The Way of the Anointed One

Selamta!

Today I offer some of my words which support the importance of truly knowing what you stand for, as an Anointed Dreadlocked RasTafari Daughter and Empress, as a Virtuous Daughter of King Sela and Queen Omega Ityopya. This post is ideally a forerunner of the Queen Omega Livity Principles because it discusses the New Testament Scriptures which would have been the same Iritual literature taught to Empress Menen as She was growing up. The Way of the Anointed, the Way of the Nazirene, Christian, Saint, such are the guidelines that She would have been taught to encourage a strong moral character. Have you ever thought about what Scripture impacted on the making of the Queenly Character of Krist? Of course it is relevant for the King-Man also, do share it with him and your children.

Biblical  Explanations  of The Ways  of  the Kristos and Nazirene 

         

          There are parts of Biblical Scripture that I and I can Iditate on daily to define and advise upon the God-Self, and the way that flesh must abide if to have the blessings and power of JAH through the Kristos Irit upon the nation. By considering the Gospels of the Apostles as a whole body of work based on One Message; it is apparent that there is a Defined Type of Personality to embrace and meditate upon so that the God-Head may enlighten and become a part of self. Yesus constantly talked about the Ways to the Father through Him, that Isra’el should follow Him and His teachings to gain redemption and everliving life. In many ways that will not be mentioned here, RasTafari is like the Israelites of the Ible who according to the prophecy of Hosea, would appoint over themselves one leader in order to be liberated from tribulation and captivity.

          Within RasTafari it is also necessary to pay attention to the Personality of Krist (Kristos, Christ, Messiah means “Anointed One”), what I call I-Consciousness or Kristos Consciousness. In layman terms RasTafari call it “Krist in His Kingly Character.” Who is JAH? Who is the Almighty? Who is the Man-Ifestation, the Anointed King of Kings? Who joined His pregnant Wife to His Throne in the same anointing and coronation ceremony to bring back into reign the true trinity of Black Mother, Father and Child? What Would JAH Do? Everything JAH is as Husband, King, Prophet, Priest, Father and Afrikan is of course mirrored in the Emperor’s Wife, Krist in Her Queenly Character, the Afrikan Mother, Queen, Daughter, Wife, Patroness, Priestess.

          But when it comes down to it, and focusing solely on the name, RasTafari, the Movement is not only about being pro-Afrika, or exalting Emperor Haile Sellassie or Empress Menen with flattering words and Ises. No, RasTafari goes beyond the praises of The Man and Wombman, the God-King and Goddess into deep personal accountability. Finding the Queen and King within, the Image and Likeness of Kristos. To be Images of the Supreme King and Queen that gave us back our identity, our will to live right and our place in our homeland. Holy King Sela and Queen Omega I provoke us all to look at ourselves, to see illumination and enlightenment within and to take up a cross and walk on the Path of Righteousness with fear and love of the Almighty Creator. “Do as I do, live as I live.” Isn’t that the plee of Kristos?

          Like a Nazirene in following the Word of Yesus Kristos, to call oneself after the Name of the King and Queen of Kings I and I must be pro-right and clean, loving, honest, fruitful, hard-working and selfless. Our whole point is to be as JAH Rastafari Alpha and Omega are: to be loving, giving, unblemished and sanctified inside and out. Every aspect of Their lives whether Iritual, church or family-related, economic, educational, humanitarian or political, hold important lessons that I and I can learn from, and see the Presence of JAH in Them, as They reflected ideally what was said about the God-Chosen in both Old and New Testaments of the Ible.

          The Holy Identity of those reborn in the Irit of the Kristos is about the inner man/wombman, and genuinely doing the things that pure-hearted do. Such instruction is mainly laid out in the New Testament, but there are Old Testament references also such as Exodus 20 and 31, Leviticus 18-20, The Books of Proverbs, Psalms and Ecclesiastes.

