 You're welcome back after the break just before we went for a break. We We all just read through quietly by ourselves Pistimony chapter one and I just asked you all to share Insights that you've received and Charles shared with us. Thank you, Charles Elisha has posted he says Paul despite considering himself the worst of sinners or the foremost of sinful men was judged faithful by God and Trusted with the stewardship of his word and his service I believe that this serves as a reminder that God does not see the potential in everyone No matter their past and is willing to use them to advance his kingdom And we should not write people off as sinners But instead strive to bring them to Christ so that he can transform them and use them for his glory Thank you. Thank you very much Elisha anyone else like to share Insights that you received in that you Learned while just reading through first Timothy chapter one anyone Get on mute your mics and please share be nice to hear One faster For me that Two things are three things that the length from from from chapter one one is when Paul said because he He committed sin in ignorance and then that's reminds me of what says Look, it's you the John or Peter say that if you seen seen Well knowing that you're sinning there's no more Sacrifice for you and then that reminds me of myself that need to To be mindful of that and second thing is It with the acceptance, okay, thank you Pasta. I'll leave today Okay, thank you, Vangie Kennedy says that the urge for sound doctrines only. Yes. That's right. Thank you anyone else Yes, I just wanted to Just try to understand a little bit more about That that was not number 19 our 20 where he mentions about these two people Hymenia sendings Alexander That Paul says are who am I deliver whom I deliver to sit in We learn not to blaspheme so I just want to understand The you know for someone to for for those two people to to blaspheme was that you know such a big sin that Paul you know had to deliver to Satan and What did what did mean did it mean that you know both these people were then just not Able to be forgiven by God or you know, what what was this? What a while What's this that great? So I just wanted to What that Yeah, we'll actually look at it when we come to verse 20, but since you've only asked me You know Hymenia is is also we see is mentioned in second Timothy chapter 2 was 17 And here he's mentioned with you know, he's mentioned with Alexander There in circuit sorry in second Timothy chapter 2 was 70 is mentioned in connection with Pilateus as a very dangerous man So one of the doctrines which Hymenia's was promoting in the church was that the Resurrection was already passed. We we look at it again when we look at second Timothy chapter 2 was 18 So that is all we know about Hymenia's but when it comes to Alexander, you know In second Timothy chapter 4 was 14 we see that Alexander is a corpus myth and he's mentioned as someone who did much evil To Paul and it's possible that it's the same Alexander, you know that who was instrumental in handing over Paul you know to The authorities so Paul says that he hands them, you know Over to you know to Satan and we see we also look at this Something that Paul does similar to this he writes about this something similar in first Corinthians chapter 5 verse 5 You know, and he says where you know, these men have to be excommunicated You put out a fellowship of the church Because when they are, you know, when Paul is saying excommunicate them or put them out of church It's not that, you know, he's thinking bad for them or that he does not want them to to come to a realization of the truth or to be saved or You know, this their souls to be lost in eternity or to be done away with such people Or with such men, but you know what he's basically meaning here and in when he's saying in first content chapter 5 verse 5 We say, you know excommunicate these people send them out of the church And here he's saying, you know, I'll hand over both of these men to Satan It's not we don't look at it in you know, how can Paul be so evil or mean or rude? But his intent was something that was good So when he's saying, you know, give them up to Satan or excommunicate them He's saying that these people when when they are under Satan or when they're out of the church They're out of that spiritual covering. Okay, they're no longer under spiritual oversight on the church leadership They're no longer under the spiritual covering of God. And if you remember you learn this in in Healing and deliverance, you know, or when when God removes his hand of protection over us, then we are you know, we are Open to the elements of this world where sickness and disease or you know informities Or even for Satan to attack us. So we have we don't have that spiritual covering and Satan is you know his work is You know, he's a liar is the father of all lies and he's all out to steal kill and destroy So that is what he will do with our lives And so when these people when they are going through this, you know, when they're facing sickness or disease or informities or, you know constant Turmoil and tribulation and difficulties then, you know, they will come to a realization of the sin that they have committed It's automatic when we when we go through trials difficulties sin We automatically see what did I do wrong God, but please forgive all my sins. Please, you know, heal me Restore me, you know, wherever I've fallen So it's they'll come to a point where