Sermon
The Ministry of Laying of Hands 2 | The Believer's conference 2025 day 3
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. Amen. Yes, so we're welcome once again.
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And those of the people following us online.
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You're welcome. Amen. I am anointed. I will preach
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Jesus everywhere I go. I am his, his man. I will
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follow him until the end of time. I am anointed.
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I am anointed. I will preach Jesus everywhere
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I go. I am his. Yes. He is mine. I will follow
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him until the end of time. Mark 16. Mark chapter
Mark 16 chapter mention
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16. Thank you, Lord. Mark 16. Let me read from
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verse 15. He says, and he said to them, go into
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the world, into all the world and preach the
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gospel to every creature. 16. He who is, who
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believe and is baptized, will be saved, but he
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who does not believe will be condemned. And these
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signs will follow those who believe. In my name,
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they will cast out demons. They will speak with
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new tongues. And if they drink any deadly, It
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will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands
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on the sick and they will recover. So we started
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yesterday trying to see the ministry of laying
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of hands. The ministry of laying of hands. And
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two things we mentioned or we looked at yesterday.
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We noted that this ministry is not something
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that is done from afar. You can teach from afar.
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But we saw that impartation, impartation. done
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through the laying of hands, has to be, or we
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need a face -to -face meeting. And that tells
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us the necessity of face -to -face meeting. Of
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course, there are other things, probably I might
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touch them along the line, which is key. For
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example, you cannot be pastored online. You cannot
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be pastored online because the work of a pastor
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is not just to teach, but to have oversight.
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And oversight is not something that online space
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will permit. Yes, you need to be taught, but
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you need to be put to practice those things which
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you have learned. Are we together? Probably let
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me read this verse. Yesterday, our lead pastor
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read that text. You understand? 2 Timothy. Look
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at what Paul said. This is what it means to pastor.
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Because pastoring is done by example. Paul will
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say, follow me as I follow Christ. Which means
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that you have to be present physically to watch.
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To watch. To watch. Look at it. I will read from
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verse 10. He said, but you have done what? Carefully.
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2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 10. But you have carefully
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followed my what? My doctrine. My what? My manner
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of life. This is not something you can see from
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very far. You have followed my manner of life.
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You have to be where the person is to be able
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to see his manner of life. My purpose, my fate,
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my long suffering. My long suffering, my faith.
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When Paul was commending Timothy, he said, when
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I saw the sincere faith in the son, he said,
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you see, he said that faith was in your grandmother.
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Are we together? Are we together? He said that
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faith was in your grandmother, Lois. And your
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mother Eunice. Amen. And now I see in you. Of
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course. You know that. That could not have been
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possible. If Timothy was somewhere else. So he
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said. You have. Carefully followed my purpose.
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My faith. My long suffering. My love. My perseverance.
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How could you have seen the perseverance? How
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could Timothy have seen the perseverance of Paul?
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Without him being present where the man is suffering,
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where the man is toiling, and he could see how
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he persevered in the face of danger. It's a persecution.
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Affliction, which happened to me at Antioch,
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at Iconium, at Lystra. We're going to see some
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of them today. He mentioned the places. That
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means Timothy was there. What persecution I endure.
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And out of them all, the Lord deliver me. Yes.
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And all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus
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will suffer persecution. This part, some people
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don't want it. It's verse 12. Once you hear suffering.
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No. Verse 13. But evil men and impostors who
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grow worse and worse. Deceived and being deceived.
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But you must continue. Must stay. Must continue.
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In the things which you have learned. And assured
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of. Knowing from whom. You have learned them.
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So learning is not just only by teaching. But
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by also following the examples of the leader.
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By following the manner of life of the leader.
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Yes. By following the manner of life of the believer.
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Hebrews chapter 13. Verse 7. Remember those who
Hebrews 13 chapter mention
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rule over you. That word rule there is those
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who lead. Who have spoken to you the word of
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God? Who have spoken the word of God to you?
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Of course, you know those he's referring to.
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He said, whose faith do what? Oh, talk to me.
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Whose faith do what? Follow. Considering the
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outcome of their conduct. So learning or discipleship
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is not just only about teaching. Fundamentally,
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yes, it's teaching. But it's also following the
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faith, the manner of life, the conduct of the
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one leading. So you cannot pastor a man, you
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understand, online. Sorry, sir. That's why it's
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contradictory when you say an online church.
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That name is not, it's contradictory. It's not
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possible. When you say online followers, I agree
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with you. When you say followers, I agree. Because
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followers are people with that commitment. Today
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they will follow you, tomorrow they won't follow
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you. But when you're talking about disciples,
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are people with a commitment. With a commitment
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to sacrifice and following. Understand? Remember
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yesterday we said that God's method and system
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is man. You can't do anything about it. Understand?
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That's why if you have problem relationally,
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you have really a big problem. So if you ever
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want to grow, If you ever want to become something
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in the hand of God, you must be a follower. A
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follower of men. You know, these days, you say,
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no, me, I follow God. Me, I'm not a follower
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of anybody. You are joking. They are not anti
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each other. You know, I saw some movement these
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days online. Probably some of you have seen it.
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They say we left church, but not God. What a
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confusion. The meaning of Lord. Are we together?
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The meaning of Lord, when you say my Lord, what
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you are saying is that. If you understand the
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Council of Salvation, you will even talk about
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that one. Because a Lord is someone who conquers
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a territory and he stays there. So how can you
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dare say you left where he is and you say you
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didn't leave him? Because he dwells in us. We
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are the temple of God. We are the temple of the
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Holy Spirit. God is not outside the church. He's
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inside. He's staying there. So how can you say
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I left the church but not God? How? You are in
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the will of God. when you have decided to stay.
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You know, one brother who has not been with us
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for some time, somehow he got misdirected and
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was away for a long time. So I don't know what
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hit him. He was having a lot of difficulties.
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So somehow, his way was navigated and he came
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back again. So he says, I want to see you. I
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said, what is the problem? He says, I really
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want to see you. I have a problem. I don't know.
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I feel I don't have direction. I really don't
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have direction. I say for you coming here, you
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have direction. Because if you have never had
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direction, you will not have return back. Just
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coming back to the church, you have direction.
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I say for you to stay and hear and grow. Don't
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say I don't have direction. You have direction.
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For you having the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is
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direction. Remember that lesson times ago we
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taught in the sand. That once you say salvation,
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Salvation is a change of direction. Did you understand
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what I'm trying to say? Because when the Holy
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Spirit actually endures a man at salvation, that
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is a change of direction already. So you have
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direction. Amen. I have direction. Glory to Jesus.
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So we now saw in Mark chapter 16, and we noted
Mark 16 chapter mention
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a second thing yesterday. And we said, these
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signs shall follow them that believe. And we
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saw that the signs are supernatural. So, and
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those signs, we now saw that the laying of hands
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is a supernatural sign. In other words, it is
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a supernatural activity or a supernatural ministry.
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So it says, those who believe. He said, in my
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name. He's not saying in the mention of the name.
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He's talking about those who believe. Those in
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the name. That's what he was saying. Those in
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the name. This is what they will do. Those in
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the name. In other words, those who believe,
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these are the signs that will follow them. We
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noted that Jesus, the name J -E -S -U -S, of
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course, is English. And we said Jesus, the name
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of Jesus is not a tag. And we noted because,
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We're trying to explain in the name. It's not
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a tag. In fact, we have a footballer called Jesus,
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right? Yes. And part of it told us that Jesus
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Christ, Christ is not his surname. Are we together?
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Amen. That Christ means the Messiah, the anointed
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one. Huh? Are we together? He's talking about
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his office. So, Because the word Jesus is just
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English because English is about 1 ,600 approximately
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years. Understand? These Germanic tribes, they
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were the ones who migrated and started the issue
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of speaking English. And when Jesus was around,
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there was no English. It's not in the words,
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in the tag. And we said, for us to have better
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understanding, the name of Jesus is his accomplishment.
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Because most times when we note that, that word
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name is onoma. Onoma. O -N -O -M -A in Greek.
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O -N -O -M -E. Onoma. It describes a person's
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reputation, character, authority, office, deeds,
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accomplishments. Describes a person's reputation,
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character, authority, office, deeds, or accomplishments.
