Good day to you. Today, let us delve into the sixth chapter of 2 Corinthians. If you lack a spiritual vantage point, it will be difficult to grasp its meaning; even if you read it, you may struggle to understand its essence. In reality, Paul is articulating that we are co-workers with God. Today's theme is We are Co-Workers with God. He expounds at length on his being a co-worker with God. But what about us today? Indeed, he is not solely addressing the Corinthians but also us, so that we may discern the true purpose of our existence, is it not?
Today, observe carefully. For instance, if you sit downstairs, you frequently observe stray cats or small animals, such as mice, scurrying about. If a person lives merely on such a plane, there seems to be little difference between them and animals. Animals are born, and so are humans; animals die, and so do humans; animals seek food, and so do humans. If you do not delve deeper, you might indeed believe you are akin to them. However, if human existence is merely that, then life becomes devoid of meaning. When you witness two stray dogs fighting fiercely over a bone, or two dung beetles vying for a ball of dung to the point of mortal combat, you understand there is more.
If you observe intently enough, you will discover a supreme purpose: to be co-workers with God. In this vast world, why do humans truly live? After much study, one conclusion emerges, discerned by the Apostle Paul. Whether you believe it or not is up to your individual disposition. Paul states that we are co-workers with God, a statement of immense value. If a Nobel Prize existed in the spiritual realm, this discovery would surely merit it. To be co-workers with God is momentous, akin to walking with God. As we explore this theme, We are Co-Workers with God, you must ask yourself: What is my purpose here?
I. We Urge You Not to Receive His Grace in Vain
Do you know why? Who among us has not experienced His grace? Many have experienced it. A bout of depression is resolved, only to seek another, is this not the case? Many behave this way. We receive grace so that we may live to be co-workers with God, is it not? Humans live to be co-workers with God. What benefits does this partnership entail? Behold, we are co-workers with God, and we also urge you not to receive His grace in vain.
For he says, In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
We undergo minor trials. You might say a toothache is not serious, but it can be excruciating. This morning, someone had a stomachache. It occurred during my intercession for them yesterday. I said to seek me if the pain persisted through the night, but I was so exhausted that I slept soundly. As a result, I heard nothing. To my dismay, I slept for more than ten hours, which I found regrettable. They sought me out again this morning due to the pain, and I answered. God had previously shown them grace. They had previously struggled with depression, but thanks be to God, they improved upon embracing Chinese Mingding Destiny, as God showed favour to her. Her parents are preachers, and her husband’s parents are also preachers, a family steeped in faith. Yet, she could not perceive God working alongside them, so she came to us。 A stomachache may be a minor ailment or a severe illness, but it can be agonizing, causing one to break into a cold sweat. Those who experience menstrual cramps know how excruciating they can be.
As I prayed, it became apparent this was a Mammon spirit. Consider this for a moment: Someone recovers from depression but continues to love money. It is difficult for people not to love money. When I inquired if she was fond of money, the answer was affirmative. She had recovered from depression not long ago; she had received grace in vain. Today, I urge you not to receive His grace in vain. God intends for us to emerge from depression and perceive the true essence of existence, for without God, it would be a tragedy. Her stomachache returned because she had performed well as a streamer the previous week, earning half a month's wages in two days, which made her very happy. But what is there to be happy about? Because of her love of money, the arrival of wealth makes her rejoice. Some might say that earning half a month's pay in two days is cause for celebration. But the problem is that it does not last.
There are also numerous such situations among us. If you were to suddenly acquire a trillion dollars, do not rejoice prematurely, for it may later become a debt of two trillion, leaving you owing one trillion. Some are delighted by acquiring ten thousand dollars, but they become distressed when it is gone, even though it was never truly theirs. Of course, you would not know how to spend a trillion dollars; you cannot spend it there. But you know how to spend ten thousand dollars. Upon receiving it, you begin contemplating what to purchase, browsing houses and cars. Alas, the ten thousand dollars vanishes, leaving you with nothing but a dream.
