1:21 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love. Our hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away. Fill us with the light of day. 1:38 [Music] Let's join in and sing, brothers and sisters. [Music] Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of 2:01 glory, Lord of love, hearts unfold like flowers before thee, holding to the sun above. Will the clouds of sin and sadness drive the dark of doubt 2:21 away. Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day. All thy works rejoice around me. 2:39 Earth and heaven reflect my ways. Stars and angels sing around the center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, whale 2:55 and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain, call us to rejoice in thee. [Music] 3:14 Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed, wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of heaven rest, thou our father, 3:33 Christ our brother, all who live in love are thy teach us how to love each Father, lift us to thy joy [Music] 3:51 divine. Let's sing just the voices. Mortals join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began. How divine is raining over us binding 4:11 all within its span. Ever singing march me onward. Victors in the midst of strife. Joyful music leads us onward. In 4:28 the triumph song of ever singing, ever singing, march we onward, victor in the midst of strife. Joyful music leads us 4:44 onward in the triumph song of life. Please be seated, brothers and sisters. Sing unto the Lord a new soul. Clap and sing. Sing unto the Lord, all the 5:03 earth. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. 5:22 Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. For God is great. For God is great and greatly to be praised. For God is great and greatly to be praised. Sing unto the Lord a new 5:46 song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. For God is great. For God is great and 6:02 greatly to be praised. For God is great and greatly to be praised. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. 6:21 Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing them over again to me. Wonderful words of 6:40 love. Let me more of their beauty see. Wonderful words of love. Words of life and beauty teach me faith and 6:57 beauty. Beautiful words. Wonderful words. Wonderful words of God. Beautiful words. Wonderful words. Wonderful words of love. Just a brother 7:15 sing. Christ the blessed one gives to all. Wonderful words of life. Serless to the loving call. Wonderful words of love. Joining 7:33 us. Oh so freely [Music] ging us to heaven. Beautiful words. Wonderful words, wonderful words of 7:50 love. Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of love. Your sister sing. Sweet people the cross will come. 8:06 Wonderful words of love to wonderful words of join in Jesus only savior 8:24 sanctified forever. Beautiful words. Wonderful words. Wonderful words of love. Beautiful words. Wonderful words. Wonderful words of love. Jesus only 8:44 savior. Jesus only savior sanctified forever. Beautiful words. Wonderful words. Wonderful words of 9:01 life. Beautiful words. Wonderful words. Wonderful words of [Music] life. As we want to hear wonderful words 9:20 of life this morning, God is faithful to speak to us. Let's think about who we come to. A holy God who commands the horse of heaven, who makes every king bow [Music] 9:48 down. Who else commands all the host of him? Who else to make every king bow down? Who else can transfer and darkness 10:06 tr? Only a holy God. What are the beauty? What are the beauty demands such praises? Lord, the splendor outshines the 10:26 sun. Lord, the majesty rules with justice. Only a holy God. Come and behold him, the one and the 10:48 only. Cry out, sing holy forever. A holy God. Come and worship the holy God. [Music] What other glory consumes like 11:18 fire? What other power can raise the dead? What other name remains undefeated? Only a holy God. Cry out. Come and come and behold him. 11:43 The one and the only cry. Sing holy forever a holy God. Come and worship the holy God. Who else could rescue me from my 12:11 failing? Who else would offer his only son? Who else invites me to call him father? Only a holy 12:28 God. Holy my holy God. Come and be holy. The one and the 12:45 only. Cry out sing holy forever a holy God. Come and worship the holy God. Just the voices sing. Come and behold him. 13:03 Come and behold him. The one and the only. Cry out. Sing holy forever a holy 13:21 God. Come and worship the holy God. When the stars burn down and the earth 13:37 wears out and we stand before the throne with the witnesses who have gone before. We will rise in all of singing blessing and honor and glory 13:57 and power forever to our God. Singing blessing and honor and glory and power forever to our God. And the hands of time wind fully down. 14:20 And the earth rolled up like the scroll. The trumpets will call. And the world will fall to its knees as we go home. Singing blessing and honor and 14:37 glory and power forever to our God. singing blessing and honor and glory and power forever to our God. 14:53 Star of the morning, light of salvation, majesty. [Music] God of all mysteries, Lord of the universe, rightous 15:10 king, star of the morning, light of salvation, majesty, God of all mysteries, Lord of the universe, rightous king, there will Come a day standing 15:35 face to face. In a moment we'll be like him. He will wipe our eyes dry. Take us up to his side. And forever we will be his singing blessing and honor and glory 15:54 and power forever to our God. singing blessing and honor and glory and power forever to our God. Singing blessing and honor and 16:12 glory and power forever to our God. singing, "Blessing and honor and glory and power forever to our God. [Music] 16:48 The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love. There is no shadow in your presence. No more than men would dare to 17:06 stand before your throne. before the holy one of heaven. It's only by your blood and it's only through your 17:23 mercy, Lord I [Music] come. I bring an offering of worship to my king. No one on earth deserves the praises that I say. 17:43 Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due. Oh Lord, I bring an offering to you. [Music] 18:10 The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love. There is no shadow in your presence. No more man would dare to stand before 18:29 your throne before the holy one of heaven. It's only by your blood and it's only through your mercy Lord I come. 18:49 [Music] I bring an offering of worship to my king. No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing. Jesus, may you receive the honor that 19:08 you're due. Oh Lord, I bring an offering to you. Oh Lord, I bring an offering to [Music] 19:27 you. Shall we stand up? Brothers and sisters, here we [Music] are lifting our hands to you. 19:49 Here we are giving you thanks for all you [Music] do as we 20:03 praise and worship your holy name. Jesus, Jesus, you are here dwelling within our praise for every answered prayer. 