The Kingdom of God and Kingdom Building | Lecture 11 : BC215-KOG&KB-20260918

All right, good morning everyone. Uh, welcome to our students online. Let's pray and we'll get into our lectures. Let's pray. Father, we thank you once again for this opportunity to come together and to study your word and to learn from your word. Oh God, what a privilege it is. And even as we uh join our hearts together to learn about kingdom lifestyle, pray God that if there are things in our lives that we need to uproot, Lord, we just pray your Holy Spirit will bring clarity, will bring direction, Lord, that we would truly apply all the principles that we are learning into our lives, into our families, for our ministries, and everything that you've called us for. We commit our lectures into your hands Lord in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Okay so last class we ended with chapter 5. Yes we moved into kingdom builders lifestyle and um I just go tell them to keep the volume down. No kingdom builders lifestyle right. Uh so firstly we said we talked about why godly character is important. Right. uh godly character, what it is, what is character and what is uh what why is character important? Uh then we looked at how character is developed. Remember very important we are not born with a good character. Character is something that is developed over the years. >> You either choose to have good character or you choose to have a bad character. Right? So character is something that's developed. Example, God places gifts in us but we need to grow in those gifts. So there are things that God has placed in our hearts. The book of Hebrews says he has placed eternity into our hearts. Right? So God places certain things. It is our responsibility to build our character. Okay. Um how we looked at few examples. We looked at Joseph, Daniel, how they had the power to say no even when uh trials and challenges were there. U and then we also looked at why character is important. Character, godly character is a prerequisite to kingdom ministry. So anointing and gifting are there. But remember this, your character protects your power, your anointing and your vision. Your gift cannot protect your character. But on the other hand, your character can protect your gift. Everyone with me right. Your gift maybe playing an instrument, maybe singing, dancing, preaching, teaching. These gifts cannot protect your character. But your character can protect those gifts that God has placed in us. Okay? So godly character is a prerequisite for kingdom ministry. If you and I are stepping into ministry, this is key. This is foundation. Hey, am I doing what I'm doing? Whatever I'm doing, the smallest task, am I doing it with the right attitude, with the right heart? Okay. Uh then your moral character is your true strength. Your character will shape the most important message you will preach. And we looked at 1 Thessalonians 15. Uh Paul writes sorry chapter 1 verse 5 and 6. uh he he says when I came in to preach the gospel it was not only through word right but it was through the demonstration and the power of the Holy Spirit okay um character determines your durability how long you stay your gift cannot determine how long you're in ministry or how long you are serving God your character right and then uh we briefly looked at spiritual maturity as important as spiritual gifting. Now what is more important spiritual character or spiritual gifting? Why? Why is spiritual maturity? Why is spiritual maturity more important? Tell me from your own understanding. Gifting is there. All of us have a gift here, right? And we have to grow in that gift. Whether it's music, singing, dancing, writing, whatever. But why is spiritual maturity more important? >> Spiritual maturity is more important because even the enemy has certain aspects of gifting. Like many people in the world can be gifted in different things, but if they're not spiritually mature, then it can be used for the kingdom of darkness. And also it's important like Paul says to grow in the spiritual things to not still be on milk but to um eat the word of the Lord to chew on the word and to growth. >> Yeah. And then we'll be able to steward everything the gifting well because it can be >> used for the wrong reasons or maybe our heart is not in the right place. So if we're spiritually mature then we know we're worshiping God. >> Yeah, that's right. I think the key word I would take from all of what you said was steward it. You wanted to say something. You want to share something? Go ahead. No worry. Say what you want to say. Nobody's wrong. Okay. You can >> like uh you asked like why uh spiritual uh spiritual uh maturity is important. So like is because uh if we have if we'll have uh spirituality materiality then we'll uh complete will we can fulfill the uh purpose or the gift we have >> because uh >> like uh uh sorry no problem. So you're saying if you have spiritual maturity, you'll be able to fulfill the purpose that God has for you, right? Very true. Because listen, gifts and talents can take you up the ladder. It's your character that keeps you there, right? And