Discipleship Is Not Costly | Elder Wong Kien Yiak

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

We hope this message will light up your day.

I want to speak about discipleship today. We really want

to speak about discipleship today only because they're in life,

in a Christian walk, you know, in the Christian faith, right,

discipleship is key, key for not just for church growth,

but key for personal development. Personal growth because at the

end of the day, right at the end of your

life journey, what really matters at the end of the day.

I mean, you come to church faithfully every Sunday fifty

two times in a year, right, hopefully fifth about their

plus minus ten to fifteen a right, cool, okay around

that time? Right, so your times that with about ten

years of your life, that's almost like four hundred old messages, right,

so your time four hunger old messages. So if you

take the starting point, all the way are to the

end of four hundred old messages. The question is this

that all the sermons that you have listened to, whether

there's transformation change, whether there is becoming more christ Like

or less christ like, whether or not your faith have grown,

your belief have grown, or whether it has sort of

you know, quite down or even maybe uh look warm

or maybe even disinterested. So you have to the word

is this that no point coming Sunday after Sunday, uh

having a religious duty, having a religious experience or uh

encounter without an internal transformation. So the title my message today,

I want to take it from the other way, is

that the discipleship is not costly. A lot of people

say discipleship is costly, but all say the dicipleship is

not costly only because not being disciple is even more costlier.

Thing about it which missed to say is this that

there are things in life whereby if you miss that season,

if you miss that.

Moment, it's even more costly.

For example, if you forget some things right, how many

we forget things before right? Like for example, coming to church,

you'll forget your wallet for me, you don't need water

handful these days. Again, you cannot do without your handphone

for example, no handphone, And therefore what happens You have

to make a.

Turn right, So the turn.

Cause of the turn comes in the form of maybe

petrol right, which you can pump back later. But some

cause is time which you cannot buy back. You can't

go to several of them you buy extra ry for hours. Right,

it's one of those movies you can buy time. Right,

So some things are more costly than others. So by

I say discipleship is not costly, it is because not

being disciples is even costly. A means to say that

your journey of life, if you don't understand your purpose,

why you're here on earth, don't understand your existence? Do

you understand that your pursuer of life? What's what's or

what's the meaning of life? It's even costly as to

say that the day who but I got Indian reading outside,

praise to Lord, hallelujah, God bless them all?

Right? Cool?

Anyway, it's even constant. For example, they are dreams, there's vision.

There are for example, plans that you want to do,

never come to fruition, never come to existence. And the

day whereby you almost come to the till end in

your life, you go like, what did I do in

my life? I find those choices of life is even

costlier than the missing of seven to seven sail, the

missing of the nine nines sal all right, missing of

all these fantastic sale for example, Right, it's even costlier.

And uh, I want to turn with you turn with

me right now to Mark chapter eight, verse thirty four.

Mark chapter eight, verse thirty four. Really from new King

Jym first, uh, this is Jesus calling the people to himself,

calling the disciper. Now, discipleship is not just for leaders, friends.

Jesus said first few words was he caught the crowd

and the disciple, which mean to say, the closest to him,

as well as people that is furthest away from him.

So discipleship is for everyone and everybody. That I would say, Amen,

it's for everyone and everybody. No one should say that

it's not for me or I want to take another option.

I truly believe that my Christian faith can be expressed

in another way. Did you know that if you don't

apply some keen discipline in your life, you will never

fully experience God. I give you for an example, just

because an individual receive Jesus into your heart, into their heart,

all right, we would think automatically the individual and how

to pray. Think about it. We would think the individual automatically.

You know how to read the Bible or know how

to turn the pages of the Bible. It's very important

to buy your own We had this campaign right now

it's called bring your own Bible, but we want to

take it. One step we were further is to buy

your own bible. Buy your own bible one from investment.

You can make your entire life. Right besides buying good

clothes for yourself, is buy your own bible. Please do

not take it from your parents shelf. Normally they have

two or three. They're not using that. Take one right,

good studying point about own your own bible because, uh,

if you have not noticed in Malaysia that Bibles are

hard to come by these days, harder, not hard, study harder.

Back in those days, you have Salvation if you're the

error the Salvation bookshop. Right, you have a discount count

corp praise I D all right. Sometimes you skin you

ask no discounts it. Uh, then you have chosen treasure.

You have a lot of canlan and stuff like that.

But the day is coming thereby it's becoming lesser. And

I know there's a digital format which doesn't cause us

a single thing.

Right, However, the I'm not knowing.

I'm not sure whether you notice that that some words

it gets omitted from the online version. Yeah, some it

gets omitted. Someone gets it happens because of the programming

and just oh sometimes it's you know, there's so many

versions out there.

