It was not His concern how guilty or justified one may be.
I do not think that there is any church organisation which knows the spirit of Christ. Neither do they know He does not condemn nor judge any person. This is because, the role of a judge is different from that of a Saviour. In other words, Christ came to save but not for judgment. Only God can condemn or justify somebody. There is no other person who has the power to do this work. This explains why, when Mary Magdalene followed Christ to Simon's house, where they were dining, she fell on Christ’s feet crying and washing His legs with her tears. Simon was annoyed with her. Having known his mind, Jesus reacted immediately and narrated a parable to him.
Two men were indebted to a certain man. One of the debtors owed much money, the other owed less. Who of the two debtors will be more grateful if their debts were written off. Simon answered that, the person who owed much debt was supposed to be happier. Christ affirmed his reply. Christ asked Simon further whether he Simon had given Him even water to wash His feet since He paid him a visit at his house. He lauded the gesture of the woman who took care of Him and anointed His feet with costly ointment. As such He forgave her numerous sins. (Luke 7:40-47).
This is why I always say that the world does not know the spirit with which Christ came to the world. Besides His Spirit, the world does not know His real self. He did not come to judge, justify or kill anybody but to save, and whoever believes in him will have eternal life. He does not teach any other thing other than love, patience, forgiveness and righteousness. He did not come to disgrace people, like it is done in other churches which disgrace their converts at random. He did not come to cheat, deceive, oppress or kill people, neither did he come to be worshipped or glorified. He came to save only those who believed in Him. It is said that:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Heb 13:8
3.2 He came to serve and not be served
He came with the spirit to serve not to be served. He wants all those who are laden and weary to follow Him. He promised to give them rest.
I sympathise with the world the Christendom, Hinduism, Muslim among other religions, because they do not know the Spirit of Christ. Christ said that all the people the Father gave to him would follow Him. He also promised not to drive them away. Your behaviour is negation of Christ's. You judge and condemn, alleging that if they do not belong to your church they are doomed and you do not have anything to do with them. This not my teaching.
Examine your spirit. If it is not like that of Christ, you are not of Christ. If your spirit is like that of Christ, you would not want others to serve you. And you would not judge others. You would accept and accommodate others. Your spirit should encompass love, patience, mercy, truth and the Spirit of salvation. Among the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot had a spirit of betrayal. This nature of his was known to our Lord Jesus Christ and He did not ostracize Judas Iscariot. He did not even disclose these shortcomings to other disciples. This is what no man, church or cult can accommodate, yet our Lord accommodated Judas Iscariot.
3.3 He came to forgive not judge
Christ preached truth, love, peace and patience but Judas Iscariot was a negation of this. Peter, John and other disciples reported to Christ about magnificent buildings which Judas Iscariot was building for harlots, but Christ was not bothered, He condoned His shortcomings. This explains that, Christ was not sent to the world to judge but to save. If he had wanted to judge any of his disciples, none of them would have been worthy. Remember when He told His disciples that a time would come when they (disciples) would deny him to fulfill what was written in the scriptures.
Who on earth would have tolerated a situation where the twelve disciples deserted Christ when He was captured, but on His resurrection, he brought them back. Since he came to save and not to judge, He asked Simon Peter whether he loved Him. Simon affirmed it He charged him to feed His lambs (John 21:15-17). This demonstrated Christ's intention to save whoever believes in Him, whether righteous or unrighteous.
All those who profess to be Christians, do they know that the spirit which Christ has in the world was merciful? He did not have the spirit to criticise, condemn or judge. Who ever has the spirit of God must be kind and helpful.
Recall the reply which Christ gave to a certain man who approached Christ to share their father's property between him and his brothers. He rhetorically asked to know who made Him a judge and a sharer for them. He also warned the disciples against covetousness. Christ came as a peacemaker and a Saviour of mankind. When you indulge in judging and sharing property among family members, I wonder whether this is the spirit of God.
Most of the time you judge or settle people's cases, you end up making them more quarrelsome and more aggrieved. The judgment you deliver to people is through the spirit of the world. It has no connection and likeness of Christ's spirit.
3.4 He came to save man
The name “Jesus” means Saviour. And the world is saved through it. The fact that His preoccupation was to come and save the world, informs us why He did not come to be administered to. The spirit was not to kill, neither was it to condemn, justify or scatter brethren, but to salvage the lost sheep and bring them together in one fold.
