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Life in the Spirit: The Walk and the Work (Part 3) · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. God's plan for all nations. God's plan
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for all nations. God's plan for all nations.
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Nations. Let's turn to the book of Matthew chapter
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28 from verses 16 to 20, which we know as the
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Great Commission. It reads, Then the eleven disciples
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went away into Galilee into a mountain where
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Jesus had appointed them and when they saw him
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they worshipped But some doubted and Jesus came
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and spoke unto them saying All power is given
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unto me in heaven and on earth Go ye therefore
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and teach all nations Baptizing them in the name
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of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
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Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
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I have commanded you and law I am with you always
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even unto the end of the edge. So the first thing
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we're going to see is that the place where the
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great commission was given which you see in verses
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16 right let's go back 16 it reads then the 11
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disciples went away into Galilee went away into
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Galilee I want you to Pay attention to Galilee.
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The leaven went away into Galilee, into a mountain
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where Jesus had appointed them. Where Jesus had
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appointed them. So, Galilee is a place where
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nations come together, right? That is Galilee.
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So. I want us to turn to the book of Isaiah chapter
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9 verse 1 because in the book of Isaiah that's
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where we see the coinage of the word Galilee
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of the Gentiles or Galilee of the nations right
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Isaiah 9 verse 1 and we will see subsequently
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what led it to be called Galilee of the Gentiles
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Isaiah chapter 9 Verse 1. Nevertheless, the dimness
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shall not be such as was in her vexation, when
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at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zabulon
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and the land of Nafitali, and afterward did more
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grievously afflict her by the way of the sea.
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beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations. There's
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a reason why Isaiah, the prophet, calls it Galilee
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of the nations. You see it later on. The people
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that walked in great darkness have seen a great
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light. They that dwell in the land of the shadow
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of death, upon them hath light shined. Also you
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see this, the background of Isaiah 9 verse 1
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to 2. is Second Kings. Second Kings is the background.
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You see why it was called Galilee of the Gentiles.
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Second Kings chapter 15 verse 29. Second Kings
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15, 29. Don't lose, this is, they are standing
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in a mountain in Galilee in Matthew 28, right,
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which Jesus has appointed them. Don't lose that.
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Where are they? They are in the mountain of Galilee.
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Right, but we're going to check the background
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where this narrative came from. So let's turn
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to 2 Kings, 2 Kings verse 15 to 20, 15 verse
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29. Yes, 2 Kings 15, 29. It reads, In the days
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of Pekah, the king of Israel, Kim, Tiglat, Peresah,
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king of Assyria, and Tookh, Ijon, and Abel, Beth,
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Mashak, and Johanna, and Kadesh, and Hazor, and
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Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali,
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and carried them into Assyria. So you see that
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there is an invasion that happened here by the
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king of Assyria. So you see what led to this
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invasion. By this time, Israel is divided into
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two kingdoms. There is the south, which is called
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the kingdom of Israel. Then there's also the
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one for the Jews, which is called the land of
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Judah. So the way Kings is written, you explain
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the part of one kingdom then go to the part of
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the second kingdom right so let's look at something
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in verse in chapter 16 right in chapter 16 now
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we are getting to we are getting the view of
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what was happening in the other side which is
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the south which is the south yes verse 5 chapter
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16 from verses 5 then resin king of syria And
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Pekah son of Ramaliah, king of Israel, came up
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to Jerusalem to war, and they besieged Ahas,
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but could not overcome him. So Ahas was the king
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who was in the south, right? At that time, Rezin
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king of Syria, right? At that time, Rezin, the
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king of Syria, recovered Elath to Syria and drove
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the Jews from Elath, and the Syrians came to
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Elath and dwelt there unto this day. So as the
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king of the south sent messengers to Tiglath,
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Pelesa king of Assyria, which you see in verse
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15, who now besieged the north part of Israel,
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which is where we find Galilee. Then it says
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verse 7, So as sent messengers to Tiglath, Pelesa
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the king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant
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and thy son. Come up and serve me out of the
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hand of the king of Syria. and out of the hand
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of the king of Israel which rise against me and
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Ash took the silver and the gold that was found
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in the house of the Lord and in the treasures
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of the king's house and send it as a present
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to the king of Assyria and the king of Assyria
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heken unto him for the king of Assyria went up
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against Damascus and took it and carried the
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people captive to Cairo and slow and slew resin.
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So this is the invention that happened. So by
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this time, this is around 733 BC, we are going
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to see why now we now have Galilee of the Gentiles.
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Because now there's been a besiege in the south,
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in the north side, right? They have taken the
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people of the north, the Jews, they put them
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into prison, right, to take them as prisons.
