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THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY 2016 – Chinese New Year of the Monkey

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2016, the Year of the Monkey, with festivities and events in Butterworth, Burmah Road, Island Glades, Sungai Ara, and Bukit Mertajam. Learn about the characteristics and symbolism of the Monkey, as well as its presence in mythology and the Bible.

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THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY 2016 – Chinese New Year of the Monkey

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  1. THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY2016 – Chinese New Year of the Monkey 31 Jan. Butterworth GH 07 Feb. BurmahRoad GH 08 Feb. Chinese New Year 14 Feb. Island Glades GC 21 Feb. Sungai Ara GH 28 Feb. Bukit MertajamGC

  2. Introduction:(1) The Monkey Years: 2015 Year of the Ram/Sheep/Goat Feb 20, 1920 - Feb 7, 1921 Feb 06, 1932 - Jan 25, 1933 Jan 25, 1944 - Feb 12, 1945 Feb 12, 1956 - Jan 30, 1957 February 08, 2016 Jan 30, 1968 - Feb 16, 1969 Feb 16, 1980 - Feb 04, 1981 Feb 04, 1992 - Jan 22, 1993 Jan 22, 2004 - Feb 14, 2005 - Jan 27, 2017 2017 – Year of the Rooster Jan. 28, 2017-Feb. 15, 2018

  3. (1) The Monkey Year(2) The Marks of the Monkey “People” • Ct. Deut. 18:9-14 • 9  “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable customs of those nations. 10  No one among you is to make his son or daughter pass through the fire, practise divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery, 11  cast spells, consult a medium or a familiar spirit, or inquire of the dead. 12  Everyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you because of these detestable things. 13  You must be blameless before the LORD your God. 14  Though these nations you are about to drive out listen to fortune-tellers and diviners(Astrology? Feng Shui?),the LORD your God has not permitted you to do this. (They) are witty, intelligent, and have a magnetic personality. Personality traits, like mischievousness, curiosity, and cleverness, make them very naughty…Though they don't have any bad intentions, their pranks sometimes hurt the feelings of others. Monkeys are fast learners and crafty opportunists. They have many interests and need partners who are capable of stimulating them. While some like the eccentric nature of Monkeys, some don't trust their sly, restless, and inquisitive nature…they are clever and creative, monkeys (but) can't always exhibit their talent properly. Monkeys like to take challenges and they prefer urban life to rural!!! ??? …..

  4. A. The Monkey – the Mammal. 1. APrimate – monkey, chimpanzee, baboon, ape, etc. 2. APerson – one who behaves like or duped as a monkey • Cf. Sheep, Lamb (Isa. 53:6, 7); • Dogs, Swine (Mt. 7:6)

  5. B. The Monkey in Mythology The Monkey features in many religious folklores and mythologies: 1. In Buddhism and Taoism, cf. the classic sixteenth-century novel, The Journey to the West (Xi You Ji or HsiYu Chi), cf. Xuanzang, Sha Wujing, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, as well as in countless later adaptations, from Chinese opera to comic books,

  6. B. The Monkey in Mythology1. In Buddhism and Taoism, Romans 1:21-23 (HCSB) 21  For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22  Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles 2. In Hinduism, Hanuman (the Monkey god) in Ramayana was prominent. 3. In Paganism, in Egypt, Troth, wisest of Egyptian gods, was depicted with the baboon’s headdress. Ct. Rom. 1:21-23

  7. C. The Monkey in the Bible. 1 Kings 10:22 (HCSB) the king [Solomon] had ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 2 Chronicles 9:21 (HCSB) the king’s ships kept going to Tarshish with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

  8. C. The Monkey in the Bible.I Kgs. 10:22; II Chr. 9:21 Only two parallel alluded references in KJV- apesand peacocks brought from Tarshish by navies of Solomon and Hiram to Solomon every 3 years. 1. The Monkey in the Ape - Heb. qoph. a. Etymologically- qoph - may not be Hebrew, but derived from Sanskrit `kapi' = swift, nimble, active; Greek `kepos' = long-tailed monkey; same as the Syriac [qwp',] and Roman (Cephus,) which animal both Pliny and Solinus inform us was brought from Ethiopia. Likely refers to monkeys or baboons. No apes have been found in Palestine or adjacent regions. Baboonswere also well-known in Egypt. The god Thoth was often represented by a baboon. b. Geographically– They were from Tarshish (= Tartessus in Spain? A district on the Malabar coast of India? Ceylon? or a general term for the West? Jonah 1:3.) or from Ethiopia [as #1a]

  9. 1. The Monkey in the Ape - Heb. qoph2. The Baboon in the Peacock - Heb. tukkiyim a. Etymologically - the Heb. term is similar to an Egyptian word for monkey in inscriptions found in expeditions to Punt (Somaliland). It may be a reference to old world monkeys from East Africa. JBP and NIV translate "baboons"; and NEB "monkeys". b. Historically - Monkeys were among the tributes received by the Assyrian king, Ashurnasirpal II.

