# The Way Of God

An episode of [Messages by David Antwi](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1069725119), 7 Dec 2025, 58 min.

Audio: https://yetanothersermon.host/_/kc/media/mp3/81295.mp3

The Way Of God Series: Book of Acts Pastor: David Antwi Sunday Morning Date: 7th December 2025 Passage: Acts 18:18-26

## Transcript

[0:00] Hallelujah. We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Caris Church.
[0:06] No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny but the Word of God.
[0:10] May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this word.
[0:14] Acts chapter 18. Let me read from 18 to 23.
[0:22] And Paul, Paul after this, tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren,
[0:31] and sailed thence into Syria, and with him, Priscilla and Aquila, having shone his head in Sincrea,
[0:42] for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus and left them there.
[0:52] But he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
[0:59] When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not,
[1:07] but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep the feasts that cometh in Jerusalem.
[1:18] But I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
[1:25] And when he had landed in Caesarea, and gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
[1:35] And after he had spent some time there, he departed and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia,
[1:44] in order, strengthening all the disciples.
[1:48] And the Lord, here ends the reading of God's word.
[1:51] Amen.
[1:52] Please, let's pray. Father, thank you for bringing us to this particular moment,
[1:56] where your word can be taught and the scriptures can be explained to us.
[2:01] We pray that, as the scriptures are explained, grant me all trans, that I will speak with boldness and clarity
[2:12] the mysteries of the kingdom and the mysteries of Christ.
[2:15] And open our understanding, O God, that we will be able to attend, understand your word,
[2:22] and attend to the words spoken through the influence of the Spirit.
[2:27] That none will live here the same. None listening will be the same.
[2:31] Let the revelation of Christ, don't.
[2:34] Let the testimony of Christ be made clear and manifested to all who hear.
[2:39] To the glory of your name, in Jesus' name, Amen.
[2:44] We saw how Paul had a vision because he was afraid.
[2:51] And in the vision, in the vision, the Lord told him not to fear because he had mad people in the city.
[3:00] And because of that, we noticed that Paul stayed about 18, he stayed 18 months in Corinth.
[3:14] Corinth, which was a very interesting, polluted, wicked, bad city.
[3:22] God said, I have many people there.
[3:26] And Paul stayed there. Opposition came, but no one was able to harm Paul because that's exactly what Paul said.
[3:35] And that brought us to what God did in Corinth with Paul.
[3:47] And the Bible says that in the verse 16, it says that, and verse 16 says that,
[3:53] and the judge threw them out of court and the people caught Sustanus and beat him.
[4:01] And Gallio, he was a good man. You might think he's a bad man.
[4:04] Well, Gallio was a very good man from history.
[4:07] His brother said he's an epitome of a very good man.
[4:11] But he didn't want to bother himself with this whole religious issues.
[4:16] So they beat Sustanus.
[4:18] And the Bible said in verse 18, as we saw,
[4:22] and Paul, after this, tarried there yet a good while.
[4:27] He didn't leave town. He still stayed there.
[4:29] In other places, they arise, attack him, and leaves.
[4:32] But here, God said no one will be able to do you harm.
[4:34] Even though they arose and tried to attack him, brought him to the court.
[4:40] The governor threw the case out.
[4:42] And Paul stayed, the Bible said, a great while.
[4:45] So Paul stayed there yet a great while.
[4:48] And then left the brethren.
[4:51] And sailed from there to Syria.
[4:56] Because now, that was this, this is the beginning of the second missionary journey.
[5:03] Okay, sorry.
[5:04] This is the ending of the second missionary journey.
[5:07] So the first missionary journey was when Acts chapter 13, they were sent out.
[5:12] And then they came back to Antioch, brought them news.
[5:15] And then the second missionary journey started when Barnabas and Saul went their separate ways.
[5:21] So in Acts chapter 15, verse 40, the brethren commended Paul and Silas.
[5:28] And then Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by their brethren.
[5:33] So that is the commencement.
[5:35] That was the commencement of the second missionary journey.
[5:39] All right.
[5:40] And then they got, in chapter 16, they got Timothy.
[5:43] And Timothy traveled with them.
[5:45] And then they wanted to go to Galatia, the Bithynia.
[5:49] But the Spirit would not allow them.
[5:51] And then at night, a vision came.
[5:54] Verse 10, they concluded that God wanted them to preach the gospel at Macedonia.
[6:00] Then they went to Philippi.
[6:02] From Philippi, after the incident that happened, they were put in prison.
[6:07] And the jailer, at midnight, they prayed and praised.
[6:11] And there was an earthquake.
[6:13] And the foundation of the prison was shaken.
[6:15] The doors were opened.
[6:16] The chains fell.
[6:17] And the jailer got converted.
[6:20] So the jailer became a believer in his household in the verse 31, 32.
[6:26] And then afterwards, Paul, the magistrates came.
[6:31] They said, let him go.
[6:33] But Paul said, no, you two are public.
[6:35] Beat us publicly.
[6:36] Come and apologize to us publicly.
[6:38] And so they came.
[6:39] And after they apologized, they asked them, can you leave the city?
[6:42] So they drove them out.
[6:44] So that's how Paul left Philippi.
[6:47] Then he went to Thessalonica.
[6:49] And then when he went to Thessalonica, he risen in the synagogue with the Jews.
[6:54] And then the Jews became jealous, stared up, opposition against him.
[6:59] And he left there, went to Berea, as I narrated all.
[7:03] So that was the second missionary journey.
[7:05] Went to Berea.
[7:06] And then from Berea, Athens.
[7:08] And then, so that is this whole from Athens, Corinth.
[7:12] So it seems like Corinth was their last stop.
[7:15] So went to Corinth.
[7:16] And after all that has happened in Corinth, they begged him, they asked him to stay.
[7:21] He stayed a little bit, but he left from Corinth.
[7:24] Now he was making his way back.
[7:26] All right.
[7:27] So let's see the journey.
[7:28] So the second missionary journey from Corinth, you see, it says, the Bible says that in the verse 18,
[7:35] he sailed from thence to Syria.
[7:38] And then within Priscilla and Aquila, having shone their head, his head in Sincrea.
[7:47] So he went to Sincrea.
[7:48] Now, this is very interesting.
[7:50] It's something small that was thrown in there.
[7:52] But it's very interesting.
[7:54] Give us New King James.
[7:56] It says that, sailed from Syria and Priscilla and Aquila with him and had his hair cut off at Sincrea.
[8:09] Why?
[8:10] He said, he told us why.
[8:11] For he had taken a...
[8:14] What's that?
[8:15] And the Bible didn't comment too much about that.
[8:18] He had taken a vow.
[8:21] What kind of vow is that?
[8:23] He had his hair cut off.
[8:26] In Acts chapter 21, verse 23 and 24, something similar happened there.
[8:31] Therefore, do what we tell you.
[8:35] That's the brethren instructing Paul.
[8:38] Do what we tell you.
[8:39] We have four men who have...
[8:42] That's interesting, isn't it?
[8:45] What is this vow taking?
[8:48] We have four men who have taken a vow.
[8:49] Now, look at the next verse.
[8:50] It said, take them and be purified with them and pay their expenses so that they may...
[9:01] What kind of vow is this that makes people shave their hair?
[9:05] Whilst on the flip side, something didn't have to shave his hair to maintain the Nazarite vow.
[9:18] So, in Acts chapter, back to 21 again, Acts 21, verse 24, it said, pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads and that all may know that those things which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also work orderly and keep the law.
[9:42] Okay, so this has to do with keeping the law.
[9:46] So, now, were they introducing keeping the law back into the church by telling the chief apostle who clearly made us know that we are not saved by works, but we are saved by grace, and you don't need to keep law in order to be saved.
[10:01] So, what's going on here?
[10:03] Now, there's something in my studies I stumbled, I noticed.
[10:07] Look at the verse 24 again.
[10:10] The verse 24, I didn't actually go into the Greek, but I just want to draw your attention.
[10:15] It says that they may shave their heads.
[10:20] And when you look at Acts 18, 18, what Paul did over there, Acts 18, 18, Prisla and Kela were with him.
[10:28] He had his hair cut off.
[10:31] I submit to you, there was a different Greek word, I didn't go into the Greek word, used for the hair cut off and in 21, shaving the hair.
[10:42] So, Paul had his hair cut off, but in chapter 21, verse 24, they shaved their hair, the hair.
[10:52] Now, some things had to be unshaved.
[10:56] Now, in Numbers chapter 6, verse 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
[11:03] I think that if you read it in the NIV, it might be a bit simpler.
[11:07] So, the Lord said to Moses, yes, let's go on.
[11:11] Speak to the Israelites and say to them, if a man or a woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the Lord as, you know, something was a Nazarite.
[11:29] As a Nazarite, the next verse, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drinks and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drinks.
[11:42] He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.
[11:48] As long as he's a Nazarite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine nor even the seeds or skins.
[12:02] During, watch this, this is a very interesting point.
[12:06] During the entire period of his vow, so it's no entire lifestyle.
[12:14] It's like when we are doing January 1st.
[12:15] It's a certain period that people dedicate to God.
[12:21] So, during the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor may be used, may be used on his head.
[12:33] He must be holy until the period of his separation to the Lord is over.
[12:39] He must let the hair of his head grow long.
[12:45] Look at the next verse.
