Minister’s Foundations | Lecture 12 : BC101-MF-20260916

Welcome back everyone. Uh so Sri L has a question here. Ma'am, what about people who are pushed out of families due to faith or faith issues or due to narcissist families? So any kind of families, any kind of situation, you know, it's not about, you know, who the people are, it's about our attitude towards them, right? So if they are you pushed out from your family because you believe in Jesus then you need to exercise love and patience and you know forbearance uh just like Jesus does towards us and also forgive and show them Christlike love and when you do they are going to experience God. How are people going to experience God's love and forgiveness? only when they see God's love and forgiveness exhibited in and through you. Yes or no? Right? So you can you have to leave the family but you don't leave with grudges or hatred or you know shouting or screaming or fight leave in love. Keep in touch show love and even narcissist families is very very difficult. you have a spouse who's a narcissist also very difficult but you know God's grace is more than sufficient uh for us and I think love covers a multitude of sins and it's even when you see Jesus for the Samaritan woman the woman caught in the act of adultery anyone even when he healed people it was out of compassion and love so when we do that we are actually uh doing what God asked us to do the greatest commandment is love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. You're following that and when you do that, God would work on your behalf. Right? Some battles we can't fight with people. I, you know, I lead teams. There are people who are difficult in teams but I always tell God I don't have the time and energy to fight them because you're already having so much of work to do so many things to do so many responsibilities. I told God, I always tell God that I don't have the time and the energy to fight them, right? I can see things they are doing, talking, behaving, attitudes, but I say God, you just deal. This is your vineyard. This is your kingdom. This is we are just ministering. You need to work on my behalf. So God works. He either changes them or he brings them up and they are pulled up for their bad attitudes or God quietly takes them away and I don't have to fight with them. I just concentrating I just concentrate on keep the unity and the oneness of the team that is very very important. Okay. So I think when we do that God works beautifully on our behalf and he just fights the battle for us. I hope that helps. Okay. So, we are on page number 42. >> P. Thank you. Page number 42, chapter 4. We're looking at things to keep in mind even as we position ourselves. What is the first one? What is the first one? >> Be willing to let go. Okay. Second one. Be willing to step out into the unknown. Uh the be willing to let go. Lot's wife is an example. You know Lot. Who was Lot? Abraham's >> Abraham's brother some. >> Yes. [laughter] So sweet. Yeah. His uncle, Lord's uncle was Abraham. Okay. So, we see that, you know, God was going to burn down Sodom Man Gomorrah. And what does he tell uh Lot and his family? Do not turn back. But what did Lot's wife do? She doesn't want she's not willing to give up on Sodom and Gomorrah, her friends and her past. See, and that causes a big uh you know is is an end of her life. Okay. What's the second one? Be willing to step out into the unknown. Third one. >> Be careful. Please look at page number 42 everyone. Be careful how you enter and leave. Fourth one. >> Be open to change. Uh fifth one. >> Before you move, make prepare for it. Okay. The sixth one is what? >> God can use the actions of others to position you. Sometimes God can use other people's actions whether they are good or bad to position you for his purposes. Now some of those people can be well-meaning. Some can be helpful while other people can be very difficult. They can do things that are wrong that can hurt you. But God can still use you to shape our character and move us towards his plan. So let me give you an example from the Bible. Joseph. Okay. Joseph, was everything going well for Joseph in his life? No. His brother sold him as a slave. He worked hard in Portifer's house, but he was falsely accused. And where was he thrown? Into prison. From prison, God raised him up to be the prime minister of Egypt. Second only to Pharaoh. Okay. So we if you look at Joseph's life there was a series of setbacks and failures but these setbacks were actually stepping stones to his success. So what did God do? God used all of those hindrances, those setbacks, those negative circumstances to position Joseph exactly where he needed to be. Okay. So what can we learn from this? How can we apply this in our life? Even when people speak against you, when people criticize you and or leave you with negative feelings, just ask God, God, how are you using these things, the situation to position me and what do you want me to learn? Right? In my life, I have faced a lot of criticisms, a lot of backbiting, people saying she's like this, he's she's like this, she does this, like this, you know, but I've always heard them out. I've heard those criticisms, those negative feelings, those negative attitudes. But what have I done? I've never said, "Oh, he or she is bad. You know, they don't know. I'm better. They don't