20:26 For every answer. For always being there. Always being there. Love that hears us when we call. For arms that lift us when we fall. You have always 20:46 been right beside us, leading us all along the way. We made it through because of 21:04 you. So here we are. We're lifting our hands to you. Here we are. We're giving you thanks for all you 21:24 do. as we praise and worship your holy name. You are [Music] 21:40 here dwelling within our praise. For days we cannot see. For days we cannot see. For all that's yet to be. All that's yet to be. For trials we may 22:00 have to face. When we'll be leaning on your grace. It will be your strength that saves us. Your love that makes us strong. And through it 22:24 all, we'll sing the song. Just the voices. Here we are. We're lifting our hands to you. Here we are. 22:43 We're giving you thanks for all you do. And as we praise and worship your holy name, [Music] 23:00 you are here dwelling within our praise. Let's continue as we 23:33 stand in that faith, that attitude of surrender. Lord, we want to lift our hands to you. Because you are here. You're dwelling within our praise. If you, Lord, should mark iniquities, oh 24:13 Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning. Indeed, more than the watchmen for the 24:32 morning. Oh Israel, hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is loving kindness. With him there is abundant redemption. He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. I want to turn to the book 25:05 of Nehemiah. where the people confess their sins and praise the Lord. They said, "Arise, bless the Lord your God forever and ever. May your 25:23 glorious name be blessed and exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, and the earth and all that is is in it. The seas and all that is in them. 25:36 You give life to all of them. All the heavenly host bows down before you. You are the Lord God who chose Abraham. You brought him out from the Ur of the Cales. You found his heart faithful before you and made a covenant with 25:54 him. You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt. You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh. You're a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving 26:13 kindness. Though they became stubborn and refused to listen, you did not forsake them. You delivered them according to your great compassion. You gave them deliverers who delivered 26:30 them from the hand of their oppressors. Dear brothers and sisters, let's turn to the Lord who loves us with an everlasting love. To him who belongs all honor and glory. Let's come with soft hearts. 26:48 Let's lift up our voices and praise him. Give him thanks for his faithfulness, for his great mercy. Loving father, we praise you and thank you, Lord. We want to remember all your goodness and great works in our lives, Lord, and your great great 27:03 faithfulness, Lord, and the miracles that we've seen and the life, Lord, the eternal life that we've touched and felt, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for your spirit that is full of compassion, Lord, that's able to break hard hearts, Lord. 27:16 We thank you and praise you. Great, great is your faithfulness, Lord. Only a holy God. We want to bow down before you. We want to lift up our hands and surrender to you, Lord. We want to trust you today. You'll speak to us, Lord, 27:27 according to our need. You're worthy of praise and glory and honor, Lord. Yes, Lord. You're not a silent God. You're a God who speaks. You speak in our hearts, Lord. You write faith in our hearts. We praise you. You're worthy, Lord. Yes, 27:40 Lord. You are the the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. You do all things wonderfully well, Lord. We thank you and praise you. We thank you for your presence, Lord. We commit ourselves into your hands. Lord, we look to you. 27:55 We wait expectantly Lord that you give us a word according to our need this morning. We ask in your mighty name Jesus say. Amen. Brothers and sisters please be seated. Yeah. We have a promise last 28:18 week from Habacook 1 vers5. You can repeat after me. Habacook 1:5, I'm doing something in your days you would not believe if you were told. And the next week's verse is a 28:43 command. Let's say it together. Matthew 4:4. You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only. Matthew 29:01 4:4. You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only. Amen. So brothers and sisters, we want to hear the word of the Lord from our beloved brother John Pereira. this 29:20 morning. Let's open our hearts and our ears and pay attention and trust that the Lord will speak to us. Brother John. It's a privilege to look into 29:46 God's word. God has done a great favor to us by giving his word to us. Moreover, moreover giving Lord Jesus himself as an example. Let's look into this verse in 30:05 Matthew 4 verse 4. Matthew 4:4 say Jesus himself said something very important. Jesus words were life and 30:22 truth. He said man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Jesus spoke he he never spoke religiously. Jesus spoke 30:40 with lot of conviction and he was speaking the truth with lot of burden. Every word he spoke was very powerful truth because those 30:58 words had truth and which will deliver us from our fallen condition. we can say or religiosity or clutches. Uh as Acts 10:38 says it it's reads like this that Jesus went about doing good. He was 31:18 anointed to set the captives free that set the captive free. Those releasing those who are oppressed. See we are all oppressed by so many things. But Jesus came to deliver us by his word, by his life. What uh Jesus is 31:37 saying here is man shall not live by bread alone to live on this earth. Jesus came and lived on this earth. And he is saying that no, don't assume or think or be convinced that you're living because 31:55 you're eating food. No, but man supposed to live by every word which proceeds out of mouth of God. We need to think what what does that mean? See as I 32:12 understand Jesus is our example how he lived each day. He was very eager, attentive and he was so desperate to hear words from his father. Father, what you want me to 32:31 do? What you want me to say? See, he he lived a wonderful life