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The Issues About Women’s Liberty: The Giving of the Law (Part 28) · 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. Chapter three. Excuse me. Let me start
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reading from verse one. He made known to me the
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mysteries, as I have briefly written already,
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by which when you read, you may understand my
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knowledge in the mysteries of Christ, which in
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other ages was not made known to the sons of
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men, as it has now been revealed by the spirit
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of his holy apostles and prophets, that the Gentiles
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should the fellow heirs of the same body and
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partakers of his promise in Christ through the
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gospel of which I became a minister according
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to the gift of the grace of God given to me by
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the effective working of his power to me who
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I am less than the least of all the saints his
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grace was given, that I should preach among the
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Gentiles the unsachable riches of Christ, and
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to make all men see what is a fellowship of the
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mysteries which, from the beginning of the ages,
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has been hidden in God who created all things.
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through Jesus Christ, but stand to the intent
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that now the manifold wisdom of God might be
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made known by the Church to principalities and
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powers in heavenly places. According to the eternal
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purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus,
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our Lord, whom we have boldness and access with
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confidence through faith, Now on Sunday, we continue
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with our teaching and particularly we try to
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address the implications of involving angels
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in the giving of the law. And today we will continue
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again to highlight some few things in that regards.
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Now, There is a misreading of this text that
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I want to clarify briefly before we continue.
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Now many people, when they read particularly
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verse 10, the intent that now the manifold wisdom
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of God might be made known by the Church to principalities
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and powers in the heavenly places. Many people
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think that the intent is that the church should
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show the devil and demons his power. To show
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the power of God to these demons. They need to
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know that God is powerful. And why do most people
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read it like that? Or let me say many. It's not
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actually most. Or some people. Why do some people
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think that this is what the text is saying? actually
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is because of that word principalities and powers.
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The principalities and powers. So they interpret
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that word in the context of Ephesians chapter
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six verse 12. Look at Ephesians chapter six verse
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12. So each time they read that word, the first
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thing that normally we are acquainted with is
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Ephesians six verse 12. But we do not wrestle
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against flesh and blood, but again, principalities,
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against powers, against rulers of darkness of
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this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness
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in the heavenly places, or heavenly. Actually,
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that place is, if you see in the New King James,
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or if you have King James, you always put in
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italics. Actually, we have thoughts. There is
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no place there. It's in the heavilys, heavily.
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Amen. So the places was introduced by the publishers
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of the English version. So that's why when people
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read the principalities and powers, for example,
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in Ephesians 3, They read it in the context of
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also Ephesians 6. If you look at Ephesians, it
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clearly tells us the principalities and powers
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there. Right? Yes. It says, again, it's the rulers
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of darkness. So it's talking about rulers of
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darkness. It said, again, spiritual host of wickedness.
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So that's just a description of the same beings.
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Amen. Now, yes, while in this context, that is
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the Ephesians 6 verse 12, identify principalities
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and powers as rulers of darkness, as spiritual
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host of wickedness, the term, or those terms,
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the principalities and powers is not exclusively
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used as evil spirit all the time. That term ought
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to be defined based according to the context.
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Like we see in Ephesians 6, it's clear there
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that it's talking about wicked spirits. Are we
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together? Amen. Now let's look at collusions.
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Look at collusions. I'm trying to say that that
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term or those terms cannot be just be used with
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a blanket meaning. You can't use them just as
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anywhere we see them, they mean wicked beings
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or wicked spirit beings. Colossians chapter one,
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look at verse 16. Verse 16, he said, for by him
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all things were created that are in heaven and
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that are on earth, visible and invisible. whether
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thrones or dominions did you see that again all
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principalities or what or powers all things we
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are created through him and for him amen are
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we together now if we will consider principalities
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and powers that they always means wicked evil
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spirits in the sun So we read it here also as
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that that means I will be a problem because I
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will mean Because he said by 16 for by him talking
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about Christ all things We are created and he
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mentioned those things and then includes principalities
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and powers that means we will see evil Came from
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God or evil came from Christ But no context defines
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what principalities and powers are. That means
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to say, it's a term that could mean what we see,
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we saw in Ephesians chapter six verse 12, it
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mean wickedness or wicked spirits. We said, or
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it could mean also here, definitely mean spirit
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beings that are not evil. Amen. Are we together?
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Because God created everything perfect and good.
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Hallelujah. So if this text is talking about
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by Him, all things were created, it wouldn't
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be mean, it, it, principality and past here would
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not mean evil. Amen. Are we together? Hallelujah.
