The Wall Street Journal just asked the question, are there too many Asians? And guess what? Asians are offended. Oh man, this is going viral right now. Play the TikTok clip about it. Can you imagine living through the last week in America after everything that the Asian-American community has suffered through? And then seeing this article, seeing this headline, and saying, yeah, that's fine, publish it. Andrew, long story short, WSJ, slightly right-leaning, or some people would say very right-leaning publication. Andrew, they went for it. They were trying to be edgy. They were trying to be clever. They were trying to be quippy. But it looks like they bit off more than they can chew. Yeah, I think they're showing their true colors right now, man. They got a media backlash. They actually changed the title of the op-ed. And basically, it just spurred a bunch of different reactions, because a lot of people are offended. A lot of people are saying, ah, it's not that big of a deal. Yeah, but it basically begs the question, how come it seems like no one, whether it's in media, academia, journalism, they are not scared to offend Asians. And even when it's something that they know is 50-50, yeah, this is a risky title. It might offend some Asians. Let it go. And honestly, it doesn't even matter if they're left-right. Obviously, this one happened to be on the right. I just do not think that people put the handle with care sticker on any package of the word Asian, the word Chinese, the concept Asian. Just it didn't get the handle with care sticker that all the other ethnicities got. The word Asian is not taken seriously. So honestly, we're going to go through some of the main responses, OK, some of the main reactions. We'll break it down, and then we'll give you our own takeaways. Please hit that like button. Click Subscribe, turn on your notifications, because we are releasing videos every single day. Let's get into it. Point number one, Andrew, there was even arguing in the comments section of The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal's readership, primarily white, primarily older, and primarily like pretty high income.  This title is so problematic. You need to change it right now. People say, stop it. Stop it. He was referencing a book. He was trying to be clever. He's being clever. And other people said, hey, guys, I don't know if you guys understand why this is offensive. But it's offensive because my wife is Korean, and she's lumped in with Asians. And I get it. Chinese are the bad Asians, but Koreans are the good Asians. So I was kind of like, all right, this is a whole other issue here. Here's my thing. Here's my thing. I get that he was quoting the book. And then back in 1959, there was a lot of racial books back then. You could have a racial tone if you were a white guy. What I'm saying is for Wall Street Journal and journalism and academia, this is why we have a different standard than for comedy. This is not a comedy bit. Even there are still ways you're going to offend a lot of people in comedy. But I'm just saying this was not a comedic way. This is not the onion. This is not comedycentral.com. Is it possibly, and here's a picture of the writer of the Wall Street Journal article, that this guy is kind of more tapped into 1959 than he is 2023? Possibly. Anyways, David, what's the second most popular comment? The second most popular comment was, dude, you could not say this about any other group. Literally, Asians are the least protected, at least in media group in the world.  Well, honestly, I don't even think of what I got through editing if that was the title. And think about it. Back in the 50s, 60s, there's so many racialized books written back then that they, but they still couldn't even quote it just like that. They, the quote would have to be like, wow, I can't believe how racial this book title was back then. You know what I mean? But to just leave it like how it was and just kind of let it sit there and have people click on it, it wasn't, it wasn't smart. A lot of people were unsurprised, point number three, Andrew, because the Wall Street Journal also completely left Asians off their hate crime survey for 2022. Yeah, dude, this is a survey that I retweeted because I was like, how are Asians not on here?  Black people, LGBT, Latinos, Jews, Christians, white people. They did not include Asians in this survey. So we do not exist. They also had a sick man of Asia article about China during COVID that definitely raised some eyebrows. Long story short, guys, I get it. Everybody needs some leeway to say things, but it certainly seems like the Wall Street Journal essentially does not care too much about Asians. Moving on to number four, Andrew, why do you think that Asian things are not really taken serious in the US overall? Because even on the comedy side, and you know, comedy is politically, typically very liberal, there have been a ton of examples of people saying super questionable things about Asian people. For example, Andrew, Jimmy Kimmel had a whole segment where a little girl was like, why don't we just kill all the Chinese people? And they aired it like it was a joke. Steve Harvey said, huh, no women want any Asian man ever romantically. Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe have been saying the C-word very nonchalantly. James Corden had an entire segment mocking Boba. Oh, and all Asian food in general on that segment. It got so bad they had to delete that entire segment from the show moving forward. Jimmy Fallon even dissed Boba along with Jason Sudeikis on the Fallon show. Also, like I said, it doesn't matter, right or left. ESPN had chink in the armor when Jeremy Lin had a bad game during Lin Sanity. Basically, there are just countless examples, guys. I'm sure in the comment section below, people are gonna like leave a bunch more that we left out. But basically, why does it seem like in media, people just do not take Asian things seriously?  