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. You can have your seats. Genesis 48.
Yes, we are moving. Genesis 48. We have already
seen how the things of the Spirit are administered
by the laying of hands, healings, the baptism
of the Holy Ghost. Talk about that. We're going
to see another dimension of how God Use this
gift of God that Peter said. This power, this
gift of God, this supernatural activity called
the laying of hands in advancing his purpose
and agenda on earth. Are you in Genesis 48? So
I'll read from verse 8. Then Israel saw Joseph's
sons and said, who are these? And Joseph said
to his father, they are my sons whom God has
given me in this place. And he said, please bring
them to me and I will bless them. Now the eyes
of Israel. were dimmed with age so that he could
not see, then Joseph brought them near him. And
he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel
said to Joseph, I have not taught to see your
face. But God, but in fact, God has also shown
me your offerings. You can imagine the man that
is not seen. See, I thought I would not see your
face. But now I've seen even your offspring.
So Joseph brought them from beside his knees.
And he bowed down with his face to the earth.
And Joseph took them both. Ephraim with his right
hand. toward Israel's left hand and Manasseh
with his left hand toward Israel's right hand
and brought them near him. Then Israel stretched
out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head
who was the younger and his left hand on Manasseh's
head guiding his hands knowingly. Please take
note of that. He said, guiding his hands, knowingly.
If it is your Bible, I want you to underline
that. For Manasseh was the firstborn. And he
blessed Joseph and said, God, before whom my
father Abraham and Isaac walked. The God who
has fed me all my life long to this day. The
angel who redeemed me from all evil. You know,
we're going to take that. But, you know, most
times today when we say angel, we normally think
of beings. But angel is not a specific name like
to accord it to someone. If you see here, he's
talking about God as an angel. You understand?
Because angel talks about someone you sent. Understand?
So we're going to subsequently look at that.
But let me read 15 again. I want you to pay attention
to that. And he blessed Joseph and said, God,
before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this
day. The angel who redeemed, what? Who has redeemed
me from all evil. So he's calling God the angel.
Bless the Lord. Let my name. See that? Let my
name be named upon them. And the name of my fathers.
Abraham and Isaac. And let them grow into the
multitude in the midst of the earth. Verse 17.
Now, when Joseph saw his father laid his right
hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him.
So he took hold of his father's hand to remove
it from Ephraim's head. to Manasseh's head. And
Joseph said to his father, not so, my father,
for this one is a firstborn. Put your right hand
on his head. But his father refused and said,
I what? I what? I know. Again, underline that
one. I know, my son. I know. Again, the second
time. He also. He also shall become a people.
And also shall be great. But truly. His younger
brother. Shall be greater than he. And his descendants.
Shall be. Come a multitude of nations. Verse
20. So he blessed them. That they said. By you
Israel. Will bless. Say may God. Make you as
Ephraim and as Manasseh. And thus he set Ephraim
before Manasseh. Meaning he set Ephraim ahead
of Manasseh. Are we together? So go back to verse
10. Where is verse 10? Did you see that? That
the eyes of Israel were dim with age. So that
he could not see. Jacob. That is, Israel was
not seen because of old age. If you read from
verse 17, where we look at verse 17 down to 19.
When Joseph saw that his father laid his hands
upon the head of Ephraim, what did he do? He
was displeased. And he wanted to change that
order. But his father refused. This is to tell
you that the laying of hands is not just merely
physical touch. It's supernatural. Joseph knew.
Israel also knew. Because his displeasure saw
that there is something he is aware of. He knew
that it's not just about just random putting
of hands. No, it has significance. He saw that
and said, no, no, no, no, something is wrong.
So Joseph knew it. That what that was doing.
Was not just ceremonial. It was spiritual. It
was supernatural. That's why Joseph was not happy.
With that order. No. He knew something was happening.
Verse 19. Israel was blind. Of course as we noted.
Though he was blind. But he was not spiritually
dull. He was not spiritually dull. But the laying
of hands, he set Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. He
made Ephraim the younger, greater. How? By laying
of hands. How can you set somebody who is younger
and just make him to be, to carry, to become
greater than another person who is in the natural,
supposed to have taken the first place. He did
that by the laying of hands. That's exactly what
Abraham did to Isaac. And Isaac did to Jacob.
By laying hands, they set them to function in
the office of a prophet. The mouthpiece of God.
Are we together? The mouthpiece of God. You see,
in Genesis chapter 12, verse 1 to 3, we saw how
God called Abraham and blessed him. Well, you
see, something that sometimes we miss is that,
how did God do it? He navigated a strange man
towards Abraham's way. His name is called Melchizedek.
You know, sometimes we just, you know, Melchizedek.
The Bible tells us, you know, that Melchizedek
bless who? He bless who? Is it money he gave
him? Are we together? Is it money he gave him?
So there was a, you see, there's a pattern we're
seeing. Genesis 20 verse 7, God called Abraham
a prophet. He was not just prophet anyhow. There
was a system of men. Do you get what I'm trying
to say? It was done to Abraham. Abraham to Isaac.
Isaac to Jacob. Now Jacob to the sons of Joseph.
It was a pattern. And this blessing we're talking
about, it's not just, it's not money. Hallelujah.
So God blesses. Yes. You know what I'm saying?
We sing. God is the one that bless. But how does
God does it? I mean, how did... Do you understand
what I'm trying to say? How does he do it? To
Abraham, he uses Melchizedek, who was a priest
and a king. And that pattern continues. Men are
the methods of God. Hallelujah. Don't ignore
men and think something will just drop from heaven
like that. God has decided he will side with
man. Did you get what I'm trying to say? He will
side with man. So, Abraham blessed Isaac. Isaac
blessed Jacob. Jacob blessed Joseph's sons, Ephraim,
And set Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. If you read
Hebrews 11, you will see again that is being
talked about. That order. Hebrews 11. Let me
read Hebrews 7 first. Let's see that one of Melchizedek.
You can see the involvement of men. What am I
trying to say? I'm trying to say that, as we
noted, let me make this thing clear. I will explain
the issue of blessing in the psalm later on in
the course. We understand that as we Those of
us that have been in the cell, we've been treating
this concept of rapture. We tried to study the
background and history, where the word was coined
and all that. One important thing we saw, there
is a theology called the dispensational theology,
that God has two plans for humanity in relation
to sin and man's responsibility. That he has
one plan for Israel and one plan for who? For
the church. Are we together? And we then saw
what they are saying. That God has several plans.
I don't know how you, and we saw that the error
is, you see, the little apostle said something
yesterday. Every theology comes from Moses. Do
you understand what I'm saying? If you miss what
Moses is saying, you miss. Because every prophet
read from him. You know, there is a time people
try to argue about, I mean, try to defend the
Bible. Say, these people, the Bible is written
for over a certain number of authors. Over a
period of 1 ,005 years. For 1 ,500 years. And
they did not know each other. They did not know.
