The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

Let us look at 1 Kings, Chapter 8. Today, we examine the first section, from verse 1 to verse 21. What is the core message here? It is the glory of the Lord filling the Temple. Once Solomon completed the construction and brought in the Ark of the Covenant, the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. It was an event unprecedented in history, never to be repeated.

Consider this: everyone was awestruck. They thought, "This is magnificent." If we build a church and the glory of the Lord fills it, what immense grace that would be! When people looked, they saw the Temple filled with the glory of God. Today, I want to lay out for you the five critical reasons why the glory of the Lord filled the Temple.

Reason One for the Glory of God Filling the Temple: It Was God’s Promise

We must understand one fundamental truth. If you say, "Lord, let me build a temple for You," and God says, "No, it is not necessary," but you go ahead and build it anyway, the glory of God will not fill it. Why? Because God values obedience to His commands far above the physical structure of a temple. He desires that we observe and obey His laws, decrees, and commandments far more than anything we think we can offer Him. Therefore, the first prerequisite is this: it must be God's promise.

And he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying: ‘Since the day for me to bring My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house for My name to abide there; but I chose David to rule over My people Israel.’ Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’ So the Lord has kept His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.” (1 Kings 8:15-20)

My brothers and sisters, we must grasp where this word "promise" originates. It comes from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This concept of "promise" must be deeply etched into our minds. What God promises, He will inevitably fulfill.

If we build a church, yet see neither God's promise nor its fulfillment, what are we actually doing? Why do we come before God in the first place? What is our objective? It is to obtain God's promise. Why are we willing to pay such a high price? Because God's promise is infinitely more valuable than any sacrifice we make.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that by coming to church, you are doing God a favor or giving Him something. In truth, God's promise far surpasses everything else. This promise originates from God Himself. If you want to know whether a person is blessed, look at whether they carry God's promise. If a person has God's promise upon them, that is of supreme significance. The glory of the Lord filled the Temple precisely because it was promised by God.

When God promises, how does He execute it? He fulfills it personally. Do not harbor the illusion that He promises and we are the ones who deliver. When I pray for you and you are healed, that is God's promise, and He is the one who accomplished it. It has nothing to do with my personal power or spiritual prowess. If you come to worship a "master" or a guru, you offend God. Never worship human masters. I have no desire to be your guru; my only desire is to be a vessel that carries and transmits God's promises.

Let me speak to you with absolute candor. Do you believe God's promise is more important than anything else? Let me tell you plainly: without God's promise, your life is in jeopardy. You will inevitably face crises where you cry out to heaven and earth, and receive no answer, completely helpless. Why do we desperately need God's promise? Because we face too many problems in this life. Without His promise, how do you propose to survive?

I am particularly fond of several of God's promises. First: "By His stripes we are healed." What a powerful statement. No matter how advanced modern science becomes, taking medicine always carries side effects—every drug has its toxicity. How can that compare to this divine promise? I often say that faith in the Lord is not just our daily bread; it is our medicine, and indeed, our currency. Consider how vital this promise is. But to benefit from such an extraordinary promise, you must know how to claim it. Do you have the capacity to claim God's promise?

You must calculate this ledger clearly. If you fail to understand this basic arithmetic, you will ruin your life. Let me make this clear: the glory of God filled His Temple, and we build His church, solely because of God's promise. Do you understand? What is this promise? It is the descent of God's presence. If you build a church devoid of God's presence, where only demons dwell, what is the point of your endeavor? I often reflect on this: what a tragedy it would be to live an entire lifetime without ever witnessing the glory of God, or seeing a church filled with His glorious presence.

The second promise: "Through His poverty we might become rich." Is there anything better than this? Most crucial of all is salvation—we are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and by His chastisement, we receive peace. Tell me, which of these is not infinitely more valuable than money?

Therefore, I urge you: do not harbor the petty thought when tithing, "Why is God so demanding of my money?" That is a complete misunderstanding. Giving is a critical component of claiming God's promise. Be careful, my brothers and sisters. When you were poor, you did not love money this much. But once you acquire some wealth, you will find tithing exceptionally difficult.

