Ezra
Overview Part 1 - Heart of Ezra - Make Every Part Of Me Holy, Lord!
JX gave 2 things for us to be anointed
1) Purpose
2) Authority (Submission)
Bible Overview
* Promise (4G) = I am the "David" of this
era, "Ezra" of this era, ...
-> give blessings as conclusion, problems are
blessings, submission has reason
=> Ezra: repent of need to rebuild temple, repent
to return to promise because of no joy even though we have answers
Old Testament
1) Books of the Law (Abraham's promise = 4
gospelizations, Moses' method = 5 mysteries)
2) Books of History: Joshua -> Judges (totally
failed) -> Naomi (Ruth)
grace in church vs fairness in the world
-> to unite kingdom from holy identity
3) Books of Poetry - spiritual backdrop
4) Books of Prophets - spoke in times of History
5) Four gospel books (Jesus Christ)
6) Acts and Church Epistles
1, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
1) David promise (grace), Solomon's glory (1, 2
Chronicles)
Promise -> Non-submission -> Restore
=> Pray correctly (do not ask from non-submission)
2) Ezra (10 chapters)
(1) <1-6> First return: Rebuilding the temple
Temple/methods/hearts/minds united -> mainstream to
raise (because life ministry must come first)
(2) <7-10> Second return: Repent, self-purify
Heart/perspective of Ezra: opposition/slanders from
outside, appalled at intermarriage from inside
-> Must repent! (seeing church/family captured by
world) - my responsibility: speech/actions to become balanced (Philemon) and
consecrated
-> Teachings to disallow new breed of problems
Repent of all enjoyment in the world: 脱胎换骨 -> then there will be no need to talk too detailed
that may accuse
(3) Remnants
First return of 50,000 thought true
belonging/inheritance much greater than family/property gained
belief of remnants exaggerated in eyes of
world
(4) Slanders, opposition
Syncretism vs Precious blood (Born again,
Sanctification, Serving)
3) Nehemiah: Third return
4) Esther -> Job
Spiritual darkness in restoration/repentance
Have we meditated more on the anointed life? Our life
must be ever more joyful, receiving the anointing from above, to touch people's
life. We receive anointing first, then we lead our families, lead in prayers
and lead our small groups. The reason why we are unable to stand up again from
our own weaknesses or guilt is because we have not received anointing. The Lord
Jesus gave His disciples 2 things for them to receive anointing:
1) Purpose
Anointing does not lie in your intelligence, worldly
position or speech. Some people will only lead a Sunday Christian for their
whole lives because their purpose is not deep. The anointing comes when you
decide to receive this purpose so that the potential of anointing is there for
you to be like Paul or our senior pastor one day. When you proclaim, "I
know why I meet with such problems today because of the purpose the Lord has
set before me", the potential anointing will have already come upon you.
2) Authority
(Submission)
The Lord Jesus gave authority for disciples to drive
demons away and heal people. He knows the one on earth who continually accuses
the saints. When we want to bless our family members, Satan is there to block
and harass us. We cannot use the methods of the world to bless thus. Therefore,
the Lord Jesus tells us that we must first receive the Holy Spirit and be
filled with power from on high.
We all pray for our family members. Jesus Christ did
not just give us the instruction to pray for our family members. He asked us to
pray with authority. If we do not pray with authority, we will be discouraged
when we do not see the works and response of the Holy Spirit. The Lord tells us
to go to work to acquire people. However, for the sake of this and the 8 hours
of work each day, we must have authority to even sit on the office chairs. If
we continue to have such authority everyday, the doors of evangelism will come
one day because we will have grasped the doors or gates of our enemies. If we
do not have authority as a protection such that we cannot overcome our
tiredness, busyness or discouragement, it is easy to quarrel and have cold war
in our family life. The Lord gives us purpose and He also gives us authority.
Authority is not about a form of talent or skill. Jesus
tells us that we must rely on His power. This means submission to His perfect
will and instruction. Authority is not something that we must exemplify. When
God tells us to go to the East, we will have received authority by just
submitting. If we receive problems in our jobs today but we continue to come
for discipleship training, doing so will allow authority to come towards us.
When we purify our hearts, we will receive strength in our hearts and we thus
receive power and wisdom, compassion and love for others. When things do not go
right, yet we know it is time to let go and give in to others, we gather
authority when we know we have received the pleasure of the Lord.
This week, I went to visit Suzy's son. I discover that
their family is really one who easily goes into debate. I continued to ask
whether I should go because I may end up wasting my life and time. However, I
know the Lord wants me to go since I have already agreed. That day, I went
earlier than the others. When the time of the Lord came, I received power from
the Lord and I asked Suzy, "When have you known the Lord Jesus?" She
replied that she knew Him since young. I told her that many knew Jesus but not
many changed as much. This was because the "need" for Jesus was different.
