Disciple First | Pastor Dr Daniel Kong

You're listening to a message to go from acts Church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

Cool, all right, somebody begin with just one simple slide

if you can look at the slide over there, Okay,

and how many of you have actually signed up for

anything before ever in your life?

Yeah? A lot of things, right, a lot of times.

Right.

There's some forms to fill up.

Maybe you may have applied for a bank loan, applied

for a gym membership, I don't know, Netflix, even a

mobile plan et cetera. But how many of you actually

go through the fine print?

Elena? Any legal people here? Why are Elene really? Noah?

Yeah, I purposely put this very small as well, the

fine print that nobody reads. Okay, and most of us

well just agree because we need to even installing an

app these days, you have to accept otherwise I can

I cannot continue. Right, So we blindly accept different things,

and we just assume that it's okay. But by signing

it or agreeing or clicking even or physically signing it,

you sort of agree to whatever fine print it could be,

even pages long.

Uh.

And I found it a bit strange because my first

few years of my adulthood adulthood was spent abroad, and

a broad day saw of trainers to look at the

fine print a bit more here. Sometimes when you sign

of something, I just give you the signature's portion of

it without that say what's what's up there? Or just

don't worry, just sign okay. But anyway, the danger of

this is right, even something simple. Let's say Chiles, you

sign up for a marathon, and you go for it.

You agree, right, but the fine print could say something

like you have to actually, you know, put your car

as a I don't know, as a colleteral or something

like that. It could happen. It could happen. Correct who says?

Who says it can't happen. But we just expect, we

accept there is a harmless TNC, a harmless fine print,

and therefore we just accept it as this.

And how many of us do that all the time?

We ignore the terms and conditions before we accept something

because why we think it's okay right now. Jesus never

hides the TNCs or the small fine print. In fact,

he's very bold to actually tell you what the fine

print is right at the very get go okay, and

after today, hopefully you understand where I'm coming from. In fact,

he said this, right, if you want to be my disciple,

you are to do a B, C, D, and E,

Whichhall cover later on. Okay, And that sort of is

the difference between what we normally are used to and

what Jesus approaches clear cut, a big fonts if you

want to call it that. And then sometimes you look

at him like, oh man, it's too hard to accept

because when you actually read did maybe it's too much

worse to handle. Okay, and we'll go through that todayalay,

so far, Yeah, and I can't tell jokes lieing. We

went through this this this leader's training, and then pass

Sam was saying, he tells the jokes before you start.

I'm going with all this sort of hooks they call it.

So just trying to get an idea or what I'm

trying to go to you, right, everyboy?

Okay, okay.

So so the disciple first next line is what we

are talking about this whole year. But of course disciple

first is two very simple English words.

Right.

We will go deeper in what disciple is and what

first is, but more importantly, first things first, First things first, right,

And what that simply means is that whatever you agree on,

you need to understand what the what's first before you

jump into something walk so far?

All right?

So now disciple the word maybe in our context the

Christian world is more common. We're very used to it, right, Uh,

not just X but all across the globe. Every Christian

community will understand this, uh and what what does it do?

It often encourages people too to be in line with

the disciple making process.

Right. When where does it come from?

It comes from Matthew, right, it comes from the Matthew

the portion that we are very familiar with.

Therefore, go make disciples off all nations.

So that's the that's the call and respond and we

will talk about what that is later on. But we

understand where the context is. Okay, So what is the disciple?

Now?

Of course, it doesn't mean that if I put on

a shirt, I put on a you know, our extra

new hoodie, I automatically become disciple.

Neither. It is you slap on an.

Experience starts here, batch on, your on your car, and

then your disciple correct or whatever Christian babusticular I love

Jesus the last time at one time. That's very popular

the fish, right, not all that right, or even if

you memories versus, it doesn't mean that your disciple, all right,

And we touched a little bit about that last the

last time I came, which is two weeks ago. We

talked about the characteristics or the profile of a disciple,

and anybody remember what those are, generally speaking? If not,

I'm here to help you, Am we go in? I'm

gonna go in. Okay, next night? Okay, abide abide in

what abide in the word? Abide in, not just read

the Bible, Abide in it. Immerse yourself with it, right,

so that you can be transformed from a surface believer

to something else, to the profile of what we expect

of a discipler. Then talk about following as well.

Okay.

Following, of course involves some from obedience and following who

specifically the Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit? Why because that is

the only person that is here, still lingering here, whereas

the rest have gone on a vacation, but they've gone

to another realm. Correct, but God has allowed or Jesus

has actually left the Holy Spirit ref us so that

we can follow closely. Okay, And I spoke a bit

about same same but not same, right, Remember that again?

If you don't know what I'm talking about, go Cashi MTG.

