1 Chronicles Overview Part 1 - My "Hot Blood": No Matter How Satan Laughs, There Are Truths That Never Ever Change
Important covenant, so we must really be equipped
-> Absolute perspective on who I am
-> Are your life details worthy to be recorded?
-> Picture: Man's 3 stages of life
-> How do I enhance my lifetime resume now?
-> Relying on insurance at old age is a life of failure as a youth
-> The standard of equipping now
* 1 Chronicles background: reason of Ezra's writing: No matter how an era changes with broken arms and legs (Satan's laughter), there are truths that never change -> "God is still with you"
1. David's bloodline -> genealogy with promise
1) I am in the midst (seed of promise)
- Jesus Christ's genealogy
2) Eternal promise
Root/core: belonging to God? assurance of already having eternal covenant (already belief)
-> Read/interpret/explain bible/your life is not by choice, but by the promise (Is 42:3)
3) Remnant (Stump)
Discouragement, smallest -> Knowledge of "Only Christ"
4) Continue
Do not be proud/compromise
2. David took up the position as king
- king = main character
- Jesus Christ: is King from birth.
- God chose, therefore men cannot oppose (Ro 8:28)
1) Covenant (hot blood like David)
2) Problems (lessons) -> wisdom -> of Solomon
3) Testimonies that solved problems -> warriors surround, favour of Arameans as channels of roads
4) 30+ warriors -> better experts raised up to help/complement/reach perfection
3. David placed the Ark of the Covenant well at Jerusalem - centre
-> Place the promise in the centre of your heart/life -> failure does not deter, but the joy is full when the promise has really been safe-kept in the centre of my heart
-> Test/approve perfect will -> submit <-> live as one wishes (vegetable)
- Jesus Christ: lived by promise on earth.
4. Conquer region / enemies
-> God conquered for David - all tribes disappeared
-> Conquer everything (not only when in problems or in prosperity) -> By "Bible interpreting Bible"
- Jesus Christ: Mt 28:16-20
5. David made preparations to build the temple
- Life, fellowship, expansion (life, power, teaching)
- Jesus Christ: destroyed the temple and raised up the church.
When our discipleship training continues, we must know that God's continual work is always with us, and our lives are continually built up. There is only one condition, that we do not be deaf to any of His words. This is a discipleship-training meeting, where all the forces of darkness may be broken away from our lives. Therefore, we must hear sharply.
Absolute perspective on who I am
Do we have an absolute perspective on your lives? The Lord wants to use a person who knows his life, knows what his life is going to be, and lives to acquire more and more wisdom to glorify God, benefit men and build the kingdom.
Are your life details worthy to be recorded?
Do you read Chronicles like this? I discover that some people's life just live and disappear so quickly. However, there are some people whose lives are recorded, and such recordings blessed many people. Some kings have their history recorded, but it is in a flash, and that it comes to nothing. Have you questioned yourself this way, "Is every step of my life worthy to be recorded?" For David, even when he was a shepherd to the sheep, it was recorded. God recorded how he attained to be a king, all his weaknesses and strengths, and how he slowly grew in the Lord. The bible even recorded David's old age.
Picture: ManÕs 3 stages of life
This week, I prayed for you, and I came up with man's 3 stages of life. The first stage is where we study, and learn about everything in the world. The second is that we go into the society to work, and some of us have families. This is about 30-40 years spanning. This is similar to what David experienced. And when we go into the society, we practically experience the need of money, the real faces of men, and management of the family. There are all sorts of problems that come into this life. During our 50-60 years old, we must have acquired all the wisdom that we need to live so that we write the books of wisdom – Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. I believe that some of us here will become this region's famous speakers. Therefore, I tell you, this is your golden age now. This is the time that we go into the actual practical experiences, where we have all sorts of temptations, and go through lots of problems that cut through our inner hearts and results in external sufferings us here and there.
How do I add into my resume now?
Have you, Shiya thought that you have become an adult by going to work already? The average age you have now is 30 years old. If you are to become an expert in speaking the word of God, it you must definitely work hard now. How can it be that things just fell from heaven one day and you become one that conquers this era of churches? If you want to bless the kingdom with your specialization, you must work hard in your career now, to learn interpersonal relationships and to learn skills. If you are to become a family counselor expert, is this now not the time to work hard to be clear how to take care of children? If you are to become a pastor's wife, is it not one that is so wise that you have prudence when you speak to people who slander, patience when dealing with situations and people in tight situation, etc. If God must use you in future, God must have prepared for you the time now to attend the meetings now, to take care of people, and participate in ministries. I see that some of the people in the church always tell me, "Pastor, I am really busy with my children and family. Do not pressurize me...Ó Look at me. I have a family of 3 kids and I have to manage the pastoral job. How then, can I do it? God surely gives a way from above, the way of wisdom to do all these.
