you win, i win , we win | Pr Steven Soon

You're listening to a message to go from asks church.

We hope this message will light up your tea.

Today. What we're going to be talking about is the

importance of discipleship and we're gonna try to debunk some

myth myths about discipleship. Okay, so to start off, I

got the first life for you. I've got a question

to start us off, and one all of us again

this say space is family. There's no judgment, all right.

We listen, but we don't judge. Some people are because

they know what that is. It's a trend that's happening

now on social media. So just be honest, you know.

And as as the coordinator of this church plan, I

would love to know also where we are at as

a church so that we know how to help you. Right,

So we try to be honest, all right with the

different questions they asked. Again, there is no judgment. We

just want to know where you're at. And you know

the good news, God meets you where you're at. There's

no judgment. God meets you where you're at. The important

thing is we want to pursue God. So wherever we're at,

whether someone is ten steps ahead of us or where

ten steps ahead of others. You know, there's no comparison.

It's a race of faith, but there's no competition with

our brothers and sisters. We are there to encourage each other. Amen, Amen, Okay,

we're gonna start out your first question. Okay, those who

are okay, So this is gonna be just a quick

surveyor right, I understand what discipleship is. So for those

of you here, you're confident that you understand what discipleship

is in three to one can get you raise your

hand three to one? Okay, good, good, good. We got

about seventy eighty percent. That's good. All right. The next question,

I'm unsure what discipleship really is or entails in three

to one, you can raise your hand anyone? Oh man,

oh pie, See it's okay, So just not based on deduction, right,

those that raise your hand. And then there's about twenty

percent okay, twenty percent that may not understand, but it's okay,

it's okay. Again, we are on this journey, all right.

We are learning, and today I'm gonna attempt to buy

the grace of God teach us a little bit about discipleship.

Are we okay? Are we good? Okay, So today's a

word will be based. We'll be done through going through

some statements, and I would like the participation of all

of us, like how we just need the survey all

right and get us to respond again. This helps me

ask the churchman coordinator to know where we are at,

and then I'll be able to teach accordingly as well

through the word. Okay, so you guys ready for this? Okay?

First statement? Okay, I'm gonna go through a little bit

faster today because we have I have seven statements for us,

all right, seven statements. The first statement is this, Oh sorry,

before that, go back first. Sorry. The topic is this,

I went ahead of myself. You win, I win, we win. Okay.

What does that have to do with deciper ship later

you'll find out, all right, it's connected. So winning through

decipership is the sort of sub topic to this. All right,

So it's you win, I win, we win. Okay. First statement,

I want to throw out decipership is biblical. Those who

agree say this is true, say amen, amen? Okay, all right,

so this I think most of us here have said. Amen.

We all are convinced that discipleship is biblical, right, I hope.

So but if not, it's okay. It's okay. I'm gonna

bring us on a journey to learn, all right. So

one thing I want is just tell you, guys, that

discipleship it is off the Lord. It is of the Lord.

If you're doubting whether discipleship is from God from the world,

is it a concept introduced just by the Church and

not of the Lord himself? I want to tell you

it is of the Lord. And I'm gonna share with

you why. All right, if you think up before we

go to the next light, if you look at scripture

throughout the Old Testament all the way to the New Testament,

we have historical figures in the Bible that actually do discipleship.

Though in the Old Testament they never say the word discipleship.

The word disciples only came out when Jesus came, all right.

So but in the Old Tests, the man we have

discipleship happening. Moses, who did Moses disciple? You reckon? I

say it that, I'll be confident. Aaron sawt of close Joshua.

Aaron is more like a peer to Moses, but he's

like an assistant. But Joshua was the one that Moses disciple. Oh,

when the Bible does you say Moses disciple Joshua. If

you read the scriptures, you would know that Joshua, before

he became the success of Moses, he has followed Moses

closely for many years before he was even given the

word that you are going to be the successor, so

be bold and courage courageous. Before that came, he was

following Moses very closely, following exactly what Moses does. Saw

that without him knowing when it was his turn to

succeed Moses, he was doing what Moses did, but not

just that, but even better. How many of you know

that he made it to the Promise life. He led Israelites,

and he actually defeated more kings, so many more kings

than Moses. He didn't just succeed Moses, he superseded Moses.

The second parent. I want to tell you again this

is on the slide. I'm just gonna bring us true

is Elijah. And who did Elijah disciple? You reckon Elishah?

Very good, Elijah as a prophet pass on to Elishah.

And Elijah didn't just succeed Moses. Come on, he superseded Moses.

Later we're gonna explore that a little bit. How did

he supersed Moses and the most obvious example, and it

isn't worded out even in the New Testament, was Jesus right?

It's a no brainer. Jesus and his disciples. That means

Jesus disciple these people, all right, and we're gonna go

into the till in a bit. All right, So I'm

gonna go in the next light. Honor this before, but

never mind. Thanks for jumping ten slights a hit. But

you're doing good. Can you think it's okay? Just follow me?

I can. If you can do this, just w me okay,

So Matthew twenty eight, nineteen to twenty. This is where

I know that discipleship is biblical, because in this great

commission it is said, therefore, go and make disciples. If

it is not of the Lord, this wouldn't be the

great or greatest commission. God probably would say, go and

build your ches, Go and I don't know, do good works.

