Maturity in Christ | Pr Alvin Keng

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

We hope this message will light up your team.

So the title of my message today is maturity in Christ. Okay,

maturity in Christ. So our church this year, our team

is a discipleship disciple first and beyond just a team,

we're also doing different things. We're having discipleship meetings. Uh,

you know, we call our discipleship connection huddles, you know.

And also that's where we raise leaders, you know. And

why do we need leaders in the church, Well, we

need people to lead. We need people to help us

take up responsibilities in a church. We need people to

you know, build the ministry and build the church together. Okay,

that's why we need leaders.

You know.

Leaders is a term that everybody understands, right, but also

sometimes leader leadership is also a term where people it's

kind of like a bad word, you know, like, oh,

you know, leader means I got more responsibility. Well, in

a way, yes, responsibilities are part and pass of life,

you know, and going deep into disciple first and again

it's not something that we will do this year and

the next year we won't do, you know. Uh, following

the team that passes cannot shared with us, you know,

the prophetic team that shared us for our church, and

he even charted the way for the next five years.

Is d R E A M. You know.

So first we have discipleship. Next year we've got revival.

After that we've got evangelism. Then we've got action as

in social action, and then finally we have missions.

Right what we are doing as a church is.

We are going deep into these teams right towards twenty

the T who knows what's going to happen in twenty

the T who knows what's going to happen right now

on this earth, you know, with tariffs and with prices

going up. You know, ev cars, you know, I just

saw news yesterday that someone just built a flying car.

If you want to own a flying car, maybe in

the next I don't know whether it happened or not, Okay,

but I got so much investment from the flying cars.

So many things happening in this world, you know. But

I think the one thing that is well, not just

one thing. As much as we are progressing as a

human species, there are certain things in our lives.

That are constant. You'll catch that.

There are certain things in our lives they are constant

no matter how things change outside you know, whether it's financial,

or whether it's the economy, whether it's true wars. There

are certain things in our lives that are constant.

Right.

Let me give you a few constant things. Yourself is constant.

Who you are as a person is constant. Your family

is constant, hopefully not constant. Your need for a job

is constant corent Okay. For those of you are still studying,

you're studying so they can get a job.

Right.

There are certain things in life that's constant. Relationships is constant.

Right.

When I say that, what I mean is that people

you know who are single want to get married and

then they will have kids. And then these are constant things, right.

There are certain things in life that is constant.

Right.

We may have evy cast or flying cast in future,

but mobility is constant correct, meaning getting from somewhere to

another place is constant.

Right. So there are certain things that's constant in this world. Okay.

One of the constant things for us as believer us

is our faith. That is constant. That means, no matter

how crazy the world gets, our faith is still there.

It doesn't change, or no, it doesn't one day suddenly

I oh, no, now I change, I believe in No, no, no,

it's constant. The external things in our lives can change,

but our faith is constant.

You'll catch that.

That means tomorrow today you're still you want to know,

I mean, hopefully you change to be better luck okay?

And can I also say that growth is constant, right,

because if you don't grow, then you're not alive. Anything

that is a life grows, anything that is a life

moves forward, progresses, right, And you can say no, no, no,

I don't want I want to say. I just saw

this clip. Someone said the average the average years of

a person living after retirement is six years average years.

And the person in the job then therefore don't retire

that which is in a way true because as you

learn about retirement, retirement is oh, you know, I don't

have to work anymore.

I want to do whatever I want. I want to.

But you see, in life, right.

You've got to have a purpose, you've got to have

a progression, you've got to move forward, right, and if

you don't, then you are not alive. If you think

that that's the goal of life is to make it

big and you don't have to work anymore and have

no purpose.

You're not going to progress.

All of us progress, even our kids, because there's something

to look forward to in life. There's something to work,

fight four live for the moment we lose that, then

we might not survive things happen. Okay, So that's constant.

So despite what's happening in the world, if our faith

is constant, then we need to constantly grow.

Amen, we need to constantly mature. Amen. Right, Let's read

some scripture. Okay, are you guys?

Okay, Hebrews chapter Let's read Hebrews chapter five, verse one

to eleven. Okay, I'm gonna read Hebrews chapter five, verse

one to eleven. And for those Bibles, whether electronic or

you know, paper, please turn to that and I'm gonna read. Okay,

it's in the New King James. Maybe one day i'll

read in NLT. It's a bit more easier to understand

because I.

Know I have kids here, but let's try. Okay. So

today's word is maturity. In Christ, he.

Says here for every high priest take from among men,

is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that

he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Right.

If you study the Old Testament, you also learn that

God was the one that established priests, and price is

supposed to sacrificic sacrifices on behalf the people, to atone

your sins, right, right, that's what priest sem to do.

