 You know the the geography of the place you've been looking at I think we've gone we've gone past chapter three right we finished chapter three and We looked at How Paul is addressing the Corinthian church. It's a church that he has planted It's he has spent he had spent about one and a half years there and he plants the church and people are You know people are It's a vibrant church so people have been exposed to the work of the spirit the Holy Spirit people have been exposed to the Gifts of the spirit, you know because right to the beginning. He says that you come short and no gift which means he's taught he's taught about them. He's also modeled it for them and He's seen it operational in their lives and so he tells them, you know, you come short and you're you're Enriched with all knowledge and all the utterance. So so he's he's talking about that and then Then he tells them, you know, there there is a problem, you know, there is a challenge There is an issue with you because you're saying that I'm of Paul and I'm I'm of upper-loss and he goes on to share about the power of the cross how the message of the cross of the power of the cross and how He when he came he determined, you know, intentionally that people should actually Their fate should be in the power of God and not in the wisdom of man because when you're swayed by the wisdom of man That is when you you tend to say, okay, this person is better that person is better or, you know swayed by the You know comparison and also exalting one person and putting down another and so on so We kind of you know, he's drawing them away. He's pointing them to the truth. Okay, this is what it is And then comes on to chapter 3 chapter 3 Paul says, you know, I could not when I was with you I wanted to, you know, show you greater things or a mature things But I could not speak to you as to spiritual people because you are still carnal You know, there is envy. There is division. There is strife So you are still carnal or fleshly minded. Okay, and And and so and then he explains, you know, Everybody is in God's team. You know, who are we? We are ministers whom God has sent and that's it Nothing more, right? We are ministers and we are all one in fact I planted Apollo's water, but it is God who gives the increase and therefore we are all one, right? so he makes it very clear and And and also he says that you are the property of God right in chapter 3 and verse versus 9 onwards he says verse 9 you are God's building you are God's You are God's field and so on right so he's saying you are actually God's property You belong to God, right always we belong to God therefore if anyone comes to minister and build on this You know, this is God's property. So be careful how he does it. Okay, let it not be with the wrong motives. Let it not be with with With material which is which is not good Right, so that's that's another thing. He says, you know, let him build With you know, you can build with several things gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay But that day will declare it meaning if you're using material to build which are inefficient or deficient weak not strong Then the person the building will not be strong. So in other words, he's saying he's a warning to the people who are ministering he's saying, you know, you need to build with With good things and and then he says that you are the temple of God because God's spirit dwells in you. You are a temple. So Let people be careful Right, let people be careful. It's a it's a it's a warning again Let people be careful. Let them not defile the temple of God Right because God will destroy such a person. Let him not defile. Okay, so That's what that is what we saw Last session that you are Christ and Christ is God's And that's where ends it. Okay chapter four Let's look at chapter four in chapter four. He continues right Paul continues to teach on the same Subject of unity and division and so And how how one should Consider servants of God, okay, how one should consider people in ministry So he can he addresses that because of the seriousness of the problem. Yeah, sometimes we think that okay It's just a just a division. It's just a you know, people are having argument It's just a you know, it's it's not it's not nothing important but the fact is that You know, it is the temple of God if you look at it the body of Christ as a temple of God collectively people are gathering together to worship The spirit of God dwells among them moves among them. So they are the temple of God So how can we as human beings with all this division create? confusion in the temple of God, right, so he addresses it again and he says He mentions this and said this is how you need to look at us The servants of God, this is how you need to consider us. Okay, so let's let's read. Let's go to chapter four and let's read Chapter four verse one let a man so consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court In fact, I do not even judge myself For I know of nothing against myself yet. I am not judged by this but he who judges me is the Lord Therefore judge nothing before the time Until the Lord comes Who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts Then each one's praise will come from God. Okay, so what is he saying here? earlier he said you consider us as Servants ministers to whom you believed. Okay, that's