Introduction

This week, we continue with 《Lamentations》. When the lament begins, do you all know what happened? It sounds quite distressing; someone has died. Who likes to listen to laments? Right? If you see someone there, saying, "Oh, I can't sleep, let me listen to a lament," who would enjoy that? No one. Are there any among us who listen to laments when they can't sleep? If so, that would be quite peculiar.

《Lamentations》 Chapter 4 is excellent, better than having no lament at night. If one were to listen to 《Lamentations》 every week of their life, it would be quite a wake-up call. Everyone would realize, "Oh! This is serious." So, you must view it in light of the current situation. I tell you, it's eerily familiar. All the prophets and priests are vying for traffic; this is an era of vying for traffic.

If I preach on 《Lamentations》, I'll lose whatever traffic I had. Who likes to listen to this stuff? It's impossible to gain traffic. But blessed are those who are willing to listen; first, it can help you avoid many disasters. In one's life, one disaster can set you back to square one, two disasters back to before creation.

Some time ago, a sister shared with her pastor a disaster she had witnessed. I had seen many similar disasters before, countless.

She said she had a very good friend, and the sister said she had contracted a very bad illness. She didn't want to tell me the specific name of the illness, as it still needed confirmation, but I knew it was probably cancer, or if not cancer, a cancer-like condition. This was the last thing I expected, because in my mind, she was a very spiritual person. She had been speaking about visions and dreams, and had started a vision and dream ministry, establishing prayer altars all over the world. She could be considered my spiritual senior.

She became a believer in Beijing many years ago, and after only a few days in my traditional church at the time, she and her husband said they wanted to leave. Coincidentally, I asked her why, and she said, "I can't stay in the church; the pastor is too controlling." I was dumbfounded, not knowing what she was talking about, which shows my state at the time; I really knew nothing.

Later, the sister often called me, and we gradually became familiar, even studying the Bible together. I learned a lot with her, and she often had dreams and visions, which I greatly envied. We even stayed in this ministry for a while. I also went to other churches, but no matter where I went, my son's bedwetting problem could not be solved.

Later, I came to the Chinese Mingding Doctrine church, and after only a few weeks, my child showed significant improvement. At this point, I suddenly realized that it seemed only in the Chinese Mingding Doctrine church was the God here real. From then on, I stayed, and many years have passed in the blink of an eye. This was also the first time I made a decision for myself about which church to attend; before, I would stay wherever people said was good.

Over the years, that sister went to many places and often told me about her dreams, saying that God led her wherever she went. She also said that various jealousies and disputes occurred in her group. But I became increasingly unwilling to listen to her talk about these things. I advised her to come out and introduced the Chinese Mingding Doctrine to her. She thought it was okay, but could only listen for half an hour; listening for too long was unbearable, feeling that the teacher's preaching had many parts that were quite carnal and vulgar.

Until recently, she got sick and asked me to pray for her. I struggled to tell her what I saw, whether she could reflect on whether she had been wrong all these years. But even though I subtly told her in several roundabout ways, she was still very angry, saying that what I said did not edify her, scaring me into shutting up and letting her be. As a result, she was diagnosed with cancer cells in her blood a few days ago.

I tell you, I have not only seen but also ministered to this kind of story described by this sister, and after it's all over, oh my goodness. That is, you can live in a curse, but you can't say she's living in a curse. Isn't that deadly? It doesn't edify her. What is edification? Brothers and sisters, you need to know, what is edification? Truly freeing you from the curse, that's true edification.

This sister of ours is actually a small pastor, and she analyzed the symptoms and root causes. The root cause is extreme discernment of good and evil, extreme selfishness, and extreme love of the world. But she doesn't know it herself, we know it. If you tell her, you will definitely offend her. In fact, she loves God quite a bit and often repents.

But I think the reason for her illness is that she was in a group without God's presence, doing things that were not in accordance with God's will, inviting a curse. You look at visions and have dreams all day long, I tell you what is that? Surely she comforts others when they get cancer, right? Don't stimulate people who already have cancer.

