Day 2: Contextual Reading of the Bible (Part 2)

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. the issue of historical and cultural

contexts. We said that God utilizes history and

culture to communicate His Word. Are we together?

So when you want to understand the background,

the historical background, of that text, and

which whatever I'm going to do here, the next

step we're going to do especially is to take

each some of the problems that has been perpetuated

in the world through using the Bible, and what

we will do is that we will apply all these contexts

we have been talking about. Are we together?

And then, So we're going to do a lot of interpretation

together. The idea is for us to understand how

we can go about applying all this. But you can

ask some few questions to be able to know the

cultural or the historical context of a text.

When was this written is very important because

when you ask when it will tell you the time.

That is a historical fact. So it helps you to

travel back in the sun. You're not trying to

do and Moses cross a river. And then you say,

I pray that you will cross a river. You understand

what I'm saying? Because where you are staying,

there's no river here. So that's not how to go

about it. So you want to ask when was this written?

Because it helps you to travel back in history

to understand the times, what was happening at

that moment. You want to also ask the question,

who were the original or who was the original

audience? Who was the originality? Man of God

was teaching us. You make some very sensitive

statement that you have to truly travel back

in history to understand it. When he was talking

about that God using Israel, in the sun to reveal,

so we have to understand them. Even though you

can say Israel, Israel, all of us, it was with

Abraham, but Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,

Deuteronomy, the one you are saying before them,

it was written to them. Did you understand what

I'm trying to say? So that means to understand,

in fact, when he was talking, my mind just moved

to Romans chapter 3, Romans chapter 9, that talks

Romans 3 · chapter mention Romans 9 · chapter mention

about that they are the custodians of the revelations

of God. Are we together? To them is the Christ,

to them is the oracles of God, to them is the

law, to them is salvation. Are we together? Yes.

Glory to Jesus. So, and what is the political

climate? You know, sometimes we don't like to

talk politics, but you see, it is in a real world.

When those people existed, some people were on

the throne. Was he a monarchy? Was he kings?

What is whatever? Georgies? Whatever. I mean,

what are actually the things that are happening

then? It will help us now go back to see who

was on the throne. Was he during peacetime? Was

he during war? Was he during whatever? And all

those kind of information are important. Don't

be in a haste. You see, there is no award in

just quoting scriptures anyhow. in the sun. It's

not a competition. Do you understand what I'm

saying? You are in God. This is your dwelling

place. You are not going anywhere. Are we together?

So you are not competing with anyone. You can

stay in one scripture for one year, no problem.

Do you understand what I'm saying? Yes. You just

go here, ensure you are studying. Amen. Are we

together? Amen. So this is very important. And

then we looked at, we picked an example of Romans

Romans 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12. We saw how the application, how power

will pull from history, you understand, from

culture to communicate revelation. So if you

don't understand the meaning of that, expression

or that thing that he was communicating, you

will miss the wheel. You will go out of context.

Are we together? You will go out of context.

So together we're just trying to say that when

we saw when Paul used that issue of burning coal,

so it was a visible sign of public remorse for

somebody to show, you understand, that I am sorry.

I regret what I just did. So it will carry coal,

understand, on a clay pot and just be moving

around the street. When you see him, you know

the ha -ha -ha, you understand? That's the communication.

Are we together? Yes. So that was what he was

saying. So Paul was speaking and saying that

when you respond to evil with a radical unexpected

kindness because somebody that would do something

to you will do evil to you is expecting you to

do evil to the person. Do you want something?

If you look at what Paul is saying here is what

exactly Jesus was saying in Matthew chapter 5.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

Read from verse 38 to 44. You see that's exactly

what Jesus is saying. How do you treat your enemies?

You understand? He said love them, pray for them.

You understand? so that you imitate your father

in heaven that's exactly so but paul is using

a culture here you understand to communicate

that and he said that when you because your enemy

will not expect that you expect you to react

then you you give him the opposite definitely

to be an unexpected kindness what you are doing

you are not crossing the enemy in the sun what

you are doing you are breaking the defenses of

the enemy And what you are doing is that once

you are breaking his defenses, you are inducing

a psychological warmth of conviction that will

melt the hardened heart into a deep remorseful

self -reflection and repentance. So what is a

historical and cultural fact is that the burning

cause are not literal punishment. That's a historical

fact. The historical fact and the cultural fact

there is that the burning coals are not literal

punishment. They represent a fiery warmth of

conviction that melts the enemies hadn't had

into repentance and peace. So this indicates

that God speaks through real history and culture.

Let me repeat again. God speaks through history

and culture. God speaks through history and culture.

Please note that. God speaks through history

and culture. Very important. So the Bible is

properly interpreted when we take time to understand

the culture of the ancient world in which the

Bible was written. So understanding contains

what sounds like a crude punishment. To tell

somebody just carry coal or fire, it sounds at

the beginning, to us in the modern time, that

car, that is a crude thing to do. Imagine when

I ask you to carry fire, do you understand? But

you see, you can now turn that thing that seems

to, if you look at it beautifully in its context,

that it is a beautiful, in fact I'll call it

a master class on Christ -like peacemaking. Do

you understand what I'm saying? Yes, that's how

to make peace. Don't begin to say, if I'm not

a Christian. Now, stop those life, you know.

Why? You have left that life and you are cherishing

the life again, that life you have left. See,

if I'm not a Christian, you would have seen my

other face. Brother, you don't have any face.

At least you're not two -faced. Hallelujah. So

on the cross, we see this, Jesus actually doing

that. I mean, we've seen it in Jesus to his executioners.

What did he say? Father forgive what? Forgive

them. You gotta imagine this is kind of the thing.

Imagine you are innocent. And people who label

something upon you, and they want to punish you.

Go, you know, in our generation, we say, go and

punish your generation upon generation. Do you

understand what I'm saying? But now you say,

Father, forgive them. They do not know what they

are doing. Are we together? You see, remember

there are many people that were standing there.

There were his disciples that were standing close

by. There were centurions. They were Roman soldiers

who were part of it. Look at it. The Bible recorded

one man in the Sabbath. Give me Mark 15. The

Bible recorded a centurion who was standing by.

When Jesus was saying all those things on the

cross, Father forgive them. And then he said

those words of the Psalmist. Because he said

a lot of things on the cross When the centurion

saw that look at his response Who crucified you

as a Romans were there because crucification

is a Roman punishment They are the only people

who have the legal rights to do so Are we together

so? But we can say part of his own those who

came to execute him when they saw the things

what he was saying on the cross Look at what

it I Say 15 verse 39 15 39 So when the Centurion

who stood opposite him Saw that he cried out

like this and break his last. What did he say?

