2 Kings Overview Part 3 - Faith That Becomes Alive: Only "The Books Of The Law"

 

Introduction

 

God calls us because the world is weak. We are all counted as righteous because of faith. We are the prophets of this age. To be the prophets of this age, we need to have foundation.

 

<Heb 11: 1-6> (Focus on v.6)

 

What must those who come to God believe in? They have to believe that God is alive, and that He loves them and wants to bless them. That is what the Bible emphasizes, yet we often cannot restore this.

 

 

Faith

 

By faith, we are counted as righteous, can be sanctified, victorious and bear fruits. If only we think, judge and act by faith, God will count it as our righteousness. Why is that so? This is because there is foundation in such faith. It would be a great misunderstanding to think that faith could be built by our courage.

 

Faith is alive!

 

We can believe because before that, we have already heard. We are born again because we believed. Once we are born again, a new law governs us. Because of faith, we are victorious and can bear fruits. If we judge everything according to this faith, God will consider it as our righteousness. Our faith can change our families, our future, etc. Without faith, no matter how good our conditions are, it is useless; we will not be able to have peace. Even if we have peace, the peace cannot last.

 

Foundation

 

Faith must have a foundation. Otherwise, we cannot be sure of what we believe in. Without foundation, we cannot be firm. David had foundation in his faith. Therefore, no matter how much he grieved, he knew that God would answer him. Thus, he could anticipate in the Lord. The Psalmist asked, "Oh my soul, why are you downcast?" However, the Psalmist later discovered that God wanted him to place his perspective in the Lord. So his soul was no longer downcast because he placed his anticipation in the Lord. Yet, if I grieve without any foundation, my grief will lead to nowhere.

 

The foundation is Immanuel. Our foundation is based on God’s love for us. It is not because I chose Christianity, but I am loved and chosen by God. What is meaning of ‘to receive'? One day, I realized that I am not very special, I am actually dead but God appeared in my life, then I have the curiosity to know and serve God. That is God’s method to draw me to Him, to help me discover that I am so weak. God wants to tear down my “old” life and build it on the correct foundation.

 

During the worst and weakest times of our lives, when guilt and inferiority complex set in and we cannot stand before God, if we pray to ask God to cleanse us, such prayer is useless. Perhaps you have been in the church for a long time. But have you ever confirmed that you are really a child of God? Are you sure that you are really being called and being loved by God? If you have confirmed before, you will realize that all your thoughts and actions are sinful, and all that you possess and have encountered are God’s grace. All the things that happen in your family are good, they are God’s grace. If there is no foundation, you can only believe when you delude yourself.

 

Therefore, we cannot base our judgment on our conditions and circumstances. God says that we already started out as 'successful', because God is our success. Use this perspective to judge all our conditions, ourselves, our families, our fields, etc. Then true faith will come, real evidences of success will come and our faith will increase. Without evidences, how can faith develop? We need to confirm. Then we can develop faith. Otherwise, we will need to delude ourselves. Faith is our heart toward God. Without this heart, we have to put in a lot of strength to avoid watching TV, to prepare message, etc.

 

The real problem is not that my life is wasted away but whether I discover that the wasted time is to let me root myself in God. When there is a foundation, we can judge correctly regarding what had happened in my life. With a foundation, I will know how to search for that heart of faith. If I continue to hold onto this heart of faith, my faith and perspective in Christ would be built up in Christ with each passing day (give ourselves about 3 years). When this happen, whatever I judge and see will be fulfilled as God’s word is already accomplished. I will then be the prophets of this era (this is the emphasis of 1,2 Kings).

