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. God's plan for all nations. God's plan
for all nations. God's plan for all nations.
Nations. Let's turn to the book of Matthew chapter
28 from verses 16 to 20, which we know as the
Great Commission. It reads, Then the eleven disciples
went away into Galilee into a mountain where
Jesus had appointed them and when they saw him
they worshipped But some doubted and Jesus came
and spoke unto them saying All power is given
unto me in heaven and on earth Go ye therefore
and teach all nations Baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you and law I am with you always
even unto the end of the edge. So the first thing
we're going to see is that the place where the
great commission was given which you see in verses
16 right let's go back 16 it reads then the 11
disciples went away into Galilee went away into
Galilee I want you to Pay attention to Galilee.
The leaven went away into Galilee, into a mountain
where Jesus had appointed them. Where Jesus had
appointed them. So, Galilee is a place where
nations come together, right? That is Galilee.
So. I want us to turn to the book of Isaiah chapter
9 verse 1 because in the book of Isaiah that's
where we see the coinage of the word Galilee
of the Gentiles or Galilee of the nations right
Isaiah 9 verse 1 and we will see subsequently
what led it to be called Galilee of the Gentiles
Isaiah chapter 9 Verse 1. Nevertheless, the dimness
shall not be such as was in her vexation, when
at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zabulon
and the land of Nafitali, and afterward did more
grievously afflict her by the way of the sea.
beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations. There's
a reason why Isaiah, the prophet, calls it Galilee
of the nations. You see it later on. The people
that walked in great darkness have seen a great
light. They that dwell in the land of the shadow
of death, upon them hath light shined. Also you
see this, the background of Isaiah 9 verse 1
to 2. is Second Kings. Second Kings is the background.
You see why it was called Galilee of the Gentiles.
Second Kings chapter 15 verse 29. Second Kings
15, 29. Don't lose, this is, they are standing
in a mountain in Galilee in Matthew 28, right,
which Jesus has appointed them. Don't lose that.
Where are they? They are in the mountain of Galilee.
Right, but we're going to check the background
where this narrative came from. So let's turn
to 2 Kings, 2 Kings verse 15 to 20, 15 verse
29. Yes, 2 Kings 15, 29. It reads, In the days
of Pekah, the king of Israel, Kim, Tiglat, Peresah,
king of Assyria, and Tookh, Ijon, and Abel, Beth,
Mashak, and Johanna, and Kadesh, and Hazor, and
Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali,
and carried them into Assyria. So you see that
there is an invasion that happened here by the
king of Assyria. So you see what led to this
invasion. By this time, Israel is divided into
two kingdoms. There is the south, which is called
the kingdom of Israel. Then there's also the
one for the Jews, which is called the land of
Judah. So the way Kings is written, you explain
the part of one kingdom then go to the part of
the second kingdom right so let's look at something
in verse in chapter 16 right in chapter 16 now
we are getting to we are getting the view of
what was happening in the other side which is
the south which is the south yes verse 5 chapter
16 from verses 5 then resin king of syria And
Pekah son of Ramaliah, king of Israel, came up
to Jerusalem to war, and they besieged Ahas,
but could not overcome him. So Ahas was the king
who was in the south, right? At that time, Rezin
king of Syria, right? At that time, Rezin, the
king of Syria, recovered Elath to Syria and drove
the Jews from Elath, and the Syrians came to
Elath and dwelt there unto this day. So as the
king of the south sent messengers to Tiglath,
Pelesa king of Assyria, which you see in verse
15, who now besieged the north part of Israel,
which is where we find Galilee. Then it says
verse 7, So as sent messengers to Tiglath, Pelesa
the king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant
and thy son. Come up and serve me out of the
hand of the king of Syria. and out of the hand
of the king of Israel which rise against me and
Ash took the silver and the gold that was found
in the house of the Lord and in the treasures
of the king's house and send it as a present
to the king of Assyria and the king of Assyria
heken unto him for the king of Assyria went up
against Damascus and took it and carried the
people captive to Cairo and slow and slew resin.
