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. We will continue from where we stopped
yesterday. And we try to look at a number of
things. Fundamentally, we noted that context
is very important. And we said the very ministry
we're talking about is hinged upon the truth
of God's words. Are we together? You are going
to be laying a wrong emphasis if we lack understanding
of the essence of scripture. We noted that first,
that if you are studying any passage of the Bible,
then you need to bear in mind that first and
foremost, there is something we call the canonical
context. And we said is the apex. Everything
you ever read in this Bible must submit to it.
We said that you cannot read any portion of this
Bible and it contradicts that. And you said you
have actually understood what you have read.
We said this Bible has a unified plot line, have
a unified storyline from Genesis to Revelation.
It's about the subject of salvation. and true
faith in Christ Jesus. In between narratives,
you will see the thought of men, you will see
the devil spoke, and you'll be seeing that everything
is to come against this storyline. So in every
part of this Bible, you will see these two things.
You will see one, for example, light and darkness.
Because once you have salvation through faith
in Jesus Christ, you will definitely have characters,
attitudes, statement that will always negate
that. Are we together? In history, we have seen
that. Righteousness and unrighteousness, as I
said, light and darkness. Amen. You will see
that faith and the law, these are, you will continue
to see that. So, which means that if you say
you are speaking for God, and you are saying
that you are doing the will of God, then every
will of God is defined by a unified message.
And that message is a message of salvation, is
a message of the love of God, is a message of
the character of God showing his benevolence,
showing his mercy to mankind. Anything you read
and you see is God that deviates from these thoughts.
That means you are out of context. Are we together?
And we saw that all scripture is given by the
inspiration of God. We saw also that no prophecy
of this scripture is of man's initiative, is
of man's private interpretation. He said, everything
you see has been inspired by God. The Holy Spirit
moved holy men to write it. And we try to make
a distinction. The fact that it is written in
the Bible doesn't mean that we have made this
distinction here in this church over and over.
And we said it's different. which Pastor Fred
noted very clearly that there is different between
the act of the writing, are we together, and
the content of it. We said everything written
here was actually inspired by God, but it's not
everything that is actually documented came from
God, are we together? So, That means if not everything
in this Bible came from God, it necessitates
that we interpret accurately so that we will
not carry the attribute of Satan and we'll put
it on God. Are we together? That is a deformation
of character. We will not carry attitude of a
fool, attitude of evil, and place it on God's
character. And remember, because this Bible fundamentally
is about Christ, and Christ himself laid the
model of how we should interpret the scriptures.
In Luke 24, 25, 26, 27, O ye foolish ones, law
of heart to believe all that the prophet hath
spoken, in all that the prophet hath spoken,
or not Christ to have suffered these things and
to enter into his glory and say beginning at
Moses and all the prophets he expounded were
explained unto them the things concerning himself
so he shows us a pattern that is and we saw that
from Genesis to Revelation is concerning the
Christ and so that is the nature of how we should
read Bible the Bible was not given for you for
for wealth creation you do man is already ingenious
to know how to make I mean God has already endowed
man naturally you understand to know how to be
creative and make better use of the available
resources are we together Amen. Yes. And so there
must be a parity. There must be a sacredness.
And so we noted that he said from childhood,
second Timothy, chapter three, and that from
childhood, that has known the holy scriptures.
Please, I want you to know that word holy means
set apart. That means these words are not like
other scriptures. Are you with me? There are
many other manuscripts, but this manuscript is
holy. Are we together? Thou has known the holy
means set apart, sacred writings. The sacred
writings means that you can compare them So when
I'm talking about the character of God the things
of God the things of the spirit Don't bring natural
things. They might be good, but they are not
the same level Are we together? They are not
at the same level Anywhere the Holy Spirit Is
like for example now we are gathering here Brother
this meeting Can never be compared with any meeting
That is not of God on earth no matter how excellent
Name it This is what makes it holy you say wherever
two or three are gathered in my name dear. I
am in their midst Do you know what it means?
because that means the gathering of believers
because of the name of jesus has a sacredness
that it must be it must it must it must be revealed
clearly in your heart you can't compare it you
understand with any meeting not united nation
it's not as honorable it's very important united
nation Meeting with Donald Trump meeting with
any leader on a political meeting or whatever
the president of your country meeting whatever
meeting they are important But sir, they are
not at the same importance with the meeting of
believers No, if you understand this you're going
to be a good servant of God So I don't want to
tomorrow as you continue to be making some careless
statements Some statement that that shows that
you are not well taught. No No And that is why
the Word of God is sacred the Church of God is
sacred The things of God is sacred in the Sun
They are not at the same level And that is where
I'm trying to start from there. We look at immediate
context. And we saw a lot of things. We said
it's important that you pay attention to the
surrounding verses. Don't be picking verses anyhow.
When this Bible was written, there was no verses,
there was no, in fact, there was no spaces. It
is, we have these commas and punctuations and
space, they are English language. It's not in
the original. Meaning, the very text in which
those truths were communicated. So don't just
be picking verses, they are thoughts. And that's
why you must follow the author's thoughts. As
we said, the reason why you have to pay attention
to that is that because you don't the lives of
men the eternal destiny of men depends on the
right interpretation of these words yesterday
we saw that that error cannot bet new life no
matter how good you are pocketing message and
shout this is the glory of god no sir no sir
it's not today that prophet started following
for something that looks like the glory of god
somewhere so alien and say surely this is a lot
anointed but it's not there it's not by big chest
you understand I hope you know the world has
its glory when the devil tempted Jesus he said
he showed him the glory of the world so that
world has glory are we together so it is important
that we pay attention Men cannot develop. You
cannot mature believers with error. No, sir.
The reason why we are seeing all kinds of somebody
have stayed in church, you understand? For decades.
But when the person speaks and you are just wondering,
wait a minute. He said he gave to his life in
the 1990s. This is about how many years now.
Why is he speaking like that? That means he has
not been hearing certain, I mean the truth that
he ought to. So that's why we have to pay attention.
We now look at and say it again. We have the
literary context and we saw that God speaks,
can reveal his thoughts, his will through cultures.
We saw historical and cultural context. We saw
geographic context, that geography can speak.
God have used geography to reveal his will, to
reveal his thought. And we saw that geography
explained many times. We saw yesterday salvation,
bondage, slavery in the spirit, right? Are we
together? Yes Then we saw the supernatural context
that as believers we must not be naive That this
world is just material. Sorry, sir. That's not
what the Bible says that this material world
always interacts with the spirit world and There
are influences and that's why Paul will remind
us it is upon his understanding that he said
That the weapon though we live what in the flesh
we do not wage war after the war after the flesh
So there are principalities and powers is a ruler
they are ruling territories While we understand
so you must understand the understanding there
is an understanding so when you see the stars
and the moon in the Sun Don't just be thinking
it's just science or astronomy. You have to read
carefully because in those days, the view, the
worldview of the Bible writers, they have, they
are heavily influenced by the spiritual. So they
use those bodies, elements, hosts of heavens.
in the sun as symbols, elements that tell about
the spiritual or the spirit beings. We saw it
yesterday. And when we move, we try to start
to understand what we call how the Bible has
been taken out of context and then It was used
maliciously and it was abused. We started by
slavery in America. We saw about the slave Bible,
how men can be cruel. And I'm not trying to scare
you. Let me tell you, you're going to face persecution,
but more of the persecution will come from church
people. It's not today's are started it will
come from people holding a Bible not people who
doesn't even believe in God Are we together?
