As I stand here looking at your faces, my heart rejoices. We are here because we take God’s invitation very seriously.
You know, in Matthew 22, the king prepared a feast for his son’s wedding. When everything was prepared, he sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the feast.
And the Scripture tells us that those who were invited took the king’s invitation very lightly. One went to his farm, and another to his business.
Now, the fact that we are here in this other part of Taiwan for these next few days is because we took that invitation very seriously.
It is the invitation from the King of kings and the Lord of lords. How can we refuse Him?
And so, these next few days, we have to take every moment we meet together very seriously, because He has called us for a very specific purpose.
This evening, I would like to share just one verse with you. It is found in 2 Chronicles 16:9.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.
Let me read it again.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal toward Him.
What is this? Oftentimes, we say that we are looking for Him; we are seeking the Lord. The fact is that He is seeking us.
He found us, and He redeemed us. He brought us back to Himself.
He is looking for you and me. Therefore, we are found here together this evening.
Behind all the details of this conference is God Himself.
This is not merely a conference here in South Taiwan. This is the Lord’s conference. He is the One who joined us to Himself.
And the Lord is looking to secure something for Himself, and to secure something in us for Himself.
Now, this evening, I just want to share a few points. What does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart?
In this verse we just read, He is looking for the one whose heart is loyal toward Him, whose heart is totally committed to Him.
When a heart is toward the Lord, the Lord is also toward that heart. So, in a sense, God is looking for people to whom He can commit Himself.
But very few are available. His eye is looking to and fro to find that one person.
And, of course, we know that one Person is the Lord Jesus. He was the only One who was totally one with the Father, wholly given to what His Father wanted.
Now, the first quality for which He is looking is a heart completely turned to Him. When a heart is turned to Him, that person makes himself totally available to Him.
And also, he has an ear to hear.
Now, I just want to suggest a thought: just because we listen, there is no guarantee that we understand.
You know, in John 6, after the Lord spoke at length concerning Himself as the bread from heaven, given to bring life to the world, He said that His flesh is food indeed and His blood is drink indeed. If we eat Him and drink Him, we shall live.
But the disciples said, “This is a hard saying. Who can understand it?”
Later, some of the disciples walked with Jesus no more because they could not understand.
But Peter’s reaction was different from the rest.
Peter said, “We have no place to go. You have the words of eternal life.”
Peter was actually saying, “Lord, I have cast my lot with You. I am totally committed to You. I may not understand what You are saying, but I know what You say is true. I am committed to You.”
“I may not understand now, but ultimately You will make me understand.”
These things are hard for the natural man to comprehend. God’s Word requires that God Himself give us understanding, because anything that is from Him is beyond us.
So Peter had that initial commitment, and the Lord took it. Now, Peter failed on many, many occasions, but that first commitment was real, and the Lord saw him through.
He was taught again and again by the Lord Himself.
Now, the other thing we have to learn this week is that, if we want to grasp the whole counsel of God, we have to do a lot of self-adjusting.
Many of the things we think are correct are not adequate.
One brother puts it this way: to go on with the Lord, from time to time we need a fresh revelation of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus.
From time to time, we need to re-examine ourselves. Is what we are now in, or what we are now doing, of any value to Him?
It may have been of value, but today, does it still have value before Him?
Knowing our human nature, our tendency is to go on in the old way. So this conference is very crucial. God wants us to have a refocus, a real focus on His beloved Son again.
What is in His heart? He is looking for men and women whose hearts are loyal toward Him.
So we do not merely listen with our head; we listen with our heart.
Every day, freshly prepare for a fresh, new encounter with the Lord Jesus.
Because only by seeing Him can we get through.
Now, this week’s theme is very crucial: the pattern as revealed in the Word of God, and also the way of recovering His testimony, or gaining His testimony, through the ages.
We have to take heed to the word that will be released these next few days.
Without knowing and seeing that pattern, and without being caught by the heavenly vision, we have nothing to begin with.
But once we are caught by that vision, there is a way for that vision to be fulfilled.
That is why this week we are going to hear how the Lord is recovering His testimony in His church.
Church history is a history of departure, but God’s business is the recovery of His testimony.
We have a pattern, and we know the way, but how is that life to be lived out? Life governs everything, because that pattern is His life. The way of recovery is the flow of His life.
And so, we have to take heed to what we are going to hear these next few days.
I will conclude with a short thought. You know, the small book of Esther is a book of the recovery of the Lord’s interest in His people.
You remember what Mordecai said: the place you occupy now, and the time in which you are occupying that position—do you know why you were put there? Why were you put there for such a time?
It is for the recovery of God’s testimony in His people.
Mordecai was saying, “Do you not realize that you have been put in such a place, for such a time, for the survival and testimony of God’s people?” See Esther 4:14.
Why did He put you here? Why did He put us together at this time? It has a very, very glorious purpose. It is for the recovery of the testimony in His church.
I have a deep conviction. Most people think that when the Lord comes, it is judgment. But when He comes, He is coming for something.
When He comes, He is coming for a prepared bride.
It is glorious, and we are part of that. We are placed together at this time, for such a time, for Him to speak.
So pray for ourselves. Pray for the speakers. And pray, above all, that the Lord will give us the understanding that we need—not our understanding, but His understanding.
Now, I have one request: pray for the serving brothers and sisters at this conference.
They are overworked. They work diligently.
Pray that the Lord will renew their strength. May the Lord bless us, so that together we may find His way, and by His light live out His testimony.