         The following selection of chapter and verse make up what can be gleaned from the New Testament as instruction on The Way of Kristos or the Nazirene. This list does not include the Nazirite Vow, or marriage guidelines which were covered in Virtuous Woman. The common themes of the Apostles of course focus on highlighting the important steps Nazirenes should take to God-likeness of Kristos-Consciousness: faith, virtue, knowledge, gentleness and humility, honesty, endurance, patience, love and kindness, repentance or turning away from sins, and obedience to the law.

Then [Krist] said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)

Not Carnality but Krist

If then you were raised with Krist, seek those things which are above, where Krist is, sitting at the right hand of JAH. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Krist in JAH. When Krist who is our life appears, then you also will appear with HIM in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of JAH is coming upon the sons [and daughters] of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Krist is all and in all.

Character of the New Man [Wombman]

Therefore, as the elect of JAH, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Krist forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of JAH rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Krist dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to JAH the Father through Him.

(Colossians 3:1-18)

Walk in Love

Therefore be imitators of [JAH RasTafari] as dear children. And walk in love, as Krist also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to JAH for a sweet-smelling aroma.
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Krist and [Jahovah JAH RasTafari].

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of JAH comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Walk in Light

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the [Irit] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Krist will give you light.”

Walk in Wisdom

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to JAH the Father in the name of our Lord Yesus Kristos, submitting to one another in the fear of JAH. 

 (Ephesians 5:1-21)

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Irit of JAH, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as JAH in Krist forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25-27,29-32)

 Living Sacrifices to [Jahovah]

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of JAH, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to JAH, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of JAH.

Behave Like a Nazirene

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

(Romans 12:1-2, 9-15)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of JAH in Krist Yesus for you. Do not quench the Irit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-22)

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.  (1 Peter 2:17)

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

(2 Timothy 2:16)

Qualities Needed in Trials

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of JAH.

Doers—Not Hearers Only

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:18-22)

Important Psalms on Righteousness:

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbour, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honours those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

(Psalm 15)

I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me?

I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.
I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.

I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.

The perverse of heart shall be far from me;I will have nothing to do with what is evil.

Whoever slanders their neighbour in secret,  I will put to silence;

whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.

My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me;
the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.

Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord. (Psalm 101)

Other Hebrew Scriptures on the Kristos Right:

I am a priest of the Lord, and to Him I do priestly service: and to Him I offer the sacrifice of His thought.
For His thought is not like the thought of the world nor the thought of the flesh, nor like them that serve carnally.
The sacrifice of the Lord is righteousness, and purity of heart and lips.
Present your reins before Him blamelessly: and let not thy heart do violence to heart, nor thy soul to soul.
Thou shalt not acquire a stranger by the price of thy silver, neither shalt thou seek to devour thy neighbour,
Neither shalt thou deprive him of the covering of his nakedness.
But put on the grace of the Lord without stint; and come into His Paradise and make thee a garland from its tree,
And put it on thy head and be glad; and recline on His rest, and glory shall go before thee,
And thou shalt receive of His kindness and of His grace; and thou shalt be flourishing in truth in the praise of His holiness. Praise and honour be to His name. Hallelujah.

(Odes of Solomon, Ode 20)

JAH RasTafari be praised forIver through our righteous works and words. Holy Yesus I, Menen I, Selassie I JAH RasTafari!

Ila

Defining Ises and its Importance

Buruk Fikir!
Blessed Love my Royal Sistren.

As some of I and I prepare to enter into Sabbath once again, I offer a reasoning (from my RasTafari Book of Ises) on the meaning and importance of Ises. No woman is as strong as she can be if she doesn't have the power of Ises and Communion with JAH in her mind, body and soul. Ises is so many things - a rejuvenation, a hope, a cleanse, a thanksgiving, a joyful noise, a comfort...it is the right medicine for every ailment or the right answer for every question.
Ises was one of the most important things to Empress Menen and Emperor Haile Sellassie I as well. They prayed everyday and held the Church and priests close to Their home. A Chapel was necessary wherever They lived, so They could pray in private. Empress Menen used prayer as Her secret weapon during the war with Italy - She dedicated Her crown to the Church in prayer, for victory in Ethiopia. Her prayers were answered favourably! To me, in many aspects of Their lives, JAH RasTafari displayed honour, submission and reverence for the service of the Almighty JAH but Ises or prayer was the most personal and the most relied upon show of faith, love and duty.

