God's Heart of Discipleship | Pastor Gloria Paul

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

We hope this message will light up your day.

God's heart of discipleship. Okay, and it comes with the

word heart of course, God's heartbeat. Yeah, his intention and

art as well. Here, right, turn to the person next

to you and tell them, do you know you are

the art piece of God? Yes? All your beautiful faces? Right,

God himself created you. God himself picked up that you know,

that stroke and that colors and that features that He's

given to you, not just the physical, but the talents

he has given to you, the gifts he has given

to you. Right, all those are hand picked by God. Right.

And the Word of God says in the Book of

Genesis that He in fact created us in his image. Yeah.

And as I was studying the Book of Genesis, because

I flipped through this book many times. Yeah. But every

time you turn to these books or any other books

in the Bible, it speaks to you differently. And since

we have been in this team of discipleship, I wanted

to understand how was the whole idea of discipleship evident

at the beginning? Right and true enough? I could understand,

and God just prompt different things into my heart about

how discipleship has been in the eyes of God from

the beginning, the way who was God's first disciples, Adam

and if right, is very own first creation. And when

you look at the way he created the garden of Eden, right,

the way he intended what was meant for men and women,

it was the heart of discipleship. And it's very much

to what we are doing today. In fact, were Jesus

modeled out for us, and now we are trying to

learn as well. So it's stillly so exciting to see

how it's not just something came out of the blue,

but it's always been in the plan of God, the

heart of discipleship. Yeah, and in fact there's an art

behind it as well, right, I mean, certainly not all

of us are artistic. Okay, you know my family comes

from actually artistic background, but I didn't pick that up.

My sister did. Okay, so my mom, my grandma, they're

all very artistic in nature, very natural in that way. Yeah,

but some of us we need to learn to pick

up an art, right. Sometimes we go for classes, you know.

I remember we went as a homes I had Richard's

not a voice. I remember this. We went to do

this cleay thing, you know, and our friend Richard was

stressed the whole time, right, because it's art. It's not

something that we all get right away. Yeah, it's something

that we need to learn and pick up. Right. But

from the beginning, God just knew the art of discipleship.

He knew what it was meant to be for us

and how we are intended to live our lives as well. Yeah,

So we're going to go through a couple of I mean,

the whole portion of today's sermon is taken from Genesis

chapter two to three. Yeah, if you've not read these portions.

If you have read, I encourage you to just read

it again. Yeah, so that you just kinda remind yourself

of the beginning and the creation. And we're going to

pick up a couple of points of how God created

the earth at the beginning, especially the Garden of Eden,

and how he intended it for us. Yeah. In fact,

when we talk about the concept of discipleship in the

Garden of Eden, right the first very place that it

created humans, it refers to God's original design for humanity. Okay,

that was his first piece of art. You know, he

intended that this is how it should be for humans.

But of course we know that sin came in, right,

and then things had change. Yeah, and there are different

consequences to it as well. But before all of all

of that happened, God had this intended plan for mankind. Right,

So let's just look at what's the meaning of Eden here, right,

and we're going to read a scripture. When we look

at the meaning of Eden, the Hebrew word means pleasure

or delight. Okay, when we look at the root of it,

it means pleasure or delight. Thank you, Tyrrel to help

out the slides. Yeah, it just kind of tells us

how you know, when we have that meaning of eden,

or if someone is calling you to a place of

pleasure or place of delight, it is the kind of

environment that God was creating for his creation, right, Meaning

there was a place of pleasure, there was a place

of delight, you know, there's a place of happiness, you know,

just enjoying time with your creator. Okay, that was his

intended plan for Adam and If at that time. So

let's just look at a portion. If you're not familiar

with the Book of Genesis, Yeah, let's look at Genesis

chapter two Versus eight to ten. Okay, it says here

the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and

there he put the man whom he had formed. And

out of the ground. The Lord God made every tree

grow that is pleasant to the side and good for food.

The tree of life was also in the midst of

the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good

and evil. Now a river went out of Eden to

water the garden, and from there it parted and became

four river hits. Yeah. So there's just a brief description.