Back in those days, you have a five six version.

Now we have about ten to fifteen English version, and

we always pick the version that we can understand the most.

Sometimes that translation or transliteration may not be as accurate.

Ah.

So that's why we want to encourage you write any

form investment make in your life, any book you want

to read, at least have a Bible physical Bible review

so that you can develop. All right, So anyway, so discipleship, friends,

is for everyone.

So Mark chapter eight, verse thirty four.

When he called people to himself with the disciple, he

said to them, whoever desires to come after me, let

him deny himself and take up the cross and follow me.

Whoever desied to save his life, lose it.

Whoever loses his life for my sake, and the Gospel

will say it worse.

Story four started.

Whoever these ire is to come after me? Friend first

and foremost. I want to encourage you that you need

to learn how to lead yourself. You need to learn

how to lead yourself first, which means is this, when

you are in a situation wherebout you feel like losing everything,

lose your temper. Friends, Please do not lose your temper

because nobody want to find it. Sorry, all right? If

you want, if you want to lose anything, lose your

wallet to someone else be finding it.

Then take care face a lot.

Yeah, the moment you feel like losing everything, lose control

of your anger, your temper, your frustration, everything, right, the

only way out from that is to be able to

lead yourself. The moment you hear a penny attack, you

know some of words are not very good with a

life texting mess. You mean to say that you're not

very good with handlingk situation or change.

How are you good with change?

You can change almost immediately whatever chows and you life circnces.

Try at you for example, right, and also you need

to change, or you need to adapt, or you need

to be.

Transported to another place. You cannot. You find it very hard.

Your resistance to change is very high.

And because of resistance to change is high, what happens

You get angry, editated, And the more people push it,

the more resistance you put put out, the more you hate,

the more you dislike. Right, that's why you want to carriacy.

You go for missions because at the mission's few friends,

what happens is that you're out from the comfort zone.

Right.

Number one very important, out from your comfort zone very important. Okay,

number two Right, whatever they give you you take because

you are not with your normal things that you have.

For example, you you are very accustomed to better you

reach up. There's Wi Fi? Right, no Wi Fi? No

life kind of thing, right, but the field fairs. The

only Wi Fi you have is looking at the starts

with maybe you will have some form of data.

But why so slower? Right?

And number three very important? Why you should go for

a mission. There is a starting time and there's the

ending time. How may you are so glad there is

an ending time for missions? Think about it. You only

get to haunt three.

Days, three days?

But how man three days all you need to spark change?

I did say perman is sparked, inspire your change. So

it starts with leading yourself. Friends, how have you been

leading yourself? Are we only going to leading yourself in church?

Meaning you say that it's easy to praise God in church?

But out there Monday this Friday? So my challenge to

almost every young working adult is this that we say

that God We've got nothing's impossible, right, we see that

God will provide and every of this fantastic declaration of

who God is is what is good? The question I

post to almost every young looking adult is this, is

that at your workplace, share with me some of your

experiences that you know God is real.

That with God nothing's impossible.

That with God, your schedule, although it's crazy, you can

manage it. See, a lot of people want to pray

for greener pastures like some shan the tree or steel

water's moment. Right. Nobody I have seen in any house

or put a volcano eruption and a house as a

picture one. Very seldom, very seldom I seen one house

put a cascade waterfall like what you see in a

mama shop, exactly the same thing in the house. Say wow,

I say, you put it up. See you love my

mother shop so much? Say no, then my dad put

it up there. I hated it, but now mine.

Right.

But here's the thing, friends, that in the midst of everything,

in the midst of the stress at work, in the

midst of the pressure at work, we always have a

choice whether we do we lead ourselves. So we say

the lords of Shepherder and use the description still waters

and greener pastures. None of us apply for the oh,

this company, crazy company. I want to.

Apply this are ot every day.

I love it right every time finished with s lpm,

boss calls you at nine pm.

I love the cow bosses right.

Very seldom one friend bondus happens one in four yours. Oh,

praise the Lord, hallelujah. I want to apply very seldom friends.

You know what I mean.

So therefore, therefore the Bible says the lords by shepherd,

I shall not be one. He makes me lie in

green pastures, he makes me friends.

Do you know how.

Hard is it to make someone do something that you

don't like? Think about it. He got used to the

word he makes you no friends, which means that we

don't want to lie down even though it's green pastures.

Good word.

Bring jaw is good, bitter God is good. No, I

got even better. I got even better.

Beatrood is good, steak beetrood is good.

No, I would go see fresh beat rood blended and

just drink excellent. You want readish complexion, fantastic. They will

bring the balance to your face, all right, No need

just one tone on your on your foot anymore concert, friends, So.

