1 Kings Overview Part 5 - The Importance of the Role of Kings, Leaders, Parents To Their Followers

What kind of heart shall we bring to this meeting? We shall bring the greatest heart, that we are different from all those in the world. We are heirs of Abraham. But is this so? Gal 3:29 If anyone is in Christ, he is the heir of Abraham! All the misunderstanding of Christians is because of this very reason, and they think that they have to be mature enough to be like Abraham, an ancient of faith. Do not depend on feelings. If you do not receive the promise of Christ until this very level, you are discounting the effect of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross. We are to transform this age and to transform our family. I see a little bit when my auntie and my sister-in-law came last Sunday. My auntie asked me how I was able to know the bible so well. Of course, I became humble and told her that I have a senior pastor.

We must prepare well for this meeting. The preparation should start on Thursday evening. To ensure that we have enough sleep, we should sleep earlier on Thursday. We must be blessed by our lives during the meeting. If we do not become blessed during meetings, we will surely not be able to have peace and joy after that. Transfer the covenant that you made between God and yourself during the meeting to your spouse and family immediately after the meeting! Even for me, I may show a little bit of temper to my wife even after meetings. But I immediately remember the Name of Jesus Christ so that I improve the situation and try my very best to keep the message after Discipleship Training. During Saturdays, we should recap the Discipleship Training message. In the church, this meeting is the most important meeting. This meeting is going to change the state of our family. The church revival comes when the coworkers come together and pray earnestly. This is Discipleship Training. There is a reason why miracles do not happen in our family. The timetable comes in my family recently, where my auntie felt a little afraid when she saw that our family of believers was faced with serious problems. This is because God wants to cleanse the believers in this household. God does this for the sake of this age, or this age will not be able to change.

I tell sister Huijun that when she becomes the overseer, I will encourage her to read theology. However, as her senior pastor, I will not read theology. Why is this so? I deliberately do not want to read theology and I know the purpose why I shall not. God’s purpose is to shame the ministers of this age. Huijun went to a church in Australia on Sundays but the worship service is an interview with a motivational speaker, and after that, Holy Communion was held, and the worship service ended.

This is the level of commitment I ask from you for Discipleship Training. If we pray that we become pastors 10 years later, God’s concern is “What shall we do now?” Augustine said his boss just told him that his job may require him to work on Sundays. I say now, “Do not go into such a job where we have to work late on Fridays, and to work on Saturdays and Sundays.”

The content of 1Kings:

1. Success

2. Failure

3. Division

4. Prophet Elijah

1. Success

1) Absolute foundation

The absolute foundation is Jesus Christ! Who is our Creator? Who are you? What is my past, present, future? What is the fruit that I will plant? Who is Jesus Christ? What is the Holy Spirit?

->

Converse, Walk with God (Ark)

->

Confirm

The above is the 36 lessons!

Spouse: What is the foundation between my wife and me? Is it on feelings of love? That is not the foundation because it will waiver.

Church: The greatest sin is that you just want to be a Sunday Christian. This sin is even greater than adulteries and murders. It shall be that your expectation for the church shall go on to be a light to shine in this age and in this world. Will the church be discounted if there are weaknesses among the members? No. The church continues to grow despite of everything. How do we view every happening in the church?

Career: If you just need to go to work, that is the most pitiful. Abraham had 318 soldiers whom he raised himself. He used his property and power to bless this whole age. Therefore, Abimelech, Melchizedek came and found him out, and all his possessions were used for the glory of God. How very blessed is this!

Last week, I told you all that Wengang and Zhiming must be experts in shepherding. Patrick shall be a children ministry expert. Guorong and Jianwei will be experts connecting to their pockets. And Wilson, if you can see yourself as our next deacon, you will rise up to be that.

The faith that has foundation comes from

Abraham <Gal 3:29>

David, Jesus Christ => Judah (Northern Israel)

What is the difference between Judah and Northern Israel? Northern Israel is from the earthly realms, but Judah, no matter how weak they are, are from heaven above. We must be rooted in Christ, expanded out from there, and be firm in faith. God used 40 kings to continually prove this. Why? This is because God does not want people to think that there is a coincidence. There is no exception, even if you have the worst conditions. God wants to prove that His word is definite and not a coincidence. Do not ever be discouraged and stay in weaknesses. The blessings that you have never thought before and the blessed person that brings you blessings will come to you.

