Exodus Overview - Systematic Theology for the Church

Prelude

In all things we do, let us focus on receiving the light from the word of God and not hold on to little things that waste our life away. The word of God itself is answers and not principles. The crux of our problems is that we have missed or neglected God’s words, not placing them on our minds always. The challenges that we face every day can all be solved by the word of God. Difficulties go away naturally when we can restore His words. If we experience solving everything by just abiding by the word of God, we will see that the breakthrough this age needs is to see everything by the word of God as a solid foundation. Many essays and articles have been written by the church of this age, but they are all touching on things that we must change for the better, e.g. how to live a godly family life, discussing the best way to evangelize, etc, but not rooting inwards to the glory of the word of God. The Internet trend or culture of “blogging”, gossiping and discussing things hither and thither without a focus is definitely heading for destruction. For those of us who know the Bible, let us be apart from such culture and go right into the word of God for everything. From one person with such prayers, we will see our church having more and more people hunger for the righteousness of God. Moreover, if the word movement on speaking and writing continues, there will be no need for propaganda and people will come to us. This will come when we continue to get equipped and be trained in the light of God’s word for 3 to 5 years. But why is it of such great length of time? This is to overcome the very great darkness of the world.

The whole bible starts with Genesis. Genesis is about one person, Abraham, representing me as a blessed person of the covenant. Exodus has the five big contents that this person and his descendants, family or disciples would have. Leviticus is about prayer, on how to see God’s glory in the tabernacle. Numbers is on how to walk with God after knowing God’s will. Deuteronomy is on repeating so that God can be fixed on his heart. Following this are the history books starting with Joshua such that when perspectives are fixed, there are no failures and all wars are won. God’s perfect will be known, therefore the people of the covenant will know where to fight and get all the crown. The prophet books are on how to know God’s rewards and discipline. The books of praise are testimonies in seeing God’s glorious work on us. This is the content of the Old Testament, where we can see that God gives the promise in Genesis and we would see accomplishment in Malachi at the end. The start of the New Testament starts with the four gospels where Jesus Christ is revealed, giving the meaning of the whole history. The Church is established in Acts, and books from Romans to Revelations reveal how to live this living belief. We can therefore see that everything is repeated. Our God is One who keeps repeating on the accomplishments that come through one person, thus we must repeat.

1) Born Again (Assurance) <Jn 3:3>

Regeneration means that all of God’s conditions have the conditions for the one who has been born again. He has become different, or is special, because his blessings all come from God and not from others. This is what Jesus told Nicodemus about regeneration, that is, born from the spirit inside one’s life. For the one who is not born again or does not have assurance, his thoughts will not have any other consideration about conditions and events, whether positive or negative. Without God in his mind, God is not alive but dead to him in these situations, and therefore, all decisions and desires must come from his judgments alone. He cannot see the love of God, and therefore, his purpose is naturally to live to get attention, recognition and praise from people around him. This natural man thus works hard for himself. Because he cannot see that God has already blessed him, he therefore follows the standards of the world, attains, uses and shares this philosophy around. All in all, the person without the assurance of being born again must live without a real life of his own.

2) Hear Holy Spirit’s Voice (Counteract) = Prayers: Expectation

However, for the one who is born again, the content, direction, method of his life is entirely different. Such a person can therefore hear the Holy Spirit’s Voice. People of the world smile with the world, but the one born again cannot be yoked with unbelievers. The Spirit’s voice that he hears is opposing to that of the world. Rather, he will expect things not of this world but places his confidence on things that are invisible <Heb 11:1>. Though he may have nothing now, he does not explain his encounters as due to his weaknesses but looks towards God. “A chance in a million” or “what if” will never be one of these voices if he realizes that God has indeed blessed him (assurance received).

Hearing the voice of the Spirit is what we call prayers. He expects on everything, and everything will be accomplished. But it is not praying and waiting, or sitting down and doing nothing, for this is just like burning incense in temples of idol worship. Instead, before prayers, he gets the assurance that the Lord has already loved, blessed, and called him, so that he already received all the conditions to counteract. During prayers, he hears the conviction of the Holy Spirit telling him how the given conditions can help and bless him so that he can judge, speak and work things out. After prayers, only by submission to the wisdom heard during prayers, his expectations are satisfied as he sees God being pleased. The Christians of this age ask without assurance, struggle during prayers and “hang” while trying to balance up after prayers. However, if we understand this mystery, no matter what time of the day, whether conditions cause us to be weak or strong, we will hear the Holy Spirit’s condition on what to speak and do, and counteract when we hear the discipline of the Holy Spirit.

3) Transformation

When we continue to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, there will be transformation. One whose life is already transformed will not have expectations on what good the world can give him. He only seeks after God and His Word. His purpose is no more for his ego but on how to love God and people. His method is no longer a chasing after the wind, but only on how to get God’s perfect will, submit and follow God. Recapping, when you are more and more assured of yourself being blessed, loved, and called by God, hearing the Holy Spirit’s voice becomes clearer. Slowly, transformation will be more real. The transformation that is spoken of in the bible is about the newness of the Spirit (of the heart), and not oldness of the letter (to do good a bit here and there on the surface). To re-emphasize, if anyone can expound a lot about prayers and evangelism, yet do not have the love to get joy from submitting and getting God’s perfect will (transformation), the transformation is fake.

Therefore, it is very important for the one born again to format up his life with the word of God. Today, we are going to see the overview of the second book of the bible. Exodus is not about mysticism or blind faith even though it records a lot of miracles. In fact, it is the book of systematic theology for understanding the bible. There is definitely a system for living out our faith, and not by grabbing on to messages here and there without a format. Exodus illuminates this. It is in fact totally in contrast to mysticism.

Passage Reading: Exodus 1:8-14; 2:23-25; 3:7-12; 12:21-36

Sufferings came to Egypt because they did not have the promise. The Israel in Egypt has complained all the time through their sufferings. However, it is only the crying of the heart due to slavery that will reach God. This cry is a total acknowledgement of their inability before the great darkness of Pharaoh’s power. Moses, left as a remnant, was chosen by God to save Israel. A good question has been asked, and that is in <3:11>, “Who am I?” If we have the assurance of who we are, we will get the calling from God. Promise and vision are given to the ones God chooses. Finally, through the Passover plaque, it is revealed that the purpose of the world and all things created are for Israel.

