Sunday Message - Today Jesus 127

07/10/07
<Matthew 22:41-26>

HOW IS IT THAT DAVID CALLED HIS SON, “LORD”?

Read <Matthew 22:41-26>
• Jesus Christ is the Lord of Israel, Jerusalem and the whole world
• He had the authority to clean up the temple and taught them the lessons on spirituality
• The Herodians used the matter of paying taxes to test Jesus Christ, but were shamed instead.
Likewise, the Sadducees were also shamed when they tried to test Jesus Christ on martial matter
• The Pharisees were being taught a lesson when they tried to test Jesus with God’s word
• Then it was Jesus Christ’s turn to ask them a question
• Jesus Christ asked His followers, “who do you say I am?” in <Matthew 16>, and subsequently
told them not to reveal who he really was
• Now the time has come for Him to tell everyone that He is Lord and He is Christ
• When Jesus Christ asked the Pharisees and teachers of the law in <Matthew 24:41-46>, they
would have to make a decision. The decision on whether to believe or not to believe in Him
• We were also made to make a decision when we didn’t really know who Jesus was then. During
then, we won’t have chosen God unless we’d known Him better
• Those who are still unsure of who God really is will only call God, their Lord when they are in
church. Although they may go to church every week, they are their own lord as soon as they step
out of church
• When the time is right, we will have to make a decision also. Can Jesus Christ really become the
Lord of our lives? Is He worthy for us to follow Him with all our lives? Can we rely on Him or do
we rely on ourselves for answers and methods?
• How blessed are those who have passed this questioning! We will all have to pass this, one day
just like how a young child has to grow up one day
• After we have passed through the big question once, we will need to pass through it daily.
However, passing through it daily is easy after we have been through the big question once
• We cannot remain lukewarm before the Lord
• In which area are we not able to love the Lord? We cannot remain busy. The Lord wants us to
pass this today

1. “One question” that ends all tests

- “If David calls him ‘Lord’, how can he be his son?” No one would say a word in reply, and
from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions
1) What is the hidden meaning behind Jesus Christ’s question? Why is it that none of them are
able to answer Him? And why is it from that day on, no one dared to ask Jesus Christ any
more questions?
- During then, everyone knew that Jesus was the “Son of David”. Ref: the two blind men in
<Matthew 20:30> and when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem in <Matthew 21:9>
- What Jesus was asking the Pharisees was this, “Not only am I, son of David, I am in fact,
the Lord of David; are you able to accept this?”
- It was recorded in <John 8:56> that Jesus used the example of Abraham to talk about
Himself, saying, “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it
and was glad.” And He even told them, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
- They dare not question Jesus Christ anymore, but they’d also refused to accept Jesus.
Instead, they wanted to kill Jesus
 • All the Israelites knew that Jesus Christ is the son of David, just like all church goers
today will know that Jesus Christ is the Lord
• Even though the Pharisees knew that Christ is the son of David, they still opposed Him in
their hearts
• The question Jesus Christ asked them comes from <Psalm 110>
• The Lord always asks people the most important question at the most important moment,
just as in <John 8:56>
• Each time the Lord tells us the truth; we will have two reactions. We either follow or
oppose, accept or reject
• The areas that we couldn’t accept are the areas that Satan will use to attack us. Thus, we
must defend against Satan in those areas

2) Everyone has different perspectives on Jesus Christ. However, they can be grouped into two
categories: People either believe or not believe that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God to
come”
- <Matthew 16:13-20> Jesus asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” There are
many different answers to that. Thus, Jesus asked again, “Who do you say I am?” and
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus blessed him,
saying, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah”
• God wants to ask us all our lives, “Who do you say I am?”
• Some people will think that Jesus is John the Baptist or Eljiah. All these answers are
incorrect
• However, Simon Peter, the one who was most easily excited, was able to give the correct
answer
• What does “Christ” means? It means the Great Prophet, the Great Priest and the Great
King. He is the all-problems solver. He is the Messiah. He is the anointed one. He is the
Son of God and the Son of Man who lives in us.
• Everyone does not understand this truth. After Peter had given the answer, the Lord told
him:
(1) You are Peter (ie rock) and on this rock I will build my church
(2) The gates of Hades will not overcome it
(3) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven
• The keys of the kingdom of heaven are already given to us. Therefore, we are able to use
the power of kingdom of heaven

