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00:01 this year 2018. Well, can I see your hands? Wow. Okay. If your hands is not
00:06 up, you're almost like Jesus. Okay. You can you can leave this place now. But we want to, isn't it? We all want to. I
00:12 love to myself, not just 2018, prayerfully by God's grace into the future as well. And so, therefore, I'm
00:17 going to speak about this how to live well in 2018 and beyond as well. Okay? And we're going to look at a passage of
00:23 scripture very familiar to Oliver, 2 Timothy 4 6 to8. Okay? And uh and as
00:30 always in my church, right, when I preach in DMC, whenever Bible verses are projected on the screen, I get everybody
00:36 to read aloud with me together. You know why I do that? Because sometimes that's the only time to read the Bible in a
00:42 whole week. Say to your neighbor, he's not talking about you. Okay? Uh I know
00:47 people here in FB FBC cannot wait to read dying to read the Bible. Amen.
00:53 Okay? And as always, okay, let's stand in honor of God's word. Is okay. All right. very very important. You see what
00:58 happens? There are three things why I normally get people to read aloud together in church. Three very important things. Hear me carefully. Firstly, we
01:05 are making a proclamation of the word of God. Hello. Isn't it? Here in Malaysia,
01:11 you hear five proclamations coming every day from somewhere. How come God's people not proclaiming the word of the
01:17 living God? Something is not right, isn't it? Secondly, friends, what what we are doing is that we establishing the
01:23 truth of God's word on earth as it is in heaven. God's word is always true in heaven. Hello. Isn't we going to
01:29 establish the truth of God's word on earth as well? The third important thing is that the Bible tells us Romans 10
01:34 verse1 17 faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of God. You see, when we hear the word, it builds faith in us.
01:41 That's why when we go hospital visitation, we read the Bible aloud to the person who is sick because it build faith in that person. Hello, are you
01:47 there? Isn't that very important? Come, let's read aloud together. 2 Timothy 4 6 to8. The version I use is the NIV. It is
01:55 a never incorrect version. Okay. So, let's read together. Okay. Aloud together. For I'm already been poured
02:01 out like a drink offering. And the time has come for my departure. I have fought
02:07 the good fight. I have finished a race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness
02:14 which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day. And not only to me, but also to all who have
02:21 longed for his appearing. Our father we ask oh god you by your spirit that is inspired this word will take it and
02:27 speak and challenge us and draw us all in response. We pray in Jesus wonderful name. Amen. Amen. You may take your
02:34 seats. Amen. Well once there was a farmer who brought
02:40 his buffalo to town and the farmer said to the people in the town if any one of
02:45 you can fulfill three wishes of mine this buffalo will be given you as a gift. Well, everyone in town is really
02:51 excited when I possess a strong sleek buffalo. Well, said the farmer firstly, I want you to make my buffalo cry. Well,
02:58 people pinch the buffalo, hit the buffalo, kick the buffalo. The buffalo did not cry at all. Then the pastor of
03:04 town came along and said, could I try? Of course, you may, sir. And the pastor went up to the ear the buffalo,
03:09 whispered some ear of buffalo. And the buffalo cried and cried. This is amazing. Well, secondly, he said the
03:15 farmer, I want to make my buffalo laugh. People tickle the buffalo, make monkey faces, swing and dance. Buffalo did not
03:21 laugh at all. Then said the pastor, could could I try? Of course you may. The pastor whispers and buffalo. And the
03:27 buffalo laugh and laugh and laugh like crazy. This is amazing. Well, said thirdly, the farmer, I want to make my
03:33 buffalo run. People push the buffalo, drag the buffalo. The strong buffalo did not move a single inch. What? The pastor
03:40 said, "Can I try it one more time?" "Of course you may, sir." He whispered to the buffalo. And the buffalo boated off.
03:45 "Well, this is amazing." Well, said the farmer to the pastor, before I hand you my buffalo, what did you do to my
03:51 buffalo? Really? What are you want? Of course, I want to know. Well, said the pastor, firstly, I told a buffalo, okay,
03:57 how hard I work as a pastor. I suppose your buffalo took pity upon me and start to cry and cry and cry. Well, secondly,
04:05 I told your buffalo how much salary I'm paid every month as a pastor. Okay, I'm your buffalo heard that I work so hard.
04:12 How can this guy be paid so little? So, he couldn't believe. And the buffalo laugh and laugh and laugh like crazy.
04:17 Well, third and finally, I say to the buffalo, "Now, do you want to be a pastor?" And the buffalo ran off.
04:24 How many of you want to be a pastor? See your hands? [Applause]
04:30 Hey, how many want to be a pastor here? Except for Pastor Mark. No one else. My
04:35 good. And then a brother there. My goodness, Ann, your church is in trouble. Where's Dr. Peter? Your church is in nobody wants to be a pastor. Okay.
04:42 But I love being a pastor. Really? I gave my engineer to become a pastor. Why? Because I get to meet some of the
04:48 nicest people in the whole world. Say to your neighbor, he's talking about you. Yeah. Really? You know. Yeah. Because I
04:55 get to travel. I preach in more than 30 countries in all six continents. And I meet some some outstanding people
05:01 around. And what a joy. What a privilege. And likewise for you all here this morning. What a joy privilege to be
05:06 here with you all to connect with you, to share, to talk and to really look at the word of God here which is very
05:12 important for all of us. Life is about three things. It's about three Fs. Okay,
05:17 from this passage of scripture itself, life friends is firstly about a fight. Isn't it? Why? Because in verse seven,
05:24 Paul says, "I have fought the good fight." Life is a fight. And you and I must know that, isn't it? You and I
05:31 engage in a fight. A fight of life. But you and I better know what this fight is about. Paul says, "I have fought the
05:39 good fight." The fight that we are involved in doing must be a good one and not a bad one. You see friends, we
05:45 involved in a bad fight. In what way? 25 years ago here in Sububanaya 25, I
05:52 conducted a funeral of an old lady who has passed away. Halfway to the funeral. So normally what
05:58 I'm going to conduct funeral or a marriage when the moment I walked in I introduced myself to all the relatives and families either could to
06:05 congratulate them or to extend condolences to them. So that when I stand I speak that is a connection you
06:10 know what I mean? So you're not speaking to strangers so that prayerfully they'll be more responsive to whatever I say.
