Biblical Preaching (Homiletics) | Lecture 12 : BC204-BP-20260922

Okay. Um, so welcome back. So we looked at the first point, right? How did the Lord Jesus minister the word? And so we see that he brought a timely word, a word that helped the person when they were going through a real crisis, right? So so that is something for us to keep in mind and ask the Lord. Now there are times when we when we see naturally uh like in the natural we see that okay this person is going through this problem this person is going through the some issues challenges and then the lord puts it in our heart to share that share a solution share a bring a comforting word we can do that right but sometimes we don't know we don't know what the situation is right but the lord would still put a word in season so that we may know how to speak to one who is weary Right? That's a beautiful part of leaning and depending on the Holy Spirit where God knows the audience. God knows who who we are speaking to and uh knows what they want, what they need and the Lord moves in our hearts to speak the word. And sometimes you know maybe you prepared this particular message you know 2 weeks 3 weeks in advance right three you this particular topic but somehow that whatever you prepared you know 3 weeks in advance is the right word for that person who would have gone through a challenge maybe that previous day right it's not 3 weeks in advance that they went through the challenge that previous day or maybe that very morning they had that problem so that's how the wisdom of God operates because God who knows the end from the beginning. God who knows who's an omniscient God, you know, he actually prepares us in advance. So we we look to him and we u you know prepare and speak what he wants us to speak which is the second thing. Now second thing if you see we see that the lord Jesus he says that he spoke what he heard the father god the father speak right he says that the do his doctrine is not his but whatever the father spoke whatever the father shared is what he spoke right let's look at two uh scriptures one is um John chapter 7 John chapter 8 let's look at john chapter 8 first verse 26-28 uh which is there in our notes right so here We see that the Lord saying, "I have many things to say to you and to judge concerning you, but he who sent me is true and I speak to the world those things which I heard from him." Right? Those things which I heard from him. Now they did not understand that he spoke to them of the father. Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do not I I and that I do nothing of myself, but as my father taught me, I speak these things." Right? So the Lord is very um you know explaining when he says that which I heard from him, I speak. He's explaining that saying um I do nothing of myself, but as my father taught me, I speak these things. Right? So we know that the Lord Jesus his prayer life was one of communion and fellowship with the father. Right? So much so that even despite a very busy day of ministry, he would set apart that time for himself to be alone with the father, right? Uh and the the word of God and the gospels talk about it that he would spend the whole nights in prayer. And if you if you look at how the the next day would be, it would be packed with ministry, right? It would be busy ministry, a lot of like you know healings, deliverances, traveling from one place to another. But what sustained him and what gave him that um that spiritual power was of course the anointing of the Holy Spirit and his fellowship communion with the father. Right? Another verse that we see is uh John 7 14-16. Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into a temple and taught into the temple and taught and the Jews marveled saying how does this man know letters having never studied. So having never studied meaning he has never studied formally just like us right u so that is what they were saying he's never studied formally just like us. Um, but how does this man know the scriptures, the Old Testament scriptures? Right? Jesus answered and said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent me." So, he's referring to the father, God the father, who sent him, who commissioned him. Right? And he's saying this teaching is not something that originated from me, but is what I received from the father. Right? So, so that's another example for us. Of course now you know in our case we worship the triune God. We worship the uh you know the father, the son and the holy spirit and our dependence should be on god to receive and to minister right again the the words of uh Peter 1 Peter 4:12 right let him who speak speaks as speak as the oracles of god right you speak as a representative of god for us to speak as a representative of god we need to know the heart of god Right? So it's not like I can't say okay this is what you know this is what I think God means or this is what I think God is saying. No we will speak as representatives of God only when we have that close walk and fellowship with God himself. Right? Only then we will be able to receive and only then we will be able to represent him well accurately. Right? So he heard what he he spoke what he heard the father speak. The third thing that we see is the wisdom right the wisdom with which he spoke right and the wisdom with which um he demonstrated the power of God. Okay. John 7:44. Now some of them wanted to take him but no one laid hands on him. Now these were people sent by the religious leaders to arrest him. Right. Verse 45. Then the officers came to the chief priests and the Pharisees who said to them, "Why have you not brought him?" And the officers the answered, "No man ever spoke like this man." Right? So they obviously you know being the temple guards being the people uh you know these are not the Roman soldiers but the soldiers who were uh the the guards who were there in the temple right so they are saying no one ever spoke no man ever spoke like this man so they were just