WMCAS

RENEW YOUR MIND: ROMANS 12:2

OPENING PRAYER: Abba Father! We want to hear You speak. Your Truth we seek. To You we want to be true. Tell us what to do. We ask this in Yeshua’s Name. Amen.

BIG PICTURE OF SERMON SERIES :What is this series of sermons on the Disciple’s Personality all about? To help you see the big picture of your personality as Jesus’ disciple;  to provide you with the theological understanding of what’s happening inside of you; watch carefully and listen attentively to this video presentation. If ever you forget what is shared in this series of sermons, don’t forget this video presentation on The Disciple’s Personality. It’s the heart and soul of who you are, what’s happening in you and what God intends you to be as Jesus’ disciple. For God is at work in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. DISCIPLE’S PERSONALITY PRESENTATION Last week pastor spoke on DO GOD’S WILL. Tonight I continue with

RENEW YOUR MIND: Tonight’s message is based on one verse in the Bible.Romans 12:2 . Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is. NLT Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you and develops well-formed maturity in you. Msg 2 things are emphasized in Romans 12:2 which becomes the 2 points of tonight’s message. 1 Reject the world’s ways.    2 Renew your mind God’s way. I now begin with

Point #1: REJECT THE WORLD’S WAYS: Romans 12: 2a.  Do not be conformed to this world. Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world. Don’t be so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Adam and Eve sinned against God when they chose to listen to Satan instead of God; when they chose to believe Satan instead of God; when they trusted Satan more than they trusted God. Whose voice are you hearing when you are thinking? Who do you choose to believe when you have to decide? Who do you trust when it really matters ? God or Satan? The world or yourself?

Reject these thoughts from Satan. They deceive and cause you to sin.

• You’re so unlovable God cannot love you; you’re so insignificant God doesn’t see you.
• God doesn’t care about you. How you live doesn’t bother Him.
• It’s alright to sin against God once in a while. He wouldn’t know..
• When you sin, no need to repent, God has already forgiven you.
• God cannot be trusted. He cannot be trusted to provide and protect you.

Reject these lies when the world says these things to you.

• Sin as much as you want as long as it doesn’t hurt others.
• Right and wrong, good and evil isn’t important anymore because there’s no heaven and hell after you die.
  
• It’s alright to hurt others when you’re hurting. Go do it. It will make you feel better.
• Your happiness is more important than your holiness. God wants you to be happy not holy.
• Why pray? It’s a waste of time. It’s only meant for those who’ve nothing better to do.

Reject these unhealthy thoughts from your sinful nature.

• If God really knows who I am, He won’t love me.
• My problems and hurts are too big for God to help me.
• God is love. He cannot hate sin..
• God will not punish me for the wrong things I enjoy doing.
• God doesn’t appreciate all the things I do for Him.

Don’t entertain these negative thoughts in your thinking.Don’t nurse and rehearse these unhealthy feelings in your heart. All these sin-inducing thoughts come from Satan, the world and your sinful nature. Shut the door of your life to Satan and never ever listen to him. Don’t even dialoque with him. He’ll deceive you like He deceived Adam and Eve.

This is not my advice to you. It’s God’s command given to you as recorded in 1 John 2: 15 -17. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. The world is passing away and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. NKJV Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for Fahter God. Practically everything that goes on in the world; wanting your own way; wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important, has nothing to do with Father God. It just isolates you from Him. The world with all its wanting is on the way out, but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. Msg

Therefore! Watch your desires, they become feelings. Watch your feelings, they become thoughts. Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.  

You’re not a human being on a spiritual pilgrimage. You’re a spirit being on a human pilgrimage. Reject the world’s ways and God starts you on the trip to eternity with Him. It’s not the starting that’s important, how you end is more important. To move forward in your pilgrimage, one other thing you need to do. When you have rejected the world’s ways, to proceed further you need to renew your mind God’s way. This brings me to

Point # 2: RENEW YOUR MIND GOD’S WAY: Romans 12: 2b Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what God wants from you, and quickly respond to it.How do we let God transform our personality? How does God change the way we think? How do we become a new person from inside out? How do we know what God wants from us as He works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose? How do you and I renew our minds God’s way? 4 things we are told to do. 4 things we can do.

1stly: Surrender your mind to God. I read from the NLT Romans 12:1 Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is it too much to ask? Our mind is an integral part of your physical body. When you surrender your body to God, you also surrender your mind to God. Once surrendered, your body and mind is no longer your possession. Once surrendered, God owns you, He owns your mind as well as your body. As Master He’s in control of your life? As Lord He’s incharge of your life? Is God in control of your thinking? Is He Lord and Master of your mind? Is your mind holy, set apart unto God? Is your thinking acceptable to God? I pray your answer to these questions is yes, yes, and yes.

2ndly: Saturate your mind with God’s Word. Psalm 1:1-2 tells us how to saturate our minds with God’s Word. Blessed is the man who…delights in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night. NIV Oh the joys of those who delight in doing everything God wants them to, day and night always meditating on His laws and thinking about ways to follow God more closely. LB
God will not bless you when you neglect to meditate on His Word daily, when you refuse to memorize His Word. You deprive yourself from experiencing divine joywhen you agonize in obeying God’s Word; when you don’t want to know God intimately when you saturate your minds with things other than God’s Word. But God will bless you when you day and night meditate on His Word; when you diligently memorize God’s Word. Divine joys awaits you when you delight in obeying God’s Word; when you think about ways to follow God closely; when you saturate their minds with God’s Word Do you want God to bless you? Do you desire to experience joy in your life? If yes is your answer, then saturate your mind with God’s Word.

3rdly: Seize every thought and secure it under Christ’s lordship. I read from the NIV 2 Corinthians 10: 4 -5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. God has given you His power to demolish demonic strongholds entrenched in your mind; to destroy anti-god arguments corrupting your mind; to decimate satanic wisdom deceiving your mind. You have God’s power to capture every thought and make it obedient to Christ. When these thoughts occupy your thinking impure and indecent thoughts; lustful and immoral thoughts; idolatrous and adulterous thoughts; fearful and anxious thoughts; resentful and revengeful thoughts; use God’s power to capture them and destroy them in Jesus name. When these thoughts persist in your thinking envious and jealous thoughts hateful and murderous thoughts; unkind and unloving thoughts; foolish and evil thoughts; greedy and covetous thoughts; use God’s power to seize them and demolish them in Jesus’ name.