Indeed, such is often the case in human existence. Why? Because an evil spirit is with you, unsettling you. If you suddenly acquire a windfall, be cautious, for its disappearance will be particularly painful. It is more painful than never having had it in the first place. Therefore, we must clarify this matter today. I am a co-worker with God, and I urge you not to receive His grace in vain, to dismantle our former way of life, for we have God. In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation, rescuing us from this mortal body.
Today, we, brothers and sisters, must realize that if a person lives merely for worldly matters, and suffers from stomachaches, headaches, backaches, and bleary eyes, their life becomes a tragedy, although they may not realize it. Now that you have walked alongside Chinese Mingding Destiny, I urge you not to receive His grace in vain. Having received grace, hastily dismantle all else. Our previous way of life was misguided.
We humans live in this manner, believing that life is flavorful, yet we must ultimately die. What remedy is there? Why would He answer you? Because God has accepted you. What transpired before God's acceptance? You were previously God's adversary, living in the flesh. After being accepted by God, you continue to live in the flesh and again become God's adversary. Constantly opposing God, what manner of mind is this? I truly do not comprehend it. Some, upon experiencing God once, exclaim that it is a treasure! Others have faced depression numerous times. I long to pull people out of this worldly, mortal system of logic, but it is so difficult.
I would genuinely like to buy a small coffin for each of you, for we will all enter one someday. There is little meaning in it. Why live with such exuberance? Any issue can threaten your life, can it not? Once God answers you, once God accepts you, once God saves you, ah, it is a treasure! I need God's salvation, God's provision, and God's acceptance every day. We came to this world to be co-workers with God! How wonderful it is to be co-workers with God! Is it not? With a prayer, in just a few words, the stomachache vanishes. Is that acceptance of you or acceptance of me? It is acceptance of me!
I am eternally grateful to God. Why? Because through the work that God does through me, I have become the person I am. and have the opportunity to be co-workers with God. The things I do are miraculous; I myself can hardly believe them. The blind see, the lame walk. Various illnesses are healed, including numerous cases of cancer. But after being healed, some return to loving the world. They were on the verge of death, but as soon as they recover, they immediately begin counting money, obsessively counting it no matter how persistently urged to stop. Therefore, this is the day of acceptance, the day of salvation. Behold, this is now the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
To be able to be co-workers with God, to collaborate with God on projects, is superior to working with Tesla. Shall we introduce a project? Shall we bring projects of heaven to earth? How wonderful that may be where there is no sickness, no suffering, no scarcity of money. Yet people remain ignorant, counting red Renminbi or green US dollars, which vanish entirely due to inflation.
I pose a question: With God, would you seek human assistance such as asking someone in the education bureau to secure your child's admission saying everything is identical? I feel that some may not know the beauty of being Co-Workers with God. You trust that all issues can be resolved. Is this your belief?
II. We Put No Obstacle in Anyone's Way
What does this mean? It means not to trouble others, not to put any obstacle in anyone's way. If I cause trouble for someone, I feel uneasy. But later, I comprehended and eliminated all such things. Why? I am a co-worker with God, and I put no obstacle in anyone's way. Whatever I can manage, I do; whatever I can achieve, I accomplish; whatever I cannot, I refrain from simple isn't it? Whatever I can afford, I consume; whatever I cannot, I abstain from because God provides.
What purpose does God's presence serve? With God's presence, we co-work with Him to build the temple of God. Will God provide? When we co-work with God, engaging in His divine project, He invests in me: Series A, Series B.... the rounds of financing are endless. If a person experiences lack in this world, it is because they are co-working with the devil, working on Satan's project and making things problematic. God ensures that your project comes to naught, that it remains incomplete.
As soon as God notices you constructing a Tower of Babel, you must heed His command to cease. You will find yourself convening meetings and engaging in discussions, consulting with IBM to serve as your consultant. Go ahead, but God will confound you, leaving your Tower of Babel unfinished. In this world, there are many unfinished buildings that decay over time, their supporting bars rusting; their potential demolition is both a necessity and a dilemma. Such is the manifestation of co-working with the devil.
