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. So today, the teaching is actually
the defense of the gospel. What we want to talk
about this afternoon is the defense of the gospel
the defense of the gospel The defense of the
gospel And now I like a few things as before
progress writes before progress our light in
a few things The scriptures, okay can we write
that the scriptures answers to itself okay that
the scriptures answers to itself meaning that
scriptures are used to corroborate scriptures
so when you read a scripture and you have a question
is still the scriptures that will answer that
question If we have a scripture, we have questions,
it's still the scriptures that will answer that
question. And you can see that in several patterns
in Jesus' teaching, that scriptures will answer
questions that arise from scriptures. And that
is why when Jesus has been asked questions, as
I think Pastor Victor and many other pastors
that have been here that acknowledge their teaching,
Already point us to how Jesus was answering questions,
right? So they talk about marriage and Where
did Jesus go to answer the question of marriage
the scriptures? right, so Jesus did not stand
out to put up a defense to say that I'm the one
that have the revelation about marriage. She
does not say we in the beginning I was there
I was the one who did it who wrote it down that
they should not be they should be male and female
no he didn't say that right he said from the
beginning he referred to them he referred to
the scripture from the beginning the creation
that's the way made male and female so even jesus
in his answers to questions in his defense of
the scriptures right quoted the scriptures or
referred to the scriptures or more specifically
thoughts from the scriptures. So we can say that
it will be very unfair and unjust of us that
we want to answer scriptural questions and we
quote ourselves. Right? We quote ourselves. Now,
there's a reason why I'm saying that because
tomorrow we are going to deal with uh some theologies
in quotes I call them I mean we also write them
as theologies but they are not theologies because
there's no other gospel right but some certain
teachings when men refer to themselves even Jesus
did not refer to a revelation Jesus never said
I saw a revelation to answer a question but rather
always refer him back in his temptation refer
back to the scriptures in his encounter refers
back with the Pharisees refers back to the scriptures.
So the scriptures answers to itself. Now the
defense of the scripture, our case scripture
is 1 Peter chapter 3. Let's go to 1 Peter chapter
3, which is where we find that word defense of
the scripture. 1 Peter chapter 3 verse, I will
put it short. Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15, from
verse 15, let's start reading. It's a, but sanctify
the Lord in your hearts and be ready always to
give an answer, right? Which scripture are you
using? Always ready to give a defense. Okay,
good. NKJV. All right, that works. So this, but
sanctify the Lord in your hearts and always be
ready to give a defense. to everyone who asks
you a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear. With what? With meekness and
fear. Having a good conscience that when they
defame you as evildoers, those who revile your
good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. We'll
come to this later. Next verse. For it is better
if it is the will of God sober for doing good
than for doing evil. Go back to verse 15 Go back
to verse 15. We'll come back to these other scriptures
verse 15 It's about sanctify the Lord in your
hearts and always be ready to give a defense
Always be ready to give a defense To everyone
who asks you a reason a reason so the defense
of the gospel requires a reason right a reason
the defense of the gospel requires a reason you
cannot just say you know there was one time to
say i'm apologize i'm unapologetic i just do
it you know you can't just do it right you can't
just do it whatever you do which is faith right
what will do is faith are we together so when
we do things there's an explanation in whichever
expression there's an explanation in the scriptures
why we do that so if someone asks you so that
you can't be able to answer this is the reason
this is the reason for the hope that is in me
with meekness and fear now the word reason is
the word apologia okay so we can write down the
word reason is the word apologia So what I want
to do is some levels of apologetics, right? Apologetics
to explain, right? We are not a faith that cannot
be explained by the scriptures. That's why I
say the scripture itself answers to itself. The
scriptures answer the questions that we have
regarding the scriptures. So the word there is
apology. Now, I've been studying faiths that
we're going to talk about tomorrow. One of the
major things that makes you know, right, that
you might be in a cult, right, is when what you
believe cannot be questioned and cannot be explained.
Okay? When what you believe is something that
is said, we just receive it, we don't question
it, and we don't explain it, you are already
in a cult. If you join them, you are in a cult.
But the faith of Christ, Right? The third of
Christ, we can question and receive explanations
from the scriptures. Okay? We can question, ask
questions, and receive explanations from the
scripture. So that word, Apologia, it's a reasoned
answer. It means a reasoned answer. Answer that
is not just shabu -shabu answer, not quick fix
answer, not Key points. It's not key point answer.
It's a reasoned answer. A verbal defense. This
is where we're going. This is what we will do.
We will give a reasoned answer, a verbal defense,
a reasoned explanation. As I said, in this kind
of explanation, you will explain, but you will
not be tired. You will explain and explain and
you keep explaining. This is what we are called
to do. As I said, we will preach the word until
the end of time. We'll keep doing it. We won't
get tired, because that is what we have been
called to do. So it's a reasoned answer, a verbal
defense, a reasoned explanation, right? It does
not mean apologizing for being a Christian. OK,
so you can write it out. It doesn't mean I'm
trying to apologize. No. If I'm giving an explanation,
I'm helping you to clear your confusion. So it
is not apologizing for being. It's not like you're
giving excuse. No, no, no, no, no, no. Apologia
is not excuse. It's reason understanding. You
are opening the minds of people to know why you
believe what you have believed. A reason explanation,
and it does not mean apologizing for being. Rather,
it is actually a thoughtful biblical explanation.
A thoughtful biblical explanation. All right.
So is it thoughtful biblical explanation? It
is given the reason for the faith that we have
in Christ. It is given a reason for the faith
that we have in Christ. Now, notice that Peter
will not, right? Peter will not assume, okay?
Peter will not, okay. All right, Peter will not
assume, right, to say that give a reason when
there will be nobody to ask you. So what it means
is that Peter knew that where these people are,
the context of first Peter, right? Okay, maybe
you should go to chapter one. You will see that
is a place where people would ask you for the
reason of the faiths that you have in Christ.
Now, first Peter. chapter 1 verse 1 Peter an
apostle of Jesus Christ to the stranger scattered
Right you see those who he's writing to right
to the stranger scattered through out Pontus,
Dalatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bethany Elect according
to the full knowledge of God the Father through
sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Christ Grace unto
you, and peace be multiplied. So, he's talking
about believers that are what? Scattered abroad.
Right? He's not talking about believers that
are in Jerusalem. Even in Jerusalem, people are
asking them questions. But he's not talking about
people that are scattered abroad. That people
that didn't know, people that are in places where
they've never probably heard about who Jesus
was. Places maybe they've never heard about the
faith of Christ. To Asia, to Brittany, to places.
that the message of the gospel might not have
been preached, right? So it therefore means that
you will be asked questions, right? So this is
the background. So therefore to say that they
should be ready to give an explanation means
that people will ask them questions, okay? So
we cannot be Christians that people cannot ask
questions. We cannot be believers that people,
people must ask you questions. They must ask
you questions about your faith. That is when
you know that you are in the faith. I mean, that's
a signal that it's obvious now, like in your
conduct, in your lifestyle and everything you
do, people are, this one is a believer. Let's
ask her about the kingdom of God. So at your
workplace, be excited, be ready for people to
say, ah, what do you think about death? What
do you think about heaven? What do you think
about, you know? Life after dates. I have a very
special person in school that always asks me
that question. Just comes lunchtime, just starts
asking those questions. And I'm excited to answer
him. And one thing I also do is I said, this
is what you believe, which we are going to come
there. We're going to come to that. I say, this
is what you believe. This is what you believe.
