We Must Return to the Apostolic Message — Miki Hardy

This message is brought to you by CTMI. Good evening to you all.

It's always a joy to be with you. And we know that God is at work. He speaks into our lives. And he shows us the way. We're going to open our Bibles in the book of Jeremiah. Chapter 15, verse 19, that we're going to read again tonight.

Returning to the Precious Word of God

Therefore that says the Lord, if you return, then I will bring you back. You shall stand before me, if you take out the precious from the vial, you shall be as my mouth. The Lord has always had a desire to separate what is false from what is true.

We see how John the Baptist spoke about Jesus. He showed him how important it was that the ministry of Jesus would be to bring a separation. Separation between wheat and the chaff. It's important for us to understand clearly that Jesus wants to build his church on the sound doctrine.

We really need to catch that more and more. And that our preachings should be motivated on that very issue. We're going to speak about another aspect of this conference. I think that we are aware that more and more the influence of the world is penetrating the church.

Wants to penetrate the church. And in many churches it's already the case. And the influence of the world has penetrated the church. And at the speed things are going in the world, with all the changes that are happening.

Have you noticed that in the past 25, 30 years so many things have changed in the world? So many things. And it's unfortunate because this influence of the world is penetrating the church to destroy. I think it's important that we speak a bit about these different influences.

So that we may be able to watch and pray. So that when the Lord brings his light, many will respond to the truth. There are so many strongholds. So many things are rooted in the hearts of Christians. Certainly it won't be easy.

We will need a miracle from God. In the life of Christians, of church leaders. To welcome the truth of the gospel. And tonight, I'd like to start speaking about the role of the woman in the church. I'll go fast because I want to get quickly to the solution in all this.

Women, Authority, and the Church

You'll agree with me that in the last 40 years also, things have changed drastically, even concerning the role of women in society. I think it's around in the years 70 that was the movement of the liberation of women.

Who brought a new evaluation of the role of women in society. In the world. It started in the world. And as we realize today, that society, the world, its system, wants to bring the woman at the same level as men.

I don't know if you noticed, but I notice that the woman has a tendency to manifest more and more authority. Up to the place to try to steal and to remove the authority from men. I don't know if you agree with me.

But let me show you that in the whole story of the church, apart from the same time we're speaking about, in the church, there has started to be a change from the role of the woman in the church. So stay cool, ladies.

We're not going to give you a hard time or to crush you down. Don't worry. It's important for us to put things where they belong. And where God wants them to be. According to what God teaches us in His Word.

And not to allow ourselves to be influenced by a wave or an influence that comes from the world. This is what happened somewhere in the church. There has been an evolution, slower, when the world started changing in that area.

In the church, it came more slowly. But in the last years, we can see that there has been a noticeable acceleration. Remarkable. Not years, last years. Years. I said last years. We can see that there has been a change that's becoming more noticeable.

Sorry, caught you. Men and women being equal. Which is taking place in the world. Must be analyzed properly. In the world today, women carry nearly the same authority as men. It's developing as time goes.

In families, in the world. We can notice that kind of instability. 50 years ago. Where was the role of the woman in the church? What was the role of the woman in the church? Before those days. Maybe it was exaggerated.

In the sense that the woman in the church could do nothing. She couldn't open her mouth. She couldn't prophesy. She could just be there and listen quietly. But what happened is that there has been an evolution from one extreme to another.

And it appears that the church has somehow followed that evolution that happened in the world. If we can say that there hasn't been a stop. According to the Gospel. But there has been a continuation. Influenced by the system of the world.

That's why I always ask myself, is it a coincidence that it's happening like this today? And I'm asking, is it a coincidence that it's happening like this today? Isn't it challenging us? Can't we see a plan of the devil to disturb the church and destroy the family unit at the same time?

Everything the world is wanting to do today is very dangerous. Unfortunately the church has got an ear to hear and to see what the world does. And has got a tendency to take a few things from the world and come and put it into place in the church.

That state that is in the church today has given birth to a great amount of ministries carrying authority in the church entrusted to women. I'm convinced that the doctrine of Christ doesn't evolve with time.

