Stephen Kaung Bücher

Shepherding is one of the important functions in the church. It is not only one of the gifted people whom God gives to the church for the perfecting of the saints (see Ephesians 4:11-12 where pastors should be shepherds) It is also one of the main functions of the elders of the church (see I Peter 5:1). Indeed, it is expected of all the spiritual members of the church to be engaged in such a work. Our Lord's words to Peter were "feed my lambs," "shepherd my sheep," and "feed my sheep" (see John 21:15-17). For this reason, it is required of us to know what the functions of shepherding are and also the qualifications. This series of three messages on shepherding is prepared for the promoting of God's work and the strengthening of this important but sadly lacking ministry in the church. May God use it for His glory.

This series of messages on the life of the church, the body of Christ serves as a follow-up companion volume to "But We See Jesus"; Messages on the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having come to see Christ Jesus, we are now ready to see His church, about which Jesus had declared this: "I will build my [church], and hades' gates shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18b). From this declaration we realize that the church is not the product of the work of man, but it is the Lord Jesus himself who builds the church. Hence, in Scripture, the church is called "the Christ" (I Corinthians 12:12c; Ephesians 3:4b, 8b Darby). The New Testament book of Acts gives us a panoramic view of the churches in the first century. It also provides us with a prophetic picture of the churches throughout the centuries. As we review the histories of these various churches that are narrated for us in Acts, may we learn all the lessons God wants us to learn from them. Book jacket.

Covenant or contract is an important theme in the Bible. God made covenants with His people. He deals with them according to the covenants He made with them. Today we are under God’s New Covenant. For all God’s dealings with us in addition to our dealings with God will be governed by this New Covenant. We are therefore called to have New Covenant Living as well as New Covenant Ministry. It is hence extremely essential for us to be sure that our living and ministry are of the New Covenant way.

“And God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:27). The concept of family had its origin with God at the very beginning when He created man, for God had an important purpose for the family to fulfill. Indeed, He will use the family of God—the church—to defeat His enemy, Satan. And hence, God’s enemy is pouring out his fury to destroy the family. Thank God, through the redemptive work of Christ, we Christians are to have our families restored to God’s original purpose. This short series of messages, delivered by the author before a gathering of God’s people in Washington DC beginning in September 1974, is therefore being published as a way of helping Christian believers elsewhere to see and carry out God’s purpose for the family. May the Lord bless all who read the pages of this volume.

As the Corinthians turned from their carnal ways back to their calling of fellowship, spiritual life was before them. To continue to strengthen them in this past the apostle Paul helped them to understand what a spiritual man is by his own example. II Corinthians is a type of autobiography of the apostle Paul. In this book, Stephen Kaung looks into spiritual life, spiritual ministry, spiritual giving, and finally the spiritual man. I know a man in Christ ... (II Corinthians 12:2).

The last voice to be heard in the Old Testament was through Malachi. Then the first voice in the New Testament spoke of the same thing. John the Baptist was sent before our Lord to preach repentance: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." The whole book of Malachi was just one message, one burden--repent. It was conveyed in a back-and-forth dialogue, where God reasoned with His people through questions and answers. In Malachi, seven issues are reasoned out over the lack of love, honor, purity, faithfulness, repentance, priority, and reverence. In this volume, Stephen Kaung goes through these issues, point after point, helping us learn some lessons on repentance. This link between the Old and New Testaments is the same link that will bring us into the next dispensation--repent: "Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works" (Revelation 2:5).

Of the one hundred and fifty Psalms, there are twelve attributed to the sons of Korah. They were special Psalms to be sung by special people. The mercy of God had spared them from the destruction that their ancestor Korah had deserved (see Numbers 16). They went through death and out of death into resurrection life. They became the children of mercy and grace—sons of the cross. Through this experience of the cross, they appreciated God uniquely and were called to be the doorkeepers and singers in His temple. They dedicated themselves to God in a living way. Out of the abundance of their hearts, they could sing these songs to God. In this volume, four of these Psalms are considered in detail along with their main themes HOPE—Psalm 42 (43),FAITH—Psalm 44,LOVE—Psalm 45, andVICTORY—Psalm 46. These sons of the cross could sing from the fullness of their hearts and out of their experience. As we too have received the mercy of God, may our hearts also overflow with worship and praise as we consider these Psalms of the sons of Korah.

The New Testament quotes Isaiah more than any other book and mentions his name twenty-one times. The Lord Jesus and the early disciples all knew this book well and shared the good news from it. But for many of us, its sixty-six chapters and various prophecies are overwhelming. We begin to feel lost as we read, not knowing who or what it is talking about. The Ethiopian eunuch was also confused as he pondered over Isaiah 53 (see Acts 8:26-39). When Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, he shared how he needed someone to guide him. Then from that passage, Philip was able to announce the good news of Jesus to him. Similarly, the nine chapters in this volume serve as a type of guide for discovering Christ in this largest prophetic book of the Bible. They unlock many confusing passages while also revealing our Savior. Beginning with Isaiah's life-changing vision of God, Stephen Kaung then considers some of the more famous passages about the birth of the Lord Jesus, His life, and His suffering at the cross. We are guided through Scriptures on the future kingdom as well as essential help for our present situation in the church. As the Ethiopian found Christ through Isaiah and "went on his way rejoicing," may we too find Christ our Redeemer in Isaiah and be filled with joy at the discovery.

"... Lord, teach us to pray ..." Luke 11:1 As the Lord's people, the church is called to pray--it is a calling, a right, and a great privilege. There is no calling or power greater than prayer. Prayer links the church to God. "Let thy will be done as in heaven so upon the earth." When the Lord burdens our heart to pray, we soon realize that we do not know how--it is not in us to pray. It causes us to turn to our Lord and cry out: "Lord, teach us to pray; we need to learn to take up Your burdens; teach us." In Richmond, Virginia, from February 1981 through October 1982, Stephen Kaung gave a series of messages on corporate prayer. During this period, he shared at the beginning of prayer meetings held every Wednesday evening. These spoken messages have been transcribed into this book. The spoken form has been preserved with only necessary editing for clarity. Some of the matters discussed for prayer are specific to the saints praying in Richmond; however, they are included because they contain principles that could be of help to all God's people.

Christianity is Jesus Christ. It is not the teaching, doctrine, system or organization of Christ. Rather, it is Jesus Christ himself. We need to see Him as God sees Him. Yet this can only come about by revelation from above. The Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to us. And when we do see Him as God sees Him, we will fall down and worship. Such, then, is the intent of this series of messages, whose overarching theme is best summed up in the author’s choice of title to the entire series: “But We See Jesus” (Hebrews 2:9a). All nineteen messages were delivered by the author before a Christian audience in Richmond, Virginia over a three-year period, commencing in the year 1992. May God use this volume to inspire His people to see the Savior and Lord we have so that we may truly worship Him with all our hearts and love Him with all our heart, mind, will and strength. Jesus alone is worthy!