Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / Day 2: Contextual Reading of the Bible (Part 1)

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Day 2: Contextual Reading of the Bible (Part 1) · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. Why reading scriptures contextually
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is very key and important. And we saw a lot of
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things yesterday. There's just some few things
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I want to just start by way of introduction to
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what we'll be looking at today and tomorrow.
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If you want to write a topic, contextual reading
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of the Bible. Contextual reading of the Bible.
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where we got our theme for this conference and
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of course for the year, greater works. He said,
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most assuredly, I say unto you, he who believes
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in me, the works that I do, he will do also,
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and greater. Of course, which means greater works
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than these He will do because I go to the father
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now because We're dealing with context. So most
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of our teaching from today to tomorrow will heavily
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depend on interpretation context context context
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because like man of God told us yesterday that
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Once you remove a text out of context you already
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remove it out of the will of God. Because the
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will of God is communicated in the text. He read
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to us 2 Timothy 3 that all scriptures are inspired.
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So that means in their original form. the way
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they came, they are already inspired. So every
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word used is inspired. It's not my mistake. Are
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we together? And that's why we will be very hard,
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very strict, very meticulous in our intention
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to understand the intent of the author, the intent
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of God in a text. Because once we miss that,
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it means we miss the will. Are we together? This
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is how crucial it is. Now, most times when we
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read this text, let's start from here. This John,
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he looks as if he's talking to an individual
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believer. If you read it, you understand? and
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the way the rendition in English. Once he said,
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most assuredly I say to you, he, by using the
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word he who believes, that rendition, already
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gives us a connotation that he's speaking to
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a single believer or an individual believer.
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But already, if you look at the context, the
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discussion, that is not the case. Look at verse
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8. Already he was talking to his disciple. Look
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at verse 8. Philip said to him, Lord, show me.
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Is it me? Are we together? He says, show what?
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Us, the Father. and it is sufficient for us and
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that's why Jesus started to discuss which means
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that when Jesus was saying most assortedly I
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said to you that you is not an individual that
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you is the disciples the group the company are
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we together hallelujah that means by interpreting
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it that way is already have an impact in its
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application He said, but I say to you, I see
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to you. So understand that at this point, let's
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agree before we even continue. Man of God, I've
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already mentioned that greater works is Christ
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expanding his ministry. Are we together? What
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we're seeing now by the implication now reading
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this text as, means you as collective, is that
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greater works is not done in isolation. That
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greater works is the works of the church, not
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the work of a single believer. Greater work is
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a work of a church. Now, let me show you one
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thing again that emphasized this truth. Jesus
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gave the reason why it's going to be possible
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for us to do greater works. He said, because
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I go to the Father. So greater works is hinged
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upon I go to the Father. A man of God yesterday
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mentioned that what I go to the Father is Christ
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ascension. Is Christ ascension. Just go some
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chapters ahead, a little bit. Chapter 20, look
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at verse 17. This is after he resurrected He
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said to her that he said to Mary Do not cling
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to me For I have not yet ascended to where? to
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the father but go to my brethren and say to them
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I Am ascending to my father your father and to
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my God and your God when Jesus talks about ascension
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he now talks about a family he said now you are
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my brother to my brethren there is a link between
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ascension The reason is because it is in His
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ascension that we receive the Spirit. They say
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text that man of God read. Let's go to that place.
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That is in Act chapter 3. In Act chapter 3. No,
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Act chapter 2, sorry. Look at verse 27. Well,
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let me read from verse 29 men and brethren, let
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me speak freely to you of the patriarch David
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that he is both dead and buried and his tomb
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is with us to this day therefore being a prophet
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and Knowing that God has sworn with an oath to
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him that of the fruit of his body According to
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the flesh he will do what? raised up the Christ
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to sit on his throne. 1. He, for seeing this,
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spoke concerning the resurrection of Christ,
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that his soul was not left in Hades, nor did
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his flesh see corruption. 32. This Jesus has
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raised up of whom we are all witnesses. Therefore
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being exalted he was raised being exalted that's
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ascension being exalted to the right hand of
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the of God and It's not him receiving the spirit
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are we together is and You can put in there to
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have understand. So when he said and meaning
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that as He was exalted, we are the recipient
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of the Spirit. Are we together? Oh, are we together?
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So it's like, is Him exalted, we receiving the
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Spirit. Are we together? Because He is a giver.
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Amen. We are the receiver or the recipients.
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Of course, John 7, 38, 39, already showed to
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us that that's exactly that the Spirit was not
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given yet. He spoke concerning those who will
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receive the Spirit, but it has not yet been given,
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because what? He has not been what? Exalted.
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Are we together? Oh, show me that text, my brother.
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John 7. Was 30. 38, look at 38. He said, he who
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believes in me, as the scripture says, out of
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his heart will flow. Now, that he is not the
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believer. Out of his heart will flow rivers of
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living water. I know that good song. That song
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is wonderful. Out of my belly shall flow, flow
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river. You know something? Very wonderful. But
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you see, here he's not talking about that the
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believer is the one that will give the spirit.
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From where? You understand? Because where do
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you have to give first? Because at this point,
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go to 39, because 39 explains 38. He said, but
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this he did what? He spoke concerning the spirit,
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whom those believing will do what? will they
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give or will they receive so that's why I go
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back to 38 he who believe in me as the scripture
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says out of his belly so it cannot be that it
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is from the believer that the spirit will come
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but that he will be the recipient that's why
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verse 39 say if spirit concerning the spirit
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those who believe will receive go to 39 yes will
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receive for this holy spirit was not yet given
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why because Jesus was not yet glorified so we
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see here when Peter was speaking that he said
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verse 33 in Acts chapter 2 verse 33 he said therefore
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being exalted that is glorification that that
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John was talking about he said when he was exalted
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to the right hand of the Father and now we receive
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the Spirit received from the Father the promised
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of the Holy Spirit of course which you now see
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because something happened when Peter was preaching
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this event when you go down verse 34 for David
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did not ascend that's the ascension that exaltation
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into heavens he said but he sees himself That
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this is talking about it is Christ that ascended
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not David The Lord said to my Lord sit at my
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right hand till I make your enemies your foes
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too So what we are seeing is that we receive
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the spirit By reason of his ascension in order
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what what we're saying is that in ascension We
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go where he went Are you with me? Are you with
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me? That is, we go as He had promised, because
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He said, go back to that John, because we are
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from John, right? Remember, we are looking at
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the reason why we will do greater works. That's
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why He said, because what? I go to the Father.
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Before then, in verse 2, He said, my father's
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house are many mansions. We have explained these
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texts over and over. If it were not so, I would
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have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.
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And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
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come again and receive you to myself that where
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I am, dear, you may be what also. So in his ascension,
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we be where he is. Are we together? So when we
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say we receive the Spirit, what we are saying
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is that now we are where He is. That's why Ephesians
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would tell us. Ephesians 2, what? Ephesians 2,
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6. You say that we are what? Raised. And raised
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up together. And made us to sit together. In
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where? Where He is, there we are. Are we together?
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Are we together? To say it another way, He indwells
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us by His Spirit. And in so doing, please note
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the implication. When He say, I go to the Father,
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it means that He indwells us. When He say, I
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go to the Father, it means His ascension. He
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means that He indwells us by His Spirit. Are
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we together? That now He is in us and we are
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in Him. And do you know the implication of that?
