WEBVTT 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:06.639 Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:09.640 designed to uplift and strengthen you in your 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:13.939 walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:17.879 the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:24.559 right in. Praise the Lord. We are all welcome 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:28.000 to church today. Today we are going to continue 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.539 with what we do. teaching from on Sunday, which 00:00:31.539 --> 00:00:34.920 is the union of the spirits we have. We read 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:41.859 Matthew 28, verses 18 to 20. And Jesus came and 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:45.259 spoke to them, saying, All authority has been 00:00:45.259 --> 00:00:49.500 given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, 00:00:49.700 --> 00:00:53.780 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:56.579 them in the name of the Father, the Son, and 00:00:56.579 --> 00:00:59.240 the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:01.880 the things I've commanded, and lo, I meet you 00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:05.780 always, even to the end of the age. Praise the 00:01:05.780 --> 00:01:09.819 Lord. And we saw from Sunday that saying to them 00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:13.280 to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, 00:01:13.299 --> 00:01:17.019 and the Spirit was not something strange to the 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:20.299 disciples, because that has been part of the 00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:23.519 doctrine that Jesus has been teaching to them. 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:26.939 Praise the Lord. This has always been the doctrine 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:31.219 that Jesus had taught to them, so they were not 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:34.840 confused about what he meant when he says, baptizing 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:38.060 them in the name of the Father, the Son, and 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:41.840 the Spirit. We looked at so many things, and 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:45.400 we said part of it is that the church is a Bible 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:49.519 school, and we saw the significance of Jordan, 00:01:49.739 --> 00:01:54.120 which John the Baptist... was baptizing. We saw 00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:58.819 that in Acts chapter 1, Acts chapter 1 verse 00:01:58.819 --> 00:02:01.599 5. It said, For John truly baptized with water, 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:04.560 for you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:08.219 not many days from now. Praise the Lord. And 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:12.020 we looked at why John, who John is and why he 00:02:12.020 --> 00:02:16.520 baptized, or why he was baptizing the people. 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:19.580 Praise the Lord. We looked at the significance 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:24.310 of Jordan. Right? Why did he go to Jordan to 00:02:24.310 --> 00:02:28.310 baptise them? Why didn't he use another river? 00:02:28.569 --> 00:02:32.330 Just like Naaman was asking, are there no other 00:02:32.330 --> 00:02:37.750 waters that he can dip himself into? Why Jordan? 00:02:38.310 --> 00:02:42.909 And we said that Jordan is an illustration of 00:02:42.909 --> 00:02:47.250 new things to come, or is an announcement that 00:02:47.250 --> 00:02:50.879 new things have arrived. Praise the Lord. It 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:55.300 is an announcement that new things have arrived. 00:02:55.780 --> 00:03:00.340 And we're going to continue today from that same 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:05.840 place of Jordan being a second Exodus, I said. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:11.039 It's God renewing His covenant in spite of the 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.479 disobedience of the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:21.069 chapter 13 verse 29. Sorry, Numbers. Maybe he 00:03:21.069 --> 00:03:23.590 didn't see that. Numbers chapter 13, verse 29. 00:03:25.270 --> 00:03:29.150 Numbers chapter 13. Yes, sorry, I made a mistake. 00:03:30.030 --> 00:03:32.789 He said, The Amalekites dwelt in the land of 00:03:32.789 --> 00:03:36.030 the south, the Hittite, the Jebusites, and the 00:03:36.030 --> 00:03:39.469 Amorites dwelt in the mountains, and the Canaanites 00:03:39.469 --> 00:03:45.169 dwelt by the sea along the bank of Jordan. Numbers 00:03:45.169 --> 00:03:50.189 chapter 22, verse 1. Numbers 22, verse 1. Then 00:03:50.189 --> 00:03:52.229 the children of Israel moved and camped in the 00:03:52.229 --> 00:03:56.530 plain of Moab, on the side of Jordan, across 00:03:56.530 --> 00:04:02.810 Jericho. And then Numbers chapter 26, verse 3. 00:04:03.770 --> 00:04:08.770 Numbers 26, verse 3. It says, So Moses and Eliezer 00:04:08.770 --> 00:04:11.110 the priest spoke with them in the plain of Moab, 00:04:11.129 --> 00:04:19.009 or by the Jordan, across Jericho, saying, 63. 00:04:19.930 --> 00:04:24.329 Verse 63 now. So we also see here, it talks about 00:04:24.329 --> 00:04:29.149 the children of Israel also are all the way by 00:04:29.149 --> 00:04:33.810 the camp of Jordan. So we also saw here as well 00:04:33.810 --> 00:04:37.110 that what? To camp at the plain of Ur by the 00:04:37.110 --> 00:04:43.709 Jordan across Jericho. And Numbers 32 verse 5. 00:04:44.709 --> 00:04:49.329 It says, therefore, if Therefore they said, if 00:04:49.329 --> 00:04:52.410 you have found favor in your sight, let this 00:04:52.410 --> 00:04:55.310 land be given to your servant as a possession. 00:04:55.730 --> 00:05:00.310 Do not take us over to Jordan. And the number 00:05:00.310 --> 00:05:05.189 is 14, verse 28. So all these things we're reading 00:05:05.189 --> 00:05:09.170 are pre -crossing, before they cross over, right? 00:05:10.689 --> 00:05:17.730 14, 28. Okay, so the... The generation or this 00:05:17.730 --> 00:05:22.050 generation before crossing, they all perished 00:05:22.050 --> 00:05:25.689 in the wilderness. As we know, right, they all 00:05:25.689 --> 00:05:30.089 perished in the wilderness after 40 years. Deuteronomy 00:05:30.089 --> 00:05:34.769 chapter 9 verse 1. Deuteronomy chapter 9 verse 00:05:34.769 --> 00:05:39.870 1. They say, here O Israel, you are to cross 00:05:39.870 --> 00:05:43.540 over the Jordan today and go. to dispossess the 00:05:43.540 --> 00:05:45.279 nation greater and mightier than yourselves, 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:50.879 cities great and fortified up to heaven. And 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:55.560 then Deuteronomy 4 .22. This is Moses speaking. 00:05:56.279 --> 00:06:01.180 Deuteronomy 4 .22. But I will die in this land, 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:04.060 and I must not cross over the Jordan, but you 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:08.180 shall cross over and possess that good land. 00:06:08.379 --> 00:06:14.269 Deuteronomy 30 .18. He said, I announce to you 00:06:14.269 --> 00:06:18.170 today that you shall surely perish. You shall 00:06:18.170 --> 00:06:22.009 not prolong your days in the land which you cross 00:06:22.009 --> 00:06:27.529 over the Jordan to go in and possess. Praise 00:06:27.529 --> 00:06:31.370 the Lord. So, Jordan, we said, or I was saying, 00:06:31.509 --> 00:06:36.290 is what an illustration of the crossing into 00:06:36.290 --> 00:06:40.009 promise. Praise the Lord. It is an illustration. 00:06:41.050 --> 00:06:45.610 of crossing into promise. But then why the Jordan? 00:06:45.730 --> 00:06:49.170 We also saw the same thing that the Red Sea also 00:06:49.170 --> 00:06:54.069 represented crossing into God's plan for the 00:06:54.069 --> 00:06:56.250 children of Israel or God's intention towards 00:06:56.250 --> 00:07:00.089 the children of Israel. So why do Jordan and 00:07:00.089 --> 00:07:03.029 the Red Sea play similar role into something 00:07:03.029 --> 00:07:06.930 that speaks of God's promise? And we said that 00:07:06.930 --> 00:07:10.839 that generation were disobedient. They do not 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:13.980 believe, right? They do not believe what God 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:17.019 said. They do not believe the message that God 00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:20.660 had given them. They do not believe God and we 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:25.620 are stopped. Is it because of their unbelief 00:07:25.620 --> 00:07:28.759 that God stopped them or they said they were 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:31.860 not going? What do you think? Is it because of 00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:35.000 their unbelief that they did not cross over or 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:39.319 they decided they were not going? Okay. So in 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:41.620 their unbelief, they perished in the wilderness. 