Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / Walking in Love through Words that Edify (Part 3)

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Walking in Love through Words that Edify (Part 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. Hallelujah. So this morning I will
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be teaching us on walking in love through words
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that edify. Walking in love through words that
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edify. In case today is your first time of being
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in church with us, this is the third part of
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this particular teaching. We started last week
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Sunday and then we look at the second part of
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the teaching on Wednesday in the midweek service.
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And today we're going to look at the third part
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of it and hopefully on Wednesday we're going
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to look at the fourth part of this same teaching.
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So our key text is Ephesians chapter 4 verse
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25. The book of Ephesians 4, verse 25. And as
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we go through God's word, please, I want you
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to put yourself in God's word. You know, one
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thing that we often do as a mistake is that when
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the word of God is coming to us, instead of contextualizing
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the word, we try to put other people into the
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word. We begin to see how this word will be good
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for this brother, how this word will be good
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for this sister. how you just remember your conversation
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with your brother, probably how you've been trying
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to talk to him, and you're looking at him as
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a message is going, you're hoping that this message,
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that you will have eye contact with him, so that
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you tell him, I told you. But we must learn,
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first of all, be the recipient of God's word
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whenever we're in church, whenever we're in meetings,
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that the word of God is taught, that we receive,
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you know, with joy, the word of God, and from
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there, We will enjoy the benefit of it. But when
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we always deflect, you know deflection, you deflect
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the word. That is, you are so much concerned
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about how the word will be a blessing to other
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people rather than yourself. Then we will not
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enjoy the word, the benefits that comes from
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God's word. So let's read Ephesians 4 .25. Because
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in the New King James, it's therefore, it's not
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wherefore. Therefore, putting away lying, let
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each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.
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For we are members of one another. Be angry and
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do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your
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wrath. Nor give place to the devil. Let him who
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stole steal no longer. But rather, let him labor,
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working with his hands. What is good? That he
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may have something to give him who has need.
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Let no corrupt words proceed out of your mouth.
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But what is good for necessary edification? That
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it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not
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grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were
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sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness,
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wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put
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away from you with all malice. And be kind to
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one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
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even as God in Christ has forgiven us. Hallelujah.
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So we forgive one another as an example of patterning
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our... relationship together based on what God
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himself has done in the person of Jesus Christ.
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Hallelujah. So God himself is our example. When
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you go to chapter 5 verse 1 and 2 you see continuation
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of the same conversation. He says chapter 5 verse
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1 and 2 he says therefore be imitators of God
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their children because of all he has said we
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be imitators of God and walk in love. As Christ
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also has loved us and given himself for us. An
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offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling
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aroma. Hallelujah. So let's go back to our text.
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In Ephesians chapter 4 verse 25. He says, therefore,
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putting away lying. The verse starts with therefore.
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It means that there is a background and a context
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toward. the apostle has been saying in this particular
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part of the scriptures. It's a background and
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a context to what the audience in the text has
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been called to do. Based on what has been said,
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then he listed the expectation that the believer
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should live, should do. Hallelujah. Now, let's
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go back to see what has the writer been saying
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in the previous verses before we enter the conversation
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of, you know, the things they ought to say within
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themselves and walking in love. In the previous
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verses from verse 17 to 24, before verse 25,
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we have Ephesians chapter 4. Let's look at verse
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17. This I say, therefore, and testify in the
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Lord that you should no longer walk as the rest
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of the Gentiles. So he's speaking to Gentiles,
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but then he's telling them not to continue to
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walk in the same way that the rest of the Gentiles
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walk. in the futility of their minds. Verse 18.
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Having their understanding darkened, being alienated
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from the life of God, which means that those
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who walk in a certain way are cut off from the
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life of God. They do not have the life of God
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in them because of the ignorance that is in them.
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So the way they live in their lives is because
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of ignorance. The life of God is not in them
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because of the blindness of their heart. This
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is a description of a certain set of people.
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That the Christians in this passage are asked
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not to follow. Who being past feeling have given
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themselves over to lewdness. To walk all uncleanness
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with greediness. But you, now to the Christians
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now. But you have no soul learned Christ. Even
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did you have heard him and have been taught by
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him as the truth in Jesus. That you put off,
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that is because of your identity. You put off
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concerning your former conduct. So the believers
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have a previous lifestyle. They have a previous
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conduct in which they work in the likeness of
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those that have not come to know God. So concerning
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your former conduct, there is a former conduct.
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The old man which grows corrupt. According to
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the deceitful laws. According to the deceitful
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laws. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
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Verse 24. And you put on the new man which was
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created according to God in true righteousness
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and holiness. So in this verse 17 to 24, the
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Apostle Paul reminds them of their identity.
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What they have experienced. So this is not what
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will happen, but this is what they have already
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happened. This is what the believer has experienced.
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They have been converted. They have been changed.
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They have been renewed. They have received the
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Spirit of God. And how do they receive it? They
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receive it by, you know, through the preaching
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of the gospel. When the gospel is preached to
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them, they believe in the message of salvation,
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that Jesus died. and that Jesus rose again from
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the death for the forgiveness of their sins,
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thereby receiving the life of God, receiving
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the spirit of God. So they have been converted.
