Messages
Shepherd His Sheep
From Ruin to Rule (in 5 Steps)
By Dr. Timothy Lin
(Preached on his 90th Birthday, Dec 2000 Christmas in Los Angeles, CA)
From Ruin to Rule
Introduction.
Shalom brothers and sisters! We should all ‘rejoice and be glad’ on the Lord’s Day as it is granted to us from God for us to enjoy. Would it not be great if every Lord’s Day is like Christmas? The Bible tells us clearly “This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Therefore, we are to rejoice and be glad in it. Verses 22 to 24 in Psalm 118 are all about the Lord’s Day.
Verse 22 gives us the reason why there is a Lord’s Day. It is because “the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.” This marvelous thing is the Lord’s doing. Then, since God has done this marvelous thing, how should we respond? We are to rejoice and be glad in it. God is gracious to us. He knows that this world is full of pain and suffering. So, the Bible teaches us that the first day of the week should be a day of rejoicing and gladness. I wish the brothers and sisters would know that on the Lord’s Day, we should say, “This is the day which the LORD has appointed; it is a day that we are to rejoice and be glad in it.” Also, we need to, in particular, let our children know this. Let them feel that the Lord’s Day is a special day to rejoice and be glad in.” When the Lord came to this world, it was certainly a time of rejoicing. Every Sunday is Christmas! But if we know what is the hope that the Lord has upon everyone of us, we would rejoice even more!
When I go out to preach, I always asked brothers and sisters to recite five verses of Scripture. Thank God that they are happy to do that. The often say that when they are driving, they would sing these five verses at the same time. I hope that brothers and sisters would learn how to sing hymns as it is a joy. I often mention that God is with us but somehow we do not fell His presence. So, what can help us to feel that God is with us? One way is by singing hymns. I hope that brothers and sisters can learn to sing these verses well. These several verses from the Bible encompass the entire salvation.
Step 1. Lord, You have Words of Eternal Life- Believe in Jesus is to have Eternal Life.
The first hymn is from John 6:68. You should be familiar with the melody. Remember that you sang this in Sunday School? The words are:
“Lord, you have. Lord, you have, the Words of Eternal Life. Who else do I have? Lord, you have. Lord, you have, the Words of Eternal Life. Who else do I have?” This is our first step. Why do we have to believe in the Lord? If we believe in the Lord, we shall receive eternal life. This is what John 3:16 said, “Whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.” So, why do we want to believe in Jesus? The reason to believe in Jesus is to have eternal life.
What is eternal life? It is everlasting life. All life on earth is temporal, only God’s life is forever. So to have eternal life is to have God’s life! So everyone please remember why do we want to believe in Jesus? It is in order to receive God’s life.
Why do we need God’s life? The reason is that the Heavenly Father wants us to be His children. Everyone knows that the father-son relationship is a life relationship. After we believed in the Lord, we often say that we are God’s children. What does that mean? The meaning is that we have the life of the Father in us. This is what the Bible mentioned and why we need to believe in the Lord because He has the words of eternal life.
Once I asked a brother, “Have you believed in the Lord?” He said, “I have believed in the Lord.” I followed with the next question, “When you listen to a sermon, do you understand?” He answered, “I don’t understand.” Right then, I had the feeling and said to him, “Brother, watch out. Maybe you do not have eternal life because you do not understand the words of eternal life!” I hope that brothers and sisters pay attention to this. Today, many brothers and sisters listen to the words of the sermon and whether the words sink in or not are dependent on whether or not there is eternal life. This is a good test: When you listen to the words of eternal life, do they sink in?
If you do not have the words of eternal life, then you do not know God. Also, you do not know Jesus Christ. That is why you listen but the words do not sink in. May God help us.
I love you and I have to speak to you directly. You cannot take this casually with regards to if you have eternal life in you or not. If you have the Lord’s life, the words of eternal life will sink in. Otherwise, you cannot understand God’s word. Perhaps some may ask, “How can I have God’s life?” It is to believe in Jesus.
Some may say, “I believe in Jesus and I also come to worship on Sundays.” Brothers and sisters, going to Sunday worship is not the same as believing in Jesus. To believe in Jesus is whether you have received the life of Jesus! Have you received God’s eternal life? If you have not received eternal life, even if you go to church, you are still the son of destruction. (perdition John 17:12)
Perhaps some brothers and sisters love to come to church. You say, “I love church but I have not been willing to receive Jesus all along.” What do you call this? It is as in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Behold is a demonstrative particle that is like the word ‘see’. Behold is to see and pay attention. What are we to pay attention to? It is to the Lord standing at the door and knocking on your door.