06:16 And so but halfway to my sermon I still two young teenage girls that I knew were
06:21 granddaughters of this woman who has passed away stood up and then left but
06:27 never to return. I thought my goodness what has happened. So at the end of the funeral service I checked and see what
06:33 has happened. You know what? The two girls receive a note from the father who's a son of this woman ordering the
06:40 two girls to leave the funeral service and not to carry on. Think about it. Not
06:45 only the son himself refused to come for a funeral service would not allow his daughters, the granddaughters of this
06:51 woman pass to attend the funeral service. This is what I mean friends. We're involved in a bad fight. Fighting
06:58 one another like crazy. fighting for properties, maybe for possessions,
07:05 possession, whatever else it may be. What a wrong fight. What a terrible fight, isn't it? And friends, can I say
07:11 some people go to the grave without having resolve the wounds and pains in life and I've come across people like
07:18 this. What a tragedy how we fight one like crazy within the family members. Isn't it what a wrong fight? What a
07:24 terrible fight we're involved in doing. Not only friends, we must be involved in a good fight and not a bad one. We must
07:30 also be involved in a right fight and not a wrong one. How can we be involved in a wrong fight? Sometimes, sometimes
07:38 as Christian believers, we fight one another, isn't it? We quarrel. We go to tongue with one another. We are locked
07:44 in, right? Buting one another like crazy. Okay. In a church, isn't it? Sometimes we find that the members of
07:51 the church fight with a pastor. No wonder sometimes shepherds have to carry a staff to ward off biting sheep. Isn't
07:56 it? All right. uh or sometimes the pastor fights with the members. What a
08:01 tragedy friends. It's a it's an absolutely wrong fight altogether. And you know who wins at the end? Satan wins
08:08 at the end. Isn't it? You and I lose really because when we fight one another, we got no more energy to reach
08:15 and touch the world for Jesus Christ. Friends, we are here for the world. We're not here for one another only. Hello. Can I hear amen for that? We're
08:21 here not just for we here for the world. We're here to win the world for Jesus Christ. Friends, we're involved. Okay?
08:27 and this fight to make sure we're winning the race. The devil loves to see us fighting one another. So we have no
08:34 more energy left to touch the world for Jesus Christ. Is it? And so we need to be clear, friends, what kind of fight
08:39 are we involved? All right, in doing isn't it? Because we can be involved in the wrong one, in a bad one, in a
08:46 totally misguided one. Isn't it? And if we do that, friends, it is a devil who
08:51 is laughing all the way to the to the bank, isn't it? Because why? He wants us to be knotted together.
08:57 no more right burden, energy, concern left to touch the world for Jesus Christ
09:02 like this. And so friends, you and I need to be like Apostle Paul that he could say, I fought at the end of it all
09:08 a good fight, not a bad one, not a wrong one. It's critical, I think, for you and I to be reminded about that. So we ask
09:15 ourselves, there are three kinds of fights we're involved in. We're fighting our flesh, we're fighting the world, and
09:22 we're fighting Satan. Hello. That's a fight we should be involved in fighting. Firstly fighting our flesh that wants us
09:28 to compromise that wants us to lower our standards isn't that wants us some to cheat to lie to do whatever that is that
09:34 is needed to get our way around that's a wrong kind of fight we should be involved we should fight our flesh to make sure that we keep our standards and
09:41 been faithful to scripture for all of us isn't or we should be fighting the world that also wants us to compromise isn't
09:48 the world tells us everybody does it so what is wrong isn't everybody does it I
09:54 mean it's like for example okay you You may have received a phone call that comes to your office and the call is
09:60 meant for your boss. All right? And you hold down the receiver and say, "Boss, the call is meant for you." And your
10:05 boss tells you, "Tell the guy on the line, I'm not in." What do you do? You pick up the receiver, "Sir, my boss
10:12 asked me to tell you he's not in that's any of your job, isn't it?" And
10:18 this is exactly what happens. This guy working for Selfridges in London got a call for his big boss.
10:24 And the boss say tells you I'm not in. You know what this guy Gibbo says to the boss, big boss, sir, you know I'm a
10:32 Christian. I cannot do that. If I can lie for you, I can also lie to you.
10:40 You hear that? You hear that? If I can lie for you, I can also lie to you. This is ridiculous. Sometime bosses want to
10:46 cheat to lie, right? Okay. In order that they could get away, but they want us to
10:52 be straight and honest with them. What inconsistency there is, isn't it? So I must know friends, we involve in a
10:58 good fight, not a bad one, right fight and not a wrong one. Fighting our flesh, fighting the world and ultimately
11:04 fighting Satan that is trying to finish us all off if possible. That's why Jesus
11:09 says the thief comes to to steal, to kill, to destroy, but I've come that you
11:15 life and life eternal. Is it? So the thief comes to steal, to kill, to destroy. Steal. What does a thief comes
11:21 to steal? He wants to steal from us peace and joy of our hearts. He wants right to kill us in what? Kill us in our
11:29 relationships with one another so that we're not on talking terms even as believers in the body of Christ. What a
11:34 tragedy that Satan wins. But finally, not he comes to steal, to kill, but to destroy, to destroy us all, to prevent
11:41 as many as possible, not have opportunity to go to heaven. Isn't it? And so, friends, you and I need to be
11:47 clear. What are we fighting? All right. Paul says, let's be involved in a good fight and not a bad one. Get a good amen
11:53 for that, isn't it? The second F about life is that life is about finishing.
11:58 Isn't it? Why? Because Paul says, not I fought a good fight, I finish a race. You see friends, life is a race and we
12:06 all involved in just one race. This life of ours is a race. We all involved in the race of life and we're going to make
12:13 sure that in this race of life we'll finish and that we'll finish well. Isn't it? But the fact of the matter is this
12:19 friends when we start the race of life well for example maybe we have come from
12:25 a wonderful family a godly family. Okay. Uh all right. and everything else going
12:32 right in a family. But starting right friends is no guarantee we will finish right and
12:37 finish well. Is it there's this guy for example uh father's a medical doctor the
12:44 mother is from the west moved back here eventually after medical studies and everything settled practice and very
12:50 success went on and on but one of the sons went haywire got involved in drugs
12:57 okay coming from wonderful backgrounds okay eventually in a police lockup and
13:03 by the grace of god his uncle retrieved him right uh from the lockup he ended up
13:08 in Our drug rehab center. We got a drug rehab center for about 60. All right. Boys and men, okay? All all males, okay?
13:16 And some as old as more than 60 years old. Imagine practically major part of life is destroyed like this. You know,
13:21 some as young as 13, 14, 15 years old got involved in things like this. You know, he was one of those that was
13:28 brought into our center. Thank God he was willing to go to the discipline, okay, and the rigor of, okay, uh,
13:35 rehabilitation. Today he's happily married to an accountant. Imagine. But by the grace of God, all right, he was
13:41 able to really get his act together and move on. He started well. He may not finish well at all. But on the other
13:47 hand, friends, we may not start well in life. Like for example, some of us may
13:53 come from a family where there's a lot of dysfunction, a lot of fights and quarrels and all kinds of things. Uh we
13:58 may come from a home whereby there's great poverty and struggles and and quarrels and pains and that kind of
14:04 thing. But friends having that kind of start does not mean we're not finish well.
14:10 Hello isn't that's what mean right we can all finish well but starting what is no get finish well but not starting what
14:17 is no getting win or finish well war by the grace of God and so it's very important friends in this race of life
14:23 we must be like Apostle Paul not fought a good fight I finish a race so what are
14:28 the things you and I must guard to make sure we finish race of life well all right let me summarize in terms of six
14:34 Ps uh to help you to remember better okay in this regard here uh what are the
14:39 six Ps you and I must guard to ensure we finish this race of life. Well, now when I preach, I like to use three Fs, 5Gs,
14:45 four C's and that kind of thing to help listeners to be able to remember better. Hello. Amen. Is it? But it's hard for
14:52 the preacher because there's a crack his how to put the things together nicely so that you it will help you all to remember. Okay. But never mind. Okay. Uh
14:59 just what I'm trying to do. What are the six Ps you and I must guard to make sure that we finish this race of life? Well,
15:05 and is applicable not only for 2018 all through life, my friends. What are they?