1. Israel who is in Egypt (Chapter 1-4): The problem before salvation (born again)

The eyes and heart of Israel before regeneration were still in the world. Only when one undergoes death unto being born again can changes of direction, method, perspective and content be brought about. If anyone has not yet died (to be born again), he only hears the pastor blessing him (the content = promises) as some mercies of God, and the rest that he hears are all of the flesh. We must continue to know about the problems before a person is born again for our whole life, and not just once or twice. The clearer we know the problem that brings about regeneration, the clearer we will be able to hear the voice of the Spirit.

1) The People of the Covenant (Ge 12:1-3, 15:1-21, 17:1-9 Kingdom, King, People)

The reason we become the people of the covenant is that we receive the promise of Emmanuel (Ge 12:1-3, 15:1-21, 17:1-9). No matter what happens, God never leaves (2Ti 2:13) to promise the establishment of the kingdom, the King and people belonging through us. Therefore Israel grows from a size of 70 people till 3.2 million strong.

2) Sufferings

However, when Israel cannot confirm the covenant of Emmanuel, Israel will have sufferings. But here, we must know what sufferings are. Suffering itself is <Ex 1:8>, that a king who does not know Joseph rise up. This means the same suffering as <Ge 3:1-6> and <Eph 2:1-3> of losing God’s promise. This suffering is the background of all consequential sufferings.

(1) Lose promise (Emmanuel, vision and power)

”Of the covenant” means that these people are guided by the covenant, different from that of the world. Problems come when they lose the covenant of promise. Israel, the blessed people, lost the promise that God is with them so that they have no vision or direction. Therefore they are easily happy if they receive the things the world portrays as good. This is a result of losing power. There is no opportunity to counteract because of being completely affected by the world. When this continues, the worst sufferings - the darkness of the church, depression and mental problems, forced labour and diseases inevitably result.

(2) Slavery (Egypt = World)

How tragic it is that the whole world governs the people of God! The world exists for the purpose of serving Christians or God’s people, but the opposite happens. Money, idols, seen and unseen, become their god. Their bondage causes the lost of peace, worries and fear. Bondage means that God’s people cannot know the reason of losing their freedom, which is therefore the reason why they are totally bound up.

(3) Pharaoh’s Dominion (Satan’s Dominion)

Slavery is the result of the dominion of the prince of the air. This personality gives hints to the mind on the world and things of the flesh. If there is no assurance received to stop this so that the promise can be heard, these hints continue to be etched more deeply into the minds of the people of God and they will be affected and bounded completely.

We must understand this one suffering. Only the bible expounds on such suffering. This is the problem of Genesis 3. Man’s problem is that God is always with us, and wants to bless us, but he cannot see. He keeps thinking that his problem must be the very thing that gives him the headache, so that if the problem disappears, he would have happiness. He may think that it is the eyesore of his wife, children or the lack of money. However, if quarrels or the lack of money is Man’s problem, there is no need to find God because man just needs a mediator and some sources of money. But will he be truly happy? But it is because when man is born to the earth, he has lost Emmanuel and cannot see God so that he is deceived to think that peace and money will solve every trouble. No, let us open our eyes. The truth is that the life inside man always feels the lack of fullness and the inability to see God such that man is not happy. Such is the actual suffering of all man, resulting in sufferings in consequential forms. However, if anyone sees this and has a contrite spirit existing in his heart, his misery has reached God’s ears! Blessed people come before God and desire to solve the root of the problems that is between him and God.

The way to change all these is by having the assurance of being born again. From then, we can hear the voice of God. Let us have true standards in our prayers by praying, “You already provided and given me every condition, and You have already said that all have been accomplished, but why can’t I see, Lord? Lord, have mercy on me and give me faith so that I can see the reality of Your love in using all my conditions to bless and love me.” We should not pray, “Lord why are there problems here and there…?” When we pray correctly with the essence of submission, the peace and answer will be received. Even if we are heart-broken because of the illness of our own child or the loss of his beloved as an example, we will surely know that God has a plan after a while (which may be from minutes till a few weeks), This plan is to find the purpose of God. Let us pray today, “Lord, You have blessed me and are with me. Let me come and find Your Kingly purpose.”

3) “Saviour” = Moses = prefigured Messiah (Dt 18:15) = Prefigured Today’s Commissioned Worker

Moses represents the remnant, or the blessed one God left behind. Who are those referred as blessed? They are the ones who can hear, see, and believe what Moses had heard, seen and believed. They have the commission in their hearts. They hope for the gospelization of individual and family, and the region to become God’s light for the age. The church of this age works towards the great commission through efforts to raise up varieties of programs and fun. We, however, must give thanks to God that all these time, our church prayers have been for world gospelization, by raising commissioned workers. We must hold on to this regardless of the number of people coming to our church. Yes, God gives us stewardships in small things so as to be faithful and responsible. But we must know what the small things are. Shall we be just satisfied on completing earthly tasks as they are? Even if so, they must connect to the things Abraham served to the God of promise. We must get God’s perfect will to accomplish tasks to the standard of God. For this, we must never look down on the serving (shepherding of sheep) and the training (to see Emmanuel always) that the Lord has given us even though there seems to be no remarkable result now. The reason for this is that the timetable of the believers and non-believers of this age has not yet reached. But when we are ready, their timetable will have reached. Therefore, let us not just understand but confirm Emmanuel always, whether in big things or small, to see how God has already made individual, family, region and the age better in terms of gospelization.

Moses, the commissioned worker, had to wait for 40 years because of the wait for the real groans and misery of the heart of the people of Israel. When the timetable of Moses and the people of Israel have reached, doors will naturally open and this age will be handed over to those who continue to be trained and set apart totally by God.

The following are the preparation of the “Saviour”, Moses. We must confirm all these 7 processes that God willed in our lives to prepare us as a commissioned worker.

(1) A Levites Couple

When Pharaoh gave the rule to kill all sons of the people of Israel in Egypt, there was a Levite couple that kept the covenant with the promise close to their hearts. The Levites are a tribe prophesized by Jacob to be scattered in Israel. They would not have any physical inheritance but would have God as their inheritance.

(2) Hidden - Babies were killed

Where all other babies were killed, Moses was hidden in the darkness of the age <2:2-3>. Similarly, this age is for us commissioned workers to be hidden as a commoner whether in spirit or in our actual living. God prepares us by allowing us to experience growing up in such an environment that does not know God’s promise and in which Christ is ridiculed.

