2 Samuel Overview Part 2 - The Purpose of the Gospel Is To Live Through Evil Days

Having the delight of the Lord is the secret to quick restoration

We have already acquired all the mystery of Jesus Christ. Therefore we have victory in Jesus Christ. We are to learn more of this in our daily lives. One day, I learnt about this secret. You must use this perspective to see all things from now on. Once, there was a heavy pressure on me. I concentrated to pray then. The Lord spoke to me, “I have already found delight in you, why are you in sorrow?” Have we heard this in our prayer? This is where we have the secret of quick restoration. God has already found delight in me, then what problems will there be for my children? If the Lord has found delight in me, whatever the Lord wills to expand the ministry, let it be so as His accomplishment. If we receive this conviction, peace, freedom, joy and expectation enter our whole life . Then the atmosphere of the place where I am residing in and the spirit in me will be different. If we dwell on Romans 8:31-32, we will know that if the Lord has already found delight in me, what fear shall I leave behind in my ministry if there are people who are against me or if there are slanders or attacks? The future of one whom the Lord has found delight in is very bright indeed.

Evidences of God finding delight in me

But we must know the evidences of God finding delight in us. This is reconciliation with God. This is equal to hearing the Holy Spirit speak to us, “I love you.” This is the most important. Even if in the past when we had reconciled with God before, the little accusations that you have in your heart will diminish this delight of the Lord. Our belief is very easy and simple. Of course, we must know the content from Genesis till Revelations, and we must clearly know the mystery of Jesus Christ. But if we compile all this and summarize into one point, the Christian life is “if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask”. Then our future will be full of hope, and with this expectation, our future will surely be built up brightly by this expectation.

Start by living your lives by being a gospel person

David is an expert in this very area. He is a gospel person. For us, really start our living by being a gospel person first. If you do not become a gospel person, your life will be very tiring, you will have a wrong perspective in all things, and you will continue to judge wrongly in all the days of your life.

- If we are not a gospel person, we will not be able to see the original intended meaning of Jehovah Jireh (God our provider) in our days and fields

Our days are filled with meeting the man of God and blessed meetings. If we are not a gospel person to start with, when we meet the man of God or have blessed meetings, we will not be able to see and thus get much blessings from him. As such, we will not get the glory of God through him. Originally, God intended for our moment of our days to be full of joy. Our days are so important. This is because God’s eternal love has already been revealed to us. Therefore, all the 24 hours everyday that we experience are so precious. Therefore, we should all the more maintain happiness, constant joy, and have all things concluded with thanks and expectation. This is because heaven and earth have already belonged to us. God has prepared everything for us so there is always Jehovah Jireh in our family, career, ministry, and we must be able to see this. If we have not become a gospel person, the days on earth will not be simple. Do we know this? The days on earth are against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, and all these continually attack us. Day and night they accuse us and torment us. Those that have gastric problem will know that even a sip of warm water will make them groan in pain. If we have not become a gospel person, the many people whom we encounter in our lives will cause us to be in serious pain. Though people do not mean what they say, we will misunderstand them, and we will be bitter and in great suffering. After some time when we restore, we then discover that we are deceived and are attacked ourselves, “I am deceived, and my spiritual eyes are blinded again.” If we have not become a gospel person, we will go back and forth in this.

- If we are not a gospel person, we will add pressure on people around us

If we do not start by being a gospel person in the family, even if we love our children, we cannot bless them daily, but instead give them pressure and accuse them. When a man becomes a gospel person, he can then meet with people, be with his wife, children, colleagues, or the body of Christ. If we have not become a gospel person, and yet we love sincerely, we will tend to interfere with every little single thing, by interrogating, viewing, checking and accusing people. Therefore, really look at most children around. They are really not normal. Because parents want to love and bless them daily, they continually see that their children are not in the correct path. God originally intended that they become the Joseph, David, and Paul of this age in 10/20/30 years to come. Is not this possible? I look at my children this way when I am Holy Spirit-filled. However, when the moment I lose the perspective of a gospel person and receive just a little accusation, everything that my children do does not please my eyes. Therefore, being a gospel person is so important in our Christian life. We must first be healed in this very area. After that, we then get in touch with things, events, people, and we will be able to enjoy freedom, peace and joy.

