 Waiting for the recording to get started, recording is started. Greetings and welcome to our weekly mentoring hour. Let's begin this time with a word of prayer. Can I request John Paul if you could pray so that we can start the session with. Sure. Father we want to thank you for this time. Lord we pray this morning as we come before your presence to learn from your word more and to clear our doubts about we pray that you would speak to us and let your word be revealed to us in its fullness God pray for all the faculties pray that they'd be able to help us understand your scripture in a better way. Lord let your Holy Spirit lead us and help us to walk in authority walking according to your word God. Thank you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Thank you John. Let's begin this session. And today we have Pastor Selina Makvana facilitate the discussion and over to Pastor Selina. Thank you Diana. Shalom everyone. Praise the Lord. Trust all of you are doing well this morning. Hope you had a good night's rest and feel fresh and strengthen to face another new day. So we just I think have three students who joined us. John and Avini and Herbert. John already has put his questions. Okay. Welcome all of you to the weekly mentoring hour and during this time we you know address your questions questions that you have regarding your personal journey or walk with the Lord can be questions from the Bible or from the course that you're studying. You've studied in the past you're studying presently any doubts you have please feel free to type your questions in the chat section or you can unmute your mics and ask your question. Thank you John for the questions. You have two questions here. The first one is from Matthew chapter 9 verse 28. Why did Jesus ask not to share to people the healing of the blind man? Okay. And the next question is from Matthew chapter 10 verse 9. What would have been the reason Jesus said not to take even two coats of sandals or a staff. We learned in biblical interpretation class that it doesn't apply to us but what would have been the reason behind Jesus asking this. Okay. Thank you for your questions John. We'll answer the first question we have our pastors and our faculty here to address your question. The first one is from Matthew chapter 9 verse 28. It says why did Jesus ask not to share to the people the healing of the blind man? So can one of our faculty answer that please? Matthew chapter 9 verse 28. After that verse 30 actually. So it reads and their eyes were open and Jesus certainly warned them see that no one knows about this that part. Okay. So one of our faculties like to answer this. Anyone? We don't know for sure, but we could, I guess we could make an intelligent guess or try to look at it from a logical thinking because although Jesus never stated on many occasions he told people not to go spread the news only on in the case of the demoniac of Gadarab and that man wanted to follow Jesus. That's the time he said go and tell people in your country how great things the Lord has done for you. So I think if we just look into a little deeper into what was happening. One was there were certain parts of the country where he was being mobbed meaning lots and lots and lots of people were coming. So in that situation he said you know don't go don't go and tell. Another situation would be when his life was at stake especially in Jerusalem when you know towards the latter part of his ministry when people were against him and this is around John chapter 7 and so on. When people were against him wanting to kill him so he just wanted to keep things quiet you know just work in a quiet way. But in areas where he didn't have access for example in the case of the demoniac of Gadarab the people just sent him off. So he came he arrived at the coast they sent him off so that means he didn't have access into that country but that's when he told the man was delivered you go and tell people what great things the Lord has done for you. So I think Jesus was being very wise in all of this not to create undue attention or attract opposition unnecessarily and also to you know wherever he couldn't go that's when he told people you go and you tell what the Lord great things the Lord has done. So that's just you know I'm not saying that's what the Lord explained because he never explained why but I'm just trying to look at it from a very look at this scenario and maybe this is why. Thank you Pastor. John Paul's second question is from Matthew chapter 10 verse 9 what would have been the reason Jesus said not to take even two coats or a sandal or sandals or a staff we learned in biblical interpretation class that it doesn't apply to us but what would have been the reason behind Jesus saying this or stating this. Can I try and answer that? Sure Pastor, thank you. I think it's interesting in Matthew 10 like when he sends them out the first time he says don't take anything with you but towards the end of the ministry and Luke records this for us in Luke 22 35 36 Luke so there's a second time and Jesus this is before his crucifix when he sends them out that time he says it's very interesting because he says when I sent you out the first time I told you not to take anything with you did you lack anything and they said no we never lacked but then he changed the command he said in Luke 22 35 36 but now I'm telling you you take two of each so the first time he said don't take anything with you like don't take your clothes, your money you don't worry about anything towards the end of his ministry changed it he said you take double with you so the question he poses in Luke 22 is did you lack anything the first time and they said no we didn't lack anything and so one so the two observations we can make is one is of course he changed