20th February 2019 Bible Study Recording
Introduction
In Romans Chapter 8, I have divided it into three parts. The first part discusses how the Holy Spirit has liberated us in Jesus Christ. The second part speaks of enjoying the glory of freedom as children of God, and the third part talks about who can stand against us if God is for us. These three themes in Romans Chapter 8 are a crucial foundation for establishing our church. Our theological concepts are not our own invention; they are actually stated in the Bible, but many do not believe them. I can say boldly that, among the churches I know, we do the best in the matter of healing and deliverance. Why are we the best? Is it because we have special gifts or a special election? No, it is because we believe that the Holy Spirit has already liberated us in Jesus Christ. We must all begin to establish this concept: In Jesus Christ, the law of the Spirit has liberated us. This concept is extremely important. Chapter 7 speaks of our body of death. Even a believer, let alone a non-believer, can clearly feel that life is indeed苦 ah!
Paul says at the end of Chapter 7: Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:24-25)
Today, we must know that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
These two passages tell us that living in the flesh is actually quite difficult. Where is this difficulty? We are unable to do according to what we think in our hearts. We know that what the law says is good, but the good things the law speaks of are what people want to do but cannot, and what they do not want to do, they end up doing. This is what is called being a helpless individual caught up in circumstances. This situation happens to almost everyone, and people are actually very uncomfortable, very uncomfortable! The good they want to do does not come out, and the evil they do not want to do, they have to do. This is the predicament of a carnal person.
No Condemnation in Jesus Christ
If the Holy Spirit has liberated us in Jesus Christ, then a confusion must be resolved: is there still condemnation in Jesus Christ? If there is still condemnation, then there is no liberation. I once did a great experiment in healing and deliverance: I confessed my sins all day long, Lord, please heal me! Lord, please forgive me! but the results were basically ineffective and without healing. When we declare in the name of Jesus Christ that because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, my sins have been placed on Jesus Christ, and the demons retreat and leave, the results are all healed. Although some are healed in three months, some in a year, and some in a minute, as long as you insist that there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ, because the law of life releases us in Jesus Christ, then this matter is closely related to our body. Because the Bible says: making our mortal bodies alive again. These words are very meaningful, and it says in verse 23: but also our bodies redemption. Paul's words here is meaningful, we thought it was our souls that were redeemed, why is it our bodies that are redeemed? Today, we must know one thing: our gospel is not a gospel for after death, but a gospel for when we are alive. The healing of the body is absolutely right and proper; it is a very important part of the gospel. If we are living a very 屌丝 life while we are alive, are sick and a mess, and are tormented in our bodies, and finally die after chemotherapy and radiation therapy, after all that tossing and turning, and then say that I am going to see Jesus, I ask everyone, is this kind of faith what God wants? This is definitely not what God wants. Our God is very棒 because our God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. These words are well-spoken, but a bit difficult, so I will explain them to everyone next.
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
Healing Is Part of the Benefits of the Gospel
What to explain? I will first explain a concept to everyone: we must know whether healing from sickness is within salvation. This concept is very important. I encourage all of us here who have physical illnesses to know for sure that we are healed by Jesus' stripes. Why? Because it is part of the benefits of salvation. People are born carnal, and the flesh is weak. If we live in the flesh and do not get an answer in Jesus Christ, we go to the hospital to see a doctor when we are sick, and if our bodies are not healed, we are very uncomfortable living in bondage. I have never seen anyone living in pain who is happy or comfortable, but some people pretend to be very joyful. It is said that it is very painful after colon cancer surgery, the wound cannot heal, and it is painful and uncomfortable every day. Not to mention others, even when I have a high fever, it is terribly uncomfortable. Can you have a good mood in that state? But if you are healed and your body is relaxed, isn't that great? We need to know very clearly that the healing of people's diseases is part of the benefits of this gospel. Why do I say that? Please look at my arguments:
First, Jesus Christ trained the first twelve disciples to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. Why heal the sick after preaching the gospel? What kind of sickness to heal? Not only physical sickness, but also mental depression and schizophrenia, which are also very uncomfortable diseases. Jesus Christ trained these twelve disciples to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons, and then the second group of seventy disciples also went out to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. So today we need to think, why heal physical sickness? The flesh is of no benefit, so what is the point of healing the flesh? Since it is of no benefit, and it is the spirit that gives life, then just die of illness, just get sick slowly?
