Minister’s Foundations | Lecture 10 : BC101-MF-20260909

Okay, welcome back after break. Just before we went for our break, we were looking at the eighth guide post. Okay. Um that is recognizing the times and seasons and we are now going to move to the ninth guide post. Okay. Recognizing what is the ninth one? Recognizing >> God's pattern of working. Okay. page bottom of page number 26. Now look at what on page number 27 on top of that top of the page is 1 Timothy chapter 1 15 and 16 and Paul is writing that this from his Roman imprison uh when he was imprisoned sorry when he was imprisoned in Rome when he knew that he is going to die soon and he encourages Timothy okay so look at what how he encourages Timothy okay Read quickly Romans 1, sorry, 1 Timothy 1:15 and 16, please. 1 Timothy chapter 1:15 and 16. So he's encouraging Timothy who's going through various hardships in the city of Ephesus as a leader. And Paul is telling him to endure. And look at what Paul says. What does Paul tell him? He says, look at my life. He's telling Timothy, Timothy, look at my life, Timothy. You know, uh, look at my life as a pattern. And what is the pattern? I too suffered for the gospel and I endured and you know he's saying follow me. Okay, so that is what he's telling Timothy. He's telling look at my way of life. Follow my pattern of life. What is my pattern of life? I suffered through life but what did I do I endured and so he's saying follow me look at what Paul is writing about Abraham's life in Romans chapter 4 verse 11 and 12 you know he Paul gives us an example of Abraham now the Jews in Rome whom Paul is writing the letter of Romans believe that they had to keep the ritual of circumcision and Jewish laws to be made righteous before God. So Paul is telling them, you will not be made righteous by being circumcised or keeping the law. And look at how he explains that very very smartly, very very u you know very carefully, very well. He gives the example of Abraham. He says look at Abraham. Why is he giving Abraham's example? Because the Jews considered Abraham as their forefather. Yes. their father of their faith. Okay. So he says, "Hey, how was Abraham made righteous?" How was Abraham made righteous? What does Genesis say? >> Yes. Abraham believed in God and he was made righteous. Okay. And so after he was made righteous because he believed that's when God gave circumcision and that's only in time of Moses he gave the law. Yes or no? Yes. So what is Paul telling here? He's saying, "Hey, Abraham was made righteous not by circumcision, not by keeping the law, but by faith in God. He believed in God. It was credited to him or he was made righteous." So he's telling the Jews, it's not by circumcision, not by law. That is why Abraham received it later on. But before that, he was made righteous by his faith or belief in God. And so Paul is saying this and he's saying, you know, follow Abraham as a pattern. So he's telling them, hey, you will be made righteous by faith. And he's saying, follow Abraham's pattern. Okay. Another example that um we see here is uh you know um Job's life. Okay. James 5 10- 11 here is talking about Job's life. Okay. And um you know he points us to Job and he says his life is a pattern of what? Job's life is a pattern of what? What is Job's life? A pattern of what? What is a word that's endurance? Okay. Suffering, endurance, patience, and perseverance in trials. Right now Job Job suffered sickness, loss and hardship but he endured in his faith. So what is Paul what is James writing here and saying he's saying follow you know uh Job's example. He suffered went through loss sickness hardship difficulty but what did he do? He was patient he endured and he persevered. So that is the you know in his trials in his difficulties. So we need to also follow Job's life. Another example that is given here is in 1 Corinthians 10 5 and 11 where uh Paul is writing to the church at Corenth and he's reminding them of whom who's who which what kind who is he talking about here? The Israelites. Yes. Okay. What did the Israelites do? >> They did not believe. They compl they they continually murmured, complained, grumbled, and they disobeyed. And what was the result of it? >> Yes, death. Look at verses 5 and 11. You know, um their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. And look at what Paul is saying. What? Look at verse 11. He says, "Now these things happened as >> examples and they were written for our admonition." That means they were written for us for our correction for us to correct ourselves so that we don't follow the same thing but we learn from their example. We don't follow their pattern of disobedience. Instead, we live faithfully before God. So, how do we understand God's plan and purpose for your life? Recognize the patterns in your own personal lives. God works in certain ways that shows us his calling and his direction. Like in my own life, I told you right, I was never interested in children's ministry. I did not know I was going to do children's ministry as full-time ministry. I was more interested in counseling. But I know God gave me a love for children. Even in Bible college, God opened doors for me to minister in school and you know in the campus to