15:10 The first P is a whole area of power. An abuse of power. You see an abuse of
15:18 power. You see this out in the marketplace, in the workplace, how people abuse power.
15:25 You see this in the political arena. You can also see this in the church sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. No, it never
15:33 never happens in FBC. The Bible talks about King David and
15:40 very frankly shares with us about the life of David in this one regard.
15:46 When David committed adultery with Bashiba, Bashiba sent him a note. I'm pregnant.
15:54 And David thought, "My goodness, I'm in trouble." So what
15:59 did he do? He's trying to cover up, isn't it? his adulterous relationship by
16:05 calling the husband of Bashiba back. And when Uriah came back, the way to try to
16:11 cover up his adulterous relation, it get the husband to sleep with the wife. But Uriah being a man of valor and a
16:18 wonderful, okay, soldier refused to sleep with the wife. My goodness, this
16:23 guy, I'm going to kill him. All right. Okay. Because my relationship with Bashiba cannot be covered anymore. So
16:29 what did he do? David wrote a letter and sent this letter through all right Uriah
16:36 to be taken to the front line and this what it is for us 2 Samuel 11 14 and 15
16:42 come let's read together in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sending
16:48 Uriah in it he wrote put Uriah in a front line where the fighting is
16:53 fiercest then withdraw from him so that he will be struck down and die
16:60 thought in his With this kind of scheme, everything else is all covered up. No problem. And sometimes we think like
17:07 that also even as Christians, isn't it? We think that it's okay. Nobody knows.
17:12 And David thinks like this. Certainly nobody knows. Not even commanderin-chief Joy knew about it. But friends,
17:20 sometimes we forget. God knows. Hello.
17:25 God knows. It's a tragedy, isn't it? We are really deceiving ourself and
17:31 that's the worst kind of deception selfdeception that David is involved in doing isn't it what a abuse of power
17:39 here David as a king of all right the nation of Israel is involved in and that's the first thing you and I must
17:46 guard friends to make sure that we are really moving on 2018 rightly and properly and beyond as well a second PD
17:52 you and I must guard is a whole year position the position that God has given to us all right and Here in scripture
17:58 likewise it records the example of King Rahoboam when he was appointed king succeeding the father King Solomon. What
18:05 happens is the people of Israel came to Rahoboam and said to him will you treat us better than your father? Because you
18:12 see sadly if you read okay right the accounts of King Solomon near the end of his reign Solomon was really oppressive.
18:20 He was a terrible king at the end of it all sadly and tragically. And so therefore what happens? The people of
18:27 Israel came to the new king and pleaded with him, "Will you be nicer to us compared to your father who become so
18:33 oppressive in the latter part of his reign?" And so what happens when an appeal was made by the whole nation of
18:39 Israel to that of King Rohab? Let's read 1 kings 12:es 5-7.
18:45 King Rohum answered, "Go away for 3 days and then come back to me." So the people
18:50 went away. Then King Rohan consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. How would you
18:57 advise me to answer these people? He asked. They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve
19:04 them and give them favorable answer, they will always be your servants. If
19:09 you serve them, they will always be your servants." This is the advice given by
19:15 the advisers of the father King Solomon to Rehab. Now friends, if you read on 1
19:21 kings 12, instead of listening to the advisers of the father, he turned around to listen to his own advisers. All the
19:28 young chikus that grew up with him together. Okay? All the clones I call it, they grew up with him together. He
19:34 consulted them. What do you think? What do you say? You know what all his young advisers had told him? Your father
19:42 treated them treated they all bad. You must treat them even worse. Your father used a whip, you must even use a
19:48 scorpion. It's all there in 1 kings 12 friends. You know that was the beginning
19:54 of the end of the United Kingdom of Israel. The nation fell apart. 10 tribes
19:59 seceded from okay the nation of Israel and broke up the whole thing like that. And so friends, the position that God
20:07 has given to us is meant to serve people and lift up people and not to put people down. Hello. Isn't it all right? And
20:15 it's very very important whatever position it may be you see at every point in our life whatever our job we
20:22 got both we have got position and power as well together with that right position and power comes along with it
20:29 okay for example can I say even a toilet cleaner even your cleaners here in church has got power besides a position
20:36 only as a toilet cleaner he has or she has isn't it why is this the case for example if your cleaners here refuse to
20:43 clean the toilet properly what happens happens every one of you go to visit to use a toilet would not have a good
20:49 experience isn't it and especially you visitors who are visiting here this morning if use FBC toilet when you go
20:55 back home the only one thing you remember is a bad toilet experience hello isn't it sometimes unfortunately
21:02 isn't it so the even the toilet cleaners got power if he or she refuse to perform
21:08 uh his or responsibility isn't it then the same thing applies to us whatever position power that god God has given us
21:15 is meant to serve people but not to put down people is it see and so these two
21:20 things when we misuse it friends it affects our credibility right it injures
21:25 our character and friends at the end is not worth it at all isn't it we don't finish well 2018 and beyond if you're
21:30 not careful and you can see tons of cases like this out in the marketplace and I pray that God have mercy and guard
21:38 us in the context of the church is it that is so important a third P the UN must guard is a air of pride. All right?
21:46 And talking about King Uzziah 2 Chronicles 26:16. Okay. The Bible uh
21:51 tells us like this together. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to
21:56 his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of
22:04 incense. You see because King Uzziah actually a good king a very good king actually if you read through scripture
22:10 all right was unfortunately overtaken by pride thinking now he can do anything he
22:16 likes and that's how some people think some people in their own countries think
22:22 I'm the most powerful man I can do anything I want anything I like to me I think that's a fool that's a real fool
22:29 who thinks who thinks like this and so therefore it is so important to ensure that we are not overcome by pride. Okay.
22:38 Uh in our life and that's very very important because the Bible says pride goes before a a fault. Isn't it all
22:45 right? And the Bible interestingly says to us clothe yourselves with humility.
22:52 Am I right? Hey, are we using the same Bible? Same Bible. Isn't the Bible says
22:57 clothe yourselves humility? Now, how do we clothe ourselves with humility? Maybe this morning you opened your nice lovely
23:02 wardrobe and you saw a shirt, okay, that you wanted really must wear. At the back of the shirt, it says, "I'm humble." And
23:09 you walk around the whole church. Hey, look, look, look, look at the back like that. Isn't it? Now, if anyone comes up
23:14 to you and says to you, "Brother, I'm a humble person." That's a sure sign he's
23:19 not a humble person. See, humility is not what you think you have. Humility is what people see in
23:26 you. And yet the Bible says clothe yourselves or grow in humility. Now how
23:32 do we do that? Okay. Humility is grown.
