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00:04 Thank you very much, brother Arnold, for your kind words of uh introduction. Good morning, brothers and sisters. Great to
00:10 see you all. In fact, when I first walked in here, the first gentleman I bum into, okay, at the hall there is Dr.
00:16 Peton. And my goodness, I look at him like look at some of you, his hair, like
00:21 my hair running away from us. Okay, so once upon a time, we all got long hair.
00:27 Now we all longing for hair. Okay. Isn't it? Many of us once upon a time as men we
00:34 got our six-packs. Now we are struggling with our one pack. Isn't it? Okay. And some nowadays what happens sometimes we
00:41 come down from a doublestory building in our home. When we come downstairs we're wondering what did I come downstairs
00:46 for? How many of you can okay can admit that? Can I see your hands? Welcome to the club. Isn't it all right? Those are
00:53 some realities of life that we all rest. We struggle with never mind we but we comfort what we comfort one another.
00:59 Amen. Okay. Not very keen. Amen. Amen. Isn't it all right? That's so so important for all of us. Okay. Our
01:05 brother Arnold has asked me to speak about building gospel centered communities. I thought let's read scripture again together. Okay. Our
01:11 brother right? You read wonderfully. Okay. But let's read again. You know why I like churches to read aloud the scripture together. I'm not sure I told
01:18 you the last time three important reasons. Okay. Hear me carefully. Why is it so important to read the word of God
01:24 aloud together? First reason is we are together making a public proclamation
01:29 the word of God. Why are we not making public proclamation when you and I know living in Malaysia we hear five
01:35 proclamations every day from somewhere. Hello. Why are we not proclaiming the
01:41 word of the living God? Amen. Is it so important? Second reason. All right. We want to establish the truth of God's
01:47 word on earth as it is in heaven. God's word is always true in heaven. Amen. Isn't it? Let's establish the truth of
01:53 it's on earth. Isn't it? As much as it is in heaven. That's the third reason Romans 10:17 tells us faith comes from
01:60 hearing and hearing the word of God. Isn't it? God's word when we hear it loud, it builds faith. That's why when
02:06 we go hospital visitation, we read aloud to someone who is sick. Isn't it? Why? We're going to build faith in that
02:11 person to believe that God will intervene in a powerful man. Can a good amen for that? Okay. Come. Let's stand
02:16 together. All right. And let's read aloud. Okay. Uh All right.
02:25 Okay, let me checkh.
02:32 Uh, no it doesn't come on. Okay, this is what I call sometimes
02:39 Gandala. Okay, how many remember see your hands? You just betray your age by the way. Okay, that is in the 70s. We
02:45 got Malaysian television on and off. It comes on chant Gandala. Okay, sorry it's not coming on. Is that Is that okay? Uh,
02:56 okay. That's better. All right. Okay. Acts chapter 2 42 to 47. The NIV
03:01 together. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
03:09 Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were
03:16 together and had everything in common. selling the possessions and goods they gave to anyone as yet need. Every day
03:24 they continue to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and
03:31 sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord gathered to the number
03:37 daily those who have been saved. Our father we pray you by your spirit has inspired his word. Take your word speak
03:43 to us and challenge us we ask in Jesus wonderful name. Amen. And will you take your seats?
03:51 Well, there was this Baptist church operating in this community. All right. Happily operating and bearing witness to
03:57 the Lord Jesus Christ. Then out of the blue, okay, one day, right across the church, all right? There's a shop Lord.
04:03 And one man took over the shop Lord, rented it and turned it into a pup, a drinking house. When it turned to a pub,
04:10 you know what happens? The church was fuming and furious. This is ridiculous. How can they have a pup right across a
04:15 church? This is going to corrupt our community and spoil our kids and everyone else in church. And no, you
04:21 know what the church says? We got to get rid of this pup that's really defiling and corrupting, okay, our whole
04:26 community and the people in our church like this. You know, lo and behold, one day what happens is the pup got struck
04:32 by the lightning and was burned to the ground. My goodness, the owner of the
04:38 pup decided to sue the church and take the church to court. The church was upset. My goodness, how can you sue us
04:44 and blame us that your pup okay was struck by lightning and gone down to the ground? What to do? Right, finally the
04:50 day came when they both they all appear before the judge. Okay, the pup owner said to the judge, "Your owner, sir, you
04:57 know why my pup was struck by lightning. Okay, and burn to the ground. It's because the church across the road, he
05:03 prayed against my my pup. That's why my pup got struck down by lightning like this." And the pastor leader said, "No,
05:09 no, nothing to do with our prayer. It is just bad luck. It is just okay an act of nature. They're struck by light and went
05:14 to a gum. The pup owner said, "No, no, no. It's the prayer of the church." The church said, "No, it's not my prayer." "No, it's a prayer. No, it's not my
05:20 prayer." Finally, the judge bang the gable and say, "You know what? I've got a very interesting case here this
05:26 morning. Never heard of. You know what? The pup owner believes in prayer and the power of prayer, but the church doesn't
05:32 believe in prayer and the power of prayer." Say to your neighbor, he's not talking about our church. Okay? Would you do
05:38 that? He's talking about another Baptist church, not our church like this. All right. But you know sometimes what
05:44 happens even as a church there are certain things we practice sometimes we don't quite believe what we practice
05:49 what we do what we say isn't it? And therefore it is so important to know that as we're seeking to build a gospel-
05:55 centered community when we're seeking to build gospel center community a gospel- centered church what are the marks that
06:00 must be involved in it. Okay. and you think of no better place but from the book of acts in chapter 2 whereby that's
06:06 a start of the early church and in the early church that Dr. to look records for us. I think it's a great okay marks
06:13 that are shared with us. Therefore, this morning I'm going to highlight three marks that we see in the life of the
06:18 church like this. The first mark friends about this church that it exalts the Lord Jesus Christ. All right? It exalts
06:24 Christ. Why? In what way? For example, verses 47 and 46 and 47a. It exalts
06:30 Christ to worship that lifts up Christ. And so, come let's read together again. All right. 46 and first part of 47
06:37 together. Every day they continue to meet in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together
06:44 with glad and sincere hearts praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. What were they doing when they
06:50 were meeting in the temple courts? We know of course for worship, isn't it? There they were gathered to worship the
06:56 Lord to praise his name right to glorify okay the presence of God in our midst
07:01 which is so important isn't it? And that's what we gather Sunday after Sunday like this here in the worship of
07:07 God isn't it? Now worship is not singing a few songs and letting time pass by especially waiting for late comers.
07:13 Okay, that's not what it is. Worship is really being caught up all right in worshiping the Lord, isn't it? And I
07:19 think for example of Dr. Dietrich Bonhoffer, brilliant young man, all right, a spy, a theologian and a pastor,
07:26 a great great man, all right, at the height of Hitler's control of Germany. He really want to get rid of Hitler even
07:32 as a past because this man he felt is an embodiment of evil and that kind of thing. But then for a season he moved to
07:40 America in the early 30s in the 1930s. All right. In the early 1930 moved to America and then he was led to an
07:46 African-American church and it was in the Africaname church was deeply impacted because like typical Germans
07:53 everything is about the mind. Everything is about the mind isn't it? All right. The spirit wasn't really has not come
07:58 alive. But in the worship he saw African-Americans really friends all right worshiping the Lord and so caught
08:04 up with worship that he was moved he was touched and that's so important isn't it that's why sometimes I like to go and
08:10 join African American worship you know I mean so for example if you preach in African-American worship if your
08:17 preaching is if you make a good point they will say hallelujah they say preach it brother okay and some will stand up
08:22 and do a swing and a zig like jig like that swing but friends you know when your sermon is really flat you know what
08:28 some of will say, "Oh Jesus, Jesus, have mercy upon the preacher this morning." Okay, I hope you not do that with me
08:34 this morning. I said, "Oh, Jesus, Jesus, help him. Help him." The preacher needs help this morning. But you know, there's
08:41 so much zest and energy in African-American churches. That is always a joy that even if you are just
08:46 an average preacher, but because of encouragement, amen, hallelujah, your preaching gets better and better.
