Introduction
Learning is a crucial subject. A failure to learn well can lead to lifelong difficulties.
A few days ago, a sister came to me with her financial management textbook. Fortunately, I had some understanding of the subject, so I flipped through the book and posed questions to her. I discovered that she was unclear on many important concepts, which is a grave matter.
First and foremost, learning requires clarity of concepts. If the concepts are unclear, then one might as well give up. A lawyer with unclear legal concepts, a financial professional with unclear financial concepts, or a pastor with unclear concepts of the Bible—all are in dire straits. For example, what is salvation? Some would say it is going to heaven after death. This turns the faith of the living into a faith of the dead. Is this not a serious issue?
Second, the theme must be clear. As a high-achiever in studies, I like to clarify concepts, define problems clearly, and connect the concepts together. If you can learn in this manner, you are bound to become a high-achiever. A teacher once told me that to truly understand knowledge, one must thin out the book. If you can clearly write down the contents of a book on a single page, then you have mastered it. I have often trained myself in this way since then.
Third, the framework must be clear. A framework is important; without it, things can become very chaotic. I often train our brothers and sisters in this way. I am training a young sister of fourteen or fifteen years to write programs to help her deal with unclear concepts, unclear themes, and unclear frameworks. What I am teaching her is egg.js, an IT framework. With a framework, learning becomes simpler. These days, this sister has told me that after understanding the framework, she feels much clearer in her mind.
Today, as we study the Book of Numbers (or any book), we must ensure that the concepts are clear, the theme is clear, and the framework is clear. I have encountered some outstanding individuals who are very clear about what they are doing, with a very clear framework, while many of their subordinates are in a state of confusion.
Those who are confused are prone to falling into the trap of details. For example, speaking in tongues requires someone to interpret. The Bible does indeed have accounts of this. But if you single out this point to reject the practice of praying in tongues, then there is a significant problem. You must understand the scripture within its appropriate framework.
If you carefully observe all His statutes, ordinances, and commandments, the key word is all, which essentially refers to concepts, themes, and framework. If you preach the gospel and turn the gospel of the living into a gospel of going to heaven after death, that is a lack of conceptual clarity.
I truly detest religion and cults, both of which are harmful. The essence of a cult is to lead people into confusion. I am eager for our brothers and sisters to become astute, to transform social dregs into talent, each with a practical job, doing substantive work, and making meaningful contributions to society in this world.
What exactly is salvation? It is to restore the noble and beautiful image in which God created you, to become a person who is useful to society.
The Army as a Basic Concept
The most fundamental concept in the Book of Numbers is the army. Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world. Brothers and sisters, God's kingdom is not in this world; never do anything that causes social unrest. Christians fight a spiritual battle to liberate captive souls.
An army is disciplined and strictly ordered. I would not morally coerce anyone, but you must be clear about what you are trying to do. Within Christian circles, I see some people who want to be pushovers; pushovers cannot build a church. Sometimes, spiritual warfare requires getting up at three in the morning, and some people complain about how they can go to work. Their minds become confused. And we are not asking you to get up at three in the morning every day! If it were your child who was being ministered to, would you be willing to get up? Of course, you would.
In God's army, only those who can fight count. If you cannot fight or even be trained, you are like the Israelites who died in the wilderness, complaining when they could not get water.
When an army wins a battle, the grace it receives is abundant. When fighting a battle, one must act like an army.
Men can join the army, and women can also join the army.
The concern with authority and responsibility, exceeding authority is called rebellion.
With a priest, there is sacrifice, and with sacrifice, there is dedication.
How to become holy? Consecrate yourselves to the Lord, for only then can you become holy.
Those who complained were struck down by God, regardless of whether there was a reason to complain.
There are significant concepts in Numbers that must be clarified, and then you will know that I am not morally blackmailing you. Your growth is closely related to your shepherding. Shepherding requires paying a price; paying a price is loving God. It is not that God needs your shepherding, but that you need shepherding.
Those among us who have received grace today, I have never blackmailed you. If you feel uncomfortable after listening, it does not matter; there are plenty of churches in this world. Today, we run forward together for the Kingdom of God. If you are unwilling to pay the price for Jesus, then do whatever you should be doing.
Only Those Who Can Fight Count
Only those who can fight count—this is the theme of Numbers. Those who are afraid of fighting, afraid of paying the price, and unable to pay the price will all die in the wilderness. Those who live a comfortable life and indulge in the flesh will also die under the schemes of the devil.
Only through victory can you obtain the promise and conquer the promised land. The tribe of Dan, by the end of Judges, had not yet found land and were still wandering. It was miserable! Do you want to be someone who wanders in the world? Why live so bitterly? Inheriting land requires defeating the enemy. The girls in Numbers insisted on inheriting land, and they personally went into battle to conquer it.
To inherit land, you must fight and be victorious. After you have acquired the land, you must manage it well.
God Wants to Build His Army
Connecting themes and concepts is called a framework. If you have established your framework but still choose that flawed logical system, it will be very troublesome.
God wants to build His army to fight. An army has soldiers, commanders of tens, commanders of hundreds, commanders of thousands, and thus there is authority. Exceeding authority is rebellion. You cannot replace fighting with sacrifice (dedication), but fighting must involve sacrifice. Sacrifice is dedication, and you must pay the price.
Do not think that your work is important or that your children's homework is important. If you believe that these things determine your life and your future, then you will establish a heavy price for them.
To fight, you must study military strategy and understand the schemes of the devil. The devil's schemes are to tempt people, cause them to sin, and then be struck down by God. To know the devil's schemes, you must be trained. If you cannot pass the training, you cannot fight real battles. You must withstand any test. Training is always difficult.
Today, we have built the framework, so let us receive training! If others can walk ten kilometers, we can also walk ten kilometers. To fight, you must receive training beforehand.
Inheriting Land Is God's Purpose
It does not matter if you suffer a little. There was a sister who was once mentally ill, and I served her every day until after 2:00 AM. If I had not served her like that, she would have died long ago. Later, she recovered and said to me, Does this mean I cannot leave unless I serve you until 2:00 AM every day? I want to leave for two months. I told her, then do not come back. I had her shepherd others to benefit her.
What we do is to enter the promised land until we reign with Jesus Christ on earth and govern this land.
Conclusion
Today, we must build our framework, no longer speak vaguely, and not go against God. We must come out of the traps of details. We must have clear concepts, themes, and frameworks. If you place too much importance on your children's grades, then you have not understood the issue of education. Apply this well in your work and life—God's purpose for you is good.
May God bless everyone!