Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / Trusting in God to manifest His Kingdom pt. 4

Transcript

Trusting in God to manifest His Kingdom pt. 4 · 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
0:17
right in. Good evening everyone. Welcome to this
0:24
evening. I want us to be ready. we had we had
0:32
stopped on sunday we're going to continue from
0:34
where i've stopped on sunday and the key and
0:37
the topic is still trusting in god to manifest
0:41
his kingdom trusting in god to manifest his kingdom
0:43
this is the fourth part what had happened on
0:46
sunday was the third and i will take us to john
0:49
john 14 which is a key text and i will take us
0:53
to the section where we had read that connected
0:56
us to the passage of scripture in Exodus and
0:59
I want and I did that on purpose for us to see
1:02
how the old and the new the old in quote and
1:07
the new are very much God -speakings what happens
1:11
in the New Testament as we'll have it is a a
1:16
better understanding and clarity being given
1:18
to what has been said in the old meaning that
1:21
what was probably silent in the old comes out
1:25
very loud, comes out clearly in the new. And
1:29
I want us to see that, and we're going to take
1:32
time to look at the life of Moses and see how
1:36
the life of Moses points to Christ. Different
1:38
things that happen in the life of Moses and how
1:40
it ties in, and we'll bring it back home to that
1:44
trusting in God. Because the God that we serve
1:48
is not a God of, he doesn't do things accidentally.
1:53
carefully, beautifully orchestrates things. And
1:55
he even leaves, he has very much ensured that
1:59
his word is preserved for us to see how he has
2:02
been saying the same thing and he's still saying
2:04
the same thing, how he has promised to do something
2:07
and how he has fulfilled that thing which he
2:10
has done. And I want us to just work with me
2:12
this evening as I will be empowered to do. I'll
2:16
just, I will make, I'll go back on what I did
2:20
a bit just to... segue into what we're going
2:22
to be doing now. And I want us to see that in
2:25
John 14, in John 14, verse 7, it reads, it said,
2:32
if you had known me, this is Jesus speaking,
2:35
if you had known me, you would have known the
2:41
Father also. For now you will know him and have
2:48
seen him. Now you now you know him and have seen
2:52
him then philip said to him i want us to notice
2:54
what philip says philip says lord show us the
2:58
father and it is sufficient for us and i pointed
3:01
our attention to the fact that he had made a
3:03
statement in verse 7 and philip still goes ahead
3:06
and say lord show us the father and it is sufficient
3:09
to us and then in verse 9 in verse 9 jesus said
3:14
to him have have i've been with you so long and
3:21
yet you have not known me philip he who has shown
3:26
me he who has shown me has seen me he who has
3:31
seen me sorry has seen the father he said he
3:35
who has seen me has seen the father he who has
3:38
seen me has seen the father so how can you say
3:41
show us the father and i and pastor emmanuel
3:45
has explained and showed us on the and explain
3:49
the the word show the word show he had explained
3:53
that word to us and i want us to see a very similar
3:56
that same word we see we're going to see it in
4:00
the in the book that we when we're looking on
4:03
the book in exodus we're going to see that same
4:06
word used also in exodus exodus 33 verse 18 exodus
4:12
33 verse 18 and this is moses speaking Exodus
4:18
33 verse 18, he said, please show me your glory.
4:22
That word there, show, is the same word used.
4:26
And he says, show me your glory. And we said
4:30
the glory, the Hebrew word there is kabod. The
4:33
Hebrew word there is kabod and the Greek word
4:36
is doxa. Show me your glory. And the conversation
4:39
goes down in verse 19. And then he said, I will
4:43
make all my goodness pass before you. And I will
4:49
proclaim the name of the Lord before you. And
4:53
I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious.
4:58
And I will have compassion to whom I will have
5:03
compassion. Then 20 now says, but he said, you
5:07
cannot see my face. For no man shall see my face.
5:12
and leave see but you cannot see my face no one
5:15
shall see my face and leave then 21 which is
5:18
where we had stopped on sunday and says the lord
5:23
said there here is a place by me here is a place
5:29
by me here is a place by me and you shall stand
5:33
on the rock here is a place by me and you should
5:35
stand on the rock and note that he makes a request
5:39
from your glory and in 20 he says you cannot
5:43
see my face for no man shall see my face and
5:47
leave then 21 says and the lord said here is
5:51
a place by me you shall stand on the rock and
5:55
and it's very beautiful if you look at the conversation
5:59
and look at what we have been studying this passage
6:02
and see how in the new testament in the word
6:08
of god still not the same word of god that is
6:10
why we read the whole of scripture together we
6:13
read the whole of scripture together you will
6:16
see that in the new testament in john particularly
6:20
in john particularly that book of john starting
6:24
off from one starting off from one and i and
6:28
i pointed us to what the glory was what the glory
6:32
was because he was talking about glory and glory
6:35
in that term will mean possession, will mean
6:38
a couple of things. And then he brings it back
6:41
to you cannot see my face, meaning his person,
6:43
his being. And he now says, here is a place.
6:48
And I told us that when he says, here is a place
6:52
by me, he had made provision of that place. Remember
6:56
what we were looking at in the John 14 that we
6:59
read? The John 14 that we read in verse, John
7:02
14 verse. 2 and 3. That same place in John 14
7:06
verse 2 and 3. John 14 verse 2 and 3 says, I
7:12
go to prepare a place for you. Note that it's
7:16
God that is able to prepare. God is the one that's
7:19
able to prepare. He wanted to see him and God
7:22
now prepares a place. He prepares a place and
7:26
I think if you're familiar with the language
7:28
we see in the New Testament where he mentions
7:31
I think in Matthew. Matthew 7, where we see the
7:35
element of rock, where we see the same, and it's
7:40
all communications that will only make sense
7:42
if you read the whole of God's Word together.
7:44
In Matthew 7, verse 24, it says, Whoever hears
7:51
this saying of mine and does them, I will...