Yes They're the first people to call you false
prophet while they are the first prophet They're
the first people to call you names That is the
idea and that's the reason why I want to suggest
to you if it is God you want to You are following
please. I'm begging you from today as you are
moving in this meeting please Don't be so sensitive
about your reputation. Let me say it again Don't
be sensitive about your what? about your reputation
hmm, I will show you Jesus said a A servant is
all greater than his master the context of that
He was saying that if they have persecuted me,
they have called me many names, they will also
do what? They will also call you those names.
That's why he say, a what? A servant is no greater
than his teacher. Mean that whatever was done
to him, be sure it will be done to you. Are we
together? Hallelujah. And that's the reason why
we have to sustain a level of conviction in the
world for us to be able to move on. Amen. So
let me just highlight some few things about what
we started on the issue of Slavery America and
the text. I've already given you some text. So
I'll just pick from just what I've given you,
just one or two texts, and then we will interpret
it based in the light, I mean, in the light of
what we did yesterday. Are we together? Looking
at the larger context, which is a canonical context,
and we'll look at the immediate context. and
if the text require us, we will look at the geographic
context, we'll look at the literal context or
the supernatural context. Are we together? And
we see where those scriptures have been weep
on eyes. So today we're going to do a lot of
heavily on Bible interpretation using those thoughts
we shared yesterday. Amen. Genesis chapter 9.
So this is one of the texts that was used to
promote slavery. Genesis chapter 9 verse 18.
And remember, those who promoted slavery are
not just church members who, as I said, they
are professors of theology. You understand? So
some of the people you are going to face are
people who have certificates. Are we together?
Yes. Genesis chapter nine, verse 18. Genesis
chapter nine, verse 18. Now the sons of Noah
who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth.
And Ham was a father of Canaan. Verse 19, these
three were the sons of Noah. And from these,
the whole earth was populated. And Noah began
to be a farmer and he planted a vineyard. Then
he drank of the wine and was drunk and became
uncovered in his tent. Verse 22. I'm reading
from the New King James. And Ham, the father
of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and
told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth
took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders
and went back and covered the nakedness of their
father. Their faces were torn away. They did
not see their father's nakedness. Noah awoke
from his wine and knew that his younger, his
younger, Amen. Shall I continue? Verse 24. Verse
25, then he said, "'Course be canon. A servant
of servant, he shall be to his brethren.'" Hallelujah.
Are we together? So these Southern pro -slavery
theologians, they claim that black people were
the descendants of Ham. Black people were the
descendants of Ham and therefore had been cursed.
They are the descendants of Ham and therefore
had been cursed. They claim that God had divinely
ordained the subjugation of black people. They
said that just as Cain had a mark, you know,
when Cain did what he did, Genesis chapter four,
you know, the Bible says that God make a mark
on him, right? And so they said just like when
Cain did sinful things and then they make a mark
on him, so that the name came. In Hebrew means
dark or black. The name ham means dark or black.
I'm just trying to tell us what they said or
what they interpreted as ham means dark or black
or hot bond, something like that. Which signify
a mark. So they said that that dark skin, is
a mark of the curse on the dark skinned people
of Africa. So not even every part of Africa is
a dark skinned people is a curse. Now what we
want to do is that is to look at the claim in
the sun contextually. First and foremost, just
that, I mean, you just read it now. You must
have noted that The curse was not on Ham. That's
the first thing, right? It was not on Ham. It
was on one of his sons, which is Canaan. So if
Ham, I don't know how, because you know, at that
moment, Canaan, I'll show you because from The
name Ham seems to promote their narrative. Because
at that time we didn't develop yet so much on
the understanding of names. So they just covered
and said Ham in Hebrew means dark. Because you
can a canon doesn't, this name does not go close
to dark. So that's why they moved to harm, because
they want to paint a narrative. But that's the
first thing for when you read, because it wasn't
a harm. Because if it was harm that was caused,
then that means all his descendants, not just,
I mean all his sons, the descendants of his sons,
not just one of them would have been cursed.
So it's Kanan that was cursed. He said, a servant
of servant shall be to his brethren. So that
word they use is servant of servant. That's why
you say, okay, you have to be perpetual servant
all the rest of your life because you are the
descendants of him. Now, as I said, in the study
of names, you understand, in fact, up to now,
we don't know what actually, what is the meaning
of ham in the sun, because it has no roots or
related to the word dark in Hebrew or any Semitic
language. I mean, any, it's not just only Hebrew,
any Semitic language. Ham is not closely, they
are not, they are not related. There's no any
name. either dark or black that is related to
ham at all in Hebrew, or any Semitic language,
none. So which means that up to now, no one can
categorically tell you exactly what a ham exactly
mean. Are we together? Even Kanan curse was due
to his misconduct. It was not because of his
skin color. Although they are saying that it
is a curse. The skin color is a mark of the curse.
So the descendants of Canaan, again, we know
them because the Bible clearly tells us that
descendant. They are the Canaanites in the Middle
East. They are not in Africa. Amen. because they
are not lost. We can follow them. You understand
what I'm saying? Yes. We can follow through the
descendants. So this means that this doctrine,
as I said, was just used to justify the enslavement
of the Dasken people and therefore it is fabricated.
And as I said, because at that time they are
looking for any word. that will look closely
to something that they want to justify and that's
why they are using harm but as you said harm
was not the one curse hallelujah this one is
simple because you can just read through in a
sign and just get what exactly is saying okay
let's go to the other ones that looks a little
bit much more work that we need to do Ephesians
chapter 6, we said they also use a number of
texts in the New Testament. Ephesians chapter
6. So let me just read those verses that they
use also in the New Testament. Ephesians chapter
6 verse 5. Ephesians 6 verse 5. Born servant,
that is a word. uh that translation you slaves
be obedient to those who are your masters according
to the flesh with fear and trembling in sincerity
of heart as to christ in sincerity of heart as
to what as to christ hallelujah yes so again
um Colossians chapter 3. Go to Colossians chapter
3 verse 22. Colossians 3 22. Born servant obey
in all things your servant according to the flesh
not with eye service as men's pleasers for the
sincerity of heart fearing God. Titus chapter
2 verse 9. Titus chapter 2 verse 9. Exalt bond
-servants to be obedient to their own masters,
to be well -pleasing in all things, not answering
back. They love these titles. Hallelujah. So
these are the texts they use. Another one is
in Philemon. We're going to E2, in the sun, in
Philemon, but we're coming to that. Now, these
theologians, these pro -slavery theologians heavily
weaponized the New Testament also, particularly
these portions that I have read. They used these
verses to preach total submission, arguing that
rebelling against a master was a sin. against
God. Remember yesterday I told us what they did,
particularly this apostle to the slave, Jones,
right? He said because if we, we don't need just
to leave them, you understand, because they targeted
first the people at the time of authority so
that they can support and support the slavery.
But then they say cut, no. If we just ensure
that the people are the authorities, they are
the ones that like slavery and they are subjugating
them, the thing is still, they will be doing
their work, but they will be doing it grudgingly.
So how do we also, not just the top, but come
to the sleeve? Let's first and foremost preach
Christ, let them be born again. That way we can
teach them and psychologically to be completely
obedient so that they see the slavery itself
as the will of God. So one of these is what they
did here and so they use this text of the Apostle
Paul particularly because these are all texts
of Apostle you understand and they argue that
the Apostle only regulated slavery now that's
what he said that there is nowhere that he called
slavery or he immediately say no we must abolish
this no he only regulated it He only regulated
it. Okay, so let's go to efficiency. Let's look
at the context. First and foremost, let's look
at the context of efficiency. Let's start from
here five, because I told you we are trying to
look at the immediate context. You might need
to move across chapters. Are we together? Ephesians
chapter five, because that's where the discussion
starts. Or will I say somehow, because it started
from chapter four, actually. Paul was talking
about love and use God as an example, as the
model. So he's talking about love work. That's
the foundation, love work. So you see, by understanding
the context already, You already dismantled that
that is not what Paul is saying. Because there
is no how you are talking about love work and
you support slavery. Slavery is not love. It's
subjugation. It's inhumane treatment. Are we
together? It's not love work. So are you in chapter
five? Maybe we'll just start chapter five is
okay. Chapter five verse one. Therefore, be imitators
of God as their children, and walk in love."