I recall an occasion when I received a substantial bonus. I hesitated when it came to tithing because the sum was large. Previously, I tithed a few hundred, at most a thousand dollars. But suddenly, I had to tithe ten or twenty thousand dollars. I temporarily lost my perspective, forgetting that the ten thousand dollar tithe was only possible because I had received one hundred thousand. Human nature is flawed; I thought of what ten thousand dollars could buy, and it felt painful. I struggled with this decision, but then I reasoned: "What illness can ten thousand dollars actually cure?" Is that not the reality? So, I gave. I tithed generously.

You must understand the value of God's promise. We build the house of God because His promises reside there. Why must we build a church filled with God's glory? Because that is where His promises are realized. A promise from God cannot be measured in monetary terms; it is priceless.

This is why God made His promise to David. Why David and not others? There were many judges before him, including Samuel. Yet Samuel did not prioritize the Ark of the Covenant; he had no time for it. Throughout history, Samuel and Moses are regarded as two of the greatest prophets, yet they did not undertake this task. It was only when David came that someone resolved to do it.

Reason Two for the Glory of God Filling the Temple: The Heart's Desire of Man

“‘Since the day for me to bring My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house for My name to abide there; but I chose David to rule over My people Israel.’ Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart...’” (1 Kings 8:16-18)

There is a deeper meaning here. Do you perceive the weight of these words? "Since the day I brought My people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city... to build a house." Why? Because God could not find the right man. God's heart must have been deeply grieved. Nobody even thought of this. Let me ask you: where was the Ark of the Covenant kept eventually? It was relegated to a storeroom in the house of Abinadab. This sacred object was treated with neglect because God could not find anyone with the heart's desire to house it properly. Over time, the tabernacle built by Moses decayed; the badger skins rotted, and the components were scattered. They could not even assemble a proper tent, so the Ark of the Lord was simply dumped in a corner.

What was wrong with the people of that generation? Had they lost their senses entirely? To treat such a priceless treasure with such casual disregard. Consider God's perspective: "This is the covenant I established with Israel. I brought them out of Egypt, spoke to them at Mount Sinai, and gave them the two tablets of stone. I commanded Moses, Bezalel, and Aholiab to construct a magnificent tabernacle."

Where did it all go? By the time of David, it was treated like ancient bricks looted from the Great Wall to build pigsties or sheep pens. Let me ask you: was God not grieved? No one spared a thought for this. No one understood how precious God's glory and presence truly were, or how magnificent His promises were. Yet, shortly after David ascended the throne, he resolved in his heart to build a temple for God.

Thus, God said, "Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well." What does this mean? It means God had been waiting for centuries. He waited through generation after generation of judges, kings, and prophets. Only David had the desire to build Him a house. For nearly four hundred years, from the Exodus to David, God had not chosen a city. The implication is clear: nobody cared. Do you think God will simply force His presence upon you? No, man must first possess the desire.

Let me speak to you with absolute honesty. Why did I step out to build a church? You must understand that I was deeply dissatisfied with the state of the local churches. I had to keep this dissatisfaction to myself to avoid the trap of judging good and evil. I knew the reality, but I kept quiet and endured it.

When I eventually began to build a church, I had a clear vision. Though I lacked experience, I knew what the glory and presence of God ought to look like—it had to match what was written in the Scriptures. I had a deep hunger for it. God had mercy on me; despite several failures and errors, my core desire remained unchanged. If we are to build a church, it must be a church where God's presence dwells. That was my singular desire.

Looking back, pursuing that desire was an uphill struggle. The circumstances were entirely unfavorable; we had no resources. I saw other churches with congregations of ten thousand, magnificent stages, professional drums, sophisticated lighting, and talented worship leaders. Then I looked at our own setup—we had absolutely nothing.

But, my brothers and sisters, God does not require these material things. What He requires is a heart resolved to build a church of His glory. God will make the promise, and He will fulfill it. I remember our humble, meager beginnings. Today, when I look at those massive stages, the lights, the sound systems, the professional musicians, I will not say they lack God's presence, but is that what God truly desires? God desires a heart.

My brothers and sisters, you do not need to seek me out when things are going well for you. But when any one of you is suffering, do I not suffer alongside you? This is the heart God desires. To weep with those who weep. When any member of this church struggles, I struggle. My earnest desire is to see God's promises swiftly fulfilled in your lives.