We must stay in the vision. In the sound doctrine. And not allow ourselves to be influenced. To dwell in the word of God. When we look in the word of God. Even in the book of Acts of the Apostles and the whole of the New Covenant.

We see that the women had a great role to play. But nowhere do we see a woman established as an apostle, a prophet, a pastor or a teacher. We need to note that these five ministries are ministries of authority.

And if we understand that these ministries are ministries of authority. Our eyes will be open on many things. I don't think it's a coincidence. That Jesus chose twelve men to be his twelve disciples and his twelve first apostles.

And even when there were eleven left. And they needed to appoint another one. After Jesus was resurrected and the church had begun. It had to be a man that had been chosen and had been a witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There was not only men who were witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. But the eleven who were left behind. They wanted to choose a man. And they had with them. Two of them were witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus.

Joseph and Matthias. And we know that it's Matthias that was chosen to replace Judas. Today. Today. Today we see women in all ministries of authority. They run local churches. We can never see such an example in the new covenant.

They run congregations with authority. And often. And often. Without a true submission of heart. They run. They rule the church. And manifest that authority. In the epistles of Paul to the Corinthians in chapter 11.

In the epistles of Paul to the Corinthians in chapter 11. We see that he teaches. That God is the head of Christ. That Christ is the head of man. And that man is the head of a woman. Paul is teaching an order of authority.

Not only in the natural but also in meaning the church of Jesus Christ. We must understand that this has been established by God himself. It doesn't belong to us. With the influence of what's happening in the world.

To try to come. To change that order of authority a bit like we would like. Or change that order of authority. That order of authority must be respected in the church of Jesus Christ. And if a woman. Is operating in the apostolic ministry or prophetic ministry.

Which is a ministry of authority. We can conclude. That she's not in her place. She can have prophetic gifts. But it's a big difference to have prophetic gifts and to be a prophetess. It's different to share the word of God.

And to be an apostle. Or a pastor. It's a different thing all together. Why? Because these five ministries. Carry an authority that comes from God. Do you understand? Therefore one cannot change that order of authority.

This is why I'm convinced that the church has been influenced by this system of the world. And even in many families today, even in the church. There are changes happening. Where the woman. Influenced by all that's happening in the world.

Wants to take the authority. Decide. In a family. That is something common today. It's a major problem. And if it's a major problem in the world. We can't allow that same problem to enter the church today.

Because there will be disorder. When we change the order of authority of God. It becomes clear. It's going to create disorder. If it was not that important. God would not have put into place that kind of authority.

And what's terrible. Is to be crushed. Destroyed. And I'm convinced. Maybe it's not your conviction. But it's my conviction. That this influence of the world. That wants to raise the woman up to the same level as men.

Of course woman can be equal to men in many areas. No problem with that. But when we come to the word of God and to the church of Jesus Christ. There is an order of authority that needs to be respected.

And in the word of God we see. In the new covenant. In the epistles of Paul. Paul instructed and ordered. The brothers. To go and appoint elders in the church. And in the word of God we go everywhere.

We look for a woman apostle. We look for a woman prophetess. We can't find one. Why are we going to invent today? This is why I'm convinced it's an influence that comes from the world. And it's incredible how the church has an ability to copy the world.

In many things. As we saw yesterday. It's dangerous. And when we look at the word of God. It's very clear. All those who had a ministry of authority. Were men. It's the choice of God. It's not that God or us have something against women.

But it's the way God has instituted that. If you look at the whole history of the church. Up to at least 50 years ago. What do you see? Men in authority in the church. Women were there. To help, to support.

To be an help. To bring what the Lord places in their hearts. They speak from God. God speaks to women the same way he speaks to men. God doesn't make any difference between men and women. But he's given an authority to men that he's not given to women.

This is why today we see families being totally destroyed. Not only in the world but also in the church. With ministry of authority given to women. Or they appoint themselves. These ministries. It's something common in the Christian world today.

Today it's not pastor only, it's pastors. Because it's pastors, Mickey and Audrey. In other words. I marry somebody. The anointing of God is on my life. As I marry them. The anointing of God falls on the other one as well.

On her. And as from now we share the authority of God. It's how it's happening in the church. Everywhere. But if we understand the order of authority of God we will easily accept. That men has a place of authority.