[12:48] Throughout the period of his separation to the Lord, he must not go near a dead body.
[12:54] So, he started adding.
[12:56] So, that's why Samson shouldn't have tempered with the dead animal.
[13:03] It's called a Nazarite vow.
[13:05] But a Nazarite vow is not an entire life.
[13:07] Samson was a unique person.
[13:09] So, from his conception, God said he must be a Nazarite throughout his life.
[13:15] But the Jews had this, or the Hebrews, or the Israelites, had this custom where somebody, like when we are doing fasting,
[13:25] like some of you, you do regular fasting,
[13:27] we decide to abstain from a lot of things just to dedicate ourselves for that period unto God.
[13:37] And so, that is how it was in those days.
[13:40] But how about the hair?
[13:42] Look at the verse 18.
[13:44] The verse 18 says that.
[13:45] Let's go to the verse 13.
[13:47] Verse 13.
[13:47] Now, this is the law for the Nazarite when the period of his separation is over.
[13:53] You see that?
[13:54] So, the period of separation, there are things you don't touch.
[13:58] You don't cut your hair.
[13:59] So, you just dedicate yourself entirely to God.
[14:03] It's an extreme vow for an extreme devotion to God, which was a very noble thing to do.
[14:09] So, it says that now, when the period is over, when the Nazarite period is over,
[14:16] it says that he is to be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting.
[14:22] And what happens?
[14:23] There he is to present his offerings to the Lord.
[14:28] A year old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering.
[14:32] A year old ill lamb without defect for a sin offering.
[14:36] A ram without defect for a fellowship offering.
[14:39] That means that if you are going to do this Nazarite, you must have some money.
[14:46] So, what was the...
[14:48] If you don't have money, and you have gone through the Nazarite vow, how are you going to end?
[14:55] That means that you had this custom where if somebody is poor,
[15:03] but does go through a Nazarite vow or a special vow, separation to God,
[15:11] somebody who is financially comfortable or able can sponsor.
[15:17] Do you remember they said Paul should pay the expenses?
[15:20] Because there are four men who are taking a vow.
[15:24] They are about to end the vow.
[15:27] Paul, join them for the ending of the vow so you can sponsor them and you to go with them
[15:33] so that the Jews won't think that you are so anti-Jewish.
[15:37] You are so anti-law.
[15:39] Because they've heard so many negative things about you.
[15:42] You don't regard the law.
[15:43] You don't care about the transition.
[15:44] And let them know it's not like that.
[15:46] By the mere fact that those who are coming to an end of their separation,
[15:52] you actually join them, sponsor them, and cut your hair.
[15:56] So, in the numbers, it says that that's what you are supposed to bring.
[15:59] Look at the next verse.
[16:00] Verse 15.
[16:01] Together with their grain offerings and drink offerings,
[16:03] and a basket of bread made without yeast cake,
[16:09] made of fine flour mixed with, this is serious matter,
[16:14] and we're first spread with oil.
[16:16] Let's go to the verse there.
[16:17] It says,
[16:18] The priest is to present them before the Lord
[16:22] and make the sin offering and the burnt offering.
[16:26] Verse 17.
[16:27] He is to present the basket of unliving bread
[16:30] and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the Lord
[16:34] together with his grain offering and drink offering.
[16:37] These are all the things just to end the special vow.
[16:40] Now, look at verse 18.
[16:42] Then at the entrance of the tent of the meeting,
[16:45] the Nazarite must shave off the hair that is dedicated.
[16:52] And he is to take the hair and put it in the fire
[16:57] that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
[17:02] These are rituals.
[17:03] But it's not evil.
[17:06] It's very, so,
[17:07] now this is called the Nazarite vow.
[17:10] And so that is what,
[17:12] in Acts chapter 21,
[17:15] verse 23 and 24,
[17:17] Paul was instructed by the brethren
[17:19] that since you've been doing this missionary trip
[17:21] and you've been away from everybody for so long,
[17:24] you've been so long in Gentile territories.
[17:27] People have heard that now,
[17:28] you don't even believe in Judaism.
[17:30] You don't believe in anything Jewish.
[17:31] You don't believe.
[17:32] So for them to know that you are not wrong,
[17:34] it's not like you are enforcing
[17:35] and endorsing Judaism onto Gentiles.
[17:39] Whilst these people are going to do these rituals,
[17:42] that is not against the law.
[17:44] Judge them.
[17:45] Sponsor them.
[17:46] Pay their expenses.
[17:48] So you see where the,
[17:49] the expense was not for haircut.
[17:53] That is an expensive venture.
[17:54] But these people may not have the money.
[17:58] So he said,
[17:58] Paul,
[17:59] now that you have to,
[18:01] he says that,
[18:02] where are we now?
[18:05] Verse 24,
[18:06] yeah.
[18:07] Pay their expenses.
[18:08] And that,
[18:09] that,
[18:09] oh,
[18:10] okay.
[18:11] Yeah.
[18:12] Pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads.
[18:15] Now,
[18:16] that's the Nazarite vow.
[18:17] You shave your head.
[18:18] But there was another special vow,
[18:20] which is not a Nazarite vow.
[18:23] The Nazarite vow must only happen in Jerusalem.
[18:27] The special vows can happen anyway.
[18:31] It doesn't have to be in Jerusalem.
[18:33] That special vow is a vow of thanksgiving.
[18:36] When someone,
[18:37] you cut,
[18:38] that's not shaving your hair.
[18:40] That's what Paul did in Acts chapter 18,
[18:42] verse 18.
[18:43] In Acts chapter 18,
[18:44] verse 18,
[18:45] Paul cut off his hair at Sincria.
[18:50] Because of a vow he has taken.
[18:52] So that's not in Jerusalem.
[18:54] In Sincria,
[18:56] Sincria was actually one of the territories where the church was doing well,
[19:00] where Phoebe was.
[19:01] In Romans chapter 16,
[19:02] verse 1,
[19:03] Phoebe was a deaconess in the church,
[19:05] a servant in the church of Sincria.
[19:07] So,
[19:08] Paul cut his hair at Sincria
[19:09] just because of a vow.
[19:11] What kind of vow is that?
[19:12] A vow of dedication.
[19:14] A vow of separation.
[19:15] A vow to just dedicate yourself
[19:17] and praise God.
[19:18] I believe that he did that
[19:20] because of how God has been so favorable to him
[19:23] in Corinth.
[19:25] All the way,
[19:26] God showed that I'm with you.
[19:27] I have people,
[19:28] and he spent a long time there.
[19:30] Look at what happened at court.
[19:31] The people who brought him to court
[19:32] ended up being beaten.
[19:34] Court has been so good.
[19:35] This is your postcard, God.
[19:37] It's so nice.
[19:38] It's so nice.
[19:39] So,
[19:40] Paul took a vow
[19:42] as praise.
[19:44] It wasn't practicing Judaism
[19:46] or forcing the Lord.
[19:47] That was the law into the church.
[19:50] He was just personally
[19:51] trying to express
[19:53] his deep satisfaction.
[19:55] Now,
[19:56] how do you know
[19:56] that it wasn't a Nazarite vow?
[19:59] It wasn't a Nazarite vow
[20:00] because it wasn't in Jerusalem.
[20:01] And then number two,
[20:02] he had to,
[20:03] in this particular instance,
[20:04] he had to cut off his hair,
[20:06] not shave his hair.
[20:09] Not shave.
[20:09] Shave is
[20:10] cutting off his cat.
[20:17] And just so you know,
[20:19] in 1 Corinthians,
[20:20] you know,
[20:21] there was a place,
[20:21] I think chapter 6,
[20:22] I missed my...
[20:23] You know the place where
[20:24] Paul said,
[20:25] a woman must cover her hair.
[20:27] And if she doesn't want
[20:28] to cover her hair,
[20:29] no,
[20:30] he said,
[20:30] it shouldn't shave,
[20:31] her hair should not be shaved.
[20:34] But,
[20:35] she'll cover her hair.
[20:35] But,
[20:36] if she's ashamed,
[20:38] she doesn't want to shave,
[20:39] she should cover.
[20:40] If she wants to,
[20:41] if she doesn't cover,
[20:43] then she should be shaved.
[20:44] Now,
[20:44] shaving the hair
[20:45] was not restricted
[20:46] to only Jerusalem.
[20:47] That was not a Nazarite vow.
[20:49] Do you understand?
[20:50] 1 Corinthians chapter 11,
[20:51] yeah.
[20:51] For a woman is not to cover,
[20:53] is not to...
[20:54] For if a woman is not covered,
[20:59] let her also...
[21:00] If a woman does not cover her head,
[21:04] she should have her hair cut off.
[21:08] This is not a Nazarite one.
[21:11] That means that maybe you want to also
[21:13] go into that extreme sacrifice
[21:17] or vow of sacrificial thanksgiving to God.
[21:20] Does that make sense?
[21:21] So,
[21:22] just have to elaborate
[21:22] so we understand
[21:24] when Paul had to cut his hair,
[21:26] it wasn't some rituals
[21:28] he was going through,
[21:29] but it was...
[21:31] There's an understanding behind it.
[21:32] All right.
[21:33] So,
[21:33] let's go back to the text.
[21:34] Acts chapter 18.
[21:35] So,
[21:35] Paul had to get his hair cut
[21:37] in Sincrea
[21:39] for he had a vow.
[21:40] Verse 19 says that
[21:41] and he came to Ephesus.