As a youthful man relying on insurance at old age is a life of failure
Which of you heard our Prime Minister's speech last Sunday? It was my prayer that I heard all of it. The hottest topic is the aging population. In the future, we all have to buy insurance for our old age. However, you must know that those who really follow the Lord do not rely on this. If you rely on that, it means that you have failed in your youth. If you earnestly get equipped now, I bless you that you do not rely on such insurance: when you retire from work God will want to use you greatly so you will have so much money to use. For some of you, many must hear the words you speak, and you will live on the gospel. I am not against the government policy, but are we saints relying, having no direction like the Gentiles? Do we want to live our old age thinking what food to eat for the best use of money? If the Lord cannot use our lives, may the Lord take us away! It is better that we do not drag our lives along, and have a long life that is so weak in conclusion. I see that there are a lot of people in the church who are rich, and they continually seek to give money away to ministries. What is the use of this? What the Lord wants to use is the people who know how to manage their monies.
The standard of equipping now
What must we equip until? A spiritual person knows how much to give to each and every person. You must pray. Be a good student. God will surely reward you when you study well. You will surely learn a lot of lessons when you earnestly pray for the people in the church in the prayer meeting, in addition to your own lives, and which complements, too.
1 Chronicles Overview
If you sit here and do not have vision, what you receive here in 1Chronicles is only knowledge. Do you think, "David is David, I am I myself"? David made covenant with God, and you think it is his story alone?
In one sentence, 1Chronicles says, "No matter how an era changes, there are truths that never change." God established kings after kings, He made us go through all sorts of situations and conditions, but there is a truth that never changes. What is that which does not change? Why are you sorrowful? But God never gives sorrows. Why am I poor? God never gives poverty. Perhaps there are some things you need to learn and renew, and work hard on. God is never busy. If you are busy, it is due to your perspectives that are so wrong. There are many things that obstruct you - is it greed or love of the world? It is our own problems that we become so inefficient by being busy here and there. The only way is to put us upon God.
Passage Reading: 1Ch 11:1-3
1Ch. 11:1 All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, ÒWe are your own flesh and blood.
Have we received the conviction that if we are blessed, many will want to come to us to become our flesh and blood. Why was Hebron so important? It was not because of anything else, but because blessed David was there. Why is Singapore important? This is because there are a group of workers here in Singapore.
1Ch. 11:2 In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD your God said to you, `You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.ÕÒ
1Ch. 11:3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel.
How much we hear the word of the Lord today, God will use you so much.
The main character in 1Chronicles is David.
The period of 1Chronicles is the same as 1,2Samuel. The period of 2Chronicles is the same as 1,2Kings. However, though they are of the same period of time, God has different emphasis and narration. When you read 1,2Samuel, it narrates about the good and evil things from an objective point of view. However, there is a special emphasis in 1Chronicles. We must know that it is said that Ezra wrote Ezra and Nehemiah. He was a scribe. He also wrote 1Chronicles and 2Chronicles. During that time, Israelites returned after 70 years old being in a very sorrowful state. The city walls were torn down. The gold in the temple were all taken away. They came back like beggars. They were in pain! Therefore, their hearts dwell in a state of "Does the Lord still love us? Are we still people of the covenant?" There were no army, and they had no financial strength. Do we go to work continually being scolded by colleagues and our boss, and our families persecute us so much? The situation then is just like the situation in our hearts now. Therefore, Ezra wrote, "Do not be dismayed. The God of Abraham and David is still with you! The plan of God has never left you!"
Therefore, 1Chronicles started with Adam. What does it mean to start with Adam? This means "from the creation of the world", God is with you! The promise is eternal. Then I realized that the promise of the Lord is an eternal covenant. The promise and plan that God had given never changed. It is we that changed. We do not want to hear, and we do not submit. Only that we restore God's perspective and plans when you go to work and when you leave your office that the covenant becomes your own. Did you read that the Persian king returned the gold to Israel? The Persian king looked so much with favour on Nehemiah. He let Israelites build the temple by supplying them with timber. God never leaves us! Do we have sorrows? Do we think that we are of no use, with a lot of guilt and accusations? We do nothing correctly, and do everything in failure? "Lord, have You not forgotten? Is it that our prayers never counted before?" God said, "No, they all count!" Chronicles depicts the situation as if our arms and legs are broken.
