Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
right in. Amen. Yes, so we're welcome once again.
And those of the people following us online.
You're welcome. Amen. I am anointed. I will preach
Jesus everywhere I go. I am his, his man. I will
follow him until the end of time. I am anointed.
I am anointed. I will preach Jesus everywhere
I go. I am his. Yes. He is mine. I will follow
him until the end of time. Mark 16. Mark chapter
16. Thank you, Lord. Mark 16. Let me read from
verse 15. He says, and he said to them, go into
the world, into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature. 16. He who is, who
believe and is baptized, will be saved, but he
who does not believe will be condemned. And these
signs will follow those who believe. In my name,
they will cast out demons. They will speak with
new tongues. And if they drink any deadly, It
will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands
on the sick and they will recover. So we started
yesterday trying to see the ministry of laying
of hands. The ministry of laying of hands. And
two things we mentioned or we looked at yesterday.
We noted that this ministry is not something
that is done from afar. You can teach from afar.
But we saw that impartation, impartation. done
through the laying of hands, has to be, or we
need a face -to -face meeting. And that tells
us the necessity of face -to -face meeting. Of
course, there are other things, probably I might
touch them along the line, which is key. For
example, you cannot be pastored online. You cannot
be pastored online because the work of a pastor
is not just to teach, but to have oversight.
And oversight is not something that online space
will permit. Yes, you need to be taught, but
you need to be put to practice those things which
you have learned. Are we together? Probably let
me read this verse. Yesterday, our lead pastor
read that text. You understand? 2 Timothy. Look
at what Paul said. This is what it means to pastor.
Because pastoring is done by example. Paul will
say, follow me as I follow Christ. Which means
that you have to be present physically to watch.
To watch. To watch. Look at it. I will read from
verse 10. He said, but you have done what? Carefully.
2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 10. But you have carefully
followed my what? My doctrine. My what? My manner
of life. This is not something you can see from
very far. You have followed my manner of life.
You have to be where the person is to be able
to see his manner of life. My purpose, my fate,
my long suffering. My long suffering, my faith.
When Paul was commending Timothy, he said, when
I saw the sincere faith in the son, he said,
you see, he said that faith was in your grandmother.
Are we together? Are we together? He said that
faith was in your grandmother, Lois. And your
mother Eunice. Amen. And now I see in you. Of
course. You know that. That could not have been
possible. If Timothy was somewhere else. So he
said. You have. Carefully followed my purpose.
My faith. My long suffering. My love. My perseverance.
How could you have seen the perseverance? How
could Timothy have seen the perseverance of Paul?
Without him being present where the man is suffering,
where the man is toiling, and he could see how
he persevered in the face of danger. It's a persecution.
Affliction, which happened to me at Antioch,
at Iconium, at Lystra. We're going to see some
of them today. He mentioned the places. That
means Timothy was there. What persecution I endure.
And out of them all, the Lord deliver me. Yes.
And all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus
will suffer persecution. This part, some people
don't want it. It's verse 12. Once you hear suffering.
No. Verse 13. But evil men and impostors who
grow worse and worse. Deceived and being deceived.
But you must continue. Must stay. Must continue.
In the things which you have learned. And assured
of. Knowing from whom. You have learned them.
So learning is not just only by teaching. But
by also following the examples of the leader.
By following the manner of life of the leader.
Yes. By following the manner of life of the believer.
Hebrews chapter 13. Verse 7. Remember those who
rule over you. That word rule there is those
who lead. Who have spoken to you the word of
God? Who have spoken the word of God to you?
Of course, you know those he's referring to.
He said, whose faith do what? Oh, talk to me.
Whose faith do what? Follow. Considering the
outcome of their conduct. So learning or discipleship
is not just only about teaching. Fundamentally,
yes, it's teaching. But it's also following the
faith, the manner of life, the conduct of the
one leading. So you cannot pastor a man, you
understand, online. Sorry, sir. That's why it's
contradictory when you say an online church.
That name is not, it's contradictory. It's not
possible. When you say online followers, I agree
with you. When you say followers, I agree. Because
followers are people with that commitment. Today
they will follow you, tomorrow they won't follow
you. But when you're talking about disciples,
are people with a commitment. With a commitment
to sacrifice and following. Understand? Remember
yesterday we said that God's method and system
is man. You can't do anything about it. Understand?
That's why if you have problem relationally,
you have really a big problem. So if you ever
want to grow, If you ever want to become something
in the hand of God, you must be a follower. A
follower of men. You know, these days, you say,
no, me, I follow God. Me, I'm not a follower
of anybody. You are joking. They are not anti
each other. You know, I saw some movement these
days online. Probably some of you have seen it.
They say we left church, but not God. What a
confusion. The meaning of Lord. Are we together?
The meaning of Lord, when you say my Lord, what
you are saying is that. If you understand the
Council of Salvation, you will even talk about
that one. Because a Lord is someone who conquers
a territory and he stays there. So how can you
dare say you left where he is and you say you
didn't leave him? Because he dwells in us. We
are the temple of God. We are the temple of the
Holy Spirit. God is not outside the church. He's
inside. He's staying there. So how can you say
I left the church but not God? How? You are in
the will of God. when you have decided to stay.
You know, one brother who has not been with us
for some time, somehow he got misdirected and
was away for a long time. So I don't know what
hit him. He was having a lot of difficulties.
So somehow, his way was navigated and he came
back again. So he says, I want to see you. I
said, what is the problem? He says, I really
want to see you. I have a problem. I don't know.
I feel I don't have direction. I really don't
have direction. I say for you coming here, you
have direction. Because if you have never had
direction, you will not have return back. Just
coming back to the church, you have direction.
I say for you to stay and hear and grow. Don't
say I don't have direction. You have direction.
For you having the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is
direction. Remember that lesson times ago we
taught in the sand. That once you say salvation,
Salvation is a change of direction. Did you understand
what I'm trying to say? Because when the Holy
Spirit actually endures a man at salvation, that
is a change of direction already. So you have
direction. Amen. I have direction. Glory to Jesus.
So we now saw in Mark chapter 16, and we noted
a second thing yesterday. And we said, these
signs shall follow them that believe. And we
saw that the signs are supernatural. So, and
those signs, we now saw that the laying of hands
is a supernatural sign. In other words, it is
a supernatural activity or a supernatural ministry.
So it says, those who believe. He said, in my
name. He's not saying in the mention of the name.
He's talking about those who believe. Those in
the name. That's what he was saying. Those in
the name. This is what they will do. Those in
the name. In other words, those who believe,
these are the signs that will follow them. We
noted that Jesus, the name J -E -S -U -S, of
course, is English. And we said Jesus, the name
of Jesus is not a tag. And we noted because,
We're trying to explain in the name. It's not
a tag. In fact, we have a footballer called Jesus,
right? Yes. And part of it told us that Jesus
Christ, Christ is not his surname. Are we together?
Amen. That Christ means the Messiah, the anointed
one. Huh? Are we together? He's talking about
his office. So, Because the word Jesus is just
English because English is about 1 ,600 approximately
years. Understand? These Germanic tribes, they
were the ones who migrated and started the issue
of speaking English. And when Jesus was around,
there was no English. It's not in the words,
in the tag. And we said, for us to have better
understanding, the name of Jesus is his accomplishment.
Because most times when we note that, that word
name is onoma. Onoma. O -N -O -M -A in Greek.