 

In the past, I had been hypnotizing myself. Do I believe in God because there are too many problems in my life? If so, I will only look forward to a god/person who can solve my problems. One day, I heard a voice saying that if I cannot believe that I am the main character of this century, I cannot accomplish anything. Hence, I tried very hard to believe but one day when problems hit me, I realized that my faith could not accomplish anything. I could not see because I still had not died. Our February messages let me discover that my foundation was wrong. I thought my lifetime goal was already fixed on the four gospelizations. I thought it was I who put my life in God, but it was actually God who placed His life in me. I need to receive God's life. I do not need any special messages or special promises; it does not matter even if others are stronger than me. I realized that I am no different from other people. I am the same as the rest, except that God's word came to me; I discovered that I, together with all my conditions, am being called by God. Thus, I can no longer use my own perspective to view myself. I do not have to force myself to believe but I can believe very normally.

 

Confirm -> Faith (should be placed on 4 Gospelizations)

 

"Faith" without evidences is not faith. This is because such "faith" has no power at all. Therefore, we must confirm:

 

=> I and my every condition are all called by God.

=> 4 Gospelizations (this should be the starting content of faith, or the eyes of faith to view everything.) God allows everything to happen in my life for the sake of 4 Gospelizations. Use 4 Gospelizations to view Bible, listen to all messages, and walk with God, then everything will fall in place.

=> With this fixed perspective, I will be able to discover the perfect will of God.

=> Walk for 3 years to build up the Skeleton (36 Lessons).

 

Why 3 years?

 

We must be equipped in Bible Overview

 

Otherwise, we cannot sustain, as we need concrete evidences of basic belief. If we really can sustain then actually we do not need to attend church, but many a times our emotions disturb us (e.g. tiredness, guilt remains in us even after we try cleansing ourselves). Satan keeps disturbing us like the roaming lion. Therefore, there is no other way! God's perfect will is that we continue reading the Bible in the midst of our situations. We need to match God's word to our situations (e.g. The “even if otherwise” faith of Daniel's 3 friends <Da 3>. God wants us to go back to the simplest faith. God is alive.

 

To make it part of our nature

 

Slowly, we will move from 4 contradictions to 4 Gospelizations. We will have changed our name to adopt the ‘surname of Christ’ and be part of Him, not through hypnotizing ourselves. The problems in our lives are not to make us fear but to let us know that there is One who is in control of our lives.

 

Conclusion

 

What is faith? Faith needs foundation. Otherwise it will be blind and it will become superstition. Fanatical faith in the wrong belief will lead to the destruction of church, family, and individual. Faith has to be based on the correct Word. Therefore, prophets need to rise up.

 

 

The Word (Bible)

 

When the Word comes in, it will be accomplished (according to His Word) if you believe -> things of the future are already accomplished but according to the spoken word. So if you have foundation, you will not look down on your conditions.

 

Blessed are those who hear the Word, believed and carry it out. All he does will prosper. E.g. Moses heard God's Word, he believed and merely struck the Red Sea lightly and the waters divided. However, in this age, God’s Word is lost. Therefore, we cannot help but to worry, fear, etc. Yet, God never want us to be like this. Hence, in every era, God finds prophets to speak His word and to accomplish His word.

 

When do prophets emerge?

 

When people were in darkness, when all had lost the Word of God, God chose one person to restore His word in Genesis. This main character of Genesis is Abraham. He has the longest story record in this book.

 

Abraham’s Principle of Life

 

Gen 1-11

 

1) Principle <Gen 1:27-28>

 

We must live in God in order to have peace. God's principles can be seen in the ‘4 incidents’. Only when this principle is used can churches be built. We can then be prosperous at work and in the family.

 

2) Problems <Gen 3:1-6>

 

The only problem is that we reject God's word. Why do we doubt? Before we doubt, our spiritual state is already wrong. This is because we are deceived by Satan.

 

Only Problem -> Spiritual problems <3:1-6> -> Psychological illness <3:7-14> -> Physical/lifestyle/interpersonal/financial problems <3:16-19>

 

* This should be the perspective to view the entire Bible

 

Answer <Gen 3:15>

 

The only answer is the Seed of woman (Jesus Christ) <v.21> (blood).

