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A CHURCHGOER IS NOT A CHRISTIAN

FIRST BIBLE LESSON: JOHN Chapter 4 verse 21


"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither
in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father."
SECOND BIBLE LESSON: JOHN Chapter 14 verse 21
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he
that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manif
est myself to him."
GOLDEN TEXT: JOHN Chapter 13 verse 35
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved yo
u, that ye also love one another."
This significant gospel is an embodiment of the work expected to be done by ever
y Christian. Be not deceived by any person to who visits Jerusalem or is called
a Christian, a Buddhist or a Hindu. Such nomenclatures are useless. When one cla
ims to be a member of the Roman Catholic, Apostolic, Methodist or any of the ort
hodox churches, then it would be construed to mean, he does not understand the g
ospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. At John Chapter 4 verse 21, it is said: "...the
hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worsh
ip the Father."
It is ridiculous therefore to tell someone you are attending one church or the o
ther and that the church is located miles away. When one claims one's church is
located far away, or Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is about two or three mil
es away, or cannot be found in the area, from whom did one receive such a teachi
ng? If those who worshipped God on the mountain, and in Jerusalem had pleased Go
d, then the statement as recorded at John Chapter 4 verse 21 would not have been
made. Hence, worshipping God is neither done on the mountain, nor in Jerusalem.
This is in line with the scriptural notation:
"Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth
: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning com
eth out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of
the Son of man be." (Matthew Chapter 24 verses 26 and 27).
Just as Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is wrongfully regarded as a church, mo
st people wrongfully regard 34 Ambo Street, Calabar, as the world headquarters o
f BROTHERHOOD OF THE CROSS AND STAR. However, neither is BROTHERHOOD OF THE CROS
S AND STAR a Church, nor a 34 Ambo Street the Headquarters of BROTHERHOOD OF THE
CROSS AND STAR. In fact, no place serves as the dwelling place of God, hence wo
rshipping God at any particular place is strongly discouraged.
It should be borne in mind, Our Lord Jesus Christ neither attended any church no
r recommended any for people, and to clarify this point, He said, "...I sanctify
myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." (John Chapter 17
verse 19).
We are the house of God, and He dwells in those who keep His commandments. There
is no need directing any person to any building; for God does not dwell in buil
dings. Rather, He dwells in every sinless individual. You may recall the stateme
nt made by Our Lord Jesus Christ when His disciples drew His attention to the ma
gnificent buildings of the temple at Jerusalem. He said, "Verily I say unto you,
There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown d
own." (Matthew Chapter 24 verse 2).
And true to His words those buildings which symbolized the work of darkness, wer
e completely demolished. Therefore, if these buildings were symbolically destroy
ed, why should other ones be erected? Churches are centers of deceit. No church
denomination or prayer house practices the true love of God.
Claiming to belong to one sect or the other is of no importance. The important t
hing is for one to forsake sin, and adhere strictly to the injunctions of God. T
herefore, when Our Lord Jesus Christ said, God shall neither be worshipped on th
e mountain nor at Jerusalem, He implied, everybody should purify himself and get
united with God, the Father.
The words of God can be preached at any place. There is no point rebuilding what
had been demolished, naming it the house of God. Whoever does this is overshado
wed by darkness. Instead of wasting your money in these useless ventures, it is
better and more profitable to use it in helping the poor, and other less-privile
ged ones. Remember Our Lord Jesus Christ had instructed, whoever has two coats s
hould give one to the one who has none. Besides, do no evil to anybody and love
all equally.
JUST AS THE DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DID, EVERY CHRISTIAN IS EXPECTED
TO GO FROM PLACE TO PLACE, AND DISSEMINATE THE WORDS OF GOD. WHEREVER PEOPLE ARE
GATHERED, GO TO SUCH PLACES, AND MINISTER UNTO THEM. Do not tell lies, do not s
teal, do not fornicate, and do not hate or commit any other sin. Our Lord Jesus
Christ had been attending feasts, and other functions so as to meet with the aff
licted and deliver them. As a Christian, you are therefore expected to do the sa
me.