O -N -O -M -E. Onoma. It describes a person's
reputation, character, authority, office, deeds,
accomplishments. Describes a person's reputation,
character, authority, office, deeds, or accomplishments.
What the person is known for. What the person
is known for. So the name of a person, you know,
like my president now, he was a governor of Lagos
state, president of Nigeria. He was a governor
of Lagos state. His name was Master Governor.
I mean, his tag, Bola Ame Tinubu, did not change.
Did you get what I'm trying to say? but his name
changed. By the time he became a president, what
you are trying to say, his office changed. What
you will say also that his name as Lord has changed.
Because the authority that comes with a governor
is not the same with the one that comes with
what? Being a president. You know what I'm saying?
So, his office is his authority because the authority
of a president is not the same with that of a
governor. Are we together? So that's the same
thing. So when you hear Paul was said, and God
has given him a name. Don't think he's saying,
is it Jesus or something else? No, he's saying
that there is something he did. And the Bible
tells us in Philippians, if you start reading
from chapter 5. He said he did not consider himself.
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 5. If you start reading.
6, 7, 8. He did not consider himself to be equal
with God. You understand? He said he died. The
death of who? Of a criminal. On the cross. And
then the word said therefore. Yeah? Are we together?
He said therefore. God has exalted. Do you understand
what I'm trying to say? So that means there was
an office he was occupying before. But by the
reason of what he did, there was also an alleviation.
Are we together? So the office he occupied after
resurrection is not the same with the one before.
Because the one before, he is limited. The one
before will not give life. Are we together? But
when he resurrected, that name gives life. So
that is the authority of Christ. So when he's
talking about in the name, he's talking about
the authority in Christ. In the authority of
Christ. Where you are. So those who believe are
in the authority of Christ. Are in the office
now. And these signs they will do. These are
the signs they will do. In fact. We have many
texts. Colossians chapter 4. Look at, you will
see another Jesus inside. So we have plenty.
So that when certain things happen, you should
know your authority. Look at 4. Colossians 4,
11. He said, and what? Oh, talk to me. And what?
And Jesus, who is called who? Justus. These are
my fellow workers for the kingdom of God who
are of the circumcision. They have proved to
be a comfort to me. So that means Paul was with
people. In fact, one of them was called Jesus.
So you should know what it means to be in the
name. So Christ's name. It's his reputation and
accomplishment. That is what he has done. And
what he did is that he died and resurrected.
So with this understanding, you will appreciate
when we said that we have forgiveness and life
in his name. Are we together? Luke 24. Luke 24.
Luke 24, 47. 46 says, then he said to them, thus
it is written and thus it was necessary for Christ
to suffer and to do what? And to rise from the
dead the third day. And that repentance, which
is remission of sins, that is an. Yeah? Should
be what? Should be preached in his word. In his
name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. That
is, to be preached in his authority. To be preached
in his word. Resurrection. The focus of the repentance
and remission of sins, you understand, is based
on his name. John 20. Yesterday I talked about
this text. John 20, 31. John 20, 31. So his resurrection
gave us life. His name gave us life. John 20,
31. But these were written. Let me start from
verse 30. And truly Jesus did many other signs
in the presence of his disciples, which are not
written in this book. But these are written that
you may believe. Pastor Fred told us yesterday
that the miracles of Jesus are to show what he
will do. So John says these. Are written that
you may believe. That Jesus is a Christ. The
son of God. And that believing. You may have
what? You may have what? Life where? He say in
his name. In his name. If you like keep shouting.
So in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus.
That one cannot give life. If you like, shout
it. Don't you see those comedy guys? I mean,
online. A little tune, Jesus. You know, in our
culture, anything, Jesus. Whether the one that
is following him or the one that is not following
him, they have shouted his name several times.
Do you understand what I'm saying? Yes. Did you
understand that? So, if it's just by tact, then
everybody will be born again by now. Those who
have shouted. You know, some people thought by
shouting. Some demons came and called, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus. And the demon was on top. It's
not a tag. We read the story of the sons of Sceva.
They were not born again. He said they are exorcists.
You know exorcists? Those who try to cast out
demons by another higher demon. That's why when
they saw what Jesus was doing, they called him
this, the Prince of Beelzebub. You know Prince?
That he's a ruler. Because they are already,
they are aware that in those days, that's how
they do. If they want to cast a lower demon,
they bring a higher demon. So they saw Jesus
and said, this one must be a higher demon. Since
he's casting this, do you understand what I'm
saying? In the name of Jesus whom Paul preached.
They don't know the name. The thing is by what?
Mentioning. Sons of Siva. Act 19. In the name
of Jesus. And the demons said, you see, don't
think that demons don't know. They know who is
inside. They say, Paul, we know. Jesus, we know.
Hey, who are you? It's not. Hallelujah. Acts
chapter 4. Acts chapter 4. Look at verse 8. Then
Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them,
rulers of the people and elders of Israel. If
we this day are judged for the good deeds done
to the helpless man, by what means he has been
made well. Let it be known to you all and to
all the people of Israel that by the name of
Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucify. Whom God
raised from the dead, by him this man stand here
before you all. It's by the name. This is a stone
which was rejected by you builders, which has
become the chief cornerstone. No, it's their
salvation in any order. For there is no other
name under heaven. Given among men. By which
we must be what? The name of Jesus is his resurrection.
That is where salvation is. There is no any other
accomplishment on earth. Through which a man
will be saved. Look at chapter 10. Look at chapter
10. Chapter 10, verse 39. And we were witnesses
of all these things which he did both in the
land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they
killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up
on the third day and showed him openly, not to
all the people, but to witnesses chosen before.
By God, even to us who ate and drank with him
after he arose from the dead. And he commanded
us to preach to the people and to testify that
it is he who was ordained by God to be judge
of the living and the dead. To him, all the prophet
witnessed that through his word, through his
name, whoever believed in him. Will what receive
remission of sins? Forgiveness of sin came through
his name. Remission of sin through his name.
Remission of sin. Of course, I read, I noted
1 John yesterday. 1 John 5. 5 verse 13. He said,
These things have I written to you who believe
in the name of the Son of God, that you may know
that you have what? Eternal life. You know, if
you look at other texts, I mean, other translations,
that other part was not there. Those of you who
have been with us, we've done interpretation.
You understand what I mean by that. And that
you may continue to believe in the name of the
Son of God. That one is not in the original.
That you may continue to believe. No. And that
you may continue. That's in King James. When
you check other new modern translation, that
part. Is that you, those who believe in the name
of that, you might know that you have already.
So it was written so that they will continue
to believe in the name. It was written that they
will know that they have what? They have eternal
life. So. When you hear they said, there are
some texts. Scripture talks about Acts 2 verse
21. Talks about. Those who call on the name of
the Lord. Call on the name of the Lord. And it
shall come to pass that whosoever call on the
name of the Lord shall be what? Shall be saved.
Call on the name of the Lord is not shouting
the name of Jesus. That's not what this place
is talking about. Remember, Jesus told the Pharisees
and the scribes, he said, He was discussing,
I think in Matthew 7, he said, it is not the
person who called me Lord, Lord, that do what?
Did you remember? So that means it's not about
what? It's not about mentioning. Are we together?
Yes. He is talking about that call means actually
believing. It means believing. Those who put
faith in the name. Those who put faith in the
name. That he was raised from the dead. And that
was what actually Romans 10 was talking about.
So when he talks about confess, he's not just
talking about mentioning. Are we together? Are
we together? He's not just referring to mentioning.
