Day 2: Contextual Reading of the Bible (Part 1)

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. Why reading scriptures contextually

is very key and important. And we saw a lot of

things yesterday. There's just some few things

I want to just start by way of introduction to

what we'll be looking at today and tomorrow.

If you want to write a topic, contextual reading

of the Bible. Contextual reading of the Bible.

where we got our theme for this conference and

of course for the year, greater works. He said,

most assuredly, I say unto you, he who believes

in me, the works that I do, he will do also,

and greater. Of course, which means greater works

than these He will do because I go to the father

now because We're dealing with context. So most

of our teaching from today to tomorrow will heavily

depend on interpretation context context context

because like man of God told us yesterday that

Once you remove a text out of context you already

remove it out of the will of God. Because the

will of God is communicated in the text. He read

to us 2 Timothy 3 that all scriptures are inspired.

So that means in their original form. the way

they came, they are already inspired. So every

word used is inspired. It's not my mistake. Are

we together? And that's why we will be very hard,

very strict, very meticulous in our intention

to understand the intent of the author, the intent

of God in a text. Because once we miss that,

it means we miss the will. Are we together? This

is how crucial it is. Now, most times when we

read this text, let's start from here. This John,

he looks as if he's talking to an individual

believer. If you read it, you understand? and

the way the rendition in English. Once he said,

most assuredly I say to you, he, by using the

word he who believes, that rendition, already

gives us a connotation that he's speaking to

a single believer or an individual believer.

But already, if you look at the context, the

discussion, that is not the case. Look at verse

8. Already he was talking to his disciple. Look

at verse 8. Philip said to him, Lord, show me.

Is it me? Are we together? He says, show what?

Us, the Father. and it is sufficient for us and

that's why Jesus started to discuss which means

that when Jesus was saying most assortedly I

said to you that you is not an individual that

you is the disciples the group the company are

we together hallelujah that means by interpreting

it that way is already have an impact in its

application He said, but I say to you, I see

to you. So understand that at this point, let's

agree before we even continue. Man of God, I've

already mentioned that greater works is Christ

expanding his ministry. Are we together? What

we're seeing now by the implication now reading

this text as, means you as collective, is that

greater works is not done in isolation. That

greater works is the works of the church, not

the work of a single believer. Greater work is

a work of a church. Now, let me show you one

thing again that emphasized this truth. Jesus

gave the reason why it's going to be possible

for us to do greater works. He said, because

I go to the Father. So greater works is hinged

upon I go to the Father. A man of God yesterday

mentioned that what I go to the Father is Christ

ascension. Is Christ ascension. Just go some

chapters ahead, a little bit. Chapter 20, look

at verse 17. This is after he resurrected He

said to her that he said to Mary Do not cling

to me For I have not yet ascended to where? to

the father but go to my brethren and say to them

I Am ascending to my father your father and to

my God and your God when Jesus talks about ascension

he now talks about a family he said now you are

my brother to my brethren there is a link between

ascension The reason is because it is in His

ascension that we receive the Spirit. They say

text that man of God read. Let's go to that place.

That is in Act chapter 3. In Act chapter 3. No,

Act chapter 2, sorry. Look at verse 27. Well,

let me read from verse 29 men and brethren, let

me speak freely to you of the patriarch David

that he is both dead and buried and his tomb

is with us to this day therefore being a prophet

and Knowing that God has sworn with an oath to

him that of the fruit of his body According to

the flesh he will do what? raised up the Christ

to sit on his throne. 1. He, for seeing this,

spoke concerning the resurrection of Christ,

that his soul was not left in Hades, nor did

his flesh see corruption. 32. This Jesus has

raised up of whom we are all witnesses. Therefore

being exalted he was raised being exalted that's

ascension being exalted to the right hand of

the of God and It's not him receiving the spirit

are we together is and You can put in there to

have understand. So when he said and meaning

that as He was exalted, we are the recipient

of the Spirit. Are we together? Oh, are we together?

So it's like, is Him exalted, we receiving the

Spirit. Are we together? Because He is a giver.

Amen. We are the receiver or the recipients.

Of course, John 7, 38, 39, already showed to

us that that's exactly that the Spirit was not

given yet. He spoke concerning those who will

receive the Spirit, but it has not yet been given,

because what? He has not been what? Exalted.

Are we together? Oh, show me that text, my brother.

John 7. Was 30. 38, look at 38. He said, he who

believes in me, as the scripture says, out of

his heart will flow. Now, that he is not the

believer. Out of his heart will flow rivers of

living water. I know that good song. That song

is wonderful. Out of my belly shall flow, flow

river. You know something? Very wonderful. But

you see, here he's not talking about that the

believer is the one that will give the spirit.

From where? You understand? Because where do

you have to give first? Because at this point,

go to 39, because 39 explains 38. He said, but

this he did what? He spoke concerning the spirit,

whom those believing will do what? will they

give or will they receive so that's why I go

back to 38 he who believe in me as the scripture

says out of his belly so it cannot be that it

is from the believer that the spirit will come

but that he will be the recipient that's why

verse 39 say if spirit concerning the spirit

those who believe will receive go to 39 yes will

receive for this holy spirit was not yet given

why because Jesus was not yet glorified so we

see here when Peter was speaking that he said

verse 33 in Acts chapter 2 verse 33 he said therefore

Acts 2:33

being exalted that is glorification that that

John was talking about he said when he was exalted

to the right hand of the Father and now we receive

the Spirit received from the Father the promised

of the Holy Spirit of course which you now see

because something happened when Peter was preaching

this event when you go down verse 34 for David

did not ascend that's the ascension that exaltation

into heavens he said but he sees himself That

this is talking about it is Christ that ascended

not David The Lord said to my Lord sit at my

right hand till I make your enemies your foes

too So what we are seeing is that we receive

the spirit By reason of his ascension in order

what what we're saying is that in ascension We

go where he went Are you with me? Are you with

me? That is, we go as He had promised, because

He said, go back to that John, because we are

from John, right? Remember, we are looking at

the reason why we will do greater works. That's

why He said, because what? I go to the Father.