3) There are many people in the church. However, those who truly know that “Jesus is the
Christ” are rare. Therefore, there are also very few who can really acquire “Christ’s life”, enjoy
“Christ’s power” and build “Christ’s church”
- Many believers are living a powerless life without authority because they “do not know
Christ”. They can’t help but to “deny Christ”
- It means they do not know, know wrongly, or has known partially only. They only have
knowledge and are not able to rely or follow the Lord
- Those who really know Christ will (1) die and resurrect with Christ and acquire a born
again life; (2) rely on Christ regardless of place and time, so as to enjoy the authority and
power from the heavenly throne; (3) submit to Christ in all things and harvest fruits of
Christ
* We will know if we really know Christ by looking at our own lives
• Everyone in church will say that Jesus Christ is the Lord. However, they are always not
joyful, not able to love one another and are always comparing with each other. They are
always after things that are temporary, do not have eternal value, and carnal
• They quarrel more than they have peace with each other
 • How could such people have gotten the keys of the kingdom of heaven?
• We must ask ourselves, do we really know Jesus Christ? We should have a “beloved
face” if we are indeed beloved
• Are we able to have a blissful expression even when we are not in courtship?
• Jesus Christ has already died, buried and resurrected for us
• It is for us that Jesus Christ reigns in the heavenly throne now. Therefore, we could be
disappointed, but we will not lose hope. We could be sad, but we won’t be sad to the
extent of dying
• What will be our choice when we face hardships? When we are faced with a financial
difficulty, will we chose Christ, or chose to resolve our financial problem first? If we are
faced with an illness, do we choose Christ, or do we want get physically healed first?
• We must really proclaim, from the bottom of our hearts that, “Lord Jesus, you are
Christ, Son of the Living God!” We need the Lord today!

2. Christ, He is both “son of David”, as well as “Lord of David”

1) This is the mystery of “God becoming men; word becoming flesh” = the Godly personality (ie
Son of God) and human personality (ie Son of Man) of Christ <Isa 9:6; John 1:1-18; Col
1:15-18>
• Jesus Christ was born by a virgin <Isaiah 7:14, 9:6>. His name shall be “Immanuel”.
Though He was still a baby, He was also called “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace”!
• All things come from the word (Jesus Christ). He is the love of God <John 1:18>
• All things were created by Him and for Him. And in Him all things hold together <Col
1:15-18>
• Everything that happened to us happened for God’s glory
• We call Jesus Christ as Lord not for the sake that we can enter Heaven after death. If that
is the case, we will only be joyful on the day of our death
• We, believers, must be joyful, freed and be able to use God’s power today. Even the hairs
on our head exist to glorify God
• If even our hairs have their master, not to mention our family, marriage, career, and body!
• We will only be joyful and freed after we’d known God’s purpose. Only then, we will not
be worried for our family, children, marriage, or careers, etc

2) Christ, who is “David’s son” = “Son of Man” Jesus Christ

(1) Came from the family line of David = Abel, Noah, Abraham, Israel (Moses), David’s
- From generations to generations, all blessed people have a common “Gospelised Belief”
= born again, sanctified (walk with God), inheritance
- Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew,
then for the Gentile. For in the Gospel, the righteousness from God is revealed, a
righteousness that is by faith from first to last…
- It is the way, the truth and the life <John 14:7> Salvation is found in no-one else, for there
is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved <Acts 4:12>
• The Lord didn’t come to earth through any religious or philosophic systems. He must
come from the system of David
• Before David was Noah and before Noah was Adam. And God is the father of Adam
• Therefore, “son of David” means “definitely must come from this way”
• If we want to get healed or receive answer, we must get it through this way / method
• Thus, if we resolved our problems without following the method of Jesus Christ; our
problems have not actually been resolved
 • We only have this way before the Lord. The Gospel was given first to the Jews, then
to the Americans, to Chinese, to us and finally back to Jerusalem
• What we must know is the “only”. Our method is not another other method, but the
method of Jesus Christ
• Jesus Christ asked us a lot of questions, but there is only one answer. We aren’t able
to resolve anything with any other methods

