God is holy and reverend

Letpao Haokip (Edward) *

"God is Holy and Reverend" (Ps111:9) He is unique and only absolutely holy one. He created the heaven and the universe. Can man create one of God's creation? In his presence Isaiah said, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips…….." (Isaiah 6:5)

"Reverend" is not used a title for man. For a person to apply this as a title to himself when the Holy spirit never use the word in this manner is but to be guilty of diverting the word. There is no mention in the Scripture of "Reverend James", "Reverend Peter" They looked upon themselves as weak creatures, needing the help of God and refused" to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal 6:14). Some preachers speak of Paul as plain Paul, James as just plain James, John as just plain John and Jesus as just Jesus, but speak of themselves and other preachers as "Reverend" So-and So". Paul described himself simply as "a servant" or "a bond servant".

Division of the era:

The word of God divided the Bible into three era (Heb 1:1,2; 2 Tim 1:13, and Acts 17:30,31).

a) Father's era (Gen 1 to Exodes 19).

In this period God spoke to head of a family, and the head told his family orally what God wanted them to do. We learned that God spoke to Noah and Moses orally. Under this era the father was a prophet, a priests and a ruler. He directed the affairs of the family in religious ceremonies and the administrations.

This has been called a family system of religion, as each family seems to have been left free under the guidance of God to carry out its own affairs. They had no written system of religion, and this era lasted from Adam to the giving of the Law of Moses at Mt. Sinai.

b) Israelites' era (Exodus chapter 20 to Acts 1)

Abraham's descendants in their exodus from Egypt, were led to the foot of Mt. Sinai, and God gave to them the ten commandment which was to last till Jesus Christ came (Deut 18:15-22 Romans 10:4). They were commanded to give tithes, offerings and perform various sacrifices (Lev 27:30, 34). They praised God with songs playing harps, drums, flutes and lyres. However Amos the prophet had predicted the end of this era where in Amos 5:25 told His people through him to take away the noise of their songs and stringed instruments.

c) Christian era

This era grew out of the spiritual promises made to Abraham that all the families and all the nations of the earth were to be blessed by a descendant of Abraham. That one was Christ who died for us and became the mediator of a better covenant. He came to established his Chruch (Mt. 16:18). It was purchased with his blood. He took the Law of Moses and placed his Law to be fellow by the Jews and Gentiles.

The coming of the kingdom was prepared by John and Jesus. John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Christ. John was not in the kingdom, but prepared for its coming (Mt. 11:11). Jesus too preached that the kingdom was at hand (Mt 417).

He taught his disciples to pray for the coming of the kingdom (Mt 6:10). He sent his disciples out to preach that the kingdom was at hand (Mt 10:7). He promised to build his kingdom and to give the keys of the kingdom to Peter (Mt 16:18,19).

This passages shows the church and the kingdom are the same. When penticost came the apostles were all filled with the Holy spirit. Then Peter preached the crucified Lord.

The Jews were pricked in their heart and asked Peter and other apostles what they should do. Peter then used the water and the spirit as the means to enter the kingdom of God, and about three thousand people were Baptized and were added to the group.

Notice, the saved people spent their time in learning from the apostles how to behave well and good. Later one a great number of priest were added to the faith (Act 6:7)

WORSHIP

Denomination of today perform different types of worship which aren't mention in the Bible. This in fact becomes the main reason for the existence of various denominational Church. In other words, Man-made doctrine imposed by man-made church becomes the epicenter for fake worship which deviates the doctrine of God. Let us discuss the right worship which will satisfy the doctrines of the Bible.

(a) Lord's Supper:- Since it was to be a memorial of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ the apostle gather together on the first day of the week to break bread and to drink the juice of the vine.

(b) Offering:- They also contribute offering for the saints. Here tithes and burnt offering were abolished.

(c) Singing:- The people were to were to praise God with vocal music, not mechanical music. Thadou Kuki Bible include music, see KJV (Eph 5:19)

(d) Prayer:- The people were to praise God in prayer. They were to pray for what is necessary in their Christian life. However a prayer of a wicked person is not answered by God in the past and in the present.

Man like me says that since we are living on earth we cannot be perfect and always give king David as example. Yes! king David did sinned, but when he knew it, repented. Unlike us many of the Old Testament leaders such as Lot (Gen 19:1-29), Joseph (Gen 39:1-23) and prophet Samuel (Isamuel 12:1-5) were in difficult situation, yet they carried out God's work successfully. Let us become like them to make the world a good place to live in.

Thank you.