Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / The Ministry of Laying of Hands 3 | The Believer's conference 2025 day 3

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The Ministry of Laying of Hands 3 | The Believer's conference 2025 day 3 · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. You can have your seats. Genesis 48.
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Yes, we are moving. Genesis 48. We have already
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seen how the things of the Spirit are administered
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by the laying of hands, healings, the baptism
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of the Holy Ghost. Talk about that. We're going
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to see another dimension of how God Use this
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gift of God that Peter said. This power, this
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gift of God, this supernatural activity called
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the laying of hands in advancing his purpose
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and agenda on earth. Are you in Genesis 48? So
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I'll read from verse 8. Then Israel saw Joseph's
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sons and said, who are these? And Joseph said
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to his father, they are my sons whom God has
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given me in this place. And he said, please bring
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them to me and I will bless them. Now the eyes
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of Israel. were dimmed with age so that he could
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not see, then Joseph brought them near him. And
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he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel
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said to Joseph, I have not taught to see your
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face. But God, but in fact, God has also shown
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me your offerings. You can imagine the man that
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is not seen. See, I thought I would not see your
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face. But now I've seen even your offspring.
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So Joseph brought them from beside his knees.
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And he bowed down with his face to the earth.
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And Joseph took them both. Ephraim with his right
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hand. toward Israel's left hand and Manasseh
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with his left hand toward Israel's right hand
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and brought them near him. Then Israel stretched
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out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head
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who was the younger and his left hand on Manasseh's
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head guiding his hands knowingly. Please take
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note of that. He said, guiding his hands, knowingly.
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If it is your Bible, I want you to underline
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that. For Manasseh was the firstborn. And he
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blessed Joseph and said, God, before whom my
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father Abraham and Isaac walked. The God who
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has fed me all my life long to this day. The
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angel who redeemed me from all evil. You know,
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we're going to take that. But, you know, most
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times today when we say angel, we normally think
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of beings. But angel is not a specific name like
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to accord it to someone. If you see here, he's
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talking about God as an angel. You understand?
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Because angel talks about someone you sent. Understand?
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So we're going to subsequently look at that.
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But let me read 15 again. I want you to pay attention
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to that. And he blessed Joseph and said, God,
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before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
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The God who has fed me all my life long to this
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day. The angel who redeemed, what? Who has redeemed
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me from all evil. So he's calling God the angel.
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Bless the Lord. Let my name. See that? Let my
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name be named upon them. And the name of my fathers.
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Abraham and Isaac. And let them grow into the
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multitude in the midst of the earth. Verse 17.
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Now, when Joseph saw his father laid his right
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hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him.
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So he took hold of his father's hand to remove
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it from Ephraim's head. to Manasseh's head. And
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Joseph said to his father, not so, my father,
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for this one is a firstborn. Put your right hand
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on his head. But his father refused and said,
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I what? I what? I know. Again, underline that
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one. I know, my son. I know. Again, the second
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time. He also. He also shall become a people.
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And also shall be great. But truly. His younger
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brother. Shall be greater than he. And his descendants.
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Shall be. Come a multitude of nations. Verse
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20. So he blessed them. That they said. By you
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Israel. Will bless. Say may God. Make you as
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Ephraim and as Manasseh. And thus he set Ephraim
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before Manasseh. Meaning he set Ephraim ahead
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of Manasseh. Are we together? So go back to verse
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10. Where is verse 10? Did you see that? That
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the eyes of Israel were dim with age. So that
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he could not see. Jacob. That is, Israel was
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not seen because of old age. If you read from
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verse 17, where we look at verse 17 down to 19.
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When Joseph saw that his father laid his hands
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upon the head of Ephraim, what did he do? He
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was displeased. And he wanted to change that
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order. But his father refused. This is to tell
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you that the laying of hands is not just merely
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physical touch. It's supernatural. Joseph knew.
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Israel also knew. Because his displeasure saw
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that there is something he is aware of. He knew
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that it's not just about just random putting
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of hands. No, it has significance. He saw that
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and said, no, no, no, no, something is wrong.
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So Joseph knew it. That what that was doing.
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Was not just ceremonial. It was spiritual. It
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was supernatural. That's why Joseph was not happy.
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With that order. No. He knew something was happening.
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Verse 19. Israel was blind. Of course as we noted.
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Though he was blind. But he was not spiritually
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dull. He was not spiritually dull. But the laying
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of hands, he set Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. He
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made Ephraim the younger, greater. How? By laying
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of hands. How can you set somebody who is younger
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and just make him to be, to carry, to become
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greater than another person who is in the natural,
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supposed to have taken the first place. He did
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that by the laying of hands. That's exactly what
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Abraham did to Isaac. And Isaac did to Jacob.
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By laying hands, they set them to function in
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the office of a prophet. The mouthpiece of God.
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Are we together? The mouthpiece of God. You see,
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in Genesis chapter 12, verse 1 to 3, we saw how
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God called Abraham and blessed him. Well, you
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see, something that sometimes we miss is that,
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how did God do it? He navigated a strange man
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towards Abraham's way. His name is called Melchizedek.
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You know, sometimes we just, you know, Melchizedek.
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The Bible tells us, you know, that Melchizedek
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bless who? He bless who? Is it money he gave
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him? Are we together? Is it money he gave him?
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So there was a, you see, there's a pattern we're
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seeing. Genesis 20 verse 7, God called Abraham
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a prophet. He was not just prophet anyhow. There
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was a system of men. Do you get what I'm trying
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to say? It was done to Abraham. Abraham to Isaac.
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Isaac to Jacob. Now Jacob to the sons of Joseph.
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It was a pattern. And this blessing we're talking
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about, it's not just, it's not money. Hallelujah.
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So God blesses. Yes. You know what I'm saying?
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We sing. God is the one that bless. But how does
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God does it? I mean, how did... Do you understand
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what I'm trying to say? How does he do it? To
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Abraham, he uses Melchizedek, who was a priest
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and a king. And that pattern continues. Men are
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the methods of God. Hallelujah. Don't ignore
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men and think something will just drop from heaven
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like that. God has decided he will side with
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man. Did you get what I'm trying to say? He will
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side with man. So, Abraham blessed Isaac. Isaac
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blessed Jacob. Jacob blessed Joseph's sons, Ephraim,
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And set Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. If you read
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Hebrews 11, you will see again that is being
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talked about. That order. Hebrews 11. Let me
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read Hebrews 7 first. Let's see that one of Melchizedek.
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You can see the involvement of men. What am I
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trying to say? I'm trying to say that, as we
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noted, let me make this thing clear. I will explain
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the issue of blessing in the psalm later on in
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the course. We understand that as we Those of
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us that have been in the cell, we've been treating
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this concept of rapture. We tried to study the
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background and history, where the word was coined
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and all that. One important thing we saw, there
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is a theology called the dispensational theology,
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that God has two plans for humanity in relation
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to sin and man's responsibility. That he has
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one plan for Israel and one plan for who? For
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the church. Are we together? And we then saw
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what they are saying. That God has several plans.
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I don't know how you, and we saw that the error
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is, you see, the little apostle said something
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yesterday. Every theology comes from Moses. Do
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you understand what I'm saying? If you miss what
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Moses is saying, you miss. Because every prophet
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read from him. You know, there is a time people
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try to argue about, I mean, try to defend the
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Bible. Say, these people, the Bible is written
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for over a certain number of authors. Over a
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period of 1 ,005 years. For 1 ,500 years. And
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they did not know each other. They did not know.
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Of course, they might not be contemporaries in
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many instances. Some are. But no, they read.
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When Daniel saw the number of years that the
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children of Israel were supposed to spend in
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Babylon, where did he read? Where was he reading?
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He was reading Jeremiah. Did you understand what
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I'm saying? These people read each other. How
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could they? Where will they be reading? All of
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them read from us. That was why when Jesus was
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talking about Luke 24, he said, beginning at
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what? Moses. He's always the one. Beginning at
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Moses. And in all the prophets, he expounded
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unto them the things concerning himself. So I
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want you to get that. So one of the things we
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saw in ourselves is that there is a confusion
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around interpretation. The scripture was read
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literally. Do you know what I'm saying? It was
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read literally. But that was a mystery. Oh, thank
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God for Passover. You see, that was a mystery
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that was hid for past ages. They thought. Then
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we see some people. That's why I'm pointing that.
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Part of the dispensational theology is that there's
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something we call Christian Zionism. You understand?