00:07:42.420 --> 00:07:46.339 So God is renewing his covenant, renewing his 00:07:46.339 --> 00:07:49.980 word. And so in renewing his words, he gave them 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:55.180 another Passover, right? Another baptism, if 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:57.920 you like. Praise the Lord. So when they passed 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:00.819 through the sea, right? That is what happened, 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:04.779 right? They were baptized into it. In other words, 00:08:04.899 --> 00:08:07.959 for example, Pharaoh and his host, When they 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:11.040 attempted doing that, they all perished. Praise 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:13.519 the Lord. Because they were not of God's plan. 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:18.100 Praise the Lord. So they perished, right, in 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:20.519 the Red Sea when they tried to cross over. They 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:22.639 were not faithful. They did not believe, that 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:25.300 is the children of Israel, they were not faithful 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:28.740 and they did not believe what the prophet has 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:32.059 said or what God has said to them. So we see 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:35.940 in Romans chapter 3, verse 3 to 4, Romans chapter 00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:41.700 3. Verse 3 to 4. For what if some did not believe? 00:08:41.899 --> 00:08:45.419 Would their unbelief make the faithfulness of 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:50.159 God without effect? Certainly not. Indeed, let 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:53.820 God be true and let every man be a liar, as it 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:57.139 is written, that you may be justified in your 00:08:57.139 --> 00:09:00.440 word and will be overcome when you are judged. 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:04.279 Praise the Lord. And may be overcome when you 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:08.769 are judged. So, what the Jordan represents. Like 00:09:08.769 --> 00:09:12.330 I said, it represented a new covenant. A new 00:09:12.330 --> 00:09:17.570 covenant. Right? We can say a new exodus. Right? 00:09:17.610 --> 00:09:24.250 A new exodus. A new generation. A new generation. 00:09:24.830 --> 00:09:29.570 Deuteronomy chapter 30, verses 5 to 6. We see 00:09:29.570 --> 00:09:32.090 that the Jordan, it said, Then the Lord your 00:09:32.090 --> 00:09:34.309 God will bring you to the land which your fathers 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:42.659 The Lord your God will bring you to the land 00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:45.659 which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:52.100 it. He will prosper you and multiply more than 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:56.659 your fathers. And then we see also that he's 00:09:56.659 --> 00:10:00.019 speaking about a new generation. Now, so the 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:04.350 Jordan represents a new generation, right? He 00:10:04.350 --> 00:10:06.389 represents a new generation. These ones were 00:10:06.389 --> 00:10:09.049 not the ones that perished. We see also that 00:10:09.049 --> 00:10:14.049 in verse, that same place, verse 11 to 12. 11 00:10:14.049 --> 00:10:16.909 to 12. For this commandment which I've commanded 00:10:16.909 --> 00:10:21.809 you today is not too mysterious for you, nor 00:10:21.809 --> 00:10:26.210 is it far off. It is not in heaven that you should 00:10:26.210 --> 00:10:30.049 say, who will ascend into the heaven for us and 00:10:30.049 --> 00:10:34.100 to bring it that we may hear it. and do it. Praise 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:36.940 the Lord. So as we know that Moses went up to 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:40.600 the mountain to get the law. So he's saying that 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:43.740 that does not need to happen again. Praise the 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:46.580 Lord. That does not need to happen again. You 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:49.179 will not say who will go into the heavens or 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:51.580 who will go to the mountains to go and hear God 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:56.279 for us or go and bring us the hard desires of 00:10:56.279 --> 00:11:00.340 God. That does not need to happen now. Praise 00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:02.419 the Lord. That does not need to happen. You will 00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:05.320 not say who will go into heaven or who will watch 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:10.340 beyond the sea. Verse 13. Now is it beyond the 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:13.419 sea that you should say? Who would go over the 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:16.139 sea for us and bring it to us that we may hear 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:19.460 it and do it? Praise the Lord. Where else do 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:22.039 we find these scriptures? That's why Paul will 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:25.200 go and talk about the abyss. That is where the 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:29.990 dead are. Romans chapter 10 verse 8. Romans chapter 00:11:29.990 --> 00:11:56.830 10, Romans chapter 10, from verse 5 to 8. That 00:11:56.830 --> 00:12:00.649 is to bring Christ up from the dead. But what 00:12:00.649 --> 00:12:03.610 does this say? The word is near you in your mouth 00:12:03.610 --> 00:12:05.970 and in your heart. That is the word of faith 00:12:05.970 --> 00:12:10.809 which we preach. It says it is near you. It is 00:12:10.809 --> 00:12:14.950 in your heart that you may hear it. Praise the 00:12:14.950 --> 00:12:17.529 Lord. That is God's covenant. That means that 00:12:17.529 --> 00:12:21.850 God's plan is not, as we said, that God's plan 00:12:21.850 --> 00:12:24.429 is not a thing or a land. We are not looking 00:12:24.429 --> 00:12:27.039 forward to a land. Praise the Lord. God's plan 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:32.259 is not a thing or a land. It is in his word. 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:35.639 Praise the Lord that you may do it. He said it 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:38.379 is near you. Praise the Lord. It is in his word 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:42.200 that you may do it. So it is a new covenant. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:46.340 So in Deuteronomy, we see that there is a new 00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:49.840 covenant, right? We also notice that when Jesus 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:52.259 was tempted by the devil, he also went to that 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:55.340 place. to also quote to the devil. This is what 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:57.519 he was quoting to him. Deuteronomy chapter 8 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:02.399 verse 3. Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 3. So he 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:06.720 humbled you, allowed you to hunger, fed you with 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:10.720 manna. You did not know, nor did your fathers 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:14.320 know, that he might make you know that man shall 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:17.799 not live by bread alone, but man shall live by 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:20.980 every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:26.639 Deuteronomy chapter 6, verse 16. Deuteronomy 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:30.320 6, verse 16. You shall not tempt the Lord your 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:38.419 God as you tempt him in Massa. Verse 18. You 00:13:38.419 --> 00:13:41.460 shall do what is right and do good in the sight 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:44.360 of the Lord, that it may be well with you, that 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:46.960 you may go in and possess the good land which 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:52.370 the Lord swore to your fathers. Verse 13. You 00:13:52.370 --> 00:13:55.470 shall fear the Lord your God and serve him, and 00:13:55.470 --> 00:13:59.409 shall make oaths in his name. Verse 4 and 5 now. 00:14:00.509 --> 00:14:05.950 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is 00:14:05.950 --> 00:14:10.269 one. Verse 5. You shall love the Lord your God 00:14:10.269 --> 00:14:14.330 with all your heart, with all your soul, and 00:14:14.330 --> 00:14:17.889 with all your strength. So Jordan represented 00:14:17.889 --> 00:14:22.179 a new covenant. a new exodus, a new generation. 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:27.840 So John the Baptist went to Jordan because the 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:31.259 old nation of Israel were expecting a Messiah 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:37.080 and deliverance. Praise the Lord. He went to 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:40.559 Jordan because of what he represents. He went 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:43.240 to Jordan because he represented a new covenant, 00:14:43.419 --> 00:14:46.200 that something new has come. Praise the Lord. 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:48.779 So he went there because the people were expecting 00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:53.120 the Messiah and they were expecting deliverance. 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:56.720 So when he went to the Jordan, he said, I am 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:04.639 that voice. Quoting Isaiah and Malachi. He said, 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:09.299 I am that voice. I am that voice. Which means 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:12.120 they are waiting for someone. Praise the Lord. 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:16.509 They were waiting for a Savior. So he went to 00:15:16.509 --> 00:15:20.450 Jordan for that purpose. He's that voice that 00:15:20.450 --> 00:15:23.789 says, prepare the way of the Lord. Praise the 00:15:23.789 --> 00:15:26.389 Lord. He's that voice in the wilderness that 00:15:26.389 --> 00:15:29.470 says that your salvation has come. He's that 00:15:29.470 --> 00:15:32.529 voice in the wilderness that said, behold your 00:15:32.529 --> 00:15:36.490 God, O Israel. Praise the Lord. So going to Jordan, 00:15:36.649 --> 00:15:38.809 they knew what that meant. Praise the Lord. They 00:15:38.809 --> 00:15:43.029 were expecting a savior and he represented new 00:15:43.029 --> 00:15:47.330 things. So they came that they may see God. Praise 00:15:47.330 --> 00:15:50.149 the Lord. Remember we said that it was not land 00:15:50.149 --> 00:15:52.830 that. They're already in the land. Praise the 00:15:52.830 --> 00:15:54.669 Lord. So why are they going to Jordan? Praise 00:15:54.669 --> 00:15:57.269 the Lord. They were already in the land, right, 00:15:57.330 --> 00:15:59.350 that they should be in. But they were expecting 00:15:59.350 --> 00:16:01.389 a savior. They were expecting something else. 00:16:01.590 --> 00:16:03.889 They were not expecting land. Praise the Lord. 00:16:03.929 --> 00:16:06.090 They were already in the land. They have passed 00:16:06.090 --> 00:16:09.029 the Jordan. They have crossed over. They're already 00:16:09.029 --> 00:16:13.190 in the land. But what? They were still in bondage, 00:16:13.190 --> 00:16:16.019 right? They were still in bondage. They were 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:18.620 still under mystery. They were still waiting 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:22.580 for redemption. It means that the redemption 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:26.299 was never land. Praise the Lord. It means that 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:28.879 the redemption that they were promised was never 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:32.139 land. You must not go and possess the land and 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:34.940 that is your savior or that is how you are delivered. 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:38.019 Praise the Lord. They were already in the land. 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:40.659 It was a person they were expecting. They were 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:44.470 expecting someone. It was a person. And they 00:16:44.470 --> 00:16:47.830 knew it. They knew all along that someone was 00:16:47.830 --> 00:16:50.629 coming. Praise the Lord. The issue was not the 00:16:50.629 --> 00:16:53.970 land. That the land was representing or illustrating 00:16:53.970 --> 00:16:58.470 God's word. It was an illustration of God's word. 00:16:58.750 --> 00:17:04.529 So John went to Jordan simply saying, a new Exodus 00:17:04.529 --> 00:17:07.829 is here. A new covenant is here. A new generation. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:12.299 So what does the baptism then mean by dipping 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:15.779 them in the waters? John simply is saying that 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:20.099 there is a new experience. By dipping them in 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:22.660 the water, he's saying that there is a new experience. 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:27.279 There is a new covenant. There is a new experience. 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:31.160 There is a new covenant. So why were they confessing 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:33.559 their sins? Again, Christian, you would ask, 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.359 why were they confessing their sins? Do not forget. 00:17:37.710 --> 00:17:40.049 The reason for the Jordan is because of their 00:17:40.049 --> 00:17:43.069 unbelief or the reason why some of them could 00:17:43.069 --> 00:17:46.769 not cross to Jordan or the people that disbelieved 00:17:46.769 --> 00:17:49.410 God could not cross was because of unbelief, 00:17:49.410 --> 00:17:53.269 iniquity, disobedience to God. So they knew that 00:17:53.269 --> 00:17:57.150 the reason for the new covenant or the new exodus 00:17:57.150 --> 00:18:00.930 was their disobedience. So all of them came along. 00:18:01.450 --> 00:18:06.740 So by publicly coming along, That is what it 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:09.420 means to confess your sins. That's what they 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:11.700 were saying, by confessing your sins. He was 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:15.319 not saying that, you know, I insulted Takunda 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:18.779 yesterday, and I came here, God forgive that 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:21.740 insult. Praise the Lord. That's not what they 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:25.240 are saying. They were not publicly, they were 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.720 not confessing their sins, as in to say that 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:31.920 they have wronged someone, right? They were coming 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.809 to John, which is what? confessing their sins 00:18:35.809 --> 00:18:39.170 because they did something publicly to affirm 00:18:39.170 --> 00:18:42.089 and to show their belief publicly to the new 00:18:42.089 --> 00:18:46.589 things that is come so by coming to john they 00:18:46.589 --> 00:18:48.809 are showing that they are publicly affirming 00:18:48.809 --> 00:18:53.069 john's ministry so john the baptist or the baptism 00:18:53.069 --> 00:18:56.970 of john is an illustration of a new exodus a 00:18:56.970 --> 00:19:00.609 new generation a new priesthood a new servanthood 00:19:00.609 --> 00:19:07.089 so the baptism enveloped a new walk, a new responsibility, 00:19:07.529 --> 00:19:12.309 a Messiah, a new Exodus. So when Jesus said in 00:19:12.309 --> 00:19:16.549 Acts 1, verse 5, that John truly baptized with 00:19:16.549 --> 00:19:20.170 water, but he will baptize you with the Holy 00:19:20.170 --> 00:19:22.829 Spirit, do we think he's talking about them being 00:19:22.829 --> 00:19:28.190 born again? Acts 1, verse 5. Acts 1, verse 5. 