understand." I've always tried to look at what is a truth in that. If there's some truth in what they are saying then you know I I correct myself and I've seen that through the years I have become a better person listening to people's negativity criticisms accusations you know even the false things that they say quest I question myself did I really do it did I really mean it did I really behave like that and it you know I correct myself so it's not like I'm the best but I have seen myself grow and improve as a result or of all of those things. So personally, I've always learned to listen to feedback even from those people who don't like me and I've seen I've improved myself. Sometimes their words contain truth which I need to hear and I need to correct and they may intend to hurt me but I am willing to learn. I'm willing to change and God can use criticisms to help us to change to mature and to grow. Okay. So God can even use the bad for our good to turn around for our good. So you know that is what it says God can at times use the actions of other people uh you know to position us right. So even if people say your boss says you know work hard you have to do this and you're putting long hours of work you are sad you're disappointed but God sees your effort he uses that to raise you up to the position that you want to move ahead okay so don't be negative don't be uh grumbling and murmuring just take things as they come be wise ask God to lead you and guide you and God is changing you and moving you up amen what is the seventh One, be strategic. Don't wander aimlessly. We must not drift through life aimlessly. Instead, we should always ask God, how are you connect uh correcting me? Or how are you connecting my current season to your greater purposes? God, what are you doing in my life? How are you building your kingdom through me? How are you raising me up to be a kingdom builder? How are you extending your kingdom in and through my life? Show me God this difficult situation that I'm facing. What do you want me to learn God? How do you want me to correct myself? What are the things that I'm not doing right? How can I be like Christlike to others? So the all of those things can really help us to learn and move up in life. Amen. So in any career whether you are a teacher, you own a business, you're a pastor, you're a chef, you're a youth pastor, you should ask how can I be better in this role? Right? What new strategies can I use? How is God using this season of my life to prepare me for the next? So think, God, I have to get up at 5:00 in the morning. I just don't like it. But you can say, God, how are you preparing me, you know, to use this for the next season of my life, right? or even whatever area you're struggling with, say, "God, how are you preparing me and I'm just willing even though it's difficult, give me a right attitude and show me, God, change me, God, prepare me for what you have ahead of me." And God is going to use that and prepare you and build you so that he can use you mightily. What is the eighth one? >> God is greater than our mistakes and he can reposition us to do his will. Any of us here perfect? No. Right. Do we all make mistakes? Yes. Is God greater than our failures, our mistakes? Can he reposition us? Yes. Okay. Look at Jonah. God told Jonah to go where? Yes. Instead, he ran in the opposite direction. Even after his rebellion, did God abandon him? God give up on him? No. After the storm and the fish, Jonah still ended up in Nineveh to fulfill God's call. Right? Look at Moses. Moses made a mistake that cost him 40 more years of his life in the wilderness. But by the time he came, did God reject him at the age of 80? No. He sent him to deliver the people of Israel. And he sent him with this assurance that I will be with you. Amen. So sometimes we can make the wrong choices. Maybe leaving a job too quickly. Maybe we don't like this college. We go to another college. Maybe you don't like the people here. You move to some other you know college. You make decisions that you regret later. But even then when we repent God and we turn back to God, he can graciously bring us back on course and fulfill what he has for us. Okay. So if you didn't remember anything in this lesson four, there's one thing that you can pray. You can say, "God, help me to position myself in the right place at the right time, doing the right things so that I can fulfill your plan and purpose for my life." Amen. That's some pray a prayer that you can make even if you don't remember anything in chapter 4 because some of you are falling asleep and um you can just pray this prayer and say God position my me in the right place at the right time doing the right thing so that I can fulfill your plan and purpose for my life. Amen. >> Any questions? Any doubts? No questions. Doubts. Okay. Okay. Chapter five. Then online students, any questions you'll have? Okay. Chapter five, the prize of the high calling of God. Okay. So, as you and I go about fulfilling God's purpose for our life, we must understand that it is exciting. It is the best part of our life, but there is also a price to pay. So tell your neighbor, be ready to pay the price. And please tell yourself, be ready to pay the price >> because it's not always going to be easy. How many of you like the words suffering and sacrifice? [laughter] Nobody. Okay. We don't like the word