It is entirely about this heart. Why did Solomon ask for wisdom? Because he wanted to govern God's people properly. His motive was correct; his attitude was right. Today, you can all bear witness to how diligently I serve God. Yet, in my own heart, I tell myself: I am still not faithful enough. I have not loved Him enough with all my heart, soul, and strength, and occasionally I still make mistakes.

But God is not deterred by our mistakes; He is deterred by a lack of heart. Do you understand this? If the glory of God is to fill you, He looks at your heart. The greater God's promises, the more intense our desire must be. The more grace and mercy He offers, the more we must hunger for Him—to the point where we desire nothing more than to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Because of this singular focus, God's presence is clearly manifested among us.

I do not seek my own fame, nor do I seek personal gain. My sole pursuit is the presence of God and His glory filling this Temple. Why? Because God's people desperately need His presence.

Today, the brothers and sisters among us need God's presence immensely. When someone says, "Pastor, I am suffering," you need God's presence. When someone says, "Pastor, I have a headache," you need God's presence. I see people saying, "My throat hurts," "My blood sugar is high," "My hip is stiff," "My knee is fractured," "My foot is infected," or "I am old and impoverished." How desperately our brothers and sisters need God's promises!

Therefore, we must desire to build the house of God and long for His presence. Why? So that we may receive His promises. David possessed this heart. He initiated the building of the glorious Temple; it was not God who commanded him first. God longs to find such a person, so He can say to him, "You have done well. You are wise. I have waited on My throne for four hundred years for someone like you, and finally, you have appeared."

Sometimes I reflect on this: God was waiting for such a person, and I stepped forward. I said, "Lord, here I am. I will be that person." Occasionally, I boast to you that a person like me comes along once in five hundred years. But you must understand this: the Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a theology of realizing God's promises. No matter how many promises God has made, they have not been fulfilled enough. We must see more, far more, of His promises realized in our midst.

This is my deep desire, and I want every brother and sister here to share this exact same aspiration. Consecrate yourselves. Do not seek your own self-righteousness, but seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Let me tell you this straight: if you do this, you will surely become the David of this generation, the Solomon of this generation, and the Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of our time.

Think about how magnificent that is. God wants to make our name great. He wants to make us a great nation, a blessing to all the families of the earth. This is highly invigorating. It is far more potent than a bottle of vodka, and certainly more satisfying than the finest XO cognac.

My brothers and sisters, have this heart. Reignite that passion within you. Make no mistake: do not love money more than you love God. The moment your love for money surpasses your love for God, disaster is at your doorstep. I do not envy your wealth; I worry for your survival. If you can be stopped from this folly, it is your blessing. If not, it is my grief. Do you understand what I am saying? It fills me with deep regret, because some people simply refuse to be stopped, no matter how hard we try.

But for those among us who have this heart, let us run this race together. You must realize that you do not know what the future holds. Do not be complacent and assume everything is fine. The hard truth is that Jesus Christ has shielded us from many disasters. In the presence of God, there is no sickness, no calamity. If some of you are stubborn and insist on testing this reality, then I can only wish you good luck.

Reason Three for God’s Glory Filling the Temple: A Heart Willing to Pay the Price

Consider David. When he resolved to build a temple for God, he constantly set aside time, retreating to a quiet corner. What happened next? The presence of God descended, and God drew the designs with His own finger. I believe this is literal truth. The blueprints drawn on those thick parchments were traced by the very finger of God. If anyone could possess one of those parchments today, it would be priceless beyond measure.

The Bible tells us that God drew it with His finger so that David could understand. This was not drawn in the sand; it was etched on parchment. And as God drew, David showed his true caliber. What made David extraordinary? He did not tell God to stop.

At that time, David did not possess the engineering or architectural technology required for such a structure. Yet, God’s hand drew the overall shape, then module by module, specifying the exact materials. David must have been stunned: "How on earth do we build this? Overlaying the walls with gold? Where will I find such vast quantities of gold?" But God was clear: "Do this here, and do that there." David looked at it and resolved: "Lord, if this is Your blueprint, You will surely bring it to pass." Do you understand? It is the same with the Chinese Mingding Doctrine today. If the Bible says it, God will surely bring it to pass.