Therefore he makes if you grow up in the eighties.

And ninety there's something there's there's a poison call God

in mousion.

I'm not sure whether you know about it.

There's this got in motion, right, which which you sometimes

if your parents feed you with one tablespoon, and you'll

never be the same again after that. Right, but how

may you wake up in the morning, said mom? Then

at one one tablespoon? You might give me the whole bottle.

I want to drink it down. Very seldom. Parents have

to make you consume both real Reggie might this more

Aussie write? All this stuff right makes you fail? Although

you know something is good, have to make you consume it.

So God says that he makes you lie down. Therefore

you have a choice, friends, First of all, decipution, you

have a choice whether or not you want to follow

him or not.

Come on, So.

At the workplace when you're stressed, you have a choice.

When you're when you.

Are managing your own business, and salves is not as

good as what you think it is.

You have a choice. There's always a choice in life.

To pray. We always say that we've got nothing is

impossible therefore, lead yourself to the place from Monday to

Friday that we've got. Nothing is impossible, because it's easy

to declare in church more challenging, declare from Monday to Friday.

I pray that, oh, if you lead ourselves so it

starts with it. Our first and foremost, friends, commitment is

to Christ. Our first and foremost commitment is to Christ.

Whoever desires to come after me, So your first and

foremost commitment is to Christ. Christ is who we are following.

Come on, And this is where sometimes get a bit

more complicated, because a lot of people say, I follow,

but what version of Christ are they following? A lot

of people declare that they are they are following Christ.

The question is what version of Christ following? Because we

use this phrase very frequently. God told me, spoke to me,

give me a word, all those fantastic words. But could

I also bant to back it up by saying that

all those only makes sense and make meaning if you

have spent time reading, understanding and knowing His heart. All

those who makes sense. We spend time reading, understanding and

knowing His heart because we apply the word Christianity in

our belief system. But what Christianity are the projecting.

What you project reveal is how much you know about.

Him because all that you know about Him translated in

the way you live a life, not in the way

other people expect you to leave your life. Friends, a

lot of times we are living our life the way

other people think that we should live our life. And

that's why when something misunderstanding happened, the first thing that

goes out is Church, our belief system, our faith in God.

So it starts with following him, friends, So every other

thing come after Christ is not coming to church. That's

your first commitment is following Christ. Because if you follow Christ,

you'll be in church. But you can follow the church,

you may not follow Christ. It's about spending time in

this present, in our quiet time. Back again, what Christianity

are you having? Because I've met now not not ca

I've met love whelming in christian because of time, may

not I have understanding. So I will always ask tell

me about your devotion time, Tell me about your devotion time. Now.

This is not a bashing moment whereby hit you and

behave with a Bible. No, just revolution. How is your

devotion time? Do you do you spend time with your yeah, love, Yeah,

I'll say how I spend time?

I have one scripture a day.

So I say, if your spend of life is seventy

two years, time travel sixty five days, Right, do you

think you can cow the whole Bible? So I say

that one scripture a day, and how long is it?

Because you can take one scipture, can spend one hour.

You can take one scipture, spend the seconds in the

car just getting a cap up right, or the air problems.

You're worst of the day.

So what version of Christ are you following? Is it

a thirty seconds version or is it deeper. I'm not

asking you to start ramping up or therefore, elders say

ramp up with devotion tomorrow? What our friends, you shall

favor one, because if you're not used just reading for

ten minutes, it's very hard to do one hour.

It's true. As you age, friends, you understand.

Right, reading is well, it's easy when you are younger.

When you get older, it's like it gets slightly harder.

That's very things that there is no picture there right,

so therefore freends.

Therefore, therefore, therefore therefore right metal Chapter forty verse nine,

Follow me, and I'll make you fishes of men. Come

on Metal chapter fourteen most and I say, follow me,

I'll make you fishes of men. Following Christ will always

lead to transformation.

It will always lead to transformation.

Many times, our journey friends, thirty years of a Christian,

no change, You'll be the Bible says, follow me and

I will make you fishes of men. But many times

you want to make a name for our own and

not allowing God to transform us. That's why at our workplace,

my true transformation come is not true the form of

your PhD or your MBA true transformation comes. And say, God,

I got this situation and my workplace. Would you give

me a solution, Help me to see what other people

cannot see. Help me to understand so I can be

a help to my organization. Would you put your favor

and say ask God, God give me an understanding.

Transformation? Friends?

Have your life been transformed since January zero one twos

your two four until now?

Has it been more like Christ? Has it you noticed

a transformation?

Not? Friends?