Go and be a blessing to your community, Go and

honor your parents, Go and love your neighbors. No, over

here it says go and make disciples. And this, my friends,

was the last word of Jesus before he went to heaven.

And we all know that the last words of a

person is very important because they wouldn't waste They would

usually say the most important thing in their heart, and

that was the most important and still is the most

important thing in the heart of the Lord, is to

go and make disciples. Let's do a little bit of

a word study the original word for disciples that I

used here. In the next light, you will see it's

I'm gonna try to pronounce this methathield saty. You heard

it right, You see different. I'm pointing out sati. You

guys are hungry. I know. I will try to keep

this shot metthathield satte. I tried to play. I play

so many times. You know, there is when you go

in search out the word right in an original text, right,

there is a pronunciation, and I play so many times.

I tell you I still couldn't really quite catch it.

But the methodids that they is the word the disciple.

And here's the definition. A disciple of one interesting one,

not multiple, but a decipe of one, that is the

in the original Greek text. To follow his precepts and instructions,

He's okay by the context of the Bible, it's context

of Christianity if it is, of course God. Every time

I think about disciples one movie come to mine, it's

always the churrate ticket. I don't know why. It's always

the charate ticket. Every time I think about disciple. What's

an example of the dixample of a disciple carate ticket? Right?

I not the first one, first one, I don't know why.

Maybe I was very young. I didn't really watch it,

so it didn't really stuck to me. But the second one,

the one with with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. Do

you know that a new one is coming out again? Yeah,

a new one is in the word Jackie Chan again,

I don't know that guy. Every year he said this

will be my last movie. Every earn but strong and

this guy's seventy over us. They're doing his own stunts.

But anyways, that's not the point. The point is in

Character Kid, where I watched I always remember this scene

where Jaden Smith his his character h goes to Jackie

Chan's character and say, can you teach me your kung fu? Right?

Teach me? Teach me or gong fu? It's so funny.

It's called karate. But Jackie Chan is teaching kung fu anyways?

And then you know what was one of the first

things that Jackie Chan asked him to do? You guys

remember the movie he was wearing a jacket. Jaden Smith,

What did Jackie Chan ask him to do? I want

you to take off your jacket, do three three moves?

I think, take it off, sling it over the ball,

and then wear it again. Keep doing this and then

I say stop until I call you to stop. You

know what, Jaden Smith say, what does this have to

do with come far? I don't know. That was not

the That was not exactly why he said, but that

was on his mind. Why am I doing this? You

know what Jackie John said, do it anyways, but he

didn't share why. I'm gonna throw a very hard statementer,

But why is it in chisure when we disciple people

people keep asking why Anna? Sorry? I hope you can

hear my heart. Ah, okay, and a little bit more

you hear more of my heart. It's not to say why.

Giving explanations not good, but many times the explanation. You

also don't understand how many times when God asked us

to do something, how many of us have this experience.

We always ask God, what does this have to do

with my situation? But God say, trust me do it

by faith? God, I mean financial need. I want you

to give more. Hah already financial need. God, you want

me to give some more and iversity gieve some more. God,

you're kidding me, but you realize God'll never tell you.

I'll explain on right, because he doesn't need to explain himself.

But the good thing is God loves us, so you

know when we do it, it is really for our good. Right.

But you look at a current key, a spoil you la,

that is a good ending la cent kit. Really my

mom become Okay, He won because he listened to his disciple,

even though it did not make sense to him at first.

But eventually in retrospect, when he looks back, all those training,

all those dumb things that doesn't make sense that my

master asked me to do, Wow, it makes total sense. Now.

The disciple is to follow his precepts and instructions. Another

meaning it to make it easier for us to remember.

Disciple means student and students just do what the teacher

say are even when you don't like it, especially when

you don't like it, because how many of you know

when you're learning from a teacher, the times where you

grow the most and learn the most is when you're

doing it when you don't want to because it's completely

out of your comfort zone. It's completely out of your knowledge,

your sphere of knowledge. That is discipleship. All right, so

we know the first point discipleship is. I like to

go to the next definition. This is from strong lexicon.

Lexicon basically means dictionary, dictionary for old texts like Greek, Hebrew.

All right, and he said this. It is used to

describe the process of teaching and guiding individuals to become

followers of Jesus Christ. This involves not only in parting knowledge,

but also shaping the character and life of the learner

learner student to align with the teachings of Christ. I

want us to pay attention to the first sentence to

describe the process of teaching and guiding individuals to become

followers of Jesus Christ. I want to focus in on

become and follow us first, on followers. If you call

yourself followers of Jesus, I guess discipleship is a non

negotiable based on this definition. Not this is not Stephen says,

so this is not I created and pluck it our

thin air. Strong's lexicon. Strong's concordance is a very verified

and constantly used material for people who teach the word. Okay,

So this definition, I would trust in it, okay, and

not my own. So follow us very clear, right? If

you call us a follower, there's no distinction anymore, you know,

between follower and disciple. I know sometimes we use it

to illustrate that are you a follower or disciple? But

based on this definition, follow and disciple there are one.