suffering and sacrifice. And most of the time we don't want to suffer and sacrifice. Yes. Reata. No, I just wanted to say I like suffering and sacrifice because I've done much. >> You like suffering and sacrifice. >> I've done much. I've gone through certain things. >> You've gone through a lot in life. Okay. So, you have seen suffering and sacrifice as part of your life. Yes. So true. Some of us are have been there are there now and we know it. Okay. So most of the time we don't like suffering and sacrifice. But the truth is if you want to live out God's plan and purpose for your life, if you want to do everything God has called you to do, there will be times when you will there will be suffering. There will be times when you have to make sacrifices. Okay? So a life of for God is not devoid of these things. Even Jesus said in this world you will have tribulations and trials and persecutions. So Jesus also said it's not going to be easy. Right? So when we go about fulfilling God's purpose for our life, it will cost us something. So look at what Jesus said in Luke 14 27 on top of page number 43, chapter 5. Read that quickly please everybody. Luke chapter 14 27. So if you're going to be a disciple of Jesus, there's one thing that is going to be part of your life. And what is that? What does this verse say? What is going to be the cross? Yes. So how often do you have to carry the cross? Huh? Daily. Yes. Not weekly, not monthly, not seasonally, not yearly, but daily, right? Every day. Okay. Your life, your life as a disciple involves around carrying the cross. Now, the cross denotes three things. What are the three things? When you look at the cross, what are the three things that comes to your mind? Sacrifice. Okay. Huh? Pain, suffering. Yes. salvation. Okay. Uh love, yes. But here we're going to focus on three things in context with what we are studying. When we look at the cross, it can denote three things. Suffering, separation, and sacrifice. The cross is a place of suffering. So when we look at the cross, we see how much Jesus suffered for us. The cross is also a place of suffering. A separation sorry. Why is the cross a place for separation when yeah Jesus took on the sins of the world. He who knew no sin became the became sin for us. He took on the sins of the whole world and at that moment he was separated from the father. So for us the cross also separates us from the from what? The cross for Jesus separated him from the father but the cross for us separates us from what? >> Sin world. Yes. Separates us from the world. Good. So look at Galatians 6:14 on top of page number 43. Please read that everyone. So here Paul is saying through the cross the world loses its attraction. Right? Are we attracted to the world? Yes or no? >> Honestly yes. All of us are attracted to things of this world. So things of this world will no longer draw us and you know that will not be anymore a longing for us and something that will attract us and no longer please us because of when we carry the cross. Okay the cross the third thing is also a place of sacrifice. Why is the cross a place of sacrifice? What does sacrifice mean for us? When do you say I'm making a sacrifice? >> When you give up, >> you're keeping others before us. >> Yes. >> Putting others before us. >> Yes. Sacrifice can mean two things. When you give up something that is precious and valuable or when you give up something that you have a right to. Right. Okay. And also when you take up something that you don't have to like Sri Lata said. So the sacrifice can mean giving up something that you have a right to. Okay. And taking up something also that you don't have to is also a sacrifice. So let's look at an example. You know Paul uh we look at Paul as an example for sacrifice. Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 5 that he had the right to marry a believing wife. Did Paul have a right to marry a believing wife? >> Yes or no? >> But he gave up that right for the sake of the gospel. So that was his rights. He had the right to marry but he gave it up for the sake of the gospel. Okay. Also as an apostle, Paul did he have the right to live from the offerings of the people he ministered to? >> Yes, he had the right to do that. But he gave up that right and instead he worked as a tent maker. You know he was a businessman. He did tent making business and he did that to support himself and his team so that he would not be a burden to anyone. So here we see that Paul was willing to give up something that he had a right to and he took up something that he didn't have to. He took up this business even though he didn't have to. Okay? So that he doesn't trouble anyone. You're able to understand? Yes. So, look at what uh Paul says in Philippians chapter 3:7. It's on page number 43. Everyone, please read that quickly. Philippians 3:7. What is Paul saying? Paul is saying his background. Who was uh Paul before that? Paul was a Jew. Yes, he was a Jew. He was a Pharisee. He was a very learned man. Studied the Old Testament from very learned people, learned scholars, you know. And so he's saying his background, his learning, his status is he says is all a loss compared to receiving Christ. Amen. everything he counts as loss you know in comparison to what he has received in Christ. Okay. So those are the three things uh what uh the cross denotes for us. It denotes