Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / The issues about Women's Liberty pt. 10

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The issues about Women's Liberty pt. 10 · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Hi there. Welcome to NECF. We're excited to share
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today's message with you. Don't go anywhere.
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Stay with us till the end for some valuable resources
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to enrich your faith. Here's today's sermon.
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Amen. Okay, so I think this is the tenth part.
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I don't know when we will finish. Glory to Jesus.
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Okay, we've been looking at a series of issues
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around or about women's liberty. And we are at
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a point where we are asking a question. Wait
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a minute. What is God's original plan or intention
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for creating a woman? Now, this is very important,
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especially... in this season that we are considering
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manifesting the kingdom. You cannot manifest
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the kingdom you don't know. You cannot manifest
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the kingdom you don't know. Manifesting the kingdom
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is not something accidental. It's something that
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comes from knowledge. So the fact that you are
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in the kingdom does not mean that you're going
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to manifest it effectively. That's why we are
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taking time to remove obstacles. that will hinder
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us from manifesting the kingdom. And one of these
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obstacles that has hindered us for a long period
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of time is a lot of matter around our sisters.
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Because there are a lot of issues that we have
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to dismantle. And why do we need to dismantle
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them? Because you will see as we begin that many
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of the strongholds that has kept people from
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growing and becoming effective in ministry, are
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things that claim to come from Scriptures. So
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you have to be careful when you go to Scriptures.
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And that's why Apostle Paul says that we are
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ministers of who? The Spirit. We are not of letters,
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the ministers of letters. For the letters kill
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it, but the Spirit give it what? Life. Hallelujah.
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Amen. Now, in our last message, last time, I
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think that's part nine, I concluded by coming
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to a point, looking at Genesis 1, verse 26 to
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27, particularly these two verses. And when we
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read that place, one thing we were able to establish
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that God... Created man, male and female. And
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he created them in the what? In the image of
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God. And we said one important part of our study
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which we will do is to actually find out what
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exactly is that image. Now, let me give you some
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hints. Look at Genesis chapter 9. Genesis chapter
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9. Genesis. Chapter 9. I want you to open your
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Bible. Else I will shut this thing down. Because
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we are not just telling you. This time is time
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for Bible study. And when you study, you study
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actively. You don't study passively. That's why
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probably many of our graduates today, they are
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graduating with empty heads. Because the problem
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is that... They go to class. I mean, when I teach
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some of them, especially, anyway, probably some
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people from the medical school are a little bit
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serious, but they are on serious issues too.
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So I'm really pathetic. I mean, I feel so sorry
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for our next generation of doctors. I used to
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talk to them so well in the class. You understand?
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But probably the most unserious people are the
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people from this area. No, I don't call names.
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I only say people from this area. You see some
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of them come into class with only phone. They
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will just sit down as if they come to watch movie.
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I ask one, am I a movie? Please don't do that
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in the church. There should be evidence after
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coming to church for a long period of a time.
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Don't come here and be wasting your time. I mean,
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please don't come here and waste your time. I'm
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telling you the truth. Very soon you will have
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gray hairs. When I came to this side, I don't
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have gray hairs. You know that song? Fading away
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like the stars of the morning. You know that
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song? Okay. So you better utilize your time quite
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fast. And this is a time of development. If you
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miss this part, you miss it. I'm telling you.
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Because the time, the area, I mean, the stage
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in which you will be moving in is brutal. You
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understand? Nobody will understand with you that
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you are in Cyprus. Life doesn't look at it that
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way. You understand? Hallelujah. What did I say?
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Genesis 9. Let me leave that one. Genesis 9.
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So, there is something that got my attention
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when I was just going through. So, I want to
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just give you a hint before we come to study
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it. Now, if you look at this scripture. He talks
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to you about Noah and all that after the flood.
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And I want you to just look at, he said, verse
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3, every moving thing that lives shall be food
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for you. And I've given you all things, the green
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herbs. Then when you go down, let me just move
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down quickly. Verse 6, look at verse 6. He said,
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for whosoever or whoever sheds man's blood, by
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man his blood shall be what? Shed. For, that
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is, in the image of God he made who? In the image
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of God he made man. Now, you know, normally when
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we normally look at Genesis chapter 1 verse 26
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and 7. we quickly conclude that that is talking
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about people in Christ, right? So how do we go
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about with some scriptures like this? That means
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we will have to study carefully. Are we together?
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That's why I say we have to pay attention. Amen.
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But before we go there, there's something I have
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to put some layers before we arrive there. Amen.