We do not operate based on feelings or past experiences. There are many things I have not personally experienced, but that is irrelevant. When the Bible speaks of things beyond our current comprehension—such as "all were healed"—you might ask, "Is it really possible for everyone to be healed? I have never seen it." My answer is simple: you must believe.

David looked at the plans and did not flinch. If you were in his place, your reaction might have been: "Lord, wait, stop drawing. Where are we going to find stones of this size?" That would have been the end of it. But David’s mindset was: "Whatever the cost, I will pay it." I tell you, this is the exact same spirit as Abraham offering Isaac on the altar, prepared to slay and burn his own son.

Do not limit the power of God. What God decrees, He will accomplish. That is my conviction. How big can a stone be? Is it bigger than God? If God designs a massive stone, can He not provide it? If God says, "This is what a glorious church looks like," who are we to object? Is there a problem? No, there is absolutely no problem.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must have a heart that is willing to pay the price in all things. David said, "I will pay this price. Hundreds of tons of gold? No problem." How much did he have at that moment? None, not even a single ton. How did he get hundreds of tons? By working for it, by securing it. What is a few hundred tons of gold to God? What are massive stones? You secure them. David simply resolved to get it done and hand it over to Solomon.

David did not stop. Why did he prepare so much gold? Because God explained that the design required it. How did the gold eventually arrive? Could God not deliver the gold? Of course He could. I tell you, what we see today in the Chinese Mingding Doctrine is merely a very small, humble beginning of what is to come.

Years ago, it was an extremely small and humble beginning. Today, it remains humble, because the glory of God far exceeds anything we have yet seen. If we only hope for what we can already see, that is not hope at all, for it is already realized. What we must hope for is what is yet unseen—and that will be extraordinary.

Did Solomon pay a price? Absolutely. Young Solomon was also remarkable. When he took over from his father David, he must have asked questions: "Father, can we really pull this off?" David’s response would have been: "Do not question it. God will surely bring it to pass. Do you understand? Never ask such foolish questions again, or I will pinch your cheeks."

Therefore, the price we are asked to pay today is entirely affordable. In fact, when I look back, what price have I actually paid? Practically none. I have received nothing but grace. Do you understand? The price is negligible compared to the immense grace received. I tell you today: if a person offers themselves completely as a burnt offering, it is impossible not to receive God's blessings. This is why I constantly urge you to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

To lay down your life as the price—I tell you, you will never find a better opportunity, a better deal, or a better investment in this lifetime. What is the ultimate investment? Consecrating yourself to God. And for what purpose? To build a temple and a church filled with the glory of God. The sense of fulfillment from this is unparalleled.

Thank God that He requires us to have a heart willing to pay the price. In our Chinese Mingding Doctrine, a core value is indeed "paying the price." Yet, in truth, the ultimate price was already paid by Jesus Christ. If we emulate Christ, we will surely inherit God's glory. It is a matter of simple, robust logic. I forgot to read the scripture earlier when discussing this point:

"And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be recorded or numbered." (1 Kings 8:5)

It is not just about gathering stones and materials; the same principle applies to our sacrifices today. Do not say, "We should save these resources to help the poor." Helping the poor cannot compare to the glory of God. If you lack the glory of God, your attempts to help the poor will only leave you impoverished as well. But if you possess the glory of God, you will not need to merely hand out charity; the poor themselves will rise out of poverty.

Reason Four for God’s Glory Filling the Temple: Our Knowledge of God

Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud." (1 Kings 8:12)

This concept of "dwelling in a dark cloud" or "obscurity" is profound. Our knowledge of God is critical. You will find that our God, especially our Lord Jesus, does not seek cheap publicity. When Satan tempted Jesus, offering Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, Jesus replied, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." Our God is not ostentatious or superficial. He is a God who dwells in secret. You must diligently search for Him to find Him, for He dwells in the hidden places.

Why not place the Ark of the Covenant in Tiananmen Square? Wouldn't it be magnificent to have it shining there for all to see? That is not what God wants. He has no interest in such displays. A fundamental key for any preacher is this: "They saw no one except Jesus." This is a vital truth.