Many people erroneously travel from one place to another in search of where to w
orship God. Even in this fold, members travel all the way from the Western World
to Nigeria, just to worship God. No one believes man is God's building, His cit
y and husbandry. This is one of the reasons why, man should not hate another man
. Whoever loves another, invariably loves God. It however does not consist in go
ing to Jerusalem, or any other place before it is done; and whoever does this do
es not know what he is worshipping. Nevertheless, if we follow the doctrines of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, our course will be amplified.
Most churches today are not practicing the doctrines of Our Lord Jesus Christ. P
eople build houses, which attract a congregation of people, tax them, and such p
roceeds go into the pockets of a few individuals. And this is the place, they ca
ll the house of God, a place that had been demolished by Jesus Christ. Ponder ov
er this. If your child named Paul died, and on having another child, you named h
im also Paul, and he again died, why would you not change the name, when next yo
u have another child? Recall, in the days of Adam, Lot, Abraham, Noah and other
patriarchs, there were no church buildings. They knew God dwells in man, and so
there was no need erecting other buildings.
GOD IS OMNIPRESENT:
God is known to be Omnipresent. And if God is Omnipresent, what kind of house ca
n one build for Him? What place does one think can accommodate Him? CALL UPON HI
M ANYWHERE YOU ARE, AND HE WILL ANSWER YOU.
If one preaches to the Indians, God dwells in a house built by man, he would be
laughed at or scorned. If one says, God exists in the East, the pertinent questi
on is, who exist in the West and other places? It is said, "Howbeit the most Hig
h dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my th
rone, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or
what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?" (Acts Ch
apter 7 verses 48 to 50).
Solomon built a temple for God and another for a mermaid. With this he neither p
leased God nor obeyed Him. As such, I do not want anyone to do anything that is
not pleasing to God. What I desire is for all to maintain pure hearts. God does
not require any house to be built for Him. A lot of people boast of building chu
rches for God, yet they still continue to steal, fornicate, lie, hate, impute si
ns on others, and indulge in other sins. This in fact is a complete falling away
from the injunctions of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The death of Our Lord Jesus Christ became necessary, so the worship of God on mo
untains or at Jerusalem may stop. It is the height of insult and disgrace to nam
e any building the house of God. Would that be construed to mean, God is so smal
l, He can be accommodated in a house? The world is in a pathetic state. People a
re ignorant about the presence of God. This explains why, Brotherhood members tr
avel from different parts of the world to see the Father in Calabar. As people k
eep coming here from many parts of the world, if I should move from here to Lago
s, would people come to Calabar anymore? If I move from Lagos to London, would p
eople visit Nigeria? If I leave London for India, would people visit London? Wha
t kind of house then would one refer to, if there are buildings at these differe
nt places?
Brethren, I have led you to the accurate wisdom of the truth. That wisdom of the
truth is what I am now teaching you. Do not disturb yourself any longer about b
uilding a house for God. Do whatever good you can to your neighbor. Do not tell
lies. Do not commit fornication. Do not be angry with any person. Live peaceably
with all men. Go from place to place and minister to people. These are what Our
Lord Jesus Christ expect of us.
It is said, "...Ye are Gods." (Psalm 82 verse 6, John Chapter 10 verse 34). This
refers to man. If men are gods, then they have to possess the rare attributes o
f love and truth, which could only be found in God. In fact, they are the light
of the world. Why then should man seek after another God? Wherever man is, there
God also dwells. Therefore, whenever one falls sick, speak and he will be heale
d. Whoever is in lack, or whoever does not believe in God, minister or preach to
him. Show him the light, and his problems will be over. Read the First Lesson a
gain.
FIRST BIBLE LESSON: JOHN Chapter 4 verse 21
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither
in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father."
