The Divine Plan 
of the Ages

O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy Name;
For thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are Faithfulness and TRUTH.

—Isaiah 25:1

 

Vol. 4.01 — January 2012
 

[English]

[Click here for Luganda]

 

 

CHRIST’S KINGDOM

 

Isaiah 25:1

Vol. 4.01
 January 2012

THE REIGN OF THE LORD IN ZION – The News of Life. Obadiah 21
 

  

Prepare the Table, Watch in the Watchtower, Eat, Drink ... Isaiah 21:5

 

 

This is a monthly Christian Newsletter and hereby state the object of its publication: That we are living in the last days the end of the Gospel age; as well as the dawning of the long prayed for Kingdom of Christ in power; are facts not only discernible by the close Student of the word, led by the Spirit; but the outward signs recognizable by the world, bear the same testimony: And we are desirous that the “household of Faith” be fully awake. Not only help awaken but to assist them to “put on the whole Armor of God that they may be able to stand in this evil day”. And beside all this, that giving all diligence, they add to their Faith, Virtue, and to virtue, Knowledge, Self-control, Patience, Godliness, brotherly Kindness, and Love; whom trust in the merit of Christ’s Sacrifice for the world. Luke 21:36; Matt. 6:10; Eph.6:13; 2 Peter 1:4-11

Subscription:

We encourage the sincere and honest ones, sensing the demands of the hour, to subscribe for this free monthly publication, stating clearly their addresses. Given the Newsletter is free, subscription fee is the exact cost of postage (stamp and envelope) by Uganda post office; and these are the postage fees stated per year: Uganda sh.10,800, Kenya sh.900, Tanzania sh.14,200 and Rwanda F.10,800.

All payment by cash should be posted to our address. However, a sincere person of God who cannot afford the postage fee, please write to us stating the fact, so by the Lord’s providence you may be added to the list of the poor for us to continue sending you this publication.

 

THE CALL OF THE CHURCH

 
       The Jewish priests were taken from amongst their fellows and especially ordained, or set apart, for their work to represent their people before God, offering for them both their gifts and their sacrifices for sins. In this arrangement the priests were able to sympathize with the people, because they were subject to the same weaknesses and also had need of the forgiveness of their own sins. But even amongst these imperfect, blemished, sinful priests, who needed to make offerings for their own sins, none was allowed to take this office of himself. God must call him to the office. Thus it was with Aaron. God called him to be the head priest. So, the Apostle points out, it must be with the antitypical priests on a higher plane. Christ, the High Priest spiritual, and his elect Church, the Royal Priesthood on the spirit plane, must also be called of God. They could not assume the office otherwise. “Christ did not glorify himself to make himself a High Priest.” God honored him in this way, however, saying to him in the prophecy of the Psalms, “Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee”; and again, “Thou art a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek.” —Psalm 2:7, 110:4. 

MANY CALLED, FEW CHOSEN

There was a great multitude on the shore who heard the Lord’s teachings, but not to all of them did his message come with the same force and to the same end (Math. 4:18-22). Only a few were specially chosen and called. Doubtless there were elementary conditions in the hearts of these four disciples that constituted them the ones ready and worthy to receive the special message. There may have been Israelites indeed in the multitude on the shore who were not yet ripe for the special invitation of discipleship, just as these same four who now forsook all to follow the Lord had been with him more or less for about a year, yet had not until now reached the place where they were ready to forsake all. All down through the Gospel age the Lord’s invitations have been extended chiefly to those in the humbler walks of life — not many great, not many rich, not many wise, not many learned, not many noble, hath God chosen, but the mean things of the world, the things not esteemed — mainly the poor of this world rich in faith. (1 Cor. 1:26-28; James 2:5). The Lord’s dealing is practically the same with all. He does not invite them at first to a full consecration, but rather gives them leading and instruction along lines of justification, and after they have grown in knowledge to some degree they have the privilege of forsaking all to be his special disciples, to be fishers of men.