[21:44] So,
[21:45] verse 19 says that
[21:46] he came to Ephesus
[21:47] and left them there.
[21:51] Left who?
[21:52] Priscilla and Aquila.
[21:54] Left them there.
[21:55] But he himself
[21:56] entered into the synagogue
[21:57] and reasoned
[21:58] with the Jews.
[22:00] So,
[22:01] Paul
[22:01] entered the synagogue
[22:03] and reasoned
[22:04] as we always saw.
[22:05] That's what Paul has been doing.
[22:07] Reasoning with the Jews.
[22:08] Reasoning had to do with
[22:09] putting facts together
[22:11] and then think,
[22:12] putting thoughts through,
[22:14] passing your,
[22:15] taking your thoughts through facts.
[22:17] So,
[22:17] he reasoned with the Jews.
[22:18] So,
[22:19] he saw that
[22:20] after he left Corinth
[22:21] and he was heading
[22:22] to Jerusalem,
[22:24] he went through Syria,
[22:26] right?
[22:26] Then from Syria,
[22:28] he went through,
[22:28] he had actually been
[22:30] through Sincrea already
[22:31] and then went through Syria
[22:32] and then,
[22:34] he came to Ephesus
[22:35] and left them there
[22:37] and then verse 20 says that
[22:38] and when they desired him
[22:41] to stay longer,
[22:43] a longer time with them,
[22:45] he consented
[22:46] or he didn't want
[22:47] to stay longer in Ephesus.
[22:48] Why?
[22:49] Because the next verse
[22:50] says that
[22:50] he wanted,
[22:52] but Bede Mephel,
[22:53] he said bye-bye
[22:54] to them,
[22:55] Bede Mephel were saying,
[22:56] I must by all means
[22:58] keep the feasts
[22:59] that cometh
[23:00] in Jerusalem.
[23:01] So,
[23:01] you see,
[23:01] his face was set
[23:02] like a flame
[23:03] because,
[23:04] he's talking about
[23:04] the Feast of Pentacles,
[23:05] there's a feast coming
[23:06] and he wanted to be
[23:07] in Jerusalem for the feasts.
[23:09] So,
[23:09] he didn't want to stay
[23:10] any longer anywhere.
[23:11] Even though
[23:12] at Ephesus,
[23:13] the brethren wanted
[23:14] him to stay longer,
[23:15] he said,
[23:16] no,
[23:16] I can't stay longer.
[23:17] I have to go
[23:18] because I want to be
[23:19] in Jerusalem
[23:21] for the feast.
[23:22] But,
[23:23] he said,
[23:23] I will return again
[23:24] unto you.
[23:25] I like that phrase there.
[23:27] I'll return again
[23:28] unto you.
[23:30] Oh,
[23:30] I can't hear you.
[23:31] I'll return again
[23:32] unto you.
[23:33] If God will.
[23:34] Or some are not
[23:35] saying it.
[23:36] I'll return again
[23:37] unto you.
[23:38] If God will.
[23:39] If God wills.
[23:43] Years ago,
[23:43] I was studying my Bible
[23:45] and I stumbled
[23:46] and I came across
[23:47] James chapter 4,
[23:49] verse 15,
[23:49] sorry.
[23:50] James chapter 4,
[23:51] verse 15.
[23:52] And he says that
[23:53] for,
[23:56] please give us
[23:56] a new King James.
[23:59] Let's go to verse 14,
[24:01] to verse 15.
[24:02] It says,
[24:03] whereas you do not know
[24:04] what will happen tomorrow,
[24:07] for what is your life?
[24:08] it is even a vapor
[24:11] that appears
[24:13] for a little time
[24:14] and then vanishes away.
[24:18] Don't be making promises
[24:20] for the future
[24:21] as though you have control
[24:22] over the future.
[24:26] Don't,
[24:26] don't approach tomorrow
[24:28] like you are in command
[24:30] of tomorrow.
[24:31] That's what he's saying.
[24:32] Say,
[24:32] your life is like a vapor.
[24:33] What is your life?
[24:34] What is your life?
[24:37] You can plan
[24:37] to be somewhere
[24:38] and end up
[24:39] somewhere else.
[24:41] One of the things
[24:42] that we always
[24:43] have to be thankful
[24:44] to God for
[24:44] is when he spares you
[24:47] from being at A&E.
[24:50] Because A&E
[24:51] means
[24:52] A and E.
[24:53] What is A&E?
[24:57] Or maybe you have
[24:57] not thought about it.
[24:59] That's one of the things
[25:00] I just don't like
[25:02] and I pray,
[25:02] God,
[25:02] please keep me away
[25:03] from A&E.
[25:06] Keep me away
[25:07] from accident
[25:08] and emergency.
[25:09] Accidents are accidents.
[25:10] No one plans
[25:11] for an accident.
[25:11] No,
[25:12] not at all.
[25:13] Emergencies disrupt
[25:15] your plan,
[25:16] your schedule.
[25:17] Accidents
[25:18] and emergencies.
[25:20] So,
[25:20] it says,
[25:21] because of
[25:22] unforeseen
[25:23] accidents
[25:24] and emergencies,
[25:25] do not
[25:26] just talk.
[25:28] James chapter 4
[25:29] verse 14.
[25:30] Do not just be
[25:31] making promises
[25:32] about tomorrow.
[25:32] He said,
[25:33] then don't just say
[25:34] tomorrow I will do this,
[25:35] this will happen tomorrow.
[25:36] He said,
[25:37] instead,
[25:38] you ought to say
[25:40] no.
[25:45] So,
[25:46] just to let you in
[25:48] on my secret,
[25:50] I discovered
[25:52] that phone
[25:53] keypad,
[25:56] or is it keypad,
[25:57] you know,
[25:58] the type to type
[25:58] on phone,
[26:00] it's got shortcuts.
[26:03] So,
[26:03] some of the shortcuts
[26:04] I've done
[26:05] on my phone
[26:05] is GW.
[26:09] I'm learning
[26:09] what the Bible says,
[26:10] I'm putting it
[26:11] into practice.
[26:12] Paul,
[26:13] he said,
[26:14] if God
[26:15] wills,
[26:16] I'll come back.
[26:20] Next Sunday,
[26:20] I know I'll see you here.
[26:22] God
[26:23] will be.
[26:24] Tomorrow,
[26:25] you'll be at work.
[26:26] God will be.
[26:30] 2026
[26:31] will be a good year
[26:33] for you.
[26:33] God will be.
[26:35] God will be.
[26:36] God will be.
[26:37] 1 Corinthians
[26:39] chapter 4
[26:40] verse 19.
[26:42] 1 Corinthians
[26:43] chapter 4.
[26:44] He said,
[26:45] but I will come
[26:46] to you shortly.
[26:50] If the Lord
[26:51] wills.
[26:54] Paul was telling
[26:55] I'll come to you
[26:56] shortly,
[26:57] but he said,
[26:57] if the Lord
[26:58] wills.
[26:59] I want to encourage
[27:00] you,
[27:01] Christian brother,
[27:02] Christian sister,
[27:03] learn how to
[27:05] punctuate
[27:06] your promises
[27:08] or your
[27:09] statements about
[27:10] tomorrow
[27:10] with God
[27:12] willing
[27:12] or if God
[27:14] wills
[27:15] or sometimes
[27:17] also learn
[27:19] how to
[27:19] render
[27:20] appreciation
[27:21] to God
[27:21] when something
[27:22] has happened
[27:23] favorably to you.
[27:24] You add
[27:25] by God's grace.
[27:27] I have been able
[27:28] to finish
[27:29] my course
[27:30] by God's grace.
[27:32] I have been able
[27:34] to travel
[27:34] and come back
[27:35] by God's grace.
[27:37] So if you are
[27:38] going to tell
[27:38] somebody,
[27:39] when I travel
[27:40] and come back,
[27:41] we will do it.
[27:41] You say,
[27:42] God will
[27:43] or if God
[27:45] wills.
[27:45] When you are
[27:46] able to go
[27:46] and come
[27:47] and finish
[27:47] doing what
[27:47] you said
[27:48] you would do,
[27:48] what do you
[27:49] say?
[27:49] By God's
[27:50] grace.
[27:54] Hallelujah.
[27:56] So I have
[27:57] BGG,
[28:01] short,
[28:02] fast,
[28:04] I want to call it,
[28:04] short cuts.
[28:05] BGG,
[28:07] by God's grace.
[28:08] 1 Corinthians
[28:08] 16,
[28:09] 7,
[28:10] for I will
[28:10] not see you
[28:11] now by the
[28:12] way,
[28:13] but I trust
[28:14] to tarry
[28:16] a while
[28:16] with you
[28:17] if God
[28:19] permits,
[28:19] if the law
[28:20] permits.
[28:21] That's Paul.
[28:21] I want to
[28:22] stay a little
[28:22] long with you
[28:23] if God
[28:24] permits.
[28:26] It's in
[28:26] scripture,
[28:28] but if you are
[28:28] not careful,
[28:28] you will notice
[28:29] it and just
[28:30] be saying,
[28:30] I will see you
[28:31] tomorrow.
[28:32] I will be
[28:32] there tomorrow.
[28:32] I will be
[28:33] there.
[28:33] I will be
[28:33] there.
[28:33] Please,
[28:34] please,
[28:35] please,
[28:35] please,
[28:36] please.
[28:40] I will be
[28:41] there.
