Good afternoon brothers and sisters.
I am the second Chinese brother who is
responsible for the afternoon session.
Yesterday you met the other brother Kong.
The one who begins with C, now with
K.
So we just bow our heads before the
Lord for a brief word of prayer.
Lord our hearts are just full because you
filled us with yourself.
We thank you for your speaking to your
people in such power and such clarity.
We bow low and worship you.
Undeserving as we are Lord and yet you
keep showering upon us, blessing.
We thank you for mercy and Lord the
fact we are able to sit this afternoon
in this auditorium, Lord it's by grace.
Your grace brought us to this place and
Lord we take grace by faith for all
we need this afternoon.
So Lord we look to you to present
yourself with us in a mighty way.
Lord make us conscious that you're with us.
Thank you Lord for your kingship, that you're
ruling over your people.
We commend our time to you.
Use it Lord for your purpose and for
your glory and for the edification of your
people, for the preparing of a people that's
neat for your kingdom.
We give thanks, give praise and praise the
Lord Jesus.
I always stand here with a great deal
of hesitation because the more I try to
learn to serve the Lord, the more I
discover how impossible it really is.
I'm convinced more than ever that God's work
only God can do.
God's word must be spoken by himself.
We are simply but instrument in his hand.
So for those who have some measure or
some capacity in serving the Lord, we all
sense that way.
It is tremendous responsibility not just to our
brothers and sisters but to the Lord because
when we stand here we're representing the Lord
himself.
So it's a very serious matter.
But as I meditated before the Lord these
last few weeks, in fact a few months,
about this afternoon, nothing was really clarified before
me by the Holy Spirit, not until a
few weeks ago.
You know the theme for this conference is
Thy Kingdom Come.
And when I was approached by the brethren
in Richmond about the affiliation, they said just
share the burden of your heart.
You don't have to be confined to the
theme.
Now if you're given a theme, that would
be much easier because you have some direction.
But they said just share whatever the Lord
has laid in your heart.
Share that.
Now that's tough.
And I tried.
But I don't seem to be able to
move away from that theme, Thy Kingdom Come.
The more I meditated before the Lord and
reading his word, this phrase, Thy Kingdom Come,
seems to be coming to me in such
a force that I just couldn't get away
from it because of the urgency of the
time, the days that we are living.
So if the Lord willing this afternoon we
will look into the Old Testament, 2 Samuel
19.
We'll read that account.
Let's record it for instruction.
And by the help of the Holy Spirit,
we hope we can learn some lessons together.
Now just to give you a little background.
You know in chapter 19, it was about
David's return to Jerusalem to reclaim his kingdom,
his throne.
But before that, we have the rebellion of
Absalom.
And David and a few of his followers,
they retreated across Jordan.
And in 19, we have the account of
how David was brought back to Jerusalem.
So with the Lord willing, we're going to
consider a few points.
What it takes for the Lord to come
back to his throne.
So shall we turn to 2 Samuel 19
and read some verses together.
Let's begin with verse 9.
Now all the people were in a dispute
throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The
king saved us from the hand of our
enemies.
He delivered us from the hand of the
Philistines.
And now he has fled from the land
because of Absalom.
But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has
died in battle.
Now therefore, why do you say nothing about
bringing back the king?
Then David sent Zedok and Abiathar the priest,
saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying,
Why are you the last to bring the
king back to his house, since the word
of all Israel had come to the king,
even to his house?
You were my brethren.
You were my bone and my flesh.
Why then are you the last to bring
back the king?
And say to Amasa, Are you not my
bone, my flesh?
God do so to me and more also,
if you are not commander of the army
before me, continually in place of Joab.
So he swayed the hearts of all the
men of Judah, just the heart of one
man.
So they sent this word to the king,
Return you and all your servants.
And let's turn to verse 31.
Shall we?
Verse 31.
Then Barzilla, the Giladite, came down from Rogillum
and went across Jordan with the king to
escort him across Jordan.
Now Barzillai was a very aged man, 80
years old, and he had provided the king
with supplies while he stayed in Mahanaim, for
he was a very rich man.
And the king said to Barzillai, Come across
with me and I will provide for you
while you are with me in Jerusalem.
But Barzillai said to the king, How long
have I to live, that I should go
up with the king to Jerusalem?
I am today 80 years old.
Can I discern between good and bad?
Can your servant taste what I eat and
what I drink?
Can I hear any longer the voice of
singing men and singing women?
