1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,160 In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,840 Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,760 mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, the Light of the world 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,520 and the life of all. Give us wisdom by your law and 5 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:17,560 enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge. 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,600 Sanctify our souls by Your truth and grant that we may be 7 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,080 obedient to Your words and may fulfil Your commandments at 8 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:28,360 every hour. O You who enlightens the 9 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:32,520 rational with the knowledge of Your greatness, do enlight, O my 10 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,360 Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate upon Your holy and 11 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,720 divine Scriptures at all times. O Lord of all, Father and Son 12 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,440 and Holy Spirit, forever. Amen. 13 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:05,600 In our last episode, we left off where the disciples, that is 14 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:09,000 Saint Paul and Barnabas, returned to the cities that is 15 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,200 Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch. 16 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,360 It's about 105 miles distance between them. 17 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,000 So they'd returned to these cities in which they were 18 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:23,080 persecuted simply to continue preaching, but more so to 19 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,640 encourage the disciples. Now the disciples doesn't 20 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,520 necessarily only mean the 12, but each time they were 21 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,480 preaching, we read in the Scriptures, in the Acts of the 22 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,760 Apostles that they were making disciples. 23 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,480 That means they were disciplining those students. 24 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,640 Let's, let's call them students. Sometimes we refer to students 25 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,680 as our disciples as well. Now they were persecuted. 26 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,000 Paul played dead. They were stoning him to dead. 27 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,600 So obviously he must have played dead because they thought he's 28 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,600 dead, but he wasn't because his disciples came and took him away 29 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,640 and they were persecuted by the Jews who rejected the gospel. 30 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,960 Now the gospel doesn't mean the book always keep in mind, 31 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,320 doesn't mean the Bible. There was a physical Bible. 32 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,680 In the end, the gospel means Jesus Christ, the good news of 33 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,000 the Lord Jesus Christ. So they rejected it. 34 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,920 Why did they reject it? Because obviously they didn't 35 00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:20,320 believe. They were hard. 36 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,200 The hearts were hearts were probably hardened. 37 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,400 They were stubborn and they couldn't see the truth and they 38 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,400 rejected it. Now they persecuted the Jew. 39 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,240 They persecuted Paul and Barnabas, not so much because 40 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,600 they rejected the gospel, but because the Gentiles, on the 41 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,880 other hand, who accepted it, would not attend the synagogues 42 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:43,640 anymore. They would follow Paul and 43 00:02:43,640 --> 00:02:46,120 Barnabas. So that means they would not go 44 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:47,840 and pay money into the synagogues. 45 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:52,040 So you know, it was it was a double whammy. 46 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,120 Their finances were were affected as well. 47 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,400 So because of that, they wanted to get rid of Paul and Barnabas 48 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,640 so that these people then would have to return back to their to 49 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:07,200 the synagogues and and do their duties as far as paying to the 50 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,200 synagogue. Let's pick it up verse 21 and 22 51 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,320 and when this is Acts chapter 14, verses 21 and 22. 52 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,320 And when they had preached the gospel to the people of the city 53 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,200 and had converted many now converted many in the Aramaic 54 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,880 language is Tulmid. They made disciples of many, 55 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,840 converted many. Then they returned to the city 56 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:35,240 of Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the souls 57 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,440 of the converts and exhorting them to continue in the faith 58 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,760 and telling them that only through much tribulations can 59 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,400 can we enter into the Kingdom of God. 60 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,720 So they were, you know, these new at, you know, the new 61 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,600 Christians, the new converts, when they saw the persecution, 62 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,080 they must have been afraid, they must have been discouraged. 63 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,120 So they go back and say, listen, it's OK, just role-playing it. 64 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,440 It's OK. This is what it's all about. 