Right.

And then it says orse too, he can have compassion

on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he

himself is also subject to weakness.

Right.

Because of this, he's required as for the people, so

also for himself to offer sacrifices for sins. And no

man takes his honor to himself, but he who is

caught by God, just as Aaron was. So Aaron didn't

ask for the job. He was given the job by

from God to constantly every day sacrifice for man's sin right,

a tone for our sins, right, Okay. Verse five says

so also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priests.

But it was he who said to him, you are

my son. Today I have forgotten you.

And as he also says in another place, you are

a priest forever according to the order order of my

ky select. So God anointed and appointed Jesus. Okay, So

he appointed Aaron. Aaron had to do it every day.

He appointed Jesus to be high priests. But Jesus did

it once. Your cash that Jesus did did it once?

I mean for all some of us. Here's elementary, okay,

I'm just doing some revision with you guys. Verse seven

says who in the days of his flesh, when he

had offered up prayers and supplications with Himan Christs and

tears to him who was able to save him from death,

and was hurt because of his godly fear though he

was a son, Yet he learned obedience by the things

which he suffered. And of course constantly we understand that Jesus,

being the son of God and the son of man,

he can actually call angels and do different things. But

he tahan, okay, he endured, He suffered so that he

can go to the cross, right, And they mocked him.

They say, hey, where are your angels? Were able? And

just imagine some of you here, imagine. Let me try

and think of some stories. I've heard of this one

story where a really rich guy, but he wore like

Pagoda shirt and like Uncle Pans going into a BMW dealership.

I've heard many of these kind of stories before, and

then of course dressed down loud, right, but rich, and then.

People didn't want to lie on him.

And then of course, after a while ego affected, he

just go there and then he bought a BMW. You know,

I've heard of another story where you know another person

who also dressed down go to a music shop I

won't say with music shop, right, and wanted to play

or try and test out a guitar that cost twenty

thousand dollars. And of course the people didn't lie on him.

And then apparently he had a war of cash. I

don't why he's carrying so much cash. He threw the

cash on the counter and say, you think I got

no money?

Is it?

You know, as human beings, we sometimes want to prove

other people right. But you know that Jesus could have

done so much, but he ended to go to the

cross because he was the high priest, and he made

one secret for us, amen. And but and having been perfected,

he became the author of eternal salvation to all who

obey him, called by God as high priests according to

the order of Malkizada, of whom we have much to

say and hard to explain, since you have become dull

of hearing ooh, very in your face. Okay, I'm going

to read further Hebrews, chapter five, verse twelve. It says

here for though, oh and let me maybe I'll read

the n healthy vision. It's an healthy version that I

think I put up, the nalthty version. This is the

main scripture for today's sharing. You have been believers so

long now that you ought to be teaching others.

How many of you here are like that? Don't lift

up your hand. That was a trick question.

Okay, you ought to be teaching others insane. You need

someone to teach you again the basic things about godsworld.

You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat

solid food. For someone who lives on malk is still

an infant and does not doesn't know how to do

what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature,

who true training have the skill to recognize the difference

between right and wrong. Okay, okay, So we understand a

few things out of this scripture. Number one, the role

of a priest right having compassion for those who've gone astray,

as he also is weak and offering sacrifices for their sins.

What is our role here friends, for the sake of

the world. I would argue that our role is like

a priest, right, and if you're doing our jobs as priests,

then you'll be saving the loss you get me, not

just ourselves, because someone reached out to me, someone became

a priest to me.

Right.

And of course the other argument or point our make

cross is that Christ, being a priest chosen by his

other father, plays that role for us. He played He

did it once, he died on the cross, He sacrificed

for us done really. No need to do every morning

wake up sacrifice, no need do all this. He did

it once, right, And for us who are called to

follow him, don't you think that's what it means?

I follow Christ, I do the same.

We're not asking you to go and dine across our friends,

because he did it, really.

But the least that.

We can do is standing the gap for others, for

our fellow brother those who are here, for those that

are not here. I'm not just talking about norm believe,

but I'm talking about Christians as well.

Watch out for one another, care for one another.

Make sure all of us make it, make sure of

us run this race and theory and make it right.

That's what we should do.

And we are also called to spiritual maturity. I don't

think any of you are arguing me on that. We

are called to be spiritually mature. And it's very clear

here to tell the difference between right and wrong. Do

you know that now in the world it's very hard

to see right and wrong. In fact, I might say

some things here that you might think is wrong. But

then if we follow the word, I will argue that

whatever that the Word says is right until God, because

it's his words.

Right.

So we are called according to spiritual maturity, all of

us here, everyone here, we are called according to spiritual maturity.