Alas, what I see is that studying God's word without a system, not knowing God's will and actions, doing many things that are not in accordance with God's will. Discerning good and evil, clinging to one's own understanding and dreams, and resolutely not eating pork. A Muslim? I think the way to solve the problem for this kind of person is to have a systematic study of God's word. People who like to see visions and have dreams find it difficult to put in the effort to study God's word, do you all know that? Speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, seeing visions, having dreams, and then listening to God's voice. All are shortcuts, not wanting to understand God's word clearly.

Then, my husband and I went to see her, and the sister apologized to us, saying that she usually didn't take good care of us. I thought to myself, "Cut it out, taking care of us? Don't take care of us into leukemia." Right? From now on, she will love us, love her family and children. Oh my goodness, still the same old thing. How can it be changed? Right? It's that she doesn't feel there's a problem with anything she does, feeling that she's perfect.

She also told us that she wanted to talk properly, saying that she had a dream and wanted to build a church with us. A physical one on earth, with real connections between people. She had mentioned this to me several times, and I had vaguely brushed it off. This time, I directly rejected it. These are all the words of the sister I mentioned. We need to grow well in the Chinese Mingding Doctrine, and we are far from having the ability to start a church.

Later, I sent her the war prayer recording on YouTube with a high click-through rate. In addition to listening to the Chinese Mingding Doctrine when she has something to do, she also listens to others, even the love of Jesus Christ.

At that time, I realized that not everyone can accept the preaching of the Chinese Mingding Doctrine pastor. Is this human destiny? But Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life; there is only one way to God. It's impossible for all roads to lead to Rome. Only one of the paths she and I chose is correct, so I have to be extra vigilant and continue to think and study seriously in my understanding, dealing with my flesh.

This is the tragedy of this generation, peace, peace, peace, and suddenly disaster strikes. If it is really preaching a pure gospel, does it need to go to the hospital for confirmation? You must know that our God is the greatest doctor. The most tragic thing is not understanding why it is like this until death. Similar to the people of Jeremiah's time. Because they don't read Jeremiah, and can't understand it, not knowing that people often live under God's wrath. Brothers and sisters, never believe those platitudes again, but fear God.

You know the things that Jeremiah encountered in that era were all people who looked pretty good. Upon meeting, "Oh, I want to love you well." When the Babylonian army came, they made their own children into curry human flesh. Who did it? They did it themselves, they cooked their own children. Oh my goodness, that was so tragic, so tragic.

I sigh and sigh, especially sigh, I often feel sad in my heart about things like this. A pastor who is a good friend of mine had tubes inserted for four months, and I tell you the urine that came out was all salt water, oh my goodness, very painful, his whole body turned dark chocolate.

I went to see him when he was lying in the coffin, I didn't have a chance to see him before. I tell you, he didn't have kidney failure, it was COVID, but it was treated as kidney failure. When I went to see him, he was lying in the coffin. I asked his wife, "Why has his skin turned black, like a mummy?" His wife said, "It's from the medication." He got COVID a year later than me before he died.

I was particularly moved. He stayed in the hospital for four months, spending about forty thousand Singapore dollars back and forth. I wish brothers and sisters could listen, and I wish brothers and sisters would not walk into disaster. Don't think that the present is good, today is good, it doesn't prove anything, it's just that God's wrath has not yet come. Still thinking you're not bad, it's really deadly.

Now everyone can understand, right? Why do I serve God with all my strength? You say I'm too self-righteous. Really not, I use all my strength, because I know that no matter how much I love God, it's not enough. Because the Bible says to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, this is the best way.

Why? Because I always feel that I am not good enough, I always feel that I am far, far away from being good enough. I don't think I have the truth, although I founded the Chinese Mingding Doctrine and established a framework, but I am far from being good enough in pastoral care, my heart is willing but my strength is not enough.

