Introduction
Good day, everyone. Let's delve into the eighth chapter of Genesis. When we think of Genesis chapter 8, what stands out most? The most striking thing is that everyone died, utterly destroyed by a flood. We tend to have a misconception, a misconception that our God is a God of destruction, that we always think our God enjoys killing and destroying. But I want to tell you, God's will is prosperity, not destruction. God does not relish destruction; it is people who force God to destroy them.
Many who suffer from cancer, who are on the verge of death, who are riddled with ailments, who suffer from depression, who are miserable, who are idle and engaging in frivolous nonsense, all believe that their plight is God's will. In truth, they are all bringing it upon themselves! Therefore, brothers and sisters, can we set our hearts to know clearly that God's will is prosperity? Do you not desire prosperity? Can one not prosper by walking in God's path?
Brothers and sisters, we must begin to re-establish our understanding of God. Do not think that God destroyed that generation and saved Noah's family of eight, believing that God's will is destruction. Do you want to be among those destroyed or among those blessed by God? God created many vessels, and some are meant for destruction. If you believe that God is a God of destruction, you are that vessel destined for destruction. You will receive what you believe.
If you believe that God is the God who prospers you, you will prosper. If you believe that God is the God who destroys you, you will surely face destruction. So, what you believe God to be, you will find God to be. The theme of Genesis chapter 8 is that God's will is prosperity, not destruction! I have always believed that God is the God who prospers me. I particularly love my God. I know that God is a good God, a God who watches over me.
Does God Really Delight in Destruction?
If we examine closely, God has destroyed many things. Not only did God destroy the people of the world, but God also frequently destroyed the Israelites after they left Egypt, because they did not know the path to prosperity, nor did they know the path to flourishing. They simply enjoyed being at odds with God. If one is at odds with God, what else can one be but a vessel of destruction?
Once, a little girl came to me and asked, "Teacher, why do I feel like I am a vessel created by God for destruction?" I said, "You do look like it. It seems to be the case." What kind of brain is that? Either it has a bump, or there's a hole in the brain. It's not an opening of the mind; it's a hole in the brain that doesn't work well. I hope that after seeing so much today, everyone can conclude one thing: God truly does not delight in destruction. If you often experience these things, the first thing to conclude is that you have not done things correctly!
Today, I will tell you my heartfelt thoughts. I am someone who very much likes to say that I have not done things correctly. For example, if I saw a board to make a tabletop, and after measuring and sawing, one side is ninety centimetres, and the other is eighty-nine centimetres, a one-centimetre difference, which is quite noticeable, and the thing is a bit crooked, I would say, "Didn't do it right." Next time, I saw another board, one side is ninety centimetres, and the other is eighty-eight centimetres, again, didn't do it right. If I were such a person, and I made a hundred tables, and all the tabletops were warped, one side bigger than the other, would you think that's the design? But is that really the design? I think it's really strange.
I want to tell you that we must know that what we think is often what we have gotten wrong. Can everyone learn one thing from me, which is to often think that you have not done things correctly! Don't be stubborn. If you haven't done it right, you haven't done it right. What I hate most is when I say that something is not right, and the other person explains: "No, it's because of this, because of that, I thought it was like this," and so on, with excuses. I really want to punch you. This is my shortcoming. My chest feels blocked, and I can't even burp. Seeing this situation makes me anxious! I think I might have obsessive-compulsive disorder, making myself suffer. Isn't that self-defeating?
Once, someone wanted to use a washing machine. The washing machine was not a cold-water washing machine; it could heat the water, but the lowest water temperature was thirty degrees. She wanted to set it to cold-water mode and kept pressing, which seemed very difficult. I said, "It's not like that." She started explaining to me, getting all worked up, and then I yelled at her. What's the difference between thirty degrees and room temperature of twenty-eight or twenty-nine degrees? Just let it be! Sometimes people are just that foolish.
I think that when we brothers and sisters interact with God and with people, we should always have a logical framework, which is that I have not done this right! What should it be like to do it right? Don't always be self-righteous. Self-righteousness is very annoying. In the past years, I really hoped to meet someone who could lead me, especially when I was young. Finally, I met someone who was very capable. At lunchtime, I would go to the cafeteria, and when I saw him, I would go over, trying to learn whatever I could. I wouldn't argue with him, nor would I explain that it's not like this, it's like that!
So, do you know why I grew quickly and why I am blessed? The reason is simple: grow well and often think that you have not done things correctly. If you put wings on a tractor, does it become an airplane? If you put wings on a tractor, it's still a tractor, just a three-wheeled thing. Does God delight in destruction? No, God does not delight in destruction! It's because people often get things wrong, are at odds with God, often want to argue with God, often want to compete with God. Sometimes I also encounter people who want to compete with me, but we are not on the same level. What's the point of competing? People are always like this. When they are at a lower level, they cannot see through things, thinking that everyone is on the same level as them.