and so powerful that he wanted all his people rather all the people in the world to live the way he lived 32:51 exactly to pattern our life according to him. But what to do? I don't know maybe 99% of people have not even realized or kept in darkness by Satan. That's what I think Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4. God of this world 33:10 has blinded their eyes. See that's why when we come to the word of God we must come with a lot of humility and hunger. The Lord please enlighten our heart. Even Paul writes, I think Ephesians 1 says, he prays with tears that your 33:29 heart may be enlightened. Even I I stand here with lot of fear. Lord, give me grace that my heart be enlightened to see what you are trying to say. See, we were hearing other day from brother Sur about 33:47 one of the conditions of disciplehip. how we deal or get influenced or how it matters and affects our relationship with our relatives. um if I want to be a disciple and brother Charles was sharing 34:07 about how we need to protect ourselves from deception and also we heard from other day Santosh that zeal we should have a zeal for God's house but when I was thinking about all this I was trying to understand what the 34:25 scripture says like in other words Lord how do I protect myself from all these things. How do I protect myself from losing zeal for God's house and losing um truth? And in other words, how I can 34:43 protect myself from deception? Deception is rampant. So, how do I protect myself? I would like to read a verse in um Matthew chapter 10. Sorry. Matthew chapter 13, 35:12 brother. Matthew chapter 13 verse 3. So Matthew chapter 13 uh talks Jesus talks about kingdom of 35:32 God verse three he verse 3 to 10 or rather nine he speaks about parable of the sober I wanted to see verse 10 verse 10 the disciples came and said to him why 35:50 do you speak to them in parables disciples asked Jesus, why do you speak to them in parables? This is disciples asking Jesus that you're talking to all these people. So, you can see that verse two, 36:09 multitudes of people come and believe in Jesus and follow him. And disciples were asking why do you speak to him in parables? In other words, they're not really able to understand because maybe disciple themselves said uh I we are also not 36:28 clear about what you're saying. Then verse 18 we see that Jesus answering uh here then the parable of the sober he's explaining to disciples but uh what is important is what's between 11 to 17 is very very 36:48 important which really um uh inspired me or encouraged me to see and see the importance of it what Jesus was saying see Jesus could have straight away said here is the Answer I will explain but before that he wanted to say something 37:05 that is the answer why I am doing this. See I will explain to you but why I speak in parables. See verse 11 said he answered and said to them to you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. That is to whom? 37:23 For disciples. But them it is not granted. For whoever asks to him shall more be given and he shall uh shall have an abundance. But whoever does not have even what he has shall be taken away. 37:41 Therefore I speak to them in parables because while seeing they do not see the when I think about all the history of the Bible from beginning to to the Jesus time or Paul's time or John's time. See we see that the large 37:58 number could not get the point mean even in Jesus' time most of the people couldn't understand what Jesus was trying to say that's why Jesus said for you it is revealed that means if you 38:16 want to be a disciple then you will understand if you are not a disciple you are not able to understand see the from the history We see that in the Bible the large number of people are not getting the point what all the godly people even 38:32 Moses time or Job's time or Isaiah all the prophets and Jesus time Paul's time even the some of the co-workers couldn't understand and left him and even John says Peter says see the most of the people couldn't understand even those who associated in 38:51 Jesus time even among the disciples the one who called himself disciple couldn't get the point and he missed the point and what is the danger now I can assume that I am okay and I can miss the point the 39:08 why I'm thinking about this see I want to be a disciple when I understand maybe we can go through that if I don't have a mind of a disciple or I don't want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ I miss the 39:25 point I don't get or in other words what we heard uh last week about deception I I can be a candidate for deception I think I am okay see I have been a Christian before I was born again I was so-called Christian for 25 39:44 years I thought I was a Christian maybe we'll turn to that verse in Acts chapter 11 it's Very interesting. This verse is this is a well-known verse. You know this 40:03 verse 11:26. Yeah. 11:26. Oh, sorry. 11:26. Yes. Yeah. When he had found him that his soul was found, he brought him to 40:23 Antioch. that is Barnabas and it came about that for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerably numbers considerable number and the disciples were first called 40:40 Christians in Antioch see today it's it's a word Christian is so rampant or wellnown but here first time they were called Christians because they were 40:57 disciples. I I need to understand Lord am I a Christian? In other words, I should check whether I am a disciple. See the what's the point? If I turn to Matthew 13, what Jesus is saying, if you're not a disciple, you will miss the 41:14 point what God is trying to say. Even we may know Bible and we may understand we hear messages we may associate the classic example uh was uh Judas Iscariat himself he was he was a close associate 41:32 of Jesus for three and a half years he missed the point and he he was deceived see we heard about deception how do I protect myself from deception and you know what is deception deception deception means I don't know I 41:51 won't know I'm not aware that I'm deceived I think I am okay when I'm not okay that is deception which which is very very dangerous see deception is something like see I have 100 rupees note I think yeah this is I have I'm 100 42:09 100 rupees rich and only I realize when I go to the bank and the bank says no no it is not valid note see That's how it is. The deception is something for example according to that verse in Acts 11. I assume that I'm a Christian when I 42:26 am not a disciple. That is exactly what happened for 25 years to me that I assumed that I was a Christian. I was not a Christian because I was not a disciple. That is that is the power of uh until I 42:45 came power of deception that's power of deception until I came to a point something is not okay with me that mercifully God convicted me of my sin. The Holy Spirit comes to convict us that first of our sin and then of 43:04 righteousness and judgment. See when I was convinced that I I was a sinner then I through the word of God through the help of the Holy Spirit I could see that I I am not right with God. Now if I am a sinner I'm not right with God because 43:21 sin is not settled with between me and God. So then I don't have relationship with God. I am totally blind. I'm totally blind. So that is what Jesus is trying to say here. What is he saying? Therefore I speak to them in parables. 