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What the person is known for. What the person
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is known for. So the name of a person, you know,
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like my president now, he was a governor of Lagos
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state, president of Nigeria. He was a governor
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of Lagos state. His name was Master Governor.
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I mean, his tag, Bola Ame Tinubu, did not change.
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Did you get what I'm trying to say? but his name
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changed. By the time he became a president, what
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you are trying to say, his office changed. What
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you will say also that his name as Lord has changed.
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Because the authority that comes with a governor
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is not the same with the one that comes with
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what? Being a president. You know what I'm saying?
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So, his office is his authority because the authority
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of a president is not the same with that of a
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governor. Are we together? So that's the same
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thing. So when you hear Paul was said, and God
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has given him a name. Don't think he's saying,
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is it Jesus or something else? No, he's saying
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that there is something he did. And the Bible
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tells us in Philippians, if you start reading
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from chapter 5. He said he did not consider himself.
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Ephesians chapter 2 verse 5. If you start reading.
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6, 7, 8. He did not consider himself to be equal
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with God. You understand? He said he died. The
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death of who? Of a criminal. On the cross. And
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then the word said therefore. Yeah? Are we together?
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He said therefore. God has exalted. Do you understand
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what I'm trying to say? So that means there was
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an office he was occupying before. But by the
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reason of what he did, there was also an alleviation.
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Are we together? So the office he occupied after
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resurrection is not the same with the one before.
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Because the one before, he is limited. The one
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before will not give life. Are we together? But
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when he resurrected, that name gives life. So
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that is the authority of Christ. So when he's
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talking about in the name, he's talking about
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the authority in Christ. In the authority of
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Christ. Where you are. So those who believe are
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in the authority of Christ. Are in the office
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now. And these signs they will do. These are
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the signs they will do. In fact. We have many
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texts. Colossians chapter 4. Look at, you will
Colossians 4 chapter mention
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see another Jesus inside. So we have plenty.
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So that when certain things happen, you should
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know your authority. Look at 4. Colossians 4,
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11. He said, and what? Oh, talk to me. And what?
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And Jesus, who is called who? Justus. These are
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my fellow workers for the kingdom of God who
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are of the circumcision. They have proved to
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be a comfort to me. So that means Paul was with
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people. In fact, one of them was called Jesus.
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So you should know what it means to be in the
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name. So Christ's name. It's his reputation and
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accomplishment. That is what he has done. And
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what he did is that he died and resurrected.
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So with this understanding, you will appreciate
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when we said that we have forgiveness and life
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in his name. Are we together? Luke 24. Luke 24.
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Luke 24, 47. 46 says, then he said to them, thus
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it is written and thus it was necessary for Christ
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to suffer and to do what? And to rise from the
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dead the third day. And that repentance, which
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is remission of sins, that is an. Yeah? Should
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be what? Should be preached in his word. In his
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name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. That
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is, to be preached in his authority. To be preached
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in his word. Resurrection. The focus of the repentance
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and remission of sins, you understand, is based
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on his name. John 20. Yesterday I talked about
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this text. John 20, 31. John 20, 31. So his resurrection
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gave us life. His name gave us life. John 20,
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31. But these were written. Let me start from
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verse 30. And truly Jesus did many other signs
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in the presence of his disciples, which are not
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written in this book. But these are written that
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you may believe. Pastor Fred told us yesterday
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that the miracles of Jesus are to show what he
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will do. So John says these. Are written that
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you may believe. That Jesus is a Christ. The
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son of God. And that believing. You may have
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what? You may have what? Life where? He say in
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his name. In his name. If you like keep shouting.
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So in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus.
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That one cannot give life. If you like, shout
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it. Don't you see those comedy guys? I mean,
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online. A little tune, Jesus. You know, in our
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culture, anything, Jesus. Whether the one that
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is following him or the one that is not following
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him, they have shouted his name several times.
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Do you understand what I'm saying? Yes. Did you
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understand that? So, if it's just by tact, then
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everybody will be born again by now. Those who
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have shouted. You know, some people thought by
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shouting. Some demons came and called, Jesus,
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Jesus, Jesus. And the demon was on top. It's
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not a tag. We read the story of the sons of Sceva.
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They were not born again. He said they are exorcists.
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You know exorcists? Those who try to cast out
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demons by another higher demon. That's why when
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they saw what Jesus was doing, they called him
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this, the Prince of Beelzebub. You know Prince?
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That he's a ruler. Because they are already,
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they are aware that in those days, that's how
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they do. If they want to cast a lower demon,
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they bring a higher demon. So they saw Jesus
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and said, this one must be a higher demon. Since
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he's casting this, do you understand what I'm
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saying? In the name of Jesus whom Paul preached.
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They don't know the name. The thing is by what?
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Mentioning. Sons of Siva. Act 19. In the name
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of Jesus. And the demons said, you see, don't
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think that demons don't know. They know who is
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inside. They say, Paul, we know. Jesus, we know.
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Hey, who are you? It's not. Hallelujah. Acts
Acts 4 chapter mention
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chapter 4. Acts chapter 4. Look at verse 8. Then
Acts 4 chapter mention
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Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them,
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rulers of the people and elders of Israel. If
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we this day are judged for the good deeds done
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to the helpless man, by what means he has been
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made well. Let it be known to you all and to
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all the people of Israel that by the name of
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Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucify. Whom God
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raised from the dead, by him this man stand here
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before you all. It's by the name. This is a stone
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which was rejected by you builders, which has
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become the chief cornerstone. No, it's their
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salvation in any order. For there is no other
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name under heaven. Given among men. By which
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we must be what? The name of Jesus is his resurrection.
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That is where salvation is. There is no any other
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accomplishment on earth. Through which a man
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will be saved. Look at chapter 10. Look at chapter
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10. Chapter 10, verse 39. And we were witnesses
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of all these things which he did both in the
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land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they
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killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up
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on the third day and showed him openly, not to
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all the people, but to witnesses chosen before.
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By God, even to us who ate and drank with him
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after he arose from the dead. And he commanded
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us to preach to the people and to testify that
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it is he who was ordained by God to be judge
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of the living and the dead. To him, all the prophet
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witnessed that through his word, through his
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name, whoever believed in him. Will what receive
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remission of sins? Forgiveness of sin came through
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his name. Remission of sin through his name.
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Remission of sin. Of course, I read, I noted
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1 John yesterday. 1 John 5. 5 verse 13. He said,
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These things have I written to you who believe
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in the name of the Son of God, that you may know
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that you have what? Eternal life. You know, if
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you look at other texts, I mean, other translations,
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that other part was not there. Those of you who
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have been with us, we've done interpretation.
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You understand what I mean by that. And that
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you may continue to believe in the name of the
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Son of God. That one is not in the original.
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That you may continue to believe. No. And that
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you may continue. That's in King James. When
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you check other new modern translation, that
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part. Is that you, those who believe in the name
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of that, you might know that you have already.
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So it was written so that they will continue
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to believe in the name. It was written that they
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will know that they have what? They have eternal
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life. So. When you hear they said, there are
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some texts. Scripture talks about Acts 2 verse
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21. Talks about. Those who call on the name of
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the Lord. Call on the name of the Lord. And it
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shall come to pass that whosoever call on the
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name of the Lord shall be what? Shall be saved.
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Call on the name of the Lord is not shouting
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the name of Jesus. That's not what this place
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is talking about. Remember, Jesus told the Pharisees
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and the scribes, he said, He was discussing,
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I think in Matthew 7, he said, it is not the
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person who called me Lord, Lord, that do what?
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Did you remember? So that means it's not about
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what? It's not about mentioning. Are we together?
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Yes. He is talking about that call means actually
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believing. It means believing. Those who put
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faith in the name. Those who put faith in the
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name. That he was raised from the dead. And that
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was what actually Romans 10 was talking about.
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So when he talks about confess, he's not just
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talking about mentioning. Are we together? Are
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we together? He's not just referring to mentioning.
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No. He's talking about believing. Romans 10,
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verse 6. Romans 10. Look up from verse 6. It
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says, but the righteousness of faith speaks in
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this way. Do not say in your heart who will ascend
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into heaven, that is to bring Christ down from
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above, or who will descend into the abyss, that
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is to bring Christ up from the dead. Verse 8.