(3) Grew up in the Palace: Condition <2:10>

Moses was placed to grow up in the palace as the condition for learning the philosophy, ethics, culture, custom and religion of the world. Thus, he grew up powerful in speech and action <Acts 7:22>. As really important people, let us not look at ourselves as minuscule or we will meet with discipline. But let us continue to get mutual inspiration with God for the seemingly normal conditions that we have. Let us confirm the conditions God placed in us right now to build us up in the world so that we will have strength to win over the world.

(4) Man-driven - Flee <2:15>

As one with compassion for his fellow Hebrew brothers, Moses uses his own way of humanism to kill and save a fellow Israelite. This is because Moses cannot see God then. Humanism brings about greater problems and so he fled and went into the wilderness for 40 years. There is God’s perfect will in letting him go on for these 40 years. All the 40 years are not wasted but used by God to sanctify Moses, and to cause him to die to all his own strength and ways.

(5) 80 years old, God appeared, vision - Restore Emmanuel promise (3:1-18) Exodus, go into wilderness, worship the living God

God appeared and revealed to Moses only at the time when Moses was 80 years old. Similarly God brought us to the world, and to know the church of this age for some time before we came to be in this church. God sanctified Jacob for many years with Laban so that he may return Bethel. God wants Jacob to understand with fixed perspective that because God is with him, the place where he is at (not only at Bethel) is the place of angels. Let us not hear any other voices but that of God continually desiring us to believe this promise. After giving the promise of being with Moses, God gave him the vision to restore the Emmanuel promise to Israel. If there is no promise, all prayers are false. With no vision, all serving is just going around in circles. This vision that God gave is in <3:18>, go and lead God’s people out of Egypt, go into wilderness and serve the true and living God. Similarly, God calls us to go and lead God’s people to be born again, sanctified and bear fruits. The promise for us is the same!

(6) God-driven: Power, Plan, Timetable

From the ways of humanism, Moses came to know the ways of being God-driven. God-driven means God tells Moses what to do. “They will treat you as god. Aaron will come to help you, elders will listen to you”. God-driven ways are with authority and power, and not having to beg people to believe in God. God-driven ways and events are linked to a definite plan. These things that God told Moses led to events where God become deeper in wrath and clearer in His plan to remove Pharaoh and to install the blood of the lamb. “Staff in hand to become a snake”, “hand in pocket to be leprous”, “water from Nile poured out to become blood”, “go to Egypt but I will harden Pharaoh’s heart”, etc were all told to Moses beforehand. We shall hear the voice of the Spirit on such the perfect will and purpose of God if we act in God-driven ways. God’s doing has a timetable, to train Moses in his perspective. God gave the plan on what to do next to achieve the purpose of God, which is for glorifying God, blessing people and building the kingdom. We should not be zealous by ourselves, but God tells us to be zealous in God-driven ways.

(7) Kill Moses: Renewal, Circumcision (Covenant - Sealed on his heart) <4:24-26>

Moses’ life just missed death by being spared when the Lord met and tried to kill Moses on the road to Egypt. God had to renew Moses by sealing in his heart the covenant of promise and vision so that he will not leave if he meets with an obstacle considered tiny to the greatness of the promise and mission. God have to fix His perspective on us before we can conquer even our very hearts. This is the true meaning of circumcision or baptism in our case.

The need for preparation for today’s “saviour”

No one can get the calling of God by the zealousness of the heart. The only way to hear the voice of God calling one to be a preacher or witness is to know the above system of 7 points. The commissioned worker will suffer if he does not start serving by God-driven ways, that is, he does not see God’s power, plan and timetable in his serving. He is therefore unable to hear the voices of the Spirit for shepherding. The realization for the need to slow down and follow God through the 7 intended processes above will bring realization that he has been called to be a preacher and a commissioned worker.

Born again is not about the assurance of going to heaven. But a person who sees that he is beloved, blessed and called will see the best conditions in himself and will not be in negativity as a result of the weaknesses he may have. When Moses said, “Who am I?”, it is similar to the believers of this age, but many times including us, too. Such ways of having no assurance in the heart disqualifies and disables them to become God’s commissioned workers. But when God replied, “ I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, do not be afraid”, God wants to deal with our root problem of not having assurance. As we continue living out this belief, there must be once that we have a breakthrough or major operation on this. Paul had a great shock and exclaimed, “What a wretched man I am!” because he finally knew God! Without the 7 processes above, any exclamations made are temporary and non-lasting.

2. The Israel that came out of Egypt (Chapters 5-13)

Let us look at how God saved Israel out of Egypt by understanding why God must act with the following measures.

1) The hardening of Pharaoh (7-10)

Born again starts from the hardening of Pharaoh. For all the plaques in Exodus, there are many times mentioned that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. God wants to show that Satan is bad all the way to the core and the world is hardened at the heart to the extreme opposite, without a tinge of being aligned to God and not being able to recognize God’s presence.

God permitted the heart to harden more <10:1-7> because their hearts are already hardened.

(1) Preempt => Add Persecution => Miracle - Staff Becomes Snake

It is God who does everything; he is the director and the actor. The people we pray for can harden their hearts easily as and even when they have praised God before. This is the problem of the spirit. If it is not solved inside out, the hardened heart will continue. But His purpose to pre-warn is to add persecutions so that His miracles can be performed in the midst of the “impossible” process of the salvation of Israel. In our everyday contacts, whether with colleagues or family members who have their hearts hardened, this pre-emption is needed. Noah preempted the whole world and this saved his whole family when the flood really came. Even if people’s hearts are hardened presently, if we are able to explain to the people around us including our loved ones how God is with them with the works that happened, they would have an unforgettable memory of this great, loving God who never stops working to change their views when they finally surrender their lives to the living God.

(2) 9 Plaques - water becomes blood, frogs, gnats, files, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness (Worship demons) = The demonic gods of Egypt = brings curse ↔ The safety of Israel (Goshen region) - Gets Blessings

The curses of the front 9 plaques get more and more serious. Analogously, the root problem results in more and more serious problems. These start all the way from the spirit, heart, mental, lifestyle, disease, and death, till judgment. At the ninth plaque, the plaque of darkness, Egypt was in such great darkness all around that one’s hands could not even be seen. However, Israel is not affected! Let us get this promise immediately - that the worst curses are actually turn out to be the greatest blessings for us!

(3) The stronghold of Satan - The harm and disasters of religion

The reason for God to add persecutions and to perform the 9 plaques as miracles is the timetable for breaking down the Pharaoh’s (Satan’s) stronghold. God’s perfect will is not to change everything by one miracle or we would not learn anything. To experience the gospel, we have to learn the essence of the gospel. God used the harm and disaster of religion continually in all its forms to let us understand so that we would know the gospel and overcome all problems.