Why then should your servant be a further
burden to my lord the king?
Your servant will go a little way across
the Jordan with the king.
Why should the king repay me with such
a reward?
Please, let your servant go back again, that
I may die in my own city and
be buried by the grave of my father
and mother.
But here is your servant Chiham.
Let him cross over with my lord the
king and do for him what seems good
to you.
And the king answered, Chiham should cross over
with me and I will do for him
what seems good to you.
Now whatever you request of me, I will
do for you.
Then all the people went over the Jordan
and when the king crossed over, the king
kissed Basil and blessed him and he returned
to his own place.
Just a portion of verse 40, the first
half.
Now the king went on to Gilgal and
Chiham went on with him.
That's all the verses we will read for
this afternoon.
Now brothers and sisters, as you read this,
as we have read this portion, you notice
that there was talk about the coming back
of the king.
There was talk.
Talking about the return of the king and
doing something about it are quite different.
Now there's much talk in our days about
the coming of the lord.
There's much talk and the lord heard about
it.
But in this account, the lord sent two
priests, particularly to the elders in Judah.
He said, why should we be the last
to bring the king back?
And he told them, he said, I'm your
brethren, I'm your bone, I'm your flesh.
Why should you be the last?
Brothers and sisters, if we honestly look into
our hearts, when we say we want the
lord to come back, brothers and sisters, that
statement is not a reliable statement from our
part.
We talk about his return, but yet we
are not preparing ourselves for his return.
In this account, you notice one thing, as
though the lord is waiting to be welcomed
back.
Now we find that true in the last
chapter of Revelation.
Three times the lord said, behold, I come
quickly, but he did not come.
And he's still not with us.
We are still not with him.
Why is there a delay?
There's talk about his coming.
And he said, behold, I come quickly.
Why is it a delay?
Brothers and sisters, it's our heart's condition.
There is a big gap between our lips
and our hearts.
The lord would not come if we merely
say, lord, come lord Jesus, without a yearning
from our heart.
Now you notice in this passage, that beautiful
words, that beautiful phrase, the bone, my bone,
my flesh.
It's mentioned twice here in this passage.
It's very meaningful.
Very meaningful.
And we'll consider it in just a little
bit.
So what would take us?
How much the Holy Spirit needs to work
in us to bring us to such a
stage that the lord will find it comfortable
to really come?
Or indeed, he's welcome to come.
So I think we should go to the
New Testament in just emphasizing a few facts.
I think it's very essential.
In the New Testament accounts, the gospel, the
epistles, as well as the book of Acts,
there are three facts that are most outstanding.
One fact is that the lord Jesus, our
lord Jesus, the son of God, he has
come to this earth 2,000 some years
ago.
Historically, he did that.
And he came and accomplished the work of
the father, his God, accomplished it.
And now he has gone away.
Now that is a fact.
Resurrection is a fact.
His ascension is a fact.
His glorification is a fact.
He is now seated at the right hand
of the father.
He is there.
That is a fact.
We find in the accounts of the New
Testament.
The second glorious fact is that on account
of his exaltation, the promise of the spirit
is now poured upon this earth, giving to
the church.
And the holy spirit is here with us.
The third fact is that in the scripture,
we are given this blessed hope, the promise
of his return.
These are three basic facts we have in
the scripture.
Every time the lord is there, when we
come around the lord's table to remember him,
these three facts are visible right there for
us to feel.
We remember what he has done for us.
We remember that we are here to bear
the testament of Jesus, who he is, what
he is like.
At the same time, we are to remember
him until he comes.
Most of our remembering of the lord on
the lord's day, we have a backward look
at what he has done for us.
It is all for our good.
But as far as we look forward to
that day of his return, brothers and sisters,
we overlook that fact.
It is because we overlook that fact, sometimes
in our remembrance of the lord, it is
not that strong.
It is weak.
Because the ultimate hope of everything is his
return.
These three facts are very, very essential.
And every time we come to the lord's
table, we are reminded of those three facts.
What he has done, what we are here
for, and what we look forward to.
Now between the two comings, we have the
presence of the holy spirit here.
Now some people call this the dispensation of
the church, or dispensation of grace, or dispensation
of the holy spirit, the altar.
And what marks this present age from all
the other ages is the activity of the
holy spirit in the hearts of the redeemed.
He dwells in our hearts and he dwells
in the midst of us.
Now what is he doing here?
As we look around, among the lord's people,
I am afraid there is some confusion.