Thank you. All right. This is what you believe.
And I tell him, this is what we. Christian belief,
right? You see, drawing that boundary would help
us very well. Sometimes we are scared. What if
I tell him that is what I believe and his belief
is different? No, when it comes to apologia,
we're gonna teach us how to approach someone
and say, this is my stand, right? This is your
own stand. We are not standing on the same footing,
right? So people will ask the question. So in
this life, as a believer, always be ready that
people will ask you, don't hide. right don't
hide sometimes we used to hide right don't hide
in fact sometimes when we start reading the scripture
we will see that intentionally people call will
go to a place so that they were asking questions
why because he has an intention to give an explanation
of the scriptures it will intentionally start
the conversation that will lead to them asking
him questions and he will preach So every opportunity
we can be asked questions. So it therefore means
that we will be asked questions and we have to
give an explanation. We have to give an explanation.
Let's go to Jude 3. During the course of the
last three weeks of one month, the good driver,
Pastor Fred, started the foundation of this.
So Jude 3. Can I go to Jude 3? Jude 3. Beloved,
while I was very diligent to write to you concerning
our common salvation, I found it necessary to
write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly
for the fates, which was once all delivered to
the saints, right? To contend earnestly for the
faith that was once delivered to us, the saints.
So it therefore means that in these faiths that
we have, right? We are going to face people.
That is one thing we must know, right? We are
going to face people that will ask us questions
and we have to contend for the faiths. So we're
gonna face people they're gonna access series
of questions series of question series of question
Okay, all right so therefore means that we must
be ready right at all times to give an answer
To defend the faiths that we have to defend the
faith that we have. Now, please, can you tell
me which of the words that I translate to as
Apologia? The reason, right? Can you go back
to that scripture, please? Can you go back to
1 Peter 3 verse 15? 1 Peter 3 verse 15. Use KJV,
let me see. Okay, and be ready to always give
an answer. Okay, the word answer is actually
the apologia. So please, can you correct that,
right? The word answer is actually the word apologia,
right? The word answer is actually the one that
carries the word apologia. And the word reason
is logos, which is the word, right? Explanation,
right? So the word answer, please correct that,
is the apologia. The word reason is the logos.
So it means that the word answer, okay, is the
apologia. The word logos is the reason. Means
that it is something that is explained, spoken,
talked, okay? Means that something that is explained,
something that is spoken, something that is talked,
right? Something that is talked. So the answer
is the apologia that we are providing. for the
people the apologia there we are explaining and
we are using logos which is word to explain the
reason of our faith so it means like this altered
speech the logos is altered speech right what's
that is being said right the saints the saints
and we know that this same is the same that is
found in the word of god okay this logos is the
same the teachings the words that is found in
god all right so We can come together to say
that we should be ready to give an answer, Apologia,
to anyone who asks us to give an answer for the
reason why we believe what we believe. It means
that we have to give an explanation. So this
is what is expected in the life of every believer.
Now let's go to Acts 23. Acts 23. Acts 23, from
verse 1. Acts 23 from verse one. Okay, go to
26. Go to 26. I wanna show us an example. This
one, 23 will be very long. Go to 26. Because
if we go to 23, we have to read the long, little
bit long. Just go to 26. Then Agrippa said unto
Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered
for himself. Paul stretched forth his hand and
did what? And answered for himself. So Paul actually
has been arrested, right? The context of this
is that Apostle Paul has been arrested, right,
for preaching the gospel. And you know, the same
pattern. Jesus was arrested, right? Accusations
was placed before him, right? And they bring
him before Herod, okay? It's the same pattern.
Paul preached the gospel, was arrested, and they
brought him before Agrippa. Agrippa is also King
Herod, just having a title, Agrippa II. So the
same pattern, right, is what is happening here.
So he has been brought before two leaders, right?
It was before first two in verse... In chapter
25, right? In chapter 25, you go from verse 23.
And on the morning when Agrippa was come and
Bennis, the great Tom, and was entered into the
place of the hearing, the chief and the captains
and principal men of the city, at Fester's commandment,
Paul was brought forth, right? Paul was brought
forth. And Fester said, King Agrippa, all men
which are here present with us, And yet see this
man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews
have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem and also
here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
Does it sound like what he did to Jesus? Does
it sound like what he did to Jesus? Yes. So a
servant is not greater than his master. Example
in Paul's life. What he did to Jesus, he did
to Paul. So they said he ought not to leave the
Jews They said he ought not to leave from Jerusalem
and those that are here. But when I found that
He had committed nothing worthy of death. Does
he also sound a game like what's happened to
Jesus before Pontus Pilate? Are we together?
It's a pattern said I find nothing in the in
the in the life of this man that is worthy of
death He's about argument and debates about your
Jewish rights about what concerns you, and is
only stating his point of view, his position
on the matter of faith, why should it be put
to death? You know, Romans, they reason. Romans,
they reason. So they can't find anything. In
fact, from their own point of view, to debate
in theaters is a normal system of, you know,
whatever development they have, philosophies
and all of that. So for him to stay the position
is not a crime. So they couldn't find anything.
So the same thing here, after Festus has examined
him, of course it was from Felix, now Festus.
What I found out that he had committed not in
worthy of death, and that he himself had appealed
to Augustus, I have determined to send him, of
whom I have no certain thing to write on to my
Lord. Wherefore I have brought him before you,
especially before the old King Agrippa, that
after examination had, other examination had
I might have so much to write for it seemed to
me unreasonable to send a prisoner not and not
without to signify the crimes laid what against
him means there was no crime against him right
it means to defend the gospel to preach the gospel
there's no it's not a crime even in you know
the Roman system and now it's not a crime because
this is what Paul did. Then Agrippa said unto
Paul, thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul straight forth the hand and answer
it for himself. I think myself happy, King Agrippa,
because I shall answer for this day before thee
touching all things, whereof I am accused of
the Jews. Right? So Paul was there to do what?
To give an answer. Now, do you think Paul was
there to give an answer pertaining himself? No,
Paul wasn't there to give an answer pertaining
himself. He was actually there to preach to them
again, to give an explanation of the gospel again.
Right? To give an explanation of the gospel.
Now observe, especially because I know you need
to be an expert in our customs and questions,
which are among the Jews. Right? So it's a matter
pertaining to questions and customs among the
Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
My manner of life from my youth, which was the
first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know
all the Jews. So they knew him, and the kind
of person he was, which knew me from the beginning,
which they would testify that after the most
strictest sets of our religion, I leave a Pharisee.
