WHAT IS BROTHERHOOD OF THE CROSS AND STAR

FIRST LESSON JOHN 20:17
SECOND LESSON EPHESIANS 4: 4-6
GOLDEN TEXT 1 PETER 2: 17                               

From the texts above, it is clear that Brotherhood means God and everything created by Him. It means the unity of all creations with themselves and with God. This implies that God and all His creations, whether visible or invisible, constitute one entity. The founder of Brotherhood is God Himself. Since God is without origin and timeless, Brotherhood has no origin. You are not brotherhood by choice but by virtue of being created by God. Everybody, every creature  is Brotherhood. Since by the word God created the world, Brotherhood means the word of God. This word through which all things were made is our Lord Jesus Christ. God owns rules and leads Brotherhood and our Lord Jesus Christ is given charge. All else, be it angels, men, stars, animals, birds, fishes, wind etc., are workers and brethren. The operating principles in Brotherhood are the manifestations of the spirit of its founder and owner. These are love, truth, mercy, patience, goodness, meekness, righteousness and all other virtues; outside which is contrary to the spirit of its foundation and an act of rebellion. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, chaos and division set into Brotherhood and each creature stood apart from other and from God. With the shedding of a pure, blameless blood, our Lord Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of all men thereby paving the way for Brotherhood to reunite. Ordinarily, we need other creatures and men for survival. We cannot live in isolation. All creatures complement each other in a continuous circle of reciprocity. The plants need water for survival, while animals and human beings need plants to survive. These plants thrive on the soil content and part of man is water which also soil content. And the breath of God gives life or existence to all things, making them living souls. That life-force is the spirit. It is clear that because the spirit of God abides in all creatures, God is, and is in every creature. We are all part of the same spirit, having one God and Father, not different from the trees or any other creature.

It behoves on us to honour all men, love the brotherhood, reverence God and respect authorities. Brotherhood was, is and shall ever be. God cannot be pluralised. Churches, religions and various beliefs must abhor division and succumb to oneness of creations as one flock under one shepherd. Those who have ears let them hear. May God bless His Holy words, Amen.

What Is Cross?

Our Lord Jesus Christ declared, anybody who wants to follow me but is unwilling to take up the cross after me cannot be my follower. Cross here symbolises pain, suffering self-denial and death; for the sake of others. To be Christ's follower requires walking in His footsteps by carrying the cross. It has nothing to do with crucifix. Carrying the cross obviously spans from healing the sick, praying for people, freewill offering or giving alms to bearing one another's burden with joy without complaining, standing firm at trials and persecutions, tolerating all kinds of sinners not avenging any wrong doings and counting others better than yourself. You must be loving, humble, kind and meek towards all. Prevent neither a trickster, nor thief, nor the wicked, nor any sinners from their ploys; even when you are affected. If you rejoice in tribulation, and humiliation, Begrudge not when abused, but continually render necessary or demanded help even to those who seek your down fall or death, you are carrying the cross. As a cross bearer, you must always prepare for the worst; all for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. You do not have to get 

annoyed. Through a determined and consistent effort, the power of life in you will overcome their ways and they will have life. Bless, and pray God to forgive, those who accuse you falsely, assassinate your character or hate you with or without cause. Apologise even to those who offend against you, smile in the face of persecutions and false accusations and hold on to goodness amidst strong temptations and distractions. This is carrying the cross. Carrying the cross does not imply provocation, arguments, self-defence, or preventing disgrace and false allegations. It requires complete resignation to God and counting your life as a loss. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not defend Himself before Pilate. As God He knew beforehand that Judas Iscariot would misuse the common purse and eventually betray Him but he did not prevent Judas. He allowed Himself to be tormented so that man would gain salvation.

To make the cross lighter, do not claim righteousness, or try to look for life on one hand while on the other hand you are claiming to lose it. Preaching alone does not change a man to God. Carrying the cross is the shortest means of converting a soul. If we put up with one another's evil ways, we will not look back while carrying the cross. Put on the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the light of God that manifests from carrying the cross will overpower the darkness of sins, giving salvation and peace to all men. Those who have ears, let them hear. May God bless His holy words. Amen.

What is Star?

1st Lesson: Mathew 19-28 "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." 2nd Lesson: Revelation 19:16"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS". Golden Text: Philippians 2:9-10"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth." Star in Brotherhood of the Cross and star represents the reign and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. The wise men saw the star (Mathew 2:1-2); He told John the Divine He was the star (Revelation 22:16) and promised that they who keep His words and successfully carry the cross would reign with Him (Revelation 2:26-28). Whereas Cross represents the earthly suffering arising from bearing one another's burdens, Star is the heavenly glory attainable after the cross. This explains why our Lord Jesus Christ chose to suffer on earth and be crucified. He obtained His glory after carrying the cross (John 17:5). They who take up the cross and follow Him shall reign with Him. Star is our ultimate goal, where we shall reign as kings and lords and our Lord Jesus Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords. The radiation from Star casts away all darkness. The reign of Lord Jesus Christ admits no oppression, cheating, discrimination or secular inclinations. It is completely devoid of any sins, sufferings, pains or death. It is a state of righteousness, eternal happiness, peace and joy. The prayer 'thy kingdom come' means the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ which is eternal. At His name every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess Him. His kingdom signals the end of worldly kingdom and a problem-free milieu. It is the emergence of a new heaven and a new earth wherein righteousness alone dwells in all facets of life. It is the new world order. It is the reign of God, from God, by God and for God; where all creatures are under His subjection, obedient to Him and in complete harmony. God is one and indivisible. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. The three do not mean different things. Brotherhood means God; Cross means God and Star means God. God Himself is reigning in Brotherhood of the Cross and star. Those who have ears, let them hear. May God bless His holy words. Amen.