7:57
liking them to a wise man who builds his house
8:00
on the rock. And we know that building your house
8:03
on the rock, building your house is in the teachings
8:05
and the communications that has happened. And
8:07
we remember we even talked about even in Matthew
8:10
16, that passage in Matthew 16, Matthew 16, the
8:15
passage in Matthew 16, Matthew 16, the conversation
8:21
that was happening between Peter and Jesus, the
8:23
passage in Matthew 16, verse 18. He says, I also
8:28
say to you that, Peter, on this rock, I will
8:32
build my church and the gates of hell. On this
8:35
rock, I will build. On this rock, I will build.
8:39
And we see how in that singular communication,
8:42
it ties into elements that we see Jesus Christ
8:46
explaining to his disciples, explaining to his
8:49
disciples, explaining to his disciples. He says,
8:52
I go to prepare a place. That word there, place,
8:56
both words are the same words in the Greek, which
8:59
is topos. T -O -P -O -S. Those two words are
9:03
the same. And then when he talks about a place,
9:07
he said you will stand on the rock. That rock
9:10
there is patra. That rock there is patra. And
9:13
the same rock used. And we know that it's not
9:16
just... I think all the teachings that we're
9:19
teaching in the church, yes, even when you see
9:23
something physical, and the emphasis when you're
9:26
speaking can be physical, but it's pointing beyond,
9:29
there's a spiritual, there's an implication that
9:32
goes beyond the physical, because the word of
9:36
God that we have is spiritual, the communications
9:38
that we have in our hands is spiritual. And then
9:42
he goes and he says, in the Exodus 33, verses
9:47
22 he says while my glory passes he says my glory
9:51
passes and and the beautiful thing about what
9:54
what we now see in the in john is is that is
9:59
that we is that john speaking there because if
10:02
he has because he said no one can see my face
10:04
if if if moses was privy to see you know when
10:09
we come to john 1 he cannot say and no one has
10:14
seen It would not be that no one has sinned.
10:17
It would be that Moses would have been the one
10:19
that would have sinned. But it says in 14, John
10:22
1, 14, it says, And the word became flesh and
10:26
dwelt amongst us, and we beheld his glory. John
10:29
1, verse 14. The word became flesh and dwelt
10:33
amongst us, and we beheld his glory. And the
10:37
beautiful thing about this is that at the resurrection
10:39
of Christ, we don't just behold his glory. His
10:42
glory indwells us. His glory indwells us. We
10:46
are people that carry the presence of God. We
10:50
are people that carry the glory of God. We are
10:52
people that manifest. We don't just carry the
10:55
glory of God. We also manifest that glory. We
10:58
also exercise the authority that we have. And
11:01
that is the beautiful thing about that interaction.
11:04
Where something, and when Jesus says the prophets
11:07
look forward to this day. they look for, they
11:11
were anticipating this very moment that is manifest
11:16
before the children of Israel and that is why
11:19
when John says behold the Lamb of God that takes
11:23
away the sins of the world that carries a weight
11:26
that is so powerful and that yeah that this is
11:28
what we've been expecting this is the person
11:31
we've been longing for here is he here's the
11:34
one that is able to do that which has been promised
11:36
here's the fulfillment Of the promise. And it's
11:40
very powerful for us to see that. He says we
11:43
beheld the glory. The glory as of the only begotten.
11:47
Of the father. Full of truth. Full of grace and
11:52
truth. Full of grace and truth. He says John
11:55
bore witness. Witness of him. And cried out saying.
12:00
This is he. Of whom I said. He who comes after
12:06
me. is preferred before me for he has he said
12:11
he was before me 16 and of the fullness of and
12:16
of his fullness we have all received the grace
12:21
for grace 17. this is for it's for the law was
12:26
given through moses but grace and truth came
12:30
through jesus know that if you want to understand
12:34
that that was that's the law which is foreshadowing
12:38
or pointing to the Christ which is the fulfillment
12:41
of that which was spoken in the old. Then 18
12:45
now says, no one has seen God at any time, which
12:48
is the point. No one has seen God at any time.
12:53
The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of
12:58
the Father. He has declared him. We know that
13:01
that is not the only begotten. There are many.
13:08
We'll see that whilst we're closing. We'll see
13:11
that whilst we're closing. But I want us to see
13:13
something. And we had done this previously, but
13:16
I'm going to just expound on it in this teaching.
13:19
I think as a church, we had just finished Deuteronomy.
13:24
We're in Joshua. We're in the book of Joshua.
13:28
I just finished Deuteronomy, my book of Joshua,
13:30
and we're done. The gospel in Deuteronomy, where
13:33
we saw from Deuteronomy 18. Let's just go there.
13:36
What we saw from Deuteronomy 18. Let's go to
13:40
Deuteronomy 18. Deuteronomy 18, verse 15 and
13:46
18. I'll just read it very quickly. It says,
13:49
the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet
13:54
like me from your midst. A prophet like me from
13:58
your midst, from your brethren, him you shall
14:02
hear. From your brethren, him you shall hear.
14:06
A prophet from your midst, from your brethren,
14:08
him you shall hear. I think if you notice there's
14:12
a very repeated theme of not just having the
14:16
person being raised but also listening to the
14:18
person. listening to the teaching, listening
14:21
to the communication of this person. And this
14:23
person is Christ. This person is speaking loudly.
14:27
This person is speaking, proclaiming, proclaiming,
14:31
proclaiming that which he had come to do. He
14:34
didn't just proclaim it, he did it. He did what
14:37
he had come to do for us to be able to have what
14:40
Christ, what God has promised, to have what God
14:42
has promised in 18. It also emphasizes this point
14:46
and it says, I will raise up. God speaking out.