When you do these 1^st 3 things as commanded. When you surrender your mind to God; when you saturate your mind with God’s Word; when you seize every ungodly thought and destroy it in Jesus’ name God will do His part .He will

4thly: Spirit-controlled in your thinking. John 16: 13 LB When the Holy Spirit, who is Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not be presenting His own ideas, but will be passing on to you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future.

1.The Holy Spirit is God’s Holy Fire. He burns away all unholy thoughts in our thinking..He purifies our minds from all sinful thoughts.

2 The Holy Spirit is God’s Truth Spirit. He exposes all lies and deceit in our thinking and He drives them out of our minds.

3 The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit of Revelation. He reveals what Father God wants us to know. He tells us about the future.

4 The Holy Spirit is God’s Counsellor. He helps us understand God’s truth. He guides us when we have to choose and decide. He convinces us to follow God’s wisdom. He convicts us to do things God’s way. He comforts and consoles us.

5 The Holy Spirit is God’s everpresent Spirit. He’s in us and with us all the time. He is always available to you. He is ever ready to help you. He won’t impose Himself on you. He waits for you to humbly ask when you need Him.

When you are Spirit–controlled in your thinking, as your mind is being renewed; you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is. Rom 12: 2c NLT You will readily recognize what God wants from you and you will quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you and develops well-formed maturity in you Msg You will experience and enjoy the good, acceptable and perfect will of God in your life.. NKJV
Do you know what God wants you to do at this point in your life? Do you readily recognize what God wants from you? Are you experiencing the goodness of God’s will in your life? Are you enjoying the perfect will of God in your daily liiving? Are you Spirit-controlled in your thinking? Is your mind being renewed by God, not once in a while, but daily? If yes is your answer to these questions, praise and thank God before you leave His presence this evening. If no is your answer to these questions, why not come to the altar after the benediction and tell God what ‘s in your heart.

I close with this short testimony. 50 years ago I became a disciple of Jesus. I denied myself, took up my cross and followed Jesus from then on. I was blessed with a godly pastor who preached powerfully and passiontely. I was so impacted by his ministry that I told God that when I grow up, I want to be like him, preaching and teaching wherever God sends me. But 50 years ago I had no money to travel. I was still schooling. I was not mature. I was a spiritual baby in God’s family. I had no mission. I did not know God’s purpose for my life. I had no ministry. I was too young to be trusted with responsibilities.

50 years later, this year I celebrate my jubilee as a disciple Jesus. Now I have more than enough money for me to live and to travel. I am mature enough to be trusted to disciple others for Christ. I have a purpose for living until God calls me home to be with Him. I have a ministry to preach and teach in 7 small congregattions up north; to preach, pray and to prophesy in missions local and overseas other than the things I do in this church.

My 1^st 30 years as Jesus’ disciple had plenty of ups and downs because I was a worldly christian. My soul was a continual battleground because I was not properly discipled. I was not taught to shut the door of my flesh to Satan. I was not shown how to crucify my mind, my will and my emotions to God. My last 20 years as Jesus’ disciple was better because by then I had learned how to reject the world’s ways and not conform to its values and vices. God has been renewing my mind His way through the Holy Spirit. As I now daily surrender my life to Father God; I saturate my mind in God’s Word ; I seize and secure every thought in obedience to Christ,  I become Spirit-controlled in my thinking. And what a difference it has made in my life and ministry.

If only God had sent someone to properly disciple me much earlier, I would have been spared much pain and regrets, much mistakes and disappointments. If only I had been discipled much earlier with The Disciple’s Course what a great difference it would have made in my life and ministry. Spare yourself much pain and regrets, spare yourself mistakes & disappointmets Don’t miss out on this opprotunity and appointment with God to be properly discipled. You won’t regret the time spent and the effort put in doing this course. Masterlife 1 The Disciple’s Cross starts this week on 14^th October with pastor. Masterlife 1 The Disciple’s Cross also starts this week on 13^th October with me and Charis Care Group. Masterlife 2 The Disciple’s Personality starts this week on 11^th October with me..Sign up and see how God works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.Thank you for listening so attentively.God bless each one of you in Jesus’ name.

Finishing Well by Mr Ch’ng Yeang Boon

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Today we observed “The Call to Ministry” Many of us in the church are already involved in some form of ministry. Some are involved in providing pastoral care, while others are involve in students and children works. Other ministries are in the area of worship as worship leaders, ushers, communion stewards, musician, sound system and even preparing the church service bulletin. While many work behind the scene supporting, praying, giving of money and doing a lot of works that few people notice.

In any church ministry there will be some in the front line preaching, teaching and shepherding the flocks while many would want to stay in the back line doing caring and other supportive role like praying. Ministry like serving the community in the area of the church schools, the church community tuition and medical projects giving their time and energy for the Lord are also important.

But here Paul charged Timothy to do this one very important thing in vs 1-3

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom. Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching.

So whatever ministry or works we maybe doing for God, we need to remind ourselves that we are entrusted with a message to share. Because a time will come when people will not tolerate our message and sound teaching. Jesus himself said to his disciples, work while it is still day when night comes we may not be able to work anymore.

However one thing that we must eventually ask ourselves is “How do we want to be remembered? What do you hope people will say about you after you are gone? How will the people who knew you best, summarize 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80 years of your living?

A man visited the family cemetery for the owners of the 19th-century plantation. He climbed over a low wall and began inspecting the gravestones, most of them 150 years old.

Most of the markers contained phrases like, “Loving father,” “Beloved mother,” “Darling son,” “Rest in Peace,” “Asleep in Jesus,” and so on. Eventually he came to the grave of the man who had owned the plantation for many years. Under his name there was the date of his birth and the date of his death.Then there was a five-word statement that summed up his whole life: “A man of unquestioned integrity.” Just five words. Nothing more, nothing less.Suppose it was our tombstone. What five words would your friends choose for you ? How do we want to be remembered by others?

Here is Paul’s answer to that question. Writing from a Roman jail, with the certain knowledge that he would soon be dead, he looked back at his journey with Christ, and then he looked forward to what would happen after he died. Then he wrote his own epitaph: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 ).