Even our kids, they are called to be mature. Right,

you want them to be mature? Right, that's what we're

called to do. Right, Hebrews six one to eight says,

But does he say, I think I wrote it there?

So so let us stop going over the basic teachings

about Christ.

Let let's stop. Let's stop.

Let's stop arguing on how to fold the commun in cloth.

Let's stop arguing on whether we should shake hands this

way or shake hands says way. Let's stop arguing about

what song to sing on a Sunday or what song

Let's stop arguing about that. Let's stop arguing about whether

Jesus done across or not. Because if you're still arguing

about whether Jesus done across or not, then are we

believers or not?

We are not. Okay, I'm not saying that you're arguing here.

I'm just can we stop arguing about whether we need

to come for prayer service or not, or whether we

need to come to church early on Sunday or not.

I'm just using more relevant points for us.

Okay.

Last time they argue about the validity of the cross,

and of course after that they got different connections. You know,

we started the history right, So let's stop going over

the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Christ came,

died for your sins, friends, and therefore you are redeemed.

So stop sinning, stop asking for forgiveness again, accept the forgiveness.

And move on.

Overcome it because Christ gave us the ability to overcome.

Amen.

Right, And if you are weak, let's lean on another person.

If you're weak, let's commune with each other. If you

are weak, let's allow the Holy Spirit to move in

our lives because Christ did it all.

Right, isn't it? Isn't it? Oh? Man? What's that word?

You find the right word to use? Okay? I can't

find another word and any word to use. Kay.

We shouldn't be saying one thing and believing in another thing, right,

it should just be one thing.

Whatever the Bible says is true.

Iman, So let us go in, stay and become mature

in our understanding. Friends say mature and you're understanding mature

and understanding. See it's not just what the passes and

leaders for everyone here to be mature and you're understanding, right,

mature and understanding for what. Surely we don't need to

start the game with the fundamental importance of repenting from

either this and placing our faith in God.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

When I was twelve, I accept the Christ once and

consecutively for the next year, I responded to the salvation

called at least three of four times.

And I think I really got safe.

When I went for a youth kept when I was fifteen,

I was not mature, because if I was, the maturity

in my thinking first time, I know done really right?

How many of you here experience you have to kind

of repea to your children again and again and again

to do certain things right. Please do your homework, please

wash your plans, please give your clothes. You know, and

then they will say it's nagging, right, basic stuff, because

they're not mature. That's how we need to remind them,

because their minds are set on other things that are

more important to them.

You get what I mean. And sometimes you are like that.

We are setting our minds on things that are more

important to us, but we are not mature in the faith,

so we keep coming back to here. You don't need

further instruction about baptisms, the laying of hence, the resurrection

of the date, and eternal judgment. That's why, okay, this

sign gets a bit more deeper, okay, And I will

say this, for those of you who have not been

baptized and your creation for a long time, and you're

above eighteen, what are you waiting for?

What are you waiting for? Right?

And so God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

We will move forward to further understanding. I already here.

Let us not go back to standard one to learn

what's one plus one again? And for those who are

not in Malaysian education system. Let's not go back to

prep a year one to learn what is one plus

one when we are already juggling budgets, buying big items

like cars and houses and dealing with million dollar contracts.

Does that make sense? Y'all?

Some things, don't you argue or no somethings. It's like that,

really are just need accept move on? You know.

I like what person I said about. Actually, our faith

is reasonable faith. It's true. It's reasonable faith.

When we go up and wait, wait, when we wait

are in the morning and we buy a new car,

do we check every single thing? And I can't know.

We just buy the car and move on. And if

we don't like it, you know, we change it. We

trust that the car works right. When we get on

a plane, we trust that the plane will fly. That's

a lot of faith.

Okay, let's talk about milk versus meat.

I guys, okay, there are four points that I will

present to you today, and I hope you guys can

catch something and we can grow together. We can grow

together because we all need to mature right. We all

need to mature right. So milt versus meat first, bitter

two to one to three says, therefore, laying aside malice,

all malice, all these seid, hypocrisy, envy.

And all evil speaking.

Gotta lay the side friends evil speaking. I admit I

also do it. Sometimes say the wrong thing right, or

sometimes you know, joke about things right, and it's evil admittantly,

and I have to ask for forgiveness right, or speak

ill of people Jesus standard is worse. Okay, think evil

of you think means the fault that say you've seen

really right? Later aside as newborn babes, desire the pure

milk of the Word that you may grow thereby if

indeed you have fastered that the Lord sorry tasted that

the Lord is gracious. Okay, I me break down this

scripture for you. If God is good to you, then

you should receive his word without reproach. Big word reproach,

You receive his word without doubt thing. If God is good,

if you truly believe that God is good, then every

word that he speaks from his word you should receive

without doubt. Think there should be no doubt in your mind.

