Discipleship Conversations: Patience and Sacrifice

[00:00:02] Speaker A: Welcome to the YA podcast Lean in. [00:00:05] Speaker B: As we dive into the practicals of life with Jesus as spirit filled young adults. Welcome back to the young adults podcast. We're here on season five and we're talking all things discipleship and our leaders journeys on discipleship. And today I am joined by a special guest, David Bore. Why don't you introduce yourself? [00:00:42] Speaker A: Yes. Thank you so much for having me, Jess. My name is David Bore. I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, in Africa, and I came over in 2020 just before COVID for university. [00:00:54] Speaker B: Great timing, Great timing. [00:00:55] Speaker A: Literally. Literally. And yeah, came over for university. Studied my bachelor's in electrical engineering. Now I'm doing my master's in electrical engineering. And in 2021 I started coming to Yuma. So I come to Yuma and yeah, I've been there ever since. Hopefully some people have seen me here. I serve kids team, which is the best team. We need people and kids. If you're looking for someone to serve, pull through through. We'll accept you with open arms. [00:01:23] Speaker B: So with the children, they will. [00:01:24] Speaker A: With sticky arms. [00:01:28] Speaker B: How long have you been serving in Kids Ministry? [00:01:31] Speaker A: 2021. Sorry. [00:01:32] Speaker B: Oh, really? When you started coming? [00:01:34] Speaker A: Yeah. So like, honestly, it was, it was so random. This one time, you know Steve Alfine? [00:01:39] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:01:39] Speaker A: He just came to me, he's like, oh, we just need help this one weekend. We just need you to like help out. Like, this is like my second time coming to the church. I'm like, oh yeah. I'm like, yeah, they just need help. Just one weekend. Come on, you can. I'm like, okay, I guess like one weekend. I. I don't even know most of these people. I'm like, okay, sure, I went one weekend and yeah, that was clearly a lie. This. It's been five years. [00:02:03] Speaker B: That's cool. [00:02:04] Speaker A: It's been five years. Yeah. [00:02:06] Speaker B: Well, he prophetically saw that call on my life because the way you ministered CH was amazing. [00:02:11] Speaker A: Amen. So shout out Steve Aline. [00:02:13] Speaker B: Yeah, he's roped a few. A few of us. One of the first people I met actually when I started coming as well. So be like Steve Aline, everyone. If you don't know him, get to meet him. [00:02:24] Speaker A: Rope them in. Yeah. [00:02:25] Speaker B: So good. Well, thanks for being on the podcast. [00:02:28] Speaker A: No problem. [00:02:28] Speaker B: And we finally got you tried a few things. [00:02:32] Speaker A: Yeah. It's a bit of a hectic schedule. [00:02:34] Speaker B: But yeah, balancing all the things. But yeah, I'm excited to hear from you and to hear your story and your journey thus far with the Lord. So why don't we just go Straight into this. Tell us about, like, your discipleship journey, like, how you've been discipled to get to this. [00:02:51] Speaker C: This point. [00:02:52] Speaker A: Amen. Okay. So obviously, discipleship, I reckon, is always in stages. [00:02:57] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:02:57] Speaker A: You start one point and you kind of, like, build up and grow to, like, other points as you go. So initially, I'm going to give, like, a little snippet of my testimony from this when I. I grew up in a Christian household. But then it was always one of those things where it's like, okay, I'm going because my parents told me I have to be there. It's like, there's no option. There's no choice. It's like, it's either this or, like, a beating. Yeah. Yep. I born and raised in Africa, so it is allowed. So. Yes. And I just always used to, like, go there, you know, do the whole. Yeah, this is. I'm going because my parents. [00:03:36] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:03:37] Speaker A: That kind of thing. [00:03:38] Speaker B: Not your own. [00:03:38] Speaker A: Yeah. It was never, like, a personal relationship type thing. And then when I moved away, when I started, when I came to, like, like, uni here in Melbourne, it's like, oh, no one's actually forcing me to go. [00:03:48] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:03:48] Speaker B: In fact, it was probably the opposite. [00:03:50] Speaker A: Yeah. Literally, like, it's Melbourne. I'm like, all these people like, oh, Sunday, where you going? I'm like, church. Like, what? [00:03:56] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:03:57] Speaker A: Then it's like, oh, okay. No one's really forcing me to go. It's like, now it's your own thing. [00:04:01] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:01] Speaker A: It's like, you have to take, like, this ownership, this responsibility. I think it was really good for me because that's when I sort of, like, started having, like, my own relationship with God. That's when I had to, like, you know, take ownership of, like, oh, okay, who is God? And I actually learned, okay, who is God? Like, what is he about? All that kind of stuff. And it's like, with that and through that, it's like, building that relationship. [00:04:23] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:23] Speaker A: I just realized how important relationship is versus, like, religion. [00:04:27] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:28] Speaker A: That kind of thing. Yes. But then, that being said, I will say, even in those times of quote unquote, being forced to go to church, that's part of my journey. [00:04:37] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:38] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, you know what I mean? Yeah. It's like, I knew at a young age that you have to go to church. [00:04:43] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:44] Speaker A: And it's important. It's like, this is something that you need in your life. God is actually someone we need. And it's like, I saw that through them. It's. I saw how they live their lives. My parents, this is I saw how they lived their lives. I saw how important it was to them. Even though I didn't have, like, my own personal revelation at the time. It was massive. Was massive. It was like a thing. Like, I held that wherever I went. Even though, like, I didn't have that relationship. It's always, okay, I'm Christian, and this is what I believe. [00:05:14] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:05:15] Speaker