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. Okay, so we will continue from where
we stopped on Sunday. We have been trying to
look at the giving of the law, the giving of
the law. I don't want you to forget that our
focus is to understand why Moses ruled this law,
particularly Deuteronomy 22 .5 That the woman
shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man,
neither shall a man put on the woman's garment.
For all that do so are abomination unto the Lord
thy God. I want to note something crucial that
as we study, I want you to pay attention. When
I say the law here, I am talking about legalism.
However, the word law does not have a blanket
meaning. Are we together? Yes, it does not have
a blanket meaning. I believe we have been taught
in this church that we are not looking for formulas
in the Bible. That every word's meaning is found
in its context. So as we study different contexts,
The word law will be appearing. Now, I don't
want to take time. I would have shown you in
a diverse place, meaning a lot of places in the
Bible where law is appeared. I mean, law was
used. That does not mean legalism. It means the
doctrine of Christ. In fact, some of the scripture
we read last Sunday. What law means the gospel.
So it's not all the time when we say law, your
mind should go to legalism. No. So, however,
why am I stressing this is for you to pay attention.
As we study, we will be making note of those
things. So in the context, you will know what
he's talking about. But remember we said the
law of Moses, which was added, understand? Well,
let me put it this way. That legalism is a corruption
of the gospel or was what came out of unbelief.
We're going to see that so that you will know
that not just only that Moses gave the law, but
he also preached. The gospel. Are we together?
So he gave the gospel, he also gave the law.
Amen. And we knew the reason why he gave the
law was because of unbelief. See, it was added
because of transgression. Are we together? Yes.
So, and the corruption I'm talking about is the
unbelief. that birth the law. Hallelujah. So
we ended last Sunday on the note that Jesus is
the mediator. The mediator of a better and a
new covenant. Not Moses. We ended by saying that
both the law and the mediation or Moses as the
mediator. We are both, we are all an addition.
That we are not the plan of God for any man to
stand in between God and man. Are we together?
Yes. Okay, so let's look at this thought a little
bit then before we move on. Hebrews chapter 12.
Let me pick one scripture. Hebrews chapter 12
that talks about Christ. the mediator of a better
covenant. Hebrews chapter 12, let me read verse
22. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
to an innumerable company of angels, to the general
assembly and the church of the firstborn, who
are registered in heaven, to God, the judge of
all, to the spirit of just men made perfect,
verse 24, to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant,
and to the blood of the sprinkling that speaks
better things, than that of Abel. Amen. Now,
look at that 24. I want you to look at that word,
that of. If you are using King James or New King
James, you will see that of is in Italics, which
means that it has been added. Yeah, it's not
in the original. It has been added by the translators.
They want to put it there in their wisdom so
that it can make meaning. Are we together? Yes.
So if we disregard that because it's not in the
original, so let's remove it. So we can read
it this way, that to Jesus, the mediator of the
new covenant, and to the blood of the sprinkling
that speaks, Better things than what? Herbal.
Amen. Are we there? Now let's look at that word
than. That word than herbal. So that word than.
It was translated from the word para. That is
P -A -R -A. P -A -R -A. Para. And that word para.
have different meaning in different contexts.
So para could mean from. Para could mean done,
which was used here. Para could mean by. Or above.
Or besides. Or near. From. Dan, by, above, beside,
or near. ETC. I just picked some. Now, what determines
which one to use is by reading the context. Are
we together? Amen. Are we together? Yes. This
is why we are teaching. And you have to pay attention
because in every teaching, you will see that
we're not just only teaching the topic. or the
subject, but we are also teaching how to read
Bible. If you have been following this church,
you understand that every teaching is a Bible
study and a method to study the Bible. Are we
together? Now, if you look at the context where
I read, you will bear me witness. Are we together?
That this text is not actually comparing Abel
and Jesus. Is that right? Is that true? Is he
comparing whose blood screams louder? Did you
understand what I'm trying to say? All the time,
you see, when I read from the time he was talking
about Mount Zion, he says the city of the living
God, right? And he was describing, you understand,
the uniqueness of this heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.
