WEBVTT 00:00:02.060 --> 00:00:07.559 Hi there. Welcome to NECF. We're excited to share 00:00:07.559 --> 00:00:10.699 today's message with you. Don't go anywhere. 00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:14.480 Stay with us till the end for some valuable resources 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:18.320 to enrich your faith. Here's today's sermon. 00:00:22.759 --> 00:00:26.879 Amen. Okay, so I think this is the tenth part. 00:00:27.059 --> 00:00:29.579 I don't know when we will finish. Glory to Jesus. 00:00:29.899 --> 00:00:33.439 Okay, we've been looking at a series of issues 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:37.799 around or about women's liberty. And we are at 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.759 a point where we are asking a question. Wait 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:44.759 a minute. What is God's original plan or intention 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:49.840 for creating a woman? Now, this is very important, 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:54.600 especially... in this season that we are considering 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:58.140 manifesting the kingdom. You cannot manifest 00:00:58.140 --> 00:01:01.380 the kingdom you don't know. You cannot manifest 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:04.500 the kingdom you don't know. Manifesting the kingdom 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:07.840 is not something accidental. It's something that 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:11.840 comes from knowledge. So the fact that you are 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.959 in the kingdom does not mean that you're going 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:17.879 to manifest it effectively. That's why we are 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:21.739 taking time to remove obstacles. that will hinder 00:01:21.739 --> 00:01:26.540 us from manifesting the kingdom. And one of these 00:01:26.540 --> 00:01:30.239 obstacles that has hindered us for a long period 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:33.780 of time is a lot of matter around our sisters. 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:36.900 Because there are a lot of issues that we have 00:01:36.900 --> 00:01:42.379 to dismantle. And why do we need to dismantle 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:47.200 them? Because you will see as we begin that many 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:50.659 of the strongholds that has kept people from 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:53.219 growing and becoming effective in ministry, are 00:01:53.219 --> 00:01:57.219 things that claim to come from Scriptures. So 00:01:57.219 --> 00:02:00.079 you have to be careful when you go to Scriptures. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:05.219 And that's why Apostle Paul says that we are 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:09.539 ministers of who? The Spirit. We are not of letters, 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:12.620 the ministers of letters. For the letters kill 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:15.960 it, but the Spirit give it what? Life. Hallelujah. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:26.319 Amen. Now, in our last message, last time, I 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:30.900 think that's part nine, I concluded by coming 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:36.699 to a point, looking at Genesis 1, verse 26 to 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:40.919 27, particularly these two verses. And when we 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:43.879 read that place, one thing we were able to establish 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:52.000 that God... Created man, male and female. And 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:56.479 he created them in the what? In the image of 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:01.259 God. And we said one important part of our study 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:05.900 which we will do is to actually find out what 00:03:05.900 --> 00:03:09.060 exactly is that image. Now, let me give you some 00:03:09.060 --> 00:03:13.360 hints. Look at Genesis chapter 9. Genesis chapter 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:18.110 9. Genesis. Chapter 9. I want you to open your 00:03:18.110 --> 00:03:23.389 Bible. Else I will shut this thing down. Because 00:03:23.389 --> 00:03:28.069 we are not just telling you. This time is time 00:03:28.069 --> 00:03:32.009 for Bible study. And when you study, you study 00:03:32.009 --> 00:03:36.270 actively. You don't study passively. That's why 00:03:36.270 --> 00:03:39.590 probably many of our graduates today, they are 00:03:39.590 --> 00:03:43.009 graduating with empty heads. Because the problem 00:03:43.009 --> 00:03:46.629 is that... They go to class. I mean, when I teach 00:03:46.629 --> 00:03:50.169 some of them, especially, anyway, probably some 00:03:50.169 --> 00:03:52.610 people from the medical school are a little bit 00:03:52.610 --> 00:03:54.830 serious, but they are on serious issues too. 00:03:54.949 --> 00:03:58.750 So I'm really pathetic. I mean, I feel so sorry 00:03:58.750 --> 00:04:04.349 for our next generation of doctors. I used to 00:04:04.349 --> 00:04:06.370 talk to them so well in the class. You understand? 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:09.819 But probably the most unserious people are the 00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:12.020 people from this area. No, I don't call names. 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:16.959 I only say people from this area. You see some 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:19.139 of them come into class with only phone. They 00:04:19.139 --> 00:04:21.439 will just sit down as if they come to watch movie. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:24.240 I ask one, am I a movie? Please don't do that 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:27.040 in the church. There should be evidence after 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.459 coming to church for a long period of a time. 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:32.019 Don't come here and be wasting your time. I mean, 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:34.120 please don't come here and waste your time. I'm 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:36.019 telling you the truth. Very soon you will have 00:04:36.019 --> 00:04:37.660 gray hairs. When I came to this side, I don't 00:04:37.660 --> 00:04:41.199 have gray hairs. You know that song? Fading away 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:44.899 like the stars of the morning. You know that 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:48.500 song? Okay. So you better utilize your time quite 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:52.120 fast. And this is a time of development. If you 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:54.240 miss this part, you miss it. I'm telling you. 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:57.639 Because the time, the area, I mean, the stage 00:04:57.639 --> 00:05:00.319 in which you will be moving in is brutal. You 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:02.879 understand? Nobody will understand with you that 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:04.920 you are in Cyprus. Life doesn't look at it that 00:05:04.920 --> 00:05:07.680 way. You understand? Hallelujah. What did I say? 00:05:07.779 --> 00:05:11.220 Genesis 9. Let me leave that one. Genesis 9. 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:17.060 So, there is something that got my attention 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:19.079 when I was just going through. So, I want to 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:21.180 just give you a hint before we come to study 00:05:21.180 --> 00:05:24.389 it. Now, if you look at this scripture. He talks 00:05:24.389 --> 00:05:30.310 to you about Noah and all that after the flood. 00:05:31.209 --> 00:05:35.649 And I want you to just look at, he said, verse 00:05:35.649 --> 00:05:39.550 3, every moving thing that lives shall be food 00:05:39.550 --> 00:05:42.829 for you. And I've given you all things, the green 00:05:42.829 --> 00:05:45.670 herbs. Then when you go down, let me just move 00:05:45.670 --> 00:05:53.610 down quickly. Verse 6, look at verse 6. He said, 00:05:53.649 --> 00:05:59.930 for whosoever or whoever sheds man's blood, by 00:05:59.930 --> 00:06:06.029 man his blood shall be what? Shed. For, that 00:06:06.029 --> 00:06:10.470 is, in the image of God he made who? In the image 00:06:10.470 --> 00:06:14.730 of God he made man. Now, you know, normally when 00:06:14.730 --> 00:06:19.009 we normally look at Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 00:06:19.009 --> 00:06:24.949 and 7. we quickly conclude that that is talking 00:06:24.949 --> 00:06:28.449 about people in Christ, right? So how do we go 00:06:28.449 --> 00:06:31.529 about with some scriptures like this? That means 00:06:31.529 --> 00:06:34.569 we will have to study carefully. Are we together? 