Deuteronomy Chapter 8 is a very core chapter. Why? Because it contains a sentence that Jesus used to respond to the devil: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4). Many people do not believe this statement, thinking that people live by money or by food. Today, I tell you a concept: Man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God! The theme of Chapter 8 is Man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God. In fact, this matter is both simple and difficult. It is simple in that if you believe it, you will live; if you do not believe it, you will also find that you are living. However, whether you believe this statement determines whether you live well or not!

First, I want to emphasize one thing: everyone must underline the word every in this sentence. If you read the Bible carefully, you will find that the word every is very important. If you obeyed the traffic rules when parking, but you ran a red light while driving, is that considered a violation of traffic rules? Actually, as long as you violate one traffic rule, it counts as a violation. Some people run a red light once and nothing happens, but try running red lights often, and I guess there will be an accident sooner or later. Traffic rules are not intended to restrict people's freedom to drive, but to allow people to live longer.

Recently, some of our brothers and sisters have been taking driving tests, and I showed them a video of a car accident resulting in death due to a violation of traffic rules. This driver was driving at a snail's pace in the fastest lane on the highway, and as a result, a large truck came up behind and couldn't brake in time, ultimately leading to a crash and death. This is the consequence of notFollowing traffic rules. I am a very rule-abiding person. Once, I borrowed a car from a friend, and I paid very close attention. When I saw a speed limit of 30 kilometers written on the road, I drove exactly at 30 kilometers. If it said 60 kilometers, I drove at 60 kilometers. I abide by the rules to an almost absurd extent. Why? Because I don't want to kill anyone or be killed. Brothers and sisters, you must know that God has established a series of rules. Don't think that if you keep nine of them but fail to keep one, you can still get by. In fact, it still counts as not keeping them. You must keep all the commandments. Today, we must know for certain that living depends on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord God.

Establishing a Complete System of Faith Logic

God is a God who loves us. For a time, I really wanted to know what every word meant. I was very troubled: I can't remember all these words! But later I discovered that God's words have a complete system! These past two days, I've been feeling frustrated, and I've noticed that many of our brothers and sisters are stupid and not smart. I was worried and asked God: How can I train them to be smart? Later, I understood that if you give them a smart logical system, they will become smart. A person without a system is confused in their mind; a person with a system is clear-headed. If a person builds a smart logical system in their mind throughout their life, they will be able to use it freely.

If you study The Art of War very thoroughly and understand the logical system within it very clearly, you will win when leading troops into battle. Every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord God is a complete system. Some words are foundational, some are superficial; some are very, very important truths, and some are not so important truths. If you don't have a system, you can easily become a Pharisee, clinging tightly to unimportant things. Therefore, if our brothers and sisters want to become smart, they must form a logical system. If they can use this logical system well, that would be great!

Some people ask me about problems they encounter, and I come up with an idea off the top of my head, and it turns out well. People ask why the teacher can always come up with ideas so easily. It's because I have formed a logical system inside me. If you can form a logical system, you will definitely be great and be able to handle all kinds of things well. Whether people are deceived or not depends on whether there are different logical systems inside. So I asked God: How do I learn every word? Finally, I understood that we need to build a whole set of logical systems. It's like building a house: there are foundations, beams, pillars, partitions, and paintings on the walls. Why do architects build so well? Because they have understood a whole body of knowledge. Some time ago, I heard a joke about someone who built a twenty-seven-story building, but after it was finished, they realized they had forgotten to install the elevator. That's too ridiculous.

Today, what is the most important thing in the logical system we are building? The most important thing is that the Lord God loves us. If you believe that God loves you, that the pastor loves you, and that everything that is said is for your good, you will not have accusatory voices inside you. Some time ago, there was a girl whom I had been pastoring for three years. Three years later, I was still saying the same thing: Every time I listen to your Bible study, I have an accusatory voice in my heart, such as when Deuteronomy describes 'some people died, were killed by God, and some were left,' I feel like you are talking about me. Is there really any accusatory meaning in this passage? Don't you know that God loves you, that God brought you out of the wilderness with a mighty arm! Are you going to fail just because God disciplines you a little and tests you a little?

So brothers and sisters, we must know one thing: our church is connected by love. From the first day we built the church, we never wanted to harm anyone, never wanted to create unrest, never wanted to create chaos. My teaching requirements are very, very high. Why are they so high? Because it says here that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God, which is what God requires. We must know that the Lord God is love. How could God harm us? Some people are very much like the Israelites in the Book of Exodus, complaining about every little problem.