Of course, they might not be contemporaries in
many instances. Some are. But no, they read.
When Daniel saw the number of years that the
children of Israel were supposed to spend in
Babylon, where did he read? Where was he reading?
He was reading Jeremiah. Did you understand what
I'm saying? These people read each other. How
could they? Where will they be reading? All of
them read from us. That was why when Jesus was
talking about Luke 24, he said, beginning at
what? Moses. He's always the one. Beginning at
Moses. And in all the prophets, he expounded
unto them the things concerning himself. So I
want you to get that. So one of the things we
saw in ourselves is that there is a confusion
around interpretation. The scripture was read
literally. Do you know what I'm saying? It was
read literally. But that was a mystery. Oh, thank
God for Passover. You see, that was a mystery
that was hid for past ages. They thought. Then
we see some people. That's why I'm pointing that.
Part of the dispensational theology is that there's
something we call Christian Zionism. You understand?
And their claim is that you have to bless Israel
for you to be blessed. I've been to Israel, I've
been here and there for research for one year,
in the sun. I mean, I don't understand how we
are getting this. But where did they quote? They
quote Genesis 12 to support that. That because
Abraham is the father of the nation of Israel,
in the sun, the nation of Israel. I don't know
how they say the nation of Israel. Because the
nation of Israel, that one, is not the same with
this one. Because what nation was before? was
not the same with what nation is today. This
current state of Israel is about 80 % Jews, 20
% Arabs. So I don't understand. So do the Arabs
also join in the... Did you get what I'm trying
to say? So that you have to, he said, I will
bless those that blessed you and curse those
that cursed you. And so when you read it literally,
and because we came from material... materialistic
environment, each time they say blessing, that's
what we normally think. But you see, the Bible
must be read together. You understand? The Bible
must be read together. That's why we saw, it's
not just at that very time that God spoke to
Abraham. He said, I will bless you. By the time
you go to chapter 18, he told him how, he said,
through your seed. And of course, he's talking
about the whole world, not a nation. He said,
through you, the entire earth, all families of
the earth shall be what? Shall be blessed. The
issue is that once you are intelligent, you should
follow. By the time he goes to chapter 18, he
again reiterated. But this time around, he restated
it in another way. He said, through your seed.
So Abraham got it. Because how will Abraham ever
be able to bless the entire nation? Definitely,
it will be something that through him, not him,
because he is limited. Did you understand what
I'm trying to say? So God opened him. He said,
it's through your seed. So that before you think
he's talking about Isaac, you understand? He
said, no, no, no. No. Chapter 22, he again came
and restated it. 24, 28, he came and restated
it. The same thing. Brother Paul came in Galatians
chapter 3 and showed to us that seed is Christ.
When Peter was explaining in Acts chapter 3,
he quoted the same text. I just mention now.
He said, God sent Christ, Jesus. Verse 26, he
said, to bless you. How? He said, by turning
you away from your iniquities. So the blessings
of God is about turning a people away from their
iniquities. That's the blessing. Galatians 3,
from 6, 8, you know, shows to us also that the
blessing, It's talking about inclusion into the
plan of God. And that inclusion comes with you
being given the gift of righteousness. With you
being forgiven. So to be blessed, it means to
be included in the agenda of God. And to be cursed
is to exclude yourself. From the what? From the
agenda. He is not casting a spell. Are we together?
Amen. Amen. Yes. So that's what the Bible is
talking about. Paul will say, you know, son,
for the sake of my people, I wish that I will
be accursed. You know what I mean by the accursed?
It means I wish that I should be what? Excluded.
But you see, it's also a wish. He said, if my
people would just be safe. How I wish I would
be excluded in the sun. He's just talking about,
he's just showing how zealous he act. Remember
I said, cost is what to be excluded from the
plant. He was yearning that, oh, how this my
people can be, I mean, can be included. If only
all these people will be able to see by just
me being removed for them to enter. These are
men that are carrying burden. But that's not
the way. Everybody will have to come in by his
own way. So our cause is being excluded from
the plan of God. And that comes by unbelief.
So the blessing. So a Christian Zionist think,
you know what I'm saying? That is by blessing
Israel, contributing money, by saying Israel
bless, Israel bless this Israel here. You know
what I'm saying? That's when they are blessed.
How can a blessed man be thinking like that?
But David said, Psalm 32 verse 1, Blessed is
the man in the Son, in whom the Lord does not
impute iniquity. In the Son. Are we together?
Amen. So, that is the part I'm talking about.
So when you hear of blessing, it's an inclusion.
into the agenda of God. But that inclusion into
the agenda of God comes with responsibility.
So when you hear that Jacob blessed Ephraim,
what he's trying to say is that he's enlisting
him. He is commissioning him. He is ordaining
him into the ministry. Ministry of what? Ministry
of proclamation of that goodness of God. Genesis,
27, he said, God said, he's a prophet. A prophet
is a mouthpiece of God. The one that tells about
the agenda, his plans for the earth. And that's
the same thing. So what can we see? We can see
that laying of our hands is a way of ordination,
of enlisting men into offices. That you can lay
hands to put men into offices. Right from Genesis.
It's all ceremonial. When hands are laid, things
happen. Great blessings are ministered through
men. Man remains God's method. Man remains God.
Yesterday I said, this Bible is written by man.
And we call it God's word. That's to show you
God does, in fact, there's a text that says that
God does nothing without what? Revealing it to
who? To his prophets. Yes. He chose it that way.
You want to know God? Follow me. I'm telling
you, no angel will reveal anything. Even the
angel they are trying to look. You know what
I'm saying? Yes. We saw it yesterday. In Ephesians
3, we saw it. In 1 Peter, we saw it. It is through
us that God wants to show the manifold wisdom
to the principalities. So why will you be surprised
when you see an angel? No. You should know he
has come to learn. Now, as we are preaching,
we are teaching, we are exposing. You understand?
No angel have the capacity to get into this mind
of God. Oh, did you hear me? These are exclusive
preserve of sons. Sons are those who carry the
Holy Ghost. No angel carry the Holy Spirit. Did
you understand what I'm saying? Yes. So we are
the custodians of the mysteries of God. Do you
remember the teaching yesterday? We are the custodians.
We are ministers. Paul will say, the stewards
of grace of God. We write in Acts, right? Acts
chapter 6. Go back there, quickly. Oh, did I
read that text? Hebrews. Oh. Hallelujah. Let
me read Hebrews first. Hebrews 1. For this Melchizedek,
king. Verse 7. And chapter 7. For this Melchizedek,
king of Salem, priest of the Most High, who met
Abraham returning from where? From the slaughter
of the kings and blessed him. Did you hear that?
