A Sermon for Bible Believers
- Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
- For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
- Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
- Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
- That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
- That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
- So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
- For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
- For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
- For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
- This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
- Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Relationships of Spirits and Wives
Before proceeding further for the moment, it would relevant to understand the relationship between these seven Spirits of God and the Lord God Himself, the Father. For Bible believers, the relationship will be easy to understand, for a divine Creator designed our own relationships.
In every Biblical marriage, a wife is “one flesh” with her husband for a significant reason—she is a part of his body, his flesh. She is an extension of her husband and her flesh has merged with the flesh of her husband. She is independent no longer and her identity is his.
- ¶ This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
- Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Chain of Accountability
Every action she does is in the name and character of her husband as his representative, and he holds her accountable to him as God holds him accountable for his wife’s actions. In fact, if a wife gets involved in fornication, it is the ONLY cause given for divorce.
- But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
As will be seen later, fornication is such a terrible sin against God by His people that He will kill them for it. (Fornication is not “unmarried” sex as taught by unbelievers, but is the joining of one’s body to the body of another god through sex with that god’s agent.) A husband who allows his wife’s fornication will bear responsibility for it.
- ¶ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
- Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
- In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Therefore, the command for her to submit unto her own husband (not some other man) “as unto the Lord” is in keeping with the chain of authority (Ephesians 5:22). Her husband must give an accounting to his Creator for his rule.
- Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Because the wife is obedient to her husband and depends on him for all her needs—physical, emotional and spiritual—the husband is commanded to not only love her, but to nourish her and cherish her as well, “even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:28-29).
All relationships that follow this Biblical design will be successful. It is so efficient that even most societies execute it wherein the society acts as one body, regardless of the many parts it has. Every part is required to be in obedience to the head, which makes the decisions.
The seven Spirits of God have the same relationship to the Father (Father of spirits –Hebrews 12:9) in that they are a part of Him, an extension, as wives would be with their husbands. Just as God created the woman to serve the man, God created the Spirits to serve Him.
- For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
- For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
- Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
Common Attributes of the Spirits
Regardless of their Office, they all share the same attributes with the Father of Whom they are an extension. To begin with, they are all “Holy” Spirits, including the attributes listed in Isaiah 11:2. It is not possible for any of the seven Spirits to lack “wisdom and understanding,” “counsel and might,” “knowledge,” and “fear of the LORD.”
- And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
All seven of these Spirits produce “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance” in the believer as a fruit. God didn’t identify the “Spirit” because the “fruit” is common to all of them.
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
- Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The Body Obeys Its Head
The Spirits, as extensions of God, inherit the same attributes and fruit of God as their Creator. There’s a well-known maxim of law that the creation inherits the nature of its Creator, and neither can its nature be greater.
- Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
The above maxim regarding the accessary (body) following his principal (the head) is as old as the beginning of man. More often than not, when a man suffered punishment for a crime or sin, his entire family suffered with him as his accessories or extensions. It would behoove all of us to choose carefully whom we serve, whether it’s a woman seeking to serve a husband or any of us serving a government or god. It is important that our choices for a head please the Lord.
- And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
- Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
- Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Bible Numerics Prove the Eternal Nature of the Trinity.
the Eternal Nature of the Trinity.
Numbers establish rigidity to the system of truth. Note that there are nine attributes or fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)— 9 = 3 + 3 + 3 —whereas three is the number of the Trinity.
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
There is no measure of time in eternity and the Trinity exists here in the past, present, and future, making it without end or beginning, which is eternal. A future teaching will cover Bible numerics better. Hidden in plain sight, the number “nine” represents “eternity” or “eternal.”
- And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Notice the 3 “3s” here. “ [1st] Holy [the Father] , [2nd] holy [the Son] , [3rd] holy [the Holy Ghost] , [1st] Lord [2nd] God [3rd] Almighty, which was [1st (past tense)] , and is [2nd (present tense)] , and is to come [3rd (future tense)] . ” 3 + 3 + 3 = 9. The Godhead or Trinity is eternal!
You will find these truths only in the inspired, preserved, inerrant, pure and perfect, hated and maligned word of God as found in the King James Bible! You will find other commercial copyrighted versions so corrupted, that you won’t know what to trust.
The Spirit of Grace
- Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
While all of the seven Spirits are vital to mankind’s salvation, probably the Spirit of grace plays the biggest part in it, due mainly to the Dispensation of Grace that we are now in.
In fact, the Spirit of grace is so vital for salvation and even for our daily lives as Christians, that it has a throne before which we obtain mercy when we apply for it. Keep in mind that the Spirit of grace is not another god but rather it is an extension of the Lord God Almighty, the one true God, through His Spirit of grace.
- Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Salvation Was by Works
In the Dispensation of Law, before the finished atoning work of Jesus Christ upon the cross, men were required to work at daily sacrifices just to reserve a place for themselves in Abraham’s Bosom, which is now empty since Jesus took those souls to Heaven with Him after His resurrection. There was no grace for anyone to avail themselves.
- And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
- And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
- And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
In the Dispensation of Law, if a man left off doing good works and started doing evil works, all the good works that he had done would be for nothing. However, the reverse was also true: if a man repented of his evil works and made things right with good works, he would not die.
- Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
- Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
- When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
- Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
- If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
- None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Salvation Is by Grace
Now in the Dispensation of Grace, salvation is completely opposite. Grace is a gift of God, of unmerited favor toward the undeserving, purchased by the atoning blood of the sinless Lamb of God. However, anything added to grace converts it to works, and it is no longer grace.
- And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
- ¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
- Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
- And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
- That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
- Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Grace Is Not a Platform for Sin
A little earlier, I introduced the Spirit of grace to you by way of Hebrews 10:29. This verse also makes it very clear that one cannot count the blood of the covenant and then abuse and injure the Spirit of grace by going back to the former ways of the flesh.
- Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
- For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
- ¶ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
When anyone accepts the atoning sacrifice that God’s Son suffered for his or her redemption, they belong to Him by their own application for mercy. As the Father, God has purchased the right to punish His own if they abuse the Spirit of grace.
- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
- For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
- ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Abusing the Spirit of grace has serious consequences. Not only is fellowship with believers lost, but also the Lord has a free hand to chastise, even physical death in some cases.
- In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
- ¶ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
- Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
- But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
- For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
- But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
- And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
- Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Before the church acts hastily and rashly with a brother, it should gather the evidence and try to restore the brother to righteousness.
- ¶ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
False Teachings Make False Christians
The biggest tragedy for false Christians is the fact that they are still lost in their sins and heading to a godless Hell of no return—and they don’t even know it. Even worse, they lead many others to the same damned end. While there are many false teachings, I’m only going to touch on the most significant one that seems most prevalent, although I will be expanding on this subject more with the next post. Without exception, all of the false teachings are inventions of man (or the devil) to exercise and maintain control (spiritual slavery) over other men through the merchandising of the “souls of men.”
- ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
- And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
- ¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
- And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
- The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
- And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
The Heresy of Eternal Insecurity
God’s grace destroys the power to enslave. Therefore, Satan’s greatest effort has been to nullify grace by causing the unlearned and weak to doubt grace in that they can lose their “salvation,” meaning that they will now have to do something (works) to gain it back—until they lose it again, and yet again. Usually the “works” consist of giving money and service.
If a man has a Bible that he can hold in his hand and can read, and believe that it is perfect without a single error, then he can know what is the truth, for the truth will make him free.
- ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
- And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
First, consider what God has given you—everlasting life, life that never ends. To doubt that, is to make God a liar.
- God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
- But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
- Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
- And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Now let’s be logical. How can “everlasting life” be everlasting if it ends by you losing it? Either God’s word is true or it’s a lie. If it’s a lie, you are doomed.
If you have accepted “everlasting life” by grace, as an act of mercy on an undeserving sinful creature—such as we all are—you can rest assured that “everlasting life” will never end. It is forever! Do it today while you still have the physical means to do so, and be free from spiritual bondage! Secure your own everlasting place in Heaven with the Lord God Almighty!
Interesting Facts about Christianity for Bible Believers
for Bible Believers
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY to The Holy Bible, aka The King James Bible, and Its Analysis (part 2)
to The Holy Bible,
aka The King James Bible,
and Its Analysis
(part 3/3)
True religion consists of works, not merely lip service.
- But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
- Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
King James, who not only believed in Christ Jesus but practiced Christianity as well, organized the translation, pushed the translators, provided the hefty finances, and everything that was necessary to the production of the new Bible that bears his name. The publishing of the King James Bible and its public release was a great venture, and a sizable amount of finances was involved.
King James proposed the idea of the new translation after hearing the complaints of the Puritan Millinery Petition at Hampton Court. This new Bible would consider the original tongues of Hebrew and Greek, as well as Tyndale, Coverdale, Great, Geneva, and Bishops’ English Bibles, and Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and Dutch (German) Bibles. It would consider the Church Fathers such as Jerome, Augustine of Hippo, Bede, Wycliffe, and all the Protestants, but most especially Tyndale.
The words describing the King James Bible as “one more” translation indicate that it was to be the final and exact English Translation, not derived from corruption. When God caused the translation of the Scripture into English, it was remarkable that English also became the global language.