We must be extremely careful never to promote our own names. In the generations to come, my name must not be remembered. There should only be one legacy left behind: the Mingding Doctrine—this complete theological system. Who formulated it is entirely irrelevant; what matters is the glory of God. Why do I insist on this? Because I have seen too many tragedies.

Some pastors say, "I want to build myself into a world-renowned minister." There was a highly famous pastor in America whose conference I once attended; he ended up in prison for abusing minors. In Singapore, another pastor tried to build himself into a global figure, campaigning in Africa and America. What was the outcome? Utter ruin. Having observed these failures, I resolved that I will only preach the name of Jesus Christ. I have no desire for fame. My name is worthless; only the name of Jesus matters. A member who left that Singapore church once asked me, "Pastor, how are you so wise?" I told him: it is not wisdom; it is simply a correct understanding of who God is.

Therefore, we must deepen our hunger for God. This is why the Chinese Mingding Doctrine demands such meticulous study of the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. We are now studying 1 Kings for the second time. Our God hides Himself in secret. Do not place His Ark in a public square. Do not build a golden statue of Yahweh as tall as a mountain. God detests such folly. Do not think that raising a physical cross high in the air achieves anything; without the presence of God, it is completely useless. What God demands is our heart. Do you understand this?

What is our actual knowledge of God? If we do not know Him, and if we fail to realize that He dwells in secret, we are doomed to fail. How can the glory of God fill the church or the temple under such ignorance? This is the crux of the matter. We must constantly elevate our understanding of God, because our knowledge of Him dictates our motives.

If your motive is self-glorification, what do you think God will do once you become famous? There is a Chinese saying: "Fame is to a man what fat is to a pig." You will simply end up as a very fat pig ready for slaughter. Do not think we can act carelessly. We must know God. Do what pleases Him with absolute dedication, and do not touch what He detests.

Reason Five for God’s Glory Filling the Temple: The Presence of the Ark

Do not fall into the trap of thinking that the Ark of the Covenant was abolished with the coming of Jesus. What does the Scripture say? Jesus said, "I have not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it." What was contained inside the Ark? The Ten Commandments.

You must understand that inside the Ark were the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, carved by the very finger of God. The Ark was placed in the Most Holy Place precisely because of those tablets. Today, many flawed theological systems erroneously claim that the Old Testament is obsolete. The hard truth is that the Old and New Testaments form one single, cohesive system. You cannot discard the Old Testament.

What is this? It is a covenant. The foundation remains the Law. When you are a child, you require rules and discipline. Yet, some new believers refuse to follow any rules, imagining themselves to be highly advanced and free. What is the result? Self-destruction. That is nothing but indulging the flesh, and it leads to ruin.

The temple housed the Ark, and the Ark contained the two stone tablets brought down from Mount Sinai. The words written on those tablets are the Ten Commandments from Exodus. We are not here to abolish this covenant; we are here to transcend it. If you and I can live out the very character of Jesus Christ, then fulfilling the Law becomes a natural, straightforward matter.

The Law is subordinate to God's promises. If we desire His promises, keeping the Ten Commandments—such as not stealing, not murdering, or not bearing false witness—is not a difficult task. It is basic discipline. Therefore, we cannot build a church on the premise of discarding God's Law.

A major theoretical breakthrough of the Chinese Mingding Doctrine is this: the New Testament and the Old Testament constitute one single, integrated system. Write this down. It is a complete framework, not a collection of contradictions. Do not buy into the nonsense that the New Testament is merely an "age of grace" devoid of law. If you want God’s presence and glory to fill the church, you must retain this foundational bedrock. It is not abolished; it is fulfilled.

Think about it carefully. If a person violates the Ten Commandments, they will inevitably bring a curse upon themselves. This is a matter of life and death. Therefore, to build the church and the temple of God, we must fulfill the Law. This is not legalism; it is about putting to death the misdeeds of the body by the Holy Spirit, thereby fulfilling the Law.

Today, we have examined these five essential elements. Where do we stand currently? Perhaps we are still in the construction phase, akin to the seven years Solomon spent building the temple. We must consecrate ourselves further, deepen our hunger, trust in God's promises, expand our knowledge of Him, and fulfill the Law.

May God bless you all.

null