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Therefore, they should no longer walk as the
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way the rest of the Gentiles walk. There must
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be a difference in their lives and the way they
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live their lives. Verse 18, he says, having their
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understanding darkened. So those who have not
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received the message of life, who have not believed
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in Jesus Christ, They have their understanding
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darkened and been alienated, been cut off from
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the life of God because of the ignorance that
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is in them, because of the blindness of their
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heart, who being past feeling have given themselves
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over to all manner of life that is contrary to
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the will and the purpose of God. Now look at
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verse 20 and verse 21. The Apostle Paul went
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on to reveal what has empowered the believers
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to be different. not only that they are converted,
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not only that they are born again, not only that
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they have the spirit of God, he now speaks of
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some important, something very crucial that has
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happened to them and is still happening to them
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that has the ability to empower them to do that
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which he's calling them to do in the verses that
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we read. Verse 20 and verse 21. He says, but
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you have so learned Christ. These people have
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learned Christ. Hallelujah. There is a learning
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that has happened. There is an education that
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has happened. There is an instruction that has
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happened to those who have believed. And in these
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instructions, they've been trained in the way
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to live, in the things to say, in the way to
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live their lives as Christians. But you have
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not so learned Christ. It means that they have
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learned something. They've learned something
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concerning Christ. They've learned the subject
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concerning Christ. Hallelujah. There's a learning
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that they've experienced and that learning is
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concerning Christ. Verse 21 says, even did you
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have heard him and have been taught. It means
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that these believers have been taught Christ.
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They've been taught concerning Christ. If you
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have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus.
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Hallelujah. Now look at verse 20 again. They
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would learn. It's translated from a Greek word,
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manthanu. Manthanu. M -A -N -T -H -A -N -U -R.
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This word, manthanu, describes the process of
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learning. Alright? It describes, it's a verb,
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actually, that describes the process of learning.
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The process of learning. And then in verse 22,
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there's a phrase, have been taught. In verse
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22, there's a phrase in verse 21, rather, have
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been taught. Have been taught. It's translated
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from the Greek word didasko. From didaskalia,
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we have what? We have didasko. Didasko has to
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do with that which is taught. It means teach.
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It means instruct. It means impart understanding
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through teaching. So we have the process which
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is manthano, and we have to teach. to instruct
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or to impart understanding through teaching.
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So this implies that the Ephesians have been
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taught by instruction. It means that they have
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been taught Christ by instructions and teaching.
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Therefore, they can do what has been instructed
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subsequently from verses 25 to verse 32. So what
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enables a man, through the help of the Spirit
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of God, to live? The life of love is teaching,
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is instructions, is edification. When the word
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of God is adequately explained in the context
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of Christ, when the word of God is taught in
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the light of Christ, it produces a life that
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enables a man to live right. It produces a life
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that enables a man to live the life of love.
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Because the subject matter in this conversation
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is love. The subject matter in this conversation
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is love, and that love is that which is found
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in God. It's found in God, demonstrated to us
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through what Christ has done. Hallelujah. So
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now, therefore, the experience in verses 20 to
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21, the experience that the Christians here in
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Ephesians 4, 20 to 21, they've been taught, they've
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been, you know, they've gone through the process
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of teaching, is exactly... The exact instructions
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as was given in Matthew 28 verse 20. Matthew
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28 verse 20. Verse 18 and 20. Matthew 28 verse
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18 and 20. There was an instruction that Jesus
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gave to the apostles. And we see that the apostles
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goes ahead and do that which Christ has called
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them to do. And we see Paul also learning from
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the apostles. And also doing the same. Matthew
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28 verse 18. Verse 19. that I have commanded
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you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the
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end of the age. Hallelujah. So making disciples,
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making disciples. So what Paul is communicating
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to the Ephesians is that they have been under
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discipleship. They have been under instruction.
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They have been under teaching. And they are still
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going through instructions. And because of the
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instructions that they've been received, They
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are empowered to live the life of love. They've
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been communicated the love of God, so they should
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be able to give expression to what they have
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been taught. Hallelujah. So equally for us, as
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we've been discussing and teaching concerning
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love, there is an expectation from us that as
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we learn the things that we are learning, that
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we give expression to the things that we are
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learning. When we align ourselves to the things
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that we are learning, We allow the Spirit of
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God to love through us because it is God who
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gives us the ability, who gives us the ability
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to do according to His desires. Not only that
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He has given us the Spirit, He has given us teachers.
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The Bible says for what? For our edification,
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for our building up, that we will live the life
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that He has called us to live. So the word making
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disciples in verse, I think verse 19, making
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disciples is the word mathethio. M -A -T -H -E
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-T -E -O. Mathetheo. In Matthew 28 verse 18 to
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20. Verse 19 particularly. Making disciples.