the command that is first time he said don't take anything now he says take double with you and the second observation is the question he asks did you lack anything so perhaps again this is something maybe just deducing or inferring the reason he the first time he told them not to take anything is just for them to experience the fact that he's going to be faithful to provide but then he reversed that command later on in Luke 22 he still continues to be faithful to provide but I think the meaning messages that we need to make use of resources that we have and use that as we go about the ministry I hope that helps to give some thought Yes Basta thank you, thank you so much Thank you Basta for answering those questions of John Paul anyone else has any questions please feel free to type it in the chat section or you can unmute your mics and ask the question and we will answer it anyone has any questions Basta can I ask a question please Sure Nicholson please go ahead So Basta just out of curiosity if you look at Ezekiel chapter 28 was 16 16 years it talks about it talks about Lucifer sorry Jeremy is next to me it talks about Lucifer and it continues to say that he was involved in some trade so I was just wondering like what trade could he possibly be involved in shall I read that particular reference or Yes please go ahead So by the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within and you sinned therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God and I destroyed you or covering cherub from the midst of the fiery stones so that's the reference Ezekiel 28 16 28 16 right? Yes Yeah through your widespread trade you were filled with violence and you sinned so I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God and expelled you or guardian cherub from among the fury stones Yes So that's Ezekiel 28 verse 16 Yeah thank you Diana for putting the verse on Any of our pastors, faculty would like to answer this question Okay maybe I can try So Nicholson so that particular verse Ezekiel 28 and let me see can be understood in two ways and one of the so one is and this verse is scripture in some way is used by certain people who believe in a pre-adamic world so this is one of the scriptures that they use that means so what they mean by and I'm not saying I subscribe to it I'm not saying there are people who believe this what they believe is that before Adam there was a pre-adamic world where Lucifer and maybe others were on the earth they were cast out of heaven but they moved on the earth because some of the scriptures seem to indicate that so and so that is one explanation so that means he was moving on the earth and doing things and that world was then destroyed by a great flood and that's why when Genesis one two begins it begins with the earth being without form and void and there was a darkness on the face of the waters it seemed like the waters were covered and the earth was covered by waters and then they used that to explain the presence of dinosaurs and all of these fossils that are found that are very many many years old and so on so there are some who subscribe to that kind of we call it a theory because it's not necessarily stated very clearly in the Bible so if assuming that was true that there was a pre-adamic world then Ezekiel 28 explains that Satan was moving on the earth carrying out whatever he was doing another way to understand Ezekiel 28 is just to understand the meaning of the word trading or merchandise which simply means trafficking that means you're going about doing something it doesn't have to necessarily mean buying and selling it's trafficking you're engaging in something your activity so but the abundance of your activity you know iniquity was eventually found in you now they've filled the midst of you with violence and you've sinned so if we just go by the word peddling or trafficking not necessarily having to do with buying and selling but in the sense of him carrying out using generic English with activity so that means by all that he was involved in he eventually ended up sinning if we just understand the word merchandise as you know peddling or trafficking or activity then we don't need to create a pre-adamic world to understand Ezekiel 28 you can just say that whatever he was doing he ended up doing things wrong and corrupting himself as well as one third of the other angels so there are two positions based on Ezekiel 28 and I would take the latter personally because that just seems to be consistent with the rest of scripture we don't have to create a pre-adamic world to explain dinosaurs and all of those kinds of things so that's how we would look at Ezekiel 28 is that okay? thank you pastor thank you pastor for answering Nikolson's question thank you Nikolson for your question do you have any questions? first I just have one doubt that he asked this question so in 2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 5 and 6 I will read it for us for when they maintained the city escapes they are noticed that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water through which the world at that time was destroyed being flooded with water does this mean destruction talk about Noah's flood the flood happened at Noah's time or the one you mentioned? yeah that's true so this is again another passage so there are basically I think three passages one in Ezekiel, one in Jeremiah and 2nd Peter 3 that people use to talk about this pre-adamic world but again you know when you look at 2nd Peter 3, 5 and 6 you again don't have to create a pre-adamic world to explain the world to explain 2nd Peter 3 and 5 and 6 you can just say look we know for sure about Noah's flood I mean we know verse 5 can clearly match 2nd Peter 3, 5 clearly matches with Genesis 1, 2 and then 2nd Peter 3, 6 clearly matches