Well, honestly, I think that we're gonna get into it deeper, but the Asian identity in America is a little bit confusing. People don't know if we're the model minority, are we the ones that have high poverty? Are they the ones doing the recent mass shootings on other Asians? Like, what type, what are we? Are we in a press group or not? And you know what I noticed about all these different stereotypes that Asians have? People will lean into different ones when it's convenient for them. I bet you if we asked all these comics, whether that's Steve Harvey or Kimmel, or whatever, and we're like, yo, why'd you make that joke? They're like, ah, come on, man. Asians ain't doing too bad.  They're kind of like, we view them as white adjacent. Basically, people are selectively putting Asians in where it fits their narrative of what they wanna push in the moment. Yeah, I'll just provide a little bit of a devil's advocate here on the other side where I think, and maybe it's not all of Asia plan this, but it seems like a lot of the Asian culture that is exported from Asia to America tends to be a lot of the soft, bubbly culture. Are you talking about the fluffy piggywaffle, like Doraemon type thing? Yeah, the Doraemon, Gudetama, Hello Kitty, K-pop, K-drama, Boba, Fluffy, Souffle, Pancake, Culture. Which, that's the stuff that gets popular in America that we can sell to America, and that's what people wanna see Asian culture as. So when people view Asian culture, at least pop culture, as that thing, as this cute thing, they think that they can treat us like infants. What's the word infantilization? I feel like on a personal level, they almost treat Asians like cute dweebie weenies, but then on a larger level, when it's like talking about China, it's like an evil dragon breathing dragon as a nation, but each individual is this little Boba keychain. Like everybody's getting treated like Han on Two Broke Girls, okay? Like this little harmless, small, nerdy guy, geeky guy that gets no love from women, but is doing fine financially. Right, he still owns stuff legally right now. Yeah, well he's their boss. He still has assets, right? Yeah, he's their boss technically, but he's like the boss that's not taken seriously. And I think that's why a lot of guys, maybe particularly the Asian guys, but a lot of people are leaning more into like martial arts, these badass aspects of Asian culture that like everybody also like, so it is weird. It is weird. Get a tiger tattoo. Everybody likes martial arts, right? And Samurai's, right? Everybody thinks that's cool and Bruce Lee, but then also everybody likes the fluffy Asian culture, but then also everybody kind of disrespects Asian culture. And I will say that particularly why I think that in media, it's this way, media is still very, very, very, very white. And I noticed that a lot of the Asians that thrive in media, they're not necessarily gonna be your badass like tattoo dragon Asians. You know what I mean? It's gonna be like a different type. Moving on to number five, Andrew. Different types of Asians care about different types of racism. One thing I noticed is there was a lot of blue check marks, a lot of people who were really accomplished and a lot of people went to Ivy League colleges coming out against Wall Street Journal. Like on Twitter, it was all Asians that had achieved like quite high in their professional system. Yeah, I mean a lot of CEOs, founders, people that are heavy on Twitter, they're gonna be the ones to speak up about this. Cause they were probably like, dude, this is so representative of my classmates at like Harvard Business School or like Stern or whatever. Exactly, I mean, there's different groups of Asians, right? And we're talking about the ones who are generally college educated. They might lean and care more about this particular incident rather than maybe the other side of Asians. Right, you're saying for example, another side of Asians, I see more of the focus being on, oh, can Asian shop owners defend themselves if they're being attacked?  And for example, like the Vegas vape shop owner that was Viet. Right, right, right. And those are more like, you know, to categorize them like the more street focused Asians and then these are the more like journalism. Wall Street focused Asians. Wall Street focused Asians, right? You have the streets and then Wall Street. Yeah, there are different types of Asians. Yes, there are, but. I guess overall man to me, my major takeaway on this and I didn't wanna take it too overly serious but it is serious, right? Because this is an indicative of a mindset that emanates from that world. I'm not gonna lie, a lot of people who read Wall Street Journal, they have a lot of pull in society. Like whether or not you follow Wall Street and all these like high level, you know, people, these are like the puppet masters of the economy, especially if you consider America a corporatocracy. Yeah, and I think that we always generally believe that educated people, people who have traveled a lot should know better because we always give an excuse to the ignorant person. Oh, Bill, you know, I never left my hometown. You're saying his top row of teeth has like four teeth so we're gonna like.  