 

3) Judgment: Noah and the ark

 

4) Tower of Babel -> confused by God

 

Slowly, we are also moving toward the culture of the tower of Babel. More and more people in this age are talking about universal love, peace in the society, etc.

 

In Genesis, Abraham was called in the time of the tower of Babel.

 

The New Testament also emphasizes a lot on Abraham.

 

<Mt 1:1> says that Jesus Christ is the Heir of Abraham, Son of David. The 4 gospel books <Jn 8:56> says, "...Abraham your father..." However, Jesus Christ existed before Adam, but the Jews did not know. In Acts, Peter's sermon began with Abraham. In the whole of Romans chapter 4, in Romans chapter 9 (Isaac/Ishmael, Jacob/Esau = Abraham's very life), in Galatians chapters 4 & 5... are all the records of Abraham repeatedly being used to illustrate Christian living.

 

Gen 12-50

 

Isaac = Abraham [Isaac is Abraham's life]. Through one person, the lost word is restored to an era. Abraham is the prophet of the era then.

 

From Abraham, the model "prophet of the era", all the prophets followed in Genesis.

 

Abraham (born again), Isaac (all blessed), Jacob (sanctification), Joseph (conquest of household and era)

 

And in every era, prophets arose, starting Noah and then Abraham. When Israel was slaves, Moses became a prophet. During the exile of Judah, Daniel/ Mordecai/ Ezekiel/ Ezra/ Zerubbabel (all their prayers) restored the era.

 

Now, Ahab came up. He represented the most evil era that appeared and the entire Israel lost God’s word. It was then that prophets appeared. They were named "Nabi".

 

 

Exodus

 

1 person become 1 tribe, Israel = Contents of Exodus

 

Jacob's name was changed to "Israel". This name means "overcame God", for God allowed Jacob to win Him. Exodus is about 1 tribe as a prophet to restore the accomplishment of God's word.

 

In <Gen 12>, God promised to bless Abraham and his family to give him heirs (even though he had no child, God promised that He would give him as many children as the stars - a great nation). God promised to bless Abraham's region (I will make your name great and you will be a blessing). God also promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him (I will bless whoever blesses you and curse all those who curses you). All these 4 gospelizations were accomplished through Israel concretely.

 

In <Gen 13>, God told Abram, "Life up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land you see I will give it to you and your offspring forever." In <Gen 15>, God revealed to Abram that there will be 400 (430) years of slavery but God promised He would bring deliverance. 70 persons became 600,000 men (probably 3,000,000 including women and children). Egypt became the breeding ground for Israel. God's promise was accomplished concretely in Exodus.

 

1) Born again (blood) Passover = spiritual world’s doing [God Himself did it]

 

2) Cross Red Sea (i.e. baptize) <1Co 10>

 

Death and resurrection -> be still and watch -> receive victory

 

Those who died for God will live; those who live for self will die.

 

Why did God bring Israelites to wilderness? That was for building the tabernacle.

 

3) Build Tabernacle (converse with God)

 

This is further exposited as the contents of Leviticus

 

4) Walk with God (pillars of cloud/fire)

 

Together with the ark of covenant, the people of God will see evidences in the morning, noon and night. The content of Numbers further exposits this.

 

5) Conquer Canaan (praise God everyday, evangelism)

 

Israelites used "fixed perspective" to conquer Canaan. This is further exposited as the contents of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, Moses ‘repeated' by using 3 sermons - history, law and prophecy to instill fixed perspective onto the Israelites. The central theme of Deuteronomy is “You must love God with all your might, do not forget.” <Deu 28>

 

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy = Books of Law

 

The Books of Law provide revelation; it has foundation and can give us correct belief. Over ignorance, spiritual state and Satan, it gives Christ's dominion and full understanding.

 

To understand 2 Kings, we need to know the thread of thoughts of the Bible and this is by the Books of Law. This is the ‘bible of the Bible’. Therefore, we have to use the Books of Law to see the whole Bible. Only the Books of Law was available during that era and God revealed to Israel this very way.