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Of course, we saw John talks about many places,
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I mean, in this Scripture that talks about the
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character of God, what actually came from God,
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who is God. John, in verse John talks about,
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in him there is no darkness at all. In him there
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is no darkness at all. So the word principality
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is a -k in Greek, a -r -c -h -e. And powers means
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exusia. E -X -O -U -S -I -A. E -X -O -U -S -I
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-A. It means powers. So ake and exusia, or principalities
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and powers. They are actually a general term
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for spirit beings. In fact, in some places, they
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are used as human authorities. They are used
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as human authorities. As I said, it is a context
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that should tell us what that means. Let's read
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more text for us to see that. Again, let's look
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at Colossians. Colossians 2 verse 10. Colossians
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2 verse 10. He says, and you are complete in
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him who is the head of all principalities and
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powers. Look at verse 15. Having this arm, principalities
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and powers. Definitely these principalities here.
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So you can see in Colossians alone have different
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places where it talks about principality. We
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read in Colossians 1 .16, talks about principality
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and power. Now that means if you read verse 15
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for example, these principalities and power here
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wouldn't mean the principalities and power in
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Ephesians 1 .16. You understand what I'm saying?
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Because the one God or true Christ were created.
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Are we together? We don't mean the one again
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is disarming. Amen. Disarming principalities
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and powers. Amen. Titus chapter three. Titus
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chapter three verse one. Just to just give us
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some thoughts there to think about or some things
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to think about. remind them to be subject to
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who? Rulers and what? Authorities to obey, to
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be ready for every good work. That word rulers
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and authorities. Rulers means principalities.
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It's the same word there, akehe. Or authorities
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means powers, means exusia. Amen. Luke chapter
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20. So this one, if you look at here, is talking
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about human authorities. Amen. He's talking about
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human authorities. Luke 20. Luke 20 verse 19.
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And the chief priests and the scribes and the
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very hour sought to lay hands on him but they
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feared the people for they knew he has spoken
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this parable against them. So they watched him,
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verse 20, and sent spies who pretended to be
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righteous, that they might cease on his words,
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in order to deliver him to the power and authority
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of the governor, that what power is principalities
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and that word authority is power, that's exusia,
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amen. So sometimes you can see how English can
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be using the same word, can be using principalities
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in place of power or power in place of principalities
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or we can use authority. But we are looking at
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it from the Greek meaning, amen. So what we're
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trying to say is that If you see the principalities
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and powers, we need to look at closely what that
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text is saying. The context will tell us whether
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it's talking about evil spirits or whether the
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angels of God or human authorities. Hallelujah.
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So let's return back to our text, Ephesians 3
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verse 10. So when we read it, we have read it
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already, we will notice that this text is not
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saying or does not present a church showing power
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to demons, but as a means Through which the manifold
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wisdom of God He said previously hidden and that's
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why when you read verse 9 and to make all men
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see What is a fellowship of the mystery? Which
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from the beginning of the age has been hid in
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God in fact That same thought was communicated
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in earlier verses. We look at verse 5. He said
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which in other ages was what was not made known
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to the sons of men as it has now been revealed
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by the spirit to his holy apostles and prophets
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so he sent it thought he was making in verse
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9 healing in god who created all things through
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christ jesus to the intent so he's talking about
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the mysteries revealed to the intent That noun
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the manifold wisdom of God. So the wisdom of
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what definitely will must be related to the revelation
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Are we together? Might be made known by the church
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the principalities and powers so God is not God's
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power is not for sure there's no text of the
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Bible that call the believer to come for displaying
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power in the sun. He's not looking for ways to
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be famous, if you understand. God is not looking
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for ways to be famous. The Church is not established
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simply uh for just to just be showing power power
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power i will show you you know these days anyway
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i don't know in other countries but i know in
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my country nigeria yes sir if you want to see
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drama just go on the road yes sir do you know
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who i am you are a goat you are a this you know
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sir your people driving especially the the i
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don't know it's about the the city i stay is
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in kaduna hey those boys are driving a bus I
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know legos will be more. Amen. So very rough
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driving and you see everybody abusing is here.
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I will lock you up. You will know who I am. So
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the point is that that's not why the church was
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actually established. To go around just showing
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the power, showing who you are and all that.
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Amen. In fact, the truth of the matter is that
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you don't need to show someone the power that
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he has already known. Do you understand what
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I'm trying to say? You know, some of us are lecturers.
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When I enter the class, I don't need to tell
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them that I'm their teacher now. They know, right?
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Yes. And the problem comes when the teacher has
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inferiority complex or he doesn't know the subject.
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So sometimes you have to use other methods in
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the sand to make the students to be subdued in
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the sand. But if you are already the authority
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and you are working in your authority, you don't
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need any statement again. All the people around
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you know you. Are we together? And that's exactly,
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and you see what Christ have, I mean what Christ
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brought us into, you understand? Whether you
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recognize it or not, the devil and his demons
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know you. Do you understand what I'm saying?