08:52 Okay. Not very encouraging. Amen. Yeah. It's just wonderful, is it? And that's what worship should be, isn't it?
08:59 Worship should be one whereby you see the power of God, the presence of God, where there should be joy, isn't it?
09:04 Right? The pup outside maybe across the road from you or here when they meet together, they call it happy hour.
09:11 I say happiest hour is 9:15 Sunday morning, first bapt
09:17 happiest is here, isn't it? And that's what it should be really for us to be caught in the worship of living God. And
09:23 that's so critical and important. And I said to the worship team, for example, in GMC, when you lead us in worship, I
09:30 don't want a performance. Although some of our guys are professionals, they're really very very good as musicians, as
09:36 singers, and so I say, I don't want a performance. I want a worship experience. Hello, are you there? Not a
09:41 performance, worship experience. And therefore, to really lead us in worship, all of you on your own must be
09:47 worshippers. Because if you're not worshippers, how can you lead people in worship? Hello? so important. So I say
09:55 to them, you must invest money and time on your own to worship. Take out a guitar, get on a keyboard and worship on
10:02 your own. Is it because only when you are a worshshiper, you can lead people in worship. Isn't it? It is like what
10:09 Charles Spurgeon, this great Baptist preacher said, you can lead people as far into the king's country as you
10:15 yourself have gone. He also said, the best music is played on B natural.
10:24 Some musician what is be natural? Never heard of be natural. It is be natural.
10:29 Hello. Right now it is naturally you're a worshshiper.
10:35 Therefore lead people in worship. And I trust this is the case. The important mark friends of a gospel center
10:41 community who lifts up Christ and lifts up Christ to its worship of the living God. That is not just past time. It is
10:47 just some words that we mumble. It is really caught up in the worship of the living God. that God's presence is
10:52 there. Can I will amen for that? Yes. The second mark, okay, of uh a church that exalts the Lord Jesus is through
10:58 the word, the Lord's supper as well as prayer that would focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, verse 42, come
11:04 together. Let's read. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of
11:10 bread and to prayer. It says, and so friends, they devoted themselves to apostles teaching, which is a teaching
11:15 of the word of God. The word of God that must focus on Lord Jesus Christ. The word of God has been lifts up but they
11:20 must lift up the name of Christ and that's so important but it involved in the breaking of bread as well the Lord's
11:26 supper isn't it and it's so important and powerful because when we all right have the Lord's supper I'm not sure how
11:32 often probably once a month you have it here am I right I know all right it's a great great time why because it tells us
11:37 of four things about the Lord's supper it is looking backwards in remembrance what Christ did on the cross it is
11:43 looking forwards in anticipation of the return of Christ why because in verse 26 of 1 Corinthians heaven where he says to
11:49 us for as often you eat this bread and drink this cup you pray proclaim the Lord's death until he comes isn't it
11:57 we're waiting anticipating the return of Christ therefore every communion or every Lord's supper is one Lord's supper
12:04 less to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ how exciting isn't it so that when one day Jesus Christ when he
12:10 returns he will return in glory and in power on the clouds better and more fantastic than Star Wars
12:18 Yeah, that's what it tells us in scripture. I said, so for it is not looking backwards in remembrance,
12:24 looking forwards in anticipation. It is looking outwards in proclamation because the same verse 26 tells us for as often
12:32 you eat this bread, you drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. So friends, when we participate
12:37 the Lord's supper, we are telling one another, especially telling our non-Christian friends, here in is the
12:42 gospel of Christ because the bread represents the body of Christ broken for us. The cup represents the blood of
12:49 Christ shed for us. In and through this with forgiveness of sins. In and through this we can come to God like this. Isn't
12:54 it? So it is looking backwards in remembrance. Looking forwards in anticipation looking outwards in
12:59 proclamation but looking inwards. The Bible tells us in examination because tells us in one Corinthians 11 let each
13:06 man each one examine himself herself to make sure we are right. Isn't it? when we participate the Lord's supper so
13:11 powerful for that in the teaching preaching of the word in the celebration of Lord's supper but also in prayer
13:17 isn't it right where they lift the lord Jesus Christ like this so this is the first thing friends in a gospel centered
13:23 community it seeks it desires it longs to lift up the name of the lord Jesus Christ it seeks to exalt Christ okay and
13:30 therefore in our churches we got to ask ourselves are we exalting Christ or we exalting man are we lifting up the name
13:36 of Christ again and again or we lift up the name of man Isn't it very very important and that's what we must do all
13:42 the time okay all the time everything we do all right we want to make sure the name of Christ is very uplifted his name
13:49 is honored his name is glorified can a good amen for that that's the first mark of a gospel- centered community it longs
13:55 it desires it seeks really to enthrone Christ in our midst so that when people come they know the presence of God here
14:02 because it's amazing worship because we seek to honor Christ and enthrone him in our midst and friends when Jesus Jesus
14:09 is present. Sometimes we don't have to do a lot. His grace, his mercies, his
14:14 power is released. So as there are people during worship, they are touched by the power of God. There are people
14:20 during worship who tells me who tell me they've been healed just like that through worship. In fact, in one
14:26 instance, all right, during worship, there's a lady at the end of worship,
14:32 she walked right up in tears, crying away. And she had said this to me. Every
14:39 single word that just now you all sang, I've been crying as if every single word
14:44 there on the lyrics of all these songs you saying was speaking directly as if God is speaking directly to me. Walked
14:50 up crying. We commit his life to Christ. Why? Because she has not been in church for more than 20 years. You see friends,
14:57 when there is true genuine worship of the living God, God will speak and work to us and convict us and draw us in
15:03 response to him. Amen. And that's what you and I need to do friends in a gospel centered community therefore that will
15:09 exalt that will honor that will lift up the name of Christ. The second thing second mark friends of the gospel it
15:15 edifies the body. It edifies the body of Christ. All right it seeks to build up a body of Christ in what way? Again all
15:23 right through preaching teaching and prayers that builds up the body again verse 42. Come let's read again
15:28 wonderfully. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and
15:35 to prayer. Isn't it? And so therefore the strong emphasis all right on teaching the word of God. Okay. Ensuring
15:41 people are built up isn't it in in the teaching word. I'm so glad to hear for example Dr. Peter teaches every
15:47 Wednesday night here. Am I right? Okay. You call it a gama series. All right. So good. I wish I could be here to listen
15:53 to him to learn from this guru as well. Okay. Uh all right. As much as possible.
15:58 Because the word of God built us up in a powerful manner. And that's so important, isn't it? To ensure that we
16:03 handle the word of God well to ensure we apply the word of God well. Why? Because it is not just for us to know a lot
16:11 about the word of God. That's great. That's wonderful. Friends, what we need to do is application of God's word. Can
16:19 I underline this? Truth don't change lives. Let me repeat. Truth don't change lives.
16:26 It's the application of God's truth that changes lives. Hello, are you there? That's why in our life groups, all
16:33 right, that we have we got more than 200 life groups, okay? Scattered across the clang valley. And time and again, I will
16:39 say we come here not to study the Bible, learn more about the Bible. We come here, yes, we learn more about Bible.