23:37 Humility is nurtured through servantthood. Through servantthood. The more you and I
23:44 serve, the more God grows in his humility. But there's one more thing. The lower down we're willing to serve,
23:51 the greater God grows in his humility. The further down you're willing to serve, the more God grows in humility.
23:57 If you're willing to serve the poor, the needy, the marginalized, the hungry, okay, the oppressed and everything else,
24:02 God grows amazing things in you. Isn't it? We can think for example the icon of
24:08 humility in the 20th century. We can all think about globally is that of Mother Theresa, isn't it? Why is this a case?
24:14 Because she went down right to the lost, the least, and the last to serve them.
24:20 people who are dying on on the streets of Kolkata. She picks them up, nurse them back to good health prayerfully,
24:27 but if not, at least give them a decent funeral. Isn't it? That's what she would do. Few people will do that. And that's
24:33 how friends, God grows in us humility. When we're willing to serve, the further down willing to serve, the more God
24:39 grows in us humility. That's a reality for it all, isn't it? I remember some 20
24:44 years ago speaking at a church camp, all right, on the east coast and then we packed up at the end of the camp. We
24:50 were driving out as a last person, right? Doris and the last persons in a campsite driving out. Then lo and
24:55 behold, I saw one man walking around the wonderful all right resort there in the hotel picking up rubbish from across the
25:03 campgrounds. I look at it very carefully. My goodness, that guy is an elder of the church right in the camp
25:09 that I spoke in. All right. And he was the last person just walking cleaning out everything making sure all the
25:14 rubbish and trash is all cleared. Now he doesn't need to do it because hotel staff would do it, isn't it? But he felt
25:20 responsible as an elder of the church to just quietly go about doing it. You and I say driving out to Doris that to me is
25:27 a sign of servantthood and of humility. I mean serving without wanting any
25:33 recognition or attention whatsoever. But just quietly going about doing it and that's how friends god grows in us. The
25:38 more we're willing to without wanting any publicity recognition the more grows God grows in us. God has his own ways
25:45 and that's the reason why friends the third area you and I must guard all right it's about pride it's a need for
25:51 humility and I pray by God's grace all our churches when people come they can see humility reflected in all our lives
25:59 can a good amen for that it's very important you know very very important indeed for us a fourth P all right that
26:06 we must guard against is the purse what do we put in a purse
26:12 your bosses photograph is it? Uh it is like this lady, she puts in her
26:19 purse the husband's photograph and whenever she meets a challenge,
26:24 especially a serious challenge, she'll take out a purse, open it and look very carefully at the photograph and say no
26:31 challenge can be bigger than this challenge. No,
26:38 don't do that. Okay. Your lunch today, your dinner is finished. It's all over.
26:44 All right. Isn't it? What do we put in a purse? Money, of course, isn't it? All right. Money in a purse. In other words,
26:50 friends, it is a whole area accountability that is needed in finances, in the management of monies,
26:59 isn't the stewardship of money. It is so critical and important for us to make sure that we stood it right. We stood it
27:06 well. We stood it transparently. So that there's nothing to hide. We're open and transparent. So that when there
27:12 is nothing to hide, friends, there is nothing to lose, nothing to prove, but also one more thing, nothing to fear.
27:18 Amen. Isn't very very important. You see many people out there in the workplace,
27:23 in the market is irresponsible about money. Isn't all right? Dishonest about
27:29 money and the handling of it. And what a tragedy, isn't it? All right. It becomes a black mark upon our life. When when
27:35 people talk about such a person in the marketplace, you know that person carries a bad reputation. In fact, I've
27:42 got a mathematical formula. Okay? All C's. Okay? What is mathematical formula? We must not exchange our character for
27:49 cash. Amen. Isn't it? So that you know cash minus character equals catastrophe.
27:58 Hello. Let me repeat. Okay. A very profound mathematical equation. Okay. All right. Uh that I've
28:05 invented. Cash minus character. You know cash without character. Cash minus
28:10 character equals catastrophe equals disaster. Right now it becomes disastrous. All
28:18 right. We have lots of cash but there's no character in obtaining that kind of cash. We're dishonest. We're deceitful.
28:24 We are lying. We're we're hiding and so and so forth. What for? That's it. So I tell people my church for example right
28:31 in your work in your responsibility you are entitled to claim all right your expenses because you work for the
28:38 company that's your entitlement I say for goodness sake claim rightly and properly and honestly very important
28:46 isn't be accountable completely all right what for have a few extra hundreds
28:51 or even a few thousands what for isn't it becomes a black mark on our character
28:57 not worth it at at all. Nobody may know. God knows. Hello. And that's why that's
29:05 such a refreshing verse in scripture in 2 Kings 12:15. Come, let's read together. They did not require an
29:12 accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers because they acted with complete honesty. Is it
29:18 amazing? Complete honesty that no accounting is needed. But of course, accounting is still needed. Hello. Isn't
29:24 it? Uh it's still needed. That's why the accountants around. Okay. All right. In fact, in a field of accountancy, as some
29:30 of you accountants know, there is a field called forensic accounting. Got to know my goodness. How come they
29:36 invent this kind of stuff? Okay. Right. This why is it the need for forensic
29:41 accountants? Because they hide the figures. They cook the books and hide the figures all over the place so that
29:46 you could comb through like a forensic scientist like this, okay? To discover what kind of rubbish and nonsense they
29:52 put into the books like this. And that's how Arthur Anderson fell apart. isn't one of the big fives, okay? Fell
29:59 apart. Why? Because they cooked the books together. Endron, one of the huge humongous, all right, energy company in
30:06 United States in 2001. This whole thing just fell apart, isn't it? And so, friends, it's so important to make sure
30:11 that you and I must guard our hearts with regards to money
30:16 that can trip us over. All right? Not just out there, friends, even the
30:21 context of the church. Hello, are you there? even the context of the church.
30:27 That's why we find the admonition from apostle Peter is so instructive. It is
30:33 not just men. It is not just meant for the leaders of the church. I believe it is meant for all of us as well. 1 Peter
30:39 chapter 5:2 come together. Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care
30:44 serving as overseers. Not because you must but because you are willing as God
30:50 wants you to be. Not greedy for money but eager to serve. not greedy for
30:55 money. The heart of the problem is a problem of the heart or the heart of the human
31:02 problem is a problem of the human heart. It is this that we all need to guard. All right? When we are caught up and
31:09 being greedy about money, it can just trip us over and sometimes just make us use useless for the Lord and for his
31:15 kingdom. And what a tragedy, isn't it? The fifth P, all right, that you and I must watch out for is a whole year of
31:22 passion. Okay. What is this passion? This passion is feelings and emotions,
31:27 right? That God has put in all of us. Okay. Feelings and emotions that God has
31:32 put in us. Amen. Hey, do you have feelings, emotions of God or not? Huh?
31:37 God. Okay. I was just wondering there's a strange group of people here. No feelings or emotions. Okay. All right.
