SOLDIER OF CHRIST | Pr Yvonne Chong

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We hope this message will light up your day.

Cool. So today I'll be preaching from just uh, from

the life of apostle Paul Finishers, you know her like

see about and and and and you know, I've always

been really really inspired by his life. Well sand into

about load of from a person by the nay also

who just persecuted and murdered Christians. Uh, and after encountering God,

he became the greatest missionary of all time. People do

to SMI rule, you know, like she finished sounds even

in those days when you know it's not like today,

you know, like everybody can fly. It's just by a

ticket you can fly. You know, they have to travel

a lot by feet, by raw animals and then boats

and ships. So people like she and that didn't stop

him from preaching the gospel, planting churches and raising disciples.

She trium and WHI like she don't And most of

them he will just made them once and then that's

it once and that's it. It's you know, how do

you but how he keeps in touch with them. He

will write, let us because this is the high that

she can have a basili and suing. You know, definitely

back then that's not what I said. We can't have

good chats, you know, change each other on church, different

church plans, on no such things. So he had to

write letters so design change to like she goes suing

like she can have an inc So today we're gonna

look at one of his epistles, one of his letters,

which is Second Timothy. Okay, from Second Timothy chapter too,

so she can't susing to society mo tait ho. And

you know both the first episode and the second episode. Uh,

Paul especially wrote it to his son, his spiritual son, Timothy,

so you just side down powers to be harder suing

the earth time and and it's to continue to encourage

him to run the race, right like she. So we

gotta look at Second Timothy chapter two, and you can't

showtam verse one to verse five. And I'm gonna get

you know, I always do this international different ones. So

take turns to read. They will make make it you

actually do. So we will start with you're holding the

micro readation's so busy, but she's like sorry, the mic

and the Bible so you can read, yeah, second verse

one and then Stephanie can do verse two, and then

it continues on.

Yeah uh timotai hos t e t well, do ya

su the sun gan chi li you.

Therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is

in Christ Jesus.

But do you have heard me teach things that have

been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach this truth

to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass

them on to others.

Nan was three, And they're suffering along with me as

a good soldier of Christ Jesus. The singping.

Cost verse for no one serving as a soldier gets

entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his

commanding officers.

Fan yeah very and Greg.

Wors five. And also if anyone competes in analytics, he's

not crapped unless he competes according to the rules. Yep, amen,

thank you so much for reading so as you can

see here in one of Paul's last few letters to Timothy,

he so, uh, you know in our Christians faith you

always you know here uh you know a few things

referred to Christians as you know, our journey of faith

is like a race of faith, right, and you know

our Christian living as well, you know we are called

the soldiers of Christ chief and so so kind of

ti sounds side so young, he was so years to

the thing and bing and it's it was all uh referred,

it's all written and quoted by the apostle paup a timble.

So I said us like she said true, and you

know in his last few words, right, you know it

starts here. You therefore, my son being strong in the

grace that is in Christ Jesus exactly two years to

the earned in sangchan she like, and your hardship is

a good sourdier of Jesus Christ near like she uh,

several years to do the things. So what does he

tell us? And all it's although it was to Timothy

and like I don't know how many thousands of years ago.

Uh sorry, I didn't study that timeline, but definitely it's

going to be a very long time ago. But it

still does apply to us. So done so more titled

you could read because the phone sing singing, phoning, mean,

how many of you can agree that being a Christian

is actually not easy? Turn and and although you know,

although it's not easy, but we have the confidence and

assurance that God is there to see us through it

r negative singing human that is something that no one

else in this world that can offer treaty pay so

because our faith as believers, as Christians, it is a

journey of it is a raised journey. It's a long marathon.

And one of the things that you know a marathon

runner needs is perseverance.

Right, so.

Type physical perseverance and mental perseverance. I just had a stage,

you know, growing up. You know I I started attending

like Sunday School, like in extra shequ ex kids when

I was for five years old around that turns and

goes down, so you will tell you yeah, because my

parents thought like, hey, you know, it's something good for

my daughter to be exposed to because our neighbor invited

and they allow me to follow them with the juah

with the high that you how many of you here,

you know probably when the Sunday School and have heard

of a song that's about soldiers before tin is so

going singing the day so it says like I may

march in the infantry. No no no no no, yeah,

I'm in a lot army, yes sir, okay. And and

since that, I'm like ha in God's army.

What what is that?

You know, the made women's and you mean when I

become a Christian, immediately become a soldier for God, and

I have to go fight wars and battles and kill people.