Sometimes, I serve the Lord and it seems that it does not go right. I see my wife so tired sometimes. My parents and parents-in-law take care of my children until they fell sick. I shepherd the church, but the brothers and sisters seem to continue to be lukewarm. Therefore, very strangely, I also asked the Lord in weakness, "Lord, have you forgotten?" Sometimes, I hear Satan seemingly laughing at me spiritually, "Hahahaa.. Look at your state!" Have we felt like this before?
Chronicles seemed to be repeating Samuel and Kings, but it is actually written for the remnants! God knows that we will be weak. Therefore, He specially prepared this bible for you. God made with us an eternal covenant! I received so much conviction this week regarding this, so that I must earnestly pray. Therefore, I know that you are so important here. I will not speak with so much conviction in other places, but to you, I speak thus, to the people who have made an eternal covenant with God, "Consider earnestly to take equipping and prayers seriously!"
Where was David from? He was from Judah. This is the emphasis of Chronicles. The more a book emphasizes, the higher the promise. Therefore, we must wake up to the word.
1. David's bloodline (1-9) -> the genealogy with promise: Adam ~ David
The bible continually tells that, "I am in the midst". When we read the bible, if we never read the beginning well, we will only read the rest as knowledge.
2. David took up the position as a king (10-12) -> blessed King David
3. David placed the Ark of the Covenant well at Jerusalem (13-17) = centre
The ark represents the promise. He placed it in Jerusalem, which was at the centre of Israel. David was different because he placed the promise in the centre of his heart. Do not be like the Buddhist, "I thank Buddha because I drive a Mercedes." But few Christians will say, "Thank the Lord for my broken family!" If you have no promise, you will only worship the Lord with your feelings. When David safe-kept the ark, he prayed and it seemed that it failed so many times. When David was able to put the ark into Jerusalem, he was wearing the ephod and the king robes. He was so happy then that his pants dropped. David was just different.
4. Conquer region / enemies (18-20)
5. David made preparations to build the temple (21-29)
1. David's bloodline (1-9) -> the genealogy with promise: Adam ~ David
This is most important. We must go to the root. This is the belonging. If you do not belong to God, if you do everything, it is a waste. If you do not know where you belong and you serve so earnestly, there is no crown. The bible "nags" about the genealogy for this very purpose. You have your roots in Adam and David. This is what Ezra wanted to prove. He brought out the truth first.
Assurance
Do you have assurance? Do you have the eternal covenant? If so, you can then see by the promise that you go through difficulties with a purpose. Do you know that you are the people belonging to the kingdom? It seems that religions and Christianity speak the same thing, about good works and about philosophy. Some people say that the father of philosophy is from Buddhist and that many concepts are from the bible. The only difference is that the bible says, "You are already one belonging to God." However, Buddhism says, "You must walk here", and you wait eternally for good things to happen. Buddhism says, "I will bless you, but you must become Nirvana." Buddhists work very hard, but it is all emptiness. However, to the prostitute, Jesus said, "You are not what you are, but I have come to you."
2. David took up the position as a king (10-12) -> blessed King David
What is the meaning of the King? This means being the main character of the era. The whole era (reason why America and China become the super powers) is centered on the gospel.
3. David placed the Ark of the Covenant well at Jerusalem (13-17) = centre
Those who have the promise centering their lives -> test and approve GodÕs perfect will -> submit to His perfect will.
A lot of saints do not know the promise and therefore are ignorant of the perfect will. How can they submit? They live as they wish. However, if one has the promise, it is clear, "How shall I wake up, go to work? How shall I work in the office, and speak to my colleagues?" I discover that in the past, I was really a ÒvegetableÓ, like many saints in this era. They do not even know what the Lord is doing.
4. Conquer region / enemies (18-20)
Look at David. He was so "handsome"! He conquered all of the enemies. Actually God won all the battles for David. For Saul, it was actually God who killed him. Ammonites, Moabites and Philistines all disappeared because of David. If you look properly, even when David did not fight wars, the enemies came to him and he conquered all of them.
Do we only pray when we have no money and sorrows? If so, problems will continually come to you and you cannot handle them. If you are upright, you will know what I am saying.