And then he didn't leave you to what to be wondering,
what exactly are we to what? Which love? He's
on an open ending. He clearly gave you the model.
He said, as who? As Christ also has loved us.
How did he love us? He said, and he has given
himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God
for his sweet smelly aroma. The opposite is what
the slave owners were doing. They are exploiting
other humans. They are not sacrificing, rather
they are exploiting because he gave us Christ
as the model. Love as dearly beloved children.
Are we together? And work in love as Christ also
has loved us, given himself. So all through what
we'll be reading from here is about love, how
to show love to one another. And the model is
the love of Christ. We were helpless in trouble.
He came to save us. He did not come to exploit
us for his own benefits Are we together? We were
to die. He died on our place We were harassed
by the devil remember as many as a Partakers
of flesh and blood he say he partake the same
why he said that he might test dead And why will
he die? He said that he might destroy him. Who
has the power of death? That is the devil. And
why is it so? He said, and liberate those who
have been in all their lifetime. They are in
fear. They are in trembling because of that.
so that means he came to liberate us from the
harassment of satan in the sun we were perpetually
in fear of death he came to save us hebrew chapter
2 verse 14 and 15 he came to save us that is
why when the spirit of god came into us he said
you have not received the spirit of bondage to
do what to fear what you have received, eh? The
spirit that cried out, Abba, father. So the spirit
we have received is not the spirit of fear. It
didn't bring bondage to us, it brought freedom.
That is the love, not that that exploit a people.
Are we together? So that's the context. And when
you continue to read all through to 21, right?
Talk about fornication in the Psalm, but fornication
and all uncleanness, covetousness. Listen, all
these things, do you know that these things is
not just only a problem to you, it's also a problem
for the other person? Did you understand what
I'm trying to say? Yes, because you are harming
the other person, right? Yes. And then he kept
saying, these are not befitting of saints. Neither
fulness and so on and so on. Up until 21, he
keeps saying, this is what you should be doing,
verse 18. Do not be drunk with wine and with
dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
And then he says, speaking to one another in
psalms, in hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
giving thanks always for all things to God. The
father in the name of Jesus and he says submit
to one another in the fear of God He was speaking
to the entire church and then he turned to several
groups in the church Listen when he turned he
was not speaking a different thing in the sun
He just also continued to speak about love. Remember
he first started addressing the entire church
As you come together as we are doing things together.
He now moved to other relationship I hope you
know that the relationship we have here in the
church is in different strata. Are we together?
Now here we are members of the church, and some
of us again have another relationship in between
them, which is husband and wife. You understand
what I'm trying to say? Some has parent and children.
So there are several kinds of relationship, you
understand, in within the church. In all the
relationship, Paul was saying that you must exercise
love. That's the foundation. And then after talking
to the general church, he now moved in, verse
22, and now talk to wives. Right and say why
we should submit was 22 to 24. He talked to wife.
He said this is how you should express love Are
we together? He says submits in the sun submit
this submission is not Is not a foundation of
subjugation. This is love Are we together are
we together because he gave us a model he said
as the church submit to Christ. Did the trust
submit to Christ to be exploited? So why will
you think that the submission Christ is telling
you to do to your husband is that of exploitation?
How? Where did you get it? The foundation is
love. Everything is emanating from love work.
Are we together? Amen. That is it. So he told
the wife, submit. As the church submits to Christ,
as unto the Lord, again Christ's love is the
model. You now move to the husbands. Next is
the husbands. You now tell the husbands, from
verse 25 to 28, Ephesians 5, 25 to 28, and said,
you should love your wife. Again, he points them
to Christ, as Christ loved the church. Are we
together? As Christ loved the church, this love
is sacrificial love. I used to tell men, if you
understand what that means, you will not be everyday
looking as if you are a boss in the house. You
won't understand what you are talking about in
the sun. Because this love, this hardship, this
leadership is not... because you are wise in
many instances your wife is wiser than you are
but that's not what we are talking about here
because this is an election of grace are we together
this is an election of grace just the same way
we have pastors in this church we are not more
human than you are we are not actually a more
love before god than you are it's just a a a
position held by grace are we together that we
will have to leave the church And you are asked
also to submit to us, you understand? The same
way as also as unto the Lord. And this submission
is not exploitation. This submission, you understand,
is for accountability. This submission is for
leadership, is for headship. Are we together?
And that's why he is speaking. And he said, husband,
love your wife as Christ loved the church. Sacrificial
love, you understand? Every day, you are protecting,
you are leading. Means that you are leading you
want your wife to know how to love you show it.
That's leadership You know, it's not a command,
you know son cries did not come on. That's why
I have to follow his model It is a you you have
to love No, he offers some formulas. He did it
while we're yet sinners and then he said yeah
By this year all men know that you are my disciple
if you love one another but first and foremost
he shared he said He first commanded his love.
Are we together? In 1 John 3, 16, he will show
us that this is the way that he's shown his love.
That he laid down his life for us. So the same
way, we should do the same. That means we should
follow his pattern. So if you are the head of
the house, you are to show a leadership, the
Christ -like leadership. which means that whatever
you want a wife to learn whatever because you
are the leader you have to demonstrate it it's
not by command here hey hey hey that's a boss
you know a leader is a one that demonstrate points
convince show the way you understand i'm saying
some men we have to start teaching young men
in this church you know you don't know how to
talk you talk anyhow you understand you don't
know how to how to communicate well you understand
i said this is what i mean you have to explain
you are not a boss that you don't need that your
subordinate don't need a explanation they only
say your boss just come in the morning today
we are going to do this we do that you this one
you do this one no that's not how to run a house
you understand it's not a company did you understand
i'm saying no that's not how to run a house you
understand before you take a decision you say
sit down my love i have some this thing you have
to explain you understand like a salesman You
have to show the vision when Jesus will come
to you. He will not just tell you no He will
tell you what is going to this is what in fact
from day one Whatever that you will not get you
will tell you Whatever you get Jesus will say
anyone that follow me. This is what this is that
the conditions will Because it's not a journey
of deception. It's a journey of clarity But you
assure you of his commitment to the end That
is love. Then he moved to children, chapter six,
verse one. Children, obey your parent in the
Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and
mother, which is a first commandment with a promise
that it might be well with you, and you may live
long on the earth. You fathers, but before we
come to fathers, he told children, again, in
the Lord, the model is Christ's love. Are we
together? He moved to children. Then he moved
to fathers verse four. Fathers do not provoke
your children to rat, but bring them up in the
training and the admonition of the Lord. This
is not exploitation. This is clear indication
of the good of the child. Are we together? This
is training. This is training. Hallelujah. This
same word here, bring them up in the training
is the same word used in second timuti understand
that word instruction in righteousness verse
16 all scripture is given by the inspiration
of god and profitable for doctrine for reproof
for correction that word instruction in righteousness
is this same word bring up a child then you know
that this is one is not about slap here slap
there slap here slap here slap here that means
he's talking about instruction teaching Yes,
they are children. There are times that you will
need, especially because there are moments you
will have to give them a spank. The reason is
because you tell them to do something or you
say, don't do this, they repeat it. Don't do
this, they repeat it. Don't do it, they repeat
it. If you allow them, they will manipulate you.
That's where you just give them That is to remind
them they are under authority. So, and it is
scriptural. If you read the book of Proverbs,
there is a book of instruction. There are only
few verses that talk about the Lord. Are you
two with me? This is a wisdom, it's not by mistake.