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And in turn, the Assyrian king now brought in
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Gentiles to live in that region. Are we together?
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Yes. So he now brought Gentiles from different
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parts and now they started living in that south
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in that north part of Israel. So now you have
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an understanding why you see the nations now
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are coming to that place. So fast forward now
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when you go to Isaiah chapter 9 verse 1. Can
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you give it again? Isaiah 9 verse 1. Before we
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read this, I want to say something. Joshua divided
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the land to the children of Israel and the portion
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that was in that region of Galilee was given
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to Naphtali and Zebulon. So now you see why when
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they come, now see verse 9, it says, Nevertheless,
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the dimness shall not be as such as in a vexation
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when the When at first he lightly afflicted the
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land of Zabulon and the land of Nafitali, and
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afterward did more grievously afflicted by the
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way of the sea, beyond Jordan in Galilee of the
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nation. Go next. Verse two. The people that walked
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in darkness, they have seen a great light. They
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that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
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upon them had light shined. So you see the progression
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that in that region now, it's now called the
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land that is full of darkness, that is gross
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darkness, meaning that there's something that
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caused that to happen. which is as a result of
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a mixed cultures. So when people with mixed cultures
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moved in into the North part, right, they now
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brought in pagan worships. They now brought in
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different kinds of things to that area. As we
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go, you'll see why now Galilee will become despised
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in the New Testament. So. So verse 18, Matthew,
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just let's go back to the Matthew. We're still
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reading. I just want us to have a background
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of what is happening so that we may understand
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what the Apostles understood on that mountain
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in Galilee. Matthew 28. Matthew 28 verse 18.
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We're still on that mountain. It reads, And Jesus
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came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
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given unto me in heaven and in earth. In heaven
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and in earth. So all power given to me in heaven
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and in earth there is actually a kingdom language.
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That's a kingdom language. You see that? So,
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it immediately says, Go therefore, and make disciples,
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baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
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of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This parallel
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is Mark 16, Mark 16, 15. Mark 16, 15. We are
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still on the Mount in Galilee, right? Mark 16,
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15. It says, and He said unto them, going into
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all the world and preach the gospel to every
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creature 16 he that believeth and is baptized
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shall be saved but he that believeth not shall
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be damned 17 and these signs shall follow them
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that believe in my name they shall cast out devils
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they shall speak with new tongues And they shall
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take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly
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thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay
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hands on the sick, and they shall recover. They
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will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
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So, one thing they were doing there is, upon
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the resurrection of Jesus, he appoints them that
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let's meet in Galilee. And now he's sending them
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with a message to all the nations of the world.
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And we say something before that the terms that
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are employed by Jesus are kingdom language. So
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what are they going to do? They are going to
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preach about the resurrection of Jesus, that
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is Christ's conquest. That's what they're going
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to preach. Pastor Koston in the previous teachings,
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he explained about the name of Jesus, talking
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about achievement. What the Lord has attained,
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and what is it? Salvation for man. That's what
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they're going to preach. So, immediately, the
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moment the apostles and the apostles on the mount
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hear what Jesus was saying, Jesus employing kingdom
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language, that's why you see the word bazaar
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there. It's Basar talking about kingdom language.
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Immediately, their minds went somewhere because
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these people, when Jesus is telling them, they
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have a background understanding of the scriptures.
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So therefore, what came in their mind when Jesus
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was talking is Isaiah. Let's see Isaiah, where
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we see Basar, right? Basar, B -A -S -A -R -A.
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which talks about a proclamation, right, of good
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news, pertaining a kindle. So let's look in the
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book of Isaiah. Isaiah 52 verse seven to 10.
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Isaiah 52, seven to 10. Isaiah 52 verse seven
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to 10. So, this is kingdom news, right? How beautiful
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upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth
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good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth
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good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation.
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What were they going to talk about? Salvation.
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So this is what is ringing bells in their head
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on the Mount of Galilee. that publishes good
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news of salvation that saith unto Zion thy king
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reigneth thy watchmen shall lift up the voice
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with a voice together shall they sing for they
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shall see eye to eye when the lord shall bring
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again zeon break forth into joy sing together
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ye west places of jerusalem for the lord hath
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comforted his people he hath redeemed Jerusalem
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the Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes
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of all the nations and all the ends of the earth
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shall see the salvation of our God so on that
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mountain when the Lord is talking to the disciples
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this comes in their mind What were they going
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to do? They are now seeing that they are the
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people that are bringing the news of glad tidings
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to the other people, to all the nations of the
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earth. Are we together? Okay, so all the end
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of the earth will see the salvation of the Lord
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in that Isaiah. Let's go back to Matthew 28 verse
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19. Matthew 28 verse 19. Go ye therefore and
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teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
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of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
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Spirit. Where are they going? To all the nations.