No. He's talking about believing. Romans 10,
verse 6. Romans 10. Look up from verse 6. It
says, but the righteousness of faith speaks in
this way. Do not say in your heart who will ascend
into heaven, that is to bring Christ down from
above, or who will descend into the abyss, that
is to bring Christ up from the dead. Verse 8.
But what does it say? The word is now in your
mouth and in your heart. That is a word of faith
which we preach. The word of faith, which we
preach, that if you confess with your mouth the
Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God
has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
That word is not two things. You know what I'm
saying? First, you say, in the name of Jesus.
You know, sometimes when we come for altar call,
you say, say in the name of Jesus. In the name
of Jesus. If you don't say that, no, no, no.
That's not what he's talking about. You understand?
Remember, that hand there is just showing us
a further explanation. So confessing the Lordship
of Christ is that you have believed in your heart
that God has raised him from where? From the
dead. Because remember I told you, Lordship,
the word Lord, is a concept, you understand,
that was picked from the tradition of those days,
where someone can conquer in a place, you understand?
You know, those days full of wars. You understand?
This kind of war. This king will go on and conquer
this territory. And this king will conquer this
territory. Some of us are historians. We know
about it. Right? So you discover that. That's
from that concept. So once you say Lord, that's
what you are talking about. So a king will now
move, conquer a place. But once he conquers his
place, he stays there. Do you understand what
I'm trying to say? He doesn't conquer and leave.
No. He stays there and protect the territory.
That's the concept of salvation. So when you
received him, he comes into your life. It's in
that picture that he has conquered that territory.
But he does not go away. He stays there and protects
the territory that he has conquered. That's why
neither your salvation or you staying in the
salvation. Is ever your effort. Did you understand
what I'm trying to say? Because it is him that
stays to keep you. Now unto him who is able to
do what? To keep you from falling. And present
you faultless before his presence with exceeding
joy. Jude 24. Unto him who is able to keep you.
From what? From falling. And to present you faultless.
This is not by conduct. This is his work and
it's called salvation. That by the time you receive
the new body, you are still faultless. You are
still faultless. Yesterday, Pastor Roy spoke
a particular text. He said you are holy. You
know that Colossians and Ephesians? Holy, blameless.
He said without fault. Listen. A believer, see,
a believer, the one that has confessed Christ
is faultless. Did you hear what I'm saying? Meaning
you cannot go false. This is not a work of, it's
not about conduct. It's what Christ has made
us. You cannot be unrighteous. Did you understand
what I'm saying? He made him who know no sin
to become sin that you might become the world.
The righteousness. See, you cannot become unrighteous.
Because the one who saves lives in you. The Holy
Spirit can't stay in a place that is unrighteous.
So by his coming, he makes you righteous. He
makes you faultless. And he keeps you faultless.
Are we together? Hallelujah. Amen. So, Now you
know that no one is born again or become the
son of God by just shouting the name of Jesus.
No, he's talking about the issue of believing
in the name. Amen. So is it wrong to say in the
name of Jesus? We're ending prayers because already
we're used to it. Some people will say, in the
mighty name, I'm precious and glorious and intelligent.
Is he intelligent? In the name of Jesus. Some
people think that God is like a man. You have
to praise him. And say all kinds of names so
that he will feel happy to not give you money
or give you things. Then we used to have a formula.
You say, first, when you come before the Lord,
I don't know where you have gone. Anyway, when
you come before the Lord, then you will sing
and dance first. Because you cannot just come
like that. You know what I'm saying? You just
sing and praise first. When you sing and praise,
then you give thanks. After you give thanks,
you know what I'm saying? I've never seen expert
give that to me. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes
they enter, they don't greet. Daddy! You know
what I'm saying? Because, They don't need to
say, they will come to my door and say, Daddy,
you are wonderful. You are this, you are that.
Because they will shower praise for me. Then
I'll say, hey, my baby, how are you? They already
know, they are sure of their acceptance of their
father. They just come in. Daddy, sometimes I'm
in the middle of work. Like yesterday, I was
trying to go through this. Explorer just came.
She didn't even care. She grabbed me by the neck.
She was saying, Daddy, what is that? Now, the
point I'm trying to say is that, you know, there
is a way we picture our father that needs to
be adjusted. Listen, this is very important when
we begin to talk about so much about the laying
of hands. Are we together? To know that that
is what God has desired you and I to operate
in the ministry. That he wants to use our hand
as his hand. Are we together? He wants to use
our what? Our hands as his hands. Because if
you know that he doesn't go and come, he indwells
you forever. You understand? And he's walking
through you. Are we together? You will not be
afraid. You understand? To know that Jesus Christ
is doing and wants to do things. Through you.
Amen. Hallelujah. So. There's nothing wrong.
To say in the name of Jesus. If your understanding
is correct. If you are saying it as an affirmation.
Of your reality. Not as a magic code. For God
to answer your prayer. Did you understand what
I'm saying? There's nothing wrong. To say in
the name of Jesus. Or to shout the name of Jesus.
In the son. If your understanding is correct.
That you are saying. Or you are affirming your
reality in Christ. But not as a magic code. That
you have to just say in the name. So that he
will answer you. In the son. No. No. You don't
need to say. You just need to pray. Father thank
you. In the son. Amen. That's it. So laying of
hands. Let's return back to Romans. Sorry, Mark
16. Mark 16. If you look at verse 17, you could
see that look at verse 17 and 18. So laying of
hands can be done by those who do what? Oh, talk
to me. By those who do what? Who believe. Those
in the name. All believers. All believers can
lay hands. Is for those in the name. All who
believe. All who believe. Do I have someone that
believe here? Amen. Look for 40. Look for. Verse
40. Let's see some text. To see how God. Uses
us. The body. Or uses the body. To do wonders.
Look for 40. When the sun was setting. All those
who had any. that were sick with various diseases
brought them to him and he laid his what? Are
we together? He laid his hands on every one of
them and do what? And healed them. Jesus laid
his hands on every one of them and healed them.
So those various diseases were healed by laying
of hands. Please, I want you to be careful now.
Just, I'm trying to follow you. I want to show
you patterns in the psalm. All those various
diseases, we don't care their name. They were
healed, gone, by the laying of hands. By the
laying of hands. Look at Mark 6. Mark 6. Then
he went out there and came to his own country
and his disciples followed him. And when the
Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue
and many hearing him were astonished saying,
where did this man get these things? And what
wisdom is this which is given to him, that such
mighty works are performed by his hand? Is this
not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother
of James, Jesus, Judas, and Simon? And are not
his sisters here with us? I don't know why they
didn't mention the names of these sisters. Anyway,
you know, in those days, it's a particular system.
Amen? Most times, it's only the men. Yesterday,
I think, Pastor made mention of it. In those
days, they only named the men. They forget about
the children and the women. It's only men. I
guess that's what is happening here. But no more
in Christ. Hallelujah. There is neither male
nor female. Jesus is wonderful. Amen. Verse 3.
So that's what we saw. So they were offended
at him. They were offended at him. But Jesus
said to them, a prophet is not without honor
except in his own country among his own relatives.
And in his own house. Now, he could do no mighty
works here. Except that he laid his hands on
what? On few sick people. And healed them. Did
you see what I'm seeing? So even in the middle
of dishonor and unbelief. Of offense. Laying
of hands to walk. We're going to study this passage
later. At least those who came were healed. Those
who honor him. Even the midst of unbelief and
dishonor. In that atmosphere, lean of hands walked.