Verse 6. He said, but he whose genealogy is not
derived from them received tithe. from Abraham
and blessed him who had promises. Who had promises.
Melchizedek blessed him. Nobody told Abraham
to pay tithes. It was a practice in where he
was coming from. You know, it's from the children
of U. That's how they honor people. That's why,
even though we don't, you can give tithe, no
problem. You know, sir. But nobody, nothing will
follow you if you didn't give it. But of course,
we're commanded. To be generous givers. That's
a New Testament practice. But we can learn something
from the tithe. That's honor. Because Abraham
is coming. And that's the same thing. I'm going
to discuss some other things. The same thing
with oil. Because I'm pouring oil on people.
When he started, nobody ever told Jacob to do
that. Jacob was the one who started. On his way
when he was going to the house of Lebanon. Right?
For the air. The air. Is it air or air? For the
things he saw. To honor the place, he pour oil.
It's a practice in those days. Even in your village,
when they want to take something, that's the
practice now. Do you know what I'm saying? Yes.
Some will pour on the floor first. So, it was
a practice, but God adopted it with time. Remember
we told you, God accommodated. The limitations
of the culture and the language of a people to
be able to communicate his plan. So we saw honor.
He honored the man of God. He honored Melchizedek
and Melchizedek blessed him. Look at chapter
11. Chapter 11, verse 17. Hebrews 11, 17. By
faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up
Isaac, and he who had received the promise, offered
up his only begotten. Of whom, verse 18, it was
said, in Isaac your seed shall be called, according
that God was able to raise him up, even from
the dead, from which he also received him in
a figurative sense. 20. By faith, Isaac blessed
Jacob and Esau concerning the things to come.
By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed who?
Each of the sons of Joseph and worshipped, leaning
on the staff, top of his staff. And all we can
keep reading are what others did. Go back to
Acts chapter 6. Acts chapter 6. Look at verse
5. And the same pleased the multitude. And they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith. The Holy
Spirit and Philip procured us. Parmenas, Nicholas,
and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom
they said before the apostles when they had prayed,
they laid hands on them. You see that? They chose
them for an office. This camera is not for healing.
So the laying of hands is not just for healing.
It's also for ordination. for commissioning men
into an office, into a work, into the ministry.
They lay hands on them. Not the pattern, they
pray it. After praying, they lay hands on them.
Prayer is not a substitute for laying of hands.
You understand? It's not you pray or you lay
hands. No. All of them are a system of God that
men use to transmit the power of God. To cause
shifting, to advance the agenda of the kingdom
on the earth. So see what happened when hands
were laid to these men. See how they increased.
That was brought about. Something happened. Always
I wanted to observe. Immediately after hands
are laid. Observe what happened. It's not ceremonial.
Verse 7. Then the word of God spread. You see.
Sometimes you think. What happened is just only
what the apostles were doing. Wait until you
read chapter 7. How a man who is supposed to
be one who is supposed to be serving food starts
speaking for the entire chapter. He wasn't reading
from his script. Did you get what I'm trying
to say? Are we together? Hands were laid. Before
then, you never know who they were. Did you know?
You didn't know. But they were choosing, they
brought them. They set them before the apostles.
It wasn't a coincidence. It was deliberate. They
lay hands on them. Bible says, and the word of
God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied
greatly in Jerusalem. And a great many of the
priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen,
full of faith and power, Did great what? Great
wonders and signs among the people. Up until
this moment, did you hear ever name Stevie? Something
happened. All the time we'll be hearing apostles.
And the apostles did great wonders. And this,
this. And then they preach. And things happen.
You know, sir? This time around, they brought
this man. They lay hands on them. Things happened.
They were commissioned into another level of
ministry. And the word of God increased. Great
miracles. Then there arose some from what is
called the synagogue of the freedmen. They are
not free. The synagogue of the freedmen. Then
what did they do? They started disputing. with
Stephen. And they were not able to resist his
wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. And
then they started secretly. When these guys started
speaking, you could know that this man was in
another level. You could see later when the disciples
were scattered, the man which you thought that
was serving tables, you didn't know that a grace
has come upon him. He moved to Samaria. The other
one, Philip, started preaching. Miracles happening.
He was a man who was not known before. But they
brought him. The apostles lay hands on him. And
things began to happen. This is how God advanced
his ways on the earth. Are we together? Hallelujah,
are we together? Go back to that text where I
started. Yesterday. In Romans chapter 1. I showed
you something. Did you see what I showed you?
In verse 11. For I long to see you. That I may
impart. You some spiritual gift. So that you
may be established. So that you may be established.
So there's a goal for the laying of hands is
to establish believers. As we teach fundamentally,
yes, we establish men by teaching. But not just
teaching. There's a laying of hands that establish
a man in the ministry. Don't joke with it. It's
a system of God. If you have not understood it,
you just carelessly don't order. You know, sometimes
you have to pay attention. Some of us are sick.
Sometimes you'll be sick. You see, when you neglect
a grace, you won't benefit from it. James said,
is any one of you sick? Call the elders. You,
you are sick. You only gave us excuse. So I'm
not going to come. I mean, how could you not
see grace around you? Thank the Lord. The Lord
has given pastors curse now. He says, I need
you. I come, please. They will come. You have
to honor the grace. Do you understand what I'm
saying? Yes. If you cannot reach pastor, there
is your leader there. In fact, your brother inside,
remember I told you that all believers, your
sister is there in the room, you neglected her.
You can only say, Titi, Titi only, this place
is burning me. But now, That's the only thing.
Chichi, can you go and buy me? I cannot go out.
That's the only thing you think Chichi is useful.
Chichi is carrying a grace. You couldn't recognize
it. You only think she's useful. And go to the
market and buy me this. I can't go out now. Okay,
sit down there. This is one of the difficulties
we have. You have to begin to see your brethren
differently. Wives, see your husband differently.
Husband, see your wife differently. It's all
the time. There was a lady who was about to get
married. When I heard the way they are conversing,
I call her. I say, you will miss a lot if you
control like this. The way you are speaking with
your husband, you speak carelessly. You know
what I'm saying? And the way you see him, only
in one direction. You're going to get in trouble.
This is one of the things that married people
need to understand. Your relationship is multidimensional.
Yes, there is a time you think you will play
like friends. But if you only think like friends,
you'll miss a lot. I'm telling you. Others will
be coming and be receiving the grace. You are
here. Do you understand what I'm saying? So you
have to be careful. The same thing if you have
a roommate. He's a believer. See him that way.
That should be the most important relationship
you should have with him. Every other should
come under that one. You have to recognize what
is behind you. That's how God made it. All that
we need to grow in the son. You know, we normally
quote that scripture according to his divine
power. He has given unto us what? All things
that pertains to life and goodness. Are we together?