You oh, you knowciation Sians and and she siren. Just

as a child, you take that literally right there. You

watch all the movies and a lot of times whatever

the soldier has to do is not a good thing

woman's so you cannot see the means so fast, and

so don't some hero what Sophie, you know you can

kill one thousand people, but I mean people have to die,

and then the soldier engages in a war, people perish,

not being sign the don't see turns and the down

zone dumping dance, and so I couldn't as a child,

I couldn't quite really understand so and swimming bye. But

when I started becoming a believer, then I started, you know,

getting I started to have understanding. Because to go to

cale like she can doalty so verse tree and four

again I'll draw attention to that, you therefore must end

your hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. And

no one engaged in a warfare and no one goes

for war. Uh entangles himself with the affairs of this

life that he may please him who enlists him as

a soldier, and two years to the thing being fancy

dream zone dumping the So I A'm gonna draw a

few parts out of this verse. Uh, I'm gonna start

from the end of verse four. Somewhat most of the

time people becomes a soldier because they're enlisted in front

of the bingos talman paige. Uh. They are chosen without

them volunteering themselves and patients. So for example, the nearest

country to Singapore so young, So Singapore they have national

service just a maker. If I'm not wrong, it's two years.

It's like how South Korea is two years and national

service like the landing. Then if you're Singapore, if your guy,

definitely you have to go, not like Malaysia. They were

randomly picked last time. But design is all boys have

to go. Guys. It's nonsense and you're eating your sheet.

And for two years they're training and equip to protect

the country. Has she like she paid on pay about

who coming to whether they like it or not, some

you know, medical reasons. Then they may be able to

get excused, but you know they are still in the training.

The minor administration work instead, So you couldn't put on

this you push has appial and youn't can have you

had to see the can? How do you pay umpires

and fund windows and and and being trained? Uh, to

be a soldier to protect the country is definitely not

an easy process. Even that was you know, Singapore actually

came out with a few serious not serious like yeah

episodes not episodes, so that trilogy a few seasons of

a boy to boys to men pied out. It's being

if you have no no clue. I mean, I'm just

giving example Closest to Home. I definitely can watch all

those American ones, but closest to Home, and I thought

they depict it quite well. They show an example of

how enlistment quite well. Yeah, yeah that's sound. This is unpied.

So once these people have been enlisted as soldiers, right,

they do not have their own rights anymore, do you down?

Say and Paige and pays the train league, and all

they have to do even if Paul says he in

verse four, all he has to do is to please

the person that has enlisted him. This is your So

make it your south binger and like so if it's

the government that has enlisted them, whatever they do, they

have to follow and and please, uh, the government don't

have whoever list them? It's stemful And she changed harm

she like she round nagger, fool like she in weight

harmon patients dumping that she doesn't see. And then you

know there is order and and that's a processes. You

know that a sodier has to follow the song is you?

Is it the go turn you? Is it the dumping?

And and you know verse four it starts, you know,

no active, no one engaged in war. No one goes

to war being entangled with the affairs of this war.

So it's like this you.

Payn sou like she tang. So when a person goes

to war, miss, the person is active, right, it's not

like just sitting there. Okay, when are they going to

call me? Uh to go fight for the country? Anything?

Patient she dumping harmonman. And because every soldier, I believe,

all nations, every soldier, Uh, it's caught to serve the government. No,

it's also make up Paige patient sometimes the way she

fool so uh and although you know sometimes that's not

all going on. But they have to be on stand by.

You know, they have you know, trainings and different things,

but the on stand by to protect the country big

meal times and fast because it's a bier like she

don't pay the z like she look you eating, I

think light out as a whole. So it's fast and

and and you know recently and you know, just looking

back recently, you know Crystal and and and angally you

know they they were enlisted to go not be a soldier,

but be a teacher. You know, caught by the government

immediately you have one week to to to start a

new and relocate and stuff like that. You know, just

angely uh shin how you Crystal bathing else. So when

you serve the nation, when you serve uh someone, when

you serve the lot a lot of times you have

to follow where God wants you to be and wants

you to turn down patient so just to cheat out

women's soldier. And because of that, we cannot get entangled

with the concerns of everyday life, the concerns of you know,

if you're going to use soldier terms and army terms, civilians,

the concerns of civilians. Uh you know, we we just

cannot get caught up with that patients some in way

is on the going to say that she turns that

woman word entangled here Okay. In the dictionary, it says

that to be interwoven, all right, wrapped and twisted together

in such a manner that it's not easily free, not

easily open up, just as to go see your justice,

even the fun So just your just itchy know who

pays so ki the eager the tides. So it pictures

something which is tightly twisted together into a very Have

you seen like a ball? Okay?