Of course, till now people are always investigating where is

this garden of Eden. You can never find the answers

to it. Some things are just not meant for humans

to know at this point. Yeah, but there's just a

description that we have from the scriptures about the garden

of Eden. Yeah. So there's several things that we can

see in terms of the physical. Yeah, the garden of

Eden is that, firstly, this place was planned and planted

by God himself. Okay, so the first chapter of Genesis,

when you read, you know those of your familia, it's

all about his creation. He created the sky, the waters,

and then he rested on the seventh Day. Right, and

then chapter two is where it gives us a description

about what was in the garden of Eden. So God

was the masterpiece, i mean, the master planner at this

from the very start. Yeah, so it was he who

planned and planted. And it was mankind's first home. Okay,

it was their very first home. Yeah. The scripture tells

us how it was a very beautiful place, okay, where

that it was pleasing to the eyes. In fact, there

were all kind of trees and animals, you can read that. Yeah,

and then he mentioned Adam to actually take charge and

to lead the people, I mean whatever creation that he created. Yeah,

it was a place of fatal and a fruitful place, okay,

meaning there was narish and in fact there was you know,

it was it was just so natural how the plants

were nourished because of his creation, right, the rivers, the water,

So it was a place of fruitfulness. In fact, it

was also a safe space. You know why Adam and

if we're not even you know, wearing clothes, but there

was that security. What it just means, the symbolic beyond

it is that the environment itself was safe for them.

You know, they needed nothing at all because all they

ever needed. It was God, their creator. That was how

they were created to be. But of course then God

gave the freeweel as well, and then we know the

story after that we look at it deeper. Yeah, but

the start, the very start of his intention of creation

was that all mankind needed was God. You don't need

anything else. Okay. But when the world change, and now

that we're living in this planet earth, materialistic comes in

being I mean materials, yeah, comes in or the very

things that we look for to survive because of different

changes that has happened over the years. Yeah. But when

we look at the very first intention of God, that

was how it was. Okay, if we're just going back

to the very start, yeah, and some of those things

we may not be able to relate if we don't

have a relationship with God, right or because we just

leave in a very different time. Yeah. So that was

God's original plan. Okay, that was his plan. Now let's

just go a little bit more deeper and try to

understand how this whole idea of discipleship comes in. Some

of the pointers that we go through that we will

be going today, you will see that it's very much

applicable or relatable to the things. The way we do

life as well, Okay, the way we are intended to

look to God, building a relationship with him or with

each other as well. Yeah, you can see how much

smiler it is with God's intended plan and the way

we're called to live our lives. Yeah, are we good? Right? Okay?

So the first one that we can see here if

we look deeper from the scriptures is that God intended

unity and fellowship to be evident, okay, from the very

start of creation. Yeah, unity and fellowship when He created humans,

when he created man and woman, he wanted to have

a constant fellowship with these people, right, He had conversations,

you know. Adam and Iff could just come to him,

they could speak to him.

Right.

In fact, then we see their scriptures where God just

calls out their names, you know. But of course at

that point they were already feeling worried because they did

what they shouldn't have done. Yeah. So that's just how

evident or the very proof of what God wants with us.

He wants a fellowship, and in fact, he wants unity

as well. Right. Unity has always been in the plan

of God, okay, and unity can come in different forms,

whether it's the Body of Christ, whether it's the Kingdom

of Christ. Yeah, whether it's the form of families or relationships.

Unity is so important, especially unity in the things of God.

You know, sometimes we can be believing in the same God,

but yet very diverse ways of looking at things, and

that's something that causes us to stumble as well. Right,

But it has always been in the plan of God

for unity. Yeah. In fact, if you did not know this, right, Jesus,

the Holy Spirit was very much evident from the start. Okay,

when you read scriptures, if you want to go deeper, Yeah,

when you know when Eve and Adam, when they add

the fruit, there will be a point on the scripture

where God says that now they can they're like us. Okay,

let me just refer you to the scripture in Genesis

chapter three, versus twenty two. Okay, then the Lord God said, behold,

the man has become like one of us. And who

is he referring to this us? It's the Jesus, is

Jesus and Holy Spirit as well, right, So, meaning it

is it has been there from the start. There was

unity among God Son and the Holy Spirit as well. Yeah,

from the very start, okay, and then he says, oh,

so now they know good and evil. Yeah, so unity

and fellowship that has always been in the plan of God. Right,

there's always been in the very most importance that God

sees as well. Yeah, And the same thing. I think

it's just so important for us as believe us, how

deep is our fellowship with God? Right? When we read

the Old Testament, there's always something that you had to

get through to meet God. So there was always a priest,

there's always a sacrifice that you've got to make then

you come before him. But of course, and we read

the New Testament, we know that Jesus came into the picture, right,

he did on the cross for us the wail was torn,

and there's nothing that separates us from him. So you

and I can just go to him just as we are. Yeah.