Instead of getting into a debate with me, Suzy calmed down and began to listen.
I then continued that man must meet God. After 10 minutes of evangelizing with
her, we went to meet her son. The son looked like a gangster, but talked to me
gently. Even as I went with tiredness, I went back with authority as I prepared
with much power for the meeting. I pondered where the authority for the good
preparation work came from as that Wednesday had been one of the busiest
periods for me, the Lord told me that it was because I submitted to Him. I know
this does not come from any of the skills given me, but it comes from the
submission that I have before the Lord. We must not continue to receive
discouragement, imbalance or doubts, or we will never have authority. If we do
not have authority, we will surely not be able to lead small groups or talk to
people well. If we have failed the last time, we just submit to His instruction
with His timetable and do His will the next time round. I know some will never
succeed in their relationships or their families because their hearts and minds
are already without authority. This is the most important in serving and
following the Lord.
To receive the gifts and rewards from heaven, we must
have the purpose. Motivational talks only dwell on authority. But with the
purpose, when we just follow what the Lord tells us to, we will definitely
receive power. No matter how a fish swims, it is not in freedom as long as it
is not in water. For us to have anointing, we must restore purpose and authority.
Bible Overview (Recall in the light till 2 Chronicles
and Ezra)
When we come for discipleship training, we must never
come with the heart to receive new lights. We must not come and receive new
knowledge and go back, but we must receive the instruction and purpose of the
Lord and thereby submit to Him. How should we read the bible? We must read it
in promise.
* Promise (4 gospelization)
From the 4 gospelizations, we receive the purpose of
God. Why must we read the bible with the perspective of promise? There are very
few Old Testament theologians, probably because the length of history is so far
away. Many people sleep when they try to read the Old Testament. Without
promise, we will not be able to read Ezra with meaning. The bible must be read
with the promise. No matter how weak I am or how much of a failure I am, God
revealed to me when I read the bible that I am the David of this era. When I
read Ezra, I am the Ezra of this era. When we receive this perspective of the
promise and use it to pray for our families, we will have received authority to
pray for them. The church has 40 people and also 40 different problems. If
every one of us looks at each other with some bias formed in our minds, we will
naturally like or dislike their character or actions. If it is not because of
the problems or weaknesses of the other guy, it is probably the problem of my
perspective. But when we have the promise, we will have the hope of the Lord
for him, no matter how difficult it may seem. Therefore, we continue to pray
out of faith and thus love.
Every Thursday when I go to visit Weisheng and
Jesslyn's family, I learn a lot. It is not upright if we only tell them what
they have to do and not to do (like restore God, be of one mind and heart pray
to receive authority over their children, etc) and nag at them with such
reminders. This is because we know that they can never do so with their very
nature now. However, the Lord tells me to just go and bless them. Looking at
their hunger and desire to receive the answers of the Lord, I know that their
child William will surely be good, if not even better than them when he grows
up.
We shepherd some of our small group members of the
problems in the world. Easily, we go into great insights of the problems they
have. However, we must have promise so that we will have hope on them so that
we will pray for them. The Lord says that such prayers of ours will be
effective.
Many people read the Old Testament and do not come to
much conclusion. I have read the Old Testament about 2 times and from my past
readings, I only acquired a conclusion that the Lord is faithful. However, the
light of the Old Testament comes to us about the need to rebuild the temple. It
is very superficial to just repent because of a sin as such repentance is from
the surface. We must repent such that we will receive the power of cleansing to
stand up and follow the Lord. This is Ezra.
When I read Ezra, I have a struggle. The Lord tells us
to receive anointing. I can see that our brothers and sisters have a lot of
answers in them. However, they do not have joy. Therefore, I know that the Lord
tells us to return to the promise.
When we receive the promise to read the bible, we
receive the purpose to submit. Then we will have meaningful, powerful and fruitful
results. We use meaningful, powerful and fruitful perspective. I live by
ÒeatingÓ the promise and I do not look at results.
Old Testament
1) Books of the
Law (Abraham's promise = 4 gospelization, Moses' method = 5 mysteries)
There is no use if we do not know the Books of the Law
but we know languages like Hebrews, Aramaic or Greek. 4G 5M is the start of the
bible and I have continued stressing this. The prophets of the bible continued
to use this 4G 5M to remind the kings and the people. You are a chosen people
to bless all nations. Have you remembered? I brought you out of Egypt to come
to the Promised Land. Therefore, whenever you are in weaknesses or when you
want to give excuses and reasons, quickly come back to the 4G 5M so that you
will receive strength. Though I have nothing, with 4G 5M, I have everything.