What did he see truly this man? was a son of

God. Will your response make somebody to see

the revelation of God? Because that's what Paul

is saying. That when your enemy is thirsty, give

him a drink. When he's hungry, feed him. It might

not be literal but that's figurative he's saying.

But in doing so what will you do? He said you

will heap up. What he's saying that what you

are doing is that you will melt, you will break

the defenses of the enemy. And in doing so you

will reveal something. Are we together? Are we

together? It's the same thing Peter was saying

also to the woman whose husband have not obeyed

the word. In 1st Peter 3, he said when he sees

your chest and your conduct, what will he do?

He will be convicted by it. Hallelujah. This

is God's pattern. How many scriptures have I

quoted? I quoted from Peter. I quoted from Jesus.

We Jesus demonstrated it by himself. Are we together?

That is the way to treat your enemies This is

the way of light We're coming to it because some

of the scripture that have been used to torment

people in life so far not the which to live We're

coming to it in a son. These are the scripture

because when you pull a text out of context You

become like the devil You partake from his ministry

You understand No, I don't want to be part of

the ministry of Satan The ministry of people

who twist the world whether knowingly or knowingly

I Want to be part of those I don't want to be

part of the ministry of the Pharisee I Want to

be part of the ministry of Jesus because I am

in him we have a ministry the ministry is hinged

upon the right interpretation because in the

accurate interpretation is the will of God revealed

the will of God is revealed in right interpretation

hallelujah we saw that in Stephen as well Stephen

demonstrated exactly what Jesus did the same

thing father forgive them And the hardened criminal,

the one who later on, who writes, plus his companions,

who write almost the majority of the New Testament,

was there standing, seeing what was happening.

He was supporting them, grabbing their clothes.

He said, kill him. In fact, he himself later

admitted, I was there. I was consenting to what

was happening. Later he started moving, killing

them, killing believers, moving here and there.

You understand? Jesus would meet him and say,

it is hard to kick against the God. You know

God is a piercing this, you know what it means,

is a piercing object like that, a structure.

You know when you kick something that has sharp

things, will it feel good? What he's trying to

say is that what Paul was doing, by attacking

believers was already against his conscience.

Are you with me? Because that means something

has happened although he was consenting to Stephen

killing already. Do you know what the Bible says

that they saw? You understand? The reason why

they even killed Stephen was because Stephen

now raised his head and now saw something and

heavens was open. You understand? And he told

them what he saw. They were angry. Did you understand

see they now stood him all their soul of tussles

was there He was saying what type of a people

is this He couldn't understand but he was still

going to attack them yet something is happening

within him Until he was struck on the way Have

you ever imagined why will they say? You know

the question he asked, who are you Lord? I mean

imagine somebody who has no idea I mean no definitely

you know that this man have an idea the person.

Who are you Lord? That's not the first time he

has his conscience has been hitting him. So what

you are doing is that you are you are evangelism

also. You understand? is a totality. We preach

fundamentally, but our attitude must also align

to what we preach. Are we together? Yes. It has

to align what we preach. Now the next one, the

next context, next context is geographic or geographical

context. How many have we discussed now? Canonical?

immediate context literally right historical

and cultural context non geographical context

geographical context understanding geographical

context of the Bible is an essential key to unlocking

true meaning of text so we're trying to say that

You have to pay attention to where things are

happening Pastor if I started touching us or

Helping us to understand the importance of why

Jesus would tell his disciples go to Jerusalem

and wait Did you want to something why do you

say go to Samaria? He was particular go to Jerusalem

We learn that so geography is important Things

don't just happen Jesus don't just go anywhere

The first thing you understand about geography

is that that it proves the Bible is rooted in

history It proves that the Bible is rooted in

history, meaning that it's not a fairy tale.

It's not abstract. You can verify all these things.

They are not names of celestial bodies. They

are not aeons and geographical location on the

space. They are real places. That happened. Are

we together? They are real places, no? I had

the privilege to go to some of these places.

Even though I don't like the way some people

were doing with the tin, because they idolize

those places, they understand. But it's good

when you have the opportunity to visit some of

those places. Tango, we are in a place also.

Let's open to actor tin. We're in Cyprus, actor

tin. Glory to Jesus. Want you to look at verse,

verse 3, then having fasted and prayed and laid

hands on them, they sent them away. So being

sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to

what? Seleucia. And from there they sailed to

where? They were a Cyprus, a name of a celestial

body. Eh? It's a geographical location. We know

it. Today we are in it. We are here. Huh? And

when, verse five, and when they arrive in where?

Salamis. Many of us have gone to Salamis several

times. Is that correct? Yes. We saw the theater.

We saw where Paul was preaching. We saw all those

things. Are we together? Salamis. They preached

the word of God in synagogue of the Jewish. They

also had John as their assistant. What's six?

Now, when they had gone through the island of

Patmot, Patmot is just close here. Here. Did

you understand what I'm trying to say? Yes. It's

not, that's why when you read Bible, you see,

you know, you will see, you will see, you feel

it. These are real places. Even if you have not

traveled to those places, at least Tango, you

are here. Please don't leave this place. Go to

Salamis and see the place. It will not do to

you anything spiritual, but it will do something

to you in understanding. It means you are reading

something real. It's not a deception. This is

why sometimes I laugh. How can somebody come

after Jesus lived 700 years ago? I mean after

Jesus lived 700 and he said Jesus didn't die.

And that an angel told him. And then you have

eyewitness in history. The Romans wrote about

it. The Jews wrote about it. His own disciples

were more than 500 which he appeared to them.

I don't mean far away those who were with him.

Who do you believe? Somebody who came 700 years

later and said angel told him. Or someone who

were with him. I mean, there are some things

very easy to disprove. Did you understand what

I'm saying? Are we together? So, what are we

saying? I am saying that because this Bible is

real, it's an evidence that God is interested

in humanity. He's working among men. They are

places we know. They are not abstract. So pay

attention. So in many instances, those geography

are in themselves a message. It's not just only

that we know that they prove that our faith can

be traced accurately, but themselves, the geographies

became a message too. Now notice only that you

know that God speaks through culture. God also

speaks through geography. Oh Are you with me?