The Herodians and the Pharisees went to Christ in order to find faults in His teachings. They asked Him whether it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar or not. Having known their hypocrisy, Christ asked for their coin and got it. He looked and demanded to know whose portrait was inscribed on it. When they said it was Caesar, He advised them to give to Caesar what belongs to him and render what is God's to God as is stated below:
“And Jesus answering saying unto them render to Caesar the things that are Caesar',s and to God the things that are God's, and they marvelled at Him (Mark 12.7)
In another incident, one of His disciples, John, reported that, he scolded someone who was not amongst the disciples for using His (Christ's) name to heal or do miracles. Rhetorically, Christ replied that as long as someone is not against them, he was for them.
3.5 He brought salvation to man
Our Lord Jesus Christ came to bring salvation to-those in bondage of sins to set mankind free, and to unite mankind once again with God. The acts of gossiping, backbiting, quarrelling, fighting, and imputing sins are the works of the flesh. When the disciples of Jesus ate without washing their hands, the Jews found fault and accused them of deviating from the traditions and values of their elders. Christ replied them by saying that what goes into a man does not defile him, rather what comes out of a man can defile a man. See confirmation below.
“There is nothing from without a man, that entering in can defile him: but the things which comes out of him, those are they that defile a man” (Mark 7:15).
Jesus had told His disciples that any plant which was not planted by His heavenly Father would be uprooted. And enjoined His disciples to leave the Jews and Pharisees to their ways because, they were a group of blind people who lead the blind. One can imagine what would happen in a situation where blind men are led by a blind men.
Zaccheus was a rich publican. One day, He sought to see Jesus but could not shove the crowd as such, he did not have access to Him because of his stature. To this effect, he decided to climb a tree in order to see him, since Christ was to take that way. And when Jesus got to the place He saw Zaccheus and asked him to come down that he was going to be his guest that day. Many people raised their eye brows because Christ went to the sinner's house. Jesus said to him that:
“This day has salvation come to this house… for the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:9-10).
Jesus came to save “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” And that is why you cannot find a portrait of Christ in any rich man's house.
Any one who possesses the Spirit of God does do not criticise or reject anybody. If someone is poor, do not attribute his poverty to his sinful acts. Richness does not come as a result of someone's good work. Someone is rich because of one ignoble act or the other. Our Lord came to show us the righteous way, He never chastised nor despised man. He used a simple and direct way to make people see the truth. Simplicity, patience, tolerance and kindness are Christ's virtues.
First Lesson: Matthew 20:28
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”
3.6 Freely you receive, freely give
The spirit of God is righteousness and Christ stood for this. He teaches us to be righteous at all times. The scripture enjoins you to give whatever you have free because you receive it freely. You have to go and heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out devils free of charge. Do not work with the aim of receiving gratification, because this will be a negation of Christ's teaching. Who amongst the disciples did our Lord Jesus proclaim to be the best? Who amongst the disciples did Christ tag as the most wicked? Which of the churches or persons did Christ condemn? He never did this.
When Levi held a banquet in Jesus honour, the people (Scribes and Pharisees) found fault with him for dining with the sinners and publicans. But when Jesus heard it, he told them that a healthy person does not need a physician, but those who are sick look for physicians.
Those Brotherhood members who are fond of cheating others do not have the spirit of God. Christ came to save mankind, to heal their sickness, to feed the poor, to cloth the naked, He did not need any reward or praise from anyone. He came for all and embraced same. But you only select a few persons you relate with. And you only help those who are close to you. What is more, you are fond of backbiting, gossiping and imputing sins on those that have offended you. These practices are not in line with the spirit of Christ.
Many preachers today are after money. Some members are deprived of the Holy communion on the grounds of owing some dues in the church. Even when a person is sick and is not physically strong to attend church services, the person's dues are recorded and accumulated for him/her. In case of his/her death, the church will not toll any bell for the person and the members will not attend the funeral ceremony of such a fellow member. And the bereaved family would be ordered to settle the debts.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and any where He went, He was doing good to people. He is a healer and a selfless worker, who accepted to die on behalf of his friend, so that, they might have life. Our Lord Jesus Christ embraces everybody and welcomes all, no matter how the person comes to Him. He is a Father of all, a friend to all, and of course, merciful to everyone.
