Introduction

Greetings, everyone. Today, we shall examine the third part of 1 Kings Chapter 8, spanning from verse 54 to verse 66. The theme of this section is clear: "Blessing the Assembly of Israel with a Loud Voice."

These verses describe how Solomon summoned all the people of Israel to gather in Jerusalem. At that time, the city's accommodations were completely overwhelmed. Many had to sleep on the streets. Why did they travel such long distances to endure such hardship? Think about the logistics. Over a million people packed into Jerusalem. How did they manage the waste? What about basic sanitation? How did they wash when everyone was filthy and sweating? These were immense practical challenges.

Why did Solomon gather them? For one singular purpose: to dedicate the Temple he had built to the God of Israel. What is truly remarkable is that despite the severe shortage of resources, and despite unscrupulous merchants exploiting the situation by inflating prices—charging several times the normal rate for a cup of water—the Israelites did not complain. They rejoiced. They were happy if they had lodging; they were equally happy sleeping on the streets. This is extraordinary. It far surpasses the massive crowds we see during national holidays at tourist hotspots.

What was the driver behind such sacrifice? Let me tell you: this was a monumental celebration. Everyone scrambled to get close to God, to receive the blessing that flows from Him. The hard truth is that no one in this world rejects a blessing. In human existence, the two most critical realities are blessings and curses. If you understand these two forces and how they operate, it is impossible for your life to go wrong.

No One Rejects a Blessing

Nobody wants a curse, and nobody rejects a blessing. Whether genuine or merely polite, a blessing is always welcome. Take the Chinese New Year greetings, for instance; people naturally exchange pleasantries. Solomon understood this human reality deeply. Having dedicated the Temple, worshipped God, and offered sacrifices, the glory of God filled the sanctuary. It was at this precise moment that he began to bless the assembly of Israel.

In truth, a blessing is a profound wish. Was Solomon's blessing effective? Some might dismiss it as mere formality. But if you read closely, Solomon’s words were solid, practical, and deeply grounded. Good wishes are always valued; people want to hear them. They knew that God is the ultimate source of blessing. That is why, despite the harsh conditions, they were willing to participate in the dedication of the Temple.

Make no mistake, dedicating the Temple was a grueling affair. Imagine sacrificing 120,000 sheep; the stench of blood must have been overwhelming. Add to that 22,000 cattle. Even if an ox weighs 500 kilograms and a sheep only a fraction of that, the sheer volume of burnt offerings was staggering. In Singapore, during the Hungry Ghost Festival, Chinese burn paper and incense, filling the air with choking smoke and ash. It is messy. Yet, the Israelites gathered in Jerusalem and did this with absolute joy. Why? Because they were waiting for the final blessing.

The People Rejoiced in the Goodness of God to His Servant David

You must realize that during the reign of Solomon, Israel was the most powerful nation on earth. The citizens knew this and took immense pride in it. The Temple Solomon built was the absolute pinnacle of architecture three thousand years ago. To put it in perspective, three thousand years ago, China was still in the Shang Dynasty. Yet Solomon’s Temple was peerless. When the people saw the favor and goodness the Lord had shown to His servant David and to Israel, their hearts were filled with joy. Every single person had a share in this favor.

Originally, the feast was to last seven days. But when the time came, no one wanted to leave. They were content to sleep on the streets because the atmosphere was electric, the fellowship was rich, and the meat was excellent. So, they extended it for another seven days. By then, nobody cared about the sweat, the smell, or the choking smoke. They were consumed by sheer joy.

Is this not extraordinary? If you, as an ordinary citizen, visit a tourist spot during a holiday and find it overcrowded with terrible sanitation, you would resolve never to return. Yet, here, the crowds kept growing. Why? Because the Spirit of God was moving in that place. God was highly pleased with David and Solomon, who had built a Temple for His Name. Solomon’s prayer and teachings were perfectly aligned with God's heart. Under these spiritual conditions, the people were so filled with joy that they simply did not want to leave.

Thus, they stayed for a second week. On the eighth day of the second week, Solomon finally sent them home. Had they been allowed, they might have stayed for a third or fourth week. Their objective was clear: to secure the blessing of God.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking that coming to God without expecting anything is a sign of spiritual maturity. That is nonsense. We come before God precisely to receive His favor, His blessings, and His benefits. Otherwise, why come at all? Let us be absolutely clear about this.