Today, we put no obstacle in anyone's way. because we are co-workers with God, building the temple of God. Does building God's temple require the involvement or assistance of others? Our church has a distinct quality: anyone attempting to assist me in building God's temple will not succeed because external help is unnecessary. What is needed here is all-encompassing devotion. What is the devotion? Your devotion in being Co-Workers with God. We are co-workers with God thus avoiding blasphemy. We lack nothing, our provision assured until our reunion with God because God invests in this project. We do not solicit assistance, which is an affront to God. This is an idol. Are you now getting the message?
The other day, I saw a massive temple on a mountain, a towering Buddha image. It was built by hand, requiring considerable financial contributions. It is man-made and requires financial means, thus necessitating the pursuit of profits. Today, co-working with God does not necessitate money; it necessitates full-hearted devotion. A recurring challenge within our church is a lack of awareness of the paramount importance of co-working with God which is the purpose of human existence! Once I was unaware, now, I am illuminated. Subsequently, my transition to becoming a pastor was unexpected, yet I have come to recognize its unparalleled value. Previously, as a layperson, I harbored no desire to be a pastor, perceiving some pastors as lacking dignity. The manner in which they conducted themselves left much to be desired, leading me to beseech God to spare me from such a calling.
But one cannot evade God's will. Once committed to this path, it becomes a transformative experience. I used to be so unaware, focusing solely on the pastorate, failing to recognize that Chinese Mingding Destiny fulfills the mission of a pastor in extraordinary ways. And you can get that divine job for yourself. To know the value of being Co-Workers with God, one needs nothing. God is useful, a treasure. In the time of His favor, He answered us; during His acceptance, He answered us; during salvation, He saved us. If you have previously been healed by God, or if you have previously experienced God, I urge you not to receive His grace in vain. If you have not yet dismantled the structures of your world, reflect today. How much must you endure before you are willing to co-work with God, before you are willing to build the temple of God, and before you are willing to put no obstacle in anyone's way? Because we have God, it is infinitely wonderful.
III. In Every Way We Recommend Ourselves as Servants of God
I will give this passage a try. Since our experiences are limited, interpreting it may require some effort.
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; punished, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:4-10)
It is miraculous that in all things, we demonstrate that we are servants of God. I ask you, if we are servants of God, co-workers with God, engaging in God's project, with God investing in us, do you believe that God is in control? If you believe that God is in control, then be patient, is it not so? Patience can be challenging; witnessing others' spiritual maturity can be disheartening, requiring enduring much and refraining from speaking. If encouragement becomes too heavy, there is fear that people will not bear it; too moderate, and there will be no effect. Thus, one must patiently endure.
Have you faced difficulties? Difficulties there are. How can there not be? Hardships, poverty, distress. Can you comprehend these things? If one has never experienced poverty, one does not know the meaning of God's provision. Because you have money, you do not need God to supply. you supply yourself. If you have no troubles and are able to resolve everything, it gives no need for faith. There is no need for God's salvation needing for faith, no need for God's salvation. When facing hardship, one sees God's salvation. When encountering poverty, one witnesses God's provision. In distress, God becomes our strength. This is faith。
Many find it strange. A sister suffers from frequent urination, an issue easily addressed by us. Her pastor delivered a sermon questioning whether one would still believe if God did not heal. Can one find such a topic in the Bible? The Bible is about God healing us, so I encouraged her faith. She came to see me at a hotel and was healed, her problems resolved. But the problem is that she is receiving His grace in vain. If an ordinary individual experienced this, what would they become? If it were me experiencing then I would be asking: What type of theology is this? What concept is this? is the one you are following. What a shame. Instead some went to the allusive of an Alligator's Egg and turtles egg instead.
In every way we recommend ourselves as servants of God. How can we do that facing caning, imprisonment, riots that are being served by you. Is that possible? In fact Is it not normal to be flogged? Was Jesus flogged on his serving? Yes, He was. So, if that is the case, do you still want to Co-Work with God? This decision you have to make? If you don't you will be in trouble. You may not want to Co-Work with God in some instances leading to caning, imprisonment, riots or other chaos.