Brothers and sisters, maybe you can say, “I have not seen Jesus but somehow I feel that I have to come and worship God, etc.” This is the same as Jesus is already standing at your door and knocking on your door. He is standing there at the door waiting for you. The moment you open the door, He will enter in.
Friends, do you know why you are unwilling to open your door? One reason you are unwilling to open the door is you are refusing the grace of salvation. May God help us. His words of eternal life require you to personally receive it. If you are unwilling to receive, you will not have it.
I often say that the air we breathe is God’s grace. But you have to inhale and exhale in order to allow the air to enter into your lungs. Moreover, it is not just once. You have to continue to inhale and exhale. We need to remember that we need to continue to inhale and exhale.
May God help us. He has the words of eternal life. Also, besides Him, there is no other who has the words of eternal life. The Bible tells us that eternal life is in Jesus Christ. So, you need to receive Jesus in order to have the words of eternal life because the words of eternal life are in Jesus Christ.
May God help us. If there is any among us who have not opened the doors of their heart and invited Jesus to enter, I hope you will receive Jesus soon. If we have already received Jesus, we can sing this stanza joyfully because we have already belonged to the Lord.
Let us continue to sing this hymn:
“Lord, you have. Lord, you have, the Way of Eternal Life. Who else do I have? Lord, you have. Lord, you have, the Way of Eternal Life. Who else do I have? Lord, you have. Lord, you have, the Way of Eternal Life. Who else do I have? Lord, you have. Lord, you have, the Way of Eternal Life. Who else do I have?”Step 2. Many are Called, Few are Chosen.
Following the first stanza, we now have the second stanza. It is from Matthew 22:16, “For many are called but few are chosen.”
These verses are sung like this:
“Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen? Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen? Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen? Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen?” Thank God, just as mentioned before, the Lord has prepared the words of eternal life. The Bible also tells us that the reason we can believe in the Lord is due to God’s calling. John 6:44 tells us, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day.” Jesus tells us personally, “If the Heavenly Father did not draw us, no one can come to Him.”
So I have always felt that to believe in Jesus is a miracle.
You believe in Jesus, have you ever seen Jesus? In your prayer, you pray always, “Heavenly Father, Heavenly Father!” But what does the Heavenly Father look like? You have never seen Him! Why? The key is faith.
Faith, what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” So, even you have not seen but you are sure, very sure.
If someone says to you, “You Christians are so superstitious!” I am sure that you will not accept it. I trust you would reply, “I know whom I have believed!” Thank God, this is God calling us.
Does God call everyone? The Bible also clearly says, “Our Savior who desires all men to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4) and “not wishing for any to perish” (2 Peter 3:9). So, if you are a human being, the Heavenly Father is more than willing to call you. So, it is telling us: are you are you willing to receive Him? If you are not willing, what good is His call to you? May God help us.
God’s grace is like this. Crace has an objective side and a subjective side. The objective side is to be called; the subjective side is to receive. May God help us. Do not fall for Satan’s trap. Perhaps “you feel that God did not call me, so I have not believed in Jesus.” When that day comes, I will say to God, “You did not call me.” But God would reply, “I have always been calling you, how come you have not received Me all that time?”
Please remember, God desires all to be saved, unless you are not a human being, As long as you are a human being, God is willing to call. Those who have believed in the Lord certainly should thank the Lord that He has already called them. So, if we can believe in the Lord, we have already received the call.
To believe is only the first step. The Bible tells us that there is a second step and it is to be chosen.
May God help us to understand that after we believe in the Lord, God desires that we can be chosen. However, the Lord knows long ago that many are called but few are chosen. This is normal.
As an example, we have many in the meeting now but in the Sunday School is not so many. This is just like what Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen.” The Lord not only called us, He also wants us to be chosen.
There isn’t a father who wants their children to go to school, register and attend class only. Their hope is that the children can graduate. So, did not the Bible say that you are to make disciples of all nations?
Jesus did not say that you are to go and make all nations to go to heaven. May God help us. God has a purpose for us to believe in Him. It is for us to be His students. The purpose for us to be his students is His desire that we are to be chosen.
We all understand that to be chosen is a bit harder. Just to register, pay the tuition and be a student is very easy. But to graduate is not easy. Many students feel that they will definitely graduate. But after they register and encounter difficulties, they will doubt. When will I graduate? Maybe I will never graduate!
So, after we believe in the Lord, we are students of the Lord Jesus. We must learn well; hope to be chosen and graduate. May God help us. He really has a great hope in us.