14:50
In 15, it was Moses speaking. 18, I will raise
14:55
up for them a prophet like me from among their
15:05
brethren and will put my words in his mouth and
15:10
he shall speak to them all that. i command him
15:15
all that i command him and we see jesus saying
15:19
this in so many instances on occasion the words
15:23
he's speaking is that of the father and the things
15:26
he's speaking not that most of all the communications
15:30
you see the it's founded on what has been spoken
15:33
and i think pastor victor beautifully explains
15:36
that you see those communications uh communications
15:39
we see in the old and jesus christ comes in and
15:42
communicates those things communicates from and
15:44
the communications are still his communications
15:46
are still god's communication to his people and
15:48
he expounds on it he makes it loud he makes it
15:52
loud what you see probably very not so loud or
15:58
silent jesus comes and louds it he comes and
16:02
louds it but what i want to Point to us this
16:05
evening is the uncommon similarity. Because even
16:10
speaking about this particular communication,
16:13
even Stephen, Stephen in Acts 7 also quotes this
16:21
particular passage. He quotes the 15, the verse
16:24
15 of this particular passage in Deuteronomy
16:26
18, verse 15. He quotes it in Acts 7, verse 35.
16:30
He says, this is that Moses who said, to the
16:35
children of israel the lord your god will raise
16:38
up for you a prophet like me like me from your
16:42
brethren him you shall hear that is acts 7 verse
16:46
37 this is stephen speaking stephen speaking
16:51
and stephen made this communication during the
16:54
time where he was preaching after after what
16:56
he was stoned to death and this is him quoting
17:02
So you see that in all of God's word, you see
17:05
a whole, they don't speak, they speak, anchoring
17:10
their communications from the scripture. And
17:13
we said in Genesis to Malachi, they spoke from
17:18
that standpoint. And I want us to just see something.
17:21
I want us to see when he says a prophet like
17:25
me, Moses speaking. A prophet like me. Moses
17:29
speaking. A prophet like me. I want us to just
17:32
take time and look at the similarities that we
17:35
can see between Moses and Jesus. And we're going
17:39
to be looking at Moses. And I want us to do something
17:42
very quick. I want us to put our hands in Exodus.
17:46
Exodus 1. Just go to the book of Exodus and put
17:51
your hand in Exodus. Just put your hand in Exodus.
17:56
And then, and this can only happen with your
17:59
Bible. You know, if you have a mobile phone,
18:01
it will be very difficult for you to, if you're
18:04
using a mobile phone, you just, you will still
18:06
have to be shuttling between one and the other.
18:08
But you can do this beautifully when you put
18:10
your hand in Exodus 1 and then put your other
18:15
hand in Matthew, Matthew 1. So Exodus 1, Matthew
18:21
1. So you can put your one hand, just open to,
18:24
you'll have it. Good chunk of your Bible in the
18:26
middle. Exodus 1, Matthew 1. And we're going
18:31
to be seeing the similarities. We're going to
18:34
focus on the similarities in Exodus 1 and 2.
18:38
Matthew 1 and 2. We might jump into 3 at some
18:40
point in time. But Exodus 1 and 2, that is the
18:43
chapters 1 and chapters 2. And Matthew's chapters
18:45
1 and chapters 2. It's a very beautiful exercise
18:48
that if we do it. It will really be, you will
18:52
be confident. What this will spoil in us is a
18:54
confidence in God's word. What will spoil in
18:57
us is we will believe God's word more. We will
18:59
trust God's word more. We will trust his communication
19:02
to us and we'll believe that what he has spoken
19:05
concerning us, all the things that he has done
19:07
is not in vain. It's for us to be able to exercise
19:11
the authority that we have in him, to exercise
19:14
our understanding of the things he has done.
19:16
And see the extent to which he has done these
19:19
things and he is willing to go with us if we
19:21
trust his word on it. In Exodus, I want us to
19:26
see the similarities with regards to the threats.
19:31
The threats that both individuals suffered at
19:35
the very early stages of their lives. The threats
19:39
that both of them suffered at the very early
19:41
stages of their life. We see in Exodus 1 verses
19:45
12. We see Exodus 1 verses 12. In Exodus 1 verses
19:49
12, it says, But the more they afflicted them,
19:53
that is the children of Israel, the more they
19:56
afflicted the children of Israel, the more they
19:59
multiplied and grew. And they were in dread.
20:05
They were in dread of the children of Israel.
20:07
That is the people of Egypt, the leader of the
20:11
people of Egypt, which is Pharaoh. they were
20:14
in all of them were in dread of the children
20:16
of israel and and and what this communicates
20:20
is that you and i think it's it's i was very
20:23
encouraged when i read and i looked at it no
20:25
matter what you do to people god's people not
20:30
not when we say god's people it's not israel
20:32
now because you know i think pastor manuel has
20:35
walked us through the teaching we that bear his
20:38
name with our eye here is no matter what you
20:41
do to us we will keep striving no matter the
20:45
force that comes against because we are god's
20:48
children the confidence that we have in him is
20:51
able to empower us against whatever it is because
20:54
here you see the children of israel no matter
20:56
what was happening they were in dread of them
20:58
they were they were in dread of them and they
21:00
were threat to pharaoh pose a great threat to
21:04
the children of israel we'll see that in subsequent
21:06
verses and i want us to go now to matthew And
21:10
we see similar in Matthew now. In Matthew 2,
21:14
Matthew chapter 2, verse 3. Matthew chapter 2,
21:20
verse 3. It says, when Herod, now, I will be
21:27
mixing Herod and Pharaoh, so just bear with me
21:29
because it's two of them. In Exodus, it's Pharaoh,
21:33
and in Matthew, it's Herod. When Harold the king
21:39
heard these things, he was troubled, and all
21:44
Jerusalem with him. So note that it's not just
21:48
him that was, he carried everybody along with
21:51
the trouble. But I want us to see that this whole,
21:56
and what was the cause of it? I want us to read
21:59
verse 2. It says, saying that there was he who
22:03
has been born, king of the Jews. For we have
22:08
seen his star in the east and have come to worship
22:13
him. And note that it's the magi coming in and
22:19
giving him an informational communication. And
22:22
then this now forced him to be troubled. That,
22:25
oh, there's this king also. And then he was strengthened.
