 Welcome back after the break. Just before we went for a break, we read through 1st Timothy chapter 3 and each of you, some of you shared your thoughts, your learning from 1st Timothy chapter 3. So we look at or we study 1st Timothy chapter 3 in detail now. We've just learned or read that Paul had written to women that they should not hold positions of a spiritual or doctrinal authority over the congregations or over the church. But also Paul does not want to leave an impression that just any man is qualified to preach and to teach or to have spiritual leadership in the church. Okay, so he says that no man is qualified to be a spiritual leader in the church just because of his gender, just because he's a male. But then he goes on to state the qualifications. This is required for those in church leadership and spiritual leadership in the church. And in this chapter, we see that he moves on to talk about other things concerning the local church. Now, basically in the early church comprised of those who were saints, the early church comprised of the saints, those were the believers, and then we had the bishops and the deacons. So those who served in the local church came under two broad categories. One is that of bishops, the other is that of deacons. So in this chapter, Paul is talking about the qualifications of bishops and deacons. And he begins by saying that this is a faithful saying if a man desires the position of a bishop. So basically who is a bishop, what is the understanding of a bishop, of the term bishop, or the position of a bishop in the early church. The Greek word is episcope, which means spiritual leaders. So a bishop is basically a spiritual leader, somebody who's involved in a spiritual ministry, someone who is giving spiritual inputs in the lives of the people of God. If we look at Acts chapter 20 verse 28, we see that there it's mentioned that bishops are as spiritual overseers who are to shepherd the people and take care of them. But we see also in this chapter that he talks about deacons, he goes on to talk about the qualifications of the deacon. So who is a deacon, basically the Greek word for deacon means somebody who is an attendant, somebody who's a waiter, someone serving in a serving capacity in the local church. So basically deacons were responsible for any administrative work, organizational work, support or help function work in the church. And we see that this whole office of deacon began in Acts chapter 6, when the apostles felt that preaching, teaching, prayer, taking care of the widows, the poor, serving them food, always getting too much on them. They were not getting enough time for prayer and preaching and teaching, so they just wanted to dedicate their time for preaching, teaching and for prayer. And hence they found seven men who were full of the wisdom, full of the Holy Spirit, but what was their role? Their role was basically to serve food every day to the poor and widows, more like administrative work, get all the groceries, keep an account, distribute the food, take care of the poor widows. So the whole ministry of deacons grew out of this context, Acts chapter 6, and since then deacons were involved in helping the church administrative work, organizational work. It does not mean that they were not involved in any kind of spiritual ministry. Now out of these seven men who were chosen, we know that Stephen was also, who was a deacon, was also involved in children's ministry. Sorry, he was involved in spiritual ministry. And, you know, Philip also went to Samaria, started preaching the gospel, also did good spiritual ministry, also involved in ministering to people and, you know, preaching and teaching the word of. God. So that is who a bishop is and who a deacon is. So we look at the qualifications that Paul writes, which is required for a bishop. So he says, hey, because I'm saying that women should not preach and teach and not become leaders, it does not mean that any man can be a spiritual leader, can be a bishop and a deacon. There are specific qualifications and Paul is also telling Timothy, when you are looking for a leader, a bishop or a deacon, these are the qualifications that the person must have. These are the things that you must look for in that person. Okay. So he says, if I'm writes and says if a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. So Paul is basically saying it's a good. It's good to desire to help and to minister in the church to be a spiritual leader to help with organization will work tasks or administrative tasks. It's a good thing to do all this good work in the church. Don't quench that desire that you have. But even though it's a desire, you know, there is some standard that we need to live up to and something and a standard that God requires and expects of our leaders. So not anyone and everyone who has a desire can be these bishops and deacons. There is some standards we need to live up to. There is something that God expects of us as leaders and he says a bishop then must be. That means God has specific qualifications for those who are taking leadership position in the church. Leaders are not just to be chosen at random. And not just because they volunteer, not just because they aspire that position or they desire it or not even because they by birth, you know, they have a natural talent to be leaders. But instead they should, you know, be chosen primarily on how they match these qualifications that he has listed out here. So then he goes on to list the qualifications. He