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. Chapter three. Excuse me. Let me start
reading from verse one. He made known to me the
mysteries, as I have briefly written already,
by which when you read, you may understand my
knowledge in the mysteries of Christ, which in
other ages was not made known to the sons of
men, as it has now been revealed by the spirit
of his holy apostles and prophets, that the Gentiles
should the fellow heirs of the same body and
partakers of his promise in Christ through the
gospel of which I became a minister according
to the gift of the grace of God given to me by
the effective working of his power to me who
I am less than the least of all the saints his
grace was given, that I should preach among the
Gentiles the unsachable riches of Christ, and
to make all men see what is a fellowship of the
mysteries which, from the beginning of the ages,
has been hidden in God who created all things.
through Jesus Christ, but stand to the intent
that now the manifold wisdom of God might be
made known by the Church to principalities and
powers in heavenly places. According to the eternal
purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus,
our Lord, whom we have boldness and access with
confidence through faith, Now on Sunday, we continue
with our teaching and particularly we try to
address the implications of involving angels
in the giving of the law. And today we will continue
again to highlight some few things in that regards.
Now, There is a misreading of this text that
I want to clarify briefly before we continue.
Now many people, when they read particularly
verse 10, the intent that now the manifold wisdom
of God might be made known by the Church to principalities
and powers in the heavenly places. Many people
think that the intent is that the church should
show the devil and demons his power. To show
the power of God to these demons. They need to
know that God is powerful. And why do most people
read it like that? Or let me say many. It's not
actually most. Or some people. Why do some people
think that this is what the text is saying? actually
is because of that word principalities and powers.
The principalities and powers. So they interpret
that word in the context of Ephesians chapter
six verse 12. Look at Ephesians chapter six verse
12. So each time they read that word, the first
thing that normally we are acquainted with is
Ephesians six verse 12. But we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but again, principalities,
against powers, against rulers of darkness of
this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places, or heavenly. Actually,
that place is, if you see in the New King James,
or if you have King James, you always put in
italics. Actually, we have thoughts. There is
no place there. It's in the heavilys, heavily.
Amen. So the places was introduced by the publishers
of the English version. So that's why when people
read the principalities and powers, for example,
in Ephesians 3, They read it in the context of
also Ephesians 6. If you look at Ephesians, it
clearly tells us the principalities and powers
there. Right? Yes. It says, again, it's the rulers
of darkness. So it's talking about rulers of
darkness. It said, again, spiritual host of wickedness.
So that's just a description of the same beings.
Amen. Now, yes, while in this context, that is
the Ephesians 6 verse 12, identify principalities
and powers as rulers of darkness, as spiritual
host of wickedness, the term, or those terms,
the principalities and powers is not exclusively
used as evil spirit all the time. That term ought
to be defined based according to the context.
Like we see in Ephesians 6, it's clear there
that it's talking about wicked spirits. Are we
together? Amen. Now let's look at collusions.
Look at collusions. I'm trying to say that that
term or those terms cannot be just be used with
a blanket meaning. You can't use them just as
anywhere we see them, they mean wicked beings
or wicked spirit beings. Colossians chapter one,
look at verse 16. Verse 16, he said, for by him
all things were created that are in heaven and
that are on earth, visible and invisible. whether
thrones or dominions did you see that again all
principalities or what or powers all things we
are created through him and for him amen are
we together now if we will consider principalities
and powers that they always means wicked evil
spirits in the sun So we read it here also as
that that means I will be a problem because I
will mean Because he said by 16 for by him talking
about Christ all things We are created and he
mentioned those things and then includes principalities
and powers that means we will see evil Came from
God or evil came from Christ But no context defines
what principalities and powers are. That means
to say, it's a term that could mean what we see,
we saw in Ephesians chapter six verse 12, it
mean wickedness or wicked spirits. We said, or
it could mean also here, definitely mean spirit
beings that are not evil. Amen. Are we together?
Because God created everything perfect and good.