And now I stand and I'm judged for the hope of
the promise made of God unto our fathers. Started
explaining. I am being judged on the hope that
God made, on the hope of the promise that God
made to our Father. So Paul was standing there
and explaining to Agrippa an explanation he has
done in several places and giving an apology
of why he believed what he believed, right? Onto
which promise our 12 tribes and we're going to
speak and in verse 9 it says I've already taught
with myself that I ought to do many things I've
already told myself that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus which thing I do
I also did in Jerusalem and many of the saints
did shut up in prison having received the authority
from Christ from chief priests and when they
put to death and they were put to death including
steven I gave my voice against them and I punished
them and he explained all of this now verse 14
and when uh no no from from verse 12 whereupon
as i went to damascus to continue the persecution
with authority and commission from the chief
priest at midday okay i saw the way a light from
heaven above the brightness of the sun shining
around me and then and we then we journeyed with
me and when we were all falling to the earth
i heard a voice speaking unto me and saying in
the hebrew language in the british Saul Saul,
why persecuted thou me? It is hard to kick against
the pricks, right? So we had that reading as
well. Now let's see, he quoted Jesus, let's look
to verse 19. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was
not disobedient unto this heavenly vision, but
showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem,
and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then
to the Gentiles, that they should repent and
turn to God, and do works meets for repentance.
To do works meets for repentance. For these causes,
verse 21, the Jews caught me in the temple and
then they were about to what? To kill me. Right?
So he wasn't saying anything than the fact that
he had an encounter with Christ and that encounter
changed him. because this is what was promised.
That encounter changing and onto that, because
he's preaching in this name, that is why they
have found him. Now he started explaining that
long verses and the explanation continue. Now
let's see, let's see something that happened
in verse 24. Verse 24. I think I'd like to read
from verse number two, sorry. Having therefore
obtained help of God, I continued on to this
day, witnessing both to small and great, saying
none other things than those which the prophets
and Moses did say should come. Again, explaining
that this is what has been promised to the Father,
this is what the prophets said, this is what
I am saying. So the explanation of Paul was also
in accordance to what has been written. in the
scriptures. Are we together? So Paul's explanation
is also in alignment to what has been written
in the scriptures, right? So the apologia of
Paul is from what has been written in the scriptures.
What has been written in the scriptures. Verse
23, that Christ should suffer and that he should
be the first that should rise from the dead and
show and should show lights unto the people and
to who? The Gentiles. To show light on the people
and the Gentiles. And I suspect for himself in
an apologian explanation answer to why he's been
held. What did Fester said? Fester said with
a loud voice, Paul thou art beside thyself. Much
learning doth make thee mad. Now, This okay much
learning much may be mad now then restore faces,
but I said I am not mad most noble festers but
speak forth the words of truth and words and
Sobhan is for the king knoweth this things for
whom I speak freely Right and the students have
said King Agrippa believers believers now the
prophets. I know now believers So God give an
explanation that's made people that make festers
to say you are you are out of your mind like
you are out of your mind and he said no i'm not
out of my mind Agrippa think Agrippa can bear
witness to these things that it has been said
by the prophets right because don't forget he
said you are a man that knows about the customs
are we together so we are the man that knows
about the custom and Agrippa and he asked him
you see a very way to catch someone when you
are doing evangelism after you have said everything
don't wait for the person to say what now no
no no wait for the person to say what now you
cannot preach and you wait for the person to
say what now basically i tell you that's a good
speech you know i like that i like rito i've
seen people said that yes i'm telling you really
i've seen people say you do as a believer you
don't wait you ask them straight do you believe
do you believe right you don't wait Some people
say, wow, that was a good speech. In this environment,
it's quite common. They can come to your church,
and they will hear the sound. So you guys play
good music. I like the dance in church. I like
the way people clap in church. Please don't accept
those things. Ask the person, do you believe?
When the person tells you, I like the way you
guys dress on Sunday to church, you guys are,
that's an opportunity. So really, you like the
way we dress to church? Let me tell you why we
dress to church like that. Then you preach the
gospel. and you explain, you ask the person,
do you believe? Now let's see what Agrippa said,
Agrippa verse 27, King Agrippa, believers thou
the prophets and I know that thou believers,
and Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuades
me to be a Christian, almost persuaded me to
be a Christian. It means that, this is what it
means, let me tell you what this means, it means
that Paul presented every evidence with doubts,
doubts. It means that beyond the reasonable doubts,
you know, beyond the reasonable doubts, Paul
presented that Christ is the Messiah and through
him, the penance, forgiveness of sins will be
given. He presented beyond the, but because of
the hardness of man, He said, you almost persuaded
me. I don't know why Agrippa didn't believe,
probably because Festus was there, probably because
of the culture and the people was. Sometimes,
you know, leaders, they don't want to believe
in a public place, right? They like to, you know,
it's pride. So what we see here is that beyond
reasonable doubts, two people, one said is mad.
Because for you to collect those things together,
your mind must really be beyond. You must have
a supernatural mind to bring that together. And
then, So what we see is that in our apologia,
people must be persuaded. They will not reach
halfway. You can say to yourself, in my explanation
of the gospel to someone, they will be persuaded.
They will be persuaded. They will come to believe.
They will come to believe. They will come to
believe. So, let's go to Acts chapter seven,
verse one. Acts chapter seven, verse one. Again,
then said the high priests, are these things
so? So they were asking Stephen, right? They
were asking Stephen, after all the accusations
around him, right? So, it is expected, you know,
Mbemfaba will still come there. Part of the things
that come with apologia, explaining the scripture,
is persecution. In these two cases, they are
calling them to explain. The expectation of the
Jews is that maybe they will change their mind
about what they believe, and then we will preserve
them. But Paul and Stephen did not change their
mind. And they said these things, and then the
hybrid said, are these things so? And he said,
men and brethren, fathers hacking the God of
glory appeared onto our father Abraham again
referring to what God has promised us for time.
He has promised a long time ago when he was in
Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Cairo. Now look
at those people they are not just quoting John
3 .16 like are you getting it? It's not just
one scripture they are coming from the Old Testament,
from the prophets, to begin to explain in detail
about the message of the gospel. So the Apologous
Gospel is the detailed explanation beyond reasonable
doubt. The detailed explanation beyond reasonable
doubt. So it says, God appeared unto our father
Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he
dwelt in Corinth and said unto him, get the out
of their country now this explanation went okay
until verse 53 verse what 53 so they were listening
to a preaching an explanation a defense of the
gospel that was what they listened to a defense
of the gospel the answer of steven to what they
were asking him. So the defense of the gospel
is very long. You should be prepared. So if you
want to give up, it's not something you just
quickly, that's why we say, that's why we see
that. You see that in this church we pay attention
a lot to teachings. As much as we can do anything
on a Sunday service, on a Sunday service, the
teaching time remains what? At least one hour,
if you have observed. Because the explanation
of the gospel, has to be detailed. The reason
is because you don't want to leave the person
in confusion. And that's why Pastor Victor was
saying that such kind of an explanation or a
teaching that does not explain the gospel cannot
produce life, cannot produce eternal life, cannot
produce faith in someone. So you have to be detailed
in your explanation of the gospel, in the answer
that you give people. So we say that people will
ask us questions, right? People will ask us questions.
It might be for persecution. It might be for
people to know, right? But one thing that is
certain is that they will ask questions. Now
let's see some demonstrations of explanation
of the gospel in the Old Testament, right? So
it's like more or less tracing themes of apologetics
in the Old Testament. Answers where people are
being taught. or told, or there's a practice
of it in the Old Testament. So most of the time
we want to pick it from there because whatever
we are doing today that we found in the New Testament,
right, must have been found in the Old Testament
as well, what we call the Old Testament text.