Before then, in verse 2, He said, my father's

house are many mansions. We have explained these

texts over and over. If it were not so, I would

have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will

come again and receive you to myself that where

I am, dear, you may be what also. So in his ascension,

we be where he is. Are we together? So when we

say we receive the Spirit, what we are saying

is that now we are where He is. That's why Ephesians

would tell us. Ephesians 2, what? Ephesians 2,

6. You say that we are what? Raised. And raised

up together. And made us to sit together. In

where? Where He is, there we are. Are we together?

Are we together? To say it another way, He indwells

us by His Spirit. And in so doing, please note

the implication. When He say, I go to the Father,

it means that He indwells us. When He say, I

go to the Father, it means His ascension. He

means that He indwells us by His Spirit. Are

we together? That now He is in us and we are

in Him. And do you know the implication of that?

By so doing, Jesus replicated Himself. Let me

repeat it again. By so doing, Jesus did what?

Replicated Himself. So when he was telling the

disciples do not be sad I am going this for your

own good is not a replacement We together he

was not saying we will replace him Greater works

is not replacing Jesus Greater works is replicating

Jesus The reason we will do greater works is

that when man of God was talking about the global

ministry the reason why we will be global is

because now there are many Jesuses. Oh, you didn't

understand what I'm saying. Are you with me?

While one man is limited many Jesuses are not

limited. Did you understand what I'm trying to

say? That's why he said I go to the Father. Because

I go to the father Because I go to the father

This why I so I told you be note the implication

of what Jesus was telling me He said go and tell

my brethren. He didn't say there's a go and tell

my servants. No Now we have the same DNA One

tell my brethren now is a your father my father.

Are we together? Yes. In Romans 8 -29, we said

for those he foreknew, he also predestined to

be conformed into the image of his son, that

he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Hebrews 2 would tell us, bring in many sons to

glory. He was the only begotten now. He is a

first born among his brethren Are we together

now? It's not just only so you have to know now

in his race in resurrection and ascension He

replicated himself. Are we together? That's the

implication when you begin to see what we are

trying to say is that within the context of John

He was not talking about an individual believer.

Are we together? John 14. He is talking about

a community, a church. A church. So when you

read it, don't read it with an individualistic

mind. You will miss that which God is trying

to communicate there. You see some of the problems

we are having today in ministry. That now ministry

is turning to us industry, not ministry again.

Where everybody want to have a level. Nobody

want to stay under a church, under a pastor.

That is because of the error of reading. You

understand? And we're going to deal with this,

what we call the communal reading of the Bible.

If you miss the communal reading, you miss his

will. You understand what I'm saying? Hallelujah.

We were studying some time ago, look give me

Ephesians 3 verse 10. To the intent of God. The

Ephesians 3:10

intent and noun, the manifold wisdom of God.

The revelation of God. The ministry, the mystery

unfolds. Revealed be made known by an individual

by the church To the principalities and powers

in the heavenly places or heavens And this is

the reason why we are communicating So you want

to do the will of God is done in the church not

away from the church when you hear somebody said

no i don't need to go to the church that means

that person has not understood the will of god

understand the reaching to the nations to reach

the nation is not an individual work are we together

is a collective work So, you see, when Paul will

explain the issue of ministry, he will not speak

of one person. He will give analogy with the

body. He say, the eye can say, I am no need of

you. He is speaking because giving analogy. You

know, Paul has a way of communicating even to

babes. He will have to use all kinds of things

to communicate that truth. Are we together? Amen.

Therefore Greater Works is an expansion of Jesus'

ministry of salvation globally. Witnessing, not

just in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and

to the utmost part of the Earth. So when you

are thinking about reaching the wall, taking

the gospel to nations, don't be thinking about

you alone. Understand? Are we together? Are we

together? Amen. Tell your neighbor the will of

God is done in the church, is done through the

church. The will of God is done through the church.

Hallelujah. So greater works are the works of

God's family, not the work of an individual believer.

It's the work of an individual believer because

you are part of the family. You see, one of my

desire is to see how church will emphasize our,

you know, sometimes we have to correct some of

our songs. You understand that it seems to be

I, I to be what? We we the reason is because

we need to ingrain that theology because that

is the will of God My desire is that as you are

in this church or even after you leave Whether

you're online listening to me In the Sun the

will of God is that you become part of the chart

you see that you are a stakeholder You are stakeholder

Somebody must have founded the church, but that

is not his church. Do you understand what I'm

trying to say? I don't want that kind of dissent

that some people feel, no, it's not my place.

And that's why you see many people now want to

go and form their own, because they think that

churches are now personal properties. People

are not yet trained, they want to go and start

building something. You understand? The reason

is because they are feeling that they are outcasts

in some, or they don't belong. They feel that

they are visitors or they are, I don't know what

to say. Please understand that whatever place

you are serving in this church, that is part

of God's will to do ministry within the church.

This church is your church. Don't say it's their

own. It's not their own, it's your own too. When

you see things, you say, I know they are seen

now. No, who told you they are seen? Did you

see that Pastor Victor has eyes at the back of

his head? No, we are not seeing. Don't see things

and then just keep quiet and say, they are seen

now. No, they are not seen. That's why you are

here. Be part of the church. Understand that

is a joint venture. We are co -workers, we are

co -labourers. It's not for some people. It's

not for some people. So that's what Jesus wants

the disciples to do. That's why, look at that

Matthew chapter 28. What's 18? What's 19? He

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

said, go therefore. To where? To all the nations.

Again, here, he's speaking to how many people?