31:43 We all have feelings and emotions. All right. And that has to be
31:49 directed properly. Isn't it? that has to be directed properly because why our
31:54 feelings emotions can go haywire. All right? If we don't direct it rightly and properly okay and one of the best
32:01 examples I can think of is really Samson himself. The strongest man in my view in
32:06 the whole world he is I consider anosenegger and silver stylum combined into one. You know that because in
32:13 scripture you read Judges 14:15 16 this guy ripped off okay city gate all right
32:19 and put it on his back and climb up all the way on the steep slope and threw the city gate over the cliff isn't it you
32:25 know how heavy city gate it's crushing how many of us we have climb Mount Kinabalo see your hands okay so few only
32:33 this church not a very healthy church okay right now if you climb Mount
32:40 Kinabal you know Okay. At the base, okay, at the base camp there was 6,500 ft. Okay. That's when you you hand over
32:47 whatever to the porters. Okay. They help you to carry out isn't your stuff. All right. And then you go up and many of us
32:52 youngsters, we run very fast, compete with one another like crazy. And you know halfway up there, no more energy
32:59 left. There we are crouched there by the side. We don't know how to go on, how to move that kind of we are stuck there like that. We really cannot move on. And
33:06 some of these porters by the way are ladies, you know. All right. They put all your stuff on the back and they
33:11 carry it up all the way. Zoom zoom zoom. And they come across you. This poor young lad might all crouch there by by
33:18 yourself. Cannot move on anymore. You know this lady will take all the stuff down and then put you on the back and
33:24 carry you up. You know by then all your male ego all destroyed.
33:30 Isn't it? Now we all know how hard it is just to carry our own body up. Imagine
33:35 Samson get a massive all right city gate up uh the slope like this and yet
33:42 tragically we find that every other woman he meets he has got problem isn't
33:47 it and the Bible tells us very frankly Judges 14 verses 1 and two all right together Samson went down to Timna and
33:55 saw a young Philistine woman when he returned he said to his father and mother I have seen a Philistine woman in
34:02 Timna now get her for me as my wife. Then 16:es 1 and 4. One day Samson went
34:09 down to Gaza where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.
34:15 Sometime later, he fell in love with a woman in the valley of sorry whose name was Delilah. See, tragically, every
34:23 other woman he meets, he's got a problem. Isn't it? And so likewise, if we don't guard our heart, our passion,
34:30 it can trip us over and it can get us into serious difficulty. Isn't it? So
34:36 that's why for example in DMC, okay, when we were building our dream
34:43 center, all right, all of us pastors, I told the architect, design a room, a smallest room, but design a room for all
34:49 of us. Okay, like this. Now we've got 23 pastors. Okay. So that I said design the
34:54 room but have glass all around the room so that I can see what all my pastors
34:59 are doing but also they can see what I'm doing right and all but also I said to our pastors okay when you counel a lady
35:07 if you're a male pastor counselor some opposite sex you're only allowed to do once first round just size up the issue
35:14 the matter or the problem or situation then hand it over to a sister to counsel. If you want to carry on
35:20 counseling, your wife must sit with you every session. You know, just some of the sessions. Don't try to be a hero
35:27 because you can end up as zero right now. Those are realities, you
35:33 know. Now, sometimes even given lips as well. All right. I'm also particular. You know, sometimes we work downtown
35:39 Koala Lumpo, okay? Uh we drive every day to work by ourself and then we find out
35:46 there's a lady working in the same office with you, okay? and she takes a bus every day right from her home PJ uh
35:54 down to work and you discover she comes from the same housing estate as you and
36:00 best of all right she and you come to the same church first baptist church some more
36:06 and out of a good heart out of very sincere good heart you took pity on why don't I give you a lift okay give you a
36:12 lift each day to work and back work all right right because I'm alone uh you know so out of good heart you do that
36:18 nothing wrong with that. But friends, sometimes sometimes it can be one too
36:23 many lips. Hello. Because after if you keep on doing this every day, after a
36:29 while you slowly slowly enjoy the conversation. And then after a while,
36:34 you slowly slowly enjoy the company. Then after a while, one day you call back your wife and darling to a lot of
36:41 work. A lot of work at the work late in tonight. Please go ahead dinner with the children. Okay. But then 6:00 p.m. you
36:48 make appointment with her on the tennis court, okay? To play tennis. All right? Because in a process of talking with her
36:54 in the car, you discover she wants to learn how to play tennis. And lo and behold, you are a good tennis player
37:00 some more. Okay? And there down there in the tennis court there, she was playing like that like no tennis is not bminton.
37:06 Not like that, you know. So you hold her arm lock your arms locked and like that like that like that.
37:13 Before you realize it, something has happened. Something has happened.
37:20 Things can start innocently, innocuously. It may not end well. You
37:25 know what I mean? So these are bound. There are boundaries and I must draw because if we don't draw, it trip
37:32 us over. We don't finish war. We don't really finish war. And it is not
37:38 uncommon to hear in a workplace, in a marketplace, people having extramarital affairs, isn't it? Bosses having
37:45 extrammarital affairs. All right? Having relationships, having mistresses and so and so forth. Not uncommon, uh, isn't
37:52 it? Talking to this couple, all right? Uh, over lunch, we bump into them at the
37:58 restaurant and in the process of talking found out that the the wife is not a Christian, he's a Christian. And Chad
38:03 talk and she was saying, "What is wrong?" You know, Pastor Daniel, all right, if the boss is a good boss,
38:09 wonderful boss, great CEO, what is wrong with him? Okay, having this relationship, uh, he's a fantastic boss,
38:16 what is wrong with that? I said, you know, we may not think so. I said, why do you ask his wife? Hello? Am I right?
38:26 But also, why do you ask his children? Right? We may not think it's wrong. Ask a wife and say what she thinks.
38:33 He's a liar. as a children. He's a betrayer. Amen. Not worth it, isn't it?
38:39 Not worth it at all. But if we don't draw boundaries clearly about relating,
38:44 we can be bound. It can get us in difficulties.
38:51 And right, if that's our issue situation, we got to deal it drastically. If it is what maybe people
38:59 you know of are having this kind of problem that you know the hearts are slowly been drawn in affection we got to
39:06 deal with it drastically because if not you can just go deeper and deeper and before you realize it you cannot see
39:11 things straight anymore everything you see it's not clear and what a tragedy isn't
39:19 in fact there's a guy uh called Roy Cliflin Sullivan he's an amazing guy he has been struck
39:25 by lightning seven times and survive all the seven strikes. Not just he claimed, you know, it is medically proven. Okay,
39:32 some more. All right. Once he hit his leg, his toenail came up. Another hit his head, his eyebrow got singed. All
39:38 right. And he appeared in the Guinness book of records as a man who has been hit by lightning most number of times
39:45 and survived it all. Amazing guy, you know. Anyone of you hit by lightning once? Can I see your hands? Okay, if you
39:52 are, I want to know how come you're still here. But this guy has a crazy ability to attract lightning to himself
39:59 and survive it all seven times. He works as an American game park ranger in American game park. And one day he fell
40:06 in love with a lady, charming lady, madly in love with her. But unfortunately down the road, the lady
40:13 jolted her. The lady dropped him in his relationship. You know what? He was so
40:18 heartbroken he committed suicide. What seven lightnings cannot do? One woman did it all.