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But what does it say? The word is now in your
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mouth and in your heart. That is a word of faith
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which we preach. The word of faith, which we
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preach, that if you confess with your mouth the
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Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God
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has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
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That word is not two things. You know what I'm
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saying? First, you say, in the name of Jesus.
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You know, sometimes when we come for altar call,
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you say, say in the name of Jesus. In the name
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of Jesus. If you don't say that, no, no, no.
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That's not what he's talking about. You understand?
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Remember, that hand there is just showing us
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a further explanation. So confessing the Lordship
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of Christ is that you have believed in your heart
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that God has raised him from where? From the
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dead. Because remember I told you, Lordship,
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the word Lord, is a concept, you understand,
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that was picked from the tradition of those days,
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where someone can conquer in a place, you understand?
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You know, those days full of wars. You understand?
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This kind of war. This king will go on and conquer
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this territory. And this king will conquer this
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territory. Some of us are historians. We know
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about it. Right? So you discover that. That's
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from that concept. So once you say Lord, that's
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what you are talking about. So a king will now
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move, conquer a place. But once he conquers his
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place, he stays there. Do you understand what
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I'm trying to say? He doesn't conquer and leave.
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No. He stays there and protect the territory.
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That's the concept of salvation. So when you
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received him, he comes into your life. It's in
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that picture that he has conquered that territory.
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But he does not go away. He stays there and protects
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the territory that he has conquered. That's why
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neither your salvation or you staying in the
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salvation. Is ever your effort. Did you understand
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what I'm trying to say? Because it is him that
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stays to keep you. Now unto him who is able to
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do what? To keep you from falling. And present
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you faultless before his presence with exceeding
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joy. Jude 24. Unto him who is able to keep you.
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From what? From falling. And to present you faultless.
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This is not by conduct. This is his work and
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it's called salvation. That by the time you receive
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the new body, you are still faultless. You are
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still faultless. Yesterday, Pastor Roy spoke
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a particular text. He said you are holy. You
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know that Colossians and Ephesians? Holy, blameless.
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He said without fault. Listen. A believer, see,
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a believer, the one that has confessed Christ
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is faultless. Did you hear what I'm saying? Meaning
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you cannot go false. This is not a work of, it's
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not about conduct. It's what Christ has made
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us. You cannot be unrighteous. Did you understand
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what I'm saying? He made him who know no sin
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to become sin that you might become the world.
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The righteousness. See, you cannot become unrighteous.
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Because the one who saves lives in you. The Holy
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Spirit can't stay in a place that is unrighteous.
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So by his coming, he makes you righteous. He
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makes you faultless. And he keeps you faultless.
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Are we together? Hallelujah. Amen. So, Now you
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know that no one is born again or become the
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son of God by just shouting the name of Jesus.
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No, he's talking about the issue of believing
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in the name. Amen. So is it wrong to say in the
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name of Jesus? We're ending prayers because already
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we're used to it. Some people will say, in the
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mighty name, I'm precious and glorious and intelligent.
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Is he intelligent? In the name of Jesus. Some
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people think that God is like a man. You have
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to praise him. And say all kinds of names so
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that he will feel happy to not give you money
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or give you things. Then we used to have a formula.
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You say, first, when you come before the Lord,
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I don't know where you have gone. Anyway, when
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you come before the Lord, then you will sing
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and dance first. Because you cannot just come
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like that. You know what I'm saying? You just
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sing and praise first. When you sing and praise,
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then you give thanks. After you give thanks,
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you know what I'm saying? I've never seen expert
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give that to me. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes
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they enter, they don't greet. Daddy! You know
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what I'm saying? Because, They don't need to
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say, they will come to my door and say, Daddy,
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you are wonderful. You are this, you are that.
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Because they will shower praise for me. Then
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I'll say, hey, my baby, how are you? They already
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know, they are sure of their acceptance of their
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father. They just come in. Daddy, sometimes I'm
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in the middle of work. Like yesterday, I was
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trying to go through this. Explorer just came.
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She didn't even care. She grabbed me by the neck.
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She was saying, Daddy, what is that? Now, the
-
point I'm trying to say is that, you know, there
-
is a way we picture our father that needs to
-
be adjusted. Listen, this is very important when
-
we begin to talk about so much about the laying
-
of hands. Are we together? To know that that
-
is what God has desired you and I to operate
-
in the ministry. That he wants to use our hand
-
as his hand. Are we together? He wants to use
-
our what? Our hands as his hands. Because if
-
you know that he doesn't go and come, he indwells
-
you forever. You understand? And he's walking
-
through you. Are we together? You will not be
-
afraid. You understand? To know that Jesus Christ
-
is doing and wants to do things. Through you.
-
Amen. Hallelujah. So. There's nothing wrong.
-
To say in the name of Jesus. If your understanding
-
is correct. If you are saying it as an affirmation.
-
Of your reality. Not as a magic code. For God
-
to answer your prayer. Did you understand what
-
I'm saying? There's nothing wrong. To say in
-
the name of Jesus. Or to shout the name of Jesus.
-
In the son. If your understanding is correct.
-
That you are saying. Or you are affirming your
-
reality in Christ. But not as a magic code. That
-
you have to just say in the name. So that he
-
will answer you. In the son. No. No. You don't
-
need to say. You just need to pray. Father thank
-
you. In the son. Amen. That's it. So laying of
-
hands. Let's return back to Romans. Sorry, Mark
-
16. Mark 16. If you look at verse 17, you could
-
see that look at verse 17 and 18. So laying of
-
hands can be done by those who do what? Oh, talk
-
to me. By those who do what? Who believe. Those
-
in the name. All believers. All believers can
-
lay hands. Is for those in the name. All who
-
believe. All who believe. Do I have someone that
-
believe here? Amen. Look for 40. Look for. Verse
-
40. Let's see some text. To see how God. Uses
-
us. The body. Or uses the body. To do wonders.
-
Look for 40. When the sun was setting. All those
-
who had any. that were sick with various diseases
-
brought them to him and he laid his what? Are
-
we together? He laid his hands on every one of
-
them and do what? And healed them. Jesus laid
-
his hands on every one of them and healed them.
-
So those various diseases were healed by laying
-
of hands. Please, I want you to be careful now.
-
Just, I'm trying to follow you. I want to show
-
you patterns in the psalm. All those various
-
diseases, we don't care their name. They were
-
healed, gone, by the laying of hands. By the
-
laying of hands. Look at Mark 6. Mark 6. Then
-
he went out there and came to his own country
-
and his disciples followed him. And when the
-
Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue
-
and many hearing him were astonished saying,
-
where did this man get these things? And what
-
wisdom is this which is given to him, that such
-
mighty works are performed by his hand? Is this
-
not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother
-
of James, Jesus, Judas, and Simon? And are not
-
his sisters here with us? I don't know why they
-
didn't mention the names of these sisters. Anyway,
-
you know, in those days, it's a particular system.
-
Amen? Most times, it's only the men. Yesterday,
-
I think, Pastor made mention of it. In those
-
days, they only named the men. They forget about
-
the children and the women. It's only men. I
-
guess that's what is happening here. But no more
-
in Christ. Hallelujah. There is neither male
-
nor female. Jesus is wonderful. Amen. Verse 3.
-
So that's what we saw. So they were offended
-
at him. They were offended at him. But Jesus
-
said to them, a prophet is not without honor
-
except in his own country among his own relatives.
-
And in his own house. Now, he could do no mighty
-
works here. Except that he laid his hands on
-
what? On few sick people. And healed them. Did
-
you see what I'm seeing? So even in the middle
-
of dishonor and unbelief. Of offense. Laying
-
of hands to walk. We're going to study this passage
-
later. At least those who came were healed. Those
-
who honor him. Even the midst of unbelief and
-
dishonor. In that atmosphere, lean of hands walked.
-
Go to Mark chapter 5. Look at verse 21. Now when
Mark 5 chapter mention
-
Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other
-
side, a great multitude gathered to him and he
-
was by sea. And behold, one of the rulers of
-
the synagogue came, Jairus, by name. And when
-
he saw him, he fell at his feet and begged him
-
earnestly saying, my little daughter lies at
-
the point of death. Come. and lay your hands
-
on her and she may be healed and she will live.