So if you just think about what is the fellowship

that we have with our God that w was savior,

what is it like? Right, is he someone that you

can just immediately go to and speak to because he's

a friend, he is a father as well. Right, it's

just a good hard check to sometimes have, right to

ask ourselves how deep are we in our relationship with God. Yeah,

and it has to constantly grow as we go as well. Okay,

And how is our fellowship among the Body of Christ

as well? That is discipleship at the end of the day.

How do we do life together? Right? How do we

cheer each other on? Right? That is also very important. Yeah.

So that's the first thing that we can see, you know,

in the book of Genesis. The second thing that we

can identify here is God's provision, right, God's provision. When

we read you know, Genesis chapter one, twenty seven and

a couple of other verses, you'll see that Adam and

Eve lacked nothing. Okay, they were free to eat all

of the trees and the fruits. Everything was there for them.

In fact, it was in abundance. Yeah. So meaning God

intended from the start his plan, his idea of discipleship

was provision. Okay, if you have a relationship with tim

the word of God tells us us and it shall

be given, knock and it shall be open to you. Right,

And that is how God gives He provides. Amen. Yeah,

And we see that the garden of Eden was also

a place of work and fulfillment. That was how God

intended for all of us right that when we work,

when we plow the land, there's meant to be that

that's that fulfillment that we see. You know, we are

we are beings that are created to work. Okay, But

what happens when we are just focused on the job

and getting things done, but not finding fulfillment or the

purpose behind it. It just becomes a chore. Right. I'm

not sure if you've heard from friends who sometimes talk

about Yeah, I mean work is just a work for me, right,

I just go through it because I need money. But

we all do that, of course, to get through life. Yeah,

but does work also give you a satisfaction? Right? Does

your work place for those who are working or even

students wherever your position you're placed in, Yeah, is that

a place where you can you can also glorify God? Right?

I hope the young people, ye are not just waiting

for your retirement day, you know, just counting your days

and saying, yeah, I'm just waiting to finish this and retire.

Life is going to be so said, right if you're

going to leave that way. Yeah, I hear a lot

of young people saying that sometimes, you know, because you're

just not looking forward to your every day. Right, It's

okay if you don't find your passion. I mean some

of us may find our passions later on, you know,

not what you're studied and you're working, right, Well, that's normal.

But what I'm trying to say is fine fulfillment in

your every day when you wake up in the morning,

what are you looking forward to? Yeah? Let it not

just be okay, whatever come my way, then it's just

going to be that way, right. You're not going to

be enjoying and having satisfaction in what you're doing, right,

because it's all about your attitude. It's all about how

we show up. Okay. That is self preach I mean

says the gospel that itself shows who's the God that

you serve. Okay. But if someone's going to see you

not your best coming to not giving you all when

you're working attitude, right, it goes back to that. Yeah.

So it's always back to our action. Yeah. And that's

been in the intention of God from the start. You know,

when he gives us something, it's our responsibility to make

the most of it, yeah, and to give him the glory.

All right, So let's find fulfillment in what we do, Okay.

I mean, I always counted a joy that I am

doing what I like. I'm not just say I like love.

I think right. Sometimes, I mean if someone sees me,

you know, they might think I'm a crazy lady. When

I'm driving out of my schools, I can be smiling

after seeing my teachers and you know, students. You know,

I'm literally smiling because it's just bringing joy. Right, It's

not just a job. But I wake up every morning

looking forward to it. Is it tiring? It is just

like any one of us. Right, work can be stressful.

It comes with all the ups and downs, but it

brings fulfillment at the end of the day. You know

that you're doing something to bless someone, bless the community. Right,

that's a bigger purpose, something bigger than you. That's what

I'm trying to say. Okay, something bigger than just or

my achievement and my fulfillment. But it's for the glory

of God as well. Yeah, so let's find fulfillment in

what we do. Amen. Right. The next thing that we

can see in the Garden of Eden was that it

was a place of life, an abundance, all right, life

and abundance. How many of you know that when God gives.