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Where were they standing? In Galilee. And Galilee
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has different diverse nationalities in that place.
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So what came in their mind or what they understood
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was this gospel. is not only to the Jews but
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unto all the nations of the world. So on that
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mountain, right, what came in their mind we said
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is Isaiah 52 verse 7 to 10. So the place where
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the way was Galilee, I will talk more about Galilee.
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We will look at the history of Galilee. And in
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that place, Galilee, There is opposition of the
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gospel. That's one thing you will see subsequently.
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There's an opposition of the gospel in Galilee.
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And that is the place where Jesus takes his disciples
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and gives them the great commission that this
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is the place where it is starting. Alright, so
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now the question comes is why Galilee was the
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place which Jesus chose? Why Galilee? Why not
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the temple? Why not in Jerusalem? Why not in
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Bethlehem? He intentionally chose Galilee. Why?
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So we're going to look at this. Back to Isaiah
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9 verse 1. Isaiah 9 verse 1. In the days... Oh
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no! Alright. Isaiah 9 verse 1, it says, Nevertheless,
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the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation,
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when at first he lightly afflicted the land of
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Zabulon and the land of Naphtali. Naphtali and
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Zabulon, they are in Galilee. They are regions
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in Galilee. and afterwards did more grievously
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afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan,
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Galilee of the Gentiles. You still have the background
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why it's now called the Galilee of the Gentiles
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2. Nevertheless, please just move with me verse
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2. The people that walked in darkness have seen
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a great light they that dwell in the land of
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the shadow of death upon them the light has shined
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this is Matthew let's look at Matthew Matthew
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makes a quotation of the same place Matthew chapter
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4 verse 15 to 16 Matthew chapter 4 Verse 15 to
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16. It reads... Let's start from verse 13, in
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fact, so that we can understand. It says, This
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is Jesus' ministry, beginning of Jesus' ministry.
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That is, that it might be fulfilled, which was
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spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, the land
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of Zabilon and the land of Naphtalim, by the
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way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of Gentiles,
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meaning that ahead of time, even though there
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was darkness by that time, the prophet of the
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Lord, Jeremiah, saw that Even that region of
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great darkness, right, light is going to rise
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upon it. That is, they are going to also hear
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of the gospel of our Lord. That is light in darkness.
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Let's see the following verse. Verse 16. The
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people we set in darkness saw that great light.
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To them we set in the region of the shadow of
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death. Light. sprung up. From that time, immediately
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see, from that time Jesus began to preach and
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to say, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at
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hand. Where did he start? Where is the preaching
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of the gospel? In that region that is despised.
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In that region where there is gross darkness.
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That is where he started and said, repent. for
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the kingdom of God is at hand." And we have been
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told that the word at hand means that now. Right?
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It's different from the way we're understanding.
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It means now. The kingdom of God is now. So,
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Galilee was seen, take this note, take note of
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this. Galilee was seen as a spiritually compromised
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place where Gentiles lives lived. Galilee is
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the gateway also to the rest of the world because
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all trade happens towards that region. So many
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people will come by to buy, to do different trades.
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It happened at Galilee. So you can see that there's
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a mixture of cultures, a mixture of races there.
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So because of this history of Galilee, the region
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was heavily influenced by foreign customs. Ascens,
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right, and mixed marriages. In the Old Testament,
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the northern region of Galilee was originally
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given to the tribes of Zabulon, Naphtali, and
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Asher, right. The Assyrian conquest, we saw about
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the Assyrian conquest, which is in 2 Kings 15,
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29, right, which resulted in the deporting of
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the Jewish population and replacing them with
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pagan foreigners. So over these centuries, Galilee
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became an ethnic melting point. This prompted
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the prophet Isaiah, where you see in the book
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of Isaiah, to coin the term, which now later
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on became an insult. By those that used it in
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the New Testament, it became an insult. But what
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Isaiah meant was not an insult. But then they
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took that now to look down on the Galileans.
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We are going to see subsequently. Alright, so...
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Okay, let me check where I was. So by the time
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of the New Testament, this religious leadership
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in the northern Judea, which is Jerusalem, looked
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down on the Galileans. They viewed Galilee as
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a spiritually compromised and sophisticated and
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culturally impure. So the religious leaders firmly
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believed one thing, that the Messiah would emerge
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in power from Bethlehem and Jerusalem, not Galilee.