That is the word of God, not from man. I'm

talking about the word of God, the.

Bible, right and milk, milk? What is milk good for?

I went online and I google milk is beneficial for

babies due to it's complete nutritional composition and ease of digestion.

It provides all the necessary nutrients and it's tailored to

an infants developing needs. Why do baby steink milk because

they cannot choose mel no teeth right?

Developing? Right?

Milk is a good source of calcium, protein and vitamin

D and B twelve, but it lacks essential nutrients like fiber,

iron and vitamin C. Relying solely on milk for nourishment

in adulthood is not sustainable or recommended approach due to

the potential for nutritional deficiencies and other health ways. And

of course some people are lactose intolerant, right, correct?

Not?

And can I tell you that almond milk is not

the same with cols milk? Very different.

Okay, let me talk a bit about milk, and I'll

try my best not to hurt your feelings. But it's

a bit hard because some of us here we are

still relying on milk. I wanted to find a picture

of a tear old adult drinking from a bottle.

Looks weird.

Right, if you think about it, I give you that

image now for the adult drinking from a bottle.

Weird image, right.

But the reality is when it comes to spiritual things,

a lot of us who have been believer us for

a long time, we're.

Still there offended passes say wrong thing. No, no, no, no.

This church is.

When it comes to spiritual things. Friends, we need to mature.

You know, God is good to us, No, I I

truly believe that He meets us where we're at right.

But the thing is He wants us to progress.

So even if you take a longer time, it's okay,

but don't take too long now, a lot of time

with still no right?

What should we instead desire? So it comes to a desire.

First, we should desire to meet friends wine because meat

is a good source of protein. I also google this

vitamins and minerals, making it a valuable part of a

balanced adult diet. It provides essential nutrients like iron, zinc,

and vitamin bechrial and iodine, which are crucial for various

bodily functions. Babies can and should be introduced to meat

as part of their diet, typically starting around six months

of age, when they begin to eat solid foods. Meat

is a good source of iron and other essential nutrients

that babies need for optimal growth and development.

So you know, there's something very interesting here.

Meat is something good for adults and also babies after

six months ho right, but male is good for babies

adults not so much if you just rely on malk

You got that. So when if I use that terminology

for the Word of God, what are we desiring for

God's Word? Are we desiring to be challenged or are

you just desiring for good time? Are you desiring to

be tickled? Or are you desiring to go deeper in

the Word? Really, that is something you have to answer

as a believer. Do I want to go deeper in

the world? And here we ask the church. We've got

a vision to to have a Bible college, you know,

and we we do.

We we as much as we can.

We're trying to make it easier for people to study

the Word of God. I think Past the Man just

completed Christian foundations, right, It is a very good lesson

in apps and we're offering it soon right where you

get to study at your own time and come for discussions.

A lot of effort and work put into it. A

lot of effort and work put into it so that

you know, we make sure that we are true to

the doctrine or what we believe in as believers. I

will encourage your guys to go through it. You know,

as apps is rolling sound These things why we want

rebeliever here to go deeper in the world. Yes, you

you are good at other things. Maybe you're good at

making money, maybe a good experience. Maybe you've got all

these different things. But what about your spiritual walk? What

about your spiritual walk with Christ? Read your Bible, prayer

do you day? It's good, but sometimes it's not enough.

Some people just really on that. You don't need just

need the theory. You need the practical training as well.

You need to serve. You know, some people are here

and you're not served in a long time due to

different reasons. It's okay, I understand that, but can you

at least move forward one step, because when you do that,

you challenge yourself. You you you know, it's one thing

to read the Bible and say forgive your neighbor. It's

another thing to be offended and have to forgive your neighbor.

Does that make sense?

It's one thing really to read the Bible and say

love the another bird. And it's not to really have

somebody your life there. It's like, oh Lord, help me

and just say love that brother. Co It's different one. No,

but a lot of times we stay in the milk pod.

Of course we're scared, so I don't meet. I say

in the milk pie. I hang out with the milk pod.

You know.

I just want to feel good. The supposed to do that, right,

it's supposed to just friends. No, we need to go deeper,

mature more. There will be challenges in your life that

you really need God. There are some things that you

experiencing in your life, family challenges, health challenges, work challenges

that you really go deep with God.

Amen.

That's why you got to prepare for it.

Amen. You guys can think this. Not I'm giving you meat. No,

someone you're.

Choking on the mes telling too much.

Okay, let's talk about the next thing. Growing up.

Yeah, it's gonna get deeper and deeper. Guys, you guys, okay,

not what does you say?

Are here first? Corigiance tree one to three, and I

brethren should not.