It doesn't just give you halfway, or it doesn't just

give you little. It gives you in abundance. Amen. Right,

don't you see your God a god of abundance? Right,

That's what the scripture says. When he gives, it gives

beyond our imagination, beyond our expectation. But it's a matter

of whether do we want to believe in it? Do

we have that faith to receive? Sometimes our faith can

be so tiny, and God is saying, yeah, like you

do you? How big are you? Will you be able

to contain it? Right? It's a God of abundance. Yeah,

it's a god of life. Amen. You know, as I

was just sharing about my job, you know, it's just

a testimony I like to share. Yeah, speaking about abundance.

I was just trying to some our leaders. Just last month, Okay,

this was just one day after my birthday, twenty four

fifth September, I got a news that I lost my job. Okay,

So yes, So I love my job so much. Okay,

Because it's a social enterprise, we run a lot with funds.

We're working with government, right, and so we got this

news at our town hall that you know, we're going

through restructuring and everyone the whole company is let go. Yeah.

So I was feeling, of course, the first person I

was texting I was Elian, you know what, I lost

my job. But at the same time, I was just feeling,

you cand of explain this, but it's a kind of

peace that I had in my heart as well, rite

a piece that Okay, it's going to be all right.

But of course then the human part comes in and says, okay,

how soon am I gonna look for a job because

I only have it till December, right, And so what

I did was okay, just took the news and then

I started applying to places. Right. So I had few

friends who said, hey, why don't you come back to education.

You know, there's always a place for you if you

want to come back to lecturing or schools. Yeah. So

I mean that door was open, right, But there was

something in my heart that I felt that you know,

if and God places a dream or desire, only you

know what it means. Sometimes you tell the people, they're like, hey,

but you know, first thing, you have to secure job, right,

But deep down I knew that there was something else

that God wants me to pursue. Yeah, so I didn't

want to just apply anywhere very quick, right, just blindly

for the sake of it. But I was very prayerful

about it as well. And then guess what, I had

a message that came to my phone. I would say,

an opportunity came knocking to my doors. Yeah. So then

I mean, it won't go very detailed, but it was Okay,

we got your information and you know, we'd like to

see you for this job. So I went through. It's

been one of the longest interview. I had to go

through three different stages, and I had to study for it,

and you know, all these different steps, and I was

like already giving up, you know, like is this really

for me? They're just taking up my time, you know.

But I just went through the whole process. Yeah, and

I got the job. Yeah, thank god. Yes. So I

just got the news last week and as I was

looking through the days, it was exactly one month from

the day I lost my job. Okay, so twenty fifth

September I got the news. And on the twenty four

at least October, I got the news that I got

the job, right, and my heart was just so I mean,

I was happy, but also very much settled in the

way God was saying, didn't I tell you that I

will open the door for you? Right? And I am

a God of abundance. Yeah, I'm a God of abundance.

And I'm just saying this out of just in awe,

you know, and I think of it. I'm like God,

And this job that I'm going to do is getting

myself even more out of my comfort zone because of

you know that this current job I speak at this

speak a lot of Bahasa and all these things that

pushed me out, right, and the next job is I

think going to push me a little bit more as well.

But it's going to be good. Yeah, it's going to

be good. And I think it's going to be more testimony.

So I just want to be able to declare I'm

going to share because it's even more opportunities to give

back to the society, right and so so yeah, I

just want to praise God. And I want to also

encourage all of you here who are waiting for your testimony.

Do not give up, right, do not give up. It

can feel very dry sometimes, yeah, it can feel like

why is it so long and why is it so difficult?

But God works in ways we cannot see. Yeah. And

when I went for this interview, it's I mean, the

CEO himself was interviewing me, right, and he was telling

me that, you know, there's something and this is the

only interview that he actually asked me about my ministry

in church, you know. So I went on saying, yes,

I lead a church and what we do and all,

and you know, you were so excited about it. You know,

you're telling, Okay, these are the things that we need

in this company. Right. And when I heard those things,

I could tell that this must speak God because he

felt it in his heart that Okay, I think you're

the right person. And I'm sure I'm one hundred percent

show that it's not about my skills. But it's God

in the picture. Right, it is God who has opened

this store. Yeah. And then is the God of abundance.

That's what I'm trying to say here. When he gives,

he gives beyond what you can actually expect, beyond what

you can even imagine. I imagine my career just taking

a change in this way. No, right, but God new, Yeah,

got new. I thought this current job that I'm gonna do,

I'm going to be in this for a while I

was ready to settle in for a while. Yeah, but

who knew that this door is going to be first closed? Right?