Are we together? And he said, we have a mediator,
which is Christ. So there's no way he was talking
about a comparison between the blood that screams.
You know, sir? So we will not actually look at
it, therefore, as a comparison. So that means
that word done wouldn't be the best word for
para there. Are we together? So if you look at
it, that means from what I have said, you will
see clearly that the best fit there is the word
from, is the word from. So the verse can be correctly
read as, let me take the last part, to the blood
of the sprinkling that speaks better things from
where? From Abel. The blood of the sprinkling
that speaks better things from Hebel. I believe,
I remember Pastor Fred taught us this word Becca,
I think some time ago, even though we're going
to study it again. Reputation is good and healthy
for your spiritual health. Hallelujah. So Pastor
Fred told us that that word Becca, it appears
several times in the book of, I mean, in Hebrews.
And he said that better is not a comparison of
the same things. You understand? No. He's talking
about something of a different kind. You understand
what I'm saying? So when he says, like, for example,
where we read here, he said, Jesus, the mediator
of a new covenant. You understand? And in many
other places, he talks about Jesus better than
angels. Are we together? He's not comparing two
things. You understand? Of the same kind. No,
he's saying that they are in different class.
There is no comparison. This one is in a different
class. Are we together? Yes, of a different kind.
So here he's trying to speak to us that Abel's
righteousness, please listen to me. Abel's righteousness,
remember I will point us to the text and the
sign in Hebrews. I will go back a little bit
to Hebrews chapter 11 because that's where he
started discussing. Abel's righteousness was
because of Christ. Abel's righteousness was because
of the blood of Christ. Let me use that word
because since we are talking about the blood
here. You understand? The blood of the sprinkling
that speaks better things from Abel. That means
right from Genesis. Remember the Bible says that
the lamb which was slain from the what? From
the foundation of the world. I remember Pastor
Fred also taught us again the issue of foundation.
Are we together? Amen. That means... So right
from Genesis, you understand, in the gospel,
you understand, the person is made righteous.
How is a man made righteous? By the blood of
Christ. They believe in the promissory, but that
is exactly what happened. So it's not really
a comparison between which blood screams. Is
it the blood of Hebel or the blood of Jesus?
So the blood of Jesus is better than the blood
of Hebel? No, no, no, no, no. is that the blood
of Jesus that speaks better things, you understand,
from what? From Abel. Are we together? Amen.
Now look at Hebrews, go back a little bit, Hebrews
11. Hebrews 11, look at one. He said, now, let
me speak from, let's say, verse 10, chapter 10,
sorry, verse 39. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 39.
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition,
but of those who believe to the saving of the
soul. So that is a category of people that drill
back. He said, no, we are not of them that drill
back. You understand? But them that believe in
the saving of the soul. So then verse 1 of chapter
11 says, now, that word now is we are for or
they are for. That word is not present. It's
also currently in the sand. That's not what you
look at it. It means therefore. The Hebrew word
there is therefore. Faith is a substance of things
hopeful, the evidence of things not sent. Now,
here is defining faith as hope. Now, faith here
is a faith of the men of the old. That's before
Christ died. Because now, if you believe in Jesus,
you believe in what has happened, not what will
happen. Are we together? Amen. Are we together?
Yes, that Jesus raised him from the dead and
you shall do what? You shall be saved. So that
is our faith now on what has happened. But for
the men of old, they believe in what will happen.
That's why here he's describing their faith.
And their faith is called hope. Amen? That's
not your own. He says, because Jesus hasn't died
then when they believed. So now, or therefore,
faith is a substance of things hoped for. The
evidence of things not seen. That word things
is pragma. P -R -A -G -M -A P -R -A -G -M -A
means pragma or pragma. It means deeds. It means
actions. It's not car, house. I know some faith
movement have used this text terribly bad. You
know, sir. talking about these things, his car,
house, whatever, you know what I'm saying? He
said, now he's faith. It's not tomorrow. Now
he's faith. No, no, no. That's not what he's
talking about here. He's talking about these
things here, you know what I'm saying? It's not
material things. It's deeds. It's actions. You
understand? That is the actions of Christ. The
deeds of Christ. What Christ has done on Calvary.