B: Like a strong foundation for me parents. [00:05:17] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:05:17] Speaker B: That's the initial discipleship right now. [00:05:19] Speaker A: Exactly. Yeah. So it's like, for all those people are going to have kids one day, force them to go to church. But, yes, it's like, that was my initial sort of, like, segue into what is the faith? And from that comes, like, the next part, which is literally watching other people. I started by watching my parents. Okay. But now I'm in Melbourne. Who am I watching now? I come to church. [00:05:45] Speaker B: Great. [00:05:46] Speaker A: Yeah. And you, like, start watching. Like, I've just always been, like, one of those people. Like, there's. You were talking about earlier, like, the verse in Corinthians where it's like, imitate me exactly as I imitate Christ. [00:05:58] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:05:58] Speaker A: And. And it's. It was just one of those things. I'm like, oh, wow, this person is really doing this thing that's really cool. That person's. And honestly, I'd never seen it in young people before. It's always religion. I've always seen, like, earlier, anyways. I don't see it, like, as, oh, there's an old people's thing. [00:06:14] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:06:14] Speaker A: Then I, like, met people like you, Pastor Thomas. I'm thinking, oh, these guys are probably, like, their late 30s. They just, like, look really young, but they're like, they all. They have to be. They're like, oh, no, I'm 21. I'm 20. I'm like, what? [00:06:28] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:06:28] Speaker A: And. [00:06:29] Speaker B: And. [00:06:29] Speaker A: And, like, that was really mess. That was big for me. [00:06:31] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:06:32] Speaker A: Seeing that. Yeah. Like, seeing that was actually mess. I'm like, okay, they're young people here, and they're, like, literally following Christ. Not just, like, the normal, casual Christianity. Like, oh, yeah, I'm a Christian. It's like, oh, no, you guys were sold out. You guys literally laid everything down for Christ. And not just you guys, just even the pastors, you know, all the pastors in the church. All, like, all the people in the church. It was a lot of watching people and, like, literally learning and being discipled. Not even by having any conversations with you guys, but just by watching. And that's why I think it's very important, like, even as the way we live our life. People always watching. You don't know who you're going to inspire. You don't know who you're going to literally repel. [00:07:13] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:07:13] Speaker A: Just like, oh, I'm a Christian, but I live this way. People were like, okay, so it doesn't really mean anything. [00:07:19] Speaker B: That's so true. [00:07:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:07:20] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:07:21] Speaker B: I mean, actions speak louder than. Exactly. But it's true. Like, the way that we live our lives does speak volumes. Would you say that, like, even coming to Melbourne and then coming into an environment that was probably quite polarizing from where you came to that, that lack of Christians around you actually forced you to take your faith more seriously or, like, it propelled you in that direction or. [00:07:45] Speaker A: No, not really. [00:07:46] Speaker B: Not really. [00:07:46] Speaker A: Honestly. Yeah. Like, I. It was just one of those things where it's like, okay. No one's really doing it. So it was just. Yeah. It was just like, okay. But I feel like, because I've learned. This is what I have, I just still. Yeah. It was just always embedded in me. I just have to do this thing. [00:08:00] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:08:00] Speaker A: And it's like, I have to do it. Even though, like, people around me, if anything, they were like, bro, what are we like, yeah. You know what I mean? Take me the other way. [00:08:08] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:08:08] Speaker A: The opposite direction. But it's like, oh, no, actually, this is something I have to do. And it was just deeply embedded. It was like, it was too late for me. You know what I mean? It's ingrained. [00:08:20] Speaker B: You know what I mean? [00:08:21] Speaker A: But it's like. With that, like, obviously the watching of the people and all that kind of stuff, it then they still. This is still other people's. What you're seeing when it became, like, real. [00:08:33] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:08:34] Speaker A: You know, personal. And, like, that growth came in was when I sort of took that. And now I am building this relationship with God and lockdown, bang, lockdown happened. One massive. This is probably one of the biggest pieces, like, of my discipleship. Discipleship journey. That really built me. And that was the word. It was now just me and my one room. Yeah. And I had the tiniest. [00:09:02] Speaker B: Are you, like, in a unique goodness. [00:09:05] Speaker A: It was like, you move sideways, you hit the bed. The other way, you hit the desk. It's like, oh, my goodness. It was tiny. [00:09:12] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:09:12] Speaker A: So it's like, now just you in this tiny little room, and it's like, okay, now what? [00:09:16] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:09:16] Speaker A: Okay. Might as well try out this, like, Bible thing and all that kind of stuff. And obviously, you would know, like, let's just say secular books. [00:09:24] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:09:25] Speaker A: They change how you think. [00:09:27] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:09:27] Speaker A: So much yeah. Like, literally, you read a book, you can. Yeah. 100%. Like, it changes. Now imagine the words of God on a page. If you think like, a book that you can just pick up that some guy wrote. Now imagine, like, the words of the living God. [00:09:47] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:09:47] Speaker A: So I started reading the Word in lockdown and that. Honestly, that's one thing I can really point to. Of course, there are, like, a lot of multiple things. I like things, but that's one thing I can point to. I'm like. That really changed who I was. Says, be renewed by the transforming of your