The Right of Passage. Written by Rev.Anthony R. Smith
The Right of Passage. by Anthony Smith Isaiah 64:6-64:6 The Right of Passage. In this world today there are many rights of passage from boyhood to manhood, different cultures and different ways. Many are extremely dangerous. For one reason or another these rights of passage became into being and very popular. Most of them come about because of cults and witchcraft. Many of these rights end up with death of participant, many with foreknowledge of parents. The right of Passage that I want to speak of today is Sainthood. I have no intention of putting anyone down for their belief’s but to enlighten all in word of God. For it doesn’t matter what you believe, what matters is what Word of God says. Did you ever wonder what or whom a Saint is? The dictionary says a saint is; “A person officially recognized, especially by canonization,[To declare (a deceased person){ The Apostil Paul wasn’t talking to dead people ,when He called them Saints, was He?} to be a saint and entitled to be fully honored as such. To include in biblical canon. To include in a literary canon. To approve as being within canon law. To treat as sacred; glorify{ The Bible says to Glorify God, not man}.], as being entitled to public veneration and capable of inter-ceding for people on earth. An extremely virtuous person.” As I looked at this definition, I thought, “If this is a saint then were all in trouble.” Do I really need to be, canonized, officially recognized, an intercessor for people or an extremely virtuous person to be a saint ? And believe it or not I found answer was NO. I found that anyone can be and are Saints of God. Weather man, recognizes, qualifies, justifies, or puts a good housekeeping seal of approval on it. I know your going to ask,”Who then is a Saint?” The answer, Everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, thats who.Lets look at “A person officially recognized ” Officially recognized by who? Man? And if so, where did this authority come from, man or God? If from God ,then where in scripture is it found? Then if its from man, do they over-step their authority that only comes from God? An intercessor for people? 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, man Christ Jesus;. Is there another intercessor or mediator, between God and Man except Jesus? If so, again where is His authorization, where does it come from? So what is right of passage for a Saint? “keep commandments of God, and faith of Jesus.” Lets read a little. Saints, saints, saints There are 95 verses in Scripture that declair, who is a Saint by Standards of God and not man. Mat 27:52 And graves were opened; and many bodies of saints which slept arose,Where these people canonized? No.recognised ? Yes by God. Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: What about these people? Canonized? No. Recognized ? Yes by God. Act 9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to saints which dwelt at Lydda.Or these? Canonized? No. Recognized ? Yes by God. And what about an extremely virtuous person?, The Apostil Paul never once said, that He was, nor anyone else in Scripture ever call Paul “an extremely virtuous person” 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Acts 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. I thought “an extremely virtuous person” had to be a righteous person? So what does God have to say about our righteousness? Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like wind, have taken us away.
| | The Carnal ChristianWritten by Rev.Anthony R. Smith
The Carnal Christian. by Anthony Smith Romans 8:35-8:35 The Carnal Christian. This Sermon deals with Christian in peril and Lazy Christian that is always complaining. Before we start, I would like to share a letter that I received today from one of My Associates in Phillippiens. The words and spelling are His and I decided not to correct them. Dear Rev. Smith, Please help praise Lord for me, I was at point of dead, I met dead face to face on saturday night as I journeyed to be with a church at lagos our former capital.We ran into an armed robbery gang of about 42 in numbers with sophisticated riffle,our bus entered thier midst unknowingly.Several shots were fired into our bus,the bus conductor died instantly,tyre burst,radiator blast off,and bus went into bush,and they pursued us to a standstill.They ransacked all our luggages,took valuable items including cash. Finally commander ordered that those that have paid their tithes for last 3 months should stand one side,some thought it was a joke,i quickly obeyed and a sister join me.Those who were not on our side gang leader said they have robbed God,and that there is only one sentence for robbers,dead sentence.It was at that point they fired everybody to dead,and they ordered 2 of us to go.we were helpless,we slept there till daybreak,about 6 buses were involved in saga,at same time they raped nearly all women.My heart is very very sorrowful,this incident has been reported in our national news and newspapers.God kept me alive to write you this day,may His only name be blessed. His Grace in Ecclesia, Bishop Dr.Joseph Rankin. Now lets look at Scripture. Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? The word of Lord is true and eternal. Many are recieveing tribulation, distress, persecution and even threat of death for their belief in Gospel. But still they go on. They go on believing in God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The problem today, as I have seen it, is that there are too many Christians that are sitting around waiting for rapture to take place and not being concerned with state of their other brothers and sisters in harms way, who are promoting Gospel to rest of world. Being comfortable with one or two services a week, giving church money when its convienuent for them, not really paying ties but expecting their say at business meetings. And Church, not using money for propagating Gospel, but rather building on instead of building up. Where has compassion of Christian gone? Rom 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. Romans 15:27 is not just a passing thought by Paul, but a commandment from Christ, for establishment of all members of body. 1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 1Co 3:1 is a warning to Christians that there are times that Church loses its way and becomes carnal, instead of Spiritual. Not being able to receive Spiritual insight into Gospel because they have become carnal minded. 1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1Co 3:3 is stating that when members of body become carnal minded, they start walking as man instead of as Christian, Christ like, in
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