children. uh the uh Sundays when I went to the church Sunday school that even when I went for my internship, God opened doors for me to minister to uh children. Okay. And even when I came back and I was working with youth for Christ and also with his family ministry, this is family ministry, but God opened doors for children's ministry. So you can see how God is orchestrating a pattern in my life and how he's shaping my calling through these opportunities or through these door those that he is opening. So when you look at patterns in your life that God is doing orchestrating or opening, you'll be able to understand his plan and purpose for your own lives. Okay. So these are the nine guideposts that um we looked at. Okay. Any questions on any of the guideposts? Now these are not just to be kept in this book. Okay? This is not just for head knowledge but is something that you recognize, you identify in your own lives and you will be able to know what is God's plan and purpose for your lives. Amen. >> Okay. Any questions? Any doubts? Online students, you can post your questions on the chat section. No questions. Okay. If not, we'll move on to chapter three, understanding God's preparation process. Page number 28. We need to understand God's preparation process. Now, before God takes us into fulfilling his specific function for our lives, he prepares us to fulfill that purpose. Isn't that wonderful that a loving God, you know, uh is so mindful of us that he does not just say, "Hey, take this is your purpose in life. Do it right." No, he not only gives us the plan, he not only shows us the plan, but he also prepares us. He enables us. He gives us the grace, gives us the anointing to help us to fulfill his calling and the task he has for us. So we need to get ready to fulfill God's plan and purpose for our lives. That means we need to allow God to prepare us. So tell your neighbor, you know, allow God to prepare you. Wake her up, my dear. Wake her up. What's wrong, my dear? You're not well sleeping the whole time. Okay. So we need to get ready to allow God to prepare us. Like even in the natural, right? You know, some of you wanted to become business people. Some of you are, you know, want to be in the your full-time ministry. That's why you're coming here. You're preparing yourself. You're studying. You know, some of you want to become doctors, engineers, chefs, pilots. So, you do you dream one day, I want to become a a doctor and the next day you take a white coat and a tetcope and go testing patients and giving them medicines. No. What do you do? You have to finish pass your grade 10 pass grade 12 write entrance exam for your MBBS study those long four five years you know whatever and then you you know go for internship then you begin to practice so even in the natural world when you want to qualify to do something you have to go through that preparation course you don't think when you're in sixth standard I like to become a teacher I like this teacher very much I like teaching The next day you don't come wearing a sari and start standing in front of the class and teaching right no you have to finish your studies you do your B mmed whatever qualify and then you teach in the same way you know uh you need to al when you do so much to prepare yourself in worldly things you know you also need to spend time to prepare yourself for what is God's plan and purpose for your life amen So what does God want to accomplish through the preparation process? I said when God prep uh wants to fulfill a plan and purpose in our lives, he takes us through the preparation process. So we can ask this question, what does God want to accomplish through the preparation process? Or what is he trying to do as he prepares me to fulfill his plan and purpose? So let's look at this beautiful verse on page number 28. 2 Timothy 2 19-21. All of you quickly please read 2 Timothy 2 19- 21 please. Now I like to focus on the last phrase. What is the last phrase? Prepared for every good work. So what is God accomplishing through the preparation process? The answer is in the last phrase. What is the answer? >> So that we can be prepared for every good work. Tell your neighbor, you need to be prepared for every good work. Each one of us needs to be prepared for every good work. Look at what Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10 says. It says we have been created in Christ Jesus to do what? Good works. Look at Ephesians 2:10. Okay. It says that we have been created in Christ Jesus to do what? good works which God planned ahead of time for us to walk in it. Okay. So what is God's plan purpose in your life? God's purpose in your life is not just to pass 10 standard not just to get a good degree. Not just to get married have children you know grow old and wait till you go to heaven. Okay. But he's created you for what? good works. And these good works, when did he plan? When did he plan his good works? >> Even before time began. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10. Okay. So, what should we do? Look again at Ephesians chapter 2:10. What does it say? What should we do? God has prepared us for every good work. But what should that he planned ahead of time but what should we do? >> We should walk in it. Right? But God has prepared good works for us. But what should we do? We should walk in those good works that he has planned for us. So tell your neighbor, be ready to walk in God's good work. It doesn't seem that you are interested. Okay. To walk in God's good work. Okay. Um so in 2 Timothy 2 19 to 21 which we just read, we see four essential things. The first thing is what does God want us to be? Vessels of what? Vessels of honor. Vessels means not banan or you know vessels that we see at home. Vessels means our bodies. You know vessels of honor. This means our lives, our bodies, everything about us should bring honor to him. So how we speak, how we act, how we treat others, everything should be bring honor to God. What is the second thing that he wants us to do? >> Be sanctified. What does it mean you're sanctified? >> Set apart for his use. So all of you are sanctified, set apart for God's use. Isn't that amazing that he has chosen you to be set apart to do good works that he has planned in advance? What is the third thing? >> Yes, he wants us to be useful or fit for the master's use. What is the fourth thing? >> He's preparing us for every good work. Okay. Now the first two things being vessels of honor and being sanctified has to do with who you are as a person. Okay, these first things first two things have to do with you know who you are as a person. The other two things being fit and being prepared for every good work has to do with what God does through you. Amen. It has to do with what God will do in and through your life. Now, God is not only interested in what you can do, he can do through you. He's first and foremost interested in you as a person. Amen. God is more interested in your character, in your lifestyle, in who you are as a person than he is more interested in what he can do through you. because he knows when your character is good, when your lifestyle is good, he can do things through you, you know, very very powerfully. So who you are to God is more important than what he can you can do for him. Okay? What who you are to God is more important than what you can do for him. Now very often you know we make the mistake on focusing only on what God does through someone. We say hey he's a great worship leader. He's a great worship pastor. He's a great pastor. He's a great prophet and apostle. He's a great teacher or she's this, she's that. Yes, those uh callings are important. But what God values most is our character. Who you are as a person. So God is interested in your character more than your accomplishments, okay? And what you do. So tell your neighbor, God is interested in your character. Now we all come from a very instant generation. Yes or no? We don't want to stand in the queue. We want everything fast. Fast food, you know, everything quick and fast. Okay. two minute 2 minute noodles everything you know just pour hot water the noodles cut it open and just eat it okay we just want things very very quick fast and immediate we don't have the patience to wait even if you're standing in the line we jumping over the other person looking over the other person right so when God takes us through preparation time you know it sometimes can take 5 years, 10 years, sometimes 30 years, sometimes 40 years. And we can ask God, what are you doing? You know, when will I start my ministry? You know, and God is saying, be patient, my child, you know, my preparation process is not yet over. So, you must you must be wondering when did God or who did God take 30 years, 40 years, 15 years, you know, to prepare them. So let's look at three examples in the Bible. Okay, they're on page number 29. The first person is whom? Moses. God supernaturally arranged for Moses to be brought up in the palace. He was trained with all the wisdom and knowledge of the Egyptians. And God trained him up to be the next leader, the deliverer of his people. But when Moses was 40 years old, the Bible says he recognized in his heart or knew he knew in his heart that God had called him to deliver his people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. But what did he do? He acted in the flesh. He killed the Egyptian to show the Hebrew people that he is their leader and he is their deliverer. And then he had to run away from Egypt. And it took another 40 year long delay. He fled Egypt. He escaped Pharaoh's wroth. And again after 40 years at the age of 80, God finally called Moses at the burning bush and gave him the assignment to go and bring his people out of Egypt. So you see it took 40 years of delay to prepare Moses again for his assignments because he acted in the flesh. So every time we step out and do things in our own flesh, our own carnal nature, our own desires or we are impatient, we delay God's plan and purpose for our lives. So Moses, it took 40 years in the wilderness, you know, for God uh to accomplish his purpose. That was not God's plan, but it was result of Moses's own choice. So even um you know, when mistakes delay God's plan, we see that God is still faithful. So when Moses returned to Egypt, you know, God delivered the people and fulfilled his plan and his purpose. Okay? So that's why we said you know God told Abraham that his descendants you know will be foreigners in uh