We must know that God does not delight in destruction but delights in prosperity. Even if God destroys one thing after another, I know that God's will for me is prosperity. Who would idly go and compete with God? I definitely don't want to open a martial arts school and do a five-section whip. Which martial arts master is coming? Come to the ring and compete with me, only to get beaten black and blue. What's the point? What kind of brain is that? Getting beaten black and blue, without the ability.
Today, we know that when we step into the ring, we must be grounded. If a demon comes, I will knock it down. If another demon comes, I will knock it down again! Because I know that my God is the God who prospers me. I know that God will surely remember me and be gracious to me. Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. No matter what the situation, we must believe that God is the God who remembers us.
Believe That God is the God Who Remembers Us
God is the God who prospers people, and then God remembers me. If I don't do things right, God doesn't mind much. God will help me do it right. But I must believe in my God. In the valley of the shadow of death, everything is dark, and I can't see the road ahead. The church is in an extremely desolate state. Sometimes brothers and sisters in the church share with me, "Teacher, a friend asked me, which church do you attend?" I would stammer and answer, "I attend a very, very small church." When I hear that, I think, "Don't you know that the pastor you are following is a pastor with a vision?" I believe that my God will surely remember me.
This small group of people will surely build a glorious church of God in the future, because I know my God. In the future, when others ask about our church, we will not stammer! Because we have faith in us. In that era, in that extremely desolate state, in my faith, I have already seen a glorious church. I have seen that God will surely use me, remember me, and raise me up among all nations! I have this faith. As you know, Noah's family of eight were not in lockdown in a city or a neighbourhood; they were locked in a boat! Surrounded by an endless ocean. Day after day, listening to the roaring waves.
Not one day, not two days, they were isolated in a zoo! A family of eight eating barbecue with the animals in the zoo. The cow dung from the first day could be used to start a fire. Could they have persevered without faith? If they did not believe that God is the God who remembers us, they would have complained, "Has God forgotten us? God, where have you gone?" But God did not say a word. Do you know that kind of situation? We pray, "God! Where are you?" God sees a thousand years as one day, and one day as a thousand years. If God dozed off, Noah's family would have become mummies, all gone. Did Noah's family go crazy inside? No.
Some among us always have things they pursue, always have their core interests. As they pursue, they oppose God, and they go crazy themselves. That's not the way! Because you don't believe in God like that. Today, being a Christian is not because we hear what God tells us, nor because we see visions, nor because we feel our hairs stand on end; it is faith! That's what we believe in our hearts.
A long time ago, some brothers and sisters evaluated me like this: "Whatever this kid wants to do, he will definitely accomplish." I said, "You guys have good eyes." Whatever I want to do, I will definitely accomplish. I must build a church that will be the gold standard in the church world. I have this faith, because God's will is inherently so. When the brothers and sisters in our church tell me, "Teacher, I went to another church, and their stage is bigger than ours." I tell you, "That's great! They hired a famous worship leader who sang a song, and everyone was very moved. That's great! Their drums, their guitarists, their lead singers, their backup singers, their multiple harmonies, are really great!" And I sing off-key! But I don't care, because I have faith inside.
One day, two days, a hundred days, two hundred days, a thousand days, sometimes it's really despairing. Praying in tears, tears that could fill a mineral water bottle, wondering when God will prosper me? But I know that one day, this is what Noah felt in the ark. Because Noah thought, whether it's one day, a hundred days, a thousand days, ten thousand days, or a lifetime, is it possible to be in this ark forever? He didn't know when that day would come. God didn't tell him, so he persevered with faith, persevering until God told them to come out, and they came out. When that day really comes, it will feel too fast!
I have found that these great figures in the Bible are all supported by faith. You must be supported by the faith within you! Know that God remembers you. God will not doze off and forget you, nor will God forget you by taking a vacation. Because a thousand years is like one day, and one day is like a thousand years. If God takes a one-day vacation, you will turn into mummies here for a thousand years. God remembers us and will not forget us for a single day. I thank my God that God has not forgotten me for a single day.
God remembered Noah. Every day, God would say, "Noah, you are a righteous man in this generation. You are a person of faith." God did not forget him for a single second. I also hope that brothers and sisters can deeply know that you may not know how many days are ahead of you, you may really lack money, you may really not be prosperous, you may really hope to turn things around tomorrow, you may have a disease today, and it may be terminal, often in pain every night, this discomfort and that discomfort, you don't know when you will be healed. But we know that God will surely remember us. One hundred and fifty days have passed. We don't know how many days are ahead. Then Noah continued to persevere, relying on what? Relying on faith.