Go to Mark chapter 5. Look at verse 21. Now when
Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other
side, a great multitude gathered to him and he
was by sea. And behold, one of the rulers of
the synagogue came, Jairus, by name. And when
he saw him, he fell at his feet and begged him
earnestly saying, my little daughter lies at
the point of death. Come. and lay your hands
on her and she may be healed and she will live.
So Jesus went with him and a great multitude
followed him and thronged him. Look at verse
35. While he was still speaking, some came from
the rulers of the synagogue house. who said,
your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher
anymore? As soon as Jesus heard the word that
was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue,
do not be afraid. Only do what? Believe. And
he permitted no one to follow him except Peter,
James, and John, the brother of James. Then he
came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue
and saw a tumult. And those who wept, and wailed
loudly. When he came in, he said to them, why
make this commotion and weep? The child is not
dead, but sleeping. And they ridiculed him. When
he had put them outside, he took the father and
the mother of the child and those who were with
him and entered where the child was lying. Then
he took the child by what? Oh, are we together?
Did you see what Jesus did? He took the child.
By what? By hand and said. Talitakumi. Which
means. Or which translates. Third little girl.
I say to you. Arise. Immediately the girl arose
and walked. For she was 12 years of age. And
they were overcome by great amazement. But he
commanded. them strictly that no one should know
it and said that something should be given to
her to eat. Immediately Jesus entered. What did
he do? Entered the house of Jairus. He took her
by the hand. I want you to know that Acts chapter
3, he took her by the hand. It's not a mistake.
He didn't just do it. Before he even said anything,
he took her by the hand. Acts chapter 3. I'll
just read 6. Verse 6. Then Peter said, silver
and gold I do not have, but what I have I give
you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
rise up and walk. And Peter do what? And he took
him by what? by the right hand and lifted him
up. And immediately his feet and ankle bones
received strength. Jesus took her by the hand.
Peter took him by the right hand in the sand.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Why do we always touch?
Did you see that? Look at Mark 7. Go back to
Mark. Mark chapter 7. Mark 7 verse 32. Then they
brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment
in his speech and they begged him to put his
hand on him. These people have been following
him. They noticed something about the Christ.
So this time around, they begged him. They said,
just put your hand on him. We understood. You
see, these people are ardent observers. Remember
the centurion. He has seen Jesus. He knows the
power of Jesus. That's why he could say, I have
understood it. Just speak a word from here. I
know something is going to happen. So they observe.
You see, they begged him to put his hand on him.
And he took him aside from the multitude and
put his finger, where? In his ears. And he spat
and touched his tongue. Then he looked up to
heaven and sighed and said to him, Efata means
to be open. Immediately, his ears were opened.
and the impediment of his tongue was loose, and
he spoke plainly. Again, Jesus touched his ears
with his finger. Are we together? He touched
his ears. Jesus touched his ears. Listen, why
will there be always a touch? Because our bodies
transmit the power of God. Remember I told you
that laying of hands, is supernatural in the
Son. Our body transmits. If you go with this
mentality, you begin to see you expressing. You
begin to see you walking in the miraculous with
this consciousness that my body transmits the
power of God. It's not just only some believers.
Every believer, as long as the Holy Spirit dwells
in you. Luke chapter 6. Luke chapter 6. The effectiveness
of believers on how they manifest this kingdom
is to the degree of their consciousness of who
they are in Christ. And the degree of their consciousness
of who they are in Christ is actually a function
of the knowledge. They have about the Christ
and the identity in him. So Luke 6, 17. Judas,
the son of Joseph, and Judas Iscariot, who...
Also became a traitor. Verse 17. Okay, I was
reading 16. Verse 17. I want us to read together.
Are we together? Okay, verse 17. And he came
with them and stood on a level place with a crowd
of his disciples and a great multitude of people
from all Judea and Jerusalem and from this...
Of Ter and Sidon who came to hear him and be
healed of their what? Diseases. Verse 18 together.
As well as those who were tormentors with this.
Yes. He healed. Verse 19. And the whole multitude
sought to what? For what? Out from him to do
what? Power went out. They sought to touch him.
For power, for power went out from him to hell.
So you can now connect what we read earlier when
the man begged him to touch. You can also now
connect This is a story that went out. And the
woman with an issue of blood, she said, if only
I can touch his word. That's what they heard.
They have been observant. Our body transmits
the power of God. Be conscious of this. Be conscious
of this truth. Acts chapter 4. Acts chapter 4
verse 29. Now the Lord looked on their threat
and grant your servants that with all boldness
they may speak your word. By stretching Your
hand to heal. And the signs and wonders may be
done through the name of your holy servant. Through
the name of your holy servant. The question is
that how will God stretch his hand? Have you
seen his hand before? Are we together? Jump to
chapter 5. Verse 12. And through the hands of
the apostles, many signs and wonders were done
among the people. And they were all with one
accord in Solomon's porch. Yet none of the rest
dared join them. But the people esteemed them
highly. The people. esteem them highly, and believers
were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes
of both men and women, so that they brought the
sick out into the streets and laid them on beds
and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter
Passing might fall on some of them. Might fall
on some of them. Are we together? Did you see
that? God stretching his hand is through you.
Is through you. When they pray that. the Lord
will stretch up his hands and heal and the signs
and wonders will be done through his name. The
apostles knew what they were saying. In chapter
five, we now saw that wonders were done through
their hands. So what they are saying or they
are praying is that Lord, that signs and wonders
be performed through your name, by our hands
and through our hands. To our hands. And I want
you to say this in the sun. Say this after me.
My torch is the torch of God. Oh, I say it loudly
now. My torch is the torch of God. That is the
consciousness I want you to begin to walk in.
That my body is his body. You know, I like that
song we used to sing. Only that the way we arrange
the words is not good. Yes, sir. We know that
our body is a sanctuary. Do you understand what
I'm saying? My body is your sanctuary. My body
is your sanctuary. I love this line. But the
other lines have a problem. It's not. How can
your body be sanctuary and say, purify me like
gold? How did you become sanctuary without being
purified? It's not possible. So that I may be
bold to save my body. You started by saying my
body is a giant, so that I will be bold again.
Is that? No. No. You have been purified. Oh,
I am be purified. Yes, I am purified. And my
body is his sanctuary. My hands is his hands.
Are we together? My eyes is his eyes. My touch
is his touch. Are we together? My touch is his
touch. You know, there's a song we used to sing
again. What's that song? My hands are blessed.
My hands are blessed. With the blessings of God.
With the blessings of God. My hands are blessed.
My hands are blessed. With the blessings of the
Lord. Anyone I touch, anyone I touch, anyone
I bless, my hands are blessed with the blessings
of the Lord. With the blessings of the Lord.
Hallelujah. Unfortunately, you know, those days,
They used to sing it during offering. So, you
know, when you call blessed in those days, when
things are hard, your mind goes to money. So,
the Lord is, you know, people will now say, go
punish poverty. Yes, go punish poverty. But the
issue is that go punish ignorance. Because the
problem is not that you don't have anything.
The problem is that you don't have knowledge.
Are we together? So, now next you begin to know
and have this consciousness that my hands are
blessed. I'm a blessed person. Why are you blessed?
Because I've been forgiven. Because I've been
purified. Are we together? Yes, I'm blessed.
Blessed is the man in the sun who sins. Are we
together? God does not impute his iniquity. That's
the man that is blessed. And that's why my hands
are blessed. I'm a blessing. That's our focus.
