Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / Day 3: Contextual Reading of the Bible (Part 3)

Transcript

Day 3: Contextual Reading of the Bible (Part 3) · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

0:01
Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
0:06
designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
0:09
walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
0:14
the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
0:18
right in. We will continue from where we stopped
0:27
yesterday. And we try to look at a number of
0:36
things. Fundamentally, we noted that context
0:46
is very important. And we said the very ministry
0:53
we're talking about is hinged upon the truth
1:00
of God's words. Are we together? You are going
1:05
to be laying a wrong emphasis if we lack understanding
1:13
of the essence of scripture. We noted that first,
1:21
that if you are studying any passage of the Bible,
1:26
then you need to bear in mind that first and
1:30
foremost, there is something we call the canonical
1:35
context. And we said is the apex. Everything
1:42
you ever read in this Bible must submit to it.
1:46
We said that you cannot read any portion of this
1:54
Bible and it contradicts that. And you said you
1:59
have actually understood what you have read.
2:07
We said this Bible has a unified plot line, have
2:15
a unified storyline from Genesis to Revelation.
2:21
It's about the subject of salvation. and true
2:27
faith in Christ Jesus. In between narratives,
2:34
you will see the thought of men, you will see
2:37
the devil spoke, and you'll be seeing that everything
2:42
is to come against this storyline. So in every
2:47
part of this Bible, you will see these two things.
2:51
You will see one, for example, light and darkness.
2:59
Because once you have salvation through faith
3:02
in Jesus Christ, you will definitely have characters,
3:07
attitudes, statement that will always negate
3:14
that. Are we together? In history, we have seen
3:17
that. Righteousness and unrighteousness, as I
3:22
said, light and darkness. Amen. You will see
3:28
that faith and the law, these are, you will continue
3:34
to see that. So, which means that if you say
3:40
you are speaking for God, and you are saying
3:45
that you are doing the will of God, then every
3:51
will of God is defined by a unified message.
3:57
And that message is a message of salvation, is
4:01
a message of the love of God, is a message of
4:07
the character of God showing his benevolence,
4:14
showing his mercy to mankind. Anything you read
4:19
and you see is God that deviates from these thoughts.
4:23
That means you are out of context. Are we together?
4:29
And we saw that all scripture is given by the
4:35
inspiration of God. We saw also that no prophecy
4:42
of this scripture is of man's initiative, is
4:48
of man's private interpretation. He said, everything
4:54
you see has been inspired by God. The Holy Spirit
5:00
moved holy men to write it. And we try to make
5:06
a distinction. The fact that it is written in
5:09
the Bible doesn't mean that we have made this
5:14
distinction here in this church over and over.
5:19
And we said it's different. which Pastor Fred
5:22
noted very clearly that there is different between
5:27
the act of the writing, are we together, and
5:32
the content of it. We said everything written
5:37
here was actually inspired by God, but it's not
5:42
everything that is actually documented came from
5:46
God, are we together? So, That means if not everything
5:53
in this Bible came from God, it necessitates
5:57
that we interpret accurately so that we will
6:04
not carry the attribute of Satan and we'll put
6:07
it on God. Are we together? That is a deformation
6:10
of character. We will not carry attitude of a
6:13
fool, attitude of evil, and place it on God's
6:19
character. And remember, because this Bible fundamentally
6:24
is about Christ, and Christ himself laid the
6:30
model of how we should interpret the scriptures.
6:36
In Luke 24, 25, 26, 27, O ye foolish ones, law
6:44
of heart to believe all that the prophet hath
6:46
spoken, in all that the prophet hath spoken,
6:49
or not Christ to have suffered these things and
6:52
to enter into his glory and say beginning at
6:54
Moses and all the prophets he expounded were
6:58
explained unto them the things concerning himself
7:02
so he shows us a pattern that is and we saw that
7:08
from Genesis to Revelation is concerning the
7:12
Christ and so that is the nature of how we should
7:18
read Bible the Bible was not given for you for
7:26
for wealth creation you do man is already ingenious
7:31
to know how to make I mean God has already endowed
7:35
man naturally you understand to know how to be
7:38
creative and make better use of the available
7:44
resources are we together Amen. Yes. And so there
7:54
must be a parity. There must be a sacredness.
7:59
And so we noted that he said from childhood,
8:05
second Timothy, chapter three, and that from
8:08
childhood, that has known the holy scriptures.
8:13
Please, I want you to know that word holy means
8:17
set apart. That means these words are not like
8:20
other scriptures. Are you with me? There are
8:28
many other manuscripts, but this manuscript is
8:33
holy. Are we together? Thou has known the holy
8:39
means set apart, sacred writings. The sacred
8:47
writings means that you can compare them So when
8:51
I'm talking about the character of God the things
8:55
of God the things of the spirit Don't bring natural
8:59
things. They might be good, but they are not
9:01
the same level Are we together? They are not
9:05
at the same level Anywhere the Holy Spirit Is
9:14
like for example now we are gathering here Brother
9:18
this meeting Can never be compared with any meeting
9:25
That is not of God on earth no matter how excellent
9:30
Name it This is what makes it holy you say wherever
9:36
two or three are gathered in my name dear. I
9:39
am in their midst Do you know what it means?
9:43
because that means the gathering of believers
9:47
because of the name of jesus has a sacredness
9:53
that it must be it must it must it must be revealed
9:59
clearly in your heart you can't compare it you
10:04
understand with any meeting not united nation
10:07
it's not as honorable it's very important united
10:10
nation Meeting with Donald Trump meeting with
10:13
any leader on a political meeting or whatever
10:16
the president of your country meeting whatever
10:19
meeting they are important But sir, they are
10:21
not at the same importance with the meeting of
10:24
believers No, if you understand this you're going
10:29
to be a good servant of God So I don't want to
10:36
tomorrow as you continue to be making some careless
10:39
statements Some statement that that shows that
10:42
you are not well taught. No No And that is why
10:52
the Word of God is sacred the Church of God is
10:57
sacred The things of God is sacred in the Sun
11:03
They are not at the same level And that is where
11:09
I'm trying to start from there. We look at immediate
11:12
context. And we saw a lot of things. We said
11:17
it's important that you pay attention to the
11:21
surrounding verses. Don't be picking verses anyhow.
11:26
When this Bible was written, there was no verses,
11:28
there was no, in fact, there was no spaces. It
11:32
is, we have these commas and punctuations and
11:36
space, they are English language. It's not in
11:39
the original. Meaning, the very text in which
11:45
those truths were communicated. So don't just
11:50
be picking verses, they are thoughts. And that's
11:55
why you must follow the author's thoughts. As
11:58
we said, the reason why you have to pay attention
12:00
to that is that because you don't the lives of
12:05
men the eternal destiny of men depends on the
12:10
right interpretation of these words yesterday
12:13
we saw that that error cannot bet new life no
12:18
matter how good you are pocketing message and
12:21
shout this is the glory of god no sir no sir
12:25
it's not today that prophet started following
12:28
for something that looks like the glory of god
12:31
somewhere so alien and say surely this is a lot
12:35
anointed but it's not there it's not by big chest
12:40
you understand I hope you know the world has
12:44
its glory when the devil tempted Jesus he said
12:48
he showed him the glory of the world so that
12:51
world has glory are we together so it is important
12:57
that we pay attention Men cannot develop. You
13:01
cannot mature believers with error. No, sir.
13:06
The reason why we are seeing all kinds of somebody
13:08
have stayed in church, you understand? For decades.
13:14
But when the person speaks and you are just wondering,
13:16
wait a minute. He said he gave to his life in
13:19
the 1990s. This is about how many years now.
13:22
Why is he speaking like that? That means he has
13:28
not been hearing certain, I mean the truth that
13:31
he ought to. So that's why we have to pay attention.
13:37
We now look at and say it again. We have the
13:40
literary context and we saw that God speaks,
13:45
can reveal his thoughts, his will through cultures.
13:53
We saw historical and cultural context. We saw
14:01
geographic context, that geography can speak.
14:06
God have used geography to reveal his will, to
14:12
reveal his thought. And we saw that geography
14:15
explained many times. We saw yesterday salvation,
14:20
bondage, slavery in the spirit, right? Are we
14:24
together? Yes Then we saw the supernatural context
14:30
that as believers we must not be naive That this
14:35
world is just material. Sorry, sir. That's not
14:38
what the Bible says that this material world
14:43
always interacts with the spirit world and There
14:47
are influences and that's why Paul will remind
14:50
us it is upon his understanding that he said
14:54
That the weapon though we live what in the flesh
14:58
we do not wage war after the war after the flesh
15:02
So there are principalities and powers is a ruler
15:09
they are ruling territories While we understand
15:16
so you must understand the understanding there
15:19
is an understanding so when you see the stars
15:21
and the moon in the Sun Don't just be thinking
15:25
it's just science or astronomy. You have to read
15:34
carefully because in those days, the view, the
15:38
worldview of the Bible writers, they have, they
15:42
are heavily influenced by the spiritual. So they
15:47
use those bodies, elements, hosts of heavens.
15:53
in the sun as symbols, elements that tell about
16:00
the spiritual or the spirit beings. We saw it
16:05
yesterday. And when we move, we try to start
16:09
to understand what we call how the Bible has
16:16
been taken out of context and then It was used
16:25
maliciously and it was abused. We started by
16:34
slavery in America. We saw about the slave Bible,
16:41
how men can be cruel. And I'm not trying to scare
16:47
you. Let me tell you, you're going to face persecution,
16:51
but more of the persecution will come from church
16:53
people. It's not today's are started it will
16:57
come from people holding a Bible not people who
16:59
doesn't even believe in God Are we together?
17:04
Yes They're the first people to call you false
17:07
prophet while they are the first prophet They're
17:10
the first people to call you names That is the
17:19
idea and that's the reason why I want to suggest
17:21
to you if it is God you want to You are following
17:25
please. I'm begging you from today as you are
17:28
moving in this meeting please Don't be so sensitive
17:33
about your reputation. Let me say it again Don't
17:37
be sensitive about your what? about your reputation
17:40
hmm, I will show you Jesus said a A servant is
17:50
all greater than his master the context of that
17:53
He was saying that if they have persecuted me,
17:56
they have called me many names, they will also
17:58
do what? They will also call you those names.
