Ezra Overview Part 2 - The Impossible Remnants Rebuilding On The Original Foundation
Why "Amen"
Most important living: understand the touch of God's love in the perspective of "spirit"
God's love: Jesus Christ (Emmanuel)
1) Vision (Purpose) = 4G
(1) Individual
(2) Family
(3) Region
(4) World
= Amidst all, I have received His love because of vision
2) Method (Prayer) = 5M
Method = Covenant -> Perfect Will -> Submit (God-driven)
Joy must come from inner soul
4G, 5M = Emmanuel - our spirit must be revived
Ezra: restoration of our faith in the light of "Enkindling the Spirit's Fire"
Books of the Law (Emmanuel message)
Books of History (David)
->
Belief Restoration Process
1) Ezra: First return: Rebuild the temple (reconstruct spirit, heart, body)
Courtyard, Holy Place, Most Holy Place
2) Ezra: Second return: Reborn / Regenerated Repentance = JX D&R
3) Nehemiah: Third return: Rebuild Holy City / City Walls
4) Esther: Dangers Amidst Rebuilding
5) Books of Poetry (5 books), Books of Prophets (17 books)
Two Great Outline of Ezra Overview
1. Chapters 1-6 - First return: Zerubbabel (King), Jeshua (Priest), Haggai, Zechariah (Prophets)
2. Chapters 1-7 - Second return: Ezra -> Regenerated Repentance, Renewal
Chapter 1: Eternal promise and Faithful fulfillments
1) Ab (4G) ->. Ms (Method) -> Dv (Accomplishment) -> Remnants (Restoration) -> Jesus Christ (Fulfillment) -> Church
*4G not to push us, but to tell us our very true self/belonging/destiny
2) Individual -> Family -> Region -> World -> Eternal Kingdom
3) Bestow (spiritual) blessings -> Presence with us, Guidance, Fulfillment
4) Return (answered)
The work of the Lord is swiftest with big problems
Empires: Egypt (head of Pharaoh), Assyria (Who is True God), Babylon (Captured Judah), Persia (Esther, etc), Greek (language of NT), Roman (all roads lead to), England (missions), America (TV/internet), China
Chapter 2: Remnants
(1) People who were remaining (Is 6:13 Stump.. Jn 15:1-9) True Olive, Wild OliveÉ CornerstoneÉ
(2) Remnants that appeared during different eras
Impossible done (Ab/Ms left hometown/palace)
(3) Remnants who returned
(4) Conditions of Remnants: Having Born again life, willing to walk the road of sanctification, lifetime RSYRJG
Born again life -> Sanctification -> RSYRJG
(5) To acquire the Remnants of this era: Remnants are discovered through hearing, believing, following Ab, Ms, Dv, JX
crux = Living Word: Hear word -> Believe -> Submit
=> Remnants are only waiting for proclamation of Cyrus to be instruments of God's great work
Chapter 3: Rebuild Temple
1) Build Altar on Original foundation (4G) / Moses' Law / Burnt Offerings (Complete Turning To) -- The Lord's arrangement / deny self and submit
(1) Individual: Self-purify - Outer body, Heart, Spirit (extent of cutting off of intermarriages)
(2) Family: Live for sake of family gospelization.. Love God love men, promise, test and approve, submit, wait
difficult to submit -> need to rebuild = circumcision
(3) Church: One Father, One Lord, One Spirit, One Baptism, One Body -> joined together, grow together -> Region, World
Message to unite -> the difficulty of one leader necessity -> same vision restoration from ssg to all
"Amen" is the proclamation of our faith. Every promise is "yes" in Jesus Christ. It is already accomplished, whether you have or not have seen. When you come before the Lord, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. If you are weak, is it that you are not submissive so His power is less? In Jesus Christ, the equation does not require us to add on with our submission. Because the Lord has said and it is true and absolute alone, therefore, we say "Amen".
The most important thing in our daily lives on earth is whether we have seen the love of the Lord for us. It is not whether we are too busy, being attacked or tired, but it is whether we have seen that He provides. Sometimes when my own weaknesses or discouragements hit me, I can praise God and thank Him, be even more submissive and love His children once I can see His love. When you are hit by His love, very wonderfully, your reaction after that is totally different from the state and attitude before that. Our life has spirit, soul and body. The spirit controls the soul, and the soul influences the body. Some people judge by seeing if one has the correct attitude or a positive attitude. No. The crux is whether your spirit is touched by your personal God Who already has great plans for you. Once you know, you will proclaim like David that you hear the Lord's voice and thus can be kept calm, and be housed in His protection.