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And their claim is that you have to bless Israel
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for you to be blessed. I've been to Israel, I've
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been here and there for research for one year,
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in the sun. I mean, I don't understand how we
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are getting this. But where did they quote? They
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quote Genesis 12 to support that. That because
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Abraham is the father of the nation of Israel,
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in the sun, the nation of Israel. I don't know
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how they say the nation of Israel. Because the
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nation of Israel, that one, is not the same with
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this one. Because what nation was before? was
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not the same with what nation is today. This
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current state of Israel is about 80 % Jews, 20
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% Arabs. So I don't understand. So do the Arabs
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also join in the... Did you get what I'm trying
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to say? So that you have to, he said, I will
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bless those that blessed you and curse those
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that cursed you. And so when you read it literally,
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and because we came from material... materialistic
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environment, each time they say blessing, that's
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what we normally think. But you see, the Bible
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must be read together. You understand? The Bible
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must be read together. That's why we saw, it's
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not just at that very time that God spoke to
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Abraham. He said, I will bless you. By the time
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you go to chapter 18, he told him how, he said,
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through your seed. And of course, he's talking
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about the whole world, not a nation. He said,
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through you, the entire earth, all families of
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the earth shall be what? Shall be blessed. The
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issue is that once you are intelligent, you should
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follow. By the time he goes to chapter 18, he
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again reiterated. But this time around, he restated
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it in another way. He said, through your seed.
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So Abraham got it. Because how will Abraham ever
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be able to bless the entire nation? Definitely,
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it will be something that through him, not him,
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because he is limited. Did you understand what
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I'm trying to say? So God opened him. He said,
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it's through your seed. So that before you think
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he's talking about Isaac, you understand? He
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said, no, no, no. No. Chapter 22, he again came
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and restated it. 24, 28, he came and restated
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it. The same thing. Brother Paul came in Galatians
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chapter 3 and showed to us that seed is Christ.
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When Peter was explaining in Acts chapter 3,
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he quoted the same text. I just mention now.
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He said, God sent Christ, Jesus. Verse 26, he
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said, to bless you. How? He said, by turning
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you away from your iniquities. So the blessings
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of God is about turning a people away from their
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iniquities. That's the blessing. Galatians 3,
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from 6, 8, you know, shows to us also that the
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blessing, It's talking about inclusion into the
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plan of God. And that inclusion comes with you
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being given the gift of righteousness. With you
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being forgiven. So to be blessed, it means to
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be included in the agenda of God. And to be cursed
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is to exclude yourself. From the what? From the
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agenda. He is not casting a spell. Are we together?
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Amen. Amen. Yes. So that's what the Bible is
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talking about. Paul will say, you know, son,
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for the sake of my people, I wish that I will
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be accursed. You know what I mean by the accursed?
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It means I wish that I should be what? Excluded.
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But you see, it's also a wish. He said, if my
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people would just be safe. How I wish I would
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be excluded in the sun. He's just talking about,
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he's just showing how zealous he act. Remember
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I said, cost is what to be excluded from the
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plant. He was yearning that, oh, how this my
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people can be, I mean, can be included. If only
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all these people will be able to see by just
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me being removed for them to enter. These are
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men that are carrying burden. But that's not
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the way. Everybody will have to come in by his
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own way. So our cause is being excluded from
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the plan of God. And that comes by unbelief.
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So the blessing. So a Christian Zionist think,
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you know what I'm saying? That is by blessing
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Israel, contributing money, by saying Israel
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bless, Israel bless this Israel here. You know
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what I'm saying? That's when they are blessed.
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How can a blessed man be thinking like that?
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But David said, Psalm 32 verse 1, Blessed is
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the man in the Son, in whom the Lord does not
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impute iniquity. In the Son. Are we together?
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Amen. So, that is the part I'm talking about.
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So when you hear of blessing, it's an inclusion.
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into the agenda of God. But that inclusion into
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the agenda of God comes with responsibility.
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So when you hear that Jacob blessed Ephraim,
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what he's trying to say is that he's enlisting
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him. He is commissioning him. He is ordaining
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him into the ministry. Ministry of what? Ministry
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of proclamation of that goodness of God. Genesis,
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27, he said, God said, he's a prophet. A prophet
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is a mouthpiece of God. The one that tells about
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the agenda, his plans for the earth. And that's
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the same thing. So what can we see? We can see
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that laying of our hands is a way of ordination,
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of enlisting men into offices. That you can lay
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hands to put men into offices. Right from Genesis.
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It's all ceremonial. When hands are laid, things
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happen. Great blessings are ministered through
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men. Man remains God's method. Man remains God.
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Yesterday I said, this Bible is written by man.
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And we call it God's word. That's to show you
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God does, in fact, there's a text that says that
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God does nothing without what? Revealing it to
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who? To his prophets. Yes. He chose it that way.
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You want to know God? Follow me. I'm telling
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you, no angel will reveal anything. Even the
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angel they are trying to look. You know what
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I'm saying? Yes. We saw it yesterday. In Ephesians
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3, we saw it. In 1 Peter, we saw it. It is through
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us that God wants to show the manifold wisdom
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to the principalities. So why will you be surprised
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when you see an angel? No. You should know he
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has come to learn. Now, as we are preaching,
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we are teaching, we are exposing. You understand?
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No angel have the capacity to get into this mind
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of God. Oh, did you hear me? These are exclusive
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preserve of sons. Sons are those who carry the
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Holy Ghost. No angel carry the Holy Spirit. Did
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you understand what I'm saying? Yes. So we are
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the custodians of the mysteries of God. Do you
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remember the teaching yesterday? We are the custodians.
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We are ministers. Paul will say, the stewards
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of grace of God. We write in Acts, right? Acts
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chapter 6. Go back there, quickly. Oh, did I
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read that text? Hebrews. Oh. Hallelujah. Let
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me read Hebrews first. Hebrews 1. For this Melchizedek,
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king. Verse 7. And chapter 7. For this Melchizedek,
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king of Salem, priest of the Most High, who met
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Abraham returning from where? From the slaughter
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of the kings and blessed him. Did you hear that?
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Verse 6. He said, but he whose genealogy is not
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derived from them received tithe. from Abraham
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and blessed him who had promises. Who had promises.
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Melchizedek blessed him. Nobody told Abraham
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to pay tithes. It was a practice in where he
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was coming from. You know, it's from the children
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of U. That's how they honor people. That's why,
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even though we don't, you can give tithe, no
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problem. You know, sir. But nobody, nothing will
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follow you if you didn't give it. But of course,
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we're commanded. To be generous givers. That's
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a New Testament practice. But we can learn something
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from the tithe. That's honor. Because Abraham
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is coming. And that's the same thing. I'm going
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to discuss some other things. The same thing
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with oil. Because I'm pouring oil on people.
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When he started, nobody ever told Jacob to do
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that. Jacob was the one who started. On his way
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when he was going to the house of Lebanon. Right?
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For the air. The air. Is it air or air? For the
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things he saw. To honor the place, he pour oil.
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It's a practice in those days. Even in your village,
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when they want to take something, that's the
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practice now. Do you know what I'm saying? Yes.
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Some will pour on the floor first. So, it was
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a practice, but God adopted it with time. Remember
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we told you, God accommodated. The limitations
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of the culture and the language of a people to
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be able to communicate his plan. So we saw honor.
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He honored the man of God. He honored Melchizedek
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and Melchizedek blessed him. Look at chapter
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11. Chapter 11, verse 17. Hebrews 11, 17. By
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faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up
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Isaac, and he who had received the promise, offered
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up his only begotten. Of whom, verse 18, it was
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said, in Isaac your seed shall be called, according
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that God was able to raise him up, even from
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the dead, from which he also received him in
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a figurative sense. 20. By faith, Isaac blessed
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Jacob and Esau concerning the things to come.
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By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed who?
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Each of the sons of Joseph and worshipped, leaning
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on the staff, top of his staff. And all we can
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keep reading are what others did. Go back to
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Acts chapter 6. Acts chapter 6. Look at verse
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5. And the same pleased the multitude. And they
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chose Stephen, a man full of faith. The Holy
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Spirit and Philip procured us. Parmenas, Nicholas,
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and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom
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they said before the apostles when they had prayed,
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they laid hands on them. You see that? They chose
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them for an office. This camera is not for healing.
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So the laying of hands is not just for healing.