Hallelujah. So if this text is talking about
by Him, all things were created, it wouldn't
be mean, it, it, principality and past here would
not mean evil. Amen. Are we together? Hallelujah.
Of course, we saw John talks about many places,
I mean, in this Scripture that talks about the
character of God, what actually came from God,
who is God. John, in verse John talks about,
in him there is no darkness at all. In him there
is no darkness at all. So the word principality
is a -k in Greek, a -r -c -h -e. And powers means
exusia. E -X -O -U -S -I -A. E -X -O -U -S -I
-A. It means powers. So ake and exusia, or principalities
and powers. They are actually a general term
for spirit beings. In fact, in some places, they
are used as human authorities. They are used
as human authorities. As I said, it is a context
that should tell us what that means. Let's read
more text for us to see that. Again, let's look
at Colossians. Colossians 2 verse 10. Colossians
2 verse 10. He says, and you are complete in
him who is the head of all principalities and
powers. Look at verse 15. Having this arm, principalities
and powers. Definitely these principalities here.
So you can see in Colossians alone have different
places where it talks about principality. We
read in Colossians 1 .16, talks about principality
and power. Now that means if you read verse 15
for example, these principalities and power here
wouldn't mean the principalities and power in
Ephesians 1 .16. You understand what I'm saying?
Because the one God or true Christ were created.
Are we together? We don't mean the one again
is disarming. Amen. Disarming principalities
and powers. Amen. Titus chapter three. Titus
chapter three verse one. Just to just give us
some thoughts there to think about or some things
to think about. remind them to be subject to
who? Rulers and what? Authorities to obey, to
be ready for every good work. That word rulers
and authorities. Rulers means principalities.
It's the same word there, akehe. Or authorities
means powers, means exusia. Amen. Luke chapter
20. So this one, if you look at here, is talking
about human authorities. Amen. He's talking about
human authorities. Luke 20. Luke 20 verse 19.
And the chief priests and the scribes and the
very hour sought to lay hands on him but they
feared the people for they knew he has spoken
this parable against them. So they watched him,
verse 20, and sent spies who pretended to be
righteous, that they might cease on his words,
in order to deliver him to the power and authority
of the governor, that what power is principalities
and that word authority is power, that's exusia,
amen. So sometimes you can see how English can
be using the same word, can be using principalities
in place of power or power in place of principalities
or we can use authority. But we are looking at
it from the Greek meaning, amen. So what we're
trying to say is that If you see the principalities
and powers, we need to look at closely what that
text is saying. The context will tell us whether
it's talking about evil spirits or whether the
angels of God or human authorities. Hallelujah.
So let's return back to our text, Ephesians 3
verse 10. So when we read it, we have read it
already, we will notice that this text is not
saying or does not present a church showing power
to demons, but as a means Through which the manifold
wisdom of God He said previously hidden and that's
why when you read verse 9 and to make all men
see What is a fellowship of the mystery? Which
from the beginning of the age has been hid in
God in fact That same thought was communicated
in earlier verses. We look at verse 5. He said
which in other ages was what was not made known
to the sons of men as it has now been revealed
by the spirit to his holy apostles and prophets
so he sent it thought he was making in verse
9 healing in god who created all things through
christ jesus to the intent so he's talking about
the mysteries revealed to the intent That noun
the manifold wisdom of God. So the wisdom of
what definitely will must be related to the revelation
Are we together? Might be made known by the church
the principalities and powers so God is not God's
power is not for sure there's no text of the
Bible that call the believer to come for displaying
power in the sun. He's not looking for ways to
be famous, if you understand. God is not looking
for ways to be famous. The Church is not established
simply uh for just to just be showing power power
power i will show you you know these days anyway
i don't know in other countries but i know in
my country nigeria yes sir if you want to see
drama just go on the road yes sir do you know
who i am you are a goat you are a this you know
sir your people driving especially the the i
don't know it's about the the city i stay is
in kaduna hey those boys are driving a bus I
know legos will be more. Amen. So very rough
driving and you see everybody abusing is here.