But I tell you, our God is very clear that sickness is not a good thing. If someone thinks it is a good thing, then do you want a little of it? Some pastors are very mixed up, including some Christians among us, who think that sickness is a blessing from God in disguise. Then I ask you, if you think it is a blessing, do you want a little of it? People definitely cannot do what God says. So Deuteronomy says very clearly:
If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God— the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. (Deuteronomy 28:58-59)
That is to say, sickness is closely related to curses. Today, Jesus Christ has already liberated us, freeing us from this law of sin and death. Our mortal bodies are really weak, but Jesus Christ is determined to heal us by His stripes. So we must clearly know that healing from sickness is a very important part of the gospel. Because this will make our mortal bodies live again, not just redeem our souls, but redeem our bodies and souls together. Jesus Christ's body was not buried in the tomb, but was resurrected together with Jesus Christ. Jesus was born from his mother's womb, not transformed from an angel. He grew up day by day, was nailed to the cross, was buried in the tomb, and then resurrected from the dead! It was his body that was resurrected from the dead. So Paul said: that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead through the impartation of His death if need be, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. In other words, the salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ includes the healing of our bodies. This is my first point.
Second, what does it mean to be in Jesus Christ? It means to be inside the body of Jesus Christ. We are often confused, what does the body of Jesus Christ refer to? The body of Jesus Christ is the church. So what is the church? Everyone must not misunderstand. Some people think that a place with a sign is the church. When I was establishing a church in the early days, I often went to see how others established churches. One day I was sitting in the last row of a church, and God opened my eyes and I saw that the appearance of the stage suddenly changed. There were many large bats hanging upside down on the stage lights. I wondered what this was. Their eyes were very fierce, as big as rabbits. I blinked again, but they were gone. After a while, I saw them again. I was very curious and asked God in my heart: God, what is this? The Spirit of God told me that these were the demons controlling this church. I was very surprised! It just so happened that my friend was in this church, and I knew his situation very well. He was always experiencing poverty. How can such a church impart blessings? Therefore, everyone should not think that a place with a church sign is the church.
What exactly is the church? The church is the body of Jesus Christ, and the place where the Spirit of God is is the church. Where two or three people agree in their hearts and gather together in the name of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God is there, and the people there will be set free. It is difficult for us to judge whether the so-called church actually has the Spirit of Jesus Christ, whether the Spirit of God lives there, but we know that if the Spirit of God is there, what will happen there? There will be release for the captives and freedom for the oppressed. In that place, there is obvious divine presence, that place is doing what Jesus is doing, and that place is the church.
Build the Church According to the Word of God
Some people are often misled, spreading some nonsense and misleading many people. Know that there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ, because the law of the Spirit of life has set us free in Jesus Christ. Why does our church do so well in healing and deliverance? It is not because we have any gifts or anything special, but because we build God's church according to God's word. I am filled with trembling and reverence for God's word. So I don't want to talk nonsense and spout nonsense.
Many people are obviously talking nonsense, and they even hang a big banner in the church prohibiting people from praying in tongues. Is that what the Bible says? They are really bold enough. Aren't they enemies of God? Our brothers and sisters must be clear about what the Bible says we can do and what we cannot do. Today, how much do we value the word of God! We study the New Testament on Wednesdays and the Old Testament on Fridays. How many years have passed since we started studying? We have written almost fifty books of Bible study materials alone. Why do we do this kind of work? Because we value the word of God very much.
Moses received a revelation in the wilderness to build God's tabernacle. When he finished building the tabernacle, God's glory came down and filled the entire tabernacle. Why did it fill the entire tabernacle? Because Moses built the tabernacle according to God's revelation. David received a revelation from God to build God's temple. Solomon built God's temple according to the revelation that David had drawn and received from God. After the completion, God's glory filled this temple. If you build the church according to God's word, strictly according to God's word, God's glory will fill the church, and in that place, the law of the Spirit of life will release you and me in Jesus Christ. We go to build His church according to God's word.