So this is the invention that happened. So by
this time, this is around 733 BC, we are going
to see why now we now have Galilee of the Gentiles.
Because now there's been a besiege in the south,
in the north side, right? They have taken the
people of the north, the Jews, they put them
into prison, right, to take them as prisons.
And in turn, the Assyrian king now brought in
Gentiles to live in that region. Are we together?
Yes. So he now brought Gentiles from different
parts and now they started living in that south
in that north part of Israel. So now you have
an understanding why you see the nations now
are coming to that place. So fast forward now
when you go to Isaiah chapter 9 verse 1. Can
you give it again? Isaiah 9 verse 1. Before we
read this, I want to say something. Joshua divided
the land to the children of Israel and the portion
that was in that region of Galilee was given
to Naphtali and Zebulon. So now you see why when
they come, now see verse 9, it says, Nevertheless,
the dimness shall not be as such as in a vexation
when the When at first he lightly afflicted the
land of Zabulon and the land of Nafitali, and
afterward did more grievously afflicted by the
way of the sea, beyond Jordan in Galilee of the
nation. Go next. Verse two. The people that walked
in darkness, they have seen a great light. They
that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
upon them had light shined. So you see the progression
that in that region now, it's now called the
land that is full of darkness, that is gross
darkness, meaning that there's something that
caused that to happen. which is as a result of
a mixed cultures. So when people with mixed cultures
moved in into the North part, right, they now
brought in pagan worships. They now brought in
different kinds of things to that area. As we
go, you'll see why now Galilee will become despised
in the New Testament. So. So verse 18, Matthew,
just let's go back to the Matthew. We're still
reading. I just want us to have a background
of what is happening so that we may understand
what the Apostles understood on that mountain
in Galilee. Matthew 28. Matthew 28 verse 18.
We're still on that mountain. It reads, And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. In heaven
and in earth. So all power given to me in heaven
and in earth there is actually a kingdom language.
That's a kingdom language. You see that? So,
it immediately says, Go therefore, and make disciples,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This parallel
is Mark 16, Mark 16, 15. Mark 16, 15. We are
still on the Mount in Galilee, right? Mark 16,
15. It says, and He said unto them, going into
all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature 16 he that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved but he that believeth not shall
be damned 17 and these signs shall follow them
that believe in my name they shall cast out devils
they shall speak with new tongues And they shall
take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover. They
will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
So, one thing they were doing there is, upon
the resurrection of Jesus, he appoints them that
let's meet in Galilee. And now he's sending them
with a message to all the nations of the world.
And we say something before that the terms that
are employed by Jesus are kingdom language. So
what are they going to do? They are going to
preach about the resurrection of Jesus, that
is Christ's conquest. That's what they're going
to preach. Pastor Koston in the previous teachings,
he explained about the name of Jesus, talking
about achievement. What the Lord has attained,
and what is it? Salvation for man. That's what
they're going to preach. So, immediately, the
moment the apostles and the apostles on the mount
hear what Jesus was saying, Jesus employing kingdom
language, that's why you see the word bazaar
there. It's Basar talking about kingdom language.
Immediately, their minds went somewhere because
these people, when Jesus is telling them, they
have a background understanding of the scriptures.
So therefore, what came in their mind when Jesus
was talking is Isaiah. Let's see Isaiah, where
we see Basar, right? Basar, B -A -S -A -R -A.
which talks about a proclamation, right, of good
news, pertaining a kindle. So let's look in the
book of Isaiah. Isaiah 52 verse seven to 10.
Isaiah 52, seven to 10. Isaiah 52 verse seven
to 10. So, this is kingdom news, right? How beautiful
upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth
good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth
good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation.
What were they going to talk about? Salvation.