Me might not.

So I I did buy a new uh wax string

thingy Sophie when she was a puppy. She played with

it and she messed everything and everything we can tangle

up into one big ball. Who had you one? Yellow?

So both dogs and cats like to do that, okay,

to strings. I don't know why, but it becomes a

huge ball of mess. And I spend a lot of

money on on that rex string because I want to

pick up book binding. I wanted to make my own book, so.

In so.

Downs the whole yellow to such a huge mess that

I decided to Initially, you know, I'm like, okay, I

try to untwine it, but it cannot happen, and I

decided to start cutting it because that fast. How that

realize it doesn't work because it comes up, it comes up,

It does untangles itself, but it comes out in different lengths.

No faster you're put on the tongue. It just fun

fastest thing put on them. And it wasn't something that

I wanted because I need long strings to do bookbinding,

a long red string to do by book binding. That's

so fast you put on sense or nurse is a

r tongue. So in the end, you know, decided to

give up and throw it away, you knowing your fund fantacy,

you cannot serve this word person anymore. She's young, young, young, true.

You know that's what it's like. You know, when we

are entwined, when we are all twisted together with the

mass of this world, it becomes a huge ball of mass.

Sometimes in our life negative and Manati the nice young.

Yeah.

Even King Solomon as well, worn about you know, being ensnagged,

being caught up, being captured by the affairs of this

world as well. Solomon is like she paid p Yeah.

And in Proverbs chapter five versus twenty two, or just

called the second part of it thirty. Sorry, maybe I'll

just uh read the whole verse. Okay. Proverbs chapter five,

ers twenty two. It's his own iniquities and trapped the

wicked man, and he is caught up in the cords

of his sine paid to see the three rules and

short turned route our own shortcoming. Well, sometimes trap us

up those women to see the trading way like she

like she roumans just a time route, and then we

are caught up with's seen. Uh it gets we get

really tangled up with it, and it's very hard to

open it up. Paytree that she turns us patree, you know,

like she turned out to a woman. And what scene

can do to us is when we get tangled up

to it, it's not easy. Like you know, I try

to cut everything away and then just give up with

it and just try like know that balls, we can't

do that. Sometimes made so that she pays hans it

scene traps us in Kumi means and from being entangled

will be come and slave to it. No that she

paid tention the whole woman lead and you know, like

the dictionary as well, right, the Greek word. Okay, you're

gonna see the origin of this word. The great word

for n tangled is m black d e m p

l e k or a woman like she can't say

that a tangent? How do I see that your towns

and play? So the word e n is uh it

means in i n okay in English and black old

p l e k or is the weave okay. Yeah.

So so basically it says when when the Bible refers

to the word and tangled, it means that we are

weaved in. So it's just see like you, the taste,

the towns are not tansents omen just the thing rule

that is so right? What does it mean? It becomes

It means right sometimes uh if I'm got to put

it in uh symbol, simple every day expression to you

like she. It means that when a person see us,

can they see that, hey, you know we are different

and that we are a believer. So just a down

bearing kind of woman's hotel, the woman sig sing to

women's segar do tuma or they even can't tell a

difference because we blend in with in soo, well do

this work you in tantay the whole you've been And

often woman likes to do too. So quite some time

back ours uh you know, in church in Subang and

we were having a conversation with uh so it was

our campus. Uh things you get together. So there was

a new student that joined us and we're having a conversations.

So he said, woman sell you you mean so so

the you know singer and like she's general woman is

or you and and the student chat you know, like hey,

you know, uh you know, I'm looking for a church

and seems like I feel very comfortable here with your

ex church. So how do you tell heard the line

and he said, I can really see a difference in

you guys know how to so okay young. Then we

asked like if why why do you say that you

Juman household. It was many because he was previously part

of an church for a while because still news. So

he's trying different churches before, you know, choosing one to settle.

So he said he went to the church and he

said immediately when he walked in, right you see, yeah,

no you don't know what the person is where he

walked in. So it was a Sunday church for a ship.

But he said every time he walks in he feels

like he's going to a club, you know, how do

you fantaises? And also.

And she.