they realize though the evil deeds their wicked ways How they've gone away from God and that will you know Draw them back to God In there in their distress in their difficulties in that pain in their brokenness They will come to a realization that no one can rescue them other than God and they will it will lead them ultimately to turn into God. So No, the language is very sounds very rude and harsh and strong here but Paul has a Good intention behind so that you know when these people are faced with the these kind of troubles and difficulties They're open to the attacks of the evil one or the elements of this world They you know, they will come to a realization of the truth. They will turn back to God They will repent and their souls will be saved for eternity. Did that help Christopher? Yes, thank you. I just just a follow-on question because sometimes, you know, we as Christians also you know, sometimes the Dutch people and now we also In some ways also feel that, you know, if there are there are people who are really evil Do do should be we kind of, you know, you know sort of Do something similar what Paul has done or me I mean it could be Some of us or it could be even, you know, maybe people who are, you know You know pastors or whatever is that is that something that should be done or we should not do it I think what we could do is, you know, we have the whole You know, we can ask the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. We can pray for them You know and ask God to you know, cause them to come to a realization of the truth to see You know the truth To live the truth to walk in that truth and to you know turn from their wicked ways So God do something orchestrate their ways in You know their lives in such a way that they will come to the realization of the truth They will repent and I think that is a good prayer to pray Yeah, is that okay? And just pray for them. Yeah, okay Yes, Mangi, you had your hand up and then we lost Divya. She also has a hand up. Yes, Mangi Thank you, Busta Yeah, some I'm just just to follow up from previous question So what's the relationship is? Can we get in this verse and that one in Matthew 18 17 when Jesus said if a brother is not does not Listen Treating is an unbeliever or a tax collector. So what's it? What's a relationship with them with these two verses and how do we treat? Is it a sinner and how do we send someone to say that? Thank you, Busta So how do we treat a sinner? Thank you go Mangi for your question How do we treat a sinner a sinner here actually these two people with who Paul is referring to Hymenias and Alexander they've actually part of the church. So they have heard the truth They know the doctrines and they have turned away. So Paul mentioned some of them in his letters We saw even in Romans. He mentions people who have gone away from the faith who have departed You know who deserted him I deserted the faith and things like that. So these people know the truth and They have gone away. So that is why Paul is using this this So-called harsh or hard language for them to come to a realization of the truth and nothing but difficulties and The son is going to you know, bring them back the truth but for sinners basically when we're talking about sinners where I Am assuming that they have they they are not believers. They have not known the truth They have not heard the truth. So for them we basically pray and share and you know speak and Minister to them from our own lives and our own testimony the way that we live Just portray Christ just reveal Christ and reveal the truth to them so that they come to a Realization of the truth because they're not able to see the truth because you know Satan has blinded their eyes from seeing the truth But for those who have known the truth and gone away from the truth You can't speak the truth back to them because basically, you know policy You can't speak the truth because they already know the truth and they deviated from the truth and they are going to you know They have answers to give you back So, you know, it's only when they face hardships that they're going to turn around But for those who are sinners they do not know the truth because Satan has blinded them But we pray and we minister we share the truth with them The love of God with them so that they you know, they repent and they come back to God Did that help Maggie? Yes, thank you Okay, Divya Yeah, thank you best. I just wanted to Highlight some of the points that popped out for me as I was reading Chapter one. So I really love the way Paul describes God there especially saying that God our savior Lodgy surprised our hope Also in verse 17 Paul writes he's the King eternal immortal invisible To God who alone is wise Be glow honor and glory forever and ever Also the way Paul is, you know addressing himself As an apostle of Jesus Christ By the commandment of God our savior and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope And also how he addresses Timothy as a true son in the faith So Yeah, and there are some words that are really repeating over and over in the first chapter like good Conscience since your faith pure heart So these are I feel like Paul is these are some things that that matter and And also Even as everyone was sharing like how Paul is talking about God's mercy and grace in his life in verses 12 to 17 and Also was 18 where? Timothy is given the charge to wage the good warfare And To commit committing to you according to the prophecies