Because if there is no transformation, I.

Want to encourage you maybe and perhaps you are our God,

to go deeper in your heart and transformation can only

comes where there is surrender. You can only be transformed

when there is surrender. Give you put it plearly into

this context. You can only change clothing brand if you

think of your old clothing brand.

Very difficult to put Larry to clothing brand.

Fans comes very hot, very uncomfortable in Malaysian weather. So

even in Luke chapter thirty four was thirteen the road

to Amirs, come on the road to Mayas looked up

the four worse thirty to day. If I please you,

I don't have time. But it speaks about two individuals

walking away from Jerusalem because they were disappointed. You can

know what with Christ in your life, you can walk

away from Christ. We have a choice, but you can

when you begin to walk away from Christ as you

be the work away from Jerusalem. The heart was disappointed

because the day Jesus died, resurrection did not happen immediately.

And sometimes in our life things doesn't happen immediately. For example,

we get disappointed. It's true you pray for something, something

didn't happen. You're hoping for healing, healing didn't happen. You're

hoping for a breakth to happen, and this time didn't happen.

Life happens like that. But the question here is is

that even though life situations happened, how we handle disappointment

is more and really more important. Our attitude towards disappointment

even more important. That's what God is always after. The

two disciples who discourage walk away from Jerusalem. On the

journey away to Emmaus, Jesus came along sight and work

with them. Very thing that you notice here is that

God's heart is for people. God's heart is for people

who are disappointed. God's has for people that's walking away

as walking away friends. Jesus had conversation with them, and

true that serious of conversation here is that you you

You will find in one part of the words that

says that didn't our hearts burn when he was with us?

Didn't our hearts burn? Let me just that didnt our

hearts burned when he was with us? So did your

heart burn when you read the Bible? Come on, didn't

your hearts burn when you spend time with him? Didn't

your heart burn when you pray saying I'm not talking

about revival, that come out that you're a totally different person.

And stuff like that.

You become excited with life because of who God is

in you, you become aware of His presence. Therefore that

you can turn the discouragement to encouragement. You can turn

the disappointment, friends, into another chapter of testimony. You can

do the testing into the testimony. Friends, So didn't your

heart's burn when you spend time with the Lord transformation?

Because at the end of the day, isn't it.

True all that we do in life, all that we

want to from this life is to understand what God

wants us and why we're here.

Isn't it true?

Friends, that when you drive to work, it has to

be bigger than a paycheck. Well, paychecks important, friends. Don't

get me wrong, I'm not asking not to leave you pain.

But after a while, friends, what makes sense through the

traffic jam on the daily basis is to understand your purpose,

why you're go into it. We see, the thing I've

discovered is that no renovation is convenient. So recently we

have to move out from d VCC, the place that

we like, and we go so far for off, so

we have to restore back, get back to the owner. Friends,

using the place for eight years, do you know how

much stuff you accumulated eight years.

The math stuff we accumulated.

I think we saw about three to follower load Lucas

three to follower load we saw off right about there.

This is only half of it. We have not started

clearing up the other half yet. Eight years of accumulation.

That's why something moving is pretty good, right because you

get the declutter. How many of you have tapwas you

collected from MCO?

From Tapa one say that one day I'll use it.

One day I'll use it, Okay, if not one day

i'll use it, I'll give it to my grand children.

I still have caps and my mom left behind that

never use it before the body on some chip warehouse sales.

I just thought it's very cute because this is back

in the seventies, Like it's like fifty our years, you know.

Like I'm like, I'll keep.

It first out there later that day I'll just give

it away, but just keep it first, keep it for

one day when you when your guests come to your house.

You some wah An take vintage and this stuff like

that got story to tell and were still keep it

tup of weares for MCO. One day we use it.

Got one transformation he reviews come on you're quieter. Didn't

your heart burned? When what's the reason why your heart

burned is because you then you realize some things are

not as important. You realize you went the wrong way.

There is hope again. You realize you can let go

of the type of were to say goodbye to it

and just give it away.

Too.

Many of us here are holding onto things whereby maybe

thinking and wishing and hoping that one day we.

Use it again.

Exercise books since primary one? Please, I know one person

in another just plant kept kindergarten books. I you now,

the husband said. The husband was in the church plan.

The husband I was the left side, the wife on

the right hand side. I was preaching about this. The

husband shouted, yes, please dear true it away. The wife said,

no memories. Friends, didn't your heart burn? Friends? When you so,

when you open the word, come on and you look

beyond your disappointment, discouragement, stress at work, So beyond that assignment.

You have to complete the job that you have to do.