65 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,600 Through afflictions. Through afflictions we can enter 66 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,480 the Kingdom. Only through much tribulations 67 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,600 can we enter into the Kingdom of God. 68 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,000 Why? Because they remembered Psalm 69 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:23,120 chapter 34, verse 19. The afflictions of the righteous 70 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,080 are many, but the Lord rescues him from them all. 71 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,640 It doesn't mean that the Lord will take him away so that he is 72 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,200 not afflicted. No, no, no, the rescuing of our 73 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,440 Lord at times is perseverance. The Lord will continue to 74 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:42,120 strengthen us in faith, in trust, in hope to persevere in 75 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:46,400 that affliction, continue to be afflicted, but persevere and 76 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,040 glorify God with the affliction not necessarily taken away, that 77 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:51,800 there's no more pain, no more suffering. 78 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:52,920 And we're going to talk about that. 79 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,120 And they were learning from the very outset, from the very get 80 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,120 go, both the power of the preaching. 81 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,160 Now the power of preaching in both ways. 82 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:07,440 The Jews were being convicted. They were being convicted. 83 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:12,160 And because the preaching was so right and so holy that they went 84 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,680 totally opposite and wanted to persecute. 85 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,120 Now today we see our brothers and sisters who are out there 86 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:22,440 preaching the gospel, trying to steer people and, and, and bring 87 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,760 people to repentance from, from immorality, from homosexuality, 88 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,960 from bi gender realism, whatever it is out there. 89 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,880 So they're preaching. Now some of the power of the 90 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,000 preaching is some people they, you know, they, they think 91 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:37,440 twice. I saw this video. 92 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:44,560 There's a girl that was arguing abortion and the brother who was 93 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,800 preaching and, you know, not only scriptural but also 94 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:54,320 scientifically got her thinking. And then a few days, I believe, 95 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,800 I presume afterwards, he saw the girl again. 96 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:59,480 And I was, I was, you know, we were discussing. 97 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:01,520 She was, you know what? You made me think about it and 98 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,400 I'm now having second thoughts. There's the power of the 99 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:05,400 preaching. Amen. 100 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,600 But there's the other power where you convict someone to 101 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,080 such a point where Satan takes over, they start swearing, 102 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,000 they'll throw water at you, they'll take your placards. 103 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:20,400 They may even be very physical and abrupt and and quite, you 104 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,120 know, rude and disrespect. And this is the power of the 105 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:30,080 preaching. So from that very first go, both 106 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,440 they knew and learned the power of the preaching and at the same 107 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:38,920 time that they must also suffer for these things, right? 108 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,760 They didn't wait like, you know, gapping and yawning, waiting for 109 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,560 some miracles. Only let's see, you know, the 110 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,440 Lord said that you will do greater things than I Let me, 111 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,280 let's see if we can do some miracles. 112 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:53,760 No, yes, they wrote a lot of miracles by the power of Christ, 113 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,480 praise between his name, right? But they were more so ready for 114 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,840 the trials that they were going to go through because they had 115 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:02,280 believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. 116 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,240 They didn't need, they didn't need miracles. 117 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:10,120 Miracles were only being wrought so that those who were pagans, 118 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:15,240 non believers would see and come and be a little bit inquisitive 119 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,040 to come and be drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ. 120 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,240 Just as Saint Paul writes in Philippians chapter one verse 121 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:26,960 30, having the same conflict which you saw in me and heard 122 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,240 about it. I see that you also are going 123 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,320 through the same conflicts, same afflictions. 124 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:38,120 I went through it. Soldier on continue, continue 125 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,800 because your reward is waiting in the Kingdom of heaven. 126 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,600 And this they were also taught taught by Jesus Christ. 127 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:51,280 Remember the 72 some of the 7070 or 72 because you know in the 128 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,600 Greek text there was no numbers even in the in the Aramaic, the 129 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,160 Assyrian language, there is no actual numerics their letters, 130 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:08,600 for example, ALAP is 1 youth is 1011 is youth ALAP not 112. 131 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:10,800 You know, so there was no numbers. 132 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,880 So some say 70 and some say 70. Well, we believe there was 72 133 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,760 because they that also including Adai and Thaddeus and what have 134 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,720 you. But 72 disciples, they came 135 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,360 back. What if they tell Jesus Christ 136 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,920 in Luke 10, jumping for joy. They were so glad, so, so 137 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:34,440 encouraged and said, Lord, oh Lord, even the demons are 138 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:41,200 subject to us in your name. Jesus didn't say, wow, I knew 139 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,640 you guys could do it. Corona, let's keep going. 