The disasters of religion have to happen only till the people of the covenant understand what it means to die to their hearts. This is to mean that the plaques have to go all the way to the very worst. Why is it that religion just cannot make it? This is because there is no essence of dying. Religion is all about good deeds and zealousness that come from the self. Some more religious people go to temples not to pray for money but for peace for the family. However, even this is from man, as the gospel says the peace has already come and is inside of us. If we only understand this, then we will understand why religions like Buddhism, Islam and other religions cannot save us. There is a need for the blood, that man should die to Adam, to all his past ideology, history and goodness as all of these are of no use but in fact, harmful because these are all in the fall of man. Then we will be able to understand the gospel. God used the 10 plaques to let Israel understand. Therefore for the people we have prayed for, whether it is our family or the church, who might have praised the Lord in the past but hardened their hearts again, we can be reassured that that the continual exposure of the stronghold is going to be broken down very soon if we continue our prayers for them. God has a plan for them to understand the wiles of religion and the need of the blood of the lamb in their lives.

2) Passover (Chapter 12)

(1) Unleavened Bread (Set Apart From the World), the Circumcised (Turn To God), the shedding of the blood of the Lamb (Die and resurrect)

In preparation of the Passover, Israel has to turn to God. This feast is only for those who have turned to God as only they can eat the unleavened bread wholeheartedly. Moreover, the bread they eat is different from what the world always eats for they are set apart from the world and all the ideology that is in it. This is the reason for God to command them to eat unleavened bread. If our life still holds on to some of our own motives, contents and feelings when we turn to God, then Satan still binds us through that channel. This arena cannot hear Holy Spirit. For example, if I think that using humanism, cunningness and putting up a false front towards people in my work are nothing wrong because I am like that all the time and nothing happens, then no Holy Spirit’s conviction will be received as wisdom. Some people go to the church because there are good people around, or because elder brothers and sisters go. However, when they meet with problems, they would not hear that God has a good plan to bless them. This is because there will be totally no conviction to glorify God by using the problem as a witness to all in the church by suffering loss. If we go deeper, this is the problem of the root, that there is no blood at all in their lives. Therefore, we must die to and resurrect from our numbness because our own original motives, contents and feelings for following the Lord actually belong to the world. If not, we would continue to be deceived by Satan. This would cause us to receive blessings in our life that are greatly discounted. We would also not know or be able to grasp the perfect will of God in living our lives. This is the reason why before the Passover happened through the work of angels, the shedding of blood of the Lamb must be fulfilled.

(2) Kill all the firstborn in Egypt

The timetable for all the 9 plaques is for this main plaque, and this is to exemplify the glory of the Passover. This symbolizes Christ’s death, the Firstborn of all believers to die to all of what we hold. This is repeated in greater clarity when Abraham gave his most precious son, Isaac, to the Lord.

(3) Receive the property of Egypt

Israel should plunder and receive the property of Egypt. This is because the blessed ones, who know they are of God, must immediately restore the fact that all his friends, parents, school, etc are created for him. The people of God do not only receive eternal life, but God brings abundant and wholesome blessings to them. Therefore, we should not be affected by the environment or words of people because God is behind all of these.

3) Remember (12:24-27) = Holy Communion <Lk 22:19> = blood, meat = receive salvation

God’s purpose is that we continue to do all of Ex 12:24-27 in remembrance in our hearts so that we would be “brainwashed” healthily. This is called the Holy Communion, which Jesus Christ has given us. When the day comes that we are “brainwashed”, the blood and meat of Jesus Christ becomes our blood, hands, mouth, legs, and all activities. In other words, we will be like Jesus, and our hearts will bear witness to be able to come boldly before the throne of God always by responding to God, “Lord, I know I am Your temple.” From then, the child of God can truly live as the honourable image of the child of God. The person willing to keep such a remembrance of the blood and meat of Jesus Christ means that he has received salvation.

Let us also not lose the perspective of our true image by remembering to use promise to see everything in the day and in the night. Keeping it in remembrance is totally not about thinking how Jesus Christ had died for me. If I am not able to connect this to my life and my family, having compassion and shedding tears are meaningless. The purpose for the Holy Communion is the Lord’s admonition to use the root of how we are being born again to judge all things always.

4) Sacrifice firstborn (Chapter 13) = Belong to Jehovah = All of you are mine (living sacrifice)

When one sacrifices the most precious thing that he holds on to, there will be spontaneous witness in his heart that he belongs to Jehovah, “I am created by Him, in Him, and for Him.”

Choosing between God and the world would no longer be difficult when the firstborn is sacrificed. In fact, it becomes very easy to choose God. For example, if I love to watch soccer matches on TV and there is a meeting at the same time, it would become easy to give up the soccer match if I have already confirmed that my firstborn belongs to Jehovah. This is because I just need to choose between what is eternal and what is temporary. I may like eating good food, but for the sake of blessing brothers and sisters, I would not mind if I have to eat food that is less tasty since I have already confirmed that all of ours are God’s. There is no reason to get emotionally hurt or to get tempted. The reason we get hurt and tempted is because we do not have the assurance of being called and loved by God as a blessed one. This assurance will come from knowing the need to be a living sacrifice and it would be easy to stand up quickly from being emotionally hurt or be tempted. When God says that all of ours are His, It means that God loves us. This makes it easy to submit to the Lord. Our only problem is solved if we are not shaken of our regeneration and assurance of salvation. Then we will see new things, receive the new life and enjoy an assured living.

With such a perspective, we would get the conviction that God allows problems in my life to bless me. If we think that it is only a while that we discount our lives without first seeking the counsel of the Holy Spirit, we would not be able to see God’s love and overcome problems for that place and time. If a person continues to forgo and discount the conviction of the Holy Spirit, in time, he would feel ok about touching the things of the world and the heart will have no counter-reaction. If I have at least the confirmation that I am a child of God, when trials or temptations come, I will have the counter-reaction in my heart to pull me away from the vicious cycle of dwelling in my problems. The believers of this age do not have any counter-reaction in their hearts at all. They do not know where they belong to and feel ok with one foot in the world and one foot in God! Obviously, they do not even realize that their other foot is in the world! The healing of such an old self is the most difficult to learn because all of us are born in sin. However, though we may not be perfect now, when we have an upright heart, desire to be healed and rid ourselves more and more of our old habits, there will be clearer assurance, clearer voice, and more real transformations.