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It's also for ordination. for commissioning men
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into an office, into a work, into the ministry.
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They lay hands on them. Not the pattern, they
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pray it. After praying, they lay hands on them.
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Prayer is not a substitute for laying of hands.
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You understand? It's not you pray or you lay
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hands. No. All of them are a system of God that
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men use to transmit the power of God. To cause
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shifting, to advance the agenda of the kingdom
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on the earth. So see what happened when hands
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were laid to these men. See how they increased.
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That was brought about. Something happened. Always
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I wanted to observe. Immediately after hands
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are laid. Observe what happened. It's not ceremonial.
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Verse 7. Then the word of God spread. You see.
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Sometimes you think. What happened is just only
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what the apostles were doing. Wait until you
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read chapter 7. How a man who is supposed to
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be one who is supposed to be serving food starts
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speaking for the entire chapter. He wasn't reading
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from his script. Did you get what I'm trying
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to say? Are we together? Hands were laid. Before
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then, you never know who they were. Did you know?
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You didn't know. But they were choosing, they
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brought them. They set them before the apostles.
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It wasn't a coincidence. It was deliberate. They
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lay hands on them. Bible says, and the word of
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God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied
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greatly in Jerusalem. And a great many of the
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priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen,
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full of faith and power, Did great what? Great
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wonders and signs among the people. Up until
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this moment, did you hear ever name Stevie? Something
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happened. All the time we'll be hearing apostles.
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And the apostles did great wonders. And this,
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this. And then they preach. And things happen.
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You know, sir? This time around, they brought
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this man. They lay hands on them. Things happened.
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They were commissioned into another level of
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ministry. And the word of God increased. Great
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miracles. Then there arose some from what is
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called the synagogue of the freedmen. They are
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not free. The synagogue of the freedmen. Then
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what did they do? They started disputing. with
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Stephen. And they were not able to resist his
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wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. And
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then they started secretly. When these guys started
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speaking, you could know that this man was in
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another level. You could see later when the disciples
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were scattered, the man which you thought that
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was serving tables, you didn't know that a grace
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has come upon him. He moved to Samaria. The other
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one, Philip, started preaching. Miracles happening.
34:35
He was a man who was not known before. But they
34:39
brought him. The apostles lay hands on him. And
34:44
things began to happen. This is how God advanced
34:48
his ways on the earth. Are we together? Hallelujah,
34:53
are we together? Go back to that text where I
34:58
started. Yesterday. In Romans chapter 1. I showed
35:02
you something. Did you see what I showed you?
35:08
In verse 11. For I long to see you. That I may
35:16
impart. You some spiritual gift. So that you
35:20
may be established. So that you may be established.
35:28
So there's a goal for the laying of hands is
35:30
to establish believers. As we teach fundamentally,
35:35
yes, we establish men by teaching. But not just
35:39
teaching. There's a laying of hands that establish
35:42
a man in the ministry. Don't joke with it. It's
35:46
a system of God. If you have not understood it,
35:49
you just carelessly don't order. You know, sometimes
35:51
you have to pay attention. Some of us are sick.
35:56
Sometimes you'll be sick. You see, when you neglect
35:58
a grace, you won't benefit from it. James said,
36:01
is any one of you sick? Call the elders. You,
36:04
you are sick. You only gave us excuse. So I'm
36:06
not going to come. I mean, how could you not
36:11
see grace around you? Thank the Lord. The Lord
36:16
has given pastors curse now. He says, I need
36:18
you. I come, please. They will come. You have
36:26
to honor the grace. Do you understand what I'm
36:29
saying? Yes. If you cannot reach pastor, there
36:33
is your leader there. In fact, your brother inside,
36:36
remember I told you that all believers, your
36:39
sister is there in the room, you neglected her.
36:47
You can only say, Titi, Titi only, this place
36:51
is burning me. But now, That's the only thing.
36:55
Chichi, can you go and buy me? I cannot go out.
36:57
That's the only thing you think Chichi is useful.
37:01
Chichi is carrying a grace. You couldn't recognize
37:03
it. You only think she's useful. And go to the
37:07
market and buy me this. I can't go out now. Okay,
37:10
sit down there. This is one of the difficulties
37:14
we have. You have to begin to see your brethren
37:18
differently. Wives, see your husband differently.
37:22
Husband, see your wife differently. It's all
37:24
the time. There was a lady who was about to get
37:27
married. When I heard the way they are conversing,
37:29
I call her. I say, you will miss a lot if you
37:31
control like this. The way you are speaking with
37:34
your husband, you speak carelessly. You know
37:37
what I'm saying? And the way you see him, only
37:40
in one direction. You're going to get in trouble.
37:41
This is one of the things that married people
37:43
need to understand. Your relationship is multidimensional.
37:47
Yes, there is a time you think you will play
37:49
like friends. But if you only think like friends,
37:52
you'll miss a lot. I'm telling you. Others will
37:54
be coming and be receiving the grace. You are
37:56
here. Do you understand what I'm saying? So you
37:59
have to be careful. The same thing if you have
38:01
a roommate. He's a believer. See him that way.
38:04
That should be the most important relationship
38:08
you should have with him. Every other should
38:11
come under that one. You have to recognize what
38:16
is behind you. That's how God made it. All that
38:20
we need to grow in the son. You know, we normally
38:24
quote that scripture according to his divine
38:26
power. He has given unto us what? All things
38:28
that pertains to life and goodness. Are we together?
38:33
We normally quote that. Brother, he said, I have
38:36
all things. And the old is there you didn't see.
38:42
You did not see. I pray your eyes is open. After
38:46
this meeting, Your eyes are open to see the provisions
38:49
of God. To see that the grace you need to move
38:52
to another level is just beside you. Amen. He
39:03
said that I might impart you some spiritual gift.
39:06
And the reason, the goal is that you might be
39:09
established. Is that you might be established.
39:16
You observe there is something upon my brother's
39:19
life. It seems as if anything happened. He doesn't
39:23
get bothered in the sun. You know, some of our
39:29
mummies are here. Before, Mummy Iko, Mummy Victoria,
39:33
in the sun. You know, many of us, sometimes I
39:36
watch, I just might say, oh God. You know, the
39:39
way we relate with them. The last one of Mummy
39:43
Iko. He's older than me. How older than me? I'm
39:49
a young person, but he's far older than me. And
39:55
this woman, he raised them. They were all sound.
40:00
He's not a mystic. When you see a consistency,
40:04
it's not by, it's not a coincidence. I dragged
40:10
my wife. Then we were newly married. We visited
40:13
all of them. You say, mommy, how was it? Yes,
40:18
sir. You can't say a grace and neglect. All of
40:21
them, we visited them. Do you get what I'm trying
40:27
to say? We visited them, we sat with them, and
40:29
we asked them, mommy, what is this? And they
40:32
were downloaded. And they were downloaded. And
40:38
you hear, you are seeing that it's just all this
40:39
old mama. She's moving like that. That is it.
40:48
God must give you the sensitivity to see the
40:53
provisions. No, I can't make mistake. Not when
41:01
I have the provision around me. How can I stay
41:04
in ignorance? How can I see a grace? Some of
41:08
them, they are just in the same room. You are
41:16
busy looking for one man of God here. What is
41:19
it? You are here. They're here. Are we together?
41:24
That word gift there, that spiritual gift, of
41:29
course you know it's spiritual. And that's why
41:33
the impartation is spiritual. Because what comes
41:36
upon you is spiritual. Are we together? It's
41:39
a spiritual gift. It's charisma. In Greek. I'll
41:46
leave that to Pastor Imam Kostin. They are coming
41:49
to dishes. We look at the word impart. What is
41:54
that word impart? Because he said that I might
41:56
impart you some spiritual gift. The word impart
42:00
is metadomai. Meta from the word meta. M -E -T
42:05
-A M -E -T -A D -I D -O M -I Meta Didomai in
42:15
Greek. It means to share. To share or to give.
42:23
To share or to give. You have to know that the
42:29
person giving or sharing is the one who has what
42:34
to give or to share. So Paul was coming. He said,
42:38
I have it. You remember as Peter said to that
42:42
man at the beautiful girl. He said, what I have,
42:47
I give you. Please, brother, I told you men are
42:52
the system of God. They have something. Peter
42:57
knew he have it. He said, silver and gold, have
43:01
I not? But there is something I have. And that
43:05
is what I give you. He has. The power to heal.
43:10
He said, in the name of Jesus. He pulled a guy.