When you come among us and your illness is healed and you are delivered, it is not because you did something, but because you have come into Jesus Christ, into a victorious church. This seems to have nothing to do with what you did, but simply because you have entered into Jesus Christ. Among us, there is no habit of condemnation, and we do not teach people to confess their sins every day. If you go to a church that teaches you to confess your sins all day long, as if there are endless sins to confess, it is as if Jesus Christ has not made a sacrifice for sins. What is this doing? The presence of God is obviously not seen there. Is that a church? Brothers and sisters who have this kind of confusion, I encourage you to carefully examine the Bible.
If someone tells you a lot of confusing words, which sound like you understand them, but then you feel confused, I will give you an idea, which is to ask him a few more questions. You ask him what is the church? What is the most basic work of the church? Is the Spirit of God there? If you ask him a few more questions, he will explain himself into confusion, and he will not be able to explain it! He thinks that the building is the church. Why are you healed among us? Because this is the church of Jesus Christ, the body of Jesus Christ.
God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
No Longer Mind the Flesh, But Mind the Spirit
Our brothers and sisters must know that you are not a helpless person now, because the Lord Jesus has made a sacrifice for sins for us. You can choose. In the past, we had no choice. We did not do what we wanted to do, and we did what we did not want to do, because demons lived in our bodies. If you still have this situation now, you need to cast out demons. Once, when I was leading a prayer, I saw a sister typing and saying: I don't want to know good and evil, but there is always knowledge of good and evil in my mind. Cast out that demon and it will be done. What do you do when you encounter this situation? Just let the Holy Spirit fill you often.
If we say today that we do not do what we want to do, but do what we do not want to do, and in our minds, our hearts obey the law of God, but our flesh obeys the law of sin, we must know for sure that it is not you who is doing it, it is the demon inside you who is doing it, or to use the original text of the Bible, it is the sin inside you who is doing it, sin and demons are basically the same thing. Today, our brothers and sisters, facing this situation, what you need is to cast out the demons! How to cast out demons? As long as we obey the law of God in our hearts, and then through the power of the Holy Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body, so that our mortal bodies will come alive again!
We must be smart people, and do not think that minding the flesh is a good habit. Among us, we can clearly see that the mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:6-8) Look at how clearly these words speak! Do not mind the flesh, for minding the flesh will bring about sickness.
Why do you get sick? Isn’t it because you mind the flesh? Minding the flesh is being hostile to God. To mind the flesh is to attract many demons, and then they will be controlled by the demons and become sick. Then you will ask us to pray for you. We will pray for you, and you will be delivered, and you will go back and mind the flesh again, and you will get sick again and come back to pray repeatedly. What kind of brain is that! Everyone must know that God has given us enough grace. Do not pray to be healed again and then go back to mind the flesh.
There was once a lung cancer patient who followed me in believing in the Lord for more than a year. During that year, he was repeatedly不行. When he was不行, he would ask us to pray for him. He vomited a lot of dirty and filthy things and was able to get out of bed and go downstairs. Before that, he had been lying in bed. But after he got better, he went back to minding the flesh. He never minded the things of the Spirit while he was alive. He only minded the things of the flesh. What are the things of the flesh? Eating, drinking, playing... His situation got better and then worse, and then better again, repeatedly. After more than a year, he thought about it and felt that in our midst, the requirements were too high. Actually, my requirements are not high. I only require him to be able to follow the Spirit. Those who follow the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit, and those who follow the flesh mind the things of the flesh. He is a person who minds the flesh and finds it difficult to mind the things of the Spirit. So in the end, he chose to leave and died a week later.
Today, we must, in any case, be a person who minds the Spirit. Those who follow the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. Why do we call it Mingding Destiny destiny theology? Because the Holy Spirit wants us to be vessels that manifest God's glory. To be a vessel that manifests God's glory, we cannot be selfish people, but must choose to be a blessing to this generation. There is no point in us living, what is the point of minding the flesh? Eating and drinking causes sickness, hospitalization and treatment costs money, and after the illness is cured, we go out to earn money, and after earning money, we eat and drink. Their bellies are their god. But we are different. We are people with destiny. The Holy Spirit wants us to have destiny. The entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, wants us to be a blessing to many people and a vessel that manifests God's glory.