You know, I first got this understanding when
I was about to go to, in our country, what we
call National Youth Service. Many young people,
When you graduate below 30, you go to serve the
nation. Understand? Just post you anywhere to
serve. You know, one of my uncles called me.
He was working in one of the embassies. Let me
not mention. One of the powerful embassies in
Abuja. He called me and said, where do you want
to serve? Just tell me where you want to serve.
I said, no, they have already done it already.
He didn't understand what I was trying to say,
but I'm saying that I don't arrange for that.
God has done it. And our mindset is not that
I'm going, you know, there's a way we consider
better place. Do you know what I'm saying? I
met one of my friends in Akwa Ibo state. He served
the Lord in the camp for three weeks. He served
the Lord and he said, you know, those people
who have the personal relationship with God.
They said, I have made a covenant with God. I
don't know how he made a covenant with God. Away
from the covenant we all have. So that if he
served the Lord, oh God, if he served the Lord,
that God would take him to a better place. And
after he danced, he was up and doing, I saw the
man zealous. I didn't know what was he saying.
Until after we finished and all of us gone, they
posted into one remote village. Most of the coppers
or co -members that they were sent there, they
refused to go. He was angry with God. So when
we came for a state conference in the Nigerian
Coppers, Christian Coppers Fellowship, I saw
him dejected in the sun. In his face, you could
see his contents as falling. I said, bro, how
have you been? It's been long. I said, what is
the problem? He started sharing it. I said, but
what is your divination of best? You know, there's
a way we define good. But when I was going, I
got understanding those who serve in this kingdom
are those who are the greatest. You understand?
So I went to the place of service. You understand?
Even though I have a good certificate, I knew
that they are likely not going to take me to.
But my problem is not where. My problem is a
service. I was in my mind that even if they asked
me, what do you mean? First and foremost, what
did they say? They say national service. What
am I going to do? To serve. A servant does not
ask what to do. He only say, I am here. Whatever
they gave to him, he would what? He would do.
I said, even if they say, this is your work,
every morning you start sweeping the streets.
That's my service to the community. Of course,
I would do it gladly. That was my mentality when
I went. Eventually, some of us that are first
class students, normally they just post to directly,
automatically to universities. So immediately
after I come, they posted me to the University
of UU. So, and I went there. I said, I am a servant.
My boss, who was my head of department, started
shouting because the coppers there have messed
up. I will not receive you. I will not receive
you. All of you are nonsense people. No, no,
no, no. I will not receive anybody again. Co
-members, they only like money. They don't want
to work. I didn't do anything, but he was shouting
at me. Well, I was confused. But after all the
things, I just stayed quiet. I said, what is
the problem? After he finished, he said, well,
he calmed down. He said, well, I don't want to
judge you like others, but you must promise me.
You must promise me that you're not going to
be like others. So he said, I should go. Gave
me two weeks and go and rest. I should come back.
He now signed it and returned. Because I knew
I was a servant. That was why when I came, even
the staff, they did not understand I was a co
-member. Because I come as early as possible.
You understand? Always I will come and wait by
the door before the secretary will come and open
the door of the department. Throughout. So some
of them never knew. They thought I was just this
new lecturer they just employed. One day, one
of the professors saw me with my crest and said,
are you a co -member? Because the way I conducted
myself is one who serves. They banned people
from entering into the HOD office because co
-members have been stealing resources. When you
have a girlfriend, you know, They will go inside
and change the resort. So they ban all of them
from entering. But we went there through the
grace of God with a transformed mind. We changed
the place. Before one month, two months, the
HOD office has become my office. HOD will leave.
Are we together? He will leave. Everybody will
leave in the department. They will go to somewhere
else. I'll be the only one in the department.
HOD gave me a seat close to his office there.
There is nothing I did not know in that department.
No result, no secret that I don't know. Trust.
There is a difference. The other lady, before
when she was going, she told me, I don't understand
these people. Every now and then, when you are
graduating, I say, come on, they will give you
food flags. Are they going to ask, are they expecting
us to go and eat? He said, how did you know?
He said, the one that left told me that his food
flags they gave her. That even that one, she
told her that the one, the last one, it was food
flags. I said, well, thank God I was not expecting
anything. I wasn't expecting anything. But when
I was leaving, I told my boss. It was on Friday
after our passing out. I told him, I said, I'll
be going on Monday. He said, no, no. Lie, lie.
Where are you going? He said, we want to give
you work here so that you start your MSC here.
You understand? No, you are not going anywhere.
He said, you have to first and foremost postpone
your journey. I said, sir, I need to. It's been
long. I have to go and see my people. He said,
okay, first and foremost, before we talk any
other thing, postpone your journey. First ever.
And what did I do? Because I consider myself
a servant. That's the mentality I want us to
carry. You understand? And what is it? That Friday
when I was going. I've already been thinking,
what do I add again to this department? I was
busy looking. What else can I add before I go?
What else can I add before I go? And I remember
they just recently, because normally they do
always what they call accreditation again after
some level of time in each courses. I mean, each
course in the university. At that time, accreditation
was just coming. So they repented the whole department.
And then I discovered that, ah, that wall, I've
not been seeing a wall clock. And I discovered
that that wall clock has spoiled. I said, ah,
I think this one is around my level. In the south.
Yes. The Bible says, when you are given, give
the one that is within your power. Do you understand
what I'm saying? So I went and I got, interestingly,
I see the market. When I was entering one supermarket
and I saw the color that matches the department.
I see they did. One good big one like that. I
asked. At that time, the coin was around 3 ,000.
I removed from my alawi. We used to call it.
I paid for it. Some of the things they gave to
me in the family house where I stayed with coppers
in the sun. Why would I go to Kaduna with it?
I packed all of them. I take it to the secretaries.
And I gave that one to the court. No court member
has ever done this with me. Everybody is looking
what he will get. I mean, it was a shocker. He
said, no, no, no, no, no, no. They organized.
To my surprise, when I came on that Monday, all
the professors, there has never been any gathering
that gathered everybody like that. All the professors,
the dean, everybody were there. They went and
got food. It was a party in the... All of them
will give me, they have been giving me money
in the sand. This one say for your fly, this
one for your... I didn't follow fly, dude. Now,
what am I trying to say? There was a difference.
At least they never gave me food flags. What
am I trying to say? That mentality of service.
Your hands is an extension to cause joy in a
city. To cause joy in territories. That after
you have left. People begin to enjoy your legacies.
The other prophet said. We will write your name
on this clock. And put it on top. So that every
co -member that comes here will face. That is
what it is. This means. that you carry God's
power. God's power is at work in you. Our body
transmits the power of God. The shadow of Peter,
did you see that? The shadow of Peter fell on
people. It's from your body. It can touch anything
that emanates from your body, carries it. Look
at that 19. His aprons. Did you see that? Acts
19 verse 11. Now God walk unusual miracle by
the hand of Paul. By the hand of Paul. So that
even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from
his wear. Oh, talk to me from his wear. Oh, let's
read together. Read that verse 12. One, two,
three, go. So that even handkerchief or aprons
were brought from his body to the sick and the
diseases left them and the evil spirit went out
of them. Our body emanates the power of God.
It's a transmitter. It's a transmitter. It's
a transmitter. It's a transmitter. That is it.
And I want us to carry this as in this, because
by the time we start laying of our hands, that
is the mindset. Not just only that you know you
have it, but that when hands are laid upon you,
that is the consciousness you carry too. That
the power of God is transmitted. Are we together?