We who serve the Lord must know the message of the Spirit. The message of the flesh is only on whether we do things correctly or wrongly. If we only judge people by such standards, we will torture people to death in our ministry. But we do not only know about spirit. Many churches only talk about motivational messages to allow our hearts to respond. The spirit must become alive and accept the love of God. Then His perfect will descend on him so that his bones and flesh can stand up strong. Many saints are weak and flabby. When they want to be revived, they fix on themselves the laws and protection from the worldly atmosphere. Yes, this is important also, but this should not be the first thing to consider. Man's spirit must be touched by the Lord's Spirit. The Lord says that His word is the Spirit. If you only know the bible by itself, the letter kills. However, if you know the essence of the bible, such that you receive the conviction by them, you will become consecrated and holy so that you will praise the cross of Jesus Christ.
The love of the Lord must also be understood from the perspective of "spirit". Many judge the love on them by the conditions given them. One person asked me, "If I think about something that will give me peace, I will receive peace. Is this correct?" However, there are a lot of things in the world that gives peace. Even Satan can give peace. Yet, when the Spirit touches one such that he receives peace in seeing God's arrangement on him and then he is willing to follow the Lord, this is the true peace of the spirit. Peace must be manifested from the Spirit. We cannot choose whether to stay on in our job or change a job by checking if we have more peace if we choose this or decide on that.
God's love: Jesus Christ (Emmanuel)
The greatest love of God is revealed in Jesus Christ. Some people says, "If I am sick, I will be healed". This is an incomplete understanding of Emmanuel. Since God has loved us, if we must see this love as far and as high and as broad on us, we must know what He has fixed on us:
1) Vision (Purpose)
God gives love all around us, but we do not see this love only by viewing about. It does not mean that if we do not have vision, the Lord does not love, but if we do not understand the love of God by the vision that is fixed by God to us, the love will eventually become Eros or conditional love. The highest love of Emmanuel must be seen in the eyes of the vision given us. Jesus Christ says, "I will bless you."
(1) Individual
(2) Family
(3) Region
(4) World
These are the 4 gospelization. If we must know how God loves us, we must see it by the 4 gospelization that God has arranged on the individual. I also have problems in my own family. But if you ask me where my joy comes from, I tell you that I am joyful because the Lord is using me in this great process of this vision. I am joyful because God has already prayed for my children and for using them, He let them go through what is needed. If we have a clear purpose/vision, we will always receive the love of God.
2) Method (Prayer)
God's method is prayer. This means putting the covenant with God central in our hearts. With this covenant, we acquire His perfect will and submit to it. This is God-driven.
Method = Covenant -> Perfect Will -> Submit (God-driven)
We may not conquer Canaan like Joshua, but our joy comes from knowing what the Lord has intended for us and by submitting to that. Solomon had the greatest wealth and the most number of wives and concubines but he was not happy. Hence no one will become happy because of wealth or women. This is meant to say that no one will be satisfied in his or her heart by the flesh. Some cried to their hearts and felt so good, but a day after that, they return to their dust of problems. Man must be satisfied in their inner hearts. Some are only happy or derive joy from things that are shallow. Some receive seeming happiness through their excitement in watching their own favorite soccer team or their loved race car win in the competition. However, it will die down. I realize that man has spirit. Therefore, if the spirit is touched, unlimited potential is going to come out of it. Let your life go into the method of God, and His prayers. You may fail or meet with unlucky things, but if you know what the Lord is doing, you will have joy.
Point 1) is the 4G, and Point 2) is about the 5 mysteries. We use the 4G to gather wisdom, and use 5G to live our lives. These 2 points are "Emmanuel". Some people know Emmanuel because they think that God has fulfilled according to their wishes. I bless you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. But I say again that man's spirit must become alive, then our soul will be revived, our body and bones will calm, our family living will then have wisdom, and our office work will have productivity. If our spirit has not revived, even office work and family living will become attacks to us. If our spirit has become revived, even if you sin like David, you will know how to restore.