So this is what is ringing bells in their head
on the Mount of Galilee. that publishes good
news of salvation that saith unto Zion thy king
reigneth thy watchmen shall lift up the voice
with a voice together shall they sing for they
shall see eye to eye when the lord shall bring
again zeon break forth into joy sing together
ye west places of jerusalem for the lord hath
comforted his people he hath redeemed Jerusalem
the Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes
of all the nations and all the ends of the earth
shall see the salvation of our God so on that
mountain when the Lord is talking to the disciples
this comes in their mind What were they going
to do? They are now seeing that they are the
people that are bringing the news of glad tidings
to the other people, to all the nations of the
earth. Are we together? Okay, so all the end
of the earth will see the salvation of the Lord
in that Isaiah. Let's go back to Matthew 28 verse
19. Matthew 28 verse 19. Go ye therefore and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Where are they going? To all the nations.
Where were they standing? In Galilee. And Galilee
has different diverse nationalities in that place.
So what came in their mind or what they understood
was this gospel. is not only to the Jews but
unto all the nations of the world. So on that
mountain, right, what came in their mind we said
is Isaiah 52 verse 7 to 10. So the place where
the way was Galilee, I will talk more about Galilee.
We will look at the history of Galilee. And in
that place, Galilee, There is opposition of the
gospel. That's one thing you will see subsequently.
There's an opposition of the gospel in Galilee.
And that is the place where Jesus takes his disciples
and gives them the great commission that this
is the place where it is starting. Alright, so
now the question comes is why Galilee was the
place which Jesus chose? Why Galilee? Why not
the temple? Why not in Jerusalem? Why not in
Bethlehem? He intentionally chose Galilee. Why?
So we're going to look at this. Back to Isaiah
9 verse 1. Isaiah 9 verse 1. In the days... Oh
no! Alright. Isaiah 9 verse 1, it says, Nevertheless,
the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation,
when at first he lightly afflicted the land of
Zabulon and the land of Naphtali. Naphtali and
Zabulon, they are in Galilee. They are regions
in Galilee. and afterwards did more grievously
afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles. You still have the background
why it's now called the Galilee of the Gentiles
2. Nevertheless, please just move with me verse
2. The people that walked in darkness have seen
a great light they that dwell in the land of
the shadow of death upon them the light has shined
this is Matthew let's look at Matthew Matthew
makes a quotation of the same place Matthew chapter
4 verse 15 to 16 Matthew chapter 4 Verse 15 to
16. It reads... Let's start from verse 13, in
fact, so that we can understand. It says, This
is Jesus' ministry, beginning of Jesus' ministry.
That is, that it might be fulfilled, which was
spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, the land
of Zabilon and the land of Naphtalim, by the
way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of Gentiles,
meaning that ahead of time, even though there
was darkness by that time, the prophet of the
Lord, Jeremiah, saw that Even that region of
great darkness, right, light is going to rise
upon it. That is, they are going to also hear
of the gospel of our Lord. That is light in darkness.
Let's see the following verse. Verse 16. The
people we set in darkness saw that great light.
To them we set in the region of the shadow of
death. Light. sprung up. From that time, immediately
see, from that time Jesus began to preach and
to say, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand. Where did he start? Where is the preaching
of the gospel? In that region that is despised.
In that region where there is gross darkness.
That is where he started and said, repent. for
the kingdom of God is at hand." And we have been
told that the word at hand means that now. Right?
It's different from the way we're understanding.
It means now. The kingdom of God is now. So,
Galilee was seen, take this note, take note of
this. Galilee was seen as a spiritually compromised
place where Gentiles lives lived. Galilee is
the gateway also to the rest of the world because
all trade happens towards that region. So many
people will come by to buy, to do different trades.
It happened at Galilee. So you can see that there's
a mixture of cultures, a mixture of races there.
