Introduction

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.(John 17:1)

Today, do not assume that this refers only to the Lord Jesus. Jesus set an example for us, as the firstborn Son, to bring many sons into God's Kingdom. This is Jesus' Mingding Destiny. Jesus' Mingding Destiny is to set an example for us, how He glorifies the Father, and how we should glorify the Father as well. How the Heavenly Father glorifies us, so we should glorify Him. This concept is of utmost importance.

When I first believed in Jesus, I encountered a group of Christians who resembled Pharisees. The most important concept they gave me was that you must not steal God's glory. However, I like searching the Bible. How could I not find such a teaching about stealing God's glory! My logic is simple: if stealing God's glory is so important, Jesus should have prayed, Father, the hour has come for you to be glorified, and I do not want to steal your glory. Nor should the sons I lead steal your glory. Isn't it surprising that Jesus did not say this?

Glory Comes From Unity

In this passage, you see unity and glory. How do we have glory? Unity with God is glory. That is, our glory is God being glorified, and God being glorified is also us being glorified. We are in God, and God is in us; we are in Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is in us; Jesus Christ is in the Father, and the Father is in Jesus Christ. We are in you, and you are in me, and then we become one. If everyone is one, why would you separate?

Therefore, some brothers and sisters mentioned angels some time ago: are angels greater than humans? This must be clarified. I told them that humans are greater because angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (refer to Hebrews 1:4-14). Are demons angels? Yes, they are fallen angels, even lower. Some say that we cannot compare ourselves with demons. It is not just comparing; we are trampling them under our feet. We are children of God, how noble we are! What are demons?

Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. (John 17:1)

This refers not only to Jesus himself but also to us. If we are His sons, God will glorify us. It is not difficult to understand. The Bible says:

All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.(John 17:10、22)

This passage speaks of several glories, all of which are us being glorified together with God. Gradually, you will discover that there is a unified relationship in God. We are one with God, and being one means: what is yours is mine, and what is mine is yours.

From that time on, I carefully studied the issue of glory: does a Christian steal God's glory or glorify God? If you hear messages that tell you to be careful not to steal God's glory, you must know that such messages come from the spirit of the dragon because they speak of separation between man and God, not unity.

Separation from God is death; unity with God is life. Knowing the only true God means knowing Jesus Christ, whom you have sent, and this is eternal life! Where is eternal life? Eternal life is in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must have the concept of unity. Glory comes from unity. If you are separated from God, you cannot see God's glory. If you are united with God, you will surely see God's glory; if you are united with God, you will surely see the brothers and sisters united as well. In the early days of establishing the church, although the church was not unified, I had a dream to build a unified and glorious church. This is our church's vision. I believe a church must have God's glory to be called a church.

Our most important mission on earth is to live out God's glory. Therefore, Paul said, For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. If we can glorify God on earth, that is our Mingding Destiny. Everyone must remember this passage in John 17, which are the last words Jesus spoke before He was arrested. It is very important. If you are falling asleep, I will emphasize again: my glory is the Father's, and the Father's glory is mine. Building the church must be in unity with Jesus Christ.

Doing the Service God Has Entrusted to Us

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.(John 17:4-5)

If you want to share glory with God, you must do one thing: you must accomplish the work God has entrusted to you. Recently, in the church, I have been striving to encourage brothers and sisters to participate in service. Why? Because that is the work God has entrusted to you. If your work is going well, but you have not done the work God has entrusted to you, saying, My Mingding Destiny is to be an engineer, my Mingding Destiny is to be a doctor, my Mingding Destiny is to do these things, the Bible does not teach that. You must clearly know that is not what God has entrusted to you.

The Bible teaches that the work God has entrusted to you is the coming of God's Kingdom. If you bring about the coming of God's Kingdom, that is doing what God has entrusted to you, and you will share glory with God. We must know that we strive hard on earth, running until we see God's face, as Paul said: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7). This is our Mingding Destiny.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must have this thought today: serving God is the most important Mingding Destiny for us to come into this world. We did not come into this world to be beasts of burden, or to be monkeys or pets. We came into this world to glorify God! If you actively participate in serving God, God's glory will be manifested through you. When you begin to do what God wants you to do, this is the first step in manifesting God's glory through you.