mind. [00:10:02] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:10:03] Speaker A: You know that, that, that verse, it's so real. [00:10:05] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:10:06] Speaker A: I started reading the Word and I just started, like, changing in this one little room day by day. And every word, it just hit me. It struck me. Literally, just. It changed me. Like, literally just reading the Word, picking up the book, and just deep diving into, like, what does this mean? Why. Why is that? I. One story that I always remember and one part of, like, why I even do, like, this, you know, discipleship, Christianity thing. [00:10:31] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:10:32] Speaker A: The story of Stephen, probably on my favorite books, little stories in the Bible. And Stephen, obviously was this guy who just loved God. [00:10:43] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:10:43] Speaker A: Serving God. [00:10:44] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:10:45] Speaker A: 1,000%. Just, like, you know, doing his thing. And then he's here and he's trying to, like, he sees people and he loves people so much. He just loves people so much. He's like, you know what? I know you guys aren't gonna want to hear this, but you need to. [00:10:59] Speaker B: Hear this because it's gonna save you. [00:11:01] Speaker C: Yes. [00:11:01] Speaker A: You know what I mean? [00:11:02] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:11:02] Speaker C: That conviction. [00:11:03] Speaker A: Yeah. 100%. And he went there. He did it. And they turned around and they literally stoned him to death. Before he died, he looks. Yeah, he looks up and says, God, forgive them. I remember just weeping in my room after reading. Yeah. Like, literally just full on crying, just on the floor, like, you know what God. Hey, man, I. That's love. [00:11:26] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:11:26] Speaker A: And you obviously imparted this love into Stephen. [00:11:31] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:11:31] Speaker A: God, like, just give me that love. [00:11:34] Speaker C: That's amazing. [00:11:35] Speaker A: Yeah. That's really one of the big things I really, like, kind of. [00:11:39] Speaker B: Wow. [00:11:40] Speaker A: Changed for me. [00:11:40] Speaker B: That's. That's amazing. Just how what I'm hearing is like a theme in this is the way that you took ownership of your own discipleship. So what was a really good foundation? And Matthew 7, Jesus talks about, you know, being built on the rock or being built on sand. You had, like this foundation of what your family established in you. Yeah, I had a similar thing as well. Like, raised in a Christian household. And it's like the values are so strong that it's like, there's a moment where you. This. This happened to me. I don't know if this happened to you, but there's a moment where you feel like, oh, I could compromise on this value. And it's like, it's. It was so. What's the word? I was so aware of it in that moment. It wasn't just like, oh, I'm just gonna be. [00:12:19] Speaker A: I'm just. [00:12:19] Speaker B: By the people. [00:12:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:20] Speaker B: It was like, oh, that's. [00:12:21] Speaker A: Hold on. [00:12:22] Speaker B: Contrary to what. [00:12:23] Speaker A: What I literally. This is my fabric, like, what I've been made of, like, the rest, like, my whole life, literally. [00:12:29] Speaker B: And then it's like, well, I can't just follow the. What people are doing around me. And then that became a distinct moment for me. I'm like, well, I'm not gonna say what my colleague's saying, so I'm gonna choose to walk differently. And having those moments of, like, confrontation actually formed me to build my own discipleship journey. And so I'm hearing that near. And also hearing how you. The Word discipled you majorly. [00:12:53] Speaker A: 1000, literally. Oh, my goodness. [00:12:56] Speaker B: The apostles, like, yeah, yeah. The people that you read about in the Bible, obviously Jesus as well. Those being the ones that discipled you. That's so good. [00:13:05] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:13:08] Speaker B: So what you. What you mentioned earlier about not being conformed to this world, but being transformed by the renewing of your mind. Talk to me a little bit about. More about that journey of. Of transformation and how you've been transformed. [00:13:21] Speaker A: So that's a really good one. So transformation is incredibly difficult. Oh, man, is it difficult. And transformation sometimes means, like, you having to say no to a lot of things that are happening around you, especially in a place like Melbourne. That transformation journey, it's going to be painful. Yeah, it's going to be very painful. And it wasn't like that real transformation didn't really start until I had, like, I acknowledged that fact. There's a verse in 1 Peter 4, verse 1 to 3. Do you mind if I quickly. Yeah, give it a read. 1 Peter 4, verse 1 to 3 says, Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. And that part, like, it's. It struck me. It says, yeah, arm yourselves. Like, literally, this is a weapon that we need as Christians. [00:14:38] Speaker C: Like, yeah. [00:14:38] Speaker A: Imagine going on to, like, a battlefield without your weapon. [00:14:41] Speaker B: Yes. [00:14:42] Speaker A: Therefore, since Christ suffered, arm yourselves with the same attitude. [00:14:47] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:14:48] Speaker A: You need to arm yourself with, like, an attitude of suffering. [00:14:52] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:14:52] Speaker B: Wow. [00:14:53] Speaker A: And the moment you realize that I need suffering to go anywhere in your faith, it changes any. It changes everything. And that's where transformation begins. When you realize it's actually going to cost you. [00:15:07] Speaker C: Yes. [00:15:08] Speaker A: It's going to cost you a lot. It's going to cost you a lot. And when I then stepped into, like, you know what? Okay, this is going to hurt. I'm going to have to sacrifice. And look, I'm still. I'm not perfect. Like, I'm still going. And it's like, daily, daily, like, sacrifice. [00:15:23] Speaker B: Paul says I die daily. [00:15:24] Speaker A: Yeah. Amen. Yeah. You know what I mean? It's like, that's where the transformation. [00:15:29] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:15:30] Speaker A: It's like, just literally just on myself, then