Are you with me? So if you misunderstand this

on geography, you'll miss a lot. The valleys,

the mountains. Man of God was reading to us Malachi

4, right? along specific rivers. Things you can

touch, but they can communicate things. We have

actual mountains. Mount Sinai, River Jordan,

the Red Sea. All of them mean something. The

Sea of Galilee. So geographic context? Prove

the gospel is not a made -up story. You understand?

As I told you, you cannot be able to say Jesus

is from India. How? His name, his family, his

everything does not speak that he has any connection

there. Are you with me? Are you with me? Yes.

It shows our faith is tied to read facts, not

feebles. It supports eyewitness accounts. And

it clarifies the intent of the original author.

This is the reason why we are studying this geographical

context. Because our major thought is that we

want to understand the intent of the author.

So in studying and reading and understanding

geographical context, it helps you to also comprehend

the intent of the author. The writers, with understanding

of their original readers. They do not stop to

explain why the journey was dangerous. But it

also can communicate. Sometimes when you are

reading the Bible, you don't need to be told

that this journey is dangerous. By just observing

the geography, it's already communicating to

you that. Are we together? Look at this look.

Look. This story of a Samaritan, right? Luke

Luke 10:25

chapter 10 verse 25 Luke 10 25 He said, And behold,

a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying,

Teacher What shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said to him what is written in the law? What

is your reading of it? So he answered and said

you shall love the Lord and Then your God with

all your heart with all your soul with all your

mind and with all your what? Your strength. Let

me just go to 30 then Jesus answered and said,

a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.

Note that word. He went where? Down. Did he say

up or down? Down. A certain man went down. You

see that word down? You have to pay attention

to certain things now. You see that word down?

It's very important. Because by the time you

look at the geographical location, because he

said went down from where Jerusalem to where

to Jericho and fell among thieves that word down

is a description of geography it already by the

time you you look at it in in real time i mean

in in maybe maps you will now understand jesus

you see the reason why he didn't mention a there

were coughs here there were stones here there

were these because he was not communicating to

you Did you understand what I'm trying to say?

He's communicating to people who are familiar

with the terrain. So by just using the word down,

they already understood what he was saying. But

us today, we will need to investigate what is

down. Was Jerusalem up? Because you have never

gone to Jerusalem. So you can go in and say,

okay, let me see the horizon. Was Jerusalem up

and this and that? Or what does it mean down?

Now you will now understand that truly the wrote

from Jerusalem to Jericho is a horrific journey.

In fact, I did some study and I discovered Jerusalem

was about 700 meters, that's about 2 ,500 feet

above sea level. And Jericho lies below, you

understand, about 258 meters below sea level,

which means that What is saying to say that Jerusalem

there is more than twice you understand the height

that's one You get what I'm trying to see yes

So when the person is coming down and it's a

rocky environment It's not really like a like

a straight path You have to be dodging like this

But you are coming down That is why robbers can

can lock in upon some particular place so that

when you are coming you will not see them because

it's not a direct route mountains you have to

you have to navigate rocks and mountains so robbers

can thieves can block can hide somewhere and

wait for you and they will ambush you they understood

at the time when he said down but you and me

by the time we go and look at it and say oh so

that's how it is you will appreciate reading

that text So the terrain will tell you how vulnerable

to the man that was hit by thieves was So today

it is important to pay attention and there are

so many things Help me there John chapter 1 verse

John 1:5

5 The Bible say Jesus went up Hmm John there's

a one sorry five verse one five verse one he

said after this there was a feast of the Jews

and Jesus went up to what to Jerusalem so you

already understand I've already given you Jerusalem

is about 2500 feet above sea level that's about

700 and something or something like 60 there

about meters above syllable. Go back to John

John 1:28

1 verse 28. John 1, 28. These things were done

in what? In Betebrah. Beyond the what? The Jordan,

where John was baptized. That's a description

of geography. He said in Betebrah, right, or

Bethany. Some Bible verse will say Bethany. He

said it is across or beyond the Jordan. And that's

actually the description. It's a real geography.

If you go, you will see it that exactly. Where

John was baptized, Psalms 125 verse 2. Psalms

Psalms 125:2 Psalms 125:2

125 verse 2. As the mountains surround Jerusalem.

Do mountains surround Jerusalem? Yes. Did you

get what I'm trying to say? Yeah? Are we together?

That's exactly. mountain surrounds Jerusalem.

You know I was laughing when I was listening

to one debate so if you were trying to claim

it's one Muslim guy you want to claim that that

is it Pharaoh I mean the mix of Pharaoh as the

time of Jesus and Did you understand what I'm

trying to say? Sometimes you laugh, you know

why? Because you don't need the Bible to disprove

this. You know why? Because this is just pure

history. Did you understand what I'm trying to

say? Yes, this is why the Bible is clear. It's

real. It's not made up stories. You can verify

it. You understand? You can verify it. So I've

said in it that God speaks through geography

and so this geography could also Not just only

that can give us light to understand what was

happening, but you can also you go to use it

to speak spiritual realities Egypt, Canaan, Galilee,

Mount Zion, Mount Sinai, Red Sea, River Jordan

among others are used by God to paint a picture

of spiritual realities. Let me give you some

few examples. 1 Corinthians 10. Look at 1 Corinthians

10. Look at verse 1. Moreover, brethren, I do

not want you to be unaware that all our fathers

were under the cloud, all passed through the

sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the

cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual

food, all drank the same spiritual drink, for

the drank of that spiritual rock. That followed

them and the rock was Christ's verse 5 said but

with most of them God was not pleased For their

bodies were scattered in the wilderness Are we

together? God was not pleased why because of

what Moses have preached what that means is that

the Red Sea represents Moses immersing Israel

in the teachings, in his teachings. That's what

it means. When he said they were baptized into

Moses in the cloud and in the sea. The Red Sea,

you know what I'm saying, is a speaking, a communication

of Moses immersing these people in the teachings.

Are we together? Unfortunately, they refused

to believe. That's why he said, but with most

of them God was not what? Was not pleased. It

is impossible to please God without what? Without

faith. Hebrews 11 6. So they didn't please God

because they didn't exercise faith. and what

Moses has amassed them. Man of God was communicating.