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You don't need to show them something before
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they know you have power. Whether you are using
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it or not, using it. Are we together? Amen. Remember
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in Act 19, verse 15, the evil spirit met some
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guys. They thought that he was just calling the
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name. Those guys were exorcists. And part of
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them were the children of one chief priest, they
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called Sons of Skiba. And then they came, they
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said, we command you to go out in the name of
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the Lord who Paul preached. You are not in the
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system and you want to use the name and do something.
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Are we together? You know what the spirit told
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them? The evil spirit said, Jesus, I what? I
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know. Paul, I know. Who are you? That means your
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identity is unknown. You understand? You can't
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just use a tag. You understand? That means evil
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spirits, they know you. They know your position.
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Are we together? Now I want to note that, remember
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we are talking about knowledge. So I'm very careful
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with the statement we are making in the sun.
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This knowledge of the evil spirit, we are not
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talking about revelation and knowledge here.
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Are we together? Because we describe in, we interpreted
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on Sunday in the sun what actually the difference
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between the searching of the prophets and the
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searching in the sun or the looking of the angels
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amen so this knowing is not a volitional knowledge
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and you know again so there is a knowing that
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i'm talking about the knowing is that knowing
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that james was talking about is that are we together
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uh james james is it james yes james two was
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19 Look at James 2 .19. He says, you believe
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that there is what? One God. You do well. Even
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the demons do what? Believe and they do what?
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This is a threat. You get what I'm trying to
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say? Yes, this is not revelation. It's recognizing.
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Of course, this belief is not saving faith that
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you believe to be saved. That means they recognize
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and they tremble. So James was trying to communicate
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in that line too. So what I'm trying to say is
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that you don't need to go around trying to show,
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I will show them. And one of the temptations
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to be in, you understand, is to try to display
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for the, I mean, displaying sick. Do you understand
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what I'm trying to say? Don't fall into that
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error because you're not called into that ministry.
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You're called a serious ministry, the ministry
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of enlightening men, the ministry of saving lives.
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So don't use it for show again, you understand?
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This is why I... I dislike it with the whole
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of my heart when I see the Bible and the Word
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of God used as a tool of comedy. It pains me
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so much because all scriptures are given by the
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inspiration of God and they are profitable not
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for comedy, they are profitable for teaching,
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for doctrine, they are profitable for reproof,
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they are profitable for correction. you are profitable
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for training or instruction in righteousness
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you understand and the essence is not that the
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man of god may be entertained that the man of
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god may be thoroughly furnished he said may be
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perfect thoroughly furnished onto good work that's
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the essence It's not for the Bible to be used
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to entertain the man of God. No the man of God
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the intent of Why the word was given is that
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the man of God may be perfect totally furnished
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That what perfect means equips in a son onto
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good works so We must never fall into that Temptation
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to use sacred things for common Amen. Are we
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together? So we are called to cast out. You don't
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need to start discussing. Who are you? Where
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are you coming from? How many are you in the
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sun? Did you know them before in their clan?
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I mean that's not the point. These sons shall
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follow them that believe. In my name they shall
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cast out, not discuss with them. Are we together?
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Cast out demons. So that is what we're supposed
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to do. Hallelujah. Amen. Are we together? So
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they know that Christ has disarmed, we read in
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Colossians 2, he says he has disarmed principalities.
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They have been disarmed. Are we together? That's
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Colossians 2 .15. He says he has disarmed them.
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Hmm Hebrews 2 14 and 15 tells us you understand
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that through the death of Jesus Christ what happened?
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He said he has destroyed him who had the power
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of death He now identify him. He said that is
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the devil You know son I release the essence
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is that he release or set free those who through
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the fear of death in the sun have been all their
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lives kept under bondage. No more fear. Are we
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together? Are we together? No more fear. Amen.
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Go back to that, uh, Ephesians chapter three
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verse 10. So, God's intention was to show, was
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to make known the manifold wisdom of God by the
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church to the principalities. Now, what is this
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wisdom of God? Which I have already noted that
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is in relation to uh the revelation which was
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it in the past or which was not known before
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in fact verse five says which in other ages was
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not made known to the sons of men as it has been
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revealed by what the spirit to his holy apostles
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and prophets this is exactly what jesus in John
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16 said you understand I have many things to
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tell you but you cannot do what you can't bear
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it now he said but how be it when the spirit
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of truth is calm you understand so that means
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there are many things and that's what Paul is
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saying before it has not been made known to the
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sons of men not because God does not want to
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but the sons of men have no capacity to receive
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it Did you get what I'm trying to say? You know
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sometimes when you read it, it will look as if
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God deliberately hid it. No. Men have no capacity.