So that's why they said, Faith is what they hope
for ahead. What do they hope for? Is the action
of Christ. What Christ will do. You understand?
And that was what, that was what Abel believed.
When you begin to read, if you go to verse 4,
by faith is that Abel? Enoch was next. You understand?
Then Noah. Then Abraham. And on and on. You see
all this when he said by faith. That's what it
means. The faith there is talking about that.
Every of their actions described was a response
of what they believed. Are we together? So, for
Abel, verse 4. You see, by faith, Abel offered.
Did you see that? to God a more excellent sacrifice
than king. That's another word that we discuss,
a more excellent. We're not going into that,
but it's also describing, because I'm going to
talk about it later on, because it's also describing
something of a different kind. Are we together?
Just like beta. It's not talking about like a
two comparison of the same thing. So that means
he gave a more excellent, excellent sacrifice,
you understand, than Cain. I hope you are suspecting
exactly what he did. You understand what I'm
saying? Because his sacrifice was born out of
the substance of things hoped for. Are we together?
Are we together? While that of Abel was born
out of unbelief. Do you understand what I'm trying
to say? So that's why I say he gave a more excellent
sacrifice. Now, a man today, you that now understand
the gospel, And you're coming to give a gift.
You'll be coming to give a gift because you have
been blessed. But somebody, you'll be coming
to give a gift because he wants God to give him
something. You see, your own is a more excellent
one. Did you understand what I'm trying to say?
Because his own is born out of the system of
unbelief. You understand? But yours is born out
of the righteousness of Christ. That is because
of what he has done, so we give in thanksgiving.
Amen. Are we together? So you see, this is exactly
what happened here. You understand? He said,
obtain a witness that he was what? Oh, talk to
me. That he was what? Righteous. Because God
testifying of his gift and to it. Even that still
speaks. We're reading of their faith. We're reading
of what they have done. Are we together? Are
we together? In fact, Jesus made mention of Abel
as a prophet. Amen? Matthew 23. Look at Matthew
23. Verse 35. Verse 35. Matthew 23, verse 35.
He said, that on you may come all the righteous
blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteousness.
And to the blood of who? Zechariah, the son of
who? Berethia, whom you murdered between the
temple and the altar. Look at how he describes.
From the blood of righteous Abel. This is not
righteousness by works. This is righteousness
by faith. Luke 50. Luke 50. Luke 11 50. Somebody
will be imagining. For the victory of ideas from
verses. From chapters. Luke 11 50. That the blood
of the prophets which was shed from the foundation
of the world may be required of this generation.
From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who perished between the altar and the temple.
Did you see that? Who? He said he called them
prophets. So not just only that he believed,
he what? He preached this same it, this same
righteousness by faith. We say, believe in the
things to come. The deeds of Christ. The actions
of Christ. His sufferings and the glory shall
come. So, at that time, Abel believed. Listen.
Before, you remember the text we read? He's talking
about a sacrifice. That was before even Abel
was killed. Are we together? Because the problem
started after God was asking him, if you do well,
will you not have been accepted? Yeah? So, What
we are talking about now is before even Abel's
blood was shed. Did you understand what I'm saying?
So, it is the blood of the sprinkling, the blood
of Jesus, that spoke. It is that same blood that
spoke. Are we together? For us. Amen. Galatians
chapter 3. Galatians 3, verse 19. What purpose
then? The Lord saith, It was added because of
transgression, till the seed should come. to
whom the promise was made, and it was appointed
to angels by the hand of a mediator. So both
the law and the mediation of Moses were added
because of transgression. And God revealed to
Moses, Remember last time on Sunday we talked
about what Stephen was speaking. It's a lively
oracle. Right? Yes. The words giving life. That
was what was delivered. Are we together? Amen.