22:28
It's almost like his position in Matthew, we
22:32
see the king's position is strengthened. In Exodus,
22:36
we see the people are threatened by the children
22:38
of Israel. The people were threatened. Invariably,
22:41
Pharaoh was threatened. And that is what we see
22:44
as the threat. That's the similarity that we
22:48
see between the two. And now I want us to see
22:51
what now follows after the threats. I want us
22:54
to observe what the people or what the kings
22:59
in this case now start to plot. We see that they...
23:04
There's a threat. Now we now see that the people
23:06
now start, the pharaohs, the herods, pharaoh
23:11
or herod, will now start plotting. Will now start
23:14
plotting. And we see those plottings in Exodus.
23:18
Plotting against the children of Israel, we see
23:20
it in Exodus. Exodus 1, verse 15 and 16. Exodus
23:25
1, verse 15 and 16. It says, then the king of
23:29
Egypt spoke to the... Hebrew midwives of whom
23:35
the name of one was Shifra and then the name
23:42
of the other was Poha. 16. And he said, when
23:49
you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew
23:54
women and see them on the birth stool, if it
24:01
is a son, then you shall kill him. But if it
24:06
is a daughter, then she shall live. So you note
24:10
that the plot now is to kill the sons because
24:13
if these people are growing, the fear is that
24:18
the men will now, there will be an uprise, they
24:22
will take over. So the fear is against the men,
24:27
not the women. The women are the ones that are
24:29
going to be helping. as housemates. We saw Moses'
24:32
mom use them as housemates. The men will mean
24:36
that you have forces to contend with. You have
24:40
people that stand a chance of taking over what
24:43
you have going. And we see similar now, but in
24:48
Jesus' case, it's the boys under the two years
24:52
and under. The boys two years and under. We see
24:55
this in Matthew 2 verse 16. Matthew 2 verse 16.
25:02
Matthew 2 verse 16. It says, old and under according
25:30
to the time which he had determined from the
25:35
wise men according to the time which he has determined
25:38
from the wise men so we see that the male children
25:44
were the ones that were killed here as well so
25:47
in the in exodus we see that all the boys were
25:50
killed but in matthew we see that it's the two
25:53
years and under were the ones that were they
25:56
were killed. So we see that there's a plot, there
25:59
were plots that were against God's people, their
26:01
plots are against the children or against what
26:04
is the plan of God or the person because the
26:07
persons that would be affected is Moses in this
26:10
case and then also Jesus in the other case as
26:15
well. And what I want us to note is that pay
26:18
attention to the response. They are setting key
26:22
players in the two different scenarios in moses's
26:29
situation we see the middle midwives and i want
26:32
you to note their action the actions they take
26:36
is an action you is an action of faith and i
26:40
will want us to pay attention to verse 17 that
26:43
is exodus 1 verse 17 which is what we it says
26:47
but the midwives feared god The midwives feared
26:52
God. It's very important that we note something.
26:55
Our response in difficult situations, our response
26:59
in challenging times, our response in instructions
27:02
from authority should reflect our fear for God.
27:06
It should reflect our fear for God. There are
27:09
people that will say we are Christians, but when
27:12
something happens, they will resort to lying.
27:18
They will resort to doing all manner of things
27:20
and they will say, I fear God. They will say,
27:24
I fear God. They will say, I fear God. And these
27:30
midwives, as we see in Exodus 1, verse 17, it
27:37
says, But the midwives feared God and did not
27:40
do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved
27:44
the male children. saved the male children alive.
27:49
This woman feared God and fearing God resulted
27:53
in their action or their decision to make a way.
27:57
And know that when people will come to this pattern
28:00
and say, ah, they lied. I think I was sharing,
28:03
you know, so at the time when we were, I think
28:05
when we were discussing this way back, I was
28:07
sharing, I said, don't know that the decision
28:13
this woman made was a decision to save the lives
28:17
of the male children they did not you know most
28:21
people when they lie they lie for themselves
28:24
they like to protect themselves they were there's
28:27
no there's no the they do all because the it's
28:31
anchored on self is to make yourself look a certain
28:33
way protect yourself from something that you
28:36
should have done you it's self this woman here
28:40
it was not it was not they did this to protect
28:44
the lives of the male children so so you you
28:47
don't even have the choice of saying oh yeah
28:49
this is an example in the bible that this is
28:52
that is not the case you don't come here and
28:54
say that yeah this is why they lied they lied
28:58
not that they feared god so they spared the life
29:02
they decided to disregard the instruction of
29:05
the king of egypt to take lives but rather decided
29:09
to spare the lives of the children and then they
29:12
ex they did they explained when they came and
29:15
they were listening when you when you come and
29:17
say oh like they decided they did that so that
29:20
the lives of the children will be spared and
29:22
then we'll see something because know that in
29:25
the case of jesus now in the case of jesus in
29:32
in matthew 2 in matthew 2 in jesus's case where
29:38
i think we read a bit of it in 17 it's the actual
29:42
thing is in 17 but i want us to see sorry 16
29:46
sorry i want us to see that what had happened
29:50
was that the magi had been warned in verse 12
29:55
they had been divinely warned in verse 12. it
29:59
says in verse 12 that is matthew 2 verse 12 it
30:03
says then being divinely warned in a dream that
30:08
they should not return to Harold, they departed
30:12
for their own country another way. The instruction
30:18
there was to depart, not return to Harold. Harold
30:22
had given them an instruction. Note that they
30:24
choose to ignore or resist, ignore the instruction
30:31
of Harold. and follow the instruction of god
30:35
which is my because the the it's it's one or
30:39
the other it's either you go to herald or you
30:43
listen to the instruction that was given this
30:46
woman is either you kill the children or you
30:49
decide not to kill the children but they chose
30:52
to follow they fed god they chose to follow that
30:54
for the for the midwives and then for the magi
30:56
they choose to follow the instruction that was
30:58
given to them divinely but not that in 16 you
31:01
will see that herald When he saw that he was
31:05
deceived by the wise men, he was exceedingly
31:09
angry. Note that. To him, it's deception. Meanwhile,
31:15
he's the individual that is crafty. Because the
31:19
goal is that you say, oh, I will go and worship
31:21
them. So the question is, who is deceptive? The
31:25
individual in question, because he didn't play
31:28
out the way he wanted it to play out, he... you
31:31
will get a sense of, oh, it's deception. But
31:35
know that they were following the instruction
31:37
of God. They prioritized, which is the instruction
31:39
for us as believers. We are to prioritize God's
31:43
instruction over anything else. The instruction,
31:48
what is God's word? And that is why it is, our
31:52
life is tailored, our life is... we are moving
31:55
we are doing things anchored on god's word so
31:57
if a believer doesn't know god's word i don't
31:59
know what instructions they are following i don't
32:02
know what it is that you are that's that's telling
32:05
or that's driving or moving that's why when we
32:09
say believing exercising our faith we our faith
32:11
in god and in the things he had instructs us
32:15
to do so this major acted in the the way they
32:19
acted. They came in, they did what they did and
32:22
they acted accordingly. That's their response.