40:28 Say to your neighbor, "Women very powerful."
40:35 You see? And so, friends, you know, if we're not careful, these are things that
40:42 can entangle us, isn't it?
40:47 And it can make us do things that doesn't make sense anymore. What a
40:53 tragedy, isn't it? Friends, can I say it can happen within the church?
40:59 Hello. Don't think it's only out there. Can happen within the church. Two persons
41:06 serving in ministry together, one is married, one is single,
41:12 can get involved. I know of testimonies like this. Hello,
41:19 are you there? It doesn't mean because we're Christian, we are spread. No one is bad but let's draw boundaries. What
41:25 I'm trying to say, okay, what are the five Ps? Okay, let's run through. The first P is power. Second P is position.
41:32 Third P is pride. Fourth P is p. Fifth P is w you're fantastic
41:38 students. Wonderful. One final P to help us all which is our practices and
41:45 practices especially later in life. I want to emphasize especially later in
41:51 life not early in life. You see what happens is many times for us as Christians, I'm talking about Christian
41:56 context, for us as Christians, you know, when we become a child of a Christian, we are serious, we're disciplined, we're
42:02 devoted and we go on and on and on in our Christian journey of faith and we really move on really doing well and
42:08 really doing well. You know what I mean? But sometimes, you know what happens near the latter part of our life, if
42:15 we're not careful, if we're not careful, we can begin to cut corners or take
42:20 shortcuts. In what manner and form we may say I
42:26 read the Bible so much why do you do I still need to read the Bible why I still need to do devotion each day isn't it or
42:33 I have prayed so much prayers maybe even God is tired of my prayers nowadays you
42:38 know I mean everything starts small and little by little we're not careful it start chipping off and chipping off and
42:45 before you realize it such a big hole is created in your backyard it is almost irreparable okay perfect example instead
42:52 of Enron, this massive humongous gas company in Houston, Texas. All right.
42:58 When they begin to cook the books, small little amounts, they were told, they warned, what is wrong? A few thousand, a
43:04 few hundred thousand, even a few million. We are one of the largest companies in the world at that point of time. All right. In year 2000, what is
43:11 wrong with that? Okay. In fact, uh, one of the persons working in finance department, Sharon Walkin, she ran up
43:16 all the way to the chairman to warn him. she herself been evangelical Christian with fear and trembling she went and
43:22 find up to the chairman to tell him sir we cannot do that they're not listening within the year the whole thing fell
43:28 apart okay and so friends you know we find that it is practices not early but
43:34 late in life you and a perfect example I can think of is of king Solomon himself
43:40 King Solomon himself he started so well isn't it amazingly what even God
43:46 appeared to him twice in his dreams isn't it And God asked him in the first time when God appeared. What is it you
43:51 want? Anything you like is a cut blunch thing. Solomon said no just give me wisdom to rule your people. You God is
43:58 so happy right with Solomon's asked that God poured upon him success and wealth
44:03 and power and position and everything else is in but what happens to near the end of his life? This is a record for us
44:10 1 kings 11:es 3 and 4. Come let's read together. He had 700 wives of royal
44:16 birth and 300 concubines. And his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his
44:22 wives turned his heart after other gods. And his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God as the heart of David
44:28 his father had been. See friends, imagine 700 wives of Roboth. Shocking,
44:34 isn't it? Must be a very tired man every night. My goodness. And 300 porcupine some I mean my concubines, I mean. Yeah.
44:42 almost like porcupines poking him to death. Isn't it
44:47 now? How can a man who is so smart, who has friends even written three books of the Bible,
44:54 men, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, who has even contributed a
44:59 psalm in the book of Psalms, end up so miserably is what it is, friends. practices,
45:06 especially tonight. If you're not careful, if you're not watchful, if we're not disciplined,
45:13 it can just trip us over and prevent us. Sadly, in scripture
45:19 tells us a pathetic picture of his own father, David. I mean, not that David is
45:24 perfect, but what a comparison, is it? Which is a reminder to all of us.
45:30 Likewise, is it? So in 2018, we're going to run well and finish well and and beyond as well. Let's guard this six
45:37 piece at least. Can I go amen for that? Let me move on. Right. Life is firstly a fight. Make sure you're involved in a
45:43 good one, not a bad one, a right one, not a wrong one. Life is secondly, friends, about finishing finishing this
45:50 race of life. Making sure we finish it well. Third and finally, friends, life is about faith. The third F and keeping
45:57 faith. Why? Because Paul says, don't I fought a good fight. I finished a race but I have kept the faith is it
46:04 is keeping faith keeping faith strong keeping faith passionate and that's so
46:10 important isn't it because sometimes when you run and this is what I'm going to say actually to those of us pardon me
46:16 for saying this those in our 50s and our 60s sometimes not always but sometimes the danger is this right we have served
46:23 the lord our heart and everything give ourselves fully all the years in faithful service and then when it come
46:28 to our 50s and our 60s is we want to pass it to younger people and rightly so we we should pass it over to younger
46:34 people. Okay, but sometimes if we're not careful, you know what happens to us? We end up only coming to church on Sunday.
46:41 That's all we do. And to me, I think it's it's a shame. Why? Because we got
46:47 all the gifts, all the experience, all the wisdom, listen to be able to pour
46:54 into the lives of younger people as we serve together rather than okay, not doing anything. What happens? The body
47:01 of Christ and young people in that sense are short changed in terms of your wisdom, your gifts, your sensitivity and
47:06 maturity, right? You can pour into their lives, isn't it? Why do we back off completely? Let's serve with them. Let's
47:12 run with them. Hello, are you there? In fact, just three months ago, I was preaching in London and what happens was
47:18 that I mentioned something like this and one man chairman of the church council came up to me and said, "Pastor Dan, I
47:24 think you spoke to me about this one because he said I'm 74 years old. I'm chairman of church council by 31st
47:30 December. I'm going to resign and then I'm going to sit back, relax for the rest of my life and wait for Jesus to
47:37 return or I return to him first, whichever comes first." I said, "I'm going to kill you." No,
47:43 don't kill people. Say, I'm sorry. I repent. I repent. I must get on ser. Yeah, that's what it is. Is it? Because
47:48 otherwise the church miss your wisdom, your experience, your insights of maturity. So much you and I can share
47:54 can still impart. Hello. Okay. So don't thank, don't tend to think and allow young people tell us
47:60 no use already. Don't believe that. Hello. Can I hear a good amen for all the not so young ones? Wow. Thank you
48:05 for that encouragement. Oh, thank you for the underwhelming response.