That means the bulk of the training of a child
you understand is clearly teaching and instruction
and may I tell you the first thing that a child
will learn is from your attitude that is the
major thing of teaching your lifestyle in the
house you are joking whatever you do is a useless
one if your attitude does not change your prayer
life your attitude the way you live with your
wife these are mandatory modeling is the best
way of training understand it's first and foremost
and so he told him then he moved to slaves verse
five to what verse five to what verse five to
eight right now this is another form of relationship
you understand of course so many things listen
people don't understand when you are reading
scriptures in the sun when jesus came he came
under the uh what do you call it the roman uh
will i say rule or coloniality or colonialism
right because jesus christ's mission did not
come to overthrow the the government do you understand
what i'm trying to say That was what the disciples
thought he came to do. He came to remove the
Roman government and liberate them and return
them to those days when their kings were ruling
them. We see Jesus' mission was different. So
you kind of expect Jesus came to die, to save
us from our sins, and he came, he's trying to
overthrow the government. That's not why he came.
And so just because now he didn't overthrow the
government, and you now say Jesus is supporting
colonialism. That means you are confused. Are
we together? So Paul came and found the eels
in the society. What he did was to communicate
that boat, to communicate what they should do.
He told the servants, they are believers. He
said, this is how you should treat your own master.
based according to law, not on eye service. Obedience
to them, those who are your masters according
to the flesh, with fear and trembling, with sincerity.
The fact that some of them are crude, just the
same way today, it's not different. Some of us
are employed by this thing. How many cruelty
did you have endured? How many... things that
your dues has not been paid yet. You didn't go
and overthrow the university. Did you understand
what I'm saying? So he's showing them how to
live life, you understand? Because the fact that
your university is your enemy, there is a way
to work with your enemy. He's here in the Bible.
Yesterday we saw it. You pray for them, you understand?
He said, by so doing you will heap what call
of fire in the sun the fact that somebody was
clear to you he said how you should do things
to those who do evil to you so paul is teaching
to these people even though you are servants
or you are slaves and these people might be cruel
this is how you should behave but remember he
didn't stop there he also go to their masters
themselves are we together He now turned to the
masters, verse 9. He now said, you and you, masters,
do the same. Now, say to me, do the same. Do
the same. Now, this is no way. That means the
same thing He told the servants to do to their
masters. He now is saying, you, masters, do the
same to your slaves. That cannot be a man supporting
slavery Are we together he said do the same If
your Bible is not borrowed on the line that place
because you need it tomorrow he said do the same
Do the same That means everything is being said
here is about love walk is the same thing is
only application at different point You know
what I'm saying? Different way of relationship.
Depending on how I'm relating with you. You understand?
Because Sister Glory is my church member. Are
we together? I will relate to her as a pastor.
You understand? But I can't relate with her as
her husband. Did you understand what I'm trying
to say? depending on the relationship, I will
communicate love in that manner. There is a communication
of love that Pastor Fred will do to Sister Glory,
and it's love. Me, if I do it, it's not love.
It will be lost. Did you understand what I'm
saying? So, it is a guidance. That's why I told
you, he said to the masters, do the same. Do
the same. Things to them. Giving up threatening.
Did you hear that? He said, you can't threaten
them. Slavery is based on threats. On compulsion,
on subjugation. He said, knowing that your own
master Also is in heaven meaning that in showing
to them that you must learn from your own master
Your own master is Christ Yeah, and this master
this is how he does things Are we together There
is no what partiality with him This your master
that you, you the masters must learn is that
with this master, there is no partiality. With
this master, he pays you as you work for him.
He does not exploit you. He is not a partial
master. You must learn from this master because
you also have a master. Are we together? This
is anti -slavery. This is love work. So this
context, the context of this scripture is not
slavery, is love. Remember, Pastor Fred told
us that don't bring a subject that is not a subject
being discussed. You can learn principle there.
The context here is love work, not slavery. So
Paul was not addressing the church. He said,
hey today we are going to talk about slaves and
slavery. No, he is discussing love work everyone
So Paul was giving instruction That how we should
live is a pastoral letter to the church on how
we should live the Christian faith That's the
same thing he did To Colossians because it's
the same pattern look at Colossians. I'll just
mention the same pattern Colossians chapter 3
verse 1 to 17. He also started with the general
church Talk with them in the sun if they you
are a you were raised with Christ He said seek
those things which are above in the Sun We are
Christ is seated at the right hand of God this
word above is not talking about the sky in the
sun it's talking about heaven it's talking about
the spiritual those things that are spiritual
that's where you are you say that's where Christ
is seated right remember this you are raised
with Christ uh Ephesians 2 we're raised with
Christ seated uh where in the heavies are we
together that's this same place you say that's
where Christ is seated we're sitting with Christ
here That means what Paul is saying, you should
do the things that is of your identity, which
are above. This same word means above. Again,
he said verse two, set your mind on the things
above, not on the things on the earth. Listen,
this word above on earth are figurative. He's
not talking literature here. Above mean spiritual
in Christ. On Earth means evil and the flesh.
You don't understand what I'm saying? He's not
talking about literature here. That's why when
you read down, he explained to you exactly what
he means by above and the things that are on
the Earth. It's not cars. It's not houses. You
understand? They are fleshy attitudes. Then verse
five, look at verse five. He said, therefore
put to death your members. And then somebody
will ask, the Bible says we have died. Why is
he saying we should put to death? You see, this
word put to death means to render, you understand,
to render those, remember, this your members
means your parts of body. Do you understand what
I'm trying to say? If you say put to death, that
means you go and court yourself. Amen? Members
which are on the earth. You understand? That
means you're part of the body. You understand?
Members. So when you said put to death means
behave in your own identity. That's what it means.
That means to behave according to your identity.
It means to deny or to deprive. You understand?
The members on the earth and then he mentioned
remember we talked about the issue that are on
the earth Yeah, he said that set your things
above not on the things on the earth He now mentioned
the things on the earth fornication uncleanness
Passion evil desires covetousness adored. You
know something. These are the things on the earth
He's saying don't set your eyes on those things
You should set the things on the things above
these are the things on earth so you should deny
your members these things deprive them of these
things because verse 6 of these things the wrath
of god is coming upon the sons of disobedience
in which you yourself once walked and lived in
them but now you should know you are no longer
living there you yourself you understand and
then he continued he talked about do not lie
verse 9 to one another these are things on the
earth verse 11 where there is neither greek nor
jew he talks about again our life therefore as
a let of god holy and beloved put on tender mercy
now these are the things above tender mercy kindness
Humility, meekness, long -suffering, bearing
with one another, forgiving one another. If anyone
has a complaint against another, even as Christ
forgave you. Christ is the model of the love.
So you must... You see, this is what he was teaching
the church. He said the things are both, not
the things on the earth. Then he came and started
also the same way that we saw in Ephesians. He
started dealing with the other relationships
that are within the church are we together you
now say wives verse 18 look at verse 18 wife
submit your husband then verse 19 you say husband
also you don't turn to husband love your wife
the same thing we saw verse 20 he turned to children
he said what children obey your parent in all
things in the son for this is where please remember
as we said don't just when you read All things.
All things is not all things. All things is within
the context. There's something he mentioned.
The things on the world. Above. All things. All
things. All things. Not everything. Both the
one above and the one on the earth. No! You can't
carry these all things. These all things is contextual.
is the old things above. Are we together? And
then he continued also. After children, he moved
to fathers, verse 21, right? Fathers do not just
like we saw. After fathers, then he moved to
slave, obey your earthly masters. The same thing.