So we can trace something in the Deuteronomy
6 verse 20 to 25. Deuteronomy 6 verse 20 to 25.
good and when thy son asketh thee in time to
come saying what mean the testimonies and the
statutes and the judgments which the Lord our
God at commanded you so it means that you they'll
wake up one day and begin to say why do we observe
the Passover what is the Passover for why do
we keep the showbread why do we have all of this
then thou shall say unto thy son we were once
pharaohs born men in egypt and the lord brought
us out of egypt with a mighty hand stop that's
that's that's a picture of god's salvation so
it is from here they'll begin to explain to them
this is what happened to us and this is the message
now go to verse 22 Verse 22 and the Lord show
signs and wonders great and so upon Egypt upon
Pharaoh and upon all the household before our
eyes next and it brought us out from this that
he might bring us in to give us the land which
is swore unto our fathers and the Lord commanded
us to do all the statues to fear the Lord our
God for our good always that he might preserve
us alive as it is at this day and five and he
shall be our righteousness if we observe all
to do all these commandments before the Lord
our God as he has commanded us so we see that
he said that a generation will come and you would
need to give an explanation of why you are doing
what you're doing right a generation will come
we'll come to that when we start picking why
we need apologetics we will come to that we'll
come back to this scripture again all right exodus
12 26 to 27 the same scriptures exodus 12 26
to 27 just write that down exodus 12 26 to 27
exodus 13 verse 14 so here verse 12 says, what
mean ye by this service? So it will be practices,
it will be service, it will be whatever they
do as a nation. 13 verse 14, Exodus 13 verse
14. And shall be when thy son access thee in
time to come, what is this? That thou shall see
unto them by the strength of the Lord, by the
strength of hand, the Lord brought us out of
Egypt from the house of bondage. Again. explaining
so you can just write those scriptures down the
scriptures down joshua 4 6 to 7 joshua 4 6 to
7 observe that observe that in this explanation
is like some things were set in place and those
things triggered a question okay some things
were set in place and those things triggered
a question So when it comes to apology, it might
be your lifestyle that somebody will just see
and will ask you, why are you living like this?
Why are you not the aggressive type? Why are
you not the one that just live without principle?
Why are you so kind? Why are you so loving? So
through that, you find the means by which you
can explain extensively why we believe. words
we believe so just four six to seven it tells
you that there were stones right uh that this
may be a sign among you that when a children
asks the same thing what's minutes these stones
in this case stones stones now some 78 verse
128 my people to my law and incline your ears
to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth
in a parable and I'll utter dark sayings of old
which we have heard and known and our fathers
have told us we will not hide them from their
children we will not hide them from their children
showing to the generation to come the praises
of the Lord and his strength and his wonderful
works that he had done wonderful works that he
had done for he established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed the law in Israel and he commanded
our father that we should make them what known
to our children right known to our children now
let's write these other scriptures Micah 6 1
to 5 Micah 6 1 to 5 I'm also going to give one
again these ones are teachings right This was
our teachings, teachings, teachings, teachings.
Let's say one that the defense of the gospel,
right? You know, it's almost the only example
that it happened in a very practical way, right?
In a very practical way. Let's go to 1 Kings
18, 1 Kings 18 20 to 39, where the prophets who
has been preaching to them, right? 1 Kings 18
verse 32, 39. If you're there. Now, so here I've
sent all the children of Israel and gathered
the prophets, and they came onto Mount Camel.
And Elijah came onto all the people and said,
how long holds here between two opinions? If
the Lord be God, follow him. But if bow, then
follow him. And the people answered him, not
a word. Then Elijah said unto the people, I,
even I only remain a prophet of the Lord, but
Baal's prophets are 450 men. Let them therefore
give us two bullocks. Let them choose one bullock
for themselves and cut it into pieces and lay
it on the wood. And put no fire under it, and
I will dress the other bullock and lay it on
the wood and put no fire under it. next and call
you on the name of your gods and I will call
you on the name of the Lord and the God that's
answered by fire let him be God and all the people
answered and say it is well spoken right in this
case there is no teaching right in that sense
but what we observe is that he was providing
evidence to them by signs I want us to say that
God is God right God is God so that's a demonstration
demonstration so we can say that in apologia
right in explaining the demonstration of the
spirits okay the demonstration of the spirits
can aid in our explanation of the gospel or will
aid us in our explanation of the gospel the demonstration
of the spirits so you are teaching someone about
jesus and you have preached to the person and
you call the person and say, can I pray with
you? You hold the person's hand and the person
receives instant healing. So the demonstration
of the spirit comes with, can hear those or will
hear those in the explanation of the gospel,
in our prologue. Good. Now let's go back to 1
Peter 3, 15. Let's go back to that first Peter,
which is our key scripture. It says, was sanctifying
the Lord in your hearts. Now let's talk about
sanctifying the Lord in our hearts, right? Santification,
I don't know. What does this mean? It is simply
to set the Lord aside, is a form of a consecration,
right? So what this means is that above all,
right? There is a place. where you have a concentration
that's any time you are ready to give an apology,
an explanation, an answer about the gospel. So
again, let me say it. Being ready to give an
answer about the gospel is concentration and
is sanctification. You are sanctifying yourself.
Being ready always to give an answer about the
message of the gospel is your concentration,
is your sanctification. It means you are set
aside. It means all the ideologies in this world.
You are set aside that when you are called, when
you are asked, you are ready to give. So that
is consecration. Because that is why I say, but
sanctify the Lord in your hearts. In today's
world, you say the Lord has a special place in
my heart. He has a special place that if you
just touch any wrong doctrine, I would be kind
to explain to you that you are not representing
God well in your teaching. So it means that you
are ready. You are ready. It's not being apprehensive,
but being ready. You are just ready to teach
someone. You are ready for someone's knowledge
to increase and come to faith. So that sanctification
there means when you are able to give an explanation,
It means you are putting yourself in a state
of consecration. Now, it matches with Isaiah
8, verse 13. So we can go to Isaiah 8, verse
13. Isaiah 8, verse 13. It says, sanctify the
Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear,
and let him be your dread. Sanctify the Lord
of hosts himself. Now, this is a situation. where
they were facing enemies. And it says, sanctify
the Lord of hosts himself and let him be your
dread. So it means that you hold on. Now go to
verse 20. Let me read them together. Verse 20.
It says, so the law unto the testimony, if they
speak not according to the words, it is because
there is no light in them. If we read it a little
bit. me open them from my scriptures then we
can get a little bit of a context of what is
happening there and then we can build on that
so it's like they're facing uh isa 8 sorry let's
open it quickly all right good so if you read
from verse Verse one, so the Lord said unto me,
take thee a great school, a great rule, and write
it in a man's pen, consigning Melchaleh as bash.
And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record
Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of, the
name is there, right? Verse three said, I went
unto the prophetess and she conceived. Now this
is in a situation of distress, actually, in Israel,
right? It's in a situation. of distress. Of course
we know Isaiah was talking about where they were
in distress. Now verse 7 says, now therefore
be you the Lord bring upon thee the waters of
the river and the waters of the river strong
and many even the king of Assyria and all is
glory and he shall come up over all the channels
and go over all the banks and he shall pass through
Judah he shall overflow and go over and go over
he shall reach even to the neck of the outstretched.