This format of 1Chronicles is not absolute. If you have extra insight, please inform. However, from the whole bible, this format is what naturally came out. My theology is simple. I use the bible to interpret the bible. The bible is for giving life, sanctifying lives to give power and for serving (fruits). Use this perspective to read the bible. I see that the churches of era have so much knowledge, but it is so empty. They say we must give thanks, give praises. But it is all emptiness. I have ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) done so many times but there is nothing. Life, sanctification, serving is the promise.
Whenever I go Penang, I speak about the 36 lessons. Ronnie knows and prepares them. But when the messages are preached, they cannot find them. Ronnie told them that I was speaking just one chapter, in the context of the whole 36 lessons. We must come out with our messages this very way.
5. David made preparations to build the temple (21-29)
God told David not to build the temple. David knew that he had shed too much blood. Solomon built the temple, but all the preparation work was done by David. He placed the Ark of the Covenant inside the temple.
The temple is to build
1) Life
2) Fellowship
3) Expansion
What is inside the ark?
Life - manna
Power - the budded staff of Aaron
Teaching - the Ten Commandments
How do we read the bible most powerfully? It is by this very perspective.
And how do we read the bible also? It is by Jesus Christ. This is because the bible is written for Jesus Christ, to glorify Him and by Him.
Therefore, in Jesus Christ's perspective,
1. David's bloodline (1-9) -> the genealogy with promise: Adam ~ David
Ab - Seth - Noah (all others died) - Abraham (father of faith is called) - David - Jesus Christ genealogy - me.
This is Jesus Christ's genealogy.
2. David took up the position as a king (10-12) -> blessed King David
Jesus Christ is the eternal King. I am the same as He is as He was born a king.
3. David placed the Ark of the Covenant well at Jerusalem (13-17) = centre
The promise of Christ is my promise. With this promise, He tested and approved everything on earth in His days of life on earth.
4. Conquer region / enemies (18-20)
Therefore, the main characters are asked to go and make disciples in all nations (Mt 28:16-20).
5. David made preparations to build the temple (21-29)
If you are in Christ, you have already overcome. Do not think or study. Do not think, "What happens if?" That is with no promise.
Jesus Christ said, "Destroy the temple and I will raise it up again", and the church is built from right here.
1. David's bloodline (1-9) -> the genealogy with promise: Adam ~ David
1) I am in the midst (Seed of promise)
Ab - Seth - Noah (all others died) - Abraham (father of faith is called) - David - Jesus Christ genealogy - me. Why is it written this way? This is because I am in the midst. What bloodline is Jesus Christ in? This is the bloodline of promise. Why was Isaac the son of promise? This was because he inherited the same promise as Abraham. "The fear of Isaac and the God of Jacob" is quoted by the bible.
2) Eternal Promise <Gen 1:27,28> -> <Gen 3:15> -> David -> Judah exiled
The bible says, "Image of God, conquer all", and men fell. Therefore, to restore this and to be better than the first, the bible says the Seed of the woman Who stepped on Satan.
<3:15>
The bible is not explained by choice. This kills the saints, "because you or I made the wrong choice". We must read the bible and read our lives by the promise.
<Judah exile>
Though Judah was exiled, they received hope and expectation. Therefore, when I read the bible, I can stand up and have power because I can have promise to look ahead and anticipate. If you only stand on choice, you will have no choice and you become always deceived.
You must become experts in this area interpreting like this. Become an expert in this area to those who are so weak and meet with so many problems. Point them towards the always faithfully fulfilling truths - like a bruised reed that will not be broken, and a smoldering wick that will not be snuffed out (Is 42:3).
3) Remnant (Stump)
Recently, I thought of Brian. I emailed him twice and the emails never bounced back. In our roads of serving, we will meet with things that continually tell us to become discouraged. The bible says, "Do not worry. From your life, you will bear fruits."
Who will think that the Lord would anoint the youngest among the 7 sons of Jesse? Sometimes, I preached and wanted to give up when I said so much but there was no response from brothers and sisters, thinking that this is their timetable. But when someone responded, I know that it is not my strength, and not his, too. This is because he is blessed by the Lord in the very first place already.
<3:15> Knowledge. If you have every kind of knowledge in the world, you will find that you cannot solve any problem. Only the knowledge of Jesus Christ can solve all problems.
4) Continue
Some people like the Joash were so good. He had a good teacher, Jehoiada. But when his teacher left, he could not stand on his own independently.