To a company. He said, go. He said, go. And he

said, go. But go with what? I say, I make disciples

of all nations, baptizing them near your Father,

the Son of the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 20,

he said, teaching them to observe all the things

that have commanded you. The only tool. When

Jesus was saying his disciples, he said, don't

go with anything. Are we together? He said, don't

go with anything. Black, no. Black, no. He said,

a laborer is what? He's worthy of his wages.

Even we're going to see that because this is

where many have recognized the Bible, in the

sand. Jesus now said, sell your desire and buy

a what? A sword. Hallelujah. The ministry is

the ministry of preaching. It's the ministry

of making disciples. It's the ministry of expanding

this kingdom. It's the ministry that the whole

world, the whole earth will be covered with the

glory of God. Are we together? As the waters

cover the sea. That is the ministry and our tool.

is the Word of God. That means nothing will be

accomplished without the Word of God. Men will

not be saved until you preach. Men will not be

matured in Christ until you preach. Are we together?

Men will not see the glory of God in the miraculous

until you preach. You want to see the glory of

God? You want to see the mighty things of God?

When we read in the book of Acts, it will always

show to us as it is they are preaching, then

the miracles are what? Are happening. Are we

together? They are preaching, the miracles are

happening. So this is where now we are coming

to the importance of the world That means everything

about our ministry rises and fall with the Word

of God Now you are now seeing why it is very

crucial to pay attention to this Word of God

Are we together? John chapter 20 Let's go back

John 20 · chapter mention

to that John 20 look at verse 31 John 20 31 But

these we are reading That you may believe that

Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that Believing

you may have life in his name. You may have life

in his name. John is telling you why the word

was written, why he wrote this book. So John

is summarizing the design of the written word.

That the word of God is written that you may

believe. That Jesus is the Christ the son of

God and that by believing you might have life

in his name So this establish a fundamental truth

That error cannot birth new life Did you hear

what I said because he said it is written that

you my what believe and by believing you will

have what life. That means if what is intended

is not communicated well as it was written, devil

will cut a scripture. Jesus will say it is written.

Meaning that Jesus is bringing context. Devil

is taking out of context. So by bringing context,

the life, the power of the scripture is manifested.

again it was written that you might believe that

means when the what is written is twisted it

will not bring life so error cannot birth new

life without proper explanation of scripture

in it context There cannot be new birth You cannot

come and just preach a Jesus that is a healer

and you call people to Alter call and you expect

that what they say they have received is new

life Did you get what I'm trying to say because

there are many people who during Jesus time receive

his healing but not his life Are you with me?

So it's possible. So you cannot preach a wealth

message, a message of prosperity. Nothing wrong

to be rich. You understand? Nothing. It's just

a human affairs. Are we together? It's good.

I was telling my people, you understand? I said,

I wouldn't mind to have a private jet now. and

just fly to Nigeria and come back again here.

Nothing wrong. You understand? Don't do as if

you don't like it. In your heart you like it.

You understand? The only difference between us

and those who are, who doesn't understand is

that they, it becomes an idol. Did you get what

I'm trying to say? Yes. But there is nothing

wrong. to desire good things. It's part of human

nature. Don't cheat your humanity. It's not lost.

Why are you in school? Is it not that you want

to be great? Is that a sin? Did you understand

what I'm trying to say? So that is just part

of humanity to aspire to become better. Are we

together? So there's nothing wrong in that. So

you don't need scripture. Do I need scripture

to say that I want to become great? Do you understand

what I'm trying to say? Why are you looking at

me as if you don't understand? Did you get it?

You don't need to attach any scripture to say

I want to be great. Do you understand what I'm

saying? Amen. So what I'm trying to say is that

it is important to understand that. Romans chapter

Romans 6 · chapter mention

6. Look at Romans chapter 6 verse 17 But so if

Romans 6:17

I thought on this scripture he said but God be

thanked That though you were slain of sin look

at what they were before They were what? Slave

Yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine

to which you were delivered. That means their

current states came about by obeying or by believing

the sound doctrine that saved them. What that

means is that the word there, form, is a word

two -pose. That is T -Y -P -O -O -S. T -Y -P

-O -S, sorry. T -Y -P -O -S is two -pose. It

implies figure, image, print, copy. Meaning that

you didn't invent it. Is somebody getting what

I'm trying to say? It means that you did not

invent it. It means copy. So that is why it says

that form of doctrine means that copy of doctrine

to which you were given. That word delivered

means they were given. Are we together? So the

doctrine was not an invention. they were delivered,

they delivered it to them. They were slave before,

now they become, slavery now is a thing of the

past because they obey, they believe the truth.

And that truth was a truth preserved and then

was passed to them. Are you with me? What we

are trying to say is that That the power to save

Cannot be make active in error Remember Romans

1 16. I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

It is what the power of God onto what onto salvation

listen If the gospel is corrupted that power

does save cannot be activated a man only is saved

when he believes the truth not an error this

is why it makes it see if you know what that

means the ministry is the ministry of saving

lives this is why you handle the word of god

with all seriousness because it is a serious

business It has the capacity to keep a man in

deception forever because when you give error

This is why the issue of studying goes what in

the intents of the author is important You are

not to invent anything your problem starts When

you begin to feel the need to sound unique Remember

I said the ministry the greater works We are

talking about is the work of the church is not

your own unique ministry. I Are you with me?

Because of that there's nothing unique about

it is a common faith is our own precious faith.

Common salvation. Are we together? There's nothing

unique. The day you want to start sounding unique,

that's the day into your journey into error.

Are we together? That's why... Despite the fact

that Paul is an educated person, probably among

the Bible writers, those who can compare with

Paul probably is Isaiah. You understand? I mean,

these are the most educated people. You understand

what I'm trying to say? Yet, when he was talking

to the Corinthians, he said, when I come to you,

the second Corinthians, the first Corinthians

of the two, he said, I did not come to you with

an excellency of speech. You think he doesn't

even know how to speak excellently? Hey, hey,

hey. But when it comes to the gospel to communicate

the truth of God's Word, this is not about for

now. You understand? Oh, you get it me. You don't

understand what I'm saying. It's about the clarity

of the message of the gospel. That is its intent.