The bible continually tells us that we are to live as a gospel person

The bible, from beginning till the end, continually tells us to become a gospel person and a man of God. The name God gave us is more beautiful than Isaac, Elijah, etc. We are children of God. We are not only man of God, but we are the body of Christ so that Christ lives in us. We are not only the man of God but a living sacrifice, holy temple, where the Holy Spirit lives in us 24 hours to convict us. We are very honourable, respectable priests, understanding our self, understanding God and understanding the conditions that come to us daily, connecting to eternally. The bible has some representative people, and among these are firstly Abraham, then David, and finally Jesus Christ. Therefore, the quotes: “Abraham seed”, “Son of David”, and “Jesus Christ’s genealogy”.

None is as successful as David in the History Books

- The life of David being built up

Therefore, in the whole of history books, which is about the success and failure of Israel, and among the people who are successful, the most successful one is David. One of the fruits of Mizpah Movement is David. Therefore, 1 Samuel talks about Mizpah Movement, and how David’s life, through the Mizpah Movement, was woven and built up. He went through many sufferings, and through them, he received a blessed gospel life and became a gospel person. After that, God made him king. 2 Samuel can be said to be David’s biography. Seldom is there any one book in the bible that talks about one person. Therefore, we know how important David’s position and place is in the history of mankind.

- Among all the kings

Actually, in the history books, David is the best demonstration of a gospel person. After that, starting from Solomon, none are like David. It is not to say that David is complete as there is no one who is complete. But there is no one who enjoys the mystery of the gospel and is a best representation of a gospel person like David! Therefore, Solomon’s early days were quite good, but in his later days, he was fallen and Israel split into 2 parts, one was Northern Israel and the other was Judah. Of the 39 kings, there was none like David. This is the whole content of the history books. Therefore, the purpose of history books is to continually restore the life of David and the gospel that David enjoyed. Besides the 2 kings Josiah and Hezekiah, all kings did evil in the eyes of God, and it is written that they were very corrupted. Therefore in their era, there was idol worship and fellowship with the demons, and Gentiles continually intruded them. Joshua’s era was not complete but David’s era held very important battles till the ends of the land of Israel.

- Passed on the gospel

At the very end of his days, he knew and passed on, “you must build the temple of God, converse with God, and walk with God.” The life that David lived and stored up, the money, gold, silver, gems and wealth that were saved up were so great. I roughly counted that there were 80 tons of gold on carts. God really blessed David and David left these behind.

Books of prophets

After this, the books of prophets continually mention that David’s kingdom will be built up. Though there was discipline, David’s kingdom would never cease and would definitely be built up. Actually the books of prophets refer to Jesus Christ.

Books of Songs

Most of the Psalms are David’s. The Lord’s salvation, through the teaching of the Holy Spirit - sanctification, the Lord’s life of victory, and the Lord’s life of testimonies. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes talk about the wisdom of the people of God. The Songs of Songs talks about the romance between the people of God and God Himself. Therefore, the mystery of the gospel that David’s life enjoyed is stated in Psalms, and the Son of David will come.

We must know the thread of thoughts of the bible.

2 Samuel

2 Samuel has 3 main contents: Blessedly anointed “David”, “David” who sinned and received discipline, and David who was sanctified and thus gave testimonies.

1) Blessedly anointed “David”

Where is the reason and foundation for the blessedly anointed David? It is really too beautiful when we saw that last week.

This week, we are going to talk about:

2) “David” who sinned and received discipline

The gospel person is not only prosperous in everything, but he also loves God, converses with God, can see God’s many blessings, and has expectation of tomorrow in his heart. Actually, going through such a process of being loved so positively are simple. However, more importantly, God looks at how we manage “in the midst of sins”. This is the very reason for the need of Christ. God came to earth in our likeness. He died and resurrected for this very reason. The crux is that in the midst of sins, one can enjoy the power of the gospel. When you are attacked in the spirit, there is lack of money, there are problems in your children or spouse, or where there are sufferings that you encountered which are equal to that of Job, the most important thing is that you can enjoy the mystery of the gospel. These are times when the days seem long, dreary and suffering. In our belief, we will surely have such experiences. If we only meet with things that are prosperous and abundant, then, loving God is so simple. It is so easy to receive power, freedom, and joy when days are good. But the reason why God gave us the gospel is because of this: “in the midst of sins”. In days where we do not have enough, where there are struggles, contradictions, problems, and interpersonal relationship conflicts - the power of the gospel can be manifested. When your children meet with some problems, the important thing is that your heart is not accused but you can enjoy the gospel.