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By so doing, Jesus replicated Himself. Let me
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repeat it again. By so doing, Jesus did what?
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Replicated Himself. So when he was telling the
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disciples do not be sad I am going this for your
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own good is not a replacement We together he
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was not saying we will replace him Greater works
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is not replacing Jesus Greater works is replicating
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Jesus The reason we will do greater works is
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that when man of God was talking about the global
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ministry the reason why we will be global is
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because now there are many Jesuses. Oh, you didn't
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understand what I'm saying. Are you with me?
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While one man is limited many Jesuses are not
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limited. Did you understand what I'm trying to
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say? That's why he said I go to the Father. Because
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I go to the father Because I go to the father
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This why I so I told you be note the implication
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of what Jesus was telling me He said go and tell
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my brethren. He didn't say there's a go and tell
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my servants. No Now we have the same DNA One
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tell my brethren now is a your father my father.
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Are we together? Yes. In Romans 8 -29, we said
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for those he foreknew, he also predestined to
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be conformed into the image of his son, that
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he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
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Hebrews 2 would tell us, bring in many sons to
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glory. He was the only begotten now. He is a
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first born among his brethren Are we together
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now? It's not just only so you have to know now
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in his race in resurrection and ascension He
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replicated himself. Are we together? That's the
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implication when you begin to see what we are
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trying to say is that within the context of John
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He was not talking about an individual believer.
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Are we together? John 14. He is talking about
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a community, a church. A church. So when you
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read it, don't read it with an individualistic
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mind. You will miss that which God is trying
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to communicate there. You see some of the problems
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we are having today in ministry. That now ministry
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is turning to us industry, not ministry again.
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Where everybody want to have a level. Nobody
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want to stay under a church, under a pastor.
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That is because of the error of reading. You
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understand? And we're going to deal with this,
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what we call the communal reading of the Bible.
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If you miss the communal reading, you miss his
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will. You understand what I'm saying? Hallelujah.
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We were studying some time ago, look give me
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Ephesians 3 verse 10. To the intent of God. The
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intent and noun, the manifold wisdom of God.
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The revelation of God. The ministry, the mystery
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unfolds. Revealed be made known by an individual
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by the church To the principalities and powers
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in the heavenly places or heavens And this is
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the reason why we are communicating So you want
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to do the will of God is done in the church not
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away from the church when you hear somebody said
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no i don't need to go to the church that means
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that person has not understood the will of god
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understand the reaching to the nations to reach
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the nation is not an individual work are we together
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is a collective work So, you see, when Paul will
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explain the issue of ministry, he will not speak
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of one person. He will give analogy with the
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body. He say, the eye can say, I am no need of
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you. He is speaking because giving analogy. You
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know, Paul has a way of communicating even to
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babes. He will have to use all kinds of things
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to communicate that truth. Are we together? Amen.
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Therefore Greater Works is an expansion of Jesus'
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ministry of salvation globally. Witnessing, not
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just in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and
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to the utmost part of the Earth. So when you
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are thinking about reaching the wall, taking
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the gospel to nations, don't be thinking about
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you alone. Understand? Are we together? Are we
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together? Amen. Tell your neighbor the will of
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God is done in the church, is done through the
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church. The will of God is done through the church.
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Hallelujah. So greater works are the works of
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God's family, not the work of an individual believer.
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It's the work of an individual believer because
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you are part of the family. You see, one of my
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desire is to see how church will emphasize our,
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you know, sometimes we have to correct some of
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our songs. You understand that it seems to be
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I, I to be what? We we the reason is because
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we need to ingrain that theology because that
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is the will of God My desire is that as you are
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in this church or even after you leave Whether
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you're online listening to me In the Sun the
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will of God is that you become part of the chart
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you see that you are a stakeholder You are stakeholder
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Somebody must have founded the church, but that
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is not his church. Do you understand what I'm
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trying to say? I don't want that kind of dissent
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that some people feel, no, it's not my place.
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And that's why you see many people now want to
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go and form their own, because they think that
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churches are now personal properties. People
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are not yet trained, they want to go and start
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building something. You understand? The reason
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is because they are feeling that they are outcasts
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in some, or they don't belong. They feel that
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they are visitors or they are, I don't know what
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to say. Please understand that whatever place
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you are serving in this church, that is part
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of God's will to do ministry within the church.
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This church is your church. Don't say it's their
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own. It's not their own, it's your own too. When
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you see things, you say, I know they are seen
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now. No, who told you they are seen? Did you
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see that Pastor Victor has eyes at the back of
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his head? No, we are not seeing. Don't see things
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and then just keep quiet and say, they are seen
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now. No, they are not seen. That's why you are
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here. Be part of the church. Understand that
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is a joint venture. We are co -workers, we are
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co -labourers. It's not for some people. It's
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not for some people. So that's what Jesus wants
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the disciples to do. That's why, look at that
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Matthew chapter 28. What's 18? What's 19? He
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said, go therefore. To where? To all the nations.
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Again, here, he's speaking to how many people?
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To a company. He said, go. He said, go. And he
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said, go. But go with what? I say, I make disciples
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of all nations, baptizing them near your Father,
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the Son of the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 20,
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he said, teaching them to observe all the things
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that have commanded you. The only tool. When
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Jesus was saying his disciples, he said, don't
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go with anything. Are we together? He said, don't
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go with anything. Black, no. Black, no. He said,
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a laborer is what? He's worthy of his wages.
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Even we're going to see that because this is
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where many have recognized the Bible, in the
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sand. Jesus now said, sell your desire and buy
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a what? A sword. Hallelujah. The ministry is
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the ministry of preaching. It's the ministry
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of making disciples. It's the ministry of expanding
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this kingdom. It's the ministry that the whole
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world, the whole earth will be covered with the
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glory of God. Are we together? As the waters
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cover the sea. That is the ministry and our tool.
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is the Word of God. That means nothing will be
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accomplished without the Word of God. Men will
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not be saved until you preach. Men will not be
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matured in Christ until you preach. Are we together?
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Men will not see the glory of God in the miraculous
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until you preach. You want to see the glory of
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God? You want to see the mighty things of God?
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When we read in the book of Acts, it will always
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show to us as it is they are preaching, then
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the miracles are what? Are happening. Are we
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together? They are preaching, the miracles are
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happening. So this is where now we are coming
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to the importance of the world That means everything
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about our ministry rises and fall with the Word
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of God Now you are now seeing why it is very
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crucial to pay attention to this Word of God
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Are we together? John chapter 20 Let's go back
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to that John 20 look at verse 31 John 20 31 But
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these we are reading That you may believe that
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Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that Believing
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you may have life in his name. You may have life
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in his name. John is telling you why the word
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was written, why he wrote this book. So John
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is summarizing the design of the written word.
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That the word of God is written that you may
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believe. That Jesus is the Christ the son of
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God and that by believing you might have life
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in his name So this establish a fundamental truth
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That error cannot birth new life Did you hear
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what I said because he said it is written that
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you my what believe and by believing you will
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have what life. That means if what is intended
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is not communicated well as it was written, devil
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will cut a scripture. Jesus will say it is written.