So...what is prayer, why is it important for and to mankind?

      The Ethiopian Feta Nagast states that “prayer is the talking of man to the Highest God, whereby he thanks Him, praises Him, and recognizes His domain, confessing his sin and seeking on his part the way of pleasing Him” (Strauss 2002, pg. 88). This is a general summary of the different aspects and purposes of praises or worship which each individual must embrace in their Iritual relationship with JAH.
      Ises is the Rastafari word sound for “Giving Praise(s).” As the Feta Nagast quote says, we use prayer to talk to God and seek instruction or revelation from HIM. It is hence a language of communication between Isra’el and JAH where instruction, comfort and answers are received. In fact, Ises is the portal to communion with the Irit and Presence of JAH in the conscience, Tabernacle and in Earth. Rastafari know the God of Flesh and God of Irit become one through Ises, and through Righteousness. With both these Gifts of the Hola Irit, the presence of JAH Rastafari in the hearts of our flesh and Irits is made known to I and I in a healing and illuminating way. One of the greatest sacrifices of Ises, is to beseech God's goodness, healing and illuminating powers for the sake of others and not only ourselves.
       There are many verses of the Holy Bible which can describe more the relationship we have with JAH through Ises and therefore add an overall overstanding on the important purposes of Giving Ises in Isra’el. It is clear that Ises is the first pillar of the Ethiopian Hebrew Israelite Nazirene Faith and Livity because it is an act of service rendered to Jahovah out of partnership, love, reverence, humility and honesty. The Old Testament is filled with ensamples of Israelites worshipping, how they organized themselves to do such, and the reasons behind worship according to their relationship with Jahovah – think about the weeklong ceremony and vigil that brought down the wall of Jericho. The Book of Psalms is the Judahite and Levite (or throne and temple) compilation of poems and hymns of Ises. The Israelite way of giving Ises is therefore very oral and vocal, something that is communal. The Psalms state that Ises is a time of thanksgiving unto JAH, the fruit of our lips, our song of Ises, our cry, meditation and supplication.
      Thanksgiving is a sacrifice of praise. Jonah, in chapter 2 verse 9 said “I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” Solomon in Proverbs 15:8 said that “the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is His delight.” Jeremiah 33:10-11 also speaks about the joy in bringing these thanksgiving sacrifices into the House of the Lord in honour of the marriage of the Iritual bride and bridegroom.
     Ises as a sacrifice is therefore an important component of the Temple or Tabernacle, or in RasTafari: Taba. The House of the Lord was not built for blood sacrifice but for this sacrifice through prayer, for Ises. In the Ible it was the place where the Levites glorified the Tabernacle of Zion or the Ark of the Covenant which houses the Word of Jahovah. The Word of JAH was known in His sacred house through praise. The Taba as the House of the Lord is the physical altar structure built by man for the purpose of housing and congregating worship. But it is not the true house of prayer – the fleshly sanctuary of the Word and Irit of JAH is righteous Man and Wombman. Because man was built to manifest and serve JAH as His and Her Image, it follows that our Ises sacrifices and righteous deeds are our true incense before the Lord.
        In the Tabernacles of JAH and flesh, Ises is used for confessing our sin and seeking the ways that we could please JAH, as stated in the Feta Nagast. These are together acts of “beseeching God” and hoping that our prayers are answered by taking up the commitment to repentance. Confessing sin before JAH is an acknowledgement of wrong-doing which is a duty of every faithful member of the Church to perform in the, or in their personal Taba by means of Ises. Because we are honest enough to know that we need to confess our weakness, Ises is for many of us, about beseeching or asking God for His Holy Irit which can provide help, instruction, patience, mercy and prosperity/fortune.
       Whether Ises is given silently or while worshipping together, single-mindedness is necessary. The focus should be solely on the task and purpose at hand. Ises must be genuine and confidently engaged in.
      As mentioned, Ises (praises) or prayer is the medium through which we acknowledge the Source, course and perfection of life, the Hola Irit and the Word of JAH. Through it we are also able to spiritually connect to the Covenant of Ithiopia's Isra'el, which was carried by the lineage of King David as passed from Solomon to his Kushite son Emperor Menelik I; which was then extended to I and I Ithiopian Diasporan Beta Isra'elites through Menelik's “son” Emperor Haile Selassie I. Ises is given to Inite and Selabrate Rastafari union and communion with this Solomonic passage of the Irit of the Kristos (kr-eye-stos) and the Male and Female God-Head of Ithiopia's Isra’el. It is the moment in which I and I hail JAH RasTafari Qedamawi Haile Selassie and Itegue Qedamawit Wollete Giyorgis (Empress Menen) and acknowledge Their supremacy in righteousness as the Elect of Jahovah, Leaders of our Resurrection, Redemption and Repatriation. Ises is our freedom from spiritual and physical poverty and slavery when we use it to honour the Messianic works in Ithiopia's Isra’el.                                                 