You do not come to add anything to the Lord, nor do you come to do Him a favor by giving Him your resources. What do you have that God needs? You have nothing, and God has no need of your charity. We must come before God with humility and realism, simply to receive His grace and blessing. If your logic is that you are doing God a favor by coming to His Temple, you are inviting a curse upon yourself.

I have said this repeatedly, and I will say it again: if a person thinks they are making a grand contribution to God, they are headed for disaster and a curse. Banish such foolish thoughts. What is man? We are but dust before the Almighty. Even the magnificent Temple built by Solomon was nothing to Him. God searches the heart. If your heart is proud and crooked, you will face the consequences.

I have seen many who held this misguided attitude. On the surface, they seemed devout and loving toward God, but they ended up suffering terribly from cancer. Where did they go wrong? In my years of analyzing these difficult cases, one fatal flaw stands out: they believed they had made a great contribution to God.

We must correct our attitude. Even if you build a temple for God, you must realize you are not doing Him a favor. Some even dare to challenge God, saying, "Look at how much I have given You, what more do You want?" That is the path to ruin. We must come before God solely to receive His blessing and grace. Do not be foolish.

Solomon's Blessing (1): Peace According to His Promise

"When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying: 'Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.'" (1 Kings 8:54-56)

Let us be clear: this was Solomon’s testimony. Whether God’s promises have been fulfilled in your life, I do not know. But in Solomon’s eyes, not a single promise or blessing had failed. This is a powerful reality.

If you want to understand what blessing truly means, you must study Deuteronomy Chapter 28, verses 1 to 14. Once you read it, you will understand that if you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow His decrees and commands, your bank account will be blessed, your children and livestock will be blessed, your land will be blessed, your work will be blessed, and everything you touch will prosper.

Is this Prosperity Gospel? No. This is the Theology of Blessing. It is God’s promise, not my invention. Let us get our facts straight. What we need most is God's promise, but His promise is conditional. In the New Testament, the promise is even more profound: Jesus took upon Himself our curses and carried our infirmities. By His blood we are redeemed; by His stripes we are healed; through His poverty we are made rich.

Because of this, the Chinese Mingding Doctrine holds fast to one unwavering truth: not a single promise of God will fail. Do you want this? Of course you do. But have you obeyed His word? God commands you not to love the world, not to judge good and evil, not to love money, and not to gratify the flesh. Yet many Christians complain, "These standards are too high; who can meet them?" With that attitude, it is no wonder you face trouble.

For such people, God's promises manifest as discipline and punishment. We must be careful. Within God's covenant, there are both blessings and curses. The Israelites understood this spiritual law. They scrambled to receive the favor of the Lord and the blessing of Solomon because they knew how vital these promises were.

Understand this: if you receive healing in our midst, it is directly linked to God's promise, and it is linked to my faith, because I absolutely believe that not one of God's promises will fail. If a person does not experience the fulfillment of God's promises, the explanation is simple: you have failed to obey His word. You are lucky not to be cursed, let alone blessed. Let me tell you: God's love is unconditional, but His blessing is highly conditional.

Solomon understood the supreme importance of God's promises. I am an uncompromising believer in God's word. What He says, He will perform. God commands us to build His glorious church on the Rock, and that is precisely what we do. Some ask, "Your standards are so high, will anyone come?" Look around you—many have come. Do not doubt; believe.

Years ago, I experienced something extraordinary. I believed that everyone who came to Jesus would be healed, and indeed they were. If you want to claim God's promises, you must examine yourself. If you are suffering from the diseases of Egypt, you must ask yourself why.

I tell you, not one of God's promises will fail. Whether promised to Abraham or to Moses, every word of blessing stands. Do you dare challenge Solomon? You do not have the credentials. You cannot match his knowledge, his wisdom, or his fear of God.

As I often say, God does not make mistakes, and the devil does not make mistakes. The only ones who make mistakes are us. I have a deep conviction in God's promises. The promises of the New Testament far exceed those of the Old. Why do we have authority to cast out demons? It is because of the blood of Jesus, not because you are perfect. You will never be good enough on your own merit; it is entirely by the grace of Jesus Christ. He sets the captives free and releases the oppressed. This reality must continue to manifest in our midst.