So yeah, I guess your opinion doesn't matter anyways. Right, but you're saying people, oh, by the way, the CEOs of both News Corp, which owns Wall Street Journal and Rupert Mardak who ultimately owns News Corp, Andrew, both were or are married to Chinese women. Yeah, I think that's a whole nother layer to it. We're not gonna get into it, whatever. It may, it doesn't matter. But basically long story short, man, people, like what is it gonna take for Asians to have the handle with care sticker put on their box too? I don't know, cause, cause listen, you thought going through Asian hate was gonna give us kind of that card or that title or that label, but it's not. Or maybe unfortunately all the recent shootings, that doesn't, no, it doesn't matter. You know what I mean? So I don't know. And I don't know, it's just so weird because we're in this transition stage as this immigrant community where we constantly have new immigrants coming over but we're also like have heavily been in America since the 60s. Of course there was Asians before that, but heavily our identity is formed after 1965. And so I guess we're just in this stage of being learned about and how to handle us. I guess that's how I'd put it. How do you handle Asians? We're in this generation of people figuring it out. Right, and I get it. People don't know if we get picked on enough. People don't think we are, we model minority too much or not model minority enough. And then you're gonna parse it out and like. Who is an Asian? We don't even, we're not, we're still debating on is this person Asian? Does this count as Asian, Asians are not a monolith? Why is Asian such a big umbrella? So I think these conversations are being had right now and through social media. So that's why it seems like there's always gonna be a lot of like jumbling and fumbling of things. So I guess don't forgive these people, speak out when it happens and call them out just like we are right now. But I'm also not gonna pretend like this isn't a symptom of kind of this growing stage that we're in. For sure, let us know what you think in the comment section below guys. Obviously nobody likes an article like this to come out but how big of a deal is it? Little, medium or a big deal? Until next time we're the hot pop boys, we out. Peace.


Alright, good morning everyone. Welcome to a new day and a new week as well. Let's begin this time with the word of prayer. So, maybe one of us can please leave in prayer. Please go ahead. Yes, Asha, would you like to pray? Yes, please. Dear God, thank You so much God for everything that You're doing in our lives. Thank You for another breath in our lungs, Lord. Thank You for everything that You are learning in our lives. Lord, I pray right now as we're about to learn the book of Corinthians and as we're about to end also, Lord, that You feel us that wherever we learn, it's not just where we say, God, but we may understand the depths of what You have done in people's life from those times that You're still moving on our lives, God. And thank You, Lord, that we may hide Your word in our heart and keep them and meditate them, Lord. Thank You so much, God, for giving us this opportunity to learn and as best Your policy teaching with which You pour out Your Spirit and help us also to understand and fill us with Your wisdom and knowledge. In Your mighty name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank You so much, Asha. Alright, so let me just post the notes. We've come to the last four chapters and we are right now starting with chapter 10. So, we should be able to finish chapter 10, 11, 12, and 13. All four of them are relatively smaller chapters. So, let's begin with chapter 10. Chapter 9 was interesting where the Apostle Paul begins to, he's bringing the whole aspect of giving and he says, he talks about how the church in Corinth had been, they said that they would like to give to the church in Jerusalem, which was going through trouble times, but it's been a year that they couldn't do anything. So, Paul is exhorting them saying, be a cheerful giver. Now that I'm sending Titus and the team along, do what you have to do and whatever gift that you have, give it to him and Titus and team will go to Jerusalem and hand it over to the church and your testimony will be approved by all of them, even as Apostle Paul goes to Jerusalem, he mentions that he will also inform the church that the church in Corinth has given this gift and Apostle Paul also, we learned last week, he taught us and he's teaching the church in Corinth how to give. He says that wonderful passage, God loves a cheerful giver. So, basically why he's saying that is because he didn't want the Corinthian church to be forced into giving. And these are lessons that we also learned last week, how to give, giving is like sewing, how much to give, how to give, and how not to give. So, it's very important that we understand the whole aspect of giving. It's good to give out of what we have, but we give in a sense that knowing that these are seeds that are being sown and God will bless us back. How not to give is to give grudgingly or give out of social pressure or just because I have to give, I'm giving. So, it was a wonderful learning there, chapter 9. So, chapter 10. Now, towards the end of this episode, Paul is again addressing the authenticity and authority of his apostolic ministry. Now, here he goes into, a few spiritual aspects. He warns about false apostles. He talks about his spiritual experience, a little bit about the challenges that he faced. He doesn't give the whole list, but I think he talks a little bit about that. So, let's look at this, chapter 1 onwards. There may be a few verses that I would skip, but let's see if we can just touch what is really important here. Right. Now, I, Paul, myself, am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ who's in presence and lonely among you, but being absent and bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present, I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some who think of us as if we walk according to the flesh. Verse 3, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. Here's that wonderful passage. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments, every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and being ready to punish all disobedience when obedience is fulfilled. So now, Paul is, when he's starting this chapter, he's saying, when I write my letters, I'm very bold, but when I come and meet you, I'm very meek. You see that balance he's got there? And he's saying, I'm pleading with you, the meekness and gentleness of Christ. But when he wrote the first letter to God, he was so bold and stern. And so it's not like Paul was, you know, somebody who had split personality. It's just that when he saw them, there was this love. But when he thought about things that were happening in the church, maybe he realized, hey, I need to correct them. And so here Paul is saying, listen, we didn't walk according to the flesh. Our ministry, the ministry that he, that I'm doing is not according to the flesh, but it's, we are led by the spirit of God, right? And the weapons of our warfare, the word flesh is nice, right? The Greek word is sacks and the New Testament, the word flesh is used in a broader sense. We've got that list here. People in general are referred to as flesh, right? The physical body, referred to as flesh. What is natural or earthly or human is again referred to flesh. Food for the flesh, right? Again, life and nourishment. And this is one here, the sinful, carnal appetites, passion and desires. Now this is what Paul is talking about, right? He's not talking about the physical body. He's not talking about the earthly human body or food for the body, but he's talking about the sinful, carnal appetites or the passions and desires. So Paul is saying, hey, we are not led by the flesh. We have not walked by the flesh, which means not by our own passions, not by our own desires, not by our own carnal appetites, right? So what is the difference between walking in the flesh and walking according to the flesh? Now, walking in the flesh is basically, we're walking in the body, right? The Lord Jesus walked in flesh and blood. He was moving among us, right? Among the people. He was in flesh and blood. He was not a spirit at that time. So he was walking in the flesh. But walking according to the flesh is walking according to the carnal desires, right? The walking according to the things of this world, right? And now Paul goes on to say, our authority or our warfare is not of that of the flesh, which means it's not according, it's not of the flesh, meaning it's not some people coming and trying to trap us and people coming and persecuting us, beating us and putting us into prison. Yes, that's all happening in the flesh, but the weapons of our warfare are not that, but they are spiritual, right? They are spiritual warfare. So it's something that's happening in the spirit realm. It's the unseen, right? Now, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty in God. Now, look at these. I want to encourage us to really, each one of us to learn this. It's really, really helps us in these, especially in times of difficulties, challenges, when the enemy comes. These discourses really help me, right? And I always put this in my mind. One, what are the spiritual warfare? What is it capable to do? One, pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments, bringing down everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought captive to obey Christ. Now, look at this whole process here, right? Now, let's look at an example. Say somebody is addicted to pornography, right? And, no, he's not addicted. Say somebody, just a thought comes in. Hey, why don't you watch pornography? Right now it's a thought. Then the thought goes into a second stage, which is reasoning and arguments. So what is that? Oh, it's okay. Everyone are watching. I know a few friends who are Christians who watch. So I think if you watch once in a while, it's all right. So then you're going to step two, we're reasoning, we're arguing, we're contemplating on that thought. Now, third one is imagination. So imagination is closest to indulging in that simple act. It's very powerful. You feel that you're already doing it. So you're imagining watching it. And then the next one is strongholds. So you got the thought, it's just a thought that can come out of nowhere. Then you begin to reason. It's all right. The whole world is doing it. It's all right. You can ask God for forgiveness later. Then it goes into imagination. Okay. This is how it may feel. This is how it may look. Then it gets into becoming a stronghold. So that's why Paul is saying, to cast down every argument, to bring down anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, to bring every thought captive. And that's where you and I as believers, I slowly, you know, where every time a temptation comes, we take that thought captive. You cast down the argument. You pull down those strongholds. You say, no, this is not what God expects of me, because I have, you know, you use the word of God. And later on we see here, right? Here, yeah, some of the spiritual weapons that God has given us to counter these. The next one, the God's word. You and I can use God's word. So imagine this thought comes in. You say, hey, no, I have the mind of Christ, the wisdom of God is formed with it. You'll use the weapon of God's word too. The name of Jesus. Say, in Jesus' name, I command that thought to get out of my mind. The blood of Jesus. I pray the blood of Jesus around me, around my mind. I thank you, Lord, that your blood has cleansed me from all unrighteousness. What are we doing? We overcome the enemy, Revelations 12, 11. We overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testament.  Four, the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I told you, remember that we are sealed through the Holy Spirit. And when we pray, we say that the anointing of the Holy Spirit come upon me and to set the captives free, to liberate those who are oppressed. And we can just declare that Holy Spirit, you are with me and help me to overcome this temptation or this thought that's come into my mind. And then praise and worship. We know that when we praise and worship God, God is able to break those doors, break walls. He's able to penetrate and touch lives. So remember these weapons. Now, the battlefield is in the mind. The battle starts off with wrong thoughts and wrong desires. It all starts off here. Remember the Lord Jesus? What did the enemy do? Why don't you turn this stone into bread? Here. Now, immediately Jesus took the thought captive. What did he say? Natural or live by prayer? There's no discussion. There's no second stage there.  