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Mathetheo. To make someone a disciple. That's
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what that word means. It means to make someone
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a disciple. To bring someone into a position
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of a learner or a follower. And to train them
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in the way. of the teacher. Hallelujah. So our
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calling as Christians is to go out there and
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to not only preach the gospel to people, but
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to make them students of Jesus. As we've learned
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the word, we also teach them the word. We teach
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them concerning the word of God, concerning what
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God has done in Christ. So that word, making
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disciples, is my fifth deal. And that is the
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experience of those audience that Apostle Paul
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was writing to in Ephesians chapter four. That
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they have been discipled. They are in an environment
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where they are learning about God, about the
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love of God, and about what God has done in Jesus
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Christ. So there is a relationship between Matthew
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in this text, Matthew 28, 18 -20, and Manthano
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that we saw in Ephesians 4, verse 20 and 21.
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Yeah, chapter 4, verse 20 and 21. There's a relationship
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between these words. Manthano describes the process
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of learning, while Mathithio describes making
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someone a disciple who learns and follows Christ's
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teaching. So these words are related from the
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same root word. From the same root word. They
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have learned Christ. They have learned Christ.
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They have been taught concerning Christ. So discipleship
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involves learning, but goes beyond acquiring
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knowledge. to a life of following Jesus and obeying
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him in his word. Hallelujah. So as we're learning,
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we're not only hearers of the word alone. We're
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not only intellectually, you know, stimulating
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ourselves, but we are following the things that
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we are learning. See, there are some things that
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will be taught in our classrooms, in the schools
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that we will never apply them. We will never
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apply them. For some of us, when we're growing,
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We never saw the application of algebra. We just
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know that they are telling us to find an X that
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we don't know where it's coming from and a Y
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that has always been. But we never saw the application
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of those things that we are taught. But of course,
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as we grow, we come to university, we begin to
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understand, ah, so these things can actually
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be applied. But when it comes to God's Word,
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God's Word requires an application. The essence
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of Bible teaching is that you apply. Hallelujah.
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It is in doing the work, that you see the blessedness
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in the world. It is in obeying the word that
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we enjoy the benefits of the word. Hallelujah.
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Because if you hear and you don't do, you are
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not blessed. The blessedness of God's word is
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in doing God's word. So discipleship is not only
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following and receiving instructions. Every day
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you are taught, you are corrected, you are encouraged,
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you are edified. But then there's no application
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of the Bible truth that you've been taught. That
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is not a complete cycle of discipleship. There
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must be teaching. There must be instructions.
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There must be correction. There must be admonition.
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There must be rebuke is included. Rebuke is included.
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Sometimes we make mistakes and our leaders and
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our pastors correct us. They rebuke us in love.
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And the goal is that we will apply those things
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that we are taught so that our lives will be
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transformed by the teaching of God's word. And
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then we enjoy the benefit of God's word. So in
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practical terms, making disciples means leading
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people to Christ and intentionally helping them
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grow into mature followers who understand. They
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must be mature followers who understand, practice,
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and obey his teaching. Making disciples means
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leading people to Christ. How do we lead them
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to Christ? We tell them what Christ has done.
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And when they receive what Christ has done, they
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become part of Christ's family. They become part
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of God's kingdom. They become part of God's family
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with us because we are equally together, part
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of God's family. And then we intentionally help
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them to grow. What does growth mean? Growth comes
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with understanding. They grow in practicing the
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things that they've been taught. So evangelism
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introduces people to the gospel, all right? As
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we go out to preach, we preach, we broadcast
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and say, this is what God has done. In Christ,
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there is forgiveness of sins. God no longer holds
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man accountable because he has given his son
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for the forgiveness of sins. When you believe
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in this message concerning what Christ has done
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on the cross for us, for you, for the whole world,
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then you come into the experience of the love
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and the mercy of God. So evangelism introduces
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people to the gospel. But discipleship nurtures
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them in the lifelong journey of being the children
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of God, of being part of God's family. Hallelujah.
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So true discipleship, true discipleship, when
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someone is discipled, true discipleship affects
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our speech. That's where I'm headed. Remember,
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our topic is walking in love, two words that
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edify. So true training, true discipleship. True
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teaching of God's word affects our speech. It
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affects the way we speak. It affects the way
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we speak. One of the signs of spiritual maturity
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is seen in the way we talk. In the way we talk.
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You know, a fool is considered wise when he's
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silent. You know, until he speaks, then you will
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know the content of his foolishness. You know
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the constituents of the resources. Because from
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the abundance of his heart, what will happen?
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He will speak. So we know people by what they
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say. We know people by what they say, even before
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they act. We know people by what they say. Hallelujah.
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So our words can show or can express our level
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of maturity. Our spiritual maturity can be seen
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by the way we talk. 1 Corinthians 13 verse 11,
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Paul used this. analogy in his communication
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about the law. 1 Corinthians 13, verse 11. It
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says that when I was a child, I do what? I spoke
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as a child, which means that there's a way that
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children speak. There's a way children speak.
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Sometimes they're not audible enough for you
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to comprehend what they're saying. Sometimes
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they find it difficult to express their feelings
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and their thoughts. Sometimes they find it inadequate
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in communicating what is happening within them,
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so they cry. A baby cries always. And some people
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in church, they cry always. They complain always.