Living with God in this secular world will always imply spiritual battles. You used to be suppressed by certain evil entities. Today, the Grace of God sets us free from evil works and entities. We Co-Work with God and fight against the spiritual entities with dark powers, the demons of this world in the name fo Jesus Christ. Your past suppression is a MMA Championship event and you are battling the champ?
Even today, battling the devil may seem to result in a draw, but this is acceptable, that the smaller demons and spiritual entities are to work out our Salvation, work for the Lord and Co-Work with the Lord. Thanks be to God, diligent, alert, abstinence. Diligence is not laziness, a lazy evangelist cannot complete their mission. In other words, evangelists must be diligent and hardworking.
Diligent, vigilant, abstemious. Sometimes, there is truly nothing to eat, to recommend ourselves as God's staff. Is it not important to work hard? Without hard work, it is futile to serve the Lord. Is this even possible! Our serves should constantly train our brothers and sisters, not a light work. I have no other interest or hobby other than to work, happily. Vigilance will keep the Evil and the Demonic in check. What a blessing!
Integrity. Not exploiting others, and taking advantage. The Lord enables you to see that worldly gain is useless and exploiting others is a waste of resources? Preachers should always carry integrity and not to do so would be a sin and waste. Again, I will say the opposite of the Old Man's desires can be overcome. Overcoming the Old Man will then lead to Mammon's defeat over our life. It is my desire will overcome demonic attacks!
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Genuine love, as a preacher, you must have genuine love, no pretense. Why? Because we are working with God, and God is love, but definitely not the kind of love that indulges the flesh. Remember, if you are willing to work with me, we love each other because we share a vision and a common destiny, a Mingding Destiny. But if you are not working with God, and we are unequally yoked, if you go east and I go west, are we just in a tug-of-war? I won’t play that game with you; do what you need to do.
The truth of the matter, the power of God, the weapons of righteousness in the left hand and the right. My words may seem rough, even foolish, but the way of Chinese Mingding Destiny is not crude. What does this mean? Genuine truth, unfeigned love, the power of God, the weapons of righteousness in the left and right hands, so that we can face the most difficult enemies in this world. The most troublesome enemy is Satan, so we must always be vigilant, diligent, honest, knowledgeable, and patiently endure, and then rely on God, with genuine love, true doctrine, the power of God, and the weapons of righteousness in the left and right hands. Truly, we thank God that He is always with us, in any environment, no matter how difficult, we have already overcome.
> Glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; punished, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:8-10)
Whether it is glory or shame, it is no longer what we care about. Glory, dishonor, bad reputation, good reputation—can you all understand this now? If you read it yourself, it feels a bit difficult to me. It’s about resolving the matters of living in this world. We seem to be deceiving at times, but we are honest. Our words may seem to be shaming, but they are edifying.
Seemingly unknown, yet well-known. What is Paul saying? Paul is saying that the things we experience seem to be unknown, but are well-known, because God makes them known. Seemingly dying, yet alive; seemingly punished, yet not killed; seemingly sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. Because God works with us, do you understand? Seemingly dying—have you experienced a time of near-death? Experiencing near-death is truly a test. I’ve seen plenty of Christians who fear death, and plenty of pastors who fear death!
One day I stood beside the coffin of a pastor, he was my friend, he died. Actually, my Covid was worse than his, but I lived, and he was lying in the coffin. Why? The reason is simple: I am God's servant. I was not cured by the hospital; I was cured by my God. I know there are many things I didn’t do right, perhaps God is punishing me, or God is disciplining me, but it doesn’t matter, I am working with God. Afraid of death? What's there to fear? Isn't it so? Relying on God, not afraid of death, I have rushed through several times, haven’t I lived through it again? Why haven't I died?
Some people think that these words, you should be happy. Not very happy. Alas, to depart and be with the Lord is far better. But it’s not my turn yet, I didn’t get in line well, and came back again. I tell you, Paul experienced near-death many times, truly living. Do you think he cared much about living? Actually, he didn't care, he didn't care about dying, he didn't care about glory, he didn't care about shame, he didn't care about a good name, he didn't care about a bad name. Some people say, Teacher, look at how he talks about you, how should I respond? I say, tell him, don't listen to this Teacher Liu, he's just talking nonsense, don't we know him? We are by his side, we can't believe it. Isn't it so? Don't believe him, but Teacher, I can't say it! If you can't say it, then don't say it, isn't it so?