3.7 Let the Spirit of Christ direct your action
Our Lord's aim of coming to the world was to save mankind. Know that anything you are given by God is for you to use and better the lots of humanity. This is the preoccupation of Brotherhood members. The six storey building under construction is the handiwork of a member. You cannot see this type of a thing in other church organisations. There, the rich and the poor are levied equally.
Recently, somebody took upon himself to develop the Father's photograph which has cost him N20,000.00 There are many of such philanthropic works done by members of this kingdom. Brothers in Enugu have come to testify that the central Cathedral which they tried to build for quite some time without making any meaningful impact had reached a reasonable stage of progress because of a helping hand by Pastor Okpara Williams.
The Scripture at Philippians 2:2-9 reveals the sprit of Christ. Do not feel that you are better than others. Let nothing be done through vain glory. Let us in one accord serve the Lord, with our resources. Render philanthropic services to the less privileged people. Let you duty be that of drawing men to God. You are to render free services to people, help the sick and the poor.
Second lesson: John 3 : 17
"For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved”
If any person possesses a spirit other than the spirit that is here, such a person must pray fervently for himself. All those who charge for services they render do not possess the spirit of God. Those who charge money to pray or preach to people do not possess this spirit of God, The same is true of all those who take money for healing.
Those who impute sins on others and criticise others do not possess God's spirit. This explains why Christ was named "Jesus" because He was to save others free. No wonder why, He is a Saviour. If He was coming for judgment, He would not have come at all. The Bible had already prejudged the world when it said that there was no righteous person on earth. He came so that He may save mankind from destruction. The Father had wanted to destroy the world, but Jesus pleaded on our behalf.
Why is it that those who call themselves Christian go about criticising and condemning one another? Why do they think that a particular church is satanic and others are Christ? If our Lord Jesus Christ had criticised or discriminated against anybody, who would have been saved in the universe? Whether you call him a mad person, a thief, Beelzebub or any other derogatory name, He does not worry Himself about it. His main concern of coming to the world was for the salvation of mankind. This is the mission of the Son of God. The Spirit that is here is that of salvation and not of judgment. Stop imputing sins on one another but practice love. If you catch a thief you would beat him up instead of giving him food, money and clothes, is that right? Why must you judge people by calling them thieves, fornicators among other names?. Is that your business? This is the spirit of the flesh which is anti-Christ.
3.8 The Spirit of Christ is here in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star
Despite your short coming here, you are welcome any time, any where. This is so because the spirit here is that of salvation. Upon all your short coming, you are not ostracised from the fold. If you are sent away because of your inability to practice the words of God, where then lies your salvation? That is why our spiritual song has it that, you should not cry for the Redeemer is not on the way but right here.
This sermon must be made available to all parts of the world. I do not curse, abuse anybody, place or thing. This is not my work. I have to save you, and salvation has nothing to do with curses. If I turn around to curse and segregate against you, where is the hope of mankind? If you claim to be a follower of Christ, and you do not follow His foot steps, then you are the real anti-Christ. And to say the least, you are a stumbling block to his work. For this reason, He asked the disciples why they call Him Lord but they do not practice His injunctions.
“And why call ye me, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)
The Holy Spirit has not come to take money or wealth from you. He has not come to acquire mundane things but to save mankind at all cost. He has come to do good to others and not otherwise. The worldly people enslave their fellow human beings for meagre sum. If these type of people give you a worthless money, they make you suffer for it They can not give out money without interest. That is why I have nothing to do with money, cars, houses or other forms of wealth. The Holy Spirit comes to save by grace. This is to glorify God and to magnify His glory. If you do not possess such a spirit, put yourself in fervent prayer.
Those who are in this spirit of God promote peace, unity and oneness. They do not cheat and are not given to anger, hatred, imputing sins on others. Such people are bent on helping others free. If someone takes something from these classes of people and such a thing get lost or spoilt, they do not go to court to seek redress. That is why you are told not to allow your right hand to know what your left hand is doing. That is the same reason you have been told that if you make a feast you should not invite those who are wealthy. Rather, invite the poor, needy and the destitute, those who cannot compensate your gesture.