WHERE TO WORSHIP GOD:
Why did the woman not ask Our Lord Jesus Christ, where one can worship the Fathe
r? Perhaps, it did not occur to her. One thing peculiar with Our Lord Jesus Chri
st was He only offered explanations to only the questions put forward to Him. Th
erefore, if the woman had asked, where God could be worshipped, He would have to
ld her, one can only worship God within him. AS EARLIER STATED, GOD DWELLS WITHI
N MAN. HE SPEAKS TO HIM AND DIRECTS HIM ON WHAT TO DO. IN FACT, HE DWELLS IN EVE
RY PERSON. It is for this reason you are told not to steal, tell lies, commit fo
rnication, smoke, snuff or take any medication. Such things are filthy, and capa
ble of defiling the temple of the Most High God. If you defile the temple of God
, where then do you expect God to dwell?
When Our Lord Jesus Christ was repeatedly making mention of the Father, Philip,
one of His disciples asked Him, to show them the Father and it would suffice the
m. Reacting to this question, Jesus said unto him,
"Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he t
hat hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Fat
her? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words
that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me
, he doeth the works." (John Chapter 9 verses 9 and 10).
Those who have been to Jerusalem can attest to the truth, there is no building c
alled church built by Our Lord Jesus Christ or any of his disciples. The only bu
ildings there were built by the unbelievers, who use such buildings to generate
revenue for themselves. Such people had no love. No truth was found in them. The
y were not merciful. They disregarded other men. The commandments of God were no
t kept by them. Most of those buildings are now empty. No one is found there. Ev
en in Britain, the magnificent building at Liverpool, built before the 18th Cent
ury, which is now used by Brotherhood brethren, was abandoned by church-goers. S
ome of such buildings are side attractions for the sake of generating revenue. T
here is nothing in any of such buildings or places because Our Lord Jesus Christ
had said, the hour cometh when God shall neither be worshipped on the mountain
nor at Jerusalem.
In Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, we preach total abstinence from sins. Upon
the great multitude of people, how many have forsaken sins? Therefore, it is ex
pedient, we build the house of God by purifying ourselves; thus, refraining from
every sin. Brethren it is profitable we watch our steps, for it is said, a chil
d who walks circumspectively can always overcome the thing that killed his fathe
r.
Brethren, the source of your problem is, you try to rebuild what had been demoli
shed. What will you have to preach to people when you indulge in the reconstruct
ion of what Our Lord Jesus Christ had demolished? He had demolished the law and
the idea of worshipping at specific places. Church denominations use about one a
nd a half hours for worship; yet, they still go about killing, maintaining shrin
es and sanctum, and offering sacrifices. These are the church-goers, who profess
to worship the true God. Does the worship of God involve killing, stealing and
committing other atrocious acts?
You may recall the words of Paul the Apostle, as recorded at 1st Corinthians Cha
pter 13 verse 3. He said:
"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to
be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."
I am not saying it is bad for one to build a church and shelter people. If you s
hould build a house and shelter people, you should also "build a house" to shelt
er God. This is done by refraining from every manner of sin. REALIZE, SIN ABOUND
S WHERE PEOPLE ARE MANY. THEREFORE, NO MATTER WHAT ONE DOES, IF HE CANNOT BUILD
THE HOUSE OF GOD, (BY REFRAINING FROM SIN), HE IS MERELY A CHURCH-GOER, AND NOT
A TRUE CHRISTIAN.
Even in BROTHERHOOD OF THE CROSS AND STAR, some members still cannot practice th
e teachings as obtained here. Those who practice my teachings are the true bapti
zed members. A great number quarrel or get exasperated. They do not help the poo
r and the needy, or try to do good to every person. When John said to Our Lord J
esus Christ, "Master we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade h
im, because he followeth not with us," what did Our Lord Jesus Christ say to him
? He said, "Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us." (Luke Chap
ter 9 verses 49 and 50, Mark Chapter 9 verses 38 to 40). Many people profess the
ir parents and brethren are Christians; yet, they do not know the meaning of the
word Christian. The word Christian connotes one, who practices the commandments
of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who erect mere buildings and call them churches
, and go about committing atrocities are no Christians. They are the anti-Christ
s.