Among the things that are before me to do, there is training our small pastors, training our ministry assistants, and our brothers and sisters. We enable them not to fall into the Pharisees. Oh, I tell you, many problems, one after another. Recently, I got a little comfort, because we are starting to expand little by little overseas.

Scripture

The Lord has given full vent to his wrath; he has poured out his hot anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion that consumes her foundations. The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the world’s people, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem. But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous. (《Lamentations》 4:11-13)

This word is too good, even with this word we still don't know how to fear God, when will we be able to fear God without this word.

Prayer

God, let us have a heart of reverence before you. God, save us from your wrath, save us from your fierce anger. God, may we build the church on the rock of Jesus Christ. You kindle a fire and burn the foundations of Zion. God, you are our foundation, from now on we will live for you, save us from your wrath.

God, let us constantly preach your word in the church, whether this word is light or heavy, whether this word is pleasant or unpleasant, we will do what pleases you. God, open the minds of our brothers and sisters, let us know how to fear you, let us know how terrible it is to live in your wrath. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Scripture Background

Do you know what Jeremiah saw at that time? Jeremiah pushed open a door on the streets of Jerusalem, oh my goodness! The child's mother cooked the child. The child was still in her arms yesterday, and today she turned the child into curry meat. Oh my goodness, I ask you, if you were Jeremiah, how would you feel? I feel super shocked, super shocked.

The Babylonian army surrounded the city of Jerusalem three times inside and three times outside. It is said that for one year and four months, it was impenetrable, not even a mouse could get in. If a mouse got into the city, it would definitely be a curry mouse. I tell you, God's wrath was poured out on Jerusalem, but Babylon was not allowed to break through immediately. It would be better if it broke through immediately, right? It's better to die by the sword than to die of hunger. In the end, it lasted for a year and four months.

The body was like burnt charcoal, so miserable. Those who saw with their own eyes that the people inside Jerusalem could not repel Babylon, and Babylon could not break through the city walls for one year and four months. Do you think God is ruthless? He forced out the evil in the Israelites. They used to look pretty good, but now, good heavens, the loving women cooked their children. Is this the woman I know? She used to be fair and clean, wearing gold and silver, but now she is dark and ugly. These are all things that Jeremiah saw with his own eyes.

In this city, only Jeremiah said, "You surrender." The other prophets could not break through, this is the city of our great king, we have the temple here, we have the ark of the covenant here. But in the years of old Assyria, they didn't win the battle even when they took the ark of the covenant. Then these prophets said that we must win. Have you ever noticed this kind of Christian? They always like to say: I will win, I will win, I will win.

I said, "Cut it out, just looking at your appearance, you don't look like you're going to win." They still thought they were under God's protection and cover, and they would live among the nations. They thought they had God's word, to be above and not below, to be the head and not the tail. Is it God's word? Yes, but it's not for you, right?

So you need to know that some seriously ill people have come among us recently, and they are actually believers. They are used to hearing pleasant things, but it's actually better not to believe. Not knowing that these diseases are God's wrath, this wrath is almost like the wrath that God poured out on the city of Jerusalem.

The prophets and priests, when they tell the truth, people don't listen but are persecuted, even killed. Jeremiah is an example, Jeremiah paid a heavy price for telling the truth, very miserable. Jeremiah also suffered, there was nothing to eat in the city, what did Jeremiah eat? Jeremiah went in to pray and he ate God's word. The prophets and priests who tell lies can survive, and they are not harmed and can be promoted and make a fortune. When these lies are told too much, they don't even know they are lies. This situation is very difficult to deal with.

At this time, the end has come, so we must re-know God and re-examine ourselves. Some people ask me, "Teacher, what do you think of Singapore's future?" Alas! I said, "Do you want me to tell the truth or tell lies?" Singapore's future is not good. Don't look at how beautiful it is now, we have to look at it according to what 《Jeremiah》 says, it's not good. Because all that belongs to the world, the bitter cup will also be passed to you. When people say peace, peace, disaster suddenly comes.