=> Emphasis on the first two main points

God’s emphasis for Israel in Egypt and Israel that came out of Egypt is about “born again”. If one does not know regeneration, hearing messages to “be set apart from the world” will bring him pressure. If one does not know of “being loved by God” and is pushed to pray, he will face pressure. Exodus is the systematic theology providing the understanding of the foundation, rooting up till being born again. From here, one must turn to God to understand God’s perfect will in order to follow and receive fruits.

Paul has the correct roots in his life, “I am the sinner of all sinners”, and he fasted for 3 days and 3 nights. His change is real because it continued “systematically” from a contrite and broken spirit of his grave mistake in thinking that he has been right all along when in fact he has actually kicked against the goads about who Jesus Christ is. Therefore, he did not make the decision to fast for 3 days and 3 nights, but received the “shock” so much so that he cannot eat and drink anything for 3 days and 3 nights. The “shock” that Paul receives roots up with another shock that if Christ has called him despite his extreme wrongs of not knowing Emmanuel, there would be much more assurances he can receive on regeneration, sanctification and transformation!

However, let us be clear again on what is the correct contrite and broken spirit. In fact, this contrite heart is completely different from continually allowing our hearts to receive accusations for having done something wrong against God. Such feelings of guilt are not what God is pleased about. The accused spirit says, “I cannot face God and myself. How can I ever be delivered out of my dirt?” The correct spirit says, “I should have died. Why should I live? Lord, fill me and take over my life, even the broken spirit that may cause me to feel miserable.” This is the true essence of being born again so that we can enter the kingdom of Heaven (Jn 3). The church of this age, of which our church is included, is weak. The darkness of the age is that the sermons mentioned little of what should go “inwards” but much of them focused on going “outwards”. The message of Emmanuel is to tell believers to go “inwards” to know how God is near us, how to see what He has already done for us, how to enjoy the content that He has already loved us, and so on. But the messages that go “outwards” emphasizes on what we should do for God, how to serve Him, etc. When the Lord comes, He will ask, “Who is the faithful one? Who is the one who really follows Me?” It may be that He finds only a few. The timetable of the church will depend on how much of the beauty we can see in our born-again life so that it manifests wholly into all our lifestyle and fields.

3. The Israel that cross the Red Sea (Chapter 14-15) = Baptism

1) The Pharaoh that pursues = The struggles, temptation and trials after believing the Lord = The grumblings of Israel => sanctification

In the past, we may have gone drinking, be crazy for fun, and just study and work for a peaceful living. However, after we are born again, our studies and job are all for the kingdom and we have to be watchful already. Our disbelieving parents may ask why we are so stupid to give 10 percent of our salary to the church and there are things where we must be set apart from our close ones. The world does not understand the blessed life and thus have been sarcastic in their words and laughed at us. Jesus also said that quarrels and conflicts would happen when He comes to our hearts. What is God’s will for allowing struggles, temptations and trials to us after believing the Lord? Without the Pharaoh that pursues the Israelites, which led to the grouses/ grumblings of Israel, they could not have been sanctified. If we know, understand and confirm that these are not unlucky and conflicting events that happened to our born-again life, but see that these are great things given through God, we will have sanctification. If we continue to grumble, there would not be any sanctification. The grumbles happened because we have half-believed in the very first place. However, no blessed person will continue to suffer if he connects with the spiritual realm. For example, we may complain that our family members are not blessed, thus we cannot pray. But this is how God wants to be with us. God not only entrust us with greater things because we are more blessed, but has already given us the method to overcome this.

2) Cross the Red Sea, Bury enemies in water = Baptism = Set apart

We will surely cross the Red Sea and we will bury the enemies in water. However, if we want to experience the parting of the Red Sea in our lives to quickly be able to glorify God, bless people and build the kingdom, if we want our life turn to God naturally at every critical moment, and if we want to be able to see that our hardships can testify and build the kingdom, then the crux is not about praying for these but how we can quickly go through sanctification. In fact, the Red Sea has already parted in God’s time and we should not be anxious. We should not wait for our problems to go away, answers to come about, or pray for our loved ones to change. Let us open our very eyes that God is already at the front of the Red Sea. In our problems and process of sanctification, God is already there. We just need to get the perfect will of God and resolute not to remain in a state where our eyes are closed. The start of sanctification begins when we go through resolution. This is called baptism. Those who grumble would not see that the Red Sea has already parted. The heart that is willing to see this is called setting apart. The people who are already been set apart will not suffer because there are financial problems but will see that having no money is the way to build up their lives.

3) Be quiet, Test and see work of God, Believe and follow (perfect will) = Red Sea parted, peaceful way (anointing)

Let us consider what is the weakness that brings the most accusations in our life? Have we found the reason for it? If we continue to think about it and be discouraged, it is analogous that God has died and there is no answer at all. But our secret of restoration is that no matter what situations we are in, we do not let our hearts continue to be accused. Let us take away man’s words and environment and proclaim that we are already in victory in our quietness. In this way, we will hear the voice of God telling us to just do, say, and love what He has commanded us to do. There is no reason to be discouraged. In our hearts, let us get the perfect will of God by just saying, “I do it for God, and not for man”. With this, anointing will come to us. Our oppression is because of the surroundings. We are discouraged time and again because there is no change in our loved ones although we preach and teach. But God says, “Quiet down your hearts. You can be successful today because I have given you my promise - be quiet and listen. Confirm it in your hearts - test. Then use this perspective to see your conditions as the work of God. God’s perfect will is that we believe and follow and how to be able to get our crown and anointing from amidst. The peaceful way is the way of peace.