And then most of us will stop here, right? But
when you move, he didn't stop there chapter four
verse one he moved to masters he has not completed
he must tell these masters he's not everybody
must hear this he said masters give your bone
servant what is just and fear is that what slavery
has been doing these people are evil they remove
all these verses give your master what is fear
is what is fear to carry somebody across the
atlantic and force him to be having sexual intercourse
or I don't know whether it's immorality intercourse
or whatever, you understand? To be giving birth
to babies, breaking families, you understand?
If you have a big chest like Chris, they will
carry you, you understand? Even if it's your
sister, they saw she's also good, they will combine
you and say you must give birth because they
want heavy, heavy children. That's evil In the
Sun is disgusting to think that a pastor a theologian
has supported this Give them what is just and
fear knowing that you also have a master in heaven
We saw it that this master is not saying knowing
that this master will also deal with you. No,
he's saying look at the master you have. This
master is not a tyrant. This master is one that
is sacrificial. The lordship of Christ is not
of servitude. The lordship of Christ is of freedom.
Go to Titus. Hallelujah. You know Titus is interesting
in the sun. Titles start with older men. This
one is telling Titus what to teach in the sun.
He said I am not here because he said just the
same way he sent Timothy. He also sent Titus.
He told Titus in verse two of chapter two. He
said this is what you should teach in the church
when you go. This is what you should do. He said
to the older men Ask them be sober, be reverent,
be sound in faith, in love, in patience. Then
you move to the older. He said to the older women
in church, tell them this. Teach them this. Older
women likewise, that they may be reverent in
behavior, not slanderous, not giving too much
wine. Teachers of good things. Are we together?
Vashfor. That they admonish. Then he said, this
is what you should do. The older women, apart
that you should teach them to live, ask them,
because you don't need to go and be teaching
everybody. As you are teaching these older women,
ask them to go and teach the younger women. Say
that they should tell and admonish the younger
women, first of all. To love their husbands.
You know, I hear some callous men when they are
discussing issues. You know, when you remove
kai, The Bible did not say a woman should love
a man. The Bible says she should submit. Because
in his mind, submission means subjugation. Stupid
man. You see, that's the problem. Remember we
already noted that the context of efficient is
what? It's love work. So the submission is what?
It's love as well. So when Titus is saying, I
mean Paul is saying to Titus, tell the older
women to admonish the younger women, to love
their husband. What he is saying also is that,
tell them to submit to their husbands. Are we
together? See, love is the fruit, fruit, not
fruits, fruit. of the spirit and it has varied
what expression love is the fruit of the spirit
and it has varied expression for the fruit of
the spirit is not is love and in love there is
patience in love there is kindness In love, there
is goodness. Are we together? So when you show
goodness, what are you showing? Love. If you
are patient, what are you showing? Love. If you
have self -control, what are you showing? Love.
Again, if you are submitting to your husband,
what are you showing? Love. Do you understand
what I'm trying to say? Everything is love, only
that is expressing itself in various ways. So
when you said, admonish young women to love their
husband is not contradicting what he said inefficient
he's just giving it adumkuli hallelujah those
from northern nigeria understand this greek word
adumkuli you understand that is i don't know
how to explain this adumkuli he's giving it as
a whole, you know what I'm saying? Hallelujah.
So he now move then to younger men, you know
what I'm saying? After telling the older women
to admonish the younger women, to love their
husbands, but also to love their children, to
be discreet, to be chaste, homemakers, you know
what I'm saying? Good, obedient, to their own
husbands that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Homemakers, you understand? Homemakers is not
saying house help. Homemakers, you understand?
If you enter to a house of a woman that is making
her home. You will see it. It means she's a coordinator.
She coordinates things. Things are not scattered.
They are not upside down in the sun. That does
not mean she is the one that necessarily have
to do it. But she is making it. And we were not
treating on this. I will not explain this one
today. That's not what we are dealing with today.
So that's exactly what he continued to speak.
Then he turned to the young man, look at it.
Likewise, you see likewise again. Likewise, that
is in the same manner. That means he's just telling
each one to do the same thing, you understand,
according to his own position. Likewise, exhort
the young men to be sober -minded. You see, he
had already told the older men to be sober. Do
you want something? He said to be sober -minded
in all things, showing yourself to be a pattern
of good work, in doctrine. Showing integrity,
you understand? Reverence, incorruptible. Young
men don't agree, you understand? People to be,
that's what he told Timothy. Don't allow your
youth to be despised, you understand? No, don't
allow yourself to be looked down upon because
you are young. Look at what they say that young
men, you understand? Not talking anyhow. Is it
the pattern of good works? Inducting. Inducting.
This is why we are desiring to raise men that
know God, that are sound. Inducting. In integrity.
Not swindlers. Not those who are craving always
to cheat someone. Men of character is an integrity.
reverence they are incorruptible these are men
young men this is a desire and the will of god
then he turned to slaves verse nine and then
talked to them as well exhort bond -servant to
be obedient to their masters to be well pleasing
in all things not in answering back What is trying
to say that don't be a tyrant also You know,
we have even employees today that they are wicked
than their masters You know something That is
not submission when your boss is speaking and
then you are answering back That is not honoring
Again, when you say all things, it does not mean
in evil, you understand? In, remember, is a context
we are talking. If you remove it, it will say
anything. Are we together? Hallelujah. Fill him
on. Let's finish with this one, because we need
to move away from this. So nobody because I have
seen a lot of people carry this narrative today
online. They are sharing See that the church
has supported this thing the church at that Yes,
we agree a portion of a church have done it but
don't use the word a church and I want to acknowledge
I mean admonish you to Don't use those statement,
you know those statement that because you have
one experience with somebody you just generalize
in the Sun Like a lady who has been jilted. All
men are the same. You understand what I'm trying
to say? No, don't be speaking like that. You
understand? We say come for counseling. You refuse.
You went behind our back. You went and start
liking the boy. Of course, when the boy displays
his boyhood. You understand? And then you come
back and say that's how all men are. You understand
what I'm saying? That's a boy. We are saying
all men. No, you have not met a man. You understand?
All you have been meeting are boys. So I've seen
all those things and vice versa. You see a man
just carelessly made. Women, that's how they
are. You have to handle them that way. You can
see your mind has been corrupted. Has been corrupted
by the doctrine of Balaam. The doctrine that
likes money. You understand? Hallelujah. Doctrine
that move to control, because that money is moving,
because they want to control something. Amen.
Are you in Philemon? Philemon 1. I'm not going
to read everything, but they use this to support
this doctrine of slavery also. They call it,
yesterday I told you, they call it the Christian
doctrine of slavery. Are we together? Amen. So
if you start reading from Philemon, they use
this, they said, Paul sent a runaway slave. He
said, go back and be the slave you are, in the
sun. Or Nussemon was back to his master. He said,
go back, in the sun. That's not what Paul is
saying. If you read from verse one, talking about
to Philemon, our beloved brother, and Phileo
Labora, the beloved Afir, archipelago, and then
he moved on. And then he started addressing the
matter downward. Therefore was it, though I might
be very bold in Christ to command you what is
fitting, yet, For what? For love what? Hey, are
we together? For love's sake, I rather appeal
to you. That's love work. You see how a man is
demonstrating it? I appeal to you, being such
a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner
of Jesus Christ, I appeal to you for my son Onesimus.
You see how you call him? he did not call him
his slave, he called him my son whom I have begotten
while in chains. So that means when he ran away
they met and he preached Jesus and now he is
his son in the faith because he was the one who
led him to Christ. Verse 11, who once was unprofitable
to you but now is profitable to you and to me.