We normally quote that. Brother, he said, I have
all things. And the old is there you didn't see.
You did not see. I pray your eyes is open. After
this meeting, Your eyes are open to see the provisions
of God. To see that the grace you need to move
to another level is just beside you. Amen. He
said that I might impart you some spiritual gift.
And the reason, the goal is that you might be
established. Is that you might be established.
You observe there is something upon my brother's
life. It seems as if anything happened. He doesn't
get bothered in the sun. You know, some of our
mummies are here. Before, Mummy Iko, Mummy Victoria,
in the sun. You know, many of us, sometimes I
watch, I just might say, oh God. You know, the
way we relate with them. The last one of Mummy
Iko. He's older than me. How older than me? I'm
a young person, but he's far older than me. And
this woman, he raised them. They were all sound.
He's not a mystic. When you see a consistency,
it's not by, it's not a coincidence. I dragged
my wife. Then we were newly married. We visited
all of them. You say, mommy, how was it? Yes,
sir. You can't say a grace and neglect. All of
them, we visited them. Do you get what I'm trying
to say? We visited them, we sat with them, and
we asked them, mommy, what is this? And they
were downloaded. And they were downloaded. And
you hear, you are seeing that it's just all this
old mama. She's moving like that. That is it.
God must give you the sensitivity to see the
provisions. No, I can't make mistake. Not when
I have the provision around me. How can I stay
in ignorance? How can I see a grace? Some of
them, they are just in the same room. You are
busy looking for one man of God here. What is
it? You are here. They're here. Are we together?
That word gift there, that spiritual gift, of
course you know it's spiritual. And that's why
the impartation is spiritual. Because what comes
upon you is spiritual. Are we together? It's
a spiritual gift. It's charisma. In Greek. I'll
leave that to Pastor Imam Kostin. They are coming
to dishes. We look at the word impart. What is
that word impart? Because he said that I might
impart you some spiritual gift. The word impart
is metadomai. Meta from the word meta. M -E -T
-A M -E -T -A D -I D -O M -I Meta Didomai in
Greek. It means to share. To share or to give.
To share or to give. You have to know that the
person giving or sharing is the one who has what
to give or to share. So Paul was coming. He said,
I have it. You remember as Peter said to that
man at the beautiful girl. He said, what I have,
I give you. Please, brother, I told you men are
the system of God. They have something. Peter
knew he have it. He said, silver and gold, have
I not? But there is something I have. And that
is what I give you. He has. The power to heal.
He said, in the name of Jesus. He pulled a guy.
You have it. So Paul here is saying, I am coming.
I have something to share. And it's called spiritual
gift. Remember, he told them the goal. That they
might be established. Remember Ephesians chapter
4? It talks about the ministry gifts there. That
they are for what? For equipping. Are we together?
For what? For equipping. On to what? The work
of the ministry. Remember. This is based on the
testimony Paul has heard about the church in
Rome. Did you see in verse 8? Romans 1 verse
8. He said, first and foremost, he said, first
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all
that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole
world. throughout the whole world. So he heard
about their faith. He said, ah, there needs to
be more advancement here. I yearn to come because
I need to establish you more. And for which reason?
For the sake of the ministry. So Paul is an apostle.
He's in the office of an apostle. Ministry gifts.
And the ministry gifts are for equipping. He's
coming to equip them more. He's coming to equip
them more. So as hands are laid on you, know
that they are to equip you. Are we together?
As hands are laid on you, they are to equip you.
You know, my grandmother, my grandfather was
a missionary. And so, yeah, he's dead already.
But I have the grandmother. One day, I visited
her. I consciously, I told her, I need you to
pray for me. I know the grace of that old man.
Although he's not here, but he's also on you.
I deliberately told her, I want you to pray for
me. You see, you don't be careless. Some of the
graces, they are inside your house. You saw what
Jesus said. A prophet is what? You have to be
deliberate. You have to be deliberate. They say
grace upon the old man. And they were together.
Even when in my mother church, women are not
normally allowed to recoup it. That old man,
because he's a missionary, he's a rugged man.
Sometimes if he moves to another place, the woman,
she's the one that preaches in the church. So
she's his assistant. They move together. He has
the grace of perseverance, endurance. He doesn't
see obstacles. In the border of Nigeria, that
was when he did his ministry. Brother, he stayed
there for 15 years. He has only one soul. For
15 years, he was preaching. You see, when I think
about it, that scripture come alive. You see,
preach the word in season and out of season.
There come a time when people shall not endure
sound doctrine. If it were others, they would
say it's a failure. How could a man stay in a
place for 15 years? Everyday preaching. Talking
to people. Some will say, you know, the Muslim
part of Nigeria. Some will come because of persecution.
They will return. As if they come, they will
go again. Because they are afraid. Only one stood.
After 15 years. By the time he was retiring,
he moved out from that place, back home. He only
had one soul for three years. Because he got
born again. That's not the call of God. While
already he has married, he's old. There's no
time for you to do the work of God. He was in
the village farming and he was a hunter. Then
when he got the call of God, he became born again
and then he entered. Even though he was already
an adult. How much of you know that you're young?
Imagine what you would do. The answer to the
call, he moved. Went there. Stay there. At least
one soul. One soul matter. That soul that he
succeeded, the same soul from that time, they
persecuted him for his truth. Later on, the same
man, they took him, he went to school. Some pastor
schools. He didn't go anywhere. He returned to
the village. He preached. Through him. Mighty.
You can see. See. You see. We care for ministry
of numbers. We love numbers. Because anybody
that care about soul, we care about numbers.
Do you get what I'm trying to say? But you have
to be aware how God judges men. If you read Hebrews
11. What is the business of putting Moses and
Rahab the prostitute in the same line? How did
you come there? All of them is why? By faith.
Did you get what I'm trying to say? Read there.
If you are the one to put those lists, what we
call the heroes of faith, how can you put some
other people there? How? He succeeded with one
man. But that one soul later, what he did in
that town, So, that one soul that he succeeded
with was an extension of the old man. Don't look
down on what God is bringing to you. So, you
have writing a song, even if you see one view.
Believe it. For years, the look the physician
was writing. He documented, go and ask questions.
Do you know what it means to record? He wasn't
there, but sat down and write. And he was all
writing for somebody who is not pregnant. Theophilus
has been taught already. But he wants him to
be assured, to be established. That's what he
said. To be assured of what you have already
been taught. He sat down and wrote to one man.