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This will lead, this will make you think, why?
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Right? Why in, let's turn to, to John 7, John
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7, 52. Why there's an issue about Jesus coming
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from Nazareth? Because Nazareth also happens
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to be in Galilee. Let's read John 7 52 John 7
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52 So all this you will see that Galilee is a
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place where they are despised John 7 52 I'll
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give a background of it. This is Nicodemus Tried
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to give a defense for Christ John 7 52 Right
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now before we go to 52, let's start from verse
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37 John 7 37 we go down then we go to 52 where
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I want us to read in the last day that great
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day of the feast Jesus stood and cried saying
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if any man Tests let him come unto me and drink
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he that believeth on me as the scriptures are
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said out of The people that heard Jesus said,
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of a truth, this man is a prophet. Right? Others
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said, this is Christ. This is the Christ. But
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some said, shall Christ come from Galilee? Meaning
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that it was a shock to them because they looked
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down on Galilee as a region that was impure.
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So the problem is the Messiah should not come
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from Galilee. Because they saw them as outcasts.
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And that is the same place where people that
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are looked down on is where Jesus began his ministry,
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right? Showing also that salvation is not only
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for the Jews, but in that place where Gentiles
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met, where they were Gentile nation, right? So
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let's see, verse 15, verse 45, sorry, verse 45
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of John 7. Then came the officers to the chief
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priests and the Pharisees and said unto them,
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Why have you not brought him? That is, they had
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sent them to capture Christ. They sent him to
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bring Christ. Let's read now, let's jump to 50.
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This is Nicodemus who once had a conversation
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with Jesus previously. Then Nicodemus said unto
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them, He that came to Jesus by night, being one
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of them of the council. 52. Our Lord judged any
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man before it heard him, and knew what he had
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done. Then he answered and said unto him, Adou
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also a Galilee, search and look, for out of Galilee
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ariseth no prophet. So this is the council, these
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are religious leaders. No prophet in their mind
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comes from Galilee. But is that true? Because
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we have Jonah who came from Galilee. So that
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means they had contempt, they scorned on Galilee
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to the extent that they ignored everything that
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has come from there. They looked down on it.
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Their issue is the Messiah should not come from
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Galilee. But if they had done their research,
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if they had read Isaiah chapter 9 verse 1 to
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2, they would have understood about the ministry
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of Jesus. Yes, Jesus was not born actually in
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Nazareth. He was born in Bethlehem. But he grew
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up in Nazareth and that Nazareth is in Galilee.
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So by this time, you now see why they think Galilee,
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they don't want anything to do with other regions.
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They don't want anything to do with the Galileans.
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So by that time, right, then also we are going
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to see something that is shocking. Let's read
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John 1 .46. John 1 .46, same John, 1 .46. John
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1 .46. Let's start from verse 45. Philip found
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Nathaniel and said unto him, We have found him
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of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did
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write, Jesus of Nazareth. That statement, the
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moment he put off Nazareth, if he had just said
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Jesus, it was okay. But let's see later on. He
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said, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
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Immediately in verse 46, and Nathaniel said unto
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him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?
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Now it makes you see why there are issues with
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this place. Nazareth, don't forget, is in Galilee.
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So is there anything good that will come out
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of that region? Right. Then immediately Philip
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said unto him, Come. and see. Come and see. So,
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Jesus starting his ministry in Galilee, right,
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shows that Christ is for all nations, not only
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the Jewish nation, right, not only the Jewish
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nation. Those people, they despised. That is
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the same place that Jesus starts his ministry.
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So the gospel is to all the nations. It would
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have been a problem, I think, if Jesus gave the
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Great Commission in the temple in Jerusalem.
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Because this will continually happen in their
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mind. They will continually see Galilee down.
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They don't care about them. They see them as
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impure people. Right? So, by the time... By the
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time of the New Testament, the Greek and the
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Roman Empires had built massive pagan cultures
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also. I want you to see what affected their idea
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or their understanding of Galilee. By the time
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of the New Testament, the Greek and the Roman
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Empires had built massive pagan cultural centers
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in and around Galilee. So right there, there
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was also a marble temple which was dedicated
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to the worship of the Roman Empire. Emperor Caesar
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Augustus. That is around Galilee. I want you
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to see the regions or the people that are surrounding
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Galilee. So later, Herod's son, Philip the Tetrarch,
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expanded the city into a grand capital, naming
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it Caesarea Philippi, to honor both Caesar and
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himself. This is a region that is surrounding
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Galilee. There are temples where Caesar is worshipped.