says a bishop then must be a blameless, you know, a blameless is a blameless person is a person who lives a life where people cannot find fault with living a right life. He must be a husband of one wife, temperate, which temperate means, you know, some gives us an idea of someone who's not given to the extremes, you know, but somebody who's reliable trustworthy. Basically, somebody who is temperate also means an husband or one wife means somebody who's self controlled in the areas of the flesh, the mind, the spirit. A sober minded somebody who's emotionally stable. It describes a person who's able to think clearly, think with a lot more clarity in what they're saying they're doing of good behavior, which means that they don't have a childish behavior. They're not childish in the way they think and they act, they mature in their understanding, they mature in the way they act and do things. They're not childish. They're hospitable, able to teach, you know, hospitable means somebody who's able to welcome people, entertain people in their homes. Notice here he says, you know, able to teach. So in this whole list that he, he, he, he gives out or he analysts for the leaders for a bishop in versus to write up till was seven, you know, it all has to do about a person's basic character. But only one thing he mentions here in this list is about the gifting, which is he says is able to teach all the other things that he mentions in the list is all about their character, who they are as a person, and just one mention of a gift. So you see the importance Paul is giving. He knows that, you know, gift comes from God. It's, you know, it's something that God bestows upon us. So when God chooses somebody for an office, he will bestow upon that person the gifts that are required. So it's given from God is nothing for us to be concerned about. But what more, what is more important is the character of the person. It's about who the person is the kind of life the person lives. That is more important, because you know, your, your gifts can take you to places where your character cannot keep you. So if you don't have a good character and you have the most excellent gifts, you know, those gifts cannot keep you in that place for too long. If your character cannot sustain you. So your gifts can take you to, you know, where your character cannot sustain you. And there is no use because people are looking at your character, how you do things, how you exhibit those gifts in the context of your character and how you behave. So you see in this whole entire list, there's only one mention or that has to do with the person's gifting, which is he saying able to teach. And the rest is just dealing with who the person is, who they are as a person, the kind of life that we live is so much important. It is God standard and it's God's requirement for a spiritual leader, the kind of life that we live. Our character is so much important. That is what God is looking for. That is a requirement that God wants our character, who we are as people, important for spiritual leadership. So in the church, you know, sometimes we look or emphasize on the gifting of the person. The spiritual gifting, we look at more than the person's character. Yes, you know, spiritual gifting is important. But God's word says that these things, the character is also important, you know, for spiritual leadership as well. Not just your gifting, but your character is also important to hold a position as a spiritual leader. So we need to hold people accountable to this and we need to hold ourselves accountable to this, to hold ourselves accountable to our character, how we live our lives. We just cannot put our gifts on display, you know, and say, okay, that's more than enough. But each one of us need to hold ourselves. I need to hold myself accountable to God's standards of holiness, of the character he desires, the life that I live, even as he's called me to be a spiritual leader, even as he's called us to minister. Yes, A? Thank you, Pastor. I'm just wondering, going through this passage. How do we now balance a man's desire to become a bishop or a deacon and then having a calling from God that I ought to serve in this capacity? How do we balance this with what Paul has just said from Timothy? Because it's okay for someone to have a good desire, and maybe, yes, all the characters that Paul has listed, he takes everything, he has all that, or she has all that. But it's another thing to say that, did God really call me to oversee the souls of men and women of this church, or did God call me to serve in the capacity as a deacon? I don't know how we can just balance this so that, at the end of the day, we are not just promoting people's ziliousness or desire, which Paul congratulated anyone who wants to, who has that desire. But at the end of the day, we also still go back to the Father. There has to be also a call, a real conviction from God. How do we balance this, scripturally speaking? Thank you, Pastor. Yes, God calls us to different ministry offices. Well, the membership gifts are given to everyone. Each one of us are given different membership gifts. But God calls us to specific offices. But even as he calls us to specific offices, he works in each one of our lives. And we can also see that in the person, you know, how the person is, you know, the intimacy with God, how they're cooperating with God in the whole process of being that leader that God wants them to be. But if you're saying, how can we choose people