Again, when he was writing the book of Acts,
he said, oh, excellent, Theophilus. In that former
treaty, what I began to tell you, what Jesus
began to do and to teach is something. And then
he was following Paul up and down, documenting
the things, following Paul up and down, documenting
the things, just to give one person. Your idea
about God's work has to be changed. This... This
desire for approval, this desire for applause
of plenty of people have to go. Because you can't
have the quality of what God wants you. Our desire
is more people, but on his own way. Did you get
what I'm trying to say? Moses wanted to do his
own way. He strangulated the Egyptians and killed
them. He thought he was by that. In fact, he
was thinking that the people would see that God
is the Savior. Why can't you see now? No. God
said no. He's not qualified. There are some things
I need to change in his mind. He then took him
and took him to the medium. To Jethro. Jethro
just polished his head. You understand? This
is before the Levitican priesthood. So there
was a priest of God called Jethro. Even the Levitican
priesthood. When you trace him, you trace him.
He was part of the descendants of Abraham. Through
Keturah. Did you understand what I'm saying?
So Abraham, that's why God says, shall I hide
anything from myself and Abraham? Knowing fully
well that this is what he will do. Although you
don't know them, but they have gone with the
knowledge of the Most High. Suddenly appear somewhere
in the desert. You think the knowledge of God
is only with the Israelites who are in this.
No. God navigated Moses' path and took him to
that place. And Jethro trained him. And when
after 40 years, he said, okay, I think you can
go now. But he has learned his lessons. And God
showed to him in the sun. Say no. This time around
you have to believe me. Go with my power. No
wonder the type of miracles he did. This time
around no. It's not by hand. It's not by boxing.
How many will you do? If Moses would go and say
I will box. He doesn't have anything. In the
sun. There are the ways of God. For the weapons
of our warfare are not carnal. But they are mighty
through God to the pulling down of strongholds.
Are we together? You have to lay hold of the
weapons of our warfare. They are not canal. You
are not canal. You are a spiritual man. There
are instruments. There are systems. There are
methods. You understand? And one of it is your
hands. And God is sending you to understand that
he has power. He wants to move through you. It's
a laying of hands. It's a laying. Of hands. So
tell your neighbor. You need impartation. To
be established. You need hands to be laid upon
you. To be established. After you have been taught.
You need your hands. To get to work. But before
then. You need hands to be laid upon you. Hallelujah.
Look at Acts 13. Now in the church that was at
Antioch, there was certain prophets and teachers,
Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niga, Lucius
of Cyrene, Manion. who had been brought up with
Herod, the tetra, and Saul. Verse 2. As they
ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit
said, Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for
the work to which I have called them. Verse 3.
Then. having fasted and prayed, and laid hands
on them. And they sent them away. They sent them
away. They just finished ministry, fulfilled
ministry. Look at 12. It's in the rate for us
already. Look at 12. Verse 25. And Barnabas and
Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled
their ministry. And... They also took with them
John Mark, whose surname was Mark. Oh, John,
whose surname was Mark. Amen? Yes. They just
returned. In verse 2, in Antioch, they ministered
to the Lord and fasted. The Holy Spirit said,
say, pray to me. Say, pray to me, Barnabas. And
so for the work which I have called them. Don't
mind. Saul and Paul is the same thing. It's just
that Paul is a Roman name. Saul is a Jewish name.
Are we together? It's not that Saul, when he
was a sinner, and now Paul, when he's a... Are
we together? You know he's a Roman citizen also.
Amen? So the word separate, you know, it's powerful
there. It's translated from the Greek word aphorizo.
A -P -H -O. A -P -H -O -R -I -Z -O. Aphorizo
is a verb there, which means to appoint or to
set apart for some purpose. For some purpose.
To set apart. For some purpose. That place we
read. Romans chapter 1. Is the same word used
here. Romans chapter 1 verse 1. Paul a born servant
of Jesus Christ. Called to be apostle. Separated.
To the gospel of God. Which he promised before.
Through his prophet. In the holy scriptures.
So that's the same word. Afrizo. To separate.
For a purpose. 2 Corinthians 6 .17. 2 Corinthians
6 .17. And take the helmet. Sorry. Therefore,
come out from among them and be what? And be
separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is
unclean, and I will receive it. He's talking
about set yourself apart. Because there's a difference
between holiness and unrighteousness, or the
believer and unbeliever. Galatians 1, 15. Galatians
1, 15. But when it pleases God who separated
me, meaning who set me apart from my mother's
womb and called me through his grace, through
his grace, he separated me. So that is the word
there. He says separate me. Set them apart. He's
not just saying, just take them away. No, what
he's saying that, he said, ordain them for the
next walk. Did you understand what I'm saying?
In other words, I want you to empower, and these
people understood what the Holy Spirit is saying.
So after the utterance, they know how you separate
men is by what? Laying of hands. They knew. So
that's why after they have prayed, What did they
do? They responded to what the author said. They
laid their hands and sent them away. That, you
see, the fact that, listen. Did you remember
that Paul, hands were laid on Paul? In Acts chapter
9. Do you remember that? In Damascus. We get
again, we saw, after they finished work in Jerusalem,
they are going to another work. Hands were laid
on them. You must never outgrow the need for
impartation. You must never outgrow The need
for impartation. The fact that hands were laid
on you some time ago does not mean that's all.
There are faces in your assignment. You might
finish one work here. As Paul and Barnabas in
Jerusalem, they were praying. They say, oh, there
is another one. They lay hands on them. Paul
later reminded Timothy that hands were laid on
him. Did you understand what I'm saying? Look
at 1 Timothy chapter 4. 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse
14. Do not neglect the gifts. You see that again?
He told the church in Rome, I want to come to
you so that I might impart spiritual gifts. Now
he was reminding them, reminding Timothy, something
came upon you. He said, do not neglect the gift
that is in you, which was given to you by the
prophecy with the laying of hands of the eldership.
He now again reiterated that in 2 Timothy 1 .6.
Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gifts
which is in you through the laying of my hands.
It appears hands were laid on him twice. In the
first letter, he said through the laying of hands
of the eldership. That could be the authority
of the church or elders. But now he specifically
said through the laying of my hands. I can imagine
how Paul have laid hands. Of course, how can
you have a son in the faith like that? And you
have not laid eyes. Remember what he said. You
have carefully followed my word, my doctrine,
my manner of life. Definitely, you must have
laid hands on him. Do you remember? The reminder
was to make Timothy to produce the fruit from
the impartation through the laying of hands.
So there's an expectation. When hands are laid
upon you, there's an expectation of something
supposed to come out of it. Because it's not
just ceremonial. It's an impartation and there
is an expectation. And the expectation is that
there's supposed to be some fruits. In your commitment.
In the fruit of ministry. Just like we saw in
Acts chapter 6. Hands were laid upon them. We
begin to see wonders. Men who were unknown, they
became known. Begin to operate in a new dimension.