So because of this history of Galilee, the region
was heavily influenced by foreign customs. Ascens,
right, and mixed marriages. In the Old Testament,
the northern region of Galilee was originally
given to the tribes of Zabulon, Naphtali, and
Asher, right. The Assyrian conquest, we saw about
the Assyrian conquest, which is in 2 Kings 15,
29, right, which resulted in the deporting of
the Jewish population and replacing them with
pagan foreigners. So over these centuries, Galilee
became an ethnic melting point. This prompted
the prophet Isaiah, where you see in the book
of Isaiah, to coin the term, which now later
on became an insult. By those that used it in
the New Testament, it became an insult. But what
Isaiah meant was not an insult. But then they
took that now to look down on the Galileans.
We are going to see subsequently. Alright, so...
Okay, let me check where I was. So by the time
of the New Testament, this religious leadership
in the northern Judea, which is Jerusalem, looked
down on the Galileans. They viewed Galilee as
a spiritually compromised and sophisticated and
culturally impure. So the religious leaders firmly
believed one thing, that the Messiah would emerge
in power from Bethlehem and Jerusalem, not Galilee.
This will lead, this will make you think, why?
Right? Why in, let's turn to, to John 7, John
7, 52. Why there's an issue about Jesus coming
from Nazareth? Because Nazareth also happens
to be in Galilee. Let's read John 7 52 John 7
52 So all this you will see that Galilee is a
place where they are despised John 7 52 I'll
give a background of it. This is Nicodemus Tried
to give a defense for Christ John 7 52 Right
now before we go to 52, let's start from verse
37 John 7 37 we go down then we go to 52 where
I want us to read in the last day that great
day of the feast Jesus stood and cried saying
if any man Tests let him come unto me and drink
he that believeth on me as the scriptures are
said out of The people that heard Jesus said,
of a truth, this man is a prophet. Right? Others
said, this is Christ. This is the Christ. But
some said, shall Christ come from Galilee? Meaning
that it was a shock to them because they looked
down on Galilee as a region that was impure.
So the problem is the Messiah should not come
from Galilee. Because they saw them as outcasts.
And that is the same place where people that
are looked down on is where Jesus began his ministry,
right? Showing also that salvation is not only
for the Jews, but in that place where Gentiles
met, where they were Gentile nation, right? So
let's see, verse 15, verse 45, sorry, verse 45
of John 7. Then came the officers to the chief
priests and the Pharisees and said unto them,
Why have you not brought him? That is, they had
sent them to capture Christ. They sent him to
bring Christ. Let's read now, let's jump to 50.
This is Nicodemus who once had a conversation
with Jesus previously. Then Nicodemus said unto
them, He that came to Jesus by night, being one
of them of the council. 52. Our Lord judged any
man before it heard him, and knew what he had
done. Then he answered and said unto him, Adou
also a Galilee, search and look, for out of Galilee
ariseth no prophet. So this is the council, these
are religious leaders. No prophet in their mind
comes from Galilee. But is that true? Because
we have Jonah who came from Galilee. So that
means they had contempt, they scorned on Galilee
to the extent that they ignored everything that
has come from there. They looked down on it.
Their issue is the Messiah should not come from
Galilee. But if they had done their research,
if they had read Isaiah chapter 9 verse 1 to
2, they would have understood about the ministry
of Jesus. Yes, Jesus was not born actually in
Nazareth. He was born in Bethlehem. But he grew
up in Nazareth and that Nazareth is in Galilee.
So by this time, you now see why they think Galilee,
they don't want anything to do with other regions.
They don't want anything to do with the Galileans.
So by that time, right, then also we are going
to see something that is shocking. Let's read
John 1 .46. John 1 .46, same John, 1 .46. John
1 .46. Let's start from verse 45. Philip found
Nathaniel and said unto him, We have found him
of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did
write, Jesus of Nazareth. That statement, the
moment he put off Nazareth, if he had just said
Jesus, it was okay. But let's see later on. He
said, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Immediately in verse 46, and Nathaniel said unto
him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?
Now it makes you see why there are issues with
this place. Nazareth, don't forget, is in Galilee.