So if you call yourself a follow of Jesus, that

means you are disciple. I want to point our attention

to become. That means the whole process of being a

follower Jesus is a constant process of becoming. There's no

such thing as I accepted Jesus today, I have become

I'm already. But based on this, it seems to suggest

that being a follower of Jesus is the constant becoming.

That is discipleship. That means you are constantly growing, and

you ought to constantly grow. There's no I'm already there.

You know when you're already there, when you see Jesus

face to face. You're already there. But as long as

we are on earth, we are in a constant state

of becoming a follower of Jesus. That means every single

day when you wake up, it is a constant conscious

decision that today I will follow Jesus. Not my way,

is not my thoughts, not my will, not my desires,

not my dreams. Jesus, I will follow you. This is

what I caught from this definition, a constant becoming. Are

we good so far? So we are not? Now? Okay?

I we are convinced that discipleship is biblical rite. No arguments, right,

all right, okay, if you have argument, okay, or so on,

I wanna say, okay, we can talk. We can talk,

and let's have a dialogue, right okay. The next statement

I want to throw out is this accountability in discipleship

is all about rate tape and reporting. Those who agree

say amen, or some say amen. Okay, never mind, we

learn together, we learn together. Ah. I want to start

off with something that happened. So about two years ago,

one of the first one of the youths I'm discipling

one my disciples, actually asked me this question. Pass Stephen,

discipleship means everything I do every day, I send you

a report. It was a sincere, honest question because he

was new to this concept of discipleship, even though he

has been a believer, but it's the first time he's learning.

So when he took me, I asked me if I

can disciple him. Uh. He asked me this question. Every

day I send you report, And I think he was

ready to do so, by the way, he was ready

to do it, but I had to teach him, No,

discipleship is not reporting. But accountability is important. It is important.

I'm gonna share with you a few things that I

shared with him two years ago. All right. The next

slide says this, and this is something that I believe

with accountability brings covering and anointing. So let that just

illmark that thought. All right, With accountability brings covering and annoying.

And I know that today accountability has a bad rep Right,

I own my own life. Even that statement, I know

doesn't sit well with you as Christians. You don't own

your own life. Our life belongs to the Lord. Right.

But but there seems to be this this distaste towards

the word accountability. Rate tape rate, tape bureaucracy, bureaucracy. Oh,

they don't trust us enough, so we have to account.

But I would like to beg to differ, especially in

the context of what the Bible is teaching. We're gonna

look back at the people that just now we saw

the examples first one Elijah to Elijah. We're gonna look

at second Kings to nine. I'm gonna read from the

NKJV translation. It says this, and so it works. When

they had crossed over that Elijah said to Elijah, as

what may I do for you before I'm taken away

from you? Elisha said, please let a double portion of

your spirit be upon me. We know this. Elijhah asks

for double portion. Right, double portion, and next life you'll

see just that point exactly. To help you with your notes, Elijah,

Elisha said to Elijah, give me double portion. And Elijah

and you all know this, he did receive the double portion.

And I believe the first portion is natural. It's passing.

Now you're going to be the next prophet. You have

one portion. But yet Elijah seems to have caught a

principle and requests for it and say, I want double

portion of your blessing and anointing, and it came upon him.

That means God allowed it. I'm gonna go one step

further to say, God wants that when we come under discipleship,

there is a covering and anointing that comes upon the

disciple through the discipler, whatever anointing that is on the discipler.

And this is spiritual, spiritual principle that I believe in,

whatever anointing that is on the discipler, when you truly

follow that your discipler, you will receive the anointing of

a discipler. I've seen that happen. Later, I will share

a personal story of mine. Okay, So that was for

Elijah and Elisha. Next one Jesus to his disciples. All right,

and I'm going to read two scriptures John fourteen twelve.

I'm going to read for NLT now because I think

it says it clear clearer. I tell you the truth.

Anyone who believes in me will do the same works

I have done, and even greater works. Because I'm going

to be with the Father. Now, I'm gonna pause there,

what same works as Jesus. Wait, hold on, that's not enough.

Greater works some more greater works. You see the parallel

between what Elishah requested to what Jesus is granting to

the disciples. Greater still you will do. And this is

Jesus addressing the disciples after he sent the disciples out

two by two to preach the gospel, and when they

came back there like, what is this, Lord? We went

in and we use your name to pray. Even even

demons listen to us. And this when Jesus said, you

will do the same work as me, but even greater

still you will do. Remember these are the disciples, direct

disciples of Jesus. They are receiving the anointing of Jesus himself.

The next verse, look ten seventeen to eighteen, right, this

is exactly when the seventy two disciples returned. They joyfully

reported to him, Lord, even the demons obey us, when

we use your name. Yes, he told them, I saw

say them, for from heaven and lightning. Look, this is

the one I've given you authority over all the power

of the enemy. And you can walk among snakes and

scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. Isn't this

anointing of Jesus? Don't you think if Jesus walk among

snakes and scorpions, none of it will injure him. The

anointing and covering of Jesus came upon his disciples. We're

gonna look at paw Antimothy, Paul and Timothy Philippines two

nineteen or twenty. I'm gonna read back to NKJV and

this is a letter that Paul was writing to the

Philippie Church. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to

send Timothy to you shortly that I may that I

also may be encouraged when I know your state. So

at verse twenty is where I want to put our

attention to, for I have no one like minded who

will sincerely care for your state. Now, this one like

minded seems like a very basic world. But many scholars,

many people who read the relationship, who study the relationship

between Paul and Timothy, they say this is basically the

word like minded is very heavy. Paul is basically saying

by sending Timothy as if I'm sending myself to you.