How come the majority of brothers and sisters did not know about this situation when they were called? I have told the brothers and sisters in Sunday School before. There are three types of people.
The first type is those who are not saved. They will be destroyed. I am sure that everyone knows. Because once you know, you are willing to believe in Jesus. Those who do not believe are just looking for trouble for themselves.
The second type is those who have believed in Jesus. While they have believed, they are not learning properly. They cannot graduate. 1 Corinthians 3:11 – 15 records: For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ach man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved (Please note this phrase: he himself will be saved), yet so as through fire.” It clearly tells us that there is a type of Christian who can be saved but he lost all the glory he should have.
The third type is the overcomers. This is Revelation 3:21 “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” This verse tells us very clearly that the third type is overcomers.
What will their future be like? God’s complete goal for salvation to save us can be accomplished. The purpose God created man is in Genesis 1:26. “To rule over all that He created.” Whatever God said, it will be so. However, nowadays, it is very unfortunate that many people have no trust in God’s words. So, ask God to help us so that we understand that we want to be chosen.
Another verse I often use in benediction is 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “The God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely” are very comforting words. Since our spirit, soul and body are preserved complete when Jesus Christ comes, we are without blame. This point is very important. It is very important to the faith of a Christian.
What is faith? It is in believing whatever God said in the Bible. It is pitiful that many people do not understand this word ‘faith’. People think that if they know what is in the Bible, they have ‘faith’. In fact, knowing is one thing and having faith is something else. Some may ask, “How can I have faith?” It is what the Bible said, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalm 118:18)
What is faith? It is when your spiritual eyes have seen the truth of the words. So, ask God to help us. To be chosen is not difficult. We believe that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
This is a very important verse. There are times we feel we can’t do this, we can’t do that when we serve the Lord. It is because you do not know this verse. The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Please remember that I can overcome through the Lord. Why would we be chosen? It is because Christ would help us. I am the Lord’s work and He has started. He will not stop halfway. It does not matter if we would stop halfway. He will not stop halfway. We need to believe that He can save to the uttermost. So, ask God to help us.
“Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen? Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen? Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen? Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen?” If we sing these verses often, they will remind us that we need to be chosen.
Step 3. No longer I but Christ Jesus Who Lives in Me.
The third stanza in the Bible verse hymn tells us the principle to be chosen. Galatians 2:20 tells us, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” (sing)
“No longer I, no longer I but Christ Jesus who lives in me, No longer I, no longer I but Christ Jesus who lives in me, No longer I, no longer I but Christ Jesus who lives in me, No longer I, no longer I but Christ Jesus who lives in me, Brothers:
“No longer I, no longer I but Christ Jesus who lives in me, No longer I, no longer I but Christ Jesus who lives in me,” Brothers and sisters often say that they want to be chosen, they want to graduate. What is the method to graduate? Very simple, it is to train ourselves not to live for ourselves but to live for Christ. Brothers and sisters, the Lord trains us for a purpose. It is to live for Him and not for ourselves. Then, how do you live for the Lord?
Romans 13:11 says, “And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Please remember that there is a key to being saved. 2 Corinthians1:10 tells us, “Who delivered (saved) us from so great a death, and doth deliver (saves) in whom we trust that he will yet deliver (save) [us]”. First of all, He saved us, second is that He is still saving us now and thirdly, He shall save us in the future.
Brothers and sisters please remember, there are three time periods for salvation. The Lord has already saved you from the great death. What is this great death? The word ‘death’ in the Bible refers to “We are death to God and our relationship with God is broken.” Now our relationship is restored. So, thank the Lord because He delivered us from so great a death.
But we are still living in this world. So what happens? He has to save us. There is a condition to be saved. You have to pray. This is what Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it shall be given you.” It is telling us that if you do not pray, it will not be given to you.”
This reasoning is very simple. If you do not inhale and exhale; air will not enter into your lungs. So, to live for Christ, one has to ‘put on the Lord’. What does ‘put on the Lord’ mean? Please look at 1 John 2:6 tells us what is to ‘put on Christ’: “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” In other words, if we say that we live in Christ, what does that mean? It is whatever we do, we do it according to the way Christ would do.
The meaning is very simple. Whenever things come upon you, you would always think what would Jesus do? If this does not happen to me but happens to Jesus, how would Jesus face and handle it and I will do the same. This is putting on Jesus. What Philippians 2:5 said is very important: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” The question is: how is our mind? There is a Chinese saying, “What is within will surely be seen externally.” So, if we want to be like Christ externally, the mind inside is very important. If the mind has not turned to the Lord’s word, it will be very difficult to do what the Lord wants.
