The Power in a Christian's Ministry
Pay close attention, this chapter is actually about the ministry of a noble, glorious, and powerful priest! Those who serve God possess such a glorious Mingding Destiny, and nothing in this world is better than serving Jehovah God! Therefore, today's theme is the ministry of a noble, glorious, and powerful priest!
In the past, I have often encountered pastors who constantly lamented that being a pastor was exhausting, considering it a tough job. Some pastors were very poor, and others could not heal the sick when they prayed for them. What was the problem? The root of the problem is whom we are serving in the end. This is a critical matter. Whether your ministry is as depicted in the Bible is a very good measure.
Today, I communicated with an entrepreneur who was facing many difficulties in faith and business, and encountering many problems in life. After talking with him, I clearly understood where his problem lay. Through our conversation, I learned that his problem was that the people he came into contact with were all people who thought with their heads. However, he was smarter, and he saw what I was doing – that the sick were healed with prayer – so he was surprised by what I was doing.
I told him a testimony: Once, a boss was struggling in business and owed a lot of money. Later, his factory machines had problems. He hired many engineers to repair them, but the refrigeration equipment just wouldn't cool. So, I had him raise his hands and pray in every corner of the factory. He did as I instructed, and within minutes, he called me to say that he felt chills down his spine, goosebumps, and cold wind while praying next to one of the pieces of equipment. Then, I led him in prayer and drove out the demon behind that equipment.
What is the purpose of me saying this? It is to let us know that we who serve God are priests of the living God, Jehovah. Priests of the living God must know that all things are spiritual matters. Why do I serve in this way? Because in my heart, there is a glorious hope – my ministry should be like Jesus, my ministry should be like Moses, my ministry should be like Elijah and Elisha! After I prayed for him, his employees ran out of the factory and said to him, Boss, our machines are back to normal! And I was even more excited than they were on the phone.
Whom the priest of the living God is like is a very serious question – many people serve God without any power, only knowing how to talk. This morning, I shared this testimony with this Christian brother who is a boss to encourage him that no matter what the difficulty, we can overcome it through God's power. We brothers and sisters must know how great God is! When Moses went to the Israelites, they questioned him, saying, How do we know you were sent by God?
Moses immediately turned his staff into a snake. From this, can we infer whether a ministry like Moses is in accordance with God's heart, or whether a ministry unlike Moses is in accordance with God's heart? What should we show to prove that we are priests of the living God – power, that is, authority and ability, can prove it.
I have a friend who is a real estate developer who loves to read my books and finds them very practical. Then, one day, he wanted to see how I ministered to people and gave healing and deliverance. He had his wife gather a group of people with problems, and after I shared a little, I had all those with leg and back pain come forward to try it out. He stood far away, wanting to see if I would be exposed or not. The result was that everyone who was prayed for got better, including his wife. A very experienced Christian came over and said that his shoulders and back were also very uncomfortable. After praying, he was also healed. He used to feel cold air coming out of his shoulders when he slept, but since then, he has been completely healed. I thought about how glorious, noble, and powerful the God I serve is!
God will raise up a prophet like Moses, and that person is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ and Moses both did very divine things. Moses and Jesus both used miracles and power to confirm the word preached. Those who have God with them will have signs and wonders following them. Such a ministry is so wonderful!
Today, we are arguing one thing, which is Deuteronomy 18:14-22. Let us return to the New Testament to confirm – Paul in the New Testament encountered a group of people who could see and speak but did nothing. Next, Paul's letter to the Corinthian church was written like this:
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:19-20)
The kingdom of God is not about how well he can speak, but about whether he can do it. I used to be someone involved in the field of aviation. In our field, it is useless to just talk about building airplanes. You have to build them to count. Our God said, Let there be light, and there was light.
So, let's not think that our Jesus can only talk but not do. For example, if a child is dying and comes to Jesus, does Jesus give a lot of reasons and then the child dies? Is that what our Jesus does? What our Jesus Christ does is so good. What proves that Jesus Christ is God? What proves that Moses was sent by God? Isn't it all based on the results that Jesus and Moses produced? What is actually done is real.