32:24
That is their response. Note that there is the
32:27
individuals that are Jewish leaders. The Jewish
32:30
leaders were there. The Jewish leaders that know
32:35
of this prophecy aided the herald. Let's see
32:42
that in verse 4. That's Matthew 2 verse 4. Matthew
32:47
2 verse 4. Matthew 2 verse 4 says, And when he
32:52
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of
32:56
the people together, he inquired of them where
33:02
the Christ was to be born. That means these individuals
33:05
had given him intel because the wise men did
33:12
not give the intel. These individuals were the
33:15
ones that aided. assisted Harold to carry out
33:22
since the Magi did not come in and the Magi followed
33:25
the instruction of God. This is very important
33:28
that we note this, that even people in power
33:33
and people in authority, you still, even if you're
33:36
in a position of power or authority, you have
33:38
a choice to follow God over the supposed person
33:42
in leadership. And we see that the midwives did
33:46
that. the two of them shifran who are they chose
33:49
to because they feared god and he showed in their
33:52
actions and i want us to also see the other point
33:57
which is the escape that both of them have the
34:02
the the moses when he was of age we see that
34:07
in exodus 2 exodus 2 verse 15. Exodus 2 verse
34:14
15. I hope our hands are not weary in moving
34:18
from one passage to the other. Exodus 2 verse
34:21
15. We see that when the incident happened where
34:25
Moses had killed an Egyptian, and then in 15,
34:31
we see that, let's read from 14. See, then he
34:36
said, That is the Israelite now speaking to Moses.
34:42
Then he said, who made you prince and judge over
34:45
us? Do you intend to kill me as you have killed
34:50
the Egyptian? So Moses feared and said, surely
34:53
this thing is known. Then 15, which is the point.
34:56
When Pharaoh heard this matter, he sought to
35:00
kill Moses. herald and dwelt in the land of Midian
35:11
and sat down by a well. So notice that Moses
35:15
now leaves Egypt. Moses escapes from Egypt. Moses
35:20
escapes from Egypt. But we see something slightly
35:23
different in Jesus' case where it was the same
35:30
life, it was the same direction but we now see
35:32
Jesus and his family, all of them escaping from.
35:38
herald to Egypt. In the same, in Matthew 2 verse
35:42
14. We see that happen in Matthew 2 verse 14.
35:45
In Matthew 2 verse 14. After being spoken to
35:49
in a dream. Let me read 13. Matthew 2 verse 13.
35:55
It says, Now they had departed. Now they had
35:59
departed. Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared
36:01
to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, take the
36:06
young child and his mother. Flee to Egypt and
36:10
stay there until I bring you word, for Herod
36:16
will seek the young child to destroy him. 14.
36:20
When he arose, he took the young child and his
36:26
mother by night and departed for Egypt. He took
36:30
the young child and his mother and departed for
36:32
Egypt. And I want us to also see God's preservation
36:35
in this situation for his children, God's preservation
36:39
for his son, God's preservation for the family.
36:42
And in all of this, I'm not just pointing to
36:47
raw similarities, but I'm also wanting us to
36:49
see how God is able to preserve his people. God
36:52
is able to... um give his children boldness to
36:56
stand on his word god is able to it it still
37:00
comes down to what we know of god and what our
37:04
stand is we don't choose to do otherwise when
37:09
we're faced with our situation is we make a resolve
37:11
to do what we will do and then when we're faced
37:14
with the situation we act in accordance to his
37:16
word that is why he said when we don't know what
37:20
god would say about the thing when we're now
37:22
faced with the decision to make we now start
37:25
looking for it that's when we start looking for
37:27
what because what has to say about a matter and
37:29
we almost will face because sometimes some certain
37:32
decisions are they need immediate act they need
37:34
you to act on it immediately and you find yourself
37:36
doing something that and it's sad i think speaking
37:39
about all of this there are certain things that
37:40
even as it shouldn't be found amongst believers
37:43
there are certain things that even talking about
37:45
manifesting you know in this day and age you
37:48
know something manifesting the the new age people
37:51
use the word a lot and they do like they don't
37:55
know whatever familiar with the new age religion
37:57
they're setting elements that they they use it
38:00
you and if you don't know what exactly it is
38:02
you have even believers that do scientology doing
38:04
all of those different things and you don't know
38:06
what exactly it is that is because you don't
38:09
know what the word has to say you don't know
38:10
that the bible speaks against those things the
38:13
bible instructs us not to do something because
38:15
it means that you're placing your trust In those
38:17
things. In fact, there's the physical implication
38:19
of you. There's the very clear implication of
38:22
you trusting in those things other than God.
38:25
That is one. And then two, there's also what
38:27
you are opening yourself to when you put yourself
38:30
on that path of trust or put yourself on that
38:32
path of those activities. Instead of you to do
38:34
activities of the spirit, you're doing activities
38:36
of the devil. So you want to be able to know
38:39
what God's word has to say about a thing and
38:42
act on it. Praise God. And then we see the return.