And I had no choice but to move on to

the next thing. Yeah. And so sometimes doors have to

close because it prepares you for something else, prepass you

for something bigger. Yeah. But it may sometimes look not

the way we want it to be, right, because in

our mind as humans, we have a set way of

things right, how it should be in order. But God

is God, he's big, he's a creator of the heavens

and the earth. Of course he's going to think so differently. Yeah.

Of course it's going to work in amazing ways. Yeah.

And I want to declare that over exter us, that

each one of you will have your testimonies. I know

some of you are looking for jobs, looking for opportunities,

or praying for breakthroughs, right, and God comes at the

right time. Yeah, but let's not give up in praying.

And one of the things I am grateful for in

that season of waiting was prayers. Yeah. I had close friends,

my pastors, you know, who prayed with me. Okay, and

that keeps you going, right. You cannot do this by yourself, Yeah,

no matter how strong a person you are. We need

our fellow brothers and sisters to keep us going, yeah,

to encourage us. Amen. All right, so let's not give

up in whatever that you're believing for God, because the

very first plan of Him for us is that a

life of abundance. Amen. Turned to the person next to

you and ask them, are you ready for the life

of abundance that God has for you? Are you ready? Yes?

Sometimes God is just waiting for us to be ready. Yeah,

He needs us to be ready to receive all that

He has for us. Amen. Right now. The next thing

that we can see here in the Book of Genesis

in the Garden of Eden is the whole idea of

a free will. Yeah. God intended everything to be good,

to be perfect. He loved his creation. You know, everything

was in abundance. But at the same time, he didn't

expect adam and need to be just like robots and

saying yes to everything he says. Yeah. He wanted them

to be able to obey out of conviction. Right. How

many of you know that when it comes to obedience.

You always talk about obedience in church, but you're not

supposed to just obey and say yes to everything. Because

everyone is doing it right. Sometimes it's easy to do

follow the crowd. Yeah, Asians, you're very good with that. Okay,

we just say yes, okay, anything lack can right, we follow.

But when it comes to obedience to God, it comes

out of conviction. You know why you're doing it right,

There's a bigger purpose, there's a bigger reason, and that

stays on. Okay, no matter what hits your life, you're

going to say, yes, I'm still going to obey God

even if things don't turn out my way because I

know that God is the way, he is the truth.

He's not going to fail me, and I'm going to

keep obeying. Yeah. That is obedience. Yeah. And the same

thing is with submission as well. When we talk about discipleship,

it's a lot about submitting as well. Right, and how

many of you us alvi us know that submission is

not the easiest, especially adults. Right when we have formed

our own mindsets, our own values, to submit right and

to say okay, this is what I want to do,

or even to ask someone, ay, I'm going through this,

what do you think I should do? It comes with

a lot of like trust, you know, it comes a

lot of you know, needing to humble yourselves right. In fact,

that's what I've learned over the years of in additional

discipleship relationship, be my pastors or leaders, you know it.

Sometimes you just got to get rid of yourself and

to say, Okay, you've placed this person in my life,

how can I actually submit? How can I humble myself? Right?

And not just think that my ways are better? But

God may have different ways of looking at things as well. Yeah,

and so that is how God meant the Garden of Eden.

And in fact, till today, you have your free will.

All of you are seated here today you exercise your

free will. Okay, some of you are looking so tired.

You had a long week. I can see it from

some of your faces. But you still made it today.

Well done. That is the free will that you exercise. Yeah,

not because it's just our fate. Is a religion that

we do it every other Sunday. But you're here because

you love God, right, You're here because you want to

honor him. Yep, you want to just say God, I

want to hear your word. I want to be refreshed

and want to start the week again with you. Yeah.

I pray that that will always be what that pushes us.

That is our motivation. Okay, not just because friends. Okay,

friends can be a good motivation as well. Okay, the

reason why we come, but the main reason has to

be got because people will come and go, Times and

seasons will change. Right, those of you are old enough,

you know life changes ups and downs. But what remains

is your faith with God, your relationship with God, that

doesn't change. Amen, And so let's hold on to it.

Let's not give up that through the ups and downs.