3) David who was sanctified and thus gave testimonies

Therefore our lives, days of 70 years, are paths of sanctification. It is about living in the tabernacle in these days of our lives.

The above 3 are the most important messages in 2 Samuel. We must know that we are the “David” of this era. God gave us an eternal promise in this lifetime. With this becoming our fixed perspective, we then converse with God, walk with God, and definitely, beautiful fruits will come. The process during which we acquire the fixed perspective and be sanctified is the most precious.

Passage Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-15

In chapter 11, it records that David committed adultery, murdered Uriah, and snatched away Uriah’s wife.

2Sa. 12:1 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.

2Sa. 12:2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle,

2Sa. 12:3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

2Sa. 12:4 “Now a traveller came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveller who had come to him.

Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

2Sa. 12:5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!

When a person has sinned, he becomes only flesh and blood. He will thus be completely judgmental and condemn people.

2Sa. 12:6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

God is so wise in telling David this.

2Sa. 12:7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

2Sa. 12:8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.

Our God is so good. What He has given us today: life, spouse, children, place, this altar of pulpit, the beautiful body of Christ, message of promise, things to eat, drink, and our job. God says, “If all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why sin?”

2Sa. 12:9 Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

2Sa. 12:10 Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

Such a blessed David will also meet with such a scary punishment?

2Sa. 12:11 “This is what the LORD says: `Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.

After this, his son really did this.

2Sa. 12:12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’“

2Sa. 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

Impossible to say “I have sinned against the Lord”

This is very important: “I have sinned against the LORD”. Many times, the reason why we cannot enjoy God’s love, mercy, and blessings is because our mouths find it so hard to say these words. Saying this is so simple, but after this, everything has to be restored. Therefore, man cannot say this "I have sinned against the Lord" and mean it this way. "Everything has to be restored" means we would need to confess everything till the intentions of our heart, and totally be a clean person who does not sin. (See the following exposition for this elaboration: Therefore, we can only mean, "may the words of my mouth and the intentions in my heart be pleasingly accepted” when we say, "I have sinned against the Lord". I understand it this way, that if we come uprightly before God like this, as a child of God without hiding anything, He is very pleased. Though discipline is a must, that will enable sanctification and finally, everything will surely be restored. At the very end, because this is the Lord's work, we will still give glory to God because it is He who causes us to restore everything.)

Secretly love the world

Once, there was a kid and a demon came in to live with him. When he was 12 years old, he believed in the Lord. Then, the demon came out but lived beside him. He should have told this to his mother and reported this to the pastor at the very beginning, but he kept quiet about this till he was 15 years old, because he liked this friend. I got to know about this by the slip of his mouth, and by the Name of Jesus, the demon immediately left him. Many times in our hearts, we have something that we like so much and cannot let go. Actually the boy knew clearly how God will bless him, but he continually and stubbornly will not let go of the things that caused him to secretly love and enjoy the world. Therefore, his heart continued to be in groans, and God’s mercy continued to wait until he let go. I discovered this: that he actually knew so clearly about the gospel, and when he made the sinner’s prayer, the demon left. But he was unwilling to part with the demon! It is like we have already left Egypt; already having left the world and entered the kingdom, and the Holy Spirit has already entered. However, in the daily lives, we stubbornly hold on so firmly to this world and will not let go of what have always been our friend and our likings. This will bring about very serious problems. Do we secretly love the world by wanting to live comfortably in our own thinking?

Actually we can just be upright before God and do just to receive this very heart. Ps 19:14 is very important: “O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer!” “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight!”