The Ezra Overview is about restoration of our faith. I am still talking about the prelude towards the theme of 2008: Enkindling the Spirit's fire, and how we must join together in the year 2007 theme, and how to restore our faith differently. Our brothers and sisters' lives are different from others. I see that saints from other churches can praise the Lord in worship, yet come out and quarrel with others on the mobile phone, and then go back to worship and praise the Lord. However, our brothers and sisters are always thinking of how to solve their problems of imbalance, and we hang there with no fire. We must do it the right way - to restore the spirit before anything. Therefore I tell you that there is no way we can turn the television off even if we try. We must know the spirit. Since I turn on the television and watch 2 hours per month, I give you this challenge to do the same. So for coworkers here, I tell you to watch television for only 2 hours per week. I have prayed about how many hours of television our coworkers should watch so that our hearts and minds will not be affected.
Books of the Law (Emmanuel message)
Books of History (David)
If we have grasped the mystery of the Spirit, you will receive the authority of King David. David was the main character in the Books of History.
->
Belief Restoration Process
1) Ezra: First return: Rebuild the temple (reconstruct spirit, heart, body)
Courtyard, Holy Place, Most Holy Place
The temple must contain the courtyard, Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. This represents the body, heart and spirit.
2) Ezra: Second return: Reborn / Regenerated Repentance = JX D&R
The Romans broke down the temple to gather all the gold in the temple. To rebuild the temple, there must be repentance that is reborn or regenerated.
3) Nehemiah: Third return: Rebuild Holy City / City Walls
Ezra centers on rebuilding the temple and Nehemiah centers on rebuilding the city.
4) Esther: Dangers Amidst Rebuilding
In Esther, originally, the ballows were supposedly used for Mordecai, but God changed the whole thing and made Haman hang on them.
5) Books of Poetry (5 books), Books of Prophets (17 books)
The books of Poetry were written to allow us to understand the spiritual background of Ezra. The books of Prophets tell us that no matter what happens, the faithfulness of the Lord is on Israel.
Why must we repeat the Bible Overview again and again for the overview of each book? If we share on Ezra, we center on Ezra to share on the whole bible. If I share the books of the law, I can share on Malachi. We must grasp the Bible Overview and the essence of it. If we do not have an overview of the bible, we will not grasp the essence of the bible. If we do not know the essence of the bible, we will only go into the archeology of the background of the bible. Therefore, I discover that you do not read the bible, not because you are busy or because you do not like reading it. It is because you have not acquired the spirit or essence of the bible. One day when you are able to share on the bible, the spirit of Rev Lee and the pastor shall be on you to preach a fitting message for the congregation.
Two Great Outlines of Ezra Overview
1. Chapters 1-6 - First return: Zerubbabel (King), Jeshua (Priest), Haggai, Zechariah (Prophets)
Zerubabbel was the grandson of Jehoachin, the last king of Judah. The restoration of the kingdom was with the above people, king, priest, prophet. About 50,000 returned.
Ab -> Ms -> Dv -> JX -> Church
All these are to restore the temple.
2. Chapters 1-7 - Second return: Ezra -> Regenerated Repentance, Renewal
It is not whether there is a temple. It is whether you have the life which denies the self and follow the Lord. Therefore, God sent Ezra who knew deeply on the books of the Law. The Lord uses the Books of the Law to guide the nation of Israel; God does not lead anyone without principles.
Repentance, Renew
If there is no regeneration, what use is there for a beautiful temple?
Chapter 1: Eternal promise and Faithful fulfillments
Passage Reading: Ezra 1:1-8
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing:
God uses the word on the pulpit to fulfill everything. It is not the will of God to let a common man be able to predict whether we will have a child or whether our business is going to be successful. This is sinning
2 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
" 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Anyone of his people among you—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.' "
The survivors are the remnants. Underline these! You can imagine the order and command of the king then.
5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
If the Spirit of the Lord moves you, you are blessed!
6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. 7 Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god. 8 Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
Sheshbazzar was probably Zerubbabel, the name given by Gentiles.
1) Ab (4G) ->. Ms (Method) -> Dv (Accomplishment) -> Remnants (Restoration) -> Jesus Christ (Fulfillment) -> Church
Who totally grasped 4G and 5M? David did. Lastly, God accorded by the church to accomplish the promise.