18:02
That's why he say, a what? A servant is no greater
18:05
than his teacher. Mean that whatever was done
18:08
to him, be sure it will be done to you. Are we
18:12
together? Hallelujah. And that's the reason why
18:15
we have to sustain a level of conviction in the
18:20
world for us to be able to move on. Amen. So
18:25
let me just highlight some few things about what
18:29
we started on the issue of Slavery America and
18:33
the text. I've already given you some text. So
18:35
I'll just pick from just what I've given you,
18:37
just one or two texts, and then we will interpret
18:40
it based in the light, I mean, in the light of
18:42
what we did yesterday. Are we together? Looking
18:45
at the larger context, which is a canonical context,
18:49
and we'll look at the immediate context. and
18:51
if the text require us, we will look at the geographic
18:55
context, we'll look at the literal context or
18:58
the supernatural context. Are we together? And
19:00
we see where those scriptures have been weep
19:03
on eyes. So today we're going to do a lot of
19:05
heavily on Bible interpretation using those thoughts
19:09
we shared yesterday. Amen. Genesis chapter 9.
19:13
So this is one of the texts that was used to
19:16
promote slavery. Genesis chapter 9 verse 18.
19:22
And remember, those who promoted slavery are
19:24
not just church members who, as I said, they
19:26
are professors of theology. You understand? So
19:32
some of the people you are going to face are
19:34
people who have certificates. Are we together?
19:38
Yes. Genesis chapter nine, verse 18. Genesis
19:47
chapter nine, verse 18. Now the sons of Noah
20:01
who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth.
20:07
And Ham was a father of Canaan. Verse 19, these
20:10
three were the sons of Noah. And from these,
20:14
the whole earth was populated. And Noah began
20:18
to be a farmer and he planted a vineyard. Then
20:21
he drank of the wine and was drunk and became
20:25
uncovered in his tent. Verse 22. I'm reading
20:29
from the New King James. And Ham, the father
20:34
of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and
20:37
told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth
20:41
took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders
20:44
and went back and covered the nakedness of their
20:50
father. Their faces were torn away. They did
20:55
not see their father's nakedness. Noah awoke
20:59
from his wine and knew that his younger, his
21:15
younger, Amen. Shall I continue? Verse 24. Verse
21:57
25, then he said, "'Course be canon. A servant
22:01
of servant, he shall be to his brethren.'" Hallelujah.
22:12
Are we together? So these Southern pro -slavery
22:19
theologians, they claim that black people were
22:26
the descendants of Ham. Black people were the
22:31
descendants of Ham and therefore had been cursed.
22:38
They are the descendants of Ham and therefore
22:41
had been cursed. They claim that God had divinely
22:48
ordained the subjugation of black people. They
22:56
said that just as Cain had a mark, you know,
23:00
when Cain did what he did, Genesis chapter four,
23:06
you know, the Bible says that God make a mark
23:09
on him, right? And so they said just like when
23:14
Cain did sinful things and then they make a mark
23:19
on him, so that the name came. In Hebrew means
23:26
dark or black. The name ham means dark or black.
23:34
I'm just trying to tell us what they said or
23:37
what they interpreted as ham means dark or black
23:42
or hot bond, something like that. Which signify
23:48
a mark. So they said that that dark skin, is
23:52
a mark of the curse on the dark skinned people
23:57
of Africa. So not even every part of Africa is
24:02
a dark skinned people is a curse. Now what we
24:06
want to do is that is to look at the claim in
24:10
the sun contextually. First and foremost, just
24:14
that, I mean, you just read it now. You must
24:17
have noted that The curse was not on Ham. That's
24:27
the first thing, right? It was not on Ham. It
24:33
was on one of his sons, which is Canaan. So if
24:40
Ham, I don't know how, because you know, at that
24:44
moment, Canaan, I'll show you because from The
24:54
name Ham seems to promote their narrative. Because
25:00
at that time we didn't develop yet so much on
25:04
the understanding of names. So they just covered
25:09
and said Ham in Hebrew means dark. Because you
25:13
can a canon doesn't, this name does not go close
25:17
to dark. So that's why they moved to harm, because
25:24
they want to paint a narrative. But that's the
25:27
first thing for when you read, because it wasn't
25:31
a harm. Because if it was harm that was caused,
25:34
then that means all his descendants, not just,
25:39
I mean all his sons, the descendants of his sons,
25:43
not just one of them would have been cursed.
25:55
So it's Kanan that was cursed. He said, a servant
26:01
of servant shall be to his brethren. So that
26:07
word they use is servant of servant. That's why
26:10
you say, okay, you have to be perpetual servant
26:12
all the rest of your life because you are the
26:17
descendants of him. Now, as I said, in the study
26:21
of names, you understand, in fact, up to now,
26:25
we don't know what actually, what is the meaning
26:30
of ham in the sun, because it has no roots or
26:37
related to the word dark in Hebrew or any Semitic
26:43
language. I mean, any, it's not just only Hebrew,
26:46
any Semitic language. Ham is not closely, they
26:51
are not, they are not related. There's no any
26:54
name. either dark or black that is related to
26:56
ham at all in Hebrew, or any Semitic language,
27:01
none. So which means that up to now, no one can
27:06
categorically tell you exactly what a ham exactly
27:10
mean. Are we together? Even Kanan curse was due
27:19
to his misconduct. It was not because of his
27:23
skin color. Although they are saying that it
27:27
is a curse. The skin color is a mark of the curse.
27:35
So the descendants of Canaan, again, we know
27:40
them because the Bible clearly tells us that
27:42
descendant. They are the Canaanites in the Middle
27:45
East. They are not in Africa. Amen. because they
27:52
are not lost. We can follow them. You understand
27:54
what I'm saying? Yes. We can follow through the
28:00
descendants. So this means that this doctrine,
28:05
as I said, was just used to justify the enslavement
28:11
of the Dasken people and therefore it is fabricated.
28:16
And as I said, because at that time they are
28:18
looking for any word. that will look closely
28:22
to something that they want to justify and that's
28:25
why they are using harm but as you said harm
28:27
was not the one curse hallelujah this one is
28:37
simple because you can just read through in a
28:40
sign and just get what exactly is saying okay
28:44
let's go to the other ones that looks a little
28:46
bit much more work that we need to do Ephesians
28:51
chapter 6, we said they also use a number of
28:55
texts in the New Testament. Ephesians chapter
28:58
6. So let me just read those verses that they
29:05
use also in the New Testament. Ephesians chapter
29:08
6 verse 5. Ephesians 6 verse 5. Born servant,
29:15
that is a word. uh that translation you slaves
29:20
be obedient to those who are your masters according
29:27
to the flesh with fear and trembling in sincerity
29:33
of heart as to christ in sincerity of heart as
29:39
to what as to christ hallelujah yes so again
29:46
um Colossians chapter 3. Go to Colossians chapter
29:51
3 verse 22. Colossians 3 22. Born servant obey
30:00
in all things your servant according to the flesh
30:04
not with eye service as men's pleasers for the
30:09
sincerity of heart fearing God. Titus chapter
30:14
2 verse 9. Titus chapter 2 verse 9. Exalt bond
30:29
-servants to be obedient to their own masters,
30:34
to be well -pleasing in all things, not answering
30:38
back. They love these titles. Hallelujah. So
30:46
these are the texts they use. Another one is
30:49
in Philemon. We're going to E2, in the sun, in
30:54
Philemon, but we're coming to that. Now, these
30:57
theologians, these pro -slavery theologians heavily
31:00
weaponized the New Testament also, particularly
31:03
these portions that I have read. They used these
31:07
verses to preach total submission, arguing that
31:11
rebelling against a master was a sin. against
31:16
God. Remember yesterday I told us what they did,
31:21
particularly this apostle to the slave, Jones,
31:25
right? He said because if we, we don't need just
31:28
to leave them, you understand, because they targeted
31:31
first the people at the time of authority so
31:35
that they can support and support the slavery.
31:43
But then they say cut, no. If we just ensure
31:48
that the people are the authorities, they are
31:50
the ones that like slavery and they are subjugating
31:52
them, the thing is still, they will be doing
31:55
their work, but they will be doing it grudgingly.
31:57
So how do we also, not just the top, but come
32:01
to the sleeve? Let's first and foremost preach
32:03
Christ, let them be born again. That way we can
32:07
teach them and psychologically to be completely
32:11
obedient so that they see the slavery itself
32:13
as the will of God. So one of these is what they
32:19
did here and so they use this text of the Apostle
32:24
Paul particularly because these are all texts
32:26
of Apostle you understand and they argue that
32:29
the Apostle only regulated slavery now that's
32:32
what he said that there is nowhere that he called
32:37
slavery or he immediately say no we must abolish
32:40
this no he only regulated it He only regulated
32:46
it. Okay, so let's go to efficiency. Let's look
32:51
at the context. First and foremost, let's look
32:57
at the context of efficiency. Let's start from
33:00
here five, because I told you we are trying to
33:06
look at the immediate context. You might need
33:08
to move across chapters. Are we together? Ephesians
33:14
chapter five, because that's where the discussion
33:16
starts. Or will I say somehow, because it started
33:21
from chapter four, actually. Paul was talking
33:24
about love and use God as an example, as the
33:31
model. So he's talking about love work. That's
33:35
the foundation, love work. So you see, by understanding
33:39
the context already, You already dismantled that
33:42
that is not what Paul is saying. Because there
33:46
is no how you are talking about love work and
33:47
you support slavery. Slavery is not love. It's
33:52
subjugation. It's inhumane treatment. Are we
33:56
together? It's not love work. So are you in chapter
34:02
five? Maybe we'll just start chapter five is
34:05
okay. Chapter five verse one. Therefore, be imitators
34:15
of God as their children, and walk in love."
34:24
And then he didn't leave you to what to be wondering,
34:27
what exactly are we to what? Which love? He's
34:29
on an open ending. He clearly gave you the model.
34:34
He said, as who? As Christ also has loved us.
34:41
How did he love us? He said, and he has given
34:45
himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God
34:50
for his sweet smelly aroma. The opposite is what
34:55
the slave owners were doing. They are exploiting
35:01
other humans. They are not sacrificing, rather
35:05
they are exploiting because he gave us Christ
35:09
as the model. Love as dearly beloved children.