2) Books of
History: Joshua -> Judges (totally failed) -> Naomi (Ruth)
These are actually the fulfillment of the Books of the
Law. From the books of the Moses, the history of the bible came. Joshua started
the Books of History. When he conquered the land of Canaan, problems became
bigger. Listen carefully:
The lands were divided across 12 tribes. However, they
must live together, with different locations, background, living, ancestors,
etc. Even the 12 sons of Jacob fought against each other. The 12 tribes fought
against each other and problems come. I see that the world principles are more
fair and easier to manage. However, the church talks about grace. For example,
we know that the world has their own set of rules and system. Therefore, we
will not live and say, as we like. We will oppress people because if we go out
of the boundaries, we will receive punishment. When we come to church, we give
our temper. This is because the church talks about grace. Sometimes, children
are freer to roam about in church, because it seems that the church does not
have fairness and system. However, though the life of saints is like this, the
identity of saints is holy. Their lives are already reconciled with God. Though
Socrates had his great insights, God already hates his principles. The book of
Romans tells us the joy of Paul that when sin became greater, the grace of God
grows, and Paul finds it difficult to tell the gospel because we definitely
cannot therefore sin as we like.
The 12 tribes of Israel were really naughty such that
they lived for their tribal advantage. This is the result of the book of
Judges. The book of Judges says that Israel did not have a king. This is the
reason for David, who united the kingdom of Israel. The Reubenites, the Gadites
and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar and all the tribes came with
Joshua and wanted to go to war with them. A form of civil war seemed to start.
Joshua conquered Canaan but he did not unite the kingdom of Israel. As time
went, Israel saw that the Gentiles had their unity and system. Therefore, they
would marry their women and bring their gods in. We must read with
understanding Ezra's whole idea of how Israel failed as he saw the serious
consequences of intermarriage.
The best example of a totally failed person under
Judges' era was Naomi. Her daughter-in-law was Ruth. Naomi was so pitiful!
However, Ruth saw that she had the God who could restore everything! Therefore
David descended from her. Samuel was a very great prophet, however, his whole
life motive and meaning was for David, to anoint and to protect him.
After Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther form the
remaining chapters from the books of History.
3) Books of
Poetry
Israel's wisdom, songs are here. These are written in
the backdrop of the books of the Law.
4) Books of
Prophets
The 3 books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther had prophets
Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
5) Four gospel
books (Jesus Christ)
6) Acts and
Church Epistles
1, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Kings
1, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther are actually one book.
Israel refers to the 12 tribes in Kings, but 10 were
gone after 2 Chronicles. Israel was actually Judah after 2 Chronicles.
1) David
promise (grace), Solomon's glory (1, 2 Chronicles)
Therefore, our church should restore the grace of
David and the glory of Solomon. Why is it that our church does not look like
this? Simply said and as the whole history has proven, it is due to our
non-submission.
Promise -> Non-submission -> Restore
We must confirm this now and not go back only with
knowledge of this. We do not pray, "Lord, help us to become like
this" as this is the prayer found in the Buddhist temples. However, we
pray like this, "Lord, my family has the promise of David and the glory of
Solomon. There are things that are not like what it should be now. I know that
You are the God of restoration. Therefore, I pray that Lord, You restore."
To the family of Weisheng and Jesslyn, I do not see their family as a
problematic one, but I see them as so glorious and precious. Are we proud of
our own church? Do we serve with pride that our small group has the promise of
David and the glory of Solomon? If we have this prayer, our small group is
different.
2) Ezra (10
chapters)
(1) <1-6> First return
(2) <7-10> Second return
Therefore, 1, 2 Chronicles tells us that we must
restore the promise of David and glory of Solomon. However, the restoration is
not complete. Therefore Ezra wrote ever more clearly about how to restore. The
8 kings had a form of restoration, but they were not that successful.
3) Nehemiah:
Third return
4) Esther
There were a lot of slanders and opposition to the
restoration movement. The best example is Haman.
Ezra Overview (1st Session)
2) Ezra (10
chapters)
(1) <1-6> First return: Rebuilding the temple
Who is Zerubbabel? He is the grandson of Jehoiachin,
the last king of Judah. God is really faithful. Even after 70 years of capture,
all still looked upon the son of David as the king. Jeshua was the prophet
accompanying Zerubbabel.