The weightiness of the matter was impressed upon the King James Bible translators, and their work far exceeded its rival, the corrupted Septuagint, previously the most famous translation in history. It would be foolish to esteem lightly God’s word as we are required to know it.
- I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
- And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Not only did the church benefit from the work that produced the King James Bible, but also ultimately, the whole world did. For the fruit to be good, the seed had to be good, and the King James Bible is proven good seed in order to get the godly fruit.
- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
- For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
- And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The false religions and teachers so hated the godly fruit of the King James Bible, that they would slander the king, the translators, and KJB itself, twisting the Scriptures to their own hurt.
- As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
- The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
The chief of the traducers, spreading ridicule, were the Romanists. Romanists throughout the Roman Empire in Ireland, France, Spain and Italy were spreading evil reports about the translation.
The statement that the translators were poor instruments was a quoted accusation from the Romanists. The Romanists, as evidenced through the Counter-Reformation, considered it their duty and right to educate the people. The Reformation itself was an unveiling of the Gospel in a time when the Romanists desired to keep the Bible out of the reach of the masses. Whenever anyone attacked the King James Bible or its translators, they were actually aligning themselves with the Romanists, evident from the use of the Romanists’ arguments.
Romanizing ultra-Arminians and hyper-Calvinists, heretics and extremists, were also against the King James Bible. They walked their own way into the way of error. Most especially, extreme Calvinism, who framed false doctrines by misusing Scriptures.
- Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
The extreme Calvinists held their Geneva Version, and had an aversion to any other, chiefly because they loved its marginal notes. The Geneva Version was good, but they would not relinquish it in the face of something better; but, by the end of the time of Oliver Cromwell, the Geneva Version was dead.
While The Translators to the Reader justify the King James Bible, the witness of the conscience is important. The King James Bible had no evil agenda because of force. Witnesses attest to the good and Christian character of the translators, and publications recorded praises of them for scores of years afterwards.
A translator who obeyed the king was not doing it unto the king, but as unto the Lord.
- Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
- Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
- With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
The king, as the Lord’s representative, was doing what the Lord laid on his heart to do.
- ¶ The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
- This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
The translators with spiritual insight knew that the King James Bible’s witness and the name of King James would last through all the ages of men. They were also aware that Christian works, including missionary endeavors, establishment of Christian societies, true revivals of religion and general zeal toward God would be enflamed by the King James Bible. Despite the florid and verbose condemnations in Papal bulls, the Romanist index of banned books, and the disputations of unbelievers, the King James Bible would go on.
King James had a relatively long and successful reign. He had a high degree of learning and knowledge in areas of politics, philosophy and theology. Bible-believing Christians will recognize the King James Bible as the monument that it is in the modern age, which promotes great happiness and liberty to all. The King James Bible is a gift from God for the church and makes growing in grace possible.
- But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
The preface was written by Miles Smith, of Brasenose College, Oxford, one of the translators of the King James Bible. He became the Bishop of Gloucester in 1612. “The reputed author of this noble Preface (for, in spite of the quaintness of its style and the old fashion of its learning, it deserves no meaner epithet) is Dr. Miles Smith of the first Oxford Company, who would naturally be one of the … final revisers.” “His Preface for many years stood at the beginning of the version. But for various reasons—its length, its obscurity, its controversial and academic character—it has gradually come to be omitted by modern publishers of the King James [Bible]”.
It appeared in the first King James Bible printed in 1611, and in later King James Bibles. Since 1769, it has grown more and more rare. All the major publishers have editions with the preface, and it can also be found in various other tracts and books, such as Scrivener (1884), The Trinitarian Bible Society (1911), Goodspeed (1935), Beegle (1960), &c. A vast majority of present King James Bibles do not contain the preface. It was once printed separately and distributed as a tract by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
About Me and the Ministry
Hello, everyone! This is Moses Nyiku again with another newsletter. The soul winning continues every week and the Lord is regularly saving souls and adding them to the church. The school ministry has reached many children and their teachers, which goes on to reach their parents and friends. The Lord has been so good with the ministry! As always, we are grateful to God for the opportunity to serve Him
God has been greatly blessing our labors in the field and we are thankful to Him for His help! Praise God! Please remember us and the Lord’s ministry here in Nigeria with your prayers and financial support for our material needs, as the economy here is so meager that survival is barely possible! However, our mission to the lost and poor in Africa has the Lord’s favor and we intend to continue as long as humanly possible.
- He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
- Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Not having any great abundance of new news to write about, I’m going to preach a sermon in its place, which I pray will be a blessing to many.