Didn't your heart burn? Fans? Because our first and foremost

commitment is to follow Christ. Jesus said that you know

I must go to the cross. They're suffering. But many

times our life as Christian. We don't like suffering. We

don't like suffering very suddenly preach a preature about suffering.

But the days where by God brings us trough a moment,

now life feels like suffering, friends, But because God's with

us in the fire, it is wooted out. Although you

see the fire, don't really feel the heat. Or maybe

you feel the heat but don't really get burned. So

it starts with the first and foremo for first and

foremost commitment to Christ. Number two is this that you

cannot follow Christ without taking up the cross. You cannot

follow Christ without taking up the cross. The Bible says,

lem deny himself and take up the cross. Many people

stop at desire. Many people start with desire. I want God,

I want to serve the law, and.

Stuff like that. So we have good intention, but no action,

good mode.

Good I mean, in fact, maybe today so inspired you

buy the Bible after this, right, and you know and

and show enough you you asked, and you maybe it's

like the best study Bible you could find out there,

and only to put your bookshelf. Taking that while now

right now I'm a theologian, It's true sometimes like for example,

you buy spots shoe right running shoe. The moment you

buy a particular brand that you like, you felt that

you could run at least fifteen meters or hundred meters. Further,

it's normal. It's power advertising right. And sometimes you have

a good study Bible in your house at will. Was

a bit understanding the word better. But first, the power

really comes when you turn the pages. The power of

the Bible really comes when you open the Bible. No,

it's not when it is on the shelf. And too

many Christians are having the Bible on the shelf but

never turned right.

So what is the cross to you? Friends?

Come on?

What is the cross to you?

First across or something you put your neck, although there

is a symbol of a cross, but the cross also

mean choicus in life, whether or not you want to

please God the police man. The cross can be meant

as pleasing God rather than pleasing men. The cross also

can be seen victory over seeing France, which made you

say you choose to leave godly principle. Therefore you walk

away from temptation and stuff like that. The cost also

been suffering for Christ. Is the difference being suffering for

Christ and suffering for yourself.

Suffering for Christ.

Means the choices you mean the please God seems like suffering.

Choices to please your flesh also something that we suffer.

And many times in life you say I'm suffering from God,

but actually in fact you choose your own path? Right?

So why is the cross there? Therefore there tak because

it is not optional. Alive without the cost is a

life without power. A life with lout the costs is

life without power. A life with lout the cross is

a life without transformation.

If you ever.

Carry a heavy uh weighted back before you change the

way you walk. Most cabin bluggages allow how mankilos? I

thought extras like you travel one seven correct seven kilos?

And most how many kilos you repac eight point six nine? Right?

The heavy it is the heavior. It is the slower

you walk. Right, you got to options buck up your

master handle the weight right, And therefore you don't like

your way to take the way you walk. You dictate

how the way it's supposed to walk with you Number one.

Doumble two is that allow the way to detaate how

they walk. Here's the thing.

When you take up the cross threads it must literally transformation,

because it does change no matter how much way it is,

it does change.

The way you walk.

And many times of life we say I'm a Christian,

but no transformation met.

Chapter sixteen, most twenty six.

Come on the last few scripturekeys, I got a lot

of time. Don't worry.

Chapter sixty.

We mean right now or punching mental Chapter sixteen, verse

twenty six.

I pray at the end of the day.

You see now to flip the actual Bibles six.

He says here that what is a prophet?

What profit is to a man if he gains the

whole but loses his own soul? Wow?

God is talking about profit? What profits a man? What

what would a man.

Gain if he has the whole world but loses his soul?

What God is trying to see here is is that

do we we even understand the value of our soul?

Do we won't understand what it means to live a

life of purpose and a life of meaning, a life

whereby you understand that one day we dread the age

whereby we hit retirement, we dread the day we hit retirement.

Because as your life existence stops, your identity stops. The

moment Therefore, one day you wake up, you don't have

to go to work anymore for the rest of your life.

Although when you're younger we look forward for it, but

when you're older you go like no, because it gives

a purpose and meaning.

What you wake up?

If there is no just today, tell me what you

wake up?

Ah huh twelve Yes, I know my wife at twelve right,

but with me, she wakes out at six am in

the morning.

Halle Louis. I'm an early riser. Okay, five am without alarm.

The first thing in life you want to do is

to beat the alarm clock. First week three. Sorry, that's

just me. That's just me, all right. A lot of

people say the first thing you do your life is

you make your your bit right. First week three? You

relady read the play before? No, I said the first

week three life is that you beat your alarm clock.

You say at five am, you wake up four fifty hallelujah.

Praise a lot. It's like check like check yes. But

while I say I don't have like yeah, so I don't.

