OLD AND NEW COVENANT
A covenant is a contract, an agreement, between two parties. When God is one among them, it is a very serious contract, a sacred agreement. God’s existence was revealed to the world through this agreement. Many believe that the old covenant refers to a harsh Ten Commandments law, while the new covenant pertains only to grace and promises not based on law or obedience.
Yet, the Bible reveals the true meaning and significance of these divisions, known as the Old Testament and the New Testament. When God created man, He made him to appear as a spiritual image of Himself. Man was physically and spiritually complete. But for his regular sustenance as the physical man needs to eat; the spiritual man was to depend on God for the spiritual food for his soul.
When the first man was to make a choice between God and devil as the source for his spiritual food, he willfully chooses the devil, as the present day world. It was not just a simple disobedience, but it was a deliberate choice of evil over good, and the evil spirit got embedded onto the human soul affecting the entire human race.
In this condition, the spirit, which is the life force for the soul (Genesis 2:7 The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. What God breathed into Adam’s nostrils is His own Spirit, and Adam’s soul became a living soul), lost its sustenance from God and got suppressed, and the devil took almost full control and authority over the human soul, thus making them carnal or devilish.
THE OLD COVENANT:
It is the Law of the flesh Rom 7:5; Law of works Rom 3:27; No mercy Heb 10:28; Many sacrifices Heb 9:12-13; Aaronic priesthood Heb 7:11; Temporary priest Heb 7:23; Yearly atonement Heb 10:3; Priests have sin Heb 5:1-4; Remembers sins Heb 10:3; Carnal ministry Heb 9:9-10.
The Ten Commandments were the constitution of the theocracy and the other laws were the bylaws. All of these ordinances and regulations together constituted the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic economy and the ordinances targeted chiefly the carnal beings. Their meats and drinks concerned the body; their ablutions and washings sanctified to the purifying of the flesh; their circumcision was outward in the flesh; all the rituals of the law consisted in outward things, hence those that trusted in them trusted in the flesh.
Also their spiritual activities were centered around the temple, because God was present in the temple. They were supposed to visit the temple for celebrating feasts and festivals and offer first fruits, tithes and sacrifices for the forgiveness of their sins. Only the High Priest could come before the very presence of God in the Holy of Holies once a year. A veil separated the people from their God. Similar veil can be seen in many of the Indian temples even today.
The Old Covenant, containing a single, unified law code, was a legal, conditional covenant requiring perfect and complete obedience of all those under it. Deu 28:1-2,15, 25 If thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments, then the Lord thy God will set thee on high and all the blessings shall come upon thee. But if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, the Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies and the entire curse shall come upon thee.
All such instructions and the failure of Israel to live up to what they had promised to do, are documented as a lesson for the benefit of the later generations. Such a lesson could not be condensed into one proverb or even one episode. These lessons had to be written in blood, so to speak, requiring many books of the Bible, with the experiences of many generations interwoven with God’s commands and counsel.
Carnal Man: John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? They had been instructed by God’s servants and had witnessed numerous divine miracles from God. However, they could not obey God, much less overcome weaknesses of the flesh. Their experience demonstrates that man cannot obey or please God in his natural carnal state. So all of them slowly drifted towards the rituals, formalities and traditions of the priests.
Unfortunately this is what most of the people around the world, irrespective of any religion are practicing scrupulously even today, thinking that they are fulfilling the will of God. They are not only disobeying God, but also making others to do the same, proving themselves to be enemies of God.
Rom 8:6-7 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Nothing short of God’s miraculous divine intervention is required to open the mind and grant the willpower to begin keeping God’s laws; to deeply desire to be in harmony with every aspect of His will.
THE NEW COVENANT:
The carnal man being unable to keep the Old Covenant is condemned to Hell. But God in His mercy did not want to leave mankind to be lost for ever. So God decides to revive the spiritual being in man through Jesus Christ, and makes the New Covenant with this spiritual man. This was predicted by prophet Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.