Brothers and sisters, never think, who will escape God's wrath? Not only the Israelites, but also the Edomites, those who belong to the world, none of them can escape God's wrath. After Jeremiah finished speaking, I felt very hard in my heart. You know, when the Israelites accumulated wrath for themselves, God's wrath came and many people died. Then what about those who didn't die? What did Jeremiah say? Jeremiah said: When your punishment for your sins is completed, the Lord will no longer allow you to be taken captive.

The 70 years of captivity, how many 70 years can a person live? If you were 20 when Jerusalem was breached, you would be 90 after 70 years. That generation would have passed. What need is there for further captivity? No need, it's over directly. Therefore, brothers and sisters must revere God. Why must we revere God? Because once you provoke God's anger, your generation will suffer greatly.

How the gold has lost its luster, how the pure gold is tarnished! The sacred stones are scattered at the head of every street. The precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, how they are now considered as earthenware, the work of a potter’s hands! Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless, like ostriches in the desert. The tongues of infants cling to the roofs of their mouths because of thirst; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.

Those who once feasted on delicacies are destitute in the streets; those nurtured in purple now lie on ash heaps. The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her. Our princes were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.

But now they are blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick. Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of the fruits of the field. With their own hands, compassionate women have cooked their own children, and made them their food during the destruction of my people. (Lamentations 4:1-10)

There is only one reason: the sins of her prophets and priests, who have shed the blood of the righteous in her midst. Let me tell you, those in the same trade are often enemies. Jeremiah was a true prophet, and those false prophets were his enemies. I ask you, can a prophet be killed outside Jerusalem? Who killed Jesus Christ? It was the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the Pharisees. If you want to challenge that system, try it and see; you will die a miserable death.

I must thank God that people are willing to listen. I do not kick down doors, nor do I challenge others. I do not have that courage. But how much this generation resembles Jerusalem in Jeremiah's time! Everyone is saying, "Peace, peace," but disaster strikes suddenly. Isn't that so? The problem is, who do these people in the city of Israel think they are serving? They think they are serving God, defending the city of Jerusalem. Does God want that? No. God wants the hearts of the people.

Now, Christians pray for their countries. Did the priests and prophets of that time organize people to pray together? Yes. It happens now too, with groups praying for America, for Singapore, and so on. Is that what God wants them to do? It is all done according to their own desires. Ah, if you tell them the truth, they will kill you. That is the scene Jeremiah saw, and that is the background of this lament.

Gold Cannot Stop God's Wrath

How the gold has lost its luster, how the pure gold is tarnished! Did gold have any luster at that time? No luster. If you have a loaf of bread and I have a piece of gold, would you trade your bread for my gold? Impossible, because gold is worthless. Food is more valuable.

I have heard my mother say that during times of famine, a sack of money could not buy a small bag of bread. That is how it was. Money was worthless. Why? Because they thought having money was everything. But money cannot stop God's wrath. God's wrath caused the gold to lose its luster, the pure gold to tarnish. I ask you, how can pure gold tarnish? God can make it tarnish. Gold is useless.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must readjust our attitude towards money. We always think about investing and getting rich. During the New Year, we say, "May you have a prosperous New Year!" But when God's wrath comes, is gold useful? Gold is useless. We must rebuild our foundation on Jesus Christ.

These prophets and priests valued gold. Why did the prophets and priests sin and shed the blood of the righteous? It was all for money. Why do people keep gold? Because they want to live. But if I tell you that you will die tomorrow, what will happen to your money? Ah, they will be busy finding lawyers to write wills and make arrangements.

Once people place their faith in money, once they place their faith in gold, silver, and precious metals, it is over. Not only will it not stop God's wrath, but it will also invite God's wrath. You must know who God is angry with. Some people cannot bear to hear what I say. After hearing it, they think it is a deadly sermon. The voice of accusation is very strong. I do not listen to this accusatory sermon.