Because the scriptures say that he will set his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. What does Jesus say? Immediately. There was no argument. The thought was immediately taken captive. And this time, the Lord Jesus used all three temptations through the word of God. What a powerful example. Through the word, you're trying to make the second one. Throw yourself. But then Jesus says, you don't test the Lord, you're gone. And then the third one. So you and I have these weapons. And now with the blood, after the cross, we have greater weapons. Blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the anointing. So God is calling us to use these weapons. Authority for edification was seven onwards. Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ, let him again consider that this in himself, that just as he is Christ, even so we are Christ. For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed. Lest I seem to terrify you by letters. For his letters, they say are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible. Let such a person consider this that what we are at word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be indeed when we are present. Now look at this. Paul is addressing those who are talking about or judging him based on his outward appearance. History says that the Apostle Paul was a short man and bald, very tiny, and because of all the fasting and all the trials and beatings and tribulations and perils that he has gone through, he says that he was a very weak man compared to what he was when he was commander of Temple Guard before the entire Damascus encounter. He was commander of the Temple Guard. Bold and strong, he goes up to the high priest and he says, give me letters and I'm going to wipe out this religion called Christianity. The same Paul is weak physically, probably just not eaten enough, not well nourished in his body. Now people are looking at him and saying, is he an Apostle? He doesn't look like one, he looks so weak, he looks so tiny or he probably doesn't look even somebody who can start something or why should we listen to him? So Paul is saying based on the Apostolic authority that God had given him, his responsibility was to build people up and not to tear them down. So he's saying, some of them probably may have said why should we listen to this man, Apostle Paul, whoever he is? Not everyone knows who he is, we don't know who he is. Let's do what we want to do. Paul is saying, my authority, the Apostolic ministry was given to me to build people up.  Right? So he's defending his Apostleship there. Look at that nature of God's given authority. When we understand that God gives a believer authority in lying with his call. So his call could be family, church, ministry, work, whatever it is. Now this authority is never given to bring destruction or it is never given to bring down people. Now if you look at the first letter Paul doesn't mention anywhere that I am done with you all. I'm not going to come back. I've done all the hard work and now I don't want to consider you as my children. He doesn't do that. He's rebuking them, but he's doing it so that they can get back to where he wants them to be and not even so he also goes and visits them. Right? It's not like he's, you know, even in the second letter later on he says, I eagerly desire to see you. The second letter even the previous chapters he mentions, right? I'm so glad that Titus has come back and said that you'll have taken the letter in the right way and you'll have made changes in your life. Now who's doing that?  So here's the nature of God-given authority. God gives each one of us, maybe some of us in the pastoral calling or apostolic calling, evangelist whatever God is called or worship leaders administration just looking after the administration of a church all these God-given authorities are given so that nurture and build people up see them thrive, see them flourish in what God wants them to be. Right? Now, Paul in person was not impressive, you know, looking at judging by outward appearance Paul himself was not an impressive person but his speech was weighty his letters was weighty and very powerful. Look at this I think a wonderful comparison would be of that of David. Remember David? So all his brothers are all nice and strong and big built and the army ready to take on any enemy that comes and then Samuel says no, no, no, somebody else to bring him and then it was young small boy named David God says this wonderful thing Samuel man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart Look at this, the Corinthian church maybe said they've seen the Apostle Paul, they said this guy is writing the letters to us look at them, how are you? But the letters were weighty they were powerful they were so powerful filled with authority the apostolic authority that, you know, there was something in the reader's hearts that Corinthian church that would have gripped their hearts and that is why there was a change so never, it was a very important lesson that we all must learn we never judge people by their outward appearance God can call anybody at any time use them powerfully we need to learn to nurture build each other up right? now, even if you read the book of Romans, the letter to the Romans it is a powerful letter just so powerful it's power packed, it's full of revelation who writes it? man who doesn't even doesn't even look impressive doesn't even look like he's very learned you know, there was a time history says that the Apostle Paul was so, you know, he's been imprisoned and beaten so many times that his speech was also a bit affected because of big storm but his writing was powerful, touching