you know in the land for 400 years and then he will deliver them but it delayed everything by another 30 years extra 30 years because Moses acted in the flesh or 40 years because Moses you know acted in the flesh and delayed God's timing. Okay. But even after that God was faithful. He took the Egyptians uh the Israelites out of um Egypt to the promised land. Okay. So disobedience carries a price and God's standard is clear that disobedience has consequences. Okay. Let's look at another example. David the shepherd boy's uh long wait. Okay. So we see that um David was 10 or 13 years old when he started taking care of his father's sheep. Okay. And um later we see when he was 17 years old the prophet Samuel anointed him as king. And for the next did he become king immediately at the age of 17? No. For the next six years, David was running away from King Saul, who was jealous of him and who tried to kill him. And during this time, David was living in the wilderness, living in the caves, far from his calling of being a king. So even in the preparation process, we see that God brought 400 men to connect with David and later on they became strong warriors and generals in his army. So everything that God does in the preparation process is used to train us um to correct us to connect us with people you know and circumstances and opportunities that will have a lasting lifetime effect. So preparation time is never wasted time. Tell your neighbor preparation time is never wasted time. Now when David was 23 years old, King Saul died. David inquired from God, God, what should I do? God tells him, go to Hebron. When he goes to Hebron, only one tribe, the tribe of Judah, makes him the king. And he rules as king for the next seven years only over just one tribe in Israel. And at the age of 30, all the Israelites came to David and made him king over the entire nation. So what age was David anointed as king? Age of 17. What age he become the king, full king of Israel? 30. So how many years did he had to wait? 13 years of waiting. Okay. So what do we learn from this? that God's preparation process can take time but it's intentional. In the meantime, God equips us, trains us, and positions us for the purposes that he has designed. Now, let's look at the other person, third person. Who is that? >> Saul also called the apostle Paul. Now, the apostle Paul was a very jealous Jew. He was very jealous, zealous for his faith. And when the Christians were rising, he went around persecuting all of them. You know, he would have been at the age of 30 or 31. And you know, he was somebody who was very very highly educated in the Old Testament scriptures. Okay? But look at what he's doing. He's going around persecuting all the Christians. And in his early 30s, he encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus. Okay. And after that we see that you know um uh you know he doesn't be the very next day he does not become this great apostle Paul. No, let's see what happens. After he encountered Jesus, he spent some time in Damascus preaching and teaching about Jesus. And then he was persecuted and so he ran away to Arabia, the desert in Arabia. And that is where he got many of his revelations. So he was not educated under the apostles like the disciples who were with Jesus. But it was during the silent time when he was he was run he ran away hiding in Arabia that God was teaching him and giving all the revelations that he later on writes in all of his epistles. Okay. So um many of us think that when Saul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus the very next day he became an apostle. That's not true. So we see that he spent so many years the three years in Damascus and Arabia just receiving revelations and after 3 years he went to Jerusalem for 15 days he was preaching there and the Jews recognized him as hey this was one of us a Jew who was persecuting the Christians now he's teaching about and preaching about Jesus Christ and they wanted to persecute him okay but we see that you know um um he runs away and he goes Paul goes to Tarsus and for the next 13 years he spends time in Tarsus. Okay. So the first 16 years after Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. The first 16 years are called the silent years of Apostle Paul. Why is it called silent years? because he was doing some preaching and teaching here and there but he was also receiving a lot of revelations. But at the end of the 16 years a man named Barnabas you know went from Antioch from the church in Antioch in Syria to Tarsus. He brought Saul to Antioch. Okay. And we see that Paul was preaching there for a year. And we read uh after 17 years we read in Acts chapter 13 that the Holy Spirit uh you know ministered to the believers or the leaders at the church in Antioch and they said separate for me Saul and Barnabas for the work of the gospel that I have called them to do. That's when Paul goes on his first missionary journey. So after how many years? After >> 17 years. So Paul had to wait 17 years after his call on the road to Damascus. So if you look at all of these individuals, Moses, David, Apostle Paul, we understand that the they had the call of God very early in their lives. Yes or no? Moses at the age of 40, um um uh David at the age of 13 and Saul at the age of 30. But it took several years later that they began to walk in the roles that God prepared for them. Okay. Moses had to wait how many years? 