CHURCH OF GOD AND SAINTS OF CHRIST

Chisleu (December) 25, 2009

To all the Churches of God and Saints of Christ everywhere

In the words of Jesus when he met his disciples in St Matthew 28:9, I greet you in the same words, “All Hail”. Is it well with thee? It is well with my soul.
I now write to you this day to clarify where the Church of God and Saints of Christ stands concerning worldly celebrations, which include, but not limited to Christmas, Easter, the first of January New Year, April Fools Day, Halloween and Valentines Day.

Some of us have observed these in time past because we lacked knowledge concerning the Word of God. Without knowledge, God says, my people perish: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6. And again the bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” In our ignorance most of us have observed Christmas, Easter and January New Year, but now that God has given us understanding, we need to march on to righteousness in truth. Most of you have or have not heard anything about Halloween which is a Wicca festival celebrating witches. People run after these observances ignoring the very truth of the Word where God succintly commanded his people what to observe. This form of idolatry has gone around the world. I warn you by the word of God that you take heed.

We have taken a lot of time teaching each other about the Seven Keys and Ten Commandments but we may have not dealt much on the first two commandments or we may have taken it for granted that we knew what they meant; Exodus 20:3-6; “ 3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

If you look closely at these celebrations which I have mentioned above you will find that they break the two commandments above, even the third. Let us consider the important instructions from James in chapter 2: 10-11; “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” Our Lord Jesus emphasized in Luke 16:17; “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Proverbs 16:25 tell us that; “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

We have to be really careful in how we entertain ourselves; Jesus answered the devil in Matthew 4:4; saying, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

This statement from our Lord is key to our understanding; Is it written? From whose mouth does this proceed? If we have correct answers to these two questions we are able to differentiate between the Holy and the unholy according to Leviticus 10:10; “And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.”

God did not come up with Christmas or Easter neither did Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter, Paul and all of the other disciples did not celebrate these festivals. The question comes where do we get the idea of doing this from?

The prophet said in the Bible Story Revealed to let the Scripture explain Scripture! What this then means is that; as Saints, we are guided by what the Scripture says for we believe it is the word of God; 11 Timothy 3:16-17; “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

The bible is where we get our guidance from in anything we do and let us be all aware of this so that we won’t fall into temptation. While it seemed very simple for jesus to obseve the devil’s instructions in the wilderness, Jesus counters him with the written word of God. And as saints the bible should be our compass for moral direction, religious celebrations and it is only what is written in the Word that man shall live by.

Similarly at face value Christmas, Easter and all the other festivals I have previously mentioned seem innocent because we are just getting together in happiness. Yes, there is nothing wrong in being together, Yes, there is nothing wrong with being happy but certainly there is something wrong in getting together and be happy on pagan celebrations. Who is guiding us on all this? Where is the instruction coming from? Remember people in the olden days, who came together in one accord to nuild a tower of Babel and God’s anger rose on them. Let me say this; because we live at a time when terms like love and unity are so appealing, it is quite difficult to argue that these words have been taken out of context and do not mean what we think they mean. Love without truth is whoredom. To compromise is to reject the gospel, and without the gospel there is no hope. In a choice between unity and truth, unity must yield to truth.

We as saints are in a battl. It is a spiritual war ! “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) We’re not to pick up carnal weapons and go after unbelievers. We are locked into a spiritual warfare over the souls of men. I ask you to read again Ephesians chapter 6. If we follow this through, arm ourselves and fight in this spiritual warfare, then with Christ being with us, God will give us all the victory.
Saints, we are in a spiritual warfare. Be on the offensive. Never give up. Satan hates prayer. Take authority over the devil through prayer; he is to be defeated in the name of our Lord. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-29; “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” If we cannot make it on our own let us take the load to our Lord Jesus; he is ready to assist us. Satan can not harm us. He bluffs, lies and threatens, but regardless of his technique to confuse, if we call upon our Lord Jesus, the devil has no chance to win us. And when we’ve done all, we must have the courage to stand.

Sometimes we have a tendency of looking at others and try to please them but let us not forget that we have one to obey and that is God. Some of us celebrate these holidays because it is socially acceptable but in a case between social and spiritual matters, God is supreme above all. if our social gatherings go against the word of God, then we have to choose pleasing God rather than men. Our position might not be the popular one, or the universally accepted one but we are not out to please men. Paul says in Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be a servant of Christ.”