I will lock you up. You will know who I am. So
the point is that that's not why the church was
actually established. To go around just showing
the power, showing who you are and all that.
Amen. In fact, the truth of the matter is that
you don't need to show someone the power that
he has already known. Do you understand what
I'm trying to say? You know, some of us are lecturers.
When I enter the class, I don't need to tell
them that I'm their teacher now. They know, right?
Yes. And the problem comes when the teacher has
inferiority complex or he doesn't know the subject.
So sometimes you have to use other methods in
the sand to make the students to be subdued in
the sand. But if you are already the authority
and you are working in your authority, you don't
need any statement again. All the people around
you know you. Are we together? And that's exactly,
and you see what Christ have, I mean what Christ
brought us into, you understand? Whether you
recognize it or not, the devil and his demons
know you. Do you understand what I'm saying?
You don't need to show them something before
they know you have power. Whether you are using
it or not, using it. Are we together? Amen. Remember
in Act 19, verse 15, the evil spirit met some
guys. They thought that he was just calling the
name. Those guys were exorcists. And part of
them were the children of one chief priest, they
called Sons of Skiba. And then they came, they
said, we command you to go out in the name of
the Lord who Paul preached. You are not in the
system and you want to use the name and do something.
Are we together? You know what the spirit told
them? The evil spirit said, Jesus, I what? I
know. Paul, I know. Who are you? That means your
identity is unknown. You understand? You can't
just use a tag. You understand? That means evil
spirits, they know you. They know your position.
Are we together? Now I want to note that, remember
we are talking about knowledge. So I'm very careful
with the statement we are making in the sun.
This knowledge of the evil spirit, we are not
talking about revelation and knowledge here.
Are we together? Because we describe in, we interpreted
on Sunday in the sun what actually the difference
between the searching of the prophets and the
searching in the sun or the looking of the angels
amen so this knowing is not a volitional knowledge
and you know again so there is a knowing that
i'm talking about the knowing is that knowing
that james was talking about is that are we together
uh james james is it james yes james two was
19 Look at James 2 .19. He says, you believe
that there is what? One God. You do well. Even
the demons do what? Believe and they do what?
This is a threat. You get what I'm trying to
say? Yes, this is not revelation. It's recognizing.
Of course, this belief is not saving faith that
you believe to be saved. That means they recognize
and they tremble. So James was trying to communicate
in that line too. So what I'm trying to say is
that you don't need to go around trying to show,
I will show them. And one of the temptations
to be in, you understand, is to try to display
for the, I mean, displaying sick. Do you understand
what I'm trying to say? Don't fall into that
error because you're not called into that ministry.
You're called a serious ministry, the ministry
of enlightening men, the ministry of saving lives.
So don't use it for show again, you understand?
This is why I... I dislike it with the whole
of my heart when I see the Bible and the Word
of God used as a tool of comedy. It pains me
so much because all scriptures are given by the
inspiration of God and they are profitable not
for comedy, they are profitable for teaching,
for doctrine, they are profitable for reproof,
they are profitable for correction. you are profitable
for training or instruction in righteousness
you understand and the essence is not that the
man of god may be entertained that the man of
god may be thoroughly furnished he said may be
perfect thoroughly furnished onto good work that's
the essence It's not for the Bible to be used
to entertain the man of God. No the man of God
the intent of Why the word was given is that
the man of God may be perfect totally furnished
That what perfect means equips in a son onto
good works so We must never fall into that Temptation
to use sacred things for common Amen. Are we
together? So we are called to cast out. You don't
need to start discussing. Who are you? Where
are you coming from? How many are you in the
sun? Did you know them before in their clan?
I mean that's not the point. These sons shall
follow them that believe. In my name they shall
cast out, not discuss with them. Are we together?
Cast out demons. So that is what we're supposed
to do. Hallelujah. Amen. Are we together? So
they know that Christ has disarmed, we read in
Colossians 2, he says he has disarmed principalities.