00:06:34.889 --> 00:06:36.990 That's why I say we have to pay attention. Amen. 00:06:37.470 --> 00:06:39.889 But before we go there, there's something I have 00:06:39.889 --> 00:06:45.850 to put some layers before we arrive there. Amen. 00:06:47.230 --> 00:06:51.069 Okay, so... Now, I just give you something to 00:06:51.069 --> 00:06:52.769 chew while you continue to hear. What then is 00:06:52.769 --> 00:06:55.730 the image of God? Because here he's talking about, 00:06:55.730 --> 00:06:57.430 he doesn't seem to talk about the man in Christ. 00:06:57.589 --> 00:07:00.149 Is that correct? Yes. He's just talking about 00:07:00.149 --> 00:07:02.870 the man, any man you shed the blood in the sun. 00:07:02.930 --> 00:07:04.990 He said, no, don't do that. And the reason is 00:07:04.990 --> 00:07:08.529 because that man is made in who? The image of 00:07:08.529 --> 00:07:14.370 God. Okay. So, now let's go back to where our 00:07:14.370 --> 00:07:21.199 sister read for us. Matthew 19. Matthew 19. Now 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:25.339 look at verse 3. He said, the Pharisees came 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:28.899 to him. That is, they came to Jesus. Testing 00:07:28.899 --> 00:07:31.680 him. That means they were not coming to learn. 00:07:31.779 --> 00:07:34.899 They were coming to test him. Because they think 00:07:34.899 --> 00:07:38.100 they have knowledge already. And saying to him, 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:45.899 is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:51.079 just... Any reason? Now, once they use the word 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:54.180 lawful, that means definitely they are referring 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:57.800 to what? The law. Are we together? Of course, 00:07:57.800 --> 00:07:59.939 they knew that Moses' law didn't say for any 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:02.300 other reason. But you know, why did they come 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:05.319 to meet him? They wanted to test him in the sand. 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:08.459 So they knew the law. They knew what the law 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:10.860 says. But they came to test Jesus and asked him, 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:15.740 is it lawful in the sand that you... Put away 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:18.060 your wife or divorce your wife, you know what 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:21.860 I'm saying? Just any other reason. Now, listen, 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:25.720 besides just that they want to test him, that 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:29.279 question is open to us what is their view concerning 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:31.660 a woman. Are we together? I want you to look 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:35.139 at it. Because they have an understanding of 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:38.299 what a woman is, according to them. So their 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:41.019 question does not just only show that they want 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:45.029 to trap Jesus. But it opened to us of their ideology, 00:08:45.289 --> 00:08:49.750 of their view concerning who a woman is. And 00:08:49.750 --> 00:08:53.070 interestingly, as we will see, they are bringing 00:08:53.070 --> 00:08:55.710 it from the law. Are we together? So they said, 00:08:55.870 --> 00:09:00.070 is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for 00:09:00.070 --> 00:09:03.289 just any other reason? And that's why I wanted 00:09:03.289 --> 00:09:07.370 you to look at that verse very carefully. Now 00:09:07.370 --> 00:09:14.149 for them, a wife, pay attention. For them, a 00:09:14.149 --> 00:09:17.190 wife is something you can just put away. Did 00:09:17.190 --> 00:09:19.289 you understand what I'm trying to say? For them, 00:09:19.389 --> 00:09:23.149 apparently they don't know what a wife is. Do 00:09:23.149 --> 00:09:28.570 you understand? Because after Adam's sin, when 00:09:28.570 --> 00:09:31.409 the Lord came, Adam too was trying to accuse 00:09:31.409 --> 00:09:34.190 God. But there's a statement he made which have 00:09:34.190 --> 00:09:38.090 an indication why God brought Eve to him. He 00:09:38.090 --> 00:09:40.289 accused God, but I want you to pay attention 00:09:40.289 --> 00:09:42.009 to know because the point is not the accusation. 00:09:42.629 --> 00:09:48.409 He said, the woman you gave me to be with who? 00:09:49.230 --> 00:09:50.789 With me. Did you understand what I'm trying to 00:09:50.789 --> 00:09:53.649 say? I want you to know that word, the woman 00:09:53.649 --> 00:09:58.330 you gave to me to be with who? To be with who? 00:09:58.769 --> 00:10:01.850 But now, look at how the Pharisees are thinking. 00:10:01.990 --> 00:10:10.000 To put her what? Away. To put her away. Now, 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:12.600 in no place, when you look at the Pharisees, 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:17.360 in no place do you see that the woman have any 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:22.259 faith of her own. That means her faith is dependent 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:25.440 on them. Is that correct? Are we together? That 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:29.120 means her faith depends on them. They decide 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:36.159 when to put away. And while... They are focusing 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:40.299 on just put away. Now look at the answer of Jesus. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:42.539 And I want you to pay attention to that. Verse 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:48.159 4. Are you in verse 4? And he answered and said 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:53.360 to them, Have you not read that he who made them 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:57.320 at the beginning made them what? And said, For 00:10:57.320 --> 00:11:01.299 this cause a man shall leave his father and mother 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:07.309 and join to his wife. The two shall become one 00:11:07.309 --> 00:11:10.409 flesh. So when the Pharisees are talking about 00:11:10.409 --> 00:11:15.190 putting away, it's an indication how they see 00:11:15.190 --> 00:11:19.690 a woman. A woman is like a commodity. A woman 00:11:19.690 --> 00:11:23.029 has no equal value with them, which means that 00:11:23.029 --> 00:11:30.990 the power of what to do solely lies... Are we 00:11:30.990 --> 00:11:33.929 together? So their view is already open. But 00:11:33.929 --> 00:11:37.029 while they are focusing on putting away, we're 00:11:37.029 --> 00:11:40.049 going to look at it. Look at what Jesus said, 00:11:40.230 --> 00:11:44.289 that have you not read? I know we have done that 00:11:44.289 --> 00:11:47.529 study. You understand? He's talking about that 00:11:47.529 --> 00:11:50.490 reading is not just casual reading, an aginoscope. 00:11:50.690 --> 00:11:56.360 We saw that it's about reading. properly, completely, 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:59.620 through, across. And he pointed out, look at 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:02.899 verse 5, for this cause or for this reason, for 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:07.299 the reason of what? The reason of verse 4, the 00:12:07.299 --> 00:12:09.899 quotation there. He said, a man shall leave his 00:12:09.899 --> 00:12:13.600 father and mother and join to his wife. Look 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.539 at what Jesus said. And do what? And joined. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:21.700 What are they focusing? And put away. Jesus is 00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:25.710 saying, join. They are saying what? I'll put 00:12:25.710 --> 00:12:30.149 away. Now you see that a complete viewpoint. 00:12:31.090 --> 00:12:34.409 You understand? One, the view of Pharisee concerning 00:12:34.409 --> 00:12:39.309 a woman. Another, the view of God concerning 00:12:39.309 --> 00:12:43.029 a woman. That she's not a property to just throw 00:12:43.029 --> 00:12:47.730 anyhow. You understand? No. That the will of 00:12:47.730 --> 00:12:50.129 God, the plan of God, the original intention 00:12:50.129 --> 00:12:56.389 of God is... That the two are joined. The two 00:12:56.389 --> 00:13:01.230 are joined. So by now you clearly know the difference 00:13:01.230 --> 00:13:05.330 between the Pharisee view. Are we together? And 00:13:05.330 --> 00:13:11.149 the view of Jesus. Which is hinged upon scripture. 