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Meaning that Jesus is bringing context. Devil
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is taking out of context. So by bringing context,
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the life, the power of the scripture is manifested.
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again it was written that you might believe that
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means when the what is written is twisted it
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will not bring life so error cannot birth new
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life without proper explanation of scripture
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in it context There cannot be new birth You cannot
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come and just preach a Jesus that is a healer
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and you call people to Alter call and you expect
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that what they say they have received is new
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life Did you get what I'm trying to say because
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there are many people who during Jesus time receive
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his healing but not his life Are you with me?
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So it's possible. So you cannot preach a wealth
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message, a message of prosperity. Nothing wrong
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to be rich. You understand? Nothing. It's just
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a human affairs. Are we together? It's good.
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I was telling my people, you understand? I said,
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I wouldn't mind to have a private jet now. and
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just fly to Nigeria and come back again here.
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Nothing wrong. You understand? Don't do as if
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you don't like it. In your heart you like it.
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You understand? The only difference between us
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and those who are, who doesn't understand is
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that they, it becomes an idol. Did you get what
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I'm trying to say? Yes. But there is nothing
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wrong. to desire good things. It's part of human
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nature. Don't cheat your humanity. It's not lost.
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Why are you in school? Is it not that you want
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to be great? Is that a sin? Did you understand
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what I'm trying to say? So that is just part
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of humanity to aspire to become better. Are we
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together? So there's nothing wrong in that. So
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you don't need scripture. Do I need scripture
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to say that I want to become great? Do you understand
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what I'm trying to say? Why are you looking at
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me as if you don't understand? Did you get it?
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You don't need to attach any scripture to say
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I want to be great. Do you understand what I'm
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saying? Amen. So what I'm trying to say is that
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it is important to understand that. Romans chapter
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6. Look at Romans chapter 6 verse 17 But so if
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I thought on this scripture he said but God be
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thanked That though you were slain of sin look
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at what they were before They were what? Slave
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Yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
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to which you were delivered. That means their
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current states came about by obeying or by believing
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the sound doctrine that saved them. What that
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means is that the word there, form, is a word
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two -pose. That is T -Y -P -O -O -S. T -Y -P
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-O -S, sorry. T -Y -P -O -S is two -pose. It
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implies figure, image, print, copy. Meaning that
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you didn't invent it. Is somebody getting what
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I'm trying to say? It means that you did not
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invent it. It means copy. So that is why it says
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that form of doctrine means that copy of doctrine
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to which you were given. That word delivered
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means they were given. Are we together? So the
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doctrine was not an invention. they were delivered,
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they delivered it to them. They were slave before,
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now they become, slavery now is a thing of the
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past because they obey, they believe the truth.
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And that truth was a truth preserved and then
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was passed to them. Are you with me? What we
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are trying to say is that That the power to save
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Cannot be make active in error Remember Romans
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1 16. I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
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It is what the power of God onto what onto salvation
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listen If the gospel is corrupted that power
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does save cannot be activated a man only is saved
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when he believes the truth not an error this
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is why it makes it see if you know what that
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means the ministry is the ministry of saving
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lives this is why you handle the word of god
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with all seriousness because it is a serious
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business It has the capacity to keep a man in
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deception forever because when you give error
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This is why the issue of studying goes what in
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the intents of the author is important You are
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not to invent anything your problem starts When
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you begin to feel the need to sound unique Remember
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I said the ministry the greater works We are
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talking about is the work of the church is not
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your own unique ministry. I Are you with me?
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Because of that there's nothing unique about
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it is a common faith is our own precious faith.
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Common salvation. Are we together? There's nothing
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unique. The day you want to start sounding unique,
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that's the day into your journey into error.
38:15
Are we together? That's why... Despite the fact
38:22
that Paul is an educated person, probably among
38:26
the Bible writers, those who can compare with
38:28
Paul probably is Isaiah. You understand? I mean,
38:32
these are the most educated people. You understand
38:34
what I'm trying to say? Yet, when he was talking
38:37
to the Corinthians, he said, when I come to you,
38:40
the second Corinthians, the first Corinthians
38:41
of the two, he said, I did not come to you with
38:44
an excellency of speech. You think he doesn't
38:45
even know how to speak excellently? Hey, hey,
38:48
hey. But when it comes to the gospel to communicate
38:52
the truth of God's Word, this is not about for
38:55
now. You understand? Oh, you get it me. You don't
39:02
understand what I'm saying. It's about the clarity
39:09
of the message of the gospel. That is its intent.
39:16
Are we together? So this document is written
39:22
to give eternal life This document is written
39:27
to do what? To give eternal life This document
39:34
is written to mature believers Are we together?
39:41
Is given to do what? To also mature believers.
39:45
Look at Colossians Colossians chapter 2 Verse
39:52
6 he said as you therefore have do what have
39:58
received Jesus the Lord he says so walk in him
40:05
Rooted and built up in him and what and established
40:11
in where in the faith As you have been what taught
40:21
as you have been taught abounding in it in it
40:26
in it with thanksgiving meaning what saves you
40:31
is what now you are rooted in it are we together?
40:37
so you have to understand that that this document
40:43
is meant to give eternal life these written records
40:48
of the gospel is meant to give eternal life,
40:52
is meant to establish you in the faith. This
40:56
cannot be truth unless they are communicated
41:01
accurately. So, in a notion, God is never glorified
41:10
when his word is taken out of context. God is
41:16
never glorified. when his words are taken out
41:24
of context. I want you to think about this. Have
41:29
you ever had your personal words pulled out of
41:33
context? I mean, that's not, you say something
41:37
and there's somebody, maybe you are standing
41:39
with your sister and you are discussing as a
41:41
sister. You need to love the Lord. And one brother
41:44
just passed. He didn't hear anything. That other
41:46
love is that you need to love. So he said, I
41:50
heard that brother say he love our... Do you
41:53
understand what I'm trying to say? When you hear
41:55
it, how will you feel? When someone twists your
42:02
word or somebody fragments, just like I said
42:05
now, it fragments your word and sets something.
