Thursday, March 22, 2012

LCG: Where's Jesus?, OOPS! SORRY! Where's Christ?



Richard Bardo, an LCG minister in Arizona had a "Sabbath Greetings" letter up to his flock last night.  He was not happy to have received an email from a local restaurant saying: “Join Us For Breakfast With The Easter Bunny!”

He then goes on to say the LCG members know this time of year to be for something different:

Many of us in God’s Church can recite why this custom is not found in the Bible and why Christians should not be involved in it. Yet, what should we be “into” this time of the year?

Namely, one of self-examination, as it clearly says in I Corinthians 11.
One would assume that he is referring specifically to examining ones self because of the upcoming Passover.  While he may be implying that, he cannot mention it.  Examining ones self in light of the work that Jesus Christ did is not brought up here either.

Instead, it is back to Hebrew scriptures about David.

Notice David:

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2 ASV)

He asked God to wash him thoroughly, after he accepted full accountability for his sins, which were against God. He pleaded for complete cleansing from sin and finally he cast himself totally upon God, who is the only one who can save!
Now that is, a man after God’s own heart. As we see from verse 2, sin goes completely through us. The Hebrew word “wash” ?????? kabac {kaw-bas’} means to: “to wash (by treading), be washed, perform the work of a fuller, to be washed out.” “A fuller” is a workman who “fulls” (cleans and thickens) freshly woven cloth for a living. You may remember the famous “Fuller Brush” company; and so is the reason for that name. So have we asked God to take a cleaning brush to us?

God in this case is that cleaner of cloth. He wants us to have white garments as He is pure and white. We must also be!  “…and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” (Daniel 7:9 KJV)

Indeed, there are moments in our lives that we need to especially seek God; and before Passover we must be “fully” cleansed from our sins. We must also recommit to God and place His ways, deep into the inner parts of our hearts and minds.
So where is Jesus when this is supposed to be his "season?"  Apparently you cannot know Jesus Christ unless you are afflicting yourself with fasting:

Christ said that when He would not be present in person, then His disciples would fast to draw ourselves closer to Him. Have we fasted recently?

“And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers; the disciples of the Pharisees also do 1the same; but Yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 “But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” (Luke 5:33-35 NAS)

The only way to put sin out and reflect this God of true love is to draw ourselves closer to Him in prayer and fasting. This can’t happen unless we fast and pray often. Let’s seek God while He may be found and draw ourselves near to Him especially in these latter days!
These are all works that were done BEFORE Jesus Christ died.  Why is there no mention of what was accomplished AFTER Jesus died?  If they claim to be followers of Jesus Christ as they claim, why can't they never seem to discuss anything  about him, what he accomplish and what was COMPLETED by his death and resurrection.

"It is finished." apparently has no meaning to to these folk.

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