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Weekly Reminder...
The Weekly Reminder is an informative tool to help people who read it consider what the man of God has said. This weekend’s articles are based on what was heard on May 16 & 17, 2009 in the Westbury assembly.written by Br. Samuel Philogene
“Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not”. (Malachi 3:18)
The word of God identifies those who will be qualified to enter into the kingdom of God. This is how Br. Antoine started the lesson last weekend. The message was so powerful, where God was pointing out some sins in our lives and those who practice such sins the scriptures ended with “shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. As children of God our focus should be on the everlasting kingdom and to make whatever sacrifices to get there. This reminded me of Jesus and Peter, when Jesus had to wash Peter’s feet in John 13:8-9, Peter refused saying, “’Thou shalt never wash my feet’, Jesus answered him by saying, ‘If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me’”. Now Peter realized to be with Jesus he had to surrender all and let Jesus have His way. He said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head”. Peter’s answer shows us how much he was concerned to be with Jesus and was ready to do anything to not compromise that. That was how we have been taught last weekend, to leave everything behind, and identify in our lives the things that will hinder us from inheriting the everlasting kingdom.
Most of the time we speak generally about sin but here Br. Antoine was very specific on sin by naming them thru the Bible. We have to identify and recognize (within ourselves) where we are guilty and what we need to change in order to enter into the kingdom of God. It is good to know that there is a kingdom coming where there shall be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more tears, where we shall live forever (Revelation 21:4), but it is vital and more important to know how to get there, otherwise we will desire but never take part in it. The kingdom of God is not for everybody but this mansion is for those who get themselves ready, being washed by the word of God, having their mind renewed and their lives cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. We saw that Jesus is coming to take over the throne of David, (Luke 1:32-33) His father, and the Bible said that His kingdom shall endure forever (Daniel 2:44). The question here is why shall this kingdom endure forever? What makes it different from the kingdoms of men that come and go? The answer is because in the kingdom of God there shall be no more sin, because Jesus will destroy both sin and the father of it, Satan, the Deceiver (Revelation 20:10, Revelation 12:7-11, Revelation 22:3).
Many times during the message Br. Antoine mentioned that what God is about to establish will not be like this world or even like the state of the church that we are living in, but the kingdom of God will be governed in righteousness and holiness (Psalm 89:14). So in order to get there we must get ourselves ready because no uncleanness shall enter in the coming kingdom of God (Isaiah 35:8-10). That is what Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus was all about, there’s a work to be done, there’s a preparation that must take place in our lives before the day of the Lord. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Here Jesus makes the difference between being able to see the kingdom and entering in the kingdom of God. Jesus says in verse 5, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”. Being in the church can just allow us to see the kingdom meaning thru the word of God we can come to an understanding of what the kingdom will look like but to enter in there is a lot more work to be done; our fleshy desires must be crucified, we have to die regarding to the desires of the things of this world, so we can no longer sin because carnally we are dead and now are living for God by His Spirit (Romans 6:6-14). This work is not something mystical that people can’t see but the work of regeneration must be visible, people must see and identify clearly a heart that is being regenerated by the word of God, and this is why Br. Antoine says the word of God identifies the elect. That doesn’t mean that we are going to name people to say, “You are saved.” but thru the word of God we can identify some characteristics and virtues that anyone who want to enter into the kingdom of God must possess. There is no doubt about that, there is no doubt in salvation, like there is no doubt in going to school to learn any science, once we apply what we’ve studied we will get the results. It is the same for God, there is no confusion in being saved, you call light, light and darkness, darkness, so because the law is just and holy anyone who applies the law shall be just and holy (Romans 7:12).
There are steps to take to be in the right direction for the kingdom. We have in Mark 10:17-22 a young man coming to Jesus asking Him, “Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Just the question of this young man can already help us to know that we have something to do to be a member of the everlasting kingdom. Jesus didn’t say, “You have nothing to do, it is by grace”, like the preachers of the world say, but Jesus instructed him by opening the law. The young man was happy to answer Jesus, “all these have I observed from my youth”. But you know what? Jesus looked deeper into the spirit of this man who maybe was sincerely willing to go to the kingdom and said, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me”. So in order to make it we have some things to get rid of, to put off the old sinful man with his deeds and to put on the new man created in the likeness of Christ.
Br. Antoine went over scriptures like Galatians 5:19-22 and 1Corinthians 6:9-11, where Paul didn’t leave any doubt but made it clear to those who really want to enter into the kingdom of God, he named the fruits of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit. So now it is our responsibility as saints of God to look into our lives and identify where we stand in both lists and to make the necessary adjustment. Don’t fool yourself; he that practice righteousness is righteous before God. May God in His mercy help us to see our estate and the work that must be done in our lives so we can get ready before the day of the Lord. Believe me there’s a lot of work to be done but thank God by Jesus Christ we will make it through.
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:7-8)
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