140 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,800 Go, go and get another 30-40, fifty demons. 141 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,240 No, no, no, he didn't do that. You know, you still have a 142 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,480 quota. No, he said rejoice, not that 143 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,080 the devils, the devils obey you or the demons obey you. 144 00:08:56,080 --> 00:09:00,520 No, no, no, don't rejoice in that because there's going to be 145 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,360 suffering. There's going to be times when 146 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:08,640 the devil will have the best of you, the demons will truly 147 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:13,920 affect you and afflict you with wounds, with atrocities. 148 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,920 But be strong, be of faith. I am with you. 149 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:18,720 I will not leave you nor forsake you. 150 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:24,600 You see, the pure and beneficial joy is not when you do something 151 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,480 good. You feel good, right? 152 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,280 Yeah, it's great. It's encouraging. 153 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:34,120 But the pure and beneficial joy of a Christian's Christian is to 154 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,160 suffer anything for Christ's sake. 155 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:42,120 If you're not suffering for Christ's sake, I would say 156 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,600 examine your walk with Christ, your life with Christ. 157 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,440 Now, suffering doesn't mean people to come and bash you and 158 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,560 beat you and swear at you and cuss at you. 159 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:55,120 No, no, no. You know those personal, 160 00:09:55,400 --> 00:10:00,400 personal weaknesses we have if we're not suffering for Christ's 161 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,240 sake, we must examine our relationship with Jesus Christ. 162 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,680 Paul writes to the Timothy, his 2nd letter to Timothy, chapter 163 00:10:08,680 --> 00:10:12,920 3, verse 12. All those who choose to live in 164 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,440 the worship of God, listen to this. 165 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,960 Listen, listen. All right, stop your vacuuming 166 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,200 again, here we go. Listen, listen, listen to this 167 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:28,480 very carefully to Timothy 312, all those who choose to live in 168 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:30,440 the worship of God. You want to worship God. 169 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:31,840 You believe. You believe in a God, you 170 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,680 worship God. I like what I do. 171 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:36,120 Yes, yes. Oh, Nirvana. 172 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,840 Yes, Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. All right, wait, no, there's a 173 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,800 catch to it. All those who choose to live in 174 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,400 the worship of God in Jesus Christ. 175 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,640 So you cannot worship the true God unless it be through Jesus 176 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,520 Christ. Praise and glory be to his name. 177 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,160 Amen. Scream it out, you know, roll 178 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,120 down your window in the car and say Amen one more time, Steven. 179 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:02,120 Yes, Amen. Yes, only through Jesus Christ. 180 00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:06,600 So if we're worshipping God through Jesus Christ, we must 181 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,920 also await and be prepared for persecutions. 182 00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:14,000 Persecutions because they persecuted my Lord, who am I not 183 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,800 to be persecuted? The most despicable, shameful, 184 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:23,560 ridiculed death. He was crucified naked in in 185 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:27,760 some of the Shamasha Colin I'm I'm sure you've come across it 186 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,280 in the the book of the cycle Hodra where they are talking 187 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:36,800 about his crucifixion the most a shameful crucifixion they used 188 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:42,320 to crucify them naked. He took that for me Who am I who 189 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,120 am I not to be cussed at no glory be to Christ. 190 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,840 Psalm 34 verse 19 we read again, many are the afflictions of the 191 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,800 righteous one and the Lord God delivers him from all gives us 192 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,280 the strength. So these people from the get go 193 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:02,960 knew that the blessings of what they were doing were actually 194 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:09,120 more so the suffering and their afflictions than the conversion 195 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:13,480 of the Gentiles. Verse 22, strengthening the 196 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,720 souls of the converts and exhorting them to continue in 197 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:22,320 faith and telling them that only through listen to this, let's go 198 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,280 off, Let's go off on a tangent a little bit and I like doing 199 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:26,480 that. I have a habit of doing that. 200 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,600 People have told me and I know and I'm going to do it now. 201 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:35,720 So this is not a valid one. This is a confessed one right in 202 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:43,800 the faith and telling them that only through much tribulation 203 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,560 can we enter into the Kingdom of God. 204 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,520 So much for rapture, right? God's going to take away all 205 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:54,680 those who believe so that they don't go through the trials and 206 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:56,920 tribulations. He's going to rapture them. 207 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:00,560 You know, you see these ridiculous, ridiculous video 208 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:03,080 clips that you know there are people walking the street. 