38:46
Now they escaped, but we see that these individuals
38:48
did not stay away. They did not stay away. And
38:52
at a certain point in time, when the children
38:55
of Israel had cried out to God, we see that in
38:57
Exodus, the ending of chapters 2. We see that
39:02
in the ending of chapters 2. Exodus chapter 2.
39:05
We see that in the ending of Exodus chapter 2.
39:07
We start from 23. Exodus 2, 23. It says, Now
39:13
it happened in a process of time that the king
39:17
of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned
39:24
because of the bondage, and they cried out, and
39:28
their cries came up to God because of the bondage.
39:31
So God heard their groanings, and God remembered
39:34
his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with
39:37
Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel.
39:42
and God acknowledge them. Then we see that in
39:46
verse 9, that's the chapters 3, verse 9 and 10.
39:51
I want us to see verse 9 and 10. Then 9 and 10,
39:54
we see that Moses now is called upon to go back.
39:58
Now, therefore, behold, the cry of the children
40:01
of Israel has come to me, and I also have seen
40:05
the oppression with which the Egyptians oppressed
40:08
them. Verse 9, that is chapter 3, verse 9. Come
40:12
now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh
40:15
that you may bring my people, the children of
40:20
Israel, out of Egypt. So we see that there is
40:23
now a plan for Moses to go, regardless of what
40:27
has happened, to go back to Egypt so that the
40:29
people will be taken out of Egypt. Go back to
40:34
Egypt so that the people will be taken out of
40:36
Egypt. And we see something similar also happen.
40:42
in Jesus' case, where I want us to read first
40:45
their return in Matthew 2, 21. Matthew 2, 21.
40:50
Matthew 2, 21. Okay, let's read from 21st letter.
40:56
It says, saying, Arise, take the young child
41:00
and his mother and go to the land of Israel.
41:05
For those who sought the young child's life are
41:09
dead. 21. Then he rose, took the young child
41:17
and his mother and came into the land of Israel.
41:21
So we see the return of the family, Joseph, his
41:27
wife, and Jesus. And then in Matthew 1 .21, I
41:32
want you to see the prophecy that was given.
41:35
It says in Matthew 1 .21, it says, and she will
41:39
bring forth a son, and you shall call his name
41:42
Jesus. He will save his people from their sins.
41:48
He will save his people from their sins. He will
41:51
save his people from their sins. And we see that
41:55
the aim in Moses' case was to deliver the people
42:00
from the bondage they were in. And it's physical.
42:04
It's physical. The aim is to deliver people from
42:06
the bondage they were in. It's physical. But
42:09
we see that in Jesus' case, the thing that the
42:14
people have been saved from is spiritual, is
42:18
their sin, is from death. And we know that in
42:23
this saving, there's a union of man with God.
42:26
There's a union of man with God. And we see that
42:29
even in all of this, when these people come to
42:32
do the work they are called to do, they will
42:34
experience rejection. In Moses' case, the people,
42:38
in fact, before he even left, before he even
42:41
departed, in Exodus 2 verse 14, the other bit
42:45
is the rejection part, and that is the part that
42:47
would tie us into the part of unbelief, the part
42:51
of where people, where we come, where they are
42:54
setting doubts that's casted on what is being
42:57
said, or setting misunderstanding, or not being
43:00
able to understand what is being said, which
43:02
is where the word of God, will constantly come
43:05
into play. The word of God has to be preached
43:10
for people to come out of unbelief into a place
43:13
of belief. The word of God has to be preached,
43:15
the word of God has to be taught, the word of
43:17
God has to be spoken so that people will come
43:20
to that place of belief. And the rejection is
43:25
what Moses experienced from his people. And we'll
43:30
see that in Exodus 2. verse 14 which we have
43:34
read before we have read that i read that when
43:37
i was reading 15 where he comes to save he comes
43:43
to to help his fellow israelite and the fellow
43:47
israelite rejects him and even in in in acts
43:51
that's that's what um acts 7 in acts 7 that's
43:55
what um stephen was actually communicating he
43:59
was communicating the rejection In Acts 7, let's
44:02
go to Acts 7. Acts 7, I will start from 35. Acts
44:08
7 from 35. It says, This Moses, whom they rejected,
44:14
saying, Who had made you ruler? This is a quote.
44:19
Who had made you ruler and a judge? Is the one
44:23
God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the
44:28
hand of the angel who appeared to him. He brought
44:31
him out after he had shown wonders and signs
44:37
in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in
44:41
the wilderness 40 years. I think if you remember
44:45
when we started on Sunday, there were so many
44:48
things that the children of Israel had seen,
44:50
but they kept on rejecting. I think we started
44:54
off, I think we went to Hebrews, Hebrews 4, where
44:57
it says they will not enter his rest. Note that
44:59
the decision that they made to reject him, that
45:04
is the decision that made them not to enter.