what we see in chapter three and verse five Who is Paul? Who is Apollos ministers to whom you believed? Okay, and and and then he says right? Plants one who plans one who reaps one waters They are they're all the same right but one who? Gives the increase he is God right so here he's saying let a man consider us as stewards of Christ Okay, now. I'm sure you've studied the words to which means overseer or a manager And he's saying you know let a man consider us as first of all He says let a man consider us as servants. Okay servants of Christ Okay, so the word used there as a servant is Is different from the bond servant, you know Paul calls himself a ball bond servant, you know many many times It refers to himself as a bond servant of Christ, but here he's talking he's using another word Greek word which means a servant who has free will kill but bond seven has nowhere else to go You know he will now he is bonded to the To the master right he he has to be there He stays there works there. There's no There's no freedom. There's no life apart from that right? But here he uses a different word which means a servant who actually is working There and he's a he's a free person so it is free to do what what he or she wants and And it's it's a word that is used, you know when when you have a ship and there are people who are ruined It's like under Rover, you know, there is one who is who is actually giving directions who's receiving directions from the captain and then passing on that Direction to the to the ones who are rowing so It's a isn't someone like that, right? So he's a free agent like he's free to go So he's using that word In other words, he's saying, you know as a servant you choose to serve your God freely willingly That's who we are. We have chosen to serve God Be a servant freely. Okay, so he's saying as servants of God and stewards of the mysteries of Christ Okay, so the word you use there is an overseer or someone who manages a household someone who takes care of The finances and the the affairs of the house, right? Someone who takes care of that So he's saying we are stewards of God in what ways stewards of the mysteries of God, so this is the thing that God gives revelation understanding he shows wonderful new things from the word and And it leads in, you know, all those spiritual encounters and gifts and so on so he's saying we are stewards of that meaning We are householders. We are managers of that. Okay, so if something is interested, you know to a to a steward Something is interested which is not his or her own Okay, so the master comes and says we appoint you as a steward now you take care of this and You need to be accountable to me. You know, you need to you need to You're answerable to me. You're accountable to me right and and so So this is who the person is so saying we are stewards We are stewards of what you know all the things that have been interested to us and one of which is Are the mysteries of God, you know, the revelation that comes from him and whatever he has showed me as stewards of that We need to rightly Dispense it or share it We need to make sure that that is not wasted Right that is not corrupted and I in whatever way he has given. I need to share it in the same way You know, that's another thing next to it. So let's say he you know, someone gives you a You know loaf of bread Okay, someone gives you a loaf of bread and says, okay, please take this and give it to that the neighbor neighboring household Okay, so you take it and on the way Are you smelling it's nice and and you decide? Okay? I want to eat half of this loaf Yeah, I'm gonna eat it myself. So you eat half a loaf and then you give half a loaf to the Half of that to that household. So that's not being a good steward, right? That mean that is a person who's filtering Who's taking what what has been interested who's not really giving out who's not carrying out the responsibility as one should Okay, so You which means that faithfully you carry out whatever responsibilities So you're called to be stewards says stewards of the mysteries of God. So really Which means that servants, you know ministry server. He's giving up. He's painting a clear picture, you know, like in today's time we can We can model our lives Based on what we see around in ministry and and then we can model our lives, you know We might be sincerely modeling our lives are living our lives based on a wrong role model Okay, so when it's when it's based on a wrong role model then Then our life is not lived accurately. It's not lived the way it's supposed to be lived. Okay, for example You know, I worked for a garment company, right and the garment company They they make something called a pattern. Okay, which is the first one piece Which exactly like if your shirt sizes, let's say 42 40 or 42, let's say They make 142 which will be the pattern for all the hundreds of The same kind of shirt. Okay, so it'll have the same button. It'll have the same You know pocket, it'll have the same cut, right? It'll have the same colors of buttons same number of buttons the collar and you know, whether it's a button down collar or it'll have the same pattern and Everything else has to be patterned after this pattern, right? So it's a role model. So Similar role model in life. So that's what you know, it is when it comes to ministry If we don't have role models or if we are being bad role models then everything that follows You know in that shirt if let's say instead of six buttons that pattern has you know It's supposed to have six but it let's say you put four missing buttons And all the other shirts will be done or stitched manufactured according to this But the sad thing is the entire lot is defective The pattern is defective So here is it here is the thing, you know in ministry The in ministry are not superstars Right are not like celebrities or you know, they're not superstars. Yes God gives honor. God gives influence. God gives You know takes people to you know certain places and talks to maybe heads of state and heads of government Uses people different right Consider this is what he says you consider us as servants of Christ servants of God. This is who we are Okay, so we also need to have the same same mindset that we are servants of God We are serving, you know, we are not superstars going there displaying something and you know We are serving people. We are serving God. We are serving his people. Okay, right? So we get so much of that in in that one verse, right? So it says more more over it is required and stewards that one be found faithful Okay, it goes without saying you have to be honest. We have to be sincere We have to be faithful versus three to five Says but with me, it's a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court Okay, in fact, I do not even judge myself. So this he's referring to something that he Previously talked about in chapter two. Okay in chapter two He says in chapter two and verse 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things yet he himself is rightly judged by no one What is he talking about? He's talking about a person who's spiritual He's also comparing that to a person who is not spiritual And who is natural who's unable to receive the things of God like you remember So he's saying now, how can and that person judge a person who is spiritual, right? So here he's saying the spiritual judges all things because it's with the spiritual discernment that person is able to Get a right judgment, but a natural person does not know the things of God is not receiving the things of God Okay, we are not Spiritual because he's not able to spiritually discern these things, right? So in the same way he's talking about about judgment and Judges just to you come to a decision you arrive at a decision you discern and you say, okay, this is right This is wrong. So he's saying With me. It is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or By a human court. In fact, I do not judge myself For I know of nothing against myself yet. I'm not justified by this. Okay, so he's saying yeah, I don't you know I don't judge and condemn myself But the fact is that even if a human court does it, you know, I'm not concerned but the thing is the The judge the one who judges is the Lord Okay I'm not justified by this. He says in verse four. He says he who judges me is the Lord therefore Was five So this is what it is, you know, a spiritual manager does not I don't have to be judged. I don't have to be By a human court or others God is the judge. Okay? He's the one. I'm not justified Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes so judge nothing before the time Until the Lord comes who will what will what will the Lord do? He will he will Both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts Then each one's praise will come from the Lord. So he's saying don't judge before the time Obviously, he's referring to again servants of God. Okay Don't compare don't pass judgment when you don't know the full thing Even you don't know the full facts when I when you don't know the entire You know full picture So he's saying, you know Well, we judge based on what we see Right ahead of in front of us But God knows and he will reveal the things in darkness and the hidden things Okay, he says reveal the counsels of the hearts. Okay, what are the counsels of the hearts? What is the heart? The motives and the meaning that they purpose the motive Everything of the heart the Lord will reveal then each one's praise will come from God Okay, so again, we see that God is interested in Okay. Yeah, definitely. He's interested in the work that you do but he's interested in also More importantly knowing why you do the work Okay, why are you doing that work? Why are you in ministry? Why are you preaching? Why are you leading worship? Why are you doing it? Right? Is it because the Lord you love the Lord and you want to serve? Or is it is there any other motive like self-serving motive, you know, I'll become famous I want to you know, reach here. I want people to know me, you know, kind of thing. Is there any other motive, right? Now the Lord will reveal the counsels of the hearts He will reveal that motive and then everyone's praise will come from From that right will come from God Okay, so So, yeah, so let's move on to Chapter verse 6 now these things brethren I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollo's for your sakes That they may learn in us not to think beyond what is written That none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one another For what makes you differ from another and what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed see it Why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already