Right so the whole context here right is Israel
right being in distress Israel being in exile
and this is Isaiah prophesying and verse from
verse 11 says for the Lord spake thus to me with
a strong hand and instructed me that I should
not walk in the way of these people saying saying
not a confederacy to all them to whom these people
shall say a confederacy neither fear their fear
nor be afraid was sanctified the Lord right so
it's like holding on to the God's testimony in
a circumstance right holding on to God's testimony
in a circumstance if you keep reading it says
and it shall be for a sanctuary but for I shall
be for a sanctuary but for a stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense to both the house of Israel
and for a jinn and for its net to the inhabitants
of Jerusalem and many among them shall stumble
and fall and be broken and be snared and be taken
bite of the testimonies to seal the law among
my disciples so it's mainly emphasizing if people
set aside right sanctify the Lord our voice himself
and letting be your fear so the fear here right
is talking about reverencing God in a circumstance
okay so reverencing God in a circumstance so
we can say that to be ready to give an account
of the gospel is actually a reverence to God
in that circumstance. So be ready to give an
account and explain the teaching and say this
is what the scripture says is actually reverence
to God. So if you want to reverence God, if you
want to honor God, if you want to fear God in
the words of Isaiah is that you are always willing
to give an account. Now let's now see, the next
thing is, why do we need apologetics? Is it just
for the fun of it? Is it just to show that I
know Bible? No, definitely not. Definitely not.
Why do we need apologetics? That's the next subheading.
Why should I be so engrossed in the scriptures
that I can explain the scriptures from Genesis
to Malachi and to Revelation talking about the
message of God? Why? Why is it important? Why
is it important? The first thing is that a generation
would rise. A new generation would rise. Or I
think I wrote it there, a new generation will
always rise. A new generation will always rise.
Today you have, I mean, let's even use the scientific
way of saying it. You have Gen Z, right? After
Gen Z will be done, you have Gen Alpha, right?
It means that new people would come. Right? And
they will come, a new generation will always
rise. Just like the children of Israel are the
new generation that knew not the law or what
God has done. And that is why they were instructed,
write it down. Let the stones be there. Let the
book be here. Let the statues be there. Why?
So that even before you say you want to teach,
your children will do what? They will ask, why
are we doing this? Right? Why are we doing this?
So a new generation will always rise. Now we
are a new generation. This generation is totally
different from mine. In my generation, I mean,
I'm still very young. I think the way I'm saying
it is looking as if I'm old. But being in, let's
say, in my 20s, let's wait. I think we can say
that now, right? Being in my 20s, you can say
that now, right? Sometimes I used to feel myself
still very young. Now, in my own 20s, Which,
of course, even before my 20s, the zeal and passion
we have for God, I beg to say that is different
from this generation. I really do beg to say
that the zeal that we have, this generation looks
a little bit cold. I'm sorry to say. Now we didn't
have all the revelation. We just had one thing.
Jesus followed. That's it. We were reading all
manner of books. We fell into the ones that are
good. We came out. We fell into the ones that
are good. We held on to it. So we fell into the
ones that are bad. We came out. The ones that
are dangerous. Then one thing we held on to this
one. Right? In my own time, they don't, they
don't compare you to come to church. You want
to be in church. Like they don't have to, you
know, you have to save money. They don't tell
you to save money. You trick. It's not a joke.
We trick from Goyeli to Fuwa. They are here,
at least people that were here. And it's not
here we started. We started from far back home.
where you go and carry the speaker with your
head. I'm not saying that you should not desire
comfort in this time, but when it's not available,
then stretch. Stretch. So a generation will come.
In fact, the way we did, you know, now we're
saying, okay, rich canonicals, we're trying to
push each other. Some of us came here three months
in Cyprus to down the Bible. I'm not kidding.
What were you doing? You go to school, you go
to church, you come back home. Where? No club,
nothing. They don't do anything. No social activities.
We're sitting down. So sometimes I try to understand
the zeal. So it means that in this generation,
we need to do what? To teach the zeal of my father's
house. Right? We need to do what? We need to
teach the zeal of God's house. We need to teach
it again. I remember sometimes we were going
to meet in Pastor Frey's house. That time, now
the transfer system is very good in Cyprus. right
we have class now that time going early boss
will stop at seven seven thirty and we'll have
meeting in pacifist house in probably in other
coin or yenikent area and we are living in merits
i know some of you two are doing that tricks
now so we'll get bishop will carry a guitar we'll
be singing and be trekking till we get to merits
but some people got started knowing us that these
people always come back playing guitar and all
of that and I'm saying that this thing did not
started here what happened here in this is because
we already had the zeal and the truth about the
matter is another generation will rise truly
not maybe because it's not about zeal or maybe
because it's a generation where is the internet
generation every gospel everything is online
right your short message is the someone that
works for you you know attention span all of
the it therefore means that we need to explain
the zeal again of my father's house to us right
so generations will come and things will change
but one thing that must be consistent that we
must keep emphasizing the importance of the gospel
we must keep emphasizing now it's better i don't
know their generation i'm praying for them you
know trusting god That is why it is not wrong
for them to be praying now. So that when they
grow, they'll say, daddy, what is these tongues?
Then we can teach, right? Why do we go to church?
Then we can explain, right? Because that is the
way they will be preserved. So generations will
come. Generations will come. And things will
change. Many systems will change. So we must
be ready. Right, I think it was first was saying
past I was asking about some questions that didn't
come out From the scriptures stretch on that.
It is not a context of Paul or Peter But yet
we have to from the wisdom of the scripture answer
those questions is the same explain Just like
pastor Fred pastor Victor did The bunting or
the feminist and all those ideologies and those
supremacists and all of that. We must be able
from the scripture to explain what is the will
of God. So, Apologia, therefore, is for us to
be ready for energy. Now, the word of God, the
scripture, is transgenerational. You must acknowledge
that. So, whether you are A, B, C, D, E, F, depending
on the category they put you, or you are the
one that live wilderness and you are the one
that is entering Canaan, it doesn't matter. The
word of God is transgenerational. Therefore,
it will stand. So it is for any generation. Any
generation. Therefore, that's why we have to
repeat it. We don't have to update it. Those
ones that are trying to make it the language
of today, try to make it, the Lord is my friend.
We. They are putting in, the Lord is my shepherd.
They are changing it to something else. There
are translations, if you touch. Yes. They are
giving things like that. So you have to avoid
all of those things. You don't need to keep it
the way it is. So we must keep it our soul. That
is one. A new generation will come and they deserve
thoughtful answers. Now you must know that you
owe the generation to come a thoughtful answer
about the scripture. You owe them that. We owe
them because it's instruction from God. We owe
them that. You will give back to children. That's
another thing. Your kids will come. They will
ask you. they will tell you somebody told me
outside that I can be a boy and a girl at the
same time and you will need to explain that and
you will tell me with scripture if you are not
grounded in the scripture so we must know that
generations will come will give back the children
and we owe them one thing that the word of God
will not be scarce in our generation the word
of God will not be scarce in our generation yeah
so the next one is Reason why we need apologetic
teacher, there are some sincere teachers that
needs to be corrected. And I mean the word sincere
teachers that mean to be corrected. Now, sincerity
does not excuse wrong doctrine, okay? Sincerity
does not excuse wrong doctrine. There are some
sincere teachers that needs to be corrected.