A church-goer is not a Christian. He only practices churchianity. Also, to be re
ligious does not connote Christianity. This is because to be religious implies t
he adoration for any object. Whatever you love and adore is your religion. Howev
er, many people are truly involved in true religion. It is very pathetic, and al
so disgraceful to find out people now worship buildings. Where then is the essen
ce of Christianity? Why should people still believe their churches are either lo
cated miles apart from where they live, or they cannot get to their church branc
hes, or their churches cannot be found in town at all? By holding onto such beli
ef, you have contradicted the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and you are an
unbeliever, and you are overshadowed in darkness.
Recall what Our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples when they invited Him to di
ne with them. He said:
"I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to an
other, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is
to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There ar
e yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your
eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." (John Cha
pter 4 verses 32 to 35).
Why do you argue there is no Bethel, when you are sent to Russia or to any other
place on evangelism? Can you not see how ripe the field is? Many are roaming ab
out without any knowledge of God. There are thieves, liars, fornicators and robb
ers. They all constitute the field. Man is God's house. Are there no poor people
? Do you not have sick people? Are unbelievers not around? Are native doctors an
d others not the farm that is ready for harvest? Go to them and minister unto th
em. It serves no useful purpose staying in man-made houses, professing to be wor
shipping God, when the fields are ready to be harvested.
Recall, when a certain woman lifted her voice and said to Jesus the Christ,
"Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he
said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." (Lu
ke Chapter 11 verses 27 and 28). Our Lord Jesus Christ also said, "He that hath
my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth m
e shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to
him." (John Chapter 14 verse 21).
There is no other thing which changes a man like the Word of God. When you were
a thief or yet an unbeliever, indulging in diabology, initiating into secret cul
ts, bearing false witness, drinking liquor, fornicating, hating people, you were
ignorant of these offenses: that benefit of doubt granted. But on hearing the w
ords, and putting them into practice, neither committing fornication, adultery,
nor drinking any liquor. It means then you love Christ, and the Father will love
you, and Christ will also love you, and will reveal Himself to you.
I do not teach you God is in the secret chambers. I do not teach you God is in t
he hall, in the cathedral or outside. God is omnipresent; and I therefore teach
you to love one another. If you love one another you will not steal, fornicate,
get exasperated, tell lies, drink liquor, segregate or commit any sin, because l
ove is the fulfilling of the law. Read the second lesson again.
SECOND BIBLE LESSON: JOHN Chapter 14 verse 21
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he
that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manif
est myself to him."
WORSHIPING GOD CONNOTES LOVING ONE ANOTHER:
What is God's commandment? Love ye one another even as I have loved you. This is
how to worship God. Going to Jerusalem or any other place does not arise. It do
es not consist in building a house, furnishing it, keeping flowers and decoratin
g all the rooms with the inscription of Jesus. These things mean nothing. It is
only a point to the fact, such a person knows not what he worships.
If you honor the person you behold, it means you have honored God. If you love t
he person you see, you are loving God. You are respecting God, if you respect th
e person you see. When you believe in man, you are invariably believing in God.
When you tell the truth or do any good thing to another, you are doing it to God
. This is how to worship God.
It is said: "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto t
hyself any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or
that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou sha
lt not bow down thyself to them. Honor thy father and mother. Thou shalt not kil
l. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear fal
se witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covert thy neighbor's property..
." (Exodus Chapter 20 verses 3 to 17).
These injunctions are meant for us to keep. These are what it entails to worship
God. Do not wear finger rings. Do not have protective charms. Do not use talism
ans and amulets. Keep nothing in the bedroom. Do not set aside rooms for sanctum
and claim, such belong to God. Do not use a particular handkerchief. Do not all
ow falsehood to overcome you. Respect and love every person. Do not think evil o
f any person. Minister to any person in lack, whenever you are able. These are a
ll the things Our Lord Jesus Christ wants. If you do these things, it means you
love Christ, and the Father will love you and reveal Himself to you.