full. You are already rich. You have reigned as kings without us and indeed I wish you did reign That we also might reign with you for I think that God has displayed us the Apostles last. Okay, so Let's look at till verse 8. Okay, so he's saying all these things. I'm I'm referring to Apollo's and myself Okay, and Figuratively I'm just comparing Apollo's and myself and you know these things that I'm sharing. I'm comparing those two Apollo's and myself so that you may learn that you will not You know, you will not think of us beyond you know, what is what is written that you will not Think beyond learn in us not to think beyond what is written You know, that means that that you may learn from our lives that not to think over and above and which means that you don't Exalt someone over and above You know, what is actually written right what is allowed and what is permitted and He says that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other that none of you puffed up is Pride right that you don't become proud because of you know, your allegiance or Your you know, let's say you're supporting one and not the other and you don't become proud of that Is saying and then it says that What makes you differ from another? You know, I call again saying there's there's no difference Really, we're all serving. There's no difference. So what makes you differ from another? Okay, is it because of the gifting is it because of you know What makes you differ? Okay, so he's he talks about, you know, three things here when he says that Three questions, right? He asks in these verses verse are what makes you differ from another, you know The way you're behaving the way you're elevating man. What makes you differ from another? Definitely, you know, the thing is that one group You know is divided against the other but it is not different at all Okay, that is what he's saying. You're not different. You're not superior. You're not inferior. Okay, we are one Then he asks another question What do you have that you did not receive? So is it some special revelation is it some gifting In which or is it no way in which God is using you? What did you what did you have that you don't risk that you did not receive? Okay, the thing is everything we have received by faith It's a free gift It's by grace Right. So God did not see your level of holiness You know anything of that sort and then decide to use you decide to call you, right? So even that, you know, you it is by faith you've received right and then you've received from God Himself it's not of your own you received from him and Then the third question if you did indeed receive it. Okay, so let's say you received from God Whatever and whatever way God is using the gifts and calling and everything if indeed you receive from God Why do you boast now? Right. Why are you proud and arrogant and why are you boasting as if you did not receive it? In other words, he's saying it's as if you didn't receive that and as if you know, you got it out of your own out of your own efforts Why are you boasting now? Stop boasting, right? So so in other words, you know for us how to practically apply this is also You know, we see God using different ministers or different churches and different ministries in different ways, right? Now, yes, they they may not believe the way we believe they may not Understand the word the way we understand etc. There's no reason to Not Co-exist cooperate live in unity. Okay, the thing is this, you know as long as the core things Are the same the sense? You know, if if someone is believing, okay, Jesus is not Lord or Jesus is not the only way then Obviously, there is no unity, right? So that is like a person being an unbeliever and you cannot be yoked together But if the core thing is the same the core doctrine or the core belief Which they by which they conduct their lives is is the same, right? One God one savior one word You know the Bible which is inerrant and God inspired One spirit if you know, you understand that and you you agree on that there's no reason why you you need not, you know Continue to walk together as a church in unity, right as different churches as different like denominations even, right? so that is what he's saying and So so that's a lesson for us, you know, we don't have to look down on others who You know who believe in the call, you know the core things but But that's all, you know, they've not moved on and There's no reason for us to act superior to them, right because they They might be strong in certain other things. Okay, and obviously that they've received from God and what we have We have also received from God. So there's no reason to think superior or Look down on others. Okay Then from verse nine onwards, he talks about the challenges of the Apostle You know, he says first of all, he said these are your servants. We have been given the mysteries We have received from God You know, I don't judge myself In other words, we wait till you know receive The judgment from God he will reveal the motives why someone ministered in a certain way, etc He'll you know, he will reveal and then he goes on to Say that, you know, why do you those three questions, right? You know what makes it different and all that and why did you you know What did what do you have that you did not receive and if you if you have it If you indeed receive