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I want you to see why they despised that region
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of Galilee. The things that were happening inside
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and around it were terrible. So, now we have
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seen that there is a marble temple and in one
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of the places that is near Galilee, on the north
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side of Galilee, is Caesarea Philippi, Matthew
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16, 13, 15. Matthew 16. verses 13 to 15. Matthew
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16, verses 13 to 15. When Jesus came into the
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course of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
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saying, Whom do men say, I, the son of man, am?
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And they said unto him, Some say that thou art
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John the Baptist some Elias and others Jeremiah's
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or one of the prophets he said unto them, but
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whom say ye that I am and Simon Peter answered
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and said thou art the Christ the Son of the Living
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God and Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed
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are thou, Simon, by Jonah, for flesh and blood
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hath not revealed this unto you, but my father
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which is in heaven. And I say unto thee, that
33:40
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
33:43
my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail
33:48
against it." Where was the gate of hell? Just
33:51
a few kilometers from Galilee on the north side.
33:56
So it's now shaping your mind how it will be
34:00
difficult for the Jews to really accept that
34:03
something good will come from that region. So,
34:09
Jesus is taking his disciples to that place,
34:12
Caesarea Philippi. And I will draw a picture
34:15
in your mind of what is in Caesarea Philippi.
34:18
There is a cave there, where there is water.
34:21
Down in the cave, there is water where people
34:23
do sacrifices and throw them inside there. And
34:26
that is the place they call the gates of hell.
34:29
And next to it, there is a marble temple that
34:32
was also dedicated to Caesar. Right? So there
34:38
was idol worship. Very bad. Idol worship that
34:44
was in that region. And in that place, that is
34:47
where Jesus is taking his disciples. I believe
34:50
that Jews, normal Jews, would not go there. Those
34:52
who are from the south, they would not step there.
34:55
But Jesus took his disciples into that region.
34:58
And Peter makes a proclamation that thou art
35:02
the Christ, the son of the living God. Where
35:08
did he make that proclamation? In the place where
35:11
Caesar was worshipped and where Caesar was seen
35:14
as the son of God also. So that was a bold statement
35:17
and immediately Jesus says that, blessed are
35:22
thou Peter, right? Blessed are thou Jonah for
35:26
flesh and blood is not revealed this unto you
35:28
by my father which is in heaven Then after that
35:32
he stopped talking to them right the thing is
35:34
concerning his death barrier and resurrection
35:36
So what does Jesus do he's confronting the powers
35:40
of darkness right and he's saying that The gates
35:45
of hell that is this darkness will not prevail
35:49
against him Meaning that even the gospel of our
35:54
Lord Jesus Christ shall be preached in that region
35:57
of Caesarea Philippi also. Are we together? There's
36:10
another thing I want you to see. There's a place
36:13
called Gardara of the Gardarians. It's opposite
36:18
the seashore of Galilee. It's called Ten Cities.
36:24
There are a place of ten cities there. Jesus
36:27
crosses to Gadara and in Gadara he meets a man
36:30
in the tombs. And that man was possessed with
36:35
a legion of devils. Then immediately the demon
36:41
speaks and says, Jesus, the son of the Lord,
36:44
what have you to do with us? Then Jesus, then
36:48
they are pleaded. Jesus said, can we go to the
36:50
swine? They were swine just by the hillside and
36:55
Jesus permitted them to go. According to the
36:58
law of Moses, swine was seen as impure. So that
37:06
means, that will show us that that land that
37:08
was near Galilee, they were keeping those swines
37:14
which shows that they are outside. outcasts.
37:18
But Jesus is stepping in that place. Where is
37:20
the man? In the tombs which were also considered
37:22
culturally impure. And right there, there is
37:27
a man possessed of devils and Jesus comes to
37:30
the land of Gadara, casts out that devil from
37:32
the man, then immediately went back showing that
37:36
Jesus will even reach those nations that were
37:39
despised. That is the only place, that is the
37:44
only time you see him going there. So, God's
37:50
plan is not discriminatory, that's number one.
37:54
God is coming for all the Gentiles. You can see
37:58
that in the ministry of Jesus. He's coming for
38:00
all the Gentiles, including the Jews. There is
38:06
no discrimination in God's plan for all the world.
38:11
So, that also brings into our minds. There are
38:16
some places that we don't want to be. There are
38:20
places or there are people we don't want to interact
38:22
with because of ideas or some things that we
38:26
have heard about those places. But God's plan
38:30
is for all the world. In those dark regions,
38:35
we claim those places for Christ Jesus. We bring
38:38
the gospel of God in places where the name of
38:41
the Lord was not named, in places that were despised.