For this reason, dedication is very important. What is dedication? It is the renewal of one’s mind. Romans 12 tells us that we need to dedicate ourselves.
Why do we need to dedicate ourselves to God? If we do not, we cannot prove God’s will. Our mind is not renewed and cannot understand God’s will. How can our minds be renewed? It is our mind that used to face east and now, it faces west.
In other words, we originally lived for ourselves but now by God’s grace, we live for Him from this point on. To train ourselves on this verse, it is whenever things come upon us, we need to think always if we are the Lord, if we are Christ, what would he do? Unless you do not want to be chosen by God, but if you do, you must take up training. Many things happen to us in life, we must think if it is Jesus, how would He handle it? Training comes slowly and gradually. No matter what happens, you always should consider if I am Jesus, what should I do?
This is a lesson that must be learned. Otherwise, you will not be chosen. May God help us. To live for Christ is not something that can happen overnight. It is gradually established by training. In other words, to be chosen is not something that happens quickly; it is a gradual process and then is chosen.
Step 4. By God’s Grace, Hold Fast the Truth.
The meaning of the fourth stanza of the hymn is to hold fast. Revelation 3:11 says, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” You all know that to hold fast is not a simple matter. There are many enterprises that the father runs well. Then the son is asked to take over but soon, it is bankrupted. It is not easy and many people cannot hold fast.
Judas was unable to hold fast. According to Matthew 10, when Jesus sent the twelve disciples to cast out demons, Judas was one of the twelve. So, ask God to help us to let us know that it is not easy to hold fast. When we know that it is not easy to hold fast, we would know that we need to depend on the Lord. Today, many are unable to hold fast because they do not rely on the Lord. If we often think that we are fine and have no problems, the moment we have such thoughts; we have left room for the devil without knowing it. So, if we believe and also depend on the Lord, we can hold fast to the end. The Bible tells us, “Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
This verse also mentioned that God has prepared crowns for everyone of His children. In other words, God has prepared every Christian to have ruling authority in His kingdom in the future. If you cannot receive the glory God has prepared in the future, it is proof that you have a problem with holding fast.
With regards to holding fast, I want to remind the brothers and sister in particular. In the past, when you hear a sermon, it is easy to receive. Now, gradually as time passes on, it seems that it does not have that much to do with you, does it? This is very dangerous. What should you do? You need to pray, “Lord, enlighten my eyes of my mind so that I can see.” The reason is Ephesians chapter one tells us clearly, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened so that we can see.” By God’s grace, we hold fast to the end. This has a lot to do with one’s aspiration in life. The one who has aspiration would say, “Unless I do not believe. If I believe in Jesus, I want to be a good Christian.” Then you can be chosen. I want to reemphasis, “Unless I do not believe in Jesus, but now I am a Christian, I will grit my teeth and do it well.” This is a secret to hold fast to the end. So, ask the Lord to help us.
So, the fourth stanza is:
“Hold fast all you have, so no one can take away your crown, Hold fast all you have, so no one can take away your crown.” So, by God’s grace, do not allow let others to take away our crowns.
Step 5. To Him that Overcome, I will Grant Him, to Sit on My Throne, even as I also Overcame and am Sitting on My Father’s Throne.
Revelation 3:21 is also a verse that can be sung. I hope that everyone can sing like this:
To him that overcome, I will grant him, to sit on my throne, even as I also overcame and am sitting on my Father’s throne.
One day, when we sing this hymn, how joyful and glad we will be!
“To him that overcome, I will grant him, to sit on my throne, even as I also overcame and am sitting on my Father’s throne.”Conclusion.
Now let us sing all these five verses once:
“Lord, you have. Lord, you have, the Words of Eternal Life. Who else do I have? Lord, you have. Lord, you have, the Words of Eternal Life. Who else do I have?Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen?Many are called, few are chosen, Have I been called and been chosen?No longer I, no longer I but Christ Jesus who lives in me,No longer I, no longer I but Christ Jesus who lives in me,Hold fast all you have, so no one can take away your crown,Hold fast all you have, so no one can take away your crown.To him that overcome, I will grant him, to sit on my throne,even as I also overcame and am sitting on my Father’s throne.”Closing Prayer.
“Heavenly Father, be merciful to us so that we can often sings these verses. It is impossible to do in our own strength. But I thank You Lord, you told us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Give us sufficient faith to believe that He who hath begun a good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Thank You. We pray in Jesus name, Amen.
G. & L. Shen
Translated 2013 04 02