43:37 Verse 13, chapter 13, Matthew. Because while seeing they do not see, while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. It's a very dangerous condition. In their case, the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled which says, 43:56 "You will keep on hearing but will not understand. You keep on seeing but will not pursue for the heart of his this people has become dull and with their ears they scarcely hear and they have 44:14 chosen their eyes closed their eyes lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand uh and understand with their heart and turn again and I should heal 44:32 But blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. Truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see and did not see it and 44:50 to hear what you hear and did not hear it. Then he explains the parable of the sober and Jesus is saying see you are so blessed you gave up everything you decided to follow me and you prioritize to become 45:09 disciple and now see here I say in the past all the prophets and righteous men wanted to see this which you are seeing you are so blessed that's why brothers and sisters I my heart heart this burden to for myself that Lord I 45:29 want to have a greater hunger greater humility. Holy Spirit will you please find my heart right to enlighten to be enlightened so that I can see what you would like to show me. See Holy Spirit will bring us here like 45:48 this to show us. That's why I'm so thankful to God. See there's we we may not understand everything. We may see oh somebody may sit here and say oh this is like this this is like that. No see the thing is we have to come with humility 46:04 and hunger in our heart. Nobody is senior here nothing because Jesus is the only person who is uh the sovereign authority here and he is building his church and if he says I cannot touch this person he cannot touch. If he 46:22 cannot touch, his heart will be closed. Even my heart can be closed. Jesus has to find somebody's heart humble and contrite. I think Isaiah 57:15 says, "I am in the midst of the humble to revive their hearts." Jesus is here to revive. 46:41 If my heart is hardened or my heart is proud or my heart is glorying about something about myself. Oh, I'm in CFC here and this this and that. Anything makes me proud will block my heart from Jesus because Jesus cannot access. Jesus 46:59 can access only humble hearts. So that's why we need to come with fear and trembling and ask Holy Spirit to help us. This is what Jesus is trying to say. Be a disciple. If you're a disciple, you will never be deceived. Other day I was 47:17 hearing daily devotion. Brother Zach was saying, "A ferventthearted disciple cannot be deceived." I was blessed by that statement. I think Tuesday or Wednesday, one one of those days. The ferventthearted disciple cannot be 47:32 deceived. If you're ferventthe-arted, fervent in love for Jesus Christ, you cannot be deceived. Deception cannot touch us. We can detect very easily. So I was thinking about this verse in 47:49 Hebrews chapter 12. See how I can be disciple. The disciple means I must have a passionate hunger to see the life of Jesus. I want to Lord I want my I want my heart to become like yours. My thoughts should be renewed like yours. I 48:09 don't want to be attached. See in fact I was thinking about one verse. See um I think 1 Corinthians 15 before we see here. Let's turn to 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15:E 19. 48:27 See if we have only hoped in Christ in this life whereof all men most to be pied. See what he's trying to say is see your hope is only for this life. Then you are pied. That means see 48:46 the our life doesn't end here on earth. Our hope is that I'll be resurrected. I'll I'll be with Jesus. I'll live with him and he is my hope and my life is not only oh living on this earth. In fact 49:05 maybe I would like to read that verse in amplified version. If we are abiding in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all then we are all we are all uh we are all of people most miserable and be to be 49:23 pied that is what Paul is saying Paul Paul is saying don't be too much engrossed with things of the world alone then you you your hope is not set right Jesus was not thinking about oh my life on this earth. My life in on this 49:40 earth no he was I'm going back to father I'm living for a short time I have a purpose on this earth but this is very short time a very small time I'm here this uh life on earth is not all that important yes God has a purpose I just 49:59 need to fulfill what I have what I don't have I'm not like the worldly person thinking always about what I get what I have and all that no money, money, how to make money, how to comfort, have comforts and things like that. No, that 50:13 is miserable life. So that's what Paul Paul is saying. And uh let's turn to Hebrews chapter 12. Therefore, since we have a great uh a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us uh let us also lay aside every 50:32 circumstance encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. See this is what Hebrews writer saying. See there is a race set 50:48 for us that is to be a if I am a disciple I will see this race if I am not a disciple I will not be able to see this race otherwise I'll be running the race according to so-called Christians oh Christian race so-called Christian 51:08 race I live I I I was running that race for 25 years I was totally blinded I was not even born again So I I call I thought I was a Christian. I'm running a Christian race. But here for a disciple there is a race set. 51:28 But how I can do that? Fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of faith. That is my calling and our calling. Then I will not be deceived. I have a glorious life, wonderful life. And Jesus said that see 51:46 seek this kingdom and righteousness then all that you need will be added to you. You'll I I think I was referring