After an exhaustive study of the men and women of the Bible, Howard Hendricks of Dallas Theological Seminary concluded that there are approximately 100 detailed biographies in the Bible. He notes that approximately two-thirds of those men and women ended poorly. Either they turned to immorality or they drifted away from the faith or they ended their life in a backslidden condition. The Apostle Paul was not among them. He finished well.

Once when John Wesley was asked to explain the spiritual strength of the early Methodists, he replied, “Our people die well.” But in order to die well, you have to finish well. And tonight our text tells us how that happens. Finishing well doesn’t happen by accident.

John Bingham, “The Penguin”. Serious runners will recognize the name. He has inspired hundreds of thousands of men and women to run for fun, fitness, and self-affirmation. His book, "Marathoning for Mortals", co-authored by Coach Jenny Hadfield, revolutionized long-distance running and walking. Now with another book "Running for Mortals" John and Jenny bring the joy of running to everyone.

Once an overweight man with a glut of bad habits, including smoking and drinking, at the age of 43 Bingham started running. Since then, he has completed 40 marathons races—and developed a whole new outlook. He is both a runner and someone who knows how to motivate others to successfully run marathons. What is his secret? This man used to say this to people “As I stand at the starting line, I know that somewhere out there is a finish line.” That’s a good principle to keep in mind.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, out there somewhere is a finish line for all of us. Most of us probably think the finish line is a few years down the road—maybe ten years or 20 years or 30 years away. For me personally, I don’t know what to expect. If I live as long as my father now, I’ve got at least 26 more years in front of me. If I live longer than my father, I have probably more than that. All I know is, the finish line of life is “out there” somewhere. And it may come sooner for me than I expect. But whether sooner or later, it will come because the Bible said in Hebrews 9:27 “it is appointed unto man once to die”I have an appointment with death. All of us have that appointment with death. We cannot escape that appointment. I don’t know when or where or how, but it’s in God’s book in heaven. That’s one appointment I won’t miss and can’t postpone. As Paul approached his own death, he drew some conclusions about his own life and what would happen next. Based on his words, Iwould like us to think about three questions together.

I. What kind of departure will you have? (v 6)

When Paul says he is being poured out like a drink offering, he is referring to an Old Testament ritual that accompanied certain sacrifices. The Law mandated that when a worshiper brought an offering, part of it was consumed upon the altar and part was given to the priest for his own use. When the offering was consumed by fire, the worshiper would sometimes pour a “drink offering” of wine upon the burning sacrifice. All the wine was to be poured out. None was to be given to the priest. As the wine hit the burning coals, it evaporated and a sweet smell rose from the altar. Keep in mind that wine was a symbol of joy in the Old Testament. The drink offering was a symbolic way of saying, “I gladly give all that I have to the Lord. This sacrifice that I offer is given as a symbol of my wholehearted commitment to God. Nothing is held back. All that I have, I gladly give to my God.” Paul knew that his death was close at hand. He was on death row in Rome and he would never be set free. By speaking of his death as a “drink offering,” he was saying to Timothy, “When you hear of my death, don’t think that Nero has executed me against my will. I gladly lay down my life for my Lord. Nero cannot take my life; I gladly offer it to Christ. My own blood will be like the wine of the drink offering, gladly given to the One who loved me and gave himself for me.” It was Paul’s way of saying, “Don’t weep for me, Timothy. Know this: When I die, I will die smiling.” Paul had already given everything to Jesus. The only thing left to give was his life—and that he gladly gave.

The word “departure” in verse 6 has three word pictures behind it. It refers to a ship hoisting the anchor, raising the sails, leaving the harbour, and setting sail for a distant port.

It also refers to an army that has made camp near a battlefield. To “depart” means to break camp, leave the battlefield, and head for home. It also pictures a man who has been carrying a staggering burden. Now the call comes, “My friend lay your burden down. It’s time to come home.” For Paul, death was like setting sail, breaking camp, laying down his heavy burden, and finally going home to be with the Lord. Was Paul afraid to die? Not at all. Written over his whole life these two words: NO REGRETS. Since he had no regrets, he viewed his death as simply going home to be with the Lord. What kind of departure will you have? Do you have that same confidence about your own death? You can face death with that cheerful faith if you will do what Paul did—offer your life as a “living sacrifice” to the Lord with nothing held back.

II What kind of legacy will you leave? (v. 7)

Billy Sunday, though many people do not know his name, in the first half of the 20th century, he was America’s greatest evangelist—preaching face to face to over 100 million people. He personally shook hands with over one million people who give their heart to Jesus. Engraved on his tombstone are the words of 2 Timothy 4:7 in the King James Version: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” This was the legacy he left behind.

Paul too left a legacy for all of us to see.

First, he lived a disciplined life. “I fought the good fight.” This speaks to the continual struggle that he faced. Think of the words Paul used to describe his own life: trouble, distress, tribulation, trials, and hardships.

In 2 Corinthians 6:4-5 , he described the normal Christian life as including these elements:

But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger

In other passages he spoke of the spiritual opposition he faced—Satan, the forces of darkness, the indwelling power of the flesh, and the spiritual darkness of paganism.

Whatever else can we say about Paul? We can’t say he had an easy life. He never stopped fighting for Jesus until the day he died. Now at last, the struggle is almost over.

Soon his Commander-in-Chief will grant him an Honourable Discharge from the battles of life. He will be promoted from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant. By God’s grace, he had fought well and for him, the battle would soon be over.

Second, he lived a directional life. “I have finished my course.” We must not read and think that Paul means, “I did what I wanted to do.”He is not like Frank Sinatra singing, “I did it my way.” Paul means that he followed the course the Lord Jesus set out for him the day he saved him on the road to Damascus. Ever since that day, he had been following the Lord, doing whatever the Lord had for him to do. Whether in good times or bad times, whether in happy circumstances or in the midst of pain and suffering, Paul had walked in the way of the Lord. Now that journey was almost over. He could look back and say, “It wasn’t easy, it was often hard, and sometimes I wondered if I would make it, but now I can see that Jesus led me all the way.” He had reached the finish line at last.

I read about a professor at a Christian college, who along with his son, went on a 1,000-mile backpacking trip from British Columbia to southern California. Together father and son hiked through the mountains of Washington, Oregon and California.