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:31.619 For John truly baptized with water, but you shall 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:35.380 be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:39.819 from now. Was he talking about being born again? 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:43.039 So he was not talking about being born again. 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:47.779 Right? Why? Verse 8 now says something. Verse 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:50.859 8 of chapter 1. He said, but you shall receive 00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:54.599 power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:57.579 and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem. 00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:02.599 in Judea, in Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:06.900 There shall be witnesses unto him. He's saying 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:11.059 that that responsibility that Israel was supposed 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:14.839 to do, that is to bring men to God or to show 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:18.019 men to God, that responsibility that God gave 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:20.660 them that they did not believe or did not accept, 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:24.720 that responsibility has come to them. In Jerusalem, 00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:27.880 they will start, he says. in Judea, in Samaria, 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:31.940 and ends of the earth. That responsibility that 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:38.119 Israel failed at. So this is a ministry. It means 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:41.539 that where Israel failed as a nation, Christ 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:45.460 is building or is building a new one. Where Israel 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:48.299 failed, Christ is building a new one. And he's 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:50.220 not building individuals. He's not building, 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:55.869 oh, you are a, you are a... let's say Gentile 00:20:55.869 --> 00:20:58.809 or something. He's not saying that, oh, Israelite, 00:20:58.809 --> 00:21:02.309 but he's building a people. You'll be witnesses 00:21:02.309 --> 00:21:07.009 unto me in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and 00:21:07.009 --> 00:21:10.130 the ends of the earth. And we looked at this 00:21:10.130 --> 00:21:12.309 when the last time we met, we talked about this, 00:21:12.349 --> 00:21:16.230 that Jerusalem, right, is a city of what? Of 00:21:16.230 --> 00:21:21.750 David that mirrors or shows Melchizedek. Praise 00:21:21.750 --> 00:21:24.930 the Lord. So therefore, the baptism of John, 00:21:25.049 --> 00:21:29.390 right, in Acts chapter 1, from verse 4 to 3, 00:21:29.529 --> 00:21:34.190 refers to a new servanthood. There's something 00:21:34.190 --> 00:21:37.509 new that is coming, or something new that is 00:21:37.509 --> 00:21:42.670 done. So they asked him in verse 6 of that act. 00:21:43.609 --> 00:21:47.569 They said, therefore, when they had come together, 00:21:47.710 --> 00:21:50.180 they asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:53.720 time restore the kingdom to Israel? Praise the 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:57.539 Lord. So they were asking him that, does it mean 00:21:57.539 --> 00:22:00.799 that the thing that they failed in, or Israel 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:04.319 failed in, would they now do it now? Praise the 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:07.480 Lord. Would Israel now take up that same responsibility 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:11.500 that they failed at? Would Israel become that 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:14.119 place where people would come from all over the 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:17.079 world to come and worship? Would they rule again? 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:20.640 Will they be the world power? Will they be the 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:23.880 people that control the affairs of the world? 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:28.259 Will they be in power? So will everybody come 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:30.160 to Israel? Will everybody come to Jerusalem? 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:33.779 Will they come there for worship? He says, no. 00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:37.700 He said, you are the one that will go. When you 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:41.079 go, you will be a witness unto me in Jerusalem. 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:44.890 Praise the Lord. He said, no. The power is not 00:22:44.890 --> 00:22:47.049 coming to Israel. The power is coming to you. 00:22:47.109 --> 00:22:50.109 It is you that will go to Jerusalem. It is you 00:22:50.109 --> 00:22:52.670 that will go to Judea. It is you that will go 00:22:52.670 --> 00:22:55.549 to Samaria. It is you who will go to the ends 00:22:55.549 --> 00:22:58.930 of the earth. Praise the Lord. The thing is not 00:22:58.930 --> 00:23:01.730 coming back to Israel so that they can do that 00:23:01.730 --> 00:23:05.509 which they failed in. That was not his original 00:23:05.509 --> 00:23:09.029 intention, as we saw from the first time I started 00:23:09.029 --> 00:23:11.670 teaching about this, that it is for all the earth. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:14.619 So that kingdom that they were referring to, 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:17.099 that is, will God restore it to them, that thing 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:20.759 was what? It was God's allowance. It's by permission. 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:24.099 It's a privilege. God gave them an opportunity 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:28.259 to do something. God allowed it. Praise the Lord. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:31.880 God allowed it for His plan, but they failed 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:36.680 at it. So it was not His will, because His will 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:39.420 is that all men are saved and all men represent 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:43.339 Him. So we also see that Israel at some point 00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:46.440 were asking for a king. They were asking Samuel 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:49.200 that Samuel should give them a king in Deuteronomy 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:54.119 17. And it was Moses prophesied about it that 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:56.019 a time will come, that is in Deuteronomy 17, 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:59.319 where they will ask for a king like other nations. 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:02.579 They will say that they want to become like other 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:05.380 people. Why can't we be like other people? And 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:07.319 he told them that those kings would demand that 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:09.950 they go to war. They will multiply their sorrows. 00:24:10.109 --> 00:24:12.150 They will take many wives. They will make their 00:24:12.150 --> 00:24:14.650 sons soldiers. Different, different things. But 00:24:14.650 --> 00:24:17.430 they said, it's okay. We want kings like other 00:24:17.430 --> 00:24:21.349 nations. He will make you pay tax. He will make 00:24:21.349 --> 00:24:24.130 you work for him. You'll be his gardeners. You'll 00:24:24.130 --> 00:24:27.730 do so many things for him. Praise the Lord. But 00:24:27.730 --> 00:24:30.589 they said, we want a king. But who is the king? 00:24:31.150 --> 00:24:33.410 Who is the king that they failed to acknowledge? 00:24:34.089 --> 00:24:37.190 They failed to acknowledge God. That God is the 00:24:37.190 --> 00:24:40.859 king. Melchizedek, the king of righteousness 00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:45.119 and peace. We see in Genesis chapter 14, verse 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:51.740 19 to 20, and he said, blessed be Abraham, or 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:54.519 Abraham of the most high, possessor of heaven 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:59.579 and the earth. And he says, blessed be the most 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:02.880 high God who is the possessor of heaven and the 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:06.599 earth. So we see an earthly king bowing to God. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:11.700 right? Saying, blessed be God, what? Blessed 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:14.160 be the most high God, who is the possessor of 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:18.140 heaven and on earth, the king of kings, the king 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:21.680 of righteousness, the king of peace, not the 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:24.160 king of war, not the king that will bring his 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:27.500 people to slavery, not the king that will demand 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:31.279 that the people serve him in such a way that 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:35.930 is humiliating. So we see here, even when the 00:25:35.930 --> 00:25:38.029 children of Israel were involved in a lot of 00:25:38.029 --> 00:25:40.809 war, that God was calling them as well. Exodus 00:25:40.809 --> 00:25:47.269 chapter 19, verse 5. Exodus. Now, therefore, 00:25:47.410 --> 00:25:50.769 if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my 00:25:50.769 --> 00:25:54.869 covenant, then you shall be a special treasure 00:25:54.869 --> 00:25:58.329 to me above all the people, for all the earth 00:25:58.329 --> 00:26:03.480 is mine. Verse 6. He said, you shall be... To 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:06.819 me, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:09.759 are the words which you shall speak to the children 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:19.299 of Israel. The kingdom of priests is Malak Kohen 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:26.759 is the word. M -A -M -K, sorry, M -A -M -L -A 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:33.059 -K -E and then Kohen, K -O -H -E -N. A kingdom 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:37.240 of priests. So where do we have a priest serving 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:41.059 a king or a nation? Right? A king always rules. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:44.980 Right? Why would there be a kingdom of priests? 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:51.319 Right? A king always rules. Right? Where do we 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:54.460 have king and a priest? We have that in Melchizedek 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:59.359 when he came to Abraham. He served Abraham. Melchizedek 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:04.130 shows God's kind of kingship, right? A king who 00:27:04.130 --> 00:27:07.809 serves. He said you will be a kingdom of priests. 00:27:08.130 --> 00:27:12.509 So it means that the Exodus Israel will be a 00:27:12.509 --> 00:27:18.329 new generation. A kingdom of priests. It means 00:27:18.329 --> 00:27:20.710 the whole nation were supposed to be ministers. 00:27:21.329 --> 00:27:24.829 Praise the Lord. The whole nation were supposed 00:27:24.829 --> 00:27:30.980 to be ministers. Exodus chapter 4 verse 22. Exodus 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:36.420 chapter 4, verse 22. Now you shall say to Pharaoh, 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:40.920 thou says the Lord, Israel is my son, my first 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:45.519 son. And verse 23 says, So I say to you, let 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:49.640 my son go, that he may serve me. But if you refuse 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:53.059 to let him go, indeed I will kill your son and 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:57.160 your first son. Praise the Lord, that my son 00:27:57.160 --> 00:28:00.710 will serve me. So it means that Exodus, is also 00:28:00.710 --> 00:28:04.970 for service, right? It is also for service that 00:28:04.970 --> 00:28:08.309 they may serve him. So the baptism of John is 00:28:08.309 --> 00:28:10.769 a pointer to a new Exodus, a new generation, 00:28:10.930 --> 00:28:15.269 a new priesthood, a new minister, a new type 00:28:15.269 --> 00:28:19.650 of service. Praise the Lord. A new type of service, 00:28:19.730 --> 00:28:23.150 a different kind of priest, a different kind 00:28:23.150 --> 00:28:28.769 of king. It is for service that you serve. Praise 00:28:28.769 --> 00:28:34.730 the Lord. It is for service that you serve. Like 00:28:34.730 --> 00:28:37.230 we said, the thing that happened on the day of 00:28:37.230 --> 00:28:42.170 the Pentecost was not that they became born again. 00:28:42.789 --> 00:28:46.470 That is not what happened. We are very familiar 00:28:46.470 --> 00:28:52.250 with the Passover, right? So, the Pentecost was 00:28:52.250 --> 00:28:55.210 when the law was given, as we know from the Old 00:28:55.210 --> 00:28:58.529 Testament, right? Pentecost is what? The feast 00:28:58.529 --> 00:29:02.950 of ingathering. Leviticus chapter 23. Leviticus 00:29:02.950 --> 00:29:09.029 chapter 23. You have the Passover, the living 00:29:09.029 --> 00:29:11.970 bread, and then you have the Pentecost. Verse 00:29:11.970 --> 00:29:18.349 16 to 17. Leviticus chapter 23, verse 16 to 17. 00:29:19.250 --> 00:29:23.789 Let's count 50 days to the day after the 70th. 00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:28.359 or the seventh Sabbath, that you may, then you 00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:32.119 shall offer a grain offering to the Lord. You 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:35.960 shall bring from your dwelling two wave heifers 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:40.500 of two tenths, sorry, you shall bring from your 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:44.700 dwelling two wave loafers of two tenths of an 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:48.700 heifer. They shall be fine flour, they shall 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:51.819 be baked with leaven, they are the first fruit 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:58.089 to the Lord. Verse 17. Pentacles simply means 00:29:58.089 --> 00:30:03.329 fifth. Right? Exodus chapter 3 verse... Exodus 00:30:03.329 --> 00:30:07.369 23 verse 16. First fruits of your labor. We'll 00:30:07.369 --> 00:30:11.009 see it there. Fruit of the harvest. Fruit of 00:30:11.009 --> 00:30:16.529 the harvest. Exodus chapter 23 verse 16. The 00:30:16.529 --> 00:30:18.849 feast of the harvest. And the feast of the harvest, 00:30:19.089 --> 00:30:21.910 the first fruits of your labor which you have 00:30:21.910 --> 00:30:26.529 sown in the field. The feast of ingathering at 00:30:26.529 --> 00:30:29.430 the end of the year. When you have gathered in 00:30:29.430 --> 00:30:33.089 the fruits of your labor from the fields. Praise 00:30:33.089 --> 00:30:37.789 the Lord. The feast of the harvest. So what it 00:30:37.789 --> 00:30:40.910 means is that Pentecost is about bringing fruit. 00:30:41.490 --> 00:30:45.730 Right? It's about bringing fruit. It's about 00:30:45.730 --> 00:30:49.769 bringing fruit. Praise the Lord. So when the 00:30:49.769 --> 00:30:52.150 disciples were empowered, they were supposed 00:30:52.150 --> 00:30:55.089 to be doing what? He says them to go to Jerusalem. 00:30:55.309 --> 00:30:59.190 To go and bring what? To bring that which belongs 00:30:59.190 --> 00:31:02.569 to God. Praise the Lord. To go and bring that 00:31:02.569 --> 00:31:06.410 which belongs to God. It's about evangelism. 00:31:07.029 --> 00:31:11.210 It is not about being born again because they 00:31:11.210 --> 00:31:13.849 were born again already. John chapter 20 verse 00:31:13.849 --> 00:31:19.069 22. John 20, 22. And when he has said this, he 00:31:19.069 --> 00:31:23.509 breathed on them and said to them, receive. The 00:31:23.509 --> 00:31:28.509 Holy Spirit. Luke chapter 24, verse 52. Luke 00:31:28.509 --> 00:31:32.329 24, 52. We see here that they worshipped him 00:31:32.329 --> 00:31:35.410 when he left. They worshipped him and returned 00:31:35.410 --> 00:31:38.509 to Jerusalem with great joy. Praise the Lord. 00:31:38.730 --> 00:31:40.809 People who somebody is leaving, where they supposed 00:31:40.809 --> 00:31:47.309 to rejoice? Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 00:31:47.910 --> 00:31:51.569 There is an understanding that they have. They 00:31:51.569 --> 00:31:54.170 returned to Jerusalem with joy, with great joy, 00:31:54.329 --> 00:32:01.250 great joy. Luke, verse 29 of that place, 49 and 00:32:01.250 --> 00:32:07.650 45 of Luke 24. Behold, I send the promise of 00:32:07.650 --> 00:32:10.690 my Father upon you, for tarry in the city of 00:32:10.690 --> 00:32:13.730 Jerusalem until you are endued with power from 00:32:13.730 --> 00:32:17.390 on high. Verse 45. And they opened their understanding 00:32:17.390 --> 00:32:21.549 that they may comprehend. the scriptures, that 00:32:21.549 --> 00:32:23.589 they may understand the scriptures. Mark chapter 00:32:23.589 --> 00:32:31.029 16, verse 14. Mark chapter 16, verse 14. Later, 00:32:31.130 --> 00:32:34.549 he appeared to the eleven as a sat at a table, 00:32:34.730 --> 00:32:37.329 and he rebuked their unbelief and had less of 00:32:37.329 --> 00:32:40.589 heart, because they did not believe those who 00:32:40.589 --> 00:32:43.250 had seen him after he had reasoned. Praise the 00:32:43.250 --> 00:32:47.049 Lord. In that John chapter 22, 20, verse 22, 00:32:47.269 --> 00:32:50.450 he said he breathed out on them, right? It's 00:32:50.450 --> 00:32:53.289 also the same thing that was also emphasised 00:32:53.289 --> 00:33:03.309 in Genesis 2 .7. So, in that Luke 24, we have 00:33:03.309 --> 00:33:06.670 the new birth, then baptism of the Spirit, referring 00:33:06.670 --> 00:33:11.430 to ministry upon us, and then we have the Spirit 00:33:11.430 --> 00:33:16.250 upon, found in Genesis 1 .2. Let's go to Genesis 00:33:16.250 --> 00:33:20.740 1 .2. I think this has been taught before. Genesis 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:24.660 1 verse 2. The earth was without form and void, 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:27.240 and darkness was over the face of the deep, and 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:29.680 the Spirit of God was hovering over the face 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:34.059 of the waters. Right? The face of the waters. 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:38.319 Sometimes that waters is referred to as nations. 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:43.500 Right? The Spirit of the Lord was upon the waters. 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:50.369 God's voice. God's utterance in the nations of 00:33:50.369 --> 00:33:54.990 the earth. Genesis 3, verse 8. He's talking about 00:33:54.990 --> 00:33:58.170 the voice of God walking in the cool of the day. 00:33:58.609 --> 00:34:00.809 Then they heard the sound of the Lord walking 00:34:00.809 --> 00:34:03.750 in the cool of the day. And Adam and his wife 00:34:03.750 --> 00:34:05.730 hid themselves from the presence of the Lord 00:34:05.730 --> 00:34:08.829 among the trees of the garden. Praise the Lord. 00:34:09.730 --> 00:34:12.590 So, in the cool of the day. So, God's Spirit, 00:34:12.730 --> 00:34:16.920 just as Genesis, in Genesis chapter... 1 verse 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:20.400 3 talks about him, light beginning to shine. 00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:27.239 So the Spirit is upon the nations. So the Spirit 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:30.619 upon is to bring light to the nation. Genesis 00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:34.679 chapter 1 verse 3. Genesis 1 verse 3. He said, 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:37.500 Then the Lord said, Let there be light, and there 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:41.480 was light. Like I said, when he says over the 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:43.579 face of the waters, I said that sometimes those 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:47.440 is referred to as The nations. Praise the Lord. 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:51.019 So the Spirit of God brings light to the nation 00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:54.719 to know God, that they may know God. The Spirit 00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:57.679 is to quench every darkness. Praise the Lord. 00:34:58.139 --> 00:35:01.039 The Spirit of God is to quench every darkness. 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:06.139 So when you find the Spirit of God upon, we have 00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:09.579 the Spirit of God, right? Or the Spirit that 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:13.780 was promised in Genesis. This means a new covenant. 00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:20.880 A new covenant has emerged. Praise the Lord. 00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:28.239 So God's intention is that His Spirit is among 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:30.400 us. Praise the Lord. That we have the Spirit 00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:33.219 of God in the inside of us. Everyone. Not just 00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:36.440 to a particular people, but everyone. Praise 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:41.369 the Lord. That is God's intention. And those 00:35:41.369 --> 00:35:46.010 who carry out those plans of bringing God's Spirit 00:35:46.010 --> 00:35:50.610 upon people are taxed with this. Genesis chapter 00:35:50.610 --> 00:35:54.829 2, verses 1 to 3, talking about how in creation, 00:35:55.030 --> 00:35:56.710 it said, The heavens and the earth and all the 00:35:56.710 --> 00:36:01.530 land had finished, verse 2, and the seventh day 00:36:01.530 --> 00:36:05.329 the Lord ended His work which He had done, and 00:36:05.329 --> 00:36:07.590 He rested on the seventh day from all His work 00:36:07.590 --> 00:36:11.070 which He had done, verse 3. And the Lord blessed 00:36:11.070 --> 00:36:13.869 the seventh day and sanctified it, because in 00:36:13.869 --> 00:36:16.070 it he rested from all his work which God has 00:36:16.070 --> 00:36:20.070 created and made. Right? So the engagement of 00:36:20.070 --> 00:36:23.550 what God has done, right, to quench what? The 00:36:23.550 --> 00:36:27.030 darkness that we see in Genesis chapter 1, verse 00:36:27.030 --> 00:36:31.710 2. The Spirit of God hovered over the waters. 00:36:32.010 --> 00:36:36.090 Or you can say the Spirit of God, right, over 00:36:36.090 --> 00:36:39.679 the nations. The people in darkness have seen 00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:42.860 a great light. Praise the Lord. The people in 00:36:42.860 --> 00:36:45.739 darkness have seen a great light. That is what 00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:50.079 Jesus has come to bring us. The gathering of 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:56.340 God's children. So Acts chapter 2 verse 4. Acts 00:36:56.340 --> 00:36:59.500 chapter 2 verse 4. And they were filled with 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:01.840 the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:06.960 tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Again, 00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:09.920 we'll notice that in Acts, in some of the places 00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:13.480 there, most of these things were done in gatherings 00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:17.179 where people were. Praise the Lord. These things 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:19.800 were done in gatherings where people were. Acts 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:23.940 chapter 8, verse 14 to 15. Acts 8, verse 14 to 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:27.539 15. When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard 00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:32.260 that Samaria had received the word of God, they 00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:36.690 sent Peter and John to them. who, when they had 00:37:36.690 --> 00:37:39.650 come down, prayed for them that they may receive 00:37:39.650 --> 00:37:44.269 the Holy Spirit. Verse 18 and 19. When Simon 00:37:44.269 --> 00:37:49.289 saw that through the laying of the apostles' 00:37:49.630 --> 00:37:51.969 hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them 00:37:51.969 --> 00:37:55.809 money. Verse 19. And saying, Give me the power 00:37:55.809 --> 00:38:01.349 also that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive 00:38:01.349 --> 00:38:06.860 the Holy Spirit. Acts chapter 10, verse 44 to 00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:13.960 45. Acts chapter 10, 44 to 45. So, speaking of 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:17.940 when the Holy Spirit had come upon them. When 00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:19.960 Paul was still speaking these words, the Holy 00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:23.039 Spirit fell upon all those who had the word. 00:38:25.219 --> 00:38:28.400 Those of the circumcision who believed were astonished 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:32.969 as many came. As many came with Peter because 00:38:32.969 --> 00:38:35.409 