Names: Yearning to Become a Mark of Glory

Today, we examine Chapter 1 of Numbers. This chapter begins by addressing people's names. When you see names written in the Bible, you need to consider one thing: How could these people's names appear in the Bible? The reason is simple: God calls you by your name. In fact, the explicit recording of these names in the Bible is one thing.

There's also the concept of implied names. Many years ago, I bought a book called The Bible Code. A scientist fed the Hebrew text of the Pentateuch—Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, Exodus, and Deuteronomy, written by Moses—as well as Isaiah, into a computer. He used a coded program to find a word every dozen or so characters. He wanted to find Einstein.

Before we had computers, looking at these characters was like staring into a haze. He found Einstein within it. Of course, it wasn't explicitly written as Einstein; it was found by selecting a character roughly every dozen characters. Within that passage, he also searched for relativity, and he found it. So, Einstein and relativity appeared in the Bible long ago.

I don't know this scientist, and I haven't written such a program. If he were a good friend, I would ask him to search for my name to see what he could find. I think when he searches for my name, he will also find another term: Chinese Mingding Destiny. What does Mingding mean? It means that each of us must have a purpose for living. If people don't know why they live, if they live only to eat, drink, excrete, and sleep, that is the system of a beast.

As we discuss these names in this chapter, brothers and sisters should understand one thing: many people's names may appear in the Bible. Some time ago, when I was casting out demons from someone, the person who was delivered said, I saw a register in the sky. I saw your name at the front, so-and-so's name behind, and my name at the very end. Then I asked him, Did you see this person's name and that person's name? He said, No. Later, I realized that the names of those who don't cast out demons are not on it, because there is a huge difference between not casting out demons and casting them out!

The Significance of Repetition

So, what does Numbers record? It records the number of people who are twenty years old and older who are able to fight in battle and who are counted. It turns out that whether a name is on the list is closely related to whether a person can cast out demons. Of course, don't think that what I am saying is the absolute truth; I am just making a bold guess. But I have reason to say it because Numbers keeps repeating, by families, by clans, by the number of names. By families, belonging to which family, belonging to which clan, the number of names of those twenty years old and older who are able to go out to fight in battle are counted. It repeats this countless times. For example, Reuben, Simeon, the tribe of Judah, and so on, each is repeated in this way.

According to a clever writing style, it would be better to omit these words. It would be best to draw a table, for example, Reuben with so many people, Simeon with so many people, Judah with so many people, Issachar with so many people, followed by a number, according to families, clans, the number of names of those twenty years old and older who are able to go out to fight in battle. Is my arrangement correct, or is Moses' arrangement correct? I think Moses' arrangement is correct. Later, I discovered that the writers of the Bible have a characteristic: they like to repeat. So I asked God, God, why is it so troublesome to write like this, wasting paper? If it were up to me, it could be much shorter. God said, Foolish child, I have written it so many times, and you still don't pay attention. If I only wrote it once, would you notice it?

If we read Genesis, it records each according to its kind, God saw that it was good, God said, and it was so. Such words are repeated again and again. That is meaningful! Later, when I was leading Bible studies, I learned a method from God: I also like to repeat. If you listen to me leading a Bible study, you will find that I have a characteristic: even if you arrive ten minutes, twenty minutes, or half an hour late, you will still hear what my main topic is. So, through the Bible, I have summarized the key to God's speech: to speak well is to repeat. For important things, say them three times; for God, important things are even said seven times or twelve times.

People's Names and the Church

According to families, clans, the number of names, these are all very important. In our church, you are being counted according to your church, family, clan, and name. This is the key. So our brothers and sisters must begin to have an important concept called the church concept. Why should the church concept be based on families, clans, and tribes? There must be a head of the household in the family, a clan leader in the clan, and a tribal chief in the tribe. This is called an army.

Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. (Numbers 1:2-4)

There was once a young man whom I valued very much, so I enthusiastically helped him find a job. This young man was very busy on weekends, so busy that he could attend six gatherings in one weekend, running to various churches. He felt, It's good to get a little bit from each church. If you belong to the tribe of Reuben, you cannot be counted in the tribe of Judah. If you belong to the tribe of Reuben, you are counted within your own clan; you cannot run around randomly. Running around to different churches is a kind of spiritual adultery.

Someone asked, Aren't all churches the same? The descendants of Israel must be counted according to their families, clans, and names. If you run around everywhere, wouldn't you be counted multiple times? The church concept is a very important concept. Why? Because it is counting according to the army. Today, let's not talk about the army. Just in terms of going to university, if you are admitted to Peking University today and study there, can you get credit at all universities? If you are from Peking University and attend classes at Tsinghua University, you won't get any credit.