16:45 But more important thing is how are we applying what we have learned in our lives the next seven days. And that's
16:51 the reason why I think it's very good. For example, every Sunday you get great preaching here from the pulpit. Amen.
16:56 Isn't it? And so I think next Sunday when you come back here, in fact, every Sunday you should do it before the
17:02 preaching of the word of God, the preachers should say, "Let's take one minute now." Okay. Pair up with the
17:08 person next to you. What have you done with the word of God last Sunday? You heard all quiet now.
17:15 Yeah. Why? Because before I preach the word, you we want to see how you have applied your word the last seven days.
17:21 Because if we not apply the word of God last seven days, why do you want to hear some more the word of God? Am I right or not? All right. Because why it is the
17:27 application of the truth of God that changes lives. It is not a hearing, they applying, isn't it? But that's what
17:33 we're going to see that our lives increasing reflect the Lord Jesus Christ. More Christlike in every way indeed. And
17:40 that's so important. And that's why I help preachers again across the country around the world how to teach the word
17:45 of God well and ensure it is applied to people's lives that we pray by the grace of God. It will begin to touch and
17:51 change and transform them in a wonderful manner. Is it all right? And so the whole teaching of God's word, whole year
17:57 of prayer is that we are to together support one another, help one another to grow in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's
18:02 okay. One bit of it. The second way they edify the body of Christ. But also before that, what is the purpose of the
18:08 word of God? Okay. The Bible tells us like this 2 Timothy 3 1617 come together
18:14 let's read all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking
18:20 correcting and training in righteousness so that the men of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. You see it
18:28 says here clearly word of God is for teaching, rebuking, training as well as okay correcting so that the men of God,
18:35 the woman of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. It is not just for some good work. It is not just
18:42 for even a lot of good work. For every good work you notice and friends, you notice therefore if this is the case,
18:49 the word of God when taught and applied well, it must apply to our lives in all areas of our lives. very in our own
18:55 personal life, in our family life, in our work life, in our study life, in our home life, whatever area. It must apply.
19:03 It must apply for those of you who are business people. It must apply in the business world. It must apply in the
19:09 marketplace. Right? I'm involved in journeying, for example, business leaders and CEOs of companies for quite
19:14 a number of years now. Uh, all right. So, I meet them once a month. Okay? These people that kind of in fact just
19:20 yesterday I met with the a group of them CEOs. One of them is here with me, Paul. Okay. here together with his wife uh
19:25 from DMC and so I journey with them okay how do you as CEOs of companies and so
19:32 and so forth applied God's word in your life in your business in your work in your responsibilities so you begin to
19:38 see transformation taking place in your company all right so you see change okay taking place in your workplace so you
19:45 see your staff your workers your employees and your bosses been impacted by you being changed and
19:51 transformed we pray by the grace of God Why? Because the word of God has got its
19:57 power effect in all dimensions of society in our lives. Amen. Isn't it? It must be applicable. And therefore, we
20:04 got to see how we apply it. And so I asked them for example this business people what is your why are you in
20:10 business? What is your purpose in business? You know some will say to me pastor my purpose make money lots of
20:17 money. Okay. I mean in a righteous man wrong way make lots of money. I said
20:22 sorry there's not a purpose in business pastor my business is not it make lots of money to give to the church
20:27 especially first baptist church okay so I say sorry for this is good this is not a purpose okay and so and so I said tell
20:35 me what's your purpose in business said most business people don't know why their their purpose is in business I
20:42 said one and only one purpose in business 1 Corinthians 10:31 so whether you eat or drink whatever you do do it
20:48 all to the glory of God all your businesses must honor and glorify God. That's one
20:54 and only one purpose. If it doesn't glorify God, you missed the mark in your business. Hello. Isn't it very
21:01 important? Now friends, one Corinthians 10 it says, "So whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, so even eating
21:07 and drinking must glorify God." You realize that? Now this is where Chinese we all got big
21:14 problem right now. So the point is this question is when is eating and drinking not
21:19 glorifying to God? When we overeat and over drink all quiet
21:24 all the Chinese especially that's true because our body is a temple of the holy spirit when we over over drink we are
21:32 really corrupting this temple of the holy spirit we must guard is say we must ste because it's a trust from god to us
21:38 so where eat or drink whatever we do the business we do the studies we do for those who are students the work we do
21:45 for those of us who homemakers in our home everything we do must glorify God right now and so therefore if the
21:50 business is going to glorify God. It means therefore there are some businesses you just cannot do.
21:56 Hello. No need to pray one God can or not. No
22:01 need to pray one right now. You just cannot do because it doesn't glorify God right now. Therefore, it means for those
22:08 of us applying for jobs, there are certain jobs we don't apply and we don't
22:13 pray because those jobs don't glorify God. Right now, oh you want to think of
22:18 applying to work in a in a casino and no need to pray one right now. It's understood those jobs are not allowed at
22:26 all in the kingdom of God. Isn't it? It's very important for for you and I to know. And so therefore, friends, in all
22:32 things that we do, we must honor God. Then I ask them one more question. How does a Christian businessman look like?
22:43 pastor, how does he look like a more successful version of a non-Christian businessman?
22:49 Sorry, wrong. I won't give you an answer. Go and think about it. Okay. But really, friends, you know what? A
22:56 gospel- centered community is one whereby in all his teaching and preaching and everything, it must begin
23:01 to transform us to make us more and more the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't it right?
23:07 We must honor him in all areas of our lives. And that's what should happen, friends, okay? that he edifies the body.
23:13 We are built up. We are built up to live more devoted more Christc centered lives in our places of work in our place of
23:19 study in the community we're living in in the neighborhood we are part of is in our workplace where I'm working there as
23:25 an employee what whatsoever else said it must begin friends to impact our lives so that we become agent of change and
23:31 transformation which is so important isn't it in fact I just came a week ago from speaking to politicians I addressed
23:37 some of these members of parliament and state assemblies all right and I said to them what's your purpose in politics
23:45 Yeah. Okay. Most of these are not Christians. What's your purpose? Tell me. All right.
23:51 Who are you by the way? So I have to tell them nicely scold them. Okay. To
23:58 tell them now you're all in position of power and authority. Make sure you're not corrupted by your position of power.
24:06 And I remind them clearly you are here not because now you're bosses today
24:12 because you're ministers of the government holding very high position. Nobody's a boss here. You like me, we
24:17 are we all servants of the people and servants of this country and servants to everybody else. Hello, isn't it? You and
24:25 I, we all servants. We're not bosses. We're here to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. And so for we serve him through
24:30 whatever offices we hold, isn't it? In our lives. And that's so so important. And that's we're going to teach and apply this world in hearts and lives
24:38 especially okay of Christians in our midst so that we know how to live lives that will honor God. So we live life to
24:44 encourage one another is that it's so important for for you and I. So it must edify the body. It edifies the body to
24:50 our teaching, our preaching, okay, our prayer and everything else we're involved in. That's one aspect of
24:55 edifying the body. Another aspect of edifying the body is through caring and sharing all right with one another.
25:01 Isn't it? The need to care and share for with one another. That's so important. I'm so glad to hear from brother Arnold.
25:08 Now there are 23 life groups, isn't it? Okay. The next time when I come, maybe 2020, no promises. When I come, I will
25:14 expect to hear 50 life groups. No. Amen.
25:21 In fact, just last Thursday, I was invited to one of life groups. Yeah. I was invited to visit one of the live
25:27 groups. Won't tell you who. Won't tell you where. We won't tell you what. Okay. not too far away from here. All right.
25:34 So, I went there. Have a wonderful time. By the way, the dinner is very good.