[28:42] Will you be
[28:42] there?
[28:43] I will be
[28:44] there.
[28:44] God willing.
[28:47] When
[28:47] courage people
[28:48] are talking,
[28:48] people must
[28:49] realize that,
[28:50] ah,
[28:50] you are one
[28:50] of them.
[28:51] How do they
[28:51] know?
[28:51] Because you
[28:52] keep saying
[28:52] about future,
[28:53] God willing.
[28:54] God willing.
[28:55] God willing.
[28:56] God willing.
[28:57] Maybe those of
[28:58] you who have
[28:59] sent text to
[28:59] you or
[28:59] something,
[29:00] go back.
[29:01] you will
[29:01] see,
[29:01] I keep
[29:02] using God
[29:03] willing.
[29:03] I have
[29:03] been using
[29:04] it for
[29:04] the past
[29:04] five years
[29:05] and more.
[29:06] When I
[29:06] saw it in
[29:07] scripture,
[29:07] I said,
[29:07] hey,
[29:08] God,
[29:09] maybe that's
[29:09] why he
[29:10] spares me
[29:10] from,
[29:11] hey?
[29:14] You will
[29:14] not be
[29:15] at the
[29:16] A&E
[29:17] God willing.
[29:23] Hallelujah.
[29:26] Amen.
[29:26] Hebrews 6,
[29:28] verse 3,
[29:29] and he
[29:29] said,
[29:29] this will
[29:31] we do
[29:32] if God
[29:33] permits.
[29:35] If God
[29:35] permits.
[29:36] Even talking
[29:36] about teachings,
[29:38] steady,
[29:38] he said,
[29:38] if God
[29:39] permits,
[29:39] we will
[29:39] do.
[29:40] Praise
[29:41] God.
[29:41] So Paul
[29:42] said,
[29:43] all right,
[29:44] let's look at
[29:45] the text,
[29:45] let's go back
[29:46] to the text.
[29:47] Is somebody
[29:47] learning something?
[29:50] And so
[29:51] he told
[29:51] them that,
[29:53] verse 21
[29:54] says that
[29:54] he bid them
[29:55] farewell,
[29:55] saying,
[29:56] I must
[29:56] by all
[29:57] means keep
[29:58] the feasts
[29:58] that cometh
[30:00] in Jerusalem,
[30:01] but I
[30:01] will return
[30:02] again unto
[30:03] you,
[30:03] if God
[30:04] will.
[30:05] And he
[30:06] sailed from
[30:06] Ephesus.
[30:07] And when
[30:08] he had
[30:08] landed in
[30:09] Caesarea
[30:10] and gone
[30:11] up,
[30:11] he saluted
[30:12] the church,
[30:14] gone up
[30:15] and saluted
[30:15] the church,
[30:16] he went
[30:16] down to
[30:17] Antioch.
[30:17] That's where
[30:18] he started
[30:18] his journey.
[30:19] So you
[30:19] see,
[30:20] he went,
[30:21] you can
[30:21] tell the
[30:21] journey,
[30:22] he went
[30:23] from
[30:23] Ephesus,
[30:25] he went,
[30:25] he traveled
[30:26] back to
[30:28] Caesarea
[30:30] from Ephesus,
[30:31] and when
[30:32] he went
[30:32] to Caesarea,
[30:33] he went,
[30:34] Caesarea is
[30:34] in Philippi,
[30:36] or Caesarea
[30:36] is in
[30:37] Philippi,
[30:38] he went,
[30:39] and then he
[30:39] saluted the
[30:40] church,
[30:40] he went to
[30:41] greet the
[30:41] church.
[30:42] So he
[30:42] went down,
[30:44] so look at
[30:45] that text
[30:45] again,
[30:45] in verse
[30:46] 22,
[30:47] verse 22
[30:47] says that,
[30:48] and when
[30:48] he had
[30:49] landed at
[30:51] Caesarea,
[30:53] and gone
[30:53] up,
[30:54] and saluted
[30:55] the church,
[30:56] he went
[30:56] down to
[30:57] Antioch.
[30:58] That is
[30:58] the end
[30:59] of the
[30:59] second
[30:59] missionary
[31:00] journey.
[31:02] So when
[31:02] you hear
[31:02] theologians,
[31:03] theological
[31:04] circles,
[31:05] people say
[31:05] his missionary
[31:06] journey,
[31:07] that's what
[31:07] it is,
[31:08] he traveled
[31:09] on missions
[31:09] and came
[31:10] back.
[31:10] So second
[31:11] missionary
[31:12] journey,
[31:12] and that he
[31:13] came back
[31:13] to Antioch.
[31:14] Now look
[31:15] at the
[31:15] next verse,
[31:16] 23,
[31:17] and after
[31:18] he had
[31:18] spent some
[31:19] time there,
[31:20] where is
[31:20] the day?
[31:20] after he
[31:23] had spent
[31:23] some time
[31:24] in Antioch,
[31:25] he departed,
[31:26] that's the
[31:26] third missionary
[31:27] journey beginning.
[31:28] He departed
[31:29] and went
[31:30] over all
[31:31] the country
[31:32] of Galatia.
[31:32] You remember
[31:33] Acts chapter
[31:33] 16,
[31:34] they tried
[31:34] to preach
[31:35] in Galatia,
[31:35] the Holy
[31:36] Spirit
[31:36] forbade
[31:36] them.
[31:38] In their
[31:39] second
[31:39] missionary
[31:40] journey,
[31:41] they attempted,
[31:42] after they
[31:43] were come
[31:43] to Mysia,
[31:44] they asked,
[31:45] they,
[31:46] after they
[31:46] have come
[31:46] to Mysia,
[31:47] they tried
[31:48] to go
[31:50] into
[31:51] Bithynia,
[31:52] but their
[31:52] Spirit did
[31:53] not permit
[31:54] them.
[31:55] The next
[31:55] verse,
[31:57] the next
[31:57] verse,
[31:58] and passing
[31:59] by Mysia,
[32:00] they came
[32:01] down to
[32:01] Troas.
[32:03] Let's go
[32:03] on please.
[32:04] I think we
[32:05] should start
[32:05] from the
[32:05] verse 6.
[32:06] Is the
[32:06] verse 6
[32:06] I was
[32:07] looking for?
[32:07] Verse 6.
[32:08] Now,
[32:09] when they
[32:10] had gone
[32:10] through Phrygia
[32:11] and the
[32:12] regions of
[32:13] Galatia,
[32:14] they,
[32:14] they were
[32:16] strong
[32:16] ways,
[32:17] they were
[32:17] forbidden
[32:18] by the
[32:19] Holy Spirit
[32:20] to preach
[32:21] the word
[32:21] of God
[32:22] in Asia.
[32:23] Now,
[32:24] look at
[32:24] the verse
[32:24] 23 of
[32:25] chapter 18.
[32:26] The verse
[32:26] 23 said,
[32:27] and after
[32:28] he had
[32:28] spent some
[32:28] time there,
[32:29] he departed
[32:29] and went
[32:30] over all
[32:32] the country
[32:33] of Galatia
[32:34] and Phrygia
[32:35] in order,
[32:37] strengthening
[32:37] all the
[32:38] disciples.
[32:40] That means
[32:40] one way
[32:41] or the
[32:41] other,
[32:41] they managed
[32:42] to get
[32:42] their wealth
[32:43] there,
[32:43] and now
[32:44] he went
[32:44] back there,
[32:45] Phrygia
[32:46] and Galatia,
[32:47] to go
[32:47] and strengthen
[32:48] their disciples,
[32:50] just like we
[32:50] saw in Acts
[32:51] chapter 14,
[32:52] verse 22,
[32:53] he was
[32:54] consolidating,
[32:56] confirming the
[32:57] souls of the
[32:57] disciples and
[32:58] exhorting them
[32:59] to continue
[33:00] in faith,
[33:01] in the faith.
[33:02] And so,
[33:03] Paul had this
[33:04] habit of
[33:05] not just,
[33:06] I taught you
[33:07] that,
[33:07] not just do
[33:08] evangelism and
[33:09] moving away,
[33:10] but do evangelism
[33:11] and making sure
[33:12] their souls are
[33:13] established.
[33:14] that is why
[33:16] church is
[33:18] important.
[33:19] You don't
[33:19] win souls,
[33:20] so anyone
[33:20] who tells you
[33:21] I don't have
[33:22] to be in
[33:23] a church
[33:23] doesn't
[33:24] understand
[33:24] the ways
[33:24] of God,
[33:26] doesn't
[33:26] understand the
[33:27] ways of God
[33:27] at all.
[33:28] It doesn't
[33:28] matter how
[33:29] religious you
[33:29] are,
[33:30] the ways
[33:30] of the
[33:31] church,
[33:32] of God,
[33:32] sorry,
[33:32] the way
[33:33] of God
[33:33] is the
[33:34] church path.
[33:35] What is
[33:35] the church
[33:36] for?
[33:36] For
[33:36] disciple
[33:37] making,
[33:39] for soul,
[33:40] consolidating
[33:42] the souls
[33:43] of the
[33:43] saints,
[33:44] confirming
[33:45] the souls
[33:46] of the
[33:46] saints,
[33:47] so they
[33:47] can continue
[33:48] in the
[33:49] faith.