So our brothers and sisters must learn to be faithful, faithful in your position, faithful to the church you belong to. Now, I know there are some strange phenomena: they don't do the work in their own church, but they specifically run to other churches to do it; they don't take care of the matters in their own group, but they take care of the small matters in other people's groups; they don't take care of the matters in their own pastoral district, but they specifically take care of the matters in other people's pastoral districts; they don't shepherd their own sheep, but they specifically go to shepherd other people's sheep. These are all bad habits! But if your leader arranges for you to do this, then you go. If your leader has not arranged this and you insist on going, that's very dangerous!

The Army You Are In

So, today our brothers and sisters must clearly know one thing: the church is an army, and the army is a very important concept. For example, today we give a definition of a country: a country is a complete system, and the most important national resources that a country possesses are the army and the police. A country must have borders, and the borders must have troops stationed there. If there is no army, can it be a country? Then it cannot be a country. Today, the kingdom of God is about to descend, and it must have God's army. If there is no army of God, then the devil can come and go and mess around at will. So what is the role of the army? It is to strike down any and all foreign invaders.

The most famous person in my old Liu family is Liu Bang. Liu Bang went to Shandong and said, Where can I find brave men to guard the four directions? He lamented, I have obtained the world, but where can I find warriors and brave men to help me guard my borders? If there is a piece of land that cannot be defended, that piece of land is not yours.

The Russians once didn't like being close to a piece of land bordering the United States because that used to be their land, but because it was sold to the United States, it became American land. So we must know today that the army is very important, and the church is the army.

When we read Exodus, the army of the Lord came out of Egypt, and it looked like a well-trained army. (See Exodus 12:41) But in Numbers, on the first day of the second month of the second year, the Lord God began to have Moses count the number of his army, according to families, clans, and names. (See Numbers 1:1-3)

Today we must establish a concept of God's kingdom, that the church is the army of God, to guard the kingdom of God. There should be no devil in this kingdom. If the devil is here, it must be driven out.

Today, brothers and sisters must also understand one thing: God led the Israelites into the wilderness and then counted them according to the number of the army, revealing a truth: only the fighting army counts, and this counting process is according to families, clans, and names.

Enjoying Victory in the Army

We must have a church concept. Some people say they already have three churches, but when fighting, which church do you belong to? You need to start thinking about it. Some people attend church perhaps to give their pastor face, but that church is not really an army, so they often lose battles. In a defeated army, you are just a defeated soldier; in a victorious army, you are a victorious soldier. In a victorious church, you are released and healed.

When we begin to have the concept of family, clan, and name, we are cultivating a concept of leadership. Because every tribe has a tribal chief who manages according to family and clan. The commanders in the Israelite army are those who command the army to fight, and the role of leaders in the church is also very important.

Someone once said that the church that a person builds is a reflection of his inner self: a strong person builds a strong church, a weak person builds a weak church, a compromising person builds a compromising church, and a Santa Claus-like person builds a Santa Claus-like church.

In the Army, the Power of Leadership is Inestimable

We establish God's army, and our requirements for brothers and sisters are very high. You must become a good soldier of Jesus Christ in order to fight this spiritual battle. This concept is very important. Among us, leaders are extremely important.

John Maxwell, a leadership master in the United States, concluded that the key to accomplishing something lies in leadership. The success or failure of a matter is closely related to the presence or absence of leadership. Leadership is the key to achieving something.

Singapore is what it is today because it has a good leader. Singapore has transformed from a backward country into an advanced country. Lee Kuan Yew's role cannot be underestimated. Although it is a small country, it has an extraordinary influence in the world.

The role of leadership is very important. Everyone must know that the role of leadership in the church is also indelible. What kind of leader leads what kind of team? To be a leader in the church, you must be like a commander in the Israelite army, taking on the responsibility of leadership. The leader's responsibility is to lead his team. This is a very important concept, and the most important concept for a team is to obey the leaders above. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the 250 leaders (see Numbers 16:2) were all displeasing to God. These people, though counted, died in the wilderness because they were disobedient and rebellious.