One difficulty with Christians, in general, of all denominations is that this second step of full consecration is rarely brought to their attention. Under the false teaching that it is a question respecting heaven or hell that they must decide between, the majority seem to feel satisfied that if they are reasonably decent, reasonably honest, they will escape eternal torment, and are not ambitious beyond this. They thus claim themselves to be, and are reckoned by others as disciples of Christ, whereas in reality they still belong to the multitude who hear with more or less of joy and bear witness to the wonderful words proceeding from the Lord’s mouth, but who fail to attain the position of special disciples, not appreciating and not taught that to be the Lord’s disciples we must “take up our cross and follow him.” O, how necessary to the saints is the Truth! How wonderful the Lord’s words, “Sanctify them through your truth, your Word is truth!” Error can never sanctify, and in proportion as it is mixed in our minds with the Truth, to that extent is the latter diluted and lacking in power.

TERMS OF DISCIPLESHIP TO FOLLOW CHRIST

1.   Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (Math. 16:24)

DENY HIMSELF/ Forsaking ALL to follow Christ.

The important thing decided at the moment and decided positively and permanently was that they accepted the Lord’s invitation to enter the Father’s service with him — fishing on a higher and grander scale, for men — gathering them into the Gospel net, with a view to their ultimate glorification as New Creatures in Christ and participants with him in the glory, honor, and immortality of his Kingdom soon to be established. Let us each remember the importance of a positive decision respecting our consecration to the Lord, our acceptance of service under him as our Master and Captain. Let us then as wisely as possible arrange life’s affairs so as to be without carefulness respecting earthly things that we may the more readily and more completely give all of our time and energy to the most important of all works, the service of God, tidings of great joy for all people.

With these, however, it is necessary that there be a forsaking of boats and fishing tackle, etc., in the heart from the moment that a full consecration is made to the Lord. We cannot serve God and Mammon. We cannot have two objects in life, both equally prominent to our attention. The Lord will not have it so with those who are to be his joint-heirs in the Kingdom. This class must appreciate the privilege of fellowship in his labor, sufferings and hopes of glory to such an extent that their hearts will no longer be in the ordinary affairs of life, their ambitions will no longer be for wealth or name or fame from the world’s standpoint. All such ambitions and hopes we must “forsake” if we would be his disciples. He must be first, joint-heirship with him must be our ambition; otherwise our hearts would not be in a condition that would be pleasing to the Lord or that would not be single for his service; we would be of the kind described as double minded, unstable in all our works and ways — James 1:8. Undoubtedly this is a difficulty with a large number of those who have named the name of Christ and professed consecration to him and his service.

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.” — Luke 14:33. To be a disciple of Christ signifies much more, both in the way of responsibility and of advantage, than many seem to think. Our Lord’s words are very explicit in defining the terms of discipleship to be nothing less than a full, complete consecration of all that we have (Deny yourself) and are to him who has bought us with his own precious blood. It must be a consecration to daily cross bearing and to following in the footsteps of Christ, even unto death.

2.  Hear the terms: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”  (Math. 10:37-38).

The terms are too plain to be misunderstood. They signify nothing less than, as Paul expresses it, the presenting of our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1) No one of those failing to do this is recognized of the Lord as his disciple, or enjoys the privileges of that relationship; and, further, only those who do this intelligently and freely are accepted of Him. That the Lord would not have any one take upon himself the responsibilities of this relationship without due deliberation and forethought, is shown by his reasoning on the subject, saying, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first and counts the cost, whether he hath sufficient to finish it? lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sits not down first and consults whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand. And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and desires conditions of peace.” — Luke 14:28-32.