to different ministry offices? How can we discern if that is their call? Basically, people don't rise up to the ranks of, to higher ranks, you know, all of a sudden, they grow from stage to stage. So when they come to church, you know, you basically, they would just like to volunteer. So when they like to volunteer, like to help, they like to be in some position, you know, don't give them leadership positions or titles, like, like a member care coordinator, or, you know, welcome team leader. But just let them be people who are, you know, just who are coming every Sunday and just volunteering, just ministering and see their attitude. Because when we don't give people titles, when we don't give them importance to a specific position or give them names or titles or tags, and they work irrespective of that. They are committed, they are sincere, look at that, look at their commitment, their sincerity, even though they don't have a specific tag or an office or a name assigned to, an office assigned to their name. You know, just look at their faithfulness in which they do things, their commitment, their zeal, the way they work along with the others in the team. Whether, you know, they are maintaining good relationships, peace, whether they are looking for, you know, to be recognized. If they're not given recognition, even though they've done something, you know, are they upset? Do they leave church? Do they talk about it? Do they backbite? You know, then we see their character over a certain period of time, and then we bring them to a level one of leadership position and, you know, give them a certain small position. And then if they're faithful there, you know, give them, then they grow up in their ranks. So that's where we can see if they're really called to something. You know, if you're called to something, you know, irrespective of whether you get titles, whether you get appreciated, whether you're honored, whether you're respected, you know, even though you don't get all of these things, you still stay faithful to that church, you still serve, you still, you know, are committed to the task that you are called to. That shows their calling. That shows that they're really called to it. They're fully passionate about what they're doing. And, you know, then you can give them a major leadership position. But if you see them in a place where they are hungry for, you know, for a name, a title in the position, they're not given or what they have, you know, given, somebody else is given that position. Does it anger them? Do they leave church? Do they get upset? Then we know that they are not called for a specific thing, but just, you know, it's their, it's out of their own carnal nature, their own selfish desire that they want to come to that position. Does that help, Sayi? Yes, yes, Pastor, it helped. But what about on the side of the person? Like, how do we, because it's one thing for the leader to say, okay, you will lead, well, is it also important that such a person also is convinced by the spirit of God to take such leadership role in the church? I don't know. What do you think, Pastor? Yes, as I said, God calls us to different offices, different areas of ministry, and they receive that calling and they know for sure that this is where God wants them to be. They also look at their skills, their skill sets, their talents. They know, you know, this is where God has called them. So we are going back to fulfilling God's purpose for their life, the seeds that are their seeds, I'll be talking about talents, the pattern of God's working, the circumstances that he has orchestrated in their lives. So basically knowing, hey, this is where, you know, God has, what God has called me to do. So basically, for me, when I joined Bible College, you know, I was interested, I thought my calling was to do counseling. You know, but all through, you know, even when I was in Bible College, they put me into children's ministry, weekend school, weekend ministry. I was ministering with children and the church where they assigned me, I was, they put me with children in the campus where we were staying, they assigned me with children. Even when I wanted to do my internship for seven months, I had gone to a place where I was looking forward to doing counseling with drug addicts and alcoholics, I did that. But, you know, God orchestrated situations for me where I stayed with children, they picked up from, you know, the railway platforms. I was ministering to commercial sex workers' children, I was ministering to street children, and I landed up again ministering to children in schools, the school that the ministry runs. Again, I landed up being with children. Then after I finished Bible College, I wanted to go back and, you know, start this whole ministry for counseling for women addicts because they did not have anyone working full time for, in the 2000 that time, they didn't have anyone working full time for female women addicts counseling them. So I wanted to go and start this project, but somehow God orchestrated things and I was back to ministering to children. So when I look back, I see how God orchestrated, and then I said, you know, situations and circumstances and then I knew that my calling, yes, was for counseling, though I loved it and I wanted to work with addicts. But I know God was calling me into full time ministry with children. And, you know, the way God has led, the way God has taught me, in Bible College, we never had a course on children's ministry, we never had, you