2) Format -> Transfer to Field

You are roughly there by inheriting the absolute foundation through formatting all these years with me. However, why is it that you will still remain in your worries and discouragements? This is because the absolute truth has not been transferred into your field. You are not able to preserve your hearts and minds. If you have formatted, then slow down for a second to think and speak. Feelings are not wrong because they are a part of us. We cannot depend on feelings because through feelings, emotions will come to take charge of your life. However, when we have the right foundation through formatting, the correct feelings will come and it will be more abundant than you have thought. For those who have not formatted, they have not even started because they have nothing to start thinking about at all in whatever circumstances they are in.

2. Failure

Jeroboam: no root and no foundation. 19 kings

When I was in Officer Cadet School, the instructor told us that the brightest and the best should go into the battle and fight. Many pastors of this age should not be called pastors but they shall be called administrators or program makers. But they should in fact stand at the front line and battle against Satan. Do you abide by your own convenience to do your ministry? That is the very gist of Jeroboam.

For Judah, the kings were all inherited through the line of David. However, Northern Israel was not like this.

No matter what problems we have (family, career, small group, church), our heart shall not go into trying to research on the method to solve the problems. If so, you are like Jeroboam. But what we shall do is to grab hold of the foundation and pray. Today, if your boss scolds you, do not abide by that and be affected. This is not having foundation. This coming Monday, Rouqian is going for an operation. Shall the parents’ heart flow along with what the doctor will say? No! With this foundation, the parents shall know that whatever that is going to happen serves to bless this age. Therefore, “Lord, I know that everything is in Your hands.” If man has such a mind, no problems can shake him. Therefore the bible tells us that we shall not be on sand, so that we do not shake when the wind blows. Do we just go by feelings to decide whether to attend meetings? Of course, we are improving in this area. But no, we shall use our might to abide by the foundation to decide all things, especially meetings.

My auntie tells me that my church is so small and young, and there is no one thinking for my family. I do not know how to tell my auntie of the darkness that lies stubbornly within her due to all the years she has been staying in her own ideology. “Yes, we must have faith, but we must live in reality.” No, but reality is just a small dot in the realms of faith. If the church buys insurance for the pastor, it is okay, but what is the reason and what message will the pastor speak out from such an ideology? Why shall we add to the faith of Jesus Christ? Why shall we add reality to faith? Even if I become poor, will not God have a reason for such poverty to glorify Him? However, I have no lack until now because God provides. But what happens if there is strife between the members and the pastor one day? This is politics. If there is authority in the word, in this church altar, there will be no such things. My auntie is really clear and loves me a lot. However, I want to direct her to love the Lord.

Israel

Judah

Model They also say that Jehovah shall reign in supremacy. However, their faith is only a model. Have you seen “Artificial Intelligence”? Even if the couple cannot give birth, they created one that looks like a child, but it is still a robot. If the altar in church does not talk about God but only on motivational talk, this is the greatest curse. This will attract a lot of people, but will cause a lot of people to stumble. A lot of churches do not define the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but they say that the feelings that one gets are the feelings (conviction) of the Holy Spirit. Quick The model is very easily made up! They only transfer the kind of model from the Chinese temples! And the model that is made will be so all-rounded and looks perfect in all programs and events. Isn’t this the “perfect” robot that is made in “Artificial Intelligence”? Death! => Legalism => Mysticism => Humanism => Worldly This is where Christianity becomes idol worship and becomes religion.

Life Christians are not Protestants, but we are Reformers. We restore. Word (small) For example, my youngest child Caleb is so small now, but when he grows up, he will probably be like me, a tall person. (1) Fundamental Problem (World, Old Self, Evil Spirits, Sin) (2) Only Jesus Christ (Death and Resurrection) If you are more upset and feel more empty out of this world, you will discover more life out of Jesus Christ. (3) New Creation <Identity, Living, Interests, Interpersonal Relationships, Job, ...> Immediately, you see that everything that you have is different from others. => Meet God (Child of God) We must understand the smallest “DNA”. From the smallest, it expands correctly. People who meet God and attend meetings are different. They know that they have something unclean in their lives. During the meetings, they have a heart to want to use the Name of Jesus Christ to drive that weakness away. This is then the worship and meeting that has life. Why is it that there are quarrels after meetings? That is because such attributes belong to Northern Israel. => Converse => Walk with God (Evidence) Those who walk with God will be able to stand up and say, “Yes, Lord, this is God’s guidance. I will follow.”