They have been disarmed. Are we together? That's
Colossians 2 .15. He says he has disarmed them.
Hmm Hebrews 2 14 and 15 tells us you understand
that through the death of Jesus Christ what happened?
He said he has destroyed him who had the power
of death He now identify him. He said that is
the devil You know son I release the essence
is that he release or set free those who through
the fear of death in the sun have been all their
lives kept under bondage. No more fear. Are we
together? Are we together? No more fear. Amen.
Go back to that, uh, Ephesians chapter three
verse 10. So, God's intention was to show, was
to make known the manifold wisdom of God by the
church to the principalities. Now, what is this
wisdom of God? Which I have already noted that
is in relation to uh the revelation which was
it in the past or which was not known before
in fact verse five says which in other ages was
not made known to the sons of men as it has been
revealed by what the spirit to his holy apostles
and prophets this is exactly what jesus in John
16 said you understand I have many things to
tell you but you cannot do what you can't bear
it now he said but how be it when the spirit
of truth is calm you understand so that means
there are many things and that's what Paul is
saying before it has not been made known to the
sons of men not because God does not want to
but the sons of men have no capacity to receive
it Did you get what I'm trying to say? You know
sometimes when you read it, it will look as if
God deliberately hid it. No. Men have no capacity.
It is the Holy Spirit that unlocks the capacity.
Are we together? And that's why now has been
made known or it has been revealed. It has been
revealed. It has been revealed. So verse eight
of chapter five, chapter three says, to me, look
at, look at, he said, to me, to me, whom I'm
less than the least of all the saints, he said,
this grace was given, that I should preach among
the Gentiles the unsachable riches of Christ,
and to make known all, to make, all see what
is a fellowship of the mistress which from the
beginning of ages has been hid in God who created
all things through Jesus Christ to the intent
to the intent that now the money for wisdom so
what he's trying to say is that to the intent
that now are we together What is revealed now?
It is the wisdom of God. That the wisdom now
revealed means the revelation of God. The revelation
of God. So, this ministry is that of revealing
God's plan. that of revealing God's plan and
I want you to note it earlier on he started it
looks as if Paul is just talking about himself
he said to me was it whom I'm less than the least
of all the send this grace was giving but by
the time you move on he reaches 10 he said to
the intent now that a manifold wisdom of God
might be made known by the church So that means
this ministry is not just only for Paul this
ministry is for the entire church Are we together
is for the entire church? The ministry involves
enlightening Not just men But listen, I want
to be very careful here now when we are talking
about the enlightenment of angels, we're not
talking about us now you say you now enter our
room and say angels angels come here all of you
today we are having our class no that's not what
the bible is saying in the sun he's not talking
about directly no no no you understand he say
in the process of demonstrating of teaching or
enlightening men angels are observing did you
understand what I'm trying to say yes They are
observing and learning So what Paul is saying
is that the church is the means through which
God reveal his wisdom Are we together? You know,
I hear many Believers say where are you? They
say me I don't go to job. I read the Bible you
are confused and that's exactly what is the diagnosis
of your condition, you understand? Because it's
not you, you will sit at home and just say, I'm
reading my Bible. The intent of God that the
church, you understand, be the one to reveal,
not you, not just sitting down, you understand?
If everybody will sit down at home to read this
Bible, then there is no need for a lot of portions
of this Bible. You understand what I'm saying?
There is no need for leaders, there is no need
for teachers. Amen. Yes, but that's not how the
church is structured. You are not the owner of
the church. You have to adjust to the revelation.
So the wisdom of God means the revelation of
God. Let me read a text here to just clarify
this because it's not just this place that Paul
was talking like that. 1 Corinthians chapter
2, 1 Corinthians 2, let's read another letter
of Paul which you clarify what this means also
because he used that term also look at verse
seven look at verse seven first Corinthians chapter
two verse seven he said but we speak what wisdom
of God in a what mystery you remember what we
just read yes the wisdom that has been hid or
the mystery in the sun well you see that mystery
there is no mystery now because that mystery
has been what as we reveal so that's what we
are reading heeding wisdom of God he said or
then before the ages for our glory was it which
none of the rulers of this age knew did you see
that he said for had they known they would not
have crucified the world the lord of glory did
you see that what we are talking about That this
revelation, that's why I told you when we read
Act 19, you understand? When the evil spirit
says, Jesus, I know. What? Paul, I know. We said
that what know is not talking about revelation.