He told them. Understand? The last part he was

saying. He told them. You see, that agreement

they agree. As if they heard Moses. No. It's

those are there too where they are finding things

difficult in Egypt. So their believing is they

are believing of their deliverance out of that

place. You understand? but not that they believe

Moses in the reality he was communicating they

just believe him in that yes we know God sent

you give us our physical deliverance let's get

out of here but they did not believe the real

thing the big picture of what God was communicating

and that's why God was not pleased with them

so you can see Red Sea The crossing of the Ressi

is a crossing of baptism and that baptism is

a mansion in the teachings of Moses The gospel

he preached them. He said the same gospel that

was preached to us was also preached to them

Hebrews chapter 4, right verse 2 But it did not

Hebrews 4 · chapter mention

profit them Not being mixed with faith in them

that heard it That means they heard it. They

refused to believe it Hebrews chapter 12. Go

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

to Hebrews chapter 12. Look at verse 22. I'm

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

trying to show us that geography can be used

by God to speak spiritual realities. It can speak

revelation. So be careful as you study. Don't

neglect things. Are we together? Hallelujah.

Amen. Look at 22. He says, that but you have

come to Mount Zion. Are we together? You see,

before in the Old Testament he said, he said,

upon Mount Zion there shall be deliverance. Did

you hear me? You know, don't think that he's

talking about a physical place. is using a physical

mountain to speak about spiritual reality. That's

why a man that believe has come to Mount Zion.

It is in Mount Zion there is deliverance. So

God is using a physical mountain with a spiritual

communication. That Mount Zion is a church. That

Mount Zion is God's presence. That's what it

represents. Mount Zion and then he continued

the city of the living God in case you are in

doubt what he's saying the heavenly Jerusalem

what about Sinai just go some verses ahead verse

18 he said for you have not come to the mountain

that may be touched that burn with fire and with

blackness and darkness and tempest and the sound

of a trumpet and the voice of words so that you

who heard it bet that the word should not be

spoken to them anymore for they could not endure

what was commanded and if so as much as the beast

touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot

with an arrow." And so terrified that even Moses

himself, he said, I was exceedingly afraid and

tremble. Even the man who enlisted the angels,

when they started displaying their things in

the sun. And that's why The writer of Hebrew

was contrasting that. He said, believe us, we

have not come to that mountain, but you have

come to the mountain, which is Mount Zion. We

have not come to Mount Sinai. Are we together?

But we have come to what? Mount Zion. Amen. Are

we together? So Mount Sinai was a picture of

bondage, law and sin. Mount Zion is a picture

of what? Freedom picture of deliverance picture

of the church Geography with spiritual meaning

Look at Galatians chapter 4 Paul again made it

Galatians 4 · chapter mention

clear here. He made it clear more clearer here

Are we together Galatians chapter 4 verse 24

Galatians 4:24

He said, which things are symbolic? Did you see

that? So they are used as expressions. For these

are the two covenants. He said, one from where?

Mount Sinai. Which is what? Which give birth

to what? Who are you with me? Are you with me?

Which give birth to bondage? Which is haga. For

this hugger is Mount Sinai in Arabia and correspond

to Jerusalem which is and is in bondage with

her children So he said that Jerusalem in the

Sun is the place of freedom He's saying that

the place of bondage is Mount Sinai Are you with

me are you with me amen So you can see how God

uses geography to communicate also revelation.

That's why it's good for us to pay attention

to geography. Look at Hebrews chapter 3. Hebrews

Hebrews 3 · chapter mention Hebrews 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3. Go back to that Hebrews verse 16.

I want to show you again another one. Canon.

Are we together? Or let's start with Egypt. I

think we should start with Egypt before we go

to Canaan. Amen? Amen? Exodus chapter 13 verse

Exodus 13:3

3. Exodus 13 verse 3. He said, and Moses said

Exodus 13:3

to the people, remember this day in which you

went out of where? Out of where? The house of

what? Bondage. So Egypt is described as a picture

or a figure of bondage. He repeated that. Look

at chapter 20, verse 2, chapter 20. verse 2 I

am the Lord your God who brought you out of the

land of Egypt out of the house of bondage again

Egypt as a house of bondage Deuteronomy chapter

Deuteronomy 5:6

5 verse 6 Deuteronomy 5 verse 6 He said I am

Deuteronomy 5:6

the Lord your God who brought you out of the

land of Egypt out of the house of bondage out

of the house of bondage Look at how even a the

Bible describe it here in Hebrews chapter 11

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

When he was talking concerning Moses 11 24 Hebrews

Hebrews 11:24

11 verse 24 He said, by faith Moses, when he

became of age, refused to be called the sons

of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer

affliction with the people of God than to enjoy

the passing pleasure of sin, esteeming the reproach

of Christ greater riches than the treasure in

Egypt. Look at it, esteeming Christ. than the

pleasure in Egypt. This is not a physical thing

so that you don't say in Egypt. It's a spiritual

reality. You understand? For He what? Looked

to the reward. So Egypt is depicted as a place

of sin. A place of bondage. What about Canaan?

Hebrews chapter 3. Look at Hebrews chapter 3

Hebrews 3 · chapter mention Hebrews 3:16

verse 16 The promise was for them to move to

freedom Hebrews chapter 3 verse 16 for Who having

Hebrews 3:16

heard believed indeed was it not all who came

out of Egypt that is they came out of the house

of bondage led by Moses Now, with whom was he

angry forty years? He said, Was he not with those

who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?

And to whom did he swear that they will not enter

his rest, but to those who did not obey? we see

that they could not enter rest in because of

unbelief. We said they died in the wilderness.

So he was using a communication, you know, although

they were moving from Egypt's bondage, their

destination is the promised land, Canaan, but

they couldn't enter because of unbelief. So Canaan

is a picture of rest. When you are removed from

bondage, but they die in the wilderness Are we

together they die in the wilderness, of course,

there are other scriptures you can write it Numbers

Numbers 14:27

chapter 14 verse 27 Numbers 14 27 to 34 Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 6:23

chapter 6 verse 23 Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse

Deuteronomy 6:23

23 Let me just say this one lastly here Galilee

You see Galilee also has a spiritual meaning

Galilee Isaiah chapter Well, let me read Matthew

because Matthew quoted Isaiah chapter 1 And sorry

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

chapter 9 verse 1 and 2. Let me read Matthew

Matthew 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4 So that we can read the two texts together

Matthew chapter 4 verse 15. Matthew chapter 4

Matthew 4:15 Matthew 4:15–16

verse 15 to 16. He said the land of Zebulun and

the land of Naphtali by the way of the sea beyond

the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. He said

the people who sat in darkness have seen a great

light. and upon those who sat in the region and

shadow of the light as what? As dawn. Do you

know why when Jesus is eaten it's necessary that

Jesus will have to start his ministry in Galilee?