I'm sending him back. Now, is he sending him
back to be a slave again? He said, you therefore
received him, that is my own heart, whom I wish
to keep with me. That on your behalf, he might
minister to me in my change for the gospel. But
without your consent, I wanted to do nothing
that your good deed might not be compulsion as
it were. but voluntary. Verse 15, for perhaps
he departed for a while for this purpose, that
you might receive him forever. You will receive
him for what? Does that look like a servant?
Does that look like a slave? No. Verse 16, look
at 16 particularly. He said, no longer as a slave.
but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially
to me, but how much more to you both in the flesh
and in the Lord. Amen. So Paul did not send his
unassailable back to be enslaved. No, no, he
is now a brother. Now a brother. So there's no
how this book, because the book of Philemon is
not a book of slavery. It's a book of reconciliation
and love. How we reconcile. That's the book of
reconciliation. That's what you see. how people
in dispute can be reconciled. The Bible didn't
tell us what Onesimus did. We didn't know what
actually the dabaru he caused in the sun. But
what we're saying is that, sorry, dabaru means
the Confucian. We don't know what he did. However,
for him to end up in prison, to meet Paul that
means it's something that that is reasonable
something like that did you hear what i'm trying
to say because if not they would not have met
there now if he has just run away like that just
run away that means it was something a grave
offense that led him to the prison where they
met with paul hallelujah amen now these are just
some of the texts so we will move from this one
let me introduce the next one which is the law
of gender discrimination The, why I want to spend
some time here is because it's one of the problem
we are still facing up to today. Where women
are said that women cannot teach, cannot preach
in church, cannot be pastors. Is this same attitude?
Is this same laws that is still, will I say law?
Is this same discrimination? It has been there
for a long time and has been promoted by children.
Some of them, they are professors. or will I
say they are career people, they are professional
pastors? Listen. Amen. Okay, number two. So that
was the first one. We're going to the second
one that how these scriptures has been, I mean
the context, the scripture has been removed from
its context. Number two, Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow.
Laws and gender discrimination. Jim Crow, J -I
-M -C -R -O -W. Laws and gender discrimination.
Now following the abolition of slavery, because
later on we saw this issue of the slavery led
to the Civil War America in the sand where the
North and the South fought. And of course, they
were able to win what they call the Union. They
won and then ensured that because as a result
of this, the Northern parts with the Union refused,
they do not agree with the position of the South
regarding slavery. So when they saw that the
North wants to succeed in in putting sand inside
their garden. They say, okay, we're going to
part away. We're not going to be part of the
America again. So they separate themselves more
or less like to, what do you call it in political
science? Your association, yes. Are we together?
Yes. So they now say, no, no, no, no. And they
fought the civil. Just the same with what we
had in Nigeria, the issue of Biafra. and the
disunwanted Biafra want to carve out their own
this and that the Nigerian the other part of
the Nigerian had to fight the war to keep Nigeria
united amen so the same thing so after that they
unite they abolish slavery but you see the problem
has not gone because the ideology still exists
The same theological framework we adopted and
maintain what we call a strict racial segregation.
A strict racial segregation. That's what is the
Jim Crow. It's from a fictional character. Just
make it into that. You can read about that. So
once you hear the Jim Crow loss, it's all the...
racial segregation, understand? And then later
on, we have also other form of restriction, restricting
women, those segregation, we have racial, then
we also have this gender discrimination as well,
meaning to restrict women from civil, from legal,
from leadership position, even in the church,
understand? It started, it covers a lot of things
in the society. Women couldn't vote, women couldn't,
there are so many things. Then later on they
were allowed and so on and so forth. And then
the one that persists up to now is the one of
the church, the leadership in the church. They
don't want women to lead, you understand? Hallelujah.
Because those men, if you are patriarchal, that's
why you think. Amen. Now, what are some of the
texts they brought? Let's start from Jim Crow.
They brought Ezra chapter nine to 10, Ezra chapter
nine to 10 and Nehemiah 13, Nehemiah 13, the
whole of chapter 13. Ezra nine to 10 and Nehemiah
13. So in this, passages Israel we are ordered
to dissolve marriages with foreign women in the
Sun Israel we are ordered by their leadership
at that time to dissolve marriages with foreign
women so white supremacists in the Sun in America
use these to pass laws binding interracial marriage
to depict these texts in the sun and say, no,
no, no, no, we cannot continue like that. So
they banned interracial marriage. And that's
what brought about a lot of these gender discriminations.
Now remember, as I said, what we have already
treated for the issue of slavery, are also applicable
to racial discrimination. So even after the civil
war, they came together, they were seen discriminating.
The black person cannot be where the white person
is because they are also, they are considered
all the texts we have said. They are cursed,
they are this, they are that, they are this.
And that's what brought about the civil rights
movement, Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. King. and
so on and that one we are very much aware of
all those struggles. Amen. Are we together? Yes.
So what I'm going to address much more now is
just the issue of women discrimination. Now let's
look at the text. I'm going to read the whole
chapter because we have chapter Ezra chapter
9 and 10 and Nehemiah 13. What I will do is that
I will give you a snippet that is a position
I'm going to read because it's important. Normally
when that place is read, that place is covered.
It's not been mentioned at all. So let me first
give you the order of Nehemiah contextually.
Now contextually, let's start with Nehemiah 13.
Now Nehemiah 13, when you look at from verse
23 to 24. Nehemiah 13, 23 to 24. You will see
the interracial problem. Sorry, yeah, not interracial.
Why is I'm using, because I'm using interracial.
It mean intermarital problem, meaning that the
money between Israel and the foreign, are we
together? Yes, so let me say it again. the intermarital
problem verse 23 to 24 that's the problem so
just maybe you just say intermarital problem
23 verse 23 to 24 next is how Nehemiah confronted
the issue verse 25 how Nehemiah confronted the
issue that's in verse 25 the next is king Solomon
as the bad example and this I will have to read
this place. This is where many of them jump in
the sand because the reason for the leadership
at then of Israel to ask that those marriages
must be dissolved is not because they dislike
the women. It's not because of segregation. It's
because these women are from pagan nations. And
once they come, they corrupt, you understand,
the service of God. They now lead these people
or lead the people of God into sin. So the foundation
of this take is not segregation. It's not gender
segregation. It is to remove or to stop evil,
you understand, from happening. Are we together?
Look at verse 26. Because when Nehemiah was telling
them the reason why he have to do what he did,
he gave them an example of Solomon. I think when
Paso Tike was teaching us, he made mention of
this issue here. Are we together? 26. He said,
did not Solomon king of Israel sinned? So you
see the issue is sinning. How did he sin? By
these things. What are these things? Yet among
many nations there was no king like him who was
beloved of God. And God made him come over Israel.
Nevertheless, pagan women cursed him. cost even
him to sin. Did you see the reason? Why am I
saying that? No, we will not allow you to go
to other nations to marry. We even have the king
himself. When he married, his head turned upside
down. Are we together? Hallelujah. Verse 27.
Should we then hear of your doing all this great
evil transgressing against God by marrying pagan
women. So the focus is not about just marrying
foreign women. It's marrying pagan foreign women,
pagan and the late people as three. Now you see
already the context has nothing to do about marrying
a foreign woman. is the issue of sin. Nehemiah,
let's go to Nehemiah. And sorry, Ezra. Ezra 9
and 10. Again, we're not going to read it. You
can read it later on in the son, Ezra chapter
nine, chapter 10. So I will start from chapter
nine. Again, Ezra in chapter nine, verse one
and two, he also tell the problem. or the intermarital
problem, where they go to marry the foreign women.
Then Ezra, I'm sorry, verse three to verse five,
Ezra was extremely grieved about the problem.
Verse three to five, he shows how he was grieved
about the problem. He was grieved about the problem.
Verse six, To verse 15. Israel's prayer and confession.