As I and I call upon Them in Ises, I and I speak the language of the Kristos and partake in such Royal Black Ivinity. Ises is therefore for Ithiopia Afrika; the Iditation which keeps us on the right path, and the force behind our spiritual and physical deliverance from Babylon (Roman Christianity, Judaism, and White Supremacy as led by England and America).
      Rastafari must use Ises to excel in the famous quote “Forward ever, backwards never.” Ises is necessary for Rastafari to keep chanting down the spirit of Belial/Beliar or Satan, carnality, sin, death and corruption as manifested in our present time in paganism (all white and idolatrous religion) and white supremacy (mainstream), so that we may never look back upon our former wrong-doing with admiration or longing. We sacrifice the wrong in preference of pleasing the Lord God and doing what is right for ourselves and children as a race.
      There are many other worthy and important purposes of Ises that can be considered and explored not just by Rastafari, but by everyone who seeks some kind of well-being or positive reinforcement in their life.

Ises as a working power of JAH and Spirit in our lives, does many beneficial things for humanity:

• creates peace within and around I and I through Iditation and positivity
• channels the Hola Irit which creates health and wholeness in our minds & bodies
• pacifies our temper and wrath
• allows clarity and truth to shine through chaos so that our questions are answered
• helps us to change our lives and the lives of others
• gives new direction to the exiled, lost and corrupt
• builds steadfast faith over doubt and weakness
• builds hope to conquer poverty and achieve endeavours
• builds courage and strength over fear and despair, and
• adorns us with protection, prosperity and success.

                                             The Hebrew Scriptures on Ises

      All Hebrews prayed and talked to their Living God Jahovah in the Bible, and they in their histories proved the benefits of and reasons for Ises; as they exalted JAH and were able to achieve by prayer: Hannah, Elijah, Yesus, Ezra, Maryam, Moses, Abraham, Daniel, David and the list goes on. The following verses show why they prayed, why Jahovah wants and expects prayer from Isra'el, and highlight other points made previously on Ises:

This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. (Isaiah 43:21)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day. (Psalm 71:5-8)

He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see his face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness. (Job 33:26)

For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:14-15)

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. (2 Samuel 22:4)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord [JAH Rastafari Sela]. (Ephesians 5:18-20)

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. (James 5:13)

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. (Psalm 47:1-2, 6-7)

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

(Psalm 34:13)

Praise the Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.

(Psalm 147:1)

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

(Psalm 107:8)

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. (Psalm 48:1)

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.

(Psalm 50:23)

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

(Psalm 63:3-5)

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.(Psalm 92:1-2)

For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. (Psalm 96:4-5)

Selah!
JAH RasTafari be praised for all wisdom, word sound, works and peace imparted upon I and I Covenant Keepers of Ithiopia Hola T'sion!
Sis. Ila

 

 

Defining True Worship

Blessed Uprising to all Dawtas of Holy King Selah and Mama Omega!

I went to bed early and got up super early, so I decided to get a headstart on my post for today as I want to be finishing up an order, sewing, crocheting and whatever else later on,JAH willing.Sunrise is truly meolodic with the sounds of the birds and neighbourhood dogs. Even the blue and gold colours of the sky were just as beautiful as the full moon sky first night (meaning last night).