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They cry always. When I was a child, I spoke
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as a child. I understood as a child. So children
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have a way of understanding. I understood as
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a child. I taught as a child. A child will be
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known by his words. A child understands differently.
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A child... things differently. But when I became
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a man, when I came into maturity, when I'm no
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longer a child, what do I do? I put away childish
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things, childish ways, childish behaviors, childish
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words, childish thinking, thoughts. I put away
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childish things. So as I said clearly, a child
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has a way he speaks. A child has no filters.
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Okay? He has no filters in what he says. You
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want to share a secret, don't say it close to
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a child. Because a child does not have the capacity
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to withhold filters. To filter or to withhold
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what he says. So children speak without filters.
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A child has no restraint in his words. A child
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has no consideration for others. But himself,
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what he wants to say. and how he feels about
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how he's feeling for himself. So a child is self
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-centered. This is because he has not been developed
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or is developing. He has not been developed or
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is developing and has not been cultured to speak
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a certain way. All right? So what does a parent
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do to the child? A parent guides the child at
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this age. Sometimes when children don't know
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how to speak, we tell them what to say. This
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is dada. This is mommy. This is this. This is
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called this. So a child is taught, is trained
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in words what to say and what not to say. The
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parent's guide gives guidance. The parents and
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guidance at this stage help the child to develop
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his vocabulary by correcting and giving the child
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what to say. Equally, in this verse, it says
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that a child, it shows that a child also has
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a different way of understanding things from
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an adult. A child understands things differently
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from an adult because a child's thinking is still
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developing. Alright? A child's thinking is still
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developing. So your understanding and that of
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a child shall be different. Children tend to
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understand things in simple, concrete, and immediate
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terms. Children understand things in simple,
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concrete, and immediate terms. They rely heavily
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on what they see. They rely heavily on what they
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hear and, of course, their experience at that
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moment. But adults are generally better able
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to think abstractly and constructively. As an
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adult, you can think abstractly and constructively.
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You can consider long -term consequences. All
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right? That's the way we think as adults. Of
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course, I know some adults don't think this way.
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Amen. We understand complex ideas because we
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are adults. An adult understands complex ideas
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and an adult is able to interpret situations
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using his experience and reasoning. Okay? That
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is an adult. But a child cannot demonstrate this.
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Alright? Paul goes on to say, as a child, I taught
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like a child. I taught as a child. A child thinks
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mainly in terms of what they see and understand,
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but an adult considers deeper meanings, consequences,
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and responsibilities. So Paul says, but when
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I became a man, I put away childish things. When
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I became a man, I put away childish things. So
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one of the childish things that we must put away
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is how we talk. How we talk one to another. How
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we talk proves how you've grown. How you talk
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proves how you've grown. Growth means you have
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a better understanding. To grow means that you
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have a better understanding. Therefore, your
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speech or your thoughts and conduct are influenced
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by that understanding that you have. So this
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growth is not only in age. This growth is a result
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of teaching. It's a result of the exposure that
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you've received in the Word of God because this
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is a spiritual conduct. This is spiritual growth
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we're talking about. You now know that what you
30:48
say has a greater impact. Alright? You now know
30:53
because of your understanding that you know that
30:56
what you say has a greater impact. That it affects
30:58
not only you. You are not selfish to yourself.
31:00
You are not behaving like a child. You know that
31:02
the words you utter has a greater impact. It
31:07
affects not only you because we've learned previously
31:10
that what we say affects us. What we say... affects
31:14
our lives. Alright? Life and death are what?
31:18
Are in the power of the tongue. But he who will
31:23
enjoy it will do what? Knows how to use it well.
31:25
Right? So, you have an understanding that words
31:31
don't just affect your own life alone. But words
31:36
also affect the very people that are around you.
31:40
Amen? And the immediate environment you have
31:43
is your church family. because you are exposed
31:47
to people in church. Every week, you are fellowshipping
31:49
together with them. You're spending time with
31:51
them. You have some of them as your housemates.
31:53
Some of them are your biological family members.
31:55
So the things you say does not just affect you
31:59
alone, but affects the very people that are around
32:03
your vicinity. So we don't just talk anyhow,
32:08
but we consider the ramification, the consequence,
32:11
the implication, the effect of what we say. Even
32:16
if those things are good things, the way we present
32:19
our ideas, the way we present our truth, which
32:22
is God's truth, is very important to people around
32:27
us because our way of communication, you know,
32:32
affects people. Our speech affects people. We
32:36
don't just say how we feel or we just say our
32:38
mind anyhow. When you hear a person say that,
32:41
I just spoke my mind, it simply means that this
32:44
person have not understand. Or that person is
32:47
not mature. That person is immaturity that will
32:50
make you just say anything you want to say. You
32:52
know, you just, in our daily conversation, you
32:56
just wash the person down. Because that's the
32:59
person, of course, the person legitimately has
33:01
done something wrong. So in discipleship, we
33:06
teach people how to talk. In discipleship, we
33:10
train people on what to say and what not to say.