-
So Jesus went with him and a great multitude
-
followed him and thronged him. Look at verse
-
35. While he was still speaking, some came from
-
the rulers of the synagogue house. who said,
-
your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher
-
anymore? As soon as Jesus heard the word that
-
was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue,
-
do not be afraid. Only do what? Believe. And
-
he permitted no one to follow him except Peter,
-
James, and John, the brother of James. Then he
-
came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue
-
and saw a tumult. And those who wept, and wailed
-
loudly. When he came in, he said to them, why
-
make this commotion and weep? The child is not
-
dead, but sleeping. And they ridiculed him. When
-
he had put them outside, he took the father and
-
the mother of the child and those who were with
-
him and entered where the child was lying. Then
-
he took the child by what? Oh, are we together?
-
Did you see what Jesus did? He took the child.
-
By what? By hand and said. Talitakumi. Which
-
means. Or which translates. Third little girl.
-
I say to you. Arise. Immediately the girl arose
-
and walked. For she was 12 years of age. And
-
they were overcome by great amazement. But he
-
commanded. them strictly that no one should know
-
it and said that something should be given to
-
her to eat. Immediately Jesus entered. What did
-
he do? Entered the house of Jairus. He took her
-
by the hand. I want you to know that Acts chapter
Acts 3 chapter mention
-
3, he took her by the hand. It's not a mistake.
-
He didn't just do it. Before he even said anything,
-
he took her by the hand. Acts chapter 3. I'll
Acts 3 chapter mention
-
just read 6. Verse 6. Then Peter said, silver
-
and gold I do not have, but what I have I give
-
you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
-
rise up and walk. And Peter do what? And he took
-
him by what? by the right hand and lifted him
-
up. And immediately his feet and ankle bones
-
received strength. Jesus took her by the hand.
-
Peter took him by the right hand in the sand.
-
Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Why do we always touch?
-
Did you see that? Look at Mark 7. Go back to
-
brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment
-
in his speech and they begged him to put his
-
hand on him. These people have been following
-
him. They noticed something about the Christ.
-
So this time around, they begged him. They said,
-
just put your hand on him. We understood. You
-
see, these people are ardent observers. Remember
-
the centurion. He has seen Jesus. He knows the
-
power of Jesus. That's why he could say, I have
-
understood it. Just speak a word from here. I
-
know something is going to happen. So they observe.
-
You see, they begged him to put his hand on him.
-
And he took him aside from the multitude and
-
put his finger, where? In his ears. And he spat
-
and touched his tongue. Then he looked up to
-
heaven and sighed and said to him, Efata means
-
to be open. Immediately, his ears were opened.
-
and the impediment of his tongue was loose, and
-
he spoke plainly. Again, Jesus touched his ears
-
with his finger. Are we together? He touched
-
his ears. Jesus touched his ears. Listen, why
-
will there be always a touch? Because our bodies
-
transmit the power of God. Remember I told you
-
that laying of hands, is supernatural in the
-
Son. Our body transmits. If you go with this
-
mentality, you begin to see you expressing. You
-
begin to see you walking in the miraculous with
-
this consciousness that my body transmits the
-
power of God. It's not just only some believers.
-
Every believer, as long as the Holy Spirit dwells
-
of believers on how they manifest this kingdom
-
is to the degree of their consciousness of who
-
they are in Christ. And the degree of their consciousness
-
of who they are in Christ is actually a function
-
of the knowledge. They have about the Christ
-
and the identity in him. So Luke 6, 17. Judas,
-
the son of Joseph, and Judas Iscariot, who...
-
Also became a traitor. Verse 17. Okay, I was
-
reading 16. Verse 17. I want us to read together.
-
Are we together? Okay, verse 17. And he came
-
with them and stood on a level place with a crowd
-
of his disciples and a great multitude of people
-
from all Judea and Jerusalem and from this...
-
Of Ter and Sidon who came to hear him and be
-
healed of their what? Diseases. Verse 18 together.
-
As well as those who were tormentors with this.
-
Yes. He healed. Verse 19. And the whole multitude
-
sought to what? For what? Out from him to do
-
what? Power went out. They sought to touch him.
-
For power, for power went out from him to hell.
-
So you can now connect what we read earlier when
-
the man begged him to touch. You can also now
-
connect This is a story that went out. And the
-
woman with an issue of blood, she said, if only
-
I can touch his word. That's what they heard.
-
They have been observant. Our body transmits
-
the power of God. Be conscious of this. Be conscious
-
verse 29. Now the Lord looked on their threat
-
and grant your servants that with all boldness
-
they may speak your word. By stretching Your
-
hand to heal. And the signs and wonders may be
-
done through the name of your holy servant. Through
-
the name of your holy servant. The question is
-
that how will God stretch his hand? Have you
-
seen his hand before? Are we together? Jump to
-
chapter 5. Verse 12. And through the hands of
-
the apostles, many signs and wonders were done
-
among the people. And they were all with one
-
accord in Solomon's porch. Yet none of the rest
-
dared join them. But the people esteemed them
-
highly. The people. esteem them highly, and believers
-
were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes
-
of both men and women, so that they brought the
-
sick out into the streets and laid them on beds
-
and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter
-
Passing might fall on some of them. Might fall
-
on some of them. Are we together? Did you see
-
that? God stretching his hand is through you.
-
Is through you. When they pray that. the Lord
-
will stretch up his hands and heal and the signs
-
and wonders will be done through his name. The
-
apostles knew what they were saying. In chapter
-
five, we now saw that wonders were done through
-
their hands. So what they are saying or they
-
are praying is that Lord, that signs and wonders
-
be performed through your name, by our hands
-
and through our hands. To our hands. And I want
-
you to say this in the sun. Say this after me.
-
My torch is the torch of God. Oh, I say it loudly
-
now. My torch is the torch of God. That is the
-
consciousness I want you to begin to walk in.
-
That my body is his body. You know, I like that
-
song we used to sing. Only that the way we arrange
-
the words is not good. Yes, sir. We know that
-
our body is a sanctuary. Do you understand what
-
I'm saying? My body is your sanctuary. My body
-
is your sanctuary. I love this line. But the
-
other lines have a problem. It's not. How can
-
your body be sanctuary and say, purify me like
-
gold? How did you become sanctuary without being
-
purified? It's not possible. So that I may be
-
bold to save my body. You started by saying my
-
body is a giant, so that I will be bold again.
-
Is that? No. No. You have been purified. Oh,
-
I am be purified. Yes, I am purified. And my
-
body is his sanctuary. My hands is his hands.
-
Are we together? My eyes is his eyes. My touch
-
is his touch. Are we together? My touch is his
-
touch. You know, there's a song we used to sing
-
again. What's that song? My hands are blessed.
-
My hands are blessed. With the blessings of God.
-
With the blessings of God. My hands are blessed.
-
My hands are blessed. With the blessings of the
-
Lord. Anyone I touch, anyone I touch, anyone
-
I bless, my hands are blessed with the blessings
-
of the Lord. With the blessings of the Lord.
-
Hallelujah. Unfortunately, you know, those days,
-
They used to sing it during offering. So, you
-
know, when you call blessed in those days, when
-
things are hard, your mind goes to money. So,
-
the Lord is, you know, people will now say, go
-
punish poverty. Yes, go punish poverty. But the
-
issue is that go punish ignorance. Because the
-
problem is not that you don't have anything.
-
The problem is that you don't have knowledge.
-
Are we together? So, now next you begin to know
-
and have this consciousness that my hands are
-
blessed. I'm a blessed person. Why are you blessed?
-
Because I've been forgiven. Because I've been
-
purified. Are we together? Yes, I'm blessed.
-
Blessed is the man in the sun who sins. Are we
-
together? God does not impute his iniquity. That's
-
the man that is blessed. And that's why my hands
-
are blessed. I'm a blessing. That's our focus.
-
You know, I first got this understanding when
-
I was about to go to, in our country, what we
-
call National Youth Service. Many young people,
-
When you graduate below 30, you go to serve the
-
nation. Understand? Just post you anywhere to
-
serve. You know, one of my uncles called me.
-
He was working in one of the embassies. Let me
-
not mention. One of the powerful embassies in
-
Abuja. He called me and said, where do you want
-
to serve? Just tell me where you want to serve.
-
I said, no, they have already done it already.
-
He didn't understand what I was trying to say,
-
but I'm saying that I don't arrange for that.