Receiving God's Word

For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.(John 17:8)

What does this mean? It means that through your service, others begin to know the only true God, to know Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Word. God's Word has been given to us, and we have received it, and we certainly know that Jesus Christ came from God. Receiving God's Word requires keeping and obeying God's Word, not just receiving it. And we have accomplished what God has entrusted to us.

Speaking of this, I want to talk about the way of reading the Bible. The most important point is to read the Bible for yourself. The Bible says: Love your neighbor as yourself. Then I will go and love people. I will not say: Why don't you love me? Why do you love me so little? I will not ask others to love me; I will ask myself to love others because I read the Bible for myself.

Then I am a son of God (refer to Romans 8:14), and I also pray: Father, glorify your Son, and may I glorify your name. Reading the Bible is very important. Reading this passage is actually Jesus writing to us, and it is also the Apostle John writing to us. Let us know that receiving God's Word, hearing God's Word and doing it, you will see God's glory.

Shepherding the Sheep God Has Entrusted to You

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.(John 17:9)

This sentence is very important. If Jesus only prays for those whom God has entrusted to Him, do you and I still pray for those who have not been entrusted to you? Do you want to pray for those who have not been entrusted to you? This place says that Jesus does not pray for those people, so if you go to pray for those people, do you think you are better than Jesus? The most important thing is to shepherd the sheep God has entrusted to you. Pray for them, pray for those God has entrusted to you.

If you are a cell group leader, shepherd your cell group well. If you are a district pastor, feed your district well. You don't see Jesus saying: Pray for me! Jesus prayed for us. Why? Because we are His sheep. Therefore, establish this concept and start praying for those you shepherd. This is a very important concept, not praying for the world, but praying for those whom God has given to Him.

All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.(John 17:9-10)

Today, brothers and sisters, you must know a very important concept: shepherd God's flock well. You know that Peter denied the Lord three times. Later, the Lord Jesus asked him: Do you love me? He said: Lord, I love you! The Lord Jesus said: Feed my sheep.(Refer to John 21:15-16)

Shepherding God's sheep is what God has entrusted to you, so you should shepherd them well. If God has not entrusted it to you, are you going to shepherd them? I have found that some brothers and sisters can never shepherd well what they are responsible for; they shepherd until there are no sheep left, but they go to shepherd other people's sheep. It's strange. Brothers and sisters must shepherd well what God has entrusted to you! If you do not shepherd well, you will not be able to see God's glory.

Start learning to pray for those you shepherd. Your sheep should also start seeking you, and they should come to you with anything. Later, I discovered something very important: it is very effective for those who are being shepherded to ask their shepherd to pray. Some people specifically ask big pastors to pray for them. Is it effective? It's not effective! I once saw some people get serious illnesses. What did they do after they got seriously ill? They looked for large healing crusades and rushed over, but it didn't work, so they came back. It didn't work even when the pastor of a large church prayed for them. Who is the best to ask for prayer? Ask your cell group leader, or your small group parent, or your district pastor, that's the most effective.

You must start learning to honor pastors. When you ask them to pray for you, that is honoring God, that is God's will, and it is a matter of course for pastors to pray for their own sheep. Once, Sister HF said to me: It's amazing, YX's prayers for me are particularly effective. That's because YX is her pastor. Today, it's not that I want to escape responsibility, it's also very good if you come to me to pray for you. However, if you say in your heart: It's more effective to ask the pastor to pray, and it's not effective for my cell group leader or my district pastor to pray. Then you are wrong. But if you feel that it is more effective to ask the pastor to pray an not effective when your cell leader or district pastor pray for you, then you are wrong. Why is prayer more effective? Because your pastor's prayer for you will create a unified relationship.