 

The Old Testament is made up of:

 

Law (Foundation) - 5 books

History (Withstand the test of time) - 12 books

Prophets (Future prophecy) - 17 books

Books of Songs/Psalms (praise God, evangelism) - 5 books

Old Testament = 39 books

 

Through the books of the Law,

 

History (Israel’s success/failure) - my success/failure can be assessed with reference to the Books of History.

Prophets (Israel’s future) - my future is determined.

Songs (Israel’s testimony) - my testimony will flow.

 

The Cross Message is about how man can meet God. It seems simple but when one man is able to meet God, his whole encounter with God can be developed. When the Books of Law is matched with Jesus, you will have foundation. Then, things beyond what you can see and hear will take place. From the Cross Message, 100 other messages can be developed.

 

 

 

History

 

Joshua (already overcome)

 

How did Joshua overcome? He overcame through fixed perspective. What is the fixed perspective he has on? This is the Books of Law. Therefore, he overcame because he has foundation.

 

 

Judges

In not even 40 years, Israel failed terribly. 12 judges correspond to 12 failures. They were actually 12 worsening failures because they did not have Books of the Law. The last judge in Judges was Samson. He was a Nazarite, but even he failed.

 

 

Ruth

 

The book of Ruth talks about a family that totally failed. Ruth's father-in-law and husband died. She was only left with Naomi. Where does the book of Ruth talk about the return? This is the return to the Books of Law. Ruth had a blessed life. She held onto the promise. Any form of shame did not matter to her even as a woman. She had the profession of faith towards Naomi. Therefore, she had blessed meeting. When she found this blessed meeting, she thrust herself onto Boaz. Therefore, she bore blessed fruits. Why was all these so? Ruth was the grandmother of Jesus Christ!

 

 

1,2 Samuel talks about David.

 

1 Samuel (Brewing of David)

 

What does losing the Word of God mean? It means losing the Books of Law.

 

Because of her rival, Hannah could bear it no longer and she mourned. Likewise, we also have marriage problems, children problems and relationship problems. We mourn in the midst of the problems. Through it, Hannah made the Nazarite prayer. After the child was weaned, she brought Samuel to the temple of God

 

God's word never stops. It is not that there was no God's word, but Israel could not hear. God chose Samuel to restore the Mizpah movement (our Discipleship Training movement). The Mizpah Movement talks about the Books of Law!

 

The Books of Law speak of how one person received grace, and spread the grace to all those around him. Those who do not understand the theory of predestination will not be able to understand God's love.

 

In the story of Priscilla/Aquila's encounter with Apollos, Apollos also preached the Law, however, Priscilla and Aquila matched the books of the Law with Jesus Christ in just one night. During the one night at Emmaus, Jesus Christ used the books of Law, Prophets, and Psalms to highlight to the downcast disciples that the books were written about Him. Once the disciples were enlightened, their eyes were opened and they could comprehend the word. They no longer needed to delude themselves but could see that everything was blessings. The Bible keeps saying that we have to believe. Through faith, we can receive the conviction of the Holy Spirit, then we can discern all things and not remain in a vicious cycle. We have to build our lives up quickly. Equipping in the 36 lessons is one way to build ourselves up. When we are clear about the 36 lessons, we will be very clear that God is alive.

 

One night is important, so tonight is important. Only in Jesus Christ can the Books of the Law be joined together.

 

* What the bible talks about (and not about any other message)

 

You must believe and have faith, for only by faith is one righteous, sanctified and becomes alive! Then the conviction of the Holy Spirit, bringing the victory that comes daily, opening up eyes to the new way of Spirit, putting impossible faith in the hearts and minds, and thus causing the movement in our hearts, will come upon you.

 

Mizpah movement arose just for one David

 

 

2 Samuel (David's biography)

 

David's prayer was, "Lord, I only need You"

 

David only knew that God was with him. That was why he asked, "Lord, why have You forsaken me?" He questioned not because he really thought God had left him. Rather, David knew God would never leave him, yet at that time, he felt that God was very far from his thoughts. Thus, that prayer was in fact a praise. Therefore, David was able to touch God.