-
God has done it. And our mindset is not that
-
I'm going, you know, there's a way we consider
-
better place. Do you know what I'm saying? I
-
met one of my friends in Akwa Ibo state. He served
-
the Lord in the camp for three weeks. He served
-
the Lord and he said, you know, those people
-
who have the personal relationship with God.
-
They said, I have made a covenant with God. I
-
don't know how he made a covenant with God. Away
-
from the covenant we all have. So that if he
-
served the Lord, oh God, if he served the Lord,
-
that God would take him to a better place. And
-
after he danced, he was up and doing, I saw the
-
man zealous. I didn't know what was he saying.
-
Until after we finished and all of us gone, they
-
posted into one remote village. Most of the coppers
-
or co -members that they were sent there, they
-
refused to go. He was angry with God. So when
-
we came for a state conference in the Nigerian
-
Coppers, Christian Coppers Fellowship, I saw
-
him dejected in the sun. In his face, you could
-
see his contents as falling. I said, bro, how
-
have you been? It's been long. I said, what is
-
the problem? He started sharing it. I said, but
-
what is your divination of best? You know, there's
-
a way we define good. But when I was going, I
-
got understanding those who serve in this kingdom
-
are those who are the greatest. You understand?
-
So I went to the place of service. You understand?
-
Even though I have a good certificate, I knew
-
that they are likely not going to take me to.
-
But my problem is not where. My problem is a
-
service. I was in my mind that even if they asked
-
me, what do you mean? First and foremost, what
-
did they say? They say national service. What
-
am I going to do? To serve. A servant does not
-
ask what to do. He only say, I am here. Whatever
-
they gave to him, he would what? He would do.
-
I said, even if they say, this is your work,
-
every morning you start sweeping the streets.
-
That's my service to the community. Of course,
-
I would do it gladly. That was my mentality when
-
I went. Eventually, some of us that are first
-
class students, normally they just post to directly,
-
automatically to universities. So immediately
-
after I come, they posted me to the University
-
of UU. So, and I went there. I said, I am a servant.
-
My boss, who was my head of department, started
-
shouting because the coppers there have messed
-
up. I will not receive you. I will not receive
-
you. All of you are nonsense people. No, no,
-
no, no. I will not receive anybody again. Co
-
-members, they only like money. They don't want
-
to work. I didn't do anything, but he was shouting
-
at me. Well, I was confused. But after all the
-
things, I just stayed quiet. I said, what is
-
the problem? After he finished, he said, well,
-
he calmed down. He said, well, I don't want to
-
judge you like others, but you must promise me.
-
You must promise me that you're not going to
-
be like others. So he said, I should go. Gave
-
me two weeks and go and rest. I should come back.
-
He now signed it and returned. Because I knew
-
I was a servant. That was why when I came, even
-
the staff, they did not understand I was a co
-
-member. Because I come as early as possible.
-
You understand? Always I will come and wait by
-
the door before the secretary will come and open
-
the door of the department. Throughout. So some
-
of them never knew. They thought I was just this
-
new lecturer they just employed. One day, one
-
of the professors saw me with my crest and said,
-
are you a co -member? Because the way I conducted
-
myself is one who serves. They banned people
-
from entering into the HOD office because co
-
-members have been stealing resources. When you
-
have a girlfriend, you know, They will go inside
-
and change the resort. So they ban all of them
-
from entering. But we went there through the
-
grace of God with a transformed mind. We changed
-
the place. Before one month, two months, the
-
HOD office has become my office. HOD will leave.
-
Are we together? He will leave. Everybody will
-
leave in the department. They will go to somewhere
-
else. I'll be the only one in the department.
-
HOD gave me a seat close to his office there.
-
There is nothing I did not know in that department.
-
No result, no secret that I don't know. Trust.
-
There is a difference. The other lady, before
-
when she was going, she told me, I don't understand
-
these people. Every now and then, when you are
-
graduating, I say, come on, they will give you
-
food flags. Are they going to ask, are they expecting
-
us to go and eat? He said, how did you know?
-
He said, the one that left told me that his food
-
flags they gave her. That even that one, she
-
told her that the one, the last one, it was food
-
flags. I said, well, thank God I was not expecting
-
anything. I wasn't expecting anything. But when
-
I was leaving, I told my boss. It was on Friday
-
after our passing out. I told him, I said, I'll
-
be going on Monday. He said, no, no. Lie, lie.
-
Where are you going? He said, we want to give
-
you work here so that you start your MSC here.
-
You understand? No, you are not going anywhere.
-
He said, you have to first and foremost postpone
-
your journey. I said, sir, I need to. It's been
-
long. I have to go and see my people. He said,
-
okay, first and foremost, before we talk any
-
other thing, postpone your journey. First ever.
-
And what did I do? Because I consider myself
-
a servant. That's the mentality I want us to
-
carry. You understand? And what is it? That Friday
-
when I was going. I've already been thinking,
-
what do I add again to this department? I was
-
busy looking. What else can I add before I go?
-
What else can I add before I go? And I remember
-
they just recently, because normally they do
-
always what they call accreditation again after
-
some level of time in each courses. I mean, each
-
course in the university. At that time, accreditation
-
was just coming. So they repented the whole department.
-
And then I discovered that, ah, that wall, I've
-
not been seeing a wall clock. And I discovered
-
that that wall clock has spoiled. I said, ah,
-
I think this one is around my level. In the south.
-
Yes. The Bible says, when you are given, give
-
the one that is within your power. Do you understand
-
what I'm saying? So I went and I got, interestingly,
-
I see the market. When I was entering one supermarket
-
and I saw the color that matches the department.
-
I see they did. One good big one like that. I
-
asked. At that time, the coin was around 3 ,000.
-
I removed from my alawi. We used to call it.
-
I paid for it. Some of the things they gave to
-
me in the family house where I stayed with coppers
-
in the sun. Why would I go to Kaduna with it?
-
I packed all of them. I take it to the secretaries.
-
And I gave that one to the court. No court member
-
has ever done this with me. Everybody is looking
-
what he will get. I mean, it was a shocker. He
-
said, no, no, no, no, no, no. They organized.
-
To my surprise, when I came on that Monday, all
-
the professors, there has never been any gathering
-
that gathered everybody like that. All the professors,
-
the dean, everybody were there. They went and
-
got food. It was a party in the... All of them
-
will give me, they have been giving me money
-
in the sand. This one say for your fly, this
-
one for your... I didn't follow fly, dude. Now,
-
what am I trying to say? There was a difference.
-
At least they never gave me food flags. What
-
am I trying to say? That mentality of service.
-
Your hands is an extension to cause joy in a
-
city. To cause joy in territories. That after
-
you have left. People begin to enjoy your legacies.
-
The other prophet said. We will write your name
-
on this clock. And put it on top. So that every
-
co -member that comes here will face. That is
-
what it is. This means. that you carry God's
-
power. God's power is at work in you. Our body
-
transmits the power of God. The shadow of Peter,
-
did you see that? The shadow of Peter fell on
-
people. It's from your body. It can touch anything
-
that emanates from your body, carries it. Look
-
at that 19. His aprons. Did you see that? Acts
-
19 verse 11. Now God walk unusual miracle by
-
the hand of Paul. By the hand of Paul. So that
-
even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from
-
his wear. Oh, talk to me from his wear. Oh, let's
-
read together. Read that verse 12. One, two,
-
three, go. So that even handkerchief or aprons
-
were brought from his body to the sick and the
-
diseases left them and the evil spirit went out
-
of them. Our body emanates the power of God.
-
It's a transmitter. It's a transmitter. It's
-
a transmitter. It's a transmitter. That is it.
-
And I want us to carry this as in this, because
-
by the time we start laying of our hands, that
-
is the mindset. Not just only that you know you
-
have it, but that when hands are laid upon you,
-
that is the consciousness you carry too. That
-
the power of God is transmitted. Are we together?
-
Is transmitted. That the power of God, that this
-
hands of mine, that my touch is a touch of God.
-
And with it, I bless the world. With it, I bless
-
the world. That this body, my body is a transmitter
-
of the power of God. That this body is an instrument,
-
it's a vessel for the demonstration of God's
-
power. It's not an instrument of immorality.