43:17
You have it. So Paul here is saying, I am coming.
43:23
I have something to share. And it's called spiritual
43:27
gift. Remember, he told them the goal. That they
43:39
might be established. Remember Ephesians chapter
43:44
4? It talks about the ministry gifts there. That
43:49
they are for what? For equipping. Are we together?
43:53
For what? For equipping. On to what? The work
43:58
of the ministry. Remember. This is based on the
44:05
testimony Paul has heard about the church in
44:08
Rome. Did you see in verse 8? Romans 1 verse
44:16
8. He said, first and foremost, he said, first
44:19
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all
44:24
that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole
44:31
world. throughout the whole world. So he heard
44:37
about their faith. He said, ah, there needs to
44:43
be more advancement here. I yearn to come because
44:47
I need to establish you more. And for which reason?
44:52
For the sake of the ministry. So Paul is an apostle.
45:00
He's in the office of an apostle. Ministry gifts.
45:05
And the ministry gifts are for equipping. He's
45:09
coming to equip them more. He's coming to equip
45:15
them more. So as hands are laid on you, know
45:19
that they are to equip you. Are we together?
45:24
As hands are laid on you, they are to equip you.
45:37
You know, my grandmother, my grandfather was
45:40
a missionary. And so, yeah, he's dead already.
45:45
But I have the grandmother. One day, I visited
45:48
her. I consciously, I told her, I need you to
45:52
pray for me. I know the grace of that old man.
45:54
Although he's not here, but he's also on you.
45:56
I deliberately told her, I want you to pray for
46:01
me. You see, you don't be careless. Some of the
46:04
graces, they are inside your house. You saw what
46:07
Jesus said. A prophet is what? You have to be
46:17
deliberate. You have to be deliberate. They say
46:27
grace upon the old man. And they were together.
46:31
Even when in my mother church, women are not
46:35
normally allowed to recoup it. That old man,
46:38
because he's a missionary, he's a rugged man.
46:40
Sometimes if he moves to another place, the woman,
46:43
she's the one that preaches in the church. So
46:46
she's his assistant. They move together. He has
46:52
the grace of perseverance, endurance. He doesn't
46:58
see obstacles. In the border of Nigeria, that
47:08
was when he did his ministry. Brother, he stayed
47:13
there for 15 years. He has only one soul. For
47:21
15 years, he was preaching. You see, when I think
47:25
about it, that scripture come alive. You see,
47:27
preach the word in season and out of season.
47:30
There come a time when people shall not endure
47:31
sound doctrine. If it were others, they would
47:36
say it's a failure. How could a man stay in a
47:38
place for 15 years? Everyday preaching. Talking
47:43
to people. Some will say, you know, the Muslim
47:48
part of Nigeria. Some will come because of persecution.
47:52
They will return. As if they come, they will
47:54
go again. Because they are afraid. Only one stood.
47:59
After 15 years. By the time he was retiring,
48:04
he moved out from that place, back home. He only
48:07
had one soul for three years. Because he got
48:10
born again. That's not the call of God. While
48:12
already he has married, he's old. There's no
48:14
time for you to do the work of God. He was in
48:20
the village farming and he was a hunter. Then
48:24
when he got the call of God, he became born again
48:27
and then he entered. Even though he was already
48:29
an adult. How much of you know that you're young?
48:33
Imagine what you would do. The answer to the
48:37
call, he moved. Went there. Stay there. At least
48:41
one soul. One soul matter. That soul that he
48:45
succeeded, the same soul from that time, they
48:50
persecuted him for his truth. Later on, the same
48:55
man, they took him, he went to school. Some pastor
48:59
schools. He didn't go anywhere. He returned to
49:02
the village. He preached. Through him. Mighty.
49:05
You can see. See. You see. We care for ministry
49:09
of numbers. We love numbers. Because anybody
49:13
that care about soul, we care about numbers.
49:17
Do you get what I'm trying to say? But you have
49:24
to be aware how God judges men. If you read Hebrews
49:28
11. What is the business of putting Moses and
49:32
Rahab the prostitute in the same line? How did
49:36
you come there? All of them is why? By faith.
49:40
Did you get what I'm trying to say? Read there.
49:42
If you are the one to put those lists, what we
49:44
call the heroes of faith, how can you put some
49:46
other people there? How? He succeeded with one
49:53
man. But that one soul later, what he did in
49:57
that town, So, that one soul that he succeeded
50:03
with was an extension of the old man. Don't look
50:11
down on what God is bringing to you. So, you
50:19
have writing a song, even if you see one view.
50:23
Believe it. For years, the look the physician
50:29
was writing. He documented, go and ask questions.
50:32
Do you know what it means to record? He wasn't
50:35
there, but sat down and write. And he was all
50:39
writing for somebody who is not pregnant. Theophilus
50:42
has been taught already. But he wants him to
50:46
be assured, to be established. That's what he
50:48
said. To be assured of what you have already
50:51
been taught. He sat down and wrote to one man.
50:54
Again, when he was writing the book of Acts,
50:56
he said, oh, excellent, Theophilus. In that former
50:59
treaty, what I began to tell you, what Jesus
51:03
began to do and to teach is something. And then
51:08
he was following Paul up and down, documenting
51:11
the things, following Paul up and down, documenting
51:13
the things, just to give one person. Your idea
51:17
about God's work has to be changed. This... This
51:23
desire for approval, this desire for applause
51:26
of plenty of people have to go. Because you can't
51:28
have the quality of what God wants you. Our desire
51:33
is more people, but on his own way. Did you get
51:37
what I'm trying to say? Moses wanted to do his
51:39
own way. He strangulated the Egyptians and killed
51:42
them. He thought he was by that. In fact, he
51:44
was thinking that the people would see that God
51:47
is the Savior. Why can't you see now? No. God
51:51
said no. He's not qualified. There are some things
51:53
I need to change in his mind. He then took him
51:56
and took him to the medium. To Jethro. Jethro
51:58
just polished his head. You understand? This
52:02
is before the Levitican priesthood. So there
52:05
was a priest of God called Jethro. Even the Levitican
52:08
priesthood. When you trace him, you trace him.
52:10
He was part of the descendants of Abraham. Through
52:13
Keturah. Did you understand what I'm saying?
52:16
So Abraham, that's why God says, shall I hide
52:18
anything from myself and Abraham? Knowing fully
52:20
well that this is what he will do. Although you
52:23
don't know them, but they have gone with the
52:27
knowledge of the Most High. Suddenly appear somewhere
52:30
in the desert. You think the knowledge of God
52:32
is only with the Israelites who are in this.
52:35
No. God navigated Moses' path and took him to
52:39
that place. And Jethro trained him. And when
52:42
after 40 years, he said, okay, I think you can
52:43
go now. But he has learned his lessons. And God
52:47
showed to him in the sun. Say no. This time around
52:49
you have to believe me. Go with my power. No
52:52
wonder the type of miracles he did. This time
52:56
around no. It's not by hand. It's not by boxing.
52:58
How many will you do? If Moses would go and say
53:00
I will box. He doesn't have anything. In the
53:04
sun. There are the ways of God. For the weapons
53:08
of our warfare are not carnal. But they are mighty
53:11
through God to the pulling down of strongholds.
53:13
Are we together? You have to lay hold of the
53:16
weapons of our warfare. They are not canal. You
53:19
are not canal. You are a spiritual man. There
53:22
are instruments. There are systems. There are
53:28
methods. You understand? And one of it is your
53:31
hands. And God is sending you to understand that
53:35
he has power. He wants to move through you. It's
53:39
a laying of hands. It's a laying. Of hands. So
53:50
tell your neighbor. You need impartation. To
53:55
be established. You need hands to be laid upon
53:58
you. To be established. After you have been taught.
54:04
You need your hands. To get to work. But before
54:09
then. You need hands to be laid upon you. Hallelujah.
54:15
Look at Acts 13. Now in the church that was at
54:30
Antioch, there was certain prophets and teachers,
54:34
Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niga, Lucius
54:39
of Cyrene, Manion. who had been brought up with
54:45
Herod, the tetra, and Saul. Verse 2. As they
54:53
ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit
54:58
said, Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for
55:04
the work to which I have called them. Verse 3.