25:40 Okay. In fact, you know what? Let me tell you a secret. Okay. Uh some people in DMC, okay? In DMC, you know how they
25:47 decide which life group to go. All right. They go and visit all the life groups and then whichever life group
25:53 that provides a best supper. So, forgive us because our people not so spiritual like First Baptist people. Okay. All
26:00 right. But the other thing let me tell you, you know what is a secret of growing a life group and it is a recipe
26:06 that's been proven to be true again and again. Well tested recipe. Use it. It guarantee it works. Okay. And which is
26:13 this. The group that eats the most grows the most. Yeah. Surprising, you know. All right.
26:19 Uh that's the reality I noticed. All right. Because why? Because we Malaysians we all love to eat all right.
26:27 Right. So when we go overseas, we are starving. cannot wait to get back to Malaysia, isn't it? To eat the wonderful
26:32 food there. But that's true actually in general. So provide reasonable food. You
26:37 know, one cell group I visit, you know what? They'll provide only biscuit and water. I thought to myself, I can do a bit
26:44 better than this. Am I right or not? All right. If you find yourself, if you are burdening yourself to provide all this,
26:50 okay, all the time, then share out with one another, right? Not get different members, you bring different things and
26:56 you share, participate, isn't it? so that we all be able to help one another and share the joy and the blessing of it
27:01 all in a wonderful manner. But friends, the reality is this. Why is belonging to
27:06 a life group very important? I want to assure you I know didn't pay me to tell you this.
27:13 You see, we come here on Sunday for worship. Sometimes we don't know whether we're in
27:18 church or not on Sunday morning. Am I right? Sometimes you don't know. In
27:24 a church of this size, you don't know whether your friend is in church or not that Sunday morning right now. But in a
27:29 live group, if you're not there, the next day you get 15 phone calls. Hey, we didn't see you last Wednesday, last
27:35 Thursday, Friday. What happened to you? Right now, but in a big church, we don't know whether we're in or not in. So
27:40 therefore, we don't know how we are doing spiritually. But in a live group, we know. Hello. Are you there? That's
27:47 why in our church, I know many thousands it runs into. What I do is I just told okay, Dr. Peter, you know what I do? how
27:53 to get people in because sometimes we all people of habit we like to come and
27:59 enjoy ourselves on Sunday and that's it and come the next Sunday and that's it
28:04 all right you know how you get our people into life groups I told him the secret he said oh very hard to apply it
28:11 and see to get baptized you must belong to life group other's no baptism for you
28:17 want to get married must belong life there's no marriage for you you want to get you want to get buried must belong after better. No, no, no.
28:25 But really it is you want to get involved in anything in church. You want to get involved in worship, you must be
28:31 part of life group other again for in worship. Why is this so important? For example, in worship, okay? Sometimes you
28:37 know worship people, great musicians. No, I'm not talking first baptist. Okay. Some great musicians are egos are so
28:43 big, right? And one of them came out to me years ago and said, "Pastor D, you worshiped him very very good." You know,
28:50 I'm a professional. I think I help your guys to improve. I said, I really appreciate it. Thank
28:56 you so much. By the way, which live group are you in? Oh, you are not in live group. Go first. And when I send
29:04 them to the live group, I tell the live group, you know, watch the guy carefully. Watch the guy carefully. All right. To make sure the guy is not
29:11 arrogant, bigheaded and so and so forth like that. Want to take over, hijack, and do everything. All right? You know,
29:16 firstly, you know, give him responsibility. Let him provide supper. Okay?
29:22 ah to teach and train his attitude right now that's a good way of teaching
29:28 training one another right and I see you watch him whether attitude is right whether the heart is pure whether a real
29:34 desire to honor God or not so when that person goes up it is not performance but real worship experience is leading us
29:40 into hello are you there saying life group is very powerful and encourage you challenge to be part of it because there
29:47 we hold one another accountable how we are doing we check on one another for each other's good. You know what I mean?
29:53 All right. We are there to support one another. That's where you really experience community life. Talking about
29:59 building gospel center community, that's where real community life is because right here on Sunday morning, you come, you say hi and by that's all you do. But
30:06 in the life good, you really interact with one another. You really get to know and more than you really get to support
30:12 one another. You know, great support, encouragement, and that's what we all need is because a real community can
30:18 only build in small groups. And that's the reason why friends you got a peripheration of pups and clubs in urban
30:25 centers all over the world, urban cities all over the world. You know why? Because urbanization results in a
30:31 breakdown of community. So that we don't even know sometimes our neighbors down the road right now. And so in the
30:39 process of urbanization, people naturally want to recreate community and they recreate community by having pups
30:46 and clubs. So when they meet together in small groups they call the happy hour right
30:52 now trying to recreate community and that's what they're going to do and friends life group is part and parcel of
30:58 real wonderful community whereby we bear our hearts we support we encourage one another isn't it and our life groups are
31:04 example sometimes a father mother okay could have passed on in Pinang the whole
31:09 life group will drive out to Pinang all right and just join and encourage the brother or sister whose loved one
31:16 has passed away and this what our life groups will do. All right? And life group gather together so and so is
31:21 getting married. Okay? Uh in church all the life group members all particip help to get the guy get ready for marriage do
31:28 everything for that guy. Okay. When the guy want to move home a house everyone al all came into help. Hey friends
31:35 become member life group. A lot of benefits. Oh.
31:41 All right. Now but of course it's not just benefits we look for. We want to see how we can support one another. Hello. Are you there? We need to be
31:47 accountable. We support. We to be encouragement. And that's the reason why friends you notice that verses 44 45
31:53 that's what it says. Come let's read together. All the believers are together and everything in common. Selling the
31:60 possessions and goods they gave to anyone as he had need. Is it there's real support of one another. That's what
32:06 true community is all about. No one is left out. You notice isn't it? Okay.
32:12 However poor you are, there will people stand alongside you support you, encourage you, provide for you. Isn't it? And that's so critical that we all
32:18 need that, isn't it? Because sometimes you and I don't know what certain people are going through in life. That's the
32:25 heartaches and the pains, the frustration and the tension. All right?
32:31 And the challenges and the deep grief. Like for example,
32:37 one mother out of the blue were just looking at the daughter's handphone
32:43 and she noticed, my goodness, she's texting texting this other girlfriend of
32:48 hers, but the messages are just too intimate,
32:53 a bit unnatural. The messages express to each other. So what does it mean? It means they got
33:02 samesex attraction. Do you have this here in First Baptist? No. You're all pure people. No problems
33:08 at all. Friends, can I say it is happening in church after church all over the world,
33:15 you know? And it's getting younger and younger, 13, 14 years old. They have
33:22 that now. In fact, just yesterday in this group of young adults, I'm mentoring sharp brilliance. Some of
33:28 these from Cambridge University and so and so forth. I journey take them through right for several years now. One
33:33 of them just told me, "Pastor Daniel, the person, the girl I'm mentoring, she
33:38 told me the girl I'm mentoring, her mentee just recently text her and told
33:45 her, I'm only prepared to carry on in your mentoring group. Provided from now
33:52 on earth," she said, "you must call me a he."
33:57 If you don't call me a he, thank you very much. Not coming anymore.
34:03 What do you do? How do you handle something like this? Parents discovered it. Breaks the heart.
34:11 Friends, can I say these things are real in all our churches. And that's why I've
34:17 been telling pastor after pastor, you and I must preach from the pulpit a message along these lines. You and I
34:24 must deal with it, handle it. The whole LGBT issue, you and I must handle it. It
34:29 has gone beyond LGBT now. It is LGBTQ. Hello. It has gone beyond LGBTQ.