So these people refused to believe. And Moses
said, okay, I will give you the law. Just follow
me. So, God gave Moses the message and Moses
involved the angels. And Moses did what? So,
in the giving of the law, Moses did what? Involved
who? The angels. Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter
2. Verse 1. Therefore we must give the more earnest
heed to the things which we have heard, lest
we drift away. For if the words spoken through
angels proved steadfast, and every transgression
and disobedience received a just reward. Stop
there. I'm coming to that verse in the psalm.
Again, this is just to add to what we have been
Another text. That way he said the words. Talking
through angels. He's talking about the law of
Moses. The law that was delivered to unbelievers.
Those who refuse to believe. Hallelujah. So.
What are we trying to see here? That the delivery
of the law was supernatural to the involvement
of angels by Moses. Now, because of this, I said,
I need to, we need to, we can't stop like that.
Before we move to see other things. I said, let
me go through. We need to search. We need to
study some activities of angels in the Old Testament,
what we call the Old Testament text. Are we together?
Let me start from Judges. And I want you to pay
attention as we go through because we're going
to solve multiple things as we go through. Amen?
Let me start from Judges. Judges chapter 6. Look
at verse 11. Now the angel of the Lord came and
sat under the talibin tree, which was in Ophrah,
which belonged to Josh and Abizreit. Yes, thank
you. While his son Gideon threshed wheat. in
the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites.
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and
said to him, The Lord is with you, you mighty
man of valor. But starting, Gideon said to him,
O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has
all this happened to us? And where are all his
miracles? Which our fathers told us about, saying,
Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But
now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us
into the hands of the Midianites. Then the Lord
turned to him and said, Go in this might of yours,
and you shall save Israel. from the hand of the
Midianites. Have I not sent you? Verse 15. So
he said to him, O my Lord, how can I save Israel?
Indeed, my clan is the weakest in men, I say,
and I am the least in my father's house. Verse
16. And the Lord said to him, Surely I will be
with you, and you will defeat the Midianites
as one man. Then he said to him, If now I have
found favor in your sight, then show me a sign
that it is you who talk with me. Verse 18. Do
not depart from here, I pray, until I come to
you and bring out my offering and set it before
you. You! And he said, I will wait until you
come back. Verse 19. So Vidon went in and prepared
a young goat and on living bread from an ephah
of flour and the meat he put in a basket. And
he put the bread in a pot and he brought them
out to him under the table tree and presented
them. Verse 20. The angel of the Lord. The angel
of God said to him, take the meat and the unleavened
bread and lay them on this rock and pour out
the bread. And he did so. He did so. Verse 21.
Then the angel of the Lord put out the end of
the staff that was in his hand and touched the
meat and the unleavened bread. And fire rose
out of the rock and consumed the meat. and the
one living bread. The angel of the Lord departs
out of his sight. Now Gideon perceived that he
was the angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, Alas,
O Lord God, for I have seen the angel of the
Lord face to face. Verse 23. Then the Lord said
to him, Peace be with you. Do not fear. You shall
not die. I want you to pay attention. That's
the reason why I read through. Now, you must
have observed when I was reading. It is a word
that appeared to be, to be interchangeable. The
word, the angel of the Lord. and the word the
Lord. If you look at the entire encounter, you
would think two people are there. That is the
Lord and the angel of the Lord. There's no way
that we heard, actually Gideon was just conversing
and talking and then interacting with the word,
the angel of the Lord. So first look at it, verse
11. Let's go through. Verse 11. The verse 11,
he said, now the angel of who? The Lord. Verse
12. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him.
Are you in verse 12? That's why you need to have
your Bible. Amen. Look at verse 20 again. He
said, verse 20. The angel of God said to him.
Verse 21. Then the angel of the Lord. Again,
he says in that same verse. And the angel of
the Lord departed out of his sight. Are we together?
Please, I want us to go together. You understand?
Look at verse 22. The angel of who? The Lord.