35:17
Are we together? And work in love as Christ also
35:22
has loved us, given himself. So all through what
35:27
we'll be reading from here is about love, how
35:31
to show love to one another. And the model is
35:37
the love of Christ. We were helpless in trouble.
35:43
He came to save us. He did not come to exploit
35:47
us for his own benefits Are we together? We were
35:52
to die. He died on our place We were harassed
35:59
by the devil remember as many as a Partakers
36:03
of flesh and blood he say he partake the same
36:06
why he said that he might test dead And why will
36:10
he die? He said that he might destroy him. Who
36:15
has the power of death? That is the devil. And
36:20
why is it so? He said, and liberate those who
36:25
have been in all their lifetime. They are in
36:30
fear. They are in trembling because of that.
36:35
so that means he came to liberate us from the
36:38
harassment of satan in the sun we were perpetually
36:43
in fear of death he came to save us hebrew chapter
36:51
2 verse 14 and 15 he came to save us that is
36:56
why when the spirit of god came into us he said
36:59
you have not received the spirit of bondage to
37:03
do what to fear what you have received, eh? The
37:08
spirit that cried out, Abba, father. So the spirit
37:14
we have received is not the spirit of fear. It
37:18
didn't bring bondage to us, it brought freedom.
37:22
That is the love, not that that exploit a people.
37:28
Are we together? So that's the context. And when
37:31
you continue to read all through to 21, right?
37:39
Talk about fornication in the Psalm, but fornication
37:43
and all uncleanness, covetousness. Listen, all
37:47
these things, do you know that these things is
37:48
not just only a problem to you, it's also a problem
37:51
for the other person? Did you understand what
37:53
I'm trying to say? Yes, because you are harming
37:56
the other person, right? Yes. And then he kept
38:01
saying, these are not befitting of saints. Neither
38:05
fulness and so on and so on. Up until 21, he
38:10
keeps saying, this is what you should be doing,
38:13
verse 18. Do not be drunk with wine and with
38:15
dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
38:18
And then he says, speaking to one another in
38:20
psalms, in hymns and spiritual songs, singing
38:23
and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
38:26
giving thanks always for all things to God. The
38:31
father in the name of Jesus and he says submit
38:33
to one another in the fear of God He was speaking
38:37
to the entire church and then he turned to several
38:40
groups in the church Listen when he turned he
38:42
was not speaking a different thing in the sun
38:44
He just also continued to speak about love. Remember
38:48
he first started addressing the entire church
38:51
As you come together as we are doing things together.
38:54
He now moved to other relationship I hope you
38:57
know that the relationship we have here in the
38:59
church is in different strata. Are we together?
39:03
Now here we are members of the church, and some
39:06
of us again have another relationship in between
39:09
them, which is husband and wife. You understand
39:10
what I'm trying to say? Some has parent and children.
39:13
So there are several kinds of relationship, you
39:15
understand, in within the church. In all the
39:18
relationship, Paul was saying that you must exercise
39:22
love. That's the foundation. And then after talking
39:24
to the general church, he now moved in, verse
39:27
22, and now talk to wives. Right and say why
39:31
we should submit was 22 to 24. He talked to wife.
39:36
He said this is how you should express love Are
39:39
we together? He says submits in the sun submit
39:43
this submission is not Is not a foundation of
39:51
subjugation. This is love Are we together are
39:55
we together because he gave us a model he said
39:58
as the church submit to Christ. Did the trust
40:02
submit to Christ to be exploited? So why will
40:05
you think that the submission Christ is telling
40:07
you to do to your husband is that of exploitation?
40:10
How? Where did you get it? The foundation is
40:14
love. Everything is emanating from love work.
40:18
Are we together? Amen. That is it. So he told
40:23
the wife, submit. As the church submits to Christ,
40:27
as unto the Lord, again Christ's love is the
40:30
model. You now move to the husbands. Next is
40:37
the husbands. You now tell the husbands, from
40:40
verse 25 to 28, Ephesians 5, 25 to 28, and said,
40:47
you should love your wife. Again, he points them
40:49
to Christ, as Christ loved the church. Are we
40:54
together? As Christ loved the church, this love
40:57
is sacrificial love. I used to tell men, if you
41:00
understand what that means, you will not be everyday
41:06
looking as if you are a boss in the house. You
41:08
won't understand what you are talking about in
41:11
the sun. Because this love, this hardship, this
41:17
leadership is not... because you are wise in
41:24
many instances your wife is wiser than you are
41:27
but that's not what we are talking about here
41:30
because this is an election of grace are we together
41:33
this is an election of grace just the same way
41:36
we have pastors in this church we are not more
41:39
human than you are we are not actually a more
41:42
love before god than you are it's just a a a
41:47
position held by grace are we together that we
41:49
will have to leave the church And you are asked
41:52
also to submit to us, you understand? The same
41:54
way as also as unto the Lord. And this submission
41:58
is not exploitation. This submission, you understand,
42:02
is for accountability. This submission is for
42:05
leadership, is for headship. Are we together?
42:08
And that's why he is speaking. And he said, husband,
42:11
love your wife as Christ loved the church. Sacrificial
42:14
love, you understand? Every day, you are protecting,
42:19
you are leading. Means that you are leading you
42:23
want your wife to know how to love you show it.
42:25
That's leadership You know, it's not a command,
42:28
you know son cries did not come on. That's why
42:30
I have to follow his model It is a you you have
42:33
to love No, he offers some formulas. He did it
42:37
while we're yet sinners and then he said yeah
42:41
By this year all men know that you are my disciple
42:44
if you love one another but first and foremost
42:46
he shared he said He first commanded his love.
42:52
Are we together? In 1 John 3, 16, he will show
42:58
us that this is the way that he's shown his love.
43:02
That he laid down his life for us. So the same
43:06
way, we should do the same. That means we should
43:08
follow his pattern. So if you are the head of
43:11
the house, you are to show a leadership, the
43:16
Christ -like leadership. which means that whatever
43:19
you want a wife to learn whatever because you
43:21
are the leader you have to demonstrate it it's
43:23
not by command here hey hey hey that's a boss
43:26
you know a leader is a one that demonstrate points
43:30
convince show the way you understand i'm saying
43:33
some men we have to start teaching young men
43:35
in this church you know you don't know how to
43:37
talk you talk anyhow you understand you don't
43:39
know how to how to communicate well you understand
43:42
i said this is what i mean you have to explain
43:46
you are not a boss that you don't need that your
43:49
subordinate don't need a explanation they only
43:52
say your boss just come in the morning today
43:54
we are going to do this we do that you this one
43:57
you do this one no that's not how to run a house
44:00
you understand it's not a company did you understand
44:02
i'm saying no that's not how to run a house you
44:05
understand before you take a decision you say
44:08
sit down my love i have some this thing you have
44:11
to explain you understand like a salesman You
44:16
have to show the vision when Jesus will come
44:18
to you. He will not just tell you no He will
44:21
tell you what is going to this is what in fact
44:24
from day one Whatever that you will not get you
44:27
will tell you Whatever you get Jesus will say
44:30
anyone that follow me. This is what this is that
44:32
the conditions will Because it's not a journey
44:36
of deception. It's a journey of clarity But you
44:40
assure you of his commitment to the end That
44:45
is love. Then he moved to children, chapter six,
44:49
verse one. Children, obey your parent in the
44:52
Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and
44:55
mother, which is a first commandment with a promise
44:59
that it might be well with you, and you may live
45:02
long on the earth. You fathers, but before we
45:06
come to fathers, he told children, again, in
45:10
the Lord, the model is Christ's love. Are we
45:13
together? He moved to children. Then he moved
45:16
to fathers verse four. Fathers do not provoke
45:18
your children to rat, but bring them up in the
45:22
training and the admonition of the Lord. This
45:24
is not exploitation. This is clear indication
45:28
of the good of the child. Are we together? This
45:32
is training. This is training. Hallelujah. This
45:38
same word here, bring them up in the training
45:41
is the same word used in second timuti understand
45:46
that word instruction in righteousness verse
45:51
16 all scripture is given by the inspiration
45:53
of god and profitable for doctrine for reproof
45:56
for correction that word instruction in righteousness
46:00
is this same word bring up a child then you know
46:03
that this is one is not about slap here slap
46:06
there slap here slap here slap here that means
46:08
he's talking about instruction teaching Yes,
46:17
they are children. There are times that you will
46:20
need, especially because there are moments you
46:22
will have to give them a spank. The reason is
46:26
because you tell them to do something or you
46:29
say, don't do this, they repeat it. Don't do
46:31
this, they repeat it. Don't do it, they repeat
46:33
it. If you allow them, they will manipulate you.
46:40
That's where you just give them That is to remind
46:44
them they are under authority. So, and it is
46:54
scriptural. If you read the book of Proverbs,
46:57
there is a book of instruction. There are only
47:01
few verses that talk about the Lord. Are you
47:04
two with me? This is a wisdom, it's not by mistake.
47:07
That means the bulk of the training of a child
47:11
you understand is clearly teaching and instruction
47:16
and may I tell you the first thing that a child
47:19
will learn is from your attitude that is the
47:24
major thing of teaching your lifestyle in the
47:27
house you are joking whatever you do is a useless
47:31
one if your attitude does not change your prayer
47:35
life your attitude the way you live with your
47:38
wife these are mandatory modeling is the best
47:41
way of training understand it's first and foremost
47:49
and so he told him then he moved to slaves verse
47:55
five to what verse five to what verse five to
48:01
eight right now this is another form of relationship
48:07
you understand of course so many things listen
48:11
people don't understand when you are reading
48:14
scriptures in the sun when jesus came he came
48:18
under the uh what do you call it the roman uh
48:24
will i say rule or coloniality or colonialism
48:27
right because jesus christ's mission did not
48:32
come to overthrow the the government do you understand
48:35
what i'm trying to say That was what the disciples
48:37
thought he came to do. He came to remove the
48:41
Roman government and liberate them and return
48:43
them to those days when their kings were ruling
48:45
them. We see Jesus' mission was different. So
48:49
you kind of expect Jesus came to die, to save
48:51
us from our sins, and he came, he's trying to
48:54
overthrow the government. That's not why he came.