If you are a stingy person, or you are a very selfish person, it is difficult to mind the things of the Spirit. You must start to come out of your selfish and stingy state and start to follow the Spirit and mind the things of the Spirit. It is indeed hard work for us to build the church today, but since the Holy Spirit has revealed to us and allowed us to build God's glorious church, we will build God's glorious church well, even if it means suffering more hardships.
We must know for sure that following the Spirit is a very smart thing, and we can be healed when we are sick. Not only can we be healed when we are sick, but when others are sick, we can pray with them and they will also be healed. Because our Lord Jesus has already condemned sin in the flesh, we have been redeemed, and the demons that create disease have become illegal residents in our bodies. They have no right, no share, and no status. We will command them to get out in the name of Jesus. Why are so many people healed among us? It is because the Holy Spirit has liberated us in Jesus Christ. This is God's will. Can demons violate God's will? No!
Many people have a wrong idea, which is that they think that Jesus Christ has not yet liberated us, and then they turn this myth into what? It is called divine sovereignty. Why can diseases be healed among us, but they cannot be healed in some churches? It is because they have a wrong belief system. They do not believe that they have been liberated in Jesus Christ. They believe that their lack of healing is God's will, or even God's gift. They say: We must respect God's sovereignty. We cannot force God to heal us. What kind of talk is this! When I hear it, I feel like it is鬼话. Why? Because these words sound like God is a very bad God, but our God is such a wonderful God!
If we have a wrong understanding of God in our hearts, we must repent. If you have a wrong understanding of God, it will be difficult for you to be healed. For example, some people transmit strange concepts. Why am I not healed? Because this is God's will. Does God want us to get sick? God wants us to have life, God wants our mortal bodies to come alive, God wants our bodies to be redeemed. This is such a wonderful thing!
Today, we must learn to cast out demons, and know for sure that demons are illegally in our bodies. They will not leave on their own, they need to be cast out. We can also cast out demons, because that is the authority God has given us. Some people will say: Healing is a gift, and casting out demons is authority. I cannot heal, but I can cast out demons. I cannot heal because I do not have this gift. Today, we must know with all our hearts that God's will is for our bodies to be redeemed, to let our mortal bodies come alive, and to live a victorious life, because we have received the name of sons. What we want to pursue is to enjoy the glory of the freedom of the children of God. God's glory is also our glory, and our glory is also God's glory, because we are children of God. If God is for us, who can be against us? We must establish this belief. As long as we have faith in God in our hearts, Jesus Christ will definitely heal us. What we need to do is to follow the Spirit, abandon the bad habits of minding the flesh, be reconciled to God, and according to the power given to us by the Holy Spirit, walk in the will of God and accomplish the righteous requirements of the law.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Believe That You Receive, and You Shall Receive
What does it mean for the Spirit of God to dwell in our hearts, and how can the Spirit of God dwell in us? I tell you, the Holy Spirit is the best gift the Father gives us. Many among us are not familiar with the Bible and speak blindly. I will read a passage from the Bible that I like very much, Luke chapter 11, where Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray.
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:1-13)
What does this mean? We should ask for the Holy Spirit as if we were asking for a treasure, not just casually saying open sesame. We should say, Fill me with the Holy Spirit, fill me with the Holy Spirit! The Father will surely fill you with His Spirit. How can we know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit? The first sign when the Holy Spirit comes is praying in tongues. Some may say that your praying in tongues is not from God, but mine is. Or that your praying in tongues is learned. This creates great confusion. What should we do? In fact, the Bible never says such a thing, and Paul never taught it.
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13)
We must know for certain that the Holy Spirit dwells in us because of our faith. What does the Bible say about praying in tongues? These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues. We do not rely on feelings, but on faith! How do you know my praying in tongues is fake? If I believe it is, it is. If I do not believe it, it is not, right? So God accomplishes according to what we believe. If God accomplishes according to what we believe, can't God even accomplish this little thing?