And that the woman is in a place of submission. We're not going to speak about that subject tonight. But we will just inform God's people. That there's an order of authority that must be respected in the church.

I know what I'm saying. Is going to bring quite a much shaking. I know it. But I'm going to be very clear. This phenomenon has taken roots in the church. It's not like a little weed. It's a huge trunk.

With deep roots that have gone everywhere. Try to uproot that. Can only be a miracle of God. That only the spirit of God can open the eyes. We are living in the days where we can no longer depend on an experience.

But we must depend our life on the word of God. The exception doesn't become the rule. One example cannot become the rule. I know it's shaking. But let's stay cool. But what's wonderful is that the place that the woman has in the church doesn't in any way diminish her.

Because in the place where she should find herself. This is where she belongs there. It is where she will be able to really become the real woman of God. When I'm speaking of a woman of God, I'm not speaking of a ministry, but of a woman who is where God wants her to be.

This is why there has been an evolution. From one extreme where a woman couldn't even open their mouth. To another extreme where she has taken over the church of Jesus Christ. Let's notice something. When a woman rules a church, a great percentage of the congregation is women.

It's dangerous to be there. Why? Because men will withdraw. And then the woman is the one who makes all decisions and it reaches the house. Because if the husband is submitting to the authority of his wife in the church, I don't see how in the house he will take authority.

He will rather submit himself to his wife. To be very tough. What happens in the midst of the family? What do the kids see? They see an order totally contrary to what God has established. And all these little girls that start growing.

How are they growing? Don't you think they will rebel against their husband one day? This is the example that is set before them. And this is what destroys. Because when each is not at his place, it's a big problem.

And we can't come and say, God told me. I feel. It's my call. More than ever in the last days, we must come back to the word of God. Even though today, there are so many things happening. And we need to separate the precious from the vile.

This is why we need to separate the precious from the vile. You will tell me, Sister, so and so. Has evangelized. Got a website. Thousands of people are coming to Jesus. Wonderful, glory to the Lord. That doesn't make her an evangelist.

That doesn't put her in a place of authority to rule the church of Jesus. We all have the right to go on the street, take a mic and preach the gospel. We can all do that. Even children can do that. Whoever.

But each must be at his place according to the order God has established in his word. It's time that we stop rebelling against the word of God. It's about time that we submit to the word of God. Even if we believe something for 25 years.

Even if we believe something for 25 years. We need to surrender. To humble ourselves. And come back. To the original pattern. The word of God. This is the problem of the church today. We put aside the word of God.

We are calling what someone said. A man. One book. One preaching. Is enough. One book. One preaching is enough. Some books today are best sellers. In the church. Best sellers. Based not on the word of God.

But on the flow. Of what's happening in the church today. Because someone came and said something. There is injustice. Paul says there is no more woman or man. He did say that. There is no man or woman.

They are equal when it comes to their inheritance in Christ. We cannot go and put the woman in authority of man. It's nowhere. It's nowhere to be found in the word of God. You have to be able to put in perspective.

We're going to speak about that later on. But know that the old covenant has nothing to do not for you. Has never been intended for you. The old covenant is for the Jewish world, for the Jewish people.

Covenant. Okay? We'll speak about that later. Okay? Finally, when the order of God is changed, is manipulated, it's a profane fire. It's a profane fire. It's a profane fire. And you can't even imagine the problem it's causing in the church.

Go and speak to Brother Stephen Gachengau. And he will tell you about what's happening. He lives in Africa. These ministries are coming up like mushrooms. We don't know where they come from, who appointed them.

We know, I've got no idea. If they got married twice, three times, four times, it comes and it says, God told me that. The influence of the world. It's a doctrine that started only some years ago. Did you ever ask yourself why?

From the restoration of the church by Luther? It never existed. But just a few years ago, that we see the phenomena enter the church. May the Lord be able to restore, bring order and truth in the midst of his church.

Homosexuality, Sin, and Compromise

Another thing, and the last one, which is the influence of the world in the church. Which is spreading a bit everywhere. Not much here in Mauritius. But it's spreading quite fast. It's accepting homosexuality in the church.