Men who are to serve tables, suddenly they are
catching territories, bringing joy to cities.
Bringing joys to cities. I want you to notice
something. That in Act 13, there were prophets
and teachers. They knew the method of God. The
lane of hands is how they transmitted the power
of God. And the power of God is for the advancement
of the work. Because it's a work which he has
called him. He says, separate me. You understand?
For the work. Means, I need this man to be empowered
for the work which I have called him. And they
knew it. Oh. The work of the Spirit on the earth
is advanced through the laying of hands. And
through the laying of my hands, the work of God
is advanced in my generation. That should be
your prayer as well. That as I lay hands on people,
men as established, the word of God increase.
There is great joy to cities, to territories,
to nations. To nations. To nations. Act 14. Look
at Act 14. I want you to notice a pattern here,
just the same way like we have gone. Did you
notice that when it comes to this type of ordinations
into specific ministries, it's not done to any
person. Have you noticed something? When they
were asking those to take an office, they didn't
call random anybody. They said, choose among
you. And they gave criteria. Did you observe
that? So when they chose them, they lay hands
on them. Again, here in Act 13, did you observe
that? These were teachers and what? And prophets.
Are we together? Look at Act 14. Now it happened
in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue
of the Jews and spoke to the great multitude
both of Jews and of the Greek belief. But The
unbelievers, unbelieving Jews, stare at the Gentiles
and poison their minds against the brethren.
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. Note that
it was a long time they stayed. And the reason
is because they are building disciples. So, in
the conium, they stay there, preaching, performing
great signs and wonders. Are we together? Through
their hands, laying hands in the sand. Establishing
men. Are we together? Establishing men. Establishing
men. Look at. After then, what was formed? The
multitude of the city was divided. Parts. sided
with the Jews and part with the apostles. And
when a violent attempt was made by both the Jews,
the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to abuse
and stone them, they became aware of it and fled
to Lystra. So they moved to Lystra and Derbe,
cities of Lycaonia. and to the surrounding regions.
Look at verse 7. And they were preaching the
gospel there. So they preached again there. But
by then in Iconium, they have made disciples
because it's still a long time there. Laying
hands, establishing them, teaching them. They
come also to Lystra, they do the same thing.
Are we together? They did the same thing. They
did the same thing. By the time you move, there
was another confusion. Move to verse 19. Remember,
after they say, separate me, Paul and Barnabas,
you know they are from Antioch. Right? So in
verse 19, he said, then the Jews from Antioch
and Iconium, remember those who do trouble in
Iconium, that they moved to Debi and Lystra and
the surrounding region. Again, they came, they
heard that they had moved to another city, they
went and caused trouble. And having persuaded
a multitude, they stoned Paul and dragged him
out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However,
when the disciples gathered around him, he arose
up and went into the city. And the next day he
departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they
had preached the gospel to the city and made
many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Icunium,
and Antioch. You understand? When the dust calmed
down, all those troublemakers, they thought they
have moved. They returned back again. Because
they have made disciples there. What did they
do when they have returned? He strengthened them,
verse 22, the souls of the disciples. You see
that? Yes. He strengthened them, exhorting them
to continue in faith and saying, we must, through
many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God.
Verse 23. So when, They had appointed elders
in every church. Do you see that? First is not
appointing of elders. First is a discipleship.
They stay long. They taught. They disciple. They
move. Trouble came. They allow the trouble return.
They move back. They strengthen those people
they have in the south. And now they appoint
elders. You see, in those parts, understand that
they did signs and wonders through their hands.
Remember? This one, they put hands in every,
what do you call it? All those people who are
sick, all believers who are sick, and the people
who are sick, they lay hands on them and heal
them. Many miracles using laying of hands. But
this time around, it's a special one in the son.
What did they do? So when they had, verse 23,
had appointed elders in every church and prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord
in whom they had believed. Do you see that? They
are appointed. What do you say is appointed?
You know, appointed? It's not, listen, appointed
means separate. It's not just, you say, you,
from today, you are the chief usher. You, from
today, you are the elder in charge of this. No,
that's not what we're talking about. You understand?
That's separate. Appointed means to set apart.
You understand? They appointed Ella. They set
apart men who are matured to lead. And as usual,
of course, they lay hands on them. Are we together?
Amen. So you could see a pattern. You could see
a pattern. Just the same way. But look, as we
saw the same thing. In Acts chapter 8, where
we have already read, for example, they lay hands
on all believers to receive the Holy Ghost. Because
after they are preached to them, Peter and John
came, they lay hands on all of them and they
received the Holy Ghost. However, you can lay
hands on all people and put them, you can't do
that to everyone into special offices in the
church. Did you get what I'm trying to say? I'm
trying to make a distinction between ordination
into special offices, into leadership position
in the church. and just to administer the things
of the spirit, the healings, and that you can
do that. But when it comes to, you don't just
go there, you see anybody, this one is a believer.
He looks broad -chested, look good. Come here.
You are a bishop now. This is the rascality we
are seeing today. That's why we are having confusion.
Did you understand what I'm saying? I used to
think he's only bishop. Now he's archbishop.
Probably to start archapostle. I don't understand.
Some names are now increasing. We used to, we
used to castigate Catholic church, but now we
are doing worse. No one is a most reverend, holy,
his holiness, his this, his that. Now we are
doing most reverend in, I don't even know some
of these. You see long, long names now. I heard
a story of one of our pastors in the sun. They
say, ah, pastor, you are here. I say, no, don't
call me pastor. I'm a reverend. Oh my God. Amen.
You know. So you have to be cautious. Now look
at what Paul told Timothy. You understand? That's
why I want you to understand that. 1 Timothy
5. 22, 1 Timothy 5, 22. Oh, if you are sleeping,
please pay attention to this. Look at it. 1 Timothy
5, 22. He said, do not lay hands on anyone hastily.
On anyone hastily. No share in other people's
sin. Keep yourself what? Pure. Keep yourself
pure. Is Paul contradicting all he has been writing?
No. No. So what is Paul saying? What exactly
is he saying? Why is he saying that you should
not be in a haste to lay hands? What is Paul
referring to? Now I want you to just. Listen
and look at the context. Look at verse 17. Let
the elders who rule well be counted worthy of
double honor, especially those who labor in what?
In what and doctrine. Because when you say elders
who rule well, that means there is some confusion
in that place. There are some ones who there
is some... believers around, you understand,
that they are not doing what is supposed to.