this that there is no explanation to godly man's life. I I have moved with brother Ian and brother Zach or many other godly people. It's 52:04 surprising. It's not normal. It is it's supernatural. See brother you you think about God's kingdom and God supplies all your needs. This man cannot understand means normal man cannot understand but disciple can understand because it works 52:20 in his life but he himself cannot explain but he understands. See that's how Christian life is that we live in peace. See you think about Jesus think about Paul they never had a easy life. They their life was full of surrounded 52:36 with troubles so-called every day. It it was it was like that you humanly try to see life of Jesus life of Paul the day he got converted Paul people wanted to kill him till then he was so recommended by the authorities and whole government 52:56 was with him and things like that he had a very comfortable life but the day he became a disciple and whole authority was against him people wanted to kill him and he had to live been hiding and he had to be very careful but he lived a 53:14 wonderful life but inside he was like a lion whatever the circumstances was because God was in control because he was a disciple he he didn't set his heart on things of the world worries and cares of the world so I want to see 53:31 another verse see how to pattern our life after Jesus many verses I was thinking maybe you you are aware of these verses. Uh Hebrews 5:7 says in the days of his 53:47 flesh uh what I'm trying to see uh for myself was that uh Lord show me show me what was your life what it means to be a disciple show me what it means to be a disciple how did you live like I I didn't continue there 12 if you continue 54:05 there he endured endured all kind of troubles and difficulties and why we are asked to fix our eyes I think verse four says you should not lose heart by seeing lot of troubles. No troubles may come but look at Jesus he lived a wonderful 54:22 life because whole heaven was backing him. Whole heaven was with him. Even if we are I'm a disciple setting my eyes on Jesus then whole heaven will back me. If my take off my eyes I'll collapse. So 54:40 here how Jesus lived, how to pattern my life after Jesus in the days of his flesh when he offered up both prayers and supplication with loud cryings and tears to him who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of 54:56 his piety fear of God. So this is the how I have to pattern my life. I Jesus was was helpless. Jesus was helpless. So we can be helpless. We don't have to think that oh everything will be smooth 55:13 and nice. No, it was not. So for Jesus if you're a disciple you are fighting against your own flesh that is self and so many things you know your emotions you try to convince you and uh the self-pity and uh so many things yourself 55:32 is against you and if you're not filled with the Holy Spirit you cannot tell uh your flesh to be quiet shut up you cannot tell that so if you're filled with the Holy Spirit You can say that no no to flesh. You need the power. That's what Jesus said. When 55:50 you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you'll receive power. Power for what? To say no to the flesh. No to the world, it's all trying to gush in and make you uh so-called Christian, a religious person. And that's why uh if you see u 56:09 the most of the churches don't talk about repentance, don't talk about uh sin, don't talk about keeping your conscience clear, don't talk about being a disciple because most of the people want that. No, you don't don't tell me 56:23 all these things. These are all very difficult. I don't want this. But Jesus was saying only that. That's why multitude come. They see that oh he is doing so many miracles and they come and they all vanish. They come they all 56:39 vanish. They'll see something. It's a double-mindedness. They all come and when they see that oh there is conditions then they'll go away. Oh I I can't be following everything what he says. I can say this I can take this 56:53 this this better that avoid this company and go to a church where they only talk about songs and this and that. Oh I have a nice time. I remember Bazak saying Sunday you go to church and come back and do you say that you had a nice time 57:07 or God had a nice time. So it's that's that's the problem. So we all had a nice time wonderful time. We I wait for Sunday oh Sunday morning songs and this and that and nothing is touched. So that is deception. I can be 57:25 deceived. So here Jesus didn't have it easy. He was so weak and I see that he was like a worm. Isaiah it says that he was like a worm so helpless. We don't want to be in that condition. Oh, it's too difficult to live with my wife and husband. Oh, 57:44 children so many difficult circumstances. It's difficult. Yeah, it'll be like that. It was not different for Jesus. But he prayed with loud cryings and tears. He said, "Lord, will you please stand with me? It is too difficult. I know you want me to be a 58:03 disciple." See, that's how disciple means. He will look to Jesus and want to be like him. And uh uh verse another verse in chapter 4 verse 15 just a few verses before. 58:23 We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize uh sympathize with our weakness weaknesses but one who has been tempted in all things. We are yet without sin. We need to think about it. Think about it. Lord, I want to be a disciple. Teach 58:41 me what does that mean? Like you were tempted in all points. Did you really feel the way I feel? Did you really go through what I went through? Yes. Bible says yes. So we have 58:57 to think and ask Holy Spirit to convince our heart. When our heart is convinced then like Paul we can rejoice all the time. You know that word Paul said I think let's see that verse in Philippians 4 and not four I think six. 59:17 Philippians 6. Yeah. Philippians. Yes. Sorry. Philippians 4 59:39 uh verse 11. See, he said verse 11. 