Are we together? So this document is written

to give eternal life This document is written

to do what? To give eternal life This document

is written to mature believers Are we together?

Is given to do what? To also mature believers.

Look at Colossians Colossians chapter 2 Verse

Colossians 2:6

6 he said as you therefore have do what have

received Jesus the Lord he says so walk in him

Rooted and built up in him and what and established

in where in the faith As you have been what taught

as you have been taught abounding in it in it

in it with thanksgiving meaning what saves you

is what now you are rooted in it are we together?

so you have to understand that that this document

is meant to give eternal life these written records

of the gospel is meant to give eternal life,

is meant to establish you in the faith. This

cannot be truth unless they are communicated

accurately. So, in a notion, God is never glorified

when his word is taken out of context. God is

never glorified. when his words are taken out

of context. I want you to think about this. Have

you ever had your personal words pulled out of

context? I mean, that's not, you say something

and there's somebody, maybe you are standing

with your sister and you are discussing as a

sister. You need to love the Lord. And one brother

just passed. He didn't hear anything. That other

love is that you need to love. So he said, I

heard that brother say he love our... Do you

understand what I'm trying to say? When you hear

it, how will you feel? When someone twists your

word or somebody fragments, just like I said

now, it fragments your word and sets something.

That you never intended you is completely foreign

to your intent Definitely you will never feel

happy you will never feel honored You be frustrated

Infuriated annoyed Because that twisting of your

words already violate your character violate

your character and misrepresent your intents

because as you are saying something that means

if the brother say I hate him say he loves her

you say ah these brothers of this is I used to

see that brother say he's a serious brother now

did you see what happened that means that twisting

of your word already violate your character did

you understand what I'm trying to say? Yes, because

it makes you look like someone you are not And

because that was not your intent it also violate

and makes your intent crooked and That's not

true So if we demand Contextual respect For our

own words How much more must we bring discipline,

reverence, rigor, and contextual reading to the

sacred, life -giving, maturing, establishing

Word of God? How much rigor should we give? Please

burden, context is not a suggestion for us. It

is mandatory for accurate interpretation. It's

mandatory. Are we together? So what is context

or what is contextual reading of the Bible? What

is contextual reading of the Bible? It means

reading interpreting the Bible through its autos

intent simple and short no long grammar it means

to read and to interpret the Bible through its

autos intent and you see in the Bible Context

is multi -layered and that's what I'm going to

discuss now. Context is multi -layered. Meaning

that if you are going to come to the Bible, you

must understand that context is what? Is multi

-layered. Sometimes if you neglect any part of

this thing I'm talking about, you are likely

to move to error. Let's start with the first

one. We call it canonical Context. Canonical

context. Sometimes it's called broad context

or thematic context. Canonical context. Now the

first thing why we say this canonical is because

this one is a part of them all. Amen. For some

of us who are not from Nigeria, this one is the

top. Every other context is under this one. Are

we together? Are we together? Amen. First, we

are talking about that is the Bible itself. Are

we together? You remember, you know, the Bible

is a collection of 66 books, right? We can just

call it a library. It has one author, even though

it has many authors. And this one author is God,

which means that because in this canonical context,

The first principle we are holding is what we

call the divine autorship principle Meaning that

there is no how One God who wrote these things

will be contradicting himself. That means we

must understand what is the Entire intents or

the whole intent or what we call the broad intent,

the intent of the Bible itself. Any passage you

are reading, you must hold this at, is it front

of your mind, or back of your mind, or center

of your mind. I mean the whole of your mind.

You should hold this. By the inspiration of God

and is profitable plus is establishing divine

authorship You see that and is profitable for

Doctrine For giving evidence For correction correction

about what is not an open -ended thing you understand

same Doctrine That's his teaching Didaskalia

About who? It's not just teaching teaching mathematics

Teaching business is for teaching. No, it's not

for general subjects. It's not general the divine

author Given by the expression of God is specific

Are we together? specific Go to verse 15. And

that from childhood, Pastor Fred already taught

this, you have known the Holy Scriptures, right?

Which are able to make you wise. Remember, for

salvation. Are we together? If I will put it

better. it will be skillful that is wise in salvation

because in the subject of salvation are we together

because he is already a believer saying when

he first came to christ when he was small before

you have known the holy scriptures because you

don't know the holy scripture outside christ

You know the Holy Scriptures in Christ. And then

by so doing, it has made you skillful, you understand,

in the subject of salvation. And that salvation

is not by works. It's what? Faith, eh? Faith

in the Christ. is not the New Testament yet.

Are we together? Because when Paul was writing

this, they didn't put it together. He was talking

to what they were reading at that moment. Genesis

to Malachi. That means from Genesis to Malachi,

the subject is salvation through faith in Jesus

Christ. Genesis to Malachi. The subject is what?

Salvation through faith in what? In Jesus Christ.

Then V. 16 said that is exactly what it was all

taught. The inspiration to document that came

from God, not from man. And he said it is profitable

for teaching. Teaching about who? All within

the confines of salvation. You understand? Correction.

Correction about what? All within the confines

of the ultimate theme of the entire Bible. You

understand? Reprove, giving evidence about what?

About all the love of God. If you want to say,

if you don't want to use salvation, you can say

about the love of God, about the character of

God, about the intent of God and plan of God

for humanity. That's the sentence. Are we together?

So this is talking about the canonical context.

So please, if you are reading the astronomy,

sons of Solomon, we're just finishing. Are we

together? I know some people like that place.