Persist and Endure Through Faith
Chinese Mingding Destiny has a very important character trait called patience, it is a character trait. How many years have you endured, how many tears have you shed, how much suffering have you endured, how much have you been wronged, but in your heart there is a glorious hope, this hope supports me in my heart and gives me a patient character.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)
Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, this is the character of Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology, various attempts during the period of perseverance, do you know that kind of attempt? Try this today, try that tomorrow. Some people ask, why did Noah release a raven, does it represent something? No. When Noah was helpless, he opened a window, took a raven, and released it, hoping that the faith could persist for dozens of days. It doesn't matter if the raven doesn't come back, release a dove again. When the raven doesn't come back, I tell you, that feeling is not good. Wow! The dove came back, and it persisted for a while. After a while, it started to get hairy again, when will it end! Release another dove.
Brothers and sisters, I know how you feel, but I want to tell you that because you trust in God, God remembers you, you can persevere. It doesn't matter, try this method, try that method, try all kinds of methods, grit your teeth, stomp your feet, and persevere for another day, if you can persevere for one day, you can persevere for two more days. Sometimes you are defeated, discouraged, and even want to bang your head against the wall, pack up your faith and maybe tomorrow will come. When that day comes, you will cry like me. God is a good God, God is so good. Brothers and sisters, start to restore the faith inside with me, that faith can support until God's glory is revealed, God's good will is prosperity.
One sister couldn't do anything, couldn't do anything, I asked her to study, she couldn't study for a long time, it was so hard! Thank God, she made it to this day. Now, she does housekeeping in people's homes and does a good job. She started doing live broadcasts and short videos. Although she doesn't have many fans, she has more than 1,000 yuan in income every month. Every time I think about it, I am especially grateful to God, because I always have faith in everyone. A few days ago, a sister stayed in Taiwan for more than ten years without income or savings. She came from afar and found a job. When I asked, she told me that everything was overwhelming, there were so many things. Later, I scolded her again and again. A few days ago, she told me that she had found a job and her salary had increased a lot, thank God.
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. (Psalm 126:5)
Sometimes, I may scold you, but, I tell you, the potential in you has not been released yet, you must know that God's will for you is prosperity.
God's Heart is for Prosperity
Persist! Persist until that day comes, for God's will for you is prosperity.
And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year of Noah's life, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee all living creatures that are with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. (Genesis 8:14-17)
Do not look down on yourselves anymore. Do not always feel that you have not grown for a long time. Even if you have not grown for a long time, you will surely prosper. I am getting a little excited. The days of prosperity are so beautiful. You persevered to thank God, and you must thank God while you are still persevering. Today, brothers and sisters, become a person with Mingding Destiny, a person who dedicates himself to God. There is no prosperity outside of Mingding Destiny. I know you are thinking about money, but money cannot make you prosper. If you are thinking about God, God will make you prosper. This is my secret to prosperity.
A few days ago, I received a message from one of our pastors. She said: Teacher, I know you don't like this person among us. Why would I dislike her? I like her very much, because in my faith, she will surely prosper, but I want to correct her bad habits. What does it mean to dislike? I dislike her bad habits, but in my faith, brothers and sisters, you all owe me a favor, because I have so much faith in you, so you will prosper.
God's will for me is prosperity, and God's will for you is also prosperity. Maybe you don't know it yet, but I have to tell you that one day you will come out of decline and start walking the path of faith! It doesn't matter if everyone dies, God's will is still prosperity. You might say, "Teacher, you look down on me." Sometimes I jokingly say, "Who do I look up to? What's the point of looking up to you? What are you showing off in front of me?" But if you have faith in your heart, I will look up to you, and you will surely prosper. God's good will for you has not yet been accomplished, but one day it will be accomplished.
Some people say, "Pastor, I always fail my interviews!" Then you are blessed. I will arrange for someone to serve you and teach you how to interview. Tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Do we know God's will? From now on, stop thinking that you are always right, setting up your own reasoning stand, and then opposing God, arguing with God, and fighting with God. Fighting back and forth, you become a vessel of God's wrath. Today, enter into God's will. God created Adam and Eve, then Noah, then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and all the great men of these generations. Which one of them did not prosper? Very good! How wonderful it is to have God!
The Path to Prosperity is Sacrifice
Starting today, offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, not offering cows, sheep, ducks, or chickens, but offering yourselves as a living sacrifice. Adam and Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. Cain also caused a series of tragedies because of the offering. The path to prosperity is sacrifice. When Noah came out of the ark, he waited day after day. Not a lockdown of the city, not a lockdown of the community, but a lockdown in a ship. Following a bunch of animals, listening to them screaming, they were also looking forward to coming out.