Young, like I don't know whatever, okay, and it's like

and the word that it just keeps talking about prosperity

and prosperity and prosperity, the functions in her tongue is

and both of it is a very focus of the world,

just young, just on the scene and in romans, right,

you know, God does say, you know, we are in

the world, but not of the world tail channel. So

women's society, you know, okay, the people around us really

see like wow, you know Alicia is such an amazing

role model, destminy. I want to be like her. I

want to believe in her God and who can't women

send me a down on woman seeking now the Banyan

woman that she turned way the room and they can

only do that when they see there's a separation because

we are set apart, uh and not we are not

safe to be weaved into the world. Go around down

so that she around and can't tell the negative when

you used to this a whole. So and let's uh

move on. I'm gonna have yes, let's move on. I

want to talk about and tangle just a little bit more. Sorry,

I'm gonna bring an illustration of parasite trees plants like

she could even like she just tans and to take

the east. So those of you who know are gardening

a bit and all, there are plants, different plants in

our garden, I say, like she like, she don't don't,

But there are plants. But there are plants that go

as another plant as a So that's a host plan

and this parasite that goes on it the holy it

is just you cannot have. So these parasite plants don't

have its own roots. It's not rooted in the ground,

na outside you to reminder. So what it does is

just uh, what's the English for pumping right on? Okay,

right on on? The nutrients that the main plant is

taking out off the ground. Are pumping the nice to

the life out of the host until that main plant

actually dies. It will eventually die. That she sees so negative,

you know, So the term fern so sweet. Who So

you will start with the branches first, I mean, if

you go start look at the plant, yeah, santaries. I

have it near our house, so I always see a

lot of deep branches falling down and you see parasites

going on and it sucks the life. Eventually the main

plant itself would die. Yeah, that cool, and that reminds us.

You know, God says that abide in me and I

will be in you. So and and God says, you

know in his word that I am the vine and

you are the branches put out as a believer, you know,

God has called us, He saved us so that we

can abide with him and to draw life out of him.

Like certainly downtown, like the Bible does refer a lot

to us in our as you know, a tree planted

by the river and the suits sea straight hang and

and this this tree reaches us, draws out from the

living water, draws out from the Holy Spirit. So you woman,

just Hong Sunder links to the center, to the sunder

line like she sees soul and and and and and

and and because of that, sometimes we are not aware.

We allow the affairs of this world to stick onto

us and latch onto us. Down the easter, you run

to Sunder, don't see that she turns and sound and

it starts taking life out of us. Sea tree, So

how do we don't see? How do you know I

was focused, start shifting from loving godman bases. She turns

and just so amazing Kaisa things or man eating things,

the ice and to start getting distracted, Norman pathencing like, hey,

you know Sunday morning, let's let's let's go I don't

know what do you do on Sunday? And let's go cycling?

And he.

She tells her, and you thought, like, hey, that's not

too bad of an idea. I've not exercised, I've been

stressed out Monday to Saturday. I've classes on Saturday. Why not,

you know, take a break on Sunday and go cycle?

You couldn't even you can sound f couldn't woman? You

couldn't you cas you sound fire? To this sound so eating?

Since she doesn't to her later you don't. And it's

a very healthy thing to do, because you know, I

get a refreshed and the morning, why not right come

to church is ventilated and you just sounds so think, okay,

who's this't like she who was doesn't like she's seeing

a con tail The parents like that's just on and

you allow that and it starts going on you and

until when you realize it need you like who you

to see the sound fire. She turns isn't sound God

is no longer the first priority in your life. Turns

that she easesout Aho sing down and it doesn't even

bother you if you don't actually spend time with him eating,

And then you realize that, hey, actually he does not

matter to me that much because I no longer love him.

Can an who what we know when whether we love

someone or not? Uh, you know based on the way

the person has has has two words and the weight

of the person has honest, a woman's ok and woman

singerly like women I negar. So when the parasite sucks

that out of you and starts leaving out of you,

you lose your own life. So the thing like she

tans and and I say, don't see the soul the

empany the yo doesn't mean And you know that's this saying.

It says, you know, the mind of a Christian ought

not to be filled with thoughts of earthly things or

find satisfaction in them, for we ought to be living

as if we have to leave this world at any moment.

So you are jumped out sore. Woman paid sounds so

faster than suching that she turned out as a woman. Yeah.

And this another saying by John Piper. Uh he was

he is American, Uh, but of different I can't remember which.

I think he's from American. But he's a missionary in Ecuador,

which is in the continent of Africa. Has so he

was the first missionary I can't remember how many years ago,

but he was the first missionary to be murdered by

the militants. That so it has a salad. But so

he wrote this code, he says, you know, do we

leave like our citizenship is in heaven and wait eagerly

for the Savior to return? No justice to so tink orming?