55:10
Then. having fasted and prayed, and laid hands
55:15
on them. And they sent them away. They sent them
55:19
away. They just finished ministry, fulfilled
55:24
ministry. Look at 12. It's in the rate for us
55:28
already. Look at 12. Verse 25. And Barnabas and
55:34
Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled
55:37
their ministry. And... They also took with them
55:42
John Mark, whose surname was Mark. Oh, John,
55:47
whose surname was Mark. Amen? Yes. They just
55:52
returned. In verse 2, in Antioch, they ministered
55:55
to the Lord and fasted. The Holy Spirit said,
55:58
say, pray to me. Say, pray to me, Barnabas. And
56:02
so for the work which I have called them. Don't
56:10
mind. Saul and Paul is the same thing. It's just
56:13
that Paul is a Roman name. Saul is a Jewish name.
56:18
Are we together? It's not that Saul, when he
56:20
was a sinner, and now Paul, when he's a... Are
56:25
we together? You know he's a Roman citizen also.
56:28
Amen? So the word separate, you know, it's powerful
56:39
there. It's translated from the Greek word aphorizo.
56:44
A -P -H -O. A -P -H -O -R -I -Z -O. Aphorizo
56:57
is a verb there, which means to appoint or to
57:03
set apart for some purpose. For some purpose.
57:09
To set apart. For some purpose. That place we
57:13
read. Romans chapter 1. Is the same word used
57:18
here. Romans chapter 1 verse 1. Paul a born servant
57:21
of Jesus Christ. Called to be apostle. Separated.
57:26
To the gospel of God. Which he promised before.
57:33
Through his prophet. In the holy scriptures.
57:36
So that's the same word. Afrizo. To separate.
57:42
For a purpose. 2 Corinthians 6 .17. 2 Corinthians
57:51
6 .17. And take the helmet. Sorry. Therefore,
58:10
come out from among them and be what? And be
58:14
separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is
58:18
unclean, and I will receive it. He's talking
58:21
about set yourself apart. Because there's a difference
58:26
between holiness and unrighteousness, or the
58:30
believer and unbeliever. Galatians 1, 15. Galatians
58:38
1, 15. But when it pleases God who separated
58:48
me, meaning who set me apart from my mother's
58:53
womb and called me through his grace, through
58:58
his grace, he separated me. So that is the word
59:03
there. He says separate me. Set them apart. He's
59:08
not just saying, just take them away. No, what
59:10
he's saying that, he said, ordain them for the
59:13
next walk. Did you understand what I'm saying?
59:14
In other words, I want you to empower, and these
59:18
people understood what the Holy Spirit is saying.
59:21
So after the utterance, they know how you separate
59:25
men is by what? Laying of hands. They knew. So
59:33
that's why after they have prayed, What did they
59:35
do? They responded to what the author said. They
59:41
laid their hands and sent them away. That, you
59:48
see, the fact that, listen. Did you remember
1:00:01
that Paul, hands were laid on Paul? In Acts chapter
1:00:06
9. Do you remember that? In Damascus. We get
1:00:13
again, we saw, after they finished work in Jerusalem,
1:00:17
they are going to another work. Hands were laid
1:00:23
on them. You must never outgrow the need for
1:00:29
impartation. You must never outgrow The need
1:00:34
for impartation. The fact that hands were laid
1:00:38
on you some time ago does not mean that's all.
1:00:44
There are faces in your assignment. You might
1:00:48
finish one work here. As Paul and Barnabas in
1:00:52
Jerusalem, they were praying. They say, oh, there
1:00:55
is another one. They lay hands on them. Paul
1:01:03
later reminded Timothy that hands were laid on
1:01:07
him. Did you understand what I'm saying? Look
1:01:11
at 1 Timothy chapter 4. 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse
1:01:18
14. Do not neglect the gifts. You see that again?
1:01:24
He told the church in Rome, I want to come to
1:01:27
you so that I might impart spiritual gifts. Now
1:01:33
he was reminding them, reminding Timothy, something
1:01:36
came upon you. He said, do not neglect the gift
1:01:39
that is in you, which was given to you by the
1:01:44
prophecy with the laying of hands of the eldership.
1:01:53
He now again reiterated that in 2 Timothy 1 .6.
1:02:02
Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gifts
1:02:05
which is in you through the laying of my hands.
1:02:12
It appears hands were laid on him twice. In the
1:02:18
first letter, he said through the laying of hands
1:02:24
of the eldership. That could be the authority
1:02:28
of the church or elders. But now he specifically
1:02:33
said through the laying of my hands. I can imagine
1:02:36
how Paul have laid hands. Of course, how can
1:02:39
you have a son in the faith like that? And you
1:02:44
have not laid eyes. Remember what he said. You
1:02:45
have carefully followed my word, my doctrine,
1:02:48
my manner of life. Definitely, you must have
1:02:53
laid hands on him. Do you remember? The reminder
1:03:01
was to make Timothy to produce the fruit from
1:03:06
the impartation through the laying of hands.
1:03:08
So there's an expectation. When hands are laid
1:03:11
upon you, there's an expectation of something
1:03:14
supposed to come out of it. Because it's not
1:03:17
just ceremonial. It's an impartation and there
1:03:21
is an expectation. And the expectation is that
1:03:26
there's supposed to be some fruits. In your commitment.
1:03:34
In the fruit of ministry. Just like we saw in
1:03:39
Acts chapter 6. Hands were laid upon them. We
1:03:42
begin to see wonders. Men who were unknown, they
1:03:46
became known. Begin to operate in a new dimension.
1:03:52
Men who are to serve tables, suddenly they are
1:03:55
catching territories, bringing joy to cities.
1:04:01
Bringing joys to cities. I want you to notice
1:04:14
something. That in Act 13, there were prophets
1:04:18
and teachers. They knew the method of God. The
1:04:23
lane of hands is how they transmitted the power
1:04:26
of God. And the power of God is for the advancement
1:04:30
of the work. Because it's a work which he has
1:04:33
called him. He says, separate me. You understand?
1:04:37
For the work. Means, I need this man to be empowered
1:04:44
for the work which I have called him. And they
1:04:50
knew it. Oh. The work of the Spirit on the earth
1:05:00
is advanced through the laying of hands. And
1:05:06
through the laying of my hands, the work of God
1:05:11
is advanced in my generation. That should be
1:05:16
your prayer as well. That as I lay hands on people,
1:05:20
men as established, the word of God increase.
1:05:26
There is great joy to cities, to territories,
1:05:30
to nations. To nations. To nations. Act 14. Look
1:05:45
at Act 14. I want you to notice a pattern here,
1:05:55
just the same way like we have gone. Did you
1:05:57
notice that when it comes to this type of ordinations
1:06:00
into specific ministries, it's not done to any
1:06:03
person. Have you noticed something? When they
1:06:07
were asking those to take an office, they didn't
1:06:09
call random anybody. They said, choose among
1:06:11
you. And they gave criteria. Did you observe
1:06:13
that? So when they chose them, they lay hands
1:06:16
on them. Again, here in Act 13, did you observe
1:06:19
that? These were teachers and what? And prophets.
1:06:25
Are we together? Look at Act 14. Now it happened
1:06:31
in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue
1:06:36
of the Jews and spoke to the great multitude
1:06:41
both of Jews and of the Greek belief. But The
1:06:49
unbelievers, unbelieving Jews, stare at the Gentiles
1:06:52
and poison their minds against the brethren.
1:06:55
Verse 3. Therefore they stayed there a long time,
1:07:00
speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing
1:07:03
witness to the word of his grace, granting signs
1:07:07
and wonders to be done by their hands. Note that
1:07:12
it was a long time they stayed. And the reason
1:07:16
is because they are building disciples. So, in
1:07:20
the conium, they stay there, preaching, performing
1:07:22
great signs and wonders. Are we together? Through
1:07:26
their hands, laying hands in the sand. Establishing
1:07:29
men. Are we together? Establishing men. Establishing
1:07:32
men. Look at. After then, what was formed? The
1:07:39
multitude of the city was divided. Parts. sided
1:07:45
with the Jews and part with the apostles. And
1:07:48
when a violent attempt was made by both the Jews,
1:07:51
the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to abuse
1:07:56
and stone them, they became aware of it and fled
1:08:03
to Lystra. So they moved to Lystra and Derbe,
1:08:06
cities of Lycaonia. and to the surrounding regions.
1:08:16
Look at verse 7. And they were preaching the
1:08:21
gospel there. So they preached again there. But
1:08:25
by then in Iconium, they have made disciples
1:08:27
because it's still a long time there. Laying
1:08:29
hands, establishing them, teaching them. They
1:08:32
come also to Lystra, they do the same thing.