[33:50] It takes
[33:51] a certain
[33:51] church
[33:52] koinonia,
[33:54] interactions,
[33:55] fellowship with
[33:56] other believers,
[33:58] because it's
[33:59] a body,
[33:59] the body
[33:59] doesn't have
[34:00] only one
[34:00] member.
[34:02] God
[34:02] didn't call
[34:03] us to be
[34:04] by ourselves,
[34:04] he called
[34:05] us to be
[34:06] part of
[34:06] the body.
[34:09] So every
[34:09] believer is
[34:11] of a
[34:11] necessity
[34:12] required
[34:13] by heaven,
[34:14] designed
[34:14] actually,
[34:16] designed
[34:17] by heaven
[34:17] according to
[34:18] God's
[34:18] ways.
[34:19] Somebody say
[34:20] God's
[34:20] ways.
[34:22] Say God's
[34:22] ways.
[34:23] According to
[34:24] God's
[34:24] ways,
[34:25] God has
[34:26] designed
[34:27] by his
[34:27] eternal
[34:28] plan,
[34:29] eternal
[34:29] agenda,
[34:30] eternal
[34:31] programming,
[34:32] according to
[34:32] his ways,
[34:33] that everybody
[34:34] who gets
[34:35] born again
[34:35] is automatically
[34:37] baptized
[34:37] into the
[34:38] body.
[34:39] Now,
[34:39] the body
[34:40] life
[34:41] must be
[34:42] that of
[34:42] koinonia,
[34:44] that of
[34:44] fellowship,
[34:45] that of
[34:45] interaction,
[34:46] and studying
[34:47] of the
[34:47] scripture.
[34:49] So let's
[34:49] look at the
[34:50] text again.
[34:51] It says
[34:51] that,
[34:53] and after
[34:53] he spent
[34:53] some time,
[34:54] he went
[34:54] strengthening
[34:55] all the
[34:57] disciples.
[34:58] Verse 24
[34:59] says that,
[35:01] now,
[35:02] getting
[35:05] interesting
[35:05] now.
[35:06] Now,
[35:07] a certain
[35:08] Jew
[35:09] named
[35:10] Apollos,
[35:14] born at
[35:15] Alexandria.
[35:16] To be
[35:16] born at
[35:17] Alexandria,
[35:18] Alexandria was
[35:19] the second
[35:19] largest city
[35:20] in those
[35:20] times.
[35:21] Very
[35:22] important
[35:22] city.
[35:23] He was
[35:23] born there,
[35:24] that was
[35:24] where he
[35:24] was raised.
[35:25] An eloquent
[35:26] man,
[35:27] and guess
[35:27] what?
[35:29] Mighty
[35:29] in the
[35:30] scriptures.
[35:33] He used,
[35:34] I believe,
[35:34] he came
[35:35] to
[35:36] Ephesus.
[35:38] Apollos
[35:38] came to
[35:39] Ephesus.
[35:39] What was
[35:40] the qualifications
[35:41] of Apollos?
[35:42] He was a
[35:43] Jew.
[35:45] He was
[35:45] born in
[35:46] Alexandria.
[35:47] He was
[35:48] an eloquent
[35:49] man,
[35:50] and he was
[35:50] mighty in
[35:51] scriptures.
[35:52] The last
[35:52] bit is what
[35:53] changes the
[35:53] story.
[35:56] Mighty
[35:57] in
[35:57] scriptures.
[35:58] He was
[35:59] Jew,
[36:00] born in,
[36:01] so it was
[36:02] kind of,
[36:02] it was a
[36:02] big privilege
[36:03] to be a
[36:04] Jew,
[36:04] and be
[36:04] born in
[36:05] Alexandria.
[36:07] Born in
[36:07] Azalea,
[36:08] so he
[36:08] had
[36:08] Alexandria
[36:09] passport.
[36:12] Yeah.
[36:14] If you
[36:15] had
[36:15] Alexandria
[36:15] passport,
[36:16] it was
[36:16] easy to
[36:17] travel around.
[36:19] When you
[36:19] get to
[36:20] the passport
[36:20] control,
[36:21] you don't
[36:22] go to
[36:22] others.
[36:25] Let's look
[36:25] at this
[36:26] gentleman.
[36:26] He came
[36:26] to Ephesus.
[36:27] Now look
[36:27] at the
[36:28] next verse.
[36:28] The Bible
[36:29] says that,
[36:29] watch,
[36:29] this is very
[36:30] important.
[36:30] this man
[36:31] had been
[36:32] instructed in
[36:32] the way
[36:33] of the
[36:34] Lord.
[36:35] And being
[36:36] fervent in
[36:36] the spirit,
[36:37] he spoke
[36:38] and taught
[36:39] accurately the
[36:40] things of
[36:41] the Lord.
[36:42] It's not
[36:43] Judaism.
[36:45] He taught
[36:45] the things of
[36:47] the Lord
[36:47] talking about
[36:48] the Lord
[36:48] Jesus Christ.
[36:50] He had
[36:51] the doctrine
[36:52] about Jesus
[36:53] right in a
[36:55] certain sense.
[36:56] to a
[36:57] very
[36:57] larger
[36:57] state.
[36:58] Because
[36:58] he taught,
[36:59] the Bible
[37:00] says that,
[37:02] let's go
[37:03] back.
[37:04] This man
[37:05] being
[37:05] instructed,
[37:06] sorry,
[37:06] let's go
[37:06] first.
[37:07] I'm
[37:07] reading from
[37:07] the
[37:08] screen.
[37:08] This man
[37:08] being
[37:08] instructed
[37:09] in the
[37:09] way
[37:09] of the
[37:10] Lord
[37:10] and
[37:10] being
[37:10] fervent,
[37:11] let's
[37:11] all say
[37:12] fervent
[37:12] in spirit.
[37:14] Fervent
[37:14] in spirit
[37:14] means this
[37:15] guy is a
[37:16] very passionate
[37:17] person.
[37:18] Fervent
[37:19] in spirit.
[37:19] Apollos was
[37:20] a man
[37:21] mighty in
[37:22] scriptures and
[37:23] he was
[37:23] fervent
[37:24] in spirit.
[37:25] He had
[37:25] been,
[37:25] instructed
[37:27] in the,
[37:27] somebody has
[37:28] taught him.
[37:29] Somebody has
[37:30] taught him
[37:31] the ways
[37:31] of God
[37:32] and he was
[37:32] mighty in
[37:32] scripture.
[37:33] Because of
[37:33] his
[37:34] scriptural
[37:34] understanding
[37:35] and his
[37:35] scriptural
[37:36] fervency,
[37:37] when they
[37:37] taught him
[37:38] about the
[37:38] ways of
[37:38] the Lord,
[37:39] he was
[37:39] able to
[37:40] catch it
[37:40] with fire.
[37:43] And guess
[37:43] what?
[37:44] He was,
[37:44] and he
[37:44] taught
[37:45] accurately
[37:45] the things
[37:46] of God,
[37:47] though he
[37:47] knew only
[37:48] the baptism
[37:49] of John.
[37:51] You know,
[37:51] John came
[37:51] to introduce
[37:52] Jesus and
[37:53] John's
[37:54] baptism was a
[37:54] baptism of
[37:55] repentance,
[37:56] pointing to
[37:57] Jesus.
[37:58] And John
[37:58] says that he
[37:59] who sent
[38:00] me, I
[38:00] did not
[38:01] know him,
[38:01] but he
[38:01] who sent
[38:02] me to
[38:02] baptize
[38:03] with water
[38:03] told me,
[38:04] upon whom
[38:04] you see the
[38:05] spirit descend,
[38:06] the same is
[38:06] he who
[38:07] baptizes with
[38:08] the Holy
[38:08] Spirit and
[38:09] fire.
[38:09] He said,
[38:10] John the
[38:10] Baptist,
[38:10] in John
[38:11] chapter 1,
[38:11] verse 29,
[38:12] he said,
[38:13] John saw him
[38:13] coming the
[38:14] next day,
[38:14] he said,
[38:15] behold the
[38:15] Lamb of
[38:15] God.
[38:16] John the
[38:16] Baptist's
[38:17] theology about
[38:17] Jesus was
[38:18] accurate.
[38:19] So,
[38:22] anyone who
[38:22] knows,
[38:23] is a
[38:23] follower of
[38:24] John the
[38:24] Baptist,
[38:24] and who
[38:25] has studied
[38:25] into John
[38:26] the Baptist,
[38:26] will have
[38:27] an accurate
[38:27] understanding
[38:28] of Jesus
[38:29] Christ.
[38:31] But,
[38:31] knowing,
[38:32] having
[38:32] accurate
[38:33] understanding
[38:34] of the
[38:34] historic
[38:35] Jesus,
[38:35] who has
[38:37] been
[38:37] prophesied
[38:38] from
[38:38] scripture,
[38:39] doesn't
[38:39] mean you
[38:40] know the
[38:40] ways.
[38:43] That's
[38:44] where we
[38:44] are going.
[38:44] So,
[38:46] let's look
[38:47] at the
[38:47] text again.
[38:48] This man
[38:48] had been
[38:49] instructed in
[38:50] the way of
[38:51] the Lord,
[38:52] and being
[38:53] fervent in
[38:54] spirit,
[38:54] he spoke
[38:55] and taught
[38:55] accurately the
[38:57] things of
[38:58] the Lord,
[38:58] though he
[38:59] knew only
[39:00] the baptism
[39:00] of John.