Do we feel like death would be more gained than lost?

Or mesa can sold.

Just so.

Quait soon?

So?

Or are we sot and tangled with this world that

leaving it is the worst thing we can think of.

A woman could eat bases also tians cigaret to be

yo doesn't mean so. What it means is if this

war does so when one day, okay, one day somehow

we know that we're gonna die. So and and you

really really cannot cannot you really cannot leave this worll

no need just kind so generally how example don't go.

That's just suggestion, and that will actually tell you that.

What are we.

Linked to? So women to kids? What so this saying

by John Piper, it means that right, if we see

ourselves as citizens of heaven, if we see ourselves being

linked to heaven, then that's no issue at all. If

we any time of any time during our lifetime, you know,

when we have to leave this, we don't mind living easily.

You women, you're tied to the woman kind women stain

go the symthing that she holds the she just so

that's a very good hard chat. Juste how the eagle

that she is sentiment to see the thing slightly closer,

slightly easier and closer to us. Another example, just you're

only like a dating women that the God is challenging

us to live that group of friends that's not healthy

for us. Logs that she tells. Just imagine putting counter

to tin because for example, this group of friends is

making you do everything that is against the word of God,

just so eagerly to just upon your head like she's

been enjoyed it that you were patient. Who are you switching?

Do you feel that you are we going to feel

that it's difficult to do that and that she and

and most of the time it will be because you

know we are so trapped up in that lifestyle. Are

together with them reading those amazing m you'd be easier

to skip homes and hang out with these girl of

friends homes heru uh and And you know, I'm just

giving some examples. So being that's the affairs of this world,

not just the So why I'm sharing this, I'm not

asking us as Christians to totally stay away from the

wall down, tell the different sounds to one chain, just

like go hide on and go hide in Malati Hills,

hide there and build our own shrine. Then and start

meditating on the.

World of.

Sansand not because at the end of the day, we

still need to be in this world. Hold woman high

suppecial because because without doing that, we cannot be the

salt and like found down to home. So being in

this world but not like this world, so uman outside

two sides of the issue to this world promotes cohabitation.

But as Christians, do you stand up and make a stand.

Like she.

Naggar the sandy tings sandy because at the end of

they are motivation as the soldiers of Christ is to

please him, even saying to treat you know just woman,

woman and woman dumb, and that she does all see you, Okay,

And I'm gonna close right now, so in from I'm

just gonna conclude second Timothy to oh heyt as a

soldier of Christ, right, we need to have a discipline

the thinking quarter ego leader Sam, discipline and our commitment

towards God. Just so, Manti certain downst on your ego wations.

Discipline in our commitment towards the calling that God has

placed in our life. Just so amantisan son woman, and

discipline to live a life that is holy and side

apart from him. Oh yes, eager just the perishing. You're

the same. And as a soldier as well, you know,

besides besides being disciplined, you know, I talk about perseverance

just now. So it's a thinking nice as Christians, you know, perseverance,

it's really really difficult. So it's to the night's face

and face because we can get tempted so easily by

everything and and everything that is pleasurable from this world.

So say, can't set hands, and so to persevere with steadfastness.

So woman, many are teen sing Ret nine and as

a soldier as well. You know, you need to live

a life of integrity.

To the SA.

No soldiers were serve two masters, son, you give me

the pin, actual young children. So even the soldier can

be can be picked out to be a spy fy

in a country, right, they can be bought over by

the country because they need to implant spice filter so

many but they still serve one because the time is

full so close with this, you know, who are we

serving today? So many tins full? Because who is serve

is who we're going to get entangled. And we've thin

and intertwined with much woman like she runs so and

so like she's hancent and and sometimes you know, we

try to hide your soul in tang. But then you realize, like, hey,

you know, in this journey of face, why do I

keep running and I keep stumbling and falling way fast enough?

Sooner you eat the power. It's the data why I

can't run this wave like well and consistently and steadily

with powder and her pink. Just certainly eat the power

because we are entwined. You know, there's a lot of

things that's tying us up that we can't even run freely.

Because you know, says just hand rout the woman's hands

and go to chippen power. So our desire at the

end the day, as believe us, when we see God

one day, we want to hear him saying, well done,

my good and faithful. Sevens in to the womens. This

is the more level. Don't see you sings to the poor.

That's his gift her. That's his crown, right, it says

in verse five, not that it will be crowned. That's

his crown to us woman, so government, But we can't

hear that from God unless we complete the race according

to the rules that has been set. Because you socoated

you she wants.

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