um aed in awe of the words that he spoke the way in which what he communicated right Matthew chapter 13:54 same thing when he had come to his country. He taught them in the synagogue so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?" So the Lord spoke with so much of wisdom and there were many places when this wisdom was put on display, right? Especially when they tried to corner him, right? when they tried to trap him in his words and when they asked questions not out of sincerity, not because they wanted to learn but because they wanted to find something of fault in him so that they could arrest him, right? When they, for example, when they asked the Lord Jesus, should we pay taxes, right? Is it okay for us to pay taxes to the Romans? Right? Now the Jews of course were angry with the Romans because the Romans were they they came invaded uh and they were ruling over them. They were putting a lot of taxes. They were actually burden burdening the uh the citizens with so much of taxes right so their question was should we pay taxes to the Romans and of course there were Roman soldiers who are also listening. So they wanted to trap him. And what was the Lord's response? It was something which came with so much of wisdom. Right? He says, "Bring me a coin. Show me the coin." Whose inscription is it? Right? Then they tells them, you know, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. Right? So, so they could not they could not do anything. They could not resist the wisdom with which he spoke. Right? So similar to his disciples, you know, we see in the book of Acts when Stephen when he spoke, it says of Stephen that they could not resist the wisdom with which he spoke, right? Um resist the uh let's look at that uh verse. So they actually attacked and they martyed him, right? Um if you if you listen to um yeah, Acts chapter 6, right? Acts chapter 6 u verse 10. Acts chapter 6 and verse 10. What does it say? Says and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. Who is it referring to? He's referring to Stephen. Right? Many would come and dispute with Stephen. Right? It says uh there they were arose from what is called the synagogue of the freed men and those from Celicia disputing with Stephen and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. So they tried okay other means you know to trap him. They said okay uh they they actually conspired and they said okay let's bring in some people who can speak lies about Stephen and say he's blaspheming our way and that way they actually got him killed right so the wisdom of God what man was made manifest through the spirit of God in fact the Holy Spirit is called the spirit of revelation and wisdom right and so the wisdom with which he spoke you know wisdom is the ability to know or use knowledge, right? And it's very practical. When somebody speaks wisely, it gets the attention of people. It's very practical. It brings solution. It brings answers, right? It solves problems. So that's how wisdom is. Wisdom and when it's on display. So it unlocks certain things, certain doors. It opens certain doors in people's minds and hearts. So when they heard it, they knew that, hey, this is something different. No man ever spoke like this man. So he spoke with wisdom. So we also have access to the same wisdom, right? We have access to the same wisdom in Christ Jesus, the Lord Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God. Right? So we have access in Christ Jesus to the same wisdom. Right? Okay. Next one we saw we see in the way in which he ministered is that he spoke with authority. Okay. Uh now that's another thing. Let's look at Luke 4 31-32. Uh we see this um in the in the notes right page 22. Then they went down to Keanom a city of Galilee and was uh teaching them on the Sabbaths Sabbath. And they were astonished at his teaching for his word was with authority. Okay, his word was with authority. So, so which means that the words that he spoke came with authority, right? Uh let's look at um the context also. 4 verse 3132. Okay. Um even before that verse 22 they marveled. Okay Luke chapter 4 verse 22 it says they all bore witness to him and marveled as at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth and they said is this not Joseph's son. Verses 31 and 32 says they were astonished at his teaching for his word was with authority. Okay, if you look at verse 33, it says it it actually is a demonstration of the authority with which he spoke. Same same chapter verse 33. What do we see? Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon and he cried out with a loud voice, "Leave us alone. What have we do to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of Israel." But Jesus rebuked him and said and saying, "Be quiet and come out of him." And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Again, verse 36, they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." And the report about him went out into every place in the surrounding regions. [clears throat] Right? So, so his word, it was not just knowledge. It was not just information. Of course, it was revelation. But it was spoken by him. He spoke with authority. Okay? So, he spoke with authority. Now, it could mean two things. One is there was a demonstration of authority like like just like how we saw he spoke to the demon. He he commanded the demon to leave and it left. Right? So he spoke with authority. He spoke with authority also means that whenever whenever he taught he taught out of that close fellowship with the father right we we see whatever he heard the father speak that is what he spoke. So whatever he was speaking was coming from that place of close communion with the father. So when whenever something is spoken, whenever something is shared out of that close fellowship with God that we have with God that always bears fruit that is always with authority. Right? So that is that is something that we need to understand. If we need to speak with authority that the Lord Jesus gives