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Okay, so... Now, I just give you something to
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chew while you continue to hear. What then is
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the image of God? Because here he's talking about,
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he doesn't seem to talk about the man in Christ.
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Is that correct? Yes. He's just talking about
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the man, any man you shed the blood in the sun.
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He said, no, don't do that. And the reason is
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because that man is made in who? The image of
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God. Okay. So, now let's go back to where our
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sister read for us. Matthew 19. Matthew 19. Now
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look at verse 3. He said, the Pharisees came
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to him. That is, they came to Jesus. Testing
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him. That means they were not coming to learn.
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They were coming to test him. Because they think
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they have knowledge already. And saying to him,
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is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for
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just... Any reason? Now, once they use the word
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lawful, that means definitely they are referring
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to what? The law. Are we together? Of course,
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they knew that Moses' law didn't say for any
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other reason. But you know, why did they come
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to meet him? They wanted to test him in the sand.
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So they knew the law. They knew what the law
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says. But they came to test Jesus and asked him,
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is it lawful in the sand that you... Put away
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your wife or divorce your wife, you know what
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I'm saying? Just any other reason. Now, listen,
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besides just that they want to test him, that
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question is open to us what is their view concerning
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a woman. Are we together? I want you to look
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at it. Because they have an understanding of
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what a woman is, according to them. So their
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question does not just only show that they want
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to trap Jesus. But it opened to us of their ideology,
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of their view concerning who a woman is. And
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interestingly, as we will see, they are bringing
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it from the law. Are we together? So they said,
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is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for
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just any other reason? And that's why I wanted
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you to look at that verse very carefully. Now
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for them, a wife, pay attention. For them, a
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wife is something you can just put away. Did
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you understand what I'm trying to say? For them,
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apparently they don't know what a wife is. Do
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you understand? Because after Adam's sin, when
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the Lord came, Adam too was trying to accuse
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God. But there's a statement he made which have
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an indication why God brought Eve to him. He
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accused God, but I want you to pay attention
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to know because the point is not the accusation.
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He said, the woman you gave me to be with who?
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With me. Did you understand what I'm trying to
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say? I want you to know that word, the woman
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you gave to me to be with who? To be with who?
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But now, look at how the Pharisees are thinking.
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To put her what? Away. To put her away. Now,
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in no place, when you look at the Pharisees,
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in no place do you see that the woman have any
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faith of her own. That means her faith is dependent
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on them. Is that correct? Are we together? That
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means her faith depends on them. They decide
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when to put away. And while... They are focusing
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on just put away. Now look at the answer of Jesus.
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And I want you to pay attention to that. Verse
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4. Are you in verse 4? And he answered and said
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to them, Have you not read that he who made them
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at the beginning made them what? And said, For
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this cause a man shall leave his father and mother
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and join to his wife. The two shall become one
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flesh. So when the Pharisees are talking about
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putting away, it's an indication how they see
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a woman. A woman is like a commodity. A woman
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has no equal value with them, which means that
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the power of what to do solely lies... Are we
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together? So their view is already open. But
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while they are focusing on putting away, we're
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going to look at it. Look at what Jesus said,
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that have you not read? I know we have done that
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study. You understand? He's talking about that
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reading is not just casual reading, an aginoscope.
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We saw that it's about reading. properly, completely,
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through, across. And he pointed out, look at
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verse 5, for this cause or for this reason, for
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the reason of what? The reason of verse 4, the
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quotation there. He said, a man shall leave his
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father and mother and join to his wife. Look
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at what Jesus said. And do what? And joined.
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What are they focusing? And put away. Jesus is
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saying, join. They are saying what? I'll put
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away. Now you see that a complete viewpoint.
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You understand? One, the view of Pharisee concerning
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a woman. Another, the view of God concerning
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a woman. That she's not a property to just throw
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anyhow. You understand? No. That the will of
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God, the plan of God, the original intention
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of God is... That the two are joined. The two
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are joined. So by now you clearly know the difference
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between the Pharisee view. Are we together? And
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the view of Jesus. Which is hinged upon scripture.
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Because he quoted scripture. So we want to see
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the difference between the Pharisee because they
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also quote scripture. When they discover that
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Jesus called scripture, they say, okay. Ah, okay.
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So they will have to now scripturize much clearly
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their view. They now ask him in verse 7. Look
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at verse 7. They said to him, why then did Moses
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command that to give a certificate of divorce
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to put her away? They say, why did Moses then?