So is there anything good that will come out
of that region? Right. Then immediately Philip
said unto him, Come. and see. Come and see. So,
Jesus starting his ministry in Galilee, right,
shows that Christ is for all nations, not only
the Jewish nation, right, not only the Jewish
nation. Those people, they despised. That is
the same place that Jesus starts his ministry.
So the gospel is to all the nations. It would
have been a problem, I think, if Jesus gave the
Great Commission in the temple in Jerusalem.
Because this will continually happen in their
mind. They will continually see Galilee down.
They don't care about them. They see them as
impure people. Right? So, by the time... By the
time of the New Testament, the Greek and the
Roman Empires had built massive pagan cultures
also. I want you to see what affected their idea
or their understanding of Galilee. By the time
of the New Testament, the Greek and the Roman
Empires had built massive pagan cultural centers
in and around Galilee. So right there, there
was also a marble temple which was dedicated
to the worship of the Roman Empire. Emperor Caesar
Augustus. That is around Galilee. I want you
to see the regions or the people that are surrounding
Galilee. So later, Herod's son, Philip the Tetrarch,
expanded the city into a grand capital, naming
it Caesarea Philippi, to honor both Caesar and
himself. This is a region that is surrounding
Galilee. There are temples where Caesar is worshipped.
I want you to see why they despised that region
of Galilee. The things that were happening inside
and around it were terrible. So, now we have
seen that there is a marble temple and in one
of the places that is near Galilee, on the north
side of Galilee, is Caesarea Philippi, Matthew
16, 13, 15. Matthew 16. verses 13 to 15. Matthew
16, verses 13 to 15. When Jesus came into the
course of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
saying, Whom do men say, I, the son of man, am?
And they said unto him, Some say that thou art
John the Baptist some Elias and others Jeremiah's
or one of the prophets he said unto them, but
whom say ye that I am and Simon Peter answered
and said thou art the Christ the Son of the Living
God and Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed
are thou, Simon, by Jonah, for flesh and blood
hath not revealed this unto you, but my father
which is in heaven. And I say unto thee, that
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it." Where was the gate of hell? Just
a few kilometers from Galilee on the north side.
So it's now shaping your mind how it will be
difficult for the Jews to really accept that
something good will come from that region. So,
Jesus is taking his disciples to that place,
Caesarea Philippi. And I will draw a picture
in your mind of what is in Caesarea Philippi.
There is a cave there, where there is water.
Down in the cave, there is water where people
do sacrifices and throw them inside there. And
that is the place they call the gates of hell.
And next to it, there is a marble temple that
was also dedicated to Caesar. Right? So there
was idol worship. Very bad. Idol worship that
was in that region. And in that place, that is
where Jesus is taking his disciples. I believe
that Jews, normal Jews, would not go there. Those
who are from the south, they would not step there.
But Jesus took his disciples into that region.
And Peter makes a proclamation that thou art
the Christ, the son of the living God. Where
did he make that proclamation? In the place where
Caesar was worshipped and where Caesar was seen
as the son of God also. So that was a bold statement
and immediately Jesus says that, blessed are
thou Peter, right? Blessed are thou Jonah for
flesh and blood is not revealed this unto you
by my father which is in heaven Then after that
he stopped talking to them right the thing is
concerning his death barrier and resurrection
So what does Jesus do he's confronting the powers
of darkness right and he's saying that The gates
of hell that is this darkness will not prevail
against him Meaning that even the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ shall be preached in that region
of Caesarea Philippi also. Are we together? There's
another thing I want you to see. There's a place
called Gardara of the Gardarians. It's opposite
the seashore of Galilee. It's called Ten Cities.