I'm like, okay, I have to do this. I have to do this, and it's going to hurt. But then I know that these present sufferings are not going to be worth anything as compared to, like, the glory that awaits us. You know what I mean? [00:15:45] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:15:46] Speaker A: And that's where it all started, and that's where the transformation began. Because it was all a little bit like, look, it was okay, but it was. It was never anything that would last. But before, like, the bit off. Okay. Understanding that suffering as a Christian is a real thing. [00:16:02] Speaker C: Yeah, it's a real thing. [00:16:04] Speaker B: And I think, especially in our world, we don't talk about it. [00:16:07] Speaker A: We don't like the hard part. We do not. [00:16:10] Speaker B: That was Jesus's whole message. [00:16:12] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:16:12] Speaker B: Deny yourself. It was take the narrow road. It was be willing to be hated by all. [00:16:18] Speaker A: 1,000%. 1,000%. [00:16:20] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:16:20] Speaker A: And it was that really. That's when I. Okay. That's when I started to see the transformation. That's when I started to see the change. And you wake up and you arm yourself. You're like, you know what? Today I might have to suffer for this. And it's like, but that's okay. Because that was the attitude Christ had. [00:16:37] Speaker C: Wow. [00:16:37] Speaker A: And that's where we're trying to be. That's where we're trying to go. [00:16:39] Speaker C: Wow. [00:16:40] Speaker A: And that's where. Yeah, that's what I'll say. Like, my transformation kind of took shape. [00:16:44] Speaker B: That's amazing. Could you talk, like, practically for a Second about how you. How you do that. Like, do you literally wake up in the morning and be like, okay, Lord, help me. [00:16:53] Speaker C: Stop. [00:16:54] Speaker A: Okay, yeah, look, don't pray that prayer, guys, because God will answer your prayers. You know what I mean? There's a lot of different things. [00:17:04] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:17:04] Speaker A: Lots of different situations. Whether it be at work, there might be. A lot of the time they're going to be decisions that you have to make that can either. Can either take the easier way or the harder way that's actually going to, quote, unquote, disadvantage you in the worldly sense, physical sense, but give you an advantage in the spiritual sense. Problem being. [00:17:28] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:17:28] Speaker A: You don't really feel or see or, like, a lot of the time. You don't always, like, feel and see the spiritual advantage. [00:17:37] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:17:37] Speaker A: You know what I mean? All you have is what you can see and, like, hold, fold right now. [00:17:43] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:17:43] Speaker A: And it's like, oh, this is really gonna, like, destroy me. [00:17:48] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:17:48] Speaker A: Let's say a decision at work. There was one decision at work where we had to, like, pick between wearing some sort of, like, clothing that I knew was just, like, completely against. And they wanted me to promote it. I was, like, in charge of, like, a whole program. They wanted me to, like, promote this whole thing, like, for. And I'm like, yikes. I'm like, oh, I'm tossing up. I'm like, what do I. What do I do? Like, do I just, like, toss up all my values and all that kind of stuff and just, like, you know, put my head down and just, like, quote, unquote, dug it out? Because it's like, this is the easy thing, and this is what's going to benefit me in this moment. It's like, no, what the suffering actually says is like, I'm actually going to have to stand up and be like, I'm so sorry, but I cannot do that. [00:18:37] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:18:37] Speaker A: I can't do this, or I can't do that, or, like, you know, certain things where it's like taking your stand at work to say, I'm not going to be able to do these things. But not just at work with your friends, with colleagues, wherever it may be family for something. Yeah. 100. It's like, there's some decisions that are going to be hard for you to make. [00:19:01] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:19:01] Speaker A: Because physically speaking, they're actually going to, quote, unquote, hurt you. [00:19:06] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:19:07] Speaker B: Yeah, totally. And I think that. That what you're saying about the eternal glory that it comes back to. We have to have an eternal perspective. [00:19:14] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:19:15] Speaker B: And we might not see in the Natural in the tangible, like the result or the reward of that. I mean, Hebrews 11 is filled with stories. [00:19:26] Speaker A: Never saw everything. [00:19:29] Speaker B: Listen, it's like. But we look at them, we look at Abraham and Moses and everyone quoted. We're like, oh, my gosh, they're amazing. Like, I want to be like that. Do you really want to be like that? [00:19:38] Speaker A: Shout out to someone. [00:19:39] Speaker B: Yeah. You really want to be someone that is obedient to the call of God, that leaves a legacy, but you might never see it with your own eyes until you get to heaven. And that's costly. But that's. That's the high price of discipleship. And it also reveals a lot of trouble. [00:19:56] Speaker A: Trust. [00:19:57] Speaker B: It reveals where does your trust lie. Your trust lie in self and what I can do and I guess my skills or my rapport with people, etc. Etc. Or is your trust inside? And so even as you're talking about how your discipleship has been your own and you've taken ownership of it, it's really not like it's really been the Lord. [00:20:18] Speaker A: It's really been goodness. Yeah. There's that verse that says, God is the one who causes us to will. [00:20:23] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:20:23] Speaker A: And to act. So even like me thinking, oh, I want to do this comes from God. And then me doing it comes from God. [00:20:30] Speaker C: Yes. [00:20:30] Speaker A: I'm just like a. [00:20:33] Speaker B: Yeah, that's so good. [00:20:35] Speaker A: Yeah. 100. So. [00:20:37] Speaker C: Wow. [00:20:37] Speaker A: I've seen that. I've seen that a lot. And that's kind of like what I've seen day to day in those