In fact, we must know today that as a Christian, can being baptized into the name of Jesus Christ save you? In Numbers Chapter 1, these people were all counted, according to families, clans, and names. These people were all recorded. But later, when the second census was taken, these people all died in the wilderness. Why is this so? Because there was no victory. There were many who failed to enter the land of Canaan. Some people say that Moses also did not enter the land of Canaan, but Moses spoke with Jesus later. This cannot be compared. Because Moses did everything the Lord commanded him. (See Numbers 17:11)

The example of doing according to God's word is Moses. Moses spoke with God face to face. Moses was the leader chosen by God. Others were punished by God for disobeying Moses. Today, you must know that the Bible says that the people who died in the wilderness were the people whom God despised in that generation because they did not understand God's actions and complained again and again. I only know that they ultimately did not prevail. They crossed the Red Sea, ate manna, but they all died in the wilderness. (See Numbers 26:63-65)

Knowing God's Plan

Today, as Christians in the church, let us be outstanding Christians, not those who perish in the wilderness. Some may find the manna in the wilderness appealing, but I do not. To eat manna in the wilderness for forty years is a form of torment. In truth, God's plan was not for them to wander in the wilderness for forty years. It was because the Israelites were afraid of war that they wandered for forty years until they died in the wilderness. Some might say this was also God's plan. I would say this was Plan B, for when Plan A fails, there can only be Plan B.

We must learn a lesson from this. Since we are all numbered in the register, all soldiers of God, capable of fighting battles and casting out demons, then let us persist in fighting until we reach Canaan, the Promised Land. If we fight our way into the Promised Land, God's promise is a land flowing with milk and honey. The wilderness may be tough, but it does not matter, for we shall eventually enter Canaan.

Having become Christians, let us run forward bravely, not becoming Christians who perish in the wilderness. Do not think that eating manna in the wilderness is good enough. This is not God's plan. God's plan is for us to enter the Promised Land and receive His promises.

A Triumphant Promise

We must establish a theological concept: only those who fight count, and only those who triumph in battle can enter the Promised Land. We must grow and we must fight, no matter what. Everyone must long for healing, deliverance, and to cast out demons, becoming mighty warriors in the army of Jehovah. We must not only know how to fight, but also to triumph. Triumph will surely lead to the Promised Land, and the Promised Land will surely be a land flowing with milk and honey. This is the beautiful plan God has for us.

Through years of practice, triumphing in battle will surely lead to receiving God's promises. Do not be afraid, for the devil is nothing to fear. Let us not be deceived by the devil. Those who die in the wilderness either discern good and evil, or indulge in the desires of the flesh and love the world. These are not the way.

A Distinct People

But the Levites were not numbered among them by their ancestral tribe. For the Lord had said to Moses, 'You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites.' (Numbers 1:47-49)

Among them was the tribe of Levi. Moses and Aaron were also Levites. One group of Levites served as priests, while the other took care of the tabernacle. Any outsider who approached the tabernacle was to be put to death.

There is a type of person between man and God called a priest. These priests manage the tabernacle of Jehovah God. We who serve as priests in the church are those who serve God and fight spiritual battles. When spiritual battles are won, earthly battles will also be won.

Those who have read Investiture of the Gods know that battles are fought in heaven and on earth. When the battles in heaven are won, the battles on earth are also won. The Bible clearly shows that the Levites and the descendants of Aaron served as priests, managing the tabernacle of Jehovah God.

Around the tabernacle of the covenant law the Levites are to camp so that God’s anger will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.’ The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses. (Numbers 1:53-54)

On Serving God

Serving God is a serious matter. I thank God! God has given me a great grace, enabling me to understand the Bible and to become a person of prayer. Later, I discovered that if serving God is not done seriously and with careful adherence to the words of Jehovah our God, the problems can be very serious.

Over the past years, I have been greatly troubled by the fact that a good friend of mine, whose father was a pastor, ended up dying miserably, and his descendants lived under a curse of poverty, utterly miserable! Beset by illness, financial problems, and family issues that never ceased. Seeing him like that, I would ask, God, how could this be? It turns out that if one becomes a Christian who violates God's word, they are directly cursed.

The Book of Numbers records that those who died in the wilderness were those who violated God's word. The Book of Deuteronomy was written to the Israelites, See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse; choose life, so that you and your descendants may live. This is not addressed to Gentiles, but to us who serve God today, who must have a serious heart. What God said in the Ten Commandments is very important: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Deuteronomy 5:21). Those who covet these things are cursed. The curse is upon those Christians or Israelites who violate God's word.

A Serious Attitude

Brothers and sisters, start learning to have a deeper and more serious understanding of God's word. If we have such an attitude, God will surely reveal Himself to us. If we serve God seriously, preach God's word, pray well, and triumph in spiritual warfare, I tell you, you will surely triumph in earthly matters.

Recently, we have been increasing our efforts to combat the devil. Some time ago, I arranged a three-day prayer meeting, non-stop for three days. As a result, many demons were cast out. The demons cried out as they left, and every demon said, You are so powerful, your actions are so swift! In a short while, the devil was defeated.