Solomon's Blessing (2): May God Be with Us

"May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us." (1 Kings 8:57)

What a powerful statement. In my ministry, I hold an unshakeable conviction: God will never leave us nor forsake us. Our God desires nothing more than to be with us. How merciful He is! In the light of His glory, we are nothing—utterly insignificant.

Yet, God chooses to be with us. Not because we are righteous, but because we are desperate for Him. He does not abandon us. In truth, we deserve to be cast off because we constantly turn away from Him. We harbor thoughts that invite demonic oppression, resulting in sickness and misery. Then, we cast out these demons in the name of Jesus, and the burden of our sickness is transferred to Him, because He took up our pain and bore our suffering.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us on the cross. This is the ultimate demonstration of God's love. If God wanted to abandon humanity, He would have done so in the days of Cain and Lamech. It would have been game over long ago. If God had no intention to save us, Jesus would not have come. Yet He came, only to be crucified by those foolish men. Where is the justice in that? Yet, God still loves us and desires to save us. What love can compare to the love of Jesus?

Personally, I am still striving to emulate this love. If people provoke me to judge good and evil, I refuse to take the bait. I am not that foolish. God warned us: "On the day you eat of it, you will surely die." When you refuse to judge good and evil, and you remain undisturbed, you have achieved victory. Even on the cross, Jesus was not bitter; He did not accuse His executioners of ingratitude.

Victory is straightforward when God is with us. I want to bring you before this God, who is full of grace and truth. We must emulate Jesus Christ. God wants to be with us; do not turn away from Him. Life apart from Him is brutal. Since He will not leave or forsake us, let us turn away from sin and spare ourselves unnecessary suffering.

Perhaps the very suffering you endure is the precise reason God has not abandoned you. Let us be clear: if you were to forsake God and suffer no consequences—indeed, if you went on to amass great wealth and felt complacent, continuing to abandon Him—the ultimate result would be that God would truly abandon you. Do you understand this? We must recognize that those whom God has chosen, He will never forsake. Even when the Israelites were exceedingly wicked, God did not abandon them.

I bless you all. May God be with us, just as He was with our ancestors; may He neither leave us nor forsake us. It is not because we sin that God abandons us. Look at David—he offended God multiple times, yet God did not abandon him. We must all have this fundamental understanding of God: He is not a God who abandons us, but a God who saves us, and He will save us to the very end.

I have made a firm resolve: for anyone among us who is oppressed by demons, I will not hold your shortcomings against you. Whether your understanding is sharp or dull is your own affair. But this I know: the demon that oppresses you, I will cast out without fail.

Recently, I witnessed such an instance once again. A sister among us returned to her hometown and found her mother severely injured. Multiple bones in her body had been broken in a car accident, and she was screaming in agony. Her mother was a long-time Christian, yet her mind was filled with spiritual rubbish. Even the Christians who came to visit her were acting in utter foolishness.

Seeing her mother screaming in pain, the daughter felt a piercing grief in her heart. I told her: "You must have faith in God. Our God desires nothing more than to save and heal us." Taking my words to heart, she began to distinguish between the words spoken by her mother and those spoken by the demon inside her mother. Her mother was fierce, glaring with wild eyes, spewing demonic nonsense. Despite being bruised and battered from the accident, she possessed extraordinary strength when she struggled. Is that not bizarre? It was because a demon was at work.

When the pain flared up, even morphine was useless; once the drug wore off, she would scream in agony again. This sister prayed, rebuking the demons and commanding them to leave. Though her mother’s face was contorted in rage, when the demon departed, she wept, for in her spirit she understood what was happening. As a result of the prayer, the pain ceased, and there was no further need for medication. Did her mother deserve this? No, she did not. It was solely because our God is rich in grace and mercy. I revere my God; I bow before Him in absolute awe. This is our God—full of grace and truth.

Our God is exceptionally good. When we turn away from Him, His heart grieves, for He does not wish to see us suffer such misery. Hearing this sister’s account moved me to tears. I am profoundly grateful that the God I serve is a God who will never leave us nor forsake us. I bless you all: may God be with us!