yes, last class we looked at that verse where Jesus says, you cannot take old wine and put it into a new wine skin. You cannot have an old character and then say okay these are the new gifts that God and then you try to mix them together it's just going to burst right so it's very important that the wine is mature it's good your character strengthen and then you so always always at a young age no focus on dealing with character don't focus on your You have a gift. That's good. Spend a lot of time in your gifts. Learn, right? Learn to improvise and build and strengthen your gifts. But do not neglect building character. Do not do that mistake. Okay? Because yes, God is a faithful God. You know, because of your gifts, he opens doors for you. opportunities will come which we don't really deserve. But when this opportunity comes, your character is what's going to keep you strong then. You get what I'm saying, right? Yes or no? Some of you don't feel like you're agreeing with me. No, pastor, gift is important. Yeah, gift is important, right? But this is what will sustain your gift, right? Everyone with me? Okay. So let's look at seven characteristics of spiritual maturity. Okay. Number one, spiritual maturity is growing in Christlikkeness. Matthew 5:48. Let's read that. which will be perfect. >> Now the word here perfect means spiritual maturity. Jesus challenged us to be fully grown people who are mature of full age. Now he's not talking about 80 years old, 90 years old. No, he's talking about spiritual maturity. Now what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you say spiritual maturity? like okay very good understanding what else those online have been very quiet if you'd like to share also what is what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you say spiritual maturity wisdom being sound in the word sorry root of the spirit okay knowledge of the word yeah all this This is right. All this is right. What will all these things do? Wisdom, understanding, fruit of the spirit, knowledge of the word, you know, being mature in the word. What does it do? What do they do? Oh, sorry. >> It prepares us for ministry. But more importantly, not only for prepares us for ministry, it brings us to a place of spiritual maturity. So the way we look at situations changes. Okay. Example, say some of your friends make fun of you. Okay. You're a believer. Some of your friends make fun of you and you're just 6 months in the Lord. What will you do? What is the most common response? Get upset. Okay. Anger. Then retaliate. Want to say, "Hey, how come this guy or the other the other thing we do is just don't say anything, stop talking and then start crying the whole day." But they said this to me or they they commented about me. Now two years in the Lord, same response. Somebody makes fun of you. What will you say? >> Forgive. Okay. Forgive. Okay. What else? Same. Huh? Same thing. Your six months in the Lord. Somebody made fun of you. get upset. Hey, how can he say that? How can she say that? You don't want to talk to them. The whole world has changed. Someone has said something about you. Now, two years into the Lord, what what should your response be? Yeah, that's what I'm waiting for. Those of you who didn't hear it, it was I'm not bothered. meaning, hey, these things are not going to affect me cuz I know as long as you know you're in line with God's word, you have nothing against them. You have nothing to say to them. But hey, I'm no more drinking milk. I'm eating the word of God. What does Jesus do? Shakes the dust off his feet and moves on. What should you do? There's no dust. just move on. Just move on. Don't even think about it. Don't waste time on it. Right now, there will be times that yeah, there there will be people and I've gone through it in leadership where people may say some things to you and it really hurts you. Right? So that's where true maturity starts. All these people saying, you know, small things, forget it. But when people say things against you openly, that's very hard, right? Um maybe it could be your preaching something that you have worked on for many years and then you say, "Hey, you're not good enough. You're not, you know, you're not doing this." How do you deal with that? What do you do? That's the real test. Say, "Okay, how am I going to deal with this? Um I have to deal with it in maturity, right?" Okay. Number one is spiritual maturity is growing into Christ. Ephesians 4:13. Let's read that. >> Not the knowledge of the son of God to be to a perfect man to the measure of the structure of the fullness of Christ. >> Right. Just use the mic so that those online can hear. Okay. We're all we are called to grow up in all things into Christlikkeness. Spiritual maturity basically is what would Jesus do in this situation, right? What would Jesus do? Uh how would how should I react to this situation? Uh maybe you know all of us are aware that you know we have maybe lost a loved one in our life right and it is one of the most painful things that we can go through losing a loved one right and how do I deal with this as a believer we have a hope but the