You pray for them because you love them, you love your sheep, and your sheep also know that you love them, and the shepherding relationship is established very firmly. So today, brothers and sisters, I teach you to learn to honor your cell group leader, honor your small group pastor, it's not that other people get the benefits, but you yourself will get the benefits.

Offering Unity

Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. (John 17:11)

Understand this: when we shepherd well, God preserves our unity. This echoes the unity between Jesus and the Father, a complete oneness. Today, God has given us Jesus Christ; there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved, only the name of Jesus Christ, through whom we can be united. Let me touch on why unity is so crucial.

Unity brings holiness. When two people come together, entering a close relationship, they may find themselves in conflict. In this strife, each blames the other. Yet, it is not the other person, but the flaw within oneself. Why? Because of a lack of unity. And why the lack of unity? Because of an inherent defect that hinders harmony with anyone.

Brothers and sisters, in the church, when conflicts arise with fellow members, examine yourselves thoroughly. For problems reveal our own flaws. As you confront and resolve these flaws, relationships become unified, and unity leads to holiness.

Without unity, there is no holiness. If issues arise in relationships, recognize that the problem lies within us. Sheltering oneself in solitude, engaging in personal cultivation, proves futile, unable to cultivate holiness, for conflict will resurface upon re-entry into society.

In shepherding, we encounter those destined for destruction, as stated in verse 12:

While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17:12)

If Jesus had a Judas, know that we, as pastors, will inevitably encounter our share of 'Judases'. What does 'destined for destruction' mean? It does not mean Jesus fated them to destruction, but rather, they chose it themselves.

Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” (John 13:25-27)

Imagine, if Jesus had announced, 'The one to whom I give this bread is the one who will betray me,' would Judas have heard? Many claim he did not, preoccupied with his betrayal, simply taking the bread. Yet, it is unlikely he missed it.

Jesus offered him the bread, and he took it, allowing Satan to enter his heart. Jesus presented him with an opportunity, a chance to choose whether to betray Him. Had he refused the bread, there was a chance for redemption. The one destined for destruction chose it themselves; none were lost except those who chose destruction.

The Son of Perdition Chooses His Own Fate

Brothers and sisters, understand the importance of choice. Jesus is not responsible for Judas; Judas is responsible for himself. In our church, those who are stubborn and rebellious – do not blame me for removing you. I often instruct my district pastors to remove this one or that one. If you cannot shepherd certain individuals, do not overestimate your abilities. If Jesus could not transform Judas, who are you or I to transform a 'Judas'?

When someone chooses to be stubborn and rebellious, it presents a formidable challenge. If we remove them and create a small group to shepherd them, they may have a chance, for we cannot definitively know if they are destined for destruction. We do our utmost. Therefore, brothers and sisters, do not fault or misunderstand me. Even Joseph, betrayed by his brothers, could not alter his destiny. If one is not destined for destruction, even if they leave us for another church, they can still grow. Do not believe that our church is the only viable option.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one. (John 17:20)

Why pray for unity? Unity allows us to see God's glory, for in unity, the Father is in me, and I am in you, so that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. (John 17:21)

And the glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. (John 17:22) Do you desire to see a church filled with God's glory? If so, choose to build together on the path of unity. How can we achieve unity? By sharing the same Mingding Destiny, the same vision, pursuing the same truth, and adhering to the same guiding principles. That is unity.

If paths diverge, how can there be unity? If some desire a quiet life while you aim to build a glorious church, what unity can you forge? You seek unity, but they do not desire it! I will not waste my efforts. We must have a shared vision, a shared Mingding Destiny, a shared dream – to build God's glorious church.

We must understand for whom God prays. Why pray for those who believe? Those who believe will adhere to God's teachings. If one believes, they will enter into unity. Though this passage may seem dry, it is of vital importance.