“Lord, may the words of my mouth and the intentions in my heart be pleasingly accepted”. This means that at the very front of your heart, your life facing the Lord and the host of angels, the forces of darkness that are continually attacking you, and in front of people, you only receive a mystery whereby “only that the words of my mouth, the intentions in my heart is pleasing before the Lord”. If the Lord find delights in you, what problem is there left? This very night, (do not leave it till tomorrow) acquire this very prayerful heart in the midst of everybody. “Lord, I am willing, I know I am not complete, but Lord, if I am pleasing in your sight, let me acquire the road that is new and living.” This is Jesus Christ, who has given us a path that is new and living, so that we can come before the Lord boldly without fear. The expressway and the roads have already been paved, but there are some small roads at the side leading out that we secretly want to travel on and our hearts will not want to walk the path (new and living) that enables our heart to be bold and without any fear.

This is very important: “Lord, I come before You and have sinned against You”.

The most accursed people in the world: do not know how to repent and renew

In this world, I discovered that the most accursed people are not any other, but those who do not know how to repent and renew. After the Mizpah Movement, why are there 2 figures, Saul and David. There was Saul who is so handsome, tall and bold, has wisdom and can fight. But very quickly, the Lord says that he is not the man in His heart. The man in God’s heart is David. “Man looks at the appearance, but I look at the heart.” If the intentions in our heart can be pleasing to God, you can be bold and fearless in everything. You will surely be able to expect tomorrow. In the things you meet today, you will see the love of God. What is originally God’s love and blessings, your eyes see them as fearful or as a punishment from God. This is because your heart does not have what is blessedly and pleasingly acceptable. This is the very problem.

Reconciled with God

Therefore, reconciliation with God is the most important mystery. 2 Co 5:17-19 “Those who have died and resurrected with Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed, the new has come”. This is God’s work, and through Jesus Christ, He gave us the identity, path and ministry of reconciliation with all men. Reconciliation with God is very important. In this, we can be bold and fearless in everything. In the children around you, you will surely see expectation and hope, therefore, when you see your children, your words to them bring blessings, hope, and prophecies. This is because you surely believe that their future would surely be good. Otherwise, we continue to live in a spirit of accusations, fear, and fear will bring punishments. Therefore, we must really preserve our hearts and minds.

Immediate forgiveness

Because David said, “I have sinned against the Lord”, therefore immediately, Nathan replied, “God has forgiven you”. When blessed people received discipline, they will not die. When we discipline our children sometimes, we will not punish them till they die. When we beat them, we will be in pain, and after beating, we will want to contain them even more, and bless them. When we beat, our hearts have an expectation and joy that he will be better when we see them saying, “I won’t dare to do it again”.

Going through discipline with a bold and fearless heart

When blessed people go through discipline, it is completely different from religious ones like Saul. For Saul, the Lord warned him so many times, but he would not change. Therefore, such people are really cursed the most. Such people are hardened in the heart and stubborn. The Lord says, “Come down, let us discuss together. I will give you the road of peace. I will not pressure you, but will guide you according to your timetable. I will surely give you the path of peace. Come here, reconcile with Me. Grab hold to Jesus Christ’s blood and no matter what accusations and problems you have, you will receive a bold and fearless heart.” If you receive a bold and fearless heart, God has accepted you, what is there to fear anymore?

2Sa. 12:14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.”

2Sa. 12:15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.