There are a place of ten cities there. Jesus
crosses to Gadara and in Gadara he meets a man
in the tombs. And that man was possessed with
a legion of devils. Then immediately the demon
speaks and says, Jesus, the son of the Lord,
what have you to do with us? Then Jesus, then
they are pleaded. Jesus said, can we go to the
swine? They were swine just by the hillside and
Jesus permitted them to go. According to the
law of Moses, swine was seen as impure. So that
means, that will show us that that land that
was near Galilee, they were keeping those swines
which shows that they are outside. outcasts.
But Jesus is stepping in that place. Where is
the man? In the tombs which were also considered
culturally impure. And right there, there is
a man possessed of devils and Jesus comes to
the land of Gadara, casts out that devil from
the man, then immediately went back showing that
Jesus will even reach those nations that were
despised. That is the only place, that is the
only time you see him going there. So, God's
plan is not discriminatory, that's number one.
God is coming for all the Gentiles. You can see
that in the ministry of Jesus. He's coming for
all the Gentiles, including the Jews. There is
no discrimination in God's plan for all the world.
So, that also brings into our minds. There are
some places that we don't want to be. There are
places or there are people we don't want to interact
with because of ideas or some things that we
have heard about those places. But God's plan
is for all the world. In those dark regions,
we claim those places for Christ Jesus. We bring
the gospel of God in places where the name of
the Lord was not named, in places that were despised.
Those are the places we go with the gospel of
Christ. No discrimination. Right. No discrimination.
So, back to Matthew chapter 28. We are still
in Matthew chapter 28. I just want us to have
an understanding of what that region means. Matthew
28. Matthew chapter 28. From verses 16, I'll
read again. Then the eleven disciples went away
into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had
appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped
Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke
unto them, saying, All power is given unto me,
in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you, and law I am with you even
unto the end of the world." You see, there is
the aspect of all nations here. And all nations
did not start with Isaiah. That's one thing.
I know we have come from Isaiah. This goes back
far as to Genesis, right? This goes back to Genesis.
We are going to look at it later on. So before
we go there, we are going to go much more into
the scriptures, that is Genesis. That's where
we are going to spend more time. Before I go
to Genesis, I want us to see something. How,
for us to understand the nations, to understand
why Jesus would tell his disciples, let's meet
in Galilee, there is an Old Testament narrative
or background of everything that Jesus mentioned.
Let's see some of the instances where you see
even the authors of the Gospels referring back
to the Old Testament. Before we go to the Old
Testament, because we're going to spend more
time there. Matthew chapter 1 verse 1. Matthew
1, 1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ,
the son of David. and the son of Abraham. Abraham
begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot
Judas and his brethren. Then he continues down.
What comes in your mind? Where is it taken from?
That's Genesis. What you see? Generation that
way, generation, you're talking about Genesis.
And also, you see David, which is second Samuel,
first Samuel, right? Second Samuel and Psalms,
sorry. Then also we have Abraham which is Genesis.
So meaning that to understand Jesus, why Jesus
said to come and why Jesus said to do everything
that he did, we have to understand it back as
far as Abraham. The beginning of Abraham, why
God called Abraham and we come back to the front
which is the New Testament, then we understand
all these things. Also, let's look at Mark 1
.1, Mark chapter 1 verse 1. Mark 1 .1. The beginning
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
as it is written in the prophets, behold, I send
my messenger before thy face. We shall prepare
thy way before thee. Where was he teaching from?
This is Malachi, right? This is Malachi. He's
taking this from Malachi chapter 3 verse 1. You
can write that down. He takes that. Mark is referring
back to Malachi 3 verse 1 and Isaiah chapter
40 verse 3. So, also John chapter 1 verse 1.
John 1 1. John chapter 1 verse 1. In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. Right? So, still Genesis. So,
all the four gospels use, number one, the word
beginning, you'll see it, even in Luke chapter
28, right? Look, sorry, Luke chapter 24, verse
27. Then also we see something in John chapter
20 verse 22 Just I just want us to have an understanding
why they are coming from the Old Testament John
20 22 it says and when he had said this he breathed
on them and said unto them receive ye the Holy
Ghost That is Genesis 2 7 right the Lord God
breathed into his nostrils talking about Adam
the breath of life and man became a living soul.