know, ministries that we can learn from about children, but just the Holy Spirit leading, guiding, teaching me, giving me, you know, different ways to minister to children, it's just beautiful. So you know where God has called you. So basically for that person, the person knows. So even if people are trying to move me out of, you know, to other things, I still stay rooted in what God has called me to do while I still minister. I still minister to, you know, in other areas as well. Did that help with an example? That helped, Pastor. Thank you very much. Thank you. Pastor, this is Charles. Yes, Charles. That is very, very awesome. You are touching on the right button. Yes. Remaining focused on what you are called to do, though you are going to serve in other areas. It gives me a greater emphasis on what we are doing, especially when you remain with your mission, though you are going to serve in other areas, but you remain focused on the original call. Thank you so much, Pastor, for this. Thank you, Charles. This says, Pastor, we are suggesting that we are called according to giftings or according to character. I think God knows who we are. God has designed us and he has ordained us and has purposes for us. So he calls us for a specific task and when he calls us for a specific task, he gives us the skills that would enable us to fulfill that specific assignment, that specific task that he has given to us. And one way we can know what is our calling is to know what areas that we are gifted in. So what he is doing for us helps us to know our calling, to recognize our calling. And God also puts these gifts in us because he knows what he has planned and purpose for us and what he has destined for us. But these gifts and these are just kind of an assurance for us to know for sure what is our calling. And character, irrespective of the gifts, Godly character for all of us in any area is very, very important. Because if we don't have the character in any specific area, whether you are in the secular field, spiritual, whatever, in the church, I mean, if you don't have the character, your gift is of no use. Your talent is of no use. You know, maybe you're working a corporate, you're a leader, but you know, you don't have a character of being honest, of maintaining integrity, of treating people kindly, nicely, very carnal, freshly nature. You know, the way you treat women, or if I'm a women leader, the way I treat men, the way I associate with men, the way I behave. I can be a leader, but nobody is going to, you know, look up at me as a leader who they can depend on, they can trust on. You know, somebody who they can, somebody they will feel threatened in our presence. And it's not going to last long our leadership role, and it's not going to give a good taste to people. And of course, the remarks they make about us, the HR is not going to also, you know, hold us in that position too long. So character and gifting go alongside each other. It's very, very important. So, you know, if you don't have a good character, your gifting is of no use. It cannot keep you where it needs to be kept. Just look at Moses, you know, Moses was trained up in the house of Pharaoh, and he knew he's, you know, going to be the person who's going to lead the people out of Israel. But he kind of overstepped his boundaries. And then, you know, the age of 80 when God calls him, he's not very confident. But then finally, when he steps into that role as a leader, we look at his character, you know, he's not somebody who steps back like he did before. You know, when God called him at the age of 80, he gave various reasons. But when he was much younger at the age of 40, he was so zealous to, you know, to show, to prove to his fellow men that, you know, he was on their side. He killed that Egyptian. But, you know, when at the age of 80, he was not confident enough to be that leader. But when he becomes that leader that God calls him to be, he gets into that shows. And God says, Hey, Moses, you know, I'm tired of these people. I'm not going to lead them anymore. You lead them. What does Moses say? Moses could have thrown the towel in so to say, and he could have said, Hey, God, when you are God, and you get tired with these people. I'm just a human being. Don't you think I am tired of their constant bickering and their murmuring and their complaining? God, give me a break. You know, I to choose somebody else as a leader. But what does Moses do? He does not run away. He does not, you know, opt out of that situation. But he reminds God of his promise and what he said, and he says, God, if your presence does not go with us, you know, don't send us from this place. And I'm not going, you know, and he buys God back into that equation of leading people, his people, and he does. He stays with them and journeys with them till the very end of his life till God chooses another leader when he is old enough. So, you know, so that was a calling on his life and his, the calling, the gifting goes along with his, with the character. And, you know, that is why he's, you know, a man who was able to, you know, one man who was able to speak to God face to face, so to say, was so close to God who God would reveal to him was because of his character. What if his character was not right? You think God would have revealed himself to Moses, spoken himself to Moses? No, because, you know, there was no grace at that time. Sin was, you know, punished severely. So yes, we see that gifting and characters equally important. Did