  10. D. The MONKEYS as GIFTS TO A MONARCH • The Monkeys were Periodic Gifts – Given regularly every 3 years. I Kgs. 10:22 a. TheSearch for Live Monkeys. i. Cf. the Greater than Solomon’s Search for Lost Sinners: Mt. 12:42 • His Seeking and Saving the Lost. Lk. 19:10 • His Purchase of the Pearl of great Price. Mt. 13:45,46

  11. 1. The Monkeys were Periodic Gifts – I Kgs. 10:22a. TheSearch for Live Monkeys. i. Cf. The Greater than Solomon’s Search for Lost Sinners. Mt. 12:42 ii. Cf. The Substance of His Last words: • His Worldwide Commission to Preach the Gospel. Mk. 16:15; Mt. 28:19, 20 • His Witnesses sent out to Proclaim the Good News. Acts 1:8

  12. a. The Search for Live Monkeys.b. The Strategy to Search for Live Monkeys i. A Need to Plan – Consider the Direction (Goal); Duration and Discipline. I Kgs. 10:22 • A Navy set up – “fleet of trading ships at sea”, NIV; Cp. I Kgs. 9:26 iii. A New Alliance formed with Hiram’s navy. Cp. I Kgs. 9:27-28 iv. A Nation involved – those not in the Navy presented gifts and resources. I Kgs. 10:25 c. The Sacrifice in the Search for Live Monkeys as Gifts – I Kgs. 10:22, 25 Cf. The Act of the believers in first giving their Selves to the Lord. II Cor. 8:5

  13. 1. The Monkeys were Periodic Gifts – I Kgs. 10:22 2. The Monkeys were Peculiar but Precious Gifts. They were particularized, probably as being the rarest articles on board. a. They were Strange Gifts for a King. i. We were once Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel; Eph. 2:12a ii. Strangers from the Covenants of Promise. Eph. 2:12b iii. But now we are a Peculiar and Precious People unto Him. I Pet. 2:9 cf. Exo. 19:5

  14. a. They were Strange Gifts for a King. b. They were Special Gifts to the King. The Search for them took two navies three years involving much Sacrifice. I Kgs. 10:22 Cf. The Sacrifice of the Macedonian Christians. They gave … II Cor. 8:1-5, NIV i. In abundant ecstasy – overflowing joy, 8:2a ii. Out of their deep poverty – extreme poverty, 8:2b iii. Out of their liberality – welled up in rich generosity, 8:2c iv. Beyond their power and ability,8:3 v. With entreaty – the privilege of sharing in this service8:4 vi. They gave themselves first to the Lord in priority. 8:5

  15. A. The Monkey – the Mammal.B. The Monkey in MythologyC. The Monkey in the Bible.D. The Monkeys as Gifts to the Monarch. 1. The Monkeys were Periodic Gifts. 2. The Monkeys were Peculiar but Precious Gifts. 3. The Monkeys were Part of Other Gifts.I Kgs. 10:22

  16. 3. The Monkeys were Part of Other Gifts.I Kgs. 10:22 1 Kings 10:22 (ASV) 22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. a. Other Gifts Given Every Three Years – gold, silver, ivory i. Gold - Our Best Gift to magnify God's Character. • Consider the Weight of the Gold received by King Solomon in one year. v. 14 666 talents of gold (about 25 ton) I Sam. 17:4, 7 cf. II Sam. 21:20; Rev. 13:18 • Consider the Words used of the Gold. • Beaten Gold for the Shields, cp. beaten gold to Purify. vv. 16, 17 cp. Mal. 3:2-4 • Best gold for the Throne cp. best gold to Glorify. vv. 18-20 cf. Rev. 4:4, 10-11 • Pure gold for the Vessels cp. pure gold to Sanctify v. 21 cp. II Tim .2:19-21