Seemingly punished, yet not killed; seemingly sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. Why are we sorrowful? We frown in order to build God's temple, to build God's kingdom, how to work with God, thinking about this matter all day long, thinking about this matter all day long. And sometimes we weep in our hearts for the weakness of our brothers and sisters. Watching our brothers and sisters weaken and walk on the road to death, we can't call them back, and we have to weakly force them to offer their bodies to God. Sometimes it's also a struggle, having to get a degree, and having to work; having to get a degree, and having to write this, and write that, so many things, why is life so complicated? The more complicated it gets, the more complicated it gets. Today this matter, tomorrow that matter, there is no time for God. Finally, we manage to get some time for God, and then we think we are amazing.
In every way we show ourselves to be servants of God, actually these words are not for me, they are Paul speaking to the Corinthians, and also speaking to us. Isn't it so? How do we show ourselves? We show ourselves in this way, faithfully building God's glorious church, faithfully offering ourselves completely, because living is meaningless. If living in this world is meaningless, why spend so much time on meaningless things? Isn't that so? Once you live for God, you are happy, seemingly sorrowful, but always rejoicing, because Jesus Christ always leads us to victory, and we can trample on the demonic enemies.
Today I tell you, when one person is delivered, it's like eating a honey date; when two people are delivered, it's like eating two honey dates, you can count the even numbers, right? Four people delivered, four honey dates, so great. Seemingly poor, yet making many rich. Today many of you have become rich, and I have to advise you, do not receive his grace in vain, brothers and sisters. Sometimes I don't dare in my heart, I am really stuck in that place and it's very painful, I only say a weak sentence, and then I boldly say it during Bible study. Can you know that you owe God a debt? Actually, we owe God a life. If we are healed of our illness, we owe God a life.
If people live and do not know that living is vanity of vanities, and are busy with these things, and then entangled and uncomfortable, that is truly uncomfortable. Don't forget how you walked, how God led you step by step? How did you finally become qualified to love the world? It's better not to, isn't it so? Seemingly poor, according to how much money there is, it's really not worth mentioning, but yet making many rich. Paul didn't have a bank account, he didn't have money in his purse, he had nothing. But I tell you, Paul was a walking money bag, wherever he went, that's where the blessing was. Why? If God works with him, can he lack anything?
Philemon was already losing money badly in his business, and after Paul went, Philemon came to Paul worriedly. Paul said: You rich people, it's like a camel going through the eye of a needle to enter the kingdom of God. Philemon said: No, I am a poor man now. That's right, now it's not the eye of a needle. But look at what I should do? I owe so much. This story is made up by me. When Paul spoke, God did according to what Paul said, and Philemon's business suddenly became better. Then Paul told Philemon not to receive God's grace in vain. How many times is it not because of God's intention, but because the preacher who works with Him said a sentence, and God accomplished it for him, is there? The riches of many people actually come from this. It is because God, through the servants He uses, through those who work with God, blesses this generation.
Do not think that you believe well, if you think you believe well, then you will not receive His grace in vain, isn't it so? Seemingly having nothing, yet possessing everything. We seem to have nothing, but we have everything, having God is having everything, it will really make people envious. Of course, I don't want brothers and sisters to experience Paul's chains, but if you can work with God, I have said so much, that is infinitely good.