(2) <7-10> Second return: Repent, self-purify
I read Ezra this Tuesday and I saw how the remnants
gave tithes and offerings. When they returned, they saw the dilapidated
Jerusalem. They were in much suffering because they met with much opposition
and slanders. There were voices from outside and there were opposition from
within resulting in intermarriages with Gentiles. Even the Levites and the
leaders of Israel with consecrated names intermarried. Ezra was so upset and
appalled that he exclaimed with much sorrow, "Lord, how can the Israelites
return? The world tempted them a little and they were enticed just like
that.." Though I am just 30 years old, I asked the Lord that the heart and
perspective of Ezra be given to me and to our coworkers.
Ezra read the Laws and decrees and told the Israelites
that they must repent. We must really be holy and be consecrated. Ezra returned
and this happened. Holiness is not just doing what the Lord tells us to do.
Holiness is seeing the state and conditions of the saints of this era, that
their concerns and heartbeat are captured by the world, and we feel sorry for
their pitiful states. Seeing this is called repentance, for our own families. I
am the first one to repent as a preacher of this church. Before I request our
brothers and sisters to do the same, I cleanse myself. James says that the
pastors shall be judged first, and the tongue shall be judged. Each time I go
back after meetings, I find that I will influence all. If I have a bit of
exaggeration on stage, the brothers and sisters are also influenced in a
similar way. When I am a little more legalistic, people will be a little more
judgmental. When I am more loose, such that we will not be accused, I find that
the brothers and sisters will be tempted by the world to chase after dramas and
anime, play games and talk about the things of the world. When I hear this
among brothers and sisters from the back, I have a little bit of repentance. When
people ask, "Can saints go for tour?" and I said, ÒYes, arenÕt the
children of God free to do anything?Ó I thought brothers and sisters will
understand about their freedom, but as it is in the nature of all humans to go
for the easy way out, they will go after because the heart will just go for it.
Yet when I tell some limitations, they will feel little bit tortured for that
month. For example, when I say we should beat our children, some gather courage
and beat their children. But sometimes we should not beat them but encourage
them. Really, being a pastor is difficult! When we have the purpose of
glorifying God, benefiting and building the kingdom, we are free to do so
because we will know when it is time to encourage and when to admonish.
Sometimes, when I encourage all to attend the 4 meetings, people will receive
accusations when I talked a little bit too much on that. Therefore, wherein
lies the fault? I know where this comes from. I know the perfect will of God is
different in different situations, but they must accord to the situations and
conditions of the brothers and sisters. I find that I have not taught this
aspect really well.
Paul wrote to Philemon that Onesimus must return, yet
wrote in such a balanced way of not wanting any obligations in between that if
Onesimus returned and had any debts, Paul himself would return Philemon, even
if Philemon owed Paul much as PaulÕs disciple himself. But a preacher cannot
give the vision and tells specifically what we should do or where we should go.
But when he is supposed to give the vision, and if we pray ourselves on this
vision, we will have the best balance of the thoughts, speech and actions
following. I do not mean to ask you to pray for me. I find that my wife Qiufen
also gets influenced by me. Of course, she has her own roles. When my words are
big, her words get also bigger. I am sometimes worried about this. However, in
this era, I know that this church of ours is quite orthodox. This week, I
continue to pray and confirm that our church continues to be united, has vision
and balance in all ways.
This is my own voice as I speak more today. If you are
a small group leader and you worry for the balance of your members, and are
willing to sacrifice some freedom in order to give them a better influence and
understanding, you will have acquired the heart of Ezra.
Ezra Overview (2nd Session after training break)
2) Ezra (10
chapters)
Because of loving the kingdom of God, we desire to
self-purify. And because of loving people, we do so. When I do not teach my
children well and we do not purity ourselves, I find that what is passed on to
them is a new breed of problems. Therefore, pray for me every morning. This is
my prayer, "Lord, am I worthy to lead this church?" God gave me
answers, "Yes as I find pleasure in you." I know that God will surely
give you too because you will have succeeded among all the Christians in the
world. Though brothers and sisters see me as worthy with wisdom, burden and
vision, the crux is the matter of Ezra who repented for the whole of Israel.
(1) <1-6> First return: Rebuilding the temple
For the first return, we must rebuild the temple for
uniting the kingdom of Israel. Our methods and minds must be united. The church
must have the mainstream to come up and be raised. Why must there be disciples?
For those who attend Sunday service, some are not even ready when the service
starts. When the mainstream is ready, they can lead the church and go forward.
There are a lot of people who came and left. Have we thought why God brought
forth this? When the church has even reached 500 people, a lot of churches just
continue to analyze the willing full-time minister and judge him from a lot of
perspectives to decide whether to give a $2000 salary. Does that mean it is not
a clear-cut case that the holy servant of the Lord is called into full-time
service for them? Without the mainstream raised up, many voices will come. We
must unite our hearts, concerns, etc.