-
As we used to say, this is my life. This is my
-
song. And this is my reality. And this is my
-
reality. Acts chapter 14. Look at verse 3. Therefore,
Acts 14 chapter mention
-
they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly
-
in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word
-
of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be
-
done by their hands. You remember back 1620 and
-
the Lord walking with them, confirming their
-
word with what? Signs. Did you understand what
-
I'm saying? Here again, they stayed. He said,
-
bearing witness to the word of his grace, granting
-
signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
-
Go to 28, Acts 28. Acts 28. Look at verse 8.
-
There were many lambs in the upper room where
-
they were gathered together. And in the window
-
sat a certain young man named Eutychus. Oh, where
-
am I reading? Okay, let's leave Eutychus for
-
now. But he fell. Thank God we are not. We don't
-
have windows that somebody will fall. Amen. Look
-
at verse 8, Acts 28. And it happened that the
-
father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery.
-
And Paul went into him and prayed and laid his
-
hand on him and healed him. laid his hands on
-
him and healed him. Did you observe something?
-
That the laying of his hands is a primary method
-
of administering healings. Laying of hands. You
-
don't need to feel anything. As we said, that
-
it is a spiritual sign. Are we together? It's
-
not under the control of emotions. It's not feelings.
-
So you don't need to feel anything. But you just
-
have to know. And I know Jesus is healing through
-
my hands. And I know blind eyes are open to my
-
hands. And I know death is adhering to my hands.
-
For the Holy Ghost is walking through my hands.
-
You don't need to feel anything. But it's the
-
knowing. I know. I know. I know that he is healing
-
through my hands. I know it. You don't need to
-
know. You don't need to feel anything. Just lay
-
your hands. It's a pattern. Just like you pray.
-
Don't be mizing with your hands. Don't be stingy
-
if there's anything with your hands. It's like
-
prayer. It should be a part of life for you.
-
Are we together? It should be a different setting.
-
You say, ah. yesterday I was tired. Listen, where
-
is the place? Do you understand what I'm saying?
-
It should be the next thing that comes to you.
-
You know, this is the way I used to. There's
-
nothing wrong with drugs. Do you understand what
-
I'm trying to say? But that, the issue is that
-
always the first thing that comes to our mind
-
is drugs. You see, there's nothing wrong with
-
it, but be careful before it will paralyze your
-
feet. You know, those days we used to sing one
-
song. Panadol is good, boy, it can paralyze your
-
feet. You understand? What he's trying to say
-
is that because there's this over -dependence
-
where man is already... So, that is a point.
-
When the woman with an issue of blood touched
-
Jesus and got healed, Jesus did not realize.
-
I mean, he didn't realize it physically. He knew
-
it by the word of knowledge. That's what the
-
Bible says. We also did that. How do you think
-
he will know it when people... Have you been
-
in a crowd? Okay, if you have collected Boss
-
3 before in Nigeria. Oh, that's true. Here, let's
-
come back here. Have you been near his boss?
-
How do you know who is touching you? Did you
-
understand what I'm saying? So people, we are
-
there. Crowding, pressing, you understand? He
-
was going. And then this woman came and touched
-
him. We will see what's the difference between
-
those people who were and this woman who came
-
from nowhere. He knew it by word of knowledge.
-
That was why the disciples were surprised at
-
the question. He was surprised. He said, who
-
touched me? Ha. These people are cloudy. Everybody
-
will say, who touched you? Mark chapter 5. Go
Mark 5 chapter mention
-
back to Mark chapter 5. Look at verse 31. But
Mark 5 chapter mention
-
his disciples said to him, you see the multitude
-
thronging you and you say, who taught you? And
-
he looked around to see her who had done this.
-
Look at Vastati. Did you see Vastati? He said,
-
Jesus immediately doing what? Did he say feeling
-
that somebody taught him? He said, knowing in
-
himself that power had gone out of him, turn
-
around in the crowd and say, who touched me?
-
Who touched my clothes? Who touched my clothes?
-
You have to be conscious of spiritual things.
-
So sometimes even those who transmits the power
-
of God may be feeling sick. Your pains does not
-
stop the flow of the power of God. The fact that
-
you are feeling pain or sick does not mean you
-
cannot administer healing. Did you get what I'm
-
trying to say? No. The power of God through you
-
is not dependent on how you are feeling. Are
-
we together? Yes. So, stop. Thinking that until
-
everything is all right, that's when you will
-
minister. Sometimes when you come here and see
-
us jumping and shouting, you think that we don't
-
have anything bothering our life. No. But ministry
-
is not dependent on feelings. It's not dependent
-
on our convenience. Paul says, a necessity is
-
placed upon me in the sun. War unto me if I do
-
not preach the gospel. And if you are the type
-
that attracts sympathy, you won't do ministry
-
effectively. You always want people to have everything
-
and then you use even the pulpit for your own
-
problems. See, you know, God is helping me. But
-
I'm trusting God. Yesterday was terrible. I say,
-
Lord, where are you? I'm trusting God for this
-
and that and that. I mean, you fool all the people
-
with all complaints and this and that. No. The
-
pattern is Christ. The pattern is the apostles.
-
We follow and we see them. They are always Eager
-
to speak the word of God. Eager to lay hands.
-
Eager to preach. Eager to preach. You understand?
-
Everything of their life. It's not that they
-
are not career people. It's not that they are
-
not career. That's why Paul takes time to acknowledge
-
them. You understand? Zenos, the lawyer. Luke
-
the physician. Do you understand what I'm trying
-
to say? Yes. So they had career. But you see,
-
career was not what was driving their life. If
-
they moved to Iconium, it's not because they
-
wanted greener pasture for a business. No. What
-
was guiding and moving their life was the calling
-
of God. If they arrive at town, They preach,
-
then they go back to business. Paul will go and
-
start doing his tent making. Are we together?
-
In fact, he will even join with other believers
-
like Quillan and Christa. Yeah? Act 18. To join
-
and just say they come. Then they will do. And
-
it's not that they will do it, like when you
-
saw Claude, you see what I'm doing like this.
-
You understand? Sometimes in the church, we massage
-
mediocrity. You understand? Because we have been
-
taught wrongly. But you need to change. Paul
-
said, these hands provided for my needs and the
-
needs of those who are with me. That place used
-
to strike me hard. I mean, I don't have a choice.
-
I mean, I don't have a reason why I will not
-
be. sound in the things of God. You understand?
-
And I don't have a reason to say, you know, I
-
need to feed my family. And he said, those who
-
are with me. Do you know how many people were
-
walking with him? Even when they took him to
-
Rome at the end of his life, the Bible says,
-
the house he was staying, it was a rented house.
-
Who was renting it? You think the emperor is
-
the one that was paying for his rent? No. He
-
said, we work day and night. He said, anyone
-
that will not work according to the tradition
-
that we have laid for you. He said, mark that
-
person. Are we together? He said, Mark who? Mark
-
that person. He that should not what? Walk, should
-
not what? Eat. Should not eat. So, don't hide
-
under God, God, God, and then you do nothing.
-
It is like idleness. It's not the will of God
-
to be idle. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Now, go back
-
to Acts chapter 9. We read something yesterday
Acts 9 chapter mention
-
in that place. Acts chapter 9. See verse 17.
Acts 9 chapter mention
-
And Ananias went his way and entered the house.
-
And laying his hands on him, he said, Brother
-
Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the
-
road as you came, has sent me that you may receive
-
your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
-
And immediately, they are filled. from his eyes
-
something like skill. And he received his sight
-
at once. And he arose and was baptized. And then
-
when you continue to read on visions. Now, the
-
point I'm trying to make in this place is how
-
hands were laid, not just only that he received
-
his healing, but what happened? He was filled
-
with the Holy Spirit. Now, we have seen in many
-
instances where hands are laid healing, healings,
-
healings, healings in the Son. Another thing
-
you will see is that hands can be laid for the
-
baptism of the Holy Spirit. Are we together?
-
He was filled with the Holy Spirit. Soul of Tarsus.
-
He received, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
-
Look at Acts 17, 8, sorry. Go to Acts 8. Just
-
go behind one chapter. Verse 9. But there was
-
a certain man called Simon who previously practiced
-
sorcery. But let me go behind a little bit so
-
that you see. There was trouble, of course. Verse
-
4 says, therefore those who were scattered went
-
everywhere preaching the word. Did you see that?
-
Even when there was confusion and there was tribulation,
-
there was persecution. Once they scatter, what
-
is in their mind? The gospel. Wherever they go,
-
in the sun, like we sing, I will preach Jesus
-
everywhere I go. So you don't have a choice.