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They focus. It's Moses. They said, this thought
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you are saying, what we are giving you, it was
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Moses that brought it. So what are you trying
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to say? It's scriptural, what we are giving you.
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You know, just the same way the devil will cause
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scripture, Jesus will also cause scripture. Are
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we together? They are still defending their view.
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Now, I want you to note something here quickly
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before we move. That the fact that you claim
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that your view came from Scripture does not make
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it that it's right. And that's why we have to
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be careful. And that's the reason why, as I said,
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all the issues we are discussing concerning women's
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liberty, concerning whether a woman should speak
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or keep quiet in church, concerning whether a
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woman can lead a church, concerning whether a
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woman should wear a trouser or not, concerning...
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whether a woman should, what do you call it,
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cover her hair or not. All these, I want you
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to note that they are all picked from where?
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From scriptures. Here we are seeing a Pharisee
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also trying to argue with Jesus, backing their
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viewpoint from where? From scriptures. So that's
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why we said, if ever somebody say, it's in the
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Bible, it's in the Bible. You know, sir, have
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you had that argument? You say, it's in the Bible
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now? That's why we have taught you, Right? Yes.
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As I said, you know, some people were surprised,
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I followed them. Even if you block us, they will
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bring good. Yes, sir. If they block us, I'll
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call them, we will do Bible study with them.
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Then I will give them assignment. So be careful
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how you post, because I'm watching. That's my
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work. And that's our work, sir. Yes. Glory to
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Jesus. So what we are trying to say is that is
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to clarify true scriptures, to understand what
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is God's view, because that's what matters. What
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is God's view concerning a woman? And if that
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is not corrected, it's going to affect you and
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it's going to affect your relationship. I hear
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some of you say, that's how women are. That's
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how women are. That's how women are. Sometimes,
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if you don't beat a woman, she's like a baby.
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If you don't beat her, normally her sense is
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not normally okay. You see, your village is following
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you. Or you hear so many comments, careless comments,
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regrettably, even sometimes by ministers, that
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men are made naturally to have, to need varieties.
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You see how, how we are spiritualizing flesh.
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You know, sir? That means if you think that a
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man needs varieties, that he cannot stay with
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one woman, that means in your head you are thinking
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that women are what? Dufe? Or women are... You
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know what I'm trying to say? Groceries, like
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Pasuji used to teach us in healthy living, that
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you need different colors of fruit to be healthy.
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You see? Suddenly now you will turn sisters to
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become fruit. So you need black, blue, short,
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tall. And that's why it's critical. When you
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go with this type of thought, how will you not
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frustrate the agenda of God? How won't pride
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enter you? When they say minister to one another
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and a lady comes to minister to you, you see
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her as tomatoes. So something needs to be corrected.
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And that's why we are taking time. It's not possible
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for you to really become effective in ministry,
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whether you're a man or a woman, if you have
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a wrong perception about a woman or about a man.
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This is how, that's why I often tell believers,
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be careful when they start all this movement.
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Try to know where are they going. Don't just
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be... Be carried away by the label alone. Say
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Black Lives Matter. Do you understand what I'm
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saying? Feminist movement. You know, don't just
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be carried away by label. Try to know where are
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they going? What exactly is the source of their
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motivation? You'll be shocked. Did you understand
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what I'm saying? You'll be shocked. This is the
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reason why we have... You know, the last time...
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We are talking, you understand? I was talking
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about, even for concerning this issue of gender,
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what do you call it? Gender equality, you understand?
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All those grammar, gender equity, gender equality,
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whatever. You understand? What shaped, what is
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shaping your thoughts and your understanding?
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As I said, don't be carried away by labels, you
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understand? That's why we are saying, learn to
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read. You don't want to read, you understand?
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Because you will need to be hardworking. to read
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properly, to understand what actually the thing
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is. I mean, the movement is about. And that's
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why we're taking time to talk about distance.
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You know, I saw one lady fuming online. Fuming!
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Yes, sir. I'm qualified, but they are paying
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me less because I'm a woman. They are paying
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me less as a woman. Now, if you are not well
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read, You will just speak it like that. But anybody
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who is, even if you understand basic statistics,
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right, will know that, yes, gender could contribute
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about a difference in salary, but that difference
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in salary is not actually a unilateral factor.
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It is several factors that contribute to it.
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Do you understand what I'm trying to say? So
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let nobody just come and simplify something to
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you and say it's because of gender alone. Wait
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a minute. Do you really understand what we call
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Latin variables? What am I trying to say? There's
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a way that these people can be loud and they
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carry you away and then use emotion. Back to
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where we are. What I'm trying to let you know
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that there are many things that are actually
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in the scriptures. But they are picked wrongly.