For many days they were alone on the trail, often camping above the 10,000-foot level. They faced every sort of discouragement—lack of food and water, danger from wild animals, danger from robbers they might meet, days of rain and mud, incredible physical exhaustion, the very real possibility of physical injury, not to speak of loneliness, blisters, mosquitoes, and the extremes of heat and cold. Before leaving on the trip, the professor discovered that over 90% of those who set out to hike more than 500 miles never make it. Fifty percent never get started and 40% quit after they start. Only 10% ever finish a long-distance hike. After studying the 10% who succeed, he came to certain conclusions.Some of it involved strenuous training and meticulous logistical preparation. But there was something else involved. He discovered that those who succeeded versus those who failed understood that the biggest block was mental.They knew that their real enemy lay within, not without. Those who succeeded make two important decisions: First, they decided they would finish the trip no matter what happened, and second, they expected bad things to happen and decided they would not be surprised or dismayed. So when the rains turned the trail into a swamp, they didn’t quit because they weren’t surprised. When black clouds of mosquitoes descended like some Old Testament plague, they didn’t quit because they weren’t surprised.

When they faced days of loneliness and nights of hunger, they didn’t quit because they knew it would be like this.In essence, the successful backpackers adopted a certain mindset. They knew that the key was simply putting one foot in front of the other. You take a step and hit the mud. You take another step and see a bear. You take another step and your legs begin to cramp. You take another step and the crazy people come out of the woods. It doesn’t matter. You aren’t surprised because you knew the crazy people would show up sooner or later. So you just keep putting one foot in front of the other and eventually your journey is finished.

I believe this was Paul’s approach to the Christian life. No matter what happened to him, he just kept moving forward by the grace of God. One foot in front of the other, one step at a time, one day at a time. He wasn’t deterred by opposition because he knew it was coming eventually. Our problem is that we’re surprised by trouble. We think the Christian life ought to be easy. It’s not easy, and it’s not supposed to be easy. Today is the day of struggle, combat and warfare. Today we march to battle in the name of the Lord. The day of rest comes later.

Third, he lived a doctrinal life. “I have kept the faith.” This simply means he refused to compromise the truth. When other people fell away, Paul preached the Word. When the world was against him, Paul paid no attention. When it would have been easy to trim his message to save his own life, Paul proclaimed the whole counsel of God. He did not back down, he did not compromise, and he would not preach what people wanted to hear. He kept the faith. Because Paul knew that nothing could touch him that did not come from the hand of God, he never gave in to discouragement. He truly believed that everything that happened to him was for his good and for God’s glory. Therefore, he kept on going for God to the very end. Even the chains of a Roman jail could not destroy his faith or shatter his confidence in God.

He never stopped fighting! He never stopped running! He never stopped believing!

III. What kind of reward will you receive? (v. 8)

“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8 ).

Here we see Paul’s faith shining so brightly that the darkness of the Roman prison cell seems to disappear. By faith he sees beyond his own beheading. The pain of that moment is now past and the suffering of this life is left far behind. By faith he sees a day (“that day”) when he will receive his reward from the Lord. What will that reward be like? It will be a guaranteed reward. It is “laid up” or “stored” in heaven for Paul.

It will be a glorious reward. It is the crown of righteousness.

It will be a personal reward. Paul will receive his reward from the Lord himself. Note how specific he is about this. It is the Lord, the righteous Judge, who will reward him.

In just a few days Nero, the unrighteous earthly ruler, will have him beheaded. But in “that day” the Lord himself will reverse Nero’s earthly judgment.The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Universe will weigh in on Paul’s case—and his judgment will be final. And it will be personal. Paul won’t be awarded his crown by mail and he won’t receive it from a committee. He will receive it directly from Jesus Christ.

It will be a future reward. Paul will receive his reward on “that day,” the day Jesus Christ returns from heaven.

It will be a shared reward. It is not just for Paul but also for everyone who loves the Lord and longs for his appearing.This is what is ahead for you and me if we will faithfully serve Jesus Christ in this life. Let us be encouraged like a child of God.

The Lord is not so unjust as to forget your suffering for him. He sees all that you go through. He knows all about your struggles. He sees how hard the fight is, how you are sometimes tempted to quit, and how you keep on going when others around you throw in the towel. He sees and he knows and in “that day,” the Lord himself will reward us if we are faithful to him now. So the word of Lord is this: Keep on fighting. Keep on running. Keep on believing. And the best of all is yet to come. It won’t be long now, just a little while and the Lord himself will return, and all our struggles will be over.This hot battle won’t last forever, this long road will soon come to an end, and this old world full of “dangers, toils and snares” won’t last much longer. Hold on to your faith, we as children of God. Keep believing. Stay strong. Put on the whole armour of God. Hold on to your faith and never give up. There’s a finish line out there somewhere, and it’s closer than any of us realize.

We need to Finish Strong! We need to Finish Well! We need to Finish in Faith

By the grace of God, let’s finish strong for Jesus.

Tonight we observe Call to Ministry Sunday… We may not be called into full time ministry like pastor but we definitely are call into some form of ministry for the Lord to serve Him in the church. Brothers and sisters-in Christ, our church is a very small church with about 100 memberships. But God’s ministries for this church are plentiful. Many people have worked hard without complain because they know the rewards ultimately comes from God himself.

The church needs you to serve in the Church School, youth, community tuition, medical project, Chinese service and even in the LCEC. If tonight the message has speak to you tell pastor what ministry you want to get involved. In fact every one of us is welcome to serve in the LCEC. The LCEC means Local Church Executive Council is itself a ministry because we learn from one another as how and what is the best way to serve God for this Church. We may not agreed with each other but we learn to listen, ponder, pray and try to understand others ideas and suggestion. Any decisions made in the LCEC in not by taking votes or sides but through praying and asking God to let us see the reasons for the decisions taken. There must be a unanimous decisions. That’s why some decisions take quite a while to make. This is because we want the best outcome for God in this church and we are accountable to God for any bad decisions taken.

If you want to grow in character and love to serve God, perhaps the LCEC is a good place to begin. I urge all of us to be involved in the church for God. Differences and Disagreements and Discouragement will come but it for the glory of God that we learn to consider other better than us and like Paul said, let finish the race that God has put us there.

We need to Keep on fighting. Keep on running. Keep on believing

How to finish strong, well and keep our faith? Paul told Timothy in vs. 5. You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfil your ministry.