Speak to you as spiritual people, but as to connel,

as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk

and not with solid food, for until now you are

not able to receive it. And even now you're still

not able, for you are still cornel For where there

are envy, strife and divisions among you, are you not.

Carnal and behaving like mere men?

Okay, a bit too deep, bro, Let's go to the

NFTY version a bit more easier to understand.

Dear brothers and sisters.

When I was with you, I could not talk to

you as I would to spiritual people. I had to

talk as though you belong to this world, or as

though you were infancy in Christ. I had to fit

you with now with solid food, because you weren't ready

for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, for you

are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous

of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that

prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you

living like people of the world who ouch? Okay, let

me give you this perspective. One of the things we

encourage people in this church is to be in a

discipleship relationship. Why because you'll go deeper. I know there

are a lot of people who like not king or

I mean I I think there are a lot of misconceptions

about discipleship relationship. And I really don't like to use

the word mentoring because mentoring just says that the person

knows more than me. But actually sometimes in a discipleship

relationship that's not true. The person might not know a

lot more than you. They just know a little bit,

but they rely on the Holy Spirit. And because the

Lord is there in the picture, because you have committed

the relationship to the Lord, you know, most of the

time the harder leader be guided by the Lord. That's

what we have observed and seen. Right, That's why you

cannot simply be under anybody's discipership of solar Okay, you

don't see me choose anybody. You need God to lead

you as well. Right, And imagine this imagine is every

time your disciper to talk to you, right, they have

to hold back because you cannot take it. They have

to hold back because you cannot go deeper because either

they'll be of fans, either be angry and then you know,

you know, we're all human slat okay, or we touch

an issue that cannot touch one right because too sensitive.

How to grow friends, how to grow? We had to grow? No,

have you seen sports movies? Sports movies? Have you seen everywhere? Quite? Now?

You come on, guys, I'm not scoding you all, I know,

invest wrong with it by not scolling you. Okay, maybe

I should. I don't know, lady. Maybe I should change

my lingo or wear a dress on it. And I'm

the drinking you know, maybe maybe change. I changed a

little bit, you know. I feel everybody like scartery you now?

Is this good stuff? Are you guys getting something from this?

So there was a movie scene I saw and it

was very interesting.

I can't remember movie d.

This guy was a quarterback and he was of course

a bit of a rebel because he knows the star

player and uh, and he knows his his his record

p r uh. Basically, they have this exercise where they

have to put someone on their back and they have

to crawl on false face on the on the field

and in his mind right he can compete half half

the field with half the football field. We don't know

how long, love okay, uh, and his mind he could

complete it. And what happened was the coach, after being

a little bit fed up with him, being too like

I don't know, pride, fool or whatever, and they don't

want to follow the coach, said the coach as seemed

to blind for himself. And then the coach got the

friend to be on his back, and then he said,

you keep going until you cannot go anymore. You keep

pushing yourself until you cannot push anymore. And then it

was a very very epic scene. And then he was

pushing and pushing and pushing, and of course the friends

are like laughing, laughing, laughing, you know, you know, and

and like yeah, you know, he won't be a rich

and then he's like, I can't, I can't and then coach,

it just keep going, just keep going. He can't see

who he's going on, but the coach is pushing him

until he cannot know.

So he literally when when when? When? When?

Until he really normal energy and he just fell on

the floor and so I can't go and it's like

crying and all right, and then of course said and

by the halfway mater, I mean we can't see what's happening.

But by the halfway mark or something like that, all

the friends that were jeering and making fun stopped during

and making fun and they all stood up to look,

and they were all quiet right, and once the same finish,

the course said, I keep telling you push yourself until

you can't push yourself under. You can't take off your

blind phone. He took a looka he was not just

over the touchdown lane. He was at least a few

meters fast the field.

He did way more.

Than he could. Friends, you can't do that if you

stay in the shadow. You can't push yourself further than

what you can do. If every single small thing affects you.

You can't.

Your capacity cannot be stretched if you're afraid to trust

your coach, your discipler, the person that sees the potential

in your life, the person that the Lord has placed

over your life. I asked myself this question all the time. God,

why did you use discipleship as a method. You know,

God is so smart, you know, smarter than any of

us combined, because he created the world. Why did he

use discipleship? Because it works? Because discipleship works at every level.

Because my child, who is young, who has no idea

on certain things, is discipled by me as a parent, disciple,

co or not mean, whatever word you want to put

that up.

And when they grew up.

Right, maybe my role as a parent cannot disciple them

anymore because your individuals, then someone else toll disciple them.

But the discipleship model works as long as both is

in agreement, as long as people want to be discipled,

then it works. That's why discipleship is good, right, I

guess okay Galatians six one to five. Galatians six one

to five. I think it's the next one.