decisions, making those decisions every day. To choose, to pick the thing that might sort of like disadvantage you, quote unquote in the physical. Yeah, but I know, like, the reward is going to be eternal. Yeah, it's going to be eternal. [00:20:57] Speaker B: That's so good. It's not an easy place to come to, but that's a place I think is really important for us all to come to. And in a world where we have instant gratification and we can have whatever we want. Young adults hear this. That it. That's actually not. That's not the prize. The reward is not what you get right now. That is temporary, but the reward is lasting. And that's. That's the heavenly reward we get to. [00:21:22] Speaker A: So true. [00:21:22] Speaker C: Say yes to. [00:21:23] Speaker B: That's so good. Why don't you tell me about also because you're an incredible leader and disciple. How you have. [00:21:31] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't know if anyone else has said that. [00:21:33] Speaker B: I mean, if you're part of his life group, can you tell me. [00:21:36] Speaker A: No. Don't ask them. No, don't ask anyone else. [00:21:41] Speaker B: Very concerned. All right, come message me later if you're part of David's life. Disciple. But I hear good things. So tell me. Talk to me about, like, how you disciple others and even how your own journey has prepared you for that. [00:21:56] Speaker A: That's a really good question. Number one thing is patience. Oh, man. Oh, man. So I'll start. [00:22:04] Speaker B: This is why you're good at kids ministry. [00:22:05] Speaker A: Yeah, Literally. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, don't worry, guys. It's not that bad. Kids ministry. You can still come and. Yeah, so it was like that. Patience. So initially, I'm starting with how it sort of, like, worked for me. [00:22:20] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:22:21] Speaker A: I was just passed down, like, how it worked. [00:22:23] Speaker C: Yeah. Great. [00:22:24] Speaker A: Discipling others. Because everything that I got, I got from God. So it was never like, oh, I woke up. I'm like, this is the way to do it. I woke up and I realized that, oh, this is what God is doing with me. God was so patient with me. [00:22:40] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:22:40] Speaker A: Oh, my goodness. I was just a wild one. Oh, yeah. You're like, I'm a bit crazy. I'm a bit of a crazy one. So it's like waking up day by day and, you know, learning and knowing from that personal relationship that, hey, God actually still loves me. [00:22:56] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:22:56] Speaker A: God still has a plan for me, despite all these other things where it's like, I'm literally going back to the same thing, same patterns, all that kind of stuff. And it's like, despite all that, God is still looking at me like, hey, that's my. That's my son. [00:23:10] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:23:10] Speaker B: Wow. [00:23:11] Speaker A: That's my son. And, yeah, like, I learned patience from God because they. Even today, still to this day, I'm like, wow, God is so patient. Like, if I was God, I would have struck me down, like, a long time ago. There'll be no podcast right now. You know what I mean? [00:23:28] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:23:28] Speaker A: And it's like the grace of God. Yeah, that grace and that patience. God has been so patient with me, and I didn't even learn it, like, straight away. You think, okay, because God is patient with me, I'm going to be patient with others. It's like, it's still a learning curve because obviously I'm not perfect, my God. And that then goes, okay, let me see. There's one friend. I'll tell you a story about this one friend. There's going to be a group that's like, oh, Dave, you always tell the story. Well, I'm telling it again. I'm telling it Again. So I've got this one friend, his. I'll call him John. [00:24:02] Speaker C: Yeah, just for John. [00:24:03] Speaker A: Yeah, let's call him John. So John, I'm cutting bits and parts of him. [00:24:09] Speaker C: Yeah, okay. [00:24:10] Speaker A: John is like, like, okay, John. I really want my non Christian friend John to like come to Christ because me and John were good friends with great friends. So we speak. We speak. And then by God does a like a crazy. This is a story for another day. An amazing miracle in my life. And in that God had told me to like rope and pull John along through the journey. I'm like, oh, God, bro, if it doesn't work out, God was like, hey, don't worry. Like, you don't have to try defend me or like help me keep myself from disgrace and all that. Kind of like, you don't worry about. [00:24:46] Speaker B: Trying to protect God. Protect God. [00:24:47] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. [00:24:48] Speaker B: You don't have to. [00:24:49] Speaker A: Yeah, you don't have to do anything. It's like, just do it. And I'm like, okay, bet. Okay, John. This was happening. And John saw this crate. Like, honestly, till this day, I'm kind of like, wow, that was crazy. And John saw that. And during that, John was like, he was a classic bloke. He was like, oh, bro, if that happens, I will literally come to church with you. Like, he said that? [00:25:11] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:25:12] Speaker A: I'm like, what? Like real? And he's like, yeah, real. And it happened. [00:25:16] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:25:16] Speaker A: And shout out John. He came, he came through. He was true to his way. [00:25:21] Speaker B: He liked John. [00:25:22] Speaker A: And. And that week I started fasting. I was like, I fasted the whole week. Like, Lord, when he comes to Christ, he's going to like change his life and everything is going to be perfect and he's going to, you know, radical transformation. And I'm fasting, I'm praying. I take John to church. Take John to church. We go out to serve. Like, you know, I got one eye open trying to check the altar call. [00:25:46] Speaker C: I've been there. [00:25:47] Speaker A: Yeah. Trying to see if he's going to like, raise his hand. He did raise his hand. I'm like, okay, let's hear what he says. Afterwards, I go to John. I was like, hey, bro, what did you think? He was like, honestly, man, this was kind of weird. That was really weird. I didn't like any of it. I was like, I've been starving for you, John. I haven't eaten in a week. But obviously in that moment, I didn't really see because I wanted