that help Louis? Okay, there's no response from Louis. We'll continue. Okay. So it's so important here that he's talking about the character. It goes on in verses three to Paul says, writes, not the bishop should not be given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome and not covetous. So, not violent, the person, the spiritual leader, the bishop should be gentle, should not be violent. That means this man who's not given to violence either publicly or privately at home. But, you know, somebody who lets God fight his case when, when there is injustice, when he sees things that are not right, he will let God fight his case, but not somebody who fights and who's not violent, who's not quarrelsome, a kind of person who's not always fighting over something or the other. You know, we have leaders who are constantly quarrelsome fighting for every little thing, what somebody said, what somebody didn't do, what somebody reported about them, getting back to people, you know. So here Paul says that, you know, they should not be quarrelsome, not fighting for anything and everything, not being covetous. You know, this is not just somebody who's merely greedy for money or encompassing wealth or money, but a covetous man is somebody who's not, never satisfied with anything. Whatever they have, they're not satisfied, always demanding something more, demanding something different. So a covetous man is somebody who is constantly dissatisfied and, you know, and such a man is not fit for leadership among God's people, because he's basically not satisfied with himself. And that is why Paul writes and says, you know, godliness with contentment is great gain. Godliness with contentment is great gain. He writes that to his, you know, the Church of Ephesus, he writes that in his letter to Timothy. So he's saying there should not be covetous. And in verse four, he says, one who rules his own house while having his children in submission with all reference. So it's important that the bishop, even before he becomes a spiritual overseer, spiritual leader, spiritual minister in the house of God, you know, it's important that he has his own home or his own family in order. When he has his own family and home in order, then, you know, he can have, he can put the house of God in order. He can have the house of God in order. So if your house is in order, it means that you're in a place of strength to minister to others as well. You're more confident to minister to others. Verse six, not a novice, less being puffed up with pride. He fall into the same condemnation as the devil. So what basically Paul is telling Timothy is don't put somebody who's new to the church, a new believer, you know, don't be quick in putting them in the position of spiritual leadership. You know, take time to observe them, to see how they grow, how they're maturing, you know, their commitment, their zeal, their passion, their dedication. And why is he saying don't have somebody who is a new believer, don't put them into leadership position is because if you do, you know, basically, firstly, you don't know them very well. You don't know because they come from this whole baggage of a cultural mindset which is pagan. They need to understand the law, the order, the ordinances of the church, the doctrines, the way things function in church. So that needs time for them to gather, to understand, to relearn, to unlearn. And also he says the other thing is so that they're not filled with pride because Satan, you know, fell because of his pride. The main reason why Satan was, you know, sinned was because of his pride. The main reason why he fell was because of his pride. And, you know, so this person, when we bring them to a person who's new, we bring them to leadership position, but when they can fall because of their pride, they'll come under the same condemnation as Satan. You know, and it's sad they will be cast away from the presence of God because God resist the proud and, you know, they'll be totally disconnected from the presence of God. So why put that person into all of this, you know, difficulty and harm and struggle, just wait, take time, learn the person, see how the person is doing, how they're growing and maturing and then, you know, take that step of giving them a leadership role. And then he goes on to say, moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into the approach and the snare of the devil. Now, if you want to understand this verse, we can just read it in the easy to read version. It says, an elder must also have the respect of people who are not part of the church, then he will not be criticized by others and be caught in the devil's trap. So Paul is saying it's not important for a bishop just to have, you know, a good name, a good testimony among the people in the church, but also need to have a good testimony with people who are part of the, you know, in the in the world. Who are outside the church. If not, when you bring them to leadership positions, you know, they will be criticized by others. And again, you know, that will bring their downfall Satan will each the trap them, and they will be condemned. So this is important, you know, for part of being a leader that we have a good conduct, a good relationships in the church, we have good conduct, good relationships with also people outside the church as well in the world, our neighbors, and other acquaintances in the world. So the way a spiritual leader must live basically Paul is saying he must be fortless before