Not not a free plug, but I think there's quite

something to impact over there as well. And last day

I talked about letting go as well. There's a bit

about letting go of some of the things that hindering

us from actually following God. And it talks a little

bit about discipline on what we are to do with

following Christ. And that's just a general overview, a snapshot

of what it is in the profile. The next stage

is to help us understand what the picture is of

a profile and then how do we or whether or

not you want to become a decipher of Christ. Okay,

And this is where the TNC is coming from, right,

because normally when we purchase something, go for a Gmail ship,

you know what it's supposed to do, right, and then we,

like I said, very quickly accept and then we buy

the product, sign up, et cetera. Right, So we talked

about by saying what it's supposed to be. Now we

talk about the commitment the fine print, but in a

big print way. You can say, Okay, now that's how

I'm gonna start. So I'm gonna address first things first.

So let's start off by talking about the big print.

It's actually quite hard things to follow. Okay, Now, just

to ponder a little bit. You know, when we walk

in a Christian life, wherever season you're in, we have

been committed or we committed ourselves to Him to some

extent all right, whether or not it is discipleship level,

disciple level, or just like let's just say, a believer level,

it's still a commitment. And sometimes we say, oh, once

I accept Christ, life should be straightforward. In fact, sometimes

we say God, how come you allow this to happen

to me?

Right?

Shouldn't be easy? And as sometimes we say, okay, this

is not right. God, I didn't sign up for this.

But in his fine print, he tells you that it

is not easy. Right, Jesus himself was so you know,

his control experiences. He didn't have to, but he went

through it as well. But why do we assume it's

always the easy way out? Now, before you answer that question, okay,

I'm actually also trying to convince you to consider this

whole thing about discipleship. One of the things I was

very afraid of I was sharing the leaders here is

this type of message, right, we actually trigger people because

you say like, hey, why do I need to do this?

Why do I have to? It's not a program. It's

actually what God has intended for us. We are caught

to be in His image. We are caught to be

more like Jesus. So this is what Jesus went throue,

this is what we are supposed to be. Now, I'm

not talking about salvation here, just to clarify, Once you

believe and you accept him, you're already saved. So we're

not talking about ticket to heaven. We're talking about the

next level stuff. Being more than just a believer, and

being more than just a believer is the progression to

become a disciple and progression. Let's just use the term

very loosely in the spiritual sense. All of us right,

in a natural sense, we will always strive to better ourselves.

Mature is another way to put it right.

At different levels, but it's in the workplace or in

your financial status, et cetera. You always strive to improve yourself.

But why not in this Why do we settle for

just entry level, basic level pay so to speak. Of course,

you know your treasures in heaven if you even call

it that, right, So again, I'm trying to say, So

my heart really is to encourage you to consider next

level stuff. It's not it's not compulsory, just like how

some people are happy with just the basic stuff, the

mundane stuff in a natural sense, and they're happy with it.

But God has so much more in store for you.

So just something to consider. And I say this very

very carefully because I'm also afraid that this will rock people.

The wrong way.

Okay, because God's kingdom is bigger than that, it's bigger

than oneself. We can really be transformed if we understand

what this is all about.

Okay.

So there's just a quick nutshell of everything. So we

talked about relationship. Now that's text like okay, so the

easy part, like I say, salvation, that comes fairly easily.

What I mean by that is.

That the scripture tells you that by grace you are

already okay, no need to do any work, to jump

to any hoops, et cetera.

By grace you are free.

And then because of that, and of course you must

acknowledge that Jesus is your personal lot and savior, and

then you're fine. So that's not the main thing I'm

talking about. The next level stuff. The hard past is

really quite frankly to be a disciple of Christ. Next

level stuff. Okay, And I think last time I asked

you how many of you are Christians? A lot of

hence went up, how many disciples of Christ?

Not many?

And I hope by sometime the season ahead of us

there'll be more of that.

But it definitely is very difficult.

Pafterward, and Jesus is not sure quoting it right from

the red get go. He says that it is difficult.

It's not easy, but please try.

Okay.

And again let's just go to the English side things. Okay, Now,

the word disciple was disciple.

Okay.

Now Hebrew tells you, or translated the word is tell mith. Okay,

I hope I'm pronouncing correctly to all my Hebrew friends

over here. It means disciple, student or learner. But it

goes further than that, Okay, not just a student in

the context of a let's say, a learned knowledge transfer,

like just how in the natural sense the universities and

the colleges lectures transfer information, right, Not just that, but

it talks about a relational part that involves the learner

and the teacher.

Okay, So what is that.

If you think about Star Wars, you know it's the

Jedi master having their young linser patawans patawan's okay, they

not just learn the skill set, they actually walk with

the the Jedi Master, and then over time has the

ability to access even a professional sense, you know, like

engineers profession professional and are charted and accountants you learn

the knowledge on one end, but you are not quite

a professional charted accountant until you practice under a master

and then the master say okay, enough knowledge or enough experience,

and then you are then become the master.

Okay.

So what this simply means the focus is actually on

adopting the lifestyle, becoming the teacher, becoming the master. So

it's not just the simplistic I learned and that's it.

It stops there. Okay.

So one parent says that the relationship is not just

merely academic in nature.

It is beyond that.