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It is the Holy Spirit that unlocks the capacity.
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Are we together? And that's why now has been
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made known or it has been revealed. It has been
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revealed. It has been revealed. So verse eight
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of chapter five, chapter three says, to me, look
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at, look at, he said, to me, to me, whom I'm
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less than the least of all the saints, he said,
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this grace was given, that I should preach among
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the Gentiles the unsachable riches of Christ,
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and to make known all, to make, all see what
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is a fellowship of the mistress which from the
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beginning of ages has been hid in God who created
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all things through Jesus Christ to the intent
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to the intent that now the money for wisdom so
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what he's trying to say is that to the intent
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that now are we together What is revealed now?
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It is the wisdom of God. That the wisdom now
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revealed means the revelation of God. The revelation
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of God. So, this ministry is that of revealing
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God's plan. that of revealing God's plan and
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I want you to note it earlier on he started it
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looks as if Paul is just talking about himself
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he said to me was it whom I'm less than the least
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of all the send this grace was giving but by
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the time you move on he reaches 10 he said to
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the intent now that a manifold wisdom of God
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might be made known by the church So that means
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this ministry is not just only for Paul this
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ministry is for the entire church Are we together
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is for the entire church? The ministry involves
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enlightening Not just men But listen, I want
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to be very careful here now when we are talking
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about the enlightenment of angels, we're not
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talking about us now you say you now enter our
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room and say angels angels come here all of you
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today we are having our class no that's not what
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the bible is saying in the sun he's not talking
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about directly no no no you understand he say
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in the process of demonstrating of teaching or
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enlightening men angels are observing did you
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understand what I'm trying to say yes They are
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observing and learning So what Paul is saying
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is that the church is the means through which
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God reveal his wisdom Are we together? You know,
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I hear many Believers say where are you? They
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say me I don't go to job. I read the Bible you
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are confused and that's exactly what is the diagnosis
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of your condition, you understand? Because it's
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not you, you will sit at home and just say, I'm
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reading my Bible. The intent of God that the
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church, you understand, be the one to reveal,
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not you, not just sitting down, you understand?
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If everybody will sit down at home to read this
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Bible, then there is no need for a lot of portions
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of this Bible. You understand what I'm saying?
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There is no need for leaders, there is no need
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for teachers. Amen. Yes, but that's not how the
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church is structured. You are not the owner of
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the church. You have to adjust to the revelation.
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So the wisdom of God means the revelation of
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God. Let me read a text here to just clarify
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this because it's not just this place that Paul
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was talking like that. 1 Corinthians chapter
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2, 1 Corinthians 2, let's read another letter
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of Paul which you clarify what this means also
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because he used that term also look at verse
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seven look at verse seven first Corinthians chapter
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two verse seven he said but we speak what wisdom
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of God in a what mystery you remember what we
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just read yes the wisdom that has been hid or
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the mystery in the sun well you see that mystery
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there is no mystery now because that mystery
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has been what as we reveal so that's what we
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are reading heeding wisdom of God he said or
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then before the ages for our glory was it which
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none of the rulers of this age knew did you see
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that he said for had they known they would not
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have crucified the world the lord of glory did
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you see that what we are talking about That this
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revelation, that's why I told you when we read
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Act 19, you understand? When the evil spirit
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says, Jesus, I know. What? Paul, I know. We said
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that what know is not talking about revelation.
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Are we together? Yes, because it has not been
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made known. It is now that is revealed as we
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are teaching it. Revealed by the spirit of God
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as we are teaching it. They are also. Oh So that
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is it. Ah They are keen. They are curious in
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a son. They are inquisitive I Mean, are we together?
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So he said even the priestess the rulers of this
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age is a if they had known That mystery if they
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had known that wisdom of God, you know son, they
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would not have crucified the Lord of Glory verse
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9 but as it is written eyes had not seen ears
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had not heard nor have entered into the heart
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of man the things which God has prepared for
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those who loved him you know many people quote
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this text and say we don't know the things of
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God God is mysterious it's mysterious to you
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because you have not been reading the bible god
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is not mysterious he can't give you those 66
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books and you say he's a mysterious how are we
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together he came by himself and you say he's
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mysterious we cannot know his ways you know quote
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this is a quotation in the sand because we will
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now quote it and stop there paul was explaining
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something But we now quote and just stop. He
35:55
said, you see, we don't know the things of God.
35:59
This God is mysterious. As the heavens is far
36:03
away, so also the ways of God. No, no, no, no,
36:11
no. Can you read verse 10 with me? Let's read
36:14
verse 10, one, two, three. But God has done what?