things to happen quickly, fast. And I'm like, whatever. That was the end. Just Three years later, crazy. Three years later, getting a call from John. I'm like, oh, what's. What's up, John? Sec, bro. Thank you so much. I'm like, what? What? It's like, bro, I literally, you know, I go to church every week now. I literally go to church every week. I've changed my life. I'm so grateful, bro. And it's a lot to do. Like, what I've seen you do in your life, how, you know, carry yourself, how you live, how you act, and literally just how you've been a friend to me because I didn't, like, end the friendship, all that kind of. And I literally just like. It's changed my life. And I'm like, wow. And there's that verse where it's like, God is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he's patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. [00:27:06] Speaker B: Come on. [00:27:07] Speaker A: And I saw that. And I saw that firsthand. It's like, wow, three years. [00:27:11] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:27:12] Speaker A: God is a patient God. And from then on, it just changed everything for me. So now when I'm discipling someone, I'm not trying to, like, I don't. I don't need to see them change. Like, the week after. [00:27:25] Speaker C: Yes. [00:27:26] Speaker A: If they end up in the same situation and the same thing that we kind of, like, prayed about or got you out of, like, literally last week or yesterday, and you're back at it. You don't go back. You're like, oh, you're. This is hopeless. It's like, okay, this might take three weeks. This might take three months. This might take three years. [00:27:47] Speaker C: Yes. [00:27:47] Speaker A: And it's like understanding that having that grace for people, the same grace God has for you, the same patient patience God has for you, extended to other people. [00:27:57] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:27:57] Speaker A: Literally extend it to the people you're discipling. And don't be angry. Don't be mad. Don't. You know, like, obviously sometimes there's the human aspect and. Okay, cool. [00:28:08] Speaker B: Some people like to go around the. [00:28:09] Speaker A: Same mountain over and over again. You know, kind of thing. It's like, it doesn't matter. [00:28:15] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:28:15] Speaker A: Like, wait on it. Keep praying. Don't lose faith. Never lose faith in the people you're discipling. Even when it looks like it's over, it's done. Like, final out. Like, that's when God works. When it looks like there's nothing left, when there's no other option, that's when God works. The God of midnight, like, literally at the Veil when you think, okay, this is done. So never give up. Never give up praying. Remain patient with your people. Remain patient. And it's like, love them. To the point where it's like, okay, I'm going to wait for you the same way God waited for me. [00:28:53] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:28:53] Speaker A: I'm not going to give up on you. The same. And it's like, hey, they might be coming from the place you told them not to go to, like, literally five, five minutes before. [00:29:02] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:29:02] Speaker A: And they're going to, like, meet you for, like, you know, your discipleship session. It's like, it's cool. It's cool. [00:29:08] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:29:08] Speaker A: Hey, I'm glad you came. [00:29:10] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:29:11] Speaker A: Keep smiling. Keep giving them that open. They should never feel like, oh, my goodness, this person hates me. [00:29:18] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:29:18] Speaker B: And also, like, you're also breaking off this opportunity to. How do I put this? Like, just try and fix people. [00:29:28] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:29:28] Speaker B: Because you'd be like, oh, they need to change in three weeks or three days or three minutes. And it's like, I gotta fix you. And it treats people like a project or like a thing. Not 1000% complex person that God created them to be. And so as you're talking about going on that journey with people, you actually, what you're doing is also allowing them to be authentic, which allows for deeper transformation. Otherwise, what ends up happening is behavior modification. [00:29:52] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:29:53] Speaker B: So if it's like, hey, I see you're dealing with this sin. And then we talk about it and it's like, okay, have you. Don't do it ever again. And then it's just like, out of fear, not doing it, which sometimes, you know. [00:30:04] Speaker A: We might. Might have to. [00:30:06] Speaker B: But. But what you're actually allowing is lasting change and transformation in that person. And that is so beautiful how the Lord's done that in you, impatient with you, and revealed his grace and that you've been able to learn that lesson and apply that to others, that's amazing. [00:30:23] Speaker A: 1,000. [00:30:23] Speaker B: I think there's a. There's a massive lesson. [00:30:26] Speaker A: Like, honestly, patience is so key, guys. It's so key. Another thing that I've learned is consistency. [00:30:34] Speaker C: Yep. [00:30:35] Speaker A: Preach it. Yeah. Yeah. Like, you don't want to disciple someone. And look, I used to take it for granted before as well. I used to, like, cancel stuff. Like back in the day maybe. Like, what? When I first. First started, I would like, ah, you know, only one person's coming. Let me just cancel it. [00:30:54] Speaker B: Don't get me started. [00:30:56] Speaker C: You know what I mean? [00:30:57] Speaker A: Oh, I'm just cancel. [00:30:58] Speaker B: It's like, whatever. [00:30:58] Speaker A: It's like, oh, I don't need two people. Let me just cancel. And it's like, if you can be a consistent, safe space. [00:31:04] Speaker C: Yes. [00:31:05] Speaker A: For people. [00:31:06] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:31:06] Speaker A: I promise you there will be growth there. [00:31:08] Speaker B: 100. [00:31:09] Speaker A: If you can be a consistent, safe space for people, they will be growth. And when I started, when I realized I was like, okay, there's one person coming. [00:31:19] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:31:19] Speaker A: But I'm going to be there. [00:31:21] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:31:22] Speaker A: And I'm going to treat it