1:08:35
Are we together? They did the same thing. They
1:08:37
did the same thing. By the time you move, there
1:08:40
was another confusion. Move to verse 19. Remember,
1:08:47
after they say, separate me, Paul and Barnabas,
1:08:50
you know they are from Antioch. Right? So in
1:08:53
verse 19, he said, then the Jews from Antioch
1:08:57
and Iconium, remember those who do trouble in
1:09:00
Iconium, that they moved to Debi and Lystra and
1:09:04
the surrounding region. Again, they came, they
1:09:08
heard that they had moved to another city, they
1:09:09
went and caused trouble. And having persuaded
1:09:12
a multitude, they stoned Paul and dragged him
1:09:15
out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However,
1:09:19
when the disciples gathered around him, he arose
1:09:24
up and went into the city. And the next day he
1:09:27
departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they
1:09:33
had preached the gospel to the city and made
1:09:36
many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Icunium,
1:09:40
and Antioch. You understand? When the dust calmed
1:09:42
down, all those troublemakers, they thought they
1:09:44
have moved. They returned back again. Because
1:09:46
they have made disciples there. What did they
1:09:49
do when they have returned? He strengthened them,
1:09:53
verse 22, the souls of the disciples. You see
1:09:56
that? Yes. He strengthened them, exhorting them
1:09:59
to continue in faith and saying, we must, through
1:10:04
many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God.
1:10:08
Verse 23. So when, They had appointed elders
1:10:12
in every church. Do you see that? First is not
1:10:15
appointing of elders. First is a discipleship.
1:10:18
They stay long. They taught. They disciple. They
1:10:21
move. Trouble came. They allow the trouble return.
1:10:24
They move back. They strengthen those people
1:10:26
they have in the south. And now they appoint
1:10:31
elders. You see, in those parts, understand that
1:10:35
they did signs and wonders through their hands.
1:10:37
Remember? This one, they put hands in every,
1:10:41
what do you call it? All those people who are
1:10:43
sick, all believers who are sick, and the people
1:10:45
who are sick, they lay hands on them and heal
1:10:47
them. Many miracles using laying of hands. But
1:10:50
this time around, it's a special one in the son.
1:10:53
What did they do? So when they had, verse 23,
1:10:56
had appointed elders in every church and prayed
1:10:59
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord
1:11:04
in whom they had believed. Do you see that? They
1:11:08
are appointed. What do you say is appointed?
1:11:11
You know, appointed? It's not, listen, appointed
1:11:14
means separate. It's not just, you say, you,
1:11:17
from today, you are the chief usher. You, from
1:11:22
today, you are the elder in charge of this. No,
1:11:26
that's not what we're talking about. You understand?
1:11:28
That's separate. Appointed means to set apart.
1:11:33
You understand? They appointed Ella. They set
1:11:36
apart men who are matured to lead. And as usual,
1:11:40
of course, they lay hands on them. Are we together?
1:11:45
Amen. So you could see a pattern. You could see
1:11:50
a pattern. Just the same way. But look, as we
1:11:54
saw the same thing. In Acts chapter 8, where
1:11:57
we have already read, for example, they lay hands
1:12:00
on all believers to receive the Holy Ghost. Because
1:12:03
after they are preached to them, Peter and John
1:12:07
came, they lay hands on all of them and they
1:12:08
received the Holy Ghost. However, you can lay
1:12:12
hands on all people and put them, you can't do
1:12:16
that to everyone into special offices in the
1:12:19
church. Did you get what I'm trying to say? I'm
1:12:22
trying to make a distinction between ordination
1:12:24
into special offices, into leadership position
1:12:28
in the church. and just to administer the things
1:12:32
of the spirit, the healings, and that you can
1:12:35
do that. But when it comes to, you don't just
1:12:37
go there, you see anybody, this one is a believer.
1:12:40
He looks broad -chested, look good. Come here.
1:12:43
You are a bishop now. This is the rascality we
1:12:47
are seeing today. That's why we are having confusion.
1:12:49
Did you understand what I'm saying? I used to
1:12:54
think he's only bishop. Now he's archbishop.
1:12:56
Probably to start archapostle. I don't understand.
1:12:59
Some names are now increasing. We used to, we
1:13:05
used to castigate Catholic church, but now we
1:13:07
are doing worse. No one is a most reverend, holy,
1:13:10
his holiness, his this, his that. Now we are
1:13:15
doing most reverend in, I don't even know some
1:13:18
of these. You see long, long names now. I heard
1:13:24
a story of one of our pastors in the sun. They
1:13:27
say, ah, pastor, you are here. I say, no, don't
1:13:29
call me pastor. I'm a reverend. Oh my God. Amen.
1:13:42
You know. So you have to be cautious. Now look
1:13:46
at what Paul told Timothy. You understand? That's
1:13:50
why I want you to understand that. 1 Timothy
1:13:53
5. 22, 1 Timothy 5, 22. Oh, if you are sleeping,
1:14:04
please pay attention to this. Look at it. 1 Timothy
1:14:09
5, 22. He said, do not lay hands on anyone hastily.
1:14:20
On anyone hastily. No share in other people's
1:14:29
sin. Keep yourself what? Pure. Keep yourself
1:14:33
pure. Is Paul contradicting all he has been writing?
1:14:40
No. No. So what is Paul saying? What exactly
1:14:46
is he saying? Why is he saying that you should
1:14:48
not be in a haste to lay hands? What is Paul
1:14:53
referring to? Now I want you to just. Listen
1:14:56
and look at the context. Look at verse 17. Let
1:15:01
the elders who rule well be counted worthy of
1:15:05
double honor, especially those who labor in what?
1:15:10
In what and doctrine. Because when you say elders
1:15:16
who rule well, that means there is some confusion
1:15:18
in that place. There are some ones who there
1:15:23
is some... believers around, you understand,
1:15:27
that they are not doing what is supposed to.
1:15:29
Did you get what I'm trying to say? For the scripture
1:15:34
says, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads
1:15:38
out the corn. And the laborer is worthy of his
1:15:42
wages. Do not receive an accusation against an
1:15:46
elder except from two or three witnesses. So
1:15:51
there's something there. Are we together? Verse
1:15:54
20, those who are sinning, rebuke them. Rebuke
1:15:59
in the presence of all that the rest may, that
1:16:03
the rest also may fear. I charge you before God
1:16:07
and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels
1:16:10
that you observe, that you observe these things
1:16:19
without prejudice. Doing nothing with what? That
1:16:24
is when he now said, do not lay hands on anyone
1:16:29
asleep. Now that anyone would not mean every
1:16:33
believer there. No, he was talking, the context
1:16:35
is about elders. Did you understand what I'm
1:16:37
saying? The context is about what? Elders. So
1:16:46
when he was talking, give me NLT. I think NLT
1:16:50
clearly stated it. So when he said, this is why
1:16:56
I told you, appointment means laying of hands.
1:16:59
Look at what NLT says. Never be in a hurry to
1:17:02
do what? Oh, are we together? To appoint a church
1:17:07
leader. What is appointing? Are we together?
1:17:14
So as we said, you know, in our days, when they
1:17:17
say they appointed him, he's at the point. Hey,
1:17:19
you receive a letter. You are going to occupy
1:17:21
that position. No, that's not what we're talking
1:17:23
about. Appointing means to lay hands on someone
1:17:26
because it's a system of empowerment. The reason
1:17:29
is because you don't, when it comes to leadership,
1:17:32
special offices, you don't hastily lay hands
1:17:37
on people. You have to be discreet so that you
1:17:43
will not go and carry somebody that will be confusing
1:17:45
the whole place. That is the point I'm trying
1:17:50
to make. So it is to be noted. That in all where
1:17:55
we saw people put in position of ministry, hands
1:18:04
were laid. Hands were laid on them. Are we together?
1:18:13
No oil was seen. No oil. You've never seen. All
1:18:20
the ones, it's only hands that were laid. It's
1:18:23
not a mistake. We never saw use of oil. But why
1:18:29
is it that today, there's a lot used? You see
1:18:33
that when people are about to be ordained, they
1:18:35
carry a jar of oil, put on them. We use oil in
1:18:42
so many of our churches to consecrate, to set
1:18:44
apart people for the work of ministry. But what
1:18:48
we have understood from all the texts and scriptures,
1:18:50
God's system is what? To lay hands, not to pour
1:18:53
oil. The question is, how did we get here? Does
1:19:02
anointing a believer with oil have any spiritual
1:19:04
value? Remember, we've already noted through
1:19:07
text that what? That the laying of hands is spiritual,
1:19:12
is supernatural. Is that okay? Is that okay?