The Temple Cannot Stop God's Wrath

Everyone must know that the temple was the temple of Jehovah, built by Solomon and David at great expense. But I tell you, God does not dwell in temples made by human hands. The temple cannot stop God's wrath. You know how great these prophets and priests thought the temple was. Because we have the temple, and the Ark of the Covenant is in the temple, we will surely be victorious. Can they be victorious? How can they be victorious? They are truly corrupt, too corrupt.

Everyone who builds a church wants to build a thriving church. But can that foundation withstand God's fire? Can it withstand God's wrath? If it cannot withstand it, it is better not to build it. Why? Because God brought the Babylonian army to destroy this city, to destroy this temple. If it cannot withstand it, it will invite God's wrath.

If you build the church on the foundation of Jesus Christ, it will not invite God's wrath, but it will please God. This is very important. Do not think that what I am saying is about a victorious church of the Chinese Mingding Doctrine. God does not care much about that. God cares about whether we have a heart that reveres Him. God dwells in the hearts of people.

The Identity of God's Chosen People Cannot Stop God's Wrath

The precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, how they are now considered as earthenware, the work of a potter’s hands! (Lamentations 4:2)

Do you see that? The precious children of Zion, "I am a child of God." You can shout all you want, but it is useless. Those people all thought they were children of God. I have sent off several good friends, one after another. I feel bad attending funeral after funeral. They all thought they were God's chosen people, God's children. If they were God's children, would they end up like this?

The Book of Life makes it clear that these are all curses. Do not think that because I was saved in 2012, I no longer need to be saved. It is useless. "I am already a child of God," just like the prophets and priests in Israel and Jerusalem. They thought this identity was so noble, but it was useless.

On the contrary, because of the sins of the prophets and the iniquities of the priests, even if these prophets say, "We are God's chosen people, we are God's children. Here is God's temple," God does not care. Isn't that absurd? "We are descendants of Abraham. We will be above and not below." Stop it. It is better to revere God. Isn't that so? Do not think about dirty things in your heart while saying "Thank the Lord" with your mouth. It is useless.

So, clean up what is inside us. Know what is inside us. God sent fire to Zion and burned Zion's foundations. Therefore, when we build a church, we do not please people, but only please God. If we please people, we are not servants of Jesus Christ. If you please people and still serve Jesus Christ, you will surely invite God's great wrath.

Do not say that you are children of God. Saying that is useless. It is better to be practical and revere God more. Do not wait until disaster has already struck and still like to listen to motivational talks.

Those Who Once Ate Delicious Food and Lay on Scarlet Cushions Cannot Stop God's Wrath

I have seen many Christians who think their businesses are doing well. "My business is doing well. How can I not be pleasing to God? If I were not pleasing to God, how could my business be doing so well?" I think there is something wrong with that statement. Other people's businesses are doing even better than yours. What is the use? Isn't that so? Esau's business was bigger than Jacob's. So, that cannot be clearly explained.

Poverty is certainly not good. It is difficult for a poor person to be a spiritual person. He is not blessed. It is difficult for a sick person to be a spiritual person. It is difficult to say that he is blessed by God. Isn't that so? But if you are not sick, what does that prove? It proves nothing. Many people who are not sick are simply not yet touched by God's wrath. Many wealthy people are simply not yet touched by God's wrath.

In the city of Jerusalem, before the Babylonian army came, people ate delicious food, drank fine wine, and feasted. They ate lamb skewers and drank two bottles of beer. When they slept, they slept on scarlet cushions and scarlet mattresses. Scarlet mattresses were for the nobility. They lived well at that time. But the prophet said, "You are living in God's wrath." They said, "Stop it. Look at my house, look at what I eat and sleep on. What are you envious of? Do you know how much my mattress cost? It is not an ordinary mattress. It cost 100,000 yuan."