Israel's prayer and confession. Now I want to
read verse 10 here. So verse six to 15, it shows
Israel's prayer and confession. Let me read verse
10 to 14. And now, O God, what shall we say after
this? For we have forsaken your commandment,
which you commanded yourself and the prophets,
saying, the land which you are entering to possess
is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the
people of the land, with their abomination, which
have filled it from one end to another with their
impurity. Verse 12, now therefore, do not give
your daughters as wife for their sons, nor take
their daughters to your sons and never seek their
peace or prosperity that you may be strong and
eat the good of the land and leave it as an inheritance
to your children. Did you see why they are asking
them not to marry? because the land is filled
with uncleanness. You understand? The people
are evil. So that's the same fear which we saw
in Nehemiah. That when you marry these people,
you understand? When you marry these people,
they will come in and become and lead your children
to sin, lead your children to the seven... leaving
the living God and serving pagans. That's what
we saw with King Solomon. Verse 13, and after
all that has come upon us for our evil deeds
and for our great deal, since you, our God, have
punished us less than our iniquities deserve
and have given us such a deliverance as this.
Should we again break your commandment and join
in marriage with the people committing this abomination?
Would you not be angry with us until you had
consumed us so that there would be no remnant
or survival? So the focus is the problem that
marrying these pagan women will cause. You know,
the woman is powerful. Very, very powerful. In
history, if you want to catch a man, that's what
they have been used to. You understand? If you
have been watching maybe all the security documentaries,
maybe Mossad and all those, you must have seen
that one of the weapon they use is a woman. You
understand? Yes. So they know how strong they
are. That's why they don't want to, because if
they allow marriage, And that's why it has happened
to Solu. Before you know, he started building
all kinds of high places, shrines everywhere,
for different gods. And then turns his heart
away from God. And of course, because he needs
so much money to be able to afford that kind
of lifestyle, to provide all houses for all those
women. He had to tax his people. He overtaxed
his people. So don't think the money that Solo
got is from just his work, his business. No,
it's from taxation. And the foolish young man,
after him that came, Rehobo, they called him
and said, bro, now that you are here, this is
what your father did to you. Please, can you
just reverse it so that your people follow him?
And the foolish person would go and join your
agencies. I have them as his advisors. And he
told you, hey, don't do that. If your father
flogged with the ringer, use you scorpion. And
he led to the division of the Israel into southern
northern kingdom. I mean, just look at him. Hallelujah.
We will not be unwise in Jesus' name. We will
be wise. because every day we're learning from
the wisdom of God. We're learning to do love
work. We're learning to repay evil with good.
Are we together? Nobody is our enemy. We know
the enemy. Even though they act as enemies, people
can be enemy, they can see us as their enemy,
but we are not their enemies. Hallelujah. Are
we together? Now let me start introducing something
which will continue in the next session. The
issue of second Timothy, first Timothy chapter
two. Again we are on gender discrimination. This
is one of the hot, even today, so I'm going to
spend some time here in the sand. This scripture
has been weaponized to say that Paul say that
a woman should not teach men, and so should not
be in leadership position in the church. Verse
12, look at verse 12, first Timothy chapter one,
chapter two, sorry, verse 12. I thank the Lord
because we have already done a part of this text,
you understand, during issues of women liberty.
The series are, it's online for those of us who
are following online if you want to check that
we've dealt with the issue of uh verse nine in
like manner that women are do themselves with
modest apparel and we said again the bible writers
we are not english writers are we together so
you don't see operate and think it's clothing
no this one is not clothing here in the sign
if you look at the uh root word or the greek
word here used it's not talking about apparatus
talking about attitude is an attitude innocent
that modest attitude attitude and that's why
you see he said with with propriety and moderation
that's the attitude and then he now said not
with breaded here which means that he is comparing
attitudes are we together he's saying that your
focus should be on your attitude, not just focus
on Atwa Sapira. And I'm going to tell you reasons
why Paul was saying that, because we need to
understand again the immediate context here.
Because in Ephesus is a town of spiritual female
supremacy. You understand? So there are many
if you understand the context you now know you
appreciate the reason why Paul was talking this
week you know, sir Just the same way That we
have in the days of old and then when we are
coming we have a patriarchal society So there
are so much mentality of men in Ephesus. We have
a goddess called the Artemis in the sun I'm going
to give us some part in that because we have
to look at it and see from that what Paul is
saying here. Amen. Now, so he says, so we have
already dealt with these and we said, he's not
saying that you should not wear a braided hair
or the, no, no, no. His emphasis is that your
attention should be more, is the same or similar
text with what Peter was saying, you know what
I'm saying? That your focus should be on the
inner beauty, you know what I'm saying? So which
means that You can wear good clothing see understand,
but your Emphasis of life should not be outwards
should be in order of priority your attitude
should be ahead Are we together then in our state
verse 10, but which is proper? of women professing
godliness. So he said that this is actually the
pattern of godliness we have seen in Assam with
good works. Then verse 11. In answer, let a woman
learn in silence with all submission. And I do
not permit a woman. This is the main text. Verse
12, I do not permit a woman to teach or to have
authority over a man, but be silent. So men have
used this text and say women are banned from
teaching. They cannot teach, that means they
cannot be pastors. They cannot be elders in the
church. But is that what Paul is saying? And
so those people that are, those that weaponize
this, do gender discrimination, They have instituted,
don't go because of now, but we still have the
problem in church. But in then, including the
society, in institution, woman cannot be a leader.
Then when we have very close relationship between
the church and the state, so the church is highly,
highly connected with the state. So every part
of the organization, a woman cannot be a leader.
So it's a system of exclusion. Remember where
I told you where they started? Even women cannot
vote. So the discrimination is high, not to talk
of talking about that you... They won't get there.
And they are using Bible. The question is that,
when Paul was writing this in his head, was his
intention is to ban women from teaching. That's
the context. You know, the problem with most
of the problem we have in the church is that
we isolate a verse. First you need to ask, you
remember what we said? You need to ask a question.
First, let's turn to what we have learned yesterday.
In Christ, right? In the, that's canonical context.
In Christ, do we have any discrimination in Christ?
Are we together? We only have, there is no Greek
or Jew, there is no male or female, right? We
are all sons of God. We sang that song. We are
sons of the Lord. We are built on what? Is it
the men that are built on the rock alone? Are
men only the sons of God? No, men and women.
Are we together? What you have, we have. Peter
will said, because you are joined hairs of the
grace of God. First Peter chapter three. Dwell
with them according to knowledge, verse seven.
O you husbands, dwell with her according to knowledge.
With this understanding that you are joined here
of the grace of God That means in Christ whatever
you have she has So anything that has to do with
the With things privileges in Christ in a son
there is no issue of discrimination Anything
a man can be, a woman can be. Anything a man
has, a woman has. Because our identity is spiritual.
See, that's why I told you, if you start with
the canonical context, it already started to
dismantle the argument. Christ did not intend
to bring any division in his church, any form
of discrimination. You understand? Not tribe,
not ethnicity, not gender. You understand? There
is no any form of discrimination. We are one.
That's the emphasis of the message of the Bible.
Common salvation, common faith. Do you understand
what I'm trying to say? Our own precious faith.
We have everything common. There is nothing unique
between a man and a woman. When it comes to Christ
in the sun when it comes to the church Hallelujah
Where you begin to see the issue of headship
the difference in terms of role is in the family
setting Are we together? It's in the family setting
and that's why Paul will always ensure that when
he is talking in the chat and he's talking general,
you will know, sir, he's talking to everyone.
If he's talking to married people, sorry, sir,
he will not use as if he's talking to everyone.