This is a spiritual mystery. And after this, the firstborn of David/Bathsheba fell seriously ill and died. Thereafter, his son Absalom used the sword and harmed his brothers, and brothers killed one another. Amnon, son of David, committed adultery against her sister, Tamar, of the same father but different mothers. And Tamar’s brother, Absalom, killed Amnon. David was in great pain then. Both Amnon and Absalom were his sons. In the course of pain, David’s behaviour was so blessed. After a while, David quickly restored love. Joab advised David to accept him. After 3 years, David accepted Absalom. There was no son in the world like Absalom, who wanted to usurp his father’s throne. He secretly had a plan and rebelled. David continually received discipline, but his manner was different. When he repented, he repented by the gospel, and he did not go to disappointment and discouragements till the end whereby he could have ended up in hell. He was still in the kingdom, love, expectation in the midst of discipline. After that, the tribe of Shimei slandered him. When David’s general wanted to kill off Shimei, David knew in his heart that all these things have happened because it was God’s discipline. If the Lord disciplines me this way, the Lord will tell me to stand up again. When Bathsheba’s firstborn died, nobody understood why David stood up, bathed, changed clothes, and worshipped and praised God. He again ate and regained strength. In the midst of discipline, his manner and behaviour were different. We must acquire this mystery. In our remaining days of 20-40 years on earth, we will enter the kingdom in the blink of an eye. In the remaining years on earth, we must continually battle. Days of running, battling, and sweating are what we must enjoy. Do not dwell on failures, or else we will lose a lot of crowns, and we will not be able to leave behind a lot of inheritance and blessings behind for our children and our descendants. If the Lord has given me 20-40 years, I will rely on God to be Holy Spirit- filled daily, fight, sow and reap! In these days, we continually meet important people and the era will be changed. When I leave the world, be like Paul, I have fought the beautiful war, the road that has to be walked, I have ran, the word that has to be kept, I have kept, now, only the righteous crown awaits me. Actually, we should not see this only when we are about to leave the world, but we can see it every day. Every night when we harvest what God has guided from morning to night, my heart’s intentions, the words in my mouth, my actions, and my expressions have fought the good war. Therefore, we must acquire this mystery.

When the days are up, God made David restore his kingdom. But when David was restored his kingdom, he remembered his days of sufferings, he contained and accepted all those who had rebelled and cursed him. This is the aftermath behaviour of a gospel man, the gospel way of repentance and going through discipline. The tribe of Shimei should be killed for rebellion but David let him go. In the end, Shimei went into curses himself, so that when he rebelled again, he had to be killed.

Passage Reading: Psalm 51

We should look at Psalms with the books of Samuel. When you next go to Taiwan or China, and you share Samuel, you share and read this together with Psalms. Most of the psalms are written by David, and they are all his psalms written when he sinned, was disciplined, in victory, in praise, and they revealed David’s very heart.

FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC. A PSALM OF DAVID. WHEN THE PROPHET NATHAN CAME TO HIM AFTER DAVID HAD COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH BATHSHEBA.

Ps. 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Religious repentance does not enter into the depths of the spirit. But the gospel repentance knows the root of sin. It already knows he has sin when he is in his mother’s womb, and is one who yearns to burn and die to this very sin. When such repentance happens, he will receive a newly created life.

Ps. 51:2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Ps. 51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Ps. 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

Ps. 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

David knew so clearly about the original sin. He knew that there was no way that moral ethics could cleanse him. He knew that sins must be uprooted.

Ps. 51:6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Ps. 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Hyssop represents blood.

Ps. 51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

When disciplined, there is an expectation.

Ps. 51:9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

Ps. 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

The heart and the spirit must be changed over.

Ps. 51:11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

In the spiritual heart of repentance, the discipline is gone through with very clear convictions of the Holy Spirit.

Ps. 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Ps. 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

When in discipline, the gospel way will result in wanting to have mercy on people and to bless people. David’s sin is so ugly, yet he tells Israel to sing every day and night! It is like he boasts about his sin. It is like pastors are not withdrawn to tell the likeness of their weakness. Who am I? “I am transparent” as you all know. All of us need forgiveness and mercy. Therefore David has mercy on others’ weaknesses, so that he intercedes, uplifts, emancipates, and strengthens people.

Ps. 51:14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Ps. 51:15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

After being disciplined, sanctified, he made more testimonies.

Ps. 51:16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

Ps. 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

This heart always wants to keep his life in check, and because of his weakness, he yearns to renew.

Ps. 51:18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.

David said, “Lord, use my testimonies to revive Israel and to build the walls of Israel”.

Ps. 51:19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Therefore, after sanctification, David bought a land, which was the same as where Abraham sacrificed Isaac at Mount Moriah, and it was the very place where Solomon built the temple. That was David’s very lifetime hope (of establishment of prayer), and he bought the land in Chapter 24 for this fulfillment in his heart.