Today's topic is about the importance of goodwill, righteousness and the Krist-Life, which ultimately define worshipping JAH in "The Way" most preferred. I chose this topic because I wanted to make the point that it is important for Rastafari Sistren to remember the footsteps and character of Queen Omega, and to come together in this effort. The post I made on Queen Omega Livity Principles ideally is a collection of principles the Queen lived by which were expressions of Her Faith and Possession of the Hola Irit of the Goddess. Many posts that are made on RasTa WifeLine, will relate back to Her principles and how best Sistren can endeavour to achieve the same blessings.

   

I belong to the Roots Dawta Connection Trinidad and Tobago Chapter, and I and I get together to reason, strengthen one another and also perform charity services as well as tutoring services. All members and supporters love and strive to honour Empress Menen in all things, all the time. I also feel inspired by my fellow Roots Dawtas and coincidentally this post is for them.  

Defining True Worship: A Reasoning on Isaiah 58

 The show of Brotherly love and Sisterly love is the substance of harmony, peace, joy, enlightenment, healing and goodness; it defines the civility of any nation, the Godliness of any religion and the humanity of any race. One of the most important things to notice and recall about the last reigning Monarchs of Ethiopia - Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen - is Their devotion to JAH and all members of society: the children, elderly, poor, the military and other service industries and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church with its congregation. Such service and holy submission started long before Negus Tafari Makonnen was crowned Negusa Negast Qedamawi Haile Selassie - being an embedded part of Their Personalities. And what is the definition of God or Godliness if not the Provider of the poor and oppressed, Champion of Truth and Justice, Speaker of Wisdom and King of Righteousness?

 To walk as JAH RasTafari walked is therefore to honour Them, obey the Commandments, to find the true connection to JAH and the meaning of life. To walk as the Black Krist walked also defines True Worship and the ultimate realization of human destiny or perfection. The following essay is a reasoning on Isaiah 58 which is about defining true worship by Jahovah's standards, not man's. It is taken from an Ises guide and Iditation book called the Rastafari Book of Ises which I also wrote and which will soon be available, JAH willing. 

            Prophet Isaiah, during his sojourn in Judah, observed how the children of Judah conducted themselves during the holy times of fasting, prayer, feasts and Sabbath. What was made abundantly clear was that vanity tarnished the spirituality of Isra’el, because their own pleasures decided how they conducted themselves rather than JAH's will and word through His righteous Commandments. There was little consideration for morality and goodwill, Isra’el did wrong, and didn't care. Carnal satisfaction was higher than thanksgiving and all else.

                According to Isaiah Chapter 58, Isra’el was guilty of finding their own pleasure, speaking their own words (gossip, complaints, goals), doing their own will (instead of the requirements of the holy period and goodwill), exploiting others, bowing to idols, arguing and fighting. During the Sabbath or times of fasting, there was no rest from their ways and means, and no time was truly ever fully reserved for the Living God of their Covenant. They forgot that the Sabbath was instituted so that man would not forget to rest from his daily creations, and just reflect on and abide with himself, his I-Self.

                Embodying both the holy ways of Sabbath and True Worship or Ises is like a petition for blessings. Through Isaiah, Jahovah imparted what was right/ideal to consider True Worship. Man would:

•  loose the bands of the wicked/wickedness
• release heavy burdens and bonds of yolk or free the oppressed
• feed the hungry
• house the poor
• cover the naked
• gather with family
• put away finger pointing
• refrain from speaking vanities
• satisfy the afflicted soul
• call Senbet a delight, honourable, holy of the Lord
• honour JAH by not doing his own ways, or finding pleasure or speaking his own words. (The ego is silenced)

               

Summarising Isaiah's key points of true worship, it is clear that the greatest form of Ises, the truest form to be exact – has nothing to do with personal desires! JAH's definition of worship is that man think of others and God, before himself.