emotions the pain is real lost a loved one you can never see them again you can never talk to them again it's real and those those are the times when we need to dig deep and say okay God whatever deposit is in my heart uh you know help me to use that to bring out the best bring out maturity to deal with this situation now we're not saying don't don't cry don't feel sad no all that is there but how am I going to deal with this okay God I'm going to look at the bigger picture I know the pain is real. The sadness is real. The loss is real. The grief is real. But I thank you for your word. I thank you for all that you have deposited in me. Now is the time I dig it out and I say, God, help me to walk in maturity, to think the right way, to speak the right thing even in this season. Right? So we are called to grow up. All areas of our lives must be aligned to who he is. Christ must be made manifest in all areas of our life. This is what God is working to accomplish in us. Even as we journey with God, we must keep this as our focus as Bible college students stepping into ministry or whatever God is calling you for. The number one responsibility for us is to be more Christlike. Now if we look into our own lives, there may be many things that are not Christlike. So we begin to work on it. Don't question yourself, am I good enough? Am I spiritually mature? Now if you want the heavens to open and say no, you're not spiritually mature, then we have to work in it. Work on it, right? you know certain areas hey I'm not mature in this area I have to build that area of my life right maybe hey I'm not mature in terms of reading the word I can just read maybe 10 minutes a day not enough so I need to grow in that area I'm not mature in terms of for example you know uh how to minister to people I don't know what counsel to give sometimes right has that ever happened to you People come and say no there's a problem I'm going through and you don't know what to say right it's okay don't feel bad hey I don't know what to say maturity will come but for that I need to get into the word I need to pray I need to ask wisdom from the Holy Spirit maturity will not come automatically right if we want to grow into Christ likeness we got to know who Christ is we got to who's Christ it's all written in this word book of Hebrews says He has revealed himself. The son has revealed himself through his word. Read the word. You'll know who he is and we'll be able to walk in maturity. Right? Colossians 1:28 and 21. Him we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Now, everyone understood this word perfect, right? It's not no okay it's not the perfect we're talking about okay I am a perfect human being there's nothing we're not talking about natural earthly perfection we're talking about spiritual maturity right that spiritual level of maturity he wants us and till the second coming of Jesus till the rapture till we are taken up we will be m going to be made perfect. Everyone understand this, right? So don't think, oh, I'm not perfect. No, none of us are. We're not talking about perfection in our work, perfection in uh the way we teach, preach. No, he's talking about spiritual maturity. That's why the word there uh teos is a spiritual maturity. Okay. Verse 29. To this end I also labor striving according to his working which works in me mightily. This is a goal of every Christian ministry to present each person mature and adult in Christ. Now when you start ministry maybe you start as a small group leader cell group leader what is your goal? What must be your goal? If you are a cell group leader and you have five people in your cell group, I'm saying cell group. We call it your life group. You have five people in. What is your goal? Teach them to help them grow in the word. Very good. One sign of a good leader is how many raisers he leaders he raises up. >> Yes. Good. Our goal even if it's one or two people is not oh I want this many people thousand 5,000 people in church yeah that's good but the bigger picture we are not able to hear you Check. Can you hear us now? Okay. Sorry. I I guess that was a something just it's a loose connection. Okay. So my goal, your goal should be how can I take this person maybe who's a baby in Christ and bring them to this place of maturity. Now it's not like you're spoon feeding this baby, right? You're there to help. You're there to support, but you're there to give counsel, but there's a there's a responsibility on their end, right? They you can tell somebody, "Hey, read the word and pray." Can you do it for them? No, you can't do you can't do it for them, right? You can tell them, "Read the word and pray." You can uh you can encourage people to, you know, pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Can you give it to them? Can you you can encourage people? Hey, the Holy Spirit can speak to you. He can minister to you. He uh No, this is what the word says. Can you help? Can you get them to talk to the Holy Spirit? They have to do it on their own. So, our responsibility is to be there, nurture them, develop people, help them to grow into their calling. And here's the