Did you get what I'm trying to say? For the scripture
says, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads
out the corn. And the laborer is worthy of his
wages. Do not receive an accusation against an
elder except from two or three witnesses. So
there's something there. Are we together? Verse
20, those who are sinning, rebuke them. Rebuke
in the presence of all that the rest may, that
the rest also may fear. I charge you before God
and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels
that you observe, that you observe these things
without prejudice. Doing nothing with what? That
is when he now said, do not lay hands on anyone
asleep. Now that anyone would not mean every
believer there. No, he was talking, the context
is about elders. Did you understand what I'm
saying? The context is about what? Elders. So
when he was talking, give me NLT. I think NLT
clearly stated it. So when he said, this is why
I told you, appointment means laying of hands.
Look at what NLT says. Never be in a hurry to
do what? Oh, are we together? To appoint a church
leader. What is appointing? Are we together?
So as we said, you know, in our days, when they
say they appointed him, he's at the point. Hey,
you receive a letter. You are going to occupy
that position. No, that's not what we're talking
about. Appointing means to lay hands on someone
because it's a system of empowerment. The reason
is because you don't, when it comes to leadership,
special offices, you don't hastily lay hands
on people. You have to be discreet so that you
will not go and carry somebody that will be confusing
the whole place. That is the point I'm trying
to make. So it is to be noted. That in all where
we saw people put in position of ministry, hands
were laid. Hands were laid on them. Are we together?
No oil was seen. No oil. You've never seen. All
the ones, it's only hands that were laid. It's
not a mistake. We never saw use of oil. But why
is it that today, there's a lot used? You see
that when people are about to be ordained, they
carry a jar of oil, put on them. We use oil in
so many of our churches to consecrate, to set
apart people for the work of ministry. But what
we have understood from all the texts and scriptures,
God's system is what? To lay hands, not to pour
oil. The question is, how did we get here? Does
anointing a believer with oil have any spiritual
value? Remember, we've already noted through
text that what? That the laying of hands is spiritual,
is supernatural. Is that okay? Is that okay?
Now the question is, is using oil spiritual,
supernatural? Does he have any spiritual value?
Some people will cite James. Look at James. Go
to James. James chapter 4, verse 14. James 4,
14. Sorry, it's 5. James 5, 14. Is anyone among
you sick? Let him call for the elders of the
church and let them pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord. Now, throughout
the text of what we call the New Testament, This
is the only place that mentions the use of oil.
Now, you see, when you see a place very unique,
a vast, that is very unique from the nomad, you
need to take time to study. Are we together?
You need to take time to do what? To study. And
let me mention something very profound. There
is a standard. You see, when we say doctrine,
we mean, remember what we said, right? Instruction,
a set of instructions. It's not separate. Now,
a verse cannot become a doctrine. Let me say
it again. Let me say it again. You don't establish
a doctrine with a verse. Did you understand what
I'm saying? Yeah? No. So all the problems. that
we are having with trousers, with head tie. Do
you know what I'm saying? In the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All of
them came from one verse. When you sat, you see
one verse. Yet we have made it a special thing
in the church. That's why I say, each time you
hear a verse mention something and nowhere again,
be careful. Sit down and read. Did you understand
what I'm saying? Sit down and read. There are
many verses about indecency. Did you get what
I'm trying to say? We are coming, you know, we
are doing, we have a long way to go. Issues around
women's liberty. We are at what? I think we are
up at part 19. Okay, we are still moving. Amen?
So, but what I'm trying to say is that be careful,
else you are going to a slippery place. Now,
one of it is this one. Hallelujah. Now, he said,
and it is very important. Now, what does it mean
to anoint? It means to anoint. Just simply to
rob. Just to rob something. When you anoint someone.
To just rob. Is that okay? That's what it means.
The verb. When you say anoint. It means to rob.
To rob. And that is important for us to understand
that. Now, that word anoint means a life form.
A -L -E. Hallelujah. Be patient. We'll soon be
moving for this session. But come with me. I
want you to pay attention because this is very
important. If you are sleeping, Make your system
awake because there's an explanation I have to
go into this one. Even if we don't finish it,
we can continue in the next session. Amen? It's
A -L -E -I. Can you tell that young man I will
give him... We love them. Amen? So anoint is
L -I -4, means A -L -E -I -P -H -O. A -L -E -I
-P -H -O in Greek. Just like I said, means to
anoint or anoint means to rob, means to rob.
Come with me quickly. Let me see what I can do
for the time I have now. Matthew 16. Matthew
6. Go to 6. Matthew 6. Matthew 6. Let me read
verse 16. Moreover, when you fast, do not be
like the hypocrite with a sad countenance. For
they disfigured their faces that they may appear
to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you,
they have their reward. But you, when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face. Are we together?
That word anoint there is a life form. Means
to rub, of course, invariably with oil, understand?
And wash so that you don't appear like a hypocrite.
Mark 6. Mark 6, 13. Mark 6, 13. And they cast
out demons. And they cast out many demons and
anointed with oil many who were sick. And heal
them. Please follow me. Because I'm coming. The
question is that. These are the disciples. Did
Jesus ask them to anoint? There's a question.
One side. Go to Mark 16. Verse 1. Now when the
Sabbath was passed. Mary Magdalene. Mary the
mother of James. And Salome bought spices that
they might come and anoint him. Luke 17, 38.
Luke 17, 38. Sorry, did I say seven? No, seven?
Come in, let me check that text. Luke 7, 38.
Put it there for me. Let me go myself. Yes, and
stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and she
began to wash his feet with her tears and wiped
them with the hair of her head. Thank you, sir.
And she kissed. Are we together? John 11, 2.
John 11, 2. It was that Mary who anointed the
Lord with fragrance. with the fragrant oil and
wipe his feet with her. Right? His feet with
her hair, whose brother Lazarus was six. Anoint
there. Anoint. Move to 12. 12 verse 3. Then Mary
took a pound of very costly oil of spiked nut,
anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet
with her hair and the house was filled with the
fragrance. of oil. Now, Freddie, we read James.
So why did James ask the elders of the church
to use oil? So we saw that James asked the elders
to use oil. Why? And that's unique because James
did that. Are we together? Why? Now, if you look
at it, go to James chapter 1. Because that will
help us understand the background of the book
to help us to know what exactly James or who
James was communicating to. James 1. James, a
born servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad,
greetings. So that means the audience of James
are Jews. Are we together? Even though they are
believers, they are what? Jews. So it wasn't
strange to them. He wasn't writing to Gentiles.
Remember, I told you already, the use of oil
already stemmed from Jacob. Are we together?
So already is a cultural thing. So it wasn't
strange. So when you ask them, use oil, it wasn't
strange. The Jews are known to use oil for medicinal
purposes. They use it for different things. We
have just read a number of things how they use
oil. To anoint Jesus, to do this, to do that,
to do that. Many things. Are we together? So
they understood what James was talking about.
So James was asking the elders to combine natural
and spiritual. It wasn't a conflict with them.