[39:01] The next
[39:02] verse says
[39:02] that,
[39:03] so he
[39:03] began to
[39:04] speak
[39:04] boldly in
[39:05] the synagogue.
[39:07] This guy
[39:08] was very
[39:08] fervent,
[39:09] passionate,
[39:10] and he was
[39:10] speaking
[39:11] boldly in
[39:11] the synagogue,
[39:13] boldly
[39:13] about Jesus,
[39:14] about the
[39:15] ways of
[39:15] God.
[39:15] What
[39:16] John
[39:16] are talking
[39:16] about?
[39:17] This is
[39:17] Jesus,
[39:18] boldly.
[39:20] But when
[39:21] Aquila and
[39:22] Priscilla
[39:22] heard him,
[39:24] they felt,
[39:25] hmm,
[39:26] this guy
[39:26] is good,
[39:27] but,
[39:28] hmm,
[39:30] they took
[39:33] him aside
[39:34] and explained
[39:36] to him
[39:37] the way
[39:38] of God
[39:39] more
[39:40] happier.
[39:42] He taught
[39:42] the way
[39:42] of the
[39:43] Lord
[39:43] accurately,
[39:44] but they
[39:45] took him
[39:45] aside and
[39:46] taught him
[39:47] and explained
[39:48] to him
[39:49] the way
[39:50] of God
[39:51] more
[39:52] accurately.
[39:55] Can we
[39:56] talk about
[39:56] the way
[39:56] of God?
[39:58] God's
[39:59] ways.
[39:59] God's
[40:00] ways.
[40:01] You don't
[40:01] ever mention
[40:01] it.
[40:02] God's
[40:02] ways.
[40:03] When we
[40:04] talk about
[40:04] the way
[40:04] of God
[40:05] here,
[40:05] the man
[40:05] was talking
[40:06] healthy
[40:07] theology,
[40:09] healthy
[40:09] doctrine,
[40:10] theology,
[40:11] but he
[40:12] didn't
[40:12] have
[40:13] understanding
[40:14] of the
[40:15] mystery
[40:15] behind
[40:16] the
[40:16] theology.
[40:18] What's
[40:18] the mystery?
[40:19] The mystery
[40:19] of the
[40:20] church.
[40:21] So he
[40:21] was,
[40:22] he's a
[40:22] person who
[40:23] has been
[40:24] to Bible
[40:24] school,
[40:25] but he
[40:25] doesn't
[40:25] commit to
[40:26] church.
[40:26] He does
[40:27] his Bible
[40:27] study every
[40:28] day,
[40:28] he reads
[40:29] his Bible,
[40:29] he prays,
[40:30] Lord,
[40:30] I love
[40:30] you,
[40:31] he gives
[40:31] to the
[40:32] poor,
[40:32] he donates
[40:33] to projects,
[40:35] but he
[40:35] doesn't,
[40:35] he's not
[40:36] committed to
[40:36] any church
[40:37] because he
[40:38] doesn't
[40:39] understand the
[40:39] ways of
[40:40] God more
[40:41] accurately.
[40:43] The ways
[40:43] of God,
[40:44] before I
[40:45] even go
[40:45] into that,
[40:46] remember the
[40:47] early church
[40:47] in Acts
[40:48] chapter 9,
[40:49] they were
[40:49] called,
[40:50] verse 2,
[40:50] they were
[40:50] called the
[40:51] way.
[40:53] In Acts
[40:54] of God,
[40:54] he asked
[40:55] letters
[40:55] from him,
[40:57] from the
[40:58] high priest,
[40:59] from him
[41:01] to the
[41:02] synagogues
[41:02] of Damascus,
[41:03] so if he
[41:03] found any
[41:05] who were
[41:07] of God.
[41:08] Do you
[41:09] see that?
[41:10] The way,
[41:10] this is
[41:10] talking about
[41:11] the Christians.
[41:12] Christianity
[41:13] in those
[41:13] days were
[41:14] more referred
[41:15] to as
[41:15] the way
[41:16] more than
[41:16] Christians.
[41:17] In the
[41:18] Bible,
[41:19] in the
[41:19] book of
[41:19] Acts,
[41:20] Christianity
[41:20] or the
[41:21] believers
[41:21] were referred
[41:22] to more
[41:23] as the
[41:25] people of
[41:25] the way
[41:25] than
[41:27] Christians.
[41:32] In Acts
[41:33] chapter 19,
[41:33] verse 9,
[41:34] 19,
[41:37] but when
[41:38] some were
[41:38] hardened and
[41:39] did not
[41:39] believe,
[41:40] they spoke
[41:40] evil of
[41:42] the way.
[41:43] Do you
[41:44] see that?
[41:44] They spoke
[41:45] evil of
[41:45] the way
[41:45] before the
[41:46] multitude.
[41:46] They are
[41:47] talking evil
[41:47] of the
[41:48] work of
[41:48] God,
[41:49] the church
[41:49] of God,
[41:50] the ways
[41:50] of God
[41:50] before the
[41:51] way.
[41:51] Look at
[41:52] verse 23.
[41:53] Acts
[41:53] chapter 9,
[41:54] verse 23.
[41:55] It says
[41:55] that,
[41:56] and about
[41:57] that time
[41:57] there arose
[41:58] great
[41:59] commotion
[42:00] about
[42:01] the way.
[42:01] You
[42:03] remember
[42:03] John
[42:04] chapter 14,
[42:05] verse 6,
[42:05] Jesus said,
[42:07] I am
[42:08] the way.
[42:10] The way.
[42:11] So the
[42:11] church in
[42:12] the early
[42:12] days,
[42:13] in the
[42:14] book of
[42:14] Acts,
[42:14] was also
[42:15] known as
[42:16] the way.
[42:16] Acts
[42:16] chapter 22,
[42:17] verse 4.
[42:19] We just,
[42:19] this is Paul's
[42:20] testimony.
[42:20] He said,
[42:21] I persecuted
[42:22] the way
[42:22] to the
[42:24] death.
[42:26] Let's look
[42:27] at New
[42:27] American
[42:28] Standard Version,
[42:28] how he puts
[42:29] it there,
[42:29] English Standard
[42:30] Version,
[42:30] and then
[42:30] Amplified.
[42:31] I persecuted
[42:32] this way
[42:33] to the
[42:34] dead.
[42:35] And you
[42:35] see,
[42:35] the way
[42:36] is written,
[42:37] it's talking
[42:37] is now,
[42:38] I persecuted
[42:39] this way.
[42:40] English Standard
[42:41] Version,
[42:42] I persecuted
[42:42] this way
[42:43] to death,
[42:44] Amplified
[42:45] Version,
[42:46] I persecuted
[42:47] and pursued
[42:49] the followers
[42:50] of this
[42:51] way to
[42:52] death.
[42:53] The church,
[42:55] the work
[42:57] of God,
[42:58] Christianity
[42:58] was called
[42:59] the way.
[43:01] Let's look
[43:02] at the last
[43:02] two scriptures
[43:03] in Acts
[43:03] chapter 24,
[43:05] verse 14.
[43:06] Acts
[43:07] chapter 24,
[43:07] I think we
[43:08] should all
[43:08] read this
[43:08] together because
[43:09] it's not
[43:09] new
[43:10] King James
[43:11] Version.
[43:11] Let's
[43:11] all read,
[43:12] let's go.
[43:17] Which
[43:17] they call
[43:18] a sect.
[43:19] So I
[43:20] worship the
[43:20] God of my
[43:21] fathers,
[43:22] believing all
[43:22] things which
[43:23] are written
[43:24] in the law
[43:24] and in the
[43:26] prophets.
[43:26] It says that
[43:27] according to,
[43:28] I confess
[43:29] according to
[43:29] the way
[43:30] which they
[43:31] call sect.
[43:33] They were
[43:33] branding the
[43:34] church because
[43:35] they didn't
[43:36] understand God's
[43:38] ways.
[43:40] Now,
[43:40] let me explain
[43:41] what God's,
[43:42] the church,
[43:43] this whole church
[43:43] thing is about.
[43:44] This whole church
[43:45] thing is about
[43:47] God read.
[43:53] It's not deep,
[43:55] but it can
[43:55] sound deep.
[43:58] By the grace
[43:59] of God.
[44:02] Watch this,
[44:02] this is very
[44:03] important.
[44:03] When God
[44:04] created man,
[44:05] I've been saying
[44:06] this for many
[44:06] years,
[44:07] the reason why
[44:08] God created
[44:08] man is so he
[44:10] can put himself
[44:10] into man.
[44:13] Not so that
[44:14] man can
[44:14] marry.
[44:17] Not so that
[44:18] man can enjoy
[44:19] life and
[44:20] buy cars,
[44:21] live,
[44:22] no,
[44:22] no,
[44:22] no.
[44:22] He created
[44:23] the heavens
[44:23] and the
[44:24] earth and
[44:25] he created
[44:26] man.
[44:27] For man's
[44:28] main reason,
[44:28] he said,
[44:28] let us create
[44:29] man in our
[44:30] own image,
[44:31] after our
[44:32] likeness.
[44:33] So,
[44:34] he created
[44:34] man like
[44:35] him because
[44:36] his plan was
[44:37] to put himself
[44:38] into man so
[44:39] man will become
[44:40] God's habitation
[44:41] on earth.
[44:43] Now,
[44:43] this is important.
[44:44] This is the
[44:45] foundation of
[44:46] Christianity.