You might be surprised. But where does it come from? It didn't start in the church. No, no, no. It started outside. And it comes through the small window. And today, and many people today say, we must accept them, we must respect them, we love them.

For sure, we have no problem with that. I won't be long on that subject. I will say one thing. That the only marriage that God approves is between a man and a woman. And it will never change as far as God is concerned.

We can love them. We can respect them for who they are. But we cannot accept the sin to take root in the church of Jesus Christ. Have you noticed that it is in the church? But there's a change of attitude towards sin in the church.

There's a change. In the years we are living, there's a change of attitude towards sin. Completely. We are about to accept anything. And we put it on the account of the love of God. And yet the word of God is clear in the epistle of Romans that these guys, they sin against their own nature.

It's against human nature. Against human nature. Also this is a profane fire. We are building new altars in the church. In the church in general. This is what Brother Peter was saying this morning. How God wants to win our hearts.

So that there will be more and more a separation. Between the world and us. God is wanting a separation. It's the truth. On the other side, we are preaching a separation with the world. On the other side, we see the door of the church being opened to compromise with the world and its system.

This would not even go through the mind of a Christian not even 30 years ago. Today, we've got a tendency to accommodate the love of God, the mercy of God, the goodness of God. But where is the truth of God?

Where is the justice of God? Where is the judgment of God? Where is the separation of God? Where is it? Everything is good today. A little bit of yeast. Caused the whole lump to grow. A little bit of yeast.

Paul didn't say much. He said a little bit of yeast caused the whole lump to rise. I believe that God has got the power to set free homosexuals and that they will become normal. And to have a type of being disgusted by something, a conviction of sin, something which is against nature.

Not to feel sorry about themselves, but to be convicted in their hearts that this is a sin. And believe that God is able to set them free, that they will become a real man or a real woman. Whole. And the more we're going to accept, it's not faith it's not faith in this big God that we are preaching.

We're preaching a God that's not able. Because this is why we accommodate everything. Let's look at the carnal and emotional practices in the church. Strange behaviors. In the church. These strange and emotional behaviors in the church.

There's all kinds of new moves that's coming. Christians just shake. Just shake for nothing. I don't know if you know what they say. They're shaking. You say, brother. Immediately he stops shaking. He says, why are you shaking?

We say, relax. You know why? He thinks that when he's shaking like this, it's the presence of the power of God. God can set somebody free. Can throw him on the floor. Can do anything. We don't have any problem with that.

I'm not talking about this. I'm just talking of habits that Christians have in many churches where they develop that kind of habit and reaction. They throw themselves on the floor. They yell. They just swell.

They do strange noises. Laughter. They can't stop laughing and they roll on the floor. This is how the Christians define the power of God. It's very dangerous because we can draw familiar spirits in the church.

Familiar spirits. In the church. And we think it's the power of God. I think, brothers and sisters, you have no idea of what's happening in many churches today in the world. I pray that all those who listen to me may become aware that there's a great difference between the way they define the power of God and the real power of God.

When the power of God is at work, it dwells, it stays. The change that it brings in you, it stays. The work of God is real in the heart of man. The miracle that God does can be seen. We can't describe the power of God like somebody shaking but coming out the same person.

Every meeting, he shakes, he throws himself on the floor, he laughs, he yells. As if God is manifesting his power by drops. Every meeting, we must do something. Oh, Lord. Very often, these Christians are fed.

They are not fed with the true doctrine of Christ, with the true gospel of Jesus. They are fed with a gospel to make them believe that it is the power of God to keep them, to attract them and to have their money.

You know, a church like us, for example, has no power. In our church, we have no power. But when people hear the message of the cross of Jesus even on a CD, they don't like it. And they say, that church has no power.

I want to go to a church where there is power. And power for him is when he shakes. This is power. I'm asking myself, I'm asking myself, on a hundred who have that kind of reaction, how many are healed, are restored, are delivered, and are set free?

You know what Paul says? Paul says, the power of God is the preaching of the cross, is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1, 18 17, 18. The power of God manifests itself in the life of man. I'm somebody who believes and I'm convicted about the power of the gospel.

This is what Paul says. When the gospel is proclaimed, God is at work in hearts of men and women. That is the power of God. The gospel. The word of God. It's like a hammer that breaks the rock. It's a two-edged sword.