45:06
You know, sometimes when they say they will not
45:08
enter, they will not enter. They have made a
45:10
decision not to enter by unbelief. Because of
45:14
their unbelief, that is why they were not able
45:17
to. So when it is presented to you and you decide
45:20
not to take it, you have positioned yourself,
45:23
you have rejected it and you position yourself
45:25
for the other, not what is intended for. because
45:28
if you receive what is given to you then you
45:31
are you have accepted your work and what is given
45:33
to you but once you decide to reject it the consequence
45:36
is is what we see and then in 52 that's the same
45:40
act 752 it says when i say which the prophets
45:45
did which which is which the prophets did your
45:50
father's not which which prophets your father
45:52
not persecute sorry and they killed this those
45:55
who foretold the coming of the just one of whom
46:00
you now have become the betrayers and of you
46:04
now have become the betrayers and murderers of
46:07
you now become betrayers and murderers and this
46:10
is him insisting this is him telling talking
46:14
to the individuals and this was where they they
46:17
became furious and then they killed him where
46:19
he was telling it to them that look you have
46:22
persecuted you have killed people like the Israelites
46:27
in time past this is what they have always done
46:29
and this is what you are doing and then they
46:31
became furious they grind their teeth and then
46:33
they stoned Stephen to death they stoned Stephen
46:37
to death and Stephen was pointing to them of
46:39
the different ways that they had rejected what
46:42
has been spoken to them concerning and I want
46:44
us to see that even Jesus Christ too also still
46:47
faced rejection as beautiful as what he came
46:51
to do he still was rejected by his own people
46:55
he was rejected by his own people in fact he's
46:57
still being rejected and no matter how beautiful
47:00
you know what that the word of god is powerful
47:03
you know that the word of god is able to say
47:05
people will still reject the word of god you
47:07
don't you don't go and cry when you present the
47:11
gospel to someone and then the person refuses
47:15
to receive what you're giving as beautiful as
47:16
it is it will still be rejected it's not today
47:19
it starts being rejected in time past people
47:21
have rejected it and even today because we i
47:24
think we're talking about we were reading from
47:27
scripture i think even during the time of prayer
47:29
the god of this world is blinding has blinded
47:34
and continues to blind people to the realities
47:37
of the to the truth of the gospel And when we
47:41
understand that that is what we are coming against,
47:43
we take our stance and take our authority and
47:46
continue to insist that the word of God will
47:50
take root in the life. And I'm speaking to someone
47:53
here that is believing a sibling, that's believing
47:56
God for their sibling to be saved, believing
47:59
God for their dad to be saved, believing God
48:02
for their mother to be saved. I want you to stand
48:05
in the authority that is in the word of God.
48:08
Pray for them. preach the word of God to them
48:12
and believe God to see the veils torn off their
48:16
eyes. And you will see that regardless of rejection,
48:20
it comes to a point where the person will give
48:22
in to the word of God. And there are a lot of
48:25
things that will bring that person. And one of
48:27
them that is very key is the word of God. Praise
48:30
God. And in Matthew, I want us to see Matthew
48:33
13. I want us to see. In Matthew 13, how Jesus
48:37
Christ, even in Nazareth, was rejected. And when
48:43
people come down and speaking about in families,
48:48
where people come and say, is it not you? Is
48:52
it not you of yesterday? You're this small boy
48:55
of yesterday. What do you know? You're this small
48:58
boy of yesterday because you are reading your
49:00
Bible now. You feel that you can teach or you
49:03
feel that you can preach. I want to encourage
49:05
you that the word of God is not to bend. When
49:09
Apostle Paul was speaking to Timothy, let no
49:11
one despise your youth. The word of God in you
49:17
is powerful. The word of God in you is powerful.
49:21
You just need to proclaim it. You just need to
49:23
proclaim it. Matthew 13, verse 53. Matthew 13,
49:29
verse 53. Matthew 13, verse 53. It says, Now
49:34
it came to pass when Jesus had finished these
49:39
parables that he departed from them. And when
49:44
he had returned, when he had come to his own
49:47
country, he taught them in their synagogues,
49:51
in the synagogue, so that they were astonished
49:55
and said, where did this man get this wisdom
49:59
and this mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's
50:03
son? Is that not his mother, called Mary, and
50:09
his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
50:15
56. He says, and his sisters. Are they not all
50:19
with us? Where then did this man get all these
50:25
things? 57. So they were offended at him. But
50:31
Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without
50:35
honor except in his own country and his own house
50:39
58 he says and he did not do many mighty works
50:43
there because of their unbelief so them you know
50:46
them not receiving what he had put and there
50:49
and note that they were they were they were you
50:53
know when somebody is weighing you nobody now
50:56
looks at you and scale you and then tells you
50:58
oh is it not you is it not This is not this young
51:04
boy. It's not you of yesterday. Know that you
51:09
will have rejection. You will suffer rejection.
51:11
You have people turn down what it is you're saying.
51:13
But it doesn't stop you from doing what exactly
51:16
it is that you're doing. You still move to other
51:19
towns. You still move to other cities. You still
51:21
believe for them. You pray for them. You still
51:25
see that God is able to do what... And it's very
51:28
powerful when we... believe when we stay on that
51:32
place we were praying for the individual you
51:34
suffer rejection you pray for the individual
51:36
and you believe that what it is that you want
51:39
to see you are going to see it in your life you
51:41
insist and persist and you will see god transform
51:45
you see god do what only he can do in the life
51:47
of that person and as you're communicating god's
51:50
word you're praying for them you're allowing
51:52
you're allowing the life of god you're allowing
51:55
the power of god manifest in the situation you
51:59
are allowing and seeing God and you want to have
52:01
this you want to have this vision of what God
52:06
is doing in the life of the person you don't
52:08
want to get tired and want to believe him for
52:10
what it is you want to see I want us to go to
52:12
John that John 1 they were looking at earlier
52:16
the John 1 they were looking at earlier I want
52:18
us to go to John 1 I want us to read from 10
52:21
to 13 John 1 10 to 13 I want us to read from
52:25
10 to 13 he says he says he he was in the world
52:31
and the world was made through him and the world
52:34
did not know him the world did not know him 11
52:37
it says the word came he said he came to his
52:41
own and they did not receive him he came to his
52:44
own and did not receive him they said but as
52:47
many as received him to them he gave them the
52:52
right to become children of God, children of
52:56
God, even to those who believe in his name. 13
53:02
now, it says, who were born not of blood, nor
53:07
of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
53:10
man, but of God, who are born of God. I love
53:13
the fact where it says, those who believe in
53:16
his name, those who believe in his name. And
53:19
we are people who believe in his name. We are
53:21
people who have received. where people who believe
53:24
in his name. It's very powerful to know we are
53:26
people who believe in his name. And the same
53:28
way we have believed, the same way we believe
53:31
many others. It says many, as many as. Many others
53:35
will also receive. And it says, in my father's
53:38
house, there are many. There are many mansions.
53:41
There are many. There are many dwellings. In
53:44
my father's, there are many. There are many.