Unity is the Destiny to Glorify God

Earlier, we spoke of 'glorifying your Son'. Here, we hear, 'the glory that you have given me I have given to them.' Who are 'them'? 'Them' is us! So, brothers and sisters, are we stealing God's glory? No, we are receiving it! We will not rest until we glorify God, living out God's glory in this world – that is our Mingding Destiny. Then, we enter into unity, becoming completely one. Jesus speaks of our unity repeatedly. If we are all disciples of Jesus Christ, is unity a difficult task? No, unity is not difficult!

Brother HF mentioned a place in his prayer. When we encountered people from that region, we found them to be devoted to the Lord, yet struggling with disunity. Their inability to unite caused much distress, leaving them troubled. They sought our help, and we ministered to them. God brought them here because we had overcome the spirit of disunity, which is the dragon, thus fulfilling this scripture:

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:24-26)

When we are united, God's love is poured into our hearts, and we see the glory God has given us, the glory God gave to Jesus Christ. This is the glory and unity Jesus prayed for before his arrest – glory and unity are inseparable! Brothers and sisters, reading this passage, understand that causing disunity is a cursed act.

The Spirit of Disunity Releases Corruption

Today, I removed someone and established a small group to shepherd her. She sent me a message, and I am unsure if she desires my shepherding or not. She has done this before. Since finding deliverance from depression here, she often engages in divisive behavior. On one occasion, she and several sisters gathered, talking amongst themselves, eventually turning our pastors into the subject of their gossip.

She also shared various matters with her pastor. Recently, she pressured her pastor to apologize to another sister, which infuriated me. I considered removing her then, but she wrote me a long apology, and I accepted her back, albeit with caution. Understand that disunity is a serious issue, releasing dark forces that defile many brothers and sisters.

Why? Because her reasoning is stronger than mine. She speaks of human logic, which is easily accepted, while God's logic is not. In arguments, she would win; in preaching, I would excel, but my teachings are far above hers, making it difficult for her to grasp.忍无可忍, I removed her. I do not know what lies ahead, but the choice is hers. She can choose to repent and cease her divisive actions.

I encourage you, whether near or far, to understand that unity is non-negotiable. I will not negotiate with anyone on disunity. I care only for the unity God has bestowed upon us. The deliverance some find here is due to the unity among our brothers and sisters. Some have remarked that they have never seen such a unified church. I declare that, from now on, this church will uphold unity, paying every possible price, without compromise!

Do not expect compromise. Even if I were to compromise, my district pastors would not. And if my district pastors compromised, my cell group leaders would not. Brothers and sisters, on this path of unity, we are on a plane: either we run forward, or we jump off without a parachute. On this journey to the kingdom of heaven, disunity is not an option. Maintaining church unity is the most important concept in my life.

Recently, I met a pastor taking psychiatric medication, which deeply moved me. I resolved not to retreat on this spiritual battlefield! Some, after leaving the church, speak ill of me, calling me ruthless. Indeed! How else can we fight the dragon? How else can we engage in spiritual warfare? How else can we liberate the oppressed?

Brothers and sisters, do not doubt my resolve. I may err, but do not think that my actions will harm God's kingdom. I may err, but God does not. I believe that even if I make a mistake, God will correct it. Some, I might misjudge; they may be a Joseph. Even if sold into Egypt, God will exalt them to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. If I am mistaken, I will still share in the credit.

Legacy of Character

I am acutely aware that one's most important asset is their character. If my direct and forceful methods can shape your character, you should thank me. I have discovered that this character is the key to battling the dragon. Brothers and sisters, what Jesus Christ prayed for in John 17 is what He values most. If you do not value what He values, you will suffer.

I value it greatly. First, I value what God has entrusted to me; second, I value the truth God has given me; and third, I value the people God has given me. Our district pastors will undoubtedly inherit my methods, striving to shepherd God's flock with all their might. We will act with love, but never towards the dragon or the wolves. No matter how meticulously disguised in sheep's clothing, a wolf is a wolf, and a dragon is a dragon. We will do everything in our power to drive away those 'wolves' and 'lions' who steal the sheep! I believe this is the character God has molded in me. Praise the Lord!