Solomon built a temple for God but married seven hundred wives, and maintained t
hree hundred concubines. He did not harken to the voice of God. He did not only
go against God's instructions, by building a house for a mermaid, but also worsh
ipped the mermaid. Similarly, a lot of people boast they have built a house of G
od. Yet these same people keep on stealing, fornicating, killing and telling lie
s. Do they think God dwells there? I do not on the other hand dissuade anyone fr
om building houses. But whoever does not serve God in the right way is simply wa
sting his time. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and he lo
ses his soul in hell? (Matthew Chapter 16 verses 26). Even our fore-fathers who
ignorantly committed various sins did suffer and they also perished. Now, the Ho
ly Spirit has come and enlightened you, do you want to perish as your fathers di
d?
The money used each year for pilgrimages to Israel, Jerusalem, Mecca and other c
ountries are a waste. But those who go on ministry work for the singular purpose
of preaching the Word of God and ministering to the poor do what God really wan
ts. Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which
are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your
house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me hencefo
rth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Mat
thew Chapter 23 verses 37 to 39, Luke Chapter 13 verses 34 and 35).
Now, with this in mind, why should Christians keep on visiting Jerusalem? Does J
erusalem know God, or does God know Jerusalem?
For worship, God needs one who respects himself, does not defile his or her fles
h with men or women, does not begrudge any man, does not drink any liquor, does
not hate any person, does not get angry, but one who surrenders wholly unto God.
One must be merciful, abide by the instructions of God, and listen to the spiri
t. Such is the man who pleases God.
The second Lesson clearly states: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them
, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, an
d I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (JOHN Chapter 14 verse 21).
If you read through the Bible from Matthew to the Revelation of John the Divine,
you will not come across any portion of the Bible in which the Holy Spirit advi
ses anyone to build a house for God, or go to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. You are e
xpected to listen to the dictates of the Holy Spirit. Whatever you are directed
to do by the Holy Spirit, you do; and whatever the Spirit forbids, that must you
not do.
As at now, the different church buildings erected are left empty. Many bethels b
uilt here in Brotherhood are looking for members or people to sweep and keep the
m tidy. They have been built but there are no people to occupy them. What use do
they serve after all? What you are expected to do is to go to gatherings, insti
tutions of learning, church congregations, court rooms, streets, hospitals, beac
hes, market places and everywhere. Announce your mission to the people, and you
will witness a great crowd. Such opportunities will occur for you to preach, and
get the people to repent. In the prisons, many are eager for the words of God.
In the schools, many are eager for the words of God. In the hospitals, many are
anxious for the words of God. The lawyers, magistrates and judges are seeking fo
r the words of God. Many homes are waiting for the words of God. Can you not go
to these places?
If you start a house-to-house evangelical tour now, you will come across somebod
y, who is ill and desolate, without any person attending to him. He may have nei
ther bed, plates or clothes to cover his nakedness. That situation calls for the
work of God. You may also come across somebody, who has five to eight children,
all of them sick because of starvation. If you should go and help them, by swee
ping their place of abode, in addition to giving them money, you would have acco
mplished a great task. If you like you can go alone. If you prefer doing as Our
Lord Jesus Christ instructed, you can go in twos or with a child, and minister t
o the less-privileged and afflicted, giving them the word, and whatever help you
can give.
Continue with your farming, trading and use the proceeds to help the poor. Work
for the government, do not steal their money, do not offer or accept bribes. Do
not commit any sin. Keep the injunctions of God and love one another. Our Lord J
esus Christ said,
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the mids
t of them." (Matthew Chapter 18 verse 20). He also said, "And whatsoever ye shal
l ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
(John Chapter 14 verse 13).
What is His name? Is it Jesus, Christ or Jehovah? It is love. Wherever you are,
you are with Him. If you have love, you will not tell lies, get exasperated, loo
k disdainfully at any person, or commit any evil. You will rather humble yoursel
f.
Pray to Him wherever you are and He will answer. He will reveal Himself to you w
herever you are. The idea of running to a place called a Bethel before having yo
ur request granted does not arise. You do not need to rush for a... (to be conti
nued).
THANK YOU FATHER.

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