  17. 3. The Monkeys were Part of Other Gifts.I Kgs. 10:22a. Other Gifts Given Every Three Years – gold, silver, ivoryi. Gold - Our Best Gift to magnify God's Character. ii. Silver- The *Least of our Gifts Accepted for God's Service. *silver was considered of little value, NIV King Solomon received gifts of silver vv. 22, 25 • to give back to his people v. 27 • he did not use it for his own house vessels v. 21 • he used it for the them. Consider whether Solomon’s Search for Silver (and Gold) was necessary. Ct. v. 21, 27; Cf. Deut. 17:17

  18. 3. The Monkeys were Part of Other Gifts.I Kgs. 10:22a. Other Gifts Given Every Three Years – gold, silver, ivoryi. Gold - Our Best Gift to magnify God's Character.ii. Silver - The Least of our Gifts Accepted for God's Service iii. Ivory- Our Special Gifts reserved for God's Glory. Used for the King's throne vv. 18-20 Used by King Ahab for the palace he built…inlaid with ivory, Cf. I Kgs. 22:39, NIV; Constructed in arrogance; Displayed in opulence; Judged for disobedience. Amos 3:15 [Spiritual Gifts are not to be used for Man's Honour.]

  19. Amos 3:15 15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD. During that dig, Harvard University excavators discovered Ahab and Jezebel's White House dubbed the "Ivory House" in First Kings 22:39. • Walls of Ahab's White House can still be seen at Samaria Hundreds of fragments of ivories which had once decorated palace walls and furniture were found in the dig. These ivories, imports from heathen Phoenicia, symbolized for the prophets of Judah the decadent northern kingdom. Amos, in chapter 6, verse 4, scathingly denounced the rulers of Samaria for "lying on ivory couches" while ignoring injustice to the poor.

  20. b. Opted Gifts Given regularly every year. I Kgs. 10:25 Our King requires from us gifts of our “Tithes” and Tributes every Lord's Day. Cf. I Cor. 16:1, 2 I Kgs. 10:25 i. The Period year by year (25) ii. The People every man (25) iii. The Purpose: they brought every man (25) iv. The Present: his present, etc. v. The Proportion: a rate or a certain amount (25) I Cor. 16:1, 2 the first day of the week. 16:1 Let every one of you 16:1 lay by him 16:1 in store 16:1 as God hath prospered him.16:2 cf. The Tithes or the Tributes, Mal. 3:8.

  21. E. The Mistakes Made by the Monkeys’ Monarch (Here, King Solomon fails to be a Type of Jesus Christ. The King made THREE mistakes a King must not make.)1. At the Commencement, Solomon Asked for Wisdom, and God AddedWealth, Honour and Health. I Kgs. 3:12-14 2. At the Conclusion, As a Monarch, a. Horses. b. Wives. c. Silver and Gold. Solomon Made the Mistakes of Multiplication. he was not to Multiply… Cf. Deut. 17:16 cf. I Kgs. 10:26, 28-29 Cf. Isa. 31:1-3; Deut. 17:17 cf. I Kgs. 11:1-4; Neh. 13:26 Deut. 17:17 cf. I Kgs. 10:22 with 21 and 14, 25 [Solomon’s life experiences after this (from God’s view point) were lost years- I Kgs. 11:9-42f ct. II Chr. 9:29-31]

  22. E. The Mistakes Made by the Monkeys’ Monarch 1. At the Commencement 2. At the Conclusion3. For the Current Year of the Monkey, let us avoid Multiplying … a. Horses b. Wives c.Wealth • Trust not in Horses and chariots. Psa. 20:7; Isa. 31:1 • Love your wife and be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Eph. 5:25; II Cor. 6:14 • Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…. Mt. 6:19, 20 Whose shall all thee things be, which thou hast provided? Lk. 12:2

  23. Conclusion: Multiply Monkeys but not Horses. Go not to Egypt for Horses, but go to Tarshish for Monkeys A Blessed and Fruitful Year of the Monkey to all with prayers for many to go out to Tarshish and bring back many “live monkeys” to be presented to and for the Worship of the King this year and the years to follow.

  24. My wife and I would like to wish all the Chinese brethren in this assembly A Blessed, Bountiful, Fruitful and Prosperous (Gen. 39:3b, 23b; Joshua 1:8; Psa. 1:3) Chinese New Year.

  25. Acknowledgement:Many images in this Presentation are sourced from the Internet with the sole intention of illustrating my biblical teaching and not used for any profitable purpose.Note: These images are only illustrations, not necessarily authoritative. • For those interested in…Viewing the Powerpoint Presentation again; • Listening to the Study again • And/Or Want a full Outline of the Study, • Please visit (after Sunday): www.berita-bethel-ung.com

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