42:10
That you never intended you is completely foreign
42:14
to your intent Definitely you will never feel
42:19
happy you will never feel honored You be frustrated
42:26
Infuriated annoyed Because that twisting of your
42:37
words already violate your character violate
42:44
your character and misrepresent your intents
42:48
because as you are saying something that means
42:52
if the brother say I hate him say he loves her
42:57
you say ah these brothers of this is I used to
42:59
see that brother say he's a serious brother now
43:01
did you see what happened that means that twisting
43:04
of your word already violate your character did
43:07
you understand what I'm trying to say? Yes, because
43:10
it makes you look like someone you are not And
43:14
because that was not your intent it also violate
43:18
and makes your intent crooked and That's not
43:23
true So if we demand Contextual respect For our
43:37
own words How much more must we bring discipline,
43:44
reverence, rigor, and contextual reading to the
43:49
sacred, life -giving, maturing, establishing
43:54
Word of God? How much rigor should we give? Please
44:03
burden, context is not a suggestion for us. It
44:07
is mandatory for accurate interpretation. It's
44:15
mandatory. Are we together? So what is context
44:23
or what is contextual reading of the Bible? What
44:29
is contextual reading of the Bible? It means
44:35
reading interpreting the Bible through its autos
44:41
intent simple and short no long grammar it means
44:47
to read and to interpret the Bible through its
44:53
autos intent and you see in the Bible Context
45:04
is multi -layered and that's what I'm going to
45:06
discuss now. Context is multi -layered. Meaning
45:13
that if you are going to come to the Bible, you
45:15
must understand that context is what? Is multi
45:18
-layered. Sometimes if you neglect any part of
45:23
this thing I'm talking about, you are likely
45:26
to move to error. Let's start with the first
45:29
one. We call it canonical Context. Canonical
45:35
context. Sometimes it's called broad context
45:39
or thematic context. Canonical context. Now the
45:58
first thing why we say this canonical is because
46:00
this one is a part of them all. Amen. For some
46:09
of us who are not from Nigeria, this one is the
46:12
top. Every other context is under this one. Are
46:17
we together? Are we together? Amen. First, we
46:24
are talking about that is the Bible itself. Are
46:29
we together? You remember, you know, the Bible
46:31
is a collection of 66 books, right? We can just
46:36
call it a library. It has one author, even though
46:43
it has many authors. And this one author is God,
46:50
which means that because in this canonical context,
46:56
The first principle we are holding is what we
46:58
call the divine autorship principle Meaning that
47:02
there is no how One God who wrote these things
47:07
will be contradicting himself. That means we
47:10
must understand what is the Entire intents or
47:18
the whole intent or what we call the broad intent,
47:23
the intent of the Bible itself. Any passage you
47:28
are reading, you must hold this at, is it front
47:31
of your mind, or back of your mind, or center
47:34
of your mind. I mean the whole of your mind.
47:37
You should hold this. By the inspiration of God
47:52
and is profitable plus is establishing divine
47:56
authorship You see that and is profitable for
48:05
Doctrine For giving evidence For correction correction
48:14
about what is not an open -ended thing you understand
48:19
same Doctrine That's his teaching Didaskalia
48:25
About who? It's not just teaching teaching mathematics
48:30
Teaching business is for teaching. No, it's not
48:35
for general subjects. It's not general the divine
48:41
author Given by the expression of God is specific
48:45
Are we together? specific Go to verse 15. And
48:55
that from childhood, Pastor Fred already taught
48:59
this, you have known the Holy Scriptures, right?
49:05
Which are able to make you wise. Remember, for
49:11
salvation. Are we together? If I will put it
49:17
better. it will be skillful that is wise in salvation
49:21
because in the subject of salvation are we together
49:26
because he is already a believer saying when
49:32
he first came to christ when he was small before
49:36
you have known the holy scriptures because you
49:41
don't know the holy scripture outside christ
49:44
You know the Holy Scriptures in Christ. And then
49:48
by so doing, it has made you skillful, you understand,
49:54
in the subject of salvation. And that salvation
49:59
is not by works. It's what? Faith, eh? Faith
50:07
in the Christ. is not the New Testament yet.
50:16
Are we together? Because when Paul was writing
50:18
this, they didn't put it together. He was talking
50:22
to what they were reading at that moment. Genesis
50:25
to Malachi. That means from Genesis to Malachi,
50:28
the subject is salvation through faith in Jesus
50:32
Christ. Genesis to Malachi. The subject is what?
50:36
Salvation through faith in what? In Jesus Christ.
50:40
Then V. 16 said that is exactly what it was all
50:45
taught. The inspiration to document that came
50:49
from God, not from man. And he said it is profitable
50:54
for teaching. Teaching about who? All within
50:57
the confines of salvation. You understand? Correction.
51:01
Correction about what? All within the confines
51:04
of the ultimate theme of the entire Bible. You
51:09
understand? Reprove, giving evidence about what?
51:13
About all the love of God. If you want to say,
51:17
if you don't want to use salvation, you can say
51:19
about the love of God, about the character of
51:22
God, about the intent of God and plan of God
51:24
for humanity. That's the sentence. Are we together?
51:28
So this is talking about the canonical context.
51:34
So please, if you are reading the astronomy,
51:37
sons of Solomon, we're just finishing. Are we
51:40
together? I know some people like that place.
51:44
Glory to Jesus. Amen. So whatever you are reading,
51:51
you must understand and put that. You remember
51:54
when we were reading Prover? You know, there
51:57
are some plays that he talks about when you want
51:59
to do... I think I like the way... I think which
52:01
version say that this way? He said, do you want
52:03
to see an important person? He said, take a bribe
52:07
with you. Proverb, you know some in fact that
52:12
scripture we normally could see it down a month
52:14
No, no, the the order one a man's gift make him.
52:19
Yes, I appear that what gift is not talking about
52:22
talent is Like physical something material gifts,
52:27
you know some You know when you read some of
52:32
my proverb and remove this Context you understand
52:38
you'll be making that place to be saying something
52:40
different remember if you read the beginning
52:45
of proverb already the preacher himself solomon
52:50
told you the intent why he was right he said
52:53
i was writing what i have observed so his writing
52:56
is observation not that he's some of those proverbs
52:59
are not revelation of god i hope you understand
53:02
what i'm trying to say he's just writing what
53:04
he observed among men That is do you want to
53:08
see an important person? Do you want a way to
53:11
be created which you just carry some gifts? Did
53:14
you understand what I'm saying? Is it not true?
53:17
Is it not true? Now we're not saying whether
53:19
it's a sin or not sin. He said that is what you
53:21
observe. Are you with me? That's what you observe.
53:29
I think when we are ready we have to come to
53:31
a place and answer this question. When we eclipses
53:33
of the tree. You understand? a time to kill,
53:37
a time to this, a time to this. You say, ah,
53:40
ah. Well, how can God kill? How can God have
53:42
a time for disaster? I say, ah, ah. I say, this
53:45
is what you observe. Did you understand what
53:47
I'm trying to say? You see, if you don't read
53:49
correctly, you're going to be moving with a different
53:52
thing, which is not the will of God. So, while
54:00
the Bible has more than 40 authors, human autos.
54:08
It has one ultimate divine author. 1 Peter 1,
54:13
20 to 21 also tells us that they were moved by
54:20
God, the Holy Spirit. It was not a man's initiative.
54:28
It has a singular unified plot line, storyline.
54:33
The Bible has a singular storyline a singular
54:38
storyline from Genesis to Revelation So because
54:45
of that you have to understand so if you interpret
54:49
even interpretation Of an Old Testament law or
54:55
a New Testament verse makes God To look a tyrant
55:02
to be a to look so crude who hates humanity that
55:08
interpretation must be wrong not me must be what
55:14
must be wrong because it contradicts the unified
55:20
team of the redemptive love of God because listen
55:26
if you hold this one is going to help you a lot
55:30
Whatever you are reading through the pages of
55:34
scriptures, you must have this in mind that this
55:39
Bible has a unified storyline. The intent of
55:43
the author is that salvation is made manifest.