48:11 That's it. life of faith and keeping faith. And so the point is friends when how can we
48:16 keep our faith strong and passionate all the way to the end. I think this is very important you know how to keep our faith
48:23 strong not just strong but passionate all the way to the end because what if we end up doing very little just by
48:30 coming weekend on Sunday that's about all that we do if I'm a young Christian I look at you my goodness if that's how
48:36 you're going to finish the Christian race if that's how we're going to finish I will be so discouraged right now all
48:42 right I'll be encouraged for someone still in a senior years long senior still actively serving passionate for
48:48 Jesus can a good amen for All right. And the key is this. How can we keep ourselves strong in faith and
48:54 passionate in our zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ? How do we do this? Three W's. Okay. Let me suggest. First W is
48:60 worship. Worship to center us. All right. Why is this so important? You
49:06 notice friends, King David can ask so many things, tons of stuff. But you notice there's one thing and one thing
49:12 only he asked. Psalm 27:4. Come, let's read together.
49:17 One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my
49:24 life. To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. See the thing that one thing and the one
49:30 thing only David asked, I may dwell in a house that I may worship him. Am I right? Why friends? You see, when we
49:37 when you and I involved in worship, we keep God at the center of it all. And when God and Jesus center of it all,
49:43 friends, you know what? You see everything. You and I see everything correctly. When God is not at the
49:49 center, we see everything wrongly. Hello. Amen. Is it? And at a heart of
49:56 keeping God central is having the worship of God in our heart constantly both privately and publicly. Is it both
50:03 individually and corporately? So come early on time to worship the Lord. Why? Because you give him praise and worship
50:08 and thanks, you keep him central in our life. And when God is at the heart and the center of it all, you and I see
50:14 everything in the right perspective. Otherwise, you'll see everything wrong. Hello, are you there? Because of time, let me move on. So the first one is
50:20 worship to center us. God at the heart of it all. Second W is the word to feed and to guide us. Isn't it? And it's very
50:27 very important for us, isn't it? And here is for example in the context of Luke chapter 10. Here is the wonderful
50:34 family that Jesus will come around visiting again and again of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Isn't it? And one day Jesus
50:40 came down visiting her family and here was mother like typical mother whip up a fantastic meal for Jesus. Whipped up for
50:47 example sorry because it's not kosher. Okay. No
50:53 hal okay all the fantastic food for Jesus you know and she she was so
50:59 flustered by the whole thing that she stormed into the presence of Jesus. Why? Because Mary the sister did not come to
51:04 help her at all. You know Mary was quietly sitting at the feet of Jesus just listening to Jesus. So she was
51:10 really disturbed storming the present and complain to Jesus like crazy. What did Jesus say? Luke chapter 10 verse
51:17 verse 42. Come let's read but only one thing is needed. Mary had chosen what is
51:22 better and it will not be taken away from her. Friends the second one thing
51:27 you notice what did Mary do? sitting at the feet listening to Jesus. Take in the
51:34 word of God. Isn't it just receiving the word and friends? This book is that one
51:39 book that you and I must come to again and again. The most important book in the whole world. So read less of her
51:45 world, his world, whatever other worlds are still left. Come to this book. Critical for all of us, isn't it? And
51:51 get into it and not just know about it, but live it out. The key is living it out so that there's grace and
51:57 graciousness in our life. So that there's holiness and humility. So that there's integrity and honor. So there's
52:04 consistency and faithfulness. Hello. Are we there? Isn't it? Okay. That's why for examples
52:24 are here right now. all the answers about life and living and friends for that matter. How to manage a company
52:30 while it's in this book. Seriously. All right. For example, I'm involved in
52:36 mentoring some of the top CEOs in this country. All right. I fly down Singapore. For example, the richest man
52:42 in Singapore flies me down to mentor his top 15 guys. And I was just only last
52:47 year flew to Sydney to speak to his top 120 guys in a senior management retreat. All right. Uh they invite me to speak.
52:55 But when I speak in the context like this, what happens? They don't introduce me as a pastor. They introduce me just
53:00 Dr. Daniel Ho. He mentor CEOs, he speak at corporate functions and so and so forth. And so when I do that, therefore
53:06 sometimes when I've used church examples, I tell them, hey my friends, because why? Only 20% out of the 100%
53:13 are Christians. So huge bunch are not Christians. So I said, you know what, friends, I work for a global company. My
53:20 company got branches all over the world and Malaysia also got many branches. I so happen to head a
53:27 bigger branch in Malaysia. That's all. You know in my branch I got four 5,000 people and the best part is I don't pay
53:33 people in my company. In fact, they bring money to my company every week some. Oh my goodness. They tell me what kind of business. Oh, we do all kinds of
53:40 business from day you born to your day you die. We do it all. Okay. You name we got we got all the and when people in my
53:45 company die, I pack them off to another planet called heaven. Oh, my business better than Star Wars interplanet
53:51 planetary some more. What is it? shocking but yeah why not I teach not
53:58 quoting chapter and verse but people who are Christians will know where it comes from friends you and I can speak with
54:05 authority integrity right at the top there in the marketplace and it's very very important for all of us are you
54:11 there isn't it and so therefore we need to come to this book again and again and we come to this book friends we will
54:16 never ever go wrong and so I want to commend this church for holding the word of god central in the life of the church
54:22 continue to preach and teach well okay and apply it well in our lives so that friends it is not just knowing the word
54:29 it is living out the word because people are impressed not just about your knowledge about your living can amen for
54:34 that and so friends the first W is worship to center us because when God is at a center you and I see everything
54:40 correctly we see everything right perspective secondly the word to feed and to guide us and finally friends
54:46 witness to fire and to inspire us witnessing for Jesus okay isn't That is
54:53 so important for all of us. And so likewise in this passage in John chapter 9, there was this blind man born blind
55:01 who was healed by Jesus. But unfortunately Jesus healing on the Sabbath day, isn't it? And so what
55:06 happened? The teachers of the law, the Sadducees and the Pharisees were really upset. You know why some people of
55:12 course Sadducees? Because they are sad. You see that's
55:19 all right. And so they really furious ups and storm into the presence of this man who has now been healed regain his
55:24 sight. Now what is this? What is this guy? This this guy was a sinner will heal you on the Sabbath day. What did he
55:31 this man now healed by the Lord Jesus Christ say John chapter 9:25 last passage come. Let's read together. He
55:37 replied whether he's a sinner or not I don't know. One thing I do know I was
55:42 blind but now I see. Friends the third and final one thing. The one thing I do
55:47 know isn't it? You see when a person is born blind heal you think that guy will keep quiet about what has happened to
55:53 him that guy run through a whole world and tell the world about it isn't it is like this guy who was healed in a church
55:59 from all right from wheelchair walked up from wheelchair totally healed you know
56:05 what happens he ran round and round the church non-stop you expect it to happen isn't it such amazing joy that has
56:11 happened you cannot stop the person isn't it from witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ how many of you Okay.