It's observing, it's a way of life, is emulating it, okay,

And that's what disciples and sometimes some Bible scholars use

the word apprentice, not the movie or not the the

TV series that was hosted by Donald Trump a long

time ago. Again my generation maybe, but yeah, it is

beyond the knowledge side of things. And if we're serious

enough with Jesus is to some extent it's like a

serious student, one that just not just listen but actually

do follow. And a serious it's used the word loosely

practitioner of Jesus. Okay, and we will learn everything and

we will also do everything just as we are thought.

Okay.

And of course Greek also uses the has a word

disciples similar words disciples, student, pupil and again committed to

the learnings and teachings and emulating again coming here relationship

adherence to the teachings of the Master. And the word

in Greek right has the word matthias MATHI. This is

I don't know what, but the word meth so it

tells you that roughly there is some form of quantifying

making it up blah, but you know, it almost sounds

like math. Jess is probably gonna be a rare fit.

I love math, by the way, I'm a numbers person,

and just it is more of a yeah, correct, so

certain amount calculations is required before we can embrace it.

Okay. Uh, that's a joke.

By the way, It's not not really math, but just

in case, you think it's about meth No, it's not. Okay,

but you understand the idea of the context, right, disciples,

it's just not just uh the knowledge site, but actually

doing all right. Now, that's first the word first, okay,

no transition required first. Okay, I'll come back to this

in a while. Now, next light put postally on his sound.

Okay.

See warning, there is charges, but this is not hidden charges.

This is charges that are not hidden. That applies.

Okay.

That means there's a cost to pay. Okay, and we

will cover what that cost is in a little while.

But I tryting to wake you up a little bit

because I know it's post banana leave kind of timing.

If you are there, Fassa, I mean, if you're fast

and than fine. But yeah, it is warning. And then again,

make no mistake. It is a warning. Okay, So don't

think that it is to be taken lightly off. Okay,

all right. So if we are called to be disciples

of Christ, there's some there's a cost. And I mentioned

some of these costs before, but I'm gonna go deeper, okay.

And who's tempted to back out now? Usually Cosser.

If you think it's a good investment, you would quickly

jump in. But if you don't know, then you'll be like,

maybe not because it's costs. It's gonna cost you, all right,

but it's okay. Now let's move on to scripture. Now,

if you have your Bible with you, I'll encourage you

to turn to Luke fourteen. Today's scripture is gonna be

very simple, Luke fourtin and that's it. I'm gonna p

finish in ten minutes. Are it's it's family Sunday. The

kids are here. I so don't bore them too much.

But it's it's important and it's crucial. Okay, Okay, let's

let's let's read Luke fourteen. Uh, verse twenty five. Let's

try it worse twenty five. Now, of course there are

some scriptures before us.

The re start Luke.

Fourteen talks about humility, uh. And then the second part

of Luke fourteen talks about UH that all is accepted

in in I mean salvation is open to all, not

just for specific few. And this is the part where

it talks about discipleship. Okay, so I see it as

a progression to some extent, like an.

Infant growing up.

You don't stay on the same formula milk or whatever

as you grow up, right, so same same thing progression.

So there's no coincidences that it's arranged in such a way. Okay, now,

Luke fourteen, verse twenty five to thirty five. I read

everything first, and I'll come back and die. Just don't

worry about the highlights. I'll come back in a while, okay.

And this is titled the cost of being a decis

and in some other variations, let me just turn to

the scripture. In some other variations they say they are

titled it leaving all to follow Christ. Okay, emphasis and

we're all okay, so tells you a really loud the costs. Okay,

now mind, let's go true Verse twenty five large, I'm

reading for the very version. Large crowds were traveling with

Jesus and turning them, he said, turning to them, he said,

if anyone comes to me and does not hate, does

not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes,

even their own life, such a person cannot be my disciple. Okay,

no very strong words. But I'll come back to this.

Don't worry you. Just accept it for now. Don't jump yet, okay,

and verse twenty seven says, and whoever does not carry

their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Okay.

We talked about carrying a cross before as well, same language,

same lingo, consistent.

Okay, now let's read on verse in support.

Who was one of you wants to build a tower,

won't you first sit down estimate the cost to see

if there's enough money to complete it. For if you

lay the foundation and do not have enough to finish it,

everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying the person

this person sorry, began to build and wasn't able to

complete it.

Or thirty one.

Or suppose a king is about to go into war

against another king, won't he first sit down and consider

whether he's able to able with ten thousand men to

oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand. If

he's not able, he will send a delegation while the

other is still a long way off, and with all

for the terms of peace. In the same way, those

who do not give up everything, you cannot be my disciple.

So these are the things that if you do not check,

you're not disciple, or you cannot be my disciple.

Okay. Lastly, soft is good and salt is good.

But if it loses its saltiness, how can it be

made salty again? It is either fit for the soil,

which means to chuck it away, nor for it for

the manure power. It is to be thrown out.

Okay.

Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear very strongest.

And you think about it, right, So stranger from talking

about the cost of discipush it and then suddenly talk

about the table salt?

Right, you know what salt is?