with Genesis 6 or with Noah's flood so it sits very well with these two verses so we don't have to use 2nd Peter 3, 5 and 6 to create a pre-adamic world which is not very clear in scripture yeah so Ezekiel 28 2nd Peter 3, 5 and 6 and I think there's one more passage in Jeremiah which is maybe it's in Jeremiah 5 I think I'm not really sure because I didn't I don't spend too much time on it but which they also use to support this you know and yeah I think takes Bible takes is one of the people who supports this pre-adamic world but we don't have to subscribe to it sure Basta Basta I just want to add one thought something intriguing so John because there was a mention of this pre-adamic world if you go back and read from like Hugh Ross he's a very well known Canadian astronomer and he gives like he has researched and he has evidences to believe in God and not only that he talks about the age of the earth so the way like if you take into consideration like from scripture we've already seen that there isn't much to substantiate that theory but even scientifically he talks about how the age of the earth is much lesser than you know if you consider like dinosaurs and that sort of a theory so I think that also would be an interesting read for us I just thought I would share it yeah thank you thank you Basta for throwing light on the pre-ademic theory and for interpreting these scriptures that are asked by John Paul and Nicholson thank you Nancy for your inputs as well anyone else has any questions you'll like to ask anyone else have any questions yes morning Basta good morning Herbert yes okay yeah I had a doubt I was asking myself now if God created Adam and Eve so they produced two children now where did those children now get because he thought they might fly and fill the world now where did they get the wives now to marry thank you thank you for your interesting question Herbert so Herbert's question is you know Adam and Eve had Cain and Abel had two children and then Cate was born to them so where did they get their wives from any faculty like to answer the question anyone yeah so the Bible only records you know the names of the the boys Cain Abel and Set but it doesn't record Mary Jane and John it doesn't record the names it doesn't record the names of the daughters so it doesn't mean they never had daughters so in the in the very beginning right when God created Adam and Eve and gave them the commission to fill the earth it just implied that you know there would be of course this intermarrying so Cain Abel and Set but obviously Adam and Eve had daughters too their names are not recorded and so there was this you know intermarrying I mean in the sense that they from among the children itself more descendants were born and that would be the obvious conclusion and it was not wrong at that time simply because God had to you know he set that in motion for them to fill the earth and so on and then subsequently you know he gave in gave the rules when there were enough inhabitants on the earth he gave the rules of you know how marriage should happen and so on so forth so that would be the obvious conclusion even though the names of the daughters and all are not given but that would be just the conclusion that God you know put that in place for that for the way to populate the earth is that okay? Thank you Pastor I hope that answered your question Herbert yes anyone else questions okay thank you Pastor Jay Kumar says that Genesis chapter 5 was 4 mentions that Adam had other sons and daughters anyone else has any questions yes sir Nicholson please go ahead Pastor it's not a biblical question but more practical is it okay if I ask sure yes okay so I just wanted to know now with the church setting one of the main issues is obviously you want everyone to be in their calling and move and on fire which takes a lot of effort but what are some of the practical ways that you can actually empower people to do that of course one is sharing the word on Sunday but so now this is of course I'm asking about our church here in Karua we have cell groups which are slowly taking place and I mean taking shape and we have the church setting but somehow there's always something lacking so are the practical ways on since Pastor Ashish started his church from scratch what are the practical ways where you took KPC to a place where everyone is involved or at least a huge majority is involved in the ministry okay thank you for your question Nicholson so Nicholson's question is that you know how do we get church members people in church on fire for the Lord get them to step out and minister and just move mightily and advance the kingdom of God so one of the pastors like to answer this question so one good thing would be apart from you said go ahead Selena you finish and then I'll share apart from just teaching from the pulpit and preaching God's word also like we have at APC the weekend schools where we train them to minister healing and deliverance in a move in the prophetic so we have you know that weekend school and then also how to you know the gifts of the spirit to have a knowledge about the gifts of the spirit how to activate the gifts of the spirit in their lives and how to step out and minister so teaching on these various aspects can also help with the knowledge you've included courses on children's ministry and youth ministry basically also educating people or giving them insights into how they can minister also give them opportunities like you know have mission trips like we have at APC you know send them on missions so many of them go on their trips and it's exciting where for them where they're learning where they're stepping out in faith you know just praying for people ministering and during this whole you know exposure that they have you know many