God believers, the saints in the church and before the world, because if he's, you know, if he's condemned in the world if he's disgraced in the world, then devil can use it as a trap to bring him down. And we've seen this in history is very evident in history, how great ministers, you know, fell because the world reported something wrong that they were doing or indulging in. And so it's important for us to maintain a good character, good conduct, a good testimony in the eyes of the fellow saints or believers and also people in the world. So it's not only important for us to live right inside, but also of people in the world. Okay. So Kennedy says is a glass of one or two of wine after meals be considered as drunkenness for a leader. Well, I will glass can be small and big. So I'm just imagining the size of it. And it's in one or two. Well, you know, just looking at what scripture says, you know, we'll talk about this but it's important that, you know, what we have at APC is no we don't leaders and we don't drink wine, because it can lead into other temptations it can lead into drinking, you know, alcohol, because wine, you know, everyone starts off with just one cigarette smoking one cigarette just one peg of a glass of wine, or just one, you know, those of a drug, but then, you know, our body craves for more, because we don't have control over our will and we're just opening the doors to the evil one. So I would say, you know, if you can do without it, it's good. You know, even one or two glass of wine after meals will not be considered as drunkenness for a leader, but it can lead into other things we can get into other temptations what do the others think other thoughts anyone else has any other thoughts. This is something of a contention that we have every time we, when I teach first committee, what do others have to say about this? Anyone? Okay. Yes, Charles, you can go ahead and then I'll read. Go ahead Charles, tell us. Yes. Nowadays, the wine that is on the market has alcohol. To me, I think the wine they were using during the time of Paul might have not been having alcohol content. So it might be very good. Oh, it was good for healing for all that. But currently, wine was commercialized and it has alcohol in it. And there is a very big spirit, very big spirit, addictive spirit in alcohol, in alcohol. The moment you begin on it, you keep on increasing until you become totally taken by it. So me, I suggest that we avoid. We can have another drink, not wine after a meal. We can have another drink, very heresy one. You can get substitutes that can be used after a meal. Any other dessert, it can be a juice. So me, I suggest that as bishops, as overseers, as the spiritual leaders, we avoid alcohol. Thank you. Thank you, Charles. Anyone else? Ma'am, it's a personal experience. Can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you. Go ahead, Rupam. Whenever I had very bad cold or sinus problem, my husband used to give me a small, not very little, a tablespoon like doctor's brandy, something like that. One, it was a winter season, we went for carols and came back and he was about to give me a small dose of it because I was having a very bad cold. He told me that he heard the voice of God very clearly speaking to him saying, this is my sermon, please don't give it to her. And he was very frightened when he heard the voice of God. He never gave me that again. Maybe it's very, when we are in leadership positions, it's very important to God that in my personal experience I never touched it again. Thank you, Ma'am. Thank you. Okay, so anyone else likes to share? If you look at 1st Timothy chapter 5 verse 23, Paul says, tell Timothy no longer drinking only water but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and for your frequent infirmities. So the word little used by Paul, of course it just means little in number, small in quantity and then it was for medical purposes because he had these frequent infirmities. But today we don't need to use wine for our infirmities because we are well advanced in the age, the time that we are living in medicine, in the field of medicine. Therefore Paul is not talking there about social drinking or regular drinking or drunkenness, but drinking wine or alcohol definitely opens the door for a regular habit which can lead progressively to being alcoholic, to being alcohol dependent, or becoming a alcoholic or having a habit of drinking alcohol. And when we know when we drink alcohol, it definitely lowers our inhibitions, it impairs our judgments, our reflexes, our coordination. So the Bible is also very clear about the sin of drunkenness, it says in Proverbs chapter 20, wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler. And it also in Proverbs it says don't mix wine with wine fibers or with those who are gluttonous, who love to eat. If you look at Proverbs chapter 23, it says 29 to 33, it says who has war, who has sorrow, who has contentions, who has complaints, who has wounds without cause, who has redness of eyes, those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. So it says do not look on the wine when it's red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly. And at last it bites like a serpent and stings like a wiper, your eyes will see strange things and your heart will utter perversive things. And even when Paul writes in Galatians chapter 5, he talks about the fruit of the spirit, before that he mentions in verses 19 to 21, he talks about the fruits of the flesh and he talks about