lives picture it, think about it even now, thousands of years later these letters are so powerful, so meaningful to each one of us as well now he goes on and verse 12 onwards Paul is talking about his authority and he says here he's talking about a few limits of his authority verse 12 for we do not for we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves by themselves are not wise we however will not boast beyond measure within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us a sphere which especially includes you for we are not overextending ourselves as though our authority did not extend to you for it was to you that we came with the Gospel of Christ not boasting of things beyond measure that is in other men's labours but having hope that as your faith is increased we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you not to boast in any man's sphere of accomplishments but he who glorify glories let him glory in the Lord for not for not he who commends himself is approved but whom the Lord commends now Paul is saying but there are people who commend themselves by comparing comparing themselves with themselves measuring what they can do or routine themselves itself now here's this is not wise because here's two reasons why the Apostle Paul is saying this right so meaning people are comparing them say hey I'm better than this guy or I'm better than this other person because I can do this in a better way or I more holy than him or her because I'm able to spend more time comparing themselves to themselves now here's two reasons why it's not a wise thing to do when we compare with another person we are using that person's qualities and abilities as a standard to measure which is to measure which is not a true measure because it falls short of God's tap and two it is only God who can rightly judge another the Lord Jesus says he says judge not you will not be judged one how can we compare ourselves to somebody else who they themselves have fallen short of God's standard now when it comes to ministry when it comes to leadership sometimes as young people young men and women of God we want to compare ourselves to maybe some great ministers of God now the right thing to do is not to compare but what we can do is look at them as inspiration God because when we compare there are many leaders many many leaders in the past in church history we studied also many great leaders but they have fallen in different areas but in terms of ministry they have been great wonderful leaders probably some areas they were not able to raise up leaders in some areas finances they were not good some areas they were not able to look after their family they were not able to balance and look after their children so we are falling short of the standard no matter what but we can look at inspiration just reading couple of days back how this man came into India during those times with the lack of facilities with the lack of you know the whole thing of education and the work that he has done in our nation is just so wonderful how did he do it I just kept thinking of this how did he do it how was he able to buy these huge acres and build schools build printing press all these things this is in a time when things are nowadays it's easy you can just call up people come they get things done but you look at what they went through powerful powerful work but there were certain areas in his life that he was not able to look after his family he was not able to provide for his children and there were certain limitations but ministry wise very great so we don't charge but we are to you know we are to use that as inspiration he's he's done this for God's kingdom and especially during the time when facilities and things were not so easy God helped me to have that kind of a passion right so Paul is plainly refusing to boast or to compare or to commend himself to anybody anybody else any other minister of God and he says that even in first Corinthians remember he talks about that whole point of division within the church Paul and Paulos and you know there was a close contention between Paul and Paulos because Paulos also is very learned so that's why the book of Hebrews people think people have to say so some say it's Paul some say it's a Paulos because they both were brilliant in their writing and in their understanding of the gospel so Paul is saying I'm not going to compare myself to anybody I will compare myself to God itself I need to reach that standard so Paul was aware of the realm of God given authority and he declares that they will not over extend their authority and they will not boast in other people's labour or ministry as if it was their own now we must understand that there were plenty of churches that were births now for example the church had started in Cormac maybe there were few believers from here who went to another place and started a new church but this was not his book Paul is saying to the other ministries and other churches there they will not boast in what they are doing because that's not our labour God will honour them for their labour but what is our labour is our labour right so this is a very important learning yes somebody has a question so this is very important for today's church and ministry leaders to stay in our influence and not to over step and a wonderful book is Divine Order in the Citywide Church so for example as you know evangelists they get invited to come to a church and preach they must know their limitations this is a church so they must come in obedience to the pastor of that church right and finally he talks about Paul is talking about his authority the realm of authority and influence Paul carried included the Corinthian church because it was Paul who started the work and planted the church as a wise master builder so Paul is saying since I planted the church you are my labour I have the authority to speak into your life I have the authority