Previously made concerning you that by them you may wage the good warfare having faith and good conscience So in our lives as well, especially as the word of the Lord for 2023 like Pray like your blessing is coming pray through till breakthrough. So yeah, there are promises of God And there are prophecies made concerning each one And need to hold on to it. Yeah, whatever maybe our circumstances whatever people might tell Or may made Terry we might have to you know, just hold on to those prophecies and promises of God. Yeah Yeah, that's it. Thank you. Thank you. Divya. Thank you so much good insights Asha is saying first Timothy chapter one was 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience Even the worst sinners then others will realize that they too can believe in him and to see the eternal life I love this passage this verse. It's was beautiful and has touched me and helped me to realize the importance. Thank you Um Stephanie has asked to shed light on worse 18 so Was 18 will come to it, but then maybe because you've asked I can just quickly Share was 18 Paul says this I charge a commit to you some Timothy according to the prophecies Previously made concerning you that by them you may Wage the good warfare. So they basically prophecies. He's talking about what was spoken over You know Timothy's life So, you know, I'm sure they would had ministry time people would have spoken over Timothy Paul would have spoken to see Words of prophecy and that which he has spoken over Timothy's life or other people would have spoken over Timothy's life. So he's basically using this, you know, this this chapter to encourage young Timothy we look at why he's he's writing all of these things. So he's encouraging him and He's saying that, you know, hey, you know prophecies were spoken over your life He also mentions about this in first Timothy chapter four was Verses 14 where he says do not neglect the gift that is in you which was given to you by prophecy But the laying on of hands of the leadership. So, you know the anointing the the gifts that he had received when Imparted to him when people laid hands the elders laid hands. So he's saying don't neglect that gift He's just encouraging him that you have these gifts of leadership, you know and God is Taking you at this point to this church things might be very difficult, but remember what was spoken over your life So God has preplanned this for all day in this Has spoken over your life and you know, hold on to those prophecies Also, I think it's in second Timothy chapter one Second Timothy chapter one was Six he says therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying and on-off hands So, you know, he's saying hey, you know, you've received you've been Given all of these gifts this capabilities which was spoken over you prophesied over you, you know, and these are good enough And this, you know, that will sustain you that will help you to continue to run your race and To accomplish what God has called you to do here in the Church of Ephesus Did that help? Stephanie Okay Okay, so thank you all for sharing. We'll Look at a study first Timothy chapter One okay Verse one Paul says Paul and Apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our savior and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope Okay, so Paul begins his right letters You know by writing his own name first Which is like a letter writing custom in his days So first the letter or the writer of the letter is mentioned and then the reader so we look at was to he says to Timothy So first the writer of the letter is mentioned which is the custom of Paul's day and then you know the the reader or the person is writing to and then You know Paul the person gives greetings to so that is why Paul is writing his name there and he he says Paul and Apostle So we know an Apostle comes from the Greek word apostolous And an Apostle is somebody who is sent with orders He's a delegate an ambassador Somebody who is commissioned so a commissioned one a messenger And you know somebody who's called into the office of an Apostle so an Apostle is basically a sent one somebody sent out with a special mission a messenger Delegate and in terms of function. He's one who goes ahead and pioneers Things starts things where no one else has gone What no one else has done and Paul is saying you know, he's he's Making very clear to the church at Ephesus, you know, because he's going to write very important things matters administration of the church, which In this is this letter is those written to Timothy is going to be read out to all the churches at Ephesus So, you know, Paul is making known who he is. What is this calling that as an Apostle, you know appointed by Jesus Christ himself by My god himself, he has the authority to write what he's writing He has the authority to tell the church what they have to do what they shouldn't be doing About church administration Church ordered and how to bring about things in the church. So he's he's basically setting the stage, you know He's making things very clear Because people can turn around and ask Timothy, okay, who are you to tell us these things? Who is Paul to write? So he's saying that he's an Apostle and he's mentioning that he's an Apostle of Jesus Christ. So which means he's saying that he's been called to this responsibility He's been equipped. He has been sent forth as God's Educative messenger. So his authority comes from God. He derives his authority from God He's