4) Praise, testify (15:1-21) = The grace, power and testimony after Baptism

The person who is able to receive such an anointing is a cause for praise because he has seen God. To proclaim or testify that God is with us, it is not easy but almost impossible because the eyes have not gone through quieting down to see. Some testimonies that I hear from believers of this age do not stem from God but that of their own accomplishments. For those who have gone through really difficult problems, their testimony has authority. They will not nag or be long-winded about testifying. This is the grace, power and testimony after baptism. God caused Israel to go through the Red Sea, the wilderness, and after that, the Jordan River. What is the reason that God tested Israel again and again since it is already so difficult or rather quite a big accomplishment to come out of Egypt? By letting the Canaanites see what the Israelites had gone through, their hearts already trembled and melted before Israel came on them for war. If you really want to be an evangelist, Satan must fear the perspective you have groomed up. The life that is filled by the Holy Spirit scares Satan away. Why is it that for some people who evangelize, the listeners want to hear more, but for some others who evangelize, the listeners want to avoid them? Some people sing hymns by closing their eyes because they desire to be filled with God’s promise and love by every word of the lyrics. However, why is it that some people sing with no conviction or hear the sermon not knowing where they are? This is the crux of whether they have experienced the living God and have stories between them and God. This is the reason why God must give the Red Sea after the Passover. If there are no rich experiences, how can God entrust great things to a person? Such a story is between the individual and God. He does not need to help and counsel people in front of brothers and sisters, but only in the midst of angels. If he is weak, regardless of whether brothers and sisters are weak or not, he knows he must get up on his own by God’s power. This is the process where he gets more and more of God’s trust and Satan fears him more and more. Let us be set apart to be different like this blessed person. The people who can read these must become preachers or become missionaries. This is the reason for many problems again and again. This is called true evangelism, where there is no need to say too much but the testimonies prove themselves.

4. The Israel in the wilderness (Chapter 16-18) = Christian Living Pilgrim’s Journey

1) Direction: The Land of Covenant (Land of Canaan) = Kingdom, Eternity = Glorify God, Benefit People, Build Kingdom

The direction that God has given for the Israelites in the wilderness is towards the land of covenant. This is the land of Canaan. If the direction towards the kingdom and eternity is wrong at the very first place, 100 years of quieting down to get any conviction from the Holy Spirit is of no use. This highway must be built up, or else the use of money, the emotions that is brought out, going to work and so on are all wasted. Any hard work in serving God will come to nothing in probably less than a year. But let us know that since we are so blessed, we should not waste time and resources but be sensitive not to be in a rush and be muddled or be in flesh. If the direction is in glorifying God, benefiting people and building the kingdom, the busyness is with meaning. If we only have this direction, whatever process we are in, the process becomes a successful one. So how do we set this direction up in our pilgrim’s life journey? We do not keep reminding ourselves that we are walking towards the 4 gospelizations, but we keep confirming that the background, conditions and situations that we were in, and are presently in and will face are in God’s fulfillments of the 4 gospelizations in our life.

2) Method (God driven) = Test, approve and believe to follow: Desert, extreme hotness and coldness, pathless -> Pillar of cloud, Pillar of fire, Ark of the Covenant = The Word of God, the Covenant of Christ, Holy Spirit = (Jn 14:16-26)

The method that God has shown us for living out our belief is God-driven. This is to test, approve and believe as we follow. The Israelites walked in the desert under extreme hotness and coldness, and where are no paths, but these cannot affect them. The Israelites only need to follow the pillar of cloud, pillar of fire and the Ark of the Covenant and they would be able to travel in the wilderness. In our age now, we are more blessed than Moses as we have the word of God, the covenant of Christ and the Holy Spirit to search out the perfect will of God in our living. When we just have an honest and upright heart to come before God to take His words in as what is real, we will surely hear His perfect will. John 14:16-26 says that God Himself will guide and lead us in the walk through the wilderness by remembering the word of God, the covenant of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Such a blessed one has his heart continually desiring to walk with God. He continues to test and approve God’s perfect will in the Tent of Meeting and submits. He discovers to walk with God, e.g. “Go to work now”, “It is time to eat”, “You must pray and prepare because you will be leading small group tomorrow”, etc. Then we will be happy, feel tidy and have a clean heart where no arrows from Satan can enter.

3) Provision: Waterless, Foodless, Meatless -> Sweet water, Manna, Quail = Daily Bread (5 powers) (Mt 6:11, 19-34) = The healthiness of Body, Mind and Soul (15:26)

If the flowers of the field and the birds of the air are taken care by God, how much more would God lavish His care and concern for us (Mt 6:19-34). Therefore, we do not need to pray for food to eat or clothes to wear, or the necessities that we need in everyday life. The daily bread mentioned in The Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:11) that we need to pray for is the 5 powers - spiritual, wisdom, health and strength of the body, financial power, and manpower.

Why is it that we feel a lack of resources or time? This is because all men have left God. In countries like Myanmar, the rampant poverty is not because of any other reason but the lack of the 5 powers. God will not allow the glorification of God, the benefit of men and the building of His kingdom to take place when blessed ones are supposed to eat better or when there is no money left. But God gives provision for our purpose on earth. The desert in the wilderness is waterless, foodless and meatless. However, God provides water that is sweet and tasteful, manna as food and even quail as meat for Israel. Man does not actually need to eat meat. Meat is actually a bonus given by God for man’s enjoyment. Therefore God’s wrath to Israel happened when Israel asked for physical enjoyment. So what is God’s provision like in our everyday living? When we go overseas, God will provide the money and the places to play. When we need new clothes but have the purpose of living for glorifying God, benefiting men and building the kingdom, we would not spend much time in a shop with time continually passing by. Shopping for clothes would be fast because God provides us for the correct shop, the correct salesperson, and the correct clothes to buy. If we have bought something that is more expensive, but discover later that it should not be that expensive, we do not need to continue to think about it. Once we restore the Emmanuel heart, it becomes simple because God had at that time provided such a situation for me.

Understanding this, if we just receive the spiritual power (which is only needed), we would get the healthiness of the Body, Mind and Soul (15:26) and all the other 4 powers. Let us be sensitive and receive spiritual power immediately when we feel something amiss! Therefore, we need to self-criticize the spirit in us, for the Spirit gives life, but the spirit of the flesh counts for nothing (Jn 6:63). Before doing anything, we must have spiritual power. And this is true especially for praying for our families or leading in prayers. Prayers without such power will gain strength in the end for sure, but it will be a long fought struggle with a lot of wasted resources so that we may only emerge just surviving the ordeal. Let us not pray like this, as God has already promise us that we can surely be filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit’s power so that our prayers and serving will have continual answers and fruits.

4) Victory: Amalekites, Enemies -> Prayer, Triumph (Eph 6:10-18)

Israel had victory wherever they went in the wilderness. They even had victory over Amalekites, a tall and strongly built race, and won over other enemies. The triumphs are through prayers. Moses lifted up his hands to pray for God to fight for Israel. As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning (17:11). Let us learn to pray with “hands held up” in calling to God for his power as a priest in our family or our small group. But more than this, may we all be equipped as much as possible so that we may know all the mysteries of prayer to pray in all possible ways (Eph 6:10-18). Do we know the secret of prayer so that if we just pray once in the morning like an umbrella over for our family or church, we do not need to keep thinking if they are ok and keep thinking about them? But our prayers must grow like this. When this happens, we will not be afraid of problems, but will greatly wait in expectation of them. If we have such a secret to this prayer, problems will only turn out to be the best opportunity for us to be raised up to boast for the gospel.