38:45
Those are the places we go with the gospel of
38:47
Christ. No discrimination. Right. No discrimination.
38:56
So, back to Matthew chapter 28. We are still
39:01
in Matthew chapter 28. I just want us to have
39:03
an understanding of what that region means. Matthew
39:09
28. Matthew chapter 28. From verses 16, I'll
39:27
read again. Then the eleven disciples went away
39:31
into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had
39:36
appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped
39:40
Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke
39:44
unto them, saying, All power is given unto me,
39:49
in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and
39:53
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
39:56
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
39:59
Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
40:03
I have commanded you, and law I am with you even
40:09
unto the end of the world." You see, there is
40:15
the aspect of all nations here. And all nations
40:21
did not start with Isaiah. That's one thing.
40:26
I know we have come from Isaiah. This goes back
40:31
far as to Genesis, right? This goes back to Genesis.
40:37
We are going to look at it later on. So before
40:40
we go there, we are going to go much more into
40:43
the scriptures, that is Genesis. That's where
40:45
we are going to spend more time. Before I go
40:47
to Genesis, I want us to see something. How,
40:50
for us to understand the nations, to understand
40:54
why Jesus would tell his disciples, let's meet
40:57
in Galilee, there is an Old Testament narrative
41:00
or background of everything that Jesus mentioned.
41:05
Let's see some of the instances where you see
41:08
even the authors of the Gospels referring back
41:14
to the Old Testament. Before we go to the Old
41:17
Testament, because we're going to spend more
41:18
time there. Matthew chapter 1 verse 1. Matthew
41:22
1, 1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ,
41:32
the son of David. and the son of Abraham. Abraham
41:37
begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot
41:41
Judas and his brethren. Then he continues down.
41:44
What comes in your mind? Where is it taken from?
41:48
That's Genesis. What you see? Generation that
41:53
way, generation, you're talking about Genesis.
41:55
And also, you see David, which is second Samuel,
41:59
first Samuel, right? Second Samuel and Psalms,
42:02
sorry. Then also we have Abraham which is Genesis.
42:07
So meaning that to understand Jesus, why Jesus
42:12
said to come and why Jesus said to do everything
42:14
that he did, we have to understand it back as
42:17
far as Abraham. The beginning of Abraham, why
42:22
God called Abraham and we come back to the front
42:26
which is the New Testament, then we understand
42:28
all these things. Also, let's look at Mark 1
42:38
.1, Mark chapter 1 verse 1. Mark 1 .1. The beginning
42:51
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
42:54
as it is written in the prophets, behold, I send
42:59
my messenger before thy face. We shall prepare
43:02
thy way before thee. Where was he teaching from?
43:06
This is Malachi, right? This is Malachi. He's
43:12
taking this from Malachi chapter 3 verse 1. You
43:14
can write that down. He takes that. Mark is referring
43:18
back to Malachi 3 verse 1 and Isaiah chapter
43:21
40 verse 3. So, also John chapter 1 verse 1.
43:28
John 1 1. John chapter 1 verse 1. In the beginning
43:43
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
43:46
the Word was God. Right? So, still Genesis. So,
43:55
all the four gospels use, number one, the word
43:58
beginning, you'll see it, even in Luke chapter
44:00
28, right? Look, sorry, Luke chapter 24, verse
44:04
27. Then also we see something in John chapter
44:08
20 verse 22 Just I just want us to have an understanding
44:11
why they are coming from the Old Testament John
44:16
20 22 it says and when he had said this he breathed
44:19
on them and said unto them receive ye the Holy
44:22
Ghost That is Genesis 2 7 right the Lord God
44:28
breathed into his nostrils talking about Adam
44:32
the breath of life and man became a living soul.
44:35
So John is taking us back to Genesis confirming
44:38
that Jesus is the God of Genesis. Have we understood
44:43
that? Alright, so now Genesis chapter 1 verses
44:49
26 to 28. God's original plan. Don't lose me.
44:56
We want to see where the nations came from. What
44:59
cost the nations to emerged. But we're going
45:03
to start from Genesis 126 to 28, which shows
45:08
us God's intent, that is God's original plan.
45:13
Pastor Fred has taught this even during Catechismus.
45:17
You need to just go and listen to the message
45:19
again. Genesis 126 to 28. And God said, Let us
45:28
make men in our image after our likeness, and
45:31
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
45:33
and over the fall of the air, and over the cattle,
45:38
and over the earth, and over every creeping thing
45:40
that creepeth upon the earth. So God created
45:43
man in his own image. In the image of God created
45:46
he, him. Male and female created he, them. And
45:50
God blessed them and said unto them be fruitful
45:52
and multiply replenish the earth and subdue it
45:57
Have dominion over the fish of the sea and over
46:00
the fall of the air and over every living thing
46:03
that moveth on the earth So This is the origin
46:09
of men, right? So this image number one, right
46:14
this image is first identity then what follows
46:18
is function. Right? The image of God talks about
46:23
identity and with identity function follows.