But that cannot stop God's wrath. It only shows that you eat well and sleep well, but you are confused and good for nothing. Being able to make money only shows that you know how to make money, that you are doing well. What does doing well prove? It proves nothing. Brothers and sisters, do not confuse this concept. It is just that disaster has not yet struck. When the Babylonian army surrounds the city of Jerusalem, those who once ate delicious food and wore scarlet jewels will come out looking like they have been burned in charcoal or dug coal in a mine. They will be dark and unrecognizable.

Therefore, do not think that a good life comes from God. Some people buy a 30,000 yuan mattress and still suffer from insomnia. The mattress is too good, so they have insomnia. Therefore, do not use a good life to say that you are a spiritual person. It is useless.

The Beauty of the Nobles Cannot Stop God's Wrath

Our princes were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires. But now they are blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick. (Lamentations 4:7-8)

In the future, you will eat well, be fat and white, and put on some makeup. But in the end, you will really come out looking like you have been burning charcoal. Therefore, the things that people pursue, when they walk into the church, everyone will say, "Brother Wang is good, Brother Li is good, Brother Zhang is good." They are respected in the church because they have money and status. If the prophets and priests value these things, will there be trouble?

So, God deliberately makes their faces blacker than charcoal and their skin shriveled on their bones. You used to live a good life, but now let you taste the most normal things. Who told you to think that these things are spiritual? Isn't that so? They think it is good. We, brothers and sisters, must also know that these things are because of the sins of the prophets and the iniquities of the priests. I guarantee that churches that preach motivational talks will thrive. Churches that preach Lamentations will not thrive, but churches that preach Lamentations will surely be some people who truly seek God and revere God.

In the coming years, everyone must know that God is tearing down churches. The epidemic in the past few years tore down many churches. Recently, He is continuing to tear down churches. After tearing them down, what will He do? He will bring God's people into God's kingdom. Therefore, when building a church, build the foundation of the church on the body of Jesus Christ, on the truth of God.

Even if God sends fire, it cannot burn it down. What is eternal will always be eternal. Do not build a church with wood, hay, and straw. It cannot withstand God's fire. God will burn it down and then say to those who built the church, "Those who built the church will be saved as one escaping through the flames." Therefore, we must have a heart of reverence. If the things you preach are not the words of God and are not systematic, who will believe you?

Conclusion

The tragic end is all because of the sins of the prophets and the iniquities of the priests. Therefore, God will burn the foundations through His fire. God will tear down the temple through His fire. The false faith that is passed on is just a motivational faith. The earthly kingdom is no exception.

Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who live in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare. (Lamentations 4:21)

Did everyone understand that? Edom represents the world, represents loving the world. Egypt represents the world, Edom represents the world. Those who belong to the world, do not be anxious. This cup will surely pass to you. In the future, people will see those who are unclean and avoid them, saying, "Do not come near me." In the end, they will become a nuisance to everyone. Isn't that so? You will not only suffer God's wrath, but you will also be hated by people on earth and be unclean.

You must not dwell here. Jehovah is angry and will scatter them and no longer care for them. People do not respect the priests or honor the elders. We looked to people for help until our eyes failed. We still hoped, but what we hoped for was a nation that could not save us.

They dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered; for our end had come. Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and lay in wait for us in the wilderness. The Lord’s anointed, the breath of our life, was caught in their pits, of whom we said, “Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.” (Jeremiah 4:18-20)

Did they lie? No. They thought they were the anointed ones, that they were breathing the breath of Abraham. In fact, they were caught in the pit. So, they thought they were living under the shadow of Jehovah God, living among the nations. In fact, they were not. They were suffering retribution, a tragic end. I hope that after hearing this, brothers and sisters will ponder it well and turn back to God and revere Him well before these things happen to you, so that you will not fall into this disaster.

Our sermon ends here. May God bless everyone.

null