8 July 2025 Word by Senior Pastor, Pastor Darien Choo

Today’s Inspiration: “Then he (Jesus) said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV.‬‬ Today we are having more churches than any period added together and the gospel is more accessible across the globe technologically but are the believers in Christ Jesus becoming true disciples? We can know Christ but not follow Christ; we can be blessed by Him and not broken by Him, and we can be a crowd around Him but not committed to Him. Can a person come to church and still sin against God? Without the preaching and power of the Cross, there is only carnality and not spirituality.

Denying ourselves is denying our flesh of worldliness and sin, crucifying it at the Cross. Without repentance we will not know who Jesus is, and without regeneration we will not know who Holy Spirit is. The psalmist sang,”You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ What makes us a disciple of Jesus Christ? We come to church not to be entertained but to be equipped, not to be religious but to repent, and not to follow the crowd but follow Jesus and yoke my life to Him to abide in His word forever.

Prayer: O Lord my God, let me not just be a hearer of your word and not a doer of your word. My desire is not just to know you but to follow you, for your sheep hears your voice, you know me and I follow you. For you are my shepherd, I will lack nothing. Help me cast my cares and fears unto you at Calvary that I shall bear the Cross of repentance, forgiveness, love and hope of my saviour, in Jesus' Name, Amen.