Solomon’s Blessing (3): Turning Our Hearts to Him

"May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commands, decrees and laws, which He gave our ancestors." (1 Kings 8:58)

Brothers and sisters, do you know why you experience suffering? It is because God desires your heart to turn to Him. It is not that God needs your devotion, but rather that He cannot bear to see you suffer. Our hearts must return to Him, for our God is abundant in grace and truth. To be our God is no easy task: if He disciplines us too harshly, He fears we will shatter; if He disciplines us too lightly, our hearts remain hardened.

Let me speak of my own experience. God disciplines me frequently, for one reason alone: to prevent me from going astray, ensuring that I trust in Him all my life. To keep the Apostle Paul from straying and to keep his heart aligned with God, He gave him a thorn in the flesh. Paul could bear it because he was Paul; if it were us, we would likely crumble under such a thorn.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must be diligent to walk in His ways and keep the commandments, decrees, and laws He gave our ancestors. Our God is indeed our Good Shepherd; He will save us, and He will turn our hearts back to Him. Let your hearts soften and turn back to God. Do you understand? Our God is a good God, and His intentions for us are deeply considered and painstaking.

Sometimes I reflect on the church I built in the early days. Though it provoked God's anger, He corrected my path and turned my heart back to Him. Fortunately, I possessed a small measure of wisdom—which must have been granted by God. I do not consider myself a Job. When I studied the Book of Job closely, I realized that Job, too, was quite a foolish character.

What is absurd is that some people believe their sufferings are comparable to Job's. I say to them: "Stop this nonsense." If even Job had to repent before God, how much more urgently must you repent? In short, we must understand that whether you are Job or not, our God desires daily that our hearts turn back to Him.

Look at us: we sin against God daily. Our minds are as small as walnuts, our hearts as narrow as peanuts, and sometimes we bicker over matters as trivial as sesame seeds. If God were as petty as we are, we would have been destroyed long ago. Some may disagree when I call Job a foolish character, but if you read the Book of Job carefully, you will see that he ultimately repented. Do you understand?

Previously, he loved to argue with God, digressing and deflecting. Yet when God questioned him, he could not answer a single thing. I have not misjudged him. If you wish to defend Job, I will not argue with you. If you believe he was not foolish, so be it.

Solomon’s Blessing (4): May God Remember Us Day and Night

"And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and of his people Israel according to each day’s need." (1 Kings 8:59)

Do not attempt to vindicate yourself. It is far better if God vindicates you. Our God is a God who remembers our prayers day and night. If God does not answer a person's prayer, it is because their heart is crooked; if He does not listen, it is because they do not know Him or understand His ways.

God never sleeps; He remembers our prayers day and night. Recently, I felt a renewed vigor for casting out demons. In truth, I have always valued deliverance ministry. It is a vital component of our faith. Why? Because when a person fails to do what they want to do, and instead does what they do not want to do, it is not they who do it, but the sin dwelling within them. Is that not so? The moment God hears our prayers and we command the demons to leave, His power descends from heaven, and the demons are expelled.

At noon, a sister called me. She explained that she often felt a perverse impulse—failing to do what she wanted, doing what she hated, and feeling immediate regret. It was an agonizing experience. I messaged her: "This requires deliverance."

Do not take the blame entirely upon yourself; this is the work of a demon. Granted, you must have done something to invite the demon in. But once the demon is there, you can no longer distinguish between your own actions and those of the spirit. Nevertheless, this does not matter, for our God is rich in grace and mercy, and He hears our prayers. We need only command, in the name of Jesus, whether it be a spirit of death or any other spirit, to depart—and it must depart.

After the call, I thought to myself: "I am busy with other matters now; I will lead her in prayer another day." To my surprise, the demon struck almost immediately. I suddenly found myself struggling to breathe. I prayed urgently. Fortunately, two sisters were beside me. After an intense spiritual battle, my breathing returned to normal. I thought to myself: if I had failed to catch my breath, would I not have perished right then and there? Would I not have seen stars in broad daylight?