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Just like the Pharisees. We don't want to be
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like the Pharisees. We don't. Not at all. Look
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at verse 8 of that Matthew. What? Matthew 19.
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Good. He said to them, Moses, because of the
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hardness of your heart, permitted you to do what?
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You know, Jesus unveiled it. Initially they say,
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why did Moses? More or less to say that the source
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of divorce is Moses because he's the one who
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asked us to have certificates. But Jesus said,
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no, the source of divorce is not Moses. The source
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of putting away is not Moses. The source is you.
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It's your own willingness. That's what that heartness
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of heart means. Your unwillingness or your disobedience
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to the word of God. You are heart -hearted because
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of your wicked heart. Moses wanted to help the
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sisters to have, what do you call it, safe landing.
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Because he knows the wickedness of these people's
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heart, he will allow it haphazardly. These people
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are going to do damage. So the only thing Moses
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did... Is to systemize the process. So that they
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should have some dignity. Even if you want to
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put them away. But he said the source of putting
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away of divorce is you. Is the hardness of your
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heart. Because of the hardness of your heart.
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Moses permitted you to divorce. Moses permitted
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you. to divorce. But from the beginning, it was
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what? It was not so. Again, Jesus pointed them
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back to what he has earlier said. In the beginning,
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it was not so. In the beginning, it was not so.
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Now, when you look at these scriptures, it looks
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superficially as if Jesus is just focusing on
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the issue of marriage. I mean, do you understand
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that? Because it looks as that's what the point
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is. But there's a deeper discussion which we're
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going to look at that is much more deeper than
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that. It's not just talking about the issue of
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marriage and then divorce. No. There's something
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deeper than that of value which I want you to
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see. How a woman is viewed. Did you understand
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what I'm trying to say? That's what I want you
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to see. Because... The matter of divorce will
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not have come in if their value of women is accurate.
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Do you understand what I'm trying to say? The
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matter of putting away will not have come if
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their understanding, their view concerning women
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is accurate. Because Jesus said, you understand,
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is to join or to cleave. Now, that scripture
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Jesus called is two scriptures. Although it was
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repeated somehow. Let's go back to them. And
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as I said, one of the scriptures is Genesis chapter
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1. Genesis chapter 1 verse 26. That image. But
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there is something. Let me go to the second scripture
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first. Which is Genesis 2 .24. Genesis 2 .24.
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Please go with me quickly. Genesis 2 .24. Thank
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you Jesus. Therefore. A man shall leave his father
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and mother and be joined to his wife. And the
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two shall become one flesh. The two shall become
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one flesh. Now, to understand this scripture,
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because it says what? Therefore. Are we together?
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Oh, are we with me? Are you with me? Therefore.
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That means you are coming to a conclusion. There
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is a view. Listen, listen to me. Just like we
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said concerning the Pharisee. You see, the issue
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of putting away the woman comes into being because
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of their corrupted understanding of who a woman
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is. So already we will not be focusing on marriage,
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marriage, marriage. That's not the point. We
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want to dig into the source of the problem. Did
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you understand what I'm saying? We want to dig
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into the source of the problem. And so when he
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said, therefore, a man will leave his father
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and mother and be joined to his wife, and the
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two shall become one flesh. To understand that,
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because that's almost a conclusion, is to go
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back a little bit contextually, to read, to understand,
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till we come down. Look at verse 18. Maybe we
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should start from verse 18. Although we can go
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up again. And the Lord God said, it is not good
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that man should be alone. I will make him a helper
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comparable to him. Verse 19. And out of the ground
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the Lord God formed every beast of the field
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and every bird of the air and brought them to
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Adam to see what he will call them. And whatever
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Adam called each living creature, that was its
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name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the
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birds of the air, and to every beast of the field.
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But for Adam, there was not found a helper comparable
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to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep.
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to fall on Adam and he slept and he took one
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of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place.