46:29
So in the image of God created he, he male and
46:34
female. Right? Meaning that if we are saying
46:37
that is identity first. I'm not going to do much
46:40
here. Pastor Fred teaching is online. We talk
46:44
about it is identity. but in the image of God
46:48
created him male and female meaning that male
46:51
and female have the same identity in God's plan
46:56
and have the same peoples. Right? So the term
47:02
image there was derived from the word Salem which
47:07
means resemblance. Image is the word Salem which
47:12
means resemblance. And likeness was derived from
47:16
the Hebrew word demuth, D -E -M -U -T -H, demuth.
47:23
It carries the same connotation. That word was
47:28
derived from the word dama, which is D -A -M
47:31
-A -H, which means to resemble, right? So this
47:38
will mean that humanity was to be in resemblance
47:42
or semblance. with God and to be like Him. So
47:47
the words men there you see there in Genesis
47:50
chapter 1 verse 26 to 28 is the word Adam which
47:56
means mankind or humanity right both male and
48:00
female. So when you see they were in let's go
48:10
back and God bless them verse 28 And God blessed
48:14
them, who is the male and the female. He blessed
48:18
them and said unto them, be fruitful and multiply,
48:22
and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have
48:24
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
48:27
fowl of the air, and over every living thing
48:30
that moveth upon the earth. So that I do not
48:33
leave us behind while we went back here. We want
48:37
to look where the nations came from. What went
48:41
wrong? So for us, before we even go to what went
48:46
wrong, we need to understand what was the initial
48:48
plan. That's why we're going back to Genesis.
48:52
So don't be left behind. So the word blessed
48:57
there is from the word barak. B -A -R -A -K,
49:03
barak. It's the word barak. It means to welcome
49:10
in this context. of Genesis 1. It means to welcome
49:15
or it means to congratulate. In other words,
49:20
the writer explained that both male and female
49:22
men are welcomed into God's new humanity, that
49:29
is God's new creation, which is in the image
49:32
and the likeness of God. Let's see, what was
49:38
the intention? 28 God blessed them who are them
49:47
the male and the female right We saw that so
49:52
in Sam verse 28 In Sam verse 28 he says and God
49:59
bless them and say down to them be fruitful and
50:02
multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it
50:04
and have dominion over the fish of the sea and
50:07
over the fall of the air and over every living
50:09
thing that moved upon the earth So the word sub
50:13
-Jew there, let's just move a bit quickly. The
50:17
word sub -Jew was derived from the Hebrew word
50:20
Kabash. K -A -B -A -S -H. This is God's plan.
50:28
We'll see later on what went wrong that resulted
50:32
in the nations that you now see appearing in
50:35
Matthew 28 upon the mountain of Galilee. So,
50:44
kabbash implies to trample under foot, right?
50:48
It means to trample under foot. And there's another
50:51
word also in that verse, which is the word replenish.
50:56
Replenish is the word male, m -a -l -e. All right,
51:03
or mala, m -a -l -a. That word was Right was
51:14
reference as feud, right? So it means to feel
51:20
It means to feel and we see another word appearing.
51:23
There's the word multiply. It's not childbirth
51:26
The word multiplier was derived from the Hebrew
51:30
word rabah right r -a -b -a -h which implies
51:37
to increase It implies to increase. And there's
51:44
another word also which is the word fruitful
51:47
was derived from the word parah, p -a -r -a -h.
51:51
This is important because when we are now going
51:54
to move to Genesis chapter 11, right, Babel,
51:59
you understand why there was the division that
52:05
happened in Babel that led on to the emerging
52:07
of different nations. All right, so just right
52:10
follow through. And we have the word fruitful,
52:16
which was derived from the Hebrew word para,
52:18
which implies to bring forth fruit. And we have
52:22
the word dominion, which is derived from a Hebrew
52:27
word radar, r -a -d -a -r, radar. All right.
52:38
which means to prevail against, to reign, right?
52:45
But in this context, without violence and death.
52:49
So what was God doing or what was God's plan
52:53
of the male man and the male female? Sorry, the
52:58
male man and the female man, right? I get that
53:02
correct. So is that both men and female? in God's
53:08
new creation. They are to what? They are to subdue.