So John is taking us back to Genesis confirming
that Jesus is the God of Genesis. Have we understood
that? Alright, so now Genesis chapter 1 verses
26 to 28. God's original plan. Don't lose me.
We want to see where the nations came from. What
cost the nations to emerged. But we're going
to start from Genesis 126 to 28, which shows
us God's intent, that is God's original plan.
Pastor Fred has taught this even during Catechismus.
You need to just go and listen to the message
again. Genesis 126 to 28. And God said, Let us
make men in our image after our likeness, and
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fall of the air, and over the cattle,
and over the earth, and over every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth. So God created
man in his own image. In the image of God created
he, him. Male and female created he, them. And
God blessed them and said unto them be fruitful
and multiply replenish the earth and subdue it
Have dominion over the fish of the sea and over
the fall of the air and over every living thing
that moveth on the earth So This is the origin
of men, right? So this image number one, right
this image is first identity then what follows
is function. Right? The image of God talks about
identity and with identity function follows.
So in the image of God created he, he male and
female. Right? Meaning that if we are saying
that is identity first. I'm not going to do much
here. Pastor Fred teaching is online. We talk
about it is identity. but in the image of God
created him male and female meaning that male
and female have the same identity in God's plan
and have the same peoples. Right? So the term
image there was derived from the word Salem which
means resemblance. Image is the word Salem which
means resemblance. And likeness was derived from
the Hebrew word demuth, D -E -M -U -T -H, demuth.
It carries the same connotation. That word was
derived from the word dama, which is D -A -M
-A -H, which means to resemble, right? So this
will mean that humanity was to be in resemblance
or semblance. with God and to be like Him. So
the words men there you see there in Genesis
chapter 1 verse 26 to 28 is the word Adam which
means mankind or humanity right both male and
female. So when you see they were in let's go
back and God bless them verse 28 And God blessed
them, who is the male and the female. He blessed
them and said unto them, be fruitful and multiply,
and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over every living thing
that moveth upon the earth. So that I do not
leave us behind while we went back here. We want
to look where the nations came from. What went
wrong? So for us, before we even go to what went
wrong, we need to understand what was the initial
plan. That's why we're going back to Genesis.
So don't be left behind. So the word blessed
there is from the word barak. B -A -R -A -K,
barak. It's the word barak. It means to welcome
in this context. of Genesis 1. It means to welcome
or it means to congratulate. In other words,
the writer explained that both male and female
men are welcomed into God's new humanity, that
is God's new creation, which is in the image
and the likeness of God. Let's see, what was
the intention? 28 God blessed them who are them
the male and the female right We saw that so
in Sam verse 28 In Sam verse 28 he says and God
bless them and say down to them be fruitful and
multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it
and have dominion over the fish of the sea and
over the fall of the air and over every living
thing that moved upon the earth So the word sub
-Jew there, let's just move a bit quickly. The
word sub -Jew was derived from the Hebrew word
Kabash. K -A -B -A -S -H. This is God's plan.
We'll see later on what went wrong that resulted
in the nations that you now see appearing in
Matthew 28 upon the mountain of Galilee. So,
kabbash implies to trample under foot, right?
It means to trample under foot. And there's another
word also in that verse, which is the word replenish.
Replenish is the word male, m -a -l -e. All right,
or mala, m -a -l -a. That word was Right was
reference as feud, right? So it means to feel
It means to feel and we see another word appearing.
There's the word multiply. It's not childbirth
The word multiplier was derived from the Hebrew
word rabah right r -a -b -a -h which implies
to increase It implies to increase. And there's
another word also which is the word fruitful
was derived from the word parah, p -a -r -a -h.