3.  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  (John 8:31-32)

          The Lord’s expression — “disciples indeed” — implies a distinction between real and merely nominal disciples. And since we desire to continue to be his real, sincere disciples, let us mark the expressed condition: “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed.” The hypocrisy of merely nominal discipleship is an abomination to the Lord. It is a blessed thing to take the first step in the Christian life — that of belief in and acceptance of Christ as our Redeemer and Lord; but the reward of this step depends entirely upon our continuance in His Word, in the attitude of true disciples. It is not difficult to do this, yet the disposition of human pride is to wander away from the simplicity of divine truth and to seek out new theories and philosophies of our own, or to pry into those of other men, who desire to be considered wise and great according to this world’s estimate.

The reward of continued discipleship is, “You shall know the truth” — not that we shall be “ever seeking and never coming to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). Here is the mistake that many make: failing to continue in the Word of the Lord, they delve into various human philosophies which ignore or pervert the Word of the Lord and set up opposing theories. There is no promise, to those who seek for truth among these, that they shall ever find it. And they never do. Divine truth is never found except in the divinely appointed channels: and those channels are the Lord and the apostles and prophets. To continue in the doctrine set forth in their inspired writings, to study and meditate upon them, to trust implicitly in them, and to faithfully conform our characters to them, is what is implied in continuing in the Word of the Lord.

4.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in TRUTH.  (John 4:24)

“Sanctify them through your truth: Your word is TRUTH.”  (John 17:17 MKJV). The 66 books of the Bible are the Truth and not men's theories or creed books!  Proverbs 20:27 NIV— “The lamp of the LORD searches the SPIRIT of a man; it searches out his inmost being.” The inner most being of a man being his heart or mind!

 

HAVE YOU FOUND THE TRUTH?

l  Are you among the lost from the word of God, that the dead St. John or holy Mary pray for us when the Scriptures teach to the contrary that the dead know not anything, nor have knowledge and wisdom? (Ecc. 9:5,10) In Psalm 115:17 “The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.”

l  That the spirit of so and so has gone to heaven or purgatory or hell at death of a man; When the Scriptures teach to the contrary

(Gen. 3:19)  In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return.

(Dan. 12:2)  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

(Isa. 26:19)  Your dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust: for your dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

If people will be resurrected to living here on earth (also see Jesus own word in John 5:27-29), how come the Gospel says that such a holy Pastor/father has gone to heaven at his death? Is there a scripture which states that such dead ones in heaven will come back to be resurrected here on the earth? Remember that Jesus went to hell at his death (Acts 2:31 KJV) was Jesus a sinner?

Where is the source of the Gospel that nullifies God’s own statement that the dead shall return to the dust? Who is he that tempts to nullify God’s Truth except the father of lies and his many agents? (John 8:44,45)

l  Did you really know that you and the cow, chickens, goats you eat go to one place?

(Ecc. 3:18 KJV)  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

(Ecc. 3:19)  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath (spirit); so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

(Ecc. 3:20)  All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and ALL turn to dust again.

(Ecc. 3:21)  Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?

l  That mighty angels are questioning the spirit of dead believer in Islam, in Cabrini. This is the same Gospel in the heathen shrine as well as in Papal Temples, that the dead can talk and answer even praying! This is contrary to the Bible teachingwhich declares that the dead do not know anything, even do not remember God;

(Psalm 6:5)  For in death there is no remembrance of you: in the grave who shall give you thanks? Also, Ecc. 9:5-6,10 and Psalm 115:17 confirm this! Remember, Moslems accept the book of Psalm/Zabbuli as of the prophets!

l  SO IF YOU HAVE NEVER DENIED YOURSELF, as the Master advises, a condition before being accepted as his follower (Math. 16:24), can you by any other way be part of his Church? If one baptized you without such personal knowledge nor decision and promised you heaven freely, is such one not the agent of the other Deceiver? (John 8:44-45;  Jeremiah 14:14)

The LORD by his great mercies calls such honest ones in great systems of error (denominations) to come out, seeing they are fed with complete “doctrines of the devils” (1 Tim. 4:1):

(Rev. 18:2-3)  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

(Rev. 18:4-5)  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

How is the WAY?

FIND THE TRUTH! See Your Opportunity for a FREE BIBLE STUDY COURSE by correspondence “And the TRUTH shall make you free.” John 8:32!