5) Organization: Officials over thousand, hundreds, fifties and tens = Church, Small Group, a life centered upon other parts of His Body

Walking in the wilderness should make us have a greater desire to see God and to increasingly make our meetings as central to our lives as possible. To spread the good news of the gospel, an organization needs to be set up. By the advice of Moses’ father-in-law, he set up officials over thousand, hundreds, fifties and tens. Similarly, when we have disciples raised up, God tells us not to stop meeting but to lead a life centered upon other parts of His Body, on the church, and on small group meetings. There is no one exception in church history that one would not be blessed if one has continued to place his life centered upon the church. The church will give the vision and direction upon his life. For ourselves, we may be busy in managing our family and work. However, we must know that our timetable is on restoring the 3 meetings of Sunday worship, discipleship training and prayer meeting. Since our 3 meetings are on Friday evening, Saturday late afternoon and Sunday morning, we should plan our time from Monday till Thursday so that no agenda will affect these 3 meetings as much as possible. If there is discipleship training on Friday, we should sleep early on Thursday night. If the recent projects we are handling in our company are on a very tight schedule and we need to do overtime, we should do it on Monday till Thursday when there are no meetings. If we need to study for an exam on Saturday, we need to prepare for it. It would not be helpful if we relax on Monday, and start watching drama VCDs on Tuesday to Thursday, and getting our hearts anxious on Friday. The purpose of meetings is not for the pastor, but for knowing Jesus’ altar and for the gospelization for the region. We must pray clearly on whether we have placed meetings in church as central to our lives. If we have discovered our weaknesses already, we should pray to change it for the next time. The book of Numbers explains about living in the wilderness and mentions a lot on putting the tabernacle central to our lives. By living a church-centered live, our families and children will see and remember where we place our priorities and where we find strength to overcome our weaknesses. If they submit to God, they will surely listen to all our advice, as they will have known that our advice is not biased of our selfish motives or hurts.

5. The Israel before Mount Sinai <sanctification> (Chapter 19-24) = Sanctification = Restore God’s perfect will

Our life is created with the principle to be with God. Sanctification is restoring the love from God. Sanctification is not only about not stealing, not seeing what should not be seen, etc. But sanctification and the love of God come together. If there is no freedom received in sanctification, this only causes God to be sad. Where there is freedom, man will come to have a clean and bright life with clean thoughts so that he is not afraid to come boldly towards the throne of God. What makes God most happy is that we like to come close to Him and follow Him. God planned it the same way as He made the relationship between the parent and the child so that we can understand the heart of God to His children. A parent is most glad if his child likes to come close to him and follow him. Then one by one, the weaknesses of the child will be resolved. The healing of more and more weaknesses is different from learning to give up more and more portions of our life to follow Him. Sanctification is about loving the Lord more and more to follow the example of the Father. In love, there is no such thing as following the Lord with a half-hearted spirit or even 99 percent willingness But sanctification has reached its purpose when there is love to follow the Father.

1) 10 Commandments (20:1-17) = Being loved -> Love God (1st-4th ordinances): no other gods, no idols, no misuse of God’s name, Observe the Sabbath day; Love Men (5-10 ordinances): Be filial, no murder, no adultery, no theft, no slander, no greed

The 10 commandments do not come just alone. When the people of God discover the truth that they are being loved greatly even while they were sinners, the 10 commandments become not laws to abide by, but laws that follow naturally. Loving God and loving man is the essence of the 10 commandments. The first 4 ordinances - no other god, no idols, no misuse of God’s name, observe the Sabbath day are what is meant by truly loving God. And the 5^th to the 10^th ordinances - be filial, no murder, no adultery, no theft, no slander, no greed summed up as loving men, can help us check ourselves whether we truly love the people God placed around us. The one who really loves God and love men would at the very least love the 10 commandments.

2) Decrees (21:1-23:33) = Based upon the foundation of the 10 commandments (love) = Must maintain holiness, Must rid of contagion, spiritual content is more important

The decrees written in (21:1-23:33) are expanded from the foundation of the 10 commandments of love. These decrees can be summed up to emphasize the need to maintain holiness and rid ourselves of contagion. God also re-emphasized the fact that Israel is the people of the covenant so that Israel can know that the spiritual content is more important. Why is it that God emphasized the need to maintain holiness by decrees? From a little dirt, it will enlarge so that it manifests into adultery, stealing and killing. The government isolated infectious diseases such as SARS to protect the citizens. We must get the essence and mind of God in Him listing down each and every decree. Without continually seeing that God is the God who fights for us, we would not be able to stand up against the evil one.

3) Establish Covenant (24:1-11) = Set up Altar, Burnt Offering, Peace Offering, Sprinkle Blood

To complete the work of sanctification, the covenant has to be re-established. It is not important what is to be sacrificed here, but the important thing to note is that all these sacrifices have blood. This means that the covenant is made through our whole life and all our times on earth. This is definite because God has done the same with all His life. What is the method to make this covenant? It is that we must see God’s glorious image every day. The most important area of sanctification work on the child of God is to restore Jesus’ image, thinking, judgment and all likeness into his very image.

6. Build the Tabernacle, restore worship (24:12-40:33) = The things that happen each time during worship and prayer

1) Tabernacle, Great Priest, the method of offering sacrifice, the necessities for offering sacrifice, workers = the model of Kingdom, prefigured Messiah, the meetings of the church

The description in 24:12-40:33 on the tabernacle is the model of the kingdom of heaven, the image of the church, and even the world inside us. The tabernacle has 3 divisions: the outside court, the Holy Place, and the most holy place. Similarly, once we go into our most holy place with God in our prayer, we immediately get the clear conviction of God.