55:49
The subject of salvation and that salvation is
55:53
through faith. Whatever you might say, listen,
55:56
you might agree, I don't understand this text
55:58
yet. But don't say Anything that you you will
56:04
study that will contradict the revelation of
56:06
God in Christ Is out of context Is what out of
56:16
context Out of context we have already read let
56:21
me just give you some of these texts in the song
56:23
John 5 39 you start the scriptures and in them
56:27
you think you have eternal life they are what
56:30
they did they say they are some they are what
56:36
they that do what testify of me look 24 we have
56:43
already read that place 25 oh you foolish ones
56:48
law of heart to believe all that the prophet
56:50
have what in all that the prophet have what spoken
56:54
ought not christ to have what suffer these things
56:57
and to enter into his glory and beginning at
57:00
Moses and in all the prophet hmm he explained
57:05
or expounded to them in all the scriptures not
57:10
some scriptures not some scriptures in all the
57:14
scriptures the things concerning himself that's
57:18
what we are trying to see that is divine authorship
57:23
and singular storyline and subject. The scripture
57:30
is about the Christ. Put it together. So canonical
57:36
context is defined by Christo -centricity. Canonical
57:46
context is defined by Christo - centricity of
57:55
scriptures this is a vital safety shield against
58:02
abuses this is vital we're going to look at later
58:12
on a number of the horrendous things that was
58:16
done through the Bible and that will also empower
58:18
for so many of us that are going for evangelism
58:20
as well while we are trying to encourage the
58:24
other ones to join. You understand what I'm saying?
58:29
You know, some of us, when they say, when they
58:31
give you some history of how the Bible we have
58:33
misused, you say, you start saying no. No, don't
58:36
say no. It happened. You understand? It happened.
58:42
And that's why we are teaching this. So, and
58:46
that's one of the things I want you to get in
58:50
this. So as you read the Bible, let's settle
58:56
this first every of your interpretation must
59:01
align with this one this first one canonical
59:06
context if it deviates you on your own It's already
59:12
a contradiction any interpretation of a verse
59:14
or a passage of the Bible that contradicts the
59:17
message of redemption the love of God the finished
59:21
work of Christ automatically out of context so
59:28
the supreme narrative of the cross is the ultimate
59:31
safety safety barrier against heresy against
59:39
heresy hallelujah amen okay so let's look at
59:45
another layer under this one which is what we
59:47
call the immediate context the immediate context
59:52
Now under this under the umbrella of the canonical
59:57
context we have the immediate context This is
1:00:03
reading and interpreting a portion That is the
1:00:09
reading and interpreting a portion or a passage
1:00:13
of scripture Within is surrounding verses and
1:00:18
authors line of thought Please note that order
1:00:22
one I said because most times many of us think
1:00:24
that when we say Immediate context we just means
1:00:27
you just go few verses on top few verses down
1:00:30
In a sign, it's not just only fever so we say
1:00:33
pretext postics, you know son it also In compasses
1:00:39
the autos line of thoughts Because the autos
1:00:44
line of thought as I will show you Sometimes
1:00:47
he might be speaking there But what is communicating
1:00:50
is also in another book. Did you understand what
1:00:54
I'm trying to say? Like Man of God taught us
1:00:57
about the efficient church. Sometimes some of
1:01:00
the things discussing about the efficient church.
1:01:04
You know, I've heard so many people say this
1:01:06
efficient church is one of the perfect church.
1:01:09
You know, when you read the Corinthians church,
1:01:14
most of their confusion is within the letter.
1:01:17
But when you read the book of Ephesians, you
1:01:19
don't seem to hear so much of correction of these
1:01:23
things. You just focus on these, understand,
1:01:25
which man of God I've already outlined for us.
1:01:28
But you see, you are missing it. You understand?
1:01:30
Because you miss all that two books that give
1:01:33
it immediate context. One is Acts chapter 19
1:01:36
and chapter 20. Another is 1 Timothy 2 and 1
1:01:41
Timothy and 2 Timothy. Because it was a pastor
1:01:45
that was sent to Ephesus. Did you understand
1:01:47
what I'm trying to say? And the confusion, the
1:01:49
heresy that is happening in that church, you
1:01:51
need to read Timothy. So don't think that when
1:01:56
we say immediate context, not just only, okay,
1:01:58
I'm reading 1 Corinthians, Ephesians chapter
1:02:02
5. It's talking about marriage, you understand?
1:02:06
Oh, you say this one, this one, this one. You
1:02:08
say go post -text, pre -text. Brother, you need
1:02:11
to read all the texts that are connected to that.
1:02:16
That's when you can have an understanding of
1:02:19
what your toy say. Are we together? Did you understand
1:02:22
now what I mean by immediate context? Amen Hallelujah
1:02:26
So this is what I want you to take note One of
1:02:38
God I've already talked about this good work,
1:02:40
but come let me show you something in first quarter
1:02:43
second Timothy go to second Timothy quickly 2nd
1:02:54
Timothy chapter 3 Look at verse 17 2nd Timothy
1:03:00
3 17 He said that the man of God may be complete
1:03:04
totally equipped for every good work for every
1:03:09
good work Now I want to show you that one of
1:03:14
the things you have to be careful when you look
1:03:15
at immediate context is verses and chapters Are
1:03:19
we together? verses and what? and chapters So
1:03:23
don't follow the author's line of thought, not
1:03:28
the verses. And today we even had addition, subheadings.
1:03:35
Subheadings, no. Because all these break that
1:03:40
we have today, they are helpful for referencing.
1:03:45
Like now, if I want to call 2 Corinthians 3 this,
1:03:51
you already know, you just go there. Right, that's
1:03:53
why you hear the Apostles then they don't they
1:03:56
don't normally see a circle Corinthians is disease
1:03:59
is you understand? They only say at is written
1:04:01
in the scripture then you quote the scripture
1:04:03
Because in their day, there's no these a thing
1:04:06
we have today. Did you understand brand Z? Good.
1:04:09
It's probably the only one we have, because we
1:04:10
have several authors is a psalm. They will say
1:04:12
the first psalm, the second psalm, as we'll see
1:04:14
in the second psalm. Are we together? Because
1:04:16
of the breaking of different authors. Amen. But
1:04:20
the point I'm trying to say is that if you are
1:04:22
reading, you have to understand that if you are
1:04:24
interpreting, you must follow where... Like if
1:04:26
you do, when you come to verse 17, he said, for
1:04:31
every good work, it looks like that is where
1:04:33
he stopped. Is that correct? Many of us, that's
1:04:38
where we stop. But you see, Paul, that's not
1:04:41
where he stopped. What's the next thing in chapter
1:04:46
four, verse one? I charge you what? Therefore.
1:04:51
What is therefore? What is therefore? Are we
1:04:56
together? That is for this reason. He's trying
1:05:02
to say that there is more for me. I'm trying
1:05:04
to bring. based according to what I am discussing,
1:05:08
eh? Are you with me? Are you with me? Now, to
1:05:15
understand good works, before you even go to
1:05:18
other passages of the text, I mean of, or maybe
1:05:22
Paul's letter, you need to read. You can see
1:05:25
that from chapter one, talking about perilous
1:05:28
time, right, of chapter three, sorry, verse one
1:05:33
of chapter three, and the confusion that will
1:05:36
happen in the in the last days or the last time
1:05:40
in the son and then you look at John to chapter
1:05:43
4 and you look at for time will come when they
1:05:47
will know in your son doctrine you know son they
1:05:50
are all he's talking about the same thing you
1:05:53
know son in fact he says some having a form of
1:05:56
godliness but denying the power he was talking
1:05:58
about before and then he was encouraging him
1:06:02
about first Paul acknowledged in this text, one,
1:06:09
what Timothy has learned from his foundation,
1:06:14
from where he's coming from, and from his childhood.