The New Covenant is the Law of the Spirit Rom 8:2; Law of grace and faith John 1:17; Complete mercy Heb 8:12; One sacrifice for sin Heb 10:12; Melchisedec priesthood Heb 5:5-10, 7:21; Eternal priest Heb 7:17; Eternal atonement Heb 10:14; Sinless priest Heb 7:26; Forgets sins Heb 8:12, 10:17; Spiritual ministry II Cor 3:6.
Under the New Covenant, we are not penalized then and there, for all our misdeeds. We are under grace, but not at liberty to live in sin. Grace gives us the freedom and power to obey Jesus Christ. By virtue of Christ’s perfect obedience to the law, as well as His bearing of its curse on the cross, the New Covenant promises only blessings to all those who belong to it.
Mat 5:3-11 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The New Covenant is modeled after the old, with its basic laws like the Ten Commandments which are not only retained in all its force and wisdom, Jesus makes it plain that He added intent to the laws scope so that it is now stricter under the New Covenant.
Mat 5:38-40, 43-44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. Ye have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Mat 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
FULFILLING THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS:
The New Covenant fulfills the Promise that God made to Abraham. Gen 22:18 And in thy seed (which is Christ Gal 3:16) shall all the nations (Jews and Gentile) of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Through whom alone all God’s blessings of providence, mercy, grace, and glory, shall be conveyed to the nations of the earth. 2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
God can be pleased only with that which resembles himself: and those who are made partakers of his own divine nature. To attain this divine nature, first and foremost the spiritual being has to be revived through faith in Jesus Christ, who shed His own blood to atone for the sins of the world and then get strengthened by the Word with the help of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16-17,26 I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Paul was enabled to do all by the power of an indwelling Christ. Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. At every step of life, Christ is able to strengthen us, and can bring us triumphantly through. Hence the New Testament believers are taught of God by His Spirit according to the word of truth and by the ministry of it, the revived spiritual beings are strengthened by the spiritual food, to be able to fulfill all the Covenants of God.
The Comforter will give us this spiritual food when we meditate upon the Word day and night. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Psalm 119:97,99 O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
LITERAL WORD:
Ever since the creation of Adam and Eve, the devil has demonstrated himself to be a literalist preacher. In Genesis 3:4, the devil through the serpent says to Eve “Ye shall not surely die!” This appears to be correct if we interpret the word literally, because they did not physically die immediately after their disobedience. But this is contrary to what God had said to Adam and Eve in Gen. 2:17, “but of the tree of the knowledge good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die”. If we understand these words that God spoke to be spiritual in their reference, both of them did die spiritually, immediately as per God’s warning.
If we study Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4:1-11 for example, the devil’s message was about literal bread, while Jesus’ concern was spiritual bread. The devil again tempts Jesus Christ with the mutilated quotation of (Psa 91:11-12) that he would be safe in casting himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple; which actually referred to spiritual protection. Even the last temptation was an attempt to interest Jesus in the literal kingdom, rather than the spiritual kingdom Jesus was setting up (John 18:36). Hence it is clear that the devil is a literalist preacher.
Paul taught in II Cor 3:6 that the letter (in Greek letter means literal) killeth, but the spirit (spiritual) giveth life. In John 3 : 4, Nicodemus thinks that being born again is a literal, fleshly rebirth, and in John 4:15, when Jesus offers the Samaritan woman the water of life, she means literal water.
Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. As it was predicted we have the written word, the Bible to read, but no ministers with revelations, but they have all become full of greed, self-indulgent, deceit and sinful (Mat 23:25, 28). Most of the believers are heavily dependent on these pastors or preachers for their spiritual food, not knowing that they are all adulterated and eating such foods, results in decay and death of their spiritual beings.
1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things. Rev 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters. Jesus also declares that no one can claim to be a rabbi, spiritual father or a master because all are equal. We have only one Rabbi, one Father and one Master who is our Messiah Jesus himself (Mat 23:8-10).
Gal 1:11-12 I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Likewise the believers are to depend only on Jesus Christ for the revelation or the heavenly manna which is the one and only spiritual food for the spiritual being, because the commandments of the Lord are pure, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (Psa 19:8,10).