36:18
Revealed them to us through his word. all glory
36:23
to Jesus amen are we together yes God has revealed
36:29
them so don't stop at that quotation now it has
36:36
been revealed glory to Jesus so it has been revealed
36:41
so the things angels desire to look into in 1st
36:49
Peter where we read 1 -12, indicate angels were
36:55
trying to learn in the sun. They do not fully
37:02
comprehend the death and the implication of the
37:05
redemption as it unfolds in history and as well
37:10
also today in the church. So as the church embodies
37:16
and proclaim this mystery, this revelation, God's
37:21
wisdom becomes known even to these spirit beings.
37:28
So 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 10 to 12 show both
37:34
the prophets and angels were searching. We said
37:38
their search was different. The prophets searched
37:43
to understand when what they prophesied would
37:48
happen. While the angels were looking that is
37:53
a desire to understand the truth of salvation
37:57
revealed through the gospel so one thing we can
38:01
clarify here is that Angels, I mean the prophets
38:06
desire to know when the redemption the foretold
38:12
will happen angels were curious to learn about
38:17
God's wisdom and mercy Towards humanity through
38:23
the gospel Therefore With this understanding
38:29
that we have had now Did you see that? There
38:34
was no way angels could have comprehend righteousness
38:37
by feet before Except by the Holy Spirit that
38:45
revealed the mysteries now because before it
38:48
was heat But now has been revealed there was
38:52
no way Angels could have comprehends the mercy
38:57
of God Or the righteousness of God through faith
39:02
when Moses appointed them in a son in the giving
39:07
of the loss So now you remember that text we
39:13
read in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 28 that According
39:18
to the law, there is no what? No mercy. The law
39:24
had no mercy. There's no mercy. So this tells
39:32
us some of the strange things we saw in the law
39:35
of Moses. Some causes, destruction, diseases.
39:46
You do this, I do this to you. And of course,
39:53
thank God for revelation, thank God for Jesus
39:55
Christ. When Jesus came, he tried to set what
39:59
is not from the beginning, what is not in the
40:03
blueprints in the Son of God. When he talked
40:08
about the voice, he said, it was not so in the
40:10
beginning. He would tell, he said, you have heard
40:15
in the past An eye for an eye, a tooth for a
40:18
tooth, what I say to you. That means he's trying
40:20
to distinguish, no, no, no, no. This is the character
40:23
of God and it's consistent. But something came
40:28
in between, transgression, and what you have
40:35
was added. If you look at even the giving of
40:43
the, even the Ten Commandments, which we have
40:46
studied the 10th commandment that is the gospel
40:52
right we explain it when jesus talked and explained
40:56
it and the apostle explained it they never explain
41:00
it as rules what to do today tomorrow yesterday
41:04
you know sometimes you say no it is a gospel
41:08
however it was given to israel as rules 10 1,
41:18
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. For example, the
41:26
Sabbath. What? What? So the Sabbath became a
41:33
rule. But when the Spirit came, explained, we
41:37
saw that the Sabbath means salvation. Did you
41:41
get what I'm trying to say? But man, we are using
41:44
it as rules. They choose one day to become inactive.
41:50
They say they are serving God That that is what
41:54
God wanted Today we have many believers like
41:58
that The writer of Hebrews told us that no, no,
42:05
no, no, it's a we who have believed have entered
42:09
into that rest To tell you that that rest is
42:13
not just now. He called it that rest you know
42:17
that that one he said if joshua had given them
42:23
that rest there would not be did you go i'm gonna
42:27
say so he was pointing to something that was
42:32
from the beginning in fact that was why he quoted
42:34
a text in genesis chapter 2 so when god hallelujah
42:42
now so what i'm trying to say is that That which
42:49
is supposed to give life now has become source
42:54
of death because it now becomes letters. Are
43:03
we together? Amen. We read that text. I want
43:09
to read that text again so that to know that.
43:13
Look at Romans. We read it. Romans chapter 7
43:16
verse. Romans 7 verse 10. Look at Romans 7 verse
43:23
10. I told you that the word law also, because
43:31
when you read Romans, it's not talking about
43:34
the legalism. You understand? It's not talking
43:39
about legalism. He said, what shall we say then?
43:44
You understand? is the, I will read only verse
43:49
seven first. What shall we say then? Is the law
43:52
sin? So this law is not talking about the one
43:56
we are talking about. It says, certainly not.
43:59
On the contrary, I would not have known sin,
44:03
except the law, except through the law, for I
44:07
will not have known covetousness, except the
44:11
law had said, you shall not covet. Where did
44:14
they pick this one? The Ten Commandments. Now
44:19
look at verse 10. He said, and the commandment,
44:24
which was to bring life, I find it to bring death.