Sincerity does not excuse wrong doctrine at all.
It doesn't. Wrong doctrine is wrong doctrine.
Whether you know it, whether you don't know it,
wrong doctrine is wrong doctrine. But accepting
correction is honorable. Yes. But accepting correction
is honorable. It's honorable. Accepting correction
is honorable. For the first one, Deuteronomy
6 .20 still stands for a new generation will
rise. The 206 -20 still stands for that, for
the first one. The second one, Acts 18, verse
24 to 28, Galatians 2, 11 to 14. For the second
one, some T, some synthesizers that needs to
be corrected, Acts 18, verse 28 to 24, 24 to
28, sorry, and Galatians 2, 11 to 14. Acts 2
Timothy 3, 16. 2 Timothy 3, 16. Now in Acts 18,
verse 24 to 28, you can see a sincere teacher,
Apollos, okay? He was sincere, teaching, okay?
Those are sincere. That's a sincere teacher.
He was eloquent in the world. So eloquent is
also not revelation, okay? Eloquent is not revelation.
So he was sincere in what he was teaching. but
it was not accurate it was sincere and it was
eloquent yet not accurate sincere and eloquent
yet not accurate we know the scripture so we're
not going to read it and we'll move please don't
let my time disappear and reduce just bring it
back thank you all right so let's read peter's
case calatians 2 verse 11 to 14 let's read peter's
case and when peter was come to aunt george i
was stood in to the face because it was to be
blamed for before the starting before that starting
came from James he did eat with the Gentiles
but when they were calm he withdrew and separated
himself fearing them which were of circumcision
now go back go back to go back to uh that scripture
let me see uh go back to the first verse that
I that I mentioned, right? Galatians 2 .11. Now
look at it. He said, I withstood him. It means
that Paul, right, approached Peter. Why? Because
he was to be blamed. What was to be blamed? I
think some transitionists put it very well, that
he stood condemned, right? What that means, we
are going to dig deeper into it. It means that,
let me tell you what that means, a four time.
It means that Peter provided evidences that Gentiles,
Peter, I'm saying Peter not Paul, are part of
what God is doing. Peter practiced that, okay,
and that is why he hurts with the Gentiles, and
I'll say that with them. Do you get? Now, when
someone else came, some circumcision party, Peter
now stood before them. I saved the evidence of
what he did is wrong. That is what it means.
So Peter stood before them as if he did the wrong
thing. Like I presented evidence to you. We're
gonna see it when it comes to Apologia. This
thing I'm teaching is very important for Apologia.
You know why? Because one of the things that
would happen is that Apologia is actually to
make people, go back to the scripture. You just
put that, I need that word blame there. Apology
is actually to make people to stand blamed. Actually,
it's also another word is ashamed. Now it is
not to shame somebody. It is not to insult somebody
because when I explain spiritual, I'm not saying
to insult you, right? We're gonna see that is
either blamed or ashamed. You can use either
of the two because they refer to the same thing.
It means that you have provided all evidences
that this is true. Someone now comes and begin
to say something. And you now feel, ah, this
thing is not true. You now felt this thing is
not true for all the evidences that you provided.
This is what happened to him here. So he felt
like, ah, maybe all these things that I'm teaching
is not true because some people came. That is
why Paul had to stand before him and say, no,
there is more than sufficient evidence. So the
things that you did and you teach, there is more
than sufficient evidence. So you should not stand
blamed. Why should you stand blamed? Why should
you stand as if the evidences and the life you
live is not what Christ expected? So he said,
no, you cannot stand blamed. You cannot stand
condemned. But when we are preaching, right?
We're going to come to that. When we are preaching
and we are speaking to someone, What we want
the person to do is to see that amidst all their
evidences, the scripture supersedes. Right? And
that will be that to show them that this evidence
from the scripture supersedes so that they can
discard their evidences. We're going to see that
even from tomorrow. So what we'll see here is
that they are sincere. Now, is Peter a sincere
teacher? Yes. Is Apollo a sincere teacher? Yes.
They are not doing it for their bellies. They're
not doing it for their belly. That's what I mean
by a sincere teacher. And they are also receiving
what? Correction. They're also receiving correction.
The next one, which I think for this one we will
see it's correct. The next one is false teachers,
mockers, and scoffers. Why we need apologetics?
False teachers, scoffers, mockers. False teachers,
mockers, and scoffers. must be answered so that
others are not deceived. They must be answered
so that other people will not be deceived. So
you cannot allow somebody to just be saying something.
Now, I'm not saying online. Please don't quote
me. I'm still talking about in an environment.
This has not gotten to that, right? So we are
somewhere and someone is teaching what is not
correct. I can approach them and correct them.
I said again that false teachers, mockers, and
scobards must be answered so that others are
not deceived. Right? Romans 16, 17 to 20. Romans
16, 17 to 20. Now I beseech you brethren, mark
them which cause divisions and offence, contrite
to the doctrine ye have received, and avoid them.
Next. For they that are such serve not our Lord
Jesus Christ. Did you see? This group is different
from Peter and Apollos. Are we together? This
group is different from Peter and Apollos. He
said those, these ones, they are not serving
our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter and Apollos, they
are serving the Lord Jesus. But their own belly,
you see, and by good words, words, hold on to
that good words, and fresh pitches, they deceive
the hearts of the simple. Verse 19. For your
obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad
therefore on your behalf But yet I would have
you wise unto that which is good and simple concerning
evil means talking to them about this people
and God of peace shall bruise Satan under your
feet shortly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you. Amen So the instruction is to these
people that cause division. How do they cause
division because division by first pitches first
pitches, you know Let me use the word of Pasto.
They use literature. Maybe, I don't know, I'm
trying to find the word for it. You know, they
put words together, right? They put words together.
I don't want to say the very popular one so that
it doesn't look like Aspire to Paspire, you know,
those kind of a thing. Those kind of very sweet
words, right? They bring it together. Now, again.
They are using the scripture to do this thing.
They are using the scripture to do this. So first
speeches, speeches are very attractive, very
attractive, right? This is what they are doing,
good words to lure people away. So now go to
1 Peter 3 verse, 1 Peter 3 verse 16, let's see
what is there. Okay. He said having a good conscience.
Now from verse 15, we already have established
what is happening in verse 15, right? Good verse
15, let's read it quickly then we'll come to
16. But I'm sorry, the Lord, the God in your
heart and be ready always to give an answer to
every man that ask it, that ask get you a reason,
right? Of the hope that is in you with meekness
and fear. The next one, having a good conscience.
Now see, having a good conscience that whereas
they speak evil of you, as evildoers means that
in their evidence you you are evildoer. Now what
will happen to them? They may be ashamed that
falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
They may be ashamed that falsely accuse your
good conversation in Christ. So don't forget
the conversation is coming from sanctify the
Lord to give an answer right? So your answer
right that they may be ashamed that firstly accuse
you of your answer in Christ's okay the answer
you are giving them they will be ashamed now
what is our shame our shame is able to put them
to shame no it simply means that by evidences
what I explained right all evidences that you
will present they will see that this one that
we are holding is not the evidence of Christ
do we get it put more scriptures put more scriptures
where we need to put them. Luke 3 .16, let's
just write them down, then we'll read them. You
will see the opposite of ashamed, right? This
ashamed that they use here. You will see the
opposite of it soon when we read the scriptures.