Hoping day after day, finally one day God allowed them to come out. The first thing they did when they came out was not to have a barbecue, not to say, "Wow, we finally came out." The first thing was to offer a sacrifice, because God remembers us. The will that God wants to accomplish in us is through sacrifice. Why do I encourage everyone to learn to be a giving person? Because that is the path to prosperity, the path to flourishing.
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Genesis 4:7)
How to overcome sin? Offer a good sacrifice, dedicate yourself to God, and sin will not be able to overcome you, and God will bless you.
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. (Genesis 8:20)
When people offer themselves, they are pleasing to God, acceptable to God, and holy. Such sacrifices are also reasonable, and this is the path to prosperity. You don't have to come to me and say, "Teacher, I donate." Do you think I care? I don't care. What I care about is that you can walk in God's will and that you can prosper! Some people sell durians for a while, and sell oil for a while. Why not sell arms? Ukraine is at war. Do you want to sell arms? I am filled with emotion. People's minds are full of money. They like to do big business. They just don't want to offer themselves as a living sacrifice.
Offering completely without reservation is called a burnt offering. Some people wonder how they can live their lives. I am living my life very well. I came into this world to bless more people. God knows our hearts so well. We do not pursue our own names, but God wants to make our names great. Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology will become a theology that manifests God's glory in this generation. Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology is not grace theology, nor charismatic theology, nor gospel theology. Chinese Mingding Destiny is a theology of completely dedicating oneself as a living sacrifice.
Emulate Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it is difficult not to prosper. Today, we are prospering more and more, and we are able to bless more people. There will be more and more Abrahams, more and more Isaacs, Jacobs, more and more Josephs, and more and more Apostle Pauls. Everyone begins to have the appearance of Jesus Christ. Here again, we must mention that each reproduces after its own kind. If you do things extremely chaotically, how can you be a prosperous person? Everyone must know that each reproducing after its own kind is a basic requirement, that is, doing things in an orderly manner.
I am a very organized person. I am bragging again. I do things cleanly. Whether it is cooking or cleaning, ordinary people cannot do better than me. I do it quickly and well, and it looks neat. Chaos is definitely not a good choice, so I want to train everyone to develop the thinking of an engineer. You cannot be an engineer if you do things without order. If you do things extremely chaotically, you can fool one if you can, and you can fool two if you can. You become a big liar, and you can't do anything well. You think very well, I want to do this, I want to do that. How can you do it well without training?
Start developing the habit of each reproducing after its own kind and doing things in a clear and orderly manner. Remember a reverse expression: unclear goals, unclear strategies, and wrong methods are the root causes of all failures. Why should the goal be clear? Because each reproduces after its own kind. Clear goals, clear strategies, and correct methods can do things right. If the goal is not clear, even if everything else is right, it is useless. If the goal is clear but the strategy is unclear, there is no way to do it. If your goal is right, your strategy is clear, but your method is wrong, it is also useless. If one part of an airplane is broken, it is enough to make you suffer. I hope that brothers and sisters can develop such habits.
We will invest a lot of resources next to train brothers and sisters to develop this habit. This market is too short of talents. All business owners, business managers, and senior managers have big problems finding talents. A few days ago, I met a boss who said to me: "Can you create a platform that can find talents? I found one who is not a talent, and I found another who is not a talent. They are all fools." This world, this market does not mistreat those who love God. Loving God is not just a religious flavor. You must each reproduce after its own kind and be clear and orderly.
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22)
Everything is in order, everything is upright, and even the weather will listen to you. After saying so much, I just hope that brothers and sisters can live for God.
Summary
Living for God is incomparably good. Because that is the path of sacrifice, sacrifice is the path of prosperity, and the path of prosperity itself is God's will. Be a person with Mingding Destiny. Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology has a saying: There is no blessing outside of Mingding Destiny. Brothers and sisters, live for God, and you will be full of hope. No matter what stage you are in today, you will be full of hope. Never be this kind of person, living for God for a while and living for yourself for a while. Wanting to be a prostitute for a while and wanting to erect a monument for a while. Some people say, "Oh, I'm retired." I asked, "How old are you?" Fifty! That's much younger than me. What are you retiring for? To eat, drink, and wait for death? Is it interesting to eat, drink, and wait for death? Start living for God and start knowing that you can overcome the devil through God. Even overcome cancer, overcome disease, overcome everything!
May God bless everyone!
Genesis Chapter 8 Scripture
8:1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;
8:2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
8:5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
8:6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
8:7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
8:8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
8:9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
8:10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
8:12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
8:13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
8:14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
8:15 And God spake unto Noah, saying,
8:16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.
8:17 Bring forth with thee all living creatures that are with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
8:18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him:
8:19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
8:21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.