Is transmitted. That the power of God, that this
hands of mine, that my touch is a touch of God.
And with it, I bless the world. With it, I bless
the world. That this body, my body is a transmitter
of the power of God. That this body is an instrument,
it's a vessel for the demonstration of God's
power. It's not an instrument of immorality.
As we used to say, this is my life. This is my
song. And this is my reality. And this is my
reality. Acts chapter 14. Look at verse 3. Therefore,
they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly
in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word
of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be
done by their hands. You remember back 1620 and
the Lord walking with them, confirming their
word with what? Signs. Did you understand what
I'm saying? Here again, they stayed. He said,
bearing witness to the word of his grace, granting
signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Go to 28, Acts 28. Acts 28. Look at verse 8.
There were many lambs in the upper room where
they were gathered together. And in the window
sat a certain young man named Eutychus. Oh, where
am I reading? Okay, let's leave Eutychus for
now. But he fell. Thank God we are not. We don't
have windows that somebody will fall. Amen. Look
at verse 8, Acts 28. And it happened that the
father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery.
And Paul went into him and prayed and laid his
hand on him and healed him. laid his hands on
him and healed him. Did you observe something?
That the laying of his hands is a primary method
of administering healings. Laying of hands. You
don't need to feel anything. As we said, that
it is a spiritual sign. Are we together? It's
not under the control of emotions. It's not feelings.
So you don't need to feel anything. But you just
have to know. And I know Jesus is healing through
my hands. And I know blind eyes are open to my
hands. And I know death is adhering to my hands.
For the Holy Ghost is walking through my hands.
You don't need to feel anything. But it's the
knowing. I know. I know. I know that he is healing
through my hands. I know it. You don't need to
know. You don't need to feel anything. Just lay
your hands. It's a pattern. Just like you pray.
Don't be mizing with your hands. Don't be stingy
if there's anything with your hands. It's like
prayer. It should be a part of life for you.
Are we together? It should be a different setting.
You say, ah. yesterday I was tired. Listen, where
is the place? Do you understand what I'm saying?
It should be the next thing that comes to you.
You know, this is the way I used to. There's
nothing wrong with drugs. Do you understand what
I'm trying to say? But that, the issue is that
always the first thing that comes to our mind
is drugs. You see, there's nothing wrong with
it, but be careful before it will paralyze your
feet. You know, those days we used to sing one
song. Panadol is good, boy, it can paralyze your
feet. You understand? What he's trying to say
is that because there's this over -dependence
where man is already... So, that is a point.
When the woman with an issue of blood touched
Jesus and got healed, Jesus did not realize.
I mean, he didn't realize it physically. He knew
it by the word of knowledge. That's what the
Bible says. We also did that. How do you think
he will know it when people... Have you been
in a crowd? Okay, if you have collected Boss
3 before in Nigeria. Oh, that's true. Here, let's
come back here. Have you been near his boss?
How do you know who is touching you? Did you
understand what I'm saying? So people, we are
there. Crowding, pressing, you understand? He
was going. And then this woman came and touched
him. We will see what's the difference between
those people who were and this woman who came
from nowhere. He knew it by word of knowledge.
That was why the disciples were surprised at
the question. He was surprised. He said, who
touched me? Ha. These people are cloudy. Everybody
will say, who touched you? Mark chapter 5. Go
back to Mark chapter 5. Look at verse 31. But
his disciples said to him, you see the multitude
thronging you and you say, who taught you? And
he looked around to see her who had done this.
Look at Vastati. Did you see Vastati? He said,
Jesus immediately doing what? Did he say feeling
that somebody taught him? He said, knowing in
himself that power had gone out of him, turn
around in the crowd and say, who touched me?
Who touched my clothes? Who touched my clothes?
You have to be conscious of spiritual things.
So sometimes even those who transmits the power
of God may be feeling sick. Your pains does not
stop the flow of the power of God. The fact that
you are feeling pain or sick does not mean you
cannot administer healing. Did you get what I'm
trying to say? No. The power of God through you
is not dependent on how you are feeling. Are
we together? Yes. So, stop. Thinking that until
everything is all right, that's when you will
minister. Sometimes when you come here and see
us jumping and shouting, you think that we don't
have anything bothering our life. No. But ministry
is not dependent on feelings. It's not dependent
on our convenience. Paul says, a necessity is
placed upon me in the sun. War unto me if I do
not preach the gospel. And if you are the type
that attracts sympathy, you won't do ministry
effectively. You always want people to have everything
and then you use even the pulpit for your own
problems. See, you know, God is helping me. But
I'm trusting God. Yesterday was terrible. I say,
Lord, where are you? I'm trusting God for this
and that and that. I mean, you fool all the people
with all complaints and this and that. No. The
pattern is Christ. The pattern is the apostles.
We follow and we see them. They are always Eager
to speak the word of God. Eager to lay hands.
Eager to preach. Eager to preach. You understand?
Everything of their life. It's not that they
are not career people. It's not that they are
not career. That's why Paul takes time to acknowledge
them. You understand? Zenos, the lawyer. Luke
the physician. Do you understand what I'm trying
to say? Yes. So they had career. But you see,
career was not what was driving their life. If
they moved to Iconium, it's not because they
wanted greener pasture for a business. No. What
was guiding and moving their life was the calling
of God. If they arrive at town, They preach,
then they go back to business. Paul will go and
start doing his tent making. Are we together?
In fact, he will even join with other believers
like Quillan and Christa. Yeah? Act 18. To join
and just say they come. Then they will do. And
it's not that they will do it, like when you
saw Claude, you see what I'm doing like this.
You understand? Sometimes in the church, we massage
mediocrity. You understand? Because we have been
taught wrongly. But you need to change. Paul
said, these hands provided for my needs and the
needs of those who are with me. That place used
to strike me hard. I mean, I don't have a choice.
I mean, I don't have a reason why I will not
be. sound in the things of God. You understand?
And I don't have a reason to say, you know, I
need to feed my family. And he said, those who
are with me. Do you know how many people were
walking with him? Even when they took him to
Rome at the end of his life, the Bible says,
the house he was staying, it was a rented house.
Who was renting it? You think the emperor is
the one that was paying for his rent? No. He
said, we work day and night. He said, anyone
that will not work according to the tradition
that we have laid for you. He said, mark that
person. Are we together? He said, Mark who? Mark
that person. He that should not what? Walk, should
not what? Eat. Should not eat. So, don't hide
under God, God, God, and then you do nothing.
It is like idleness. It's not the will of God
to be idle. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Now, go back
to Acts chapter 9. We read something yesterday
in that place. Acts chapter 9. See verse 17.
And Ananias went his way and entered the house.
And laying his hands on him, he said, Brother
Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the
road as you came, has sent me that you may receive
your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
And immediately, they are filled. from his eyes
something like skill. And he received his sight
at once. And he arose and was baptized. And then
when you continue to read on visions. Now, the
point I'm trying to make in this place is how
hands were laid, not just only that he received
his healing, but what happened? He was filled
with the Holy Spirit. Now, we have seen in many
instances where hands are laid healing, healings,
healings, healings in the Son. Another thing
you will see is that hands can be laid for the
baptism of the Holy Spirit. Are we together?
He was filled with the Holy Spirit. Soul of Tarsus.