as God. [00:31:24] Speaker C: Yeah. Yeah. [00:31:25] Speaker A: You know what I mean? [00:31:25] Speaker B: Exactly. Because then you're valuing that person. [00:31:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:31:28] Speaker B: You know, my pet peeve. [00:31:29] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:31:30] Speaker B: Is when like a few people show up to a thing and then someone goes, where is everyone? I'm like, everyone in the room. Whoever's in the room is who needs me. But yeah. And that's been my motto, like, to share that experience as well is from the beginning of life. Group leading when I started was always, do it for the one. Do it for the one. And I remember me and my co leader at the time were like, oh, like, well, there's only one girl's gonna show up. Do we still want it? Like, no, he'd do it for her. And one time, my co lady couldn't even make it was just me and this one girl. And I was like, so close to canceling, but I felt so convicted. The Lord's like, I care about her, her individual soul so much. You need to put value on that, too. And she came, went on to become her leader and start her own life group and everything. She's an incredible woman of God. She doesn't live in Melbourne anymore, but. Oh, no, just that. Yeah, but just that, like. And thankfully I've been able to see the reward of that. But you don't always get to see the reward of it as we were talking about earlier. But just that faithfulness, the consistency keeps showing up. [00:32:34] Speaker A: Yeah. Keep showing up. Keep showing up. [00:32:36] Speaker B: Valuing the person in front of you. [00:32:39] Speaker A: He was faithful with little. Can be faithful in much. [00:32:42] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:32:42] Speaker A: And the little is not little. [00:32:45] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:32:45] Speaker A: It says one soul. [00:32:47] Speaker B: That's not literal. Jesus would have died for one soul. [00:32:50] Speaker A: Yes. At all. [00:32:51] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:32:51] Speaker A: It's not at all. So it's like just having that consistency is so key. [00:32:56] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:32:57] Speaker A: It's so important and I think it goes a long way in discipling. So look, no matter who's there, who's not there, doesn't matter. Just show up. [00:33:07] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:33:08] Speaker A: Show up. Yeah. Like, even sometimes, I know human. We're going to be tired. We're going to show up. Show up. God will do the rest God will carry you through. God will literally give you the strength, because at the end of the day, it is him who actually does the work. [00:33:24] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:33:24] Speaker A: Even if I'm tired, I know I can be tired. [00:33:27] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:33:27] Speaker A: But I know I'm not the one who's gonna have to do the work. [00:33:29] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:33:30] Speaker A: I'm getting. [00:33:30] Speaker B: Sometimes that's where the best work comes. [00:33:31] Speaker A: Amen. I'm like, you know what, God? I'm not doing anything today. Yeah, you can take over. And it's like. [00:33:36] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. [00:33:37] Speaker A: So consistency has been, like, a massive thing, like, in terms of, like, discipling other people that I've seen was, like, being consistent, being patient and loving. [00:33:48] Speaker C: Yes. [00:33:49] Speaker A: Just. Yeah. Every day, like, I'm just trying to grow in love. Grow in love. And. Yeah, that's been part of. That's like a little snippet of some of the things. [00:34:02] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:34:04] Speaker B: So good. [00:34:04] Speaker C: And. Yeah. [00:34:06] Speaker B: Can you just elaborate slightly more on the last point? Going in love. [00:34:09] Speaker A: Going in love. [00:34:10] Speaker B: How you. How do you cultivate that in your life? [00:34:13] Speaker A: So love is tricky because you can sort of fabricate a lot of emotions, but you can't fabricate love. You can't fake it. [00:34:25] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:34:26] Speaker A: You can't fake love. You can act. You can put on a smile, you can act happy, you can act angry. You can't, like, fake love. [00:34:36] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:34:36] Speaker A: So with love, once you, like, acquire, like, love, and this. This love can only come from God. Once you have love, you start to see people the way God sees people. [00:34:49] Speaker C: Yes. [00:34:49] Speaker A: And the moment you see people, God sees people. Oh, my goodness, Jess, life changing. Yeah, it's life changing because this is no longer just, oh, this is just some random person that I met yesterday. It's like, no, this is God's child. [00:35:06] Speaker C: Yes. [00:35:07] Speaker A: My brother and sister that God loves so much that if they were the only person on earth, God would have still died. Like what you said earlier, and I think it just changes the lens. And you. You begin to walk with people. You begin to walk with them with, like, this deep design, hope that this person is literally going to change their life for them. And it's not just them. One thing we as leaders can also, like, hold on to is you're not changing one life. A lot of the time. [00:35:35] Speaker B: Yes. [00:35:36] Speaker A: A lot of times. Not just one life. [00:35:38] Speaker C: You're changing. [00:35:38] Speaker A: It might seem like, oh, this is just one person. Even that one person. Yes. Is important. [00:35:42] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:35:42] Speaker A: That person has a friend. [00:35:44] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:35:44] Speaker A: That person has family. That person's going to have children. Just if you've been to kids, man, I look at these Kids. And it's just so hot. Like, literally just looking at the kids, my heart is always so full. It's like, oh, my gosh. Like, these kids, I just love those kids. Like, this is crazy. Now imagine a kid who will never experience God, the love of God in their lives. Oh, it just breaks my heart. Like, literally seeing kids on the street. I'm like, dude, do their parents know God? Do they know Jesus? Will they ever know Jesus? And, like, in their life? If you as a leader can start looking at the lens of, hey, I've not just only