HEAVENLY MANNA:
Bible is a unique book, because it is given by inspiration of God (2 Ti 3:16). It contains portions of scripture that indicate only a literal meaning which is meant for the non-believers to understand, but the remaining are all having both spiritual and literal or pure spiritual meanings, which are meant only for the spiritual children. The spiritual meanings contained in this book, if they should be written every one, even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written (John 21:25). It is an unfathomable and inexhaustible treasure house, from where God says, He will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely (Rev 21:6; Isa 55:1-2).
Deu 8:3 And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. The manna typified Christ, the bread of life. He is the Word of God; by Him we live.
John 6:53-55 Then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. His flesh is the literal word and we are required to eat His flesh with His blood. This blood is the life in the Word. The Word with life is the real food to keep our spiritual being alive and growing in Him.
Only for His Children: Luke 8:10 Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. The word mystery, in the Bible, properly means a thing that is concealed, or hidden.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Whoever has a saving knowledge of Christ, and a spiritual acquaintance with the doctrines of the Gospel, shall have more grace given him; he shall grow in the knowledge of Christ, and the Spirit of truth shall lead him into all truth: of grace, light, wisdom, and experience.
But whosoever hath not: the truth of grace, nor a spiritual knowledge of Christ, nor any experience of the doctrines of the Gospel, and the ministry of it, the means of grace, the Gospel of the kingdom of God, which in process of time were wholly taken from these people.
1Co 2:8-11 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him, these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12-14 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not understand them because they are spiritually discerned, but can be understood by spiritual people with the spiritual wisdom.
WISDOM OF HIS CHILDREN:
Psa 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: 1Co: 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.
Here he contrasts two different types of wisdom. a) The wisdom of this world. b) The wisdom of God. We know that the world’s wisdom is literal, physical understanding of things. Paul tells us that the world’s type of wisdom (literal) will come to nothing. However, he shows us that there is a “hidden”, or “mystery” wisdom that is of God.
James 3:17 The Spiritual wisdom is pure in itself, it is free from everything that is earthly, carnal, or sensual, or devilish; it produces purity of heart, of life, and conversation; and is the means of keeping persons pure and chaste, and free from impure lusts, lusts of uncleanness, pride, envy, wrath, etc. which prevail in carnal and unregenerate men.
The Gospel is the wisdom of God, mysterious, hidden, ancient wisdom, and hence the more we eat the Word of God, the more spiritual wisdom we get. It is the direct measure of our spiritual growth. This spiritual wisdom gives us the knowledge of what and who God is.
God is not merely eternal. He is supreme in every quality of goodness, and in Him absolutely no evil dwells. In the Bible, this goodness is called holiness, which is transcendent purity. It permeates every aspect, every attribute, of God-life. God’s character is holy, and it flows out from Him in acts of love, making it impossible for Him to do anything evil. This is the state towards which He is drawing us.
UNRECOGNIZED WORKS:
Unfortunately very many believers are being led to go astray by taking spiritual shortcuts, without going through the process of growing spiritually and knowing Him intimately. Mat 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:21-23 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. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Iniquity means (from the Hebrew word עוּה, pronounced as iwwah, to bend, make crooked, pervert) crookedness, or perverseness, i.e. evil regarded as that which is not straight or upright, moral distortion. Primarily, it denotes “not an action, but the character of an action”.
The meaning of Christ here is, “I never had any love, or affection for you; I never esteemed you; I never made any account of you, as mine, as belonging to me; I never approved of you, nor your conduct; I never knew you exalt my person, blood, righteousness and sacrifice; you talk of the works you have done, I never knew you do one good work in all your lives, with a single eye to my glory; wherefore, I will neither hear, nor see you; I have nothing to do with you”.
“I never knew you”; for as the omniscient God, He knew their persons and their works, and that they were workers of iniquity; He knew what they had been doing all their days; He knew the principles of all their actions, nothing is hid from Him. Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Psalm 1:6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Mat 7:19 & Luke 3:9 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY:
These people have been casting out the demons, prophesying and doing many other wonderful works, not of their own strength, but definitely by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are all gifted people, but still God could not approve of their actions. There is nothing wrong with the gifts but the way in which they were used, or the purpose for which they have been used is what matters to God.