What will be our response and how do we prepare ourselves so as to imitate what Paul has shown us. We need to ask ourselves 3 questions tonight:

I. What kind of departure will we have? (v 6)

II. What kind of legacy will you leave? (v. 7)

III. What kind of reward will you receive? (v. 8)

Text: 2 Timothy 2: 1 -13

OPENING PRAYER

Abba Father! Annoint our 6x

• ears to hear You
• eyes to see You
• minds to understand You
• wills to obey You
• hearts to love you
• hands to serve You

Heavenly Father! Open our 6x..

• ears to hear Your voice
• eyes to see Your holiness
• minds to understand Your waysl
• wills to obey Your Word
• hearts to receive Your love
• lips to sing Your praises

For we desire to

• know You intimately
• love You dearly
• follow You closely
• obey You wholeheartedly
• serve You singlemindedly and
• live for You sacrificially

We pray this in Yeshua’s name. Amen.

TEXT, TITLE & KEY VERSE

Tonight’s text is 2 Timothy 2: 1 -1 Tonight’s message is entitled Pass It On. The key verses in tonight’s message is 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Timothy, my dear son, be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus.You’ve heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy peoplewho are able to pass them on to others. NLT

Oh, Timothy, my son, be strong with the strength Christ Jesus gives you. For you must teach others those things you and many others have heard me speak about. Teach these great truths to trustworthy men who will, in turn, pass them on to others. LB

Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who will, in turn,pass them on to others.

What great truths was Timothy asked to teach?

In addition to the preaching of the gospel, what other great truths was Timothy asked to pass on to people he could trust? Let me translate this question into an application question that is relevent to us today as a church. In addition to the preaching of the gospel, what other values & virtues are we urged to pass on as we nurture new christians, make Christlike disciples, mentor future leaders and train competent teachers? From tonight’s text, there are 6 core virtues that need to be passed on to the next generation of leaders and teachers. They are..

• hardwork
• persistence
• overcoming spirit
• optimism
• commitment
• rising above circumstances

From the epistle of 2 Timothy, there are 5 essential values that need to be passed on to the next generation of christians and disciples. They are

• integrity
• peace
• love
• devotion
• compassion.

We are not to teach these truths to everybody or anybody. We are to told to teach these virtues to trustworthy men and women. Not just any trustworthy men or women but to trustworthy men who are willing to pass them on to others; to trustworthy women who are able to pass them on to others.

Who are these trustworthy people we are looking for? Like Paul and Timothy I’m looking for trustworthy people to invest my life in. I want to invest my time and energies; I want to share my experiences and skills with those who are FAT.

F stands for faithful ;those who are full of faith and faithful in what they are doing

A stands for available; those who are available to serve God anywhere, anytime anyhow no matter what.

T stands for teachable; those who are humble and willing to learn from God and from their mentors.

We are not to share the gospel in fear with trembling. We are not to timidly teach these virtues and values in our own strength. We are urged to be strong with the strength given to us by Christ Jesus. We are told to be bold because of the special favor given to us in Christ Jesus.

You cannot share what you don’t have. You cannot teach what you don’t know. To be authentic you must earn the right to share.To be effective you must earn the respect to teach. Before you entrust to others what God has taught you, you must earn the right and the respect to do it. Before you can entrust to others what God is teaching you. 3 happenings must be seen to be actively at work in your life. These 3 happenings are stated in 2 Timothy 2: 1 -13 as

1. Excite over what you have received

2 Endure what you are undergoing

3 Emulate what you are seeing

Let me begin with point number 1

EXCITE OVER WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED

These 2 things you have received from God should excite you.

1stly: Be excited over your salvation. I read 1 Timothy 1: 9 -10 from the NLT

It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserve it, but because that was His plan long before the world began; to show His love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. And now He has made all of this plain to us by the coming of Christ Jesus, our Savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the way to everlasting life through the Good News.

God has saved you from the fires of hell; are you thankful for it? God has saved you to spend eternity with Him; are you excited over it? God saved you not because you deserve it. Are you grateful for it? God chose you long before the world began. Have you praised Him for it? God has chosen you to live a holy life; are you rejoicing over it?. God has chosen you to show His love and kindness; are you showing it? God has picked you to pour out His love and mercy to those who don’t know Him; are you happy doing it? Jesus Christ has broken the power of death over you; does this truth excite you Christ has plainly showed you the way to eternal life; are you eagerly sharing this with others? You are saved because someone shared the Good News with you; did you praise God for this? These are the biblical truths that you ought to be enthusiastic about. These are the spiritual realities that ought to excite you. If you’re excited by things other than these, you need to realign your spiritual values.

2ndly: Be excited over what God has given you. I read from the NLT 1 Tim 1: 7 -8

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity; but of power, love and self-discipline. So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me even though I’m in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News

The spirit of fear and timidity comes from Satan, not God. He instills fear in us and causes us to be timid so that

· we’ll be afraid to tell others about Lord Jesus

· we’ll be ashamed to identify with christians suffering persecution

· we’ll not have God’s strength to suffer for Christ

· we’ll not be ready to proclaim Good News to others.

God has not given to us the spirit of fear and timidity. God has given to each one of us the spirit of power, the spirit of love and the spirit of self-disciplne. When you are excited over what God has given you; when you stir up this gift of God which is in you, when you fan into flames this spiritual gift of God in you you’ll have God’s power, love and discipline ..

· to tell others about Lord Jesus

· to identify with christians suffering persecution

· to suffer persecution for Christ’s sake and

· to proclaim the gospel of salvation no matter what.

As a disciple of Jesus are you excited over what you have received? As a saved sinner are you thankful for your salvation?As a child of God are you stirring up the spirit of power, love  and self-discipline that is in you? If your answer is no to these 3 questions;I invite you to come to the altar after this evening’s message and we’ll pray for you to receive these God-given gifts;we’ll pray for you to stir up God’s Spirit of power,love and self-discipline in you; we’ll pray that God will excite you over what you have received from Him. If you’re not excited over what God has given you, you will find it very hard to endure what you are presently undergoing.This leads me to point #2 of tonight’s message.

.ENDURE WHAT YOU ARE UNDERGOING. 3 ways to endure suffering for the sake of Christ.

1stly: Endure suffering as a good soldier. 2 Timothy 2: 3 -4 NLT

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who enlisted you in his army.