Glory to Jesus. Amen. So whatever you are reading,

you must understand and put that. You remember

when we were reading Prover? You know, there

are some plays that he talks about when you want

to do... I think I like the way... I think which

version say that this way? He said, do you want

to see an important person? He said, take a bribe

with you. Proverb, you know some in fact that

scripture we normally could see it down a month

No, no, the the order one a man's gift make him.

Yes, I appear that what gift is not talking about

talent is Like physical something material gifts,

you know some You know when you read some of

my proverb and remove this Context you understand

you'll be making that place to be saying something

different remember if you read the beginning

of proverb already the preacher himself solomon

told you the intent why he was right he said

i was writing what i have observed so his writing

is observation not that he's some of those proverbs

are not revelation of god i hope you understand

what i'm trying to say he's just writing what

he observed among men That is do you want to

see an important person? Do you want a way to

be created which you just carry some gifts? Did

you understand what I'm saying? Is it not true?

Is it not true? Now we're not saying whether

it's a sin or not sin. He said that is what you

observe. Are you with me? That's what you observe.

I think when we are ready we have to come to

a place and answer this question. When we eclipses

of the tree. You understand? a time to kill,

a time to this, a time to this. You say, ah,

ah. Well, how can God kill? How can God have

a time for disaster? I say, ah, ah. I say, this

is what you observe. Did you understand what

I'm trying to say? You see, if you don't read

correctly, you're going to be moving with a different

thing, which is not the will of God. So, while

the Bible has more than 40 authors, human autos.

It has one ultimate divine author. 1 Peter 1,

20 to 21 also tells us that they were moved by

God, the Holy Spirit. It was not a man's initiative.

It has a singular unified plot line, storyline.

The Bible has a singular storyline a singular

storyline from Genesis to Revelation So because

of that you have to understand so if you interpret

even interpretation Of an Old Testament law or

a New Testament verse makes God To look a tyrant

to be a to look so crude who hates humanity that

interpretation must be wrong not me must be what

must be wrong because it contradicts the unified

team of the redemptive love of God because listen

if you hold this one is going to help you a lot

Whatever you are reading through the pages of

scriptures, you must have this in mind that this

Bible has a unified storyline. The intent of

the author is that salvation is made manifest.

The subject of salvation and that salvation is

through faith. Whatever you might say, listen,

you might agree, I don't understand this text

yet. But don't say Anything that you you will

study that will contradict the revelation of

God in Christ Is out of context Is what out of

context Out of context we have already read let

me just give you some of these texts in the song

John 5 39 you start the scriptures and in them

you think you have eternal life they are what

they did they say they are some they are what

they that do what testify of me look 24 we have

already read that place 25 oh you foolish ones

law of heart to believe all that the prophet

have what in all that the prophet have what spoken

ought not christ to have what suffer these things

and to enter into his glory and beginning at

Moses and in all the prophet hmm he explained

or expounded to them in all the scriptures not

some scriptures not some scriptures in all the

scriptures the things concerning himself that's

what we are trying to see that is divine authorship

and singular storyline and subject. The scripture

is about the Christ. Put it together. So canonical

context is defined by Christo -centricity. Canonical

context is defined by Christo - centricity of

scriptures this is a vital safety shield against

abuses this is vital we're going to look at later

on a number of the horrendous things that was

done through the Bible and that will also empower

for so many of us that are going for evangelism

as well while we are trying to encourage the

other ones to join. You understand what I'm saying?

You know, some of us, when they say, when they

give you some history of how the Bible we have

misused, you say, you start saying no. No, don't

say no. It happened. You understand? It happened.

And that's why we are teaching this. So, and

that's one of the things I want you to get in

this. So as you read the Bible, let's settle

this first every of your interpretation must

align with this one this first one canonical

context if it deviates you on your own It's already

a contradiction any interpretation of a verse

or a passage of the Bible that contradicts the

message of redemption the love of God the finished

work of Christ automatically out of context so

the supreme narrative of the cross is the ultimate

safety safety barrier against heresy against

heresy hallelujah amen okay so let's look at

another layer under this one which is what we

call the immediate context the immediate context

Now under this under the umbrella of the canonical

context we have the immediate context This is

reading and interpreting a portion That is the

reading and interpreting a portion or a passage

of scripture Within is surrounding verses and

authors line of thought Please note that order

one I said because most times many of us think

that when we say Immediate context we just means

you just go few verses on top few verses down

In a sign, it's not just only fever so we say

pretext postics, you know son it also In compasses

the autos line of thoughts Because the autos

line of thought as I will show you Sometimes

he might be speaking there But what is communicating

is also in another book. Did you understand what

I'm trying to say? Like Man of God taught us

about the efficient church. Sometimes some of

the things discussing about the efficient church.

You know, I've heard so many people say this

efficient church is one of the perfect church.

You know, when you read the Corinthians church,

most of their confusion is within the letter.

But when you read the book of Ephesians, you

don't seem to hear so much of correction of these

things. You just focus on these, understand,

which man of God I've already outlined for us.

But you see, you are missing it. You understand?

Because you miss all that two books that give

it immediate context. One is Acts chapter 19

Acts 19 · chapter mention

and chapter 20. Another is 1 Timothy 2 and 1

Timothy and 2 Timothy. Because it was a pastor

that was sent to Ephesus. Did you understand

what I'm trying to say? And the confusion, the

heresy that is happening in that church, you

need to read Timothy. So don't think that when

we say immediate context, not just only, okay,

I'm reading 1 Corinthians, Ephesians chapter

Ephesians 5 · chapter mention

5. It's talking about marriage, you understand?

Oh, you say this one, this one, this one. You

say go post -text, pre -text. Brother, you need

to read all the texts that are connected to that.