 

When David was faced with enemies or when he sinned, he knew the problem was not merely the sins, David knew that he had sins even when he was in his mother's womb. So he asked God to remember God’s first love for him even when he sinned in his mother's womb. Therefore, David could touch God. David was blessed. Though he had failed, he was restored through the Gospel. Thus, hope and promise was given to Solomon.

 

So, how can our living be successful? If the Books of Law say that we are successful, then we can be successful.

 

 

1 Kings (We must be successful)

 

The secret to being successful is to inherit David. Solomon’s blessedness was not due to his zealousness but it was because he inherited David, which means he inherited the Books of Law.

This is the meaning of "I am the present-day Abraham/Isaac/Jacob/David".

 

1) <Chapters 1:1-10:29> Successful inherit

 

What must we successfully inherit? We must inherit Solomon's wisdom. Solomon's wisdom is the wisdom of the 36 lessons. This starts from Abraham’s 4 gospelizations, so that we know God, self, world, future and the heavens and the earth. After inheriting, use this wisdom to build the temple. What is the purpose for? Is it for God's word to fill us? Practically, it is to hear God's voice in the clearest, most accurate and absolute way.

 

Solomon's glory was indeed great. In this era, we should restore the same glory and wisdom since we already inherited these. What is important is not to go out to evangelize but our lives must first be gospelized.

 

If we act without hearing God's voice, it is not righteousness and we have no crown. However, if we hold onto the belief that God has His perfect will amidst our problems, then it will be considered as our faith and righteousness. Evidences will then appear. If we cannot be sanctified by our problems, they will remain as problems, but if we overcome them, it will be considered as our righteousness due to our faith.

 

God does not want us to do anything else but to let our old selves die together with all our desires. He wants to test us. He not only wants us to love Him but He also wants everything of ours. He wants us to let go of and put down our own selves. God does not want to force us and make us guilty, but He wants us to connect with Him, see Him and accept that we should not love the world. He wants us to accept that we are dead and be willing to be tested and tried by God. In our current timetable and weaknesses, bear all these understanding in mind. With each passing day, we will realize that whatever our old selves desire are meaningless. Then power will come upon us and we will be able to let go. In whatever we are doing now, we must first discover what God is doing.

 

2) <Chapter 11:1-43> Failure

 

Solomon failed because he loved foreign women. This means that he compromised with the world. What did Solomon disobey? He disobeyed the Books of Law. Therefore let us not look down on the Books of Law!

 

Wives/Concubines -> gods’/evil spirits’ altars -> all enemies came -> Jeroboam came

 

Through the wives and concubines that Solomon compromised on, the worship of gods, the putting up of the altars of evil spirits followed. All enemies came as a result. Finally, the worst came, and this was Jeroboam.

 

3) <Chapters 12:1-16:28> Division

 

Israel was divided into North Israel and South Judah. North Israel was lead by Jeroboam, and he did not follow David. This meant that he did not follow the Books of Law. North Israel was a carbon copy [i.e. imitations]. There are too many of such imitations in this era. Why? This is because there is no root and no foundation. Christians only learn how to serve, pray, etc externally.

 

May this never be! Born again is that one who had never seen have now seen. One that had not heard has finally heard, and this is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Where is the secret? This is the Books of Law! You are saved because of faith. However, faith is given by God. This is the meaning of being born of God.

 

The beginning of every epistle always talks about us being called, being the chosen ones, and the perspective of being born again.

 

What is a blessed person? Is there any condition to become a blessed person? If you are a blessed person, the start of your faith is important. We experienced the Books of Law (God's word), and therefore have the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, after we are born again, we must make confirmation of hearing the voice of God.