2) Individual -> Family -> Region -> World -> Eternal Kingdom
When we are about to receive discouragements, we must immediately think like this: who is closest to me? My family is not typical. If for the region, you as a coworker know that you are honorable. Every time when I talk about 4G, I feel that you are not able to receive power. If you are in Jesus Christ, you are already in Jesus Christ. He is the way the truth and the life. If we require 4G to be blessed along with Jesus Christ, you will definitely be accused. But because we are already the most blessed, the 4G definitely belongs to us. If God loves us, He definitely has this purpose for us. Because of this, we use this purpose to see everything. This is our destiny. This is not to give us accusations and pressure, but to tell us to understand this purpose. It is not right if say we go to work without having a thought of 4G and we receive accusations. If we do not understand 4G, the meeting therefore continues to tell you who you are, and that you have 4G. If this is not cleared out, you will continue to be pressurized. Actually there is already the love of God. The Lord tells us to count His blessings, and this is not to accuse us but to let us renew and understand our belonging.
3) Bestow blessings -> Presence with us, Guidance, Fulfillment
These blessings are not only earthly, but they are heavenly and best blessings given to the most loved one with the identity of the child of God. For eternity, sometimes, there are training and sufferings to go through. The martyrs had the greatest glory, as the bible says. Sometimes, God also gives earthly blessings to all, but this is for eternal blessings. If we do not understand this, the theology of sufferings and the theology of prosperity will affect our ideology in our hearts and minds.
God does not only give us 4G, but also gives us the method. To be with us, He guides us, and fulfills it accordingly.
4) Return (answered)
It does not mean that it is answered only when the nation of Israel returned. Even when Israel was captured, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah were raised up to be main characters and to conquer the age. We must understand that there is no change at all. The scattering of the nation of Israel is called Diaspora. When the Jews were scattered, they built synagogues wherever they went, and the word spread. In Acts, for Passover, they came together to Jerusalem for 3 months on the road. Along the way, the gospel was preached. All these were brought about by the capture of Judah by the Gentile giants. Yet, when even the Gentile empires had kings who were quite sadistic, the work of the Lord was the swiftest. When you have problems, the work of the Lord is the fastest. I have seen a lot of examples and I concur with this. If you only think that you are successful when you have become a pastor or an elder, the golden period is already over. Do not only wait till then. I tell Deacon Zhiming to record all messages. When our churches get big, and people are discouraged, they just need to listen to the archived messages. They will gather and see the wonderful works of the Lord when they are able to have faith on the Lord in a congregation which only numbered 20-30. Therefore, we proclaim the word of the Lord with all faithfulness. This is going to bring the most beautiful testimonies. The small group leaders and the pianist must gather this view. God is actually doing the swiftest during this period.
God always seeks after the mainstream.
Empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greek, Rome, England, America, China
The Romans continued to conquer for 1000 years. America went through first and second world wars and in the second world war, America became the superpower.
The Lord broke the head of Pharaoh. Sennacherib came up and destroyed Northern Israel. Hezekiah prayed and Sennacherib was destroyed along with 180,000. Babylon captured Judah. In the times of Persia, even Esther was the queen and many Jews were noble figures. God raised Greeks because of their wide varieties of culture. They even have male and female gods. With the greatest culture, the language flourished. God used this. We just use an example and we know that in one word of "love", they had many words to describe it - "Eros", "Philia" for great love, and the "Agape" love we know well. There are even more tenses than English, such as to describe an event that it had happened only once in the whole of the history of mankind. Therefore, God caused New Testament writers to use the Greek language. The English empire was arisen not only to abolish opium, but it is the time where missionaries were sent throughout the world, and Hudson Taylor was one of the great ones sent to China. When America came up, the whole world came up to broadcast the gospel over the television and the internet immediately and globally. And in this 21st Century, no country can survive without China. The Australian Prime Minister John Howard came down recently and the new prime minister can speak fluent Chinese. Dealing and trading with Chinese is so much better as there are 1.3 billion customers in China. Therefore, there are such people as I. The China people have a nature that loves money and fame. They are inferior, and do not like to get in touch with people, etc. Yes, we talk about the history of mankind because of the gospel. This is because the bible says this from the every beginning that the gospel will go to Israel.