That's when you can have an understanding of

what your toy say. Are we together? Did you understand

now what I mean by immediate context? Amen Hallelujah

So this is what I want you to take note One of

God I've already talked about this good work,

but come let me show you something in first quarter

second Timothy go to second Timothy quickly 2nd

Timothy chapter 3 Look at verse 17 2nd Timothy

3 17 He said that the man of God may be complete

totally equipped for every good work for every

good work Now I want to show you that one of

the things you have to be careful when you look

at immediate context is verses and chapters Are

we together? verses and what? and chapters So

don't follow the author's line of thought, not

the verses. And today we even had addition, subheadings.

Subheadings, no. Because all these break that

we have today, they are helpful for referencing.

Like now, if I want to call 2 Corinthians 3 this,

you already know, you just go there. Right, that's

why you hear the Apostles then they don't they

don't normally see a circle Corinthians is disease

is you understand? They only say at is written

in the scripture then you quote the scripture

Because in their day, there's no these a thing

we have today. Did you understand brand Z? Good.

It's probably the only one we have, because we

have several authors is a psalm. They will say

the first psalm, the second psalm, as we'll see

in the second psalm. Are we together? Because

of the breaking of different authors. Amen. But

the point I'm trying to say is that if you are

reading, you have to understand that if you are

interpreting, you must follow where... Like if

you do, when you come to verse 17, he said, for

every good work, it looks like that is where

he stopped. Is that correct? Many of us, that's

where we stop. But you see, Paul, that's not

where he stopped. What's the next thing in chapter

four, verse one? I charge you what? Therefore.

What is therefore? What is therefore? Are we

together? That is for this reason. He's trying

to say that there is more for me. I'm trying

to bring. based according to what I am discussing,

eh? Are you with me? Are you with me? Now, to

understand good works, before you even go to

other passages of the text, I mean of, or maybe

Paul's letter, you need to read. You can see

that from chapter one, talking about perilous

time, right, of chapter three, sorry, verse one

of chapter three, and the confusion that will

happen in the in the last days or the last time

in the son and then you look at John to chapter

4 and you look at for time will come when they

will know in your son doctrine you know son they

are all he's talking about the same thing you

know son in fact he says some having a form of

godliness but denying the power he was talking

about before and then he was encouraging him

about first Paul acknowledged in this text, one,

what Timothy has learned from his foundation,

from where he's coming from, and from his childhood.

One. Two, he also told him what he has learned

from him. You understand? So he now told him,

all these things you have understood about the

Bible, and you have been trained, both from me,

from your background, are we together is that

you are trained you are taught you are corrected

the intent is good works are you with me now

so but what is this good work then he now said

therefore i charge you that is for the very purpose

of why you have established yourself in scripture

and you have obtained all these things you understand

therefore i charge you now Preach the Word. Be

ready in season and out of season. In 5, verse

5 says, be watchful in all things, in your afflictions.

Do the work of and fulfill your ministry. That

means when you look at the whole thing, there

are things that Paul is trying to tell him. There

are seasons of life that will come that it will

be tough. because we will have people who will

not endure sound doctrine, people who will be

wayward. But I don't want you to forget where

you are coming from. And I don't want you to

forget what you have learned from me. And the

essence why you have learned all these things.

Every man that is learned is taught he have evidence

is that he do good work so I want telling you

you should preach what he's trying to say is

that that the good works is talking about is

about the preaching the preaching the preaching

the preaching preach the word in the sun preach

the word that is every good work and so if you

have stopped here you will have to be inventing

something in your head or to move to other passages

of the scripture and start looking to where there

is good which is good but first start with the

immediate place first go through to the down

part where follow the author in fact if he had

mentioned something like now he has mentioned

and that from childhood yeah you must have you

have to go back to verse chapter one uh festival

t1 to see where paul has made mention of his

foundation from his grandmother and mother and

then you move to act chapter 16 where that was

mentioned you see all these are part of the immediate

context although they have been mentioned in

different places did you understand what i'm

trying to say so that is the point hallelujah

the thought one the thought layer now immediate

context please I want to in the name of God don't

follow the thought of the author the second or

the thought is literary context not literally

Those in literature. What this one is saying

is that you have to come to acknowledge that

the Bible does not speak in a single flat tone.

Let me say it again. The Bible does not speak

direct all the times. That means the Bible has

several different kinds of literature bundled

together. It comes with different distinct literature,

historical narrative, poetic expressions, pastoral

epistles, prophetic declaration, Apocalyptic

imagery, historical narrative, poetic expressions,

pastoral epistles, prophetic declarations, and

apocalyptic imagery. For example, when you enter

Revelation or Daniel, you cannot read every passage

of the Bible the same way. Because for some of

us in science who you think you have escaped

literature welcome back You are welcome You must

understand that Understanding literature is not

an option You have to is part of the context

you must learn listen this is you can say no

I don't want I don't care and this is one of

the things I don't agree with some of the Bible

translations because some of the Bible translation

are trying to translate the Bible I mean English

translation to translate especially those what

we call paraphrase to translate the Bible omitting

the original context to interpret to translate

the Bible according to the modern context. Did

you get what I'm trying to say? No, you can't

do that. Once you are doing that, you are stripping

the Bible to its own originality. Because God's

intent, He uses the culture and the way of life

of those people to communicate. If Jesus had

come from Swahili, it would have been Swahili's

culture. We would have to learn it. Because he

will use that to communicate So refusing to learn

the culture and the understanding of the ancient

way of life is actually rejecting the will of

God me I'm telling you the truth Because you

can say I don't care. I don't know you you must

care If you value the lives of God and the life

of people what we have mentioned you must care

You have to care You have to study how the author

communicates. Because different authors, these

over 40 authors, they are not in one generation.

The time of Moses is not the same with the time

of Paul. Are we together? Yes, they're not. So

you have to study to understand their times.