(2) Christ is word become flesh through the family line of David. He came to earth physically
to display all of God’s glory, revealed the mystery of the heavenly kingdom and taught us
God’s perfect will in all things. He died and resurrected to fulfill the “work of eternal
salvation”. He prophesied the things that would come and things that are from the eternal
kingdom of heaven. He entrusted His disciples to “make disciples of all nations”. He
ascended into heaven and seated on the right side of the heavenly throne to intercede for
His body [us]…
• God must acquire the “flesh and blood” through the system of David. We are also
born from flesh and blood
• Jesus Christ had the same body as David. He is not like fairy who suddenly fell from
the sky. He needs to be born and go through the process of growing up
• He understands the mystery of heaven. Thus, He reveals the mystery of heaven to us
with language that we can understand. Henceforth, we must also be able to reveal
the mystery of heaven to others
• Our Lord sacrifices Himself for His beloved people. He reigns on the heavenly throne
now, and will come again in the future
• We must all take the path of Jesus Christ. We must link up the Lord’s path with our
lives

(3) David’s ultimate life’s goal is to live out Christ all his life and give birth to “Christ, Son of
Man” through Solomon and descendents
- All blessed people, throughout history have the same goal
- Today, Jesus Christ is still living in everyone “who believes in His name” and be with them
throughout their lifetime and leave behind “Christ’s descendents”
- My lifetime goal is to acquire “Christ’s life”; rely on the conditions that Christ has
determined for me, so as to “learn from Christ and live like Him” in all situations. To leave
behind the “perfect testimonies of Christ” and to give birth to “blessed descendents” and
“sheep of Christ (disciples)”
• Jesus Christ living in us means, the Lord’s purpose and goals are living in us
• Though we might have different degrees of joy or sorrows, the purpose of our Lord is
the same
• David worked hard all his life to unite Israel and also to able to give birth to Solomon
(seed of the Gospel) who could build the temple

3) Christ, the Lord of David = Son of God, Lord of all people for eternality
• The meaning of Christ, Son of Man being David’s Lord is as follows:
(1) Christ, Son of God, is the one who “creates all things, sustain all things; save all people,
inherit all things and control all things” <Hebrews 1:1-4>
- All things, all people and all situations in heaven and on earth are created by Him and for
Him; He is before all things and in Him all things hold together” <Colossians 1:15-18>
• The Lord is in control of all our lives, things and tomorrow. If that’s the case, why
should I need to worry?

(2) All the main characters from generations to generations and the ultimate purpose for
earth is for the “salvation, sanctification and gaining crowns” of God’s people
 <Col 1:26, 2:2-3; Eph 1:4-10; Rev 21:1-3; Heb 1:1-14>
• He used people in every era who knows Him (i.e. know His covenant, power and
purpose) to be the main characters [主角]
• He used Noah to be the main character. There’s a mission in everyone
• He used me now to be the main character in my family
• Did we ever wonder, why we face so many problems after believing in Christ? It’s
through the problems we face that we will receive crowns and wisdom
• The Lord uses problems to make the Saints, main characters. He uses the Pastor of
the church to be main character in our problems
• Being the main character doesn’t mean the Pastor will have to come out to resolve
the believer’s problem as soon as possible. The Pastor should pray first. He could
advise the people around us to help us. The concern of the Pastor is always to
observe whether is there anyone whom God wants to save in the midst of our
problems
• We are the main character in our family. Therefore, we should perceive and pray for
our family with the perspective of a main character
• We shouldn’t be worried as soon as we face any problem since we who are in Christ,
and are all main characters

(3) The whole Bible testifies Him = All blessed people from generations to generations are
born again because of knowing Him; have victory by relying on Him; and receive crowns
because of serving Him <John 5:39; Luke 24:44; Rev 5:5; Gen 3:15; Heb 11; John 8:56;
Deu 18:18…>
• We need not worry that God’s covenant for us will not be fulfilled. Things that God
has promised us will definitely be fulfilled. This is the reason why God has given us
the Bible. The Bible has proved that everyone who acknowledges Jesus Christ as
their Lord are victorious
• E.g. Abel, Noah, David, etc
• The truth will always be the truth. Though Noah spent 600 years evangelizing, no one
believed in him. However, when the time is right, the truth will be proven by God and
Noah acquired the whole world
• How much longer do we want to remain in our misery? A person with faith and hope
need not be fearful of tomorrow