1:19:16
Now the question is, is using oil spiritual,
1:19:20
supernatural? Does he have any spiritual value?
1:19:27
Some people will cite James. Look at James. Go
1:19:31
to James. James chapter 4, verse 14. James 4,
1:19:40
14. Sorry, it's 5. James 5, 14. Is anyone among
1:20:04
you sick? Let him call for the elders of the
1:20:08
church and let them pray over him, anointing
1:20:12
him with oil in the name of the Lord. Now, throughout
1:20:16
the text of what we call the New Testament, This
1:20:20
is the only place that mentions the use of oil.
1:20:25
Now, you see, when you see a place very unique,
1:20:29
a vast, that is very unique from the nomad, you
1:20:33
need to take time to study. Are we together?
1:20:37
You need to take time to do what? To study. And
1:20:43
let me mention something very profound. There
1:20:48
is a standard. You see, when we say doctrine,
1:20:51
we mean, remember what we said, right? Instruction,
1:20:56
a set of instructions. It's not separate. Now,
1:20:59
a verse cannot become a doctrine. Let me say
1:21:04
it again. Let me say it again. You don't establish
1:21:09
a doctrine with a verse. Did you understand what
1:21:12
I'm saying? Yeah? No. So all the problems. that
1:21:20
we are having with trousers, with head tie. Do
1:21:25
you know what I'm saying? In the name of the
1:21:28
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All of
1:21:31
them came from one verse. When you sat, you see
1:21:34
one verse. Yet we have made it a special thing
1:21:37
in the church. That's why I say, each time you
1:21:41
hear a verse mention something and nowhere again,
1:21:44
be careful. Sit down and read. Did you understand
1:21:49
what I'm saying? Sit down and read. There are
1:21:51
many verses about indecency. Did you get what
1:21:54
I'm trying to say? We are coming, you know, we
1:21:56
are doing, we have a long way to go. Issues around
1:22:01
women's liberty. We are at what? I think we are
1:22:03
up at part 19. Okay, we are still moving. Amen?
1:22:10
So, but what I'm trying to say is that be careful,
1:22:14
else you are going to a slippery place. Now,
1:22:18
one of it is this one. Hallelujah. Now, he said,
1:22:28
and it is very important. Now, what does it mean
1:22:32
to anoint? It means to anoint. Just simply to
1:22:36
rob. Just to rob something. When you anoint someone.
1:22:40
To just rob. Is that okay? That's what it means.
1:22:45
The verb. When you say anoint. It means to rob.
1:22:51
To rob. And that is important for us to understand
1:22:58
that. Now, that word anoint means a life form.
1:23:05
A -L -E. Hallelujah. Be patient. We'll soon be
1:23:11
moving for this session. But come with me. I
1:23:14
want you to pay attention because this is very
1:23:15
important. If you are sleeping, Make your system
1:23:18
awake because there's an explanation I have to
1:23:23
go into this one. Even if we don't finish it,
1:23:26
we can continue in the next session. Amen? It's
1:23:31
A -L -E -I. Can you tell that young man I will
1:23:38
give him... We love them. Amen? So anoint is
1:23:48
L -I -4, means A -L -E -I -P -H -O. A -L -E -I
1:23:57
-P -H -O in Greek. Just like I said, means to
1:24:02
anoint or anoint means to rob, means to rob.
1:24:06
Come with me quickly. Let me see what I can do
1:24:09
for the time I have now. Matthew 16. Matthew
1:24:16
6. Go to 6. Matthew 6. Matthew 6. Let me read
1:24:32
verse 16. Moreover, when you fast, do not be
1:24:41
like the hypocrite with a sad countenance. For
1:24:46
they disfigured their faces that they may appear
1:24:50
to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you,
1:24:54
they have their reward. But you, when you fast,
1:24:58
anoint your head and wash your face. Are we together?
1:25:02
That word anoint there is a life form. Means
1:25:06
to rub, of course, invariably with oil, understand?
1:25:10
And wash so that you don't appear like a hypocrite.
1:25:14
Mark 6. Mark 6, 13. Mark 6, 13. And they cast
1:25:29
out demons. And they cast out many demons and
1:25:37
anointed with oil many who were sick. And heal
1:25:43
them. Please follow me. Because I'm coming. The
1:25:47
question is that. These are the disciples. Did
1:25:49
Jesus ask them to anoint? There's a question.
1:25:52
One side. Go to Mark 16. Verse 1. Now when the
1:26:07
Sabbath was passed. Mary Magdalene. Mary the
1:26:10
mother of James. And Salome bought spices that
1:26:14
they might come and anoint him. Luke 17, 38.
1:26:24
Luke 17, 38. Sorry, did I say seven? No, seven?
1:26:42
Come in, let me check that text. Luke 7, 38.
1:26:47
Put it there for me. Let me go myself. Yes, and
1:27:00
stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and she
1:27:02
began to wash his feet with her tears and wiped
1:27:06
them with the hair of her head. Thank you, sir.
1:27:09
And she kissed. Are we together? John 11, 2.
1:27:20
John 11, 2. It was that Mary who anointed the
1:27:37
Lord with fragrance. with the fragrant oil and
1:27:40
wipe his feet with her. Right? His feet with
1:27:46
her hair, whose brother Lazarus was six. Anoint
1:27:49
there. Anoint. Move to 12. 12 verse 3. Then Mary
1:27:56
took a pound of very costly oil of spiked nut,
1:28:02
anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet
1:28:04
with her hair and the house was filled with the
1:28:07
fragrance. of oil. Now, Freddie, we read James.
1:28:13
So why did James ask the elders of the church
1:28:18
to use oil? So we saw that James asked the elders
1:28:25
to use oil. Why? And that's unique because James
1:28:29
did that. Are we together? Why? Now, if you look
1:28:35
at it, go to James chapter 1. Because that will
1:28:38
help us understand the background of the book
1:28:40
to help us to know what exactly James or who
1:28:46
James was communicating to. James 1. James, a
1:28:50
born servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
1:28:52
to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad,
1:28:56
greetings. So that means the audience of James
1:28:59
are Jews. Are we together? Even though they are
1:29:03
believers, they are what? Jews. So it wasn't
1:29:06
strange to them. He wasn't writing to Gentiles.
1:29:12
Remember, I told you already, the use of oil
1:29:15
already stemmed from Jacob. Are we together?
1:29:20
So already is a cultural thing. So it wasn't
1:29:24
strange. So when you ask them, use oil, it wasn't
1:29:28
strange. The Jews are known to use oil for medicinal
1:29:34
purposes. They use it for different things. We
1:29:37
have just read a number of things how they use
1:29:39
oil. To anoint Jesus, to do this, to do that,
1:29:41
to do that. Many things. Are we together? So
1:29:44
they understood what James was talking about.
1:29:46
So James was asking the elders to combine natural
1:29:49
and spiritual. It wasn't a conflict with them.
1:29:53
You understand what I'm saying? When they use
1:29:55
oil, they are not saying that they don't believe
1:29:56
in the supernatural. It was just common that
1:30:00
when you use that in the sun. It's like when
1:30:03
somebody prayed for you, you say, just go and
1:30:05
take your bath. Are you saying that you don't
1:30:07
believe in what he's saying? You know what I'm
1:30:08
trying to say? So it's a norm for them. It's
1:30:12
a norm for them. So this was what... But the
1:30:18
question is that we need to investigate more
1:30:22
further. And we saw the disciples did that. Are
1:30:27
we together? From where we read. But... Jesus
1:30:31
never asked the disciples to anoint. Let's go
1:30:34
back to that place. Mark 6. Mark chapter 6. Look
1:30:41
at verse 7. Mark 6. Verse 7. And he called the
1:30:55
twelve to himself and began to send them out
1:30:58
two by two. and gave them power over unclean
1:31:02
spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for
1:31:07
their journey except staff, no bag, no bread,
1:31:09
no copper in their money belts, but to wear sandals
1:31:15
and not to put on two tonics. Also, he said to
1:31:22
them, in whatever place you enter a house, stay
1:31:25
there till you depart from that place. Whoever
1:31:29
will not receive you nor hear you when you depart
1:31:35
from there, shake off the dust under your feet
1:31:38
as a testimony against them. Actually, I say
1:31:41
to you, it will be more terrible for Sodom and
1:31:45
Gomorrah in the day of judgment than that city.