Now, look at verse 14. Come back to verse 14.
Then the Lord turned to him. Verse 16. And the
Lord said to him. Verse 23. The Lord said to
him, are we together? In fact, several times,
Gideon himself referred to the angel as my Lord
or Lord God. Verse 13. Are you verse 13? This
is what he said. Oh my Lord. Verse 15. Oh my.
Lord. Verse 22. Look at verse 22. Now Gideon
perceived that he was what? The angel of the
Lord. So Gideon said, alas, what? Oh my God.
Are we together? Amen. Yes. For I have seen.
Look at, he's the one that said, for I have seen
the angel of the Lord face to face. But he called
the angel of the Lord, O Lord God. Are you seeing
something? Okay, go to chapter 13. You see, George's
chapter 13. Again, the children of Israel did
evil in the sight of the Lord. Verse 1. And the
Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistine
for 40 years. Now there was a certain man from
Zorah of the family of the Danites, whose name
was Manuah, and his wife was barren and had no
child. And the angel of the Lord appeared to
the woman. And said to her, Indeed now you are
barren and have born no children, but you shall
pass conceived and bear a son. Now therefore,
please be careful not to drink wine or similar
drinks and not to eat anything unclean. Verse
5. For behold, you have... You shall conceive
and bear a son, and no result shall come upon
his head. For the child shall be a Nazareth to
God from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver
Israel out of the hand of the Philistine. So
the woman came and told her husband, saying,
A man of God, note that, a man of God came to
me. And his countenance was like the countenance
of who? Of an angel of God. Very handsome. But
I... Good. Now you are now... I can see you are
following me. Are we together? But I did not
ask him... Are we together? Where he was from...
Oh, they are reading from here. Ah. Okay. Is
he good? But I did not ask him where he was from,
and he did not tell me his name. And he said
to me, Behold, you shall conceive and bear a
son. Now drink no wine or similar drink. Nor
eat anything unclean, for the child shall be
a Nazareth to God from the womb to the day of
his death. Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and
said, O my Lord, Please let the man of God whom
you sent come to us again and teach us what we
shall do for the child who will be born. Verse
9. And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and
the angel of God came to the woman again as she
was sitting in the field. But Manoah, her husband,
was not with her. Verse 10. Then the woman ran
in haste. and told her husband and said to him,
Look, the man who came to me the other day has
just now appeared to me. So Manoah arose and
followed his wife. When he came to the man, he
said to him, Are you the man who spoke to this
woman? And he said, I am. Manoah said, Now let
your words come to pass. What will be the boy's
rule of life? and his work. Verse 13, So the
angel of the Lord said to Manoah, Of all that
I said to the woman, let her be careful. Verse
14, She may not eat everything that comes from
the wine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink,
nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded
her, let her do what? Observe. Verse 15, then
Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, please
let us detain you and we will prepare a young
goat for you. Verse 16, and the angel of the
Lord said to Manoah, though you detain me, I
will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt
offering, you must offer it to the Lord. For
Manoah did not know. He was the what? The angel
of the Lord. Verse 17. Verse 18. upon the rock
to the Lord, and he did a wondrous thing while
Manoah and his wife looked on. It happened, verse
20, as the flame went up toward heaven from the
altar, the angel of the Lord ascended in the
flame of the altar. When Manoah and his wife
saw this, they fell on their faces on the ground.
Verse 21. When the angel of the Lord appeared
no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew
that he was the angel of the Lord. Verse 22.
And Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely
do what? Die. Because we have seen who? We have
seen who? Now go to verse 3. Now let's look at
it again. Verse 3 and 4. What did you see there?
First, the angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah's
wife, right? She was bearing with her foods,
right? And she would conceive to bear a son.
Verse 6. What did verse 6 say? They now referred
to him as the man of God, right? And then she
perceived that he could be an angel of the Lord
or angel of God. Verse 8. So Manoah prayed for
the man of God, you understand, to visit them.