(4) David was convicted by the Holy Spirit when he said, “The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my
right hand until I put your enemies under your feet” <Matthew 22:44>
= <Psalms 10> the message of Messiah / being used in important messages <Acts 2:34;
1Cor 15:25; Heb 1:13, 10:13>
= Christ died and resurrected. He ascended into heaven and reigns on the heavenly
throne; He controls all the authorities on earth and in heaven; He continues to carry out
things for the eternal kingdom of God
= Christ used “people who trusted in Him” to “fulfill “the eternal great work”. Nobody can
stop His work
- Abel’s death became his wonderful testimony. Although Noah was alone, he was able to
win the whole world; Abraham and his descendents were all blessed; Moses’ Exodus,
crossed the Red Sea, crossed the wilderness; conquered the Canaan Land; the
testimonies of the 12 Judges; the victory of David…
• Peter also said in <Acts 2:34-35>, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand’ until I
had made your enemies a footstool for your feet” <Acts 2:34-35>
• The Holy Spirit’s conviction will only come upon us when we wash away our personal
motives and goals
 • <Heb 1:1-14> tells us that we, children of God, are greater than angels. Angels should
serve us daily
• This is the meaning of “my Lord”

3. Confirm the Immanuel of Christ; enjoy the victory of Christ; bear the fruits of Christ
1) Christ is the “son of David”: He is still living today in all those who believe the “Gospel that
Abraham and David had believed”
• Do we believe in our own religion of beliefs [信念], or do we believe in what Abraham has
believed?
• Does it true that a believer is merely a sincere person? What makes a person different?
It’s none other than his belief
• David killed and lied before. However, there was something in him that made him different
• God is only interested in knowing what’s inside our life
• Abel’s death didn’t just end there. His story continues to speak to us till this day
• What makes us different from the people of this world? We must have the perspective
and content of David
• We must know what’s inside David that makes him so different, which are:
(1) Believe: the fundamental problems (flesh, roots of sin, evil spirit) of men since birth
knowing the world (the only problem)
• The people of this world all live in flesh and sin, and are bound by Satan. A lot of
people do not understand this truth but we do
• People do good deeds because of accusations. Therefore, they are living in misery
regardless of their success
• If we are still envious of the carnal people, it means we have not understood. The
things we have are far better, far more and much more in depth than things they have

(2) Believe: the mystery of Christ’s word becoming flesh, death and resurrection, reign with
authority on the heavenly throne knowing Jesus Christ (the only solution)
• Those who understand will know Jesus Christ. He will know the roles of Jesus Christ
(i.e. Prophet, Priest, King) are there for our sake
• How much do we need Jesus Christ? If we don’t see the need for Jesus Christ, we
will only chose the world when we need to make a decision