I said what I said.

All at five am in the morning, I woke out

four the ty I'm like, okay, use myself, wake up, right,

first week. Three men in life in the day can

can't get your body? Can you just stare your body

of what they can? Anyway, just beside the point. Beside

the point, come out, focus, focus, all right? So without without,

without church, tell me you wake out, you old nine.

So the thing here is that without a commitment, daily commitment,

you wake up whatever time you want. Why it is

because there's no more purpose. There is no more purpose.

Job give us a sense of purpose. You wake up

at a certain time because you know that if you'll

hit out the traffic by this time, then you'll be

in the traffic. Jab So the day will come, friends,

whereby the dreaded day, whereby we'll hit retirement age. Hallelujah,

praised the Lord. Here what amen you'll hit every time?

Age? Therefore, what's next after that?

I know a lot of people say that, no, go

for holidays, do gardening everything that, yes, true, how many

holidays it's sufficient to give you purpose? But all that

is done, they say, there's not money's or problem. You've

done all your holidays. You visit almost every country, every nation.

Really right purpose. So the Bible here says that what

profits of man if he gains the whole, but losers.

I understand the word loses. It's so your meaning why

you are here? Do you know how much meaning you

have when you sow into someone's life. It's about discipleship.

When you are being discipled, you discipling. How much more

investment would it be the return of it when you

begin to spend time, open, work and pray and see

transformation in another person's life. That's why sometimes the challenge

here is is that we find no meaning in just

make friends. I love making money. Money is not wrong.

But if money is all our eternal objective, life objective,

one thing that money cannot give is it transformation life transformation. Yes,

money can help you the renovate house, you know, bike,

your clothing, car and everything like praise so Halivia. But

money doesn't make a very happy marriage. I mean it can,

it can. It can help in a marriage, but doesn't

guarantee happiness. Doesn't guarantee happiness. Friends, you can't use money

to overcome disappointment. Maybe in a way it's not true.

You know you can't get the one you need to

apply for noney you need or just apply to you

get it there. Yeah, it's true, you can get it

but you never learn how to overcome disappointment. Then you're

not trying to say that's what prescripture is very real.

He who seeks after the world loses is so.

So the one of the key questions you can mum

meditate what have you lost? What have you lost? Friends?

You can only lose.

Something if you think it's not valuable or you think

is valuable.

You forgot.

And you only find by something you think that thing

is valuable. For example, back to top off stuff rubber band?

How many you went after looking for the rubber band

you top off three years ago? On? Oh, I lost

that rubber band from the one particular shop. I love

one because I love the color. You turn the whole

house upside down, just look for the one piece of

rubber band.

Don't have right? Why? It's because it's not that valuable?

True or not?

Come on? You understand right? So therefore that what I

have to this? So what profits of man begainst hope

and loses those? So why don't we find the meaning?

Is because maybe and perhaps you never have the fullness

of understanding what's more valuable?

What's more valuable?

I wish that everyone here has an opportunity in life,

in life to create something and put it on sale.

Either you could bake a cake, make a drink, or

graphic design, whatever design.

I tell you why.

The value you put on your item reflects how much

you see the value in yourself. The value you put

an item, the value put on the price of the

product you created, is the value you see in yourself.

Many times a live Oh Nola, I'm just normal. I

don't have a degree in baking. I don't have significant

make so therefore cheap. So it's not about cheap or expensive.

It's about value of friends. It's about value. How much

do you value what God has given you? Value friends

the value of your existence. For example, it has to

have so much more meaning friends than coming to church

on Sunday.

The impact.

Impact. Lazarus came to Malaysia to study in eli Or.

He just said to pastor was even was sharing about

planting in ex London. I pitied the person who's going

to start ex London and he God spoke to him,

you are the one. You are the one to go

to London to study first. He did everything, okay, helps

your excellend. But he went by to Botswana. Friends armed

with this passion to reach Africa, reach Africa, one person,

one life. His dad is no longer around, his mom

is no longer around. He is a close lady auntie

he calls mom sometimes close but friends, passion existence, understanding

why it's Therefore he gets a lot of invitations there

go to open exchurch in another power of Africa. Not so,

we've got a lot of invitations. We see that they

have to be interested. They have to fight to Botswana

and get to know. Let's first understanding of the NA

before we start anything. But here's the thing. I want

this one to challenge you all. What value would you

put on yourself? It's because when we've done that value wipen.

This is that we just put things aside. What's valuable,

you keep it close to you. What's not valuable you

just put out there. Your life is the same. When

you don't value yourself anything and everything, people just take

like no. When you value yourself and you value other people,

therefore you turn up on appointment earlier, when you value dating, somebody,

Come on, nobody is lived for first day one half

an hour earlier. Nobody maybe after the ten fifteen day,

the reading you're late first date first time you go out.