I'll still keep going because remember it's a marathon. It's

a long race, and sometimes the last part can be

the hardest, right, But never give up. Let's keep running

the race. Amen. Yeah, so that's the next point we

can see. Of course, the free will that God gave

them the gun of Eden was also a place of

atonement and hope. So we all know what was the

choice that Edi many did meet? Right, they had free will,

they exercised it. They were deceived by the serpent, Okay,

and they made the choice. I mean, if they made

a different choice of you know, obedience and trusts, maybe

things would have turned differently, right, But because they went

with their own way with the deceiving lives of the enemy.

There were consequences to it. But then again, even with

all that that happened, what did God do for them? Right?

Of course he was looking for them. I mean, I'm

sure God, being God, he would have seen this happening, right,

But yet again he was still calling out their names. Yeah,

but they were just too shy to come out. You know, God,

you know we're naked. The moment they knew that they

were naked, it just means that that separation between them

and God took place. How God intended from the start

was all you needed was me, all was me alone,

your God. But the moment men made their own decision

when they wanted to take on that whole thing of yes,

I too, I want to know the difference between the

good and bad. That's what a serpent told them. Right

when they started taking those kinds of decisions, the way

they look at themselves were different. Right. They now see

themselves as Ah, I'm shy, I'm shame, iman full of shame,

right because I have sinned, yep, And that is how

sometimes sin makes us feel. Right. We make a mistake,

you know, no man has seen, but sometimes we make

those mistakes in through our decisions or the way we

treat others, and that can cause us to separate from God.

So God that wouldn't want to separate from us, right,

he might be calling out your name and say, hey,

I know you did this, but I still want you.

I still want you to come near to me. Right.

But as humans, we tend to see that sin or

we tend to see ourselves as a problem, and we

try to distance more from God. And sometimes it doesn't

have to be only sin. It can also be troubles.

Right.

We go through sorrow, we go through laws or difficulties,

and we think that this is just too much. I

think I need my space. That's what some people say

when they go through difficulties in relationships. Right, I need space. Yeah,

you see that a lot in movies. Okay, I need space,

But is that what you need? Right? And sometimes we'd

say the same thing with God as well, we need space.

But all but we know that the more you space

yourself from God, the more further you go from him,

and then you get so comfortable living without his love

or living with our own ways. Yeah. But what God

gave Adam and if right was even in the midst

of that nakedness. He made the clothing for them. Right.

This is a god we self. You know. He doesn't

just say, okay, because you have sinned, go far away

from me. You know. Well, there were consequences that they

had to live with. But he still clothed them, like

the scripture says, with animal skin, right, covered their nakedness.

And then he said told them to go. Yeah. And

that's just a reminder of how God sees each of us.

When you have sin, when you have made mystics, God

is still there to say I am here with you.

He doesn't want you to go far away. He want

you to come nearer. In fact, yeah, and say I've

forgiven you. And that is why he sent this one

and only sun forests as you read on right, And

he took away since for est amen. So the garden

of Eden was a place of atonement and hope. So

when you even you know, when we see this in

Genesis three fifteen, we can just read a scripture here,

Genesis three fifteen. Once the serpent tempted Adam. And if

he actually says this out right, so he says here,

we can read from versus thirteen, right, and and the

Lord God said to the woman, what is this you

have done? And then the woman said, the serpent deceived me.

And I add and then verses fourteen. So the Lord

God said the serpent, because you have done this, you

are cursed more than all cattle and more than every

beast of the field. On your belly you shall go,

and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.

And I will put enemity between you and the woman,

between your seed and her seat, and shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise. Is heal? What this scripture just