34:38 It is now LGBTQI. Hey, why you look at me like that?
34:44 I'm telling you the truth. Nothing but the truth. Okay, go back and do some
34:49 research and see. It doesn't stop at T. Doesn't even stop
34:55 at Q. Now it's going to die. Those are some realities that you and I, especially our parents, we got to be
35:02 aware. We got to know. And for some of us, it could be our grandchildren
35:08 we need to deal with. So what do you do when that person tells you?
35:14 He tells you, don't call me a he, but a she.
35:19 I mean, just the other day, Doris and I, my wife, we in a nice lovely swanky uh
35:25 restaurant. Royal Shanki restaurant on the 41st floor. So I told her I need to go to a toilet. So I went to I look at
35:30 it. The sign says mail. I went went in. When I step on a toilet in a common air to wash them, I step out. My goodness,
35:38 all girls in it. I say, am I really right? No. My goodness. I
35:45 quickly dash out. Okay. I say, my goodness, I'm look at a sign board there. The sign says male, but it also
35:52 says female. Friends, can I say this? What happening in the west?
35:57 All right, neutral gender kind of thing. And the west is killing all this now.
36:04 Our definitions, the west redefining everything. Sex for example
36:11 is a social construct that is taught universities across the western world today. Sex is no longer biological but a
36:18 social construct. Which means you yourself construct it the way you want to construct it. If you think you are a
36:24 male, you're If you think you're a female, you're a female. That's what it is. And friends is sweeping across the world. And if you and I don't preach
36:30 this, we're in trouble. You know why we're in trouble? Because you find all the young people all across the world,
36:35 they have all bought into the LGBTQI agenda. Not just that, increasing number
36:41 of Christian young people are buying into that. Increase young people are buying into that. So you don't preach and teach on
36:47 pullpit, you could be in trouble, in serious trouble. Hello. Are you there? You and I going to establish a biblical
36:52 basis that clearly from the word of God what it is, what it's all about and yet do it sensitively, graciously,
36:59 generously and thoughtfully. Hello, are you there? So that we really become a
37:05 real true gospel community that will reach out to love all people to welcome
37:10 all people and yet be clear about one's position in the midst of all that so that we are truly faithful to the Lord
37:15 Jesus Christ as we love the world reach out and touch the world for Jesus Christ. Are you there? critically
37:20 important in gospel centered communities for all of us and so therefore the important place friends you know of
37:27 fellowship of real community that is experienced at the lifeg group level and I trust many many of you will really
37:32 really go for it all right thirdly it edifies the body through signs and wonders that heals and binds up the body
37:40 why because here in verse 43 it tells us like this come let's read together everyone was filled with awe and many
37:46 wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles Signs and wonders happen. Healings and
37:53 deliverance happen. And you know this friends, this is part and parcel of the normal life of the church, not the
37:58 abnormal life of the church. And that's what it is important for you and I to recognize that that God wants to do this
38:06 even to in this 21st century of healing, of deliverance, of setting people free and drawing people to experience healing
38:12 and wholeness in the Lord Jesus Christ. Give you an example.
38:18 There was a man he had cancer both kidneys and he was dying. He's gone to
38:23 all the chemo treatment everything else. He has anything everything he was tried. He's gone to bomos and sinces and witch
38:29 doctors you name. He's gone to all of that. But he was just dying. The doctor gave
38:35 up. He was gave up. One day he was told by his daughter who just became a
38:40 Christian 3 weeks earlier, "Dad, why don't you go to the church to be prayed for? He's not a Christian. Why don't you
38:46 go to the church where you pray for? And the typical smart China man. Yeah. Why do I go? Nothing to lose. What? Maybe
38:53 something to gain. Hello. Isn't it? And so he was brought to church that Sunday.
38:60 And he was brought in. He was walking like this. Very, very slowly, baldheaded. Therefore, he put the cap on with a tongue. He walked slowly, right?
39:06 Like that like that in. And I said, "Pastor, that's the man." I said, "Good, good, good." He came and then during
39:12 time of worship. All right. I just glanced back and I saw him. You know
39:17 what what I saw? Both his hands were up also during a time of worship. I thought
39:24 to myself really he's not a Christian. Okay. And then
39:32 right fine I went up to preach after I gave an altar call. I said those who like prayer please come forward. He was
39:37 led to the front by the daughter out for prayer slowly. So he walked to the front. Okay. So I said, "Hi, welcome." Okay. Uh
39:47 uh what's your name? Sunonny. Good to meet you, Sunonny. Uh how can I pray for you, brother?
39:54 After he said, I said, "But I also noticed Sunny, during your time of worship, your hands were up. What
40:01 happened?" He said, "Not only my hands were up, I was in tears. I was crying
40:06 away." I said to him, "Son, you know what? God has touched you. This is home. The
40:14 fact you can cry, it means you have you are home. Sunny, will you today come
40:20 home to the Lord Jesus Christ? I will still pray for you if you don't accept
40:26 the Lord. But if you like to accept the Lord, it my huge joy and privilege to do so. Would like to do that. All right. I
40:32 will still pray if you don't. You say yes. Let your faith in Christ. Pray for him. The power of God hit him. Bang. He
40:39 fell down. Next Sunday when order is given first to
40:44 come up for prayer again pray for power go bang he went down Sunday after he came all right smart China man first
40:52 thing when autocor is going to come for prayer got healed sunny
40:58 completely sunny went back to work and the boss
41:03 said to him I thought Sunonny we're not going to see you anymore I kill bosses
41:08 like this how unkind as said I thought we going to see you anymore went back to
41:14 work carried on Sunny well and strong has gone for our
41:20 mission trips hair has grown back how long ago has it been now 20 years now
41:28 suddenly today is coming to his mid70s 20 years now rejoicing celebrating
41:35 serving God acting husband as our ashes today in church faithfully God wants to do this. I got tons of
41:42 testimonies to tell you about the signs, wonders and miracles that's happened in DMC radio. Quite a number of the kids
41:48 running around. They are what I call miracle babies. You know why? Because
41:53 the couple could not conceive, could not have children. And nowadays you know science is so advanced they can trace
41:59 almost to the day and some of these could be traced to the very day we were prayed for. Power God zapped a couple
42:05 who could not conceive for several years. bang came and today this couple
42:11 the daughter is something like 25 26 years old now and we got several running around like this friends God wants to do
42:17 amazing things in our midst in fact one of the cases was the child born heavily
42:24 heavily prematured when a child was born the child is only 600 grams
42:29 only the smallest baby in suba medical center all right the doctor said even if the
42:37 child survives brain damage blind
42:42 we all prayed like crazy day and night I remember going to hospital lay hands and pray we refuse to give up then she was
42:48 transfer because it's just medical bills are just too high lying hospital I went in there to pray different people groups
42:54 of regular to pray believe in god with divine miracle today Matthew is 18 years
43:00 old healthy strong running around helping in
43:05 our children church. So you want people like this for Sunday school. I'll send you you or I send him to you to help you
43:12 all. Amazing testimonies like this. And so friends, you know, God wants to work
43:17 in our midst. It is to our own loss if we don't invite his presence and his power at work. You know what I mean? So
43:24 pray. Now I know I prayed for people who has been healed, but I also pray for people who have not been healed.
43:31 So what do we do? Stop praying. No, don't stop. Right now like for example
43:36 some patients see a doctor they they get well get restored some patients see a doctor don't get well not get restored
43:43 some they even die under the hands of doctors you never see a doctor shutting
43:48 down his clinic because all his patients die own eventually
43:53 right now those are some realities of life but so what do we do we don't we keep on praying because why we recognize
44:01 healing is from this sovereign God is sovereign We trust him. We are not the healers. We're not magicians. He is the
44:07 one. So we trust. We pray. If it doesn't heal, we thank God. It's not about our prayer. It's God's sovereign will rule.