the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out 00:38:35.409 --> 00:38:39.250 on the Gentiles also. Acts chapter 19, verse 00:38:39.250 --> 00:38:44.789 5 to 6. Acts chapter 19, verse 5 to 6. When they 00:38:44.789 --> 00:38:47.909 had this, they were baptized in the name of the 00:38:47.909 --> 00:38:51.889 Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid hands on them, 00:38:51.949 --> 00:38:54.050 the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke 00:38:54.050 --> 00:38:58.190 with songs and prophesied. Acts chapter 2, verse 00:38:58.190 --> 00:39:02.650 1 to 4. All we see here is the Holy Spirit upon 00:39:02.650 --> 00:39:06.469 them. Praise the Lord. When the day of Pentecost 00:39:06.469 --> 00:39:09.989 had fully come, they were all with one accord 00:39:09.989 --> 00:39:15.250 in one place. And suddenly there came a sound 00:39:15.250 --> 00:39:18.050 from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and 00:39:18.050 --> 00:39:20.110 it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 00:39:20.710 --> 00:39:25.630 Verse 3. And it appeared to them divided thongs 00:39:25.630 --> 00:39:30.440 of fire, and sat on each of them. And they were 00:39:30.440 --> 00:39:33.099 filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak 00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:36.340 with other tongues as the Holy Spirit, as the 00:39:36.340 --> 00:39:39.719 Spirit gave them utterance, the Spirit upon. 00:39:39.820 --> 00:39:43.199 What we see here is what? The Spirit upon. And 00:39:43.199 --> 00:39:47.659 we see that Peter stood up, right, and preached 00:39:47.659 --> 00:39:53.559 in verse 38. And we'll see what he says to them. 00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:58.300 And Peter said to them, repent. And let every 00:39:58.300 --> 00:40:01.579 one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ 00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:04.280 for the remission of sin, that you may receive 00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:09.079 the gift of the Spirit. Praise the Lord. It says 00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:12.360 what they should repent and be baptized. Praise 00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:18.539 the Lord. Verse 39. Now, for the promise is what 00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:24.179 is to you and your children and to all who are 00:40:24.179 --> 00:40:28.750 what are far off. As many as the Lord our God 00:40:28.750 --> 00:40:31.269 will call. Praise the Lord. The promise is to 00:40:31.269 --> 00:40:37.010 who? It's to you and your children and to all 00:40:37.010 --> 00:40:39.590 who are far off. So he's saying to them that 00:40:39.590 --> 00:40:42.889 the promise is for everybody. Praise the Lord. 00:40:42.989 --> 00:40:47.949 The promise is for everybody. We read Acts chapter 00:40:47.949 --> 00:40:50.289 8 that talked about when they had it, when they 00:40:50.289 --> 00:40:52.849 had the war, they sent Peter and John to them 00:40:52.849 --> 00:40:56.760 that they may receive. the Holy Spirit. Why? 00:40:56.920 --> 00:40:59.579 Why would they send them to go and pray for them 00:40:59.579 --> 00:41:02.420 that they may receive the Holy Spirit? Because 00:41:02.420 --> 00:41:06.340 they were not supposed to believe and be sitting 00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:10.400 in their houses. Praise the Lord. They were supposed 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:14.980 to believe and be empowered for the work of ministry. 00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:20.920 Praise the Lord. So the Holy Spirit is what empowers 00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:24.519 us forward for the work of ministry. To carry 00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:28.039 on a tax. Right? Why would they do that? He says, 00:41:28.119 --> 00:41:31.519 for them and to all who are far off. To their 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:34.619 children and to those who are far off. It's for 00:41:34.619 --> 00:41:38.039 everybody. That they may carry on a tax. We see 00:41:38.039 --> 00:41:41.099 in Acts chapter 10, the house of Calenius. Right? 00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:44.980 The same thing. Acts chapter 20, verse 20. As 00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:50.260 well. John chapter 3. John chapter 2. Let's look 00:41:50.260 --> 00:42:00.239 at something else. John. Now, the Passover of 00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:03.000 the Jews were at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 00:42:03.159 --> 00:42:04.900 Now, speaking about He drove people from the 00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:07.139 temple, another story. He found in the temple 00:42:07.139 --> 00:42:12.840 those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the 00:42:12.840 --> 00:42:17.199 money changers doing business. When He had made 00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:20.480 a weep of corn, He drove them all out of the 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:24.059 temple with the sheep. the oxen, and poured out 00:42:24.059 --> 00:42:26.340 the exchanger's money and overthrew their tables. 00:42:27.159 --> 00:42:31.179 16. And he said to those who sold those, Take 00:42:31.179 --> 00:42:34.639 these things away. Do not make my father's house 00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:39.760 a house of merchandise. 17. And his disciples 00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:43.300 remembered what was written, The zeal for your 00:42:43.300 --> 00:42:49.760 house has eaten me up. Praise the Lord. So, if 00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:52.769 you read carefully, you will know that It was 00:42:52.769 --> 00:42:57.130 Moses who saw them, gave them instruction concerning 00:42:57.130 --> 00:43:00.409 selling things at the temple, right? So that 00:43:00.409 --> 00:43:02.969 people from afar off do not need to carry their, 00:43:03.130 --> 00:43:05.590 for example, they are coming from, let's say, 00:43:05.670 --> 00:43:08.110 the Utopian eunuch. They don't need to carry 00:43:08.110 --> 00:43:11.789 animals from his country to come. They could 00:43:11.789 --> 00:43:14.570 just come to the temple and buy them. So he gave 00:43:14.570 --> 00:43:18.369 those directives to them, right? Rather than 00:43:18.369 --> 00:43:21.739 bringing animals, they can buy it from the temple, 00:43:21.860 --> 00:43:23.739 those who come from a long journey. They can 00:43:23.739 --> 00:43:26.019 just come with money and get it at the temple. 00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:30.699 They can buy and use it for the sacrifice that 00:43:30.699 --> 00:43:33.840 was given. So Moses gave that instruction and 00:43:33.840 --> 00:43:38.199 they continued doing that. Now, Matthew chapter 00:43:38.199 --> 00:43:43.280 21, verse 13. Matthew chapter 21, verse 13. And 00:43:43.280 --> 00:43:44.900 he said to them, it is written, my father's house 00:43:44.900 --> 00:43:47.079 shall be called a house of prayers, but you have 00:43:47.079 --> 00:43:51.590 made it a den. of thieves. Praise the Lord. When 00:43:51.590 --> 00:43:54.949 he says a den of thieves, right? It was referencing 00:43:54.949 --> 00:43:59.869 to Jeremiah chapter 7. When he says den of thieves, 00:44:00.110 --> 00:44:02.309 he's not saying that they were stealing something. 00:44:02.829 --> 00:44:05.250 Are we aware of that? He's not saying that, for 00:44:05.250 --> 00:44:07.530 example, they were stealing money from the temple 00:44:07.530 --> 00:44:10.909 or they were stealing candles from the temple 00:44:10.909 --> 00:44:15.469 or they were stealing the garment of the priest. 00:44:15.929 --> 00:44:21.090 When he says den of thieves. right, is the word 00:44:21.090 --> 00:44:27.570 to, is a word to, is a word parit, P -A -R -A 00:44:27.570 --> 00:44:32.710 -R -I -T -S, P -A -R -I -T -S. It means like 00:44:32.710 --> 00:44:37.309 violence or they use it for, you know, there's 00:44:37.309 --> 00:44:41.030 some people that President Tinibu has jailed 00:44:41.030 --> 00:44:43.550 for trying to dethrone him. The military, you 00:44:43.550 --> 00:44:47.070 know, they do, you see, they call it coup d 'etat. 00:44:47.849 --> 00:44:50.530 Right? It's the same word that is used in that 00:44:50.530 --> 00:44:53.550 way. Right? We can find these words in many scriptures. 00:44:53.730 --> 00:44:56.289 Let me just give you the scriptures. Ezekiel 00:44:56.289 --> 00:45:01.429 chapter 7 verse 22, Ezekiel 18 10, Daniel 11 00:45:01.429 --> 00:45:08.329 4, Isaiah 35 verse 9. Right? It means that they 00:45:08.329 --> 00:45:12.230 were not the original occupant of the place. 00:45:12.650 --> 00:45:16.840 Right? They just came and took the place. Right? 