44:29
Or if you remove all those italics, he still,
44:32
he said the commandment, which to life, I find
44:39
to death. Second Corinthians three. He says verse
45:00
four, and we have such trust through Christ toward
45:06
God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves
45:09
to think of anything as being from ourselves,
45:12
but our sufficiency is from God, verse six. He
45:16
said, who also made us sufficient as ministers?
45:22
Of the what? Of the new covenant. He said, not
45:28
of letters, but of the spirit. For what happened
45:34
to letters? The letters kills. He's talking about
45:37
the law. The letter kills, but the spirit gives
45:43
life. The spirit gives life. That's what we did
45:53
in... our teaching series, part 20 and 21, that's
45:59
just what we did. We explained these texts. What
46:04
are we trying to say? We're trying to say, when
46:09
God gave what we call the Ten Commandments to
46:13
Moses, the intent was to be preached that they
46:16
will believe it, not to keep it as a performance,
46:22
not to observe it as a rule. Did you understand
46:25
what I'm saying? But because they observe it
46:28
as rules, therefore, they are dead. That's why
46:34
we said, up to today, when you go to Israel,
46:37
you still find some of them. And some believers
46:40
have joined them too. In so many of those keeping
46:45
of the law, what's supposed to be believed now
46:50
is now kept as rules and regulation. Did you
46:56
see how What's supposed to have given life now
47:01
we give that Because what is supposed to believe
47:04
you refused to believe it and then you carry
47:06
it and bring and make it into lose our regulation
47:09
Will you ever bring life? No at all? Hallelujah
47:15
Amen Now let me let's go back to Colossians now
47:20
live So what we're trying to see as the implication
47:24
is that Are we together? When you give, when
47:40
you employ people, you understand? But this time
47:44
around, no people. You employ beings who have
47:47
no understanding of mercy, who have no understanding
47:51
of righteousness by faith. You understand? or
47:55
the revelation through faith. You definitely
48:01
will have a product that has no mercy. Are we
48:05
together? Amen. You definitely will have a product
48:10
without mercy. So when you read and you are reading
48:16
the law and you are seeing the cruelty of the
48:19
law, just remember the the beings that were involved.
48:27
You understand? You will not, you will say, ah,
48:31
I see. I see. Hallelujah. Now, let me just look
48:40
at something. Probably this is what we will look
48:43
at. Maybe a soft heading. The worship of angels.
48:49
The worship. angels. Colossians chapter 2. Let's
48:53
go back to that place where we read. The worship
48:57
of angels. Look at verse 11. Let me read from
49:03
verse 11. In him you were also circumcised with
49:12
the circumcision made with that hands by putting
49:14
off the body of sin of the flesh by the circumcision
49:19
of Christ. buried with him in baptism in which
49:24
you also were raised with him through faith in
49:28
the working of God who raised him from the dead
49:31
was that him and you being dead in your trespasses
49:37
and on circumcise of your flesh he has made a
49:43
life together with him having forgiven you all
49:47
trespasses verse 14 having wiped out the handwriting
49:52
of requirement that was against us, which was
49:57
contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the
50:01
way, having nailed it to the cross, having disarmed
50:07
principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle
50:13
of them triumphant over them in it. So he let
50:19
no one judge you so let no one judge you in what
50:26
in food or in drink or regarding a festival or
50:35
a new moon or sabbath which are a shadow of the
50:42
things to come but the substance is of christ
50:46
verse 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward,
50:52
taking delight in false humility and the worship
50:56
of angels, intruding into those things which
51:02
he has not seen, vainly poofed up by his fleshy
51:06
mind and not holding fast to the head from whom
51:13
all the body nourished and knitted together.
51:17
by joints and ligaments grow with the increase
51:22
that is from God. Verse 20, therefore, if you
51:26
died with Christ from the basic principle of
51:28
the world, why, as do living in the world, do
51:33
you subject yourself to regulations? Do not touch,
51:39
do not test, do not handle, which all concerning
51:43
things which perish with the using according
51:47
to the commandment and the doctrine of men. 23.
51:52
These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom
51:57
in self -imposed religion, false humility and
52:02
the neglect of the body, but are of no value
52:08
against the indulgence of the flesh. Amen. Look
52:15
at verse 18. He said, let no one treat you of
52:20
your reward, taking delight in false humility
52:23
and the worship of angels. Not that word or that
52:28
phrase, the worship of angels. What does that
52:32
mean? The word worship there was translated from
52:39
the Greek word, trescare. T -H -R -E -S -K -E
52:50
-I -A. T -H -R -E -S -K -E -I -A. It means simply
53:01
religion. It means religion. That same text was
53:10
used in Act 26, that same word, sorry, that same
53:18
word. Act 26 verse five. Act 26 verse five. They
53:36
knew me. They knew me from the first. If they
53:45
were willing to testify that according to the
53:49
strict test sect of our religion, that word religion,
53:55
I live a Pharisee. So the word religion is the
54:00
same word to use in Colossians 2 .18, as worship.