44:12 God has a better plan for him also. Maybe we don't know. You know what I mean? But we pray. You know what I mean? And so we see this in scripture. We see
44:19 right through the book of Acts. We see this right throughout the 2,000 years of church history. We continue to see this
44:24 today. I've got tons of testament as to tell you again and again how God impacted life, changed and transformed
44:30 them totally, completely. All right. Even people deliver for example go on gambling. This guy every weekend must go
44:35 up to GI casino and gamble. The power hit him touch and deliver him from gambling. You know recently he got
44:43 a nice 5,000 ringgit voucher from Ging Island. And you know what the the guy
44:48 wrote and say we're not sending you for a long long time. Okay please come up 5,000 ringgit voucher. Okay. So he said
44:54 pastor what do I do? I kill you. What do you do? Tear it up.
44:59 All right now. Okay. Another one I led him to I led him to faith in Christ. Let
45:04 him to faith in Christ. Okay. And then one day what he went by number and you
45:10 know what he struck a price for number and he called a pastor. I want to donate
45:15 part of the price to the church. I'm going to slap you and kill you. I withdraw your money like that. Are you there? And then he told you know he told
45:21 me you know pastor you know how I got that number. I strike a fourdigit lottery. Do you know how I got the number? All right. It's 12. Okay. 1289.
45:28 Uh sorry. What? Uh 1229 I say how you say one you know how get a number one you've seen a pastor number one two
45:35 because you pray for both of us two night the other two night is because on the day you pray for us 29 29
45:46 could you please pray for us we are not so spiritual yet unlike all of you
45:51 you get all kinds of people in our churches hello are you there England was baptized right now so people need to be
45:56 discipled and taught well is it okay now they become better now better and better. So this guy you know not too
46:02 long ago okay he he runs a nice wonderful lovely accounting firm and one
46:07 day okay not too long ago the staff okay who knows always he will go for buy okay
46:12 the staff said Mr. Lim so today not buying he said no why not no mood he
46:19 told me I said I'm going to in future you are not permitted to say no mood I'm
46:24 going to kill you say no mood why because if mood comes you're going to buy All right. Now, not no mood. Say no more.
46:32 Hello. Are you Isn't it? No more. That is the end of it. Isn't it so important? So, we got to teach people, guide
46:39 people, instruct people, train and correct them and discipline, build them up in the ways of God. So, they
46:44 increasing in their lives to become real gospel center and Christ center in what they do. Hello, are you there? And that's so important for all of us. And
46:50 that's the reason why friends signs and wonders and healing, deliverance are powerful means of God's power at work in
46:57 a person's life. a good friend of mine. All right, uh Dr. Chong Kuante, a psychiatrist, okay? Some of you might
47:02 know him. And he tells me as a psychiatrist, sometimes I pray for people and he said, "You know, Daniel,
47:08 a few cases I prayed for the power of God hit the patient of mine. After that,
47:14 no medication needed for the rest of his life."
47:20 He said, "I wish every case I pray for like that." We don't know. We trust God. But pray, isn't it? Sometimes you never
47:27 know. And what wonderful deliverance isn't God wants to do like that right now. Okay. It may send doctors all out
47:34 of jobs but it's good for us right now. But believe God to pray and
47:39 trust God. We don't know why. Hello. Are you there? All right. Very very important. And so the first thing
47:44 friends in a gospel summit it exalts Christ. So we got to ask ourselves are we exalting Christ in the right way through worship through teaching of word
47:51 through our prayer to everything else we do. The second thing is does it edify the body a gospel circle must always
47:57 edify one another build up one another okay to prayer to teaching to preaching to fellowship to life group to
48:03 everything else that we do we seek to be accountable we seek all right to really move together as a community of God's
48:10 people okay making a difference in this world God has put us in but the third and final thing as a gospel centered
48:16 community it seeks to extend the kingdom every gospel center must extend the
48:21 kingdom of god it must reach reach out isn't it? It must reach out to touch a community for the Lord Jesus Christ
48:27 because a gospel center comm will never be content with itself within. It will never be happy within the force of the
48:33 church. All right? It only seeks someone to go out. Okay? And that's what it is.
48:39 We are here not just for one another. We here for the world outside. Hello, are you there? It's very very important. If
48:45 you're not touching the world outside, something is wrong with us as a gospel- centered community like this. And so you
48:50 notice friends here in Acts two. All right. They do this to good works in serving and blessing the community. How?
48:56 Verse 45 again. Together selling the possessions and goods they give to anyone else in need. I believe friends
49:03 they don't just give give to people within the church. They give to people outside the church as well. Hello. Are
49:08 you there? All right. That's the reason why friends you know what in the first three centuries of the Christian church
49:14 when it was really under persecution when the Christian church was a despised lot to belong to the Christian community
49:20 in the first three centuries. Okay. All right. Uh is ready to belong to an
49:25 illegal assembly. You know that before emperor Constantine was converted in 313 AD before that Christianity was a
49:33 persecuted religion and believers have to run. All right. Helter skelter everywhere. In fact Doris we just in
49:40 Rome right recently and I I I I told uh them let's organize a trip to go to the
49:45 catacombs in Rome. The catechum is underground place where Christians hide because of persecution hide okay from
49:53 the authorities Roman authorities and many times they all buried inside there as well all right and to know that when
49:59 you belong and willing to belong and pay your price for it it calls for commitment it's a it calls for
50:05 seriousness but as a result what happens is historians will tell you time and
50:11 again when non-Christians talk about the Christians they will make this comment
50:17 Read Michael Green's book evangelism in the early church. The common comment of non-Christians about this Christians is
50:23 this see how they love one another. See how they love one another. And it is not just they loving one another within the
50:29 body of Christ. They reach out to love the community to serve the community. That's why when bubonic take took place in Europe you remember quite a number of
50:36 centuries ago. It was a Christians who went all out to serve people. Bubonic plate when you come and touch most like
50:42 you will die and Christian willing to die to serve the poor the needy the diseased the hungry the sick and so and
50:48 so forth and that's what you and I must do that the gospel community is always concerned with the people outside not
50:55 the people within so therefore you got to ask yourselves God has put us in subaya
51:01 what is our call to the community outside I challenge every church that I preach
51:07 in I challenge people in UMC as well. We're not just here for one another. We
51:13 here for the world. Hello. So, what is our call to what God is saying to us
51:18 about responsibilities outside? So, friends, I tell pastors, we're not just here to pastor church members. Well,
51:25 this is important and critical. We're here to pastor the community. We here to
51:31 pastor the city. We here to pastor our nation. Hello, you there? And honestly, if I may
51:38 allow to throw this personal bit, that's why they give me the dat. I turn it down. I say no. They say yes. I say no.
51:45 They say yes. The tship came from Pinang governor.
51:51 I say no. They say yes. And then this person who recogniz says everybody in
51:57 this country knows you have make a contribution to this nation. You may not have made a direct contribution pan
52:03 state because people are confused. How come you get dship from Pinang? You're not born in Pinang, never grow in
52:11 Pinang, never work in Pinang some. How come you get Dhip? You don't deserve it. I say I don't know. It must only come
52:17 from God. Hello. And if God wants to give her, who can stop you? Right now,
52:22 right? If want if God wants to give you 10 million, who can stop you? If God wants to give you 2.6 billion, who can?