Right, by the way, in case you don't know what

salt is, I purposely provide illustration so that you know

what salt actually is.

Again, I can take it out. Thanks, all right.

But as we're reading this word, they actually for things

in the tnc that talks about the hard things about

being a serious disciples Christ. Now, sorry, I might have

to jump to the very end. I think I have

all the salt stuff at the at the end instead,

So if you jumped to Luke fourteen twenty five to

thirty five, Okay, the focus here is salt is good. Okay,

but if it loses the saltiness, how can it be

salty again?

Okay?

Now have you ever thought why Suddenly we move from

something very serious, something very mathematical, very like what the

accountants say, very specific, and then's I talk about some

culinary experience or ingredient.

Have you ever thought about that? Stranger? But it's all related.

Trust me. Okay, now this is what do you think?

This is salt? Right?

Okay, truth be told. We our salt, our salt dispenser

shaker thing.

I think it's.

Broken, so we replaced it with all agina motto container.

But trust me, it's all okay here, it's salt all

right now it's so it's so obvious, right. The branding

this is like how last time I mentioned right, when

you see a brand, you know what the product is. Right,

So when you see a disciple Christ, you know what

comes out from the person.

Right.

So hopefully one day you ooz out discipleship, all right

the disciples. Okay, Now, salt is good, it says in

the world. What does it mean by it's good? That

means it's perfect. It's perfect. There's nothing else you need

to do to change salt. It is what it is

and it doesn't need any more additional enhancement to make it.

Can you make salt saltier?

I mean there are different grades of salt lore, there

are different grades of salt. Right, salt is salt right,

But the Bible talks about losing saltiness.

How does salt lose saltiness? Huh?

Dilusion? How do you dilute? Chemical engineer coming out water? Kah,

dilution contamination? Okay, huh a bang chef? Okay, avan chef.

How is the salt I screen like?

Clean? Dontorry? Is clean? Saltier? Sure? Saltia? Is it salty?

Not really right? What do it taste? Yeah?

So that's the only way you can alter? Right, there

is some maybe some changes. It looks like salt but

not quite salt right now, how can you fix that?

You think about it? If it's not so salty? Now,

what do you do with it? Put more salt without you?

Okay?

I knew that would come out, but if sorry for

those who do not know. Soyer sauce okay, sot sauce.

The darker sauce is also salty, but I think it

wouldn't look like salt anymore.

Okay.

The process of salt, of course, you know, is extracted.

There's a refining process as well, but there's actually no

other way to to to mix salt salt again, even

if at MSG two it is still not going to

be pure salt.

Okay.

And the reason why I want to have this context

is to understand the question can salt lose saltiness? It's

a rhetorical question, you know, think about it. How can

it be less salty unless, of course, in this example,

I purposally mix it. Okay, I purposely contaminate it. To

more specific, I put some impurities in there that looks

like salt but not quite salt actually sugar. But by

the way, I mixed it half in half.

Okay.

So so yeah, purposally and okay, so you get the

idea and the way to fix it, right, there's not

a way you have to, like the Bible says, you

have to check it out. How mean you try to

segregate you take forever? Trust me, no matter how much

salt you added, sure right, you will still have in

this situation some grains of salt or whatever, grains of

sugar or whatever else. There's contaminated, some impurities in there.

And that's why the Bible talks about this, that you

have to check it out, because salt is no longer salt.

Why am I talking about salt? H what's gonna do

the cippish? Now?

Of course, from the culinary side, chef, right, you use

salt to maybe flavor meat, or sometimes you draw the

water out of meat for different reactions. Now, if you

have impure salt, you use it, right, it probably will

not do a good job as it's intended. Now we,

of course you know the context. We are called to

be salt in the light of the world. You know

where that comes from, right, Matthew three thirteen. If you

do not know, you're the salt of the earth.

Okay. And again same thing, how can it be made salty? Again?

If it's contaminated, all right, and the same context you

are to throw it away. So again, if you do

not catch all that right, the cost is actually quite

high because if something creeps in, it loses the entire

purpose of what is intended.

And we're all caught. The salt in light.

He imagined that you allow anything to come in, even

though it may seem okay, seem like the same thing,

you are no longer salt, right, And you know, sometimes

when we are not pure whatever we interpreted, we always

find ways to justify it. You know, flash should come together.

Two different people are It's okay, now God, God is forgive, Yes,

he's forgiving, he's forgiving, et cetera. But you will not

be the same again. They band together to justify right

most times. And you know, we have even verisions. We've

got garlic, salt and those kinds of things. It's still

not salt no matter what. So we are to be

very careful to guard this. And if it is contaminated,

the process is actually quite challenging. Only God to the

next tent can come in to fix it because it

takes a miracle. He can do the sort thing essentially. Okay,

but there's a lot of undoing. Discipleship is a bit

like that. It's about being sold. There is no replacement

for it. There is no replaced restarch. So you cannot

be a little bit discipleship or a little bit disciple.

And some are oh maybe I'm eighty percent disciple or

some it's either you are a disciple or not, okay.