When he finished his resurrection he told his

disciples, tell them to go meet me in where?

In Galilee. Listen, it's a communication. something.

What Jesus is saying that, what man of God is

teaching us, is setting the stage for greater

works. Now no more among Israel you are to go

to the wall. Galilee is a doorway to the nations.

It's called Galilee of the Gentiles. What Jesus

is communicating is that now I am releasing you

to the wall. And that's why he demonstrated By

going to a physical place. It's not a mistake.

It is already a prophecy It's not just for going

sick when you read glory to God You you have

to be very careful some words In the Sun when

the when Jesus was to pass through, you know,

normally when you are moving when you are going

to a Jerusalem you have to pass through Samaria

Many don't want to pass through that because

of the discrimination. But the Bible says, but

Jesus hurt. Meaning that it became necessary

that you will have to pass through Samaria. The

reason is because there is an appointment. in

the Sun spiritually because Jesus Christ is doing

things deliberately to break certain things so

every movement you move it might look geographical

but it's not it's communicating something so

if you miss this reading as you go you think

you have to see thou says the Lord thou says

the Lord you're going to miss a lot of things

that's why you have to pay attention Are we together?

So geography will turn what sometimes may be

spiritual, that is locked up to be unveiled.

You will see that from what we have already studied.

You see, geography is explaining spiritual concept.

Unbelief, salvation, deliverance. Are we together?

Did you see that? That once you mention a place,

it already communicates something. Are we together?

That is exactly. So, bringing map into your Bible

study changes words. from just flat black ink

on white pages into vibrant three -dimensional

world where God's voice speaks with clarity.

So I want to encourage you, don't neglect geography

in your Bible study. Are we together? Don't do

what? Don't neglect geography. When you are reading,

you find a place, just say something, something,

something. Don't just pass anyhow. can you pull

a map and just try to because what you are doing

is that you are trying to travel back and sit

where the audience sat because you are not there

so sometimes you will have to pull the map because

when Jesus or when the apostles were communicating

they were communicating to audience who already

are familiar with the terrain so when they speak

small things like for example down they already

know what they are saying but you we don't know

because when you say down down how so you have

to pull them up and begin to look at it then

you now understand are we together amen hallelujah

okay let me give one more supernatural context

i'm going to discuss this maybe probably in a

separate video but let me give an introduction

the bible also have supernatural context Not

just only on the material. You see that's the

reason why we have to communicate in this way.

It has supernatural context. Understanding the

Bible also requires grasping the supernatural

context. A worldview. So supernatural context

means a worldview where the physical and the

spiritual realm are constantly interacting. Meaning

that The writer's worldview in those days is

not the same with our worldview today. Even though

we need to improve. Because the world has not

changed. Do you understand what I'm saying? The

world has not what? Has not changed. No, I think

Pasukosi used to emphasize that in the sun. Don't

think that everything is normal. Yeah, when you

watch what is happening around the world in the

sun, don't be too naive To think that is just

normal Hmm that men just do it that they that

way Monogathe just read a scripture Ephesians

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2 the spirit who is at work in where

in the children of disobedient So don't see a

man hiding in his ways and think it's a normal

thing Did you get what I'm trying to say? Yes.

Hallelujah. So without this framework of understanding

the supernatural context, strictly literal or

modern scientific reading can miss the intended

spiritual and doctrinal meaning. When we read

the Bible like a cast -iron Literal strictly

scientific When I see day I Think as day today.

You are going to miss a lot of if I see moon

I'd always think as we think today. You're going

to miss something Meaning that is that's why

we said when you come to the Bible is not a free

flat thing You can read moon and star, literal,

in other places. That one is a tool. But you

cannot take how you read Genesis. That's how

you read First Kings and Second Kings. That's

how you read Ecclesiastes. That's how you go

to read the Epistos. How about now? The same

way. Just flat. You're going to miss a lot. Because

today we have believers who wants to always have

a short cut you know we like uh sharp sharp things

now you understand indo me you know i've been

trying to stop some people staying indo me understand

but the point is that because we like sharp sharp

things something that we just get is sharp fast

food fast fast fast things are we together but

please calm down this bible the implication of

taking it out of context is too high. Understand?

And that's why you have to calm down. Please,

be patient. Be patient. Don't be in a rush. Don't

be in a rush. Calm down. We live in a modern

world. Today is a material world. It's a scientific

world. Where we see universe through microscope,

through telescope, through law of physics. That's

how we see the world mostly. But when you come

to the Bible, the writers live in a different

world than ours. In a worldview, we are the physical

and the spiritual. Remember that's why we take

time for some of us who have been here when I

was dealing with the issue of the law in our

series about the issues about women liberty.

You must have seen that we discuss how these

people their view about angels. Did you understand

what I'm trying to say? Their view about spirit

beings. That's the issue. And this is important.

To them they see the unseen world, not just us.

as something different. They see the unseen world

as real as the seen. Are we together? Look at

Revelation 9. Revelation what? 9 verse 1. Revelation

9. Then the fifth angels sounded and I saw a

star falling from heaven to the earth. To him

was given the key to the bottomless pit. That

is the star was given a key. Are we together?

I mean if you just read in the adults with scientific

means you will likely see like this is a star

falling I mean to the earth maybe one of these

meteorites and maybe ah please let's be careful

before it will cause ecological disaster but

no that's not what he's saying John immediate

use of him he said I saw a star From heaven to

the earth in case you don't want to confuse it.

He said to him Hmm you see that he said to him

Was given and then he said he was giving a key

him was giving a key is to tell you that that

star Is a personality Is not the star at the

top defined by gases Are we together? No. This

star has an action. This star has an intelligence.

Did you understand what I'm saying? It's not

defined by nature that the star has an intelligence.

The star has an assignment. It's given a key.