adultery and outbursts of anger, jealousies and he also talks about drunkenness over there. And he says those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of wine. So while it's true that Bible has references about drinking wine, condemns drunkenness and not being addicted to too much of wine, there are also verses in the Bible that warns us about drinking wine or a strong drink and being led astray by it. It's like I read from 1 Timothy chapter 25 verse 23 and Proverbs chapter 20. It leads us astray resulting in long judgment and poor choices that we make. If you look at read basically Proverbs chapter 20 and Proverbs chapter 23, you can read that. So we need to be mindful about what we are drinking, what we are indulging in. Like Charles says, drink something that is more healthy which can help you because just taking one glass or two glasses of wine can lead you into progressively getting into much more harder drinks which can get you alcoholic dependent. And also the biblical principle to be mindful of is that of our responsibility as mature believers to help those who are not. So Paul tells in Romans chapter 14, it's good neither to eat, meet or drink wine or do anything by which your brother stumbles and is offended or makes him weaker in his faith. So we studied this, if something causes you to sin, maybe drinking wine for you might be a part of your culture but for some other believer when he sees that this person leads our life group or is teaching in church, he's a leader, he's an elder in the church and he's drinking wine, it can cause them to stumble but they won't be able to see the cultural reference to you drinking wine. But Paul is saying whether you eat meat or you drink wine, whatever, do it in a way that edifies another person but if it's going to cause your brother to stumble, don't do that. And even in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, Paul says food does not condemn us to God, if we eat we're not better or if we do not eat we're not worse but if we somehow use our freedom or our liberty that we have to become a stumbling block to others then might as well not eat it both for your conscience sake and for the person who is watching you. So he says in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, so if your food makes a brother stumble, he says I will never eat meat again because I don't want to cause my brother to stumble. Or if my eating food that is offered to idols which for me is not going to do anything and I believe that it's not going to affect me but if a brother sees me eating it and it's going to bring a stumbling block to his feet then Paul says I might as well not do it. So the question we need to basically ask is should I drink wine, should I do this, should I do that. So the question we need to ask ourselves is God being glorified in what we do. Okay, so that's what Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 right, therefore whether you eat or drink whatever you do do it all for the glory of God. Galatians chapter 3 verse 17 whatever you do in word or do deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God, you know, God the Father through him. So is my wine glorifying God it's being glory to God or it's just going to destroy my body and get me into other things I might as well not do it. Should I watch movies, you know, it's okay for people to watch good movies but if my movies is not going to, you know it's not going to glorify God is not going to glorify the time that I'm the way I'm using my time, I might as well not watch movies. So, you know, that is a question we need to ask ourselves and another important question we need to ask ourselves is, you know, am I setting myself up for other addictions. You know, like Paul writes in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 12 all things are lawful, but all things are not helpful. Okay, so all things are lawful for me to do, but I will not be brought under the power of anything. So, you know, you have the freedom to do it, but is it going to help you, you know, or it's going to bring you under that power of that other addiction. And so we need to know that, you know, you know, we need to be careful that we don't open the doors for Satan to, you know, enter in. So, you know, sexual adultery, what Jesus says, you know, is you've already committed sexual adultery when you already have that thought in your mind, you know. So it's basically when you, you know, when you see something it leads to a thought and the thought leads to action that action becomes your habit, that habit becomes your character who you are. So if it's not going to glorify God, if it's something that is going to, you know, not going to help you, it's going to bring you under that power, then, you know, it might as well not do that. So these are reasons, you know, why we don't want to drink wine and necessarily open up our life to alcohol and its effects. And that is why we have this as, you know, one of our church staff policy is that, you know, we should not be drinking wine, because it can lead into other things. Did that help? Who asked that question? Yeah, Kennedy, did that help Kennedy? Okay. Oh my gosh, it's past two minutes of our time. So sorry, I didn't look at the time. I got caught up in talking about wine. Okay. Thank you all for joining class. We'll look at the rest of First Timothy chapter three next week. Have a blessed day and a blessed week ahead. God bless you. Thank you everyone so much. Thank you guys too. Thank you.