He received, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Look at Acts 17, 8, sorry. Go to Acts 8. Just
go behind one chapter. Verse 9. But there was
a certain man called Simon who previously practiced
sorcery. But let me go behind a little bit so
that you see. There was trouble, of course. Verse
4 says, therefore those who were scattered went
everywhere preaching the word. Did you see that?
Even when there was confusion and there was tribulation,
there was persecution. Once they scatter, what
is in their mind? The gospel. Wherever they go,
in the sun, like we sing, I will preach Jesus
everywhere I go. So you don't have a choice.
Whether you came here by mistake or you came
here because of your making, I will preach Jesus
everywhere I go. I am his, he is mine. I will
follow him. Until the end of time. Whatever the
circumstance that took them to whatever place,
there is something that is constant. The preaching
of God's word. Then Philip went down to the city
of Samaria and preached Christ to them. Verse
6. And the multitude with one accord heeded the
things spoken by Philip hearing and seeing the
miracles which he did. From clean spirit crying
with a loud voice came out. Of many who were
possessed. And many who were paralyzed. And lame
were healed. Was it. And there was great joy.
In that city. I pray for you. That you bring
great joy to cities. You bring great joy to territories.
You bring great joy to homes and families. In
the name of Jesus. Yes. But there. was a certain
man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery
in the city and astonished the people of Samaria,
claiming that he was someone great to whom they
all gave heed. And it leads to the greatest saying,
this man is a great power of God. In the absence
of ignorance, you understand, fake become real.
Stop complaining with what is going on. Hey,
this pastor is doing this, this pastor is doing
this. Arise, brother. You know what I'm saying?
Paul would tell Timothy, 1 Timothy 1, I mean
1 Timothy 4, 16. He said, take heed to yourself
and to the doctrine. He said, continue in them.
For in doing so, you will serve both to yourself
and to those who do what? Who hear you. When
Prophet Samuel was lamenting about Saul, go to
him, awake. Don't worry. Leave this one. Arise
and go and anoint another one. You know what
I'm saying? It's a high time to stop lamenting.
God is saying, arise. There are many more people
to anoint. Are we together? There are more many
people to raise. Hallelujah. So that's what he
says. Verse 11. And they hated him because he
has astonished them with sorceries for a long
time. That's it. So many people have been deceived
for a long time. But no more. Because God is
raising you. Your family has been in darkness
for a long time. But no more because a light
has entered in the sun. But when they believe
Philip, As he preached. So don't normally dwell
in the, what do you call it? The inconveniences
and the seemingly those things that look as if
there is trouble. You know what I'm saying? It
looks there was trouble in Jerusalem and scattered
the brethren. But that trouble was actually the
joy of a city. Did you understand what I'm trying
to say? Yes. It's the joy of a city. Because
Philip now moved. Immediately he go. Those people
who have been subjected, deceived for a long
time, they think that a man who is practicing
sorcery was one of a great God. Now, his wrapper
has been opened in the market. People now understood
who he was because the real thing has come. But
when, verse 12, When they believed Philip, as
he preached the things concerning the kingdom
of God. And the name of Jesus. Did you see that?
So the things concerning the kingdom of God is
called what? It's not two things. It's not that
he preached the name of Jesus here and there.
You know what I'm saying? Yes. Concerning the
things. The things. He preached the things concerning
the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
The name of Jesus Christ are the things. concerning
the kingdom of God. And what are those things?
His death, resurrection, his indwelling. Are
we together? That is a thing and that is his
name. So both men and women were baptized. Then
Simon himself also believed. And when he was
baptized, he continued with Philip and was amazed,
seeing the miracles and the signs which were
done. Now listen, you'll be seeing sometimes
I'm reading. and they were baptized, and they
were baptized. Let me mention something, maybe
to just clear some things here. You know, when
the church was starting, listen very carefully,
because it's very important. I read also, after
Paul, they lay hands on him, they say he was
baptized, right? That was he was baptized in
water. Because in the early church, there are
many things they have not yet come into the light.
So they were still practicing some things. Let
me give you a very good example so that you understand.
For example, even though they were believers,
they were still practicing the law, which means
that they were still in their own renewed mind.
A Jew cannot enter the house of a Gentile. Do
you get what I'm trying to say? They are in Christ,
but they are still in that thing. He takes the
intervention of the Holy Ghost. He came to Peter
and said, Peter, Peter, Peter. Because God has
already broken the barrier and these men are
still resisting it. That's the condition of the
early church. That's why the book of Acts is
not the book of doctrine. You understand? We
see how they progressively come into the revelation
of God, into the revelation of Christ. A ladder
came, he was sleeping. Already God has appeared
to Cornelius. Go. Because he was to be a breaker.
You understand? He said, go and call this man.
He saw a ladder in the sand. All kinds of this.
He said, I wake and eat. He said, no, Lord. I've
never eaten an unclean. You see his mind? He
said, how dare you call that which I have created
unclean? Did you get the point? God had to show
him. You know, he has no choice than to follow.
He went to the house of Cornelius. That's why
that, that thing that happened, God had to do
it that way to break something. You understand?
While Peter spoke, he was still speaking. Vroom!
He didn't do anything. It's to teach him to know
that, no, it's not by what you are thinking.
No. The Holy Ghost fell on them and they started
speaking in tongues and prophesying. Those people
who were at them, they said, those who have the
circumcision, meaning the Jews. You understand?
They were marvelous. Eh? When the Jerusalem brethren
heard it, immediately Peter came and said, come
here. They were late. He must say, what did you
just do? Peter said, sorry, sorry. Let me explain.
Let me explain. Is that what you are thinking?
Peter started narrating the story and equated
with what happened to them at the day of Pentecost.
He said, just like what happened to us at the
beginning. He was referring to Acts chapter 2.
He said, I saw that God showed no favoritism.
So there were things that they were struggling
in that early church. Remember Galatians chapter
2, verse 20, where Paul made the statement, you
know, most of them know only Galatians 2, 20.
I have been crucified with Christ. Are we together?
And then we begin to quote that scripture, no
longer I, but Christ that lives in me and the
life I live now in the flesh, I live by the,
you know what I'm saying? By the faith. We quote
that scripture, but the origin of that scripture
is a confusion that Peter wanted to cause. Because
they disdain the Gentiles. Gentiles are seen
as unclean. You can imagine, even though they
were brethren, they were eating. Once the Jews
came, Peter just do like this. And just, the
Bible say, and he separate himself. He don't
separate. He set himself apart. Paul saw that
he was angry. You know why? Because what Peter
did was already drawing a lot of people. He said,
what? He said, did you, you understand, received
what you received by your making or by believing?
Are we together? So they struggle with a lot
of things because we saw their progression into
the revelation of God. Remember the closing of
the gospel. Show to us who they were. They even
never believed the Christ. They were dejected.
They thought he was one. Who has come to save
Israel. From the Romans. He said we thought.
He come to restore Israel. That was a confusion.
Brothers Tomo. Tomo didn't even believe. Even
when they told him. He said no. I have to see
him. So. Jesus Christ dealt with a lot of things.
And he opened their eyes that they might understand
the scriptures. And when their eyes opened, he
saw him. He said, go to Jerusalem and tarry there
until you endure with power. So we saw that entry
and we saw them grow in understanding. So that's
the same thing with the issue of baptism. In
some instances, once believers believe, they
will baptize them. Did you understand what I'm
saying? They will baptize what? They will baptize
them. The same thing. So he said, they have understood
that. Philip happened with the Ethiopian, you
know. He said, see water. You know what I'm saying?