48:58
And so just because now he didn't overthrow the
49:00
government, and you now say Jesus is supporting
49:02
colonialism. That means you are confused. Are
49:09
we together? So Paul came and found the eels
49:13
in the society. What he did was to communicate
49:22
that boat, to communicate what they should do.
49:31
He told the servants, they are believers. He
49:33
said, this is how you should treat your own master.
49:37
based according to law, not on eye service. Obedience
49:43
to them, those who are your masters according
49:45
to the flesh, with fear and trembling, with sincerity.
49:50
The fact that some of them are crude, just the
49:52
same way today, it's not different. Some of us
49:53
are employed by this thing. How many cruelty
49:58
did you have endured? How many... things that
50:06
your dues has not been paid yet. You didn't go
50:08
and overthrow the university. Did you understand
50:13
what I'm saying? So he's showing them how to
50:17
live life, you understand? Because the fact that
50:20
your university is your enemy, there is a way
50:24
to work with your enemy. He's here in the Bible.
50:27
Yesterday we saw it. You pray for them, you understand?
50:31
He said, by so doing you will heap what call
50:34
of fire in the sun the fact that somebody was
50:39
clear to you he said how you should do things
50:42
to those who do evil to you so paul is teaching
50:46
to these people even though you are servants
50:49
or you are slaves and these people might be cruel
50:53
this is how you should behave but remember he
50:56
didn't stop there he also go to their masters
50:59
themselves are we together He now turned to the
51:03
masters, verse 9. He now said, you and you, masters,
51:10
do the same. Now, say to me, do the same. Do
51:14
the same. Now, this is no way. That means the
51:18
same thing He told the servants to do to their
51:21
masters. He now is saying, you, masters, do the
51:26
same to your slaves. That cannot be a man supporting
51:33
slavery Are we together he said do the same If
51:43
your Bible is not borrowed on the line that place
51:45
because you need it tomorrow he said do the same
51:50
Do the same That means everything is being said
51:55
here is about love walk is the same thing is
51:58
only application at different point You know
52:00
what I'm saying? Different way of relationship.
52:07
Depending on how I'm relating with you. You understand?
52:13
Because Sister Glory is my church member. Are
52:19
we together? I will relate to her as a pastor.
52:23
You understand? But I can't relate with her as
52:26
her husband. Did you understand what I'm trying
52:27
to say? depending on the relationship, I will
52:32
communicate love in that manner. There is a communication
52:38
of love that Pastor Fred will do to Sister Glory,
52:41
and it's love. Me, if I do it, it's not love.
52:46
It will be lost. Did you understand what I'm
52:50
saying? So, it is a guidance. That's why I told
52:53
you, he said to the masters, do the same. Do
52:59
the same. Things to them. Giving up threatening.
53:05
Did you hear that? He said, you can't threaten
53:09
them. Slavery is based on threats. On compulsion,
53:16
on subjugation. He said, knowing that your own
53:26
master Also is in heaven meaning that in showing
53:30
to them that you must learn from your own master
53:34
Your own master is Christ Yeah, and this master
53:41
this is how he does things Are we together There
53:50
is no what partiality with him This your master
53:56
that you, you the masters must learn is that
53:59
with this master, there is no partiality. With
54:05
this master, he pays you as you work for him.
54:09
He does not exploit you. He is not a partial
54:14
master. You must learn from this master because
54:19
you also have a master. Are we together? This
54:29
is anti -slavery. This is love work. So this
54:36
context, the context of this scripture is not
54:41
slavery, is love. Remember, Pastor Fred told
54:45
us that don't bring a subject that is not a subject
54:49
being discussed. You can learn principle there.
54:54
The context here is love work, not slavery. So
54:58
Paul was not addressing the church. He said,
55:01
hey today we are going to talk about slaves and
55:05
slavery. No, he is discussing love work everyone
55:12
So Paul was giving instruction That how we should
55:20
live is a pastoral letter to the church on how
55:24
we should live the Christian faith That's the
55:26
same thing he did To Colossians because it's
55:30
the same pattern look at Colossians. I'll just
55:33
mention the same pattern Colossians chapter 3
55:37
verse 1 to 17. He also started with the general
55:41
church Talk with them in the sun if they you
55:45
are a you were raised with Christ He said seek
55:48
those things which are above in the Sun We are
55:52
Christ is seated at the right hand of God this
55:56
word above is not talking about the sky in the
56:00
sun it's talking about heaven it's talking about
56:03
the spiritual those things that are spiritual
56:06
that's where you are you say that's where Christ
56:09
is seated right remember this you are raised
56:13
with Christ uh Ephesians 2 we're raised with
56:16
Christ seated uh where in the heavies are we
56:20
together that's this same place you say that's
56:23
where Christ is seated we're sitting with Christ
56:25
here That means what Paul is saying, you should
56:27
do the things that is of your identity, which
56:34
are above. This same word means above. Again,
56:42
he said verse two, set your mind on the things
56:44
above, not on the things on the earth. Listen,
56:47
this word above on earth are figurative. He's
56:51
not talking literature here. Above mean spiritual
56:55
in Christ. On Earth means evil and the flesh.
57:02
You don't understand what I'm saying? He's not
57:03
talking about literature here. That's why when
57:05
you read down, he explained to you exactly what
57:08
he means by above and the things that are on
57:11
the Earth. It's not cars. It's not houses. You
57:17
understand? They are fleshy attitudes. Then verse
57:25
five, look at verse five. He said, therefore
57:26
put to death your members. And then somebody
57:30
will ask, the Bible says we have died. Why is
57:33
he saying we should put to death? You see, this
57:36
word put to death means to render, you understand,
57:41
to render those, remember, this your members
57:49
means your parts of body. Do you understand what
57:51
I'm trying to say? If you say put to death, that
57:53
means you go and court yourself. Amen? Members
57:57
which are on the earth. You understand? That
57:59
means you're part of the body. You understand?
58:02
Members. So when you said put to death means
58:05
behave in your own identity. That's what it means.
58:12
That means to behave according to your identity.
58:16
It means to deny or to deprive. You understand?
58:21
The members on the earth and then he mentioned
58:25
remember we talked about the issue that are on
58:27
the earth Yeah, he said that set your things
58:31
above not on the things on the earth He now mentioned
58:34
the things on the earth fornication uncleanness
58:37
Passion evil desires covetousness adored. You
58:41
know something. These are the things on the earth
58:44
He's saying don't set your eyes on those things
58:46
You should set the things on the things above
58:50
these are the things on earth so you should deny
58:54
your members these things deprive them of these
58:58
things because verse 6 of these things the wrath
59:03
of god is coming upon the sons of disobedience
59:07
in which you yourself once walked and lived in
59:15
them but now you should know you are no longer
59:17
living there you yourself you understand and
59:20
then he continued he talked about do not lie
59:23
verse 9 to one another these are things on the
59:27
earth verse 11 where there is neither greek nor
59:33
jew he talks about again our life therefore as
59:37
a let of god holy and beloved put on tender mercy
59:42
now these are the things above tender mercy kindness
59:50
Humility, meekness, long -suffering, bearing
59:52
with one another, forgiving one another. If anyone
59:57
has a complaint against another, even as Christ
59:59
forgave you. Christ is the model of the love.
1:00:03
So you must... You see, this is what he was teaching
1:00:07
the church. He said the things are both, not
1:00:12
the things on the earth. Then he came and started
1:00:15
also the same way that we saw in Ephesians. He
1:00:18
started dealing with the other relationships
1:00:20
that are within the church are we together you
1:00:24
now say wives verse 18 look at verse 18 wife
1:00:27
submit your husband then verse 19 you say husband
1:00:31
also you don't turn to husband love your wife
1:00:34
the same thing we saw verse 20 he turned to children
1:00:37
he said what children obey your parent in all
1:00:40
things in the son for this is where please remember
1:00:43
as we said don't just when you read All things.
1:00:53
All things is not all things. All things is within
1:00:55
the context. There's something he mentioned.
1:00:58
The things on the world. Above. All things. All
1:01:03
things. All things. Not everything. Both the
1:01:07
one above and the one on the earth. No! You can't
1:01:14
carry these all things. These all things is contextual.
1:01:17
is the old things above. Are we together? And
1:01:26
then he continued also. After children, he moved
1:01:30
to fathers, verse 21, right? Fathers do not just
1:01:33
like we saw. After fathers, then he moved to
1:01:35
slave, obey your earthly masters. The same thing.
1:01:40
And then most of us will stop here, right? But
1:01:45
when you move, he didn't stop there chapter four
1:01:48
verse one he moved to masters he has not completed
1:01:51
he must tell these masters he's not everybody
1:01:54
must hear this he said masters give your bone
1:01:59
servant what is just and fear is that what slavery
1:02:03
has been doing these people are evil they remove
1:02:06
all these verses give your master what is fear
1:02:10
is what is fear to carry somebody across the
1:02:14
atlantic and force him to be having sexual intercourse
1:02:21
or I don't know whether it's immorality intercourse
1:02:23
or whatever, you understand? To be giving birth
1:02:25
to babies, breaking families, you understand?
1:02:29
If you have a big chest like Chris, they will
1:02:35
carry you, you understand? Even if it's your
1:02:37
sister, they saw she's also good, they will combine
1:02:40
you and say you must give birth because they
1:02:43
want heavy, heavy children. That's evil In the
1:02:47
Sun is disgusting to think that a pastor a theologian
1:02:52
has supported this Give them what is just and
1:03:02
fear knowing that you also have a master in heaven
1:03:05
We saw it that this master is not saying knowing
1:03:09
that this master will also deal with you. No,
1:03:12
he's saying look at the master you have. This
1:03:15
master is not a tyrant. This master is one that
1:03:20
is sacrificial. The lordship of Christ is not
1:03:24
of servitude. The lordship of Christ is of freedom.
1:03:37
Go to Titus. Hallelujah. You know Titus is interesting
1:03:44
in the sun. Titles start with older men. This
1:03:48
one is telling Titus what to teach in the sun.
1:03:52
He said I am not here because he said just the
1:03:54
same way he sent Timothy. He also sent Titus.