Passassandra.

During the recent Anyverstry conference, she mentioned this whole lutewarm thing.

You're either hot or not. There is no lutwarm similar

like salt as well. You cannot You're either Christ or not. Okay,

So let's just so you get the essence of disciplesh

is really being the salt and the light of the world.

And how do we do that? How do we assure

quality control QC.

Right, is your ultimate devotion to ensure that contaminants don't

come in. And that's why we talked about the discipline

the last time we came. It's all about devotion. The

moment devotion is relaxed devotions, devotion is like I'm devoted

to you. I'm a devout devoted will not compromise. The

moment you let your guard down is when things can

creep in. Okay, now let's come back, Okay to the costs. Okay,

So again, as I mentioned to you before, we believe

in grace, we believe in salvation. But this is the

next level stuff. But if you are to count the cost,

it's actually a quite high price to pay. Let's go

back to verse twenty five.

Okay.

You will see here just that the large crowds were

challenged Jesus. This is the error right where Jesus performed

a lot of stuff miracles. That's why the group piece

of following him and they were a big groom, okay,

not just like two people, big groom.

Okay.

And then what happens here is says if anyone comes

to me, okay, this is in verse twenty six, and

does not hate. This is where the conditions then start.

So if anybody approaches me, follows me. Now let's stop

away for a minute. Okay, think about it. Jesus talking

to a crowd.

He didn't.

It's not an individual a Joe come and follow me?

You know these other conditions or Kenny, these other conditions.

He's just there public. These are the general conditions. If

you want to follow me, close income disciple, this is

what you need to do.

Why does he do that? Why not individuals? Sometimes we

do that?

Right, be like, hey, you want to I'm trying to

sell the program to you, right to some extent, convince you,

and one on one is more effective.

But what do you think it does?

This big public broadcasts everybody can hear this conditions because

like I said, it's not he's very transparent.

It's spread from this. He's not hiding anything. Okay. Now

of course.

You understand they follow him because he's done miracles effect

the multitudes with you know, five lows and two fish,

those kind of miracles and the story.

They follow him.

But the moment he set those conditions right, people started

to depart, leave or it's not for me.

And it's a bit like this for us as well.

That's why I said, I was very careful to do

this because some of you walk out the door right

now when you listen to something that you don't quite

like or it doesn't drive view. It's not for me,

and it is like that, it's not for everybody, but

we hope that you are more convinced to do so

because it's only natural to grow. Okay, all right, so

pass pass can of share this vision? Last year I'm like, really,

it's hard to true, hard to convince everybody, you know, really,

And I was the one who wrestled with it, to

be very honest, because again, the vision is there, but

the the you know, people buying in to some extent,

it's really also on the ground, you know, it's it's

up to some extent the leaders here to so.

And that's why I told the leaders today.

I restled because if I don't share, it's just not

doing any justice. Who is to say that you will

not follow? Who is to say that you will not

buy into it. So I can't be saying no, I

don't think it's for him, or I don't think she's ready,

et cetera, just to do a broadcastler if they're ready,

the really l right, I can't deny you your destiny

to some extent if you're ready for it. So it's

it's it's hard, I know, but that's the truth. And

Jesus actually you think about it that he's very very

strategic because if you do one by one now probably

take you know, he's the two years of his life.

Also haven't finished everybody, right, So the filter just like

how a very good manager right in the workplace, they

do this so that they can then elect let's just

just middle manager middle middle managers to then be more

effective because you know, these people who buy into it

understand the tnc. They will run with you, and the

church will grow and the disciples will continue to multiply. Right,

And that's why it's important to be more effective. So

my very first point, if you like to take notes,

is we need to be willing to be called out

from the crowd. Okay, it's not gonna be a special invitation,

a card that's your name on it.

It's just gonna be do you want to follow me?

This is how it's done, okay, And when the time

and the call comes, will you respond?

Will you respond? All right?

And it's gonna be a collective growth okay when we

indivice you to respond. Okay, but it's not gonna be

like I said, itemize or coming one by one.

And what does he just trying to achieve is trying

to just find.

Sincere people that is really going to go the distance

with him.

Okay. He loved the multitudes, don't get me wrong. He

loved to mingle with them. He still does that, but

this is something else. Okay. He is trying to raise

up more following what.

He's commanded everybody basically raising and show you example. And

you see, you think that Pastor cannot coin this growing

small to grow big thing.

Not what Jesus did it first. Okay, he did it first.

He wanted to also focus on that because this is

how he can then focus on effective growth, really growth

that matters, disciples that matters. First point found in verse

twenty five.

Okay.

Second point okay, this one will probably.

Of fathers.

Okay, but now let's go through it. Okay, twenty six.

It is the conditioner if anyone comes to me, does

not hit father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters.

Hang on.

He's just trying to tell you to like, be nasty

to your parents, your wife, your family members. I mean

on the surface, she looks like that, and the word

is very strong hate right, hate, and they'll be like

way sounds malayo genans started, they say wrong, they right,

But no, it's an illustration because it's a very difficult statement.