40 years. How many years did David have to wait? >> 23 years almost. And then 17 years in the life of King uh uh uh sorry Apostle Paul. Okay. So what is the point? The point is God is not in your in a hurry. Tell your neighbor, God is not in a hurry. >> We often want God to act now, but God is not in a hurry. He takes us through the preparation process to fulfill uh uh everything that he has for our lives to prepare us to get ready for every good work that he has prepared for us. But during this process he helps to helps us to discover his plan, his purposes, his gifts, his talents and his callings. Now there are two important things that God wants us to do through the preparation process. What are the two important things? Look at page number 32 please everyone. What is the first thing? >> Godly character. And what is the second one? >> Yeah. Maturity in all areas. Okay. So he wants us to develop godly character. Now what is character? Character is actually who you are in the dark. Who you are in the dark. That means who you are when nobody is watching you. When nobody is around you. What are you seeing? What are you thinking? What are you doing? That is your character. So if you really want to know what is your character, you need to think when you are alone by yourself. What are you thinking? What are you doing? What are you watching? What are you reading? Okay. So it is what you think, watch, speak, say everything in secret that God is interested in that. Okay. Now, can we fasten the preparation process God has for our lives? Can we make it fast? Yes, we can. If we walk in God's plan, if we have godly character, if we learn fast, obey God, we can quicken the preparation process. Right? We correct ourselves, humble, learn, you know, obey God, we can quicken the preparation process. Now, Jesus, look at what he said in Matthew chapter 9 verse 17. He says, "New wine must be put in new wine skins." Matthew chapter 9 verse1 17 says new wine must be put in new wine skins. Now what is Jesus talking about here not about wine to drink he's talking about wine here means anointing and wine skins means character. Okay. So if you want to receive new anointing you need to have new wine skins. That means you have to have new transformed character in the likeness of Jesus Christ in the likeness and the nature of God. Okay. Now gifts, grace, anointing comes from whom? >> From God. Yes. Character. Where is character built? Character is built here on earth. Now gifts are given in a moment but character is developed throughout your life. God can give you a gifts in a moment but your character is built throughout your life. Okay? Built throughout your life. Now God is more interested in your character than in your gifts and in your talents. Okay? So who you are as a person is more important than your abilities. Why? Because God knows that without character, your gifts, your talents, your anointing cannot sustain you, cannot keep you. You can get to the highest of the highest places. You have great skill, great talent, a great gifting, great anointing, but if you don't have the character, it will not help you to keep in that place. Okay? So without character gifts cannot sustain you. You can become a pastor, minister, a CEO, CEO of a big company. You can be a successful business man or woman. But without character, your gifts cannot keep you in those heights. It will bring you down. Character is what produces perseverance through tribulations, difficulties, and perseverance produces hope. That is what the Bible says. Okay. So uh look at what Psalms chapter 51 verse 6 says. Top of page number 33. Okay. What does God desire? What does God desire? Psalm 51:6. Truth where? >> Inward. >> In your inward being. So God looks at your heart not just your outward behavior. Amen. Okay. What is the second thing that God uh you know takes us through in the preparation process? Maturity in all areas. Now God wants us to grow mature in all areas not just in a few areas. Look at what Ephesians chapter 4 look at verse 13. read verse 13 only and read verse 15 as well. So only 13 and 15 you can read on page number 33. So it says that we need to come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the son of god to become a perfect man. That means to become a per mature man or woman and come into the fullness of the nature of being in the fullness of Jesus Christ. Okay. So we need and it says here we need to grow up in all things. Okay. Ephesians 4:15 says we need to grow up in all things into him who is head that is Christ. So we need to grow in all areas of our life in our relationships in our giftings in our callings in our obedience and in in in every other more area that is there. So growth into godly character and maturity is not something that happens overnight. It is progressive. It happens step by step. Growth Godly character, maturity is progressive. It happens step by step. But we need to also remember that it requires hard work. It requires saying no to certain things. Yes to things that are right before God, honoring before