It can be seen, that these gifts are being given to the people even before they have learnt anything from the Word of God. Act 10:45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. These groups of people are likely to misuse their gifts. Being spiritually immature, when they start exercising their spiritual gifts, they will have no strength to resist the devil and his temptations, and become an easy prey to his viles. Hence they start glorifying themselves rather than glorifying God who had bestowed them with all these gifts.
This is what we see in the life of many of the Old Testament believers like Samson, Saul, Solomon and many others. King Solomon had the gift of the worldly wisdom, but was unable to keep the commandment of God, as required by, Deu 17:17 neither shall the king multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold, and fell into sin. Jonah 1:1-3 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah, saying arise, go to Nineveh that great city, and cry against it for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. They were all anointed and gifted with special gifts but not spiritually matured.
It is evident from the scriptures that there are different types of spiritual gifts which God wants to bestow upon His people. We also should know that these gifts are given to His servants or those who are engaged in his work without their asking. It is like a company employing lots of people for different types of work, and for each and every one of them the employer provides the required machinery, material and tools in addition to their salaries and allowances, to help them make the best product.
Similarly when we join God’s army as faithful soldiers we are provided with the required tools necessary (spiritual gifts) to fight His war efficiently and effectively. God knows exactly what type of gifts are required for the type of job which we are going to do, and these gifts are to be used strictly in order to build His Kingdom and to bring glory and honor to His mighty name. Since it is a gift and it is to be used only as a tool for furthering His Kingdom, there is no reason why anyone who has these gifts should think themselves superior to others, and why struggle throughout life for getting it, without ever using it or misusing it?
Ezekiel 47:3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. It is perfectly natural that as soon as one reaches this stage and starts working for God, we can see the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the form of miracles. Because God says, He will discriminate between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not (Mal 3:18).
At this stage if the miracle worker starts broadcasting (self-glorification), he is not only destroying himself but also misleading large number of gullible people. Only at this depth, one can jump, dance and advertise but can not do the same after getting immersed.
SPIRITUAL MATURITY:
Ezekiel 47:4-5 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
If only we follow the conducting angel, the minister of the Gospel, not only we come to know the Lord intimately, but also we find a continual increase of light and life, till at last we are carried by the streams of grace to the ocean of eternal mercy; then plunged and lost in His immensity. This is the essence of spiritual growth and it is a long-long way to go.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. To attain this, it is very much essential that we grow spiritually, so that we may give spiritual fruits for God, as soon as we reach the stage of spiritual maturity, similar to a tree as it grows normally, it gets matured, and starts giving fruit which cannot be stopped, but it continues to grow giving more and more fruits.
John14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. This is the fully immersed stage where the Father and His Son along with Holy Spirit make their abode in us.
Eze 47:9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
PRESENT DAY RELIGIOUS SYSTEM:
In the Old Testament there were two temples. One was built by king Salomon and the other was built by king Herod. Salomon got the instruction from his father David, who in turn was directed by God to build the temple, to worship and to glorify Him. God Himself was present in the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was also present, and from there He blessed Salomon and the people of Israel. But later on they became a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward (Isa 1:4).
Now God had to leave the temple, and the Ark of the Covenant was also taken away before the temple itself was destroyed by the Babylonians. This destruction signifies that God does not live in the temples anymore, and hence the temples of the future will have, neither the sanctity nor the original glory attached to it. But philosophically and sentimentally this temple had become an icon that the people do not want to accept the fact that the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands (Act 7:48) anymore. So, in all the religions, not only this temple worship system continues, but also the reverence for the temple is growing everyday.
The Old Testament people were relatively illiterate, ignorant and above all the comforter was not given to them. Hence, priests were appointed and made responsible for preserving and conducting all the affairs of the Temple, like offering sacrifices etc. Even they were acting as agents between God and men in fulfilling their spiritual requirements.