The rules, principles, and practical things to lead a
ministry must be prayed over but they cannot be greater than the ministry of
life. I cannot always be with you. I have told you about being independent in
your own faith in finding Emmanuel. Your fields are different, and your small
groups are different. Though everything is different, we must unite everything
together. Without building the temple, we will never be able to unite the
church. It is not too difficult to lead this era, but we must pray for our
message and our voices to be one.
(2) <7-10> Second return: Repent, self-purify
We must really first self-purify when rebuilding the
kingdom. When Ezra stood appalled, the leaders of Israel told Ezra to stand up
courageously and just do what the Lord wanted him to do. Within 3 days, those
who did not assemble were expelled and had their properties taken away. That
time, they might have 7-8 children. It would seem really impossible, but the
men were asked to send their Gentile wives and children away. This repentance
is changing the bones of the infant, re-bearing everything. God wanted the
whole heart of repentance. The request of God is at such a level. Sometimes we
cannot do so; therefore God gave us the 5 sacrifices. Of course, we do not
resort to divorce now, but at that era, the voice of the Holy Spirit told them
to do so. With that kind of seriousness in the same context today, it means to
repent and consecrate ourselves of all the enjoyment in the world. There is no
need to tell those who have such a conviction in the heart to come to church,
to live central to church, or whether he or she can hear the secular music.
There is no need to talk about how to arrange our time. There are things where
the preacher cannot talk because the preacher is not God. If the preacher's
words equate to that from God, they will easily accuse the members.
Similarly with Nehemiah, when he saw the wall of
Jerusalem being broken, he broke into tears and fasted. Nehemiah was a slave,
yet he lived with joy before the king. Even the king knew that he had God with
him. When Nehemiah saw the walls being broken and the holy temple falling down,
he was in sorrows. Even the king could see and he asked Nehemiah what was the
matter in his heart. If nothing can move us, but such a sorrow can move us,
then the anointing of Ezra and Nehemiah has come upon us.
(3) Remnants
For the first return at 536 B.C., there were over
50,000 people. For the second return at 458 B.C., there were about 1,400 that
returned. For the third return with Nehemiah at 444 B.C., there were over
40,000.
The 50,000 people who returned for the very first time
must have been really so great that they were able to command our respect! They
already had their houses and lands, but they gave everything up when they had
the chance to return. They were really the remnants. In 1948, it was the same.
What is so important about the property and family inheritance? They are so
small compared to their real true belonging and inheritance.
Do not receive accusations today, but if today is not
the time that our hearts and message are joined up, the next 5 or 10 years will
be different for us to fully agree on the nobility of the remnants and to do so
like them. At the time when Rev Lee seemed too exaggerated, ÒPastors live
absolutely on God; money that is required will follow naturallyÓ, I know that
the pastor also requires money and my mind had already mixed with the world to
find it difficult to unite with my hearts. But look at what has happened now to
my family and I, and this shall happen to you also.
(4) Slanders, opposition
Syncretism (混合主义, anonym = Totalism 全能主义)
These were the northern Israelites who had assimilated with Assyrians
but they still knew the name of the Lord as Jehovah. They wanted to participate
in the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but the crux here was that Jerusalem and the
temple must be rebuilt not with syncretism that the northern Israelites had.
They knew the name of the Lord as Jehovah, but also accepted the gods of
Assyrians. Such is the plight of the saints of this era and we must be careful.
There must be precious blood.
Precious blood: Born again, Sanctification, Serving
This is talking about the total life. A man can become
like Paul and enjoy the promise of David and glory of Solomon by precious
blood. The saints of this era only go by convenience and they only think of
asking God for prosperity and peace. However, there is yet another group of
saints who emphasize about suffering for the Lord. There are imbalances in the
church, and such teachings only make us chaotic. The ideology has already been
assimilated with the world. Do not ask why I continue to criticize other
churches. I am already in the
church of this era. I listen to other church's message so that I can become
balanced. However, what I have discovered is that there is no balance in the church
of this era. The destruction that comes from messages that seduce weak widows
is really great. Widows mean the weak saints. We must all become teachers and
we have no choices. Even if we do not run around to teach like the pastor, we
may have to inculcate such values to our children.
3) Nehemiah:
Third return
4) Esther, Job
The Book of Job speaks about the spiritual background
behind the great spiritual darkness which blocked the restoration of Israel in
Esther.
We must really read the bible. In our old church, we
read the bible, but we must read the bible even more now.
Transcript for Discipleship Training on 23 Nov
2007, Ezra Overview Part 1.