                True Worship or the powers of Ises, are wrapped up in a mixture of love, humility, selflessness, goodwill and righteousness. True Worship is about not talking the talk,  and making empty vows to JAH with the sweetest prayers -  it is about walking the walk that Kristos laid out and doing all the above selfless deeds - which for the benefit of your receiver - are Angels of JAH; or deliverance, salvation and comfort. We each bless Isra’el through goodwill on one hand, and as a result, on the other hand we worship and positively communicate to JAH at the same time, because of this willingness to serve others as JAH serves us by providing life and sustenance.

                True worship, through the power of such love for JAH with humility, selflessness and righteousness; takes The Creator's power to the bosoms of those who need it and creates the glory of Zion because the Name of JAH is praised in our actions. When we act in Isaiah's way, as Hebrews, we act in the name Jahovah, the Living God.  Worship is therefore something not to be solely confined to silent prayer or church gathering as it can and must be performed outside of allotted Ises times through community service and other good deeds.

Consequently, True Worship can also be summarised as the exhortation to be Righteous by being willing to: give, be good, obedient and praise the Lord with our “whole hearts”. Worship entails the healing of souls by the Irit and Word of JAH, and so when I and I pray, we are preparing and starting the healing process for others, and as a reward, or because we put blessed vibrations into the world, the healing returns for us also.

Not only is it important to do, but to keep Ises undefiled. This means that the thoughts and deeds behind our worship or prayers and goodwill, are of JAH RasTafari also; the attitude is correct. True worship in this perfection of Word and Act thus only knows and renders true blessings.

                Isaiah lists the blessings upon Isra’el when Jahovah is praised in the Highest manner:

• our healing shall spring forth speedily (regeneration)
• our righteousness shall go before us (protection)
• the glory of JAH shall be our reward (salvation)
• JAH shall answer our call (comfort)
• JAH shall always guide I and I (guidance)
•  He shall satisfy our souls in drought (satisfaction)
•  He shall strengthen our bones (endurance)
• He shall cause us to ride upon the high places of the earth (prosperity)
• He will feed us with the heritage of Father Jakob (anointing)
• We shall delight ourselves in the Lord (zeal and faithfulness)
• Our seed shall rebuild the places of desolation (repatriation)
• We shall raise up the foundations of many generations (continuation)

               

In other words, seeing that True Worship is rooted in the community and our relationships with one another as expressions and testaments to the presence of JAH among us, Rastafari are made whole; one body, one nation under JAH’s circle throne. It is clear to see that the purpose of the Nazirene is therefore quite similar to the requests of Isaiah, in that Yesus kristos asked over and over for ones to love JAH and one another whole heartedly whereby they’d become sinless in the Law and made whole by the Hola Irit of the Creator.

                The kingdom of JAH and Zion opens its gates and appears to us when we worship and live righteously and selflessly do the works of healing, or works which kill the presence of wickedness within us. True worship is the only path to Resurrection and Salvation on a personal level, and knowing the I-Self or Inner Goddess/God.

               

Serving JAH

               

                The ultimate service unto JAH, apart from the free will offering of Ises, is to be at one with, or in harmony with JAH’s terrestrial and cosmic worlds and energies; and ultimately to be at one with the way in which the human body was created to perform. Today man and womankind are very “into” their world of vices which are not of a spiritual nature. These things are obsessions that bring little good to the mind or society and environment. They are there for pleasure, vanity and riches instead.

                 Because little time is spent on reflection and seeking the True Wise Mind of JAH, little time is spent in service of God, or the I-Self.

                 The Ible altogether tells the True Hebrew to serve the Lord God Jahova JAH Rastafari, and by serving JAH we are guided, protected, forgiven, provided for, loved, rescued and blessed. Serving JAH requires every one of I and I to: love, be loyal, honour, emulate, raspect, trust and praise JAH the Living God.

The other Books of the Ible apart from Isaiah that speak on rendering such service to Jahovah, or the qualifications of true worship, are as follows:

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:4)

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,  and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

(Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’

(Deuteronomy 11:13-15)

Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.  For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. (1 Samuel 12:2-22)

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing

(Psalm 100: 1-2)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 

(Romans 12: 1-2, 10-11, 13)

Selah!

Blessed Sabbath reading!

Ila Addis