I think the issue of the holy spirit
is very confusing.
But if we look at the scripture, look
at the first coming down of the holy
spirit and the last ministry of the holy
spirit in the book of revelation, we see
that the holy spirit has one work in
view.
Whether it is giving gifts or whatever the
holy spirit does, he has that one thing
in him.
The holy spirit has one purpose, and that
is declaring Christ, revealing Christ, incorporating Christ, or
you want to put it, reproducing Christ in
us.
In other words, preparing us, getting us ready
for his return.
The goal of the holy spirit is to
bring the church to that point when the
church, the bride, and the spirit can set
it together in unison.
So you can see, the lord in fact
is waiting for us to welcome him back.
Like 2 Samuel 19, David sent word.
He said, are you going to be the
last to bring me back?
And when the tribe of Judah heard it,
somehow their hearts will unite as one and
they will sing with the kings in our
return.
Now before we can arrive at such a
point that we can all say together with
the spirit come, there is much work that
needs to be done in our hearts.
Now, like in this gathering here, I know
some are ready.
Some have been saying to the lord, come
for a long time.
The lord hasn't come yet.
Some are learning to say, come now.
And some say, well, just wait for a
little while.
I'm not quite ready yet.
But the holy spirit is very patient.
He is waiting until there will be a
corporate representation of the body of Christ can
say together in unison with the holy spirit,
come.
Then he will arson in his kingdom.
Now for the holy spirit to work something
into us brothers and sisters is not very,
very easy.
We heard this morning how impossible we are
for the lord.
But thank god for the holy spirit.
He is a patient teacher.
He patiently works in us and with us.
I just want to call the attention of
the ministry of the holy spirit this afternoon.
How does the holy spirit prepare us for
his coming in the light of the story
we read on 2 Samuel 19.
Let me take you to Paul's epistle, Romans
8.
You recall those beautiful words, predestined, Romans 8
.28, the last 29, 30.
Predestined and called and justified and glorified.
Those he predestined he called, those he called
he justified, those he justified he glorified.
Then if you read Romans 8 with 2
Corinthians 3, 2 Corinthians 3 is the chapter
of the ministry of the holy spirit.
So if you read those two chapters you
will notice that justification is simply God's way
of preparing a clean and suitable ground in
our hearts for the holy spirit to begin
his work of transformation, of changing us from
glory to glory.
Justification is not the end.
Justification is the beginning of God's way of
preparing in our heart a suitable ground for
the holy spirit to begin the work of
transformation, to change us from glory to glory.
In 2 Corinthians 3, verse 6, we have
that phrase, it's the spirit that gives the
life.
The letter here, but it's the spirit that
gives the life.
The life we have, brothers and sisters, is
given by the holy spirit.
Born by the spirit, the life in the
spirit.
The holy spirit gives life to us.
And then when you come to verse 17,
the holy spirit gives us the liberty in
the spirit.
Life is not enough.
That life needs liberty in the spirit to
what?
To be changed, to grow from glory to
glory.
So 17 we have the holy spirit, he
gives us liberty.
Liberty from sin, from the world, from the
flesh, from everything that's contrary to God.
Set us free, so that we can behold
the Lord of glory with unveiled face.
Brothers and sisters, if we are not free
from all that is contrary to God, if
we try to behold him, we'll be condemned.
So when we are set free, we are
given the liberty to behold, to be changed.
So we, that familiar verse, as we look
into the glory of the Lord with unveiled
face, and as we look, we are being
transformed into the same image.
Now if you read D'Arby's translation, he
says it's not just a reflection, it's the
same image.
It's Christ incorporating into us.
And as we look, we are changed from
glory to glory, just as the Lord the
spirit himself.
Now this word just as, or even, you
want to put it in a more ordinary
day language, this changing us from glory to
glory is precisely, exactly the work of the
Holy Spirit.
That is the work of the Holy Spirit.
So the gift of the Holy Spirit are
not an end in themselves, it's to change
us from glory to glory, preparing a people
fit for the return of the Lord.
As we learn to behold the Lord and
sit in his presence and enjoy that life
and that liberty, in my recent meditation, and
as I look back into my own life,
I just thank the Lord.
I believe the first gift of grace the
Lord has given to each of us is
the gift of discernment.
To me that is very basic.
That is fundamental for a Christian who walk
every day, and who is to know what
is of the Lord, what is not of
the Lord.
Now isn't that essential?
Otherwise we'd be so confused.
You wouldn't know how to follow the Lord.
