Chapter 7


Necessary Corrections

By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze

1. God is not a God of wrath, terror or fear.
   
He is full of loving-kindness, mercy and generousity.


2. God is All Good, and there is no evil in Him or from Him.
   
Evil is a creation by man, by his improper use of forces of nature.


3. Right adjective:
   
Usually, we qualify God with “He”, and then qualify God the Son and God the Holy Spirit with “he.” That is hypocrisy. It is like saying what is true and at the same time denying it. The Trinity is simply three different manifestations of the same God Almighty. We should qualify the trio as “He” and also each of them as “He”.


4. We often believe that our religion or church is the best.
   
The truth is that God is not defined by religion, and He is not confined to a particular church. He is universal, like the sun which shines alike unto the ends of the earth irrespective of tribe, location, religion or belief.

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,’ God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

Most of the religions and churches that claim to be the best are indeed among the worst.


5. Mourning the dead by crying and weeping.
   
The dead are not dead. They are living. Birth is not the beginning of life, and death is not end of life.

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”. John 11:25, 26


6. Excessive haggling.
   
Excessive haggling drives away the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus said, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. Anything more than this comes from evil” By the time you haggle once or twice, you notice that both sides have lied. And falsehood is death!


7. Self-limitations.
   
People do this by way of self-condemnation, self-belittlement and self-defeat. It is true that man has sinned, but that has not deprived him of his mighty and glorious status as a child of God, just as human beings do not reject their children because the children are dirty. For example, the same Moses that did not enter the Promised Land (Canaan) because of his sin of disobedience was seen with Jesus in the kingdom during transfiguration.


8. God did not create weaklings as mankind.
   
He made us bright, mighty and glorious spirits after His own image and likeness (the sameness, His very nature). Man is a Small God!


9. Unnecessary Piety:
   
Those religious beliefs and practices which we value on earth, but which are unnecessary in the spirit life. They include:


1. Long hours of saying repetitive prayers.

         Consider the parable of the hungry child. There was a child who was destitute. Everyday, he walked the streets, chanting “Daddy, I am hungry. Have mercy on me. Daddy, I am hungry. Have mercy on me.” People would pass him, turn and have a second look at him. Some would pity him, others made fun of him, while sympathetic ones cursed the father. Who would like to be such a father? Jesus explained it clearly,

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:7-9


2. Carrying or wearing sacramentals.


3. Doing sign of the cross as one passes by a church.


4. Bowing or genuflecting to statues.


He gives his crown to an effigy
and his sceptre to tide and fate
He calls a refuse gold.
What he calls faith
     is nothing but false belief.
He refuses to learn the truth
     the simple truth
until he has suffered untold hardship
     which is both recurrent
and unnecessary


Learn the simplicity of God,
and yourself will be free!



10. Celebrating the corpse.
    
People celebrate the corpse when they carry it about, in dignifying processions and decorations, making noise with music bands, etc. All amount to foolishness and blindness. All that is necessary is an earnest prayer with a simple funeral.


11. Excessive fasting, from day to day.
    
What God requires of us is righteousness, obedience to His commandments, and brotherly love. For some people, excessive fasting leads to ill-heath, ulcer, pile, heart-failure, poor eye sight, etc. Fasting is good but should not be excessive. What does God benefit from your suffering, fasting or agony? Nothing!


5 Is it a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the LORD?


6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'
Isaiah 58:5-9

All that you need to do is: avoid excessive eating; do not live to eat; instead, eat to live.


12. Unnecessary discriminations based on religion, tribe etc.
    
Such discriminations include providing for members of one’s church to the neglect of the needs, rights and privileges of members of other churches. This is an abomination before God.


13. Inter-religious condemnations,
    
which act is offensive to the Angels. We should correct the erring ones and allow them time to understand and come to perfection, just as God was patient with those of us who have now attained perfection.


14. Self-exclusion,
    
by delegating others to do it for you: to pray for you, to fight for you, or to appeal on our behalf. Nothing stops you from going straight to the throne of God to get what you need.


15. Poor reading culture.
    
To stop learning is a serious spiritual handicap that is self-inflicted. Besides, it is a sign of mental laxity and moral short-sightedness. How do you feel to know that one Angel of God can read and reply a thousand letters at the same time?


16. Trusting in one’s positions and honours.
    
You do this when you pride yourself about what you have. Pride is unnecessary. Mankind should learn from the sun, which is always selfless and busy; it gives to all, without complaining and without expecting rewards. Above all, it is not proud, and yet, it is majestic and glorious.


17. Eternity is not a future reality.
    
It is both here and now. We live in the Eternal Now. We are already in the life everlasting. All that will take place is a transformation (transfiguration which people call rapture.) That is why Jesus said,

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”. John 11:25, 26

1. “Seek no other God, because there is none”.


The First And The Last
12 I am He, I am the First,
I am also the Last.
13 Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth,
And My right hand has stretched out the heavens;
When I call to them,
They stand up together.
14 "All of you, assemble yourselves, and hear!
Who among them has declared these things?
Isaiah 48:12-14

There Is No Other God
6 There Is No Other God
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
'I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
7 And who can proclaim as I do?
Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me,
Since I appointed the ancient people.
And the things that are coming and shall come,
Let them show these to them.
8 Do not fear, nor be afraid;
Have I not told you from that time, and declared it?
You are My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me?
Indeed there is no other Rock;
I know not one.'" Isaiah 44:6-8

For I am God
8 "Remember this, and show yourselves men;
Recall to mind, O you transgressors.
9 Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying,'My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,' Isaiah 46:8-10

I, even I, am the LORD
10 "You are My witnesses," says the LORD,
"And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD,
And besides Me there is no savior.
12 I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed,
And there was no foreign god among you;
Therefore you are My witnesses,"
Says the LORD, "that I am God.
13 Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I work, and who will reverse it?"
Isaiah 43:10-13

I am the LORD, that is My name
5 Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:
6 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
7 To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
8 I am the LORD, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them."
Isaiah 42:5-9


2. “Commit no sin, because I tolerate none, not even an iota of sin.”
   


For I, the LORD thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Exodus 20:5

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18


3. Place God first in every situation or consideration.
   
Not only that, it means God Only as our everyday priority and guide.


4. Serve God with all our heart,
   
with all our mind, with all our soul and with all your life (with full attention and devotion).


5. Do everything as service offering to the Almighty.
   

1. Feeling resentment against someone because of that person’s success, advantage or rivalry.
2. Characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment.
3. Rage
4. Being inclined to or troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry
5. Guarding one’s positions or belongings, without allowing others to use it.
6. Suspicious or fearful of being displaced (replaced). Other words that have the same meaning of jealous are: apprehensive, (uneasy), begrudging, doubting, envious, envying, grudging, intolerant, distrustful, monopolizing, resentful, complaining, disgruntled, faultfinding, grumbling, offended etc.