Sure earlier you want friends, at least got some research

read to eat Definitely not McDonald's all for sure. Definitely

not McDonald's on for sure not burger Kings.

Oh, and for sure it's not Mama down the road.

At least a decent place to this to find out interested,

go research down? So how much would you value all right?

If he gains the whole?

Losers though, what will a man give in exchange for

his soul? Coming back to selling things again? So, therefore,

the value of the item you pull, it's the value

of how sometimes you see yourself. That's why after a

while initial stages when a person starting making is slightly

lower price. As the making becomes better, increased price. Because

you see your value change, so does life itself. Once

you understand your value in God, how much God has

put the value in you, your life begins to change

the way you see things begin to change. No longer

you're bound by disappointment or discouragement.

But you say, God, see you're giving me this.

Therefore, I want to first make a choice whoever desires

to come after me. It starts with a desire, therefore

leads to action. Go after the Lord say that God,

I want to be disciple. I need to be disciple, right,

Finally it's going to be this disciple. Shape is all

about transformation. It starts be wandering, follow Christ, then the

deeper comingment ultimately, and the end of the.

Journey is to be more like Christ like. And the

end of journey is to be more christ Like. Follow me.

It's a process of transformation. Not follow me. It's a

shappool bread.

I'm sorry, my references are back in the nineties, all right.

I never had a chance to buy shape anyone after

I got married, all right, because I told my wife that,

you know, I don't need shampoo. I just need a

bow soap. That's all, all right. To follow Christ is

to be more like him. Can you agree with that?

Jesus lived in his life to do the view of

the Father. What is to be more like Christ? I

would say I'm more like Christ, but it's just more

than a nice saying or nice phrase.

To be more like Christ is to do the view

of the Father.

Jesus says, I came nothing else with one firm commitment

to do the view of the Father. Here on earth.

A lot of people say I'm more like Christ. Yes,

maybe you have the thrill of the spirit, but Jesus

have really want. Assignment is to please God, to please God,

to understand God, was your plan, your purpose, your kingdomcome,

your will be done? And what is your purpose? What's

my purpose here on earth? Friends? Your journey here friends,

It is not just a passing moment, a time alond

here of seventy eighty years. The impact you could make

at the end of the gold of discipleship is more

than Christ to do his view, imagine a life.

That pleases God and act.

We don't set out Michei wesell on disciples. We don't

send out believers. We send out disciples. I'll tell you

why because many times when problem hits, when you start

the new homes not growing, not having people, you can't say, oh,

it's not working and your close shop. That's why you

apply faith. That's why we want to encourage everyone here

to give yourself a chance to go for a mission trip.

Because you change, your life will transform. You know, life

will never be the same again. It takes a disciple

to plan the church or homes without being disciple. It's

hard to be used by God without being disciple. It's

hard to use by God. I want to close right

now just by sharing a few stories with your When

we started church friends back in those days, we had

just one desire, really, God, if you can use anyone,

you can use us. This on a simple place. If

you can use anyone, you could use us.

The reason why we had those.

Prayers earlier days because we did any financial backing. We

had no rich millionaire, rich stunt street children in our meats,

nothing at all, just really a passion to follow God.

And if you were around back in the eighties and nineties,

the only before these are pre internet days, the only

way we can get Christian literature was to subscribing for

OSSE magazines. So there's a magazine called Charisma US based

and a lot of the stories testimonists are in US

or in other countries. PASCA has always been very big

on this is that Asians are no different from Americans

or the Caucasian no different. And therefore, if we say

that we serve a big God, that testimonies needs to

come up from Malaysia.

Testimony is to come up from you and me.

That is not about people going through three years Bible

school or anything like that. Testimonists will be berthed out

from this place. We have missionaries coming from os Is

coming to Malaysia. Will we bless them? We We are

so thankful for them bringing the world of God to us.

But if we're going to continue this man hand out

mentality in now life before ever going to have this

second great citizen that you know, oh they're the better one.

They are the more flow fluent one. And when we'll

ever christious Malaysia rise up and say this is our

land and these our people, this is our nation.

I'm just up with that.

So we begin to pray, sing the Lord, ask God

for ideas, and this stuff like that, it starts with

us is a very simple thing. Just believe, pray, encouragement

wherever you are with did we hit discourage of God friends?

Plenty people left us. Sound system failed. We didn't have

all this. We did have all this amazing sound system

that we have we never had in the first place.