You don't know how to walk down here.
So I believe the most precious gift that
the Holy Spirit has given to us as
we behold our Lord Jesus is this gift
of discernment.
What is of the Lord, what is not
of the Lord.
What is pleasing to him, what is not
pleasing to him.
Isn't it our experience brothers, the moment you
say you have that, something you've been doing,
now you cannot do.
Something you don't want to do, now you
know you ought to do.
There are places you had to go, now
you cannot go.
There are places you don't want to go,
and now you say go.
It is Holy Spirit, it is discernment.
You know something, there's an inward knowing what
is of the Lord, what is not of
the Lord.
And to me that is the most precious
gift.
But what I'm saying is that gift doesn't
stay there.
That gift has a tremendous potential as we
behold, as we look to the Lord, and
that gift, that discernment gets sharper and sharper
and refined.
So that we not only know what the
Lord has done for us, oh wonderful it
is, but now we are getting a deeper
perception.
We are getting a penetration, a keen insight
into who this person is, the Lord Jesus.
Not just his work but his person and
his office.
Now for most of us we know something
of the work of the Lord Jesus.
What he has done for us, we know
something.
But few of us know the person.
Few of us know the office of the
Lord Jesus.
But as we behold and learn to wait
upon the Lord, we are given this insight.
This insight comes by beholding him or waiting
upon him.
You know most Christians, we look at the
Lord only once, the day we are saved.
That's it.
There's nothing more to look to him.
He is my saviour.
But what is he to God?
He is God's sole heir.
He is God's anointed king.
He is God's priest.
He is God's prophet.
He is the ruler of everything.
And he is the centre and heart of
God the Father.
He is the centre of all God's purpose.
He is the beginning and the end.
And he is the beginning and the end
of all God's activities and all God's doings.
And the Lord himself in revelation said, I
am the beginning.
I am the end.
I am the first.
I am the last.
So the question, brothers and sisters, we have
to ask ourselves from time to time, at
least myself, when the Lord looks at me,
when the Lord looks at you, when the
Lord looks at the church, and as he
sees me and sees you and the church,
how much that's of himself that he can
find in us.
That's what he's looking for.
Now let's go to 2 Samuel and see
what we can learn together this afternoon.
Once we see him as king, as we
heard last evening, our place is submission.
King demands total submission.
Now in the account that's before us in
2 Samuel 19, and if you know the
previous chapters, you will notice when David was
retreating from Jerusalem, I would say that he
was retreating from Jerusalem temporarily because of Absalom's
rebellion.
Temporarily.
Why temporarily?
Because if you read the account, you know
when David sent his troops back to fight
with the troops, the soldiers of Absalom, the
outcome of that battle was never questioned.
You remember he told the generals in all
his troops, he said, when you go fight
the battle, you be kind to what?
You be kind to Absalom.
The outcome of that battle was in David's
mind, it's already settled.
So he told the generals in the troops,
he said, now just be nice to him,
don't kill him right away, don't kill him.
Preserve his life.
So I said temporarily.
But you notice one thing, when David was
retreating from Jerusalem, it's when we are in
a crisis, spiritual crisis.
Our true heart is revealed.
So when David was retreating from Jerusalem temporarily,
the thoughts of many hearts are now revealed.
Whether they know they are king or not,
it's now revealed.
So many of the Israelites, they abandoned David.
Many of them, they fighted with Absalom.
Why?
Because outwardly, David was no man.
Weak, maybe.
Few were his followers.
And Absalom was a young man.
And you read Absalom's account, you know how
good looking he was.
You know, his hair and all that.
They said from the top of his head
and to the toe, there was no defect
in him.
You see, in this country, when somebody runs
for president, they're always looking that his wife
should be the best looking lady in the
land.
So all Israelites, they were drawn to Absalom.
He was young, charming, and he had a
popular support.
He knew how to influence people and make
friends.
You know how he did it, don't you?
And so they thought David was just like
any other king, earthly king.
You know, so when you're old, you're finished.
But here we see the contrast.
For those who really knew David in heart,
those who really had a real close relationship
with him, David is no ordinary king.
Because in verse 21, chapter 19 of 2
Samuel, we have that phrase, he is the
anointing of what?
Others, they saw him as just any ordinary
king.
But those who knew David and the history
of David, they said he was different.
He was God's king, the Lord's anointed, not
like Saul, man's choice.
Absalom was man's choice, but David was different.
David was God's choice.
God brought him to the throne.