2. “David” who sinned and received disciplined <11:1-20:26>

1) Committed adultery with Bathsheba, murdered Uriah, stole other people’s wife <11:1-27>

- Committed all the sins in the 10 commandments (do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not covet what belongs to others)

Do not kill

Do not commit adultery

Do not steal

Do not bear false witness: he lied to Uriah

Do not covet what belongs to others: greed for neighbour’s belongings, what did not belong to him

God is really the best editor of the bible.

- God allowed David to commit the worst sins, so as to show the power, discipline, and sanctification mystery of the gospel

God tells us that we really need Jesus Christ. Whatever sins God told in the world of mankind not to commit, David committed. Maybe we have done it in the heart by killing our brother when we hated him, commit adultery with others when we have lust, etc, but David did everything outright.

** The attitude of the gospel person in facing sin and discipline (know Jesus Christ’s precious blood)

1) Rely on Father God’s love, restore God’s righteousness -> importance of blessed life and living before committing sin

This is very important. Why could David be more blessed after sinning? (Of course, there was discipline.) Before sinning, he lived central to the tabernacle: he yearned and hoped to build the temple. David was so joyful in bringing back the ark of God that his pants fell. Do we have such a hope? When I was anointed as deacon, when my home was first opened up for prayer meeting, when I was announced a missionary because the pastor had confirmed my life, when I read theology, when I became a pastor and opened up a church, I was so happy and joyous. When many elders and deacons are risen, are we so happy so that our pants seem to be dropping off? Of course, we should be joyful always, as the sorrowful heart is wrong. But David is really different. Through this very joy and yearning in his heart, he received God’s promise and made covenant with God. God said, “I will surely be with you, I will cause you to be in victory, there will be revival in all areas. When you die, you will be recollected back with your fathers, but to your sons and descendants, this eternal kingdom will be eternally be established. Your descendants will surely be blessed!” Have you received this promise? If you have received this promise, you will see everything differently, and in the tabernacle prayer, you will see that there is goodness in everything. David was one who was ever victorious. He warred and defeated Philistines and Moabites, and he established system of rule: army commanders, officials, recorder, priests, secretary, and royal advisors. In the past, there was none of such happenings, but the nation of Israel now revived because of David.

Days of blessedness to sinning

Therefore, from the day one like how David was called and chosen from the creation of the world, he knew that God sent His blessed ones to share the gospel to him so that he could receive salvation. After salvation, his identify, belonging, purpose were all seen to be changed over. God’s promise, like what the whole bible has repeated countless times, he accepted, to see his past, present and future. By this promise, he had the fixed perspective to see what was happening in his family, church, region, everyday, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and when he did so, he saw that everything was God’s blessings and His love. When a person often experiences this, one day, he became flesh. Such things may happen. And it happened to David in the worst way. Not only was there murder in the dark, but there was also adultery, hatred, etc. There are different degrees of murder. If you kill with a motive even for a second, the American law says that your lifetime must be bound in prison. If not, it is only 5-10 years. Therefore, with motives in committing everything, David committed the greatest sin.

2) Thorough repentance.. must reach spirit’s depths.. -> total restoration.. not accused by past sins

Religious Repentance

Some people, when they sinned, receive total accusations, discouragements, and judgments, and they want to use their own methods to resolve their guilt. This is religious. Immediately, from a hero, he falls into such a state. Since past sins are not resolved, after they have revived, more accusations will come. Such repentance only takes place at the outer appearance. As a result of more accusations, it would enter into more legalism and create more laws. As days passed, pride will result. If they use their own methods to resolve, they will inevitably judge, condemn and accuse people.

Gospel Repentance

Gospel repentance reaches the spirit’s depths. A gospel person knows God, knows himself, and knows the relationship between him and God. He knows what is going to happen in the future. Because he has always experienced God the gospel way, even when he sinned, he will not let go of the gospel way. Look at the notes on the attitude of the gospel person in facing sin and discipline (know Jesus Christ’s precious blood).

He frequently has confidence towards his own life, and he often sees God’s love even if he is weak, meets with difficulties or lacks, so that his spiritual reaction is different when he faces sins and struggles. David possessed the eternal promise. He knows the blood of the Lamb, and he knows how to resolve sin. The 5 sacrifices in Leviticus tell us to enjoy the mystery of God’s love. David was often in the tabernacle; therefore his life knew the most holy place, so that every day, morning and night, he continued to live blessedly. After some time, his life fell, but he was different as he would not be accused by past sins. Such repentance will not lose eternal assurance.