This is important because when we are now going
to move to Genesis chapter 11, right, Babel,
you understand why there was the division that
happened in Babel that led on to the emerging
of different nations. All right, so just right
follow through. And we have the word fruitful,
which was derived from the Hebrew word para,
which implies to bring forth fruit. And we have
the word dominion, which is derived from a Hebrew
word radar, r -a -d -a -r, radar. All right.
which means to prevail against, to reign, right?
But in this context, without violence and death.
So what was God doing or what was God's plan
of the male man and the male female? Sorry, the
male man and the female man, right? I get that
correct. So is that both men and female? in God's
new creation. They are to what? They are to subdue.
They are to replenish. They are to multiply.
They are to be fruitful. And they are to have
dominion. This is kingdom language. So on the
Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples are hearing
these same words. Christ is calling their attention
to this same thing. that this is the plan. So,
they are going to be fruitful. How are they going
to be fruitful? Through the preaching of the
gospel of God. How are they going to bring the
reign of Christ? By the preaching of the gospel.
If you go to Mark 16, it now says that you will
trample against the works of the evil one. That
is to subdue. So they were to subdue darkness,
not people. Take note of that. The wakes of the
enemy. And later on in Mark it says, in my name
you shall cast out devils, in my name you shall
open the eyes of the blind, in my name you shall
take up serpents. Serpents there talks about
the wakes of the evil one. What went in their
mind is Genesis 1, 2 into 3. was in Genesis 1
2 into 3 we see the X or the works of the evil
one who came and distorted the plan of God and
Christ is saying there is a reversal of that
which the enemy has done and what how are they
going to do it you guys on the Mount of Galilee
you are going and subJew you are going to have
dominion you are going to multiply Are we together?
And some of the things you see there is that
in Mark 16, just in closing, right? Yes. Let's
see, Mark 16. Mark 16, let's go to Mark 16. You
understand when Philip went down to the city
of Samaria, right? Okay, let's go to Acts, Acts,
just in closing. Acts chapter eight. Acts 8.
Acts chapter 8. From verses 6 and from verses
5. Starts from 5. Then Philip went down to the
city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them.
Right. This is Genesis 1, 26 to 28. They have
understood it and they are taking action. Right.
And the people gave heed to those things which
Philip specked, seeing the miracles which he
did. For unclean spirits, what is happening?
Subduing the darkness. The unclean spirits crying
out with a loud voice came out of many who were
possessed with them, and many taken with pulses,
and that where lame were healed, and there was
great joy in the city of Samaria. But there was
a certain man called Simeon, which beforehand
in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the
people of Samaria, giving unto them that he himself
was some great one. To him also, to him, sorry,
to him they all gave heed from the least to the
greatest, saying this man is the great power
of God. And to him they had regard because that
of a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
But when they believed Philip, Philip's preaching,
the things concerning the kingdom of God and
the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized
both men and female. Then Simon, the sorcery,
by this is now maybe a brother. Then Simon himself
believed also, is now a brother. And then he
was baptized and continued with Philip. and warn
that beholding the miracles and the signs which
he has done. So that means what the disciples
started to do now, having understood, they now
started going to dark places that were hold by
the kingdom of darkness. People that were hold
by the kingdom of darkness and they were preaching
the gospel of Christ. They were announcing the
reign of Christ. and to those places. So same
applies to us today. We have the same mandate
in all places where we go, in our schools, in
our communities, where we live, society around
us, to bring the same gospel of Christ to those
places, to the unbelievers. Without discrimination,
we are to preach the word of the Lord. Right?
Yes, because this is the plan of God from the
beginning, to bring light in darkness. So we
light dark areas, we light dark areas, we claim
the nations of the world to God. So therefore,
that means we have to engage much more in evangelism
with this understanding that we are participating
in God's plans and purposes for the whole earth,
right? So we'll end here today. In the coming
meeting, we are going to move to the Tower of
Babel that is on Wednesday. What then went wrong
and how God is making, how God made things right
now, right from Babel. So, let's just pray. Lord,
I go out, I preach the gospel without discrimination.
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
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you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.