God gave him the throne to rule over
his people.
God was behind David.
And so those who knew David and followed
him closely, they knew any attempt to drive
David out of the throne would be impossible,
because David was God's chosen man for that
throne.
And so they resisted the rebellion and they
sided, retreated lovingly, willingly with David.
Basila and those who gathered around David, it's
at a time of adversity, it's when David
was retreating, they came to him, to his
support.
You know, brothers and sisters, when someone is
retreating, seemingly on their feet, it would be
very foolish for you to come and support
that person.
But for those few that came to David,
there was no doubt in their heart that
David was not just an ordinary king, David
was God's king, God's anointed.
Because they knew that in their heart, they
came and gave themselves to David.
Their devotion to him was uttered, because in
their heart, David was their legitimate king.
All the others are counterfeit or usurpers.
He alone was worthy of their submission, and
the kingdom was rightfully his.
They took that ground with David.
Now this insight, brothers and sisters, for those
few that really loved David and recognized him
as anointed brothers and sisters, because of their
life around David, they were his closest friends.
They maintained an intimate relationship with David.
They saw something in David.
Now brothers and sisters, applying to our life
down here, as we behold the Lord, as
we draw nigh to the Lord, as we
learn to wait before him, we unveil faith.
It's then, brothers and sisters, we can recognize,
we are given the recognition that he is
not just a savior, he is God's anointed
king.
The kingdom is rightfully his, the throne is
his.
It's not easy.
Because this world system has rejected the God's
king.
When he was on earth, they insulted him,
they rejected him, and they crucified him.
But brothers and sisters, we, those who are
loved by him, redeemed by him, enthroned by
the Holy Spirit, and through the life that's
given to us, and the liberty in the
Spirit, through faith, brothers and sisters, we can
enthrone him now in our heart.
So we heard this week, today the kingdom
is a mystery.
Why?
Because it's hidden.
Where?
In our hearts.
So brothers and sisters, we can enthrone him
even now in our hearts.
And the work of the Holy Spirit, brothers
and sisters, is simply to make room in
our hearts, in our lives, for him to
enthrone.
Room for him, more room for him.
Now the Holy Spirit is always beautiful.
As I shared a few minutes ago, the
Holy Spirit has this one aim.
Whatever he does, he has the Lord Jesus
in view.
And it's a work of glory, because he's
the Lord of glory.
If we can allow him to enthrone in
our hearts, the throne speaks of glory.
It is a work of glory.
If we long for the Lord to return,
brothers and sisters, to set up his kingdom
on this earth, we must be willing for
him to set up his throne in us
now, in the church.
That is the only way, that is the
way the Holy Spirit paved the way for
his coming.
It must begin with us.
If the Lord cannot do that work in
us, in me and you, brothers and sisters,
we are delaying his coming.
May we see him as king, God's king,
our king, and learn to enthrone him in
our hearts.
You know when you talk about the Lord's
coming, we always think about signs.
What are the signs of the Lord's coming?
In time the Lord did tell us some
signs.
Brothers and sisters, we are looking for signs
of his coming, but what do you think
the Lord is looking for?
He's looking for the right condition here.
Signs are really secondary out there.
The primary sign he looks for is the
heart condition.
Is there a welcome sign in our hearts
for his return?
That's what he's looking for.
So, may the Lord help us.
Now, the second thing is that as we
gaze on the Lord of Glory, when we
unveil his face and the Holy Spirit is
doing the work of transformation, changing us from
glory to glory, our love for him increases.
Why?
Because our appreciation for him increases.
Our appreciation and love more or less go
hand in hand.
How much do you appreciate your love?
So, as we value him more, his worth,
our love for him increases.
But if you read the account of Barzilla,
he gave everything to David because David was
his king.
So, he gave everything at David's disposal.
Imagine supporting David and all his men, I
don't know for how long a period.
Imagine that.
Look at the resource he has there.
And he gave all those things at David's
disposal.
For instance, out of love.
Love for David.
Any true giving to the king must be
out of love.
Not just obligation, because he's a king of
love.
Barzilla, he gave in his faith.
He sustained David all those days with the
hope, with anticipation that one day will come
soon that he himself will personally have the
privilege to escort David across Jordan.
Now, you think of that.
That's unfaithful.
To reclaim his rightful throne.
See, our loving, our giving has something in
view.
Barzilla, in his giving, loving, he has something
in view.
He has given him everything with the view
that one day will come that he himself
will personally have the honor to escort David
across Jordan on his claim to his kingdom.