54:08
James chapter one. verse 26 and 27, James 1,
54:15
26 and 27. If anyone among you think he is religious
54:24
and does not bridle his tongue, but deceived
54:31
his own heart, this one's religion, that what
54:36
religion is the worship. is useless pure and
54:41
undefiled religion again the word religion there
54:45
before god and the father is this to visit orphans
54:50
and widows in their troubles and to keep oneself
54:53
unspotted from the world so you can say the religion
55:04
of angels If you don't want to see the worship
55:09
of angels, see the religion of angels. So what
55:18
practices were Paul referring to as the worship
55:22
of angels or the religion of angels? The very
55:25
man involving them is in the religion of angels.
55:27
He's not in the pure religion that James was
55:31
talking about. Are we together? Yes, he is. involving
55:37
himself in the religion of angels. Look at verse
55:41
14, maybe some verse in Colossians. Let's go
55:43
back a little bit, up a bit, verse 14. Verse
55:50
14, he say, having wiped out the handwriting
55:54
of requirements. Those all that come from Africa,
55:59
the first thing we read this one, we think about
56:01
the spell, the whatever that the, you know, all
56:05
those people does that. You understand? But what
56:11
is Paul talking about here? You understand? What
56:17
is handwriting of the requirements that was against
56:20
us, which was contrary to us? That what handwriting
56:27
is a word, hierographon. You know, I learned
56:35
that CH is still called he. Amen. Or pronounce
56:43
he. Hallelujah. The word there is C -H -E, C
56:50
-H -E -I -R -O -G -R -A -P -H -O -N. C -H -E
57:03
-I. R O G R A P H O N in Greek. It means what
57:14
has been written, what has been written, or just
57:19
simply a manuscript. For some of us who are in
57:22
this, a manuscript just means something you have
57:25
written with your hand, amen? What about requirements?
57:31
Requirement is the term Dogma in Greek, dogma,
57:37
D -O -G -M -A, which refers to a law or a decree
57:46
or an ordinance, a law or a decree or an ordinance.
57:53
Are we together? So you can just see that that
57:57
handwriting of requirements just simply means
58:00
a written law. Is that okay? A written what?
58:05
Written law. And that written law, it said was
58:12
what? Against us. Contrary to who? Contrary to
58:17
us. So what Paul is trying to say is that if
58:23
you are practicing the law, you are actually
58:25
self -sabotaging. You understand what I'm saying?
58:28
That means you'll be against yourself. because
58:31
the law is not of faith. The law is against us.
58:37
So you'll be self -sabotaging, you know, son.
58:42
You'll be working against yourself. Hallelujah.
58:47
That's what Paul is saying. So if you look at,
58:55
if you read from verse 14, and read it down,
59:02
you understand? I'll just read some so that you
59:04
can see what he's talking about. So actually
59:06
Paul is talking about the law. When he talks
59:08
about the worship of angels or the religion of
59:11
angels, what he's saying is that he's talking
59:14
about the practicing of the law, you understand?
59:19
That's what he's trying to say. Let's read that
59:22
again, verse 14. Having wiped out. the written
59:28
law, which is the handwriting of the requirements.
59:32
Understand? You know, that word requirement,
59:34
even though it has an S, is just a decree. It's
59:37
not really like, as I said, it's a manuscript.
59:40
You understand? The written manuscript requirement
59:43
means law, or decree, or ordinance. You understand?
59:47
So wipe out the handwriting. You see, this is
59:51
exactly closely related with what the writer
59:54
of Hebrew was saying. When you said when Christ
59:57
came he take it away or he takes away the first
1:00:01
that he might establish The second you don't
1:00:05
understand trying to say that's what exactly
1:00:07
saying So Which was contrary? Against us which
1:00:13
was contrary to us and He was and he has taken
1:00:18
it out of the way Having nailed it to the cross
1:00:24
verse 15 Then he said having disarm principalities
1:00:29
and powers He made a public spectacle of them
1:00:33
triumphal over them. Don't worry. We'll talk
1:00:36
about this one later on in the sign verse 16
1:00:39
So he let no one judge you I'm sorry So what
1:00:44
what happened by reason of what Christ did right?