here means is that he's trying to put the idea

of how you know, I will I will overcome this. Yeah,

I will overcome this. This serpent is here, he's there

to deceive, all right, But in the days to come,

I have overcame the world. Okay, we can look at

a couple of scriptures here, if you can turn your

Bible to Romans sixteen verses twenty. Hey, let's just try

to understand this a little bit more, all right, Romans

sixteen versus twenty. Okay, it says here in Romans sixteen twenty,

and the Lord God of Peace will crush Satan under

your feet. Shortly, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

be with you. Okay, is crushing. In fact, he has

crushed the enemy. Yeah. John eight forty four. Okay, this

is another portion of a scripture where we see Jesus

having a conversation with those who couldn't believe what he

was trying to do. Yeah, they had a difficulty to

have faith that he is the Messiah, right, so John

eight forty four, Okay, it says here you are of

your father, the devil, and the desires of your father

you want to do. He was the murderer from the

beginning and does not stand in the truth because there

is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie,

he speaks from his own resource, for he is a

liar and the father of it. But because I tell

the truth, you do not believe me, which of you

convicts me of sin? And if I tell the truth,

why do you not believe me? He who is of

God years God's word. Therefore you do not hear because

you are not of God. Yeah, and so he gives

this contry. So there's a there's a there's a connection

to what we read in Genesis. Okay, it's just talking

about who this serpent is the very same serpent that

brought the temptation to the early humans, right, Adam. And

if so, what came in return was Jesus. Jesus is

known as the Second Adam. Yeah, if you study, if

you've not attended one of our we have a class

called Knowing Jesus. Okay, and in that course you'll actually

teach you who this Jesus truly is. Yeah, sign up

for it next year. It shows us that Jesus was

the second Adam because he had to come as a

savior once again to save humanity. Right. He was brought

up to the cross to die for our sins so

that we can be overcomers. Yeah. And in fact, when

we study the Garden of Eden, here is a place

that we long to return. Yeah. If you read the

Book of Revelation, you'll see that there is a connection

to how the second coming. How many of you know

that Jesus is coming to take us back? Okay, that

is what we are living for. Right. And so when

we look at you know, a couple of scriptures here, okay,

it shows how the Garden of Eden will be restored. Yeah.

In Romans Sorry, Revelations, Chapter two, Versus seven. Okay, it

says he us and year. Let him hear what the

spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I

will get to eat from the Tree of life, which

is in the midst of the paradise of God. So

what is he referring to here, the tree of life?

It goes back to the beginning again, right, So when

Adam and Eve was told to leave the garden, what

he do He guarded the garden, right, He sent the

angels with the caribbean. They blocked it so no one

can actually enter the garden of Eden because it was

just so perfect. It was just so beautiful. Remember, that

was the very first intention that God had for mankind.

But because they made that mistake, right, it shows between

good and evil. Right, he had to close that. But

what he's promising us is that he's returning once again

to give us that gift of life in his second coming. Yeah,

so when you read the Book of Revelation, you will

see that it once again connects back to his very

first intention. What does that tell us? It tells us

that God is who he is. He there wasn't change

from the beginning of times when he created the first

creation and until the very end. Yeah, and that is

the hope that we need to hold on to. Church.

Sometimes when life hits, you get back to the Word

of God because then you'll see the Revelation and say, hey,

there is so much hope in living in a world

when everything seems to be just so shaky, so troubling.

But you know what, as believers, we know that there's

hope in Christ and He's coming to take us okay,

and it's going to be alivee where it's without pain,

without suffering, all goodness. Yeah, that is when He comes

for us a man. Revelations twenty two versus one. Okay,

you can turn to that scripture Revelations chapter twenty two

versus one. In fact, if you have not read the

Book of Revelation, and encourage you to start reading it.

I know it's not an easy book. Yeah, but just

start and the Holy Spirit will also give you an understanding. Yeah.

And if you have questions, you can always ask because

it's a book that shows us prophecies of what's to come. Yeah,

and believers, we need to know that. So the in

Revelation twenty two versus one, it says, and he showed

me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,

proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

In the middle of its streets, and on the either

side of the river was the Tree of Life, which

bought twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.

The leaves of the tree were for the healing of

the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but

the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it,

and his servants shall serve him. They shall see his face,

and his name shall be on their foreheads. There shall

be no night there. They need no lamb nor light

of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.

And they shall reign forever and ever a man. There's

not just a fairy tale. It's a true story. Yeah.

And this is the prophecy that God has given to us,

something that we can look forward to. Amen. Yeah, these

are things that we need to remind ourselves. We need

to understand and learn that our God is a God

of eternity, and that is why sometimes as humans, some

things we just don't comprehend because we're just so limited

compared to our God, who is big and mighty. Yeah,

and he is preparing the way for us a man. Yeah,

so these are some things that we can capture from

the Garden of Eden. Okay, again, why we're looking at

the Garden of Eden because he was very first creation. Yeah,

and the heart of discipleship has always been there has

been part in this plan. Amen. I'm just going to

close us with these three points here. Okay, how can

we then apply what we've blenned? Okay, you may say that, well,

all those things were for Adam and Eve, right, it's

still very much relevant for today. Yeah. So the early

form of discipleship, what we can learn for us is

that intimacy and relationship with God. Okay, that's something we

saw with Adam and If and this is what he's

calling for us as well. In James four versus eight, yep,

it says, here, draw near to God, and He will

draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, your sinners, purify

your heart you double minded? Yep. The would have God

reminds us to come before him, to draw near to him,

and when you spend time with him, he comes near

to us as well. Yeah. The second thing that we

need to remember about discipleship is stay with Yeah, stewardship.