Are we together? Yes, because it has not been
made known. It is now that is revealed as we
are teaching it. Revealed by the spirit of God
as we are teaching it. They are also. Oh So that
is it. Ah They are keen. They are curious in
a son. They are inquisitive I Mean, are we together?
So he said even the priestess the rulers of this
age is a if they had known That mystery if they
had known that wisdom of God, you know son, they
would not have crucified the Lord of Glory verse
9 but as it is written eyes had not seen ears
had not heard nor have entered into the heart
of man the things which God has prepared for
those who loved him you know many people quote
this text and say we don't know the things of
God God is mysterious it's mysterious to you
because you have not been reading the bible god
is not mysterious he can't give you those 66
books and you say he's a mysterious how are we
together he came by himself and you say he's
mysterious we cannot know his ways you know quote
this is a quotation in the sand because we will
now quote it and stop there paul was explaining
something But we now quote and just stop. He
said, you see, we don't know the things of God.
This God is mysterious. As the heavens is far
away, so also the ways of God. No, no, no, no,
no. Can you read verse 10 with me? Let's read
verse 10, one, two, three. But God has done what?
Revealed them to us through his word. all glory
to Jesus amen are we together yes God has revealed
them so don't stop at that quotation now it has
been revealed glory to Jesus so it has been revealed
so the things angels desire to look into in 1st
Peter where we read 1 -12, indicate angels were
trying to learn in the sun. They do not fully
comprehend the death and the implication of the
redemption as it unfolds in history and as well
also today in the church. So as the church embodies
and proclaim this mystery, this revelation, God's
wisdom becomes known even to these spirit beings.
So 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 10 to 12 show both
the prophets and angels were searching. We said
their search was different. The prophets searched
to understand when what they prophesied would
happen. While the angels were looking that is
a desire to understand the truth of salvation
revealed through the gospel so one thing we can
clarify here is that Angels, I mean the prophets
desire to know when the redemption the foretold
will happen angels were curious to learn about
God's wisdom and mercy Towards humanity through
the gospel Therefore With this understanding
that we have had now Did you see that? There
was no way angels could have comprehend righteousness
by feet before Except by the Holy Spirit that
revealed the mysteries now because before it
was heat But now has been revealed there was
no way Angels could have comprehends the mercy
of God Or the righteousness of God through faith
when Moses appointed them in a son in the giving
of the loss So now you remember that text we
read in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 28 that According
to the law, there is no what? No mercy. The law
had no mercy. There's no mercy. So this tells
us some of the strange things we saw in the law
of Moses. Some causes, destruction, diseases.
You do this, I do this to you. And of course,
thank God for revelation, thank God for Jesus
Christ. When Jesus came, he tried to set what
is not from the beginning, what is not in the
blueprints in the Son of God. When he talked
about the voice, he said, it was not so in the
beginning. He would tell, he said, you have heard
in the past An eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth, what I say to you. That means he's trying
to distinguish, no, no, no, no. This is the character
of God and it's consistent. But something came
in between, transgression, and what you have
was added. If you look at even the giving of
the, even the Ten Commandments, which we have
studied the 10th commandment that is the gospel
right we explain it when jesus talked and explained
it and the apostle explained it they never explain
it as rules what to do today tomorrow yesterday
you know sometimes you say no it is a gospel
however it was given to israel as rules 10 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. For example, the
Sabbath. What? What? So the Sabbath became a
rule. But when the Spirit came, explained, we
saw that the Sabbath means salvation. Did you
get what I'm trying to say? But man, we are using
it as rules. They choose one day to become inactive.