How do they communicate? For example, Jesus was

a Middle Eastern teacher. Don't make him a Nigerian

teacher. Don't make him an English teacher. Are

we together? He consistently used metaphors,

figurative language of their time. You know,

in Nigeria, we are also rich. Some of our cultures

are also rich in literature. Our culture is also

literature. If you have watched African Magic,

I don't know which magic is that, but African

Magic, you must have understood those sayings,

you understand? When you see a thought hoping

in the afternoon. is either something is pursuing

it or it's pursuing something. Did you understand

what I'm saying? What I'm saying is that you

have to be told there is something they are communicating

with that thing. And this is important. So you

will see a lot of these figurative expressions.

And these expressions, They actually communicate

spiritual realities Using imagery using everyday

imagery So you cannot take Jesus litra here and

just again decide whatever to do no Are we together

When Jesus said if your hand causes you to sing,

quote it, now you know it's not literal because

you know you can't lose your hand. But then you

go to another place and say, how can you do it?

What do you want to change the word of Jesus?

No, you have to understand how he communicates.

Are we together? Hallelujah. Amen. Now let me

give you an example which I'm talking about.

Let's see. Let's look at an example. John chapter

John 6 · chapter mention

6. This one I'm giving you because it's a very

serious issue in the church that has to do with

Eucharist and communion. John 6. Are you with

me? John 6 what? 53. John 6 53 It says that and

Jesus said to them most actually I say to you

unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and

Drink his blood you have no life in where in

you You have no life in you Now many people miss

understood this metaphor and not just only many

people I'm talking about a whole church for many

and up to today we are still struggling with

this I don't know how we still want to defend

this as I said we want to take Jesus word here

literal but when you say cut your hand you refuse

to so over 2 ,000 years you can imagine now We

still read this place and struggle with it. What

is the background? Now as I told you, to understand

what Jesus is saying, you have to go to the background.

The first issue is that when you go back to verse

1 of this same chapter 6, right? From verse 1

to 13, you look at how Jesus fed the 5 ,000.

Is that correct? Are we together? He fed the

what? The 5 ,000. What did the crowd do? After

they finished, they enjoyed it. You understand?

So the crowd tracked Jesus down. Remember, not

because they like or they want to follow Jesus.

You understand? Because they want free food.

They enjoy that fish and bread. Look at verse

22. They followed Him. They tracked Him down.

They say, on the following day, when the people

who were standing on the other side of the sea

saw that there was no other boat there except

that one which his disciples had entered. And

Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples,

but his disciples had gone away alone. However,

another boat came from Tiberias near the place

where they had bread. after the Lord had given

thanks. When the people therefore saw that Jesus

was not there, nor his disciples, they also what?

They also got into boats and came to Kapano,

seeking who? Seeking Jesus. It looks like this

we would love to follow Jesus. Verse 25. And

when they found him on the other side of the

sea, they said to him, Rabbi, when did you come

here? 26 Jesus answered them and said most assuredly

I say to you you seek me not because you saw

the signs but because you ate of the loss and

you were filled verse 27 Do not labor for the

food which perish but for the food which endures

to everlasting life which the son of man look

at how the change will give you because God The

father has set his seal on him. Look at the flip

They they they came, you know sound for food

Jesus now use that opportunity to preach Listen

Paso Frese say something powerful Do not use

the problem we are facing today and and put it

inside Bible You read what was going on. During

this time, they found it on the way. They were

not taking communion. It's not Eucharist here.

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

don't bring problem into yourself because this

is not how to study scripture. When you have

problem, leave the problem first and read and

understand what is happening. When Jesus was

telling them this, it wasn't issues of communion

he was trying to solve here. It was the people

who ate food, enjoyed it. They followed him for

more. And Jesus is telling them, look at this

one, don't follow this one. This is the one you

should follow. That is the context. That's the

context. These people, because Jesus now confronted

them, they now understood why Jesus is going,

you know, now do some tactics. You know what

tactics they did? Look at 28. 28. Then they said

to him, what shall we do? Because they seems

to think, This Jesus want us to is turning to

spiritual things to something religious. Let's

also let's also maxed out what we are our intent.

What shall we do? He said, what shall we do that

we may walk the walks of God? This is what Jesus

said. Jesus answered and said to them, this is

the walk of God that you believe in him, who

he sent therefore. They said to him, what sign

will you perform then? He's telling them to believe.

These people are safe sign. That we may see it

and believe you. What works will you do? Our

fathers ate manna. You see these people? Still

that issue of food, they don't want to live it.

They don't want to live it. Our fathers ate manna

in the desert. As it is written, He gave them

bread from heaven to eat. So Jesus used their

appetite, you understand, to just preach to them

this eternal truth. Because He saw these people

there, bread and wheat, lavada and bread, bread,

bread. He said, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.

Then verse 33. Look at what He said in 33. He

said, for the bread of God is he. Did he say

eat or he? He said he who comes down from heaven

and give life to the world. This is no physical

bread. Is he? Are we together? Is what? He. Then

they said to him, Lord give us this bread always.

They still didn't understand what this is saying.

And Jesus answered them, I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me shall never hunger. And he

who believes in me shall never test. Are we together?

Did you see what Jesus said? He defines eating

and drinking there. He said he who comes to me,

comes to me shall not hunger. Meaning that he

said coming means eating. And he who believes

in me shall not test. That means believe means

drinking. That's why he said test. They mean

the same thing. Coming means believing. So that

means both the eating and the drinking means

to believe. Are we together? He's not talking

about eating his flesh. The problem is that even

that surface, the audience, the immediate audience,

they missed it. Because remember, when a people

is confused, remember those people didn't come

there to take communion. They came to eat bread.

Verse 41, he said, the Jews then complained about

you because he said, I am bread, the bread which

came down from heaven. And they said, is this

not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and

mother we know? How is it then that he says,

I have come from heaven? You see, again, they

started to get a problem. So they were thinking,

how can you say he come from heaven? Where we

know his family? And this is a problem again.