(3) Believe: We are chosen to receive love. We are willing to die and resurrect (purpose,
content, method) with Christ. We’ve received the Holy Spirit, acquired a new life and
have a new living. Henceforth, the life of “those who believe” is one led by God’s word,
Holy Spirit in all things knowing myself (being loved)
• We are the most beloved and blessed people in the world. It is independent of our
conditions
• We will only make the right choice after we’ve understood this
• Our Pastor is not too great or one with great faith. However, he understands. He
knows that even if he has gotten the world, he can’t live for a moment if he has lost
God’s love and delight
• Only people who have this perspective in their lives will make the correct choice
• We must rely on God’s way to find our partners: receive grace first, then accept the
one prepared by God
• A person who knows the world, Jesus Christ and himself will resolute not to walk his
own path again, and never to worry anymore
2) Christ is also the “Lord of Jesus”. David would receive grace and be victorious whenever he
relied on Christ. Jesus is still reigning in the lives of all those who rely on Him today and He
will make them victorious in all things
(1) Immerse in Christ’s eternal plans (King, People & Kingdom) to receive His “plan for this
era”
* Christ has different plans for every era (Noah, Abraham, Moses, David). What is Christ’s
plan for this era?
- Churches of Christ are established everywhere today. The plan for the 21st Century
Christians should be for God’s people (church) to restore the “vision of 4 Gospelisation”
and the “Immanuel (God’s way) method”; to raise up disciples and to gather the chosen
but “yet to be called people”
• How can we triumph over the problems we face? Even if nobody loves me, I am still
receiving the most love. Do we have such strength?
• We must know Jesus Christ’s plan for us in the 21st Century
• What is the Jesus Christ’s reason for choosing us? We must know why we are living and
the reasons for my marriage, etc
• A lot of people experience broken marriages today. There’s a reason for the hardships we
face today. It is because a lot of people are having hardships
• Our destiny is related to this era
• The lives of a lot of believers in the church today are not linked to God’s reasons for
calling them
• They want all things for themselves and do not consult God in what they do. Even if they
do ask God, they are still relying on themselves. This is because nobody lives by God’s
covenant
• People are becoming like “spiritual zombies”
• The covenant we must have is “the covenant of 4 Gospelization and Immanuel”
• Do we wish our family members be saved? We need not struggle. We just need to pray
• A lot of brothers and sisters are living in misery because they couldn’t resolve their
problems, be it relationship, children, marriage, finance, or physical health problems, etc
• The Pastor will not feel good whenever he sees any brothers or sisters having problems.
However, the answer he could provide is only God’s covenant
• The Pastor doesn’t want brothers and sisters to tackle the problems they face upfront. He
has realized that people were attacked when they lost sight of God’s perspective
• As soon as people see God and trust in God, all problems will be gone. They will be freed
and receive answers when the time is right
• Even if we are able to win the world, we will become the most pitiful people if we lose
God’s word
• If we didn’t have God’s covenant but found a partner who has the best conditions; that
partner we found will become our idol and we will be bound by him / her
• Everything we need will come when we restore God’s reason for choosing us
• As soon as we obey God’s perfect will after we have understood it, Satan’s head would
be broken. We are beaten flat by Satan if we do not understand God’s guidance and plan
• After we’d understand God’s covenant correctly, our request to God must also be correct.
God will give us everything when we ask Him correctly
• God didn’t ask us to sacrifice ourselves for Him but we need to make decisions everyday.
One path will lead us to worries while the other to strength and joy
• We must make our decision based on the covenant of 4 Gospelization and Immanuel
• We must ponder, what are the areas that are binding us? Make the correct decision
thereafter
 (2) Establish Christ’s ideology and continue to live a congregation, church, disciples-
centered life. Examine God’s daily plan and perfect will
(3) Pray day and night. Every night, examine my life and living for the day, cleanse and
renew myself and sustain my heart for loving God and men
(4) Always guard and sustain my heart & mind in the process. Believe in “all things work
well” and discover the “reason for thanksgiving”

3) Christ is sitting on the right side of the heavenly throne, waiting for the numbers of people to
be saved get filled up. Today, our Lord Jesus still uses the lives of “sons of David” to continue
giving birth to “sons of David”
(1) Bear the spiritual good fruits in our lives
(2) Be it in session and out of session, give thanks, praise the Lord and seek out people
whom God has chosen (8 types of blessed people)
(3) Live a church-centered life, raise up disciples, continue to expand the “network of lives”

Sharing and Prayer Topics

1. Christ is “son of David”; He continues to live in the lives of those who “believe in the
Gospel that Abraham and David had believed”. Confirm: Is my life the same as that of
Abraham’s and David’s? List down the evidences! If that’s the case, the people whom I will
meet, will they also have the same lives and receive the same eternal blessing as that of
Abraham’s and David’s?
2. Christ is also the “Lord of David”. Everything that David relied on the Lord, he will be
blessed and be victorious. Today, Lord Jesus Christ is still the King for those who rely on
Him, ensuring their blessedness and victories in all things. Will the plans that I’ve
discovered and cling on to in Christ be fulfilled for sure? Will the problems I face now
while running towards the goal (process) become my blessings? Is there any concrete
proof?
3. Christ is seated on the right side of the heavenly throne, waiting for “the numbers to be
saved be fulfilled”, and till “all the enemies are under His feet”. Today, Lord Jesus
continues to give birth to “sons of David” through the lives of “sons of David”. Have I
acquired the mystery of “living out Christ”? Have much can the people beside me able to
hear Christ’s voice and see God’s glory through my life? How many lives has Christ
obtained through my life? How is my connection with the church congregation in the
ministries of regional and world evangelism?