 

 

 

THE DIVINE PLAN OF AGES

“A Plan of Ages, which he formed for the ANOINTED Jesus our Lord”
— Eph. 3:11, Emp. Diag.

“Write down the Vision and make it plain upon tables that every one may read it fluently.”
— Hab. 2:2-3 L.T.

The 3 Worlds 2 Peter 3:5-13

 

YOUR OPPORTUNITY:

 

Free BIBLE STUDY Course

By

Correspondence

&

Open to All Christians from all Churches

 

OMUSOMO GWA BAIBULI nga gwabwerere!

You can write to us or Call us:

 

Uganda Bible Students,

P.O. Box 28734 Kampala,

Tel:  (+256) 0753 116 202 / 0776 116202

Or 0782 318 033

Email: Eliezer_biblestudy@yahoo.com

 

FIND THE TRUTH ! … John 17:17

Math.25:6: “Behold the Bridegroom …”

 

 

SOME BIBLE TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

(EGIMU KU MITWE EGIYIGIBWA)

1.  Why does God permit Evil/ Satan to do injury?
(Lwaki Katonda owekisa aleka Satan okukola obubi?)

2.  The Most Holy Faith — the Faith which was delivered to all Saints.
(Okukkiriza okutukuvu enyo - Okwaweebwa abatukuvu ba Katonda.)

3.  The study of Bible Covenants.
(Okuyiga Endagaano Za Katonda mu baibuli)

4.  Church History— The Seven Churches and Seven Angels; Rev. 2
(
Ekanisa Omusanvu ne Bamalayika baazo Musanvu Okubikkulirwa 2)

5. The Armageddon & The End of the World.
(Olutalo ddekabusa  era olwenkomerero y’ensi)

6.  Tongues, Miracles, Visions and Prophesying.
(Ebyamagero, Okulabikirwa, Okwogera mu nnimi era n’Obwanabbi)

7.  The TRUE Christian Baptism!
(Okubatizibwa okuli mu byawandikibwa, okw’amazima.
)

          And many others (Nebirala)!!!!
 

 

DESIRING GOD’S GREAT BLESSING!

Desiring to obtain God’s blessing but indifferent in doing His will results in failure. Serving and improving the life conditions of your fellow men towards God, is one source of God’s blessing. Therefore, desiring to spread God’s Message of life but thinking you are too busy with work of whatever sort, poor to give financial support as you may not have enough for food, or you are not talented to speak, or feeling bodily imperfection that a person may ask you what you can not explain; yes in whatever form of constraint: We advise you to consider the many and varied opportunities the LORD of heaven has placed before you to serve your fellow men and women; Example, obtain copies of this monthly Newsletter — look at People interested in God’s word around you; at work place, home, neighbors, at your church, sending a copy to mother, father, friends & relatives in different places of the Country. Those who could promote this work in other right way, the opportunity stands. Yes, how refreshing and motivating you may contribute to changing Peoples lives, and yourself be God’s righteous Servant in the belief of Christ and the TRUTH.

 GROWING IN FAITH

Growth in faith is a desired state of Christian for desired fruitage of Christ likeness; But this must be in line with the will of God as expressed in 1 Thess. 5:21 KJV — “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” In line with this exhortation we advise all who are earnest students of Scriptures and our Newsletter, to prove all our studies with the only standard given by God (Isaiah 34:16) and please communicate to us!  It is also, our privilege to share the message of God’s love with others; hence we advise those who received the first publications to share them with God’s People.

 

Christ’s Kingdom is a monthly Publication by Uganda Bible Students:

All enquiries and subscriptions to be addressed to:
The Editor, Christ’s Kingdom, P. O. Box 28734, Kampala, Uganda.

Email: Eliezer_biblestudy@yahoo.com

Tel: (+256) 753 116202 / 0776 116 202.
www.godsplan-today.com

You can visit www.bibletoday.com for more on Bible studies.

 

 

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