Okay. Oh sorry, Oh I'm still growing up. Sorry, reverse, reverse,

a little bit, reverse, a little bit. Okay.

Galatians five sixteen seventing says, but I say what by

the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of

the flesh, for the desires of the flesh against the spirit,

and the desires of the spirit against the flesh, for

these are opposed to each other to keep you from

doing the things you want to do.

Right.

And then first Quarententians thirteen, the team says, for we

know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when

that which is perfect has come, then that which is

in part will be done away. So when I was

a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as

a child. I thought I was a child. But when

I became a man, I put away childish things, for

we know it's in a mirror dimly, but then face

to face. Now I know in part, But then I

shall know, just as I also know am known, and

now by faith hope love this tree. But the greatest

of this is love. So my second point is just this,

Let's grow up. Let's grow up.

Time to grow up, time to stop relying right on people, time.

To grow up, Time to take responsibility of our own faith.

Time to walk by the spirit and not by sight,

to walk by faith and not by the flesh. James

one four says, but let patients have his perfect work,

then you may be perfect and complete lacking thing. One

of the things that I also am realizing and growing,

you know, in terms of progressing in life right now,

is that you know, you come to a place where

you think you don't need any more advice. You come

to a place when you are old enough, when you

have most of the things, when you're established, you got house,

you got car, you got family, you got kids, you've

got a good career, and you think you reach there

and you think that you don't really need the scipership.

Actually that's not true.

And I'm beginning to recognize that there's a lie from

the devil because pride comes in the picture. You know,

and then you do so well deciping other people that

you think you don't need. Actually it's not true. You

still need guidance one. How old you are, you're still

in guidance one. And as long as and of course

people can say, oh, you know, I asked the Lord

to guide me. Okay, correct answer if you if you

if you go for a Bible study class, check one

hundred percent, all of us need to ask her to

guide this. Yes, okay, I won't disagree with you.

But but what if you hear the wrong thing?

What if you don't have the maturity to interpret what

God is telling you? Isn't it good if you have

someone else that's also hearing from the lot that can

confirm me or correct it. Because other people are they

have no steg one in our life. Can I be

honest with you? All the guys are disciple. I want

to see them going on, but they followed on, follow Isaiah.

It doesn't affect me. Wh No, you get me, It

doesn't affect besides the relation effect relation, don't listen to

me I feel hurt, that's it. Not but it doesn't

actually affect anything in my life or no, you get

what I mean. That's wide When you talk about discipleship, right,

it's always about the disciple.

It is a very giving ministry is a very giving things.

You know it works that way, right? Are you guys

catching me right?

So yeah, I'm talking about decide by shit. My next

point is taking responsibility. That's the next point. So we

start with milk versus meat. Encouragement is to have more

meat than milk. Milk is good, okay once in a while.

Milk okay, But I have more meat. And then it's

time to grow up. For some of us who are

not growing up yet, we think we're growing up.

How do you grow up? Well, take a responsibility law?

Coray or not?

Parents, you won't disagree with me, right, How does your

kids grow up? Take responsibility law for your own clothes, wash.

Your you know what else? Are when you go out

and when you work?

Ready after you're eighteen, when you go out and stay

on yourself, take responsibilit How rerunt your own house?

Right? Or are we still living on farm? Ma? Fun?

You understand my father?

Mother Fundy says father Mather fun, No, we gotta take responsibility.

Oh is this?

Galaians their brothers and sisters with another believer is overcome

by some saying, you, who are godly, should gently and

humbly help that person back onto the right path, and

be careful not to fall onto the same temptation yourself.

Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the

law of Christ. If you think you are too important

to help someone, you're only fooling yourself. You are not

that important, an healthy version ouch. Right, So let's first

be responsible of our own selves and our own actions

more importantly.

Right.

But but one of the ways where we can be

really responsible is to also care for another person.

Right.

Romans fourteen of the teen says, So then each of

us shall give account to himself to God.

Therefore, let us not.

Judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this not to

put a stumbling block or cost to fall in our

brother's way. Can I Can I have the first slide again,

the picture of from baby to old men, not the

first r? Yes, So that's baby okay, And then you

have the progression. So the thing is, friends, that whatever

I'm sharing today actually applies to every single part from

baby all the way until you are Oh it does.

It does apply in terms of maturity, in terms of

you know, growing up, in terms of start starting to

take responsibility. Maybe maybe in terms of taking responsibility. When

you're a child, you take responsibility of yourself, You take

responsibility over you know your your you know whether or

not you wash your plates, whether or not you know

how to dress yourself, whether or not it and then

sot you grow up, become a campus student, then you

taking responsibility of your finances. That's where you start to

learn how to do time management, right, and then after

that you start working. Then you have to take responsibility

of your job because if you do a horrible performance

your job, then you will lose your job. Then you've

got no money, and then so on and so forth. Right,

and then you go back and have farmer fans out right,

But that's taking responsibility. And then after that we progress,

we progress even more. Then we get married hopefully.