So when ever we do these things we must ask ourselves; whom are we pleasing? Who is getting the glory? And when we ask ourselves these questions, then we will be able to worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Like a harlot, the devil has seduced the world and even some saints into the harlotry of worldly celebrations. Most people undersatnd christmass better than the Sabbath which God clearly and time and again has repeated that if we observe the Sabbath God will bless us (Isaiah 56) The devil has made people feel innocent in breaking of God’s commandments. The world which disregards the word of God will get astounded when they find out we do not run with them in their celebrations. They often question our religious conviction and our relationship with Christ because we do not observe Easter. But Jesus says those who love him, MUST keep his commandments (St John 14:15) That is the greatest expression of love we can do to our Lord Jesus Christ. But thedevil, like a harlot has turned this the other way around. How does a harlot, or whore, seduce her victims? Proverbs 7:6-10 answers this question “I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.” Then, verses 22 and 24 through 27: “With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter. Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she both cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”

The Bible says the mother of harlots will seduce kings and nations with her cunning; that the nations have been made drunk, which means they are confused, disoriented, unstable, and can be easily deceived and conquered by her. The devil has done this through occupying people with what is not written or with those things that shall not give us life. But we are of the day, we need not let the devil in our midst with his celebrations but we need to do that which our God expects of us as written in His Word

Before I conclude, I am asking the Pastors, Deacons and Superintendents, Sabbath School teachers to start teaching the following subjects from the Sabbath School Manual: Should Christians Celebrate Easter, page 295-302 and What the bible says about Christmas, page 303-310, Months of the Year, page 372-377.

In addition to this I am asking again everyone to learn the precepts as follows:
1. Seven Keys and Ten Commandments
2. The Stone of Truth {Prophecy}
3. Repentance
4. Baptism
5. The day which the Lord hath made
6. Wine
7. Bread and water
8. Foot washing
9. Disciples’ prayer
10. Holy Kiss
11. Religion is a duty
12. Moses’ Law
13. Meat Law
14. Selfishness
15. Envy-Jealousy
16. Care of Ministers
17. Where are the dead
18. When shall we live with Christ
19. Living Soul

I am asking every one to make an effort to memorize and recite in front of the congregation each Sabbath Day; not the whole subject at once but if we can do five to six verses on the subject per Sabbath and continue with the others the following Sabbath, we will find ourselves growing up in faith. This is really for individual benefit; it’s for our own souls. I urge everyone to do likewise, from the pulpit to the door keeper except those who are too old to read possibly those over 60 years of urge maybe exempted.
Please let us all do it for the benefit of the church and us as individuals. We need to be confident with what we believe in; hence, we need to learn as much as we can about the church so that we can be able to stand for what we believe. This is not a competition but we really need to uplift our spirits by learning the word of God.

It is an exciting exercise if we start taking some time to learn these subjects. I pray that we find this very helpful when we get used in giving time to God. The world is changing but the word of God is not going to change; by learning this, we will be able to know more about the coming end of the world and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should not be caught unaware lest we be ashamed.

May God bless you is my prayer.

Your Servant in Christ Jesus.

Evangelist I.F. Muzamhindo
Jude 1:24-25, Romans 16:16.

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me” (St. Matthew 19: 17;20-21).

This young man in this verse came to Jesus seeking salvation. Salvation is a good thing to seek and desire.  David says “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after” Psalms 27:4. There is no point in desiring something if you are not willing to do whatever it takes to get it…more

“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess” (St. Luke18: 11-12).

The Pharisees were members of an ancient Jewish sect that emphasized strict interpretation and observance of the Mosaic law in both its oral and written form. Unfortunately, the Pharisees also…more

Courtesy of www.cogsoc.org

PASSOVER 2009 (ZIMBABWE)

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him (St. Luke 10: 30-33).

There was a certain woman who desired to host Jesus as her guest, the parable is told. And Jesus told him he will stop by on the appointed day. The woman cleaned her house and cooked her best meal. As she was ready making finishing touches, a ruggedy old man, knocked at her door. The man looked hungry, weary, dirty and thirsty. The woman anticipating to be her honoured guest at the door, she hurried with smile toward the door. But her anger kindled within her as she looked at this dirty old man, whom she perceived to be an inconvenience at the time.  The woman chided at the man, she would not so much even listen to what he came for, let alone invite him in.  She even refused him a cup of cold water.

She went on with her preparations as she was joyfully humming psalms.  When she had set her table  there was another knock at the door. Surely she thought that this time it must be Jesus, for it is about lunch time. “Alas” she thought in her heart with disdain as it was the lady next door with many children. “It is her again. What does she want now?” she hissed and frowned as she was approaching the door…  more

Courtesy of www.cogsoc.org

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

(St. Luke 2: 6-7).