1:03:59
He told Titus in verse two of chapter two. He
1:04:04
said this is what you should teach in the church
1:04:06
when you go. This is what you should do. He said
1:04:10
to the older men Ask them be sober, be reverent,
1:04:14
be sound in faith, in love, in patience. Then
1:04:17
you move to the older. He said to the older women
1:04:19
in church, tell them this. Teach them this. Older
1:04:23
women likewise, that they may be reverent in
1:04:27
behavior, not slanderous, not giving too much
1:04:30
wine. Teachers of good things. Are we together?
1:04:34
Vashfor. That they admonish. Then he said, this
1:04:38
is what you should do. The older women, apart
1:04:42
that you should teach them to live, ask them,
1:04:45
because you don't need to go and be teaching
1:04:47
everybody. As you are teaching these older women,
1:04:50
ask them to go and teach the younger women. Say
1:04:53
that they should tell and admonish the younger
1:04:55
women, first of all. To love their husbands.
1:05:00
You know, I hear some callous men when they are
1:05:05
discussing issues. You know, when you remove
1:05:08
kai, The Bible did not say a woman should love
1:05:13
a man. The Bible says she should submit. Because
1:05:19
in his mind, submission means subjugation. Stupid
1:05:23
man. You see, that's the problem. Remember we
1:05:28
already noted that the context of efficient is
1:05:30
what? It's love work. So the submission is what?
1:05:34
It's love as well. So when Titus is saying, I
1:05:40
mean Paul is saying to Titus, tell the older
1:05:43
women to admonish the younger women, to love
1:05:45
their husband. What he is saying also is that,
1:05:48
tell them to submit to their husbands. Are we
1:05:54
together? See, love is the fruit, fruit, not
1:06:04
fruits, fruit. of the spirit and it has varied
1:06:11
what expression love is the fruit of the spirit
1:06:18
and it has varied expression for the fruit of
1:06:24
the spirit is not is love and in love there is
1:06:32
patience in love there is kindness In love, there
1:06:38
is goodness. Are we together? So when you show
1:06:40
goodness, what are you showing? Love. If you
1:06:43
are patient, what are you showing? Love. If you
1:06:45
have self -control, what are you showing? Love.
1:06:48
Again, if you are submitting to your husband,
1:06:50
what are you showing? Love. Do you understand
1:06:52
what I'm trying to say? Everything is love, only
1:06:55
that is expressing itself in various ways. So
1:07:01
when you said, admonish young women to love their
1:07:05
husband is not contradicting what he said inefficient
1:07:09
he's just giving it adumkuli hallelujah those
1:07:22
from northern nigeria understand this greek word
1:07:24
adumkuli you understand that is i don't know
1:07:28
how to explain this adumkuli he's giving it as
1:07:32
a whole, you know what I'm saying? Hallelujah.
1:07:39
So he now move then to younger men, you know
1:07:45
what I'm saying? After telling the older women
1:07:48
to admonish the younger women, to love their
1:07:50
husbands, but also to love their children, to
1:07:53
be discreet, to be chaste, homemakers, you know
1:07:56
what I'm saying? Good, obedient, to their own
1:08:03
husbands that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
1:08:11
Homemakers, you understand? Homemakers is not
1:08:17
saying house help. Homemakers, you understand?
1:08:29
If you enter to a house of a woman that is making
1:08:34
her home. You will see it. It means she's a coordinator.
1:08:46
She coordinates things. Things are not scattered.
1:08:50
They are not upside down in the sun. That does
1:08:59
not mean she is the one that necessarily have
1:09:01
to do it. But she is making it. And we were not
1:09:07
treating on this. I will not explain this one
1:09:09
today. That's not what we are dealing with today.
1:09:14
So that's exactly what he continued to speak.
1:09:18
Then he turned to the young man, look at it.
1:09:21
Likewise, you see likewise again. Likewise, that
1:09:24
is in the same manner. That means he's just telling
1:09:28
each one to do the same thing, you understand,
1:09:31
according to his own position. Likewise, exhort
1:09:37
the young men to be sober -minded. You see, he
1:09:39
had already told the older men to be sober. Do
1:09:45
you want something? He said to be sober -minded
1:09:48
in all things, showing yourself to be a pattern
1:09:53
of good work, in doctrine. Showing integrity,
1:09:58
you understand? Reverence, incorruptible. Young
1:10:01
men don't agree, you understand? People to be,
1:10:04
that's what he told Timothy. Don't allow your
1:10:08
youth to be despised, you understand? No, don't
1:10:13
allow yourself to be looked down upon because
1:10:16
you are young. Look at what they say that young
1:10:19
men, you understand? Not talking anyhow. Is it
1:10:24
the pattern of good works? Inducting. Inducting.
1:10:31
This is why we are desiring to raise men that
1:10:34
know God, that are sound. Inducting. In integrity.
1:10:42
Not swindlers. Not those who are craving always
1:10:46
to cheat someone. Men of character is an integrity.
1:10:52
reverence they are incorruptible these are men
1:10:57
young men this is a desire and the will of god
1:11:02
then he turned to slaves verse nine and then
1:11:07
talked to them as well exhort bond -servant to
1:11:12
be obedient to their masters to be well pleasing
1:11:16
in all things not in answering back What is trying
1:11:22
to say that don't be a tyrant also You know,
1:11:26
we have even employees today that they are wicked
1:11:29
than their masters You know something That is
1:11:39
not submission when your boss is speaking and
1:11:44
then you are answering back That is not honoring
1:11:53
Again, when you say all things, it does not mean
1:11:56
in evil, you understand? In, remember, is a context
1:12:01
we are talking. If you remove it, it will say
1:12:03
anything. Are we together? Hallelujah. Fill him
1:12:14
on. Let's finish with this one, because we need
1:12:18
to move away from this. So nobody because I have
1:12:23
seen a lot of people carry this narrative today
1:12:26
online. They are sharing See that the church
1:12:30
has supported this thing the church at that Yes,
1:12:34
we agree a portion of a church have done it but
1:12:36
don't use the word a church and I want to acknowledge
1:12:39
I mean admonish you to Don't use those statement,
1:12:42
you know those statement that because you have
1:12:44
one experience with somebody you just generalize
1:12:47
in the Sun Like a lady who has been jilted. All
1:12:52
men are the same. You understand what I'm trying
1:12:54
to say? No, don't be speaking like that. You
1:12:56
understand? We say come for counseling. You refuse.
1:13:01
You went behind our back. You went and start
1:13:03
liking the boy. Of course, when the boy displays
1:13:07
his boyhood. You understand? And then you come
1:13:10
back and say that's how all men are. You understand
1:13:12
what I'm saying? That's a boy. We are saying
1:13:16
all men. No, you have not met a man. You understand?
1:13:21
All you have been meeting are boys. So I've seen
1:13:28
all those things and vice versa. You see a man
1:13:30
just carelessly made. Women, that's how they
1:13:33
are. You have to handle them that way. You can
1:13:35
see your mind has been corrupted. Has been corrupted
1:13:40
by the doctrine of Balaam. The doctrine that
1:13:45
likes money. You understand? Hallelujah. Doctrine
1:13:52
that move to control, because that money is moving,
1:13:54
because they want to control something. Amen.
1:13:58
Are you in Philemon? Philemon 1. I'm not going
1:14:03
to read everything, but they use this to support
1:14:07
this doctrine of slavery also. They call it,
1:14:12
yesterday I told you, they call it the Christian
1:14:17
doctrine of slavery. Are we together? Amen. So
1:14:26
if you start reading from Philemon, they use
1:14:30
this, they said, Paul sent a runaway slave. He
1:14:33
said, go back and be the slave you are, in the
1:14:36
sun. Or Nussemon was back to his master. He said,
1:14:41
go back, in the sun. That's not what Paul is
1:14:45
saying. If you read from verse one, talking about
1:14:50
to Philemon, our beloved brother, and Phileo
1:14:53
Labora, the beloved Afir, archipelago, and then
1:14:58
he moved on. And then he started addressing the
1:15:02
matter downward. Therefore was it, though I might
1:15:10
be very bold in Christ to command you what is
1:15:14
fitting, yet, For what? For love what? Hey, are
1:15:22
we together? For love's sake, I rather appeal
1:15:26
to you. That's love work. You see how a man is
1:15:32
demonstrating it? I appeal to you, being such
1:15:34
a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner
1:15:42
of Jesus Christ, I appeal to you for my son Onesimus.
1:15:47
You see how you call him? he did not call him
1:15:49
his slave, he called him my son whom I have begotten
1:15:54
while in chains. So that means when he ran away
1:15:57
they met and he preached Jesus and now he is
1:16:03
his son in the faith because he was the one who
1:16:06
led him to Christ. Verse 11, who once was unprofitable
1:16:12
to you but now is profitable to you and to me.
1:16:16
I'm sending him back. Now, is he sending him
1:16:19
back to be a slave again? He said, you therefore
1:16:22
received him, that is my own heart, whom I wish
1:16:26
to keep with me. That on your behalf, he might
1:16:33
minister to me in my change for the gospel. But
1:16:36
without your consent, I wanted to do nothing
1:16:40
that your good deed might not be compulsion as
1:16:46
it were. but voluntary. Verse 15, for perhaps
1:16:52
he departed for a while for this purpose, that
1:16:55
you might receive him forever. You will receive
1:16:59
him for what? Does that look like a servant?
1:17:03
Does that look like a slave? No. Verse 16, look
1:17:10
at 16 particularly. He said, no longer as a slave.
1:17:17
but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially
1:17:24
to me, but how much more to you both in the flesh
1:17:30
and in the Lord. Amen. So Paul did not send his
1:17:36
unassailable back to be enslaved. No, no, he
1:17:43
is now a brother. Now a brother. So there's no
1:17:55
how this book, because the book of Philemon is
1:17:58
not a book of slavery. It's a book of reconciliation
1:18:01
and love. How we reconcile. That's the book of
1:18:09
reconciliation. That's what you see. how people
1:18:15
in dispute can be reconciled. The Bible didn't
1:18:19
tell us what Onesimus did. We didn't know what
1:18:22
actually the dabaru he caused in the sun. But
1:18:27
what we're saying is that, sorry, dabaru means
1:18:30
the Confucian. We don't know what he did. However,
1:18:42
for him to end up in prison, to meet Paul that
1:18:45
means it's something that that is reasonable
1:18:47
something like that did you hear what i'm trying
1:18:49
to say because if not they would not have met
1:18:51
there now if he has just run away like that just
1:18:53
run away that means it was something a grave
1:18:56
offense that led him to the prison where they
1:18:58
met with paul hallelujah amen now these are just
1:19:03
some of the texts so we will move from this one
1:19:07
let me introduce the next one which is the law
1:19:10
of gender discrimination The, why I want to spend
1:19:13
some time here is because it's one of the problem
1:19:14
we are still facing up to today. Where women
1:19:17
are said that women cannot teach, cannot preach
1:19:20
in church, cannot be pastors. Is this same attitude?