56:18 Coming to know Jesus is the best thing to happen to you in your life. All right. Let me see your hands. If your
56:24 hand is not up, we need to pray for you. Okay. Yeah. Isn't it? So, I came from
56:29 Buddhist background. I came to faith in Christ 47 years ago
56:34 and I've been in for the amazing ride of my life. Every year is getting better and the best is yet to come. And all
56:41 those who agree say, is it? That's true. Is it? It has been so good. How can you all right not
56:48 witness for the Lord Jesus Christ if knowing Jesus is the best thing that happen to us in our lives and so
56:54 therefore anywhere everywhere I go I share Jesus okay with people around and so let me close with this story I was
57:00 down in Singapore for a meeting and next day I check hotel okay to take
57:06 a taxi to the airport and within a minute there's a taxi that came back to
57:12 this hotel dropped a passenger I hop into the taxi exe said, "Could you please take me to Changi Airport?" Yes,
57:17 sir. Sure. Of course. All right. And uh those who know me, I waste no time. I
57:24 start right away because life is short and time is precious. No. Amen. Looks like all of you here
57:31 first can live forever and ever. God bless you. Lord have mercy upon you. I don't life is short. Time is precious.
57:37 How many of us we tend to feel that like time passes by very fast now? We tend to feel fast. Actually, it's the same. But
57:43 we tend to feel like that. Can you see your hands? Can you see your hands? Look around the old pe all old people's hands. Okay. All our lang hands all all
57:50 around. And it is true, isn't it? All right. In a twinkling of an eye, some of us in our 50s and our 60s, I'm slowly
57:56 inching towards my 70. And it's scary, isn't it? Now, young people don't laugh at us. Your time will come sooner than
58:02 you realized. Okay? In a twinkling of an eye, you will join the company elect as well. Amen. Isn't it? And so, what
58:09 happens? I waste no time. Okay? I told taxi driver I say hi thank you so much sir for taking me to the airport
58:16 appreciate that my name is Daniel Ho all right uh what's your name he says my name is no hisham I say so good you
58:22 didn't me know thank you for taking me to the airport my name is Daniel Ho by the way I'm a pastor from Malaysia you
58:28 are very special no Hisham first time I met a melee taxi driver most of the time all the other times all Chinese no
58:34 Hisham you are very special because out of 7 billion people got to take a pass put in your taxi Okay. All right. Yeah.
58:42 And fairing a pass a huge privilege. No. And God has sent me to let you know,
58:47 right? He remembers you. He knows you and he loves you. You know what happened? He said to me after that, "My
58:54 goodness, my hair is standing on end. Unbelievable." You know, one said to me
59:01 something like that. You know, friends, without me saying anything, he just volunteered all this information. He
59:08 says, "Sir, actually I got a wife who is blind.
59:14 She's also diabetic. Three times a week, I need to take her to the hospital for
59:19 diialysis treatment." I've also got a son, a 9-year-old son.
59:25 On and off, he will call me and he will say, "Dad, can you please
59:30 come home because I'm very lonely. I'm very lonely." Now you can't blame
59:37 the son. Why? Because the mother is blind. The mother could not help him living up there in highrise. What can he
59:44 do? What should he do? Dad, can you please come home? I'm very lonely. And
59:51 he said that's when it's most painful for me. It's really painful to have to tell my son, son, dad cannot come. That
59:58 has to work. You have to wait until the evening before that comes. So to bring in the money to help support and to run
60:04 the family. And then he went on to say some more. He says, "Sir, you know what?
60:12 I believe I'm paying for the sins of my past." He said, "When I was a teenager, I got
60:18 involved in drugs and therefore in crime
60:24 to fuel my drug habit. And as a result, I've been in and out of
60:29 Singapore prison several times. So I believe today what I'm going through
60:35 is a punishment of all that I did in the past. I said to him, "No, Hisham,
60:44 you know, sometimes we might have made mistakes in life, but God has sent me to
60:49 let you know there is help, there is hope, and there's a future."
60:55 I shared with him Jesus all the way to the airport and told him at the end he
61:01 is there to help you and you are so special that God has sent me to you to
61:07 let you know there is help there is hope and there is a future
61:12 he was listening very intently and know if you like too I want to pray for you is it okay I want to pray for
61:20 you now because I'm in a rush for time. The moment I arrive, I pay you the fair.
61:26 I dash off so that I don't miss my flight. So, I'm going to rush for time. I want to pray for you now. Is it okay?
61:32 Yeah. Yes, sir. That's how you trust in Christ as Lord and Savior. Firstly, acknowledge you're
61:39 a sinner. Secondly, believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. Thirdly, ask him to forgive you for your
61:44 sins. Fourthly, invite him to life as Lord and Savior. Is it all right? Is it clear? Yes, sir.
61:50 Can you know ham multitask which is drive as well as pray? Can and can. Wow.
61:58 Clever Singaporeans. Okay. Yeah. Very clever. Okay. Multitask one. Fantastic. I said wonderful. But one more thing.
62:05 One more thing. Very important. Very important. Good job. When you pray for goodness, keep our eyes open. Keep our
62:10 eyes open. Okay. Otherwise, you'll be dead and I'll be dead.
62:17 Pray with him. arrived given the fair. Before I dash off, he
62:23 held me back and he said this to me, "Sir, I have never met a passenger like
62:29 you in my whole life. I have never met a person like you in my whole life." Friends, can I say people
62:37 look good on the outside? They might even look sophisticated. But on the inside, many are hurting,
62:44 many are wounding, many are gripped by pain, sorrow, and some people by anger
62:52 and bitterness. Like this man who will not allow his daughters to go to the grandmother's funeral, I believe.
62:59 Enslaved by anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, and resentment.
63:05 Is that what it is? Because pain is always to do with something that's happened in the past.
63:11 And if we harbor this, what happens is our past has imprisoned our present and
63:17 has prevented us from moving into the future. So some people always live in the past. And that's why sometimes in
63:22 our lives no joy. Why? Because the past is imprisoned there. It has short change
63:28 you in terms of living for the future. Friends, very important. But but the other thing is this that I want to
63:34 emphasize. There are many who are hurting and wounding. You and I must reach out. And you and I have the
63:40 greatest news in the whole world. The greatest news in the whole world. The good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. You
63:46 and I must share. Critical to share. It's a crime not to share because it's
63:52 the only way to get people up to heaven. The only way. And you and I have the
63:57 greatest message of it all. Let's reach out to share friends and let's waste no time. And that's my challenge to you
64:03 all. My closing challenge is this. Think about it. If every one of you here, if
64:10 every one of you here were to lead one to Christ in 2018, what happens to your church?
64:16 Your church explodes. And if every year, everybody leads one to Christ, what happens? Your church multiplies every
64:23 year. Doubles every year. And friends, can I say I've not seen a single church in the whole world doubles every year.
64:28 I've not seen a single one. Not even the yoof gospel church that I know the senior pastor well you know. But
64:35 friends, evangelism is not prerogative of the experts, the so-called evangelists.
64:42 Evangelism is a responsibility of every believer in Jesus Christ and all God's people say
64:47 and let's do it friends. Let's do it. Very important. Last year, God gave me the joy and the privilege of leading 33
64:54 people, 33 people to Christ personally, oneonone. If we do it, don't have to
64:60 follow that number. Just do it. Everyone, just one and one is good enough, friends. Your church will never
65:05 be the same again. Amen. Let us pray.