Jesus is using parables, analogies, et cetera to explain that

it's very costly. It's so costly they evil even come

to almost the level of or rather priority not to say,

go and hate your parents, but if it comes down

to the point that if your family is holding you

back from what you are called to do, you have

to choose God first.

Okay. And we don't understand its context.

Sometimes culturally, at least for us where we're honoring Asian context,

we're honoring, but sometimes you know, parents may not be

even of the same faith.

And this is what it means. Do not.

Do not doesn't mean that you go and be very rude,

but you need to pick God first. Okay, So it's

the family versus God dilemma, not hit hitter. I explained

to you in a better it's loyalty towards God first

or Jesus first, even if your family treatens this own you.

And we probably heard cases like this before. We walk

to a couple some time ago, and then something as

even baptism. The person feels that you can't go to

because the family will almost like disowner to some extent.

But Jesus saying that you cannot use that kind of standard,

even if it comes from your natural family. You have

to choose Me first. That's the cost. It's very costly.

You know, it's upfront. So whenever you are bad thing

this right, it's actually clear cut. It's not even fine print.

Right.

Let me just quickly go and cover ba a bita

to try to protect God a bitter okay, Mark seven Okay,

next line Mark seven versus nine to thirteen. You also

say say honor your father and your mother. Contradicta why

one moment you go say hete your parents and honor

of what gifts right? Anyone who curses their father and

mother will be put to death or very strong, So

what what gives?

Right?

And then you read further this is the an IV

version or yeah, sorry I think sectified version. Sorry it

says here, but you say, if anyone declares that there

might be used to help their father and mother, is

corbon or corban? Okay, that is devoted to God. That

means to say, you need to be devoted to God first.

The word corbon or corban, right, it's exactly the Malay

word that we understand, the Arabic word of courban, the sacrifice,

all right, that just simply means you're fully devoted to

God first, and then your parents. And then this is

someone says gives you a license to not be rude,

but to still pick God's side. Okay, it says here,

don't let them affect you.

You still need to stand firm. Okay.

So even traditions recommends you that you need to be

devoted to God first.

Okay.

And that's what it means by hating the family members,

because if you are refurther right, the next part talks

about hating yourself.

Doesn't got love life?

Is it some some something strange that he asks you

to No, it's not that it's dying to self kind

of anger again, loving God first, do not let your

own desires come true, self denial or an other words,

surrender is the focus here okay. And this also in

other variations they say look at nalt right. It uses

the word next light nalty by comparison. That means it's

a reference. Okay, it's not hate hate, but it's in compression,

a hierarchy, an arrangement.

Okay.

And of course the next part talks about carry your

own cross. If not, you're not a follow quest and

talk about that a little bit before as well. The

amplified Bible talks about indifference and relative disregard. Okay, so

not absolute hatred, but if it clashes God first, that

is the cost. So what this all means, right, You've

got a position your family under God. Yes, respect your parents,

but God first, Jesus first.

Okay. So I've got the next light over there.

You're gonna take notes point number two position, sorry, be

ready to position your family where they're supposed to be. Okay,

God first and then family. Now you see easy? How's

it being applied?

Sometimes? Right?

You know couples married couples they were like, oh my

husband says this, or my wife says this the question

we always challenge them, right, what does God say? Because

human wisdom can go so far. Of course, both they

have to be aligned, and this is where men also

has a bit more responsibility. Have to be the priests

of the household. So sometimes you know, even if it

means to not say reprimand, but to correct based on

God's important of course in a loving way. We're not

asking to be abusive, et cetera. That's what it actually

means to position them and to lead your family, and

that's all being disciples. So it actually applies to even

relationship and marriages, even let's just let's just address certain things.

Sometimes the whole family first context, right, can be really

be a little bit misapplied. They say, you know, the

BIBLESO tells you right to ensure that you care for

your family first. That doesn't mean that the hierarchy side

of things, yes, go and rest, go and ensure that

the family business is settled first. Because it also tells

you the Bible right, if you look at Timothy, I

got a slide up there first, Timothy, it teaches you

that family comes first, Yes, But how is mentioning your

family going to effect in the long run taking care

of the church. Sometimes we read this verse, right, we

just look at the he must mention own family. Well,

we forget about the part that the reason why we

menation our family or well them, is we handle a

fast in the house so that you can then be

effective to care for God's church.

Right.

We often say, oh, you know, go settle, yes, but

do not abandon the church. You cannot neglect the church

in the process very close, you know, the two verses.

It's not like two different places altogether. But sometimes we say, oh,

you know, I think it needs time to bond, rekindle,

et cetera. But if it's like the expense of the

church or ignoring the church, then something wrong. So some

of the human things like let me say, go on vacation, fine,

recharge and all that. If you come back to support

the church is commendable, but we are not obligating you.

But if you choose to, you're just following this right

Or even if you got a vacation, go attend a

church service lives Okay, when it's all God's Church, serve

there if you can, you can do it, right know,

But sometimes we go on this vacation, I just don't recover. Yes,

do recover, but don't go with for too long because

we are called to serve together. Now, the other thing

about family first, right, when it comes to children, I

just quickly mention that children sometimes when kids come along,

everything involves around them.