Chapter 2: Remnants
Passage Reading: Ezra 2:64-70
64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 200 men and women singers. 66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
68 When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas [b] of gold, 5,000 minas [c] of silver and 100 priestly garments.
70 The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.
These were the Remnants.
(1) People who were remaining (Is 6:13 Stump.. Jn 15:1-9) True Olive, Wild OliveÉ CornerstoneÉ
Jesus Christ said, "I am the vine, you are the branches." If we explain the bible in a way that we believers are one day cut off, we have explained the Bible incorrectly. Once saved, always saved. Lot was a blessed one and the Lord will surely save him. However, because he was weak, his descendants no longer believed Jehovah and thus his line was cut off. Israel believed, but God abandoned them so that they were assimilated with the Assyrians. This cutting off from the main vine of God does not mean the individual. If you only love the world and indulge in it, perhaps this is what will happen to your descendants.
<Is 6:13> => Stump (Remnant)
<Eph 2> We were originally not of Israel, but through Jesus Christ, we become Israel with them.
(2) Remnants that appeared during different eras
Abraham's father lived in Mesopotamia and therefore, did not know the Lord. The Lord told Abraham to leave the country, the culture, the idols, the purpose and methods of the place, then told him to go the place of regeneration, sanctification and inheritance.
These 70 people became 3 million people, including all women and children.
(3) Remnants who returned
(4) Conditions of Remnants: Having a Born again life, willing to walk the road of sanctification, lifetime RSYRJG
Born again life -> Sanctification -> RSYRJG
Therefore, the word "remnant" is very important. But who are the remnants? Those who believed Jesus Christ are remnants; those who restore the one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and especially those who understand "Born Again". It is impossible for the people to lay down their houses and properties to return. This happened to Abraham. Moses also left the palace of Egypt. This is not about being courageous. They understood "born again" and thus they will do at the crux of time. I definitely believe that you brothers and sisters, already know that there are no good things in the world to play with. Hence, the most important thing is already in our lives. We will be like them to leave the culture if need be. Actually we came out before, from our previous churches.
However, after coming out and setting apart from the world, we know the road ahead is a battle. And the remnants of all the remnants are those who vie to be sanctified and to glorify God, benefit men and build the kingdom.
However, why are there few remnants? Why is it that the hearts of the era of the current churches are of another type? This is because for a person to acquire life, he must be able to hear the word.
(5) To acquire the Remnants of this era: Remnants are discovered through hearing, believing, following Ab, Ms, Dv, JX
Hear word -> Believe -> Submit
If the living word of Emmanuel does not come, how can the spirit be revived? Yes, some are like Peter, who denied and ran away from Jesus. But because their inner hearts and intentions were different, when the Pentecost came, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. I believe that God has already acquired you. This is only the time that the Lord is strengthening you. If God gives the preacher on this pulpit this conviction, just continue to remain and hear, and enjoy the message. Though there are times that you are weak, when the preacher tells you the work of the Lord, you desire to become like a pastor, and want to be able to be instruments of the Lord's great work. Such a life is only waiting for the proclamation of Cyrus. When the church grows big and needs 3 preachers, such lives are only waiting. It is only because the length of time seems long so that we need to wait. However, such a process is needed because to conquer the land beyond Jordan River, we need 5 to 10 years. Patrick, since you lead the Sunday School, if you want to promote something and something does not happen immediately overnight because the mothers sometimes may complain here and there, view yourself as Joshua needing 3 years of training. Those who think that this is not possible must understand that this thought is a spiritual problem. Emmanuel is ever-present now. If you see the evidences now, over the years, you will grow more, have greater spiritual sensitivity and have more and more convictions, etc. Then, you will definitely conquer Jericho after crossing Jordan River. If you think that this is impossible, then this is a spiritual problem where you think that you may go back to Egypt one day due to some sudden discouragements. But you are already anointed.
Chapter 3: Rebuild Temple
Passage Reading: Ezra 3:1-6
1 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.
Building the altar on the foundation is important. Why did they do morning and evening sacrifices so that they gathered the prayers that had to be done? This is because they know there were problems awaiting to devour them - this fear.
4 Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.
This is the restoration of the Book of the Law.