Whether in the New Testament or the Old Testament, you receive God according to what kind of God you believe Him to be. If you believe that God loves you, then the God you receive is love; if you believe that God is a malicious God, then you will definitely receive a malicious God. It's not because God is a malicious God, but because of your reception! We must completely reverse this mistaken notion, and you will know how much God loves us. Why are your and my receptions different? Because inside me, I believe that God loves me, so what I receive is love. You believe that God is malicious towards you, so what you receive is malicious! We cannot speak according to the external environment, but according to what you say inside. What you believe inside is what you receive.

Moses also ate manna in the wilderness for forty years. When did you ever see Moses complain? Moses, Joshua, and Caleb all walked in the wilderness. Caleb and Joshua were wronged because of the other ten spies, and they had to wander with them in the wilderness for forty years. If it were you and me, wouldn't we complain and say, I'm wandering in the wilderness for forty years because of you! But they didn't say that. Thank God, thank my God, for refining you in the wilderness, making you hungry, and letting you know that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Man Does Not Live by Feelings

Some people, no matter how much they are refined in the wilderness, do not know that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God, but think that they live by their feelings. Are their feelings particularly accurate? In fact, their feelings can kill them. Brothers and sisters, the Bible never records that people should walk by their feelings! There is a girl who comes to me for a while, then leaves, then comes back again. She wants to be trained among us, but she is committed to another church. I don't know what she is doing. She thinks I have a lot of time, but I really don't have time to play this game. Why? Because many churches don't know how to test believers. In our midst, I tell you that these leaders among us are all trained by me. These leaders are trained by me to test people. Rebuke you, stir you up, make you hurt, test you, make you hungry, and see if you know that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Brothers and sisters, it's not that I'm stingy, I know what I'm doing. The people recorded in the New Testament wanted to build God's glorious church! Building a glorious church can release the captives and release the oppressed. Yes, I also work, I also earn money, I also live, I also eat three meals a day, but I know that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The theme of the New Testament is building God's glorious church. So how do you build it? You can come among us to be healed and delivered, but if you don't have such a vision or such a dream, you can go elsewhere. I don't need it here either, I really don't need it. Across ten thousand miles on the Internet, what can I do to you? I can't do anything to you. I never deprive people of freedom, and I don't do brainwashing things. But we read these words in the Bible together. We believe what the Bible says.

God's Intention is for Our Ultimate Blessing

It is crucial to know that the Lord God intends for us to be ultimately blessed. If you do not know that the Lord God wants to bless you ultimately, how can you walk this path? Isn't it so? Therefore, facing the trials of the wilderness, it tests whether you are genuine or not. When there is no water to drink in the wilderness, do you really think there is no water? God struck the rock three times, and water flowed from it. Once, the water was bitter, but a branch was thrown in, and the water became sweet. So today, brothers and sisters, you must know that every word that proceeds from the mouth of God can solve all our problems! We live by this. Some may say this or that about me, but I am speaking the words of the Bible! So today, even if we, brothers and sisters, are in the wilderness for forty years, we must know that man still lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

For forty years, they ate manna. Was there food? There was no food, but God gave them food. It was not because they deserved to receive food, but it was food given by God. For forty years, their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. Do you not find it amazing? So today, be certain that in times of trial, God can draw water from the rock, and when there is no food, God can give you manna. Why? Because God wants us to know that man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. So we should consider in our hearts that our feet should have swollen, but they did not. It is not because your feet are tough, but because of the word of God, isn't it?

Carefully Observe and Obey God's Commandments

Do not think that God wants to harm you because He disciplines you. He wants you to carefully observe His commandments, walk in His ways, and fear Him, so that He may lead you into the good land of Canaan. So today, brothers and sisters, perhaps you are living in the wilderness, or perhaps you are thinking about a matter, pondering where these difficulties you encounter come from. Today, I give you an answer, which is that you are unwilling to fight. The word fight in the New Testament is called spiritual warfare. Warfare is not fighting with people, but fighting with the dark forces in the air. The reason we do not live well is because we are troubled by these dark forces. We are not fighting against people, we are fighting against the dark forces that rule this dark world!

Originally, in God's plan, Israel did not have this thirty-eight-year wilderness journey. They should have entered the good land of Canaan in two years, but they did not believe God. Where did those who did not believe God go? They have already died. When Moses wrote Deuteronomy chapter 8, all those people were dead. The people who were alive were a generation that had not yet grown up. So today, brothers and sisters, do not think that God is disciplining us, and then feel that God should not act this way. God makes us walk this path to tell us that if you do not believe God, you will perish in the wilderness. If you carefully observe and obey, and face the trials of the wilderness, it will immediately reveal your attitude. Facing discipline, your attitude will be immediately revealed.