Our modern tradition, our modern... the our brothers

in the roman catholic in the sun the doctrine

of eucharist and transubstantiation right they

repeat this same error of teaching that bread

literally transform into physical flesh necessary

for salvation that is the eucharist you require

it to eat to have life that is a complete twist

of jesus words are we together jesus was not

discussing cannibalism no that's not what he's

discussing now let me even show you 63 to show

you jesus what jesus is saying he was not talking

literal in far downward he clearly said it he

said it is the spirit that do what that gives

life so when he's talking about you have life

is it flesh is it material thing no he says it's

a spirit that gives life and the flesh do what

it profit nothing so how can you say Eucharist

will give it a salvation how can you say you

will eat it no no no he said the word that i

speak to you they are spirits and they are life

that means jesus is not talking about literal

things he in his conclusion that's what he said

it is a spirit that gives life Not material things,

not bread and butter, bread and Rabinah, or bread

and wine, whichever one. That's not what this

life is. He himself is not literal. So John 6

perfectly illustrates in the son the intersection

of general, right? The intersection of a gospel

narrative recording figurative expression it

also tells us a intersection between immediate

context flow because to understand it you have

to read the entire thing the transition also

from physical to spiritual life and Jesus normally

does this it's common in his teaching he always

use an advantage whatever the discussion is He

would move it in that direction. Do you understand

what I'm trying to say? Yes. And that is one

thing I want you to get. Hallelujah. Let's start

introducing the next one before we go for break.

The next is a fourth one, which is historical

and cultural context. Historical and cultural

context. Romans chapter 15. It tells us already

Romans 15 · chapter mention

past our friends who read this text, that those

things that were written before, you understand,

they are written for our learning. That is, they

were not written directly to us, but they are

written for us. Are we together? They are written

for us. So which means that no biblical author

was speaking in a vacuum. That is, they are men.

He was talking about a ledger, he's a man of

like -passion. Meaning they were real men, they

were not abstract men. This is what differentiates

Christianity and any other religion. Most of

the religion is only one person you have that

have an evidence. He's the one that met with

an angel that told him something. Nobody again

to prove that that's exactly true. Did you understand

what I'm saying? But you can't find that in Scripture.

They were written by men. You know them. You

know their houses. You know them. Even the Savior,

He came. You know Him. You know their family.

We just heard these people. They know Him. You

understand? They know Him. They live, these people,

authors of the Bible live real lives. In real

places. in distinct cultures and norms. In fact,

their names already bear where they are coming

from. Are you with me? Are you with me? Amen.

When you read, you study the names of the Bible,

you wouldn't know. You can never, you know there

are so many, every religion have a view of Jesus.

Some say he come from India. How can he come

from India? His name alone does not depict he

came from there because his name his parents

name has a Geographical location you can see

in the a Mecca and say he came from even do You

know something and say a Mecca he came from Sweden

That his grandfather that is his origin how Because

every name has an identity or has an attachment

to a location. These are people that have life.

They have families, they have cultures, we can

verify them. Are we together? So to understand

what the context means today, we must first discover

what it meant to the ancient audience. Traveling

back to their world, before we can now understand,

You understand? And how we can apply it today.

Romans 12. Romans 12, 20. Therefore, if your

enemy is hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give

him a drink. For in so doing you will keep coal

of fire on his head If you read it with our mind

today, what will you be thinking? That thief

is a vindictive thief Which means that you are

doing just do that It looks like a passive, aggressive

weapon. You know, we always want to deal with

our enemies. So Paul is saying now, give him

this thing, by so doing. You understand? They

will put that call of fire. Because when you

say call of fire today, that's what? That's fire.

You know what I'm saying? When you are carrying

call of fire, what do you think is happening?

You see? But you can't do that. It meant something.

You have to go back. This Paul was quoting Prover,

Prover chapter 25 verse 21 to 22. He was quoting

Prover 25, 21 to 22. And what was he doing? He

was pulling something. From an ancient Egyptian

and Near Eastern custom This thing you see this

issue of Hipping cold of fire on his head It

has a history It has a culture listen if you

don't understand this you will take it out of

context and It will not be the will of God because

this thing you see that Paul quoted is inspired

meaning that to understand the intent of the

author you must understand the cultural meaning

it is in the cultural meaning meaning that God

decided even in the culture of a people to communicate

his revelation so to be able to understand the

intent of God you must understand the culture

of the people of that day And that is why he

said, in those days, in the ancient Near East

culture, around that Egyptian site, when a person

wanted to show public repentance or remorse or

sorrow for the wrong he committed, they would

carry and walk through the street a clay basin

with a glowing hot coal. on top of their head

through the street. When people saw the person,

it's already indicating that what he did is already

sorry for it. It is from that culture, that meaning

that now Paul pulled from and said now, this

is what it means, that when your enemy is thirsty,

when your enemy is hungry, you understand? What

you are doing is that. You are giving him an

environment for him to be remorseful for what

he has done. Did you understand? Are we together?

It's not vindictive, but it is actually peaceful.

It's giving us a way of solving issues, peacemaking.

Are we together? this is why the issue of Historical

and cultural context is important. They are everywhere

just pick one These things are everywhere in

the Bible. So in understanding the will of God

Sorry, sir, you have to understand the Historical

or cultural context that is the way that's if

you want the will of God. Are we together? Did

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

would turn a scripture that's supposed to be

for salvation for fighting enemies. You understand

what I'm saying? We are coming to it because

in the next session I'm going to open us to a

dimension of how this Bible that the greatest

problem we have on the greatest horrific treatment

of men. We are not done by people that say they

are atheist. They are done by people who held

the Bible. And we are sliding, this generation

is sliding in that direction. You understand,

justifying evil using the word of God. We appreciate

you being here today. We hope you carry this

word with you throughout your week. Don't forget

to check the show notes for additional insights.

Stay connected with us through our website or

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Until next time, stay blessed.