1:19:23
Is this same laws that is still, will I say law?
1:19:27
Is this same discrimination? It has been there
1:19:30
for a long time and has been promoted by children.
1:19:36
Some of them, they are professors. or will I
1:19:43
say they are career people, they are professional
1:19:45
pastors? Listen. Amen. Okay, number two. So that
1:19:54
was the first one. We're going to the second
1:19:56
one that how these scriptures has been, I mean
1:20:03
the context, the scripture has been removed from
1:20:05
its context. Number two, Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow.
1:20:10
Laws and gender discrimination. Jim Crow, J -I
1:20:18
-M -C -R -O -W. Laws and gender discrimination.
1:20:26
Now following the abolition of slavery, because
1:20:31
later on we saw this issue of the slavery led
1:20:34
to the Civil War America in the sand where the
1:20:37
North and the South fought. And of course, they
1:20:42
were able to win what they call the Union. They
1:20:45
won and then ensured that because as a result
1:20:48
of this, the Northern parts with the Union refused,
1:20:53
they do not agree with the position of the South
1:20:56
regarding slavery. So when they saw that the
1:21:02
North wants to succeed in in putting sand inside
1:21:10
their garden. They say, okay, we're going to
1:21:14
part away. We're not going to be part of the
1:21:16
America again. So they separate themselves more
1:21:19
or less like to, what do you call it in political
1:21:26
science? Your association, yes. Are we together?
1:21:30
Yes. So they now say, no, no, no, no. And they
1:21:33
fought the civil. Just the same with what we
1:21:34
had in Nigeria, the issue of Biafra. and the
1:21:37
disunwanted Biafra want to carve out their own
1:21:40
this and that the Nigerian the other part of
1:21:42
the Nigerian had to fight the war to keep Nigeria
1:21:45
united amen so the same thing so after that they
1:21:54
unite they abolish slavery but you see the problem
1:21:58
has not gone because the ideology still exists
1:22:05
The same theological framework we adopted and
1:22:10
maintain what we call a strict racial segregation.
1:22:16
A strict racial segregation. That's what is the
1:22:20
Jim Crow. It's from a fictional character. Just
1:22:25
make it into that. You can read about that. So
1:22:31
once you hear the Jim Crow loss, it's all the...
1:22:34
racial segregation, understand? And then later
1:22:40
on, we have also other form of restriction, restricting
1:22:44
women, those segregation, we have racial, then
1:22:50
we also have this gender discrimination as well,
1:22:54
meaning to restrict women from civil, from legal,
1:22:59
from leadership position, even in the church,
1:23:03
understand? It started, it covers a lot of things
1:23:07
in the society. Women couldn't vote, women couldn't,
1:23:10
there are so many things. Then later on they
1:23:12
were allowed and so on and so forth. And then
1:23:15
the one that persists up to now is the one of
1:23:17
the church, the leadership in the church. They
1:23:20
don't want women to lead, you understand? Hallelujah.
1:23:27
Because those men, if you are patriarchal, that's
1:23:29
why you think. Amen. Now, what are some of the
1:23:33
texts they brought? Let's start from Jim Crow.
1:23:36
They brought Ezra chapter nine to 10, Ezra chapter
1:23:41
nine to 10 and Nehemiah 13, Nehemiah 13, the
1:23:48
whole of chapter 13. Ezra nine to 10 and Nehemiah
1:23:56
13. So in this, passages Israel we are ordered
1:24:00
to dissolve marriages with foreign women in the
1:24:04
Sun Israel we are ordered by their leadership
1:24:08
at that time to dissolve marriages with foreign
1:24:12
women so white supremacists in the Sun in America
1:24:19
use these to pass laws binding interracial marriage
1:24:24
to depict these texts in the sun and say, no,
1:24:28
no, no, no, we cannot continue like that. So
1:24:31
they banned interracial marriage. And that's
1:24:35
what brought about a lot of these gender discriminations.
1:24:43
Now remember, as I said, what we have already
1:24:47
treated for the issue of slavery, are also applicable
1:24:56
to racial discrimination. So even after the civil
1:24:59
war, they came together, they were seen discriminating.
1:25:02
The black person cannot be where the white person
1:25:04
is because they are also, they are considered
1:25:07
all the texts we have said. They are cursed,
1:25:10
they are this, they are that, they are this.
1:25:12
And that's what brought about the civil rights
1:25:13
movement, Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. King. and
1:25:20
so on and that one we are very much aware of
1:25:23
all those struggles. Amen. Are we together? Yes.
1:25:27
So what I'm going to address much more now is
1:25:30
just the issue of women discrimination. Now let's
1:25:35
look at the text. I'm going to read the whole
1:25:40
chapter because we have chapter Ezra chapter
1:25:44
9 and 10 and Nehemiah 13. What I will do is that
1:25:49
I will give you a snippet that is a position
1:25:50
I'm going to read because it's important. Normally
1:25:53
when that place is read, that place is covered.
1:25:58
It's not been mentioned at all. So let me first
1:26:00
give you the order of Nehemiah contextually.
1:26:06
Now contextually, let's start with Nehemiah 13.
1:26:09
Now Nehemiah 13, when you look at from verse
1:26:16
23 to 24. Nehemiah 13, 23 to 24. You will see
1:26:23
the interracial problem. Sorry, yeah, not interracial.
1:26:30
Why is I'm using, because I'm using interracial.
1:26:35
It mean intermarital problem, meaning that the
1:26:38
money between Israel and the foreign, are we
1:26:40
together? Yes, so let me say it again. the intermarital
1:26:45
problem verse 23 to 24 that's the problem so
1:26:51
just maybe you just say intermarital problem
1:26:53
23 verse 23 to 24 next is how Nehemiah confronted
1:26:59
the issue verse 25 how Nehemiah confronted the
1:27:03
issue that's in verse 25 the next is king Solomon
1:27:13
as the bad example and this I will have to read
1:27:17
this place. This is where many of them jump in
1:27:21
the sand because the reason for the leadership
1:27:28
at then of Israel to ask that those marriages
1:27:31
must be dissolved is not because they dislike
1:27:35
the women. It's not because of segregation. It's
1:27:39
because these women are from pagan nations. And
1:27:47
once they come, they corrupt, you understand,
1:27:52
the service of God. They now lead these people
1:27:56
or lead the people of God into sin. So the foundation
1:28:02
of this take is not segregation. It's not gender
1:28:05
segregation. It is to remove or to stop evil,
1:28:10
you understand, from happening. Are we together?
1:28:13
Look at verse 26. Because when Nehemiah was telling
1:28:17
them the reason why he have to do what he did,
1:28:20
he gave them an example of Solomon. I think when
1:28:26
Paso Tike was teaching us, he made mention of
1:28:34
this issue here. Are we together? 26. He said,
1:28:41
did not Solomon king of Israel sinned? So you
1:28:47
see the issue is sinning. How did he sin? By
1:28:52
these things. What are these things? Yet among
1:28:56
many nations there was no king like him who was
1:29:01
beloved of God. And God made him come over Israel.
1:29:06
Nevertheless, pagan women cursed him. cost even
1:29:10
him to sin. Did you see the reason? Why am I
1:29:14
saying that? No, we will not allow you to go
1:29:17
to other nations to marry. We even have the king
1:29:20
himself. When he married, his head turned upside
1:29:25
down. Are we together? Hallelujah. Verse 27.
1:29:33
Should we then hear of your doing all this great
1:29:38
evil transgressing against God by marrying pagan
1:29:45
women. So the focus is not about just marrying
1:29:49
foreign women. It's marrying pagan foreign women,
1:29:55
pagan and the late people as three. Now you see
1:30:00
already the context has nothing to do about marrying
1:30:04
a foreign woman. is the issue of sin. Nehemiah,
1:30:14
let's go to Nehemiah. And sorry, Ezra. Ezra 9
1:30:20
and 10. Again, we're not going to read it. You
1:30:22
can read it later on in the son, Ezra chapter
1:30:25
nine, chapter 10. So I will start from chapter
1:30:28
nine. Again, Ezra in chapter nine, verse one
1:30:32
and two, he also tell the problem. or the intermarital
1:30:37
problem, where they go to marry the foreign women.
1:30:42
Then Ezra, I'm sorry, verse three to verse five,
1:30:47
Ezra was extremely grieved about the problem.
1:30:51
Verse three to five, he shows how he was grieved
1:30:54
about the problem. He was grieved about the problem.
1:31:01
Verse six, To verse 15. Israel's prayer and confession.
1:31:13
Israel's prayer and confession. Now I want to
1:31:16
read verse 10 here. So verse six to 15, it shows
1:31:21
Israel's prayer and confession. Let me read verse
1:31:29
10 to 14. And now, O God, what shall we say after
1:31:39
this? For we have forsaken your commandment,
1:31:42
which you commanded yourself and the prophets,
1:31:45
saying, the land which you are entering to possess
1:31:50
is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the
1:31:55
people of the land, with their abomination, which
1:31:58
have filled it from one end to another with their
1:32:03
impurity. Verse 12, now therefore, do not give
1:32:09
your daughters as wife for their sons, nor take
1:32:15
their daughters to your sons and never seek their
1:32:20
peace or prosperity that you may be strong and
1:32:23
eat the good of the land and leave it as an inheritance
1:32:26
to your children. Did you see why they are asking
1:32:30
them not to marry? because the land is filled
1:32:33
with uncleanness. You understand? The people
1:32:38
are evil. So that's the same fear which we saw
1:32:42
in Nehemiah. That when you marry these people,
1:32:47
you understand? When you marry these people,
1:32:49
they will come in and become and lead your children
1:32:54
to sin, lead your children to the seven... leaving
1:32:58
the living God and serving pagans. That's what
1:33:02
we saw with King Solomon. Verse 13, and after
1:33:11
all that has come upon us for our evil deeds
1:33:15
and for our great deal, since you, our God, have
1:33:20
punished us less than our iniquities deserve
1:33:23
and have given us such a deliverance as this.