## IV. The Heart is Broad
I tell you, those little guys in Corinth, that group of little brats in Corinth, little white-eyed wolves, Paul didn't say it, I said it. Paul brought them so much grace, so much grace. Did those people in Corinth gradually become qualified to love the world because of Paul's service? Yes. Paul spent a year and a half in Corinth building the Corinthian church. Looking back, this group of little brats said that Paul was greedy for their money, did Paul ever take their money? He never took it, isn't it so? Of course, those people should give offerings, and after the offerings were given, weren’t they given to the Corinthian church? Paul, anyway, was thrifty in eating and thrifty in spending, supporting himself and his coworkers with his own hands, he is more amazing than me. Paul's heart was broad, he didn't want to take advantage of the Corinthians. Look at how this is said:
> We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not restricting you, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (2 Corinthians 6:11-13)
I just said that you all owe God a favor, and sometimes many owe me one. There are many people I have personally served; plenty of them. But how do we receive God’s grace? How broad is our heart? Because of one sentence from me, you start to argue with me, isn't it so? So I tell you, to be a person who walks with God, you must see through the things of the world, and your heart must be broad. A broad heart is a clear characteristic of a servant of God, someone who works with God, someone who does not cause trouble for others.
## V. We are the Temple of the Living God
If the Son of Man has hope in this life, the heart cannot but be narrow. If a person serves the living God, serves the living God, and builds His temple, so that God may dwell among us, so that God's presence may dwell among us, he must see through the matter of living. I don't know if you have seen through it after I have said so much. Maybe I have scared everyone, I don't know. Don't be afraid, what are you afraid of? We serve the living God, and we have everything. In the past, we lived in a worldly logical system. I will read it to you:
> Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
We are the temple of the living God, we believe in the word of God, and some people are stunned when they see a few people in the world living well. When they see other people living well, and my words are rather strong, go ask him what he worships, oh, they worship Maitreya Buddha, then hurry up and get one, you should have more affinity with him. Teacher, I'm not going. I said, why aren't you going? Isn't that good? It's good, because that is the temple of Maitreya Buddha, isn't it? Do you want to build the temple of Maitreya Buddha, or do you want to build the temple of the living God?
So why do we have the power of God, and weapons of righteousness in our left and right hands? Why do we willingly endure these things, endure these hardships? Why? Because we are building the temple of God, we believe in the word of God, not believing that we can go to the Western Paradise in the future, no! It's not that we will go to heaven after we die, it's that when we are alive, we believe in building God's glorious temple, seeing God's work together. Seeing God's presence, seeing God working with us, we believe, so we do God's word, that is righteousness. So we live in the light, so we overcome through Christ.
What does Christ have in common with Satan? So you can’t straddle two boats, and you can’t have an affair. If one leg is on Christ's side and one leg is on Belial's side, then Belial will split, won't he? So what relationship do those who belong to the world have with us who belong to God? There's no need to be confused when you see a thousand or ten thousand people in the world living well. Yesterday someone asked me some strange questions, and I am preparing to answer him today. Because what he cares about in his mind are these little things in the world, what happened in their city, how the corrupt officials were arrested, they actually did a lot of things too... Does a corrupt official not become a corrupt official just because he did a lot of things? Oh, they are engaged in political struggles, isn't that normal? Isn't it so? What does it have to do with us? There is no relationship, because we who believe and those who do not believe are not suited to being yoked together.
Look at the situation we are living in today, how tired we are, isn't it so? When we encounter a problem, we come to God; when the problem is solved, we go back again, isn't it so? Like a spring, once you let go, it returns to its original position. Later, I simply stopped trying to break it, what's the point of breaking it, it just doesn't believe. What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What does it matter to you that other people are living well? It doesn't matter, because we are the temple of the living God, we work with God. The price we experience and the price we pay are not small prices; it turns out that this is what we were born for, and what we live for, and what we die for, we are the eternal God, and what we want to obtain is that glorious crown in eternity.
## VI. We Must Be Holy
Because we work with God, we must be holy, because we are the temple of the living God. We work with God, so we urge you not to receive His grace in vain. And then, in everything we do, we do not want to put any obstacle in anyone's way, and then, in every way we show ourselves to be servants of God, and then, our hearts are broad. Not only do we say this, but we also advise everyone. It turns out that we are the temple of the living God, and then we must be holy, it seems that the logic is connected, right?