That is why I mentioned about fulfillment. Finding fulfillment in

what we do in our every day because all of

us we are given talents, you're given abilities. God has

given us a provision, you know, whether it's material form

or true relationships, and we've got to be good stewards

of it because you know, when we see him one day,

all of us are going to be answerable to what

He has given to us. You all know the story

of the talents, right, Yeah, and some just chose to

hide it, thinking that it's going to multiply by itself, okay,

and then those who used it and then they saw

the fruits out of it. So which one would you

choose to be? Would you be the one that choose

to just keep it and hide it or be shy

to use it, or would you be good stewards of

what God has given to you. Yeah, let's not just

be just be remaining where we are, Okay, Let's not

be too comfortable. Let's start plowing the lend in your

own capacity in the way God has positioned you to do. Amen. Yeah,

be good stewards. In First Peter four ten, it says

each of you should use whatever gift you have received

to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in

his various forms. Amen. Yeah, most of you will do

your goal settings right for the new year to come,

but maybe before you do that, let's try to reflect

how this year has been for us. Yeah, how we

use our talents to glorify God. Okay, and it's not

to make us feel bad, but it's just that. Okay,

maybe if I did not make enough room for him,

let that be one of those goals for me in

the coming year. Yeah, let me do a little bit

more from what I've been doing, spending time with God. Yeah.

For those of you were there during our leaders training yesterday,

we had a combined leaders training. You're so encouraging to

hear from This teenager's sixteen years old. He wakes up

at four every morning to do his devotion Okay, and

that means, yes, to sacrifice his video games. He's hanging

out with friends, sixteen year old. Yeah, we've all been

in that age before, and we know, you know, hanging

out and watching TV. He had to give up all that,

and so he sleeps at eight every other day. Yes,

he sleeps eight o'clock to make sure he wakes up

at four to do his devotion. Yes, very inspiring. Yeah,

And of course he said that it was difficult at

the start, but after it's been doing it for about

four months plus and he said, now he's just his

body is so used to it. Yeah, so he just

wakes up and does it anyway. Right. So it's all

about habits, right, It's all about committing to it and

just staying on with it. Yeah. So can they go?

Those things be our goals in life, okay. Besides, of

course all the other goals that you want to achieve, okay,

because at the end of the day, what matters to

you what is your priority church? Because that would keep

you going, okay, that is what will drive every other

thing that you do. Yeah. So stewardship, okay, let's be

good stewards So what we do, beat in the marketplace,

beat in the school, beat when no one else is watching.

Do what is right, okay, and what's most important, do

what is right in the eyes of God. Not because

it's just convenient, okay, but because you want to have

the fear of God in our lives. Amen. Right. And

of course the last point I can invite extreme here

is discipleship. Here is all about knowing our purpose and multiplication. Yeah,

we are not meant to keep all the good to ourselves,

of course. First purpose is very key, okay. And one

of the things that we want to focus a lot

more in the coming year to build our church is

doing and to teach our people not just to do,

but to also teach them how to do it. Okay,

if you want to spend a lot of time training equipping,

because sometimes we can be so good in what we

do in the ministry as well, right, because we keep

doing it. We are so good, whether it's to be technical,

whether it's singing or whatever it is. But do we

get the heart of it? Do we actually know how

or what it means? What's the purpose behind our ministry? Right?

And when you know that, you can also pass it

on to artists. That's about legacy, right and multiplying what

you have. So if you're good in something, don't just

keep it to yourself, train someone else, help them to

do that as well, so that they can pass it

on to artists. Yea Mark four twenty. But these are

the ones sown on good ground. Those who hear the

word accept it bare fruit. Some thirty four, some sixty,

and some one hundred. So you are listening to this

word this morning, can you multiply that? Can you apply

that in your lives? Right? Bear fruit? Pass it on

to others so that others can see and feel the

goodness of God as well. Amen. All right, let's stand church. Okay.

I hope you caught something from God's word today. Yeah,

the whole idea of what discipleship is in the eyes

of God and how we call to live our lives

as well.

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

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

are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that

this week is going to be a good week, a

hit for you. God bless