What is meeting God? Shall it be so that we want to be in comfort, with one foot in the world and one foot in God? Do not walk the ways of Jeroboam. I see that the saddest thing is that God’s children cannot differentiate between the high places of idols and the altar of God. They continue to walk like this for generations ignorantly. If they are not lukewarm, they all use the methods of the world to serve zealously. They do not hear the clear voice of God. The Christian counselors only tell a couple going into divorce to be gentler and not to try their best not to say things that hurt each other. There is no difference between the “Model” and the world! To me, it is very easy to discern between “Life” and “Model” . The problem of a couple going into divorce is not any other problem but that they cannot see God! I speak like this not because I am proud. I am weak. I only know a little bit about the things of heaven and I speak thus. To the churches of this age, if there is someone having mental problems, they will tell him to take medicine. Secondly, they will tell him not to think about such negative things, but that “Everybody loves you”, and “You have a bright future.” However, the mental patient is intelligent, “What is a bright future if I am going to the grave?” If the eternal value is not restored, what use is it there? Medicine is taken for stabilizing the person, but what is the content to fill his heart? Let him know God and how he is a child of God. “You are already a successful person. Your problems are not any other but God wants to use it to accomplish and bless a lot of people.” Therefore, help him to search “How God loves him”. With 1 year of sufferings, use such a way to heal him, and if he has been in depression for 10 years, use 10 years to help him search for how God loves you. (Mental problem is a fortress that builds up over time and time is required to heal that problem.) A mental patient with depression went to a doctor. The doctor told him to just watch “Charlie Chaplin” and learn to take things easy. Sadly, the mental patient walked away. Surprised at his move, the doctor took him aside and asked him. Finally, the mental patient revealed himself to be “Charlie Chaplin”.

Jesus did not first tell the woman that it was no good to have 5 husbands. He first told her that worshipping the true God was not by going to the mountains. Jesus told her, “It is not the problem of emptiness in your life where you have to find 5 husbands, but that you do not know God.” Jesus told the woman who committed adultery, “How can God, who loves you so much, forsake you?” After giving life, He then told her not to sin again. Jesus did not tell Zacchaeus not to cheat other people, but that God had received him already! Zacchaeus, who met God, gave out so much that he might have nothing in the end. Jesus talks about life first. When the gospel is preached, the small little things that a person holds on to will be dropped. It is not about sin. It is because you have not seen the great things of God such that you need to sin. We must hear the word of God today, for ourselves, and the people we are shepherding. We must discern between the word and the world.

3. Division: The Importance of the King

Passage Reading: 1Kings 14:7-11

1Kg. 14:7 Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `I raised you up from among the people and made you a leader over my people Israel.

We become deacons and small group leaders because God made us leaders over all peoples.

1Kg. 14:8 I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes.

1Kg. 14:9 You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back.

God always says, “It is I who rise you up.”

1Kg. 14:10 “`Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel — slave or free. I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone.

1Kg. 14:11 Dogs will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country. The LORD has spoken!’

God always wants to emphasize 2 things, the blessings and the curse. Today we look into the curses. In the home, if you are the most blessed, as a high priest, if you are good, your family will be good. When God created the world, there is a hierarchy system. If the small group leader is good, the small group members will be good.

The importance of the leaders

If you are a parent, a high priest, you must inherit the life of David.

1) David’s life

If you are leading people now, you must know that you serve the Lord not by your mouth but by the word of God. Do not just look at the person alone, but see beyond the person, as it will affect his family, contacts, and the people that will come behind him. Therefore, you must realize why I am so earnest in sharing messages in church. This is my principle, “If there is one who wants to pray with me, I will spend time with him.”

One day, I took the lift and the person in the lift with me told me that his child is so intelligent as he can understand the characters in the keyboard even though he is just 1 year old. For such a person, he must take back his words after 10 years. Some kids do not learn fast, but they surprise people when they score high in school. Therefore, parents and Sunday school teachers must not look out for such signs. Look out for the inheritance of David instead.