4:1. uh I speak with want not that I speak with u speak from want for I have learn to be content in whatever circumstances 59:58 I am see this is what Paul see it's learned you know what is disciple means disciple means a student see this word learn is an educative word see we have to be focused we want our children to be students 1:00:16 And we want our children to be good students. We all like our children to be good students. This is what exactly God is expecting. When God says I want you to be disciple, that means he wants us to be a student. Disciple means a 1:00:31 student, a good student. That is what Paul is. Paul says being a student of the Holy Spirit, being a disciple, I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. It's so glorious. See where where did Paul learn this? He 1:00:49 learned it from Jesus. He looked at Jesus so intently. Holy Spirit opened his uh heart to see Jesus that Jesus was he learned to be content. He he he knew, "Oh Lord, give me wisdom how to handle this. I I don't 1:01:08 want to avoid difficult circumstances. I want I don't want to run away from difficult circumstances but give me wisdom how to learn to handle this the what kind of circumstances I know how to get along with humble means no I don't 1:01:23 have enough what to do oh shall I take loan or quick to take loan then what happens then I'll run into problem that is not a disciple oh I'll I'll fix this oh oh I I have a hole I'll dig another hole and fill this hole What about that? 1:01:41 Oh, I'll dig another hole. Th this becomes a kind of a uh deception from Satan. So, but G what Paul is saying is I know how to I learned I learned it from Jesus because I am a disciple of Jesus. I learned to get along with 1:01:59 humble means. I also know how to live in prosperity. See, I remember brother Zach saying something like this. I think most of the people in CFC know how to live with poverty but uh I I think most of the people he said some of the people 1:02:16 know that how to live in poverty but most of the people may not know how to live in prosperity because it's very difficult very difficult so here he is saying that how to live in prosperity also means when I have more also I I 1:02:31 don't change my pattern of life I think the classic example would be John Wesley. Brazak once said that I'm not surprised that God used John Wesley so much that he was very careful with spending money. He was not he his life 1:02:49 pattern didn't change just because he started getting more money. His life pattern remained same when I was getting less or more. That's how Jesus was. That's how God will test us in any and every circumstances. I have learned the 1:03:06 secret of being filled and going hungry both of having abundance and suffering need. Then it says the famous verse I can do all things through him who strengthens me. See it's it's in that connection that that promise is given. 1:03:23 So I was seeing that Jesus was tempted in all points. That's that's our calling brothers and sisters. But I have to have a mind of a disciple. I want to be a disciple. Lord, I don't want to be distracted by so many things. I don't 1:03:37 want to uh think that oh, I'm doing something in church. Oh, I am okay. I'm fine. No, no, those things are not the test. Test is am I a disciple in my secret life. That's what that's why Jesus spoke so much about secret life in 1:03:53 Matthew 5:67. Then he said, "You are the wise man. If you hear these things and act upon it, then you are a truly disciple, you are you are my disciple. In fact, there itself he says that many will come but few will find this narrow 1:04:10 way. What is that narrow way? Being a disciple of Jesus more than anything they don't glory in anything or just because I'm in CFC so I am okay. No, I'm I'm I may not be okay. See just because I'm in CFC I think somebody said just 1:04:25 because you park your bike in the car garage it doesn't become car get it so it doesn't become car so like that just because I come to CFC I'll not become disciple no if I associate with disciples and if I associate with Jesus I become disciple I 1:04:43 I don't become automatically a disciple see then Philippians 2 verse 5. Once brother Ian said like this that you can keep this verse and live your whole life but then you should know all the other verses which helps me 1:05:03 to know this that is verse 5 to5 have this attitude in yourself which was also in Christ Jesus. Now I need to understand I need to study carefully Matthew 5:67 maybe take a red letter Bible and check all that Jesus 1:05:22 said what was behind what Jesus was saying see despite of that see what Jesus told was see for if you are a disciple I understand all that I am saying see we may not be able to get what Jesus is saying in many things if I 1:05:37 don't have a mind of a disciple but have this attitude in yourself which was also So in Christ Jesus, how I can be a disciple that I I I should have attitudes of Jesus. Then uh what we heard last week, Matthew 1:05:55 24. So here here is the uh very important thing when connecting to uh deception what Jesus was saying uh Matthew 24 verse 1:06:13 12. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. Why love will grow cold? Because things around us doesn't do justice to us. You don't have 1:06:31 justice. You are not given what you uh deserve. lawlessness will increase. If you get time, you can read I think Psalm 76, 73 or 76. See the righteous man 1:06:50 starts thinking why why all the evil people are flour flourishing and he gets lot of doubt until he comes to a point where he comes to a sanctuary of God and he sees that Lord you do justice to me. See that's how Jesus lived. If you read 1:07:10 one I think uh 1 Peter uh 2:23 it says Jesus left everything in the hands of God because he will do justice. You know when you think about judgment day are we scared oh one day we have judgment day? No. You know the beautiful part of a 1:07:25 judgment day is that everybody will get get justice. All of us will get justice. You don't have to be disappointed. You may not get justice here. But what happens here? What Jesus said is if you want to be kept from deception. Be careful here. 1:07:42 Even though lawlessness increases around you, you should your love should remain strong. Should not become cold. But uh the one who endures to the end, it is he who shall be saved. This was Jesus. 