been equipped by him. He's been sent forth by him. So as an Apostle Paul had God's authority and God is the one who gave Paul this particular call and Function, which was that of an Apostle So here we know that, you know, or we we can see that, you know, God has gifted each one of us different gifts and You know, whether it's an Apostle or Prophet a teacher or administrator or helper Somebody like Steven who was just serving waiting upon people, but we know sir Steven was full of wisdom of Full of the Spirit full of the fear of the Lord Even though he was just somebody was waiting on people just serving But each one of us, you know, God has given us different gifts and each of these different gifts, you know, we can't You know, we can't compare it with each other because each of these gifts are important for the mutual edification of the body of Christ and for the glory of God. So we can't say that, hey, you know, I'm just an helper in church I'm not an Apostle. I'm not a prophet or I'm not a pastor or a teacher. So my role is not very important It's not true. We can't compare You know one's role against the other because you know, each one of us have received different gifts from God It's God who gives us the gifts and he's given us all different gifts and each of our gifts are important, our pressures are valuable for the edification of the body of Christ So don't look at your gift as something that you used to compare or look down on yourself or Undermine your roles and responsibilities your commitment in the body of Christ But you need to look at your gift as something that Christ has given you that God has given you and look at it as Something which is important for the mutual Edification of the church so your gift is important for the edifying of the body of Christ For the work of God to be established and continued in the in the body of Christ and for the glory of God So you're going you're doing using your gift to manifest his glory, which means to manifest his glory means You know to reveal who God is to make known his nature and what he does Okay So whether we see that even Stephen even though he was just Serving people waiting on people serving tables or serving food But he was full of Wisdom and knowledge and full of the spirit in the fear of the Lord and he was also doing mighty science miracles and Wonders so you know, it's not just those in like pastors and Apostles who have to do all of this but it's also us who can flow in the supernatural Who can manifest the glory of God of who he is and what he does even through, you know You know, if you're just a helper or administrator, whatever we are just use our gifts to the glory of God So we need to recognize discern our gifts And the place of ministry to which God has called us to and we need to use our gifts And not compare or you know, look down or undermine but stay committed faithful and use it for the glory of God so whatever is our gifts or the offices that God has called us to, you know, we must completely surrendered Surrender ourselves surrender our will and you know surrender ourselves and use it for the glory of God and Paul says that, you know, he's an apostle of Christ Jesus by the Commandment of God, so he's basically the stressing things laying out things very clear making things very clear To the church, it ever says he's saying here. I am an apostle Not because I'm calling myself as an apostle but because of the commandment of God So, you know, his calling is a command of God So our calling each one of us are calling whatever is our calling, you know, it's not something that You know, it's not something that people give us but it's a command from God and You know, even as it's a command from God We need to be faithful to what God has called us to and what God has Interested us to and then he goes on to say, you know Commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ are Hope, okay, and worse Sorry Okay, so he here Paul mentions in this phrase, you know God our Savior and the Lord Jesus, sorry commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ So he our hope he's talking about two persons of the Godhead so we believe in God the Father we believe in God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and In verse one and was to we see Paul as mentioning About, you know, the Godhead got the father got the Son so God our Savior God is our father and Jesus Christ was our hope our Lord, so it's good to recognize You know, just like the we appointed it's good to recognize, you know All who God is and all that he means to us So here we even as Paul is writing about the Godhead. He's basically Recognizing who God is and all That God means to us. So God is our Savior. He's our father. He's our hope. He's our Lord He's our healer. He's our deliverer. He's our provider Redeemer and we can go on with all of the nature and the attributes and the characteristics of God So it's good to acknowledge to recognize Who God is and then Paul goes on to write in verse two to Timothy a true son in the faith Grace mercy and peace from God our father and Jesus Christ our Lord so As we as I mentioned earlier, you know Paul taught and mentor Timothy And helped him grow or spiritually and helped him to grow in a service in the Lord Jesus Christ So we also see that, you know Paul refers to Timothy as his son. So they had a father son Relationships so here he says, you know to Timothy a true son in their faith So Paul is saying that Timothy have a father and