That's what Paul actually is saying. So that means again,

team must have the same anointing from Paul to carry

the same thing to the Philippie Church, which Paul planted,

and we all know Timothy eventually also became the senior

pastor of some of these churches. And then Paul went

on a lot of us sometimes we don't understand this,

and it's okay. We learn that with accountability and discipleship,

it's not red tape, but there is a covering that

comes upon the disciple. And I use this concept for example,

when someone serves under a king. And you see these

a lot in the Chinese films, right, the Chinese epic

films where they have war. All right, I love those films.

I always watch them. When the king sends a messenger,

do you know the messenger carries something with him, the

seals the king. That means he's under the covering of

the king. It's basically saying, right, you kill this messenger,

It's as if you are killing me. My whole army

will come after you, all right, the king's seal in

the same way in discipleship. I know it sounds quite strong,

but I believe in it wholeheartedly. When you are being discipled,

you carry the covering of your discipler. That me is

a The disciple will take ownership of you and meaning

whatever you do. If the discipler challenges you to do

something by faith and you do it, and let's say

you let's say it doesn't happen last all right, do

you know that covering comes in. The discipler's covering comes in.

That's why for those of us who are leaders here,

when we disciple people, we take it very seriously because

whatever happens to you is under our covering. When you

know there's a lot of weight and responsibility there, we

don't take it lightly. We don't take it lightly. So

when we think about accountability, I hope that changes your mind.

It's not about rate tape. We're not so free to

govern what you do, really, but we do it because

we believe there is an anointing that flow. That's why

Paul can say, follow me as I follow Christ. The

anointing and covering flows downwards. But you got to align

with your disciples. It's common sense, right. If you misaligned,

then of course the covering will get blocked. Makes sense, right.

Think of it as like a like a drainage. Something

is off, then you're not getting the food thing. Okay,

all right, okay, so far very quiet, but I hope

it's because you're receiving. Okay, okay, I'm gonna look at

the next picture. Next picture, he's receiving from the Lord. Hallelujah.

Ah all right, I say some biblical examples. Let's talk

about real life as in like examples of today. I'm

gonna talk about Passa Elvin covering, an annoyting that came

upon me. Bassa Alvin is my discipler. I am under

his covering. He disciples me, he challenges me, and most

of the time he rebuilds me, which is a good thing.

And I'm gonna share more about that. I won't share

something that an anointing that I received from him, I

didn't expect to. But now I look back, I'm like, wow,

I actually received this anointing. I didn't expect it, but

it came the anointing of church planting. Look at XBU today.

I really attributed to Passer Alvin because he's the one

that journeyed with me. I came under Can you see.

We can learn all the know how, all the all

the methods of planting a church, but it is the

anointing of the Lord that causes the church to grow.

And I strongly believe I've received that anointing passed down

from Passelvin because I'm under his discipleship. And I hope

you guys can observe and see for yourself those who

are there from day one. You've seen the growth. You've

seen the growth, and it's really glory to God. And

I strongly believe this is one of the ways of

the Lord is covering and anointing, covering and anjoying. Do

you know that is why we also annoy people with

all when we pray for them. It's the covering and

anointing of the Lord, all right, And I thought about

that last time, so I won't dive deep into the anointing.

You see, human nature, normal human nature, warrants us right

to give permission for someone to speak into our life.

I'm going to explain that a little bit by our

natural self. Right when people say something to us, especially

if it goes against what we agree with, our natural

response is no reject, push away. Therefore, I believe in

order for someone to actually speak into your life, you

have to give permission first in your heart. I'm going

to listen to this person, even if I do not agree,

And I'm telling you that's the picture of discipleship. You're

giving permission for someone authority, which is a big deal

to someone to speak into your life. And I've had

that many moments myself where my discipler actually tell me, Steven,

whatever you're doing to stop it. If I have not given,

passed elving that permission, you know what my response would be,

you don't understand what I'm going through. I don't agree.

How can you be so insensitive? But because I've given

permission to my disciplo to speak into my life, knowing

that the Disciplo loves me, cares for me, and wants

to see me grow, therefore I can accept the correction,

the direction, even especially, not even even especially when it

goes against what I feel. But it's not easy easy,

it's not easy. But that's my journey. In Passe Alvin,

you can also ask him how my journey with him is.