00:13:11.690 --> 00:13:15.289 Because he quoted scripture. So we want to see 00:13:15.289 --> 00:13:17.590 the difference between the Pharisee because they 00:13:17.590 --> 00:13:19.860 also quote scripture. When they discover that 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:23.799 Jesus called scripture, they say, okay. Ah, okay. 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:30.000 So they will have to now scripturize much clearly 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.600 their view. They now ask him in verse 7. Look 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:37.980 at verse 7. They said to him, why then did Moses 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:42.460 command that to give a certificate of divorce 00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:46.740 to put her away? They say, why did Moses then? 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:50.919 They focus. It's Moses. They said, this thought 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:53.659 you are saying, what we are giving you, it was 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:56.759 Moses that brought it. So what are you trying 00:13:56.759 --> 00:14:01.019 to say? It's scriptural, what we are giving you. 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:02.580 You know, just the same way the devil will cause 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:04.379 scripture, Jesus will also cause scripture. Are 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:07.120 we together? They are still defending their view. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:11.740 Now, I want you to note something here quickly 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:15.539 before we move. That the fact that you claim 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:17.740 that your view came from Scripture does not make 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:19.860 it that it's right. And that's why we have to 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:22.220 be careful. And that's the reason why, as I said, 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:25.759 all the issues we are discussing concerning women's 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:29.039 liberty, concerning whether a woman should speak 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:32.419 or keep quiet in church, concerning whether a 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:36.139 woman can lead a church, concerning whether a 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:41.779 woman should wear a trouser or not, concerning... 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:44.240 whether a woman should, what do you call it, 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:48.259 cover her hair or not. All these, I want you 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:50.899 to note that they are all picked from where? 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:54.240 From scriptures. Here we are seeing a Pharisee 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:57.659 also trying to argue with Jesus, backing their 00:14:57.659 --> 00:15:01.000 viewpoint from where? From scriptures. So that's 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:03.379 why we said, if ever somebody say, it's in the 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:07.059 Bible, it's in the Bible. You know, sir, have 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:09.210 you had that argument? You say, it's in the Bible 00:15:09.210 --> 00:15:16.529 now? That's why we have taught you, Right? Yes. 00:15:16.570 --> 00:15:19.110 As I said, you know, some people were surprised, 00:15:19.509 --> 00:15:22.370 I followed them. Even if you block us, they will 00:15:22.370 --> 00:15:25.029 bring good. Yes, sir. If they block us, I'll 00:15:25.029 --> 00:15:27.429 call them, we will do Bible study with them. 00:15:27.950 --> 00:15:30.029 Then I will give them assignment. So be careful 00:15:30.029 --> 00:15:32.909 how you post, because I'm watching. That's my 00:15:32.909 --> 00:15:36.169 work. And that's our work, sir. Yes. Glory to 00:15:36.169 --> 00:15:39.210 Jesus. So what we are trying to say is that is 00:15:39.210 --> 00:15:43.490 to clarify true scriptures, to understand what 00:15:43.490 --> 00:15:46.389 is God's view, because that's what matters. What 00:15:46.389 --> 00:15:50.129 is God's view concerning a woman? And if that 00:15:50.129 --> 00:15:55.149 is not corrected, it's going to affect you and 00:15:55.149 --> 00:15:56.850 it's going to affect your relationship. I hear 00:15:56.850 --> 00:16:00.389 some of you say, that's how women are. That's 00:16:00.389 --> 00:16:05.400 how women are. That's how women are. Sometimes, 00:16:05.400 --> 00:16:08.039 if you don't beat a woman, she's like a baby. 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:10.480 If you don't beat her, normally her sense is 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.820 not normally okay. You see, your village is following 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:16.860 you. Or you hear so many comments, careless comments, 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:20.179 regrettably, even sometimes by ministers, that 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:23.080 men are made naturally to have, to need varieties. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:28.940 You see how, how we are spiritualizing flesh. 00:16:30.059 --> 00:16:33.570 You know, sir? That means if you think that a 00:16:33.570 --> 00:16:36.230 man needs varieties, that he cannot stay with 00:16:36.230 --> 00:16:39.250 one woman, that means in your head you are thinking 00:16:39.250 --> 00:16:47.789 that women are what? Dufe? Or women are... You 00:16:47.789 --> 00:16:50.330 know what I'm trying to say? Groceries, like 00:16:50.330 --> 00:16:55.830 Pasuji used to teach us in healthy living, that 00:16:55.830 --> 00:16:58.750 you need different colors of fruit to be healthy. 00:16:59.210 --> 00:17:02.120 You see? Suddenly now you will turn sisters to 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:05.140 become fruit. So you need black, blue, short, 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:09.619 tall. And that's why it's critical. When you 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:13.640 go with this type of thought, how will you not 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:17.299 frustrate the agenda of God? How won't pride 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:20.799 enter you? When they say minister to one another 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:22.960 and a lady comes to minister to you, you see 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.400 her as tomatoes. So something needs to be corrected. 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:30.940 And that's why we are taking time. It's not possible 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:36.700 for you to really become effective in ministry, 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:39.400 whether you're a man or a woman, if you have 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:44.579 a wrong perception about a woman or about a man. 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:50.079 This is how, that's why I often tell believers, 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:52.559 be careful when they start all this movement. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:57.160 Try to know where are they going. Don't just 00:17:57.160 --> 00:18:03.049 be... Be carried away by the label alone. Say 00:18:03.049 --> 00:18:05.549 Black Lives Matter. Do you understand what I'm 00:18:05.549 --> 00:18:09.069 saying? Feminist movement. You know, don't just 00:18:09.069 --> 00:18:13.109 be carried away by label. Try to know where are 00:18:13.109 --> 00:18:18.609 they going? What exactly is the source of their 00:18:18.609 --> 00:18:21.529 motivation? You'll be shocked. Did you understand 00:18:21.529 --> 00:18:23.930 what I'm saying? You'll be shocked. This is the 00:18:23.930 --> 00:18:27.450 reason why we have... You know, the last time... 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:30.480 We are talking, you understand? I was talking 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:33.019 about, even for concerning this issue of gender, 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:35.779 what do you call it? Gender equality, you understand? 