1:33:27
Should we again break your commandment and join
1:33:30
in marriage with the people committing this abomination?
1:33:36
Would you not be angry with us until you had
1:33:39
consumed us so that there would be no remnant
1:33:43
or survival? So the focus is the problem that
1:33:48
marrying these pagan women will cause. You know,
1:33:52
the woman is powerful. Very, very powerful. In
1:33:57
history, if you want to catch a man, that's what
1:33:59
they have been used to. You understand? If you
1:34:02
have been watching maybe all the security documentaries,
1:34:06
maybe Mossad and all those, you must have seen
1:34:08
that one of the weapon they use is a woman. You
1:34:12
understand? Yes. So they know how strong they
1:34:20
are. That's why they don't want to, because if
1:34:22
they allow marriage, And that's why it has happened
1:34:25
to Solu. Before you know, he started building
1:34:33
all kinds of high places, shrines everywhere,
1:34:37
for different gods. And then turns his heart
1:34:41
away from God. And of course, because he needs
1:34:45
so much money to be able to afford that kind
1:34:49
of lifestyle, to provide all houses for all those
1:34:51
women. He had to tax his people. He overtaxed
1:34:55
his people. So don't think the money that Solo
1:34:57
got is from just his work, his business. No,
1:35:02
it's from taxation. And the foolish young man,
1:35:07
after him that came, Rehobo, they called him
1:35:10
and said, bro, now that you are here, this is
1:35:12
what your father did to you. Please, can you
1:35:14
just reverse it so that your people follow him?
1:35:17
And the foolish person would go and join your
1:35:19
agencies. I have them as his advisors. And he
1:35:24
told you, hey, don't do that. If your father
1:35:27
flogged with the ringer, use you scorpion. And
1:35:35
he led to the division of the Israel into southern
1:35:38
northern kingdom. I mean, just look at him. Hallelujah.
1:35:42
We will not be unwise in Jesus' name. We will
1:35:46
be wise. because every day we're learning from
1:35:49
the wisdom of God. We're learning to do love
1:35:52
work. We're learning to repay evil with good.
1:35:57
Are we together? Nobody is our enemy. We know
1:36:00
the enemy. Even though they act as enemies, people
1:36:03
can be enemy, they can see us as their enemy,
1:36:06
but we are not their enemies. Hallelujah. Are
1:36:12
we together? Now let me start introducing something
1:36:15
which will continue in the next session. The
1:36:20
issue of second Timothy, first Timothy chapter
1:36:22
two. Again we are on gender discrimination. This
1:36:29
is one of the hot, even today, so I'm going to
1:36:33
spend some time here in the sand. This scripture
1:36:37
has been weaponized to say that Paul say that
1:36:43
a woman should not teach men, and so should not
1:36:47
be in leadership position in the church. Verse
1:36:52
12, look at verse 12, first Timothy chapter one,
1:36:56
chapter two, sorry, verse 12. I thank the Lord
1:37:02
because we have already done a part of this text,
1:37:05
you understand, during issues of women liberty.
1:37:09
The series are, it's online for those of us who
1:37:12
are following online if you want to check that
1:37:14
we've dealt with the issue of uh verse nine in
1:37:21
like manner that women are do themselves with
1:37:25
modest apparel and we said again the bible writers
1:37:29
we are not english writers are we together so
1:37:33
you don't see operate and think it's clothing
1:37:35
no this one is not clothing here in the sign
1:37:38
if you look at the uh root word or the greek
1:37:42
word here used it's not talking about apparatus
1:37:44
talking about attitude is an attitude innocent
1:37:48
that modest attitude attitude and that's why
1:37:52
you see he said with with propriety and moderation
1:37:56
that's the attitude and then he now said not
1:38:01
with breaded here which means that he is comparing
1:38:04
attitudes are we together he's saying that your
1:38:07
focus should be on your attitude, not just focus
1:38:12
on Atwa Sapira. And I'm going to tell you reasons
1:38:16
why Paul was saying that, because we need to
1:38:19
understand again the immediate context here.
1:38:25
Because in Ephesus is a town of spiritual female
1:38:34
supremacy. You understand? So there are many
1:38:38
if you understand the context you now know you
1:38:42
appreciate the reason why Paul was talking this
1:38:44
week you know, sir Just the same way That we
1:38:51
have in the days of old and then when we are
1:38:53
coming we have a patriarchal society So there
1:38:55
are so much mentality of men in Ephesus. We have
1:38:59
a goddess called the Artemis in the sun I'm going
1:39:03
to give us some part in that because we have
1:39:05
to look at it and see from that what Paul is
1:39:10
saying here. Amen. Now, so he says, so we have
1:39:14
already dealt with these and we said, he's not
1:39:16
saying that you should not wear a braided hair
1:39:20
or the, no, no, no. His emphasis is that your
1:39:24
attention should be more, is the same or similar
1:39:28
text with what Peter was saying, you know what
1:39:30
I'm saying? That your focus should be on the
1:39:33
inner beauty, you know what I'm saying? So which
1:39:36
means that You can wear good clothing see understand,
1:39:41
but your Emphasis of life should not be outwards
1:39:46
should be in order of priority your attitude
1:39:51
should be ahead Are we together then in our state
1:39:57
verse 10, but which is proper? of women professing
1:40:02
godliness. So he said that this is actually the
1:40:04
pattern of godliness we have seen in Assam with
1:40:08
good works. Then verse 11. In answer, let a woman
1:40:14
learn in silence with all submission. And I do
1:40:23
not permit a woman. This is the main text. Verse
1:40:29
12, I do not permit a woman to teach or to have
1:40:32
authority over a man, but be silent. So men have
1:40:37
used this text and say women are banned from
1:40:40
teaching. They cannot teach, that means they
1:40:43
cannot be pastors. They cannot be elders in the
1:40:47
church. But is that what Paul is saying? And
1:40:50
so those people that are, those that weaponize
1:40:54
this, do gender discrimination, They have instituted,
1:40:59
don't go because of now, but we still have the
1:41:01
problem in church. But in then, including the
1:41:03
society, in institution, woman cannot be a leader.
1:41:09
Then when we have very close relationship between
1:41:11
the church and the state, so the church is highly,
1:41:16
highly connected with the state. So every part
1:41:20
of the organization, a woman cannot be a leader.
1:41:25
So it's a system of exclusion. Remember where
1:41:28
I told you where they started? Even women cannot
1:41:30
vote. So the discrimination is high, not to talk
1:41:34
of talking about that you... They won't get there.
1:41:40
And they are using Bible. The question is that,
1:41:44
when Paul was writing this in his head, was his
1:41:50
intention is to ban women from teaching. That's
1:42:01
the context. You know, the problem with most
1:42:04
of the problem we have in the church is that
1:42:06
we isolate a verse. First you need to ask, you
1:42:10
remember what we said? You need to ask a question.
1:42:13
First, let's turn to what we have learned yesterday.
1:42:18
In Christ, right? In the, that's canonical context.
1:42:29
In Christ, do we have any discrimination in Christ?
1:42:35
Are we together? We only have, there is no Greek
1:42:41
or Jew, there is no male or female, right? We
1:42:45
are all sons of God. We sang that song. We are
1:42:49
sons of the Lord. We are built on what? Is it
1:42:55
the men that are built on the rock alone? Are
1:42:59
men only the sons of God? No, men and women.
1:43:04
Are we together? What you have, we have. Peter
1:43:10
will said, because you are joined hairs of the
1:43:13
grace of God. First Peter chapter three. Dwell
1:43:17
with them according to knowledge, verse seven.
1:43:20
O you husbands, dwell with her according to knowledge.
1:43:24
With this understanding that you are joined here
1:43:27
of the grace of God That means in Christ whatever
1:43:33
you have she has So anything that has to do with
1:43:39
the With things privileges in Christ in a son
1:43:44
there is no issue of discrimination Anything
1:43:50
a man can be, a woman can be. Anything a man
1:43:54
has, a woman has. Because our identity is spiritual.
1:44:00
See, that's why I told you, if you start with
1:44:03
the canonical context, it already started to
1:44:06
dismantle the argument. Christ did not intend
1:44:12
to bring any division in his church, any form
1:44:16
of discrimination. You understand? Not tribe,
1:44:23
not ethnicity, not gender. You understand? There
1:44:27
is no any form of discrimination. We are one.
1:44:32
That's the emphasis of the message of the Bible.
1:44:36
Common salvation, common faith. Do you understand
1:44:39
what I'm trying to say? Our own precious faith.
1:44:42
We have everything common. There is nothing unique
1:44:45
between a man and a woman. When it comes to Christ
1:44:50
in the sun when it comes to the church Hallelujah
1:44:59
Where you begin to see the issue of headship
1:45:04
the difference in terms of role is in the family
1:45:10
setting Are we together? It's in the family setting
1:45:14
and that's why Paul will always ensure that when
1:45:19
he is talking in the chat and he's talking general,
1:45:22
you will know, sir, he's talking to everyone.
1:45:25
If he's talking to married people, sorry, sir,
1:45:28
he will not use as if he's talking to everyone.
1:45:30
He will isolate and say, children, I'm talking
1:45:33
to you. Married people, I'm talking to you. So
1:45:36
that means if talking to single people, you say
1:45:39
single people, I'm really talking to you. So
1:45:41
you cannot go inward and then carry things that
1:45:44
is for married people. and those paste it for
1:45:46
everybody or carry things that is for children
1:45:49
or carry something that is talking to some certain
1:45:52
people and then paste it or when Jesus is talking
1:45:55
to Pharisee and then when he said go and chill
1:45:58
then you two you say you two go and you want
1:46:00
to sometimes say no because sometimes the Pharisee
1:46:06
come with foolish questions and then you address
1:46:10
their foolishness in the sun So you have to understand
1:46:14
to who was he speaking to? To who was he speaking
1:46:20
to? When he said, when he was talking about divorce
1:46:24
and all that which we have seen in the son, Jesus
1:46:28
was addressing that. When he was even addressing
1:46:31
that, I say to you, who is to you? Are we together?