1:31:49
Verse 12, so they went out and preached that
1:31:53
people should repent. They cast out many demons.
1:31:58
You see, when Jesus asked them, he went them
1:32:00
to preach, gave them power over unclean spirits.
1:32:06
So to preach. So what he asked them was to heal
1:32:13
the sick. Go back to Luke. Luke tells us that.
1:32:16
Let's read Luke account quickly. Luke 9. Luke
1:32:22
9. Then, verse 1, then he called his 12 disciples.
1:32:28
and gave them power and authority over all demons
1:32:31
and to cure what? Diseases. He sent them to preach.
1:32:35
Look at verse two. He sent them to do what? To
1:32:38
preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
1:32:43
And he said to them, take nothing for the journey,
1:32:47
neither staff, neither back. What we just read,
1:32:49
Max was saying. Are we together? And then verse
1:32:54
six, look at six. So they departed. and went
1:32:58
through the towns preaching the gospel and healing
1:33:00
everyone. Jesus himself never used oil. He would
1:33:06
spat, he would touch. We read all Jesus did,
1:33:09
you understand, in his healing. So he gave them
1:33:11
power to do that. You understand? Peter showed
1:33:16
to us what Jesus was doing, how he was separated,
1:33:19
how he was appointed. In Acts chapter 10, verse
1:33:24
38, how Jesus Christ was anointed with the Holy
1:33:26
Ghost and power and where they are doing good,
1:33:28
you understand? Healing all those that were oppressed
1:33:30
by the devil. Are we together? So you could see
1:33:33
that he told them, no, no, no, no, this is what
1:33:35
you should do. When you go to 10, also Matthew
1:33:38
chapter 10, verse 1 to 4. Matthew 10. I need
1:33:43
to read that text. Matthew 10. We now round up
1:33:55
there. And when he had called his 12 disciples
1:34:03
to him, he gave them power over unclean spirit
1:34:06
to cast out and to heal. You see that? To cast
1:34:10
out and to heal all kinds of sicknesses and all
1:34:14
kinds of diseases. You see? Even when he sent
1:34:17
them, he told them not to carry things. He even
1:34:20
told them, don't carry anything. So I don't know
1:34:23
how they smuggle bottles. He has instructed them,
1:34:28
don't carry anything, just move. Anywhere you
1:34:31
stop, enter. But you see the people, their culture,
1:34:34
they smuggle something. And we saw in Acts 13,
1:34:41
they say after they are healed, they have healed
1:34:43
them. Look at it, go back to Acts 13. Mark 6,
1:34:48
13. He said, and they cast out many demons. How
1:34:58
did they do? They cast out many demons and anointed
1:35:04
with oil many who were sick and healed them.
1:35:10
So even though they did the healing, they did
1:35:14
the casting of demons, they still used oil to
1:35:17
just anoint these people. Remember, they didn't
1:35:20
anoint the people who had demons. The only cast
1:35:22
is people who are sick. Remember I told you,
1:35:25
it's a cultural thing in the Jews, you understand?
1:35:31
Because the oil has medicinal purpose, you understand
1:35:34
what I'm saying? So they do that. Of course,
1:35:36
they have other purposes. They do with it, you
1:35:37
understand, just like we have read. But what
1:35:40
can we see here? The oil is not supernatural.
1:35:46
Let me repeat again. Oil is not what? It's not
1:35:51
supernatural. From all this reading we have read,
1:35:55
oil was not supernatural. From Jacob, we saw
1:36:04
it as a symbol of honor first, like to anoint
1:36:07
the place. And you put it there. It's a showing
1:36:10
of that this is a sacred place. It's an indication.
1:36:13
Because remember where they were coming from.
1:36:15
Just the same way Abraham. When Abraham gave
1:36:20
tithes, You understand? We can learn something
1:36:22
about the titan. You understand what I'm saying?
1:36:26
Because Abraham, he was coming from a pagan place.
1:36:32
There is a system they are used to. And in their
1:36:34
system, they know honor. So when they meet somebody
1:36:37
who is of authority, you understand? They give
1:36:40
him something. They give him a titan as a sign
1:36:44
of honor. When Abraham was doing that, he was
1:36:46
not expecting to receive anything. It's an honor
1:36:49
you do to an elder. In our people, where I came
1:36:52
from, you can't see an elder, even if it's not
1:36:54
from your family, you can't see an elder living
1:36:56
with his load. Although these days, I don't understand
1:36:59
what we're doing. You see some people, like when
1:37:02
I'm in school, when I, in those days, I use the
1:37:05
bus. You see an elderly person shaking in the
1:37:08
bus and younger people are sitting down. Something's
1:37:12
wrong with us. No, we have learned. This is not
1:37:17
Bible. This is culture. Do you understand what
1:37:19
I'm saying? Yes, your culture can tally with
1:37:23
the honor in scriptures, but there are things
1:37:25
we come into. It is part of where we are raised.
1:37:30
You can't be passing and there's a road, a tiny
1:37:32
road, and you and an elder is coming and then
1:37:35
you are struggling who to give space. No, we
1:37:37
are. How now? It's our culture that you shift
1:37:40
first and you greet. Welcome, sir. And you prostrate.
1:37:44
And we have that in Yorubas in the Sunday. We
1:37:47
even lie down in the sun. This is a way of showing
1:37:51
honor. It's a cultural thing. That's the same
1:37:53
thing with them. So it wasn't supernatural. It's
1:37:56
lying down supernatural. No. It's culture. So
1:38:04
there's no way Jesus asked these apostles to
1:38:06
use oil for ordination. No. Ordination is by
1:38:12
laying of hands. Although we have churches that
1:38:15
have adopted from the Old Testament, they use
1:38:16
the Old Testament text. Like for example, Samuel,
1:38:19
when he was going to consecrate David and all
1:38:23
that, he carried a jar of oil and was moving.
1:38:26
But now you are in the New Testament. Understand
1:38:28
how systems work. See, if you are not careful,
1:38:32
you will be practicing the Jewish culture, thinking
1:38:35
that it is actually Bible. You must know how
1:38:39
to sift between cultural things. I told you.
1:38:43
That God accommodated men's limitations and cultures
1:38:47
used their language to communicate his purpose.
1:38:52
So you must be able to see which one is the culture.
1:38:55
It's just like you can come, you can come by
1:38:57
and that's why I said I thank God for Jesus.
1:39:00
That's the same thing what we are seeing today
1:39:02
with many other things. Like the issue that you
1:39:04
cannot permit a woman to lead a church. Or you
1:39:07
can't permit world where we have been leading.
1:39:10
You understand? Did you see any name of a man
1:39:12
or a man? They say they are called disciples.
1:39:14
They are called believers. He said, these saints
1:39:17
are followed in their belief. Did he say a man?
1:39:21
No. So that's the same thing. But if you're going
1:39:25
to follow the culture of the Jews, no, you can't
1:39:28
bring a woman inside. In fact, some of you, if
1:39:31
you are going to use it, some of you that are
1:39:33
having menstrual period, we will send you away.
1:39:36
For two weeks, you will not come and miss us.
1:39:41
So, You have to see which one. So oil has no
1:39:46
spiritual value. It's not a spiritual thing.
1:39:49
Are we together? Oil has nothing. So as we go
1:39:54
for a break, know that the way to ordain, to
1:39:58
appoint, is by the laying of hands. Are we together?
1:40:03
Is by the what? Laying of hands. Are we together?
1:40:07
Yes. Can you use oil? Yes. But use it. with an
1:40:12
understanding, like aprons. Do you understand
1:40:14
what I'm saying? We have red aprons, touch their
1:40:16
body, and when they heal the people. If you are
1:40:19
doing it in that understanding, it's a different
1:40:21
thing. Amen. Can you just pray and thank the
1:40:26
Lord? We appreciate you being here today. We
1:40:33
hope you carry this word with you throughout
1:40:34
your week. Don't forget to check the show notes
1:40:37
for additional insights. Stay connected with
1:40:40
us through our website or follow us on social
1:40:43
media. If you are encouraged, share this message
1:40:46
with someone you care about. Until next time,
1:40:49
stay blessed.