It's alive and it's efficient. It's powerful. That is the power of God. God does miracles. It's true. The person leaves, is going to say, this is what God did in my life. We've got nothing to say. Glory to God for that.

Unfortunately, these are things that are happening in the churches, practices, bizarre, strange, emotional reactions. We must come back to the word of God. There's something today which is also very important that we see a bit everywhere.

I'm not saying a comeback, but I would say attachment to the law of the Old Covenant. Let me say something before you start thinking. I believe in the Old Covenant and in the New Covenant. I think that whatever is written in the Old Testament and in the New Testament is true.

The Old and New Covenants and Freedom from Legalism

But I'm also convinced according to the word of God that there are two covenants that are completely different. And the one who clings to the law of the Old Covenant doesn't really have the revelation of what has been accomplished on the cross by Jesus Christ.

Because if the revelation of what happened on the cross comes to our hearts, what happened in the Spirit, not what the people saw with their eyes, but what happened in the Spirit, this is what the church needs to see in the Spirit.

And everything is written in the word of God to enlighten us. It's very obvious. It's very common in churches to impose law on God's people. Maybe not all the law of the Old Covenant, but part of it. Without understanding, as I said earlier on, that the Old Covenant is only for the Jews.

Is it working then? The Old Testament, the Old Covenant was only for Jews. Why do you want to become a Jew? When God is causing Jews to become Christians, God wants to set the Jews free of the Old Covenant, but us, when we are born again, we want to become Jews.

Something's wrong. How do we do this? How do we become Jews? This influence is entering the church, many Christians. You see even Christians going back to the sacrifices of the Old Covenant. That's not right.

Go under slavery again? What God says in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 14, 15, that the law was nailed to the cross. That we are no longer under that yoke. We are no longer under that yoke. In fact, we've never been because we've never been a Jew.

There's a tendency to believe that the Old and the New Covenants are all practices for us. Christians have a tendency to believe that everything that is in the Old and the New Covenants is for us to do and live.

But the Word of God says it well. Paul says it well in Galatians chapter 3. What does Paul say? He says, We have been redeemed from the curse of the law. The curse of the law. It's a curse! We have been redeemed from the curse of the law.

The law is a curse! Why? Because sin, by law, brings us to death. But when I come out from under the law, sin has got no more power to kill me. Because as long as I will dwell under the law, sin will bring me to death.

But if I come out from under the law, sin has got no ground to condemn me. Because this is why I cannot be condemned. And you cannot be condemned. And you are not under the curse. You are free. I am free.

In Jesus. It's my favorite subject. Have you noticed it? If there's one thing I hate his law. But there's still some in me. I'm still a bit legalist. But I pray to the Lord that he delivers me completely from legalism.

Amen. It's cool, isn't it? It's the same thing for tithing. Throw the arrows. The tithing is part of the Levitical law. Jewish law. But it's applied today in the churches. Because it's a very good source of income.

And we ask the people to pay the tithes. And we preach faith for the harvest. There's always something somewhere. The minute I put myself under law, I'm no more a free man. I am under an obligation, under pressure.

But you see, I'm not under any obligation. There's no sense in the epistles of Romans that we're being set free from the law. Remove, it means remove from under that yoke. But it's a problem for many because tithing is a source of income.

We are not going to change that. But then, stay under law. Me, I come out, I get away from it. And I trust the Lord. And I'll show that when God is at work in the hearts of Christians, he will bring them to love him more.

And what will follow the Christian will give more freely without any obligation. That is the pure doctrine of Christ. We're not going to spend time on this one. We move. We have to move. The control, the yoke of man, the obligations, the things that are forbidden in the church of Jesus Christ.

Let me advise you from all my heart as you come out of the church, you go to the counter, go and buy the book. Christian, you are free. Go and buy that book. If you don't have money, I give it to you as a gift because you want truth.

Amen? Okay. Let's speak in a few words of certain practices. When I preach the gospel, I like to preach for those in Madagascar, for those in Africa who are listening to us, and for all those brothers and sisters that we love.

Ancestral Practices and Spiritual Deliverance

That link, that ancestral link that many Christians have. Their culture. Their culture. Everything that comes from our culture or from our ancestors that has got a little spiritual taint to it we must get rid of.