During the course of discipline, David..

3) “Quietly wait.. renew..” when receiving discipline -> rid yourself of all the clutches and channels of Satan’s attack

There were times of sadness, but he knew that those were temporary. He quietly waited and discovered areas to renew. There will be attacks of Satan, but these form a picture "this are opportunities to taken in and resolve all the clutches and channels of Satan that can happen through my life". It is illustrated that when we are trialed in court, the sins are removed one by one as the sins are judged one by one. Discipline is not eternal, but temporary, therefore, there is an expectation of God’s new love.

4) Forgive others’ sins.. -> have mercy on others’ weaknesses, intercede, uplift, emancipate, strengthen people

After the gospel repentance, he forgave other people’s sins.

5) Praise God’s mercy and restore -> testify, exalt God’s works, bless people

The religious way of repentance will cause the person to want to hide his own ugly side, but the gospel way will want to testify.

We must clearly know the relationship between the gospel and sin

1) Original Sin -> Born again

Am I correct with God? Is He your Father? Are you His child?

What is man? Who am I? Man is not just what we see on the outside. But man’s life himself is eternal and invisible. When God created Adam, he was only clay, but God must breathe the Holy Spirit into it. When so, he could immediately stand up and see all the works of God and praise, He could also hear God’s voice, and converse with God. Man is alive. When sin comes, man died and the submissive heart disappeared. When the Holy Spirit left, he became, what is called, a dead man. Man must be born again so that he can receive a new and living spirit. Therefore sin must be resolved. This is by the mystery of the blood that is shed. Other than the blood of Jesus Christ, no spirit that is dead because of sin can relive. By the flesh, this is impossible to solve or understand. Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, “I know you come from the kingdom.” But Jesus Christ replied another, “If man is not born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus used the flesh to understand, “How can man be reborn if he is old? Surely he cannot enter the mother’s womb again?” He thought that man was just flesh and not spirit. Therefore, to born again, there is a need to understand the root of sin. He understood that there was actually sin from the mother’s womb. If that was not resolved, there was no chance for him to live. Born again is about uprooting this sin, and uprooting those curses and judgments along with it, and be willingly resurrected with Jesus Christ, “I am willing to accept this identity, plan and life that God has given me. It is not about what I hoped for anymore, but now I know and accept that God planned the conditions for me. This is my blessed family and times God has placed for me.” When one is born again, the Spirit comes in and he revives. Then he hungers for what God has already planned for him. Therefore he hungers for God’s word. In so understanding, he discovers that what he has hoped for and judged in the past are not according to the heart of God. When he checks for God’s will, he discovers that his past understanding of God, self, world, spouse, and children are all wrong! In the course of learning God’s word, our perspective, thoughts, perspective of values continue to change over. He then slowly restores everything to what God intended. Then he can do what God wanted to do, and his judgments will slowly be all correct. This is called a born again person. We are born again, but if we do not clearly know the things of God, we will transgress against God’s perfect will. Therefore, in the process of sanctification, with the gospel way of repentance and experience, our life will slowly be sanctified.

2) Relationship of the child and God

What is most important is how to uphold our hearts to be bold and fearless. Are we able to receive a heart of calmness? This is what is written in Psalm 19, “My Lord and my Redeemer, the words of my mouth and the intentions of my heart - my judgments, my actions, be pleasing in Your sight.” If we gather this, we will be able to receive the bold and fearless spirit, so that we are able to expect the Lord always. Therefore, for a person who sinned, he is in the state of not being in the born-again life, and it is of great priority that he must quickly be released. This is what is written in the main point 1 of God’s eternal promise as we covered last week. We must get our relationship with God right.

3) Purpose of life

The man who has not restored the purpose of why God created us, born us again, chose to be with us, he is still in sin. If your purpose has not changed, there is no righteous act. Righteous acts only starts when your purpose has changed. God’s purpose is to bless us, i.e. to born us again and to sanctify us. By this, He wants to to bless our flesh and blood, i.e. our family. God does not want us to acquire more things on earth (even for His glory), but to just bless people.