us, if we need to speak with authority just like how the Lord Jesus spoke with authority, it needs to come from a place of fellowship. The entire ministry, the message needs to come from the place of fellowship. Now, let's look at John chapter 14 uh 15, sorry. Okay, let's turn to John chapter 15. If you see, excuse me, John chapter 15 and verse 7 or maybe verse five, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit. Right? For without me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in me, verse 7, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you. By this my father is glorified that you bear much fruit. So fruitfulness come from comes from abiding with Jesus. Abiding means to stay to journey on with him to have a close fellowship. Right? So the lord is saying you know if you don't abide and then without me you can do nothing but with him we can bear much fruit right and the lord also says if you abide in me and my words abide in you now that is the closeness of the fellowship right if we abide with him and his words we allow our words to stay in us his words to stay in us out of that close fellowship and intimacy then we will speak obviously speak with authority right the way the Lord Jesus spoke with authority in other words if we if you look at the book of James right if you look at James and um [snorts] James also gives us uh a key to authority James 4:7 [clears throat] right therefore submit right therefore submit to God Right? And what does he say? Resist the devil and he will flee from you. So submission to God is key to authority. Right? Intimacy with the and fellowship with the father, fellowship with the Lord is key to authority. Submission to God is the key to authority. Which means you know how how are we submitted to God? We are in obedience. We are in submission to his word. We are in submission to his instruction. Right? So submission to God leads to authority. Right? Fellowship with God, close walk with God leads to authority. Ministering [clears throat] with authority because that is what how the Lord Jesus ministered. Right? So if we are looking to minister like the Lord Jesus did with authority, these things are important. Fellowship with the Lord, submission to the Lord and also knowing who we are in Christ Jesus. Knowing that authority has been given to us, knowing our position as children, sons and daughters of God, right? Let's look at the next one. Okay, the fifth one is that the Lord Jesus, the king of kings and lord of lords, right? The savior of the world, the one who moved with so much authority, ministered with authority, the demons fled from his presence. Um he ministered with a with humility. The word used there is meek heart. Right? Humility. He ministered with humility. Now that's a lesson very valuable important lesson for all of us. Right? The Lord Jesus ministered with humility. Matthew 11 28-29 the Lord says come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. The Lord is describing himself introducing himself. He says take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle. The Lord says I am gentle. So the Lord is gentle. We need to be gentle. And then he says and lowly in heart. Which means his heart is not elevated, exalted, lifted up. He's not boastful or proud. He is lowly in heart. And he says you will find rest for your souls. You know, so if we are ministering to people, this this verse itself talks about how the weary will find rest for their souls even as we minister. If we are gentle, if we are lowly in heart and if we would minister the way the Lord would minister with authority and and compassion, we you know we see that the the others will be ministered to they will find rest for their souls. But this is what the Lord's description of himself that he is gentle and lowly in heart. Okay. If you look at Proverbs 16:21, the wise in heart shall be called prudent and sweetness of the lips increases learning. Which means the words that you speak, if they are gracious words, if they are pleasant words, if they are words that are anointed, right? It increases learning. The wise in heart would be called prudent. Now the word that is used there again you know it talks about someone who's speaking from wisdom but someone who's speaking from a place of humility right okay so Jesus ministered with a meek humble heart so what is stopping us from ministering the way he ministered right so there also people they thronged to him right they came in in multitudes they came to He was quite we can use the word he was quite popular you know news about him spread to all the places that's what we saw you know Mark chapter 5 when when he um you know when he did those miracles when when people were raised up from the dead news about him the information the reputation hey this is what Jesus is doing it spread to all the places right and so despite all that the Lord Jesus ministered with a meekness, with humility, right? So this is something for us to understand and yes there are challenges even in our in our in our day and time right we see that um you know there is so much of attention there is so much of media there is so much of focus on the person right despite all that yes that will be there we don't have to be swayed by that we can minister the way the lord Jesus ministered with loneliness of heart right we don't need to be you know moved from all this we don't have to drift away right and and think that oh I'm someone great no we are depending on the lord we are we are ministering out of that fellowship with the lord and he is someone who is lowly in heart and so we so should we be the next thing we see is in the in the message that he spoke in the content content of what he spoke he referred to the old testament Like sometimes people think that okay old testament is old, new testament is new. Let me stick with the new. All right. But no, the old testament it is there for us to learn. It is there as an example. Whatever is there, right? And it's it's the precepts and