- ¶ Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
- And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
- Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
- And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
- And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
- Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
- And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
- And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
- And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
- And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
- And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
Four States of Being
Today I’m going to talk about four states of being in Hausa, one of our native tongues.
- Rasa, rasa: meaning a person with no wealth, no salvation. Due to God’s favor towards the poor where they are given opportunities for salvation exceeding that of the rich who trust in their wealth, it is difficult to find Scripture verses that represent them because the poor usually respond favorably to the Gospel with nothing to lose and everything to gain through salvation.
- The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
- Samu, samu: meaning a person with wealth and salvation.
- And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
- Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
- And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
- Samu, rasa: meaning a person with wealth but have no eternity in heaven.
- Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
- Rasa, samu: meaning a person with no wealth, but have eternity in Heaven.
- ¶ And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
- And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
- And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
- For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
In Acts 3:2 above, there was a certain poor man, a beggar, who was born lame. All his life, this man was “rasa, rasa.”
Spiritual Blindness of the Lost
From verse 2, we see that he has a real physical need where he couldn’t walk or do anything to help himself. Being spiritually blind to his lost and poor state of being, he acted upon what he believed was his need for silver and gold.
From verses 3-6, we see that Peter and John realized this lame man’s need for God in his life—he needed to walk, physically and spiritually, and glorify God with his life.
Tragically, many “Christians” are also spiritually blind and do not see their need to live separated lives from a corrupt world filled with fornication, which is idolatry, and glorify God.
- For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
- Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
- And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
- And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
- And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
The problem with so-called “Christians” that fail to “separate” is that they love their sin more than they love God and don’t want the word of God to judge their lives. The purity of the King James Bible convicts them of their sin.
- The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
- ¶ Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
Therefore, they will corrupt the true word of God, or hold to a corrupted one, knowing that they can corrupt it further without remorse. At last count, there were 103 corrupted complete English versions [2] of God’s word—a flavor for every sin—not counting the incomplete versions.
- For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Many of these false Christians teach that God’s word was only in the original writings, lost thousands of years ago. While it’s true that the original writings are lost, it is false that God gave His word only in the originals. God’s word is so precious that He has magnified it even above His name. It is not logical that God would not make His precious and pure word, the King James Bible protected by a Crown noncommercial copyright, available to every man in the world—free of private commercial profit.
- I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
In Acts 3:6, Peter steps into the Office of Ambassador for Christ, as a representative or agent of the King of kings. In this Office, Peter is no longer Peter, but is acting in the capacity of Jesus Christ. When Peter is acting in this capacity, all the power of Christ is available to him through the Spirit of Christ.
- Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
- Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
However, there is nothing special about Peter. Any other born-again man, separated unto the Lord, could have done the same in the capacity of the Lord’s ambassador.
- And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
- They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
The Right Hand of God
The power of God is in His right hand.
- Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
In Acts 3:7, Peter, acting in the capacity of Christ’s ambassador, took the lame man’s right hand in his own and, transferring power from the Lord Jesus Christ to the lame man, lifted him up out of his lost condition with the power of Christ.
- When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
- And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
- But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
The saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ can lift anyone up out of their sin, if they want it. All they have to do is call upon the name of the Lord.
- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In Acts 3:8, the former lame man, now healed and saved but still without wealth, was leaping and praising God Almighty—glorifying God as commanded. The people were amazed that God could make a lame man whole. However, it’s even more amazing to realize that God can give life to a pile of dirt, such as we are, and then give His own Son’s life to redeem ours from the condemnation of sin. As Bible believers, we are to know the truth, which is Jesus, and to stand faithfully upon it, separating ourselves from sin and glorifying God Who has purchased us, as the healed man did.
- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
- For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Where Do You Stand?
Because our economy here in Africa is so desperate, prosperity preaching easily carries away the people where they fail to realize that they need a Saviour most of all. The reverse also happens in other countries where the economy is rich; the people trust in their wealth and believe that there is no need for God. Little do both groups of people realize that there is absolutely no benefit of wealth after death. They can’t take it with them and it can’t save them.
There is an urgent need to give to missions. There is a need for souls to be saved.
- For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
- How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
- And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
- Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
How bad it is that Christians can’t see the need to have a godly home (family).
- ¶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
If you are unsaved and you’re reading this sermon, there is a need for you to accept Christ as your savior. Because of our sin, he came, died and was buried, rose on the third day, and now is on the right hand of his father.
Where do you stand? You might be “rasa, rasa.” You might be “samu, samu.” You might be “rasa, samu.” You might be “samu, rasa.” Before God, we all are equal.
- ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Wealth and fame will not get you to Heaven and neither will suffering. The only way to God the Father and Heaven is Christ Jesus.
- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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