209 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,960 All of a sudden from 100 people walking, fifty are gone. 210 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,480 Oh, oh, these are the Norton these people they're going to go 211 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,400 through the the tribulations. Those that were taken away. 212 00:13:12,560 --> 00:13:14,440 God wanted them not to see tribulations. 213 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:19,120 Well, either Saint Paul has got it wrong or our Protestant 214 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,720 brothers and sisters, I think it's the latter. 215 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:27,480 I am sure it's the latter that only through much tribulation 216 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,680 can we enter into the Kingdom of God. 217 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:35,520 Verse 23. And when they had ordained, oh, 218 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:40,080 ordained them elders or presbyters? 219 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,520 The the word priest comes from presbyters. 220 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,080 You know what was happening. Let me tell you, the apostles, 221 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,920 at first it was the apostles who would baptize. 222 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,600 They were the ones that would administer all the the 223 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,920 sacraments, the Holy Mysteries. Then the Church began to grow 224 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:59,400 and grow, and then they had churches in different places. 225 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:05,640 Then that overseer, that Bishop, that apostle of today could not 226 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,680 be in three places at once. So they ordained presbyters and 227 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:13,400 they gave them the authority to go and minister the Eucharist or 228 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,760 the go and minister the sacraments of the holy 229 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,880 Sacraments, so that the the Bishop would remain in the 230 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:23,040 cathedral. OK, so they ordained, let's go 231 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,840 back again. And when they had ordained them 232 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:30,400 elders or priests in every church and had prayed with them 233 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:36,320 with fasting, they commanded them to our Lord on whom they 234 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:44,280 believed ordained. Afraid not so much fasting, 235 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:48,320 refuted and opposed by some of our Protestant brothers and 236 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:49,880 sisters. You don't need to fast. 237 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,200 How many times do we read in the Acts of the Apostles that they 238 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,760 were fasting? Or fasting is for a period of 239 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,240 sorrow and mourning. So Christmas time, we don't need 240 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:05,320 to fast because we're joyous. That's ridiculous. 241 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:07,840 Find me in the Scriptures or in the Church fathers or in the 242 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,680 church the the the framework of the church or the church canons. 243 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,960 No, no beloved fasting, we must fast. 244 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:15,280 Why? Because Jesus fasted. 245 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,040 Period. Thank you, God bless you gain, 246 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,240 set and match. Jesus did it. 247 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:23,040 I will do it. Be imitators of me, says Saint 248 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,240 Paul. Because I imitate Jesus Christ, 249 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:29,880 Saint Paul fasted. So I am to imitate Paul 250 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:32,280 according to the biblical instruction. 251 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:33,920 That means I need to fast as well. 252 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,960 Who ordained, beloved? Who ordained? 253 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,680 Why weren't they just brought in front of the assembly? 254 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,760 And everyone lift up, up their hands and praise Jesus and yes, 255 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,240 Jesus and Amen Jesus and take this brother Jesus. 256 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,680 And we want this brother Jesus. No, no, they didn't. 257 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,880 Who ordained them? The apostles ordained them. 258 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:58,560 Paul and Barnabas ordained them. Let's talk a little bit about 259 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:04,440 ordination. Siamida Matotitida, the laying 260 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:10,360 on off hands in the Aramaic language, Siam ETA, matotid ETA, 261 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,720 because during an ordination the hand is laid. 262 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,160 Let's go back in the Old Testament because these things 263 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,920 are not just something new. These were practiced in the Old 264 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:19,840 Testament according to the flesh. 265 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,160 Now Jesus didn't abolish, remember, but remember that. 266 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,200 Don't get me going about. Jesus abolished the Old 267 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,720 Testament. Don't get me going there. 268 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,400 No, He didn't abolish. He came to fulfill and then He 269 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,040 superseded with the spiritual, not the physical anymore. 270 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:38,080 Numbers chapter 27 verses 18 to 20 listen carefully, listen 271 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,800 intently. We say in the in the the divine 272 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:43,920 literature of a holy Qurbana, the Eucharist. 