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:38.140 All those grammar, gender equity, gender equality, 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:42.440 whatever. You understand? What shaped, what is 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:45.059 shaping your thoughts and your understanding? 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:48.059 As I said, don't be carried away by labels, you 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:50.140 understand? That's why we are saying, learn to 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:51.660 read. You don't want to read, you understand? 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:54.990 Because you will need to be hardworking. to read 00:18:54.990 --> 00:18:58.309 properly, to understand what actually the thing 00:18:58.309 --> 00:19:02.089 is. I mean, the movement is about. And that's 00:19:02.089 --> 00:19:04.529 why we're taking time to talk about distance. 00:19:05.029 --> 00:19:11.849 You know, I saw one lady fuming online. Fuming! 00:19:12.369 --> 00:19:15.269 Yes, sir. I'm qualified, but they are paying 00:19:15.269 --> 00:19:17.130 me less because I'm a woman. They are paying 00:19:17.130 --> 00:19:21.170 me less as a woman. Now, if you are not well 00:19:21.170 --> 00:19:25.099 read, You will just speak it like that. But anybody 00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:29.720 who is, even if you understand basic statistics, 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:35.599 right, will know that, yes, gender could contribute 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:39.880 about a difference in salary, but that difference 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:44.980 in salary is not actually a unilateral factor. 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:48.400 It is several factors that contribute to it. 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:50.390 Do you understand what I'm trying to say? So 00:19:50.390 --> 00:19:53.329 let nobody just come and simplify something to 00:19:53.329 --> 00:19:57.349 you and say it's because of gender alone. Wait 00:19:57.349 --> 00:20:00.650 a minute. Do you really understand what we call 00:20:00.650 --> 00:20:04.470 Latin variables? What am I trying to say? There's 00:20:04.470 --> 00:20:07.730 a way that these people can be loud and they 00:20:07.730 --> 00:20:12.210 carry you away and then use emotion. Back to 00:20:12.210 --> 00:20:14.369 where we are. What I'm trying to let you know 00:20:14.369 --> 00:20:17.329 that there are many things that are actually 00:20:17.329 --> 00:20:20.980 in the scriptures. But they are picked wrongly. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:25.039 Just like the Pharisees. We don't want to be 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:31.380 like the Pharisees. We don't. Not at all. Look 00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:36.279 at verse 8 of that Matthew. What? Matthew 19. 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:43.019 Good. He said to them, Moses, because of the 00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:47.180 hardness of your heart, permitted you to do what? 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:50.279 You know, Jesus unveiled it. Initially they say, 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:53.680 why did Moses? More or less to say that the source 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:56.039 of divorce is Moses because he's the one who 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:58.819 asked us to have certificates. But Jesus said, 00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:03.900 no, the source of divorce is not Moses. The source 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:07.880 of putting away is not Moses. The source is you. 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:14.099 It's your own willingness. That's what that heartness 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:21.140 of heart means. Your unwillingness or your disobedience 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:26.740 to the word of God. You are heart -hearted because 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:30.559 of your wicked heart. Moses wanted to help the 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:33.240 sisters to have, what do you call it, safe landing. 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:35.900 Because he knows the wickedness of these people's 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:39.599 heart, he will allow it haphazardly. These people 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:42.859 are going to do damage. So the only thing Moses 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:48.200 did... Is to systemize the process. So that they 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:50.579 should have some dignity. Even if you want to 00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:56.000 put them away. But he said the source of putting 00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:01.000 away of divorce is you. Is the hardness of your 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:05.359 heart. Because of the hardness of your heart. 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:10.759 Moses permitted you to divorce. Moses permitted 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:17.559 you. to divorce. But from the beginning, it was 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:20.759 what? It was not so. Again, Jesus pointed them 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:24.359 back to what he has earlier said. In the beginning, 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:28.380 it was not so. In the beginning, it was not so. 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:30.359 Now, when you look at these scriptures, it looks 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:34.819 superficially as if Jesus is just focusing on 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:37.400 the issue of marriage. I mean, do you understand 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:39.819 that? Because it looks as that's what the point 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:42.839 is. But there's a deeper discussion which we're 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:45.940 going to look at that is much more deeper than 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:48.880 that. It's not just talking about the issue of 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:52.740 marriage and then divorce. No. There's something 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:57.660 deeper than that of value which I want you to 00:22:57.660 --> 00:23:03.200 see. How a woman is viewed. Did you understand 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:05.039 what I'm trying to say? That's what I want you 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:08.980 to see. Because... The matter of divorce will 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:13.980 not have come in if their value of women is accurate. 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:16.180 Do you understand what I'm trying to say? The 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:19.200 matter of putting away will not have come if 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:23.900 their understanding, their view concerning women 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:27.799 is accurate. Because Jesus said, you understand, 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:33.259 is to join or to cleave. Now, that scripture 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:36.470 Jesus called is two scriptures. Although it was 00:23:36.470 --> 00:23:39.089 repeated somehow. Let's go back to them. And 00:23:39.089 --> 00:23:42.410 as I said, one of the scriptures is Genesis chapter 00:23:42.410 --> 00:23:46.990 1. Genesis chapter 1 verse 26. That image. But 00:23:46.990 --> 00:23:48.730 there is something. Let me go to the second scripture 00:23:48.730 --> 00:23:56.289 first. Which is Genesis 2 .24. Genesis 2 .24. 00:23:56.349 --> 00:23:59.470 Please go with me quickly. Genesis 2 .24. Thank 00:23:59.470 --> 00:24:04.599 you Jesus. Therefore. A man shall leave his father 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:09.220 and mother and be joined to his wife. And the 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:14.500 two shall become one flesh. The two shall become 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:17.059 one flesh. Now, to understand this scripture, 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:20.400 because it says what? Therefore. Are we together? 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:24.740 Oh, are we with me? Are you with me? Therefore. 