Even
though I'm in Singapore, I'm actually from Penang so I'm back almost every
month. My mother is here. It's a privilege to be here so thank you for
inviting.
This
morning I want to talk about discipleship. Some of you, you will remember
evangelism of the past. It's like at the end of the sermon, the preacher will
ask "if you die today what happens to you?" You get scared.
Evangelism talks about what happens when you die and not about how you live for
the Lord.
Everyone
who is saved and assured of heaven is a convert. The rest who is serious about
God are disciples. These two tiers have weakened the church. One have the
insurance of heaven and the other are the crazy ones who memorises 500 verses.
This has weakened the church.
Recent
times, the church have revisited the meaning of discipleship.
Matthew 28:16
Then the eleven disciples went away
into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
Every
time a revelation is revealed at the mountains it seems to be significant. Like
Moses at Mount Sinai. God can reveal anywhere but at the mountains it seems to
be a more significant revelation.
The
disciples are a bunch of 11 Jews who were worshiping a man of 33 years old.
Only one God they have worshiped but why are they worshiping Jesus. Because he
died and rose again. It was a unique proof and claim. Tell me of another who
have died and rose again. It is not blind believe. God gave evidence of Jesus'
death and resurrection.
Following
Christ is not the most easy or convenient religion. I follow Christ because
it's the truth. My parents were Christians and I'm the only son. Following
Christ at that time did not cost me anything. I've never suffered from
following Christ but to give up my dentistry to follow Christ suddenly, was
finally going to cost me something.
Matthew 28:17
When they saw Him, they worshiped
Him; but some doubted.
We may go
to church because our parents are Christians but there will come a point of
time where you have to ask yourself, is it true? And will I follow? The 11
disciples believed and followed him.
The truth
is that some doubted and that's the truth. In the big picture they believed but
still have doubts. There was no unbelievers, but they still had doubts. We
should give room for questions even regarding Christianity. Questions should be welcomed and not jumped
on.
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spoke to them,
saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
All the
men deserted him except the ladies who stood by him. But after he resurrected
they believed again. If I was Jesus, I'd say wah, why you deserted me? But the
grace of God showed how Jesus approached them.
But we
have to come back to the Lord. Peter did but Judas didn't. Jesus came back and
gave them fresh instructions on what to do. Things God has wanted you to do but
you didn't. Jesus is here with open arms for fresh instructions.
All
authority in heaven and earth. Who can that be? Only God for the Jews. It's
everything. No area not under his lordship. Continue to trust in God. Satan
promised Jesus all authority on earth but Jesus said all authority in heaven
and earth. All.
Do you
really believe that Jesus is God and has all authority? I know now when you
obey him. When you acknowledge his lordship. Instructions are coming.
Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit,
Make
disciples not convert. We may not know what a disciple actually means. At that
time a disciple is an apprentice. If you want to be a carpenter, you'll go to a
master carpenter and ask him to be a sifu. You'll probably move in and observe
him. Then he'll give you simple tasks and after a time has passed you'll
qualify. A disciple is a student or apprentice. We learn from Jesus.
A
disciple involves all of us. You cannot say you don't want to be baptise
because you are not mature yet. That's wrong. Baptism is the beginning. It's
the beginning of a journey. It shows that you've taken the plunge to follow
Jesus. Baptism is not a mark of maturity but a mark of beginning.
It's like
learning to drive, you get an "L" plate, a learner. At Form 5 I did
that. My instructor was a man called lau Lim. With his broken English. The
first time we were out, when he gave me instructions it was hard to understand.
But over time I understood him. Then I passed without paying bribe. I was lau
Lim's disciple and learnt to drive.
We don't
loose when we obey God's Commandments.
Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit,
If I was
an English teacher I'd say it's bad English. The verse said the name yet there
are three being addressed. God is only one yet three persons. The true God has
a community among himself. Cannot explain. I'll just kneel down and worship.
It says
all nations. I think the last sin to die is racism. God's love is for all
people. There's no second class in God's Kingdom. All are equally loved. That's
why we are to make disciples of all nations. It's reaching everyone.
Matthew 28:20
teaching them to observe all things
that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.” Amen.
Not just
to teach them but to teach them to obey. Not just teach them to pass exams like
our education system. We learn things without responsibility. We are trained to
learn and invite education with no responsibility. That's not what the Bible
says. It's to learn and obey. The test of the word is what kind of life you
live. That is the authority of God over you.
If you
read this, it's a very high calling. It's a tough calling. To make disciples.
But God will give you the power to do it. He is there to back you up to do it.
Like when God called Moses. He said I will be with you. He called Moses to free
the Israelites from the most powerful army in the world. God was with Moses. We
don't go with our own strength. He gave us the calling and power.
So what
is the Holy Spirit saying to some of us? Maybe it's to rededicate our life as a
disciple. Not a convert but a disciple since we are all disciples. It is a year
that we grow up. At 60 I'm still growing. I used to read large letter edition
but now my bible is giant print! So paiseh (shy). There's a programme that can
calculate how much time you have left based on you answering some questions.
People like me are nearing the end but as a disciple, we need to be dedicated
to him.
It's not
just about being a convert or disciple but being a mature or less mature
disciples. It's a time to rededicate ourselves, young or old.
Some
days, you may find following Christ to be difficult. God says I'll be with you.
He'll anoint you to be like Jesus, that's what the Holy Spirit does.
Or you
are struggling with the feeling of failure. God say come to me and I'll give
you a fresh start. It is harder to renovate the heart than the church.
When the
Bible says I stand at the heart and knock, it's not evangelism. It's God
wanting to give you a spiritual revelation. Time passes in supersonic speed.
What does God wants of you now? To shine as light in a very dark world.
1 comment:
Wow! A lot of work went into this! It was a special time. Thanks for the privilege.
Sooinn
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