33:15
We train people in what to say, how to say the
33:17
things we ought to say, and what should not even
33:19
be heard on our lips. Even in making jokes, there
33:25
are jokes we don't make as Christians and as
33:28
believers that have the Spirit of God. There
33:31
are things we don't joke about. For instance,
33:35
we don't joke about the Word of God. We don't
33:37
use the Word of God as a joke for making jokes.
33:41
We don't joke about the things of the Spirit.
33:43
We don't joke about speaking in tongues because
33:46
we cannot be blessed by what we dishonor. We
33:52
cannot be blessed by what we dishonor. Equally,
33:55
we don't make... Crazy jokes about your brothers
33:58
and your sisters and your pastors and your leaders.
34:00
Because you cannot be blessed by them when you
34:05
dishonor them through jokes that are unwholesome.
34:08
Jokes that are unwholesome. Hallelujah. So, we
34:15
do not speak corrupt words. Ephesians 4 verse
34:19
29. We do not speak corrupt words. Ephesians
34:23
4 verse 29. But we speak words. that build people
34:27
up, that edify them, that build them up. Let
34:30
not corrupt words proceed out of your mouth,
34:33
but that, oh, but what is good for necessary
34:38
edification. Edification there has to do with
34:41
strengthening and building up your brother and
34:44
your sister, that it may impart grace to the
34:50
hearers. And we saw on Wednesday that that word
34:53
corrupt in that text. It's translated from another
34:56
Greek word, sapros. S -A -P -R -O -S. And this
35:01
word, sapros, S -A -P -R -O -S, refers to that
35:06
which is rotten. Okay? Something that is rotten.
35:10
It refers to something that has deteriorated.
35:15
Something that has deteriorated. Or unfit for
35:20
its intended purpose. Now, when we talk about
35:22
corrupt words, we're not speaking about... vulgar
35:26
words alone, which is inclusive. Okay? There
35:30
are even good things that you say that can be
35:32
corrupted. Are we together? There are good things
35:35
you say that can be corrupted. It can be corrupted
35:38
by your presentation. It can be corrupted by
35:41
how you are feeling. Your emotions can corrupt
35:43
what you say. Your state of mind, pride, or arrogance,
35:49
or anger, or your disposition as a man can corrupt
35:53
the things you say. Even if those things are
35:55
true, All those things are right. Our intentions
36:00
can corrupt the things we say. Are we together?
36:04
So, therefore, let there be no corrupt words.
36:08
Let no corrupt words proceed out of our mouth.
36:11
It means that the believer must be extra careful
36:14
with the things he says and how he says the things
36:16
he says. So, in this text, the word sapros describes
36:23
speech that is unwholesome. Speech that is unhealthy.
36:29
Speech that is harmful to the hearer. Speech
36:33
that is destructive. Words that fail to edify
36:38
and minister grace to the hearers. Just as rotten
36:43
fruit is unfit for consumption, no matter how
36:47
much you love bananas or apples, the moment they
36:51
are spoiled, do you consume them because you
36:53
love apples and bananas? You throw them away.
36:56
Hallelujah. So they are unfit for consumption.
36:59
They are unfit for use. So equally are words.
37:07
When they are corrupted, corrupt speech is unfit
37:10
for the believer's calling. Corrupt speech does
37:14
not impart edification. They don't bring about
37:18
growth in others. They don't build others up.
37:22
So we must communicate truth that imparts grace.
37:27
Hallelujah. And then, as a reminder, our relationship
37:31
with other believers is not incidental or accidental.
37:37
Okay? Our relationship with other believers.
37:41
It's not an accident. It's not incidental. In
37:44
Christ, we belong to one another. Okay? In Christ,
37:50
we belong to one another. We must understand
37:53
the complex. We must understand the context and
37:59
the reality of our relationship. We are eternally
38:02
united in Christ. Eternally united simply means
38:07
that he's a believer, she's a believer. Forever,
38:12
you are in a family together. Hallelujah. So
38:16
a preacher used to say that if you don't like
38:18
your brother now, be prepared that you will live
38:21
forever with the brother because he's a believer
38:23
and she's a believer. So it's easier for you
38:27
to make peace and begin to love now because you
38:30
have eternity to spend together. Hallelujah.
38:33
That is why if you have issues with your brother,
38:35
you solve it. If you have a problem with your
38:40
brother, you resolve it. If you have a problem
38:42
with your sister, you resolve it because there's
38:44
no other way than to resolve it. Because you
38:48
have common identity and common relationship.
38:50
You have one father. We sang about the father.
38:52
God is not only father to you. He's father to
38:54
everybody here. You don't have a peculiar and
38:58
a personal relationship with God. All of us have
38:59
a communal relationship with God. So as much
39:03
as God loves you, he equally loves the brother.
39:06
In fact, God loves even the sinner. That is why
39:08
he died for the whole world, not for you alone.
39:12
So we must understand the importance of our relationship.
39:16
We are... We are meant to depend on one another.
39:21
I am a blessing to you. You are a blessing to
39:24
me. We have a shared identity. And the shared
39:27
identity we have is that we are spiritual beings
39:29
together. We are united in Christ. Hallelujah.
39:34
We are united in Christ by the Spirit of God.