son relationship because of their common faith So what is their common faith their common faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ? So by using this this word or this term common, you know The Apostle Paul is reminding us of that which we hold Common with all believers and what do we hold common with all believers? We hold common is our personal faith in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and this personal faith that you know each one of us hold as Jesus as our Lord and savior is one that binds us together You know as a spiritual family Regardless of our nationality our status You know The places that we come from whatever, you know, all of those are important to us Yes, but what really binds us together holds us is our personal faith our personal faith our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour so all of us, you know who have believed in Jesus as our Lord and savior trusted in him we stand together as one as brothers and sisters in Christ and In some cases, you know, we are spiritual fathers, spiritual mothers To the children that we are, you know, we are raising up mentoring in the body of Christ And so it's this common faith in Jesus Christ that provides us the Basis for our fellowship our communion our relationship and our harmony with one another, okay? Some of these, you know Extra points that I'm giving is not there in your notes So if you're following your notes and it's not there you want to Make a note of it. You can go ahead and make a note of it and then Paul, you know in his in his greetings He usually mentions grace and peace from God our father and Jesus Christ our Lord But here he also mentions the word mercy Usually in most of his epistles and most of his letters Paul mentions grace and peace but here, you know, he's also mentioning the word Mercy so when Paul is using these words, you know grace mercy peace in his greetings In most of his epistles. He's not just using it as a formality You know, just when we write, you know, we also use greetings Sometimes it can just be used as a formality or a fill-in or a way of starting the letter very well But, you know, Paul does not use it as a formality because Paul knew that the source of all grace mercy and peace is no none can come from none other than only God from, you know, God the father God the son Who is our? Jesus Christ who is our Lord and Savior so by writing this or mentioning, you know God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ It's not just like a formality that he's using but he is stressing that, you know, this is where we get Grace mercy and peace it comes from No one else from nothing else none of the things of this world Can give us grace mercy and peace, but it's only it only comes from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ, okay So Paul is teaching us here or he's teaching the church That they can be neither grace nor peace, you know until you have a personal Relationship with God the father. So what is essential to a relationship with God? As you know, our heavenly father is a relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior is You know is is the outcome of our relationship is, you know Grace mercy and peace. So he's saying what is essential is our relationship. What matters is our relationship with God who is our heavenly father and what is also essential is our relationship with Jesus Christ because He is our Savior. So look at that pronoun that Paul uses, you know, Jesus Christ our Savior So he stresses the need for a personal faith and Points to a common relationship that all believers have together. So he's basically, you know, at the very start of his letter He's making some very important Phrases and and statements. He's saying hey, there may there is a lack of peace In your in the church it effaces there is division and all of that You know, it does not come by just following some doctrines some rituals Keeping the Old Testament laws and rituals that you're bringing in into the church Some legalistic rules that you want people to follow, you know All of this is not going to bring peace because you know, I mean indirectly just saying hey look There is no peace in the church. There is division. There is strife, which he talks about in You know in in the in the next few verses Sorry He's he mentions that in I think in verse Yeah, in verse Four, you know, he says there is strife. There is three and four. He mentions about it, you know He's saying there is no peace in the church because You know, and he says where does peace come from is, you know, not just in a Corporate gathering where you're bringing about all of these legalistic rules and rituals and your own so-called doctrines, but it's It's in your personal relationship with God the Father and God the Son and that Translates into unity and oneness in the body of Christ. So, you know Some of us can know when we are not at peace with God when we are not in a right relationship with God, you know, it can You know Satan can use us to bring about this unity and strife in the body of Christ So we need to check ourselves, you know, we can't say that in this church There is no unity and and there's no peace. So there's no love It it has to start from us if each one of us are in love with God the Father God the Son We are at peace with them. It automatically translates into having love and peace with With believers with whom we share a Common bond of relationship because of our personal faith in Christ Jesus our Lord So it all begins with our, you know, a personal relationship with God the Father and God the Son, okay So here he stresses on that are, you know, the pronoun are and the need of personal faith and points to That translates into a common relationship of all that all believers have together that he is our Savior now this phrase our savior Or the title savior was, you know in Paul's time was used To honor the Roman Emperor. Okay, so so some commentators some writers mentioned this they they say that this was savior Was a word that was or a term that was or a title that was used to honor the Roman Emperor And so people called and the force to call Caesar or Nero as savior and so Paul, you know In this context that he's writing, you know made the identity of the real savior very very clear And he went by by saying that, you know, he's God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ So very clearly he's mentioning that God that, you know, savior is not like, you know, like Nero and And Caesar were persecuting the Christians who were fallen human beings evil in their own ways, but he's making the identity of You know Or the real identity of the savior known and that can be seen in the person of The law for Lord and savior Jesus Christ who is God himself Any questions so far from verses one and two Any questions Okay, if there's no questions will move on to us three and four can somebody quickly read three and four, please loudly anyone Okay, so As I like you go ahead when I went, okay. Thank you. Thank you first. Yes I I I did you when I moved into Macedonia Remain in emphasis that you may charge some that they make they teach no other doctrine not give heed to the fee both and Endless genealogies which cause disputes rather than a godly Edification which is in faith Thank you pastor Thank you, manki. So Paul is, you know telling Timothy remain in Ephesus which means he would have heard, you know Paul is left Timothy in in Ephesus he's gone on to You know, he's gone on to Macedonia is writing to him And you know, he's saying that, you know, you remain here in Ephesus Maybe, you know, there might be different reasons why Timothy might not want to remain in Ephesus He might have missed Paul He wanted to be with his mentor He might, you know, have been intimidated by Following Paul's ministry, you know, or he might feel he is very timid or, you know, reserved in nature and, you know Perhaps he would have just feel Intimidated by the challenges that he's facing He might have been discouraged by the difficulties of the ministry the people that he has to relate to He might have had questions of his own calling. Is this what God wants me to do? Is this the right place? You know, am I in the right place a right calling? Also, maybe, you know Frustrated disappointed at, you know, all the false teachings that were there And the behavior of the people the Christians the the rules and legalism that they were all bringing in the division in the church But, you know, despite all of these reasons That, you know, it's there was no doubt in Apostle Paul's mind that God wanted Timothy to remain in Ephesus and I'm sure, you know Paul before he would have placed Timothy dead He would have done it by the leading of the spirit He would have prayed about it and so he says, you know remain in Ephesus Maybe Paul was at Timothy wants to come back to Paul. So he would have heard about it. So he's, you know, writing their remain in Ephesus and You know, Paul gives him six reasons In chapter one Why he should stay there and finish the ministry that God has given him to do So first Timothy chapter one versus three to seven he says because people need the truth people need to know the truth and In the same chapter in verses eight to eleven He says because you minister in a hard place so Paul is saying yes I know you're in a hard place But you know, you need to remain there 12 to 16. He says, you know, God uses unworthy people So maybe Paul is sorry Timothy is feeling is unworthy, you know, timid Unworthy in the sense that, you know, there are elders there that are grown-up people who are leaders of the church He feels unworthy to even tell them what to do not to do You know, what is the order that he has to bring in church administration that he has to set right? So Paul is saying, you know, God uses unworthy people as well If you're feeling unworthy during that situation, you know, God will use you there in verse 17, you know because Paul is reminding Timothy that you serve a great God, you know A great God who can do great things, accomplish great things more than he can even think ask or imagine Verse 18 he says because you're in a battle and you cannot surrender very easily, you know Soldier is reminding him of a soldier who goes to the battlefield, you know, if he doesn't turn around and run away You know, it's considered to be a covered Soldier, but he will fight till the very end just till he, you know, lays down his life or he's dead So he says you cannot surrender. That's not what a soldier is called to or, you know, that's not Who he is and then in verses 19 to 20 he says because not everyone else does so, you know Yes, you know Paul is saying I know what you're going through but you can't Leave that place. You have to remain there So it just reminds us that, you know, sometimes God will allow us To be in difficult situations put us in difficult places of ministry Things will not be easy. We just feel like leaving the mission