changed, like, this one person, but God's helped change generations. Yeah, there's going to be a child that's going to come out of this and it's going to thank you because you took the time to disciple one person, one parent, and you changed the lives of many millions of people, friends, family, generations, kids, children. And it's like, if I can look at them and, and see that and see what God has for this one person. Oh, man. And it's like, we're all God's children at the end of the day. And if you, like, you know, zoom out, go into, like, God's perspective, that's all he sees. His children. His children. That he just wants his children to be with him as a father at the end of the day, like, you just want your children close to you. And, yeah, I think that really, like, puts things into perspective a lot of the time. Yeah. [00:37:20] Speaker C: Wow. [00:37:21] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:21] Speaker B: That's so foundational for, like, everything that we do. Well, we could keep talking about this for ages, but we should probably start to wrap up. Is there any other thoughts that you wanted to share? Whether it's about your journey or something that you would impart to those that are listening? [00:37:39] Speaker A: Maybe just like a summary. [00:37:41] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:37:41] Speaker A: To be like, two things. [00:37:44] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:37:44] Speaker A: Equip yourself with sacrifice. Equip yourself with love, and continue to pray. Literally. Don't stop going to God. You're never going to be a professional discipler. [00:38:00] Speaker B: You don't pay any idea. [00:38:03] Speaker A: Jessica. Do you know what I mean? Like, you will never be at a level. It's like, oh. At a stage. It's like, you know, and I can do this, God, I've done this. Never. It's every single day. In fact, you're actually at an advantage if you feel like, I've never done this before or I don't know how to do this. You are actually at an advantage because God uses the foolish things of the. [00:38:25] Speaker B: World, and in your weakness, he is strong. [00:38:27] Speaker A: Yes, exactly. And it's like God shows his power through that weakness. And the moment you turn around, like, oh, no, you know, God, I got this. That's when everything falls apart. But if you can remain in that posture of, you know, God, I actually don't know what to do. I don't know what I'm going to do. [00:38:44] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:38:44] Speaker A: I need you to literally just like, grab onto me, help me and carry me through. He will do it. He will do it. It says, if you ask anything according to my will, I will do it. God's will is for all of us to be with him. [00:38:57] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:38:58] Speaker A: So he's going to do it. He's going to give you what you need. He's going to equip you to do all of it. He's going to equip you to do all of it. So go to God, Sacrifice, love. But know that at the end of the day, it's going to be so worth it. It's going to be so worth it. The rewards, not just in heaven, but like, literally just, just seeing these people come to Christ, there's no better feeling. Yeah, I reckon I literally seeing someone's life change. [00:39:27] Speaker B: Oh, couldn't agree more. [00:39:28] Speaker A: And it is. Yeah, it is. It is amazing. Like, when you see someone's life just, like, be one way and just turn into another way because of what God did. [00:39:38] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:39:39] Speaker B: That's crazy, man. [00:39:41] Speaker A: Can't describe it. [00:39:42] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:39:43] Speaker B: The most amazing thing in the world. Amen. Would you pray for us as we wrap up this? Let's pray for all the listeners out there. [00:39:51] Speaker A: Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, God, for this wonderful day. We thank you for whoever's listening right now, Lord. We are praying, Heavenly Father, and we are asking, Heavenly Father, may you impart, Heavenly Father, your love. Lord God, may you impart, Heavenly Father, your spirit, Heavenly Father, your power over them. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Lord God, to walk this journey, Heavenly Father, that you have for them, whatever it may look like, Heavenly Father, we know you have a good plan for them. And Heavenly Father, we are praying and we are asking, Lord God, as we disciple people and as we are discipled, Heavenly Father, may you be the one to impart. Heavenly Father, what. What do you want us to learn? What do you want us to pass on? Heavenly Father, and may we receive that in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Lord God, grant us love. Fill us, Heavenly Father. Lord God, with deep love that comes only from you. Heavenly Father, you see us, Heavenly Father, you see your children, Heavenly Father, Lord God, may we see ourselves and others the way you do. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. And help us, Heavenly Father, Lord God in that. And through that, Heavenly Father, we know that that sacrifice, Lord God will not mean a thing thing. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ as we lay it all down, Heavenly Father, for your glory, for your might. Heavenly Father, we are praying Lord God, let your kingdom come here on earth. Heavenly Father, Lord God, give us strength. Lord God, equip Heavenly Father your workers. Heavenly Father, Lord God let this harvest in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Lord God equip us Heavenly Father with the workers for that harvest in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Lord God and grant us joy and peace. Heavenly Father, Lord God, we grant us rest. Heavenly Father, give us strength. Lord God, to do all. Heavenly Father, you've called us to do. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, we glorify you and we magnify your holy and mighty name. We humbly beseech you saying Heavenly Father, Lord God, the glory. The glory goes to you. Thank you, oh God. Amen. [00:41:38] Speaker B: Amen. Thank you so much for sharing, for sharing your stories and sharing your life. I think it's. It's so cool and so, you know, in the way that the Lord relates to you and you relate to him. And I think that many of our listeners and our young adults will be so blessed by that. So thank you everyone for listening and stay tuned for more episodes. We'll see you in the next one.