273 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:51,360 So whatever you're doing, stop, listen Numbers 2718 to 20, grab 274 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,760 your Bible. If not, jot down the verse and 275 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:58,960 then you can go and read it. It says, and the Lord God said 276 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:03,040 to Moses, and this is God speaking, praise and glory, 277 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,359 glory be to his name. When God says, when the 278 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:10,319 scriptures say and the Lord God said, that's it. 279 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:15,720 We stand alert, attentive. What did, what did God say? 280 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:21,760 And the Lord God said to Moses, take to yourself Joshua son of 281 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:26,839 Nun, a man who has the spirit, stop, stop. 282 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:29,480 What spirit? Evil spirit? 283 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:31,280 No, no, no, that's not what the Scripture's about. 284 00:17:31,360 --> 00:17:35,240 No, no, he had to spill it. The Spirit of God, the Holy 285 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,960 Spirit. So this man has the Holy Spirit 286 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:44,920 in him, right? A man who has the spirit in him. 287 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:51,640 So God's chosen him, the spirits in him, and lay your hand upon 288 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,040 him. Why God, Why? 289 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:59,280 Why do you need Moses? He's only a mere men. 290 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,280 I don't need anyone between me and God and Christ. 291 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:06,280 I have direct connection. Well, answer me, you know, give 292 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,480 me, give me some feedback on this, these verses. 293 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,520 Let's keep going and lay your hand upon him. 294 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,240 Stand him before Eliazar the priest. 295 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,080 Nothing about standing at the in front of the assembly where 296 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,440 everyone can raise their hands and pray and invoke the Holy 297 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:22,280 Spirit. It doesn't. 298 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:29,440 Holy Spirit doesn't even descend confidently, comfortably. 299 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,280 I will say that. No, just because there are 300 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,320 faithful standing around and they will, they will invoke the 301 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:36,680 Holy Spirit. No, no, no, no. 302 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:42,400 God is talking to Moses. He could have done it himself, 303 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:45,800 standing before Eliazza, the priest. 304 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:47,840 That's why during all the nations, there's always the 305 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:49,160 Archdeacon. That's not going to that. 306 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:53,360 And before all of the assembly, yeah, the the congregation must 307 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:56,000 see him and command him in their sight. 308 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,000 So give him his instructions in their sight. 309 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,000 Nothing about the assembly accepting him yet and praying 310 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,040 upon him yet. Nothing. 311 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,360 No. And put some of your glory upon 312 00:19:08,360 --> 00:19:10,200 him. Lord God, praise be to your 313 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,320 name. The Spirit is on this person. 314 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:17,240 What's Moses going to give him? Not the glory of Moses, but the 315 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:21,320 glorious gift that Moses had had accepted and received when God 316 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,560 called him. Put some of it on him. 317 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,840 That's why when the Bishop lays his hand on a priest, on a 318 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:32,160 Deacon, he puts the glory that God has given him, the position 319 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:35,040 that God is giving him, the authority that God is giving 320 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,320 him. Lay it on the person that is 321 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,520 being ordained. Put some of your glory upon him, 322 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,400 that all of the assembly of the children of Israel shall obey 323 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,040 him. That's all that says about the 324 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:48,040 assembly. They just shall a boy obey him. 325 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:49,560 That's it. He's been ordained. 326 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,400 That's how they were ordaining. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 327 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:59,440 nineteen, 9:00 to 11:00. But that he ascended, he's 328 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:01,240 talking about Jesus. What is it? 329 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,320 But that also He first descended, so he came down. 330 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,000 That's why he went up to the lower regions of the earth, not 331 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,360 hell. If anyone tells you I had a 332 00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:13,520 dream and Jesus took me to hell, that's that's false. 333 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:20,040 Christ did not go to hell. Hell is for Satan and his 334 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,960 demons. He went to Shoal, to the regions 335 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:26,600 of the lower regions of the earth where there was death. 336 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:32,760 He who descended is the same who also ascended higher than all 337 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,960 heavens. Praise be to his name, Jesus 338 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,280 Christ, to restore all things, to bring back all things, to 339 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:41,360 justify all things, to make right all things. 340 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:47,880 And he gave who Jesus gave some who are apostles, some who are 341 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:52,520 prophets, and some who are evangelists, and some who are 342 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,480 pastors and some who are teachers. 343 00:20:55,640 --> 00:21:00,400 Not the credential of a APHD or a Masters degree. 344 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,760 No, no, no, Jesus gave them to be what they are. 345 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,640 So Christ gives that. And today, where does Christ 346 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,760 impart these spiritual gifts? Through his Church and through 347 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,520 the laying on of the apostles. Which church? 348 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,400 Let me make it very, very clear. Very clear. 