1:06:18
One. Two, he also told him what he has learned
1:06:21
from him. You understand? So he now told him,
1:06:26
all these things you have understood about the
1:06:28
Bible, and you have been trained, both from me,
1:06:32
from your background, are we together is that
1:06:35
you are trained you are taught you are corrected
1:06:38
the intent is good works are you with me now
1:06:46
so but what is this good work then he now said
1:06:48
therefore i charge you that is for the very purpose
1:06:52
of why you have established yourself in scripture
1:06:55
and you have obtained all these things you understand
1:06:57
therefore i charge you now Preach the Word. Be
1:07:07
ready in season and out of season. In 5, verse
1:07:12
5 says, be watchful in all things, in your afflictions.
1:07:17
Do the work of and fulfill your ministry. That
1:07:21
means when you look at the whole thing, there
1:07:24
are things that Paul is trying to tell him. There
1:07:28
are seasons of life that will come that it will
1:07:31
be tough. because we will have people who will
1:07:35
not endure sound doctrine, people who will be
1:07:38
wayward. But I don't want you to forget where
1:07:42
you are coming from. And I don't want you to
1:07:45
forget what you have learned from me. And the
1:07:50
essence why you have learned all these things.
1:07:54
Every man that is learned is taught he have evidence
1:07:59
is that he do good work so I want telling you
1:08:02
you should preach what he's trying to say is
1:08:04
that that the good works is talking about is
1:08:07
about the preaching the preaching the preaching
1:08:11
the preaching preach the word in the sun preach
1:08:18
the word that is every good work and so if you
1:08:23
have stopped here you will have to be inventing
1:08:27
something in your head or to move to other passages
1:08:30
of the scripture and start looking to where there
1:08:33
is good which is good but first start with the
1:08:38
immediate place first go through to the down
1:08:42
part where follow the author in fact if he had
1:08:46
mentioned something like now he has mentioned
1:08:48
and that from childhood yeah you must have you
1:08:53
have to go back to verse chapter one uh festival
1:08:57
t1 to see where paul has made mention of his
1:09:02
foundation from his grandmother and mother and
1:09:06
then you move to act chapter 16 where that was
1:09:10
mentioned you see all these are part of the immediate
1:09:14
context although they have been mentioned in
1:09:17
different places did you understand what i'm
1:09:18
trying to say so that is the point hallelujah
1:09:27
the thought one the thought layer now immediate
1:09:32
context please I want to in the name of God don't
1:09:37
follow the thought of the author the second or
1:09:42
the thought is literary context not literally
1:09:56
Those in literature. What this one is saying
1:10:05
is that you have to come to acknowledge that
1:10:08
the Bible does not speak in a single flat tone.
1:10:15
Let me say it again. The Bible does not speak
1:10:19
direct all the times. That means the Bible has
1:10:27
several different kinds of literature bundled
1:10:32
together. It comes with different distinct literature,
1:10:43
historical narrative, poetic expressions, pastoral
1:10:48
epistles, prophetic declaration, Apocalyptic
1:10:53
imagery, historical narrative, poetic expressions,
1:11:03
pastoral epistles, prophetic declarations, and
1:11:09
apocalyptic imagery. For example, when you enter
1:11:12
Revelation or Daniel, you cannot read every passage
1:11:19
of the Bible the same way. Because for some of
1:11:25
us in science who you think you have escaped
1:11:27
literature welcome back You are welcome You must
1:11:35
understand that Understanding literature is not
1:11:41
an option You have to is part of the context
1:11:46
you must learn listen this is you can say no
1:11:51
I don't want I don't care and this is one of
1:11:53
the things I don't agree with some of the Bible
1:11:55
translations because some of the Bible translation
1:11:58
are trying to translate the Bible I mean English
1:12:02
translation to translate especially those what
1:12:05
we call paraphrase to translate the Bible omitting
1:12:11
the original context to interpret to translate
1:12:16
the Bible according to the modern context. Did
1:12:21
you get what I'm trying to say? No, you can't
1:12:23
do that. Once you are doing that, you are stripping
1:12:26
the Bible to its own originality. Because God's
1:12:31
intent, He uses the culture and the way of life
1:12:37
of those people to communicate. If Jesus had
1:12:40
come from Swahili, it would have been Swahili's
1:12:43
culture. We would have to learn it. Because he
1:12:46
will use that to communicate So refusing to learn
1:12:52
the culture and the understanding of the ancient
1:12:55
way of life is actually rejecting the will of
1:12:58
God me I'm telling you the truth Because you
1:13:01
can say I don't care. I don't know you you must
1:13:04
care If you value the lives of God and the life
1:13:07
of people what we have mentioned you must care
1:13:11
You have to care You have to study how the author
1:13:21
communicates. Because different authors, these
1:13:25
over 40 authors, they are not in one generation.
1:13:30
The time of Moses is not the same with the time
1:13:33
of Paul. Are we together? Yes, they're not. So
1:13:41
you have to study to understand their times.
1:13:50
How do they communicate? For example, Jesus was
1:13:57
a Middle Eastern teacher. Don't make him a Nigerian
1:14:01
teacher. Don't make him an English teacher. Are
1:14:08
we together? He consistently used metaphors,
1:14:15
figurative language of their time. You know,
1:14:19
in Nigeria, we are also rich. Some of our cultures
1:14:21
are also rich in literature. Our culture is also
1:14:27
literature. If you have watched African Magic,
1:14:34
I don't know which magic is that, but African
1:14:36
Magic, you must have understood those sayings,
1:14:40
you understand? When you see a thought hoping
1:14:44
in the afternoon. is either something is pursuing
1:14:47
it or it's pursuing something. Did you understand
1:14:50
what I'm saying? What I'm saying is that you
1:14:54
have to be told there is something they are communicating
1:14:56
with that thing. And this is important. So you
1:15:04
will see a lot of these figurative expressions.
1:15:08
And these expressions, They actually communicate
1:15:13
spiritual realities Using imagery using everyday
1:15:19
imagery So you cannot take Jesus litra here and
1:15:26
just again decide whatever to do no Are we together
1:15:43
When Jesus said if your hand causes you to sing,
1:15:48
quote it, now you know it's not literal because
1:15:53
you know you can't lose your hand. But then you
1:15:58
go to another place and say, how can you do it?
1:16:00
What do you want to change the word of Jesus?
1:16:05
No, you have to understand how he communicates.
1:16:10
Are we together? Hallelujah. Amen. Now let me
1:16:18
give you an example which I'm talking about.
1:16:20
Let's see. Let's look at an example. John chapter
1:16:23
6. This one I'm giving you because it's a very
1:16:27
serious issue in the church that has to do with
1:16:29
Eucharist and communion. John 6. Are you with
1:16:34
me? John 6 what? 53. John 6 53 It says that and
1:16:53
Jesus said to them most actually I say to you
1:16:58
unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and
1:17:04
Drink his blood you have no life in where in
1:17:08
you You have no life in you Now many people miss
1:17:16
understood this metaphor and not just only many
1:17:20
people I'm talking about a whole church for many
1:17:25
and up to today we are still struggling with
1:17:27
this I don't know how we still want to defend
1:17:30
this as I said we want to take Jesus word here
1:17:34
literal but when you say cut your hand you refuse
1:17:37
to so over 2 ,000 years you can imagine now We
1:17:44
still read this place and struggle with it. What
1:17:48
is the background? Now as I told you, to understand
1:17:51
what Jesus is saying, you have to go to the background.
