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