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:29.799 That means you are coming to a conclusion. There 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:34.299 is a view. Listen, listen to me. Just like we 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:37.960 said concerning the Pharisee. You see, the issue 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:42.680 of putting away the woman comes into being because 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:45.599 of their corrupted understanding of who a woman 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:50.099 is. So already we will not be focusing on marriage, 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:52.980 marriage, marriage. That's not the point. We 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:56.220 want to dig into the source of the problem. Did 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:58.519 you understand what I'm saying? We want to dig 00:24:58.519 --> 00:25:02.359 into the source of the problem. And so when he 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:06.240 said, therefore, a man will leave his father 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:09.660 and mother and be joined to his wife, and the 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:12.519 two shall become one flesh. To understand that, 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:16.180 because that's almost a conclusion, is to go 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:21.440 back a little bit contextually, to read, to understand, 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:26.339 till we come down. Look at verse 18. Maybe we 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:29.440 should start from verse 18. Although we can go 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:34.579 up again. And the Lord God said, it is not good 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:41.039 that man should be alone. I will make him a helper 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:46.759 comparable to him. Verse 19. And out of the ground 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:50.000 the Lord God formed every beast of the field 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:52.119 and every bird of the air and brought them to 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:56.519 Adam to see what he will call them. And whatever 00:25:56.519 --> 00:26:02.059 Adam called each living creature, that was its 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:07.799 name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:10.759 birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:20.119 But for Adam, there was not found a helper comparable 00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:23.680 to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep. 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:29.539 to fall on Adam and he slept and he took one 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:32.880 of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:37.460 Then the ribs which the Lord God had taken from 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:43.259 man, he made into a woman and brought her to 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:48.319 man. And Adam said, this is now bone of my bone, 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:53.799 flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman 00:26:53.799 --> 00:27:00.539 because she was taken out of man. Now, you see, 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:04.579 this is the context. Are we together? Now, upon 00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:07.599 this strength of revelation and understanding, 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:11.460 that was when we have what? Therefore. Are we 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:14.839 together? Now, when a man had this understanding, 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:19.349 he will not be thinking of separation. He will 00:27:19.349 --> 00:27:22.890 not be thinking of a woman as a commodity. Do 00:27:22.890 --> 00:27:24.690 you understand what I'm trying to say? He will 00:27:24.690 --> 00:27:28.029 not be thinking of a woman as lesser value. That 00:27:28.029 --> 00:27:32.210 someone that he can just throw away anyhow. Do 00:27:32.210 --> 00:27:35.069 you understand what I'm saying? So, the question 00:27:35.069 --> 00:27:38.529 is that we need to unpack this. Because until 00:27:38.529 --> 00:27:42.329 you come to this revelation, you will have erroneous 00:27:42.329 --> 00:27:49.279 view concerning a woman. Now, Look at verse 18 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:53.200 again. And the Lord God said, it is not good 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:59.079 that man should be alone. I will make him a helper 00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:03.859 comparable to him. Now for many years when I 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:07.400 was growing, actually I was taught that this 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:10.599 place, the helper is the woman. Because when 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:12.079 you go down there and they say, therefore shall 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.519 a man leave his father and mother and join to 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:16.019 his wife. So automatically they all conclude. 00:28:16.509 --> 00:28:19.670 That it is woman that God is talking about. You 00:28:19.670 --> 00:28:22.890 understand? So this passage is always taught 00:28:22.890 --> 00:28:25.650 as marriage passage. Do you understand what I'm 00:28:25.650 --> 00:28:27.690 saying? It's always taught as marriage passage. 00:28:28.210 --> 00:28:32.170 Whereas, that is not marriage passage. But for 00:28:32.170 --> 00:28:34.950 many years, of course, I was taught, groom, you 00:28:34.950 --> 00:28:37.190 understand, that the woman is a helper. Now, 00:28:37.210 --> 00:28:40.089 because of that erroneous, what do you call it? 00:28:40.690 --> 00:28:46.339 Interpretation. A woman's purpose. And a woman's 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:50.240 value is attached to that of a man. Did you understand 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.619 what I'm trying to say? That means a woman does 00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:56.200 not have value outside a man. Meaning that if 00:28:56.200 --> 00:29:02.819 that is the purpose of a woman's life is to become 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:07.180 the helper of who? Of man. That means if you 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:09.319 are not married, you are useless. Did you understand 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:11.420 what I'm trying to say? That is the implication 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:13.019 now. Why are you looking at me as if you don't 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:14.440 understand what I'm saying? That is the implication. 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:19.259 Because if a woman is a helper of man, you understand, 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:22.400 which we have been taught in the context of marriage, 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:24.279 that means to fulfill your purpose, you have 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:27.160 to what? You have to marry. Else, if you don't 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:31.220 marry, you are useless. That is another worldview. 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:35.220 And for many years, many women, in trying to 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:39.599 feel that, no, how banal, that means... How can 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:42.880 they say that? Do you understand? That my value 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:45.059 is only attached to that of man. And that's why 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:47.079 you hear many women are very angry. Let me tell 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:50.299 you one thing. This is the origin whereby, let 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:52.660 me point to you some things which probably you 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:55.200 have not observed. Do you understand? Let's say, 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:57.680 Pastor Ima, if you're going to write his name 00:29:57.680 --> 00:30:03.599 now, you will not say, Dr. Master Ima. You will 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:06.339 say what? Talk to me now. You will say what? 