suffering, separation and sacrifice. Okay. Now what does it what did Jesus mean that we need to carry our cross daily? When Jesus said in John chapter 12 verse 24- 26, look at John chapter 12 page number 43 again. Quickly read that please. So what does carrying the cross daily mean here from this verse? It means what? From these verses. We have to die to what dear? To the self. Yes. We need to die to the things of this world. We have to die to sinful passions, ungodly habits, worldly ways and selfish desires. And what is a path to fruitfulness? If that that grain falls to the of wheat falls to the ground, what should it do? It should die first and then only it gives life. Okay? So the path to fruitfulness always requires what? Death. The path to fruitfulness requires death. So if you want to be fruitful in life, you have to die. Die to what? Die to the to the things of this world, ungodly habits, passions, desire, selfish desires. Okay? And then you will be fruitful. Okay. Sid is saying what does hate his life mean? Hate is life mean basically hate the ungodly things the worldly ways that you're living selfish desires the the sinful passions you know uh that is what we need to hate in us and we need to love things of God righteousness holiness purity those are the things that we need to love okay so we all want resurrection power yes or no yes or no we want God's resurrection power to move and work mighty in us But there is no resurrection power without death. There's no resurrection power without death. Right? So every time you die to yourself, you are actually preparing yourself for resurrection. Every time you're dying to yourself, you're preparing yourself for fruitfulness and resurrection. Amen. Okay. So if you turn to page number 44 there are uh different types of sacrifices that are mentioned. Three types of sacrifices. What is the first sacrifice? Daily sacrifices. Okay. These daily sacrifices are small but essential sacrifices. So what are the daily sacrifices that you and I have to make? What are daily sacrifices you have to you and I have to make? Come on. Yeah. Not to choose sin. Say no to sin. Yes. Say yes to God. Say no to the world. Say yes to God. Sorry. Do things that are right even if you don't feel like. Yes. What else? Being humble. Sacrificing your sleep to pray. I think all of you do that 5:00 in the morning. Sacrificing entertainment to read God's word. You know, loving your spouse, your family, your colleagues, your children even though your people in the hostel even though they are difficult. Okay. Forgiving, showing compassion, being merciful is another sacrifice that each of us have to make daily. Right? also overcoming temptation, gossiping about others, backbiting, retaliating, doing tit for tat, treating people badly, anger, all of that those things that we have is something that we also need to make a daily sacrifice. And I think all of you also have to make a daily sacrifice of not sleeping in the class lectures. Okay, that's something that it's a daily sacrifice. I'm just joking. So these daily sacrifices actually shape our your character, shape my character and prepare us for bigger sacrifices. What is the second kind of sacrifices? Life sacrifices. These life sacrifices are bigger than the daily sacrifices. So what are some of the life sacrifices? What do you think is the life sacrifices? Bigger life sacrifices. Some all of you are making bigger life sacrifices now living your leaving your good jobs to serve the Lord to be a missionary leaving the comfort of your home inerson students to come and study in the hostel some of you washing clothes eating the food here waking up so early okay so leaving a comfortable life to serve as a missionary or answering God's call to ministry or leadership you know moving to a new city to fulfill fill God's plan and purpose for your life. All can be big life sacrifices, right? So like Abraham leaving his homeland, Moses taking on the leadership of Israel. Did Moses enjoy that job? No. He said, you know, these people are wearing me out, God, you know, I got tired. Hudson Taylor, you know Hudson Taylor, the missionary that who goes to >> mainland China. Yes. So those days uh China was not like how it was now very difficult terrain you know William Kerry came to where West Bengal India you know he his wife's health collapsed she became mad his children passed away his printing press got burned in spite of all that this man just pursued the call of God and did so much in printing those Bibles in those languages es and all of those things. Great man of God. Great things that he did, but he had to make a lot of sacrifices. Please read some of these missionary stories. It will really motivate your life and will look at your present circumstances and situations as nothing compared to them. Sometimes when I'm grumbling and whining about my own life, I I read these people. I look at these people's life and I look at you know what sacrifices that they have made and it just pulls me up. What is the third kind of sacrifice? >> Spiritled sacrifice versus >> flesh sacrifices. Now what does it mean? It means that not all sacrifices that we make are God orained. right now. Some of you can be in Bible college, but you are here just because you I'm just saying, don't take me wrong. You might be here because you didn't have any anything else to do or you