of them identify their calling as well God's purpose for their life see the areas where God is really steering their hearts to move so I think we can create these opportunities over to pastor Jay Kumar Yeah I just thought I'll share my personal journey because when I came to APC I knew that I had a call but I didn't know the specifics of it so I remember talking to pastor much before much earlier you know like say telling pastor I think people have said that I have a call to be a pastor what when where how and this was before we just started coming regularly to APC so one of the things that happened was the teaching of the truth that every believer is a minister and secondly the teaching from the word about your call, your gifting and about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the gift of tongues and so on the power of a believer and also so basically it's teaching of the foundation and a foundational doctrine so something that really brings edification something that is a strong structure in a believer so when that happens then the believer you know moves from being a believer to a disciple to a minister to a leader now that obviously takes time takes months and years and it's a process but I'm sure pastor can answer it better because the thing is over the years we've seen many take that path come to a place of come to a place of maturity and pursue their calling in the fullness of it so I would say that and I think the teaching from the word of God so important and also living by example and you know giving people opportunity in their environment where you know you create that space for people to you know and like groups is a wonderful setting to do that to really put to practice and like what you've learnt all the gifts and so on it's a safe place and like what Selina said about the weekend schools where it's about a particular topic and so people are grounded in it and it'll be a small crowd but then you know that small crowd also gets grounded in it and then you know people just keep growing so you know just those force steps like revelation or teaching revelation conviction action and destiny or five steps I guess so that you know when we teach from the word of God and then the Holy Spirit gives the revelation which brings conviction in the hearts of people when people are moved to act there is action and then when they act on it consistently then you know they walk towards the destiny so I found that to be helpful and true and see that really working so but it's a process and consistently if we commit to it yeah I think we will see the fruit of it yeah thanks revelation brings conviction conviction leads to action and action to leads to your destiny the purpose that God has for you any one else any other pastors would like to throw some light or yes can I just share a small thought please yes please go ahead Pastor Paul okay thank you thank you Pastor Jay so sharing those thoughts wonderful I just thought I'd just share this in ministry something that I've been reading pastors book timeless principles for the workplace doing that in the second year course as well it's the importance of reinstating vision mission and then following it up with values and culture so I think you know even when we have a small ministry or a small organization when we continually see the vision like for example ABC so it's getting into each one okay we are salt and light and then there's this mission on being that salt and light and so it's not just one person's effort or you know just the pastoral team but it's everyone that Pastor Jakes mentioned every believer is a minister so there's this mission that we all are together in a team reinstating that I think the church congregation begin to you know really grasp that vision and say okay I want to be part of this and then we follow that up with values and culture within the church where we set certain values and cultures and of course do all the other events like how Pastor Satina Pastor Jakes has shared but I just wanted to share this I think reinforcing reinstating the vision the mission values and culture will in some way help the congregation you know to get on their toes and continue to you know minister and serve with greater passion in the church thank you so much thank you thank you Pastor Paul so it's important to reiterate the vision and the mission and the culture of the church yes Jean please go ahead yeah I just wanted to add a very very small point and that's something that you know is more like a personal journey was just serving so I began you know serving in a really small way at Children's Church cleaning the chairs and you know that in itself just the faithfulness of being there and putting yourself out in different places where you can serve leads you to understand what God has put inside of you and then you know taking on some of those opportunities also helps people firm up that calling because I have a very good example of one of our youth who's joined in for the teen session and has he's been doing doing it for the last couple of weeks you know he just told me he said I've actually found my place of ministry I know this is a place that God wants to use me so just when you encourage people to serve in whatever area however small it may be God leads them into more opportunities and they eventually also can find what God has called them for thank you Jean so true thank you for sharing can I add a small point also yes please Pastor Nancy go ahead thank you so Nicholson in addition to everything that our pastors mentioned I was thinking that also after having taught the word after having encouraged the people given them the opportunity one more very important thing is to be patient and know that people are making a journey we could look at the entire congregation