[44:47] That is the
[44:47] way.
[44:48] So,
[44:48] you can have
[44:49] theology,
[44:49] but if you
[44:50] are not
[44:50] careful,
[44:50] you might
[44:51] not understand
[44:52] the way.
[44:53] Now,
[44:53] so,
[44:54] God's plan
[44:55] was to put
[44:55] himself,
[44:56] or let me
[44:57] use this
[44:58] term,
[44:59] dispense.
[45:02] Dispense
[45:03] himself.
[45:03] So,
[45:04] as I am
[45:04] teaching,
[45:05] if I stay
[45:06] true to
[45:06] the true
[45:08] gospel,
[45:09] what it is,
[45:10] is it creates
[45:11] the room in
[45:12] people's hearts
[45:13] for God to
[45:14] dispense himself
[45:15] as grace
[45:16] into people.
[45:17] So,
[45:17] God's plan
[45:18] is through
[45:19] redemption,
[45:20] through redemption
[45:21] to dispense
[45:23] or input
[45:24] himself
[45:24] into human
[45:26] beings
[45:27] and
[45:30] to seal it
[45:31] by the Holy
[45:31] Spirit.
[45:33] So,
[45:33] when you are
[45:33] born again,
[45:34] what it really
[45:35] means to be
[45:36] born again
[45:36] is that
[45:37] God
[45:38] is in you.
[45:43] Christ
[45:43] is in,
[45:44] that is what
[45:45] makes you a
[45:45] Christian,
[45:46] not your
[45:46] behavior.
[45:47] Christ
[45:50] is in you.
[45:51] So,
[45:51] if I see
[45:52] him and
[45:53] he's a
[45:53] believer,
[45:54] Christ is
[45:54] also in
[45:55] him.
[45:55] Because
[45:55] not only
[45:56] I,
[45:57] it's a
[45:57] corporate
[45:57] body.
[45:58] So,
[45:58] we become
[45:59] one body
[46:00] of Christ.
[46:01] And
[46:01] the rest
[46:02] of our
[46:03] lives,
[46:04] what the
[46:04] church work
[46:05] is supposed
[46:06] to be spent
[46:06] on doing
[46:07] as believers
[46:08] is to be
[46:09] building
[46:09] one another
[46:10] up.
[46:11] Building
[46:12] one another.
[46:12] So,
[46:13] I was having
[46:14] a conversation
[46:15] with the
[46:15] pastors
[46:15] recently,
[46:16] and I
[46:17] told them
[46:17] that I
[46:18] am a
[46:18] body
[46:18] builder.
[46:21] That's my
[46:22] job.
[46:22] That's my
[46:23] life.
[46:24] I'm a
[46:24] body
[46:24] builder.
[46:25] I build
[46:25] the body
[46:26] of Christ.
[46:27] I build
[46:27] the body
[46:28] of Christ.
[46:29] I do not
[46:29] lift weights.
[46:30] I lift
[46:31] people.
[46:33] Hallelujah!
[46:33] I am a
[46:35] body
[46:36] builder.
[46:36] I do not
[46:37] lift weights.
[46:38] I lift
[46:38] people.
[46:39] I build
[46:40] the body
[46:40] of Christ.
[46:41] I am
[46:41] committed
[46:42] to the
[46:42] body
[46:43] of Christ.
[46:43] I build
[46:44] a body.
[46:46] In
[46:47] Ephesians
[46:47] chapter 4
[46:48] verse 29,
[46:49] in Ephesians
[46:50] chapter 4
[46:50] verse 29,
[46:51] it tells us
[46:52] that let no
[46:53] corrupt
[46:53] word proceed
[46:54] out of your
[46:55] mouth,
[46:56] but that
[46:56] which is
[46:56] good and
[46:57] necessary
[46:57] for edification,
[46:59] that word
[46:59] edification
[47:00] is for
[47:00] building.
[47:01] I believe
[47:02] NIV
[47:02] might use
[47:03] that word,
[47:04] but it's
[47:05] for building
[47:06] NIV,
[47:08] for building
[47:08] others.
[47:09] We are here
[47:09] to build
[47:10] one another
[47:11] up.
[47:12] Build one
[47:13] another
[47:13] up.
[47:15] Build one
[47:15] another
[47:15] up.
[47:16] Spend
[47:17] your
[47:17] Christian
[47:17] life.
[47:18] If you
[47:18] understand
[47:19] the ways
[47:20] of God,
[47:21] you will
[47:21] be committed
[47:21] to building
[47:22] others up.
[47:24] 1 Corinthians
[47:24] chapter 8
[47:25] verse 1.
[47:27] Thank you,
[47:28] Jesus.
[47:29] 1 Corinthians
[47:30] chapter 8
[47:31] verse 1.
[47:33] It says
[47:33] that love,
[47:36] knowledge,
[47:37] perhaps,
[47:37] give us
[47:37] the King
[47:38] James.
[47:38] I think
[47:38] King
[47:39] James
[47:39] may use
[47:39] the,
[47:40] let's
[47:40] see.
[47:40] See,
[47:41] anytime you
[47:41] see edify,
[47:42] he's talking
[47:43] about building.
[47:45] So,
[47:46] okay,
[47:47] NIV uses it,
[47:48] but love
[47:49] build,
[47:50] you cannot
[47:50] build others
[47:51] outside of
[47:51] love.
[47:54] Love
[47:54] builds up.
[47:55] Let's all
[47:56] say love
[47:56] builds up.
[47:58] Say it
[47:58] again.
[47:59] love
[47:59] builds up.
[48:00] 1 Corinthians
[48:00] chapter 14
[48:01] verse 26.
[48:02] I just want
[48:03] to show you
[48:03] these things
[48:03] quickly.
[48:04] 1 Corinthians
[48:05] chapter 14
[48:05] verse 26
[48:06] says that,
[48:07] how is it,
[48:08] what then
[48:09] shall we say,
[48:10] brethren,
[48:10] when you
[48:11] come together,
[48:12] everyone has
[48:12] a hymn,
[48:13] or a word
[48:14] of instruction,
[48:15] a revelation,
[48:16] a tongue,
[48:17] or an
[48:18] interpretation.
[48:19] All things
[48:19] must be done
[48:20] for the
[48:21] strengthening
[48:21] of the church.
[48:22] The original
[48:23] word that
[48:23] translates
[48:24] strengthening
[48:24] is for
[48:25] the,
[48:26] did you see
[48:26] that?
[48:27] for building
[48:28] up all
[48:29] things.
[48:30] Let all
[48:31] things be
[48:32] done for
[48:33] building up.
[48:35] Building
[48:35] what?
[48:36] Building
[48:36] the body.
[48:38] Because the
[48:39] church is a
[48:40] body.
[48:40] We are one
[48:41] body.
[48:42] Listen,
[48:42] we are not
[48:43] individuals who
[48:43] have assembled.
[48:45] So even when
[48:46] we close and
[48:47] you are at
[48:47] home, you are
[48:48] still part of
[48:48] this body.
[48:49] Every Christian
[48:50] anywhere in
[48:51] the world,
[48:51] including those
[48:52] who have died
[48:52] and those who
[48:53] are yet to be
[48:54] born, we are
[48:55] part of one
[48:56] body.
[48:56] We are part
[48:57] of, and that
[48:58] is God's
[48:58] eternal economy,
[49:00] that we being
[49:01] the body are
[49:02] a house.
[49:04] 1 Corinthians
[49:05] chapter 3,
[49:06] verse 9, it
[49:07] talks about how
[49:08] we are God's
[49:09] house boundary.
[49:10] It says that
[49:11] for you are, we
[49:12] are God's fellow
[49:13] workers, you are
[49:14] God's house
[49:14] boundary, you are
[49:16] God's building.
[49:17] Verse 10, it
[49:18] says that me as
[49:19] a wise master
[49:21] builder, wise
[49:24] master builder, I
[49:26] stand before you
[49:27] brothers and
[49:27] sisters as a
[49:28] builder in
[49:29] charis.
[49:31] Why?
[49:32] If you
[49:32] understand the
[49:33] ways of God,
[49:34] nothing will
[49:35] discourage or
[49:37] move you away
[49:38] from your
[49:39] primary commitment
[49:40] of building the
[49:42] body of Christ.
[49:45] There are some
[49:46] things you might
[49:47] do and say that
[49:48] will end up
[49:49] tearing the
[49:49] body.
[49:52] Build the
[49:53] body.
[49:55] God's ways.
[49:57] You can, there
[49:58] are people who
[49:58] understand, they
[49:59] know theology, but
[50:00] they don't know the
[50:01] ways of God
[50:02] accurately.
[50:04] God's plan is to
[50:05] work himself into
[50:06] us and when you
[50:07] become born again
[50:08] through the rest of
[50:09] your life, he keeps
[50:10] spreading from your
[50:11] spirit into your
[50:12] soul.
[50:12] Himself, God is in
[50:13] you, spreading,
[50:14] spreading, becoming
[50:16] one body and the
[50:17] more he's spreading
[50:18] in us, the more
[50:19] we listen, we all
[50:21] with unveiled faces.
[50:22] 2 Corinthians
[50:23] chapter 3, verse
[50:24] 18, we all with
[50:26] unveiled faces,
[50:27] beholding us in a
[50:28] glass, are being
[50:29] transformed into the
[50:30] same image from
[50:31] glory to glory.