wanted to run away from your circumstance in your family or your home or your situation, you know. Uh so it's not God's calling and that's why you are you're just here because you want to do something. Okay. So not all sacrifices are God orained. Sometimes people can be in ministry because their parents push them into ministry because their dad is the pastor of a church. He wants his children to be there. They are not interested. So it's not God orained. So some sacrifices are not God ordained. So for example, some people see others leaving their job and going into ministry and they imitate them without God's call and they struggle there. They bear no fruit and they even regret. Why? They're not the right place at the right time doing the right thing. Okay. So, how do you know if your sacrifice is spiritled or fleshled? How do you know if your sacrifice that you're making is led by the spirit or led by the flesh? What should you look for? What did Jesus say? >> Yes, your fruit. Very good. You know, by your fruit you will know them. If you also want to know if somebody is a spirit-led person or a flesh-led person, you know, you look at the fruit. So what should if it's a spiritled sacrifice, the fruit will be transformed lives. Your life will be transformed. You will make a impact in the kingdom of God. You will grow in the calling of God. If there it's a flesh sacrifice, there will be no fruit. Okay? So if it's God's call, there will be lasting fruit and there will also be blessing. Amen. >> Okay. So that is chapter um five. We've come to the last chapter, chapter six. You might be wondering why I am rushing. You know, it's because I have two more big books to complete in this course. And also if you are not looking in space and following you can see that I'm not just following the notes but I'm just giving you a lot of extra content. So it's not that I'm just you know doing something but doing something with a good uh this one with extra you know um notes and everything and it's the thing is why we are running so fast is because we have two more big books to finish. Okay, we have uh receiving God's guidance for your life and code of honor. We have to finish that by end of November. Okay, so let's look at chapter six. Before that, any questions please? Any doubts? Okay, the last lesson. Uh what is the last lesson title? Finishing your course. Okay, finishing the course. This is not finishing the course. We [laughter] have we have lots to finish. Okay. Miles to go before we sleep. But uh yeah, but this is the last lesson for this book. Okay. So Paul compares a Christian life to that of an athlete in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 24- 27. Okay, it's not there in I'll just read it out for you. So, can somebody read it if you have 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, please? 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, please. Do you know not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus not with uncertainty. Thus I fight not as one who beats the air, but I discipline my body and bring it to subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. >> Amen. Thank you. So here Paul is comparing our Christian life to what? To whom? Athlete. Yes. Who is an athlete? Competes in games. Yes. So you know uh earthly athletes train and you know they train with strict discipline. Yes or no? Why? Because they want to get one medal. Sometimes when you look at the Olympics, there are so many people who come they spend years of their life just training hard and hard and hard and when they lose, they can see them crying because it's years of hard work and labor and it's not something easy. But comparing to the race that we run in Christ Jesus, you know the athletes run for a race that is they might not get a prize but we run that if we finish we will get a prize. They run for an imp perishable crown but we run for a they run for a perishable crown. Sorry. And but we run for an imperishable crown. Okay. So athletes train with strict diets, hours of practice, intense discipline just for one medal. When they do that, how much more should we discipline ourselves for eternal prides? Sometimes when we look at the attitude of people when they come to Bible college, it is so sad because you know you show the same attitude when you go to study in degree college or medicine or engineering. you won't show this kind of attitude, you know, the way you sit, the way you sleep in class, you know, you're disinterested, the way you come, you know, all of those things. It it is so sad. It's because anyway, it is a theological college. You know, what is it? You know, anyway, we're going to serve God. God just accepts us. Grace, we take it so lightly, right? We're not interested. We don't even spend time reading the material. We don't even spend time uh you know equipping ourselves learning and I just look at some of you you just sit like this sleeping you know you're not writing your notes you're not following your Bibles your books are not open it's such a sad attitude and I'm thinking now if you do this somewhere else it's not something that will be appreciated you will be just sent off right but we do that because we think we can do anything and everything in the Bible college or in the house of God or with the things of God, right? And that is such a sad attitude and is something that