"Did you know that was in the Bible?"

I. Introduction

On a leaf strewn avenue not far from University founders hall, the library looked exactly like what it was:

The Bicycle racks out front were new, but the building itself was aged and stately.

On the brick facade, right next to the main entrance, a small brass plaque reflected the sunlight.

But get up close, and you can read these words:

“Knowledge is free, but bring your own containers.”

Folks, that’s exactly how I feel when I open up this book we recognize as the Holy Scriptures, The Holy Bible, authored by Almighty God.

There is so much inside this book!

Between these two black leather covers reside something far greater than the wisdom of man!

Greater in the sense of an ocean compared with a pot hole puddle!

This Bible, if you follow it’s message, will get you through the challenges of each life season, and beyond into eternity with Jesus!

It will show you how to be saved and to stay saved and how to see others get saved too!

And the ministry, if we do our jobs right, will connect you to this word as often as possible!

If we are doing what God has called us to do, then the people we spend time with, will be to read and meditate on the Word of God more and more!

Great ministries I am told, will open the book and enthrall you with it’s contents!

The idea is this: “Search the Scriptures, for they are very God!”

Now if I was to sell you a mine that looked great, but was no actual good, the smart game would be to take the cash and run!

Cause when you find out there’s nothing in that mine, you’re gonna come after me!

But if I can turn over a mine to you, that has untapped and limitless potential, I don’t have to split town!

I can stay around and enjoy the wealth with you!

And whomsoever will!

Why not?

It is in that spirit that I present Scripture to you this evening and pose this question:

“Did you know that was in the Bible?”

So it’s church family here this evening, and I believe you can recieve truth this evening without being defensive or taking offense.

I know that you are mature enough to recieve that which is intended for your good!

So let me begin with something you may not realize is in the Bible.

Hair!!

Folks, hair is a sore subject with me, cause my hair refuses to cooperate with me!

My Dad wakes up each morning with perfect politician hair!

Do I? Never!

I have cowlicks on cowlicks !

It’s ridiculous!

I’m super jealous of some of Y’all with such good hair!

LOL!

But did you know that the BIble contains some very important teaching on the subject of human hair?

Specifically, in the New Testament church, (That’s us, BTW)

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians and in his first letter to them, chapter 12, we learn about the Gifts of the Spirit.

Exciting stuff!!!

But the chapter before that, chapter 11, has to do with the condition, the qualifications if you will, of a person, man and woman when prepring to pray and prophesy.

My neighbor is a policeman. He was showing me all his equipment one day, and it was very interesting!

They are taught in the academy, that you don’t start shift without your uniform!

The uniform is a must! The badge, the comms gear, the weaponry, the correct documents etc.

Gotta be equipped when you go on shift! Be ready and prepared!

In much the same manner, if you expect to be used mightily by God, in the gifts of the Spirit, (CH12)

You first have to get aligned with chapter 11!

Not bankruptcy! LOL, not filing chapter eleven! But living chapter eleven!

So let’s read and then we’ll explain in more detail

1 Corinthians 11:1–16 KJV 1900

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

The first thing to understand here is the concept of created order.

God created in a certain order.

So this does not mean that man is more important than woman, male than female, not at all.

Each is unique and special!

The point is that God first created man, then woman.

Some theologians believe that the better English word for “head” is actually “source.”

In terms of created order that makes sense! It would read this way:

“But I would have you know that the source of every man is Christ; and the source of every woman is the man, and the source of Christ is God.”

When I consider that God first created man, then took his rib and made woman. When I consider that God overshadowed Mary, this seems to fit quite well.

But verse 4 is key:

1 Corinthians 11:4 KJV 1900

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

this tells us that the following verses concern the proper condition of both men and women in which to pray and prophesy!

I can refer you to some excellent reading material on this subject, but here are the cliff notes:

Men should have short hair and women should have hair uncut.

And there you have it!

Short for men, uncut for ladies.

The standard is not long, the standard is uncut.

The actual length is not at issue, we have different genetic stuff, so this obviously varies by person.

The standard for Apostolic ladies who wish to be ready to pray and prophesy, is uncut.

Now there are a few other things I’d like to mention tonight, so I won’t go through every verse, but here’s the deal:

If you are a woman, there is a special way that you can communicate your submission to God without saying a single word!

Now that you are serving God, and you are born again, when you choose not to cut your hair, you are telling the natural world and the spirit world that you are living in submission to God!

Don’t have to say a single word!

The angels see it, the devils see it, and unlike most people, they actually know what your uncut hair means!

It means that you are submitted to God!

You are secure in your position as a child of God, as a woman of God and you are not living in rebellion.

For men, it’s the opposite.

We are told to keep our hair short.

Now I know what you are thinking:

What about culture? Many cultures encourage men to keep their hair long and uncut.

One fella said he did it as a sign of respect to his ancestors.

Well, we ought to be respectful towards culture sure, but where culture and Scripture cross each other, the choice is clear!

Do what the book says!

Pauls says: “Does not nature itself teach you it is a shame for a man to have long hair.

He appeals not to culture, Paul appeals to nature.

Now as for the angel thing, (Explain that.)

So, If God calls you to be a pastor and you are licensed and the people recognize your call, you will be responsible for them!

I’m going to tell you something that Pastors know:

When a woman is going through a spiritual valley, or they are beginning to slide, the first thing that happens is scissors in the hair.

And if you notice that, know that you need to pray overtime for them.

Becasue they are sending a message to the spirit world, both angels and demons!

You need to pray a hedge around them, and try to help them get back on track!

The ahir is the first sign.

I’m just telling you the truth here today.

Im talking to church family, not guests, I’m talking to folks who are born again. You need to know this.

Did you know the withches of norway keep their hair long as a sign of submission to the devils they worship? Don’t know where they figured that out, but I guess even the devil is smart enough to know the Scriptures and counterfeit.

So hair is important! who knew that was in the Bible??? It is!!!

Hair covers the head. The head is important!

Laying on of hands. (Explain that)

Genesis 48:9–20 KJV 1900

And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

2 Timothy 1:6 KJV 1900

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

Hebrews 6:1–2 KJV 1900

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 KJV 1900

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Saints pray lateral.

Spiritual authority imparts.

A sunday School teacher, may lay hands on the ehad of a student and it is in order.

A minister, recognized as such by the church, by your pastor and the church organization you are a part of, may lay hands on you and it is proper.

YOu will know their ministry is endoresed because we say so from the pu;pit, invite them to preach etc.

(Give example of Bishop telling lady to back off.)

Good things can be imparted, so too bad things.

You have a right to choose who touches your head!

When ministry prays for you, you know that you are safe and that it is not the first time they prayed for you that week!

Don’t pray for a laterally connected person by touching hteir head.

By all means, pray with them! Let God use you!

But in a lateral sense.

This is proper and this is good.

It will keep others from feeling resentment toward you simply because you don’t know better.

We have ministerial licensing which helps the people of God to recognize yoru mninistry.

Also, you have to remember, the anointing of God and the anointing of man does not come at the same time.

God gives you the one, you got to earn the other.

Did you know that was int he BIble?

Psamls 23.