39:37
Colossians 1 .18 Colossians 1 .18 speaks of this
39:42
unity and this familyhood. Colossians 1 .18 And
39:47
he is the head of the body. Who is that he? Jesus
39:49
is the head of the body. The church. Who is the
39:54
beginning, the firstborn from the dead? Before
39:57
Jesus died, he was the only begotten. All right?
40:00
He was the only son. But by his death, Jesus
40:04
is no longer the begotten son. Hallelujah. Say
40:07
to yourself, I'm a son of God. I am a son of
40:10
God. Hallelujah. So, and he is the head of the
40:15
body, the church. Who is the beginning? The firstborn
40:19
from the dead. That in all things he may have
40:22
what preeminence. And then Romans 12 verse 4
40:25
and 5. Expansion this further. Romans 12 verse
40:30
4 and 5. Romans 12 verse 4 and 5. It says for
40:35
as we have many members. For as we have many
40:40
members in one body. So Paul here is using the
40:43
example of physical body. Right? You have the
40:46
hand. You have the legs. You have the nose. You
40:47
have the ear. For as we have many members in
40:51
one body. But all the members do not have same
40:56
function. Okay? Yes? Verse 5. So we, being many
41:02
in our billions across the world, in our numbers
41:08
in this church, so we, being many, are one body.
41:12
We're in Christ and individually members of one
41:18
another. We belong one to another. Hallelujah.
41:21
So tell your brother, you belong to me. And I
41:24
belong to you. Hallelujah. Did I tell you what?
41:31
You see, we are so far from professing and confessing
41:39
our reality that when the brother says I love
41:41
you, it's strange to hear. Strange to hear. The
41:48
moment you hear I love you, it's strange to hear.
41:53
Because our minds are coming from the corruption
41:55
of the world, hardly. Especially those of us
42:03
from Africa. You can't even tell your biological
42:05
father I love you. Because we don't understand
42:09
love and we don't know how to communicate love.
42:11
Hallelujah. But we must understand that we are
42:14
united in Christ. We are individual members of
42:18
one another. Therefore, we must acknowledge this
42:21
truth. 1 Corinthians 12, from verse 12 to 27,
42:26
we can put that down also that expands this idea.
42:30
1 Corinthians 12, verse 12 to 27 speaks particularly
42:33
of we being individually have different functions.
42:37
In the church, we have different functions. We
42:39
may have different responsibilities, different
42:42
giftings. But then we function together as a
42:45
collective because we are members of one another.
42:48
And of course, Ephesians 4, verse 15 and 16 also.
42:53
So because we are family, we walk in love. We
42:59
walk in love. And how do we walk in love? We
43:03
walk in love through words that what? That edifies.
43:07
Hallelujah. We walk in love through words that
43:10
edify. So firstly, for today, put this down.
43:15
For today, number one, we do not speak fear and
43:18
condemnation to one another because we are one
43:23
family. We do not speak fear and condemnation
43:26
to one another. This is what we should not say.
43:30
We do not speak fear and what? Condemnation to
43:35
one another. Romans 8, verse 1. Romans 8, verse
43:38
1. Look up to this verse. It says, Therefore,
43:45
now no condemnation. To who? To those who are
43:49
in Christ Jesus. So how do you come into Christ?
43:53
By faith. You are born again. You are members
43:55
of this family. There is no condemnation for
43:58
you. Why? There is no condemnation for those
44:04
who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according
44:07
to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. So
44:10
you are no longer in the flesh. You've been made
44:13
alive by the Spirit of God. Verse 33 and 34.
44:17
Verse 33 and verse 34. Romans 8, 33, 34. So if
44:24
there is no condemnation for those who are in
44:27
Christ, who shall bring a charge against God's
44:31
elect? Who shall bring a charge against God's
44:37
elect? It is God who has justified the elect.
44:42
Are we together? Who is he who condemns? It is
44:50
Christ who died and furthermore. It's also reason.
44:55
Who is even at the right hand of God, who also
44:58
makes intercession for us. So this speaks of
45:01
the continuing ministry of the Messiah, of the
45:03
Christ, that he continuously makes intercession
45:06
for the believers that he has died for. So why
45:09
should you condemn the believer? Who should condemn
45:13
the believer? Who should condemn a believer?
45:18
Let's look at an example of Jesus Christ in John
45:20
chapter 8, verse 1 to 11. When they brought in
45:23
a woman. It was caught in adultery, John chapter
45:29
8. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now,
45:54
early in the morning, he came again into the
45:56
temple, and all the people came to him, and he
45:58
sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and
46:02
the Pharisees brought in to him a woman caught
46:04
in adultery. They caught her in adultery. That
46:08
means that they caught her red -handed. And when
46:11
they had set her in the midst, they said to him,
46:15
Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery. in
46:19
the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded
46:23
us that such should be stoned. But what do you
46:28
say? This they said, testing him that they might
46:34
have something of which to accuse him. But Jesus
46:38
stood down and wrote on the ground with his fingers
46:41
as though he did not hear. Some people have speculated
46:46
what he wrote on the ground. Even though we don't
46:48
have what he wrote on the ground, some say he
46:50
was writing their names and their sins. Some
46:52
say that he was discerning their hearts and different
46:56
interpretation of different commentary. So when
47:02
they continue asking him, he raised himself up
47:05
and said to them, He who is without sin among
47:09
you, let him throw a stone at her first. And
47:14
again, he stood down and wrote on the ground.