You understand what I'm saying? When they use
oil, they are not saying that they don't believe
in the supernatural. It was just common that
when you use that in the sun. It's like when
somebody prayed for you, you say, just go and
take your bath. Are you saying that you don't
believe in what he's saying? You know what I'm
trying to say? So it's a norm for them. It's
a norm for them. So this was what... But the
question is that we need to investigate more
further. And we saw the disciples did that. Are
we together? From where we read. But... Jesus
never asked the disciples to anoint. Let's go
back to that place. Mark 6. Mark chapter 6. Look
at verse 7. Mark 6. Verse 7. And he called the
twelve to himself and began to send them out
two by two. and gave them power over unclean
spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for
their journey except staff, no bag, no bread,
no copper in their money belts, but to wear sandals
and not to put on two tonics. Also, he said to
them, in whatever place you enter a house, stay
there till you depart from that place. Whoever
will not receive you nor hear you when you depart
from there, shake off the dust under your feet
as a testimony against them. Actually, I say
to you, it will be more terrible for Sodom and
Gomorrah in the day of judgment than that city.
Verse 12, so they went out and preached that
people should repent. They cast out many demons.
You see, when Jesus asked them, he went them
to preach, gave them power over unclean spirits.
So to preach. So what he asked them was to heal
the sick. Go back to Luke. Luke tells us that.
Let's read Luke account quickly. Luke 9. Luke
9. Then, verse 1, then he called his 12 disciples.
and gave them power and authority over all demons
and to cure what? Diseases. He sent them to preach.
Look at verse two. He sent them to do what? To
preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
And he said to them, take nothing for the journey,
neither staff, neither back. What we just read,
Max was saying. Are we together? And then verse
six, look at six. So they departed. and went
through the towns preaching the gospel and healing
everyone. Jesus himself never used oil. He would
spat, he would touch. We read all Jesus did,
you understand, in his healing. So he gave them
power to do that. You understand? Peter showed
to us what Jesus was doing, how he was separated,
how he was appointed. In Acts chapter 10, verse
38, how Jesus Christ was anointed with the Holy
Ghost and power and where they are doing good,
you understand? Healing all those that were oppressed
by the devil. Are we together? So you could see
that he told them, no, no, no, no, this is what
you should do. When you go to 10, also Matthew
chapter 10, verse 1 to 4. Matthew 10. I need
to read that text. Matthew 10. We now round up
there. And when he had called his 12 disciples
to him, he gave them power over unclean spirit
to cast out and to heal. You see that? To cast
out and to heal all kinds of sicknesses and all
kinds of diseases. You see? Even when he sent
them, he told them not to carry things. He even
told them, don't carry anything. So I don't know
how they smuggle bottles. He has instructed them,
don't carry anything, just move. Anywhere you
stop, enter. But you see the people, their culture,
they smuggle something. And we saw in Acts 13,
they say after they are healed, they have healed
them. Look at it, go back to Acts 13. Mark 6,
13. He said, and they cast out many demons. How
did they do? They cast out many demons and anointed
with oil many who were sick and healed them.
So even though they did the healing, they did
the casting of demons, they still used oil to
just anoint these people. Remember, they didn't
anoint the people who had demons. The only cast
is people who are sick. Remember I told you,
it's a cultural thing in the Jews, you understand?
Because the oil has medicinal purpose, you understand
what I'm saying? So they do that. Of course,
they have other purposes. They do with it, you
understand, just like we have read. But what
can we see here? The oil is not supernatural.
Let me repeat again. Oil is not what? It's not
supernatural. From all this reading we have read,
oil was not supernatural. From Jacob, we saw
it as a symbol of honor first, like to anoint
the place. And you put it there. It's a showing
of that this is a sacred place. It's an indication.
Because remember where they were coming from.
Just the same way Abraham. When Abraham gave
tithes, You understand? We can learn something
about the titan. You understand what I'm saying?
Because Abraham, he was coming from a pagan place.
There is a system they are used to. And in their
system, they know honor. So when they meet somebody
who is of authority, you understand? They give
him something. They give him a titan as a sign
of honor. When Abraham was doing that, he was
not expecting to receive anything. It's an honor
you do to an elder. In our people, where I came
from, you can't see an elder, even if it's not
from your family, you can't see an elder living
with his load. Although these days, I don't understand
what we're doing. You see some people, like when
I'm in school, when I, in those days, I use the
bus. You see an elderly person shaking in the
bus and younger people are sitting down. Something's
wrong with us. No, we have learned. This is not
Bible. This is culture. Do you understand what
I'm saying? Yes, your culture can tally with
the honor in scriptures, but there are things
we come into. It is part of where we are raised.
You can't be passing and there's a road, a tiny
road, and you and an elder is coming and then
you are struggling who to give space. No, we
are. How now? It's our culture that you shift
first and you greet. Welcome, sir. And you prostrate.
And we have that in Yorubas in the Sunday. We
even lie down in the sun. This is a way of showing
honor. It's a cultural thing. That's the same
thing with them. So it wasn't supernatural. It's
lying down supernatural. No. It's culture. So
there's no way Jesus asked these apostles to
use oil for ordination. No. Ordination is by
laying of hands. Although we have churches that
have adopted from the Old Testament, they use
the Old Testament text. Like for example, Samuel,
when he was going to consecrate David and all
that, he carried a jar of oil and was moving.
But now you are in the New Testament. Understand
how systems work. See, if you are not careful,
you will be practicing the Jewish culture, thinking
that it is actually Bible. You must know how
to sift between cultural things. I told you.
That God accommodated men's limitations and cultures
used their language to communicate his purpose.
So you must be able to see which one is the culture.
It's just like you can come, you can come by
and that's why I said I thank God for Jesus.
That's the same thing what we are seeing today
with many other things. Like the issue that you
cannot permit a woman to lead a church. Or you
can't permit world where we have been leading.
You understand? Did you see any name of a man
or a man? They say they are called disciples.
They are called believers. He said, these saints
are followed in their belief. Did he say a man?
No. So that's the same thing. But if you're going
to follow the culture of the Jews, no, you can't
bring a woman inside. In fact, some of you, if
you are going to use it, some of you that are
having menstrual period, we will send you away.
For two weeks, you will not come and miss us.
So, You have to see which one. So oil has no
spiritual value. It's not a spiritual thing.
Are we together? Oil has nothing. So as we go
for a break, know that the way to ordain, to
appoint, is by the laying of hands. Are we together?
Is by the what? Laying of hands. Are we together?
Yes. Can you use oil? Yes. But use it. with an
understanding, like aprons. Do you understand
what I'm saying? We have red aprons, touch their
body, and when they heal the people. If you are
doing it in that understanding, it's a different
thing. Amen. Can you just pray and thank the
Lord? 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
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stay blessed.