It's not a bit of roses. It's a bit of

roses with thorns, with thorns, but it's good. It's good,

it's good for the soul. Okay, two statements down, we're

going to re third statement. Discipleship is just about numbers

that make the church look good. Oh, those who agree

say amen, no, I thank you. But that is the

type of impression that I've also observed some people may

have this wholeheardle system thing so that we can get

into the papers. My black and white God name looks good. Wow,

we got how many disciples in church? Ah, guys, discipleship

is not an MLM program. By having downline right, we

don't earn money on. We don't get commission, but we

have the great commission. Hallelujah. Amen, that's what we have,

no commission, but got great commission. Make disciples. Man, You know,

we don't earn anything one when we disciple people. Probably

the only reward and a great reward that we'll get

is at the end of the day when we see

Jesus face to face, He says, my good and faithful servant.

Do you know that stewarding people is a big part

of stewardship? That got is expecting also, and God demands

an account when we meet him. For those of us

leaders here when we disciple people, I want to remind

us that God will demand and then come from us.

What have you done with your disciple? How have you

invested in your disciple? God will demand and come from me?

How have you discipled the church? And I will have

to give a report to God. And my desire is

I can hear from Jesus himself, my good and faithful servant. Wow,

that means I've done well. I've done what I need

to do. That's probably the only rewarder for the disciples,

right we don't have money to be rewards and if

we don't get commission from the church, I just want

to you know, in case you wonder whether we get

money from the church leadership from getting more disciples, No

such thing. Actually we don't get We give money some

more because we bring disciples. Oh maca celebrate their ah

probably in another What that I can think of is

that we see you guys do well. One of the

greatest joys when I disciple people is when I see

them grow, when I see them do well, when they

come back pert Even I got a testimony, hallelujah. That

feels good. But even that they what you told me,

I did it and I saw fruit. Oh that feels great.

I think for the leaders here you can agree that's

one of the best feelings you can get as someone

who had this who is who is who is discipling someone?

Those are probably the two rewards we get. So if

case you're wondering we are trying to ask you to

be discipled so that you can get into the system,

no such thing, because we don't get anything out of it, honestly,

So I just want to remove all doubts in case

you have those questions in mind. You know, when a

discipler disciples someone, really the interest that we have it's

not in our own interests, but it's for your best interests.

That means everything that we say is intentional, especially and

most times the things that you don't like to hear,

it does not benefit us. Actually, it takes a lot

for us to say sometimes do you know that by

percentage majority of the human population is actually non confrontational.

This is the same statistiction in church. It takes quite

a bit for us to actually go up brother, address

your best lah, brother selflah, rather that they the thing

you say not very nice? Are It's not easier enough

for leaders to say it because we are ready to

be disliked because being like it's not our priority. Our

priority is to disciple you. Our party is not for

you to like us. If our priority is that, that

means something is wrong. Somewhere it's a wrong focus. Okay, well, okay,

so far all right. For statement, discipleship is easy and comfortable.

Those who agree to amen, those who disagree saying no Ah,

I'm I'm glad to hear that because it shows that

we are we are getting somewhere right, because discipleship is

not easy and it shouldn't be comfortable. Let me give

you the scripture that will prove this point. Second Timothy

for six to eight. This is what Paul says to

Timothy for I'm already being pawed out as a drink offering.

Or this is the discipler telling the disciple. Yeah, I'm

being pawed out as a drink offering. So poetic, and

the time of my departure is at hand. And this

is where one of our focus would be. I thought

the good fight, I finished the race. I've kept the faith.

This is a very nice way to wrap out this

journey of faith that we have. That means that's Christians.

This sums it up our journey that we are fighting

a fight, that we are running a race, and we

are keeping the faith. That means it's a constant effort

to hold on to the faith that is our journey.

How does this relate to discipleship? Now, If the journey

of faith is not meant to be comfortable, I'm doing

your equation here. If the journey of faith is not

meant to be comfortable, and discipleship is meant to help

us focus and accelerate our growth, that means discipleship will

be very uncomfortable. Makes sense. If our journey of faith

has never meant to be comfortable, already uncomfortable, and discipleship

helps us grow towards the Lord, that means discipleship will

be very uncomfortable. If there's any impression that discipleship is

all fun and easy, fun, maybe I don't know. I'm

having fun in my discipleship, Genue Paselvina. Really, I really

cherish the friendship and the relationship, discipling relationship that I

have with him, but many times not easy. I just

have to let you know that if there's a chance,

I'll share more stories, but I'm trying to keep to time.

This is something a revelation that came upon me when

I was preparing for homes the time where we were

talking about discipleship, and the Lord gave me this insight,

and it will be in the next line, mentors. What's

the difference between disciples and mentors. I don't really like

to use the word men thos actually, but some people

use it interchangeably. But for me, I have a personal

conviction I'm going to share with you why mentors in

life point you to where you want to be. Agree

right when you seek a mentor, I want to get

better at this. I want to improve on my craft

of let's say, because my background is in film production,

I won't improve on my craft on editing. So I'll

find a mental to teach me a data. It gets

me to where I want to be. But a discipler

guides you to where God wants you to be. That's

the difference. So it's no longer about where you want

to be. That's in the disciple's interests. Where does God

want you to be? Well, it is not where you

want to be, but let's work you towards being where

God wants you to be, because as Christians, we know

where God wants us to be. It's the best place

to be. Amen. So, friends, if you're thinking about discipleship,

and I hope you are, if you're already disciples, get

ready to be challenged. This is a big part of discipleship.