A good soldier of Jesus refuses to be distracted by the things of this world. A good soldier of Christ does not love this evil world and all that it offers him. For all these worldly things, these evil desires; the craze for sex the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you and the pride that comes from wealth and importanc these are not from Go They are from this evil world. I John 2: 15 -16 LB

A good soldier of Jesus does not love this evil world and all that it offer because he wants to please Jesus, the One who enlisted him in God’s army.

2ndly: Endure suffering as a disciplined athlete. 2 Timothy 2: 5 NLT

Follow the Lord’s rules for doing His work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize.

Effort and determination are required to do the Lord’s work.  All the hardwork and discipline will be wasted if you fail to follow God’s rules for doing His work. Be like Paul who said this in 1 Cor 9: 26 -27

I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow-boxing or playing around. Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly; training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others in the race I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside. LB

I don’t know about you, but I am running hard for the finish line. I am giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me. I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. Msg

3rdly: Endure suffering as a hardworking farmer. 2 Timothy 2: 6

Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. NLT

Hardworking farmers work long hours of back breaking labor under all kinds of conditions with the hope that their physical effort will be rewarded by a good harvest. Are you enduring suffering like a hardworking farmer? Are you willing to work long hours with difficult people under all kinds of conditions? If you are willing to do this for Jesus, you’ll be rewarded with a good harvest of souls and disciples, a good team of leaders taught and trained by you who then will be able to reproduce themselves in others.

Be like Paul who said this in Colosians 1: 28-29 Everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ’s mighty power that works withiin me. Be like Paul who endured suffering as a hardworking farmerand you’ll be the first to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

What hardships are you undergoing as a servant of God? What sufferings are you undergoing in ministry for Christ? Are they

• unlovable people & uncaring leaders
• unappreciative co-workers & unreasonable expectations
• uncommitted givers & unresponsive associates
• unteachable disciples & unresolved conflicts
• unscheduled interruptions & unsolicited criticisms
• unavailable resources & uncooperative team members

Endure them as a good soldier, a disciplined athlete and a hardworking farmer. Do your best and God will do the rest for you.

Without good role models it’s difficult to be excited over what you’ve received from God. Without fatherly mentors it’s hard to endure the suffering you’re undergoing.This brings me to point # 3 of tonight’s message.

EMULATE WHAT YOU’RE SEEING 2 Timothy 2: 8 -10 LB

Don’t ever forget the wonderful fact that Jesus Christ was a Man, born into King David’s family; and that He was God; as shown by the fact that He rose again from the dead. It is because I have preached these great truths that I am in trouble here and have been put in jail like a criminal. But the Word of God is not chained, even though I am. I am more than willing to suffer if that will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

Paul was in big trouble when he preached Jesus as fully man and fully God. Paul was thrown into prison for refusing to stop preaching. Trouble or no trouble, priison or no prison Paul was willing to endure more suffering to bring salvation to those God has chosen. Are you willing to emulate what you see in Paul? Are you willing to teach others to emulate what you see in Paul’s life? Before you decide consider these words recorded for your benefit. They are found in 2 Timothy 2: 11 -13 LB

I’m comforted by this truth, that when we suffer and die for Christ, it only means that we will begin living with Him in heaven. And if we think that our present service for Him is hard, just remember that some day we are going to sit with Him and rule with Him. But if we give up when we suffer, and turn against Christ, then He must turn against us. Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, He remains faithful to us and He will help us, for He cannot disown us who are part of Himself and He will always carry out His promises to us.

Now consider this illustration. There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge life too quickly. So he sent them each to go and look at a particular tree. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in autumn. When they had all gone and come back, he asked them to describe what they had seen. 
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.
The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of  promise. 
The third son disagreed; he said it was full of blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. 
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. 
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right because they had each seen only one season in the tree's life. 
You cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season. The essence of who we are; the pleasure, joy, and love that come from our life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are added up. If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer and the fulfillment of your autumn. 
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of living.  Don't  judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm30: 5 NIV

Our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long.Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever. 2 Cor 4:17 NLT

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. 1 Peter 1:6 NLT

CLOSURE

Let me end with this challenge. Though not perfect, your present set of leaders has earned the right to lead this church because we are 3x

• excited over what we have received from God
• enduring what we’re undergoing in ministry like good soldiers, diisciplined athletes and hardworking farmers
• emulating what we are seeing in apostle Paul’s life and ministry.

Though not faultless, your LCEC has earned the respect to obey 2 Timothy 2:2 that is

• to entrust to trustworthy people the gospel of salvation
• to pass on biblical virtues to reliable men and women, boys and girls who are willing to be taught & trained.
• and are able to pass on to others what they received.

We’re looking for FAT persons to motivate and to mentor. We’re looking for faithful stewards, available servants and teachable saints. Most of us in the LCEC are already in our 50s and 60s. Next year we will be pastorless as a church. We urgently need teachable and available servant-hearted persons in their 20s, 30s and 40s to teach and train, to mold and mentor before they are elected to replace us in the LCEC. Will you step forward and avail youself to be discipled. You can’t disciple others when you yourself have not been discipled. You can’t lead when you yourself have not been trained to lead. You can’t teach unless you yourself have been taught by God or by your mentors.

The 2^nd intake of the Disciples Course will begin soon. I pray many of you will sign up for the right reasons, that is you want to be discipled so that you will be able to make new disciples for Jesus. Reflect over what I have said. I pray Abba Father will give you insight into all this. May the LORD give you

• understanding to know His will
• courage to obey His Word and
• wisdom to follow His ways.

What you have received from God, pass it on. What you have learned from others, pass it on. cws/wmcas/31072011

FELLOWSHIP WITH BELIEVERS

Topic : Fellowship with Believers
Scriptures : Hebrews 10: 24 - 25; John 13: 34 - 35
Date : 20th Feb 2011
Speaker : Chan Weng Seng

MP3 version: Download

OPENING PRAYER

Speak Abba Father. Your children listen.Teach Lord Jesus. Your disciples learn.Cleanse Holy Spirit. Your temples are ready. May the words of my mouth, the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you Abba Father. May our response to the preaching of your Word please you tonight.. We pray this prayer in Jesus name. Amen.