and think you know why are they not fired up why are they not all stepping up at once but you see each one God is at work and we have to do our part and keep doing our part and slowly but steadily we will see people rise up people taking their positions so just wanted to add that thought thank you thank you thank you Pastor Nancy I hope that answered your question Nicholson or you know it gave you some insights like Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 4 where he says you know preach the word in season and out of season and do it with all patients because people are there at different levels of understanding of rising up to what God has called them to leading them to but Paul tells Timothy just be patient with them and I guess you know Paul has learned it apostle Paul has learned it in his journey as well just being very patient with people or sometimes you know even with John Mark when you know he when John Mark didn't want to go ahead with them in the missionary journey how he did not want to take him on the second missionary journey but we see how John Mark rose to the occasion and Paul writes in that same letter asking Timothy to bring John Mark to him as he is in prison because he is from you know much service in the Lord or he is good for the ministry so we need to be patient with people and you know even as we teach give them opportunities people are at different levels but continue to just invest in people's life just teach them empower them equip them and you know God will work in their lives yeah I hope that helped Nicholson thank you all for your inputs thank you so much Pastor it was very helpful thank you thank you everyone for sharing your inputs Herbert has a suggestion can Friday worship be recorded also such that we can always review those songs and we get them sure Herbert Pastor Dinah is on the call and I'm sure she's made a note of it and we'll do that from this Friday anyone else has any questions okay thank you Herbert as we're waiting for more questions to come in anyone would like to share in the past one month you know if you've experienced a miracle from the Lord you've just seen his hand move in your life you want to just share God's goodness in your favor over your life anyone would like to do that now I'm sure we've the one last one month God would have done amazing miracles just even small but you know have just touched our lives impacted our lives anyone would like to share God's faithfulness his goodness his hand over your life Sister Rupa you would like to share yes ma'am thank you thank you Rupa I had a unique journey last year we came in contact with I was asking for prayer for brother Ashirwadam he's from a Catholic background wife is a very good believer but can you hear me ma'am yes we can hear very clearly Rupa please go ahead wife is a very good believer they have tried many times to reach him through the gospel but he was not willing he said I am a very good Catholic I don't have to convert something like that and no one was able to reach him but after he was diagnosed with fourth stage lung cancer and during the pain she requested me to share the God's love with him so we prayed a lot I was very apprehensive and the team was all praying for him and one day when I got connected I did not preach him the gospel because he already knew the gospel God gave me a connecting point because he was also going through pain and I had experienced pain in my life I told how God helped me to overcome my pain when I started trusting in his goodness and praising him through that pain God delivered me and gave me the strength to go through that pain that really connected him with me and he came he started praising God and thanking God and he never once questioned God I talked why did I get this and God through that journey of thanking and praising God he experienced God he encountered God he saved by God's grace he is not physically healed but we could see the joy he experienced the joy of the Lord I have never seen anyone experienced to that level the joy of the Lord always praising and thanking God and towards his last days he said Amma I want to be in your place when I leave this so they came home last during January last week they were with us and he is promoted to glory on February 3 he wanted no medical intervention because he was in advanced age cancer and he said please I don't want any tubes nothing this ICU all that he rejected so we were able to give him make him comfortable and he left to the left home on 3rd February we really touched through that journey and it is very we felt very sad but at the same time we saw the hand of God the way he saved him and they prepared him to take him home thank you ma'am thank you I praise God for his goodness in his life thank you thank you Rupa thank you very much for sharing and praise God for using you to minister to this person and God bless you and continue to use you mightily yes Divya you have your hand up would you like to share something or you have a question yeah thank you Pastor Selina I just wanted to share a testimony as you asked about last one month I really thank God for as it says in the word give thanks to the Lord for he is good his love and yours forever he's such a you know he knows what he needs for his children provides at the right time so when this year began yes I had as a family I also we had some decisions and some things where we need to finalize certain things so more specifically I was I had taken a break from my work and it's been six years gap and yeah so it was a long gap but as I was praying and asking God just to open up any opportunities only if it is his will because I was also not very sure but my prayer was very specific only if it is God's will please open the door and God opened a door of opportunity