Get ready to have your foundations maybe shaken a little bit,

your worldview shaken a little bit. Get ready, but here's

the good news. Get ready to see the hand of

God moved like never before. When I got into the

hyper ship, That's when I saw God move like crazy.

Why because I'm constantly challenged. So definitely, when your faith

is challenged, your faith grows. The things you see will

also increase. I don't share some Sorry I didn't give

Wesley a hits up ha next night. Yeah, this is prawning.

Sometimes we went prodding. We should go back, but our

friend the worm probably no moredy uh. We we have

to buy a worm that fit to feed the that's bait.

I want to share this story. I don't know Wesley,

if you remember what happened when we went prawning. When

we went prawning, we noticed Indonesian lady walking there, all right,

Indonesian lady walking there, uh, And we just talked. And

after that, after we finished prawning, we were not that

great at it. They were so uh. They pity us

so much that they gave us a fresh supply of browns.

Not the ones. We managed to prod but they give okay,

give you a pack and then we get to eat that.

We get to eat that, we get to be there

and we uh on the spot they grilled it and

we get to eat. And we got to have a

conversation with the lady and found out that the lady

actually was going to a tough time. She has been

away from home. The children are well, she's off a

cousin's faith, all right, cousin's faith. And and then her

hand at the time, Uh, this part of her hand.

She doesn't understand why, but it goes numb. It keeps

getting numb. Uh, and she doesn't she can't really feel

her arm right. So at that time, I just at

that time, God just put into my heart pray for

this lady. So I told Wesley, said, Wes, we're gonna

go pray for this lady. So we went to find

this lady, say and then we say bullick as a

door and we pray. We prayed, and then I told her, uh,

do you want to pray continue believing for your healing?

Call up on Jesus, you said. So we actually wrote

out a prayer in Basa to pass it to her.

To pray, and I told her, say, hey, we need

to go back prawn again to follow up see how

the lady is. We went back, saw the lady, spoke

the lady and I asked. He said to this have

you have you been praying the prayer that we wrote

for you. She took out the paper. So I get

to encourage her. Her break you has not come yet, but

to rus continue believe in the Lord, continue to pray.

Now why I'm sharing this is I remember a statement

that Wesley told me when we were leaving the place.

I never knew missions can be done like that. That's

exactly what he said. But because I am discipling him

that Messi's followed me to do whatever I do. And

when he follows, a new reality opens up. A whole

new dimension of faith opens up because he's now doing

something that he has never done, never thought to do.

But because the discipler does it, he gets to observe

and see and do, and he gets to witness the

next light. Also, one of the guys I'm discipling this

guy is Chris. I only got to disciple him for

a few months because he approached me near the end

of his degree and he's back in Strae Lanmkan. Now

we're still keep in touch, we still call and we

still keep taps. So I want to share this. This

happened about two weeks ago, and this is in Summit Usga.

He came to find me. We had lunch together and

we were talking and I got to talk about certain things,

address certain things to help him grow, and I got

to pray for him. Throughout that whole conversation, God kept

nudging my heart to look at that lady on the

upper left over here, the one the curtain orange. Okay,

it was so distracting that I couldn't even pay attention

to what Chris was saying. It's really bad, God, I

need to disciple this boy. Why is this? Why is

my attention keep turning to the lady. I keep looking,

and I think Chris also noticed. I kept looking behind

his back. What is going on? But but God was saying,

I want you to go and pray for the lady.

I'm like, really, Lord, I'm discipling this guy right now.

Not very convenient, Lord, not very convenient. And for those

of you know this Mama Village, they changed their name

until today, they change you. For a long time I said,

don't know what's a new name, but we're there. It's

a small space, by the way, and acoustics is not fantastic.

That means actually, the whole shop I was praying for, Chris,

uh and people working there are all actually the cousin

Faithlah all right, they all know I was praying. So

I'm like me approaching this lady to say, I'm gonna

pray for you. The whole shop is gonna hear it.

The whole shop is gonna see it. God, I usual.

So when I went to pay for the bill, and

that was like God spoke to me, Stephen, if you

leave this place without praying or obeying me, will you

regret alone? Are you saying I know I will regret.

I know I will think back? Oh I should have listened.

So I just took courage, I say. I turned to

Chris after paying. Chris, I'm sorry I got to do

this attracting with me. Hi, nice to meet you. My

name is Stephen. God asked me to pray for you,

and you know the crazy thing that happened. She looked

at me. Really, I'm like, yeah, for just a moment ago,

when I saw you praying for Chris, I was just saying,

it would be wonderful if you will come and pray

for me. God heard her prayers, so it was amazing.

Got to pray. And a long story shot is basically

she she accepted Christ, but but in a not in

a full way because her background is in Hinduism. She

believes that, maybe to a certain degree, that Jesus is

one of the gods. But we all know that Jesus

is the only way, right. So I got to share

the bit and encourage her. Ran back up to the office,

brought down a new believer's pack, so at least she

has a new Testament Bible she can start reading and

encourage her go to church. Go to church. If you

don't have a church upstairs, there's a church ex church.

I got encourage her, and after that, Chris just looks

at me, sir, this is amazing. Never experienced this before.