2) Offering Sacrifice (29:1-46) = Sin offering, Guilt offering, Peace offering, everyday = lay hands, shedding of blood, sprinkling of blood, remember Exodus = there I will meet you and talk to you

If there is no blood, the Holy Spirit will not work for us. Jesus Christ said that only after dying on the cross, He would come in the form of the Holy Spirit and meet with the disciples. In (29:42), God says He will meet and speak with the Israelites at the place where there is the offering of sacrifices or blood. The most important thing about sacrifices is to do it every day. For our scheduled prayers, the method to pray is by first filing yourself with the Holy Spirit for a time like 5 minutes. Our failures in prayers come about because there is no blood and therefore no assurance. But the blessed person wakes up in the morning, sets his priority and is thus not rushed in his heart, knows he belongs to God and continue to want to be led by the voice of the Holy Spirit. The blessed one changes totally by having joy, expectation and hope after worship or prayers where they have none or little of it before that. This is the difference between the worship of Abel and the worship of Cain. Therefore for such a person, when he lays hands to pray for people, he prays knowing that what people really need is the blood of Christ. Then he can drive demons away from the people he prays for.

3) Israel cast idols (32:1 - 34:35) = The weakness that comes when do not conduct offering sacrifice

If we continue to do scheduled prayers to keep ourselves continually Holy Spirit filled, we will not cast idols like Israel. Idols are cast when we fail in our offering of sacrifices. By keeping this desire of the Holy Spirit, our focus would not fall into the love of money or for the praise of men. When the Israelites do not conduct offering of sacrifices, the golden calf was made and more may even be made if God had not stopped them. If we continue to pray or serve without being Holy Spirit filled, we would definitely meet with depression. Moreover, serving itself can become an idol to us. In such a state, we will immediately go into being flesh and make frustrated and wrong decisions when the sheep we shepherd “give nonsense”. The truth is that because man must see God before having any wisdom. Knowing Jehovah is the beginning of all wisdom. This is the problem with Roman Catholics. As such, they carved images of Jesus, Mary and the apostles to help them to worship. If the visible images can really help them, it would be worse because God is unlimited and should be invisible. God hid the body of Moses, the original scriptures, and all important things because man will tend to fall down before such images.

4) Bear Fruits: Emmanuel (Glory), Guidance, Land of Canaan (40:34-38)

Our belief starts with promises and end with promises. If we are in God’s promises, as we go towards the land of Canaan, there will be more confirmation of His fulfillment to us. If our worship is successful, our worship will make us see the Lord guiding us and leading us towards heaven.

Conclusion

The system of (1) being born again (assurance), (2) crossing the Red Sea, (3) building the tent of meeting, (4) walking with God in the wilderness and (5) conquering Canaan must be set up in our lives. If we grasp 99% of the systematic theology in Exodus today, we are on the road to success. The other 1% is what we must experience. If a person’s system of living belief is very good, once he quiets down in prayer, he will see that all things are good. Such a blessed one will often see God loving him, and can easily see His perfect will. So how do we link the systematic teaching so that we can experience the living God?

1) Living Belief

First, we must know that our belief in living has a framework, which we must keep reminding ourselves of:

Born again -> Baptism -> Converse with God -> Walk with God -> Bear fruits

Framework + Promise => become a Living Person

A Living Person means someone who can, at anytime and anywhere, discover the Lord’s perfect will. Such a person knows how to execute things, arrange his time, the things and the tone to talk to his colleagues, etc. Those who are with him easily see the works of God following him, and that he easily bears fruits. If we have the skeleton of the living belief and add it with promise, we can take heart, be rest assured and have the greatest expectations that we are on the timetable to becoming the source of all blessings! As an analogy, a plant at young age is small at first, but there is space for its roots. We know that one month later, it is going to grow big and strong. But we know that if there is no space for its roots, it will not come to a good ending.

2) Holy Spirit’s Work (joy, peace, thanksgiving, gospel, expectations)

If one does not go by the Holy Spirit to work everything out, it is definite that the zealousness will very soon be gone. However, if a person relies on the solid foundation of framework and promise mentioned earlier, his joy, revival, etc are genuine and hence will not fall. He is like a tree rooted up by the wisdom of God. Everything to be blown away will be gone, but he will be strengthened and standing with the test of time.

Some people can discuss about a lot of spiritual topics, but the shepherd who has experienced the work of the Holy Spirit can discern whether they have peace. If the framework is not firm, some unexpected encounters in his life will make him lose the peace. Prayers are done, but he may not know how to explain fulfillments. If we are clear on the framework, we will enjoy God’s love every day, be joyful in walking with God, and have assurance always. For example, if I am with a depressed sister, I just need to change her eyes to let her confirm how God is working and loving her. People will be joyful when their life is connected with God. Some people evangelize to the lost sheep to tell them to throw off their old ways, take their focus away from the need of money, etc, but these lost ones may not even know about their state of bondage. However, if we let them see how God is working in them in that very channel that they cannot let go, they will be willing to listen. Zacchaeus is one such person. When Jesus Christ set him free from his very inferiority and guilt, he must have thought, “How can I not praise God for this freedom?” and exclaimed, “I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (Lk 19:8) But we preach with wisdom and love, giving the lost sheep of God the chance to be resolute and decide to walk with God. Therefore it is very important that we know what to explain to the lost sheep so that they can know God.

Let us remember and do not forget the framework along with the promises (Jos 1:8). This is why Jesus gave the Holy Communion for remembrance. If we know the framework well, the moment we pray, we will receive clear convictions from the Holy Spirit.

3) Need Time (3 years)

However, building up this framework does not happen by trying out once or twice. When Andrew found Jesus who knew the things of the kingdom, he brought his brother Peter along to Jesus to hear him for a night. But Jesus knew that this was not enough. Therefore, Jesus strengthened all the 12 disciples for 3 years. In these 3 years, there may be struggles, conflicts, toleration, anger, frustrations towards one another, but these are all needed to build up this framework. In the 3 years of training, our life must be totally destroyed and rebuilt again by Jesus’ words. The ones who believe will hear and follow despite any of such struggles, no matter how serious they may be.

The modern sciences such as sociology and philosophy may be sophisticated and desirable for the elites, but when one has become blessed, all these will be considered as rubbish. These sciences do not teach where he comes from and where he is heading. He will not know that he himself will fail together with the culture of the Tower of Babel. If there is no framework of truth, one would help wrongly in shepherding. If there is a system for the living belief, we would be able to judge all things.

The Exodus systematic theology is thus very important. Let us build this up as a cornerstone of our lives, above ourselves, our spouse and our interpersonal relationships so that no wind or storm can blow away. Let us repeat this process and confirm for the time period of 3 years.

Taken from Discipleship Training on 16^th and 23^rd June 2006, Exodus Overview 1 and 2