It's a hymn. In ancient... apocalyptic writings

or context, a falling star most time is seen

as a falling angel or angelic entity. In fact,

just move a little bit to chapter 12. Look at

chapter 12, verse 3, Revelation 12 verse 3, and

Revelation 12:3

another sign appeared in the heaven, behold a

great fiery dragon. having seven heads and ten

horns and seven dead ends on his head his tail

drew a thought of stars from heaven and threw

them on the earth and the dragon stood before

the woman who was ready to give birth to to devour

her child as soon as it was born. When you read

that you say ah ah Stars who the dragon wipe

is a what you call in the sun But when you read

more you now understand was Was six or let me

read verse 7 is there and war broke out in heaven

Michael and his angels fought with the dragon

and the dragon and his angel fought but they

did not prevail nor was a place found for them

in the heaven any longer so the dragon was cast

out and the serpent of old called the devil and

satan who deceived the world he was cast out

He was cast to the earth and his angels were

cast out with him. Do you see that? So the dragon

is Satan. The stars were the fully angels that

came with him, his angels. That is the stars

Isn't just some cosmic event or some things are

threatening the solar system He's talking about

spiritual rebellion here The fully angelic beings

who sided with the enemy who sided with Satan

Therefore reading the Bible with a scientific

lens will strip you of the reading of the scriptural

text the way it's original audience wrote it

you know I read one book sometimes they will

read Matthew chapter 25 about the parable of

Matthew 25 · chapter mention

the talent and then they will be given counsel

of how to make money using that I mean please

now you know the issue is that is that the intern

when Jesus was writing that was he giving business

advice there You see, you are misusing the intent

of the author. You are misusing. After all, if

you want business ideas, that's nowhere to go.

The same thing we say, stop ideating with these

people who want to defend. The world is also

a number of years. Leave them. Science has to

know how to correct themselves. I tell you the

truth. Science knows how to correct. They have

corrected many things. If you have been in science,

you understand. All the Dalton's atomic theory

and all those things, you understand? Atom is

an indivisible part of it. I mean, all those

things. Is it divisible now? I mean, who changes

it? Who changes it? You are not the one now.

Allow them. They will change it. Do you understand

what I'm trying to say? You don't need to fight.

They will change. Leave them. You understand?

They are already fighting and changing already

the law about evolution. So don't worry. Calm

down. Just preach the word in season and out

of season. Do you understand what I'm saying?

So leave them. So, you see, you will miss it.

Because even though Moses was using the creation

story, his intent was not to give how the world

was created and this and that and that. I mean,

that's it. You will miss it. Because by the time

you read the entire Genesis 1, by the time you

come to Genesis chapter 2, and God rested, and

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

then you read the epistles, you come to where

we read Hebrews chapter 4. When you read down,

Hebrews 4 · chapter mention

it made reference to Genesis chapter 2. Moses

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

was writing that he was not talking about those

things. His focus is to communicate the gospel.

And that is why the rest of God is salvation.

The creation story about him is a description

of the redemptive work of Christ. And after he

has finished the work, he rests. What is rest?

It doesn't mean just to stay idle. It means to

enter into the position of authority, to enter

into a position of glory. That's mean by rest.

His indwelling, His ascension is called rest.

That means Christ now is resting in you. It means

He's living in you. That's what it means. Are

we together? So, and that's why we must trust

God to read the Bible. in the author's intent.

Amen. Amen. If you understand this way, you will

now not be struggling. You will not be struggling

when you see some certain discussion, even in

the Epistles. He now said, though we walk in

the flesh, we do not wage war after the flesh.

For the weapon of our warfare. They are not cannot

did you want something? Are we together? He will

say again and then tell you how we watched which

the war He said we we wage the war against principalities

and powers Against rulers of the darkness So

don't be sitting here and think everything is

physical. It's not. These people that wrote it,

they have an understanding that though we are

on earth in the material world, what influences

this material world is not just only in the material.

If you understand, you will be conscious of the

spirit world. Are we together? that is what a

Supernatural context of the Bible. We're going

to explore that more hopefully subsequently Now

let me introduce something before tomorrow understand

The contextualization of the scripture and the

consequence abuses the contour from the word

context, decontextualization of scriptures and

the consequent abuses. Now, what I intend to

do here is to handle, because we don't want to,

we're living in a real world. Tango Pasofre started

talking about the issue of transgender and so

many of this. We will both, as God help us, Through,

along the air, as the air moves, we will have

to both review what has happened in the past

in the horrible history of the church, because

we want us to know how some things have been,

how the Bible has been used as a weapon in the

sun. Because the problem that was facing some

of them some of them we still have them today

in the Sun and Then to see how we can also help

to know how to explain certain things in scriptures

even our problems of today Are we together? Amen?

Now I want you to understand that The most dangerous

lies Please I beg in the name of God to be sensitive

with this listen the most dangerous lies that

has been spread perpetuated in history were not

told by atheists they were not told by who by

atheists they were spoken by people holding a

bible very hard to accept. The most clear treatment

of humanity we have seen, some of it were held

perpetuated by people holding the Bible. I am

not saying unbelievers, I am saying believers,

leaders of churches. So what we are trying to

say that from all that we have said when you

ripped when you remove when you caught a way

a verse out of its setting out of its context

You are weaponizing it to perpetuate evil What

we call it is the methodology of Satan Meaning

You take the word and remove it out of its context.

You will do harm with it. Remember that the scripture

is profitable, but once you remove it out of

its context, it becomes injurious. It becomes

harmful. Are you with me? Are you with me? Are

you with me? That's why Paul says it is a spirit

in a son that give it life He said that the letters

kill it But the spirit do what? Gives life. Are

you with me? Let me repeat again. He says the

letters kill it But the spirit gives what life?

Mean that this same Bible interpreted accurately,

it gives life. This Bible also, once removed

out of context, it results to death. And so I

want you to pay attention. Second Corinthians

2 Corinthians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3, that's what Paul say there. In fact,

we also saw in Romans, he said the commandment

which was intended to give life now has been

found to give death. All this I'm trying to tell

you the implication of removing what it takes

out of context. So many of the major abuses and

tyrannies in history were perpetuated by the

violation of the intent of the author of scriptures.

Let me give you some examples and start with

that. Slavery in America. Write number one, slavery

in America. Slavery in America. Now, at that

time, there is some people we call them the pro

-slavery theologians. We call them the pro -slavery

theologians in the American South. They build

the theology to defend slavery so that it should

be perpetuated. Let me just give you some of

these people before we start to discuss some

of the how did they use the Bible to defend?

the perpetuation of slavery Number one James,

maybe you are you might have time to I mean you

can go and just read about them That's why I'm

giving you in the Sun James Henley Turnwell James

Henley that is T H O R N W E double L James Henley

Torwell was a South Carolina Oh Pastor, he's

a Presbyterian pastor and theologian. In fact,

he's a professor of theology at Colombian Theological

Seminary. So I'm not talking about some sumo

sumo built Brazil. I'm talking about professors

who were pastors who later become professors,

you understand? He argued that the relationship

between master and slave is divinely ordained

and consistent with God's word. Don't worry.