-
Whether you came here by mistake or you came
-
here because of your making, I will preach Jesus
-
everywhere I go. I am his, he is mine. I will
-
follow him. Until the end of time. Whatever the
-
circumstance that took them to whatever place,
-
there is something that is constant. The preaching
-
of God's word. Then Philip went down to the city
-
of Samaria and preached Christ to them. Verse
-
6. And the multitude with one accord heeded the
-
things spoken by Philip hearing and seeing the
-
miracles which he did. From clean spirit crying
-
with a loud voice came out. Of many who were
-
possessed. And many who were paralyzed. And lame
-
were healed. Was it. And there was great joy.
-
In that city. I pray for you. That you bring
-
great joy to cities. You bring great joy to territories.
-
You bring great joy to homes and families. In
-
the name of Jesus. Yes. But there. was a certain
-
man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery
-
in the city and astonished the people of Samaria,
-
claiming that he was someone great to whom they
-
all gave heed. And it leads to the greatest saying,
-
this man is a great power of God. In the absence
-
of ignorance, you understand, fake become real.
-
Stop complaining with what is going on. Hey,
-
this pastor is doing this, this pastor is doing
-
this. Arise, brother. You know what I'm saying?
-
Paul would tell Timothy, 1 Timothy 1, I mean
-
1 Timothy 4, 16. He said, take heed to yourself
-
and to the doctrine. He said, continue in them.
-
For in doing so, you will serve both to yourself
-
and to those who do what? Who hear you. When
-
Prophet Samuel was lamenting about Saul, go to
-
him, awake. Don't worry. Leave this one. Arise
-
and go and anoint another one. You know what
-
I'm saying? It's a high time to stop lamenting.
-
God is saying, arise. There are many more people
-
to anoint. Are we together? There are more many
-
people to raise. Hallelujah. So that's what he
-
says. Verse 11. And they hated him because he
-
has astonished them with sorceries for a long
-
time. That's it. So many people have been deceived
-
for a long time. But no more. Because God is
-
raising you. Your family has been in darkness
-
for a long time. But no more because a light
-
has entered in the sun. But when they believe
-
Philip, As he preached. So don't normally dwell
-
in the, what do you call it? The inconveniences
-
and the seemingly those things that look as if
-
there is trouble. You know what I'm saying? It
-
looks there was trouble in Jerusalem and scattered
-
the brethren. But that trouble was actually the
-
joy of a city. Did you understand what I'm trying
-
to say? Yes. It's the joy of a city. Because
-
Philip now moved. Immediately he go. Those people
-
who have been subjected, deceived for a long
-
time, they think that a man who is practicing
-
sorcery was one of a great God. Now, his wrapper
-
has been opened in the market. People now understood
-
who he was because the real thing has come. But
-
when, verse 12, When they believed Philip, as
-
he preached the things concerning the kingdom
-
of God. And the name of Jesus. Did you see that?
-
So the things concerning the kingdom of God is
-
called what? It's not two things. It's not that
-
he preached the name of Jesus here and there.
-
You know what I'm saying? Yes. Concerning the
-
things. The things. He preached the things concerning
-
the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
-
The name of Jesus Christ are the things. concerning
-
the kingdom of God. And what are those things?
-
His death, resurrection, his indwelling. Are
-
we together? That is a thing and that is his
-
name. So both men and women were baptized. Then
-
Simon himself also believed. And when he was
-
baptized, he continued with Philip and was amazed,
-
seeing the miracles and the signs which were
-
done. Now listen, you'll be seeing sometimes
-
I'm reading. and they were baptized, and they
-
were baptized. Let me mention something, maybe
-
to just clear some things here. You know, when
-
the church was starting, listen very carefully,
-
because it's very important. I read also, after
-
Paul, they lay hands on him, they say he was
-
baptized, right? That was he was baptized in
-
water. Because in the early church, there are
-
many things they have not yet come into the light.
-
So they were still practicing some things. Let
-
me give you a very good example so that you understand.
-
For example, even though they were believers,
-
they were still practicing the law, which means
-
that they were still in their own renewed mind.
-
A Jew cannot enter the house of a Gentile. Do
-
you get what I'm trying to say? They are in Christ,
-
but they are still in that thing. He takes the
-
intervention of the Holy Ghost. He came to Peter
-
and said, Peter, Peter, Peter. Because God has
-
already broken the barrier and these men are
-
still resisting it. That's the condition of the
-
early church. That's why the book of Acts is
-
not the book of doctrine. You understand? We
-
see how they progressively come into the revelation
-
of God, into the revelation of Christ. A ladder
-
came, he was sleeping. Already God has appeared
-
to Cornelius. Go. Because he was to be a breaker.
-
You understand? He said, go and call this man.
-
He saw a ladder in the sand. All kinds of this.
-
He said, I wake and eat. He said, no, Lord. I've
-
never eaten an unclean. You see his mind? He
-
said, how dare you call that which I have created
-
unclean? Did you get the point? God had to show
-
him. You know, he has no choice than to follow.
-
He went to the house of Cornelius. That's why
-
that, that thing that happened, God had to do
-
it that way to break something. You understand?
-
While Peter spoke, he was still speaking. Vroom!
-
He didn't do anything. It's to teach him to know
-
that, no, it's not by what you are thinking.
-
No. The Holy Ghost fell on them and they started
-
speaking in tongues and prophesying. Those people
-
who were at them, they said, those who have the
-
circumcision, meaning the Jews. You understand?
-
They were marvelous. Eh? When the Jerusalem brethren
-
heard it, immediately Peter came and said, come
-
here. They were late. He must say, what did you
-
just do? Peter said, sorry, sorry. Let me explain.
-
Let me explain. Is that what you are thinking?
-
Peter started narrating the story and equated
-
with what happened to them at the day of Pentecost.
-
He said, just like what happened to us at the
-
beginning. He was referring to Acts chapter 2.
Acts 2 chapter mention
-
He said, I saw that God showed no favoritism.
-
So there were things that they were struggling
-
in that early church. Remember Galatians chapter
-
2, verse 20, where Paul made the statement, you
-
know, most of them know only Galatians 2, 20.
-
I have been crucified with Christ. Are we together?
-
And then we begin to quote that scripture, no
-
longer I, but Christ that lives in me and the
-
life I live now in the flesh, I live by the,
-
you know what I'm saying? By the faith. We quote
-
that scripture, but the origin of that scripture
-
is a confusion that Peter wanted to cause. Because
-
they disdain the Gentiles. Gentiles are seen
-
as unclean. You can imagine, even though they
-
were brethren, they were eating. Once the Jews
-
came, Peter just do like this. And just, the
-
Bible say, and he separate himself. He don't
-
separate. He set himself apart. Paul saw that
-
he was angry. You know why? Because what Peter
-
did was already drawing a lot of people. He said,
-
what? He said, did you, you understand, received
-
what you received by your making or by believing?
-
Are we together? So they struggle with a lot
-
of things because we saw their progression into
-
the revelation of God. Remember the closing of
-
the gospel. Show to us who they were. They even
-
never believed the Christ. They were dejected.
-
They thought he was one. Who has come to save
-
Israel. From the Romans. He said we thought.
-
He come to restore Israel. That was a confusion.
-
Brothers Tomo. Tomo didn't even believe. Even
-
when they told him. He said no. I have to see
-
him. So. Jesus Christ dealt with a lot of things.
-
And he opened their eyes that they might understand
-
the scriptures. And when their eyes opened, he
-
saw him. He said, go to Jerusalem and tarry there
-
until you endure with power. So we saw that entry
-
and we saw them grow in understanding. So that's
-
the same thing with the issue of baptism. In
-
some instances, once believers believe, they
-
will baptize them. Did you understand what I'm
-
saying? They will baptize what? They will baptize
-
them. The same thing. So he said, they have understood
-
that. Philip happened with the Ethiopian, you
-
know. He said, see water. You know what I'm saying?
-
And then they came down. After he preached to
-
him, he said, he believe he do believe inside
-
water. And then he moved. Glory to Jesus. But
-
after those moments, by the time you move, you
-
move away from act 11 and begin to move up. Huh?
-
You begin to see a new. men of revelation. Are
-
we together? Did you see that? Even when they
-
were about to choose the person who replaced
-
Judas, how did they do it? Oh, talk to me now.