They say they are serving God That that is what
God wanted Today we have many believers like
that The writer of Hebrews told us that no, no,
no, no, it's a we who have believed have entered
into that rest To tell you that that rest is
not just now. He called it that rest you know
that that one he said if joshua had given them
that rest there would not be did you go i'm gonna
say so he was pointing to something that was
from the beginning in fact that was why he quoted
a text in genesis chapter 2 so when god hallelujah
now so what i'm trying to say is that That which
is supposed to give life now has become source
of death because it now becomes letters. Are
we together? Amen. We read that text. I want
to read that text again so that to know that.
Look at Romans. We read it. Romans chapter 7
verse. Romans 7 verse 10. Look at Romans 7 verse
10. I told you that the word law also, because
when you read Romans, it's not talking about
the legalism. You understand? It's not talking
about legalism. He said, what shall we say then?
You understand? is the, I will read only verse
seven first. What shall we say then? Is the law
sin? So this law is not talking about the one
we are talking about. It says, certainly not.
On the contrary, I would not have known sin,
except the law, except through the law, for I
will not have known covetousness, except the
law had said, you shall not covet. Where did
they pick this one? The Ten Commandments. Now
look at verse 10. He said, and the commandment,
which was to bring life, I find it to bring death.
Or if you remove all those italics, he still,
he said the commandment, which to life, I find
to death. Second Corinthians three. He says verse
four, and we have such trust through Christ toward
God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves
to think of anything as being from ourselves,
but our sufficiency is from God, verse six. He
said, who also made us sufficient as ministers?
Of the what? Of the new covenant. He said, not
of letters, but of the spirit. For what happened
to letters? The letters kills. He's talking about
the law. The letter kills, but the spirit gives
life. The spirit gives life. That's what we did
in... our teaching series, part 20 and 21, that's
just what we did. We explained these texts. What
are we trying to say? We're trying to say, when
God gave what we call the Ten Commandments to
Moses, the intent was to be preached that they
will believe it, not to keep it as a performance,
not to observe it as a rule. Did you understand
what I'm saying? But because they observe it
as rules, therefore, they are dead. That's why
we said, up to today, when you go to Israel,
you still find some of them. And some believers
have joined them too. In so many of those keeping
of the law, what's supposed to be believed now
is now kept as rules and regulation. Did you
see how What's supposed to have given life now
we give that Because what is supposed to believe
you refused to believe it and then you carry
it and bring and make it into lose our regulation
Will you ever bring life? No at all? Hallelujah
Amen Now let me let's go back to Colossians now
live So what we're trying to see as the implication
is that Are we together? When you give, when
you employ people, you understand? But this time
around, no people. You employ beings who have
no understanding of mercy, who have no understanding
of righteousness by faith. You understand? or
the revelation through faith. You definitely
will have a product that has no mercy. Are we
together? Amen. You definitely will have a product
without mercy. So when you read and you are reading
the law and you are seeing the cruelty of the
law, just remember the the beings that were involved.
You understand? You will not, you will say, ah,
I see. I see. Hallelujah. Now, let me just look
at something. Probably this is what we will look
at. Maybe a soft heading. The worship of angels.
The worship. angels. Colossians chapter 2. Let's
go back to that place where we read. The worship
of angels. Look at verse 11. Let me read from
verse 11. In him you were also circumcised with
the circumcision made with that hands by putting
off the body of sin of the flesh by the circumcision
of Christ. buried with him in baptism in which
you also were raised with him through faith in
the working of God who raised him from the dead
was that him and you being dead in your trespasses
and on circumcise of your flesh he has made a
life together with him having forgiven you all
trespasses verse 14 having wiped out the handwriting
of requirement that was against us, which was
contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the
way, having nailed it to the cross, having disarmed
principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle
of them triumphant over them in it. So he let
no one judge you so let no one judge you in what
in food or in drink or regarding a festival or
a new moon or sabbath which are a shadow of the
things to come but the substance is of christ
verse 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward,
taking delight in false humility and the worship
of angels, intruding into those things which
he has not seen, vainly poofed up by his fleshy
mind and not holding fast to the head from whom
all the body nourished and knitted together.
by joints and ligaments grow with the increase
that is from God. Verse 20, therefore, if you
died with Christ from the basic principle of
the world, why, as do living in the world, do
you subject yourself to regulations? Do not touch,
do not test, do not handle, which all concerning
things which perish with the using according
to the commandment and the doctrine of men. 23.