to influence you because I have built this church now he goes on to say our glorifying should only be in the Lord so he is not saying I have built the church so I can talk no he is saying it is my labour so God has given me the authority and the I have to speak into your life I have to correct you lest I be judged for not being a good leader so Paul is saying this is my authority now Paul is not writing to the church in Jerusalem he is not writing to the church in Jerusalem do this do that why is he not doing that because he didn't plant the church there the church was already there Paul is not writing to the church in Antioch and saying you are like this you are like that please do this do this no he is not because out of his realm of authority remember the church in Jerusalem was already there already there. There were already apostles, prophets, everyone. So when Barnabas went and brought Paul from... Barnabas went after about a 13 year or 17 years in total, brings Paul to Antioch. The church was already there. They were just ministering there. They were not the leaders of the church. Then after that, they go to Jerusalem. Again, Jerusalem, they were... He was not the leader of the church. So Paul is not using his authority to the church in Jerusalem and Antioch and all of that. He knows there are already leaders there. I can't step out of my authority. But the church in Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, Estonica, all these churches, Romans, he speaks to them. Why? Because he planted those churches as a wise master builder and he has the authority, God given authority to influence them. So it's a wonderful, wonderful learning here. So remember, the weapons of our warfare are not common. They are mighty and God. God has given us those weapons. You and I as believers must use it. I encourage each one of you to learn that scripture. Put it into practice. And you think about it. If a temptation comes, I take it captive and use those weapons to overcome temptations. And we can because they are not carnal weapons. They are mighty and God. Okay. So let's go into chapter 11. Any questions? Shall we move to chapter 11? All right. So we move to chapter 11. You have any questions? Feel free to raise your hand or you can just ask the question. So he's bringing this entire letter. He's almost bringing it to a close. In chapter 11, Paul deals with the issue of the Corinthian church receiving and hosting ministers who are not sincere in their intentions, who seem to preach another message and therefore unhelpful spiritual life of the believers. Now look at this. The church, as of now, is trying to recover from a bruising that Paul has given them. The apostle Paul is giving them. They are slowly recovering. Now Paul is slowly mentioning, listen, what I've also heard is it's most likely that Titus has come back with his team and has informed that they have, you know, they have some people who are coming and, you know, talking within the church. So here's what he says. First one, oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly. And indeed, you do bear with me. Now look at this. Paul is saying, please bear with me now. I'm going to go back and give you some more corrections and I know you will bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one husband that I may present you as a chast virgin to Christ. But I fear less somehow as a serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it. Now Paul is, look at this, right? He's saying, he's explaining and he's giving a defense of his ministry and he's saying there will be, if there are people within the church, he's saying possessive about the church because it's a, I'm possessive of it, of godly jealousy. Now if there are pastors, we look at pastors, right? They're very possessive of the church in the sense that they're not holding them and saying, okay, don't go that way. But then there's godly possessiveness or this godly jealousy and they want them as a shepherd. They want the sheep to be in good ground, right? And it's a natural thing with God puts into the pastors, right? It's not, now what happens when pastors go above that authority by saying you cannot go anywhere, don't go listen to other people? That is wrong, right? But there's this godly jealousy and there's a human jealousy. Human jealousy is destructive but godly jealousy is motivated out of God kind of love, right? So here Paul is saying, I betrothed you, meaning to join, to espouse, to be engaged, to be married, to betrothed you to one husband, right? And Paul is saying here both the old and the new testament presents the relationship of the people of God being betrothed to the bride and the bride, right? So we'll just, you can go ahead and read the book The House of God by Pastor. It's a wonderful book talks about the local church and the different aspects of the local church but we won't go too much into it. But here Paul has a fear, has a concern that the Corinthian believers might get swayed away by these new gospels or new messages that are coming across, new teachings presenting another Jesus, a different spirit or a different gospel. Now is it something new? It's not new at all. Now look at it, the devil has been doing this from the time he has come into this earth. He's been using the same methods, deception, self-deceive. If he was self-deceived then there's deception, deception, deception, lies. It's the same techniques, right? Now you see people are coming in and talking about another Jesus. Now the Jesus who came and did these wonderful miracles, probably they're talking about some speaker, intellectual speaker. And they're talking about a different spirit. Now they're not talking about the Holy Spirit but they're talking about a spirit where we can probably become rich or we can, the spirit will help us to know the unseen realm. So something, remember this is Corinth, this is in Greece. There were all kinds of learnings