When we fight spiritual battles, we directly see physical illnesses released and healed, and our financial problems resolved. Therefore, brothers and sisters, begin to observe people's health and financial situations. These two things represent their spiritual state. Do not think that someone is very spiritual just because they shout loudly, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! If they are under the control of poverty and sickness, they must not be released in their spirit, and they must not be doing things according to God's word.

No Longer According to Our Own Desires

But the Levites were not numbered among them by their ancestral tribe. For the Lord had said to Moses, 'You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites.' (Numbers 1:47-49)

In the census, the tribe of Levi was not counted among the six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty people. Why? Because the Levites and priests were counted according to a different system. Therefore, brothers and sisters, begin to know that we are all priests and Levites who fight spiritual battles. We need to serve God well and keep the tabernacle of the covenant. Christians, in reality, take on the priestly office between God and man, touching the throne of God with their hands, standing on the earth with their feet, bringing the problems of man to God, and bringing God's grace down from God. All of this is done through spiritual means to solve the problems of man.

Solving people's problems in a secular way is actually not in accordance with God's will. God's will is that whether we are to be pastors or to take on some service in the church, we must do our best to carefully obey God's word, and serve according to God's word, not according to our own desires.

This is a very glorious office and destiny. You know that what we do affects people's health and financial problems. That is, financial turnaround is closely related to spiritual turnaround. You might say, No, look at those people who are so rich, they don't fight spiritual battles. How can I argue with you? I can't argue with you, you might say that's right. But today I still want to tell everyone, I don't know whether what they say is right or wrong, but God's word does not say that. We follow the Bible that we are studying, and God reveals it to us, so we act accordingly, carefully obeying the words of Jehovah your God.

The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses. (Numbers 1:54)

Moses is a model of acting on God's word. Therefore, whatever God commanded Moses, they did accordingly. This is the key. Were these arrangements made by Moses? No, they were arranged by God for Moses to do. God arranged for Moses to count the Israelites. Moses could also put a number on everyone's head, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, how good it would be! Counting to the end, and finally asking everyone what number they are, they can answer. But Moses did not do this, but according to what God commanded, according to families, clans, and names.

“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name.” (Numbers 1:2)

You serve God, do what God says. Is it troublesome? It is troublesome! Because it is very detailed. But after serving like this, carefully keeping the requirements of the ark, the result will be victory! Some people do not win, is it troublesome? It is more troublesome! Today sick, tomorrow dead, dead is not troublesome, dead is not to pay fees, want to pay also can't pay, can only pay the money of the underworld.

An Attitude and Actions of Careful Obedience

How important it is to obey God's word! Our church has a characteristic, that is, we are particularly serious about God's word. We read one book at a time, and sort out one book at a time, revealing the spiritual principles revealed in God's word. The New Testament speaks of building the church, and the Old Testament speaks of the Israelites entering Canaan. Later, whether they were cursed in Canaan, or violated God's word, or obeyed God's word, telling those stories gives us a deep revelation: do not be casual in serving God.

You must know how much I have done with all my heart, do you think I am boasting? No, in the process of serving God, I think I am quite diligent! Because carefully keeping God's word will surely be blessed; violating God's word, whether accidentally or deliberately, will be cursed.

Brothers and sisters, take good care of the priestly office, which is a glorious responsibility and a glorious destiny. If our names are all with God, and God calls us by name to be His priests, what a glorious destiny and office that is! I know some people see their parents as pastors, and swear from a young age that they will never be pastors. I think this is a very interesting thing, and I will not comment on it, because they do not see the grace of God. Why can't they see the grace of God? Because they do not carefully obey! I know a person who does not attend church for two months when it is the busy harvest season; I also know a person who does not attend church for two months when it is the Chinese New Year. I find it strange, I think what a sorrow it is! Around the Spring Festival, that is the most intense time of spiritual warfare, everyone puts down their weapons and does not fight, and then goes to celebrate the New Year. I wonder if this is okay? I give you a suggestion: Whether it is okay or not, observe it yourself.

His Word and Power

Serve Him according to God's word, and be an outstanding Christian. Not only should our names be among those counted, but also we should receive God's promises and become people pleasing to God. That is, according to God's word, how God commands us, we should act accordingly. This is the priest. The responsibility of the priest is very important, determining everything in the world. The prosperity of a church is closely related to whether there are people in the church who act on God's word. I am very moved, why do we want to build a church of elite soldiers? It is to desire that every brother and sister counts, every brother and sister longs to triumph, longs to enter God's Promised Land, and completely defeat the devil and the enemy. This is the truth revealed in Numbers chapter 1.

May God bless everyone!