53:13
They are to replenish. They are to multiply.
53:17
They are to be fruitful. And they are to have
53:19
dominion. This is kingdom language. So on the
53:27
Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples are hearing
53:30
these same words. Christ is calling their attention
53:34
to this same thing. that this is the plan. So,
53:42
they are going to be fruitful. How are they going
53:45
to be fruitful? Through the preaching of the
53:48
gospel of God. How are they going to bring the
53:50
reign of Christ? By the preaching of the gospel.
53:55
If you go to Mark 16, it now says that you will
53:58
trample against the works of the evil one. That
54:04
is to subdue. So they were to subdue darkness,
54:12
not people. Take note of that. The wakes of the
54:19
enemy. And later on in Mark it says, in my name
54:21
you shall cast out devils, in my name you shall
54:24
open the eyes of the blind, in my name you shall
54:27
take up serpents. Serpents there talks about
54:30
the wakes of the evil one. What went in their
54:33
mind is Genesis 1, 2 into 3. was in Genesis 1
54:38
2 into 3 we see the X or the works of the evil
54:41
one who came and distorted the plan of God and
54:45
Christ is saying there is a reversal of that
54:48
which the enemy has done and what how are they
54:50
going to do it you guys on the Mount of Galilee
54:53
you are going and subJew you are going to have
54:57
dominion you are going to multiply Are we together?
55:04
And some of the things you see there is that
55:07
in Mark 16, just in closing, right? Yes. Let's
55:12
see, Mark 16. Mark 16, let's go to Mark 16. You
55:19
understand when Philip went down to the city
55:23
of Samaria, right? Okay, let's go to Acts, Acts,
55:27
just in closing. Acts chapter eight. Acts 8.
55:39
Acts chapter 8. From verses 6 and from verses
55:44
5. Starts from 5. Then Philip went down to the
55:48
city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them.
55:52
Right. This is Genesis 1, 26 to 28. They have
55:56
understood it and they are taking action. Right.
56:02
And the people gave heed to those things which
56:04
Philip specked, seeing the miracles which he
56:08
did. For unclean spirits, what is happening?
56:11
Subduing the darkness. The unclean spirits crying
56:15
out with a loud voice came out of many who were
56:18
possessed with them, and many taken with pulses,
56:22
and that where lame were healed, and there was
56:25
great joy in the city of Samaria. But there was
56:30
a certain man called Simeon, which beforehand
56:34
in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the
56:38
people of Samaria, giving unto them that he himself
56:42
was some great one. To him also, to him, sorry,
56:47
to him they all gave heed from the least to the
56:51
greatest, saying this man is the great power
56:53
of God. And to him they had regard because that
56:59
of a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
57:03
But when they believed Philip, Philip's preaching,
57:07
the things concerning the kingdom of God and
57:11
the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized
57:13
both men and female. Then Simon, the sorcery,
57:17
by this is now maybe a brother. Then Simon himself
57:21
believed also, is now a brother. And then he
57:24
was baptized and continued with Philip. and warn
57:28
that beholding the miracles and the signs which
57:32
he has done. So that means what the disciples
57:38
started to do now, having understood, they now
57:41
started going to dark places that were hold by
57:44
the kingdom of darkness. People that were hold
57:47
by the kingdom of darkness and they were preaching
57:49
the gospel of Christ. They were announcing the
57:54
reign of Christ. and to those places. So same
57:59
applies to us today. We have the same mandate
58:01
in all places where we go, in our schools, in
58:05
our communities, where we live, society around
58:09
us, to bring the same gospel of Christ to those
58:14
places, to the unbelievers. Without discrimination,
58:19
we are to preach the word of the Lord. Right?
58:25
Yes, because this is the plan of God from the
58:28
beginning, to bring light in darkness. So we
58:32
light dark areas, we light dark areas, we claim
58:35
the nations of the world to God. So therefore,
58:41
that means we have to engage much more in evangelism
58:43
with this understanding that we are participating
58:46
in God's plans and purposes for the whole earth,
58:50
right? So we'll end here today. In the coming
58:55
meeting, we are going to move to the Tower of
58:59
Babel that is on Wednesday. What then went wrong
59:03
and how God is making, how God made things right
59:06
now, right from Babel. So, let's just pray. Lord,
59:11
I go out, I preach the gospel without discrimination.
59:17
We appreciate you being here today. We hope you
59:20
carry this word with you throughout your week.
59:22
Don't forget to check the show notes for additional
59:25
insights. Stay connected with us through our
59:28
website or follow us on social media. If you
59:31
were encouraged, share this message with someone
59:34
you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.