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Then the ribs which the Lord God had taken from
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man, he made into a woman and brought her to
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man. And Adam said, this is now bone of my bone,
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flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman
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because she was taken out of man. Now, you see,
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this is the context. Are we together? Now, upon
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this strength of revelation and understanding,
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that was when we have what? Therefore. Are we
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together? Now, when a man had this understanding,
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he will not be thinking of separation. He will
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not be thinking of a woman as a commodity. Do
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you understand what I'm trying to say? He will
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not be thinking of a woman as lesser value. That
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someone that he can just throw away anyhow. Do
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you understand what I'm saying? So, the question
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is that we need to unpack this. Because until
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you come to this revelation, you will have erroneous
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view concerning a woman. Now, Look at verse 18
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again. And the Lord God said, it is not good
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that man should be alone. I will make him a helper
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comparable to him. Now for many years when I
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was growing, actually I was taught that this
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place, the helper is the woman. Because when
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you go down there and they say, therefore shall
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a man leave his father and mother and join to
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his wife. So automatically they all conclude.
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That it is woman that God is talking about. You
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understand? So this passage is always taught
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as marriage passage. Do you understand what I'm
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saying? It's always taught as marriage passage.
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Whereas, that is not marriage passage. But for
28:32
many years, of course, I was taught, groom, you
28:34
understand, that the woman is a helper. Now,
28:37
because of that erroneous, what do you call it?
28:40
Interpretation. A woman's purpose. And a woman's
28:46
value is attached to that of a man. Did you understand
28:50
what I'm trying to say? That means a woman does
28:52
not have value outside a man. Meaning that if
28:56
that is the purpose of a woman's life is to become
29:02
the helper of who? Of man. That means if you
29:07
are not married, you are useless. Did you understand
29:09
what I'm trying to say? That is the implication
29:11
now. Why are you looking at me as if you don't
29:13
understand what I'm saying? That is the implication.
29:15
Because if a woman is a helper of man, you understand,
29:19
which we have been taught in the context of marriage,
29:22
that means to fulfill your purpose, you have
29:24
to what? You have to marry. Else, if you don't
29:27
marry, you are useless. That is another worldview.
29:31
And for many years, many women, in trying to
29:35
feel that, no, how banal, that means... How can
29:39
they say that? Do you understand? That my value
29:42
is only attached to that of man. And that's why
29:45
you hear many women are very angry. Let me tell
29:47
you one thing. This is the origin whereby, let
29:50
me point to you some things which probably you
29:52
have not observed. Do you understand? Let's say,
29:55
Pastor Ima, if you're going to write his name
29:57
now, you will not say, Dr. Master Ima. You will
30:03
say what? Talk to me now. You will say what?
30:06
Dr. Ima. Now, our sister Titi, if you want to
30:10
write her name, how will you do it? Doctor what?
30:15
Now, what are you saying now? Did you see what
30:17
I'm trying to say? Meaning that you cannot just
30:20
call her doctor like that. That Mrs. had to be
30:24
a... Why will you put Mrs. if you don't want
30:25
to put master to him? Oh, some people are saying
30:28
her. That's the origin of the culture. That a
30:32
woman's purpose and value must always be attached
30:35
to a man. Outside a man, she has no value. It's
30:39
from this erroneous interpretation. This is the
30:42
reason why we have to pay attention very well.
30:45
If you are sleeping, wake up. Because deliverance
30:49
is happening now, now, now, now. So we agree
30:53
with that. But you see, as you are growing in
30:55
the Lord, some things will come and be hooking
30:58
you in the neck. Now let me give you one of the
31:01
scriptures that begin to shatter my distance.
31:03
I say, uh -uh. I already know that because most
31:06
times when that scripture is provided, it's concerning
31:08
the issue of ministry. They will say, you see,
31:11
in fact, they used to counsel us. He's a man
31:14
of God. Why are you thinking of a woman? You
31:17
need to have the work you are doing before you
31:19
think of a woman. If you don't have work to do,
31:22
what would the woman come to help you with? Did
31:25
you hear that? Meaning that the woman doesn't
31:28
have any work. Her work is to help the man. So
31:30
most times, that was when we would start praying.
31:31
Lord, show me my purpose. And because we are
31:34
confused too. Lord, show me my purpose. Because
31:37
you are trying to pray to know the purpose. So
31:39
that when the woman is coming, you say, woman,
31:41
this is the work the Lord has called me. You
31:44
understand? And the issue is that she's mandated
31:46
by religion. Mandated that she has to follow
31:51
your own, what you call, purpose. Did you understand
31:54
what I'm saying? And women have been becoming
31:56
angry. Why will God do such a thing? And I've
31:59
heard all kinds of interpretations to defend
32:02
women. Again, that will corrupt the passage much
32:06
more. The woman will say, you see, when they
32:10
say you are a helper, that means you have more
32:14
wisdom. Without you, the man cannot do anything.