it, why are you behaving as if you did not receive it? Then he says one more thing he says, you know In a in a act of or in a sarcastic tone. He says, you know, you're already full You're already rich. You've reigned as kings and indeed. I wish you did rain. So here the the usage of the Greek The scholars note that it is with sarcasm. He's like He's kind of stating the truth, but not stating, you know, he's like Saying that you're already full. You're already rich. He's making a statement But what he actually implies is that you are still carnal. There is still, you know, room for maturity You've not yet reached that level yet. Okay So he he says that and then he goes on to talk about The challenges the trials that they go through. Okay, so let's read that for I think that God has displayed us the apostles last as men condemned to death For we have been made a spectacle to the world both to angels and to men We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong You are distinguished, but we are dishonored to the present hour We both hunger and thirst and we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless and we labor Working with our own hands being reviled. We bless Being persecuted. We endure being defamed. We entreat We have been made as the filth of the world of scouring of all things until now. So he depicts a very You know, very grave picture of hardships and difficulties and everything that He and his team as apostles how what they've been going through says, you know, we've been displayed As people who are condemned to death, you know, there is and which is true because there was death waiting for them at every turn Either by natural, you know Calamities of their travel, you know storms where they're shipwrecks, you know being thrown into the sea It was like that or it was persecution from the religious leaders from the Jews and others who did not agree with them or other gentile You know churches or gentile regions also who did not agree with the message, right? So so all kinds of threat which was there is as we were condemned to death and we've been made a spectacle to the world You know, we've been made a you know, like We've been made one scene, you know, we are even made a spectacle to the earth Because of who we are right as men who are condemned So he's giving them the reality of who they are okay, so the reality of Ministry, okay, and he's given them the reality of You know the fact that the accountability that they have as servant of God This is who we are and then he says here you see that we've been made a spectacle, which means, you know, like a A public show, you know, the world whole world sees Angels men everyone sees that, you know, this is what is happening to us. Okay, and he's saying we are fools for the sake of Christ We are fools for the sake of Christ We've been the the way in which we sometimes Behaves the things that we do Which others might want to protect themselves, but we we go on It seems foolish sometimes some journeys and some decisions to go in the face of danger We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise we are weak, you know bodily We're weak. You are strong. You are distinct and he just you know compares that just to tell them that you know These are challenges. We hunger. We thirst. We are poorly clothed. We are beaten. We are homeless We labor work with our own hands like referring to how Along with Priscilla and Akhila, you know, he he worked with us He worked with them as as tent makers, right? So we we see that in fact when he arrived at Corinth He we read in Acts chapter 18 We read about Priscilla Akhila joining him and how they were tent makers and so on so saying working with our own hands Supporting the ministry saying we labor Being reviled we bless, you know, we are we are cursed. We are spoken off ill things are spoken of us people actually you know speak Bad of us, but we Despite that we actually we bless so so See he says that and basically just the challenges of You know Challenges faced by they're doing a good work challenges faced by the Apostle, you know, they are reviled meaning They are abused and criticized and so on And see and he's talking about the physical things. You know, we are hungry. Go hungry. We go thirsty. We are poorly clothed We are beaten Persecuted etc But he says when we are reviled when we are criticized we actually bless them Which is what the Lord taught right bless those occurs. So saying those who revile us we bless them and being persecuted We endure persecution, right? We go through it And we being defamed we entreat we go back We we we entreat the people about with the gospel and we have been made as a filth of the world of scouring of Saying really, you know, there is no reason why you should You know elevate us beyond, you know, a certain limit And because of which you should there should be division, you know, these are the challenges. This is what we go through Okay Verse 14 I do not write these things to shame you but as my beloved children, I warn you For though you might have 10,000 instructors in Christ yet you do not have many fathers For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel Therefore I urge you imitate me For this reason I have sent Timothy to you who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord Who will remind you of my ways in Christ as I teach