1:17:53
The first issue is that when you go back to verse
1:17:57
1 of this same chapter 6, right? From verse 1
1:18:01
to 13, you look at how Jesus fed the 5 ,000.
1:18:04
Is that correct? Are we together? He fed the
1:18:07
what? The 5 ,000. What did the crowd do? After
1:18:13
they finished, they enjoyed it. You understand?
1:18:16
So the crowd tracked Jesus down. Remember, not
1:18:21
because they like or they want to follow Jesus.
1:18:24
You understand? Because they want free food.
1:18:29
They enjoy that fish and bread. Look at verse
1:18:32
22. They followed Him. They tracked Him down.
1:18:39
They say, on the following day, when the people
1:18:42
who were standing on the other side of the sea
1:18:46
saw that there was no other boat there except
1:18:51
that one which his disciples had entered. And
1:18:55
Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples,
1:18:59
but his disciples had gone away alone. However,
1:19:03
another boat came from Tiberias near the place
1:19:07
where they had bread. after the Lord had given
1:19:12
thanks. When the people therefore saw that Jesus
1:19:15
was not there, nor his disciples, they also what?
1:19:19
They also got into boats and came to Kapano,
1:19:23
seeking who? Seeking Jesus. It looks like this
1:19:26
we would love to follow Jesus. Verse 25. And
1:19:30
when they found him on the other side of the
1:19:33
sea, they said to him, Rabbi, when did you come
1:19:37
here? 26 Jesus answered them and said most assuredly
1:19:41
I say to you you seek me not because you saw
1:19:44
the signs but because you ate of the loss and
1:19:48
you were filled verse 27 Do not labor for the
1:19:54
food which perish but for the food which endures
1:19:59
to everlasting life which the son of man look
1:20:02
at how the change will give you because God The
1:20:08
father has set his seal on him. Look at the flip
1:20:13
They they they came, you know sound for food
1:20:18
Jesus now use that opportunity to preach Listen
1:20:27
Paso Frese say something powerful Do not use
1:20:32
the problem we are facing today and and put it
1:20:35
inside Bible You read what was going on. During
1:20:37
this time, they found it on the way. They were
1:20:40
not taking communion. It's not Eucharist here.
1:20:42
Did you understand what I'm trying to say? Listen,
1:20:45
don't bring problem into yourself because this
1:20:47
is not how to study scripture. When you have
1:20:51
problem, leave the problem first and read and
1:20:53
understand what is happening. When Jesus was
1:20:56
telling them this, it wasn't issues of communion
1:20:58
he was trying to solve here. It was the people
1:21:01
who ate food, enjoyed it. They followed him for
1:21:03
more. And Jesus is telling them, look at this
1:21:07
one, don't follow this one. This is the one you
1:21:09
should follow. That is the context. That's the
1:21:15
context. These people, because Jesus now confronted
1:21:18
them, they now understood why Jesus is going,
1:21:20
you know, now do some tactics. You know what
1:21:24
tactics they did? Look at 28. 28. Then they said
1:21:29
to him, what shall we do? Because they seems
1:21:33
to think, This Jesus want us to is turning to
1:21:37
spiritual things to something religious. Let's
1:21:39
also let's also maxed out what we are our intent.
1:21:44
What shall we do? He said, what shall we do that
1:21:49
we may walk the walks of God? This is what Jesus
1:21:53
said. Jesus answered and said to them, this is
1:21:56
the walk of God that you believe in him, who
1:22:01
he sent therefore. They said to him, what sign
1:22:06
will you perform then? He's telling them to believe.
1:22:10
These people are safe sign. That we may see it
1:22:14
and believe you. What works will you do? Our
1:22:19
fathers ate manna. You see these people? Still
1:22:23
that issue of food, they don't want to live it.
1:22:24
They don't want to live it. Our fathers ate manna
1:22:29
in the desert. As it is written, He gave them
1:22:33
bread from heaven to eat. So Jesus used their
1:22:43
appetite, you understand, to just preach to them
1:22:47
this eternal truth. Because He saw these people
1:22:50
there, bread and wheat, lavada and bread, bread,
1:22:53
bread. He said, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
1:22:56
Then verse 33. Look at what He said in 33. He
1:23:02
said, for the bread of God is he. Did he say
1:23:08
eat or he? He said he who comes down from heaven
1:23:14
and give life to the world. This is no physical
1:23:19
bread. Is he? Are we together? Is what? He. Then
1:23:27
they said to him, Lord give us this bread always.
1:23:31
They still didn't understand what this is saying.
1:23:35
And Jesus answered them, I am the bread of life.
1:23:53
He who comes to me shall never hunger. And he
1:23:59
who believes in me shall never test. Are we together?
1:24:05
Did you see what Jesus said? He defines eating
1:24:08
and drinking there. He said he who comes to me,
1:24:14
comes to me shall not hunger. Meaning that he
1:24:19
said coming means eating. And he who believes
1:24:24
in me shall not test. That means believe means
1:24:28
drinking. That's why he said test. They mean
1:24:33
the same thing. Coming means believing. So that
1:24:35
means both the eating and the drinking means
1:24:38
to believe. Are we together? He's not talking
1:24:46
about eating his flesh. The problem is that even
1:24:54
that surface, the audience, the immediate audience,
1:24:57
they missed it. Because remember, when a people
1:25:00
is confused, remember those people didn't come
1:25:04
there to take communion. They came to eat bread.
1:25:10
Verse 41, he said, the Jews then complained about
1:25:14
you because he said, I am bread, the bread which
1:25:19
came down from heaven. And they said, is this
1:25:23
not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and
1:25:28
mother we know? How is it then that he says,
1:25:31
I have come from heaven? You see, again, they
1:25:34
started to get a problem. So they were thinking,
1:25:40
how can you say he come from heaven? Where we
1:25:42
know his family? And this is a problem again.
1:25:45
Our modern tradition, our modern... the our brothers
1:25:50
in the roman catholic in the sun the doctrine
1:25:52
of eucharist and transubstantiation right they
1:25:58
repeat this same error of teaching that bread
1:26:02
literally transform into physical flesh necessary
1:26:05
for salvation that is the eucharist you require
1:26:09
it to eat to have life that is a complete twist
1:26:18
of jesus words are we together jesus was not
1:26:25
discussing cannibalism no that's not what he's
1:26:30
discussing now let me even show you 63 to show
1:26:33
you jesus what jesus is saying he was not talking
1:26:36
literal in far downward he clearly said it he
1:26:39
said it is the spirit that do what that gives
1:26:42
life so when he's talking about you have life
1:26:44
is it flesh is it material thing no he says it's
1:26:48
a spirit that gives life and the flesh do what
1:26:51
it profit nothing so how can you say Eucharist
1:26:54
will give it a salvation how can you say you
1:26:57
will eat it no no no he said the word that i
1:27:05
speak to you they are spirits and they are life
1:27:08
that means jesus is not talking about literal
1:27:11
things he in his conclusion that's what he said
1:27:14
it is a spirit that gives life Not material things,
1:27:21
not bread and butter, bread and Rabinah, or bread
1:27:24
and wine, whichever one. That's not what this
1:27:28
life is. He himself is not literal. So John 6
1:27:37
perfectly illustrates in the son the intersection
1:27:41
of general, right? The intersection of a gospel
1:27:48
narrative recording figurative expression it
1:27:54
also tells us a intersection between immediate
1:27:57
context flow because to understand it you have
1:28:00
to read the entire thing the transition also
1:28:05
from physical to spiritual life and Jesus normally
1:28:09
does this it's common in his teaching he always
1:28:13
use an advantage whatever the discussion is He
1:28:19
would move it in that direction. Do you understand
1:28:21
what I'm trying to say? Yes. And that is one
1:28:25
thing I want you to get. Hallelujah. Let's start
1:28:30
introducing the next one before we go for break.