the principles are there for us to actually use it as new testament believers. But as we study it, we need to see it through the cross. through the finished work of the cross. What do we mean by that? Which means certain things have ended because of the cross. Certain things continue even in spite of the cross. So that is something that we need to understand. Right? Certain things in the Old Testament, they are symbolic. They have come they are a shadow but the fullness is in Christ. Right? They're a shadow which means that hey these are some things that was practiced but the reality is Christ Jesus. It was pointing to Christ Jesus and therefore because of the finished work of the cross there are certain things that are ended right animal sacrifice it is ended. Why? Because the Lord Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. Right? So things like that we know that certain things have ended because so that's something that we need to understand as we learn that the finished work of the cross um we need to you know we draw from the old testament but we need to understand what happened at the cross right the lord Jesus if you if you see you know in that famous conversation that he has with Nicodemus right John chapter 3 okay John chapter He's [clears throat] talking to him. Nicodemus comes and um he's um he's asking those questions, how can a man be born again, etc. And the Lord is talking about spiritual birth. He explains to him, right? And then he says, if you look at um verse 9, right, Nicodemus answered and said to me, "How can these things be?" He's asking about spiritual birth. How can these things be? And then the Lord says, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not know these things? Most assuredly I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and yet you do not receive a witness." And then he goes on to verse 14. He says, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." Right? He's referring to something that happened in the book of Numbers, Numbers chapter 21. as the son of man is lifted up or as the serpent was lifted up sorry in the wilderness. So there he's referring to a particular incident that happened where because of the rebellion of the people, there were these fiery serpents, snakes that were released into the camp as a judgment of the people and they were they were biting, people were dying, right? Fiery, you know, snakes which look like fire, they were coming in. So what happened? The Lord gives a solution for that. He was supposed to, Moses was supposed to make a serpent, a snake out of bronze, put it on a rod and lift it up. And when people saw that, they were getting healed. Even though they were bitten by the fiery serpents, they will look. So the Lord is saying in similar manner as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up and whoever believes on him should not die should not perish but have eternal life. So, so the Lord is saying, okay, this is what will happen. The son of man himself, he's pointing to himself. He will be lifted up. He will be put on a cross. He will be lifted up, but whoever turns to him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Right? So, he's drawing a parallel. So, he's drawing from the Old Testament. He's referring to that Old Testament incident. But if you see, he's pointing to the cross, right? Something happened on the cross. So, uh, several places he's drawing from the Old Testament and he's pointing to what will happen on the cross. As Jonah was in the belly of the fish, in a similar manner will the son of man be 3 days. What was he referring to again? His [clears throat] death, burial, and resurrection. What happened on the cross? Right? So, he he drew from Old Testament. He quoted from Old Testament. He quoted from the Psalms. Right? and uh he made it relevant for the people. So for us scripture also talks about you know how a person who is trained in the scriptures will draw both from the old how a person you know from a household will bring those vessels old and new the same way we were supposed to bring out and and share it in context so that people are edified. Okay. Seventh one he uses he used parables illustrations right we know the parables that he used um what are parables earthly stories right stories about everyday things and these were pointing to some deep spiritual truths he used parables why did he use parables to explain right why did he use these things you know the the the he says this is how it the kingdom of god is like this so in that very phrase you understand the kingdom of God is like this. A man went and sold, right? And so he's he's drawing a parallel and he's explaining so that people would understand. So can we use illustrations? Can we use parables, modernday parables? Can we use stories to explain spiritual truth? Yes, we can, right? Because we are able to understand. But we need to be careful when we use these stories and we we need to be the application of it. We need to be careful because you know just like we learned in human hermeneutics even when we look at parables we can actually you know draw certain parallels that are not accurate. Right? Okay. The s the the the person goes the shepherd goes after the sheep. Yes. The Lord Jesus is coming in search of us. Now 99 sheep were there. One was lost. The father's heart he comes in search. Now if you go too much into detail you know who are the lost sheep. Who are the sheep that were you know I was actually there in the you know in the sheepfold that the Lord Jesus left in order to go. You know we can actually speak a lot of things right draw a lot of things speak a lot of things give a lot of spiritual truth which is not there in the story the story was very simple what was the lost coin about what was the lost sheep about what was the parable of the lost son about it's very simple why the Lord Jesus spoke why the Lord Jesus shared these parables and it's right there at the beginning of the chapter Right? He's right there at the