 

When I am born again, the conviction of the Holy Spirit says that my birthday, my family and my school are God's grace. The years of wandering in the world are permitted by God and were my days in Egypt. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I throw away my method and restore God's method. This method of God is 'receiving' (蒙). Therefore, I am the Abraham of this era. I judge and I will get the perfect will of God. What will happen to my life in 10 years’ time?

 

Therefore, what is the first thing we must restore after being born again? This is the Books of Law. We can become alive in one moment. Our entire lives will be matched up because of the Books of Law. After being born again, becoming alive is very important. What is the secret to becoming alive? There is no other way than to be rooted/founded in Jesus Christ. This is the Son of David, and the Seed of Abraham. Jesus Christ found me is the fact that God loves me eternally.

 

Therefore, hear God's voice by the Books of Law (it will come aptly according to people, place, time).

 

Romans (Chapters 1-11): To become alive

 

When God made me go to work, it is not to force me to work till I die (of course, if it is what God permits, then so be it). But my priority should center on the altar and church. This is what the Books of Law talk about. There was a problem which was on my heart for a long time. My bosses were not very pleased whenever I left office early. I prayed to God that if He wanted me to leave work early, then my bosses’ displeasure toward my early departure have to be resolved by this week because I need to lead Discipleship Training this week. Thus, I trusted in God, I believed that God led me to this office to gospelize the people in this office. Therefore, I see that I must rely on God to solve all my problems.

 

If a door is locked, surely there is a key to open it. If I have a problem, surely there is an answer. God does not want me to be anxious. In any problem, there is surely God's voice. People's mood as well as mine will change, but I need to use evidences which can withstand tests to overcome the problem. No matter whether you believe or not, our lives will change because of the church, because of the Books of Law. If we believe, these words will be fulfilled. Do not look down on God's word because of our own problems.

 

How do you become alive? Counteraction -> Perfect will

 

God's will is easily visible (Revealed in the whole Bible)

 

Israel: 19 kings all followed Jeroboam, and he led all Israel to sin.

Judah: 20 kings (12 did not follow David, 8 followed David)

 

4) <17:1-22:53> Worst King, Ahab; Prophet Appeared: Elijah First

 

 

2 Kings

 

5) Prophets of this era <1:1-8:15>

 

* Inheritance

Elijah inherited Abraham/Moses/David

Elisha inherited Elijah, Abraham/Moses/David

 

We have to realize that our hungering is also God-compelled thirst.

 

6) Did not listen to prophets <8:16-17:41>

 

North Israel by her own will fixed festivals, built altars, carved idols and appointed high priests. They did not follow David.

 

Why did God not destroy Israel immediately? This was because of the 7000 remnants.

 

7) Judah exiled <18:1-25:30>

 

 

*** I am the prophet of this era

 

God's word is already accomplished.

 

Elijah or Elisha, who is more blessed?

 

The later generation was more blessed. Why was this so? This was because Elisha inherited the faith of Elijah, Abraham and Moses. Therefore, he also received extra blessings. So am I more blessed or Elisha? Surely I am. Today, if we think David/Elisha was more blessed than us, then we are deceived! David/Elisha did not have the full Bible at that time. Thus, their perspective would not be as deep as ours. The grace we receive is greater than what David/Elisha receive.

 

Books of Songs/Psalms

Finally, the Books of Songs/Psalms tell of Israel’s born again, sanctification, victory, conversing with God, walk with God, and evidences that follow. The wisdom books are Job, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. Therefore, one who has the books of the Law can proclaim, and this is evangelism and witnessing for Jesus Christ.

 

If our beliefs are like Abraham and David, then we can hear God's perfect will always. We are like Abraham, David, Elijah, and Elisha, the prophets of this era. Have we seen it? Our lives are being called by God (regardless of our conditions). We must concretely discover God's purpose, and then walk daily with God.

 

No servant is greater than the master. The servant can be greater than the master if and only if the servant experienced correctly what the master has taught.

 

 

Taken from Discipleship Training on 20 July 2007, 2 Kings Overview Part 3.