everywhere in every church Now some are puffed up as though I were not coming to you But I will come to you shortly if the Lord wills and I will know not the power of those who are puffed up But sorry not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power for the kingdom of God is Not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod or in love? And a spirit of gentleness So he turns the attention back to them and he says I don't write these things in order to you know shame you Okay, now, you know, what are some things that he's mentioning is saying, you know, why are you getting divided? Why are you know, he's in fact very direct. He's saying you're carnal You're fleshly or you're just thinking your mind is on fleshly things So you are still immature just imagining you just imagine Going up to it, you know the church and telling a group of believers, you know, you are immature You are you are carnal You're not able to receive solid food Okay, so so he's saying all this and he's saying you know, I don't say this to shame you It's not to make you feel ashamed and condemned But as my beloved children, I want you Okay, so this is how he considers The believers at Corinth. He has spent time with them. He has taught them He is you know, shared the gospel. He has seen them accept the Lord and enjoy salvation He has seen them being filled with the spirit and and you know walk in the in the things of the spirit, right? So he's saying you know as your beloved You know as you are my beloved children, I'm warning you Okay So and he's saying, you know, you might have 10,000 instructors yet. You do not have many fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Okay, so so He's talking about how he he was he's like a spiritual father to them and we understand many things about you know About a person being a spiritual father, like for example, he chooses to address the You know, if they are doing anything Which is not of God, he chooses to address that he chooses not to ignore that, you know in them and he He's addressing their Immaturity because he wants them to grow to maturity. So he's talking about that and as a spiritual father and mother and as a spiritual father Paul He allows others to speak into their lives Right couple of us for example, Peter Right, so he didn't it does not say you should listen only to me should only come to this church listen to me and You know and then Anywhere else if you go by chance, you know to any other meeting then Then that's it You know, we cannot have this relationship. He doesn't say that he's a spiritual father He wants what is best for them. So Trusted people like upper laws and Peter So he he in Encourages actually them to receive. He does not hold them back from not receiving from their ministry. So so So that's that that's something that we again that we see about spiritual fathering or being a spiritual father or a mother and Then we we also see Learn something else from verse 16. He says I urge you imitate me, okay, which means that Paul In an amazing way. He was a he was being an example, whatever he was teaching them, whatever he was showing them First of all, he was following that in his own life in his own life He was doing it. So he says with so much confidence imitate me Therefore, I urge you imitate me imitate my life. What does it mean to imitate to copy? Okay to copy. Okay. I'm to copy my life See what my life is and live according to that copy my life so he's saying imitate me and The other thing that we see is that He doesn't hold back from correcting them and it's the correction is out of Love it is not to shame them. It is not to you know, make a person feel miserable That is never the attention. That is never the intention. It is not to put them down It is not to punish them Right, it is not to make them feel bad, but it's always for their good Right. So you see a special father or a mother does that so special father or the mother takes a person from immaturity to maturity a special father or mother does not is involved in you know in Even observing and concerned about them about their well-being and spiritual growth a special father or mother Does not hold back from correction and also a special father or mother is does not Manipulate or control or does not have You know authority over their faith, but really He he or she loves others to seek into their lives other ministers to speak into the other men or women of God to minister To them as well, right? So so we see all these things in these few verses Then he he says in verse 18 now some are puffed up as though I were not coming to you now Some of you, you know, so he's hearing this report, right from Chloe's household people have come So he's saying some are puffed up some are proud. Obviously it was mentioned there as Though, you know, I would not coming to coming to you that I will not come and visit you. So you're all puffed up They're all proud of all, you know Where is he he's gone on his journey. He will not come. We will do what we want. So You're all puffed up And then he's saying but I will come to you shortly if the Lord wills And I will know not the word of those who are puffed up at the power Okay, so he's saying that You know When I come I will I want to I'll know the word Not the word, but I want to see the power. Okay. Now. These are all talk keep you people are