When I was young, my father was very strict with me. Although I was a very good and obedient child, I would occasionally make mistakes. Once, I skipped school, and my father gave me a severe beating. I never hated my father because my father loved me. This beating made me a good student. So in later years, I was able to study at Beihang University for graduate studies, learn a lot of knowledge, and start a career, living well. Why? Because I know that my father beat me and disciplined me to ultimately bless me. Some of us, some brothers and sisters, when faced with discipline, the first thing they think of is negative, the first thing they think of is accusation. Today, you must know that the wilderness path is not caused by someone else's mistakes, but by your own mistakes. In fact, if some of those who died in the wilderness could cry out to God and repent, I believe God could also allow them to enter the good land of Canaan like Joshua and Caleb.

Brothers and sisters, what a wonderful place God has prepared for us. I have been to Israel. Standing in that place, some places look so desolate, bare, and do not feel good. But one amazing thing is that the dates grown in that place are especially sweet, and the grapes grown are also very good. Never judge by appearances. The Northeast of China, with its black soil, is so good! It's so beautiful. Dig a hole, scatter some seeds, and things will grow. In my opinion, the Northeast seems better than Israel. So which is better, Israel or the Northeast? I tell you, Israel is better. Why is Israel better? Because the things that grow there are good, it is a land flowing with milk and honey.

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where your food will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. (Deuteronomy 8:7-9)

Do you understand? Why are people constantly fighting over the Diaoyu Islands? Because there are many treasures beneath the Diaoyu Islands. Do not think it is just a bare reef. There is much to learn in it, so do not just look at the surface. The most important thing in this life is to know that what God has prepared for us is what our eyes have not seen, our ears have not heard, and our hearts have not imagined.

Today, I encourage everyone to make a choice in your heart, to believe that God wants to give us such wonderful things, and that God is not trying to harm us by giving us these wonderful things. So no matter what kind of environment you face, you must firmly believe that God wants to bring us to the promised land, not to the wilderness. Although we pass through the wilderness and the Red Sea, that is not God's purpose. God's purpose is to bless us ultimately.

Do Not Forget God's Grace, Serve God with Joy and Gladness in Times of Prosperity

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his rules and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, when you have built fine houses and are settling down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 8:11-14)

My impression is very deep. Forgetting this matter is very important. The testimonies of our brothers and sisters should be told often, ten times is not too much, and a hundred times is not too much. Do not think that only new testimonies can be told. Old testimonies can still be told, so that we may be sure that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Today, do not retreat, continue to move forward. Do not forget because you are living in prosperity, and do not become arrogant thinking that the money is yours. In fact, it is easy for people to rely on wealth, and it is easy for people to say that wealth is my strength, and forget the Lord your God. In fact, the power to gain wealth is given to you by God, in order to confirm the covenant He swore to your ancestors!

Brothers and sisters, what is your attitude when you are prosperous? I am really thankful to God that when I was poor, I chose to trust God, and when God made me prosperous, I chose to serve God. I was a group leader in the local church, serving people, serving with all my heart, soul, and strength, and helping these people. Even in the university where I worked, I helped as many Chinese students as I could. Did I care about anything? I did not care about anything. I only wanted one thing, which is to always remember that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God. I am really thankful to God that I did not forsake God when I was prosperous. I always know that God is my God, He is the purpose of my life, He is everything to me. I trust God in my business, and I trust God in my work. No matter what I do, I know that man does not live by business, nor by work, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. This is me, so that I may ultimately enjoy blessings.

So when facing prosperity, what is your attitude? Deuteronomy clearly records that when people are prosperous, unwilling and not joyful to serve the Lord their God, they will serve the enemies that the Lord sends to attack them, and they will perish. Today, we must be sure that those who forget will perish, and those who do not carefully observe and obey God's words will perish.

Do not think that the Lord God is Santa Claus. In the Bible I have read, I have never read that the Lord God is Santa Claus, that this is okay, that is okay, and that nothing happens no matter what you do. I have not seen such a God. What I see is that if you carefully observe and obey, He will bless you, but if you disobey His words, forsake Him, and follow other gods, you will surely perish.

So brothers and sisters, after reading these words, do you take them as the words of God? The path of destruction and the path of prosperity are both set before us. Today, I once again call heaven and earth to witness to the brothers and sisters, to let everyone choose blessing, not disaster; choose life, not destruction. Never forget that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Amen!