[50:32] And so, I want you
[50:33] to understand and
[50:34] appreciate that when
[50:35] we talk about the
[50:36] ways of God, we are
[50:37] talking about God's
[50:38] redemption or God's
[50:39] plan of dispensing
[50:41] himself into us
[50:41] through redemption.
[50:42] We are talking
[50:43] about the believers
[50:44] becoming partakers of
[50:46] the life of God.
[50:48] Can you imagine
[50:49] that me, I share in
[50:50] God's life?
[50:52] You, you share in
[50:53] God's life?
[50:54] How much money can
[50:55] you give to do to
[50:56] get that?
[50:57] And not just that, we
[50:58] enjoy God.
[51:00] We are meant to
[51:01] enjoy, the ways of
[51:02] God is made for us
[51:03] to be part of one
[51:04] another.
[51:05] I'm not only united
[51:07] with my wife, I'm
[51:08] also united with
[51:09] Christ and because of
[51:10] that, since you are
[51:10] born again and you
[51:11] are united with
[51:12] Christ, I'm
[51:13] automatically united
[51:14] with you.
[51:15] We are one, one,
[51:16] one body, united
[51:18] together.
[51:19] In Christ!
[51:21] That's what is
[51:21] called a church.
[51:23] United together in
[51:25] Christ.
[51:26] And we are brought
[51:28] into the church to
[51:29] build up the body
[51:30] of Christ, to bear,
[51:32] watch this, we are
[51:33] brought together, God
[51:34] has allowed us to be
[51:35] together to build up
[51:37] his body so that we
[51:38] become the testimony
[51:40] of Christ.
[51:42] That's God's ways.
[51:44] God, somebody say
[51:45] God's ways.
[51:46] God's ways.
[51:47] So, Apollos understood
[51:48] John, but he didn't
[51:50] have a full understanding
[51:51] of God's ways.
[51:53] So, they took him
[51:54] aside and schooled him
[51:56] properly.
[51:56] And you know, as I
[51:57] ran up, look, let's run
[51:58] out of this main text.
[51:59] Do you know what
[51:59] happened?
[51:59] So, when he desired to
[52:03] cross to Asia, and the
[52:06] brethren wrote, okay, he
[52:07] desired to travel, to go
[52:09] away, Asia.
[52:10] The brethren wrote,
[52:11] exhorting the disciples to
[52:12] receive him.
[52:13] And when he arrived, he
[52:14] greatly helped those who
[52:17] had believed through
[52:19] grace.
[52:21] There are people who have
[52:22] actually accepted the
[52:23] thing.
[52:23] But when he came, because
[52:24] this guy was mighty in
[52:25] scriptures, and now has
[52:27] been taught accurately the
[52:28] ways of God, he greatly
[52:30] helped them.
[52:31] And that is my life
[52:32] assignment.
[52:32] I pray that God help me
[52:33] to greatly help those who
[52:35] have believed in grace.
[52:36] Wherever I find myself, let
[52:38] me be a bodybuilder that
[52:39] will help those who have
[52:41] believed in grace.
[52:42] Not just like a super,
[52:44] a special, a special
[52:47] celebrity, Christian
[52:48] celebrity to come and do
[52:50] something for you.
[52:51] No, I want God to use me
[52:53] to invite, to draw you into
[52:56] the ways of God, so you
[52:58] can enjoy God, be filled
[52:59] with God, grow up in God,
[53:02] be a blessing to the body,
[53:03] so you can be a bodybuilder.
[53:07] The ways of God.
[53:09] God's ways.
[53:11] God's ways.
[53:13] Apollos helped them greatly
[53:15] at what happened.
[53:17] And he, you see, this guy
[53:18] was so passionate, he
[53:19] vigorously refuted the Jews
[53:22] publicly, showing from the
[53:25] scripture, from the
[53:26] scriptures that Jesus is
[53:28] the Christ.
[53:29] So now, besides being
[53:32] great benefit to the body,
[53:34] he was also able to stand
[53:36] face to face with those
[53:38] out there.
[53:39] Because he was mighty in
[53:40] scripture.
[53:41] And they didn't have to
[53:42] prove from common sense.
[53:44] Our message is not based on
[53:45] common sense.
[53:46] Our message is based on
[53:47] scripture.
[53:48] Jesus opened their eyes that
[53:50] they may understand the
[53:51] scripture.
[53:52] Acts chapter 8 verse 35.
[53:53] He said, do you understand
[53:54] what you read?
[53:55] He said, how do you
[53:55] understand?
[53:56] And then he explained from
[53:57] the same scripture.
[53:58] He explained Jesus to him,
[54:00] Acts chapter 8 verse 35.
[54:01] From the same scripture.
[54:03] He went into the synagogues.
[54:04] Paul went to the synagogue and
[54:06] risen with them from
[54:07] scripture.
[54:07] Acts chapter 17 verse 3 and
[54:08] chapter 18 verse 5.
[54:10] From scripture.
[54:11] He risen with them from
[54:12] scripture.
[54:12] Jesus said, you said to the
[54:14] scriptures.
[54:14] John chapter 5 verse 39.
[54:15] You said to the scriptures,
[54:17] thinking that in them you
[54:18] have eternal life.
[54:19] And these are there that
[54:20] testify of me.
[54:21] The scriptures are
[54:22] testifying of Jesus Christ.
[54:24] And in the book of Luke
[54:25] chapter 24 verse 27, it
[54:27] says that, and throughout all
[54:29] scripture, Bible talk about
[54:31] John, Luke chapter, he said
[54:32] that, and Luke chapter verse
[54:35] 27, I mean, I said verse 27
[54:37] please.
[54:38] Verse 27.
[54:39] Luke 24 verse, and beginning
[54:41] as Moses and all the
[54:43] prophets, he expounded to
[54:46] them in all the scriptures.
[54:50] The things concerning
[54:51] himself.
[54:52] And 32 says that, did our
[54:53] hearts not, look at verse
[54:55] 32, look at verse 32.
[54:56] He said, and they said, did
[54:57] our hearts not bend in us
[54:59] while he talked with us on
[55:01] the road and while he
[55:02] opened the scripture.
[55:06] Apollos proved to them from
[55:08] scripture.
[55:09] Listen, the quality of your
[55:11] teaching life, the quality of
[55:12] your understanding of the
[55:13] ways of God is based on how
[55:16] you understand Christ from
[55:18] scripture.
[55:19] Not from what the man of
[55:20] God says.
[55:20] But from scripture.
[55:22] Because the man of God's
[55:23] job is supposed to, oh, let
[55:25] me say this and then.
[55:26] The scripture is so, when
[55:28] you, lamp posts, we have
[55:30] quite a few of them in UK.
[55:32] Is it called lamp posts?
[55:34] Street lights.
[55:37] Somebody, what's he
[55:39] supposed to do?
[55:41] The light, right in the way,
[55:43] so you can see where you are
[55:44] going.
[55:45] So one person can use it as
[55:46] that.
[55:47] And another, a drunker too,
[55:48] can use it as a support.
[55:50] As a support.
[55:52] The purpose of scripture is
[55:54] not for me to find something
[55:55] to say and use the scripture
[55:57] to support what I'm saying.
[55:59] The purpose of scripture is
[56:00] supposed to pave it, show
[56:02] clearly, people can see.
[56:03] So my job is to open the
[56:05] scripture.
[56:06] So God, as I open the
[56:07] scripture, I trust God to
[56:08] open your understanding.
[56:10] That, so an open
[56:13] understanding with open
[56:14] scripture makes clear
[56:16] accurately the ways of God.
[56:22] The ways of God.
[56:23] Next week, you will see how
[56:25] Apollos, because of the
[56:27] previous work he did, don't
[56:29] forget, this is Corinth.
[56:31] Apollos, it says that Paul,
[56:33] Apollos, Paul says that some
[56:35] of you say in Corinth, some of
[56:36] you say I'm of Paul.
[56:38] Other side, I'm of Apollos.
[56:39] But who is Paul?
[56:40] Who is Apollos?
[56:41] Apollos planted, or what?
[56:42] Paul wanted.
[56:44] You will see that Apollos
[56:45] was so fervent, it now, it
[56:47] became people were so much
[56:49] into Apollos, they even
[56:50] forgot about the real, the
[56:52] real deal of the ways of
[56:53] God.
[56:54] We'll get into that next
[56:55] week, and you'll see the
[56:56] impact of Apollos' previous
[56:58] lives.
[56:59] Paul met some people in the
[57:00] upper coast of Ephesus
[57:01] chapter 19, and he asked
[57:03] them, when he saw them, he
[57:04] saw that they are, they are
[57:05] a kind of believers that, what
[57:08] kind of believers are this.
[57:10] They lack the enjoyment of
[57:11] God.
[57:12] I'll go with that next week.
[57:14] Did you receive something?
[57:15] Thank you for listening to
[57:19] this message by David Entry.
[57:21] We pray you have been
[57:22] strengthened and
[57:23] enlightened.
[57:24] You can connect with David
[57:25] Entry on all relevant social
[57:27] media platforms, including
[57:29] Instagram and LinkedIn.
[57:31] You can also hear more
[57:32] messages from David Entry on
[57:33] all relevant streaming
[57:34] platforms and the Caris
[57:36] Church app.
[57:37] Don't forget to like and
[57:38] share the message.
[57:39] Be blessed.

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