47:18
Then those who heard it been convicted by their
47:21
conscience. went out one by one, beginning with
47:25
the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left
47:29
alone and the woman standing in the mist. Now
47:32
this is where I want you to focus your attention.
47:34
Then Jesus raised himself up and saw no one but
47:38
the woman. He said to her, Woman, where are those
47:42
accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?
47:48
She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her,
47:52
Neither do I condemn you. Go and do what? And
47:56
sin no more. So in this text, Jesus did not encourage
48:01
her conduct. He did not affirm her conduct. He
48:03
didn't congratulate her for sinning. He didn't
48:08
celebrate the fact that she sinned. But he did
48:14
not put her to destruction through his words.
48:18
This is an example for us to follow in correcting
48:21
one another. This is a template for us to use.
48:26
in our relationship one to another. We do not
48:30
condemn one another, but we speak love to one
48:35
another. We correct one another in love. 2 Timothy
48:38
1 .7 talks about the spirit we have in us. The
48:45
spirit we have in us. 2 Timothy 1 .7 says, For
48:51
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of
48:54
power and of love and of a sound mind. So our
48:59
words must never communicate fear to others.
49:03
Anytime people come to us with issues and matters,
49:07
if we communicate fear to them, definitely we
49:14
are not speaking by the Spirit of God. The Spirit
49:18
of God does not inspire fear to others. No matter
49:22
how intelligent the word you receive is, if your
49:24
word is characterized by fear and intimidation,
49:27
it's from the devil. Because the spirit with
49:30
which you have is not the spirit of fear. There's
49:36
a difference between stating facts and amplifying
49:41
fear. Of course, someone is diagnosed with a
49:47
particular disease. This is a fact. And then
49:51
you have the report as a believer. It's a fact
49:53
that this person has been diagnosed with this
49:56
particular disease. Now, do you deny the diagnosis?
49:59
No. But how you respond in your words can instill
50:04
fear or can bring what? encouragement and building
50:09
and healing. So presenting a problem as conclusive
50:15
or hopeless can create fear in people. Instead,
50:22
we should speak God's word concerning every situation,
50:25
expressing truth with faith and confidence in
50:30
God. So in our relationship with one another,
50:32
people can come to us and tell us their experiences.
50:36
You know, people can come to us. We don't join
50:38
them to cry and murmur and complain. And speak
50:41
how bad the situation is. You know? Oftentimes,
50:45
people know that the situation is bad. Oftentimes,
50:49
people know that it's painful. But what they're
50:52
looking for is a word of comfort. One who will
50:54
give them strength in their spirit. Not one who
50:57
will break their spirit. So the believer does
51:00
not speak words that communicate condemnation
51:02
to people. The believer does not speak words
51:05
that communicate fear to people. But that which
51:07
encourages and uplifts people. Hallelujah. Fear
51:15
is not of God. So we must speak, we must not
51:19
speak fear. People should be encouraged and built
51:25
up in faith through the words they hear from
51:27
us at all times. Sometimes it's even through
51:30
your own experience. We have people that are
51:35
younger and weaker and growing around us. Because
51:38
we're experiencing something, then you communicate
51:41
it without, without what? Without restraint to
51:45
people that you know that that communication
51:46
can affect their faith even. Now, there's a place
51:50
of stating facts about our experiences. There
51:53
are platforms where we show our vulnerability
51:55
and what is happening in us. But there's a way
51:59
we communicate it that can communicate hopelessness
52:02
to people around. So as leaders, we have a huge
52:05
responsibility. Secondly, we do not spiritually
52:09
manipulate people with our words. We do not spiritually
52:15
manipulate one another through words. And how
52:18
does this happen? This occurs when Scripture...
52:21
For example, now, Scripture is used as a tool
52:28
to manipulate people. This can happen within
52:31
the body of Christ. This can happen within the
52:33
church. When spiritual authority is used to manipulate
52:37
people, when prophecies or words, you know, yesterday
52:43
we were giving word one to another. And because
52:47
your eye is on a sister or on a brother, and
52:52
your words of edification, even, listen, let
52:55
me say this, even if the word you receive is
52:57
true, The way you communicate it can make it
53:01
corrupted because of what you have in your heart.
53:05
Hallelujah. Because of the content of what is
53:07
in your heart and your disposition towards the
53:09
person, you can corrupt even what God has given
53:12
you to give the brother or the sister. So, spiritual
53:16
manipulation can happen through the use of our
53:18
words when we take advantage of Scripture. Spiritual
53:22
authority, prophecies, or claims about God, God's
53:27
will to intimidate people. to silence people,
53:32
to silence legitimate questions, or control people's
53:37
decision. You always want to control people's
53:41
decision by the use of spiritual authority, by
53:44
the use of prophecies, by the use of sin. People
53:49
should be allowed to do what? To think through
53:53
the things that you say, even if it's from God.