most beautiful part. Sometimes, you know, when in this whole thing of mentoring and ministering to one another, people begin to recognize they have gifts that they didn't even know about. So, hey, man, I didn't know I'm good at this. I didn't know that I can, you know, share the word so well. I didn't know I can prepare a sermon. I didn't know that if I read the word in a certain way that you know I I can understand it in a more in a in an easier way, right? Uh or I didn't know how to read the Bible, but there's a there's a certain way that you shared it with me and it's helped me and I'm reading it that way. And small things, what are we doing? We're bringing them to a place of maturity. Now of course there will be correction, exhaltation, rebukes has to it it's all part of the process. Did Jesus exalt his disciples? Yes or no? Did he rebuke them? >> Yes. >> Ah did he rebuke the Pharisees and the Sadducees? >> Did he love them? Yes. Did he did he encourage them? Did he only keep them as his servants? What did he say? Go two by two now. Whatever you've learned, go and start teaching. And picture this. Picture the disciples saying, "Okay, what did we what? There's no book. There's no New Testament." Imagine the disciples, they've gone to one place. See, we are followers of Jesus and we just want to share the message of the kingdom of God. What a probably they whatever sermon they've heard Jesus speaking they're just saying the same thing and then they said okay we're going to pray for healing anyone wants healing they came what was the report when they came back the disciples came back master in your name the sick are being healed demons are being delivered all of these things are happening in your name they didn't understand they were not spiritually there yet they didn't understand how it's just the name that we But after that, after Pentecost, they understood. It was no more a normal thing. It I mean, it was no more like, "Oh, God, you're doing this." Because it became a normaly. Their spiritual maturity just shot up to a greater level. The moment Jesus resurrected, came and Jesus, you know, showed himself to them. They realized now for us, we've got the word. They've got the word. Don't say I want Jesus to come and meet me. You read the word. He'll come and meet you. Right? Just this word is more than enough. How long are we spending time in the word of God? Okay. Let me ask you this morning, how many of you read the word? How many minutes? One hour of the word. Very good. 30 minutes. 15 minutes. Okay. Now, what did you learn from that? Did you learn something? Did you make a note of it? Yes or no? >> Yes. >> No. So, start making a note of what you read. Have a book with you. Write it down. Right. Okay. You read. Very good. Write down something that even if it's one sentence, that's enough for the whole day. It's enough for the week. That one sentence can keep you going for the whole week cuz you read it. And that can be in your heart, in your mind the whole time. And that can be a catalyst to bring you to spiritual maturity. Right? Remember, God can use just a couple of words. The Holy Spirit can use just one verse to keep you going for a whole week. That's the power of his word. Now, don't say one verse so next week, no more reading the word. No, you go back, you read, right? And keep growing in maturity. Spiritual maturity is being perfect and complete in all the will of God. Colossians 4:12, If Apheras, who is who is one of you, a born servant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Now, let me give you a context, okay? Um Paul. Okay. By the way, how many of you have done the assignment that I've shared on the Apostle Paul? I think only Loit you have done it. Anyone else? You're waiting for Christmas. Next week I want it. I'm not going to ask you. If you don't give it to me, then I'll talk to you personally. Next week I want it because it's been what? Four, five weeks now. How many weeks is it? 2 weeks. 3 weeks. Yeah. 73. 21 days. 21 days. You should have fasted and give it to me. So, next on next Friday, I'm on the assignment. All of you doing it. Yes or no? >> You have no choice. You have to do it. Now, tell me the context of Colossians 4:12. Now, you know why you have to do that? Okay, good. In Paul, he's in Corinth. He sends Epapharis and he says go to Coloss. They go to Coloss and the church is started there. This is the only church where Paul does not go there. But Ephus comes and meets him. Now think of this saying here Paul is writing. He's saying Ephas who is one of you a bond servant of Christ greets you always laboring fervently for you in prayers. What a testimony to have. The apostle Paul is say Apheras your leader in Colasse he's laboring for you in prayer right in every area we are to be fully aligned to the will of God we need to be fully grown fully developed with nothing lacking no shortfall in the will of God for our lives in every area be fully aligned to the will of God now you may say what is the will of God for me I don't No, I don't know what's the will of God. But what's the So always remember there are two things. There's this