and new understandings that were coming up. Probably a spirit that can relate to the spirits of the sky. I don't know, maybe those things or a different gospel itself. Instead of Jesus or instead of the gospel of salvation, they're talking about a gospel, a message of hope, this regular hope. Now all is concerned because they are like a sheep. They are like wolves in sheep's clothing. And he's mentioned that in different places. They enter in very subtly but they are wolves in sheep's clothing. They speak of another Jesus. They speak of a different spirit. They speak of a different gospel. Paul is concerned now. He's saying, probably he's thinking now, I've just been correcting you all. You'll have taken the correction but I've heard that you're allowing all these ministers to come in. So I'm very concerned now. So what does he do about it? He teaches them. Verse 5 onwards. For I consider that I am not at all inferior to most of the eminent apostles. Even though I am untrained in speech yet I am not, yet I am not at knowledge. But we have been horribly manifested among you in all things. Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted? Because I preach the gospel of God to you free of charge. I robbed other churches taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you and in need I was a burden to no one for what I lacked, the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdens to you. And so I will keep myself as the truth of Christ is in me. No one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Akhaya. Why? Because I did not love you, God knows. But what I do I will also continue to do that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ and no wonder for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness whose end will be according to their works. This is quite blunt and stern. Now look at what Paul is saying. Firstly, I don't consider myself inferior to all the eminent apostles. You heard about Peter, you heard about James, you know about James, he is leading the church in Jerusalem. I don't consider myself less inferior. Why? Because I am untrained in speech but in knowledge I have been, God has given me the knowledge. Now you must remember this. The apostles Peter, James, John, they were not educated. Peter was a fisherman. Probably just knew about the offerings and all of it. Probably didn't know much about, you know, the Old Testament itself. But look at Apostle Paul, Wayne Dundercamaliel, he knew the Old Testament, the Julian laws and principles of God so well that this passion and this zeal for God was so much for him. He loved God, he was passionate about God. But we see that that's why he went to, you know, to wipe out this religion of Christianity. But then he says, you know, three years in Arabia, Paul writes and he says, I went up to the Third Heavens. What I learned from the Lord, I give unto you, the night the Lord Jesus was betrayed. So the Lord Himself came and spoke to Apostle Paul. So he's saying, I don't find myself inferior to these other apostles but I've thoroughly manifested among you all things. Look at this going down. When I was in present, when I was present with you, I was not a burden for you. Like nowhere, nowhere has Paul asked the church, give me this, give me that. When I come there, will you be able to provide for my needs? No.  So I didn't take anything from you but all I did was I gave to you as an apostle. And now Paul, you know, he's making it public and he's saying that the ministry that we have done was not just some easy work, it was hard work. But what we're noticing is that people are coming in creeping into the church and boasting about the ministry as if they have done it themselves. And they're taking money from you, they're taking time, they're taking your all, you know, whatever you have belongings, they're taking things from you and not only that, they are teaching the wrong gospel. They're talking about another Jesus. Look at verse 7 through 11, Paul did not ask the Corinthian church to take care of his expenses. He did not want them to be a burden. Were there expenses? Of course. We know that the apostle Paul was a tent maker and if you have to take a ship, you can't just get into it and have to pay them a certain amount and then they will take you to the other place. And when you're in the ship, you should have enough money for food. You know, it's going to be months of travel. So there's going to be food which you have to pay for. So all of these things are there. So money was needed. And so the expenses of ministry was a legitimate need for the contributions of the Macedonian church. Remember, the Macedonian church had given money to the church in Jerusalem. And Paul is saying, follow them. They have already given you, Corinthian church, it's one year you haven't given. So Paul does not hold back in making it public about the way in which his ministry expenses are met. He says to them, the churches have given me, but I have used that money to bless your church, bless Corinth. I have not taken from you. So I have so much of a right to speak into your lives. So the ministry that we're doing, you can't allow somebody else to come and say that, hey, you know, it's their ministry, but they have done all the hard work. No. Right. Now, 12 through 15, Paul is suddenly bringing Satan into the picture here. For such verse 13, for such are false prophets, apostles, deceit workers, transforming themselves into apostle of Christ. For no wonder Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it's no great thing that his ministers also transformed themselves.  The practice of deceiving and cheating someone, mis-presenting the truth, Paul is, he's very careful when he's saying, stay away from it. And he's worried now because they've already infiltrated the church. So now, later on, he talks about how to get rid of them. So we'll take a break, and then let's, and we'll continue from here.