32:17
Do you understand what I'm saying? The reason
32:18
is not to try to console themselves. You understand?
32:22
At least I am important. You understand? At least
32:25
I am important. Because without me, the man cannot.
32:30
In fact, they will go through this passage. I
32:33
used to fear. You understand? They will see when
32:36
the man was in the garden, there was nothing
32:39
in him. That's why the devil couldn't do anything.
32:42
But suddenly when the woman arrived, hey, hey,
32:45
the devil feel threatened. And that was why he
32:49
came and followed the woman. Because he knows
32:52
whatever is of the man is in the woman. Hey,
32:56
hallelujah. No, there's a problem. So when I
32:59
read this scripture, come to me. Let me read
33:01
this scripture. Don't worry. I'm going slowly
33:04
because we must dismantle these things and digest
33:09
it. Did you understand what I'm saying? Correctly,
33:11
so that we don't put barriers. Because let me
33:14
tell you, some of the men are thinking that when
33:18
a woman becomes almost like... like jelly or
33:22
like a banku you just hit hit like this that
33:27
it is to the advantage you are a coward you don't
33:30
understand what you're saying no if your wife
33:33
have no understanding of her original makeup
33:38
you understand you will discover that the home
33:41
will not be productive it's against both the
33:44
man and the woman the church today have not yet
33:47
we are still struggling because We have made
33:51
this thing and deny our sister expression. You
33:54
know what I'm saying? We have denied. Second
33:56
Corinthians. Oh, glory to Jesus. Second Corinthians.
34:02
Look at Second Corinthians. I mean, this is a
34:06
scripture that hooked me in the neck. And I began
34:12
to study and say, eh, eh, there's a problem here.
34:14
Because we are taught that the manna is the one
34:17
with the purpose of God. The woman is coming
34:19
to help. And suddenly I read this scripture.
34:22
Read with me. He said, verse chapter 5. Okay,
34:28
sorry, I didn't call the chapter. You know, I'm
34:30
vibrating because of my, my spirit is angry concerning
34:33
this issue. Look at chapter 5. 2 Corinthians
34:36
chapter 5. Pastor Iman already read to us that
34:39
scripture. I love that scripture. You understand?
34:42
Let me start from verse 14. For the love of Christ
34:46
compels us. Because we taught church that if
34:50
one died for all, then all died. Verse 15. And
34:55
he died for all. For how many? Male. Only male.
35:00
He died for who? For all, male and female. That
35:04
those who live should live no longer for themselves,
35:08
but for him. But for him. To live for who? For
35:12
him. For the man? For who? For him. For the man,
35:17
for him. Live for him. Who died for them and
35:22
rose again. Look at verse 16. Having this understanding.
35:26
He said, therefore. From now on. We regard no
35:32
one according to the flesh. This is not a matter
35:36
of sex. Visualistic. Having this understanding.
35:42
Now we regard no man. In the worldly. Is it NLT?
35:47
There is one version that says in the worldly
35:50
point of view or something like that. Human point
35:52
of view. Please start. There is one version that
35:55
says NIV. So from now on, we regard no one from
36:04
what? A worldly point of view. Meaning that looking
36:09
at believers from the fleshly standpoint. From
36:14
the physical, it's actually a worldly point of
36:20
view. Though we once regarded Christ in this
36:24
way, we do so what? No longer. Verse 17. Therefore,
36:30
if anyone, male or both male and female, if anyone
36:36
is in Christ, he is a new creature. In fact,
36:41
if you look at in Kidronity, that he is in italics.
36:45
That means it's inserted. In Christ, a new creature.
36:48
That's how it is. All things have passed away.
36:52
Behold, all things have become new. Verse 18.
36:58
Now, all things are of who? All things are of
37:03
God, who has reconciled us to himself. Oh, I
37:08
want you to understand with me. Is the only man.
37:11
Only male that has been reconciled. He said.
37:15
He has reconciled us to himself. That is male
37:18
and female. Through Jesus Christ. And has given
37:22
us. Those who have been reconciled. Given who?
37:27
Us. The ministry of reconciliation. No different.
37:33
Male and who? And female. This thing hook me.
37:37
And say. So how come we read Genesis differently?
37:43
That the ministry is of the man. The woman is
37:48
coming to be a helper. How then now is saying
37:53
that the ministry is us? Those who have been
37:57
reconciled have been given the ministry of reconciliation.