field the place that God has called us to And run away, but nothing is going to come very easy, you know Nothing is going to be easy. Wherever we are going to Ministers, so work, you know, nothing is going to be easy We're going to have every attack of the evil one people who are as in hindrance But we need to set our minds You know on what God has Called us to, you know, like Paul says, you know I take hold of that which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me and I continue to run my Race, you know, and he's saying this he's saying, you know, forgetting everything that is behind these things have happened in the past We have done things that are not Appropriate, right? We have messed up things, but he says, you know, whatever is the situation He says, you know, I'm pressing on, you know, I'm taking hold of that which Christ Jesus has taken hold of Me just read this so I just thought I'll share it with you all how many years ago A famous Arctic Explorer, you know, he put this ad in a London newspaper And it reads as this men wanted for hazardous journey small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness constant danger, safe return doubtful Honor and recognition in case of success. So this is the Ad that this Arctic Explorer Put up in the London newspaper. He did not make things very easy, glossy, comfortable, nice But he just mentioned the hard things and the small wages And the hazardous journey But, you know, surprisingly, thousands of men responded to the appeal And the reason why thousands of men responded to this ad was because they were willing to embrace a difficult job of small wages, difficult journey doubtful of returning because You know, they had a great leader and when I read this It was it just struck me because, you know, when we step into ministry things are not going to be easy It's going to be very, very difficult You know, we will not even receive honor and recognition and all of those things We might not see success the level that we expected anticipated that we wanted And it can be very difficult Situations can be very difficult, but always your focus should not be on your problem But it should be on, you know, the one who has called you You know, so that is why Paul says, you know, fixing my eyes on Jesus The author perfecter and the finisher of my race I continue to run my race with endurance and perseverance So Paul had it right, you know His eyes were always fixed on the one who had called him You know, the one who had entrusted things to him And that is why, you know, in spite of all the difficulties, in spite of all the persecutions And the shipwrecks and the beatings and, you know, thing times when he was left dead You know, he just gets on his feet and he, you know, marches on He continues on in ministry because his eyes were focused on the leader The one who called him because he knew he was greater And sufficient enough, his grace was sufficient enough and was capable enough To help him to run his race So even as we are, you know, journeying on in the beginning of this year Just like to leave us with this, you know Things might be easy for us Things might be comfortable this year Things might be exciting There might be challenges There might be difficulties But don't focus your gaze or, you know, look at your problems But, you know, focus on the one who has called you Because greater is he who is in us than he is in the world, you know And he can do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask, think or imagine And he is the one who opposes us with his righteous right hand And he will continue to lead us and guide us And give us the strength, the skills, the capabilities Empower us, the Holy Spirit empowers us His presence is there and he will lead us on And, you know, the one who's called us is faithful And he will do everything that concerns us that is required of us Okay, so stop here Anyone has any questions? Anything you'd like to share? No questions? Just wanted to find out with regards to the Bible reference for this You mentioned those six reasons why Paul felt our world was telling Timothy to remain in Ephesus Which is the, what is the Bible reference for that? Do you want me to post all of that on the thing? I'll do that He said first Timothy is chapter one Okay, he says he says because people need the truth It's verses three and seven, three to seven Because you minister in a hard place, verses eight to eleven God uses unworthy people verses 12 to 16 Because he serves a great God verse 17 Because you're in a battle and you cannot surrender verse 18 And not everyone else does 19 to 20 So that is first Timothy, 19 to 20? Yes Yes, first all of them in first Timothy chapter one So all of these reasons which he's giving us in first Timothy Which I mentioned is in first Timothy chapter one I just mentioned the verses Okay, thank you Thank you Christopher Anyone else has any questions? Okay, if not then we'll end class Thank you for posting But thank you for everything we have understood And I think really it will be amazing class Thank you first Thank you hope Thank you for that For that encouragement Thank you for enduring with me with the last three hours And be patient Thank you very much Have a good day Just to remind you all that we will not have classes from Monday Sorry, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday That is Wednesday to Friday We have a Christian leaders conference And the sessions will be made available So you all