common will that we all grow into maturity and there's a personal will where God has a plan and a purpose for you and they both are especially the personal call it takes time right sometimes we don't know and along the journey God reveals it to us and we step into our calling but as we progressively surrender and bring all areas in alignment to God we know we're growing up in spiritual maturity it. So how can I do that? When we pray in the morning, say God, I'm aligning my thoughts, my will, my purposes, my dreams, my visions, my future, my finances. I'm aligning it to the will of the father, to your will. So help me to think even when I don't see what's happening, no work, nothing is happening, there's no changes, everything looks the same. But Lord, help me to align my will to you. That's something that should be our prayer every day. We don't align our will, what will happen? Many things will come to our mind, right? many ideas, many thoughts. It may look good, but it's not aligned to God's will. You get what I'm saying, right? So when we pray, we say, "God, align my will to your will." Jesus did that so beautifully in the garden of Gethsemane. He said, Lord, he said, "Father, if there's a way, let this cup pass by." Yes or no? He said, "Let the cup pass by. I I can't do this. I don't want to do this but let not my will let your will be done. That's a powerful statement. If what if go the Lord Jesus stopped there and he said if there's any other way and he had stopped there there wouldn't have been a cross he was obedient to death even death on a cross right so aligning our will it could be difficult it could be a sacrifice there could be pruning cutting it's going to be painful and uh it's good for us sometimes it's the mind right sometimes times it's things around us. Money, money can be something that can take control over believers and I've seen it in so many place. So many believers, right? Money just comes in and they they're thinking only about money. How can I how can I do now? Nothing wrong in saving keeping for your future. But it should not control your life. How can I align my thinking regarding money, regarding the resources around me, regarding my purpose, my plan? Everything you align it to the will of God. Everyone with me? Yes. Okay. Spiritual maturity is being utterly equipped for every good work. 2 Corinthians 13:9 and 11. Let's read that. Oh, we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray that you may be made complete. Finally, brethren, farewell become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace and the and the God of love and peace will be with you. Amen. Now from this verse we learn that as believers we must pray to be fully equipped. So there is a responsibility on our end to equip oursel right. So I must do things as a believer. I must learn how what are things that I should do to equip myself. Right? For example, as a teacher, I know that I cannot keep sitting on last year's revelation or what I learned last year. I have to be up to date. I have to learn. I have to read right and keep reading, keep learning, keep right. So this month I started um this month on the book of Ezekiel. So I was I'm doing a case study on the book of Ezekiel from from you know from the cultural background historical background getting into chapter from chapter one and learning right now there are some things we must do our responsibility to build ourselves up to equip oursel right uh yes we pray uh but the point is what can I do to equip myself so that's why I always encourage each one of you may not be encouraged but force some of you to read to not you know to always get in do something that can build you up. Read outside of the Bible. Read books. Of course your Bible is your main source but read books. Read other material that can build you up. Right? Don't say, "Oh, okay. Class is over. Done for today." No, no, no. You've got to equip. There's a responsibility. Yes or no? Right? Listen, I'll tell you. After Bible college, you will have no time. You won't have time. Either you'll join a job, you join ministry, you'll not have time. And you'll feel, oh, there's so much I want to do, but there's no time. Now is your time, right? Start equipping yourself. Equipping happens when you take the first step. Trust the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will teach you. He will guide you. He will uh he will work inside you. Right? Begin to speak to the Holy Spirit. These are things we must do. Okay? One of the functions of the five-fold ministry is to thoroughly equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Ephesians 4:11 and 12, we see the five-fold ministry. Why are they there? They're not there just for show or just so that we can fill up spaces uh of leadership in ministry. No, they are there to equip the people. Next point, spiritual maturity is having ability to receive the solid meat. Hebrews 5:11-14. Let's read that very important. And then let's read 2 Corinthians 6 and7. >> For whom we have much to say and her heard to explain since you have become dull of hearing. For though my by this time you out to be teacher, you