Right. Yeah, as you talk.

About marriage, and I'm looking at my brother Peter from Nigeria,

and I really like his line about marriage.

They think it's a waste of time.

I just waiting for that time to say that you know, so,

don't waste your time, right, just just trust a person

in church or your mom or something that you ask

him asking about.

It's super cool, right the way they do it, and

it works. Okay, it was very well.

And when you're married, you take responsibility over your spouse

coring on for those married, yes, no, some unsure. Yeah,

you take responsibility of your spouth right, when they're sick,

you take care of them.

I hope you do a lot.

Okay, if you don't have them, have to go through

marriage counseling again. Right, and then I think you have kids,

then you're taking responsibility of your kids, corer not.

Are you guys catching something?

See, even in the natural progression of life, we know

these things because it happens and it's a given thing.

Do you know that it works in the church as well?

Y'all know that those who are serving, you're taking responsibility

over your role. Maybe you are a leader, then you

take responsibility over a person, right, as much as you can.

And then for those who I wouldn't say progress, but

I will say God expands the capacity, then you take

responsibility over homes and then your capacity grows even more.

Then you take responsibility over church. You know you're not easier.

Becoming chest leader gust past Matt has the responsibility over

the whole age group in the church.

Right, you know we are not easy. But maturity.

If buster mat is not mature, do you think that

he can manage? If is not mature, do you think

I can manage? I have to be, you know, no choice.

Have to be mature, have to be and of course

maturity comes with growth and all that kind of stuff

like okay, so friends, you want to be mature or not?

I hope you say yes, sir.

I hope you don't say no, no, no, I want to

stay and eat meal forever and ever and ever.

No, let's all mature together, can right?

Well, as you take responsibility, I pray that all of

you here will have a desire to disciple others.

See.

The reason why that photo is there is because parents,

you are already discipling your kids, whether you like it

or not, your conduct. What you say, whether church is

important for you, whether your faith is important for you,

you're discipling them. What is important for you is what

is important your kids think for their lives. So is decipleship,

whether you like it, or not. So my encouragement of

parents is disciple. Well, for those of you who want

to be parents, can I give you an encouragement prepare yourself.

Having a kid is not walking apart. The responsibility is heavy.

That's why I don't think I think God is merciful

to us. Now, God is massiful to us unless we

find ourselves in trouble and we're going to do a

kind of funny thing really is obey God. God make

sures we are ready to be able to have kids.

And I'm not saying this in any way that God

doesn't want you have kids. I'm encouraging you to prepare

yourself come to a place of maturity because a person

who's not mature who has a child, whether it's a

discipler or whatever, or a person who's not mature who

has to take care of another person, it will go

a very bad way on you'll get what I mean.

And it's even worse that you have the responsibility to

an individual.

This is why our ex kus teachers are very important,

because we entrust our children to excess teachers, and if

our ex kys teachers are not at the level of

the spiritual level, where at least they can take care

of a child very dangerous. Imagine as teacher giving their

own advice on life. You're you're getting a bit NC

say things like that. Let's talk about other age groups, teens, campus,

any age group, and any leader.

That's why we take leadership seriously.

Why because we know that influence is very powerful.

You know what I mean it is. We are very

careful with who we let.

Our kids hang out with, right, what they say, the

culture that they take on. So don't those that are

taking care of young people know the responsibility of what

you're caring for. It's not just be friend friends and

happy happy. No, no, no, you have a person's life

in your hands. Now, what you say or do affects terminal,

especially if they look up to you. Such the weight

of responsibility. One of the best ways to mature is

to care for another. That's what I've learned and realized.

One of the ways where I personally have grown is

when I had a wife and later kids.

I cannot run away from this.

It's one thing discipling a person that you can okay,

I'll see you next week. It's another thing another thing,

caring for a person where you can see I'll see

next week.

Every day you see the person, right. And of course

wife not so bad because wife is.

A full grown adult, so some things she can manage herself, right,

And thankfully my wife is very capable. Right, And mostly

I think you have to take Mila. But the moment

you have little humans in the house, oh my goodness.

If you're not mature, if you still think that you know,

playing games is your utmost priority. If you still think

that hang out your friends is your utmost priority in life,

if you still a thing that watching the latest Transformers

movie is your almost priority in life. I worry for

your family situation, because maturity will tell you that you

need to do the right thing.

Amen.