REVIEW OF SERMON SERIES

These are not my words. If they are, reject them. These life-and-death words are from Jesus. He meant every word He said. He said every word He meant. Reject them and you’re doomed for now and eternity. Accept them and you’ll live for now and for eternity. Listen carefully. Your life depends on it. I read from the NLT Matthew 7: 21 -23. Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘LORD’ but they still won’t enter God’s kingdom. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me LORD LORD, we prophesied in your name we cast out demons in your name we performed many miracles in your name But I will reply. I never knew you. Go away, the things you did were unauthorized.

The Message paraphrase Matthew 7: 21 -23 this way. Knowing the correct password saying Master Master for instance isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience, doing what my Father wills. I can see it now at the Final Judgment. Thousands strutting up to me and saying Master we preached the Message, we bashed the demons our god-sponsored projects had everyone talking. Do you know what I am going to say to them? You missed the boat. All you did was to use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. Get out from heaven.

As far as Jesus is concerned, the decisive issue is obedience to Father God. What Jesus requires is serious obedience, doing what Father God wants. If you don’t serously obey, if you don’t completely do what Father God wants; on Judgment Day Jesus will say this to you ‘I don’t know you even though you call me Master, even though you claim to be my disciple. Why call me LORD LORD when you don’t love and obey me.’

What does Father God want you to obey? What command has LORD Jesus given to you and me? If you do not know, if you’ve conveniently forgotten, if you’ve not started to obey, let me refer you to Matthew 28: 19 -20 which is our church theme for this year Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.

This is not an advice where you have the option to obey or disobey..This is a command. You either obey or you disobey. Being discipled, making disciples is our core business this year. For this reason, we’ve started The Disciples’ Course. All of us are not exempted from obeying Jesus. All of us are not excused from being discipled and in making dsciples. If you’ve missed out on the 1^st intake, I urge you to sign up for the 2nd intake. For your own good, make sure you’re being discipled so that you can make disciples for Jesus. For your sake, we’ve started this sermon series to run concurrentlywith the Dsiciples’s Course. Be reminded! This is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourselves. NLT Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’re a listener when you let God’s Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear. Msg James 1: 22

Unless you act on what you hear, unless you obey what has been taught, you’re no better than those self-professing pseudo disciples that Jesus reject. Who are these self-professing pseudo disciples Jesus reject and why are they rejected? They are rejected because they don’t have 4x

• a personal one-to one relationship with Jesus

• a master-disciple relationship with Jesus.

• a lifelong commitment to be faithful to Jesus

• an always- obedient relationship with Jesus

• Their character has not been transformed to be like Jesus

• Their values have not been changed into kingdom values.

• They have never bothered to get involved in Jesus’ mission in the world.

As far as Jesus is concerned only true disciples who love and obey Him will be accepted into God’s kingdom. So who are these true disciples that Jesus will accept? They are those 6x..

• who have a personal one-to-one master-disciple relationship with Jesus

• who have a lifelong commitment to remain faithful to Jesus

• who have an always-obedient master-servant relationship with Jesus .

• whose character are being transformed to be like Jesus

• whose values are being changed into kingdom values

• who involve themselves in Jesus’ world mission.

How can you be sure you’ll be with Jesus in the afterlife? How can you be sure that Jesus will accept you into God’s kingdom? You can be sure because of what Jesus has promised you in Scripture. Jesus will accept you 6x..

1 when you come after Him, deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Him. Luke 9:23

2  when you as branch remain in Jesus the vine and you bear much fruit for apart from Him you can do nothing. John 15:5

3 when you hold on to Jesus teaching. Then you’ll know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32

4 when you love one another as Jesus has loved you. By this all men will know that you’re Jesus’ disciple. Jn 13: 34-35

5  when you gloriify Father God by bearing much fruit for Him. John 15:8

6  when you show great love by laying down your life for your friends John 15:13

You don’t have to wait for the afterlife to enjoy these promises. When you live and love as Jesus’ disciple now in the present

you will experience 6x..

1 excitement and enrichment when Jesus becomes #1 in your life

2 confidence and comfort that come from living in the Word.

3 supernatural power in prayer as you learn to pray in faith

4 genuine fellowship with believers when you love & serve in community

5 great joy when sharing Christ with others by how you live & what you say.

6 satisfaction in investing your life in others by ministering to their needs.

If you’re not experiencing these things in your life, ask yourself  these questions.

1  Am I spending enough time daily with Jesus my Master?

2 Am I seriously applying God’s Word in my life daily?

3  Am I earnestly praying in faith not once in a while but daily?

4 Do I fellowship with believers regularly?

5  Am I Jesus’ faithful witness in the world?

6  Do I minister to others in Jesus name?

These 6 disciplines characterize the life of a true disciple of Jesus. The Disciples’ Course is designed to help you integrate these disciplines into your daily living This sermon series is preached to motivate you to make these disciplines your daily habits. Thus far you’re been encouraged to put into practice the 1^st 3 disciplines that is the discipline of 1 Spending time with your Master   2 Living in God’s Word  3 Praying in faith. Tonight I encourage you to make this 4^th discipline your daily habit which is  4 Fellowshipping with beleivers. I have now arrived at the 2^nd part of my message which is

REFLECT ON TONIGHT’S SERMON which is entitled FELLOWSHIPPING WITH BELIEVERS

I begin by explaning these two words: believers and fellowship. Consider the 1^st word; the word ‘believers.’Who are believers? Believers are disciples of Jesus who worship the same God. They worship God the Father who is infinite in wisdom, power and love whose mercy is over all His works whose will is ever directed to His children’s good. They worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the gift of Father God’s unfailing grace, the ground of their hope, the promise of their deliverance from sin and death. They worship the Holy Spirit as God’s divine presence in their lives who reminds them about the love of God and the truth of Christ the source of strength and help in their time of need. They believe that their faith should be lived out in truth and love until the kingdom of God come upon the earth. Other than worshipping the same God, Jesus’ disciples also believe that they 6x

1 have the same Father - the LORD God Almighty.

2. have been bought with the same price – the Blood of Jesus.