349 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:25,040 The one holy and Apostolic and Catholic, meaning universal, 350 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,120 complete Church. That Church. 351 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:34,120 That Church. The one holy and Apostolic and 352 00:21:34,120 --> 00:21:36,200 Catholic with a small C Not Roman. 353 00:21:36,360 --> 00:21:39,400 When we say Catholics, we're not always talking about the Roman 354 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:40,640 Catholic Church. No, no, no, no. 355 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:44,880 Catholic means universal and complete through that church. 356 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:49,000 Jesus is still choosing his. Those who call. 357 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:53,720 He calls for His ministry. Romans chapter 10 verse 14. 358 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:58,320 Therefore, how would they call this one unless they believe in 359 00:21:58,320 --> 00:21:59,720 him? How are they going to call on 360 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,800 Jesus Christ if they haven't believed in Him? 361 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:04,720 Someone who doesn't believe in Jesus Christ, they're not going 362 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:06,320 to say, oh Lord Jesus Christ, come and help me. 363 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:10,000 No, they'll actually be, you know, mocking Jesus Christ has 364 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,440 to say, how are they going to call unless they believe in him? 365 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,440 OK, great. That's a good question. 366 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,240 But let me let's keep going. How are they going to believe in 367 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,360 him unless they hear him or they hear about him? 368 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,080 How are they going to hear about how are they going to believe in 369 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,600 someone they haven't heard of? Great. 370 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,960 But wait, there's more. Or how would they hear without a 371 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,000 preacher? Oh, there it is. 372 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,880 So we must all go and preach. No, not everyone's being called 373 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:39,280 to preach. Beloved, just because you've 374 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:41,320 read the Bible cover to cover, it doesn't mean anything. 375 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,760 Reading the Bible cover to cover doesn't give you the authority 376 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,080 to go and preach and teach. No. 377 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,360 Well, you know, let let me correct that. 378 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:53,080 Preach. Yeah, maybe preach. 379 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:57,400 But what do you preach? Your own understanding, your own 380 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,960 understanding of the Gospels, your own interpretation of the 381 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:06,840 gospels. No, you preach the interpreted 382 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,680 scriptures within the framework of the church and the Holy 383 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:15,320 Fathers. Beloved, you know, next episode 384 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,400 we're going to talk about Sola Scriptura in Acts chapter 15, 385 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:22,440 and that's going to be so refuted because we're going to 386 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,440 see that the apostles themselves did not adhere to solar 387 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:31,040 scriptura, only the Scripture. If it's only the Scripture, why 388 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,680 are there so many interpreters? Why are there so many Talkback 389 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:38,040 shows where you call, oh, hey, Tom, I don't understand this 390 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:40,080 verse. Well, I'm sorry, Tom shouldn't 391 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,840 even be there. Tom should say, I'm sorry, what 392 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,320 are you calling me? No, the Bible interprets the 393 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,240 Bible. You can just just read it. 394 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:51,080 It will tell you why there's so many books written Quran 395 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,080 Bookstore, why there's so many books written on, on 396 00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:56,120 expositions, on the holy scriptures. 397 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,440 You know why? Because they knew that it's 398 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:02,680 ridiculous. It was ridiculous at first, and 399 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:05,920 then knowing that the church never adhered to solar scriptura 400 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:10,440 because the fathers would teach and the church lived and 401 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:16,120 continued by the direction and the leadership of the Holy 402 00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:17,960 Spirit. Not so much the Scriptures 403 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,200 alone, right? So how would they hear without a 404 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,520 preacher? Or how will they preach unless 405 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,400 they will be sent? Who sends them? 406 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,760 The church sends them. Let's not forget how Paul and 407 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:33,000 Barnabas were sent. By whom? 408 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:37,640 Who sent Paul and Barnabas? Acts chapter 13, verses 2 and 409 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,320 three. While the church was gathered 410 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,800 and they were ministering, they were ministering to the Lord. 411 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:50,240 And there it is again and fasted the Holy Spirit said, so 412 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:52,960 sometimes the Holy Spirit is audible, you can hear it. 413 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,520 The Holy Spirit said, separate me, Barnabas and Saul for the 414 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:02,040 work we're on to. I have called them the Church, 415 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:08,320 the one holy and Apostolic and Catholic Church. 416 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:14,640 And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on 417 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,680 them, they sent them away. Who laid their hands on them? 418 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:21,800 Acts 13. One, the prophets and the 419 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:29,760 teachers, you know, at that time they weren't any presbyteries. 