So today, brothers and sisters, you must know that our God is a God who does not deceive people at all. Our God is a real God. So, I don't want to deceive everyone either. I don't want to just talk about it, but I want to do real things. What Paul preached was the gospel of power, a gospel of great ability, not just talking. Didn't Paul challenge those who deceived the Corinthian church? In the end, Paul said, But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will. When Paul was here, was he listening to the words of these arrogant people, or was he ever afraid of their power? If you cannot do it, then just forget about it.
So, in Deuteronomy 18:21-22, it says:
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)
Christians’ Service Should Emulate Jesus and Moses
Think about it, if this Jesus Christ wants to come into the world, then what is the first condition for him to come into the world? He must be like Moses. Moses is definitely a miracle-working Moses, and Moses is definitely not an ordinary Moses, because that is useless. Moses, in his life, experienced so many miracles that crossing the Red Sea as if walking on dry ground was unprecedented. Then Jesus Christ, like Moses, is also unprecedented. Today, Jesus Christ wants us to imitate him, and we must also do this kind of unprecedented thing – that is, be like God, people who have God with them. What does it mean to have God with you? It means to have power, so what does the Bible say?
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)
These are the words in the Bible. I think these words are very good. If there were no such words, then I think we brothers and sisters in this world would really have to live very hard.
When I shared with this brother, I really hoped that a glorious hope would begin to rise in him, not through logical reasoning, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. So, Paul said in 1 Corinthians:
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
These are such good words. If the Bible had not said this, where would I dare to pursue this matter? But if I pursue it today, and I see that God is so faithful, then I thank God. Our God is a faithful God, our God is definitely a faithful God! If you implement what the Bible says, then you will surely see God's glory manifested in your life. This glory is not an invisible and unspeakable glory, but a clearly visible one, which is the power of God.
Our God Overcomes All Dark Powers
Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us begin to understand that a Christian is one who serves with glory and power. Such a Christian will be highly esteemed and honored. I feel privileged. I am honored to be a Christian in this generation, and even more honored to have the opportunity to be a truly remarkable Christian. You know, if one is a Christian, then he must have the power to overcome those who practice divination, use secret arts, consult spirits, practice witchcraft, engage in male prostitution, pass through fire, practice fortune-telling, and observe omens.
When I was young, I wished I had foresight and admired those who could tell fortunes. But today, I have no respect for them at all. They can only predict, and then they are helpless. But I can not only predict, but also reverse. Don't blame me for saying this, but if you can reverse a person's life and destiny, then you are blessing that person. Because our God is the God who transforms people's lives.
Brothers and sisters, many of us are still facing financial difficulties, and many of us are still facing health problems. I truly desire that all of us be healthy and prosper in all things, no longer living in a state of sorrow, anxiety, and hardship. So I boldly experimented. In the previous period, I served two bosses, and both of them experienced significant turnarounds. I thank God because our God is a God who prospers people. Our God will make you prosper.
For our God intends to bless this generation through His revelation or through His priests. I long for each of us to become priests of the living God, priests after God's own heart. To be priests after God's own heart is to be like Moses, like Jesus. And I tell you, those who practice divination and observe omens cannot stand before us.
I believe that if Christians go to Africa or the Pacific Islands, where there are many witch doctors and witchcraft, they will not be very powerful in your presence. But if you cannot overcome those things, cannot overcome the dark powers behind them, then what you do may be less effective than them. If that is the case, how can we glorify our God? Isn't that right? So today I boldly declare that even the least among us can contend with these evil spirits.
If you rise up among us, do not fear those things, such as divination, observing omens, sorcery, and practicing witchcraft. You know, I dislike it most when Christians say, Oh, don't curse me. What kind of people are we Christians? Christians are not afraid of curses. They cannot be cursed. Why? Because the Bible says, I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you. You see, our God is like this. If someone curses us, then God will curse them. Then you can watch the show.
So today you must know who we are. We are those who overcome divination, observing omens, using sorcery, practicing witchcraft, using secret arts, consulting spirits, practicing wizardry, and necromancy. The spiritual realm is very real. For a while, I saw that my sister's family was not doing well, and many bad things were happening. Then she went to worship idols. I said, Why don't you believe in the Lord with me? She said, No. I asked her why she didn't want to believe in the Lord with me, when her life was so difficult. She replied:
No, I owe it (the idol).
Owe it what?
She continued, Every time I ask it to tell my fortune, it is very accurate. I make a lot of money doing business.
Oh! Is that so? That's easy!