3 are members of the same body - the Body of Christ

4 are being taught by the same Spirit – the Holy Spirit

5 are serving the same Master – LORD Jesus

6 are heirs of the same inheritance – co-heirs with Jesus

The second word I now explain is the word ‘fellowship.’ Some say the word fellowship means ‘fellows in the same ship’ This is not true. Let me explain why. Every month I preach to 4 different congregations in Langkawi. To get there, I take the ferry from Kuala Kedah with other passengers. I don’t fellowship with these passengers even though we’re in the same boat heading for the same destination. I can’t truly fellowship with passengers who’re stangers to me because

they 7x..

• are not worshipping the same God as me

• don’t have the same heavenly Father as I have

• have not been redeemed by the blood of Jesus

• are not members of the Body of Christ

• are not being taught by the Holy Spirit

• are not serving the same Master as me

• are not co-heirs with me for the same inheritance.

But each Sunday I am here without fail fellowshipping with you. Why Because I .

• am worshipping the same Triune God as you

• have the same heavenly Father as you

• have been redeemed by the same blood of Jesus as you

• am a member of the same Body of Chrsit as you

• am being taught by the same Holy Spirit as you

• am serving the same LORD and Master as you

• am co-heirs with you for the same inheritance.

And when we fellowship together as believers we are ..

• spending time together as the people of God

• worshipping the same Father God together as family of God

• studying God’s Word together as disciples of Jesus

• serving the same Master together as servants of God

• sharing your life together as the Body of Christ

• praying in faith together as directed by the Holy Spirit

• witnessing to the world together in obedience to Jesus

Let me ask you this application question. Fellowshipping with believers is it

• a command to be obeyed

• a privilege to be enjoyed

• an optional responsibility to be considered

• a spiritual exercise to be practiced on?

Why bother to fellowship with believers some of you may ask? Allow me to convince you with some quotations from Scripture. More importantly, allow yourself to be convicted by the Holy Spirit as Scripture is read to you. Fellowshipping with believers is a must because

1 God commands you to do it. Hebrews 10: 24 -25 Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds. Let us not give up meeting one another as some are in the habit of doing but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day (of Judgement) approaching. NIV Let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good. Let us not neglect our church meetings as some people do but encourage and warn each other especially now that the day of Christ’s coming back is drawing near. LB

Fellowshipping with believers is a must because

2 You obey Christ’s command to love when you do it. John 13: 34 -35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, f you love one another. NIV Let me give you a new commandment. Love one another. In the same way as I have loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples. When they see the love you have for each other. Msg

You scratch my back. I scratch your back. You be nice to me, I be nice to you. It’s easy to love one another when everything is fine and well. It’s nice to love one another in the church when there are no nasty people in it. What if someone says no to you for your own good? Will you accept it in love? What if someone badmouth you behind your back? Will you respond in love? What if someone is nasty with you? Will you continue to love? Will you respond with the love of Christ inspite of ..

• stubborn wills and sharp tongues

• hot tempers and ugly confrontations

• conflicting interests and unresolved disagreements

• devious manipulations and emotional blackmails

• wounded hearts and unforgiving spirits

You won’t unless you ask Father God to fill your heart with His love. You can’t unless you have the love of Christ in your heart. Do you want Father God to fill your heart with His love? Do you want Christ’s love in your heart to respond in love? Will you continue to fellowship with believers in spite of ..

• busy schedules and personal shyness

• poor health and financial difficulties

• unmet needs and broken promises

• uncaring attitudes and unkind accusations

• unacceptable conduct and unrealistic expectations.

You can’t unless you choose to obey Father God. You won’t unless you choose to love in obedience to Christ. Do you desire to love others in obedience to Father God? Do you love enough to continue fellowshipping with other believers?

Father God will fill your heart with His love if you fervently ask Him for it. And when Father God fills your heart with His love, then

• you’ll not stop fellowshipping with other believers in the church.

• you’ll not stop serving God together with other disciples in the church.

• you’ll not want to quit the church

• God will empower you to love others the way Christ loves you.

• You will be able to love others the way Christ loves you

• you’ll want to restore the peace that is missing in your heart

• you’ll do what it takes to restore harmony back into the church.

Jesus will help you love others if you truly want to obey Him. And when Jesus helps you love others the way He loves you then

• you’re truly spurring one another toward love

• you’re really outdoing each other in being kind

• you’re seriously encouraging one another in doing good

• you’re sincerely loving one another as Christ loves you

• and everyone will easily recognize you as Christ’s disciple.

We’ve reviewed this sermon series on Being Discipled & Making Disciples. We have reflected on what is means to fellowship with believers. I close with my message with this question God wants to ask you. What is your response to what you’ve heard tonight? I close with

YOUR REPONSE TO TONIGHT’S MESSAGE Listen to these words carefully before you respond to God’s question. Listen mindfully before you respond wholeheartedly to God. Ask God’s Holy Spirit to reveal to you what God wants from you. This is the message we have heard from God and declare to you. God is light (=true and holy), in Him is no darkness (=falsehood & sin) at all. If we claim to have fellowship with God yet walk in darkness we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves & the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just & He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives. 1 John1: 5-10 NIV This is the message God has given me to pass on to you. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we are His friends but go on living in spiritual darkness and sin,we are lying. But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He can be depended upon to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are lying and calling God a liar for He says we have sinned. 1 John 1: 5 -10 LB

Over to you! It’s between you and God now. Tell Him your response to the preaching of His Word. Tell Him what’s in your heart in response to the stirring of the Holy Spirit. After the benediction, come to the altar to pray if this is your desire. Ask to be prayed for if this is your desire. Don’t leave God’s presence without giving Him your answer. God wants to hear from you.

CLOSING PRAYER Search me Father God and know my heart today. Try me O Saviour and know my thoughts I pray. See if there be some wicked way in me. Cleanse me from every sin and set me free. I’m not perfect. I’ve not arrived. I still sin and I stubbornly continue to sin. I do have problems. I don’t know it all. I still have much to learn. I’m not complete that I don’t need anything from You, dear LORD. Show me what’s in my heart that displease You. Teach me what I am not understanding. Convict me when I have sinned against you and others. Tear down my arrogance & pride, fears & insecurities. Help me see the truth about myself, my life, my circumstances. Expose the ugly things in my heart that pains you Abba Father I can take it. With your help I can face these ugly giants in my life and defeat them. Help me repent and confess these secret and stubborn sins. Help me replace lies with truth and make changes in my life that last. So help me Abba Father because I pray this in Yeshua, your Son’s name. Amen.