1:08:01 Jesus endured till the end. In love. His address was love. He never moved out of love. All the time he was found in love. That's why even though those who killed him, even to those who killed him, he prayed, "Father, forgive them. They 1:08:21 don't know what they're doing." See, always he saw that they don't know. They don't understand because they are blind. They don't understand. If they really know what they're doing, uh, they won't do it. They're blind. See, I we can be blind like that. If you 1:08:40 are blind, we'll be doing something which is hurting God. You know, regarding Paul also, Jesus told Paul, Paul, you are Saul. Saul, you are persecuting me. Saul said, "No, where where am I persecuting you, Lord?" See Jesus 1:08:55 thought was if you are persecuting my disciple my church that means you are persecuting me. See that's how it is. It is so blessed thing to know that I thank God for that verse where I can understand that if I persecute the 1:09:11 church I'm persecuting Jesus. The other side of it is that if I serve the church I'm serving Jesus Christ. That's how it is. See, but uh the one who endures till the end shall be saved. We are called to endure in love. I think Jude verse 21 1:09:29 says that uh if you stay within the boundary of God where God's love can reach that means God's address is love, God's love will help me to be a disciple no matter what happens. Then I would 1:09:45 like to think about uh three verses where Jesus uh used the word disciple. I it was interesting the other day when I was listening to brother Sur I just uh went searched did a search sitting 1:10:03 here. I saw about 76 times the word disciple comes in the gospel of John. When I looked through the red letter Bible at three times Jesus spoke about word disciple. So that is a wonderful 1:10:23 indication to check whether I'm a disciple. Three times it's very important. I told you in the beginning the Jesus whenever Jesus spoke he spoke with uh like brother Charles was saying the other day all that Jesus spoke was 1:10:38 he called spade spade. He was very realistic and clear and he didn't beat around the bush. So verse uh would like to turn to John chapter 8 that is first time verse 31. It's a well-known verse. 1:10:55 Um Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed in him. See this is the conflict also. See people believed believed believed. Uh there are many times I I was listening to something the other day. So believed 1:11:11 believed believed. Are you a believer or a disciple? I think I was listening to some message by brother Victor. Are you a believer or a disciple? You just believe believe or are you a disciple? And disciple is a learner and follower. 1:11:26 If you don't become a disciple, you are only believer. Like John 2, it's a classic uh statement there. It says many came uh many saw miracles and believed in Jesus but Jesus did not entrust himself to them because they were not 1:11:42 disciples because he knew their heart. They are coming for something else. They want something they come they are all believers. But here see here it say it says those who believed in him what Jesus is saying if you abide in my word 1:11:58 see am I a passionate uh seeker of God's word. Jesus himself said man shall not live by bread but every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God. Am I a diligent seeker of a word not only seeker and also want to 1:12:14 abide stay in the word of God then you will truly you are truly my disciples. See how how do I know that I am a disciple? Jesus himself said if you truly abide in my word and you want to you are eagerly 1:12:33 seeking to hear my word and want to follow it act on it then you are my disciple see he's is giving a condition straight away the three times the second time where Jesus used the word disciple is chapter 13 chapter 1:12:55 13 verse 35 here he used the word by this all men I don't want to explain this he was Jesus was washing disciples feet after that he said by this all men will know that you are my disciple you are my 1:13:13 disciples if you have if you have love for one another see here again he's using the word disciple and he's giving a condition you check yourself whether you are a disciple it's a word for me Lord am I a disciple it's very plain if 1:13:29 if you love one another if you have love for your brothers who may be difficult person or you have love for your wife and children circumstances in the office you you you have love uh then you are my disciple because I am seeking after love 1:13:48 I remained in love all the time even here somebody who is going to betray me but I am washing his feet sitting here that is love and earlier what we if you abide in my word then third third time he said was but chapter 15 just one 1:14:04 page away 15:8 by this is my father glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples see the fruit of the spirit If you if you're not producing fruit, 1:14:23 you if you're not your character is not developing like Jesus, like we read in Philippians 2:5, your attitudes are not changing like Jesus. Then you are not my disciple. Okay, it's not changing. Lord, I want I want this. Ah, then come come, I'll 1:14:43 teach you. Come, I want to close with this verse. See, Jesus says, "Come, I will teach you. I will help you. I'm here to help you. I lay down my life to help you and save you." Jesus came to save his people from their sin. The sin of being 1:15:01 a worldly, unconverted, so-called Christian or so-called believer. No, I want to change you. Come to me. Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, "Come to me." It's a wonderful invitation. It's Jesus never uses any disappointing 1:15:20 words. Those who trust in the Lord will never be disappointed. If if anyone wants to be a disciple, Lord, I want to be disciple and I want to be a true disciple. I don't want to be a so-called disciple. No, I want to know the truth. 1:15:37 I I want Satan to recognize me that I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ, not people around me. No, I want to be a witness before Satan that Satan should realize like G God told about Job. So have you seen my servant Job? 1:15:55 See what a testimony. So how I can be disciple? Let Satan know that I want to I want that kind of a disciple. Lord, will you please help me? Yeah. Jesus said come to me all who are weary and heavy laden. Is it difficult? No, it's 1:16:11 not difficult. Come, I will teach you. I will show my own my own life. You will see Jesus. See, that's the reason we come here. Even myself, I I come here not because I'm an elder or church responsibility Sunday. No, I come here, 1:16:28 Lord, I want to meet disciples here because I want to be inspired little more to see you more clearer. And maybe somebody needs my help to see you little more clearer and become a better disciple, better witness. Lord, I'm 1:16:43 coming for that. I will give you rest and I will teach you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart. You will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. This is Jesus calling us and 1:17:03 it's not difficult. It's not heavy. The Lord helps us to walk the path which he walked and but we must have that desire. May the Lord help us. Amen. Let's Let's sing. Stand up. Stand up for 1:17:51 Jesus. Stand up. Stand up for 1:18:26 Jesus. Ye soldiers of the cross lift high his royal banner. It must not suffer loss. From victory unto 1:18:44 victory his army shall he lead till every fo is vanquished. And Christ goes on indeed. Stand up. Stand up for 1:19:04 Jesus the trumpet call. Oy. For to the mighty com in this his glorious day. We that our men now serve him