Let me just mention their name. I'm coming back

to give you their arguments. The next one is

Benjamin Morgan. Benjamin Morgan. Palmer. This

one is also a pastor. in the sun. He's a Presbyterian

pastor. Benjamin Morgan Palmer, Morgan Palmer,

P -A -L -M -E -R, in the sun. In fact, this one

is, this one is even a very severe thing, you

know, sun. You know, he preached one message.

He calls it Thanksgiving. He called it the Thanksgiving

Salmon. In the 1960s, where he supported the

southern part of the United States, which is

then they were, you know, in the United States

then, they had all these states, that's why they

are called the United States of America. So then

they have the southern and they have the northern

part, understand? And then the southern part,

there are 11 states then in the northern part.

He called it the confederates. And these people,

they are the ones, they are the major people

who want slavery. They still want to continue

with that. So, the, a someone that he preached,

he calls it, let me see, the someone, yes, this

is the name of the someone, the title. You can

find these online. He said the slavery, he called

it slavery, a divine trust. duty of the South

to preserve and perpetuate it. That's the title

of the Psalm. You can imagine somebody, one person

come to this, he said, he calls it slavery a

divine trust. Column, duty of the South to preserve

and perpetuate it. Then we have Baptist pastors.

One of them is Ton Ton. That is T -H -O -R -N

-T -O -N. That is Ton Ton. String fellow. Ton

Ton String fellow. String fellow just from string

and fellow. Understand? It's a Baptist pastor.

In fact, these people were the one who caused

the division to break the Baptist Church into

the South, Southern Convention in the sun. They

break it because the Northern part don't want

to agree with it, so they broke the sun, caused

division. In the 1960, he also published a book

called Scriptural and Statistic View in Favor

of Slavery. You cannot imagine monogod. He even

said with statistics. Hmm? That's the title of

the book. Scriptural and statistical views in

favor of slavery. In favor of slavery. Then another

Baptist pastor, Richard Fuller. Richard Fuller

is also a Baptist pastor. He's a pro -slavery

theologian. He's part of those people who also

helped the establishment of the Southern Baptists

Convention, where they broke away from the North.

In fact, there is a book in which the Richard

Fuller, in 1947, Fuller and Brown University

President Francis Wayland. There's another guy,

he's a Brown University President Francis Wayland

because Wayland is against Fuller's position

of pro -slavery. So what they did was they now

publish a book, Fuller giving pro points and

then Francis Wayland giving against slavery.

The book again is called Domestic Slavery Considered

as scriptural institution. So more or less, the

book is like a debate between the two of them.

You understand? Let me say it again. The book

is titled, Domestic Slavery Considered as a Scriptural

Institution. So let me give more, just two more.

Because there are many. To tell you that is an

arsenal of men supporting that. We have George

Doot Armstrong. This one is a Presbyterian. George

Doot D -O -D -D Armstrong. From the word arm

and strong. George Doot Armstrong. This one is

also he argued so much that God created different

stations in life that this is arguing that God

is the one responsible for social hierarchy Social

hierarchy That the social hierarchy helped to

emancipate the enslaved people. You can imagine

that. You are arguing that the slavery is helping

the slave people. You know, he also authored

a book. You know these people, they are formed

a very, it's a cartel. He also authored a book

called The Christian Doctrine of Slavery. The

Christian Doctrine of Slavery. the Christian

doctrine of slavery. That's the title of the

book. Then the last person I will mention is

Charles Colcock Jones. Charles Colcock. C -O

-L -C -O -C -K. Colcock. Jones. Jones. In fact,

this person his own is not like the other one

you understand this person the jones let me tell

you jones one is a little bit interesting they

call him apostle of the slave to slaves now his

own is not just only that he is using the bible

to keep slave but that he wants to preach christ

for slaves to be born again Do you understand

what I'm trying to say? So he wants to preach

to the slaves to be born again and his intent

is not just because he wants them into the kingdom

of God Yeah, his intent is that by converting

them to Christianity to become easier to brainwash

them with the scriptures of those swans So that's

why you're calling him an apostle. So he believed

in evangelism and the evangelism will make enslaved

people more obedient and make the plantation

system more stable. Because if you have people,

although you can use Bible to support the people

at the society level, those who are holding up

to big powers and like the politician and the

rest, you can use Bible to defend it, you understand?

But then if you want to make the slavery more

systemized, then that means you have to just

not just only convince the aristocrats you understand

you have to come down and also preach Jesus to

these people because by doing so you will you

will ensure they become more obedient so his

work focus on converting slaves to Christianity

while ultimately reinforcing the established

racial and social hierarchy of that time. Hallelujah.

Are we together? Now, before we close, what is

the theological argument? What are the things

they were holding and promoting that supports

slavery? Now number one using the Old Testament

so they use the Old Testament very well They

use the Old Testament patriarch they argue that

this patriarch owns slaves and the Levitican

laws permitted the purchase of burnt people they

permit people to purchase servants They say the

Old Patriarch, the Old Testament Patriarch, like

Abraham and the rest, they own slaves. And also

the Levitican laws permit to purchase a person.

Let me give you some scriptures. Genesis chapter

Genesis 12:5

12 verse 5. Genesis 12, 5. Genesis 14, 14. Genesis

Genesis 16:1–3

16 verse 1 to 3 Genesis 26 verse 14 Genesis 31

Genesis 26:14 Genesis 31:41

verse 41 Job chapter 1 verse 1 to 3 Leviticus

Job 1:1–3 Leviticus 25:44–46

chapter 25 verse 44 to 46 Exodus 21 verse 2.

Exodus 21:2

Let me come again. Genesis 12 verse 5. Genesis

Genesis 12:5 Genesis 14:14

14 verse 14. Genesis 16 verse 1 to 3. Genesis

Genesis 16:1–3 Genesis 26:14

26 verse 14. Genesis 31 verse 41. Job chapter

Genesis 31:41 Job 1:1–3

1 verse 1 to 3. Leviticus chapter 25 verse 44

Leviticus 25:44–46

to 46. Exodus chapter 21. Verse 2. These are

Exodus 21 · chapter mention

the texts they normally use. We're going to explore

some of them. Then they use the New Testament

also. New Testament. They argue that Paul and

Jesus, or Jesus and Paul, never explicitly condemned

slavery. Because Jesus, according to them, never

condemned slavery. Paul never condemned slavery.