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:10.289 Dr. Ima. Now, our sister Titi, if you want to 00:30:10.289 --> 00:30:14.509 write her name, how will you do it? Doctor what? 00:30:15.150 --> 00:30:17.710 Now, what are you saying now? Did you see what 00:30:17.710 --> 00:30:20.829 I'm trying to say? Meaning that you cannot just 00:30:20.829 --> 00:30:24.029 call her doctor like that. That Mrs. had to be 00:30:24.029 --> 00:30:25.650 a... Why will you put Mrs. if you don't want 00:30:25.650 --> 00:30:28.569 to put master to him? Oh, some people are saying 00:30:28.569 --> 00:30:32.410 her. That's the origin of the culture. That a 00:30:32.410 --> 00:30:35.990 woman's purpose and value must always be attached 00:30:35.990 --> 00:30:39.259 to a man. Outside a man, she has no value. It's 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:42.519 from this erroneous interpretation. This is the 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:45.099 reason why we have to pay attention very well. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:49.039 If you are sleeping, wake up. Because deliverance 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:53.220 is happening now, now, now, now. So we agree 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:55.839 with that. But you see, as you are growing in 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:58.079 the Lord, some things will come and be hooking 00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:01.339 you in the neck. Now let me give you one of the 00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:03.359 scriptures that begin to shatter my distance. 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:06.380 I say, uh -uh. I already know that because most 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:08.839 times when that scripture is provided, it's concerning 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:11.200 the issue of ministry. They will say, you see, 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:14.980 in fact, they used to counsel us. He's a man 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:17.599 of God. Why are you thinking of a woman? You 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:19.480 need to have the work you are doing before you 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:22.500 think of a woman. If you don't have work to do, 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:25.980 what would the woman come to help you with? Did 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:28.400 you hear that? Meaning that the woman doesn't 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:30.359 have any work. Her work is to help the man. So 00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:31.900 most times, that was when we would start praying. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:34.279 Lord, show me my purpose. And because we are 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:37.039 confused too. Lord, show me my purpose. Because 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:39.079 you are trying to pray to know the purpose. So 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:40.960 that when the woman is coming, you say, woman, 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:44.019 this is the work the Lord has called me. You 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:46.740 understand? And the issue is that she's mandated 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:51.819 by religion. Mandated that she has to follow 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:54.880 your own, what you call, purpose. Did you understand 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:56.930 what I'm saying? And women have been becoming 00:31:56.930 --> 00:31:59.970 angry. Why will God do such a thing? And I've 00:31:59.970 --> 00:32:02.130 heard all kinds of interpretations to defend 00:32:02.130 --> 00:32:06.309 women. Again, that will corrupt the passage much 00:32:06.309 --> 00:32:10.289 more. The woman will say, you see, when they 00:32:10.289 --> 00:32:14.109 say you are a helper, that means you have more 00:32:14.109 --> 00:32:17.170 wisdom. Without you, the man cannot do anything. 00:32:17.490 --> 00:32:18.849 Do you understand what I'm saying? The reason 00:32:18.849 --> 00:32:22.329 is not to try to console themselves. You understand? 00:32:22.890 --> 00:32:25.450 At least I am important. You understand? At least 00:32:25.450 --> 00:32:30.230 I am important. Because without me, the man cannot. 00:32:30.349 --> 00:32:33.049 In fact, they will go through this passage. I 00:32:33.049 --> 00:32:36.869 used to fear. You understand? They will see when 00:32:36.869 --> 00:32:39.829 the man was in the garden, there was nothing 00:32:39.829 --> 00:32:42.170 in him. That's why the devil couldn't do anything. 00:32:42.710 --> 00:32:45.970 But suddenly when the woman arrived, hey, hey, 00:32:45.990 --> 00:32:49.769 the devil feel threatened. And that was why he 00:32:49.769 --> 00:32:52.400 came and followed the woman. Because he knows 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:56.160 whatever is of the man is in the woman. Hey, 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:59.480 hallelujah. No, there's a problem. So when I 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:01.880 read this scripture, come to me. Let me read 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:04.359 this scripture. Don't worry. I'm going slowly 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:09.200 because we must dismantle these things and digest 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:11.940 it. Did you understand what I'm saying? Correctly, 00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:14.740 so that we don't put barriers. Because let me 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:18.220 tell you, some of the men are thinking that when 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:22.970 a woman becomes almost like... like jelly or 00:33:22.970 --> 00:33:27.950 like a banku you just hit hit like this that 00:33:27.950 --> 00:33:30.730 it is to the advantage you are a coward you don't 00:33:30.730 --> 00:33:33.970 understand what you're saying no if your wife 00:33:33.970 --> 00:33:38.109 have no understanding of her original makeup 00:33:38.109 --> 00:33:41.210 you understand you will discover that the home 00:33:41.210 --> 00:33:44.609 will not be productive it's against both the 00:33:44.609 --> 00:33:47.690 man and the woman the church today have not yet 00:33:47.690 --> 00:33:51.009 we are still struggling because We have made 00:33:51.009 --> 00:33:54.650 this thing and deny our sister expression. You 00:33:54.650 --> 00:33:56.609 know what I'm saying? We have denied. Second 00:33:56.609 --> 00:34:02.789 Corinthians. Oh, glory to Jesus. Second Corinthians. 00:34:02.930 --> 00:34:06.009 Look at Second Corinthians. I mean, this is a 00:34:06.009 --> 00:34:12.110 scripture that hooked me in the neck. And I began 00:34:12.110 --> 00:34:14.389 to study and say, eh, eh, there's a problem here. 00:34:14.530 --> 00:34:17.289 Because we are taught that the manna is the one 00:34:17.289 --> 00:34:19.800 with the purpose of God. The woman is coming 00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:22.500 to help. And suddenly I read this scripture. 00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:28.280 Read with me. He said, verse chapter 5. Okay, 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:30.480 sorry, I didn't call the chapter. You know, I'm 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:33.500 vibrating because of my, my spirit is angry concerning 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:36.039 this issue. Look at chapter 5. 2 Corinthians 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:39.739 chapter 5. Pastor Iman already read to us that 00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:41.980 scripture. I love that scripture. You understand? 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:46.039 Let me start from verse 14. For the love of Christ 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:50.599 compels us. Because we taught church that if 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:55.579 one died for all, then all died. Verse 15. And 00:34:55.579 --> 00:35:00.039 he died for all. For how many? Male. Only male. 00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:04.960 He died for who? For all, male and female. That 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:08.340 those who live should live no longer for themselves, 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:12.340 but for him. But for him. To live for who? For 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:17.239 him. For the man? For who? For him. For the man, 00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:22.800 for him. Live for him. Who died for them and 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:26.579 rose again. Look at verse 16. Having this understanding. 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:32.119 He said, therefore. From now on. We regard no 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:36.860 one according to the flesh. This is not a matter 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:41.820 of sex. Visualistic. Having this understanding. 