420 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:31,880 There were these prophets, they were teaching, they were, they 421 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,760 were moved by God and they, you know, they believed in the Lord 422 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,360 Jesus Christ. But then, when there was a need 423 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:42,480 for presbyters, we see that Paul and Barnabas start ordaining 424 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:46,320 priests so that they can continue the work of the Lord, 425 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:50,480 verse 24 till the end. And after they had travelled 426 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:54,520 through the country of Presidia, they came to Pamphylia. 427 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:58,120 And when they had preached the word of the Lord in the city of 428 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:02,360 Perga, they went down to Italia talk about this. 429 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:08,160 And then they sailed and came to Antioch, because from there they 430 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:12,080 had been recommended to the grace of the Lord for the work 431 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:15,800 which they fulfilled. And as the whole congregation 432 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:20,640 was gathered together, they related everything that God had 433 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:24,400 done to them and how He had opened the door of the faith to 434 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,720 the Gentiles. And there they remained a long 435 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:31,840 time with the disciples. 105 miles. 436 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:35,840 These people worked on Lystra and the Iconium and Antioch and 437 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:38,040 all these other cities. 105 miles. 438 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:44,040 Italia is the ancient name for the city now known as Antalya. 439 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:48,680 It's a major port city on the Mediterranean coast of the 440 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,760 southwestern Turkey. This is the region they were 441 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,520 walking beloved. But look at verse 27. 442 00:26:55,720 --> 00:27:00,320 They rehearsed or they the the whole came gathered and they 443 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:06,800 related everything that God had done not how they were 444 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:10,480 persecuted and Paul wasn't there with sour grapes. 445 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:12,840 And you know what Oh, they, they persecuted me. 446 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:15,000 They stirred me. I was almost dead. 447 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,160 It was so bad. It was so you know, it was an 448 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:20,400 atrocity and it was bad. It was bad. 449 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:24,160 No, they didn't even talk about that, but that what God had done 450 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:26,400 and everything that God does is good. 451 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,120 How he opened the door of faith on to Gentiles. 452 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:33,600 You know, we should share the good news, the the positive news 453 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,920 of our Christian life to one another, right? 454 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:41,920 Not so much be, you know, always, you know, what is it, 455 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,360 you know, upset and depressed and all, you know, I'm suffering 456 00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:47,320 so much. It's OK. 457 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,680 Suffering is for all, especially the Christians, right? 458 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:54,520 The pure and the beneficial joy of a Christian is when he 459 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:57,800 suffers for Jesus sake, right? They didn't talk about that near 460 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,240 death experience, only what God had done. 461 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:06,320 And when God does, beloved, it is a testimony to tell the world 462 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,360 what God has done. Just like when Jesus healed that 463 00:28:09,360 --> 00:28:14,360 God, that that boy that was in the cemetery who was demon 464 00:28:14,360 --> 00:28:15,760 possessed, he said, I want to come follow you. 465 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,440 He says, no, go and tell your family what God has done for 466 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,360 you. Praise and glory be to his name. 467 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:26,120 Next episode is Acts chapter 15. This is very interesting, a very 468 00:28:26,120 --> 00:28:29,840 interesting chapter where we see that the disciples and the 469 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:35,160 apostles in Jerusalem are confronted with a dilemma. 470 00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:39,160 Do we circumcise and baptize or we don't? 471 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:44,320 And some of the some of the Pharisees who had believed 472 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,200 referred to Scripture in the Old Testament where God said that 473 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,160 this you need to uphold these generations to come. 474 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,440 And they said, listen, we have to this is the Scripture. 475 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:56,760 This is what God had said through the Scriptures. 476 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,400 I won't reveal too much. We'll see how that solar 477 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:06,960 Scripture actually is not upheld by the holy Apostles, but what 478 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,600 is upheld is the work and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 479 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:12,640 Praise and glory be to His name now and not all times and 480 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,440 forever. Amen. 481 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:44,480 We hope you enjoyed this week's message. 482 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,720 Please don't forget to rate and review this podcast and share 483 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,080 with your friends and family. For any future topic suggestions 484 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:54,520 or to give us detailed feedback, please visit our link in the 485 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:58,920 show notes. Linktr dot EE forward slash 486 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,880 double edged sword. Until next time, God bless you 487 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:02,200 all.