Actually I do not want to teach the philosophy and wisdom of the world. I am afraid that you think that my wisdom comes from my university study, and that it is because of the wisdom I possess that people will say that the reason I preach well is because of the wisdom I possess out of knowing philosophy and wisdom of the world. No, I resolve to know only what Paul knows: the fundamental problem, the reason for needing Jesus Christ, and the new creation. We must not discern God’s word by the wise words of preachers. If preachers have life, the wisdom of the world is actually just common sense that will just come by and be learnt when they are just guided by God.

We must absolutely be trained to have a life like David. I bless you in the Name of Jesus Christ that you must be mad about Jesus Christ. There is no choice. I know that some of us are crazy about the things of the world, e.g. like cars to the extent that we go into forums to discuss and expand our interest. However, understand that the small group leaders, the Sunday school teachers, the pastor are teachers. They are not only teachers, but they are the ones who change the cultures and the ideologies that are deep within man.

2) At the right time, in all things, teach <Rely on the Holy Spirit>

I find that the best example of teaching this is in problems. For people who are in problems, I can show them easily with my example. For people who are in weaknesses and in sin, I show them how weak I am. If our small group members are in problems, this is an opportunity to show them that we are not normal people, so that they will know how we are teach and judge.

Comparing the past, when you give your little bit of authority to me, and now, when you give your authority to me, the measure is different. Why? Because in this 3.5 years, you have seen how God has led me to resolve problems. When the church members are slightly weak or naughty such that they go on tours and do not attend meetings even when the meetings are so important etc, I do not keep it in my heart against such members. This is because I know their timetable. I only teach that they have an honoured identity. But I also only tell them about 2 roads. They can choose the road of David, or the road of Jeroboam but I tell them the consequences of choosing each road. Then I let them make a choice themselves. When things happen (surely, by the definite and already accomplished word of God), they learn about their honoured identity. If we do not tell them the two roads, we are not teaching what God wants us to teach and they will fall away.

The teachings brought by the King

You must exercise and train. No matter whether you are lying down or are awake, be trained in this area. In all things, receive wisdom. Do not do so just to get people to listen to you. Continue to search what God wants you to teach. Small group members must have a big vessel.

3) The movement that the King brings

The deacons that will be chosen are not by votes, where they are chosen based on popularity, and vice versa. No, but we can prophesy who are chosen by their lives that are displayed.

There are people taking 100, 500 and 1000. Deacons shall take 10 people. Elders should take 10 deacons. If Wengang continue to preserve the life and the love of God, he will be the first elder. The next one will be Zhiming if he continues too. However, when they are both elders, there is a difference in hierarchy, where Zhiming will be next after Wengang.

There is something that I want to bring out here. Who is the one who shall have the best example and likeness of the most handsome one in the church? It shall be the pastor and his family! This is not for myself, but this is for the church to know so that the light of the pastor’s family attracts all. Therefore, the one who is jealous of the pastor’s family because their family is not praised but instead, the pastor’s family is shown to have the best children’s teaching is really foolish. The second person and family that shall have the best example is Wengang. If people keep talking about some weakness of him, such as he always being late, this will destroy the unity of the church. But everyone shall try his or her best to let him be the second most attractive. Shiya wants to be a pastor’s wife. Why? This is because of Qiufen’s example and her prayers of sharing in small group. Therefore, you must all the more make the pastor handsome and attractive. This is the submission of everyone as they set their eyes above so that they want to climb upwards spiritually in the best environment of a united church. There is no denial of who is in front and who is not.

There will be sufferings if you are a leader. However, because you have sufferings, people will take note and see the light of God. For Guorong and Qiuyin, their child has to go for operation. However, many people in the church do not really take note even though I announce it many times on stage. This is because they find Guorong and Qiuyin having no problems at all. Yes, we shall be so attractive. If my wife and I do not attract the church members, people will not find being a pastor good and they will not follow the word of God. For those who lead families, if their children find that their parents (serving as elders or deacons) are so attractive, their children will want so much to follow their parents. They will definitely be blessed as they are in the best blessings of knowing God.

I am weak. I say this not because I need your help. It is because I see that the members of the church really need a role model. It is not about the army, but obedience that is not in the mouth is what I ask for. I fully obey Rev Leechull as He has and will influence me. Unless there is one day that he speaks the message from Buddhism, I will definitely obey him.

Taken from Discipleship Training 1 Kings Overview Part 5 on 11^th May 2007.