talking and you're Saying all these things, but I want to see your life and the transmit transformative power of the Holy Spirit In your life. I want to see that power in action. So I will come and I will know the power of those who are puffed up, okay for The kingdom of God Verse 20 is not in word or just speaking or just sharing of ideas and thoughts It's not just that Is not in that the kingdom of God because it's the rule and reign of the king It's not in just mere words, but it is in power Okay, so when it's power, you are talking about supernatural power. We're talking about miraculous power We don't want transformative power where lives are changed, right? So saying this is what it is right You will you will the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power So verse 21 what do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod or with our in love and with gentleness so it's a spirit of gentleness. So saying, you know So in other words, he's saying you please change your behavior now Please change the way that you're talking. Please change the way that you're behaving Because when I come, you know, I want to see all these troublemakers all these people who are being proud I want to see the power of Of Of their lives the kind of lives they are living. I want to see that power the kingdom of God is not in word and in power So, how do you want me to come? You know, you want me to come in love or you want me to come with the rod of discipline? Because I can come with that So he's he's wanting them because he wants them to change, right? He wants them to so this whole chapter Addressing the whole thing of division addressing how they should Look how people of God should look at men and women of God was servants of God because based on that we We treat them if you if you're going to look at men and women of God as as Gods and Goddesses, you know as we put them on a pedestal and Almost to the point of worshiping Right, then it's wrong and That is what that is wrong that is fleshly and Because it is fleshly it creates division it creates comparison. So all these things are dangerous for a church Okay, so, you know, maybe you are serving in a church Maybe you are part of a church or leading a church. These are things to watch out for right our people You know, if you're a leader, you know, are people Lifting me or elevating me and you know, you know that, you know, they they'll compare they'll say, you know, bastard When you speak, no It is it is so anointed bastard, but when that other person, you know, then that pastor speaks It is not so I was waiting for you to speak, you know, this kind of thought or this kind of speech First of all, don't take it to heart You know, you don't take it and you don't receive it and give it importance and weightage Okay, when people compare and then they'll say something second thing is, you know, you don't encourage that Encourage such conversation, you know, you just need to set it right, you know, we're all used by God, you know It praise God, you know, he made the difference or you take to say something nice what you noticed about that Believer or about that minister of God about that pastor, right? You share something and that's these are ways by which we can counter that when people come and say, you know, Oh, you're wonderful. This is the thing. You're not anointed and God is using you that person is not Especially when they say that person is not then we need to address that. Okay, don't encourage that Okay, and also, you know, people are treating you in a very like very special manner Yes, you see it's it's a fine line Okay, let's say people are honoring you kissing pastor. You sit here. I'll do this. I'll get this for you, you know You know and and may and come courtesy Right when you're visiting. Okay. They're doing this and common courtesy is like, okay, you know hospitable all that is fine But there are certain, you know, I I was very surprised that once when I got to know one pastor and then the believer Of that of that church was saying, you know, when pastor comes home, we have to prepare some non-veg We have to have non-veg there. Otherwise, he will not eat or otherwise. He won't like it Well, where does that come from? You know that idea that well the pastor has gone home and he's probably said something like that Right said, you know, why is there no non-veg and when men of God come you should prepare these kind of talks these kind of Ideas that are being shared communicated. So So don't encourage that, you know, you don't say that and then if people, you know, ask you, you know, pastor, you just say, you know, something simple Be like them So don't encourage this kind of a celebrity culture And we need to be intentional about that because it will divide the body of Christ and it will create confusion it'll Create carnality because of which the very church that you're trying to serve The very ministry that you're trying to build is not, you know, people will still be stunted But what's the point in having thousand people and people are all stunted in their growth? Beyond their basic understanding, they're not able to grow because they're not able to receive spiritual food because they are carnage and We should not allow that and that's not God's plan intention for us Okay, we'll stop here and then we'll come back and look at chapter 5