God, being diligent, being sincere, being faithful even when no one is watching, right? Because God is watching us. So we must be faithful in all things. So even as we grow and obey God, he entrusts us with greater gifts, greater anointing because he knows that he can trust us with those greater gifts and greater greater anointing because we are growing in godly character and we are maturing in all areas. Okay. Now if you look at some people's life you will see them more gifted more anointed than others and what do we do when we see them we get j of them right we get jealous of them or we get angry and say how can God bless him or her more than me but you need to understand that that person is growing in his and godly character growing in their m maturity in all areas and they are growing in obedience and in favor and the fullness of God. So even when you do that, you will also grow in your giftings and in your anointings. Amen. >> Amen. >> Okay. So how does God prepare us? Look at page number 34. How does God prepare us? First one is what? >> The word. >> The word. If you all know 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17. Yes or no? very familiar scripture. Okay. How does God word what does God's word do for us? It inspires us. Okay. What else does it do? It trains us. It corrects us. It instructs us. And it prepares us for every good work. Okay. So, when does God's word prepare us, train us, correct us, and prepare us for every good work? Not when we just read the Bible for the sake of reading the Bible, but we meditate on God's word. We keep God's word in our heart and mind. And God's word speeds up the preparation process. What is the second thing that God does to prepare us or use to prepare us? >> The Holy Spirit. Right? So the Holy Spirit sanctifies us and changes us. So one of the works of the Holy Spirit is sanctification. He transforms us, change us, changes us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. He tells us what is right and wrong but will not force us. So it does not mean that the Holy Spirit's work is sanct, sanctifies us, cleanses us and purifies us. It doesn't mean we just sit back and then the Holy Spirit just keeps doing his work in us like a machine does. No, it's the extent that we allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify us, correct us, change us the extent he does that work in our lives. So we need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. We need to tell the Holy Spirit, sanctify my heart, my mind, my lips, my eyes. But if you say holy spirit if you if you continue to live the way you want to live then the holy spirit is not going to force you. But the extent you are willing and desire that god cleanses you changes you purifies you that's the extent the holy spirit sanctifies you. So the more you yield and submit the more the holy spirit purifies us and helps us to grow more like jesus. What is the third thing uh uh you know does that God uses to prepare us? Other people. Look at what Proverbs chapter 27 verse 17 says. What does it say? As iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Amen. So here we see that you know each of us can sharpen each other. Okay. Are all of us perfect? No. But God uses imperfect people to sharpen imperfect people. Okay? So God can use other people to speak into your lives to train you to teach you and you can learn from one and other. So even as you're staying in the host hostel I was going to say hospital even as you're staying in the hostel you know or with your families they might not be perfect people but God can use them to correct you to change you and to train you al okay now God can also use what is the last one life experiences okay uh he can use life experiences why does God use life experiences. Look at uh Romans chapter 5:es 3 and 4 on top of page number 35. Romans chapter 5:es 3 and 4. Okay. Why do we what happens when we go through difficult times or why should we or sorry what is the importance of going through difficult times? What does the Bible tell us? What does tribulations or trials bring about? Produces what? Perseverance. Perseverance does what? >> Character. >> And character brings hope. Amen. Okay. So, the Bible tells us that trials produces perseverance. Perseverance. Character. And character hope. Look at what James admonishes us or encourages us in James chapter 1 verse 2 and 4. Read that quickly please. So when you go through problems and difficulties what what does James say? What should you count it as? Joy. Not be sorrowful. But what do we do when we go through trials, difficulties and problems? We're sad, disappointed. But he says, consider it as joy. Why? Because when we go through all these trials and difficulties, what does it produce in us? >> And >> it strengthens our faith. And faith produces what? >> Patience. And patience does what? makes us perfect or mature complete lacking nothing. Amen. >> Okay. So when you go through problems and difficulties from now on don't be sorrowful. Be joyful because it's going to strengthen your faith. It's going to produce patience. Patience is going to make you perfect. That means not perfect in the sense like you don't have any sin or you won't have any problems but it'll make you