Christians are not proud like this, "I am successful now, I am proud now." However, their pride is like this, "Hallelujah, God gave this to me!" but compromised with the world. Jehoshaphat was so blessed in being a good warring king, but why did he compromised by making an alliance by marriage to Ahab, and married off his son to Ahab's daughter?
2. David took up the position as a king (10-12) -> blessed King David
God chose, therefore men cannot oppose
No matter how Saul tried to kill David, David escaped. When the chance actually came, the Philistines came and attack Israel and Saul had to turn back.
We are studying Joseph recently for our Sunday school. No matter how the brothers wanted to kill Joseph, he escaped. Judah wanted to kill Joseph the first time. He actually went through death and resurrection in the instance of Tamar, and received the highest blessings from Jacob. When Joseph was in the cell of politicians, the character that should go away was killed. The other one was saved but yet forgot about Joseph. But all this worked for the good of Joseph.
1) Covenant
Who is the one who is chosen by God? He is one chosen just like David. David was one who made a covenant with God. Through the covenant, he had the life, perspective, and "hot blood" inherited. Therefore, he could not die. Some people just face the problems. Some others are like Jacob, "Lord, I cannot let You off. You must bless me." These are those who took hold of God's promise and asked for an answer till the end. I seek disciples like this. Some, when their problem went away, do not attend meetings anymore.
2) Problems (Lessons)
Who of you have problems like David? He met Goliath in his youth. He thought it was over after he killed Goliath. But people said, "Saul killed thousands, David killed tens of thousands." Therefore, the general of Israel, Saul, wanted to kill David then.
David's wisdom never lost out to that of Solomon. The Wisdom of Solomon had roots from David.
Warriors surrounded him.
Arameans took favour of him and helped surround him as channels of roads.
Testimonies came.
If you are not able to read theology, it is ok. If you receive the wisdom, you do not fear the wisdom of the world. When I meet pastors or preachers, I openly and directly say the word of the Lord. When people look down on you, how do you solve the things of the heart, etc? When problems come, treat it as lessons. If your backside is already thick, such that you welcome the rod of God, then you will not learn any grace of God. When children become a problem, do not be discouraged. Take it up as a chance to learn to be the same children's teacher, and teach them lessons in such a wise way that they will never forget. If mothers only scold because of discouragement, problems will only eat them up and they will not learn any wisdom.
That day, when we attended a wedding banquet together (LiwenÕs second brother), Song Yang sat beside me and said to Patrick, "those who attended university may not learn much because the experiences of the society are the actual useful experience." Therefore, I replied accordingly to the flow, but not out of pride, "Therefore, to shepherd a church well, it is not theological studies that will necessarily help." I am not against the theological studies. If you have the chance, go read it. However, I discover that some people who read "Masters of Theology" are not able to refer to the bible passage I quoted. This is because some of them read everything, but have returned everything to the professor upon graduation.
3) Testimonies that solved problems
Do you have this? Israelites saw all the differences that David made out of the problems he overcame. Only if there are problems can people judge how good you are by the answer you give then, and therefore they will gather around you. When problems come, few people will proclaim naturally, "What the Lord wants to take from me, let Him do so, for I come from Him. I am actually nothing."
For those who attend the discipleship training now (Shiya, John, Zhihao, Meier, Daowan, David), if you continue for 3 years, you will see this difference. For the others, have you seen that in this church, problems come one after another but there is also the guidance from God?
4) 30+ warriors
Some warriors can kill thousands. Some can sling stones with their left and right arm. David can only do so by 1 hand. Some are experts in handling shield in one hand and spear in the other. I really admire David when I read the bible.
When fighting the spiritual battle now, how should we fight? When I lead the church, I discover that there are some areas that I cannot lead, and God never gives. I discover that God wanted you all to complement the spiritual battle. Huijun's small groups are the best, and her groups continually share till even midnight, each person becoming like a small group leader. When I lead, I cannot get my group members to share. But I know that when I am not around and Patrick leads my small group, people will share. This may probably be because people find it more awkward to share in front of a pastor. When Wengang leads the singspiration, I know I have to pray for him to build up the spiritual atmosphere, so that I will be built up and can lead the congregation easier when I take over. I know it is for myself. Many times, David was supposed to be killed, but warriors defended and killed for him. David was also human, and I am, too.
I know some of you have not read the Chronicles. Read it fast for the 2 books.
Taken from Discipleship Training on 24th August 2007, 1 Chronicles Overview Part 1.