Therefore, it carries an implication of divine

approval. It carries an implication of divine

approval. John chapter 8 verse 35. John chapter

John 8:35 John 8:35

8 verse 35. Ephesians chapter 6 verse 5 to 9.

Ephesians 6:5–9

Colossians chapter 3 verse 22. to chapter 4 verse

Colossians 3:22

1. Again, John chapter 8 verse 35, Ephesians

John 8:35 Ephesians 6:5–9

chapter 6 verse 5 to 9, Colossians chapter 3

Colossians 3:22

verse 22 to chapter 4 verse 1. So using all these,

plus there's something they call divine hierarchy.

They carve out some theological terms like divine

hierarchy. that is a claim God ordained patriarchal

society you know when you read the bible this

is why i was trying to say historical facts you

understand you see that there are certain things

of course did the old testament has a patriarchal

society yes you understand even during the time

of jesus a patriarchal society right but that

doesn't mean that god approved the order so they

claim that god ordained patriarchal society order

We are women and children and enslave people,

all submission to male heads. In a sense, that's

what they argue. Then they have another term

which they call the paternalistic idea, paternalistic.

Paternalistic ideals and idea, ideals and idea.

They frame that the plantation Was an extended

Christian family Was an extended Christian so

you see that this terminology one divine hierarchy

They believe that the that the society that is

a divine Order that God have said that the society

become patriarchal That everywhere including

the child supposed to be patriarchal and women

and children and slave submits to the male You

know son And then the paternalistic ideal or

idea, they framed that the plantation was an

extended Christian family. We are masters, provide

physical care and spiritual salvation. It's like

you are the master of the house, so you are providing

protection for your extended family. And in your

family, we have different people with different

hierarchy. You have women, you have children,

then all of them are, the male are always at

the top of the order, at the order, yes. And

then also including servants. Just the same way

like you see in the pattern of Abraham. Abraham's

servant, 318, right? Servant in his house, like

he has them with him. Of course he has his family,

he has that, you understand. So they are trying

to argue on those things. Amen. Now lastly, let

me give you another thing they did. Remember

I told you that this preacher, the last preacher

which is Jones, Charles Colcord Jones, which

is called an apostle of slaves, the focus was

to convert as many slaves as possible because

it would be easier to make them obedient using

the scriptures, you understand, than somebody

who is not reading anything. There's something

they call the slave Bible. What they did was

to mutilate the Bible. They call it the slave

Bible. I need to give you this before we go.

The slave Bible. It was published by the English

missionaries. I mean this before, it looks as

if they are missionaries but they are not. The

English missionary in the 1804. And you know

what they did? They completely removed any text

that talks about liberation, equality, Exodus.

In fact, because the Exodus story depicts a people

who are coming out of bondage. They removed the

entire Exodus and removed most of these texts

from the Bible. In fact, in the slave Bible,

it was said that 90 % of the Old Testament has

been removed. and 50 % of the New Testament.

If you look at the Bible entirely, the Bible

has about 1 ,100, about 1 ,200, 1 ,189, they're

about chapters of the Bible. But in the slave

Bible, we only have 232 chapters. That means

you have a slave Bible that's supposed to be

1 ,000, about 1 ,200 chapters. And then you are

having only the chapters of your Bible. It's

only 232 chapters. They remove everything that

talks about liberation, equality, exodus, whatever.

And the major mission is to remove all those

things. All these texts like Galatians chapter

Galatians 3 · chapter mention

3. that talks about there is neither Jew nor

Gentile no slave no free they remove it anyone

that shows that you are you are a free person

they remove it and then they publish so they

preach to you you believe God then they will

be teaching you with that Bible they will be

giving you those of it you don't know whether

any Bible have existed but at least you have

one that will be making you obedient so all the

texts that appear to say in a sign you should

submit your master in all things in that that

that's the one they left what a crooked generation

Now, it's not just only to talk about some of

the things that they have done. That is our responsibility

to as well look at those things, because we have

some of these problems today. Do you know that

even including the words of Paul, like for example,

in 2 Timothy chapter 2, we're coming to it where

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

he talks about I do not permit a woman to teach

a man. They use it as part of the things that

both the church and the society is a patriarchal

society. And therefore, women are supposed to

have total submission. They have no any other

rights in the sun than actually to submit. And

they use it both. So we're going to look at submitting.

We're just starting with the issue of the slavery

in the sun. And I wanted to see how the Bible

has been misused, you understand, mutilated just

for the sake of it. So don't be afraid. Let me

tell you, some of the people you are going to

face and fight with so much on the issue of doctrine

are not unbelievers. They are going to be church

people who are rooted in tradition. And let me

tell you, all these pastors that I mentioned,

their own slaves, you understand? They also have

their position at the top of the society. You

know what I'm saying? They enjoy lots of benefits.

I remember we used to talk, just like our most,

apology to most of our Nigerian lecturers, you

know what I'm saying? But I have to complain

that many of our lecturers, especially the old,

old professors, you know what I'm saying, enjoy

Nigeria. When they went to school at that time,

because my uncle, my dad used to tell us a story,

you know what I'm saying? They are the one that

enjoy government. Sir, in ABU, one of my uncle

used to tell us what is happening in ABU. You

go to cafeteria, free food. The tea, thick one,

is coming from the tea. You just own and fetch

the much you have. You'll see big, big chicken

and all that. They're not paying it. Government,

during their time. But these people, now that

they have become professors, oh, they are the

one that do the hell out of to them. Many of

the lecturers also come abroad, enjoy that they

were not treated that way. But when they go back,

they demand hell out of students. That is the

same thing. And then we complain about the system.

That's the same thing we have pastors. Now, because

they enjoy the benefit of it. You understand?

May we not be like that. That because of the

mundane things we enjoy, that we put aside. the

revelation of God and abuse people and mutilate

people. But we will stand and fight. So we have

a lot of fight. That's a fight of the good fight

of faith. To insist on the revelation and the

intent of the autumn. Are we together? Can we

just pray? I want you to pray this prayer before

we go. Whether you are online listening to us,

can we pray for courage? That's what Paul prays.

We appreciate you being here today. We hope you

carried this word with you throughout your week.

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you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.