mature. That is a Greek word for perfect is mature and you will be complete lacking nothing. Okay. Now some of us don't want to go through problems. We run away from problems you know. So for example if you have a troubling boss a difficult boss you know what do we do? We leave the job you know and run away. But wherever you go you will have a another boss who will also be difficult. Okay. Now if you leave APC Bible College saying that you know there's lot of rules a lot of discipline here the same thing will await you elsewhere wherever you go wherever you go there's going to be discipline there is going to be rules so life is not easy anywhere so if we jump out of God's preparation process it'll only delay things for us what is your name please yes yours Sam you got your answer to your questions Okay. So, you know, it'll only delay God's preparation process because God will take us through it until we learn. Amen. So, allow God to prepare you. Difficult times are meant for us to grow in our patience and in our walk with God and our faith to be strengthened and to be made complete. Look at Hebrews chapter 5 verse 8 and 9. Everyone can read that quietly, please. How did Jesus learn obedience? Through >> suffering. So when you go through suffering, what will you learn? >> Obedience. So if the son of god himself had to learn obedience that way then why should you and I think that we can learn it in any other way. Right? So when you go through suffering you will learn obedience. Okay. Now when God is preparing us what should we do? Look at page number 35. Okay. What things should we keep in mind as we go through the preparation process? What is the first thing? Cooperate with God. Ask him, God, what are you trying to teach me in this season? What are you trying to accomplish? What do you want me to correct or change in my character? Okay. Do not walk aimlessly just waiting for the problem to pass. Ask God, God, what do you want me to do? What do you want me to change? How should I look at this? How do I get through this? Teach me. When we are willing, God speaks and teaches us. What is the second thing? Attitude matters. Have you heard this saying? Your attitude determines your altitude. Your attitude determines your altitude. That means what? for always grumbling, complaining, avoiding hard work, you will not climb up the ladder of success or go higher because success requires what? Hard work. Success requires perseverance and endurance. If you have a wrong attitude, it will keep you low. Okay? So if you want uh you know to move up you have to have the right attitude and for God attitude matters. Your attitude matters a lot. Okay. What is the third thing? Consistency is where the power is. Look at what Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse1 15. Can you read that quickly for yourselves please? bottom of page number 35. 1 Timothy 4:15. So how do we achieve progress? What does Paul tell Timothy? >> Yes. By committing yourself fully. That means by being consistent in what God has asked you to do. Now some of us, you know, when we start, we start very excited. We start strong when we come first to Bible college. We enjoy studying God's word eagerly. But la later on we lose consistency. But consistency is very very important in your character, in your commitment, in your faithfulness, integrity and honesty. Being consistent is very very important. Okay. What is the fourth thing? Being faithful in little things. And then God will promote you to greater things. So God is now watching how you are. You might be just a student, right? But God is watching how you're using your time, how you're using your talents, you know, how you are uh the uh and the investment that this Bible college is making into your life, God is watching that. So everything God is watching how you are attending the lectures how diligent sincere you are how you are studying you know whether you're preparing yourself how are you studying the using the study materials the word of God even the food that you receive even the way that you're using the the facilities in this campus everything matters to God so when you're faithful in small things God will open doors in greater things so when you step out at APC Bible college and you are expecting God to do great things and he's not doing great things then you need to understand maybe you have not been faithful in the little. You need to be faithful in the little. That's the principle for God's kingdom. If you want to progress in God's kingdom, if you want to do great things in God's kingdom, you need to be faithful in the little things. That's when he will step you up into greater things. Amen. Okay, we'll stop here. We just have one minute or any questions? Any doubts? Any questions? Any doubts? Please take time to read, you know, and apply things in your life. Okay? Let it not just become a lecture, but please read and apply it in your own lives. Any questions? Online students, all of you have been very quiet today. No questions. Okay. Thank you, Ambassador. Any other qu No one. No questions. No doubts. Okay. If there are no questions, no doubt, we'll end class. Thank you all for joining class. Have a blessed day and I'll see you next week. Thank you. Thank you.