Then I bound all the evil spirits behind this in the name of Jesus Christ, declaring that what it did to my elder sister would never be accurate again. As a result, my declaration came true—indeed, it was not accurate, and my elder sister later lost a lot of money. Some people don't understand why I did this. I hope that my sister can be blessed and live a prosperous life, no longer consulting spirits, because although she made money in the end, she lived a very painful life.
Serving God is a Wonderful and Blessed Task
What does this mean? I am saying that we have power in our hands, we have the authority of the eternal God. We can take up snakes in our hands, and as soon as we take them, they turn into a rod in our hands, right? So today, brothers and sisters, we must know that our glorious, honorable, and powerful service is like this, like the service of Moses and Jesus. Do you want such service? You must know that serving in the name of Jehovah God is very, very honorable. Some time ago, I was on a plane, and the person sitting next to me happened to be a pastor who used to be close to me. After listening to him, I felt a little awkward because he later stopped being a pastor. I asked him what he was doing recently. He said, Oh, I finally put down that chore. He used to be a pastor, but he described it as doing a chore, and I felt sorry for him. Being a pastor is a glorious and honorable service, a glorious, honorable, and powerful service. Nothing in this world can compare to it.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must begin to change such a concept. In my heart, I really don't want everyone to have such a hope—hoping that your pastor will be a poor person. You should hope that your pastor has a noble, glorious, and powerful ministry. And do you know to what extent is it glorious and honorable? That is, although they have no portion or inheritance in Israel, they receive the best. The firstborn and first fruits that people offer are given to these priests, and then these priests can bless these people.
Not only the priests are like this, but also the service of the Levites. Everyone offers the first fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, as well as the first shearing of sheep and wool to God. Don't get me wrong, offerings are not all burned after they are done, like burning paper for the dead. Since these offerings are in the name of Jehovah, God distributes these things to His priests. God does not need these things; God does not lack food or clothing. Who do you think you are offering to? If we calculate, we will know that the priests are the most honorable among the Israelites. That is to say, they are not only very wealthy in finances, but also very powerful in authority and power.
Don't think that serving God is a chore, as that pastor said. I really despise such a pastor. I think serving God is a glorious Mingding Destiny, and what we receive is the best. What is the most important thing in a person's life? What people need most in life is blessing. So what do priests do? What do we Christians do? Christians have their hands on God's throne and their feet on the ground to bless this generation. Bringing earthly problems to God and bringing God's blessings to the earth—this is what priests do. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us begin to restore a correct understanding. Never think that if your pastor or leader is very wealthy, he must have embezzled the money you donated. No, that is God wants to bless you. Brothers and sisters, don't get me wrong. I wish that every one of us had the desire to serve God. When you have the desire to serve God, you will become a blessing to many people. And if you become a blessing to many people, then you will not lack anything. During the Chinese New Year, when I give New Year greetings to people, I often write this: May the God I serve, the God I serve with all my heart, bless you. I think this blessing must be effective.
Today, brothers and sisters, let us begin to understand one thing: if we have the highest God, the supreme and greatest God, what do we need those small gods for? Do we still need to engage in those witchcraft, practicing witchcraft, observing omens, and divination? No need! Sometimes I think, even if you divine it, so what? It's like a physical examination. The results come out, and then what? Thank God if the examination reveals something that can be treated, but isn't it just asking for death if it reveals something that cannot be treated? Some people like to know, but I think if a person has God, He must be the God who heals us, He is the God who blesses us, He is the one who cares for us, He is the God who gives us victory. What could be better than this? Today, brothers and sisters, let us know one by one. If you have God, you have everything. If you have God, your business will surely be turned around, your financial situation will be turned around, and your health will also be turned around. So start to know God again. But when you know God, spend more time praying. No time? What do you use your time for? To get sick? I think that's so stupid! Taking the time to serve God or pray to God, be close to God, or engage in spiritual warfare, the rewards are so rich, right? What in this world has a higher return than serving God? No, there is nothing higher than this! Brothers and sisters, let us re-recognize what God is saying. That is a noble, glorious, and powerful priestly service!
If we are priests of God, then we have no problem with money at all. Our problem is how to distribute God's blessings so that more people can be blessed because of us. May God bless you all. May God make each of us more like Jesus Christ, more like Moses, and more like the Apostle Paul. This is God's will. Amen!