It is the most abominable thing that the pastors, priests and mullahs are continuing to act as God’s intermediaries even today. 1Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. In the present day church, the pastor conducts the worship service, collects offerings and blesses the congregation. Similarly in a Hindu temple priests chant some Vedic mantras and blesses the gathering after collecting thakchana, and a mullah in a mosque preaches from Koran and after collecting gifts blesses the people and sends them away.
The second temple, built by Herod (a non-believer) was neither under the instruction from God, nor was there the presence of God either, and only a stone was kept in the Holy of Holies in place of the Ark of the Covenant. It was built only to glorify Herod himself and to establish his own name. This temple actually represents the present day religious system.
Where, most of the religious people around the world are still following their own traditional worship, without knowing that they themselves are the temples of God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in them (1Co 3:16), once they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Some keep the idols, and others do not keep. Some Christians are given to believe that their system of worship is superior to others.
Jesus Christ Himself preached in this temple on many occasions to try and correct the people, and went on to the extent of whipping them, but was crucified by the very same temple priests and worshipers, because they were unwilling to accept their mistakes. This is exactly the same situation even today in all the present day religions, where Jesus Christ is being crucified everyday, every hour and every minute because of the unwillingness of the priests, pastors, preachers and mullahs to give up building their own kingdoms.
Mark 7:9, 13 And he said unto them, full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition, making the word of God of none effect through your tradition. Jer 12:10-11; 23:1 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Mat 23:13 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Each pastor or a preacher is acting like a ringmaster exalting himself and indoctrinating the crowd, with his own doctrine and theology.
As it is written in Joel 2:31, the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. The sun light (Gospel truth) is being blacked out during a total solar eclipse, when the moon (present day religious system) passes over the disk of the sun, and when the earth’s shadow passes over the moon a lunar eclipse occurs, the moon’s appearance becomes “as blood” because of the refraction of sunlight in the earth’s atmosphere (the filth of the present day religious people). 2Ti 4:3-4 says: for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Hence this present day religious system which is the antichrist or the abomination of desolation, will be thrown down like the second temple which was thrown down by Romans in 70 AD, as it was foretold by our Lord in Mat 24:2, “there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down”, by the remnants which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 12:17). Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH:
When a child is born in to a family, the parents become the custodians, and are also responsible for the protection, comfort and wellbeing of the growing child. While the child is growing it is also sent to school and then to colleges, where it gets qualified and then made to settle. Similarly when we accept Jesus Christ as our Personal Savior, we become His children and Christ hands us over to the church for our spiritual upbringing. This church will have only the spiritually growing believers.
Now the church takes on the role of the foster parents for all the believers, and it becomes responsible to protect, help and guide them to get the appropriate spiritual food from God, so that they grow spiritually and get matured to be handed over to the bridegroom who is none other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These spiritually matured believers, not only become the brides of Christ, but also become His co-workers in gathering the souls for His Kingdom. Hence the church becomes a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon (Song 4:15).
All those who belong to this church, are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1Pe 2:9). Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord. Since the great sacrifice has been offered, and there is no expiation now to be made; it has become the primary responsibility of the New Testament believers to bring the souls and offer them as a living sacrifice to the Most High God, and also can take on the role of ministers and shepherds in the church.
Evangelization: If only we keep the commandments of God, He will be with us and help us to defeat the enemy, so that God’s Kingdom can be established, as it was the case with the Israelites. Zec 4:6 says, not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. The work of grace on the soul is expressed by a regeneration, which is not of the will of man, nor of the will of the flesh, but of the Spirit of God (1Co 3:7). On the other hand, the present day evangelization replicates the slaughter and scattering of the Israelites, when they disobeyed God’s commandments.
Salt and Light: Mat 5:13-15 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. All who profess to follow him should be the salt of the earth, to preserve the world from putrefaction and destruction, and a light to illuminate the souls of men.
NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP:
Worship consists of two parts. One part of it is praising God, which everybody can do and doesn’t cost us anything, but the most important part is establishing the proof of our faith in deeds and actions which may cost us a lot including our life. Hence the spiritually matured believers only can do it.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. To worship the Holy God in truth and spirit with contrite heart, we should be worthy and wholly acceptable to Him. These worthy people can gather anytime, anywhere and anylonger in any number to worship Him. These worshipers will satisfy the following dictums.
1) They will have the reverence and fear for God. Psalm 2:11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Psalm 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
2) 1 John 3:4, 8-9 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin. 1Co 6:9 The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb 12:14).
3) They do not appear before Him empty handed. Exo 34:20 …And none shall appear before me empty. Deu 16:16 In the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: they shall not appear before the Lord empty. They will come with the offering of the souls which they have gathered unto His Kingdom.
4) They will share the revelations of God and also their experiences and burdens of each other. They will pray for each other and for the establishment of His Kingdom.
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNION WITH GOD:
While Jesus Christ was on this earth as a human being, either day or even it may be throughout the night He was in communion with God, in person. This communion helps us to live our christian life, in and through Jesus Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12L2). No christian can live a christian life independent of Jesus Christ. This was the lesson which the Israelites were to learn in the wilderness through a hard way. It was the same case with Peter and many others.
Talking to God: Mat 18:3 Jesus said, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Unless we are saved from those prejudices and be clothed with the spirit of humility, we won’t be able to talk to God. Talking to Him will help us to go into His presence with trust and confidence.
Listening to God: Listening to God requires a right attitude. In order to listen to God and receive His instruction, we must have the longing to do His will, as Psalm 40:8 says, “I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Meditating His Word: Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. In this verse Jesus taught us to pray for our daily spiritual food and not for the literal food. Luke 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Though the spiritual food is assured, we will have to earnestly plead with God, begging Him daily for our heavenly manna, because neither we can earn this food, nor can we barrow from any one else. Hence we may have to wait for a long time or even fast before we get it. This waiting is actually called tarrying or meditating in the religious terminology. If we are able to get our spiritual food everyday, we will never have to beg for anything, anytime from anybody.
This spiritual food is the ‘nectar’ or ‘amruth (prasadam)’ in Hindu mythology; if any one drinks or eats will get eternity. Whereas the Hindu sages are meditating for years, for the purpose of realizing self, which is actually trying to get the spiritual being revived, which we know is possible only by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. That is the reason Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6)”.
Interceding for the souls: Psalm 106:23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He should destroy them. This is that intercessory prayer which Moses, Jesus Christ and many other servants of God prayed for the sake of the multitudes of souls going astray from God.
TITHES:
In the Old Testament, people were required to give very many offerings like sin offering, meat offering, first fruit offering, peace offering, thanksgiving offering, Sabbath offering, beginning of month offering, Passover offering, feast offering and for the morning and evening sacrifices including tithes.
All their festivals were not a time of celebration, but were a time of remembrance, thanksgiving and a time of special offering. But in the present day Church, only tithes is being insisted upon, because the sacrifices have been stopped. Hence most of the affluent christians spend the rest of their earnings towards entertainment, extravagant food and clothing etc., which leads them to spiritual corruption.
Exo 13:2 Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine. Num 8:17 For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself.
This right to the first-born was that, God sanctified to Himself all the first-born of the Israelites from the stroke of the destroyer through the atoning blood of the paschal lamb, because of their faith and obedience to His command. If it were to be the firstborn of clean creatures they were to be sacrificed, if unclean to be redeemed with a price, and the firstborn of men, because it was not lawful to sacrifice them; the money for the redemption of them was given to the priests and they became a living sacrifice.
This sanctification of them to the Lord signifies the separation or devoting of the first born of the entire generations to be offered for the service of God. If it is so, then how much more it is necessary that all those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, are to offer themselves as a living sacrifice to God, who had offered His own precious Son for the salvation of our souls.
We are liable to offer ourselves wholly to His glorious service with all our time, all our energy, all our talents, all our earnings, all our gifts and all our belongings including our own life. This is the perfect offering which is expected from each and every one of His children. 1Ch 29:14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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