beginning of the chapter where the Lord Jesus was actually fellowshipping having meal you know having talking to sinners and the Pharisees were saying why is this person spending time with the sinners why is he wasting time like this does he not know that these people the kind of people whom he's spending time with so the lord spoke lord shared these stories to point them to tell them about the father's heart that the father's heart is for the lost Right? So that is what he wanted to convey. So so we should not draw too many things too many par parallels of things which are not there. Right? We don't have to do that. We should not do that. Right? But can we use par parables? Can we use illustrations? Of course it will really help people to understand. Right? Okay. Uh next one that we see was that not only did did he speak words but also the power of the Holy Spirit was present to make changes in the lives of people. Luke 5:7 says, "The power of God was present, right? We see um yeah, Luke chapter 5:7 talks about how he ministered, he spoke, and then he we see the power of God, the miraculous power of God in operation when he just said, "Cast your net." And he told Peter, "Cast your net to the other side." And what was happening was a miraculous catch of sheep. I'm sorry, catch of fish. And it was something that was, you know, some miraculous was overflowing, the power of God was experienced, right? And many other places also it talks about how when he went, when he preached and um the power of God was present to heal the people, right? Um and so they they saw that in operation. They came to know that he was the Christ and so on. Right? So yeah, John uh sorry Luke 4:14 also it says that and Jesus returned in the power of the spirit to Galilee. Right? He returned in the power of the spirit. What is this power of the Holy Spirit? What is the power of the Holy Spirit? It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. And therefore, if you look at um the following verses, the Lord Jesus opened the scroll of Isaiah in the in the synagogue. All right? And he says, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me." And he goes on to say, "What the spirit of the Lord does," right? what the power of the Lord accomplishes. Preach the gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty, which means to free those people who are oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Right? So he returned in the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit was present to bring about change in the bodies of people to bring about change in the minds of people to bring about change in the lives of people. Right? Then we see um the last one that we see is that whenever he ministered he ministered out of compassion, right? He had compassion on the people. Mark chapter 6:34 um it says okay when Jesus uh and Jesus when he came out he saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep and not having a shepherd so began to teach many things right and and so on. So and he ministered he ministered he had compassion on them and he served them he ministered to them. So this is also something that we understand like we don't minister from a place of being um you know from lack of compassion. We don't minister from a place of you know oh these people are ignorant they don't know anything. We don't minister from a place of pride or arrogance. Right? Sometimes that can happen you know oh I've learned so much I understand so much of the word now I'm here as an expert to share what others don't know right sometimes we can wrongly conclude those things right we can minister out of pride we can minister out of arrogance uh we can minister out of all that but the lord Jesus when he ministered when he served it was from a place of compassion he had compassion on the people and therefore he ministered He saw that they were needy. He saw that they lacked direction. And that's why in this place, you know, Mark chapter 6 talks about how he saw them as sheep without a shepherd and he had com compassion on them. So, we look at these nine things that in the life and ministry of Jesus, we learn, okay, this is how the Lord Jesus ministered the word. Okay. Any questions here? Anything that you I want to add? Any questions here before we move on? Pastor you mentioned about the using of the parables. >> Should we quote the parables only from the Bible or anything outside >> the Bible? >> Yeah. So, so uh primarily we can use the same parable if if it is relevant, right? We can use a kingdom parables and to share but a parable is a story. So if there is a story if there is a earthly story that can actually highlight and explain uh the truth that you're actually sharing we can use that know that is what um illustrations are for that is why that is what parables are for right so uh within that constraint right so just to prove that point we can do that um so the like I said you know the the flip side of it is that if you every detail of that story that parable if you're going to assign a spiritual truth you know then it becomes a wrong analogy. So that is something that for us to avoid but definitely by all means we can use you know parables in scripture and modern day parables. Yes. Any um any other questions online class also there anything right? So, so the question that would come to us is you know can we can you and I minister as Jesus ministered right so that's the question you know Jesus is Lord um and uh he did what he did by the power of the Holy Spirit he had the spirit of God without measure and which means the limit limitless and so he did what he did but can we minister in the same way you know is it even possible Right. So the thing is the answer is yes. Right. Yes. And um it requires something out of us. It requires sacrifice. It requires faith. It requires believing in him. And that is why the Lord Jesus John 14 and verse 12 he who believes in me the works I do he will do also. That is the reason he says right. The works I do he