He will isolate and say, children, I'm talking
to you. Married people, I'm talking to you. So
that means if talking to single people, you say
single people, I'm really talking to you. So
you cannot go inward and then carry things that
is for married people. and those paste it for
everybody or carry things that is for children
or carry something that is talking to some certain
people and then paste it or when Jesus is talking
to Pharisee and then when he said go and chill
then you two you say you two go and you want
to sometimes say no because sometimes the Pharisee
come with foolish questions and then you address
their foolishness in the sun So you have to understand
to who was he speaking to? To who was he speaking
to? When he said, when he was talking about divorce
and all that which we have seen in the son, Jesus
was addressing that. When he was even addressing
that, I say to you, who is to you? Are we together?
I say to you, who is you? You see, he is talking
people. They asked him a question. They are conversed.
They said but Moses said the letter is I say
to you That means he's not speaking to a general
people. He was conversing to this people that
were asking him question He said and he told
him and Jesus was saying anything because the
question they asked him is that can they divorce
for any other reason? That's what Moses law said
Moses law said if you see an uncleanness That's
what Jesus interpreted. I said to you, except
for the sin of immorality. That's the uncleanness.
Jesus was not inventing anything. He was just
interpreting because he wanted to make the law
blanket. You understand? He said, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no. I said to you. So that means
that even thing that he was speaking, he was
not to the church. He was speaking to the Pharisee.
I'm trying to reinterpret Moses' law. And interpreted
correctly, but the church carry it today what
Jesus clearly said That is what the church should
be concerned. Is that it was not so in the beginning
That is the will of God So don't say go and say
Jesus has a law for divorce and marriage. No,
that's the Moses law He was trying to clarify
to these people What is our own is that? In was
no soul in the beginning Are we together? So
that's what thing I want us to do as we continue
so that you will not move around and say ah Jesus
said we can divorce You know, so you say we can
divorce he gave us a condition Are we together?
Hey man Amen Divorce will happen. You know, so
we are believers. We are washed We are forgiving,
you understand? He asked us, man of God, read
the scripture yesterday, that this is the will
of God, even your sanctification, that you live
free of immorality, you know the will of God.
But sometimes, Christian, don't go and do so
fornication. You don't understand what I'm trying
to say? So what will you do to these people that
do fornication? You should throw them away because
they sin? No! We know the will of God, but sometimes
people will fall out of it. Then we bring them
back. But we cannot we cannot hold them captive
by that team. Did you understand brandy? So people
will do divorce whether you like it or not because
this is the reality of it and There are system
to bring these people in but not to use divorce
to disqualify a spiritual man. You are a liar
You can use that In the sun you can't neither
can you use fornication you understand or anything
is bad you bring the person to the admonition
of the lord but not to disqualify the person
because of that attitude never because what qualifies
us is not the attitude what qualifies us is christ
himself are we together he is a one that qualifies
us you can't buy that qualification he has to
be the one amen Amen. Now look at it. This letter,
first Timothy and second Timothy, it was written
to Timothy as a pastor in Ephesus. Please follow
me gradually because this is sensitive, so I
want to clarify this very, as much as I can.
And why did Paul send Timothy to Ephesus? Look
at 1 Timothy chapter 1. Look at verse 3. He said,
I urge you, when I went to, I went into Macedonia,
remain in Ephesus. And what are you to do in
Ephesus? that you may charge some that they teach
no other doctrine. Please, I want you to know
that. That means there are some doctrines that
have been flying around that is not according
to Christ. So he sent Timothy, I say, you must
talk these people. He said, verse four, no give
heed to feebles. So that means there are fibus.
What are fibus? Myth. Myth. You understand? Note
that one also. We are coming to it. Myth. That
means some mythical things as used as doctrine.
And endless genealogies which cause this. Now
listen, these myths are not just things that
are cooked up somewhere. There are spiritual
stories turn into something things you understand
project. Please. I want you to know this. It's
not really like We are teaching new age or something.
I know is the Bible itself That are being used
in a son, but not a sound doctrine endless genealogies
in a son Meaning that all know me. I think my
root is the house of Judah You understand? So
they will start following all kinds of lines.
Now, how does that profit your spiritual life?
Did you understand what I'm trying to say? So
there are all kinds of genealogy. Me, I'm connected
to this. Me, I'm connected to my father. All
those, even though today we do those kind of
things in some ways anyway. You understand? They
call it tribe. Right? Am I correct? We have something
that they say, this is of my tribe. I mean, in
the household of faith, we're saying, not literal
tribe. That is, we have a string that we follow.
You understand? I don't know what tribe are we
in. Are we together? So they say endless genealogies.
And these endless genealogies are myths, or fubos.
Look at what they do. He said they cause what?
dispute. Please notice the crossword dispute
rather than godly edification which is in faith.
So they don't benefit the believer. They don't
edify the believer. They don't grow the believer.
They only cause confusion and disputes and acrimony
and bitterness and envy and confusion and strife.
and division in the church. That is what. So
this Ephesus again. So now we understand now
there is a problem of doctrine in Ephesus. So
Paul sent Timothy. Okay. Hallelujah. Before we
go, let's read this church. Let's connect Act
19. Go to Act 19. Because this is when the church
was birthed. Are we together? Paul established
this church in Act 19. And I want to just read
24, because I don't want to go to read the beginning
of the church. Pastor Fred did that for us the
day before yesterday or yesterday. So I just
want to read from verse 24. For a certain man
named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver
shrines of Deanna, brought no small profit. That
word Deanna is the same in some texts, you see,
Artemis, A -R -T -E. MIS, Artemis. So, Diana
brought no profit, no small profit. That means
they are making a lot of money. They are craftsmen.
He called them together with the workers of similar
occupation and said, man, you know that we have
our prosperity by district. Moreover, you see,
And hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout
almost all Asia, this power has persuaded and
turned away many people, saying that there are
not gods which are made with hands. That there
are not gods, sorry, there are not gods which
are made with hands. Verse 27. So not only is
this threat of ours in danger of falling into
dispute, but also the temple of the great goddess
Diana. Note that goddess Diana, Artemis Diana,
Artemis or Diana, may be despised and her magnificent
destroy whom all Asia and the world Worship.
Now, when they heard this, they were full of
wrath and cried out, saying, great is the honor
of Ephesians. So the whole city was filled with
confusion and rushed into the theater with one
accord, having ceased games and aristocrats,
Macedonians, Paul's travel companions, Tati.
And when Paul wanted to go into the people, the
disciples would not allow him. Then some of the
officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent
to him, pleading that he would not venture into
the theater. Some therefore cried one thing and
the other, for the assembly was confused, and
most of them did not know. why they had come
together, verse 33. And they drew Alexander out
of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward,
and Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted
to make his defense to the people. But when they
found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice
cried out for about two hours. Great is the honor
of efficiency. So I want to tell you how they
honor this. You can imagine people, great is
the honor of you. You know, just like Asna used
to do. You know, when they are shouting, they
are trying to warm. Anyway, don't go for the
Lord, he has helped them. You know what I'm saying?
But then when they are, I, I, I, I, the Lord
is, you know what I'm saying? One thing I like
about them, they have a spirit of endurance.
For a long time, they can endure hardship. But
they will be shouting, remember in the stadium,
they will shout one thing and be dancing for
hours. Are we together? That's how they have
been shouting for two hours. Great is Diana of
visions. Great is Diana of visions. Are we together?
Please, hold this in your mind as we come. Diana
is a goddess. their whole heart. She has a temple.
So what I'm trying to let you to know that Ephesians
has a problem of female spiritual supremacy.
Just hold that as we come. Amen? Can we just
pray? We appreciate you being here today. We
hope you carry this word with you throughout
your week. Don't forget to check the show notes
for additional insights. Stay connected with
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stay blessed.