The promised Messiah was born. His birth was not known to many. His birth was only announced by shepherds, and was born in a manger because there was no room in the inn for him. In his adult life, Jesus had no where to stay.  He said,  “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” St. Matthew 8:20

Jesus is still looking for a place. It is not a geographical place, nor is it a physical space. He is looking for a place in our hearts to stay. Jesus is looking for a space in our lives to dwell. David in Psalms 91:1 describes it as, “the secret place of the Most High.”

And when we find that place and make room for Jesus, he says he and his Father will come unto us, and make their abode with us (St. John 14:23) and we “shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Of this place, where Jesus needs place and room, the bible says: His word is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, who shall go over the sea for us and bring it unto us, that we may hear it and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it (Deuteronomy 30: 12-14).

Jesus is still calling and looking for us to accept him in our lives, and give him a place to dwell in our lives, minds and hearts. Will we accept or we will leave him to be without a place still.

Meditation: Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

Courtesy: www.cogsoc.org

Come out of her my people

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? [16] 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. [17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

A group of five men came together one day and decided to form a club. All five came from different faiths. The first was a Christian and believed that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. The next was Jewish and did not believe Christ is the way, neither did he believe that He died for man’s salvation. The Jewish man did not believe that Christ rose from the dead and that prayer cannot be made in His name. The third was Hindu and believed in Vishnu. It offended him to hear anyone pray through Jesus Christ therefore the Christian brother could not make any mention of Christ’s name if he wanted to be a member of this club. The fourth was a Moslem. He, like the Jewish believed that Christ was one great man that lived at a certain time. However to the Moslem, Christ is inferior to Mahommed their prophet. That means for the Christian brother to continue in this fellowship, he has to mute any mention of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The last believed in Buddha and everyone else to him was all wrong. He will be very much offended if anyone in this fellowship speaks anything against Buddha.
They all agreed that their fellowship was not any form of religion. But during their meetings, they always had to pray. Because of their different religious backgrounds they did not agree on how and who to pray to. They decided to call their gods and God the Higher Power. So prayers would be made to this Higher Power or The Creator Of The Universe. And that was agreed upon.
This then means to the Moslem, the higher power is Allah: to the Hindu, it’s Vishnu, to the Buddhist, it is Buddha, to the Jewish man it is G-d who does not have a Son called Jesus Christ.To the Christian the higher power is God Almighty whose only begotten Son is Jesus Christ.
Then the Hindu prayed the first day and they all said Amen. The second day the Moslem prayed and again all including the Christian said amen. Then after them the Christian, the Hindu and the Buddha believer. This raises another problem for the Christian brother’s involvement in this: Amen is an expression of concurrence. Amen is a word that declares affirmation. The Christian in saying amen to the prayer led by a Hindu, Moslem, Jewish etc means concurrence with their prayers. That’s an unholy alliance and the bible warns the saints to ‘come out from among them and be ye separate’ because ‘what concord hath Christ with Belial’ “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols.’

God through Christ has called us from darkness into the marvelous light and since this club does not recognize Jesus Christ as the Light of the world, this club is walking in darkness. The Christian brother now has been made a liar by saying He still believes in Christ because: ” If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” 1 John 1:6. And “… if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

If righteousness comes only through Christ and it does, then a saint cannot be yoked with unbelievers. Any organization or formation which is offended by our use of the name of Jesus Christ in our prayers is not a voluntary place for the saint. If it inhibits the Christian from confessing the name above all names, then the Christian, by participating in it condemns his soul to hell because, “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: [9] But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” St Luke 12:8-9.

Does this fellowship leave the Christian brother clean before God? The apostle Paul says “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. [21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” 1 Corinthians 10:20-21.

David writes to us believers in Christ concerning fellowship, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1.

To us who have been called out of darkness in to the marvelous light anyone who does not confess that Jesus is Lord hath no God therefore is ungodly. For the scripture saith in a certain place, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:2-3. And again, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:5.

And, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. [23] Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” 1 John 2:22-23.

The bible says “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. [34] Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” 1 Corinthians 15:33-34.
Paul warns us again concerning those associations, ‘And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”And the only way to reprove them is by lifting high the name of Jesus to them without fear and shame , ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16.

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [6] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. [7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Ephesians 5:5-7.

John offers an implicit warning concerning Christ-less religions or formations, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: [11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:10-11.

Paul said to avoid any that teaches not the doctrine of Jesus Christ “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Romans 16:17.
To worship or fellowship in the way of the example above is compromising the truth of God. To worship or pray in a religion or social group, that mutes and silences any reference to the one who shed His blood for us is to sell your testimony to another god. Jesus died for us, we have no entrance into God’s kingdom but through Him. And anytime, in season and out of season, if Christ means anything to you and me, then we have to speak his name.

” Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2.