Christians ought not to abuse, curse, hate or oppress other human beings. A follower of Christ is not expected to enslave other human beings. He is not to discriminate.
You are asked to seek for goodness of others, (1 Corinthians 10:24); If you have the spirit of God, you will do good to everyone without expecting any reward from them. And with God's spirit, your sermon will always centre on love, unity, peace, goodness and oneness. You will also preach mercy and practice it.
If Christ had come to judge the world, the world would have perished. You can see that the Christendom are anti-Christ, The people of the world are scattering, instead of gathering with Him. The Holy .Sprit does not look for large membership of a fold, rather He gives salvation to those who are weak, sinners and believers in God. He has come to save those who need help and those who hope in Him. Such people are free to go to any where they like. That is why He said:
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth..” (John 16:12-15).
Recall the Samaritan woman, when our Lord Jesus Christ asked her to call her husband. She said that she was not married, but Christ told her that she was right since she had been married to five husbands already. (John 4: 17-18)
If someone is a harlot, rogue, or commit sins, but repents, such a sinner will be saved. Christ was a Saviour of souls. That is what we have come to do. He does not send anyone away for committing sin, rather He wants you to repent. You are not to speak evil against anybody or to judge any body, but you have to save all people.
Golden text: John 13: 10 11
“Jesus saith to him, he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all. For He knew who should betray him therefore said he, ye are not all clean”
3.9 God is the only judge
God is the only rightful judge. You know that Christ Himself said that, if you marry and later divorce to remarry, you have committed adultery. A woman was caught red handed sleeping with a man, but He set the culprit free when she was brought to Him. He set her free in his own way because he did not come to judge but to save. He came to forgive all those who repented from their sins. He did not come to be a burden to people by working for money. He said that any one that works to get money is not a true shepherd, but a hireling who does not care for the sheep. (John:10: 12- 13). The work of God is done free.
It is said that anyone who judges others cannot escape judgment. If all those who claim to be Christians walk by the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ, the world would be in peace. And the glory of God will manifests greatly.
In His final prayer before the arrest He said:
“I have glorified thee on earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:4-5)
This is His type of prayer and not prayer for mundane things the spirit of lust. The same spirit causes you to curse, abuse and impute sins to others. This worldly spirit has nothing to do with righteousness.
If you want people to serve and administer to you, it means that you are not using the spirit of God. It means you are possessed by Lucifer. He has made us to know that anyone who wants to be the greatest shall minister unto others. That is, anyone who wants to be a leader must become the servant.
“but he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11)
3.10 Jesus Christ is in this kingdom
Jesus the Christ was known physically in flesh, no person shall know Him that way anymore except in spirit.
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2 Cor 5:16).
He is known by the spirit which is ruling in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, the spirit that plans and does good to others, which does not impute sins on others. The son cannot do anything except what he sees his Father do. So, the spirit in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is the Spirit of Christ.
Those who curse or .abuse Brotherhood of the Cross and Star are the very people who need salvation which this kingdom brings to the world. Those who make unwholesome comments about Brotherhood should not be -sent away. All what He instructs us to do are what He did. He loved His enemies and did good to those who treated Him despitefully. These are the things He had asks us to do also.
If He had wanted you to send away your enemies or those who plan evil-against you, the first person would have been Judas Iscariot whose behaviour fell short of Christ's teachings. Judas himself knew that Jesus the Christ was a just person. That was why when he saw that Christ was arrested, he went back and threw the thirty pieces of silver on them. Of course, nobody answered him.
That was why Christ said, no love is greater than one to die for his friends. Despite our sins and recalcitrance, Christ is still pleading with us to repent and ask for God's forgiveness. He could simply reject us for such insubordination but He loves us the more and draws us to Himself, because He came to save.
3.11 Emulate the Christ
So, the life of Jesus Christ is worthy of emulation. His spirit is that of mercy which does not discriminate. And He does not want people to suffer. He does not want people to minister unto Him. He is patient, tolerant and ready to serve. This is the spirit of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star.
The objective of this kingdom is to help others as our daily activities show. When someone laments and comes here we simply find out his problems and solve them. We do not demand from people for anything material except to love.
A stroke of the cane is sufficient unto the wise. Let those who have ears to hear, let them hear. May God bless His Holy words. Amen.
THANK YOU FATHER