Our God remembers us day and night. Though we do not know whether it is day or night in heaven, whether God sleeps, or whether He takes vacations, it is enough for us to believe steadfastly that He is a God who remembers us day and night.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must be strong once more. We must launch another wave of deliverance and trample the enemy underfoot. We have no need to fear such attacks. When the enemy strikes, we will reduce them to helpless chickens. Is that not so? Our God hears our prayers. Is He unable to handle this? Not only can He handle it, He does so magnificently. Indeed, the spirit of death was instantly reduced to a drenched chicken before us.

Solomon’s Blessing (5): That All the Peoples of the Earth May Know You Alone Are God

"So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other." (1 Kings 8:60)

Is this merely a wish? Do you not know how powerful our God is? I tell you, the miracles we have witnessed are countless—baskets upon baskets would not suffice to hold them. It is only because of our little faith that we fail to realize His power. If you truly understood His might, you would not place your hope in any president. Our God is powerful; He will make all the peoples of the earth know that He alone is God.

O God, we are Your people, called to proclaim Your great name and to praise You continually, for You are worthy of praise! Sometimes I marvel at the sheer number of miracles I have experienced and the testimonies I can share. This is because our God is the Lord of all the earth, the one and only God!

One sister, after hearing my testimony, prayed for her sick dog, and it was healed. Another sister had over a hundred sick cattle. In her anxiety, she embraced the head of each cow daily and prayed; every single one was healed. It was extraordinary! Her testimony delighted me. She said, "Pastor, I only went to the barn to pray for my cows because I heard you pray for your dog."

If that is so, can you pray for your pigs? Of course you can. Do you know how great our God is? He is immense; do not underestimate Him. Because I believe our God is sovereign and mighty, I dare to pray about any issue. A sister whom I knew from a local church once came to my house wearing bandages; three bones in her foot were fractured, and the swelling was severe. But what of it? In my faith, a fracture is nothing—it is child's play.

Why did I think this way? Since she came to me, I was determined to fight this battle to the end. After praying for over an hour, the swelling vanished completely, and she walked normally. I was astonished—though there was no need for astonishment, for our God is powerful and awesome!

Yet, there are some detestable Christians who are utterly ignorant of God's power. When this sister’s mother was hit by a car and suffered multiple fractures, screaming in pain, the church members who visited her regarded this as normal. When they returned a few days later, the sister asked me, "Pastor, can I throw them out?" I replied, "Yes, throw them out immediately!"

Though they call themselves Christians, they have no concept of God's power because their faith is dull. They are infested with demons yet remain oblivious, speaking nothing but lies. Having witnessed the pain stop after we prayed for the mother, they accused us of being a cult. How twisted must one be to think this way? To manifest the power of God, bringing grace and mercy, is labeled heresy?

What logic is this? I tell you, the curse upon those Christians is profound, because the Jesus they believe in is not the true Jesus at all; it is some unknown entity. Even this sister’s mother was highly deceptive, frequently forcing her three children to use their identity cards to secure high-interest loans to pay off her debts. Such are the "Christians" we deal with.

Do not ask me, "Pastor, can I pray for unbelievers?" You may pray for anyone. Especially for unbelievers—once they are healed through your prayers, do not force them to church. If they wish to come, let them; if not, let them do as they please. It is none of our business. Do you hear me?

We must make all the peoples of the earth know that the Lord alone is God, powerful and awesome. We must extend this grace. If you are wise, you will recognize that Jesus Christ is the supreme treasure, and that He is indeed God.

Solomon’s Blessing (6): May the People of Israel Remain Faithful to the End

Consider that occasion: everyone was filled with immense faith, having witnessed the glory of God descend upon the Temple. Their faith was at its peak, overflowing and bursting forth!

But here lies the problem: in a highly charged gathering, it is easy for faith to surge in the heat of the moment. Just as during this Bible study, my faith feels elevated. You might ask, is it truly at its peak? No, that is merely a slight exaggeration. When life is smooth, maintaining such faith is simple. But will you have it when trials come? Not necessarily. Do you hear me?

We must be people who persevere in faith. Faith is not a transient emotion that vanishes when the excitement cools. We must endure, remaining faithful to the end, just as we are today. This was Solomon’s hope, his prayer, and his blessing for Israel. If you ask me to speak to you, my greatest desire is that you remain steadfast in faith to the very end, forever and ever. Amen.

May God bless you all!

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