These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom
in self -imposed religion, false humility and
the neglect of the body, but are of no value
against the indulgence of the flesh. Amen. Look
at verse 18. He said, let no one treat you of
your reward, taking delight in false humility
and the worship of angels. Not that word or that
phrase, the worship of angels. What does that
mean? The word worship there was translated from
the Greek word, trescare. T -H -R -E -S -K -E
-I -A. T -H -R -E -S -K -E -I -A. It means simply
religion. It means religion. That same text was
used in Act 26, that same word, sorry, that same
word. Act 26 verse five. Act 26 verse five. They
knew me. They knew me from the first. If they
were willing to testify that according to the
strict test sect of our religion, that word religion,
I live a Pharisee. So the word religion is the
same word to use in Colossians 2 .18, as worship.
James chapter one. verse 26 and 27, James 1,
26 and 27. If anyone among you think he is religious
and does not bridle his tongue, but deceived
his own heart, this one's religion, that what
religion is the worship. is useless pure and
undefiled religion again the word religion there
before god and the father is this to visit orphans
and widows in their troubles and to keep oneself
unspotted from the world so you can say the religion
of angels If you don't want to see the worship
of angels, see the religion of angels. So what
practices were Paul referring to as the worship
of angels or the religion of angels? The very
man involving them is in the religion of angels.
He's not in the pure religion that James was
talking about. Are we together? Yes, he is. involving
himself in the religion of angels. Look at verse
14, maybe some verse in Colossians. Let's go
back a little bit, up a bit, verse 14. Verse
14, he say, having wiped out the handwriting
of requirements. Those all that come from Africa,
the first thing we read this one, we think about
the spell, the whatever that the, you know, all
those people does that. You understand? But what
is Paul talking about here? You understand? What
is handwriting of the requirements that was against
us, which was contrary to us? That what handwriting
is a word, hierographon. You know, I learned
that CH is still called he. Amen. Or pronounce
he. Hallelujah. The word there is C -H -E, C
-H -E -I -R -O -G -R -A -P -H -O -N. C -H -E
-I. R O G R A P H O N in Greek. It means what
has been written, what has been written, or just
simply a manuscript. For some of us who are in
this, a manuscript just means something you have
written with your hand, amen? What about requirements?
Requirement is the term Dogma in Greek, dogma,
D -O -G -M -A, which refers to a law or a decree
or an ordinance, a law or a decree or an ordinance.
Are we together? So you can just see that that
handwriting of requirements just simply means
a written law. Is that okay? A written what?
Written law. And that written law, it said was
what? Against us. Contrary to who? Contrary to
us. So what Paul is trying to say is that if
you are practicing the law, you are actually
self -sabotaging. You understand what I'm saying?
That means you'll be against yourself. because
the law is not of faith. The law is against us.
So you'll be self -sabotaging, you know, son.
You'll be working against yourself. Hallelujah.
That's what Paul is saying. So if you look at,
if you read from verse 14, and read it down,
you understand? I'll just read some so that you
can see what he's talking about. So actually
Paul is talking about the law. When he talks
about the worship of angels or the religion of
angels, what he's saying is that he's talking
about the practicing of the law, you understand?
That's what he's trying to say. Let's read that
again, verse 14. Having wiped out. the written
law, which is the handwriting of the requirements.
Understand? You know, that word requirement,
even though it has an S, is just a decree. It's
not really like, as I said, it's a manuscript.
You understand? The written manuscript requirement
means law, or decree, or ordinance. You understand?