We bought secondhand school sound system whatever you see it

back in those days. One wherever school do you come from?

Not fantastic but coble. We are projected that you cannot

see even not like you can't really see one because

the second hand, that's all we could afford, but that

that will discourage us. We had a weaker just when

which you know, broke down more than it could start.

That's all right, it happens, but that doesn't mean that God.

Is not real. God is not alive, God is not

uh faithful. We had chairs that can't really see it

on rocking one because the school tightened overly tightened, a

can that blows out mostly little warm air than cold air,

you understand.

But I'm with that.

Friends, We say, God, if you can use anyone, you

can use us. We may not be the most eloquent

preachers expository of the word, but we have this faith

to believe that you know, the Reviver will come to

our mites. So that's after the whole journey for past

thirty four years is believing if there's anything in our

church you want to and cartsch you be able to

believe because it can't be God is real on Sunday

and then when you go to work tomorrow you see

the tack of emails that comes into your thing in box,

one hundred and fifty emails. Everyone take a gent right,

that's actudingly, what WhatsApp right? Now that's vibrating.

It can't be that.

God is real on Sunday and when you get to work,

that God is not real. It can't be that God

only comes true for the church and not for your

individual life. It cannot be friends, because then myself, no

one go to workler, because the work is a different God.

But if we say that God is bigger, therefore you

have to believe. Whoever desires to come after me must

first deny himself.

So we begin to believe.

Friends sent out very first missionary, Osseas Quanchin.

He came. He went to Botswana. Friends with just a passion.

He came up for He went to a mission's conference

in Gunting early year two thousand, came out to the front.

He was from a very high paying job. They paid

him to travel the world just for computer systems. God

captured his heart and said, would you serve me full time?

Came in full time, and all there he was doing

full time was just this that going running to the bank.

Some people work for initiate stages. But God put on

a heart to send him to Africa. Friends um with

just a desire to serve God. He packs up his bag,

told his parents mom, Dad, I'm going to Botswana. Seven

hours difference foot wise, very different from US lands. In Botswana,

friends founded one of the cheapest accommodation you could find,

not in the city where we planted, but just slightly

outside because it is cheaper. Different culture, different skin color,

different language in that sense to the splay English. But

culture is very different, very different. If you think here

is too fast o a pace, you go to somewhere

else like Sower. Imagine back then Botswana is like Malaysia

back in the eighties or seventies. You walk to a shop,

your order five pains, you take about half an hour

to come up with it slower three or two years.

Being their friends, he invested his life in the church.

To this day, the people expots Botswana see home in

my high regards because he gave up his part of

his life to pack and right now because of Exportswana.

There's too much plan readin ex only there's two mutus

plan there. I understand these their friends. Your life is

more than just Monday to Friday. Yes, you crack in

the world, Yes, praise God, you earn the money, But friends,

it has to be bigger than that.

Whoever loses his life.

For my sake will find it. You will find meeting

when you're being to surrender and ask God, God, what's

my purpose you're on earth? Yes, God, I know that

you're giving me this amazing job. But what is my

purpose at my workplace? What is my purpose at my workplace?

Because I have to know because before I exit this

company and go to the magnext company, I need to

fulfill the purpose first. As a close right now, my

thing my message today was discipleship is not costly. What's

more costlier is not being used by God and missing

them out and ending the chapter of the ending our

life without understanding and knowing that the dreams that God

have given us ever come to fruition, the plan that

God has given us ever come to fruition. There's a

more costlier price in debt than doing this haymbership. As

a close right now, I want to pray for all

of us here. First, I know that you are on

your journey and understand the challenges sound of you're facing.

I want to encourage you to turn to the Lord.

The Bible says that he is a shepherd, I shall

not be in one. Well, we recognize that he's a

provider of friends. To remember that he is a shepherd

that leads you. He leads you besides steel waters. He's

a shepherd that guides. He guides you the green pastures.

He's a shepherd that restore friends. The Bible says he

restore your soul. Don't try restoring your own soul, friends,

because that halley is permanent. But love got to make

restoration that hurt, the discouragement, the betrayal. A love got

to heal, I love got to minister. There's a scripture

that says between Saul and David and the disc I

always remember this line. This says, how long I saw

and prophes how long a prophesy and God God spoke

to prophes about about.

Saw not being the right king. How long would you

mont for Saul?

And the question God speaks to the church right now,

how long would you allow discouragement.

To take rain take king?

Yes, we go to that for a moment, for a season,

but it cannot be forever because we need to rise out.

And God spoke to Prophesyma to rise up and just

say yes. And I have been this place long enough

and therefore I want to trust the Lord again.

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

information on our church, please visit exchurch 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