This is where I want to put out attention to

in discipleship. When you follow your discipler, you will see

your faith grow like crazy because you'll be doing what

your discipla is doing. And I hope when your discipler

those are already in that relationship. I hope when your

discipler ask you to do something, you will say yes.

You will say yes because it is in moments like this,

uncomfortable moment, moments like this, that you will find yourself

growing like crazy. Trust your discipler. When the discipler asks

you to do something, Trust that the discipler is also

accountable to godla Remember what I said earlier. As leaders,

we have to bring an account to God on you

know how we disciple you all right, so know that

everything that we ask you to do is stop true,

is pray true? Before we ask you guys to do

something for those that are being discipled, I want to

remind us that in case you're thinking, is it the

discipler want me to do work in? It's not there, Okay,

it's not there. It's not there. I remember talking to

a few people that that you know in Xbu. I say, hey,

would you want to build this church with me? To

get there, then you get to grow the XU LSBO

leadership got to experience how this venue was provided. I

can tell you I shared this testimony before. It's crazy,

but because they choose to trust in me. Back then,

we were in the other hotel opposite the road. Our

numbers won't even hitting maximum to a point where we

need to move. Yet, when God put into my heart,

we need to start looking for a place. But the

leadership trustler. Leadership Trustler. And then they got to witness

how God provided this place. I tell you, if you

know the full story, you blow your mind. But no,

I have no time to talk about this now. Okay, okay,

PC has told me times up. Okay, I will try.

I'll try a few more, few more, Okay, all right,

three more points. I'm just gonna assume next point, this

scipership is fun. Those who agree say, amen, ah, very good.

I would trying to bait you guys to say it's

not fun after hearing all the challenges, but very good,

This scipisship can be fun. And I'm gonna tell you

this is Jesus himself exemplified that very funny. Here the

Bible will record Jesus cooking fish waiting for the disciples.

The Bible did not just say Jesus met with the

disciples and address certain things. The Bible said Jesus cooked

fish and invited the disciples for meal. The food is important,

Fellowship also important, and most of us, when we do

discipleship sessions. The leaders say, you know this, right, we

always do what Marca, Marca, we are learning from Jesus. Malaysians, Basla,

we learn from Jesus directly. Right. It can be fun

and beyond the surface level fun. When you go on

a discipleship journey and you really really go on it,

and you really invest yourself into it, you get to

see crazy things happen. How is that boring? How is

that not fun? They got to see all the two

persons that discipline. They got to see that happening in

front of their eyes. You don't hear it from other people,

don't hear it from a puppet. You actually experience it.

It's fun. Okay, that's two points, and then we're gonna

wrap up. Oh, this was a big one. Discipleship doesn't

have to be exclusive. Okay, before you say amen, I'm

just gonna explain, I don't have to be discipled by

one person only, ma, I can be discipled by multiple people.

Those who agree say amen, Okay, some agree, Okay, I'm

gonna bring you on the journey again, okay, and share

what does the Bible teach you? See? Jesus disciples a

group of twelve, right, but you know, as he disciples

a group of twelve, every single individual had an exclusive

relationship with Jesus. That means that Jesus did not do

discipleship in a group setting. Only he addressed each disciple.

He addressed each disciple, even to the point he extended,

he raised from the data. He addressed Thomas to teach him, Hey,

you want to see only belief a blessed of those

who have not seen a belief, And Thomas learned the principle.

Do you realize in Bible, even though Jesus was discipling

the twelve, everyone had an exclusive discipleship relationship with Jesus.

It is biblical. You know, they in extra should decide

reflect in a group discipleship. Let's say, discipleship in a

group context is homezo someday worship right, get the rings.

But individually, when you have the one on one, there's discipleship,

the true and purest form of the hypership. If you

guys heard the term too many chefs spoil the soup

or too many soups spoils the chef. I don't know, okay,

but it's true. You know, too many soupspots a chef,

you're put into the wrong ingredients. That's not the point.

But imagine this, right, if I open myself to multiple

disciples and they all give it again, principles are the same,

but they all tell me the different methods. All are

like that. Weishling to listen to it a confusing all.

Then for one way I cannot sleep, one way I

cannot sleep. Huh, So why complicate life? She's one discipler.

It's not because we want to be you see, right

for leaders I just want to speak on behalf of

the leadership. We are not possessive of the people we're

discipling one. Anytime we feel that this person can be

discipled by better by another person, we will released on.

You know, hey, maybe you should consider this person to

disciple you because of the current season of your life.

We are not possessive. We take ownership, but we don't

say you are ours, no such thing. You are the lords.

We are just stewarding. Our interest is to see you grow.

So if you can grow better under another discipler, why

not go for it? Right? So, you see, I believe

that discipleship has to be exclusive in a way where

you have a one on one journey with someone. Right,

there's power in honoring the spiritual leader that God has

put above you, that one person, even though the person

may say something that you don't like, but you're hearing

from another leader that's not your discipler something you like

to hear. This happens a lot. Happens a lot. People

will start comparing, Hey, why that leader can, why you cannot?