52:28 No, no, no, no. Don't think about that. Okay? But if God
52:35 is burking back, no, no, no, no, no. Right. But it's important right now. I
52:41 mean, we, you and I as Christians, we should not be looking for this. We're still chasing after this. So, when I
52:47 came back, sorry, allow me to say this. Is it okay? Uh, forgive me those of you who are dances and so and so forth.
52:53 Okay, allow me to say this because what happens is when I was conferred, I
52:58 seldom preach in DMC nowadays. I only preach six times a year. That's all. Okay? So when I came back after a fairly
53:04 long absence, pastor Chris come the new senior pastor said, "Pastor, I need to go and say something about Dr. I." I said, "No, no, don't say I just go and
53:10 preach. I need to say something because it's an honor." Because he said what he said, what to do? I thought I decide
53:16 make some comments. Okay. So I make five comments, okay, to my people. This is part and parcel of me discipling the
53:22 UMC. And can I say this is part and parcel of me discipling the body of Christ in Malaysia. Okay, allow me to
53:28 say that. Really, it's important. So those of you dancer please forgive me. Okay. All right. I say with uh good
53:34 heart, pure heart. Okay. All right. And and tell people this which is important for us as Christians. Non-Christians you
53:41 come blame them. But for I'm talking about Christians. Is it okay? I said five reasons. Firstly, we as Christians
53:47 should not be looking for it. We're still chasing after it. No. Secondly,
53:56 no money should be involved in it. No money should be involved in it right
54:01 now. Because now you can use money to buy it. Right now I say if you use money to buy
54:09 it, it cheapen yourself in your character. It degrades you.
54:15 Okay. Thirdly, you must have make a contribution to the state of the nation.
54:22 Because if not, why do you have that or because it is always understood years past is because you have contributed to
54:30 the state of the nation. They confirm it in recognition of your contribution. Hello, are you there? Fourthly,
54:37 all right, we must not think who we are. Who we are is not
54:45 dictated by the number of letters behind our name in front of our name. But who we are is determined by the content of
54:52 our heart. What is on the inside here? Not what is on the outside. Because
54:57 sometimes we got a lot of titles, a lot of of degrees, but no temperature. What
55:02 for? I know. Isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. So
55:09 therefore I said I say this very carefully because there are many many of these titled people in DMF very very say
55:17 I said you know we must not think because now I'm d so and so tans so tun
55:22 so and so today now I'm somebody before that I'm nobody don't believe that hello
55:28 especially we who are Christians children of living God
55:33 who we are is not what on outside who we are is what on inside it is the content
55:39 of our heart. It is a substance in us that makes us who we are. We may not have even a single degree. We may not
55:45 have even finished form five. But when there is content of substance, that's what makes us who we are. Hello, are you
55:51 there? Finally, the fifth one I tell my church people is this. Don't call me D so and so. If you call
55:59 me D so and so, you get minus marks. If you call me the way you normally call me, either Daniel, pastor Daniel, you'll
56:05 get extra brownie points all accumulate in heaven. Uh let's get on with work and ministry
56:12 of kingdom. Hello. Are you there? Let's get on with work ministry. Why be caught up this that and the other right now?
56:17 Because why? We here to serve God. We we are servants of the Lord right now. All right. We're not to serve man. Hello. Is
56:23 it okay? I don't know why I say this. I'm repenting for my sins right now. Okay. Sorry about that. Anyone will be
56:29 this. But I think it's important especially in Malaysia you know especially in Malaysia some people
56:34 hankering and dying for it which is so sad is it all right but you and I as Christians we just trust God if it comes
56:40 it comes doesn't come so what hello are you there isn't it we rejoice celebrate we God has given us the joy the blessing
56:46 the good health to serve him let's go to serve him aloh are you there okay and let's serve him with all our heart isn't
56:52 it very very important because if you don't serve him the time may pass before you realize it is all over isn't it in
56:58 fact I preaching Gualumpo Wesley Methodist Church of over a thousand people that church full of old people.
57:04 You know what's the title of my sermon? How to grow old. Wow.
57:11 All these people in church must be thinking this young man. My goodness. Teaching us how to grow old. Yeah.
57:17 Really? In fact, I went back again next Sunday to do part two.
57:22 It is like continuous cereal. You know, part one, keep it at a climax and you come back for part two. But really, seriously. All right. And my title is
57:29 how to age. Not just age because we all grow old. Amen. It looks like none of we're going to grow old. God have mercy
57:35 upon. We're all going to grow old. Amen. Hello. But it's not just growing old because of passage of time. It is how to
57:41 grow old gracefully and fruitfully in life. Some people never grow old gracefully.
57:49 Right? Sometimes verse two, no fruit at all. The older they get no fruit at all. Some people become what? The older they
57:56 get, the more uptight they become, more angry you become, more critical, more cynical. What a crazy way to end your
58:03 life. Hello. Say to your neighbor, he is not talking about me,
58:09 right? Now, we want to grow old gracefully, but also fruitfully. And that's so important. And that's what the Christian gospel and comm should be,
58:16 isn't it? The older we get, the better it should be. I say, the more wonderful it should be for all of us. more
58:22 gracious and kind and thoughtful, big-hearted, generous and so and so forth run the other way around, isn't
58:27 it? Which would be so sad. It is like this church I preached in at the end called a senior lady came up for prayer
58:35 together with his grown-up daughter. I said, "How can I pray for you?" Pray for my husband, her father. I said, "Why?"
58:42 My husband, her father, very angry man for the last number of years refused to
58:47 come to church. I said, "Really? I'm sorry to hear about that." I I said, "Why didn't you get my tape? My sermon
58:52 tip I just preach on. Let him listen. I hope you will help him." You know what the wife said? He will kill me.
59:01 There's a lot of terrorists in our homes by the way. You know, I mean, and some of our kids are terrorists as well.
59:07 Americans and so which is so sad. You know, I mean, it shouldn't be like that. But
59:12 friends, that's why you and I must come to grips with what we are, how we should live our lives. And so important, isn't it? Passes by very, very quickly. And so
59:19 therefore friends in heart reach out to serve the community to bless the community a joy to give this weekend in
59:24 fact all right in DMC uh it is our anniversary gift weekend we call it this
59:30 is the 40th time we're doing it right 40th time 40 years okay we finished 39
59:36 years it's beginning of 40th year and so right at the start of the year it's always anniversary of the church right
59:41 where every single s we collect we give it all away okay and this year the senior pastor Chris come he said a
59:48 target of 5.5 million that this weekend we look to God to give us 5.5 million this weekend give it all away support
59:55 missions and ministries in Malaysia all over the world okay and in fact when our senior pastor for 36 years every year
59:60 I'm pushing out the target every I'm pushing out the target some of my church people said business people say pastor
60:06 how can you push on all the pushing up all targets every year like you know this year hing boho okay the climate
60:13 business climate not very good okay how can you push it up all the time year from year I say you know what I don't
60:18 follow the column postto index market. I follow God's index and God's index goes up all the time. Amen. Hello. No. Amen.
60:26 Amen. Isn't it? Yeah. We trust God, isn't it? So, what a joy. What a blessing to give like their support missions and ministries. Sometimes you
60:32 want to give. Sometimes you want to give, you don't know where to where your money goes to. Our money is going to Afghanistan, to Libya, Iran, Iraq, all
60:39 kinds of places all over the world. So, sometimes you want to give, you don't know where to give and how to give. Isn't it? So we provide opportunity to
60:46 give right now. All right. We pro the privilege to give. Amen. Isn't it? And
60:53 so priv giving is a joy. It's a privilege. It's a blessing. We don't give to receive. No, no, no. That's
60:58 wrong teaching. We give to give. Hello. Isn't it? We give to bless. And that's what the early church is. And so
61:03 therefore friends, you know, the early church mark 30 is to extend the kingdom by blessing, serving. All right. Uh been
61:11 a real support and help to the community around. Okay. But one final one, a church extends a kingdom through
61:17 intentional witness for Christ. Very intentional in his witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. And so that's what
61:23 verse 47b second half says. Come, let's read together. And the Lord added to the number daily those who have been saved.