will do also. If you believe if we believe in him and the Lord says the greater works than these he will do because I go to my father. Right? And why did he say that? Because he goes to the father the works that he does we will do. Also the verse after that it says um whatever you ask in in my name I will do that I may be glorified in the son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. Right? And he says in verse 16, "And I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever. The spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you." So this is the thing because he goes to the father he's going to send the helper who is will be with us forever and the power of that helper the power of the holy spirit is what anointed and enabled the lord to minister the way he did and the same power the same anointing of the holy spirit is available for us to receive and walk in right and that is why the lord Jesus said he who believes in me the works that I do, he will do also. Which means that the Lord's expectation, the Lord's desire is that we minister the way he ministered, right? Out of compassion, you know, um out of um out of love, compassion, out of fellowship and intimacy with the father, all these whatever we learned just now, those nine things, everything applies, right? So it is as a minister of god as we prepare you know we we we can look at it and say okay this is something that I have to follow right this is something that I that I need to put in place in my life if it's not there I need to put in place am I seeking the father am I you know getting an understanding am I walking closely with the lord these are things that I need to ask and put in place right okay okay Um let's uh look at chapter 8 maybe just the few first few thoughts and then uh we'll stop. Okay. So when we when we are called to minister God's word all of us right. Uh there are some things that are mentioned as we are called to be ministers in the new testament or in the new dispensation. There are certain things that apply for us. There are certain things that the Lord has given us, right? And we need to be mindful of that. Okay? So, let's look at this. Now, the Lord Jesus, right? He ministered, he became flesh. Uh, in fact, the L the John's gospel says the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Right? The word became flesh and dwelt among us. Is referring to Jesus as the eternal word. Right? So, Lord Jesus, he became a human being. He was anointed by the spirit. He had emotions, right? He had feelings. He had emotions and um he spoke uh the word of God. In the same way, you know, we also as his representatives, right? We have emotions, we have feelings, right? So that does not mean that just because we are human beings we cannot take the word of God or we cannot communicate the word of God. Right? So if you look at the word of God you know this that phrase word of God what does it mean right? Word of God. It means the word that was spoken by God. The word that is originated from God. Genesis chapter 1. And God said, "Let there be the word of God." Right? And the Lord also tells the prophet Jeremiah, "Open your mouth. I will put my words in your mouth and you will speak and you will bring down nations. You will root out. You will establish." Right? The word of God. So the word of God in the mouth of man is still the word of God. Right? So it doesn't change, it doesn't lose its power, it doesn't lose the quality if it is through a human being, a human being who's a vessel, right? A human being who is not perfect, a human being who's limited, but it still carries that power and ability because it's the word of God. Right? And that is what prophety pro prophetic ministry is all about. Right? We are inspired. We are quickened. The word of God is given to us so that we can speak out, right? The prophetic word. So even though we might be vessels, right? Vessels that are not perfect, vessels that have emotions, feelings, etc., we are not impaired in any way, right? We need to make sure that [clears throat] our flesh is worked on, right? that we become vessels of honor in his hands. Okay, we'll just close this this one verse, right, which is um um yeah in the book of James. Okay, so we see here cleanse is drawn near to God. James 4:8. Draw near to God and um he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, your sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning. And it's about repenting, right? And your joy to gloom. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up, right? Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. Okay. So this is what uh we are called to do to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord because he will lift us up to to to cleanse to receive that cleansing uh from God and he will lift us up. Right? Uh one more direct reference is 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 2021. 2 Timothy 2 20 and 21 says, "In a great vess great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but of wood and clay, some for honor, some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, right? Things that are dishonorable. If anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel." 2 Timothy 2 21. He will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the master, prepared for every good work. Okay. So, this is God's will for us as New Testament ministers of God. Um that we prepare ourselves to be a useful vessel in the master's hand, right? Prepared for every good work. Okay? So um this is something for all of us. Uh none of us is exempt from that. You know whether we are called for a certain kind of preaching ministry or not. It does not matter. It's applicable for all of us. We are called to be vessels of honor. Uh vessels through which the Lord can pour in and we can pour out vessels who can minister the word of God. Right? Okay. Fine. We'll stop here and we'll continue in our next class. Right. So we have stopped in chapter 8. We'll continue with this. Thank you.