-
How did they do it? The one they knew before
-
by casting lot. Oh, that should be you. Do you
-
understand what I'm saying? But after then, after
-
the Holy Ghost came and they begin to walk in
-
the reality, how do they choose those who will
-
be leadership? No longer by do, by lots. It's
-
by appointing. Did you understand what I'm saying?
-
That is how they agree you in revelation. Also,
-
they used to baptize. Deep people in water. But
-
now as they grew, they understood that what John
-
was doing was a demonstration of what the Christ
-
will do. You know what I'm saying? They saw that
-
it has been fulfilled. We will not be practicing
-
what they have been fulfilled. You know what
-
I'm saying? So they gradually, and that's why
-
when you read the epistle, you will never see
-
those things. You know what I'm saying? Because
-
by then, you are grounded. In the world. Are
-
we together? Are we together? Amen. So that's
-
what we're saying. Hallelujah. So when you see
-
that text where we are reading. Verse 14. Of
-
Acts chapter 8. Now when the apostle who were
Acts 8 chapter mention
-
at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received
-
the word of God. He sent Peter and John. To them
-
who, when they had come down, prayed for them
-
that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For
-
as yet he had fallen upon none of them. They
-
had only been baptized in the name of Jesus.
-
Then, now you could see the difference between
-
this baptism. Baptizing in the name is different
-
from after they believed they were baptized.
-
Did you understand what I'm saying? Are we together?
-
Yes. Then they laid their hands on them and they
-
received the Holy Ghost. Pastor Iman and Pastor
-
Kostin will be discussing most of this demonstration
-
in the spirit. You understand? About the baptism,
-
about the offerings, the giftings. You understand?
-
So I won't dwell in those things. But just know
-
that This is a demonstration of the Spirit when
-
hands were laid. And what we call, you know,
-
this here he said the Spirit felt or the feeling
-
of the Spirit. I think those of us who have been
-
in the church, we have in some ways touched those
-
issues. What does that mean to be filled with
-
the Spirit? I think there's one text Pastor Carson
-
read for us when he was taking, I think, was
-
it last week or what? Or was it today when he
-
was leading? our prayer, you understand, about
-
Ephesians chapter 5, you understand? Remember?
Ephesians 5 chapter mention
-
Ephesians chapter 5, verse 18. He said, do not
-
be drunk with wine, right? But be filled with
-
what? The Holy Spirit. That church in Ephesians,
-
I hope you know that they have been filled with
-
the Holy Spirit before. Huh? Because that church
-
was Acts 19. Huh? Paul had laid the hand on them.
-
They are filled with the Holy Spirit. They spoke
-
in tongues. You understand? They prophesied.
-
And then he wrote to them again and said, Be
-
filled with the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. So when
-
Peter and John arrived in Samaria, they laid
-
hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
-
Now look at what Simon did. Simon said, give
-
me this power. Verse 19. Also, that anyone whom
-
I lay hands may receive. Not the word, this power.
-
Do you understand what I'm saying? Look at verse
-
20. But Peter said to him, your money perish
-
with you because you thought the gift of God
-
will be purchased with money. Remember, note
-
that word, the gift of God, what Peter said.
-
You thought the gift of God. Listen, when you
-
say, give me the power, Peter did not say, that
-
was wrong. See. Simon Peter was not talking about,
-
sorry, Simon, not the Peter. You know, we have
-
Simon there. You know, not Simon Peter. There
-
was Simon Peter there and there is Simon. Or
-
Simon. Amen? The Simon, the sorcerer. He was
-
not talking, when he said, give me that power,
-
he was not referring to the Holy Spirit. When
-
he said, give me that power in 19. He was referring
-
to the laying of hands because that's what he
-
saw. When hands, when they came, they laid their
-
hands. He not saw. He was filled with the Holy
-
Spirit. There were things that happened. He saw
-
it. He said, give me this power. That's why he
-
said, so that when I lay my hands. Did you see
-
that? And Peter said, Peter, when Peter was talking
-
about, he said, that, no, no, no, no, no. You
-
can't. Let me see. Verse. Verse 20, he said,
-
your money perish with you because you thought
-
the gift of God could be purchased with money.
-
He said, the gift of God could be purchased with
-
money. What did Peter call it? Peter called it
-
the gift of God. The laying of hands, Peter called
-
it what? The gift of God. Say, I have the gift
-
of God. I have the gift of God to demonstrate
-
the power of God to this generation. Peter called
-
laying of hands the gift of God. By calling the
-
gift of God, Peter just means also that laying
-
of hands is supernatural. That's what we've been
-
saying. Laying of hands is supernatural. By just
-
saying the gift of God. He said, how dare you
-
talk about the gift of God with money? But that
-
gift of God has been given to me because I am
-
in Christ. Because I am in Christ. Now in closing
-
for this session, I want you to observe something.
-
Maybe throughout that you've been reading. Did
-
you observe? That not just only from where we
-
are coming, that when hands were laid, people
-
were healed. But again, we can administer the
-
baptism of the Holy Ghost by laying of hands.
-
So things happen when hands are laid. Things
-
happen when hands are laid. That was what Simon
-
saw. Even a man of sorcery was confused. He saw
-
his power, his joke. His power was joke. He said,
-
give me this power. So that when I lay my hands
-
to, I'll see those things. But the man was confused.
-
He's used to when you do his sorcery, maybe they
-
are bringing change to him. Now he saw those
-
men, he said, ah, maybe you can make money. And
-
that's it, this generation. Native doctors have
-
stopped living in the bush. They have returned
-
to the city. They are wearing coats. Is it coat
-
or suit? Or whatever. Do you understand what
-
I'm saying? Now, did you notice that? All the
-
instances where the Holy Ghost fell on people,
-
men were involved, except in Acts chapter 2,
Acts 2 chapter mention
-
in the day of Pentecost. After the day of Pentecost,
-
did you realize? All those times the Holy Ghost
-
fell on people, men were involved. In Samaria,
-
men were involved. In Saul of Tarsus, Acts chapter
Acts 9 chapter mention
-
9, a man was involved. In Acts chapter 10, in
Acts 10 chapter mention
-
the house of Cornelius, men were involved. In
-
Acts chapter 19, in Ephesus. Brother, men are
Acts 19 chapter mention
-
the systems and the method of God. You are a
-
method of God. Do you understand what I'm saying?
-
God can do without us, but he has never done
-
without us. This is what he chose. These are
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some of the things that marveled the psalmist.
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He said, what is man that thou art mindful of?
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Uh -uh. You made him a little lower than Elohim,
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angels. For you have crowned him with glory and
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honor and put all the works of your hands. Do
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you understand what I'm saying? Why? You are
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mindful of him. You matter. I'm rounding up this
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part to tell you that don't look down on yourself.
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The Holy Ghost in you, you matter. You are a
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system. You are a method. God wants to do with
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you. The great things he wants to do, he wants
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to go with you. What a glory to partner with.
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Some of us are in the academia. You know what
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it means when you are a coming -of -scientist
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and you wrote a paper and your augur? You know,
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Oga? You understand? You have a prof who is notable.
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His name is on that paper. Before you know, it's
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an honor to collaborate with the heavyweights.
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You understand what I'm saying? But our collaboration
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is not just only that he's somewhere, we're somewhere.
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No. We're in him. He's in us. Are we together?
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I want you to move to know that your hands are
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not just for picking things up, for eating. It's
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a system. It's a transmitter of the power of
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God. I'm going to do it here. So when hands are
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laid upon you, you know what is coming upon you.
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It's not just somebody is touching you. No. It's
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a gift to the body. You know, we have to, we
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will teach some of those things with time. We
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worship God by knowledge. So when God talks about
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raise your hands in worship, ask men all around
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to raise their hands. Don't think you are just
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doing like this. You know what I'm saying? Listen,
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know that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost.
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And your body, He's a transmitter of God's power.
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Are we together? Can you just appreciate God
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and thank him and say, Lord, thank you. Just
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for one or two minutes, I want you just to pray.
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We appreciate you being here today. We hope you
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carry this word with you throughout your week.
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Don't forget to check the show notes for additional
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insights. Stay connected with us through our
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website or follow us on social media. If you
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were encouraged, share this message with someone
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you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.