But I think we ought to also learn that.

Yes, they're important, but we should we should also teach them,

or rather they should be part of what we do

in terms of being a disciple. All right, One plant

say is that don't just give in to the children.

Just because they are challenging at whatever age, doesn't mean

that you allow them to be try first, and then

you see how it goes on. Now, just like how

in the natural sense, right, Zach can come for I

just want to show you a demonstration.

Does that come? No? No, exact come? Yeah, you see right, Zach.

He's older, Nawllah.

But by the way, right, we started serving with these

two right even as old as when he was a

few months old. Right, we continue to do what we

what we can because that's how God intended it, because

we're disciples right now, Zach. Right, he was with us

very young, even when doing chest and all that. And

now would I give something here for Zach to carry

Let's say, you know, ten chess. Even let's say six

months old, we're giving ten chests to carry. Probably not

right because why it's too heavy for him to bear?

He is not capable of making those judgment calls at

that age. How come we allow the children to dictate

how we do things in the spiritual if in the

physical we know that it's not capable or do the

bandwaf to do it, but we allow them to dictate

how we do things spiritually. Just want me to think

about it, try firs are thanks?

Sorry?

Just a simple illustration because sometimes we say, or the

kids needs the et cetera, tie shoe lass, but yeah.

We cannot.

Yes, family first, children first, et cetera. But ultimately, where's

God in the picture? Where's the church in the picture?

Don't disconnect the two? Okay, all right now very quickly.

So the whole things were emphasizing on God, Jesus God first, right,

God most to be more specific, okay, and in the

worldly sense. Right if you talk about currency, the more

you give attention to somebody, right, you have less, say,

time effort attention to something else. And it's not Sometimes

we wrestle if I give God more time, I will

have less for my family. That's the natural currency, right

because when they had so much ample time or you

guys just don't use time love. If I give got

more love, how much more left I have for my

earthly wife? There's only one.

Even know what I'm talking about? Nine coffee, heavenly wife. Okay,

but get the idea. You get the idea, Okay, all right? Now?

That is that is it's some are correct, but some

are also not que a hundred percent correct. Now let

me bring the scripture Romans five. I'm reading for an

amplified version because I think it's nicer. Such hope in

God's promises never disappoints us because God's love has been

abundantly pought within our hearts.

True the Holy spirit.

We mentioned about holy spirit being a verse and it's

already given to us. Okay, so God's love, what's abundant?

A lot.

Malumbah yeah, correct? Then some people can always use to

wait infinite, you know a lot. So if we think

about natural sensor, you give God one unit of love,

how much do you this it give you back abundant?

One one unit in return plus abundant, which is devery

more than what you give.

LA.

That's the natural sensor because it says they're abundant. So

even you give God one night, you get more in return,

I know, at least on a love context, la. So

when you have that abundant love overflowing right, a lot

to go around, right with your family, no issue and

no issue and right again, mathematically you know nothing to

do with nothing spiritual just looking at contexts abundant. And

God promises this in his in his in his love,

I mean, in his word is unconditional. That love is unconditioned,

is abandoned, so he will feel your hearts, feel your mind,

for your soul.

It's so much of it.

So, yes, what the world thinks that if you love

God most or more, you're short changing your family, you're

less love to give. No, Actually, it's not, in fact

so abundant, right, it doesn't change no matter how much

magnitu you give, you give little, so you have more,

you give more, you have more than more, okay, because

it's excess is infinite.

So this is the myth.

Next, like the myth is that if you love God more,

you're less bandwidth for your to love your family. But

the truth is that God's love is abundant. You're able

to love your family more and better with his love. Okay,

So you think about it, right, you're talking about people

that we actually are, fem members, that we actually love,

all my pamiers, it's not so lovable.

This is again the same thing.

The bandwidth, the extra bandwidth that we get from God,

God's abundant love right actually helps us to love those

unlovable red those sorry relose is very Australian relatives as well,

okay yeah, and sometimes even your spouses on some days,

or your children, the children is not so lover today. Abundant,

abundant love okay, yeah, yeah, God's love overflow. So back

to the main point again, as you are a disciple

of God, Jesus disciple.

Don't worry who God's love first? Right? You love God

more again? Family?

Sorry, God over the family in this perspective is okay.

One, you still.

Got enough capacity to love a so far okay, two

more points than haven't done?

Okay?

Now, next one very very easy to carry your own cross.

We talked about it before. It's alves twenty seven AHS's love.

So what does this mean?

Not not to say you hang a bling, bling cross

kind of dinger. It really is carrying, embracing the potential ridicule,

the rejections, because people will not agree with some things.

But you have to remain strong at your workplace, at

your schools, within your family as well. You need to

carry the cross and follow him, no other way around it.

That's the essence of it, right, And Jesus says all this.