Luke 3 .16, 2 Corinthians 10 verse 8, Philippians
1 verse 20. Luke 3 verse 16, 2 Corinthians 10
verse 8. Philippians 1 verse 20, sorry. So let's
go to Luke 3 verse 16, please. Luke 3 verse Luke,
not second, okay. All right, so in these scriptures
you will see, and then as I send on to them,
I did, sorry, is that a scripture I need? That's
quite interesting. Where's the 2 Corinthians
10 .8? Let's go to that one. Let's see. Luke
3 .15. Use the hearts. Just go to 2 Corinthians
10 verse 8. For though I should boast somewhat
more of our authority, which the Lord had given
us for edification, not for your destruction,
I should not be ashamed, right? This is the same
word there, right? Though I should boast somewhat
of our authority, which he had given us for edification,
right? And not for your destruction, I should
not be ashamed. It means that by the evidence
of knowing the authority God has given me, right,
it is for your building, lest I will be ashamed.
Let's be ashamed. The next scriptures are Philippians
1 -20. That's the one that will give us this
quickly. According to any expectation and my
hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed. So really
according to the ns expectation and my hope that's
in nothing I shall be ashamed but with all boldness
as always and so now also Christ shall be magnified
in My body whether is be life or by dead. So
look at it is it that's in nothing I shall be
ashamed but what's What's that with all boldness?
So it means that when I come to teach and I explain
and I give an answer pertaining the power and
demonstration of God and the suffering of Christ
and his glory and his ascension in me, when I
give evidences to it, those false teachers will
lose their boldness. Do you get it? It is Sean
profane babbling, right? You know there are scriptures,
Sean profane, that is it. So we would not, they
will be shut up, right? They will lose their
boldness. So it's not like, you know, they'll
come out, they have boldness to teach, right?
But when they see sufficient evidence, like Elimas
saw the teachings and the miracles, right? I
feel it did, right? And what happened? It dropped.
It dropped, right? So what happened is that when
sufficient evidence is presented, people who
are false prophets will lose their boldness.
Muckers and scoffers will lose their boldness
when evidence is beyond reasonable that as we
teach so of course uh the scripture we put there
is sufficient right to take now first emotive
four verse 16 you can add it you can add that
to it first emotive four verses said take heed
unto thyself and unto thy doctrine continuing
them for in doing this thou shall save thyself
and them that hear thee so one of the things
why we have to teach and explain scripture apologetically
is that we will save people we will save people
we will snatch people from the hands of the enemy
right we will snatch people from the hands of
the enemy so that's one of the reasons why we
have to explain so that we can save you know
the people from wrong doctrine Good, the first
one is that there will be persecution and you
need boldness to speak. Okay, there will be persecution
and you need boldness to speak. Now we've seen
that in the case of Stephen, we've seen that
in the case of Apostle Paul, right? We've seen
that in both cases and in all the lives of the
disciples, we've realized that when there is
persecution, there is always an answer. for the
gospel so you cannot be persecuted and they ask
you why are you being persecuted and you cannot
give a comprehensive answer of why you have been
persecuted so persecution will come and you must
give an answer right you must give an answer
first Peter 3 17 the first Peter just go to verse
17 first Peter just go to the verse 17 of that
first Peter he said it is better if the will
of God be so that you suffer for well doing than
for evil doing. What is well doing here? To give
an answer for the gospel, right? Well doing here
is to give an explanation for the gospel and
if you suffer for that you say let it be so.
It therefore means that persecution or giving
an answer for the gospel would come with that
or persecution will require you to explain further.
what Christ has done. So you need boldness. You
need boldness to teach, to explain why you have
been, you know, some will say, at least in the
course of it, a number of people will be saved.
But you have to preach the right message. In
the course of being persecuted, a number of people
will be saved. I think Masfredo was telling me
that someone went to debunk, you know, some religious,
you know, false teachings and in the place of
having a conversation over the doctrine of a
particular religion and our religion and our
faiths rather two people give their lives means
two people believed and they followed Christ
on the sports and within that confinement that
environment they killed the person who gave the
defense right that's a game painful but again
right that's a game Paul was saying, for me to
leave is Christ, right, to die is gain. That
is how much painful is it? Two people on the
spot. That is great, right? But how did he do
it? Sufficient evidence so that these people
became ashamed and they didn't know how to respond
than to kill. Sufficient evidence. If you tell
that man if he was alive I asked him would you
like this kind of story I bet you he will say
no matter how painful I think is a good one so
persecution will come and it is the reason why
we need sufficient evidence right sufficient
evidence you know let me let me put it funny
if you want to die for the gospel die for the
correct one like make sure what you are teaching
is the correct one is what dying for right so
be sure So that's why we need to pay attention
to these. So just put scriptures, Acts 7, Stephen's
story again, is another one, Acts 7 in that context.
Acts 4, 29 to 30, Acts 4, 7, just put chapter
7, chapter 7 is fine, across all chapter 7. Then
Acts 4, 29 to 30, that you will grind unto thy
servant, with all boldness they might be able
to do. That is why it's apologia when you say,
should we listen to God or we should obey man?
They cannot say obey man. They cannot say obey
man. They know that you should listen to God.
You should do what God requires you to do. So
that's an apologetic approach to approach people
who are hard -hearted. Now, the fifth one, which
is the one we are going to deal with tomorrow.
very well, we're going to deal with this tomorrow
very well, is we need apologetics because of
groups that are misrepresenting the Bible. Put
it that way. We need apologetics because of groups
that are misrepresenting the Bible. Now, it is
different from, you see, if you are false prophets,
right, it's okay. One here, there. But when they
become an organization, it's more deadly. If
you have one or two prophets, one by one, we
can hold them, right? We can just share ourselves
here and we can go and teach. But when it becomes
an organization, it becomes a very deep problem,
right? So, and the influence is spreading. So
we need this, right? Because of this group that
represents the... the scriptures now the interesting
thing is that most groups want to found a foundation
in the bible like everybody wants to use the
foundation as the bible like you want to start
your conversation your story is from the bible
your it's either you say oh the bible is corrupt
then you build your own or you say after the
bible we collect another revelation why is it
the bible it shows the that shows the authenticity
of the bible if it's not authentic if you use
or roomil as book, it will not be a problem.
We're not even gonna discuss anybody that did
not touch the Bible here. But if you touch the
Bible, we will discuss you. Yes, that is it.
Because you pick the Bible as the authenticity,
and we all know the authenticity of the Bible,
and you build a wrong doctrine on it. So as a
result, those groups needs to be touched upon
gradually, because when you go out, those are
the people you meet. Now, if you meet, if you
meet, a nominal person, right? The person doesn't
have arguments. They don't have much, right?
You are too loaded, right? So even you, you're
trying to just put them within Romans 10 and
John 3 .16, right? You're not going to bend hell
to him, you know? The uniqueness and the appearance
of, you're not going there. You're just giving
them, you're giving them little. But you see
this group. They went to study that Ben Elohim
and interpreted it wrongly. And they gave it
to people to swallow. That is unfaithfulness.
Okay? So these people that are unfaithful with
the Bible, they are unfaithful. That one we cannot
condone, right? We need apologetics for those
ones because they are not propagating the Bible.