God is going to hold us accountable to. Hold you accountable, hold me accountable too, right? So if I also come here and teach, just come, you know, take this book and just read it. it's so easy for me rather than spending hours in preparing and upgrading my notes and teaching with you know some kind of enthusiasm and zeal because I'm not doing that for y'all but I'm doing it for God right so you know we take things of god so lightly and so simply and it is so sad okay so we see that you know um uh it's important that not only how we run the race but how we finish the course. Okay. Uh so look at what Luke 14 27-35 says. Can somebody read that? Read that dear please. It's on page number 46. And whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you intend to build a tower does not sit down first and put the and count the cost whether he has enough to finish it least after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish all who see it begin to mock him saying this man began to build and was not able to finish or what king going to make war against another king does not sit down first and consider whether He is able with 10,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20,000 or else while the other is still a great way off he send a diligent and ask conditions of peace. So likewise whosoever whoever o of you does not forsake all that he he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost his flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the >> dungail, but man throw it out. He who has here to hear, let him hear. >> Thank you. Amen. So Jesus is teaching us here that we must count the cost in the beginning of our journey. For example, if you want to build a building, what will you do first? Uh, you will see what how much it costs and whether you have that money, right? So, you first the builder first sits and calculates and if he has enough resources to build and start and to finish. Okay? Now, when a king is going to fight uh another army, what does he do? He sees if he has an army equipped enough, strong enough to fight the the the king that is coming against him. Okay? So, think about what will it take to become what God has called you and me to be. Okay? Don't rush into it blindly. So for example, if you feel in your heart God has called you to be a chef or a teacher or a professor, you know, or a doctor or a engineer or businessman, you know, God can certainly use you in those areas. But you must go through that preparation process, right? You must know whether I I wanted to become a cardiologist, cardiac surgeon. So when in my 11th and 12th standard I studied science and you know they give us fish and cockroach and all that to do the sections right and we have to bring out the the nervous system the digestive system and I was not I would not cut properly. I would not be able to do anything properly. I would squash up everything all of my specimens use five six and finally the lab attender said you have run out of your kota for I cannot give you any more. And then I realized that if I become a cardiologist, I will cut people's veins and arteries in the wrong place and they will die. I realize that I'm not very good with my hands. So let me do what God wants me to do. And I asked God and he showed me what he where he wants me to be. Okay. So we need to, you know, um uh think about the cost and we must learn what it takes to actually become that. It's not enough to simply declare God told me to do this or God told me to do that and then rush off. If you do that, you will begin to do things carelessly and you know it'll easily fall apart in a few months and you would have discovered that's not your purpose but and you would have discovered that you have not yet prepared for it and you are not doing what God has called you to do. Okay? So if you're not prepared, you risk failing the task and you're losing out completely or you're starting something and you're going to leave it half finished. So the question is how can you finish your race successfully? The first thing is what what is there in your book? Planning, right? Some uh look at what Jesus says in um uh you know in in Matthew uh Jesus says you know that uh do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Okay. Now many Christians take this verse to mean that they should not plan for the future. God told us not to plan for the future. But is God telling us here not to plan for the future? No. What is he saying? Planning and worrying are not the same. What is Jesus telling us here? Don't worry about tomorrow. Is he saying don't plan for tomorrow? No. Right. So planning means thinking through when, how, where, what, and answering all these questions. Okay. And actually does the Bible encourage us to plan Yes. Is our God a God of plan and order? Yes. Okay. So, look at what Proverbs 4:26 says. It's on bottom of page number 46. Everyone quickly read it please. Proverbs 4 26. What does ponder mean? To think deeply. to think honestly about the direction that you are going. Look at Proverbs 6 verse 6 to8. Can you read that please? Everyone quietly on top of page number 47. Proverbs 6 to8. Who is God talking about here? >> An ant. And what does it say? Does the ant have a leader, a captain, a ruler? No. The ant has no external guidance. But yet, what does it do? What does the ant do? It plans for its future. How does it