against 1:19:24 unnumbered foes. Let courage rise with danger and strength to strength up. Stand up. Stand up for 1:19:40 Jesus. Stand in his strength alone. He of flesh will fail you. He can not trust your own. You're on the gospel 1:19:58 armor and watching unto prayer. But you call your danger. He never wanting them. Stand up. Stand up for 1:20:17 Jesus. The strife will not be long. This day the noise of battle the next the victor song. To him that 1:20:34 overcometh the crown of life shall be. He with the king of gloryy shall reign [Music] eternally. Amen. Praise God for what we 1:20:57 heard. We want to listen to brother Paulo. We heard from John in the beginning that 1:21:23 Jesus was an example and Paul who was a disciple, a learner and follower of Jesus Christ and he could say in his life Corinthians 11:1, follow me as I follow 1:21:40 Christ. Don't believe that's a it's a calling for me as a disciple. Learn, follow, and be able to say follow me as I follow Christ. We have praise God for the examples in the church where where we have godly 1:21:58 brothers who can say that follow me as I follow Christ and thank God for examples and disciples recently you know somebody is saying I want to follow you I was like no no don't follow me and it struck me this thought of being a 1:22:16 disciple and can I tell as a father can I tell my children you know when you grow up follow me follow dad because your dad followed Jesus. If I'm not able to say that, it's not in the sense of, you know, being proud or arrogant, but that's my calling 1:22:35 to be able to say follow me because I'm a disciple. I learn and follow Jesus. Young Timothy, you know, it's for even young people. Acts 6:11, Paul found Timothy as a young person. We read about 1:22:53 him, a young disciple. Act 16:1 when he found him young disciple named Timothy it's an encouragement for me for all of us for young that young people an young person can be a 1:23:12 disciple disciple named Timothy as a young person to this young person Timothy and Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:12 a very known verse 1 Timothy 4:11 when Paul wants to 1:23:31 point out examples in the church perhaps when we want to point out examples in the church we immediately go and refer as look at the Zach's life Ian's life elders life know what Paul tells Timothy who should be an example to believers in 1:23:49 the church I was encouraged to read that show yourself. You Timothy, show yourself an example to those who believe. That's that's my calling. That's our calling as saying people. Lord, I want to learn learn from you and 1:24:07 follow you. Praise God for the examples. Lord, I want to show myself an example. If I'm not able to say that, then I'm not a disciple like we heard. Either I'm not abiding in the word or the love of God is not in my heart or 1:24:23 there is no fruit in my life. We read here that show yourself an example in some areas. You know Paul points out a few areas in speech. In speech I can be a disciple. In speech in the way that I 1:24:40 speak I can be a disciple. Learn from Jesus. Learn from the examples that we have. And I can follow in my conduct, in my love, in my faith, in my purity. Pretty much like what we read in the fruit of the spirit which we heard, 1:24:57 you know, like I want to be an example. And for that Acts 19:1, we read about other group of disciples. Paul met other group of disciples in Acts 19:1. A group of disciples meeting at Ephesus. And we 1:25:16 read there in the context there were about 10 disciples, 10 men who are disciples. We don't know if there are families there. And when Paul met them, he asked them, "Have you received the Holy Spirit?" They said, "We've never heard 1:25:31 of heard of Holy Spirit." And what baptism that you took? We took the baptism of John the Baptist. You know this what this is what is uh speaking to me. If I don't have the Holy Spirit my baptism even if I have taken 1:25:51 the right baptism I have to check Lord give me the Holy Spirit anoint me like we heard from the life of G Jesus in Hebrews 5:7 cried out with loud crying Lord give me this Holy Spirit so that I can be an effective disciple. those disciples 1:26:08 received the Holy Spirit. You know, even if I call myself a disciple, if I don't have the Holy Spirit, the fullness of the spirit in my life, I want to cry out. Hebrews 5:7 in the context, we read that like Jesus cried out in a few verses later in 1:26:27 11, the writer of Hebrews says, "I can say much more about Jesus, but you are dull of hearing." And like we heard in Matthew 13:15, dull of hearing. Lord, I am dull of hearing. You become dull of hearing. That's what 1:26:46 Hebrews says. Become dull of hearing. Yes, you are hearing properly once, but you now become dull of hearing. Lord, I want to come back to be a disciple, not just a believer. Give me anoint me the Holy Spirit so I can be a 1:27:01 effective witness for you. follow you and be able to say follow me as I follow Christ. May God help each one of us. Amen. Invite brother John to come and pray and close. Thank you brother Paulo. Let's 1:27:21 close our eyes in prayer. Prayer is a sign of weakness and expression of our total dependence on God. Jesus prayed with loud cryings and tears. Father, we turn to you, Lord. 1:27:45 Without being filled with the Holy Spirit, without the help of the Holy Spirit, we can't be disciples. Thank you for the word of God. Thank you for precious promises and also work of the Holy 1:28:02 Spirit through which we can be disciples. Thank you for the hope. Thank you for your word. Thank you for the clarity. We trust you. We ask you father in Jesus name. Amen. In announcements. [Music] 1:28:33 Presenting the book of this month, the full gospel by brother Zach Purim. [Music] Many Christians claim to be proclaiming 1:28:50 the full gospel today. But how can we be sure that we have indeed heard the full gospel? Jesus said the truth would set us free from sin. John 8:32. The proof that we have really heard the truth is that we are freed 1:29:09 from sin's power in our lives. The Apostle Paul proclaimed the full purpose of God. Acts 20:27. This is what all believers desperately need to hear today also if they are to become truly spiritual and 1:29:27 not just religious. If you want to have a firm grip on the Christian life, if you want meat for your spirit to grow strong in the Lord, if you want to know how to have a daily spiritual checkup, if you want to know how to prove God's perfect will, 1:29:46 read this book with an open heart and mind and ask the Lord to speak to you through it. You can read this book free online at cfcindia.com/books/the gospel. 1:30:12 [Music]