00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:47.039 Now we regard no man. In the worldly. Is it NLT? 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:50.099 There is one version that says in the worldly 00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:52.619 point of view or something like that. Human point 00:35:52.619 --> 00:35:55.019 of view. Please start. There is one version that 00:35:55.019 --> 00:36:04.699 says NIV. So from now on, we regard no one from 00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:09.300 what? A worldly point of view. Meaning that looking 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:14.670 at believers from the fleshly standpoint. From 00:36:14.670 --> 00:36:20.329 the physical, it's actually a worldly point of 00:36:20.329 --> 00:36:24.570 view. Though we once regarded Christ in this 00:36:24.570 --> 00:36:30.829 way, we do so what? No longer. Verse 17. Therefore, 00:36:30.969 --> 00:36:36.769 if anyone, male or both male and female, if anyone 00:36:36.769 --> 00:36:41.739 is in Christ, he is a new creature. In fact, 00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:45.539 if you look at in Kidronity, that he is in italics. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:48.500 That means it's inserted. In Christ, a new creature. 00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:52.179 That's how it is. All things have passed away. 00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:57.199 Behold, all things have become new. Verse 18. 00:36:58.219 --> 00:37:03.079 Now, all things are of who? All things are of 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:08.460 God, who has reconciled us to himself. Oh, I 00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:11.010 want you to understand with me. Is the only man. 00:37:11.610 --> 00:37:14.909 Only male that has been reconciled. He said. 00:37:15.050 --> 00:37:18.570 He has reconciled us to himself. That is male 00:37:18.570 --> 00:37:22.349 and female. Through Jesus Christ. And has given 00:37:22.349 --> 00:37:27.230 us. Those who have been reconciled. Given who? 00:37:27.650 --> 00:37:32.349 Us. The ministry of reconciliation. No different. 00:37:33.110 --> 00:37:36.889 Male and who? And female. This thing hook me. 00:37:37.329 --> 00:37:43.559 And say. So how come we read Genesis differently? 00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:48.019 That the ministry is of the man. The woman is 00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:53.119 coming to be a helper. How then now is saying 00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:57.639 that the ministry is us? Those who have been 00:37:57.639 --> 00:38:02.500 reconciled have been given the ministry of reconciliation. 00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:06.980 Which means that our salvation ushers us into 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:10.619 ministry. Are we together? Everybody here is 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:14.719 called. All of us. You know, sir? I have explained 00:38:14.719 --> 00:38:18.000 this thing. The will of God is that today you 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:23.300 are taught. Tomorrow is your turn to teach. Did 00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:25.360 you understand what I'm saying? That is, you 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:29.559 are taught and you grow. Listen. Pastoring is 00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:34.960 not a name. It's not a label. It's a work. Oh. 00:38:35.659 --> 00:38:37.980 Did you hear what I said? You know, some of you 00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:39.920 when they ask you, because there's erroneous, 00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:42.739 I mean, teaching about it. You think pastor is 00:38:42.739 --> 00:38:46.519 the one who just, no. You know, pastor is a mature 00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:50.500 believer who actually also teach others to grow. 00:38:50.699 --> 00:38:53.659 That's what, that's the work of pastoring. Pastoring 00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:55.760 is feeding. I have taught it in this, this thing. 00:38:56.300 --> 00:38:58.239 You understand? It's from the word shepherd. 00:38:59.179 --> 00:39:01.719 And what does shepherd do? To feed. What am I 00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:05.539 doing now? I am feeding so that you can grow. 00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:10.789 So, The will of God is for you not to stay stunted. 00:39:11.670 --> 00:39:14.369 Not to, I mean, the will of God is for you to 00:39:14.369 --> 00:39:17.030 grow to become a pastor. Did you hear what I'm 00:39:17.030 --> 00:39:19.750 saying? So don't be rejecting, no, me, I'm not 00:39:19.750 --> 00:39:22.130 a pastor. I won't become a pastor. Pastors are 00:39:22.130 --> 00:39:24.889 not the people who just live whatever they are 00:39:24.889 --> 00:39:28.190 doing and come and stay. You understand? You 00:39:28.190 --> 00:39:29.769 know, we have all kinds of erroneous thinking 00:39:29.769 --> 00:39:32.530 about ministry. That's why we said in our lifetime, 00:39:32.710 --> 00:39:35.469 that will be corrected. You do understand what 00:39:35.469 --> 00:39:37.699 I'm saying? And you must make that choice that 00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:40.619 must be corrected. You understand? Paul has a 00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:44.940 career. Zenos is a lawyer. Are we together? Luke 00:39:44.940 --> 00:39:47.920 is a what? He's a physician. Does that stop you 00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:51.719 from ministry? Oh, talk to me. Does your career 00:39:51.719 --> 00:39:54.659 stop you from ministry? Does it stop you from 00:39:54.659 --> 00:39:57.579 being called an apostle? No. So this is not a 00:39:57.579 --> 00:40:00.480 name. Nobody will say, no, God called me only 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:03.420 to be pastor. You know? Me, I'm not a prophet. 00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:06.960 You understand? Me, I'm only a pastor. I know 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:09.300 how to counsel people. Who told you pastoring 00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:11.199 is also about counseling? Are you a psychologist? 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:15.159 Yes, we do counseling. Are we together? But the 00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:16.739 counsel you will give people is to teach them 00:40:16.739 --> 00:40:18.679 the word of God. That's the counsel. That's what 00:40:18.679 --> 00:40:25.039 is called the counsel of God. Hallelujah. Amen? 00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:29.179 So, you will keep drumming that into your spirit. 00:40:29.719 --> 00:40:34.590 Because you have to hear from the end. For we 00:40:34.590 --> 00:40:37.829 will drum it into your mind, you know, sir, that 00:40:37.829 --> 00:40:41.909 you are called. Because everyone that has been 00:40:41.909 --> 00:40:44.489 reconciled is given the ministry of reconciliation, 00:40:44.750 --> 00:40:47.550 you know, sir. And what is the ministry of reconciliation? 00:40:47.969 --> 00:40:50.489 It didn't leave us in the dark, verse 19. That 00:40:50.489 --> 00:40:54.429 is, what is that is? That is trying to explain 00:40:54.429 --> 00:40:56.429 what the ministry of reconciliation is. He said 00:40:56.429 --> 00:41:01.489 that God was in Christ, reconciling the world 00:41:01.489 --> 00:41:06.420 to himself. not imputing their trespasses to 00:41:06.420 --> 00:41:10.599 them, and has committed to us the word of what? 00:41:10.739 --> 00:41:15.360 The word of reconciliation. The minister who 00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:19.360 has been called into the ministry of reconciliation 00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:22.380 is giving the word of reconciliation. What is 00:41:22.380 --> 00:41:24.980 the word of reconciliation? The gospel. That 00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:28.539 is, God is not imputing men's sins. You know, 00:41:28.579 --> 00:41:33.070 sir? God is not imputing men's sins. He has died 00:41:33.070 --> 00:41:35.889 for the world. That is the gospel. And you and 00:41:35.889 --> 00:41:40.090 I have to preach. Now then, verse 20. We are 00:41:40.090 --> 00:41:45.570 only men. We are Christ's ambassadors. All of 00:41:45.570 --> 00:41:49.650 us. As though God was pleading through us. We 00:41:49.650 --> 00:41:53.409 implore you, on Christ's behalf, be reconciled 00:41:53.409 --> 00:41:57.809 to God. So, when we begin to read, I mean, this 00:41:57.809 --> 00:42:01.800 is just one. When I began to read many... scriptures. 