plans for its future? It knows that winter is coming and it prepares ahead of time. It stores for the winter season. So God is saying, "Look at the ant. So small but yet so wise, right? Consider its ways and be wise like that ant." Let's read Proverbs 148 and verse 15 also on page number 47. Everyone read that please. Proverbs 14 8 and verse 15 as well. Who is a prudent person? Somebody who sensible, somebody who's cautious, practical, careful. So a prudent person carefully evaluates the road that he is going to take and he asks where is this path leading me to? Is it leading me to fulfill God's paran purpose for my life? If yes, then that person will continue on that road. If no, then a prudent person will wisely choose another path. Okay. Again, talking about prudent person, look at what Proverbs 22:3 says. Everyone, please read it. Proverbs chapter 22:3. So here it's saying a prudent person who is a wise, sensible, cautious, practical person is a person who has foresight. That means he's able to see the dangers ahead and take precautions. And so the Bible gives us clear instructions that we must look ahead and we must plan for the future. Amen. Look ahead and plan for the future. So how to effectively plan for your future? There are some things that you can do. You can write down your plan. You know, you can write down your plan for the next one year or two years or 5 years or 10 years. Pastor Ashish makes his life plan in 10 years. You know, he writes down his plans, what he wants to do the next 10 years. And then he says, God, this is my plan. Yeah, I know this is all what I have in my heart, what I think, but I'm just God, I'm bringing my thoughts. I want to align my will to your will. I want to submit to you. You change wherever is needed and I'm willing to adjust it. Okay? So, some of you needn't have to make 10ear plan or fiveear plan. You can make a one-ear plan and just say, "God, the next one year, these are the things I want to do. Maybe I want to learn this language or need this instrument or this game or finish reading the Bible or you know equip myself for ministry or start ministry or get married or whatever. You know, sit down and write your plans. Now, expect the unexpected. Be prepared that when you submit your plans to God, there will be heavenly interruptions. Sometimes God's plan differs from our plans and we must be flexible and adjust to God's timing and direction. Okay? And the third thing is we need to plan according to the spirit and not the flesh. So when you put write down your life plan, your plan for next one year, 5 year, 10 year, you can ask the holy spirit. Look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 15 and to 17. Can somebody read verse 17 please? It's there on page number 47. Just verse 17. Can you read that? Therefore when I was planning this did I do it lightly or the things I plan do I plan according to the flesh that with me there should be yes yes yes and no no >> amen thank you so Paul is saying when he plans that does he do it carelessly does he do it in the flesh he plans according to the spirit okay so we see in his second missionary journey I'll give you an example go uh Paul had plans to go back to all the places that he went during his first missionary journey. But when he goes there, you know, he goes to the region of Galatia, the Holy Spirit reveals to him and shows him a man from Macedonia and the Holy Spirit tells him, leads him to go to Macedonia. Okay? And the Holy Spirit redirected him and Paul and Silas followed the spirit's leading and went wherever God asked them to go. So they took the gospel from Asia into Europe and also parts of Africa. Okay. So that is what we need to do. Sometimes we have our plans but the Holy Spirit will redirect us and we must be open to it. Jesus also promised us in John chapter 16 verse 13. Can somebody read that please? John chapter 16 verse 13. What does it say? >> We can't hear you dear. >> However, when he the spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak and he will tell you things to come. >> Amen. So the Holy Spirit gives us foresight. He shows us what lies ahead. He helps us in planning for the future. Okay? So we don't worry about tomorrow, but we plan and prepare ourselves for what God has in store for us. And we it's important that we balance the spiritual and the practical. We'll stop here. Okay, we'll continue next week. So, there is a question from Janet Thomas. When will we have our first assessment? So, Janet, if you clearly read the course uh introduction and the course thing that I have put up in the uh in the in the Google page, okay, that is the the course introduction. It clearly says that after we finish this book on um you know fulfilling God's purpose for your life, I will give you the first assessment. So I've not finished it. We'll finish it next week and then I will suggest dates and then I will give you the assessment. Okay. Ma'am give some work for online students also. I don't give any work for our in-person students. uh Sri L your work for the online students you please read this book listen to the lecture and I think the biggest work is there is so many things that you can learn from these lectures and you know make it part of your life and practice it okay yeah thank you everyone for joining class I will meet you next week have a good day bless all of you thank You