1:46:36
I say to you, who is you? You see, he is talking
1:46:41
people. They asked him a question. They are conversed.
1:46:44
They said but Moses said the letter is I say
1:46:47
to you That means he's not speaking to a general
1:46:50
people. He was conversing to this people that
1:46:53
were asking him question He said and he told
1:46:57
him and Jesus was saying anything because the
1:47:00
question they asked him is that can they divorce
1:47:02
for any other reason? That's what Moses law said
1:47:06
Moses law said if you see an uncleanness That's
1:47:11
what Jesus interpreted. I said to you, except
1:47:15
for the sin of immorality. That's the uncleanness.
1:47:18
Jesus was not inventing anything. He was just
1:47:20
interpreting because he wanted to make the law
1:47:22
blanket. You understand? He said, no, no, no,
1:47:25
no, no, no, no. I said to you. So that means
1:47:28
that even thing that he was speaking, he was
1:47:30
not to the church. He was speaking to the Pharisee.
1:47:33
I'm trying to reinterpret Moses' law. And interpreted
1:47:40
correctly, but the church carry it today what
1:47:43
Jesus clearly said That is what the church should
1:47:47
be concerned. Is that it was not so in the beginning
1:47:50
That is the will of God So don't say go and say
1:47:57
Jesus has a law for divorce and marriage. No,
1:47:59
that's the Moses law He was trying to clarify
1:48:01
to these people What is our own is that? In was
1:48:08
no soul in the beginning Are we together? So
1:48:12
that's what thing I want us to do as we continue
1:48:15
so that you will not move around and say ah Jesus
1:48:18
said we can divorce You know, so you say we can
1:48:22
divorce he gave us a condition Are we together?
1:48:29
Hey man Amen Divorce will happen. You know, so
1:48:33
we are believers. We are washed We are forgiving,
1:48:38
you understand? He asked us, man of God, read
1:48:40
the scripture yesterday, that this is the will
1:48:42
of God, even your sanctification, that you live
1:48:44
free of immorality, you know the will of God.
1:48:47
But sometimes, Christian, don't go and do so
1:48:49
fornication. You don't understand what I'm trying
1:48:51
to say? So what will you do to these people that
1:48:54
do fornication? You should throw them away because
1:48:57
they sin? No! We know the will of God, but sometimes
1:49:01
people will fall out of it. Then we bring them
1:49:04
back. But we cannot we cannot hold them captive
1:49:08
by that team. Did you understand brandy? So people
1:49:12
will do divorce whether you like it or not because
1:49:15
this is the reality of it and There are system
1:49:19
to bring these people in but not to use divorce
1:49:23
to disqualify a spiritual man. You are a liar
1:49:26
You can use that In the sun you can't neither
1:49:33
can you use fornication you understand or anything
1:49:36
is bad you bring the person to the admonition
1:49:39
of the lord but not to disqualify the person
1:49:42
because of that attitude never because what qualifies
1:49:46
us is not the attitude what qualifies us is christ
1:49:49
himself are we together he is a one that qualifies
1:49:55
us you can't buy that qualification he has to
1:50:01
be the one amen Amen. Now look at it. This letter,
1:50:17
first Timothy and second Timothy, it was written
1:50:25
to Timothy as a pastor in Ephesus. Please follow
1:50:29
me gradually because this is sensitive, so I
1:50:31
want to clarify this very, as much as I can.
1:50:38
And why did Paul send Timothy to Ephesus? Look
1:50:43
at 1 Timothy chapter 1. Look at verse 3. He said,
1:50:50
I urge you, when I went to, I went into Macedonia,
1:50:59
remain in Ephesus. And what are you to do in
1:51:02
Ephesus? that you may charge some that they teach
1:51:09
no other doctrine. Please, I want you to know
1:51:13
that. That means there are some doctrines that
1:51:17
have been flying around that is not according
1:51:21
to Christ. So he sent Timothy, I say, you must
1:51:27
talk these people. He said, verse four, no give
1:51:31
heed to feebles. So that means there are fibus.
1:51:35
What are fibus? Myth. Myth. You understand? Note
1:51:40
that one also. We are coming to it. Myth. That
1:51:43
means some mythical things as used as doctrine.
1:51:52
And endless genealogies which cause this. Now
1:51:56
listen, these myths are not just things that
1:52:00
are cooked up somewhere. There are spiritual
1:52:03
stories turn into something things you understand
1:52:05
project. Please. I want you to know this. It's
1:52:08
not really like We are teaching new age or something.
1:52:11
I know is the Bible itself That are being used
1:52:16
in a son, but not a sound doctrine endless genealogies
1:52:21
in a son Meaning that all know me. I think my
1:52:24
root is the house of Judah You understand? So
1:52:29
they will start following all kinds of lines.
1:52:31
Now, how does that profit your spiritual life?
1:52:34
Did you understand what I'm trying to say? So
1:52:35
there are all kinds of genealogy. Me, I'm connected
1:52:38
to this. Me, I'm connected to my father. All
1:52:42
those, even though today we do those kind of
1:52:43
things in some ways anyway. You understand? They
1:52:46
call it tribe. Right? Am I correct? We have something
1:52:51
that they say, this is of my tribe. I mean, in
1:52:54
the household of faith, we're saying, not literal
1:52:57
tribe. That is, we have a string that we follow.
1:53:02
You understand? I don't know what tribe are we
1:53:06
in. Are we together? So they say endless genealogies.
1:53:16
And these endless genealogies are myths, or fubos.
1:53:23
Look at what they do. He said they cause what?
1:53:26
dispute. Please notice the crossword dispute
1:53:32
rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1:53:38
So they don't benefit the believer. They don't
1:53:43
edify the believer. They don't grow the believer.
1:53:47
They only cause confusion and disputes and acrimony
1:53:52
and bitterness and envy and confusion and strife.
1:53:56
and division in the church. That is what. So
1:54:02
this Ephesus again. So now we understand now
1:54:05
there is a problem of doctrine in Ephesus. So
1:54:09
Paul sent Timothy. Okay. Hallelujah. Before we
1:54:16
go, let's read this church. Let's connect Act
1:54:22
19. Go to Act 19. Because this is when the church
1:54:27
was birthed. Are we together? Paul established
1:54:30
this church in Act 19. And I want to just read
1:54:34
24, because I don't want to go to read the beginning
1:54:36
of the church. Pastor Fred did that for us the
1:54:39
day before yesterday or yesterday. So I just
1:54:44
want to read from verse 24. For a certain man
1:54:54
named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver
1:55:02
shrines of Deanna, brought no small profit. That
1:55:12
word Deanna is the same in some texts, you see,
1:55:16
Artemis, A -R -T -E. MIS, Artemis. So, Diana
1:55:30
brought no profit, no small profit. That means
1:55:33
they are making a lot of money. They are craftsmen.
1:55:36
He called them together with the workers of similar
1:55:40
occupation and said, man, you know that we have
1:55:45
our prosperity by district. Moreover, you see,
1:55:51
And hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout
1:55:56
almost all Asia, this power has persuaded and
1:56:01
turned away many people, saying that there are
1:56:07
not gods which are made with hands. That there
1:56:13
are not gods, sorry, there are not gods which
1:56:16
are made with hands. Verse 27. So not only is
1:56:20
this threat of ours in danger of falling into
1:56:23
dispute, but also the temple of the great goddess
1:56:28
Diana. Note that goddess Diana, Artemis Diana,
1:56:34
Artemis or Diana, may be despised and her magnificent
1:56:42
destroy whom all Asia and the world Worship.
1:56:51
Now, when they heard this, they were full of
1:56:54
wrath and cried out, saying, great is the honor
1:56:59
of Ephesians. So the whole city was filled with
1:57:04
confusion and rushed into the theater with one
1:57:08
accord, having ceased games and aristocrats,
1:57:12
Macedonians, Paul's travel companions, Tati.
1:57:16
And when Paul wanted to go into the people, the
1:57:22
disciples would not allow him. Then some of the
1:57:27
officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent
1:57:31
to him, pleading that he would not venture into
1:57:35
the theater. Some therefore cried one thing and
1:57:39
the other, for the assembly was confused, and
1:57:42
most of them did not know. why they had come
1:57:46
together, verse 33. And they drew Alexander out
1:57:52
of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward,
1:57:56
and Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted
1:58:03
to make his defense to the people. But when they
1:58:06
found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice
1:58:10
cried out for about two hours. Great is the honor
1:58:17
of efficiency. So I want to tell you how they
1:58:22
honor this. You can imagine people, great is
1:58:25
the honor of you. You know, just like Asna used
1:58:28
to do. You know, when they are shouting, they
1:58:33
are trying to warm. Anyway, don't go for the
1:58:35
Lord, he has helped them. You know what I'm saying?
1:58:37
But then when they are, I, I, I, I, the Lord
1:58:41
is, you know what I'm saying? One thing I like
1:58:43
about them, they have a spirit of endurance.
1:58:45
For a long time, they can endure hardship. But
1:58:52
they will be shouting, remember in the stadium,
1:58:54
they will shout one thing and be dancing for
1:58:56
hours. Are we together? That's how they have
1:58:59
been shouting for two hours. Great is Diana of
1:59:02
visions. Great is Diana of visions. Are we together?
1:59:05
Please, hold this in your mind as we come. Diana
1:59:09
is a goddess. their whole heart. She has a temple.
1:59:14
So what I'm trying to let you to know that Ephesians
1:59:17
has a problem of female spiritual supremacy.
1:59:24
Just hold that as we come. Amen? Can we just
1:59:28
pray? We appreciate you being here today. We
1:59:33
hope you carry this word with you throughout
1:59:35
your week. Don't forget to check the show notes
1:59:38
for additional insights. Stay connected with
1:59:41
us through our website or follow us on social
1:59:44
media. If you were encouraged, share this message
1:59:47
with someone you care about. Until next time,
1:59:51
stay blessed.