Remember, at this time, Manoah, according to
the text, that did not know he was an angel of
the Lord. Verse 9. He says the angel of God came
to the woman again. Verse 13. The angel of the
Lord spoke to Manoah. Verse 15. Manoah said to
the angel of the Lord, verse 16, and the angel
of the Lord said to Manoah, again in verse 16,
he said, for Manoah did not know he was what?
The angel of the Lord. Verse 18, the angel of
the Lord said, verse 20, the angel of the Lord
ascended in the flame of who? Of the altar. Look
at verse 21. Look at verse 21. the angel of the
Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife.
Then Manoah knew he was what? The angel. So at
this point, Manoah knew he was the angel of the
Lord. Verse 22, And Manoah said to his wife,
We shall surely what? Die. Because what? We have
seen God. I want you to note The manua, as I
said, knew that what they saw, what they interacted,
was an angel. However, they said, we have seen
what? We have seen God. Now, from these few texts,
you understand, or verses that we have studied,
you could see that in the Old Testament, where
we call the Old Testament text, An encounter
with an angel is often interpreted as an encounter
with God. Did you see that? An encounter or an
interaction with an angel is often interpreted
as what? As an encounter with God. As an encounter
with God. Now, go to Exodus quickly. We're still
moving because I need to, See where we can stop.
So which means that you have to be careful when
you are reading, you understand, the scriptures.
So that it's not wherever you see the Lord said,
the Lord said, the Lord said. So it means he's
actually the God Almighty. You might be taking
the words of an angel and then you are thinking
actually is a word of the Lord. Remember, sometimes
both the authors, as well as the people be reported.
That's how they saw. That's how they normally
refer angels. You know, sir. He referred them
as well as the Lord. So in the text where we
read, you will see that even the ones that you
know is the angel of the Lord and the Lord said,
that's the author. Are we together? Please, amen.
Because there are parts that we know that yes,
either Manoah or... actually knew that it was
an angel. But you see, there's a place again
that the author of the text will say what? And
the Lord said, did you see that place? Oh, are
we together? So you see that there are two people
there. The first thing, who had the encounter,
perceived the angel or interpreted the angel
as a Lord or God, but as well, the author, you
understand? So that's why you have to pay attention
when you are reading. You understand? When you
are doing what? When you are reading. Exodus
chapter 3. Look at verse 1. Exodus chapter 3.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his
father -in -law, the priest of Midian. And he
led the flock to the back of the desert and came
to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel
of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire
from the midst of the bush. So he looked, and
behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the
bush was not consumed. And then Moses said, I
will now turn aside and see this great sight,
why the bush does not burn. So when the Lord
saw that he turned aside to look, God called
to him from the mist of the bush and said, Moses,
Moses. And he answered, Here I am. Look at verse
2. He said, And the angel of the Lord appeared
to him. Where did he appear? Where did the angel
of the Lord appear? He said, From where? The
mist of where? The bush. Now look at verse 4.
Look at verse 4. God called him from where? Who
are we together? From the midst of the bush and
said, Moses, Moses. Who do you think is calling
him? Amen. It was the angel that was calling
him from that same place where he turned in the
midst of the bush. But it was said that it is
the Lord. The same place that was bombing. So
apparently the same angel in verse 2 was later
referred by the author as the Lord. In verse
4, who was also implied as God calling him or
calling Moses from the midst of the bush. So
Moses' interaction and experience with the angel
here was labeled. Remember Moses was the one
who wrote this. Huh? Was Lumbel as what? As speaking
with the Lord. Hmm? Amen? Are we together? Are
we together? Now, look at some verses here. I
want you... Exodus 33. Exodus 33. Verse 11. Exodus
33. Verse what? Verse 11. So the Lord spoke to
Moses face to face as a man speaks to what? His
friend. Face to face. Remember Jesus told us
in John chapter 1 verse 18. No man has seen what?
Are we together? Deuteronomy 5. Go to Deuteronomy.