for me in the last month there was a lot of favor I could see his hand at work God orchestrated the circumstances people on the way to to be in favor of what I needed and for our family I praise God for his goodness and kindness and I also request prayers for this new face in my life thank you thank you so much thank you for sharing Divya we sure will keep you in prayer we just pray that God's favor will continue to lead you and guide you and orchestrate things very beautifully in his life because he does all things beautiful in his own time and he does exceedingly abundantly more than we can even ask think or imagine and God he perfects everything that concerns us so praise God for his promises and yes to come true in your life God bless you anyone else would like to ask any questions any questions you'll have or anyone like to share God's goodness, faithfulness any miracles that you've experienced his hand over your life we just have two more minutes yes how about thank you I would like to thank God for this past month we managed to begin the term and the term has opened well and we thank God that now we are working normally we are no longer in lockdown because COVID made us have a lot of those pauses in lockdown so I really want to thank God and even I want to thank God for my father he's not yet very okay but at least now he's not worrying so much we've seen God's hand protect him even my brother has he's on and off but I thank God for this last month he has not at least visited the hospital but the other previous month all the time he would move up and down the hospital so God is really doing wonders thank you very much faster thank you how about you you spoke about your brother the last yes he has been visiting hospital time and again but at least this last month at least he has not gone there God has really helped him we pray for his complete recovery okay so he see okay fine thank you we pray for your dad and for your brother as well thank you for sharing Herbert okay we've come to the close of our mentoring art today can I request one of you to please pray for Divya just pray for God's favor over there her life and her the family pray for Herbert's brother for total healing and wholeness and for his dad as well so can one of you please lead us in prayer please can I ask sister Avini to please lead us in prayer sure ma'am thank you so much thank you Avini father God we come to your throne of grace this morning with thanksgiving in our heart father we thank you for your goodness for your faithfulness for your mercy grace provision your love above all we thank you for son Jesus Christ through whom we have all the blessings father we thank you for the blood he shed for us for the sick for the healing that he has released from the cross of Calvary for all the blessings that we have in Jesus Christ we just want to say thank you about thank you for every testimony points to your grace father whatever we heard today father whatever we have experienced in life father it's all because of your goodness father and we just want to thank you for this time when we are learning your truth we are growing in your word we are growing in your holiness we are growing in your nature and attributes father as we are learning about them we are drawn to your father and today we want to thank you for whatever we have learned today and in past days father through your children father who have been anointed and who have been teaching us with so much of love and patience we bless them all father and this morning we want to commit the hands father his family his father and his brother father that the healing that has been released from the cross of Calvary be their portion father let your healing virtue flow through them father and they be healed and perfected in the name of Jesus father let all sickness go father and let them experience health healing and wholeness in days to come and may each day be strengthened father in your word in your truth and in your love father continue to be with the entire family and bless them all and protect them father and keep them safe and sound we also want to thank you for sister we are testimony lot father thank you that you have shard your grace and mercy upon her and that she's experienced your miracle father thank you for the favor she has experienced father continue to lead her continue to guide her continue to raise your put your hand upon her father so that she may experience it more and more and be a blessing to many lot father we thank you for sister who passed testimony as well father thank you that lot father you work in amazing ways you have your plans for your people father lot leaders to people who need that grace and who need that word father of release father leaders and no interest and help us to do your will father not just that we learn but we may do it be doers of your word father continue to be with all our faculty members we bless all our teachers once again for this day in this morning father Lord as they share the word as they teach us father bless them all with your wisdom your favor your revelation father once again we thank you for APC we thank you for your presence amidst us we thank you for your promises in our lives we thank you for everything lot father because we are who we are because of you father once again we thank you and we ask this prayer in the precious matchless and most magnificent name of Jesus our amen amen thank you everyone thank you Stephanie thank you also joining this time have a blessed day and the promise from God's word is the Lord we perform all things for us and he will perform all things for each one of us today and the rest of this week have a blessed day God bless you bye everyone thank you thank you thank you thank you for sharing bye everyone thank you