38:02
Which means that our salvation ushers us into
38:06
ministry. Are we together? Everybody here is
38:10
called. All of us. You know, sir? I have explained
38:14
this thing. The will of God is that today you
38:18
are taught. Tomorrow is your turn to teach. Did
38:23
you understand what I'm saying? That is, you
38:25
are taught and you grow. Listen. Pastoring is
38:29
not a name. It's not a label. It's a work. Oh.
38:35
Did you hear what I said? You know, some of you
38:37
when they ask you, because there's erroneous,
38:39
I mean, teaching about it. You think pastor is
38:42
the one who just, no. You know, pastor is a mature
38:46
believer who actually also teach others to grow.
38:50
That's what, that's the work of pastoring. Pastoring
38:53
is feeding. I have taught it in this, this thing.
38:56
You understand? It's from the word shepherd.
38:59
And what does shepherd do? To feed. What am I
39:01
doing now? I am feeding so that you can grow.
39:05
So, The will of God is for you not to stay stunted.
39:11
Not to, I mean, the will of God is for you to
39:14
grow to become a pastor. Did you hear what I'm
39:17
saying? So don't be rejecting, no, me, I'm not
39:19
a pastor. I won't become a pastor. Pastors are
39:22
not the people who just live whatever they are
39:24
doing and come and stay. You understand? You
39:28
know, we have all kinds of erroneous thinking
39:29
about ministry. That's why we said in our lifetime,
39:32
that will be corrected. You do understand what
39:35
I'm saying? And you must make that choice that
39:37
must be corrected. You understand? Paul has a
39:40
career. Zenos is a lawyer. Are we together? Luke
39:44
is a what? He's a physician. Does that stop you
39:47
from ministry? Oh, talk to me. Does your career
39:51
stop you from ministry? Does it stop you from
39:54
being called an apostle? No. So this is not a
39:57
name. Nobody will say, no, God called me only
40:00
to be pastor. You know? Me, I'm not a prophet.
40:03
You understand? Me, I'm only a pastor. I know
40:06
how to counsel people. Who told you pastoring
40:09
is also about counseling? Are you a psychologist?
40:11
Yes, we do counseling. Are we together? But the
40:15
counsel you will give people is to teach them
40:16
the word of God. That's the counsel. That's what
40:18
is called the counsel of God. Hallelujah. Amen?
40:25
So, you will keep drumming that into your spirit.
40:29
Because you have to hear from the end. For we
40:34
will drum it into your mind, you know, sir, that
40:37
you are called. Because everyone that has been
40:41
reconciled is given the ministry of reconciliation,
40:44
you know, sir. And what is the ministry of reconciliation?
40:47
It didn't leave us in the dark, verse 19. That
40:50
is, what is that is? That is trying to explain
40:54
what the ministry of reconciliation is. He said
40:56
that God was in Christ, reconciling the world
41:01
to himself. not imputing their trespasses to
41:06
them, and has committed to us the word of what?
41:10
The word of reconciliation. The minister who
41:15
has been called into the ministry of reconciliation
41:19
is giving the word of reconciliation. What is
41:22
the word of reconciliation? The gospel. That
41:24
is, God is not imputing men's sins. You know,
41:28
sir? God is not imputing men's sins. He has died
41:33
for the world. That is the gospel. And you and
41:35
I have to preach. Now then, verse 20. We are
41:40
only men. We are Christ's ambassadors. All of
41:45
us. As though God was pleading through us. We
41:49
implore you, on Christ's behalf, be reconciled
41:53
to God. So, when we begin to read, I mean, this
41:57
is just one. When I began to read many... scriptures.
42:02
I say, there's something wrong somewhere. How
42:05
can you say that a woman's only purpose is to
42:09
help a man? That means, as I said, if you're
42:13
not married, you're useless. But that's not scripture.
42:16
Marriage is a choice. Your purpose has no inclination
42:21
with marriage. You fulfill purpose whether you're
42:25
married or not. The greatest people that talk
42:28
about marriage never got married. Did you understand
42:30
what I'm saying? So your authority to even speak
42:33
about marriage is not because you are married.
42:34
Did you understand what I'm saying? You know,
42:37
I know some of you, immediately the first day
42:39
you are getting married, you start dishing out
42:41
advice. After one week, you start giving us countdown.
42:47
You say one week in marriage. So you start using
42:51
the social media language. Some things I supposed
42:53
to have known before I got married. Because you
42:57
want likes. These days, it's not even those who
42:59
are married. I saw some unscrupulous element.
43:03
Why I call them unscrupulous element is not because
43:05
I'm trying to abuse them. It's the audacity.