I am not exaggerating at all. Even today, those of us who often pray in tongues actually have no feeling. It is what we open our mouths to say. Do you believe it? We just say it as we want to. How can I prove that it comes from the Holy Spirit? I am just telling you with faith that if you believe, you will receive. We must know that faith is very important.
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:10-11)
Faith is Key
Righteousness and faith are closely related. The righteous will live by faith, and those who have faith are righteous. The righteous are those who have faith, not good people. Being a good person is useless without faith. Our body will die because of the work of sin, but our spirit will live because of righteousness. Therefore, we must know that righteousness is from faith to faith. You must be a person of faith. Some people ask, How do you know God has called you? Because I am willing to believe, I like to believe. Is that your business? Then why do you believe? I just believe, is that your business? So brothers and sisters, do not be in that confusion.
One sister often falls into confusion: Do I believe? I don't seem to believe! She is confused in a moment. We must come out of this confusion, know for sure the effect of faith, and be a person of faith, not a person of logical reasoning. If you believe, you will receive. The righteous are those who have faith. So we drive out demons with faith. Our heart obeys God, but our flesh obeys the demons and does not listen to me. After driving out the demons, our body obeys our spirit. We must know for sure that this is God's great grace. Although our flesh is weak, the Spirit of God still saves us from this mortal body. God will surely release us through the salvation He has accomplished.
Among us, from the earliest days when I started the church, some people have asked me, Are all the people who come to you healed? Are there any exceptions? I said there is one. Who is that? I said, it is you. We must know for sure that in Jesus Christ we are released and our God becomes the redemption of our bodies. All that our flesh needs in our lives can be satisfied in Jesus Christ.
Do you have to pay living expenses and rent? I ask you, which of us has not paid rent? Which of us lacks food and clothing in life? What I see is that moonlight clan (people who spend all their salary every month) come among us and receive abundance. Even those who have no junior high school diploma, no high school diploma, and no university diploma can still become high-paying professionals today. These are all accomplished by our God. Must we use the ways of the flesh to get what we need in our lives? No! Our needs in life are all satisfied in Jesus Christ.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:2-4)
If the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us, we will become people who carefully keep and follow God's word. If we carefully keep and follow God's word, carefully keep and follow His statutes, ordinances, and commandments, the words of Deuteronomy 28:1-13 will be fulfilled in us. We will be blessed in everything we do! Today, choose to believe one thing with me, believe that everything we do will prosper. Because we have given up everything to follow Jesus Christ, we no longer mind the things of our own flesh, but we mind the things of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants us to be a blessing to this generation, and we desire to be a blessing to this generation. The Holy Spirit wants us to be disciples of Jesus Christ, maybe not the first batch, nor the second batch, but just in time for this batch of 2019, we will preach the gospel, heal the sick, and drive out demons. If we become disciples of Jesus Christ, can we still lack these things in our lives?
Conclusion
Among us, from the perspective of the flesh, there are not many who are wise, intelligent, or noble. But we have faith in our hearts. God has accomplished His glory through us who are not very smart in the eyes of men. Many years ago, I met a silly sister. I am not exaggerating when I say she was silly. This sister contacted me and said that she would not be able to pay her rent next week. I prayed with her and said, Do not be afraid, do not worry, God will surely provide for us. As a result, this sister not only paid her rent on time, but has now become a relatively wealthy person. Many of us are like this. After each time we drive out demons, many orders come in at work. It is really amazing. How does the Holy Spirit dwell in us? It is through our faith!
We must know that God is eager to fill us with His Spirit. But do not rely on feelings. Some people like to say, When I am filled with the Holy Spirit, all my hairs stand on end...I have goosebumps all over...I feel a warm current flowing through my body...I feel a cold wind going out of my body... This feeling and that feeling are useless! The Holy Spirit is not according to feeling, but according to faith! Today we must come out of the myths of feeling and come out of the myths of God's sovereignty. We must know that our God accomplishes according to what we believe!
This is what I am sharing with you today. The Holy Spirit has released us in Jesus Christ, and the body of Jesus Christ is the church. We are determined to build God's glorious church and become people with Mingding Destiny. Our Mingding Destiny is to be a blessing to this generation through building God's glorious church. This is our concept of Chinese Mingding Destiny.
May God bless everyone!