61:30 All right. The Lord added the number. Of course, we all know the people who reach out as the Lord adds. Isn't it? It works both ways. All right. I'm so glad you
61:36 hear about alpha starting soon. Isn't it great? Go for it friends because it's a great wonderful churchwide thing where
61:42 together you can do evangelism. I support it fully. I'm on the board of Alpha Malaysia actually. It's a great
61:47 program. Go for it friends. You know bring your non-Christian friends. So come because it is a very non-threatening atmosphere. You meet
61:54 together okay most with food thrown in people show come on right now. Next time invite your friend to ask for food or
61:60 not. Oh got food I will come again right now. And so it's a great place to connect with our friends to allow them
62:05 ask whatever questions they want or true like that which is so important is it but you notice friends in the early day
62:11 believers in the believers of first century you notice there's a certain lifestyle they lead what is the
62:17 lifestyle they lead acts 8:4 it's a final verse of scripture come together
62:23 those who've been scattered preach the word wherever they went those who been scattered meaning believers you see in
62:30 Acts chapter 7 And the first part of chapter eight, what happened? We all know Stephen was persecuted and martyed.
62:37 The first Christian martyr of the church is it. And after his martyrdom, what happens? They went now started
62:43 persecuting all the rest of the Christians. And so all the believers are scattered outside of Jerusalem. The only
62:48 people left behind would be apostles. Only apostles stayed back. The rest cho. But you notice when wherever they went,
62:55 you notice they preach the word. They share the word. All right? They share Jesus with people around. And so can I
63:01 urge you, challenge you? That's what you and I must be doing that evangelism should be a lifestyle. Anywhere,
63:07 everywhere, anytime, every time we should be sharing our faith, we should be making Jesus known. And that's very,
63:13 very important, isn't it? So that's what I do. Anywhere, everywhere, I share Jesus. So I let people to the Lord in a
63:20 taxi, on a train, in a bus, okay? Up on an airplane, uh in all kinds, in a park,
63:26 right? In a hotel, all kinds of places. I lead people to faith in Christ. is very very important. and trust okay you
63:32 will do that you say like for example recently I went to Syria I flew to Syria
63:37 to see what's the issue situation and how we can help okay to respond to the needs all right how many of you next
63:43 trip when I go to see you want to join me can I see your hands any one of you okay I can guarantee to take you in
63:49 safely no guarantee you'll come out safely all right and so I came went by Karta
63:57 Airways first sector of flight right came out to do before goes moved into the Middle East. First section of the
64:02 flight, the guy serving us, flight attendant serving us, young man, you know, in economy economy section of the
64:08 plane. All right. I was on the seat. He came around serving. And when it came to my turn serving me, I said, "Thank you so much, young man, for serving me. I
64:15 really appreciate it for serving all of us." What's your name by the way? It says, "My name is Gabriel. Good to meet you, Gabriel." Okay. Uh, where you from
64:22 origin? From Romania. Romania. How long worked? About five years. Great. Wonderful. I'm sure you must enjoy working Carter Air. Not a bad airline.
64:29 Good. I said, "Gabriel, not my name is Daniel. Daniel who? I'm from Malaysia. All right. I'm a pastor from Malaysia.
64:34 You're very special. Out of seven billion people, God take you to serve a pastor from Malaysia." Some more. Hello.
64:40 Say because not often the pastor is very special species in Malaysia. Amen. Hey, say amen. To encourage some of us.
64:47 All right. All right. I say I know Gabriel, you're working now. When you finish your work, when you finish your
64:53 work, can we have a chat? I got some important things to say to you. Sure. I finished his work before the plane came
64:59 down all right uh to Doha. He came towards me knelt next to me because on our seat we have a chat you know friends
65:06 I let him do faith in Christ and I've been praying for him ever since his full name Gabriel Benjamin Marine all right
65:14 from Romania. Have you got time for one more story? H got time or I know I'm fighting
65:21 for time. Okay. Okay. One one last story. Is it okay and then I'll close. I was speaking at a church camp in Malaa
65:27 of a Singapore church. Okay. And so at the end of the camp, a lady came out,
65:32 one of the campers came up to me said, "Pastor Daniel," she's in his early 50s. Said, "Pastor Daniel, you know, uh,
65:38 thank you so much for speaking. We're really blessed." Uh, pastor, you know, I brought my father and said, "The gentleman seated at the back there,
65:44 wheelchair, that's my father." Oh, okay. Uh, actually my father came. It's a miracle he came. Uh, my my father is not
65:50 a Christian. Okay, pastor, can you share Jesus, the gospel with him? Okay. My father's 92 years old. Oh, really?
65:57 And he said, "One more thing, pastor, you must know my father only speaks."
66:02 I said, "Chu, how do you speak to the Chinese dialect by the way?" You know, I said, "My
66:09 goodness, 92 years old only understand. What do I do?" So anyway, what happens?
66:14 I said, "Okay, let let me go and try and see." So I thought all Singaporeans, especially older ones, must understand
66:20 Hawin. Am I right? How many speak understand h can I see hands? Wow. So many of you God bless you. Okay. And so
66:27 therefore I walked towards him. I pulled a chair sat next to him. Okay. With a daughter seated across. So I said to him
66:34 in Hawin uncle I want to pray for you. He said
66:41 then I said to him uncle before I pray for you
66:48 accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He say, "Hey, Saun
66:56 now I got a big problem now. How do I pray now?" Okay, you know what? He said,
67:02 "Okay." I said, "You need accept." He said, "Okay." You know, the daughter start crying and crying and crying. The
67:08 daughter is so unfair. What my father listen all these years. I share Jesus and tell my Jesus say, "Go away. Don't
67:14 disturb me. Get lost. Don't come and disturb me. Go away." Okay. You just one sentence. He say okay already. So unfair
67:20 one I said you know why very simple pastor very powerful
67:26 so I say okay very good very uncle I say one sentence you say after a
67:31 sentence okay so I let him pray Lord Jesus Christ
67:37 I thank you and I praise you today I want to say I'm a sinner
67:44 I ask you to forgive my s you died on the cross for my sin
67:50 forgive my sin. Come into my heart. Be my Lord and Savior.
67:58 Give me joy, peace and hope. In your name I pray. Amen. He said,
68:03 "Amen." Oh, I was so relieved after that.
68:14 But I said to him, "Uncle, uncle, can you understand what I say or not?" He say, "Hey,
68:28 you know friends, I began quite impressed with my limited Hawkins more." So again, he says, "Just be thick skin
68:34 for Jesus." Hello, are you there? Say your neighbor, be thick skin for Jesus. Hello. Isn't it? Just go ahead and do it
68:40 because you never know. and let all kinds of people to faith in Christ in English in Mandarin in hian in in in
68:48 bahasa that kind of just go ahead and do it and trust the lord to work in their lives why because you and I are here to
68:54 extend God's kingdom and the gospel center community is always concerned and burden about how we can touch the world
68:60 outside draw the faith in Christ because knowing Jesus is so good and so very good as I come from non-Christian
69:05 background 47 years ago knowing Jesus is so good so incredibly good you and I
69:10 cannot not share Jesus with people around. Can a good amen for that? Come, let's stand up. Let me pray for all of you. Let's stand together.