43:10
Did you understand what I'm saying? It's the
43:13
audacity at which they speak. You know, sir?
43:16
I mean, we were watching one of our... This is
43:18
with my wife here, sir. I mean, we just... Let
43:23
me not say it. The point is, I say, she's a young
43:27
lady. And we already know our problem. The problem
43:31
is that even now, she's difficult to keep relationships.
43:35
You understand? She's like a junction box. Many
43:37
men, she's still hanging with other men. You
43:40
don't understand junction box? Where you find
43:41
different wires. And then she's online saying
43:45
that the reason why people have problem in the
43:47
marriage is because there is no money. So, if
43:50
you see people divorcing, it's because, There's
43:53
no money. Maybe she needs to go and ask Bill
43:55
Gates. Why did they get divorced? Right? If it's
43:59
because of money. Please, we don't want you to
44:07
disgrace yourself. I beg in the name of God.
44:10
Limit the way you speak anyhow online. You know,
44:13
some of you, I used to teach you how to speak.
44:17
I said, no, no, no, don't speak like that. You
44:20
know, sir. Please, just having internet is not
44:26
opium. Don't be carried away just because nobody
44:30
is there so you can just say anything. You will
44:32
regret it tomorrow because this internet, don't
44:34
forget this. You know they forget, right? They
44:37
will vomit it back to you. And that's why we
44:40
are concerned that we need to do so much more
44:43
to arrive at the accurate understanding. Now,
44:47
once you study something, As I told you last
44:50
time when we laid the foundation before we start
44:53
this one, that the author of scripture is one,
44:56
right? The Holy Spirit is the one behind what
45:01
we call the Old Testament. Jesus taught what
45:04
is captured now in the gospels, right? The same
45:07
person is the one who now told the disciples,
45:11
when the spirit of truth is come, He will guide
45:14
you into all the truth. He said, there are many
45:17
things I will say to you, but you cannot bear
45:19
them now. That means the entire epistles is also
45:22
the product of the Spirit. So the whole of it,
45:25
you cannot read. As we said again, the entire
45:29
Bible is a context. So when you read the Bible
45:32
together and you begin to have contradiction,
45:35
know that they say something's foul somewhere.
45:38
You need to return back to look at it because...
45:42
God is not an author of confusion. He cannot
45:46
speak something in Genesis and speak something
45:49
different in the epistles. It's the same. And
45:52
that's what we are going to do to read through,
45:55
to come to accurate understanding that a woman,
45:59
you have value equal with the man. And that your
46:02
purpose, your ministry is not dependent on a
46:06
man. If you like, you marry. If you don't like,
46:10
you live your life. You will succeed. You will
46:13
achieve and fulfill the purpose of God on the
46:15
earth. Are we together? And that is the goal.
46:19
Because and to understand, not just only because
46:23
you don't want to get married. I often speak.
46:26
You want to get married, you must be married
46:28
for God. You don't want to get married, you must
46:31
not get married because of God. Not that you
46:35
hate men. You are in the wrong track. You regret
46:38
it. You understand? If you're not going to get
46:41
married, it should be because of the gospel.
46:44
It should be because of the work. If you're going
46:47
to get married, it should be for the gospel.
46:50
If you do it for any other reason, you are on
46:53
your own. You understand? You are on your own
46:55
because it's going to speak. It's going to speak.
46:59
I pray for you. I truly pray for you. That it's
47:06
a new dawn. It's a new dawn in your life. It's
47:10
a new dawn in your life. Your ministry is expanding.
47:13
Your knowledge of God is expanding. The word
47:17
of God is glorifying your life. Everything is
47:21
glorifying your life. I pray for you that your
47:25
path will not cross wicked men. Your path will
47:29
cross with men of value. Men who will see you
47:33
as God sees you. Men who will value you. Not
47:38
as the Pharisees. People they think they can
47:40
use and discard. Not like the Pharisees. That
47:44
will see you and see that you are a product to
47:47
be used and discard. No, you will not meet those
47:49
people. You will meet people who will see you
47:52
as you are. Who will see you as one who should
47:55
be cheered for. Who should see as a partner in
47:58
ministry. Who should see a person who is as a
48:02
partner in this great commission. We appreciate
48:07
you being here today. We hope you carry this
48:10
word with you throughout your week. Don't forget
48:13
to check the show notes for additional insights.
48:15
Stay connected with us through our website or
48:18
follow us on social media. If you are encouraged,
48:22
share this message with someone you care about.
48:25
Until next time, stay blessed.