1:28:34
The next is a fourth one, which is historical
1:28:37
and cultural context. Historical and cultural
1:28:42
context. Romans chapter 15. It tells us already
1:28:49
past our friends who read this text, that those
1:28:51
things that were written before, you understand,
1:28:54
they are written for our learning. That is, they
1:28:57
were not written directly to us, but they are
1:29:00
written for us. Are we together? They are written
1:29:03
for us. So which means that no biblical author
1:29:09
was speaking in a vacuum. That is, they are men.
1:29:15
He was talking about a ledger, he's a man of
1:29:17
like -passion. Meaning they were real men, they
1:29:20
were not abstract men. This is what differentiates
1:29:24
Christianity and any other religion. Most of
1:29:29
the religion is only one person you have that
1:29:31
have an evidence. He's the one that met with
1:29:35
an angel that told him something. Nobody again
1:29:39
to prove that that's exactly true. Did you understand
1:29:45
what I'm saying? But you can't find that in Scripture.
1:29:49
They were written by men. You know them. You
1:29:51
know their houses. You know them. Even the Savior,
1:29:53
He came. You know Him. You know their family.
1:29:55
We just heard these people. They know Him. You
1:29:59
understand? They know Him. They live, these people,
1:30:05
authors of the Bible live real lives. In real
1:30:09
places. in distinct cultures and norms. In fact,
1:30:16
their names already bear where they are coming
1:30:21
from. Are you with me? Are you with me? Amen.
1:30:26
When you read, you study the names of the Bible,
1:30:29
you wouldn't know. You can never, you know there
1:30:31
are so many, every religion have a view of Jesus.
1:30:34
Some say he come from India. How can he come
1:30:36
from India? His name alone does not depict he
1:30:40
came from there because his name his parents
1:30:44
name has a Geographical location you can see
1:30:49
in the a Mecca and say he came from even do You
1:30:55
know something and say a Mecca he came from Sweden
1:30:59
That his grandfather that is his origin how Because
1:31:05
every name has an identity or has an attachment
1:31:10
to a location. These are people that have life.
1:31:15
They have families, they have cultures, we can
1:31:18
verify them. Are we together? So to understand
1:31:23
what the context means today, we must first discover
1:31:27
what it meant to the ancient audience. Traveling
1:31:31
back to their world, before we can now understand,
1:31:36
You understand? And how we can apply it today.
1:31:46
Romans 12. Romans 12, 20. Therefore, if your
1:31:59
enemy is hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give
1:32:05
him a drink. For in so doing you will keep coal
1:32:10
of fire on his head If you read it with our mind
1:32:16
today, what will you be thinking? That thief
1:32:22
is a vindictive thief Which means that you are
1:32:29
doing just do that It looks like a passive, aggressive
1:32:39
weapon. You know, we always want to deal with
1:32:42
our enemies. So Paul is saying now, give him
1:32:46
this thing, by so doing. You understand? They
1:32:50
will put that call of fire. Because when you
1:32:52
say call of fire today, that's what? That's fire.
1:32:58
You know what I'm saying? When you are carrying
1:33:00
call of fire, what do you think is happening?
1:33:03
You see? But you can't do that. It meant something.
1:33:10
You have to go back. This Paul was quoting Prover,
1:33:18
Prover chapter 25 verse 21 to 22. He was quoting
1:33:24
Prover 25, 21 to 22. And what was he doing? He
1:33:30
was pulling something. From an ancient Egyptian
1:33:34
and Near Eastern custom This thing you see this
1:33:40
issue of Hipping cold of fire on his head It
1:33:46
has a history It has a culture listen if you
1:33:52
don't understand this you will take it out of
1:33:55
context and It will not be the will of God because
1:34:00
this thing you see that Paul quoted is inspired
1:34:03
meaning that to understand the intent of the
1:34:07
author you must understand the cultural meaning
1:34:10
it is in the cultural meaning meaning that God
1:34:14
decided even in the culture of a people to communicate
1:34:19
his revelation so to be able to understand the
1:34:24
intent of God you must understand the culture
1:34:26
of the people of that day And that is why he
1:34:31
said, in those days, in the ancient Near East
1:34:36
culture, around that Egyptian site, when a person
1:34:41
wanted to show public repentance or remorse or
1:34:45
sorrow for the wrong he committed, they would
1:34:49
carry and walk through the street a clay basin
1:34:54
with a glowing hot coal. on top of their head
1:34:59
through the street. When people saw the person,
1:35:03
it's already indicating that what he did is already
1:35:08
sorry for it. It is from that culture, that meaning
1:35:14
that now Paul pulled from and said now, this
1:35:18
is what it means, that when your enemy is thirsty,
1:35:21
when your enemy is hungry, you understand? What
1:35:24
you are doing is that. You are giving him an
1:35:30
environment for him to be remorseful for what
1:35:33
he has done. Did you understand? Are we together?
1:35:38
It's not vindictive, but it is actually peaceful.
1:35:43
It's giving us a way of solving issues, peacemaking.
1:35:54
Are we together? this is why the issue of Historical
1:36:03
and cultural context is important. They are everywhere
1:36:08
just pick one These things are everywhere in
1:36:12
the Bible. So in understanding the will of God
1:36:16
Sorry, sir, you have to understand the Historical
1:36:21
or cultural context that is the way that's if
1:36:26
you want the will of God. Are we together? Did
1:36:30
you understand what I'm trying to say? Else you
1:36:32
would turn a scripture that's supposed to be
1:36:35
for salvation for fighting enemies. You understand
1:36:44
what I'm saying? We are coming to it because
1:36:46
in the next session I'm going to open us to a
1:36:51
dimension of how this Bible that the greatest
1:36:55
problem we have on the greatest horrific treatment
1:37:00
of men. We are not done by people that say they
1:37:06
are atheist. They are done by people who held
1:37:10
the Bible. And we are sliding, this generation
1:37:17
is sliding in that direction. You understand,
1:37:21
justifying evil using the word of God. We appreciate
1:37:29
you being here today. We hope you carry this
1:37:36
word with you throughout your week. Don't forget
1:37:39
to check the show notes for additional insights.
1:37:41
Stay connected with us through our website or
1:37:44
follow us on social media. If you were encouraged,
1:37:48
share this message with someone you care about.
1:37:51
Until next time, stay blessed.