need someone to teach you again and the first principles of the oracles of God. And you have come to need milk and not soil food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is un unskilled in the word in the word of righteousness. For he is a is a babe. But soil food belongs to those who are of full age. That is those who by reason of use have their sense exercised to discern both good and evil. >> Okay. Now the writer of Hebrews is talking about two things milk and solid food. Now in the natural a baby drinks milk. What will happen if you give a baby solid food? It can't digest. It can be it can rather choke the baby. The baby's lungs can get damaged. It's not meant for the baby at all. Even if you force the baby, put it in, it can damage the baby's lungs. It's it's not good. Right? Now, once the child is growing slowly, you give it semi-olid food. Right? Now, from semiolid, slowly they start getting teeth and then you give them okay something a little bit more solid and then there'll come a time they'll be able to eat solid food. Now, same thing applies in the spiritual. Tell me, let me ask you this question. What does it mean here? When he says the ability to receive the solid meat, what does that mean? What do you think it means? >> Okay. Spiritual maturity. But receive the solid meat. How do Yeah, spiritual maturity. But how do I receive that solid meat? Now for example uh we don't you don't know anything like a believer doesn't know about revelations and it's not easy revelation there's so much to you know all these things happening in revelations um but the believer this young person you know he's a new believer he wants to learn about revelations okay so what must he do what are some of the things he must do to be able to receive that solid meat. Now, he's not sitting on parables, miracles. That's okay. He's received it. He already knows. Okay, Jesus is Lord. He's done these miracles. But now, we're going into deeper stuff, going to revelations or you're going to the Old Testament sacrifices to the Old Covenant, how they point to Jesus. How can a new believer receive this meat? Now, you know, it's not it's not simple stuff. It's you're going one level higher. How do I receive it? Just give the mic please. >> Firstly, the curiosity to learn and >> curiosity to learn. Okay. Just break it down. First, >> I have curiosity to learn. having going to like a a a class like how we have weekend schools >> going to a class curiosity learn going to a class >> where someone's teaching it well and then having fertile soil in their heart to receive the word okay >> so even if it's something that's uh difficult to understand I think if they have a willingness to understand the things of the kingdom maybe they may not understand everything But a lot of it can still the Holy Spirit can still work in them even if they're new believers because of that desire to understand the things of God. >> Yeah. Yeah. All all three good points. What else? What else do you feel that a young believer must do if he has to learn end times? Now firstly, is it important to learn end times? >> Okay. Now this young believer doesn't know right he's maybe six seven months but he's interested to learn about end times and it's meat this is not simple stuff so what you said is good pointers what else someone Joshua says work towards understanding the word of God better by seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit okay very good yes work towards understanding the word better by seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit Okay. Anyone else? Yeah. >> Um maybe understanding the the basic aspects of faith first because revelation is kind of something that's really difficult and challenging for people. I mean it's something that people may have to go through in the future. It's heavy material and kind of can be >> basically being mentally prepared as well like okay there there's going to be a lot of things that I have to and also faith is what you're saying >> having a strong foundation of who Jesus is and whether >> yeah that's also good because the Thessalonians were way suddenly they said some people came in and said Jesus has come rapture is already done so Paul had to sit down and explain the whole thing okay what Sorry own ability. Very good. I was waiting for that. All this is good. You have to go search one Bible open to revelations and start reading it. Okay. Your own ability. You put in your mind you. So you okay you open revelations you begin to read. Now the moment you start reading okay seven churches now what must I do don't just blindly read so you know okay if I have to understand this I have to find out what are these seven churches about go back these are seven real churches during the time when John was writing this around 8080 AD 890 right real churches where is John writing this from what's the context what's happening there so so the spiritual m this this milk will become word as we put our own mind and then yes of course we depend on the Holy Spirit we but we have to do it we have to get to it right if I don't start off how will the Holy Spirit speak