Chapter 5 verse... Let's go to 34 first. Deuteronomy
34. Deuteronomy 34, verse 10. But since then,
there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like
Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. Him the
Lord knew face to face. Deuteronomy, return back
to 5, chapter 5. Deuteronomy chapter 5. Look
at verse 1. And Moses called all Israel and said
to them, Hear, O Israel, the statues and judgment,
and I speak in your hearing today. and you may
learn them and be careful to observe. The Lord
our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Verse
3, the Lord did not make this covenant with our
fathers, but with us, those who are here today,
all of us who are alive. Verse 4, the Lord talked
with you face to face on the mountain from the
mist of the fire. Did you see that? Did you see
that? When we read last on, sorry, when we read
on Sunday, did the Lord talk with them? They
said, no Moses, could we not agree you? Right?
He said, you go and hear. And remember we saw
this fire, mountain, you know what I'm saying?
Smoke, lightning, you know what I'm saying? Yes.
We saw that, earthquake. But here he's saying,
the Lord talked with you face to face on the
mountain from the mist of the fire. From the
mist of the fire. And I stood between the Lord
and you at that time to declare to you the word
of the Lord, for you were afraid because of the
fire and you did not go up. to the mountain.
Remember, when we read Stephen, who was Moses'
wit on the mountain? Are we together? So, when
he was talking about the Lord, the Lord, the
Lord in the midst of the fire, the Lord is not
in the midst of the fire. Did you understand
what I'm trying to say? It was an angel there.
It was an angel there. Are we together? Let me
read quickly because I'm trying not to leave
something before we just move. I know we're going
to return back. Hebrews chapter 12. Come back.
Come quickly to Hebrews chapter 12. I think I
will end there. Hebrews chapter 12. Verse 18.
Hebrews chapter 12, verse 18. For you have not
come to the mountain. Now, when he said you have
not, remember, he's talking to believers. You
understand? So, I wanted to observe this. He's
talking to believers here. He said, you have
not come to the mountain that may be touched
and burned with fire and to blackness and darkness
and tempest and the sound of the trumpet and
the voice of words so that those who heard it
begged that the word should not be spoken to
them anymore. Verse 20. For they would not endure
what was commanded. For they could not endure
what was commanded. And if so much as a beast
touched the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot
with an arrow. And so terrifying was the sight
that Moses said, I exceedingly afraid and tremble.
So it wasn't only the people that were afraid.
Even Moses was afraid. But look at verse 22.
He said, but you have come to Mount Zion. Now
you see, this compiles him here of two things.
Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. Mount Sinai and what?
Mount Zion. He said, He was telling the believer,
he said, you have not come to the mountain. If
you see that verse 18, that may not be touched,
which means that this is not the believing. So
it's a comparison between the unbelieving and
the believing. Where God is, is Mount Zion. He
said, for you have come to Mount Zion and to
the city of the living God. The heavenly Jerusalem,
there's no fear here. There's no trembling here.
Are we together? Yes. He said to an admirable
company of angels. I'm going to talk about later
on, you know, son, that now in Mount Zion, the
behavior of angels has changed. There's a reason.
You know, son. He said to the general assembly,
to the church of the firstborn, who? Are we together?
and to the blood of the sprinkler which we have
studied. Oh, at this point, you may have begun
to recognize why some events were happening.
I'm going to come back to this text also again.
The issue of the smoke at Mount Zion, the creaking,
the trembling. Are we together? But I wanted
to connect what Stephen said, who was there.
You understand? You may have begun to recognize
why some events were happening. They are straight
events, supernatural events. But you are all
taken and said the Lord was the one responsible.
So you must read the scripture carefully to recognize
whether you are reading the Lord God Almighty
or an angel. Are we together? Or an angel? To
assume that anywhere you see the Lord said refers
to God Almighty can be misleading. And many people
have been misled. So reading the scripture together
can help us. I mean understanding that God never
changed. The same God who was in the Old Testament
was the same God. Who. Today live in us. Are
we together? Is important. Is important. Just
pray. share this message with someone you care
about. Until next time, stay blessed.