Now, brothers and sisters, that's some giving.
That is giving with a purpose.
You know, the Lord's Prayer, Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done.
As I meditate on this story, you know,
I just discover myself and the fellows in
South Jersey, when we come and pray, or
I pray personally, we ignore the first half
of the Lord's Prayer.
We all concentrate on the second half.
When it comes to say, give us this
day our daily bread, boy, we pray with
real faith.
Oof, we really mean it, because we are
afraid to go hungry.
But when it comes to say, Thy kingdom
come, our hearts will not laugh, because we
do not love the king.
We love the things of the king, we
don't love the king.
You know, in this country, we don't even
pray, give us this day our bread anymore,
because when you go home, you have a
refrigerator full of food.
And some of your housewives, you have your
menu for the week all planned.
You know exactly what you're going to have
when you go home.
We don't pray.
But for those who are able to pray,
Thy kingdom come, only those who really love
the king, the love of the king, will
pray that prayer.
That prayer issued out from the depth of
the heart, out of a relationship with the
king himself, out of a light of beholding
the king, and knowing down deep in your
heart that the kingdom is his, the throne
is his.
Brothers and sisters, we know very little about
the Lord, and we don't know what he
longed for.
So we are still very self-centered Christians.
May the Lord change our priority from self
-centeredness to kingdom-centeredness.
May the Lord help us.
The king requires our submission and our love.
Next, I believe this love has to translate
into something very, has to be tested, has
to be tried.
It's a loyalty out of the heart, loyalty,
a true commitment, a surrender of everything.
Now we read that Bartholomew was a man
of means.
Some versions say he was a great man,
and some versions say he was a rich
man.
Now when he was given his all to
David and his men, what do you think
the reaction from his family, from his friends,
what do you think were their reactions?
Particularly at this time, when the revealing of
Absalom seemed so strong and so promising, and
David seemed so weak.
And here this man, he cast his sluts
with David.
What do you think of his friends?
What do you think?
I'm sure many of his friends and relatives,
they question his wisdom, particularly at this time.
Is this the wisest thing to do?
I just want to share this with you.
There's a brother in the Philippines, he was
involved in one of the candidates during the
election, and he thought this candidate was a
sure win.
So he cast sluts with him, but unfortunately
he was a loser.
And when he was out of the office,
when he didn't get the office, for instance,
half of his business was just wiped out,
because he sided with the wrong party.
He always goes for the winner.
And family and friends, they say, now this
is the wrong time to do it.
Look at David, he's not in Jerusalem.
Look at Absalom, my, he's overlooking and all
his followers.
They question his wisdom, but Bartholomew was unmoved.
He was unmoved.
Why?
Because down deep, he has an inward knowing
that David was God's king.
So when we take a stand for the
Lord, we'll be challenged.
If we do not know the Lord deeply
and intimately, we may be shaken by it,
that Bartholomew stood his ground.
For instance, that's what the Lord is looking
for among his people.
He is not with us.
We do not see him.
Yet by faith, we can keep this ground
for him.
This world always rejected God's king.
It asked for Barabbas, the murderer, and the
religious world is still crying and shouting, we
have no king but Caesar.
But what is our cry?
Our cry is hallelujah, he is one, he
is king.
That is our song.
So for instance, Psalm 2 becomes a very
meaningful psalm.
We don't see him, yet by faith we
know God's king is in Zion.
The next lesson I think we need to
learn is that as we approach, as we
grow in the Lord, the Lord has a
lot of refining work in us.
Because our love for him, our loyalty to
him, everything that we do for him is
so mixed.
At first, it's a lot for us, very
little for him.
But he's looking for that first love, pure
love.
He's looking to look at his people and
he can say those beautiful words.
I think those are the most beautiful words
in Garden of Eden.
When Adam looked at Eve, he said, now
this is the flesh of my flesh.
They are born of my bones.
I think those are the most beautiful words.
It's me.
You remember in 2 Samuel 5 when Israelites
came to Hebron to crown David king over
all Israel.
And the same phrase was repeated.
They came to crown him king and told
him, David, we are your what?
We are your flesh.
We are your bone.
We are your what?
We are your flesh.
We are here to crown you king.
There is an echo there.
Those same words were repeated.
The Lord is saying, I'm your flesh.
I'm your bone.
I'm your flesh.
Can we say to him, we are your
bone, your flesh.
Can we?