to me right so I need to okay if I open the book of revelation okay seven churches let me go back go to Google check what are these seven churches where are they located all are in Asia Minor all seven churches in Asia Minor real churches and he's talking to these seven churches what is he there's something here and then you make notes. Okay, so you've understood the first two chapters. All of a sudden now chapter 2 onwards suddenly Jesus is coming into the picture meaning this glorified Jesus chapter 4 onwards all the way to chapter 28 till the end it's about things to come. So then you know there's more effort you got to learn so much more read outside of this Bible read commentaries right it's a it's our own ability also so spiritual maturity how can we do how can I receive the solid meat I must be willing to do I must be willing to let go of things distractions sit spend time in the word yes right so that This is why I keep telling you what you learned in first year, you should have doubled up by now in second year. In second year as second year students, if we are still wondering where Paul is and how what he did in his missionary journeys, I think that's that means we are still drinking milk. Yes or no? Now tell me if I'm wrong. Yes or no? Right? Because this is just acts where he went, what he did. There's no big, we don't need big supernatural understanding or the Holy Spirit to come and reveal. It's all there. Missionary 1, 2, 3 journeys, it's all in the book of Acts. Just have a read it. And and so that's why uh as you grow always look back and see am I growing in what I'm doing right and the more you're growing the more you're reading you'll be able to receive the meat of God's word and then things that are complex suddenly you'll be able to understand okay spiritual maturity is having our senses trained to good to discern good and evil everyone say discern you know what is discern to know what is good and evil. Hebrews 5:14, but the solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern between both good and evil. Now the senses is the soul, the mind, will and emotions. Remember the Holy Spirit as a person uses these five senses in us to minister to us. Okay? So I won't go into that but your soul that's your mind will and emotions have been tempered by the truth and they are constantly working with so so has to become trained in knowing what is right and what is wrong. We have to train our our soul, our mind, will and emotions. Example, simple example, everyone know it's wrong to steal, right? Stealing is wrong. You know it in your mind. You know in your heart, okay, stealing is wrong. But what about other stuff, right? What about things of the word? When I'm maybe listening to the word, right? Or maybe um I remember this once u I was listening to a powerful sermon, okay? It was about David and Jonathan just listening this random sermon on YouTube many years ago 2017 something and I was listening to I'm not watching the video but listening to the sermon and this preacher wonderful church big church good famous preacher and he was preaching and uh as he was preaching suddenly he started saying you know David and Jonathan are not really If you look at it, three out of five times, example, three out of five times only Jonathan knew where David was. And every time David was hiding, Saul found him. So he was implying in the sermon that Jonathan probably went and told his father, "David's hiding there. Go attack him. Now the more I was listening to this sermon, it sounds good. No, it does it sound good? Sounds good. Good friends. But but first comes father. No, my dad is the king of Israel. He's attacking. He wants David's head. So three out of five times only Jonathan knew. And every time David was hiding, Saul, King Saul found David. So he ended the sermon saying Jonathan was not really a true friend of David. Now if we are not matured, our senses are not able to discern, we will believe it. Now tell me as a king of Israel, he's got about 40,000 odd soldiers under him. How long will it take to find a man? Right? Think of it. Send 100 soldiers here. 100 soldiers here. Where will David go? He's in one of those caves. That's all. He's somewhere there. You can find him. But to say this, what'll happen if we're not discerning? Another sermon, a terrible sermon that I heard was this man said um during the preaching, only if you give your tithe, God will heal you. Only if you give your tithe, if you honor the man of God, only then will your healing come. Only if you give to God and of course everyone say this and I I wish I could speak to these pastors. Elisha the last the widow at Zerapath had very little. She made the dough made something and gave it and so you also whatever little you have you give it to the law give it to the master give it to you know the leader of the church and then you will never lack. What is our context? Right? If we're not discerning, we'll end up in problems. Right? Okay, we'll take a break. Come back. We'll talk a little bit more about discerning because I want all of us to develop a discerning spirit in our lives. Okay, let's come back.