Oh many times when we leaders here there are nan

right now too, when young, very hard, very hard. Holla,

trust me, lah, I'm leading you maa right as a discipler.

So hear my heart. So I just want to say

enough shopping, start cooking, right, talking about too many chefs

foroil the soup. Stop shopping, start cooking, Start your discipleship journey.

Last point and I'll close. Discipleship helps me grow. Agree,

Say amen, Amen. Discipleship helps us grow. You know why,

because discipleship is intentional. It's not just coming to church

on a Sunday. Discipleship is intentional. When you have this

discipleship relationship, your leader basically saying I am invested to

see you grow. I have a plan for you. That's

why exclusivity in discipleship is a good thing. Because you

have a customized plan for you. Why you like that? Right?

GM memberships? You guys like that right? If I can

only go one time, my wi have to pay for

the full package, right, correct? Right? So we all like

to customize. And let me tell you this. When you're

in a discipleship relationship, your discipler is thinking. I may

be discipling a few people, but each and everyone the

the the journey is different. Principles are the same, the

way I disciple may be the same, but the journeys

are different. So I will speak to this disciple where

he's at. I won't tell this person who are discipling

as a leader to do the things or rather as

someone who is not a leader, to do the things

that I'm telling the leader to do. You get what

I mean. You catch a drift, So I will meet

you where you're at. Leaders will meet. It's customized, it's intentional.

There is a plan. When you are not disciple, you

won't know the plan because there's no one looking into you,

you know what I mean. So if you want to grow,

why are you still waiting? That's a question I have

for us. And that's another question that this one I

shared before. Sometimes people ask, ah, I'm thinking about serving,

but let me pray about it. Do you know that

the answer to serving is just yes, it's Bible, So actually,

don't need to pray it. Maybe pray about which minister

you unserve it, but whether or not you need to

serve guys, there's no need to pray because it's a

scriptural instruction love the house of the Lord. So talking

about discipleship, I hope from all that you've heard me

preach that you will no longer say, let me pray

about discipleship. No, it's quite clear everyone needs to be discipled.

Maybe pray about who you can be discipled under, maybe

that that it should be the prayer. But whether or

not you should be discipled, I hope there's no contention anymore.

So as we close, I believe in this room there

are three categories of people. First category, I don't believe

in discipleship. So if that is, you refer to what

I just preached for the past word if I man, okay.

Second one, I fully believe in this disciple shape, but

I don't know who to approach to disciple me a

very good question. I give you some pointers are this

is something that was taught to me by pass Elvin.

If you are looking for someone to disciple you any

of the leaders here, look for traits that can catch

your attention. And you say, I want to have that trait.

Why this person, no matter how down he or she

is always smiling. Oh I want to catch that spirit.

Oh this person's lifestyle. Wow, he can wake up at

fall and pray every day. I want to catch that spirit.

Then go for that person. Know what you want to

grow and usually God gives us examples in front of us.

Go for those people, and of course pray, pray, ask

the Lord to give you that direction. And the third category,

I fully believe in disciple ship and I'm being discipled.

So if you're in that category, this is not endgame.

It's your turn to disciple others. It's your turn to

disciple others. That's why in ex church a lot of

people have contention in Actually, I'm gonna say it bluntly,

why you guys care so much about building leaders? Why

I always talk about leadership? One? What if I'm not

the leader type of material? You see? If your goal

is to disciple others, aren't you becoming a leader If

Jesus say the great commission, go or therefore I make

disciples of all nations. Aren't you a discipler then aren't

you then a leader? Makes sense? So why is Extra

so passionate about raising leaders. It's because it is God's call.

It's blueprinted a ready. So that's why we have something

called the huddle system in X where your discipler will

have his huddle and you're part of a huddle. That

means the same group of people that are being discipled

by your discipler. And our goal is to make a

leader out of you, not so much of making the

church look good. I hope that it's already out of

your mind. But it's for you to fulfill God's purpose

in your life. Whether you're lucky or not, you are

programmed and built to be a leader. You are wherever

you are. That's why God say go and be so

enlightened in wherever you are. You're a good place. Make

sure you're the sort in light. Isn't that leading the way?

So next week, you know, next Friday, we're actually attending

something we call it hardle Night where we're gonna invite

those who are disciple. Is by invitation only that's why

there's no announcement in church. It's by invitation only those leaders.

Leaders will be there because they are disciplers, and those

that we are discipling will be there. And those who

are interested to normal, serious about one thing to normal,

we will invite, all right, and we're gonna have really

good dialogs to grow faith, all right. That's how serious

we are. We're investing her, we're paying monere, we're doing it.

We're taking time off to do it because we want

to invest in discipleship. And the last line, and I'll

pray when you get disciples you grow towards achieving the

plans and purposes God has for your life. When you win,

your disciple wins, we all win. That's why I started

with that title. We're interested in your victory because when

you win in life or this MLM do already, when

you win in life, I win, we all win. But

it's true in the Kingdom of God. Don't you think

when you catch the heart of discipleship and you get

challenged to grow in your faith, don't you think the

church will also grow? So when you win, we win.

We hope you've been blessed by this message for more

information on our church, please visit as church org. We

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this week is going to be a good week, a

hit for you. God bless