00:45:16.980 --> 00:45:19.559 It means that they made that place a mainstay. 00:45:20.139 --> 00:45:22.420 You know, the purpose of the house is no longer 00:45:22.420 --> 00:45:25.920 what it means. Praise the Lord. They have turned 00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:27.760 it to something else. That's why he said they 00:45:27.760 --> 00:45:30.199 are den of thieves. They turned it to something 00:45:30.199 --> 00:45:31.739 else. It's not that they were stealing something. 00:45:31.920 --> 00:45:35.260 They have turned it to something else. Right? 00:45:36.739 --> 00:45:39.699 So when we say, some scripture will say, den 00:45:39.699 --> 00:45:41.960 of robbers. It didn't mean that they were coming 00:45:41.960 --> 00:45:43.619 there with guns or they were coming there with 00:45:43.619 --> 00:45:45.920 knives. That's not what it means. It means that 00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:48.780 they have changed the purpose of the house of 00:45:48.780 --> 00:45:51.699 God to something else. That has become the main 00:45:51.699 --> 00:45:56.039 thing. Praise the Lord. That has become the main 00:45:56.039 --> 00:45:58.500 thing. It's the same thing that we see in John 00:45:58.500 --> 00:46:00.659 chapter 10, when Jesus was talking about being 00:46:00.659 --> 00:46:02.940 the good shepherd. He said the thief and the 00:46:02.940 --> 00:46:05.840 robber, they come through another place. Praise 00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:10.000 the Lord. They climb through the window. When 00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:12.300 he said that they come through the window, it 00:46:12.300 --> 00:46:13.760 doesn't mean that they were carrying guns coming 00:46:13.760 --> 00:46:16.670 there. Right? It means that they were not supposed 00:46:16.670 --> 00:46:19.429 to be there. Right? That's why he's saying that 00:46:19.429 --> 00:46:21.650 the thief and the robber were not supposed to 00:46:21.650 --> 00:46:26.230 be there. So we also see the example of Barabbas. 00:46:26.969 --> 00:46:30.929 Barabbas in John chapter 18 verse 4. Right? That 00:46:30.929 --> 00:46:33.690 he was a robber. And we saw the kind of robber 00:46:33.690 --> 00:46:36.150 he was. He's trying to change the government. 00:46:36.449 --> 00:46:39.789 Right? He's inciting people to do something different. 00:46:40.690 --> 00:46:45.139 That's the kind of robber that he was. He's trying 00:46:45.139 --> 00:46:48.860 to remove the government, right? So he said, 00:46:48.880 --> 00:46:51.420 my father's house is a house of prayer for all 00:46:51.420 --> 00:46:55.079 nations. But you have made it a hiding place 00:46:55.079 --> 00:46:58.380 or you have made it what is ought not to be there. 00:46:58.579 --> 00:47:01.980 You have changed the purpose of the place. The 00:47:01.980 --> 00:47:04.820 issue is that they have made permanent what is 00:47:04.820 --> 00:47:07.300 supposed to be temporal. What is supposed to 00:47:07.300 --> 00:47:10.559 be, as you know, we give you, you know, my grandmother 00:47:10.559 --> 00:47:13.079 used to say, we give you allowance. You're looking 00:47:13.079 --> 00:47:16.260 for allowances. Praise the Lord. So they gave 00:47:16.260 --> 00:47:17.860 them allowance so that they don't need to turn 00:47:17.860 --> 00:47:20.260 it to something else. They made it a mainstay. 00:47:20.460 --> 00:47:23.280 It's not supposed to be there. John chapter 2 00:47:23.280 --> 00:47:26.519 verse 16, like I've read earlier. They've made 00:47:26.519 --> 00:47:30.260 it a house of merchandise. Right? And we saw 00:47:30.260 --> 00:47:32.500 that Jesus sat down to also teach them. Matthew 00:47:32.500 --> 00:47:35.480 chapter 21 verse 14. He also sat down to teach 00:47:35.480 --> 00:47:37.980 them and he also healed the sick. To show that 00:47:37.980 --> 00:47:41.059 his house is a house of prayer. Zechariah chapter 00:47:41.059 --> 00:47:46.480 10. 14 verse 20 to 21. They were making something 00:47:46.480 --> 00:47:49.119 permanent which is supposed to be temporal. So 00:47:49.119 --> 00:47:51.300 he drove them out. He stopped them from coming 00:47:51.300 --> 00:47:54.599 in and out of the temple. And his disciples remembered 00:47:54.599 --> 00:47:57.739 and they said that the zeal of his father's house 00:47:57.739 --> 00:48:01.760 has consumed him. In Hebrew, that's the passion 00:48:01.760 --> 00:48:05.460 of his father's house has consumed him. So God's 00:48:05.460 --> 00:48:09.690 passion is for all the nations. Praise the Lord. 00:48:09.769 --> 00:48:11.989 But the people have turned it to a business ground. 00:48:12.170 --> 00:48:15.769 They have turned the house of prayer to a business 00:48:15.769 --> 00:48:20.769 ground. God's intention is that all men be saved. 00:48:21.030 --> 00:48:24.449 Praise the Lord. God's intention is that all 00:48:24.449 --> 00:48:27.949 men be saved. You cannot make the house of God 00:48:27.949 --> 00:48:30.670 a place of selling and buying. Because he said 00:48:30.670 --> 00:48:34.909 what? His house is for prayer for all nations. 00:48:35.769 --> 00:48:40.199 Lastly, we read Isaiah. chapter 56. And you know 00:48:40.199 --> 00:48:42.559 when they say house is house of, they have turned 00:48:42.559 --> 00:48:44.619 it to merchandise, it's controlled merchandise. 00:48:45.500 --> 00:48:48.000 Praise the Lord. It means that not even, the 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:50.159 people that came to pray are not able to sell. 00:48:50.900 --> 00:48:52.420 It's not like they all turn it to a business 00:48:52.420 --> 00:48:56.940 place. Isaiah 56, from verse 4, 5, 6, and 7. 00:48:57.079 --> 00:49:02.000 From verse 4 to 7. Isaiah 50. It says, For thus 00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:04.880 says the Lord, Today you know who keeps my servants 00:49:04.880 --> 00:49:08.320 and shows what pleases me. and hold fast to my 00:49:08.320 --> 00:49:12.460 covenant. Even to him I will give my house, and 00:49:12.460 --> 00:49:15.019 within my wall a place and a name better than 00:49:15.019 --> 00:49:19.159 that of the sons and daughters. I will give them 00:49:19.159 --> 00:49:22.260 an everlasting name. They shall not be cut off. 00:49:23.059 --> 00:49:26.000 Also the son of the foreigner who joined themselves 00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:30.280 to the Lord, to serve him, to love the name of 00:49:30.280 --> 00:49:35.000 the Lord, to be his servant. Everyone who keeps 00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:38.340 from defiling the Sabbath and hold fast my covenant. 00:49:38.539 --> 00:49:42.519 Verse 7. Even them I will bring to my holy mountain 00:49:42.519 --> 00:49:47.639 and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their 00:49:47.639 --> 00:49:50.579 burnt offering and their sacrifice will be accepted 00:49:50.579 --> 00:49:54.719 at my altar. My house shall be called a house 00:49:54.719 --> 00:49:58.960 of prayer for all nations. Hallelujah. So it 00:49:58.960 --> 00:50:02.059 means that God's house, God's spirit, God's holiness. 00:50:02.800 --> 00:50:06.639 is for everybody. Praise the Lord. Those who 00:50:06.639 --> 00:50:09.659 are qualified or who are not qualified are now 00:50:09.659 --> 00:50:13.239 qualified. He says, do not make it a den of thieves. 00:50:13.559 --> 00:50:16.219 Don't make the things that are supposed to be 00:50:16.219 --> 00:50:19.780 temporary permanent. Right? Do not make it a 00:50:19.780 --> 00:50:23.739 house of merchandise. His holiness is outreach 00:50:23.739 --> 00:50:28.260 to everyone. Right? It goes to everybody. It's 00:50:28.260 --> 00:50:31.719 a house of prayer for all nations. It means that 00:50:31.719 --> 00:50:35.360 all, are qualified. Praise the Lord. It means 00:50:35.360 --> 00:50:38.340 that everybody is qualified. So when you see 00:50:38.340 --> 00:50:41.820 somebody who you know is not qualified as a result 00:50:41.820 --> 00:50:45.760 of who does not know about the qualification 00:50:45.760 --> 00:50:48.980 that God has given, as a result of not believing 00:50:48.980 --> 00:50:51.719 that which Christ has done, you ought to preach 00:50:51.719 --> 00:50:54.340 to them. Praise the Lord. You ought to teach 00:50:54.340 --> 00:50:57.139 them the Word of God. Let's bow our heads as 00:50:57.139 --> 00:51:01.570 we pray. Father, Lord, we bless your name. We 00:51:01.570 --> 00:51:04.250 appreciate you being here today. We hope you 00:51:04.250 --> 00:51:06.349 carry this word with you throughout your week. 00:51:06.969 --> 00:51:09.170 Don't forget to check the show notes for additional 00:51:09.170 --> 00:51:12.110 insights. Stay connected with us through our 00:51:12.110 --> 00:51:15.969 website or follow us on social media. If you 00:51:15.969 --> 00:51:18.210 are encouraged, share this message with someone 00:51:18.210 --> 00:51:21.809 you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.