But in 2 Samuel 5, they came to
David and they said, we are your bone,
your flesh.
We are here to crown you king.
And he became king over all Israel.
Well, you know, our love for him, our
loyalty for him need to be refined.
And we find that in this story.
Let's look at verse 32 and 33.
Bartholomew was a very aged man, 80 years
old, and he had provided the king with
supplies while he stayed in Mahanaim.
And he was a very rich man, in
verse 33.
And the king said to Vasilei, come across
with me.
I will provide you while you are with
me in Jerusalem.
Oh, what an offer.
What an attractive offer.
Brother and sister, if we were in his
shoes, he'd say, okay, I accept.
Now and then he'd say, I deserve it.
Look what I have done for him.
I have given all to him and now
I get some back.
That's fair.
That's how we are.
But what was his attitude?
What was Bartholomew's attitude?
Verse 36.
Your servant will go a little way across
the Jordan with the king.
And why should the king repay me with
such a reward?
He refused.
He declined.
An offer from David the king, he declined.
So we can see here, Bartholomew was attracted
to David as a person, as a king
in his office.
Not what he has done for him or
what he can do for him.
If you read further down to verse 39
with me, and I think this is most
beautiful.
Then all the people went over Jordan.
And when the king had crossed over, the
king kissed Bartholomew and blessed him.
Of all the commotion at that moment, everybody
is there greeting the king.
If you read the story, there were a
lot of people there.
The tribe of Judah and there were others.
There was a lot of commotion there.
And yet, Bartholomew was seen to go out
by David and he kissed him.
What honor.
You know, with Bartholomew, I'm sure we all
agree that his greatest reward was in seeing
David regain his kingdom.
That's pure love.
That's first love.
That's what the Lord is looking for in
the church.
And may the Lord grant us that love.
May the Lord purify us each day of
the week, each day as we live on
this earth.
That our love for him will be refined,
will be purer and purer.
He's looking for that first love.
And only first love will permit him to
occupy that supreme place.
Now lastly, I want to share something maybe
a little more practical with most of us.
Bartholomew refused to go to Jerusalem to enjoy
the palace life, the court life.
But he was preparing somebody to go with
David.
And I most beautiful picture I can see
here.
Some Bible commentaries say that Ching Ham, his
son, went to Jerusalem on the merits of
his father.
It was because his father's relationship with David
and that's how he got to go to
Jerusalem.
And I don't think so.
If I'm wrong, correct me.
You can see that to supply David and
his men with all the things they need
is quite logistic planning.
And for an aged old man, 80 years
old, he has to rely on a lot
of help to carry all these things out.
I have no doubt that his son played
a very, very important part in supplying David's
need.
And on many occasions, I'm sure this young
man had a personal contact with David.
I'm sure the father said, now I have
something that's very special.
Now don't give it to the captains.
This is something special.
Just give it to David.
I'm sure there are many occasions like that.
You remember David himself had that experience when
his brother was fighting Goliath and the father
said, now you take all these things with
you, not to your brothers, but he has
some special thing for the captains, you know,
special for the captains.
So the father said, now you take care
of all this supply, but he has something
special, something that's better.
Now reserve and make sure that David gets
it because he's king.
Love, expression of love.
I'm sure.
We will do it.
So I don't think it's on the merits
of his father.
I think he himself came to know David.
So Bartholomew's business was kingly business.
He loved the king.
He wanted to see the king in throne
in Jerusalem.
And Bartholomew is not himself is doing it.
He's influencing his offspring.
Brothers and sisters, there are a lot of
families, father and mother, they love the Lord.
How about their kids?
It makes me very sad to see husbands
go to the church and wives not there.
Or wives there and husbands not there.
And the parents are there and kids aren't
there.
If loving the king is that important to
you, don't you want your kids to do
the same?
If loving David is your life, don't you
want to see everybody in your family love
that king?
And many of our housewives, we advise our
kids to all kinds of activities, gym, gymnastics,
and that lesson and that lesson.
Nothing wrong with that.
And make sure we remind them, king's business
must be number one.
Others we can do, but king's business comes
first.
So when I read this account, it's so
beautiful, you know?
Verse 40, that first half.
And now the king went on to Yorgo
and King Ham went on with him.
My Lord, what a beautiful phrase there.
Brothers, if we don't get to see the
Lord's return, are we preparing the next generation
to welcome him?
Are we?
Do we have that responsibility?
Do we?
I believe we do.
That's why the Lord has given these offsprings
to us, to prepare them for the return
of the Lord.