And then they came down. After he preached to
him, he said, he believe he do believe inside
water. And then he moved. Glory to Jesus. But
after those moments, by the time you move, you
move away from act 11 and begin to move up. Huh?
You begin to see a new. men of revelation. Are
we together? Did you see that? Even when they
were about to choose the person who replaced
Judas, how did they do it? Oh, talk to me now.
How did they do it? The one they knew before
by casting lot. Oh, that should be you. Do you
understand what I'm saying? But after then, after
the Holy Ghost came and they begin to walk in
the reality, how do they choose those who will
be leadership? No longer by do, by lots. It's
by appointing. Did you understand what I'm saying?
That is how they agree you in revelation. Also,
they used to baptize. Deep people in water. But
now as they grew, they understood that what John
was doing was a demonstration of what the Christ
will do. You know what I'm saying? They saw that
it has been fulfilled. We will not be practicing
what they have been fulfilled. You know what
I'm saying? So they gradually, and that's why
when you read the epistle, you will never see
those things. You know what I'm saying? Because
by then, you are grounded. In the world. Are
we together? Are we together? Amen. So that's
what we're saying. Hallelujah. So when you see
that text where we are reading. Verse 14. Of
Acts chapter 8. Now when the apostle who were
at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received
the word of God. He sent Peter and John. To them
who, when they had come down, prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For
as yet he had fallen upon none of them. They
had only been baptized in the name of Jesus.
Then, now you could see the difference between
this baptism. Baptizing in the name is different
from after they believed they were baptized.
Did you understand what I'm saying? Are we together?
Yes. Then they laid their hands on them and they
received the Holy Ghost. Pastor Iman and Pastor
Kostin will be discussing most of this demonstration
in the spirit. You understand? About the baptism,
about the offerings, the giftings. You understand?
So I won't dwell in those things. But just know
that This is a demonstration of the Spirit when
hands were laid. And what we call, you know,
this here he said the Spirit felt or the feeling
of the Spirit. I think those of us who have been
in the church, we have in some ways touched those
issues. What does that mean to be filled with
the Spirit? I think there's one text Pastor Carson
read for us when he was taking, I think, was
it last week or what? Or was it today when he
was leading? our prayer, you understand, about
Ephesians chapter 5, you understand? Remember?
Ephesians chapter 5, verse 18. He said, do not
be drunk with wine, right? But be filled with
what? The Holy Spirit. That church in Ephesians,
I hope you know that they have been filled with
the Holy Spirit before. Huh? Because that church
was Acts 19. Huh? Paul had laid the hand on them.
They are filled with the Holy Spirit. They spoke
in tongues. You understand? They prophesied.
And then he wrote to them again and said, Be
filled with the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. So when
Peter and John arrived in Samaria, they laid
hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now look at what Simon did. Simon said, give
me this power. Verse 19. Also, that anyone whom
I lay hands may receive. Not the word, this power.
Do you understand what I'm saying? Look at verse
20. But Peter said to him, your money perish
with you because you thought the gift of God
will be purchased with money. Remember, note
that word, the gift of God, what Peter said.
You thought the gift of God. Listen, when you
say, give me the power, Peter did not say, that
was wrong. See. Simon Peter was not talking about,
sorry, Simon, not the Peter. You know, we have
Simon there. You know, not Simon Peter. There
was Simon Peter there and there is Simon. Or
Simon. Amen? The Simon, the sorcerer. He was
not talking, when he said, give me that power,
he was not referring to the Holy Spirit. When
he said, give me that power in 19. He was referring
to the laying of hands because that's what he
saw. When hands, when they came, they laid their
hands. He not saw. He was filled with the Holy
Spirit. There were things that happened. He saw
it. He said, give me this power. That's why he
said, so that when I lay my hands. Did you see
that? And Peter said, Peter, when Peter was talking
about, he said, that, no, no, no, no, no. You
can't. Let me see. Verse. Verse 20, he said,
your money perish with you because you thought
the gift of God could be purchased with money.
He said, the gift of God could be purchased with
money. What did Peter call it? Peter called it
the gift of God. The laying of hands, Peter called
it what? The gift of God. Say, I have the gift
of God. I have the gift of God to demonstrate
the power of God to this generation. Peter called
laying of hands the gift of God. By calling the
gift of God, Peter just means also that laying
of hands is supernatural. That's what we've been
saying. Laying of hands is supernatural. By just
saying the gift of God. He said, how dare you
talk about the gift of God with money? But that
gift of God has been given to me because I am
in Christ. Because I am in Christ. Now in closing
for this session, I want you to observe something.
Maybe throughout that you've been reading. Did
you observe? That not just only from where we
are coming, that when hands were laid, people
were healed. But again, we can administer the
baptism of the Holy Ghost by laying of hands.
So things happen when hands are laid. Things
happen when hands are laid. That was what Simon
saw. Even a man of sorcery was confused. He saw
his power, his joke. His power was joke. He said,
give me this power. So that when I lay my hands
to, I'll see those things. But the man was confused.
He's used to when you do his sorcery, maybe they
are bringing change to him. Now he saw those
men, he said, ah, maybe you can make money. And
that's it, this generation. Native doctors have
stopped living in the bush. They have returned
to the city. They are wearing coats. Is it coat
or suit? Or whatever. Do you understand what
I'm saying? Now, did you notice that? All the
instances where the Holy Ghost fell on people,
men were involved, except in Acts chapter 2,
in the day of Pentecost. After the day of Pentecost,
did you realize? All those times the Holy Ghost
fell on people, men were involved. In Samaria,
men were involved. In Saul of Tarsus, Acts chapter
9, a man was involved. In Acts chapter 10, in
the house of Cornelius, men were involved. In
Acts chapter 19, in Ephesus. Brother, men are
the systems and the method of God. You are a
method of God. Do you understand what I'm saying?
God can do without us, but he has never done
without us. This is what he chose. These are
some of the things that marveled the psalmist.
He said, what is man that thou art mindful of?
Uh -uh. You made him a little lower than Elohim,
angels. For you have crowned him with glory and
honor and put all the works of your hands. Do
you understand what I'm saying? Why? You are
mindful of him. You matter. I'm rounding up this
part to tell you that don't look down on yourself.
The Holy Ghost in you, you matter. You are a
system. You are a method. God wants to do with
you. The great things he wants to do, he wants
to go with you. What a glory to partner with.
Some of us are in the academia. You know what
it means when you are a coming -of -scientist
and you wrote a paper and your augur? You know,
Oga? You understand? You have a prof who is notable.
His name is on that paper. Before you know, it's
an honor to collaborate with the heavyweights.
You understand what I'm saying? But our collaboration
is not just only that he's somewhere, we're somewhere.
No. We're in him. He's in us. Are we together?
I want you to move to know that your hands are
not just for picking things up, for eating. It's
a system. It's a transmitter of the power of
God. I'm going to do it here. So when hands are
laid upon you, you know what is coming upon you.
It's not just somebody is touching you. No. It's
a gift to the body. You know, we have to, we
will teach some of those things with time. We
worship God by knowledge. So when God talks about
raise your hands in worship, ask men all around
to raise their hands. Don't think you are just
doing like this. You know what I'm saying? Listen,
know that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost.
And your body, He's a transmitter of God's power.
Are we together? Can you just appreciate God
and thank him and say, Lord, thank you. Just
for one or two minutes, I want you just to pray.
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.