We all understand this role best when it comes to

being a parent, because we will either have one or

we are one. It's a dying to self sometimes, and

it's also to learn to not be selfish. Really one

of the toughest things a parent can do. When you

go extra money, do what It's no longer about me,

but Matthew ten seven, it says, and as you go preach, saying,

the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, heal the sick,

cleanse the lepers, raise the date and cast out demons freely.

You have received, freely give this one scripture is a

scripture that I keep close to my heart. I've had

people ask me this question before, oh Basse Alvin. You

know what, someone asked me this question before passmen. Why

do you why passion by young people? Why do you

spend time talking to people?

Why why do you do what you do?

Okay, in ministry and all, well, I got one simple answer.

Freely as I have received, I freely gave. As I

have freely received. All the stuff that I gave is

stuff that I've received from people that have cared for me,

people that have taken care of me, people that have

you know, coached me and helped me through tough times,

people that have helped me mature. Of course I had

to be willing, you know. I didn't not fight with them.

Sometimes got a fighter. Not all the time, maybe five

percent of the time fight thing, But ninety five percent

of the time I just followed. You know, sometimes when

I think inside, but I still follow, you know, Decyper Shap.

But I've gained so much. I've gained so much. I've

grown so much. But for those of us here, my

encouragement is as you have freely received, freely give. If

you have received love in this place, give love. If

someone took their time to spend time with you and

encourage you, why don't you do it for someone else?

If someone cared for you, why don't you do it

for someone else? Amen?

Right, let's care for one another. Let's start here first.

Let's not even think about another place. You know, do

that and then you'll see yourself matured and then you Well,

my only caution is that hurt people hurt people.

You know that.

So if the person you're helping is hurting, the person

will hurt you. That's why Jesus say how many times

you do you forgive your brother? Not seven times, for

seventy seven times, cause God knows right. And as you

freely give, Yes, there'll be people who hurt you. What

is so nice to me? A nice to Soaknamara. He's

not personal. We're just doing what the Bible ask us

to do. And I'll end with if this scripture in

second Timothy to one to seven, you guys, okay, I

hope you guys learn catching something today. Well, I think

more importantly beyond catching, I hope after today you will

resolve in your heart to firstly mature in Christ, and

then you will ask God, God, what is the area

of my life that I need to mature in or

what is that one thing that I need to do

now that will help me move forward? And continue to

have that thought process try to set. I know there

could be a lot of past herds perceptions that you have.

Words that you hear from other people here say you know,

I know, I know.

I know, I know. You know misconceptions.

So sometimes the thing about misconception is you don't know

what it is misconception or not because to you it's true.

But I will say, verify the truth. Verify the truth,

test and see that the Lord is good.

You'll catch that.

We've got to test the scriptures, you know, to see

where they work. And the more we test the scriptures

and the more it works in our life, the more

confidence we have all it. That's how you navi get

the Bible. Test God, you say, can heal the sick

with this? Let me pray test it and it happened.

Oh my goodness, confirm you always pray for the sick.

So you got to test. Don't just take lockstop barrel,

I say no, test it. I'm sharing about decibership, I'm

sharing about maturing. You test it, you test it, and

once you see that it's good. Once you see that

as work, apply in your life. Take it as something

that you can you know, because once it's part of you. Friends,

Oh my goodness, you're going to be a powerhouse. Oh

my goodness, your life is going to change because you're

going to be able to impact other people. Amen, let's

end with this scripture.

Then have it up.

Yeah, you therefore, my strong, my son, be strong in

the grace that is in Christ, Jesus and the things

that you have heard from me among many witnesses. Commit

this to faithful men who be able to teach others. Also, friends,

how many of you here this morning are going to

be the faithful men and women that will not just

apply this but teach it to someone else. You therefore,

must end your hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Hardship in what area? Well, when people hurt.

You, when you feel like giving up, right, when you're tired,

when you are burned out, that's the word people like

to use, and you're overcome. No one engaged in warfare

and taggers himself with the affairs of this life, that

he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he's not crowned

unless he competes according to the rules. The hard working

farmer must be first to partake off the crops. Consider

what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding

in all things. So friends, like what Paul said, Timothy,

be strong in the grace. Yes, as we mature, as

we grow, there will be a time of testing, right,

But growth is good. Growth is good, maturity is good.

If you look at your life and you're still the

same in the same place for the past five years,

I think it's time to move forward. It's time to

make decisions that will cause you to move forward. And

is it going to be easy. No, it's not gonna

be easy. That's how you have to end all. But

when you endy all, and when you see God move

in your life, oh, I tell you, it'll be a

different perspective.

It'll be a way different perspective.

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

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this week is going to be a good week.

I hit for you.

God bless