00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:05.579 I say, there's something wrong somewhere. How 00:42:05.579 --> 00:42:09.940 can you say that a woman's only purpose is to 00:42:09.940 --> 00:42:13.559 help a man? That means, as I said, if you're 00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:16.260 not married, you're useless. But that's not scripture. 00:42:16.440 --> 00:42:21.380 Marriage is a choice. Your purpose has no inclination 00:42:21.380 --> 00:42:25.280 with marriage. You fulfill purpose whether you're 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:28.340 married or not. The greatest people that talk 00:42:28.340 --> 00:42:30.369 about marriage never got married. Did you understand 00:42:30.369 --> 00:42:33.010 what I'm saying? So your authority to even speak 00:42:33.010 --> 00:42:34.829 about marriage is not because you are married. 00:42:34.969 --> 00:42:37.449 Did you understand what I'm saying? You know, 00:42:37.449 --> 00:42:39.309 I know some of you, immediately the first day 00:42:39.309 --> 00:42:41.130 you are getting married, you start dishing out 00:42:41.130 --> 00:42:46.510 advice. After one week, you start giving us countdown. 00:42:47.030 --> 00:42:51.170 You say one week in marriage. So you start using 00:42:51.170 --> 00:42:53.929 the social media language. Some things I supposed 00:42:53.929 --> 00:42:57.199 to have known before I got married. Because you 00:42:57.199 --> 00:42:59.900 want likes. These days, it's not even those who 00:42:59.900 --> 00:43:02.800 are married. I saw some unscrupulous element. 00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:05.960 Why I call them unscrupulous element is not because 00:43:05.960 --> 00:43:09.159 I'm trying to abuse them. It's the audacity. 00:43:10.079 --> 00:43:13.440 Did you understand what I'm saying? It's the 00:43:13.440 --> 00:43:16.400 audacity at which they speak. You know, sir? 00:43:16.539 --> 00:43:18.760 I mean, we were watching one of our... This is 00:43:18.760 --> 00:43:23.090 with my wife here, sir. I mean, we just... Let 00:43:23.090 --> 00:43:27.469 me not say it. The point is, I say, she's a young 00:43:27.469 --> 00:43:31.969 lady. And we already know our problem. The problem 00:43:31.969 --> 00:43:35.130 is that even now, she's difficult to keep relationships. 00:43:35.409 --> 00:43:37.829 You understand? She's like a junction box. Many 00:43:37.829 --> 00:43:40.130 men, she's still hanging with other men. You 00:43:40.130 --> 00:43:41.670 don't understand junction box? Where you find 00:43:41.670 --> 00:43:45.010 different wires. And then she's online saying 00:43:45.010 --> 00:43:47.190 that the reason why people have problem in the 00:43:47.190 --> 00:43:50.650 marriage is because there is no money. So, if 00:43:50.650 --> 00:43:53.019 you see people divorcing, it's because, There's 00:43:53.019 --> 00:43:55.820 no money. Maybe she needs to go and ask Bill 00:43:55.820 --> 00:43:59.260 Gates. Why did they get divorced? Right? If it's 00:43:59.260 --> 00:44:07.239 because of money. Please, we don't want you to 00:44:07.239 --> 00:44:10.179 disgrace yourself. I beg in the name of God. 00:44:10.719 --> 00:44:13.659 Limit the way you speak anyhow online. You know, 00:44:13.659 --> 00:44:16.340 some of you, I used to teach you how to speak. 00:44:17.139 --> 00:44:20.139 I said, no, no, no, don't speak like that. You 00:44:20.139 --> 00:44:26.469 know, sir. Please, just having internet is not 00:44:26.469 --> 00:44:30.010 opium. Don't be carried away just because nobody 00:44:30.010 --> 00:44:32.429 is there so you can just say anything. You will 00:44:32.429 --> 00:44:34.570 regret it tomorrow because this internet, don't 00:44:34.570 --> 00:44:37.030 forget this. You know they forget, right? They 00:44:37.030 --> 00:44:40.110 will vomit it back to you. And that's why we 00:44:40.110 --> 00:44:43.289 are concerned that we need to do so much more 00:44:43.289 --> 00:44:47.889 to arrive at the accurate understanding. Now, 00:44:47.889 --> 00:44:50.900 once you study something, As I told you last 00:44:50.900 --> 00:44:53.039 time when we laid the foundation before we start 00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:56.820 this one, that the author of scripture is one, 00:44:56.960 --> 00:45:01.039 right? The Holy Spirit is the one behind what 00:45:01.039 --> 00:45:04.619 we call the Old Testament. Jesus taught what 00:45:04.619 --> 00:45:07.780 is captured now in the gospels, right? The same 00:45:07.780 --> 00:45:10.980 person is the one who now told the disciples, 00:45:11.139 --> 00:45:14.639 when the spirit of truth is come, He will guide 00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:17.059 you into all the truth. He said, there are many 00:45:17.059 --> 00:45:19.199 things I will say to you, but you cannot bear 00:45:19.199 --> 00:45:22.719 them now. That means the entire epistles is also 00:45:22.719 --> 00:45:25.099 the product of the Spirit. So the whole of it, 00:45:25.219 --> 00:45:29.099 you cannot read. As we said again, the entire 00:45:29.099 --> 00:45:32.340 Bible is a context. So when you read the Bible 00:45:32.340 --> 00:45:35.119 together and you begin to have contradiction, 00:45:35.460 --> 00:45:37.639 know that they say something's foul somewhere. 00:45:38.159 --> 00:45:41.980 You need to return back to look at it because... 00:45:42.510 --> 00:45:46.269 God is not an author of confusion. He cannot 00:45:46.269 --> 00:45:49.090 speak something in Genesis and speak something 00:45:49.090 --> 00:45:52.789 different in the epistles. It's the same. And 00:45:52.789 --> 00:45:55.210 that's what we are going to do to read through, 00:45:55.309 --> 00:45:58.989 to come to accurate understanding that a woman, 00:45:59.070 --> 00:46:02.929 you have value equal with the man. And that your 00:46:02.929 --> 00:46:06.570 purpose, your ministry is not dependent on a 00:46:06.570 --> 00:46:09.809 man. If you like, you marry. If you don't like, 00:46:10.010 --> 00:46:13.369 you live your life. You will succeed. You will 00:46:13.369 --> 00:46:15.829 achieve and fulfill the purpose of God on the 00:46:15.829 --> 00:46:18.849 earth. Are we together? And that is the goal. 00:46:19.449 --> 00:46:23.389 Because and to understand, not just only because 00:46:23.389 --> 00:46:25.969 you don't want to get married. I often speak. 00:46:26.409 --> 00:46:28.949 You want to get married, you must be married 00:46:28.949 --> 00:46:31.929 for God. You don't want to get married, you must 00:46:31.929 --> 00:46:35.070 not get married because of God. Not that you 00:46:35.070 --> 00:46:38.269 hate men. You are in the wrong track. You regret 00:46:38.269 --> 00:46:41.869 it. You understand? If you're not going to get 00:46:41.869 --> 00:46:43.969 married, it should be because of the gospel. 00:46:44.909 --> 00:46:47.210 It should be because of the work. If you're going 00:46:47.210 --> 00:46:50.289 to get married, it should be for the gospel. 00:46:50.590 --> 00:46:53.289 If you do it for any other reason, you are on 00:46:53.289 --> 00:46:55.710 your own. You understand? You are on your own 00:46:55.710 --> 00:46:58.750 because it's going to speak. It's going to speak. 00:46:59.349 --> 00:47:06.289 I pray for you. I truly pray for you. That it's 00:47:06.289 --> 00:47:10.099 a new dawn. It's a new dawn in your life. It's 00:47:10.099 --> 00:47:13.719 a new dawn in your life. Your ministry is expanding. 00:47:13.940 --> 00:47:17.659 Your knowledge of God is expanding. The word 00:47:17.659 --> 00:47:21.460 of God is glorifying your life. Everything is 00:47:21.460 --> 00:47:25.000 glorifying your life. I pray for you that your 00:47:25.000 --> 00:47:29.880 path will not cross wicked men. Your path will 00:47:29.880 --> 00:47:33.320 cross with men of value. Men who will see you 00:47:33.320 --> 00:47:38.280 as God sees you. Men who will value you. Not 00:47:38.280 --> 00:47:40.320 as the Pharisees. People they think they can 00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:44.400 use and discard. Not like the Pharisees. That 00:47:44.400 --> 00:47:47.099 will see you and see that you are a product to 00:47:47.099 --> 00:47:49.760 be used and discard. No, you will not meet those 00:47:49.760 --> 00:47:52.719 people. You will meet people who will see you 00:47:52.719 --> 00:47:55.280 as you are. Who will see you as one who should 00:47:55.280 --> 00:47:58.960 be cheered for. Who should see as a partner in 00:47:58.960 --> 00:48:02.139 ministry. Who should see a person who is as a 00:48:02.139 --> 00:48:07.599 partner in this great commission. We appreciate 00:48:07.599 --> 00:48:10.239 you being here today. We hope you carry this 00:48:10.239 --> 00:48:13.280 word with you throughout your week. Don't forget 00:48:13.280 --> 00:48:15.320 to check the show notes for additional insights. 00:48:15.840 --> 00:48:18.659 Stay connected with us through our website or 00:48:18.659 --> 00:48:22.159 follow us on social media. If you are encouraged, 00:48:22.380 --> 00:48:24.559 share this message with someone you care about. 00:48:25.260 --> 00:48:27.400 Until next time, stay blessed.