5 After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the LORD. 6 On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, though the foundation of the LORD's temple had not yet been laid.
1) Build Altar on Original foundation (4G) / Moses' Law / Burnt Offerings (Complete Turning To) -- The Lord's arrangement / deny self and submit
The foundation is the same place where David offered sacrifices by the command of the Lord. This is the same temple. This is the belief of Jesus Christ. If we must restore the belief, we must return to the foundation, and not follow the new ideas or ideology of some pastors.
This is about totally turning to the Books of the Law. When you read, you must immediately realize. When Ezra restored the regenerated repentance, he asked people to even send away their Gentile wives and children. This is impossible, but God required them to do so.
(1) Individual: Self-purify
Outer body
Heart
This is of utmost importance. If you thank the Lord, you will not think of stealing, not giving taxes, etc.
Spirit
The truth of the Lord and the conviction that touches our heart is the spirit.
We must build the above 3 up. If I know that my spirit has problems, I immediately go into prayers. If I myself am correct, everything will be correct.
Ezra was so sorrowful then. In today's context, he is the pastor and many of the priests and Levites who are elders and leaders. This was the most difficult thing to do. He discovered that these assistants had gone into intermarriage. God told Abraham to send Hagar and his son away. Who can do this? God wants 100%. If we do not give 100%, our ministry and living will always receive accusations and lose power. God knows how much faith you have and your timetable. So what is the 100% that God requires? If you do not have 100%, you are dead. You will not be joyful and will continue to be accused. God's standard is Jesus Christ. Therefore, God did it Himself, to put His only Son on the cross. However, in your own timetable, look at this standard and do with all your heart, soul and might. Many times, I pray to God that I really cannot do so. Yet when I know my timetable, according to the faith given me now, I do my best. You can definitely reconcile with God if you discover that the things you cannot do is because of insufficient power. Only the things that the Lord already showed us very clearly - if the Lord tells you to go east, you go east, and if He tells you to go west, you go left - submit to the road. If you cannot but must watch 8 hours of drama a week, it is okay if you know your limits. But know the direction and seek out the way to let it reduce it gradually to 7, and so on, and eventually just 2 hours per week.
(2) Family: Live for sake of family gospelizationÉ Love God love men, promise, test and approve, submit, wait
One day, I discover that the true love to love our family members before they become believers, is not easy. It is easy to give them money. We know that there are some things we must not submit to our parents if we love them. This is not simple; especially if we were pampered from young. It is not simple to accept that one of our children will go ITE while the other to go University. It is not easy even for Christians to accept the hope that they be led by God in this earthly time. Therefore, there is a need to rebuild the family! The childcare teacher of my daughter told me to let her go for singing and dancing lessons on Saturdays. She seemed pitiful when she could not go. We understood this and when she came home, we explained to her the reasons of Saturday prayer meetings. This is family circumcision. There is also an instance when we must teach our daughter about having compassion on those without Christ. With that, she will be able to manage her emotions even if people do not care about her. This needs to be taught and family has to be rebuilt.
This is turning to God and really, doing burnt offerings.
(3) Church: One Father, One Lord, One Spirit, One Baptism, One Body -> joined together, grow together -> Region, World
Start small and let people come attracted. The church requires a leader with the message. If the church is not united, though there are ministers serving in small groups or serving in the Sunday School ministries, they serve distributed. If the church is not united like this, there will be hurts, accusations and voices here and there. Pastor Lawrence Kong said that in a church, the vision of Jesus Christ comes first, and the last is having a leader. This is very important and I concur.
Rev Leechull will come next week and bring the message to unite the church. This is so important. You must really pray. The church must have the vision of the pastor. The small group leaders must have the same vision transferred from the pastor.
Writing letters to the king does not solve the problems of the stoppage of rebuilding the temple. The prophets must be arisen: Haggai and Zechariah, to preach the united Emmanuel message of the Lord so that the people will arise and continue the rebuilding of the temple.
Last words
The Lord is doing great works in our church. No matter what may have happened, good or bad, all those who share the vision of Jesus Christ must receive the Spirit of the pastor. Whether they are trivial matters or quarrels, these are all of you sitting here. The things that happen to John's family, to the mother of Patrick, etc are all for us.
Transcript of Discipleship Training with Ezra Overview Part 2 on 30 November 2007.