53:56
One of the biggest challenges we have where we
53:59
are coming from, in Africa particularly, is how
54:02
we have idolized people. and then we've taken
54:05
their word as the final authority, even above
54:10
scriptures, forgetting the fact that men, the
54:14
best of men, are always men. Hallelujah. So,
54:20
why is such corruption? It misuses spiritual
54:24
language and authority to manipulate consciences
54:29
of people and can prevent unnecessary, rather
54:33
than necessary accountability. It is corrupt
54:37
because there's a manipulation. Alright? There's
54:40
a manipulation of people's will. There's a manipulation
54:43
of people's conscience. And that is not of God.
54:49
That is not of God. It's of the devil. 2 Corinthians
54:51
4 verse 2. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 2. But we have
55:00
renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking
55:04
in the craftiness, nor handling the word of God.
55:07
How? Deceitfully. Not handling the word of God
55:11
with deceit in it. Every single scripture you
55:16
see, you're looking at how you can corner it
55:19
in a way to say what it's not saying in order
55:22
to ascertain a certain level of obedience from
55:24
people. That is craftiness. That is devilish.
55:28
That is wickedness. That is lawlessness. In fact,
55:33
that is immorality. So, we don't handle the word
55:39
of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the
55:43
truth. commending ourselves to every man's conscience
55:47
in the sight of God. So we allow the word of
55:50
God to speak, not manipulating people. 1 Peter
55:52
5, verse 2 and 3. 1 Peter 5, verse 2 and verse
55:58
3. For the leaders, he says, shepherd the flock
56:06
of God, which is among you, serving as overseers,
56:12
not by what? Not by compulsion, but willingly.
56:17
Willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly.
56:22
nor has been lots over those entrusted to you,
56:26
but been an example unto the flock. Hallelujah.
56:32
So as leaders, we have a responsibility of setting
56:35
our lives as examples. We rightfully handle the
56:38
word of truth and our lives as example to follow,
56:42
not manipulating people's will by the teaching
56:45
of the word, by prophecies, word of knowledge,
56:48
word of wisdom. We manipulate people by the position
56:52
that God has given us by grace to serve as leaders
56:55
in teams, in groups, in the church. And wherever
56:58
you're going as a believer, as God will keep
57:02
increasing you and growing you in ministry, you
57:05
don't handle the word of God deceitfully to manipulate
57:08
people. This is not, you know, walking in love.
57:15
This is walking in wickedness because it is against
57:18
the will and the purpose of God. So, alternatively,
57:22
We explain to people the biblical basis for a
57:25
decision. Even when someone comes to you, you
57:28
give the person the biblical basis for a decision.
57:33
And you welcome sincere questions. And you distinguish
57:38
personal opinions from clear scriptural commands.
57:42
You don't just spiritualize every opinion of
57:46
yours. Even Paul, when he's writing, sometimes
57:49
we see in his writing, he says, this is of me.
57:51
This is my own opinion. This is what the Spirit
57:53
is expressly saying. This is my own opinion concerning
57:55
this matter. My desire is that nobody should
57:58
marry. You should remain single as I am. That's
58:01
what Paul said in the scriptures. That's his
58:04
own opinion. That is not an instruction by God
58:09
for you to live your life. Because by his observation,
58:12
he discovered that those who are married, they
58:15
have a lot of responsibilities that might limit
58:18
them from what? From being free as he is. Right?
58:22
It's his own opinion, which is not necessarily
58:24
the authority of God's word. Okay? It's an opinion.
58:30
So we must be able to give people a clear distinction
58:35
between what opinions are and what the Word of
58:38
God is. And we don't use the Word of God to manipulate
58:41
people. We tell people the truth in love. Hallelujah.
58:49
Because we are members of one another. So as
58:58
we go, practical applications for us this week.
59:07
We speak words that build faith in people, not
59:12
fear. When someone shares a problem with you,
59:17
Acknowledge the facts without amplifying fear
59:20
or condemnation. Encourage them with God's word
59:25
and point them towards faith in him. As we go
59:32
this week, examine your words now and subsequently.
59:36
Examine your words always before you speak. Avoid
59:41
using spiritual authority to manipulate others.
59:48
Let your speech reflect humility, love, and truth.
59:56
Make edification your daily practice. That is,
1:00:00
you are intentional about building somebody up.
1:00:04
Intentionally encourage at least one person each
1:00:07
day. Be intentional by defying at least one person.
1:00:13
Speak words of encouragement of building up somebody.
1:00:17
When correction is necessary, speak the truth
1:00:19
in love. Preserve the person's dignity and seek
1:00:25
to restore rather than to condemn. Before speaking,
1:00:30
ask yourself, will these words build up the person
1:00:33
or it will impart fear? or destruction to this
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individual. Because God intends us, intends that
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we walk in love and especially how we express
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love one for another in our speech, that we speak
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words that are not corrupted, that we speak words
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that are graceful, that bring about building
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of others. Hallelujah. So I just want you to
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just pray for yourself. We appreciate you being
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here today. We hope you carry this word with
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you throughout your week. Until next time, stay
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blessed.