If you do not do any of these right, you're

not my disciple to carry across. Last point and then

you're anready last point comes from vin. Let's say, suppose

one of you want to build a tower, won't you

sit down first?

And may cost? I proposally highlight the words sit down.

Right, The means before you even begin anything, you read

the contract cavulila. The contract says, estimate the cost? What

does it cost to you? Because when you start something,

we are called to finish it, so don't think it's something.

And then, but let's say if we did start that,

it's okay now to reevaluate, but it'll be better if

you actually sit down and it says it's twice here

and the next verse you see again next verse ext Sorry,

won't you sit down?

God?

Is aware that you need to take some time to digest.

Don't rush through the TNC really carefully, And what does

it say here? If you don't have enough capacity to

complete it, you aren't going to finish. So make sure

you have enough, don't give up. So this is essentially

the essence of everything here. We want to transform again

not salvation, from a believer status to a disciple status.

And this is what it costs you. And you need to.

Next light finish the comingment that you've already started. And

it's good to be wise, because it's not for the

faint hearted, right, don't just be signed off. Okay, again,

it's not for everyone, but I hope that you come

to realization that this is part of where we need

to hit. And you'll be great if you can do so. Because,

like I said, you take it to heaven is sorty guaranteed.

But your.

Your fixed deposit or your I don't know your investment account,

account three account four, I don't know whatever account that

is in heaven. What does it look like? It could

also just be like this only if you just do

the bad minimal right. So yeah, of course the next

light talks about the discipleship. I think I covered a

little bit of that as well. And we've got to

be watchful. Guys, got to be watchful. I'm going to

get extreme to come up soon. Come out now actually,

so I'll put up a slide next light.

Uh some more. Sorry.

I am a disciple first, okay, Disciple first, right simply

reminds you of what your identity.

That means.

You are first a disciple, before you are a bank manager,

before you are a lecturer, before you are a student. Boys,

pay attention, before you are a dentist, before your individual.

You are a disciple of Christ first. Because why we're

called to be sold? Why is this important? Because it

changes everything. It changes the way we do things if

we understand what we are or what we're meant to be.

And this is what disciples first really is to recognizes

who we are, not what we do. But hopefully an

expression of that would align with what or who we are.

I said it last time. When you squeeze a lemon,

lemon juice will come out. You won't expect oranges to

come out. Right. If you squeeze a disciple, a true

disciple of Christ, you will oose out. Disciple in fact,

is how we have more and more disciples. Because this

will go on. You're gonna make more disciples. Give me

more disciples and more disciples. So all it is that

I've covered in the first two weeks before and today

is only just about expectation the contract, not about how yet.

We'll talk about how later on. But this is between

you and God. Really.

You see, parents, sometimes at home you can act differently outside,

and you can act very differently at home, but your

kids will see the real you, or your spouse will

see the real homeless husbands. There's nowhere to hide, nothing

to hide. But if you are aligned in your identity,

if you're a disciple first outside the house, inside the house,

anywhere else where, you're abroad, et cetera, it's the same

because you're the same.

Person.

You are the same individual in Christ. So yeah, it

changes everything. It changes the way if you understand our perspective.

See even even King David, right, he's a man after

God's heart, right, a true disciple. The king before him,

he's king, but not quite there. Right, So sometimes four

more different things are not formal, is right? Is it

really important?

Why are you formal? God? More right?

If you're missing out, you're missout I'll be aligned with

God's heart. And that's what true disciples really is, and

that's what disciple is. Disciple first is so I pray

that you'll be will seek him, align with him, draw

from him. That's what we've said before because it's that's

what full devotion is. Is costly.

But trust me, when you're aligned and you're fully devoted,

it's amazing. It changes you.

But won't you just count the cost before he's signed

the contract? Now it's even Paul talks and Philippines, it's

probably the last slide here. The key is to becoming

a disciple. It's not adopting the idea that have not

arrived yet. Of course, all of us are still work

in progress. But we need to know where we need

to hit or where we ought to hit. The aspirational goals.

We do that workplace or sometimes minimum targets, aspirational targets.

Aspirations don't just settle on bare minimum right, we need

to aim higher. Philippines say it, say, it's not that

I have already obtained it the goal in Christ like

that's what we strive to be right or have already

been made perfect, But I actively press on.

That may hold.

Of that, the perfection for which Christ took a whold

of me and made me his own brothers and sisters.

I do not consider that I've made it on my

own yet. It's Paul, you know, right. But one thing

I do forgetting that what lies behind and reaching forward

to what lies ahead, I just focus. I mentioned following

the last time, what is to follow? When the cun

chill or sorry, the MAIV gets in the way, you

still go around.

Make sure you don't lose.

That who is supposed to follow the Holy Spirit. Otherwise

turn that's it follow, That's what a true disciples really is.

I know it's hard things, it's very demanding, but won't

you just read through the TSNCS. It's upfront, and I

hope in due course you will be convinced that this

is where we're all supposed to hit.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

information on our church, please visit Axchurch Org. We are

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week is going to be a good week, a hit

for you. God bless