We had a part to play.
And if you look into Bible dictionary, you'll
notice Barthelat, the meaning is iron.
In other words, his devotedness to his king's
business is utter, unmoved, totally committed, loyalty, love,
submission, purity, iron, iron will.
Nothing moved me.
And because of his utter devotion to the
Lord, his son saw it.
And king said, yes, there is an outtaken
with me.
And he went on.
He left his inheritance and went to Jerusalem.
We have big responsibilities as parents.
If we ourselves are longing for the king's
return, for instance, are we preparing our sons
and daughters to do the same?
Are we?
In the Lord's words.
Now, just to give you some more encouraging
words.
You know, Qinghyang is a very interesting name.
It means longing.
Because the father has such longing, such iron
will for the Lord, and the son longs
for him too.
It rubs off longing.
So in a sense, he also longed for
David to be king.
And so he went across with David to
make him king in Jerusalem.
You know, recently we have a Chinese family
fellowshipping with us in South Jersey.
And he's beginning to read the Old Testament
books.
And he came to me and said, Brother
Wu, you know when I read the Old
Testament books, a lot of names sound like
Chinese.
And this Qinghyang sounds very much like Chinese
names.
Yeah.
But you'll notice one thing.
It's a beautiful story.
To see an aged father loving the Lord,
and yet his son also loved the Lord.
My, what a beautiful picture.
That is the most beautiful picture we can
behold nowadays.
That itself is tremendous testimony that father and
son are one in heart.
In Brother Harry Foster's book on Bible Catholic,
he said, God's king is determined that the
man who had been true to him in
his rejection shall have a permanent place with
him in his exaltation.
That's what we see here.
In his rejection, Barcelona came alongside.
And now another Barcelona's son sits with King
David in exaltation.
Now more than that, if you turn to
Jeremiah 41, just touch a little bit as
we conclude.
Jeremiah 41, verse
17.
Now, we cannot go to the background of
this, but one of the governors installed by
King Nebuchadnezzar was murdered.
And then some of the Jews, they're now
running away to Egypt.
They're fearful of their life.
And so this is what happened.
Verse 17.
And they departed and dwelt in the habitation
of Bethlehem as they went on their way
to Egypt.
So when they were departing from the land
and skipping for their life, they were refreshed,
ministered in Ching Ham's habitation.
So hospitality and refreshing, refreshing their sins has
been the ministry of this family for ages,
for many generations.
So here we find it.
And they departed and dwelt in the habitation
of Ching Ham, which is near Bethlehem, as
they went on their way to Egypt.
A place of spiritual refreshment.
Now there is some speculation whether it's true
or not, because it's mentioned Bethlehem here.
And so some tradition, we're told that when
the Lord was born, there was no place
that would receive him, because they find no
place for his birth.
And the only place is in Bethlehem.
He was born in Bethlehem in Egypt.
And so some thought the site, the estate
of Ching Ham is the very place where
the Lord was born.
The old body of Bartholomew received David the
king, and the future generation of the same
family received the greater David, the king of
kings.
But we need that among us people.
So it's a challenge to parents, to the
older ones, whether we must love the Lord
with all our hearts, with all our mind,
with all that we are.
And to see to it that our offsprings
likewise, so may the Lord help us.
And may the Lord make us a prepared
people that will really welcome him here, not
here.
Not just talk about his return, but make
ready for his return.
Don't look at the outward signs, but look
into ourselves.
And that's the road.
How much in me, how much in you,
how much in the church that when you
see, you can say, that's myself, that's me.
And the work of the Holy Spirit is
incorporated into Christ, into us.
And brothers and sisters, the Lord is waiting
to say those beautiful words, first uttered in
Genesis 2, now.
Now, why now?
This word now.
Now, this is the bone of my bones,
the flesh of my bones.
Why now?
The way he's waiting.
Now.
So may we be a people that are
eager to hear those words, now, you are
the bone of my bones, the flesh of
my bones.
And together we can say, Lord, we come
to enthrone you because we are your bone
and we are your flesh.
And that will usher in the Lord's return.
Father, we want to confess again our total
inadequacy, but we thank you for the adequate
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We do pray that you continue to teach
us Christ, reveal Christ to us, form Christ
into us.
Lord, we desire you to increase and we
to decrease.
Lord, we long for that day when you
look at us, you can say, now, you
are the bone of my bones and the
flesh of my flesh.
And Lord, do it for your glory.