Sometimes, I see brothers and sisters wanting to do good, change their manner and serve God in church. However, if the purpose has not changed, what he does is not connected to the things of God.

4) Heart to restore and maintain God’s love

When we wake up, wake up to a heart to love God, love the people beside, and love our colleagues. Then we can judge gently and have gentle words to bless and encourage people. Love God and love man.

After our purpose has changed, the next most important area to change is love. Love covers all sins. “How do I love brothers and sisters, and my parents?” We will very quickly receive the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

There was a sister who had some fear when she needed to visit her father in the hospital. She called me as she was told by the Lord to bless him. How does the ability come about so that we can be courageous in all things? It is by love. Only when your heart can be reconciled with God, there is nothing that can rebuke and accuse your heart. What the Lord has shown you to do, you are willing to submit and follow, and you can be courageous. Then when you return home, no matter who slanders you, since you are a very important worker, priest and king of this age, God will then accomplish this for the sheep that you are going to pray and coach for. Therefore, if I were her, when I reached the hospital, I would just meditated on how I could love him, encourage him, thank him as my father and bless him. With this very heart, the Holy Spirit will teach you the very words to say.

5) God’s perfect will - submit

Then seek and test and approve the will of God. How should the father and mother live? How should I be an employee? The bible has told us every perfect will through all historical figures.

6) Every day willing to wash, weakness areas -> Be reconciled with God

In the past, we do not know God’s will and are often in weakness. But when we know God’s will, it becomes sin when we transgress.

(Discourse for recap)

Do we understand? If we have reconciled with God, we are bold and fearless. When we get the perfect will of God, we are willing to submit.

Thereafter, we only need to wash our own feet. In this process, we use Jesus Christ’s blood to wash and cleanse. And the state of my heart is left with love. 1Jn 3:21-23, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.” This is what we must check every morning and night in the tabernacle, if we meet with some accusations. If we met with some difficult circumstances, we just use this to check ourselves. After checking ourselves, we just need to be freed. Do not continually be accused. Then your “tomorrow” will surely be better.

Conclusion

1) How to be correct with God? Is He your Father? Are you His child?

2) Relationship

3) Purpose

4) Heart maintains God’s love

5) God’s perfect will - submit.

6) Every day willing to wash, in areas of weakness, reconcile with God.

-> Then bright future awaits us.

We have not sinned like David, but in our hearts, there may be sins. But we must learn from David. Before sinning, his life conversed with God, and he was able to walk with God, and see His love daily. If we are like him, when we fall, our reactions towards sin and discipline are different from how we would have reacted if we are not like him. During the process of discipline, there is an expectation, such that we beat Satan. Then we will be able to see God’s mercy and love. “People will beat you and come with the sword, but My love and righteousness will not depart from you.” For all those who have the promise, their repentance and sanctification will surely be different.

When we are prosperous, it is easy. The important thing is how we can restore when we are accused, or when circumstances cause us to struggle a lot. This is the gospel and the great power of God. If there are such struggles, come before God and resolve them. Then when you are ok, check if there are things in you that need repentance, and if there are, renew. Then come to be reconciled with God. No matter what has come to you, be free to eat, drink, work and sleep. Then another day when you wake up, new grace will come upon you. This is what we learn in our incompleteness or sin. Are there quarrels, conflicts, struggles, sin, accusations, or temptations? Use this. Then God’s gracious love will abound towards us.

We will share about the mystery of sanctification next week.

We must quickly get this bible overview. No matter where you go next time, you can build up the threads of thoughts of the bible. No matter what you read, you can always tell the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ to people.

Brothers and sisters, every time we come before God, our spirits must renew. Since we have met the omnipotent God and He has accepted us, we must be emancipated and acquire freedom to meet new hope. And for all the experiences you have gone through, put it before the throne of God. I tell you, God will listen. Then when we go home, we will continue to enjoy God’s grace.

Let’s pray.

Taken from Discipleship Training on 9th March 2007, 2 Samuel Overview Part 2.