So wipe out the handwriting. You see, this is
exactly closely related with what the writer
of Hebrew was saying. When you said when Christ
came he take it away or he takes away the first
that he might establish The second you don't
understand trying to say that's what exactly
saying So Which was contrary? Against us which
was contrary to us and He was and he has taken
it out of the way Having nailed it to the cross
verse 15 Then he said having disarm principalities
and powers He made a public spectacle of them
triumphal over them. Don't worry. We'll talk
about this one later on in the sign verse 16
So he let no one judge you I'm sorry So what
what happened by reason of what Christ did right?
He takes away the written law that is against
you that is contrary to you and then he disarmed
principalities and powers he said therefore that
is so do not allow anyone because you have been
saved from that written law that was against
you so he said now let no one judge you in food
or in drink or in or regarding festival you see
he's recounting what the law has been as written
you know something regarding festival or a new
moon, or sabbath, did you understand what I'm
trying to say? Amen. Which are, verse 17, which
are a shadow, you understand, of what? The things
to come. If you read Hebrews chapter nine, chapter
10, he said, for the law, which is the shadow
of the things to come, did you understand what
I'm trying to say? So when he said the shadow
of things to come, he still is referring to the
law, you understand. because that means verse
16 is a description of the law are we together
that's why i say wood is a shadow of the things
to come but the substance is of christ then verse
18 let no one cheat you of your reward right
taking delight in false humility and the worship
of angels so you can don't take delight in the
practice of the law in the sun is it intruding
into those things which he has not seen, very
poofed up by his fleshy mind. The law has a way
of making you feel you are doing something noble.
You understand? It will poof, it will firm your
ego. You understand? That's why it is in grace
that you cannot boast. We see flesh where it
wants to pull up is in the law You understand
that's why he said so that no one should boast
Mm -hmm. You see that's grace. You're something
But when it comes to the law, that is what it
is in the sun. Look at 19 He said I'm not holding
fast to the head because of course if you are
practicing the law, how can you offer to the
head? from whom all the body nourished and knitted
together by joint and ligament grow with the
increase that is from God then verse 20 therefore
if you died with Christ which is true which means
he's saying since you die if you look at this
word if supposed to be since you died but the
translator chose Eve, but he's supposed to be
saints. Since you do what? You died with Christ
from the basic principles of the world. Why?
You see that? Why? As though living in the world,
you subject yourself to regulations. That means
subjecting yourself to the law means living by
the world. That's what you say. You understand?
Verse 21. That regulation, again, he came back
describing the regulation of the law. Do not
touch. Do not taste. Do not handle. I know many
of us, they have been telling us, don't eat titles.
Don't eat catfish. Don't eat pork. That's exactly
the law. You understand? That's the law. Don't
eat this. You understand? Don't eat this one.
You get what I'm saying? All these small thoughts
here, which all concerns the things which perish
with the using, according to the commandment
and doctrine of men. That same law, it calls
it commandment and doctrine of men. These things
indeed have an appearance of what? Wisdom. and
you call it a self -imposed religion. So the
religion or the worship of angels or the religion
of angels is a self -imposed one. You understand?
False humility, the neglect of the body. But
they have no value. Show me somebody who live
by the law. That person can never that person
will be under sin. Will be what? Under sin. Are
we together? So when we come next, we will explore
some thoughts to complete this concerning the
issue of the worship of angels. And what is the
implication? You know, some people, when you
meet some people, eh, it will work for me. That
time when I was sick, I just took bread. I just
prayed. I said, Lord, the blood of Jesus and
the body of Jesus. When I took it, suddenly I
received my healing. He said, it's working for
me. What is the implication of the worship of
angels to the believer? Amen. Before finally
we end up with our text, I think we have explained
it that long to come to that text and explain
what Deuteronomy 22 .5 means. Amen. Glory to
Jesus. Thank you Father for this. We appreciate
you being here today. We hope you cry this word
with you throughout your week. Don't forget to
check the show notes for additional insights.
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Until next time, stay blessed.