Now under them, let's quickly touch to... We'll
touch one or two there about... So under this
five, can you just put A, right? Just put A.
Those who assume we are same. Those that assume
that we are same, right? There are people who
assume that we are same, we are the same. You
know, we serve the same God. And this one is
common in this environment. Put at 14 .11. At
14 .11, let me show you. People who thought apostles
were same with them. And when the people saw
what Paul had done, They lifted up their voices
saying, in the speech of Laconia, the gods are
come down to us in the likeness of men. They
assume that it is the God that they have been
serving, right? That appear to them in the person
of Apostle Paul. Right? So there are people who,
when you manifest or you do something, they'll
say, oh, we are the same. We are serving. Now
look at verse 12. Go to verse 12. And they called
Barnabas Jupiter. And they called Paul's Macurius.
Because he was the chief speaker, next, then
the priest of Jupiter. Can you see? They called
a service immediately, which was before the acidity,
brought oxen and gallants onto. We are not the
same. It's something else. Let's see how the
apostles responded. no no come back to the previous
scriptures and brought garlands onto the gates
and would have done sacrifice to the people right
with the people rather next which when the apostles
them when the apostles brother buds and poor
head of they rent their clothes and ran in among
the people crying out go to the next verse now
that rents in and they just are they just like
they what would i say they just spoil the show
there you know if is a if they were not believers
let's say they were not apostles right the moment
you see that they have made you influencer right
what will you do you're gonna follow us right
you gotta follow us and before you know everywhere
the city they've made you the king jupiter and
more mercurius but look at their response and
saying sas why do you these things why do you
these things we are also men we are also a man
of light passions with you and preach unto you,
that ye should turn from this thing, this same
thing that you are doing, that you want to do
unto us, unto the living God, which made the
heaven and the earth and the sea and all the
things that are therein. Who in the past suffered
all nations to walk in their ways, nevertheless
he left not himself without weakness, in that
he did good and gave us rain from heaven and
full seasons, filling our hearts with food and
gladness. And with this saying, Scarce restrained
they the people, that they had not done sacrifice
unto them. And there came Tita, certain words,
Jews, from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded
the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him
out of the city, supposing he was dead. So, of
course, you know what the Jews do, right? This
is their style. They look for a crowd, right?
They look for a crowd, and within the crowd,
right, they create a rebellion. They create a
rebellion. They create a rebellion that creates
a problem for the apostles. So they couldn't
preach. Now if those Jews were not there, maybe
they would have sat down and they would have
taught them continuously. We have the ones that
they were saying to the unknown God. And from
there, we're going to see that much more. I think
very closely now we might have to see that. So
we have people who might find unifiers, but there
are no unifiers. Is it that you're here or you're
not here? So we have that. Now one of the things
we must convince them of, convince them, one
of the things we must convince them of is that
although, right, humanity is the handwork of
God, right? Humanity, all of us being humans,
right? We are created, right? Humanity is the
handwork of God, right? Means God created humans,
means created Adam and from Adam we are procreated
and as a result we say God created humanity,
right? God is not the father of all. God is not
the father of all. Although God creates humanity,
right, without whom there will be no breath of
life in any man. God is not the father of all.
God is not the father of all. Acts 17, 24 to
27. Acts 17, 24 to 27. Now you see here, it says,
God that made the world and all things therein,
seeing that his Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth
not in temples made with hands, neither is neither
is worshipped with man's hand as though he needed
anything seeing that he give it to all life and
breath and all things and had made of one blood
all nations of men for to dwell on all the face
of the earth at the time in their times before
appointed and bounds of their habitation right
that they may seek the lord if aptly they might
feel after him and finding though he be not far
from every one of us. So it's talking about God
creating a people within this earth, okay? It's
not saying that he's the father of all. So God
creates, that's why saying that they should seek
the Lord that they might find him. Okay, that
they should seek the Lord that if he's talking
to, if he's talking about that those people that
God created are believers and he's talking about
the creation in Christ, he would not be saying
they should seek the Lord and find him because
they found God. So it was coming from explanation
of a general creation, right? Explaining to those
who say to the unknown God. From that point,
it was coming to explain the gospel to them.
Right? So we can acknowledge that, well, we did
not exist. No man, no person created any man.
God created Adam, and from there, we exist. So
we can agree. But to say that he's the father
of all, no. So he's not the father of all. Neither
is he the God of all. Hallelujah. Neither is
he what? The God of all. He's not the father
of all. He's not the God of all. Everybody knows
their father. Ephesians 2. Ephesians two. Ephesians
two. From verse one. And you hear at quick in
who we are dead in trespasses and sin. When in
the past year worked according to the course
of this world, according to the prince of the
power of air, the spirit that is at work in the
children of disobedience right the spirit that
is at work in children of disobedience so it
means that the children of disobedience in this
world there are people now is this one talking
about believers that have come to believe right
but it simply refers to people who are working
according to a spirit that is not a spirit of
god and therefore god cannot be their father
and neither will he be their God. Now if you
read when Jesus is talking to the Pharisees,
right, it tells them, it says, you know your
father, right, it talks about your father the
devil and his activities from the beginning.
So it means that the source of what they are
doing is from the devil. So when people see us
and say, oh we serve the same God, we serve,
you have to ask them, what do you mean? Tomorrow
we are going to see that. The way people have
used terminology, even salvation, It's worse
these days because even in movies, you'll be
seeing atonement. You'll be seeing salvation.
You'll be seeing deliverance in movies. And this
has become the order of the day. And people are
believing this thing. So we must know that we
are not the same. Now let's look at the second
one. The second group on that is five. Those
who believe Christianity is perverted, right?
or the Christendom is perverted. Those who believe
Christendom is perverted. They literally go after
it and say, in fact, some of them refuse to call
themselves Christians, or they say the Christendom
that we practice, Christianity is perverted.
And the third one is those who believe they are
totally different from us. Those who believe
they are totally different from us. Now, what
is As we close, what is our responsibility? We're
gonna see more of it tomorrow. Our responsibility,
right, towards them. First, it's still love,
right? It's still love, but much more. Much more.
Holding on to the faithfulness and integrity
of God's word in our explanation to them. Holding
on to the... faithfulness and the integrity of
God's Word in our explanation to them. Why did
I say love? Because most of these groups, right,
they actually, they're actually anti or antagonistic
towards the gospel. Clearly antagonistic towards
the gospel. Clearly, what I mean clearly, they
go, I mean, they come and say, this is, you know,
this is not a faith. right so so our job to them
is clearly love and faithfulness in or to the
integrity of God's word so the integrity of God's
word so we'll stop here for today so that we
can continue tomorrow we still have a whole lot
to cover but as we go one thing i want us to
go is to have a mindset that you will study the
scripture sufficiently enough to be able to explain
the message of salvation, that there will be
no subjects, there will be no question, right?
I'm trusting that after this meeting we are going
to prepare a material, I think that's a question
raised that matter at some point in time, that
we're going to prepare materials, right, for
us, that you will have those materials and when
you go out before the person says anything you
know where the person is coming from and in love
you will explain to the person and bring the
person out of darkness into the marvelous line
of price. Hallelujah. Can we begin to 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 us through our
website or follow us on social media. If you
were encouraged, share this message with someone
you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.