> What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18)
There is a very important concept here called holiness. **Holiness is an attitude, holiness is an aspiration, it is a character, and it is a faith.** Without this kind of character of holiness, we just deal with it a little bit, we just deal with it a little bit, isn't it so? Some people cannot insist on the Lord's Day, and cannot insist on Bible study, and I am really very sad about such things. Sometimes I really don't want to have such people, it's very hard in my heart, whether to say it or not. You need to know that it is very important to be holy, you need to be different from those people, how are you different? Those people are busy with things in the world, we are people who are centered on God.
If you read the Old Testament, living a life centered on God, then Ezra returned to Jerusalem, and he did not do a good job, he did not encourage the Israelites to live a life centered on God. The generation of Zerubbabel were all taken captive to Babylon, and later finally had the opportunity to return to Jerusalem after seventy years. As a result, how did it go? They ruined God's project, and they all lived under a curse. So in the years of Zerubbabel and Haggai, they were all busy with their own affairs. As a result, how did it go? God was very sad. He originally hoped that they could walk into God's plan, but the Israelites fell into Plan B again.
God's original plan was to have the Israelites come out of Egypt and enter the Promised Land, but they died in the wilderness. God originally allowed the Israelites to be taken captive to Babylon, and then be able to have an attitude of holiness, but as soon as they returned to Jerusalem, it was over, and they were playing their own little lives in their own homes again. Almost several decades or a hundred years passed in a flash, and it was the years of Nehemiah and Malachi, and God's temple was still desolate, is that strange? Strange. Why? Because people cannot be holy, they don't have this attitude. When the Israelites celebrated the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, were you going to wait until after other people finished living in tents before you went? The hotel is cheap, it's so cheap if you do the math. But is that still the Feast of Tabernacles? That's not the Feast of Tabernacles, that's the Demolition of Tabernacles!
We must be holy, and live a life centered on God, this is not harming you, this is giving you the greatest grace. Paul advises the Corinthians not to receive His grace in vain. Why? Because as soon as you live this little worldly life, your heart becomes narrow, isn't it so? You freak out as soon as someone touches your cheese. If your cheese is God, who dares to touch it? Can we show ourselves to be servants of God in everything? Show that we are building the temple of God, show that we are a holy people? Set aside time to be holy, let other things dodge and give way, isn't it so? I have been consecrated to this matter before the creation of the world, don’t rob it from my God. What do people in the world do? People in the world are very busy, why? This matter, that matter, this has to be entertained, that has to be entertained. But we only need to entertain one God, isn't it so? After entertaining Him, we can entertain the others if we can, and if we can't, then forget it.
I thank God that when I encountered difficulties, because I had God, I passed through them peacefully. When I encountered poverty, I passed through it peacefully because I had God. When all kinds of difficulties were placed before me, they were all trampled under my feet because I had God. So God is my treasure, and I am willing to be sanctified for God. How did the Corinthians become stingy, with hearts like peanuts and heads like walnuts, it was because they walked the road of the Israelites again, because of what? They were busy, pursuing their own things!
I tell you, if you seem to be lacking a job, about to lose your job, or you have already lost your job, why? Because you have always lived a life centered on yourself. Then why are you in debt? Because you cannot be holy, and you often live a life centered on yourself. With a heart like a peanut and a head like a walnut, how can it work? Isn't it so? How could it possibly work? The computing power is so small that you can't even tell the difference between liars, and you get scammed right away, don't you? So today, let's recognize ourselves again, and see through this matter of living. Prepare a coffin for yourself, and then know that you are only so much in the end, and know that living in this world is meaningless.
If living in this world is meaningless, does money still have meaning? Money also has no meaning. **Then the only meaningful thing in this world is to live for God, to build God's temple, to let God dwell among us, and we will lack nothing in our lives.** Just like I said when I led the prayer yesterday, a pain can kill you? Isn't it so? What's so great about it? And then if your head doesn't work well, you make the wrong investment and you owe a lot of debt, you didn't have anything to begin with, but you created a lot of work and then you have to clean it up.
So we are God's children, living according to the way God's children live; we are God's people, living according to the way God's people live. God wants to dwell among us, that is the key. Amen! Do you want to be someone who works with God? If you do, start demanding yourself according to these requirements today. If people have not yet seen through the matter of living in the world, they need to suffer more and receive more grace. May God bless everyone.