53:46
There are many. So that person that you believe
53:48
in God, that has rejected, there is space for
53:51
that person. You want to keep. believe in that
53:53
they will come into that reality they'll come
53:55
into that understanding they will see that space
53:57
so i want us to look at first peter and just
53:59
look at first peter two first peter two first
54:04
peter two first peter two verse verse four and
54:09
five first peter two verse four and five says
54:11
coming to him as to a living stone rejected indeed
54:16
by men but chosen by god and precious he says
54:22
You also, as living stones, have been built up
54:28
a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer
54:32
up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
54:35
Christ Jesus. It means that this thing is done,
54:38
as the resurrection of Christ is done. So we
54:42
are that spiritual house. Remember when we looked
54:46
at Matthew 16, verse 18, it says, I will build
54:50
my church. That John 14 .2 says, I go to prepare
54:54
a place. We are now that well in place. When
54:57
Moses wanted to see the glory of God, Moses wanted
55:02
to see it. We, as God's children, we carry the
55:07
glory. We showcase the glory. And in our preaching
55:10
of God's word, the glory is being revealed. The
55:13
glory is being revealed. And it's beautiful how
55:15
we see how God comes. And when we looked at John,
55:19
just close with this. When we look at John 1,
55:23
verse 14, that time we looked at John 1, verse
55:26
14, that the Word became flesh. And we beheld
55:30
his glory, the glory of the only begotten. Now,
55:34
the only begotten there is monogenes. But we
55:37
see in Romans, we see in Romans, we see in Romans
55:41
8, Romans 8, verse 29, it says, for whom he foreknew.
55:47
He also predestined to be conformed to the image
55:51
of his son, that he might be the firstborn among
55:56
many. The firstborn is prototokos, among many
55:59
brethren. So he's no longer the only begotten.
56:02
He's the firstborn amongst many brethren. We
56:06
are the many. Remember when we say there are
56:09
many places? We have come into that space we
56:13
are. The dwelling of God, we have seen, it's
56:21
not no one has seen God at any time. In the person
56:26
of Christ, we are beheld and we know that it's
56:30
not physical. We know that it's not physical.
56:32
The moment we believe in the gospel, we receive
56:35
the life of Christ and we come into that union
56:38
and that reality. And our life now is no longer
56:41
the way it used to be. We walk now. With the
56:44
confidence that we have in what Christ has done,
56:47
we walk now knowing that we are able to, we are
56:51
manifesting the kingdom, we are speaking, we
56:54
are spreading the influence of God everywhere
56:55
we go. We trust God and we are instructed and
56:59
we act as we are instructed. The Spirit of God
57:01
that resides in us empowers us to do all these
57:03
things. We're not doing it on our own ability.
57:06
I don't want us to sit down at some point because
57:08
the moment we look at ourselves and think of
57:11
our abilities, think of our inabilities, We'll
57:14
be stuck. But when we understand that it is God's
57:16
ability at working us and through us, we're encouraged,
57:19
we're strengthened, we're emboldened because
57:21
it is God's work and we do it with God's ability.
57:24
It is God's work and we do it with God's ability.
57:27
We don't do it. We don't come and sit down and
57:29
think that it's our ability that is bringing
57:31
us or moving us closer. We are just acting in
57:34
obedience. That is the beautiful thing that I
57:36
said we're doing. We're exercising our authority.
57:39
And I think I was going to have it. Here in my
57:44
notes, I wanted to tell us that the word believe,
57:47
if you search, you do a search for the different
57:51
words believe. The now word there, the now word
57:55
for all the different, I think I remember I told
57:58
us about the eight. The now word there is faith.
58:02
The now word there is faith. And you have a lot
58:05
of verbs. The verb, the pistou is one of the
58:08
verbs that we had seen in that John 14. But every
58:13
other, now, and we know that it's something that
58:16
you do. That's why I love what Pastor Emma told,
58:18
how Pastor Emma defined believing us, exercising
58:22
our faith. So we, as God's children, we are in
58:26
the space where we exercise our faith, our faith
58:29
in what Christ has spoken, our faith in the speakings.
58:31
Remember when we started, there's a communication.
58:34
It's the speakings that we exercise our faith
58:36
on. We hear God's word, we see God's word, and
58:40
we act on God's word. We are believed, so we
58:44
are already bound to God's word. So we act on
58:47
God's word. We expose ourselves to more of God's
58:49
word. And then that stares in us, the willingness,
58:53
the zeal, the boldness, the confidence to be
58:55
able to act on God's word and be empowered. I
58:58
want us to just pray in closing. I want us to
59:00
just pray. I want us to say, I trust God to manifest
59:04
his kingdom in my life and through my life. I
59:06
am seated with Christ in the heavens. I walk
59:11
on the authority. I walk on the power. I do the
59:14
will of God here on earth. I do the will of God
59:17
here. I exercise my authority. I do all these
59:20
things in his name. I do all these things in
59:22
his power. I do all these things with confidence.
59:24
I do all these things with boldness. I do all
59:26
these things frosting in his ability in me to
59:29
do. In his ability in me to do. And I do and
59:32
I act. And I see. I see. I see people coming
59:37
to the knowledge of the truth in God's word.
59:39
I see people healed. I see people saved. I see
59:42
people delivered. I see people restored. I see
59:45
people strengthened. I see people encouraged
59:47
in the name of Jesus. I see people transformed
59:51
by the power of the word of God in the name of
59:55
Jesus. I see these things happen not because
59:57
of my ability. I see these things happen because...
1:00:01
God is always working. God, you are always working.
1:00:04
You are always willing to see that people are
1:00:06
encouraged. You are always willing to see that
1:00:07
people are healed. You are always willing to
1:00:09
see people are set free, people that are long.
1:00:13
You are always willing to see things turn around
1:00:16
and turn around for good. Heavenly Father, we
1:00:18
thank you for this evening. Thank you for your
1:00:20
word. Thank you for the power that you are. We
1:00:22
appreciate you being here today. We hope you
1:00:24
carry this word with you throughout your week.
1:00:27
Don't forget to check the show notes for additional
1:00:29
insights. Stay connected with us through our
1:00:32
website or follow us on social media. If you
1:00:36
are encouraged, share this message with someone
1:00:38
you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.