1:00:47
He takes away the written law that is against
1:00:51
you that is contrary to you and then he disarmed
1:00:55
principalities and powers he said therefore that
1:00:58
is so do not allow anyone because you have been
1:01:02
saved from that written law that was against
1:01:05
you so he said now let no one judge you in food
1:01:11
or in drink or in or regarding festival you see
1:01:17
he's recounting what the law has been as written
1:01:21
you know something regarding festival or a new
1:01:24
moon, or sabbath, did you understand what I'm
1:01:27
trying to say? Amen. Which are, verse 17, which
1:01:30
are a shadow, you understand, of what? The things
1:01:35
to come. If you read Hebrews chapter nine, chapter
1:01:39
10, he said, for the law, which is the shadow
1:01:46
of the things to come, did you understand what
1:01:48
I'm trying to say? So when he said the shadow
1:01:49
of things to come, he still is referring to the
1:01:52
law, you understand. because that means verse
1:01:54
16 is a description of the law are we together
1:01:58
that's why i say wood is a shadow of the things
1:02:00
to come but the substance is of christ then verse
1:02:05
18 let no one cheat you of your reward right
1:02:10
taking delight in false humility and the worship
1:02:13
of angels so you can don't take delight in the
1:02:17
practice of the law in the sun is it intruding
1:02:22
into those things which he has not seen, very
1:02:27
poofed up by his fleshy mind. The law has a way
1:02:33
of making you feel you are doing something noble.
1:02:39
You understand? It will poof, it will firm your
1:02:44
ego. You understand? That's why it is in grace
1:02:48
that you cannot boast. We see flesh where it
1:02:52
wants to pull up is in the law You understand
1:02:57
that's why he said so that no one should boast
1:03:01
Mm -hmm. You see that's grace. You're something
1:03:03
But when it comes to the law, that is what it
1:03:07
is in the sun. Look at 19 He said I'm not holding
1:03:11
fast to the head because of course if you are
1:03:14
practicing the law, how can you offer to the
1:03:16
head? from whom all the body nourished and knitted
1:03:21
together by joint and ligament grow with the
1:03:25
increase that is from God then verse 20 therefore
1:03:29
if you died with Christ which is true which means
1:03:35
he's saying since you die if you look at this
1:03:38
word if supposed to be since you died but the
1:03:45
translator chose Eve, but he's supposed to be
1:03:47
saints. Since you do what? You died with Christ
1:03:52
from the basic principles of the world. Why?
1:03:57
You see that? Why? As though living in the world,
1:04:02
you subject yourself to regulations. That means
1:04:08
subjecting yourself to the law means living by
1:04:12
the world. That's what you say. You understand?
1:04:17
Verse 21. That regulation, again, he came back
1:04:20
describing the regulation of the law. Do not
1:04:24
touch. Do not taste. Do not handle. I know many
1:04:28
of us, they have been telling us, don't eat titles.
1:04:31
Don't eat catfish. Don't eat pork. That's exactly
1:04:36
the law. You understand? That's the law. Don't
1:04:40
eat this. You understand? Don't eat this one.
1:04:44
You get what I'm saying? All these small thoughts
1:04:47
here, which all concerns the things which perish
1:04:53
with the using, according to the commandment
1:04:56
and doctrine of men. That same law, it calls
1:05:00
it commandment and doctrine of men. These things
1:05:04
indeed have an appearance of what? Wisdom. and
1:05:10
you call it a self -imposed religion. So the
1:05:14
religion or the worship of angels or the religion
1:05:18
of angels is a self -imposed one. You understand?
1:05:24
False humility, the neglect of the body. But
1:05:31
they have no value. Show me somebody who live
1:05:35
by the law. That person can never that person
1:05:42
will be under sin. Will be what? Under sin. Are
1:05:47
we together? So when we come next, we will explore
1:05:53
some thoughts to complete this concerning the
1:06:00
issue of the worship of angels. And what is the
1:06:10
implication? You know, some people, when you
1:06:13
meet some people, eh, it will work for me. That
1:06:18
time when I was sick, I just took bread. I just
1:06:22
prayed. I said, Lord, the blood of Jesus and
1:06:24
the body of Jesus. When I took it, suddenly I
1:06:28
received my healing. He said, it's working for
1:06:31
me. What is the implication of the worship of
1:06:35
angels to the believer? Amen. Before finally
1:06:41
we end up with our text, I think we have explained
1:06:48
it that long to come to that text and explain
1:06:52
what Deuteronomy 22 .5 means. Amen. Glory to
1:06:56
Jesus. Thank you Father for this. We appreciate
1:07:02
you being here today. We hope you cry this word
1:07:04
with you throughout your week. Don't forget to
1:07:08
check the show notes for additional insights.
1:07:10
Stay connected with us through our website or
1:07:13
follow us on social media. If you were encouraged,
1:07:17
share this message with someone you care about.
1:07:20
Until next time, stay blessed.