Because it's not from God. These things that we are attached to, it's like we're serving two masters at the same time. They proclaim themselves as Christians that they are still linked to something that comes from their ancestors that has got an element that's from the devil.

And many have struggled to set them free completely from this connection. And we see that and we see in the church, finally, I'm in touch with many people I know what can be in Madagascar, it can be in Africa.

It's a huge problem in some countries where Christians are still linked. They are in the church praising the Lord but at the same time they have that connection with these ancestral practices which are not free from the devil influence.

We serve God at the same time we serve mammon. And many churches accept that compromise. It's okay. It's a habit that he has. It's okay. And we don't realize that it's much deeper than just a habit. There's a spiritual connection.

There's a spiritual activity involved in that. That's from the devil. We must get rid of that and put an end to it and serve Jesus and Jesus alone. Jesus and Jesus alone. And today Christians in churches need to be delivered to go through deliverance.

They have a problem they need deliverance. They always need continually need to go through deliverance. I don't understand. I don't see that in the Bible. I see that the apostles and the disciples cast demons out from people who didn't know Jesus.

Do you see that? Where did you see that? Have you ever seen in the New Testament that the apostles would cast demons out of Christians? You won't see that. It doesn't exist. Because a Christian who is born again was being delivered from the powers of doctors and translated into the kingdom of his dear son instead of bringing him on the road of the cross so he can allow God to touch the areas of his life by humbling himself to die a bit to his carnal desires that we will see it's better and easier to cast a demon out and next week the week after the demon has come back.

Suddenly that demon he comes and he goes. He's got a very bad habit. He goes and he comes back. That's incredible. I could never understand how could Christians believe that. I don't see Paul running left and right and casting demons out of Christians.

But I see that Paul has a gospel that treats the heart of man who treats the desires of man, his life and he had success. He was successful. What are we not going to invent in the church of Jesus Christ?

Why don't limit ourselves to the word of God and to see that the Christian doesn't need to be delivered from evil spirits? Let me tell you I'm well. And Christian brothers don't cast demons out of me every week.

I'm fine. Sometimes I have my little angers but it's not an evil spirit of anger. Do we agree? Is everybody okay? Where is the solution? Where is the solution? Let me tell you why we need the solution.

The Apostolic Message as the Church's Solution

If you go on internet you will see that many Christians, pastors who can see that there is a problem in the church that even expose some doctrines they expose some go as far as exposing the servant of God himself.

He doesn't expose only the false doctrine but he also exposes the man who teaches that. It's a good signal that the church starts realizing that there is a huge problem in the church. People start realizing even Christians who are here start to see and feel that there are things that are not right that are happening in the church today.

Some even men of God are starting to realize that this message of prosperity finally is not bearing much fruit. But it's not enough to become aware of something if it stops there. How will we go forward?

It's not enough to see only that there are problems. We need a solution to counteract these false doctrines and these false practices and at the same time to prevent new ones to come. To stop new ones to come in.

It's somewhere in the air. There is a multiplication of false teachings in the church of Jesus Christ. We need a solution to stop the hemorrhage bugs to stop other bugs to penetrate the church and to stay in the simplicity of the gospel.

Simple. Love Jesus. Open our hearts. Walk with Him. Love Him. Serve Him. We need a solution to get that. We can't carry on allowing a gospel that brings us to seek for material things for our own gain.

It's not bad to have that kind of Christianity. Just to look for what's good for us to look for our interests. Not bad. What do you say? It's not a bad deal. It's not a bad deal. We look for what's good.

To me it looks a lot like the religion I left behind me. I don't want to go back in what I lived for 27 years. It's a truth to me that there's not much desire in the church for lives to be changed. For the Christian to reach to come to the image of Christ to give his life.

To die to his carnal desires. To look more like Jesus. There's no more that desire in many churches. And that is very sad. I was there before. I was not concerned by my life. For me the church was a place where Christians gathered and I would preach the gospel.

Without worrying about my own life. For me ministry was preaching. Gather people. The more people the more happy I was. Until the time the Lord started opening my eyes. And caused me to understand that Christianity was much different than that.