God Remembers Everyone

Today, let us examine Romans chapter 16. Upon reading it, you will find numerous greetings of peace. Some may find these passages in the Bible tedious. However, the Bible is replete with such instances. Many sections list lengthy sequences of names, making it seem daunting to navigate the scriptures. For example, Genesis chapter 5 recounts who begat whom, and who lived for so many years and then died. When we read such passages, we often become disoriented, unable to grasp their meaning or remember the names. Yet, you will notice a distinct characteristic of the Bible: its penchant for meticulously recording these names. What does this signify?

These details are significant for us. Understand that God remembers each individual. Why does the Bible record these names? Paul's writing them down indicates that God remembers everyone. Whether it is Paul, Moses, or those who wrote the Bible throughout the ages, they all understood God's intention, which is to remember each person.

God knows you by name, calls you by name, and remembers you by name. This is crucial. We should ask ourselves: Does God remember you? If someone named Paul has a connection to you, yet your name is not mentioned in his writings, and you were part of the Roman church when he wrote Romans, but Paul did not include your name, you should seriously consider why.

One's reputation is important. We must know how to cultivate our reputation, as it holds significance. Today, reflect on what impression you leave on others, and what impression you leave on God. Understand what kind of people God remembers. Do not think these matters are irrelevant to you, as they are indeed very relevant. The key is to examine what kind of people God remembers.

Also, ask yourself: What kind of person are you? We must learn to manage our reputation. Do not assume that others are unaware of your character. They are quite aware of your true nature. Do not think your actions are shrouded in mystery. Everyone knows what you are doing; everyone can see through you, let alone God. Not only people but even stray dogs can discern your true nature.

God Remembers Those Who Have Helped Many

Today, let us explore the kind of people God remembers. This is not just for the people of that era but also for us today. What kind of people should we be?

First: Those Who Help God's Servants

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many and to me as well. (Romans 16:1-2)

Phoebe was likely a female deacon in the church, a leader. She was being sent to Rome with Paul's endorsement. The purpose of her trip, or whether she was to serve them, is not specified. However, it was stated that the Roman church should receive and help her. Why? Because she had helped many, including Paul himself.

God remembers those who have helped His servants. If you have helped God's servants, you will gain God's favor and blessings. Why? Because the Bible says, I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you (Genesis 12:3). Ask yourself what kind of person you are in the church: selfish, or willing to help others?

Today, all believers should ask: Whom have you helped? Many of us have been following me for years. Ask yourself, who have you helped? Does God remember your acts of service? Remember, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

If someone only cares about their own affairs—their work, their family—and never thinks of or cares for others, they are selfish. Selfish people often do not recognize their own selfishness and have countless reasons to justify it. I have encountered many such people, not just one.

Today, leaders among us, ask yourself, are you someone who has helped many? If not, I encourage you to start. What have you done? Do you focus only on your own growth, or on the growth of others? Are you concerned only with your own matters, or with the concerns of others?

In my years of ministry, I have seen many people and many things. I know people well. I can tell at a glance what kind of person they are. Do not think that I need you to help many people. No. You can choose not to help. But who will God remember? God remembers those who help many. Stop being selfish; completely deal with selfishness. Many only care about their own affairs, which is truly detrimental.

Second: Those Who Risk Their Lives for God

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only do I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. (Romans 16:3-5)

Upon reading this passage, you will notice that Priscilla and Aquila were originally from the church in Corinth, where they met Paul and worked with him making tents. Later, they returned to Rome and started a church in their home. Paul mentions that they risked their necks for his life.

If a Christian is afraid of death, it is difficult to be remembered by God. If you fear death, it is difficult to continue on the path of faith. God wants us to be wise and offer our lives to Him. Living for God is a profound concept. We must ask ourselves if we are willing to live for God. Some only want to live for themselves, which is not enough.

I had a sister-in-Christ that struggled with insomnia. Her family members brought her to serve in our church and her insomnia improved. After improving, she started complaining. I followed your beliefs, what about my personal days? I was taken aback. I wondered, if you did not follow our direction, what kind of life would you have had? You previous life was full of insomnia. This person is merely unintelligent.

It is easy to be unintelligent, it is also easy to be ignorant. If one wants to have knowledge, it is difficult. If one chooses to satisfy their earthly desires, such a life is against Gods will. If God has cursed one, how will one live a good life? If one is not willing to offer a miniscule amount of sacrifice to follow God, how is one to live a good life?

Over the past years, I have seen many ignorant people. One person wanted to leave the church. I mentioned, What about your grandmother?, since she also followed us. She had problems with her eyes, but was healed after prayers. He replied, My grandmother can remain in your church.

People's thinking are often ignorant. You are not willing to take care of your grandmother, but expect us to take care of her for you. Of course we are happy to help, but you chose to leave. It is quite foolish. After some time, his grandmother also left. Since no one in her family supported her spiritually, she chose to abandon her journey and chose to live a confined life.

Choosing to Live for God Leads to a Good Life

Today, we must ask ourselves do we truly understand the decision we are making? The decision may not seem important, but the end consequence is important. Priscilla and Aquila sacrificed their lives for God without hesitation. They lived a great and blessed life, and their businesses were successful as well. However, they did not sacrifice for worldly success, they sacrificed for God! Sacrificing for God will inevitably lead to a good life.

If one is only interested in living for himself, forget living a good life. Living for yourself will lead to a cursed life because one's actions place a curse upon himself! If one offers his/her life to God, God will be pleased. If God is protecting us, who can fight against us? How would we not live a good life?

Priscilla and Aquila were very smart and led blessed lives. Abraham willing gave Isaac to God. Most could not understand and claimed to know better, but they did not! Only Abraham truly understood God's will.

Ten years ago God asked me Are you willing to die for me?. If God asks you one day, don't reply Let me think!. What is there to think about? It is a great honor! I replied God, I am willing to die for you. If I am able to die for you, it will be the honor of my life. I was greatly moved when I prayed. I was in tears. I knew that God favored me above all.

Why can I pray and heal the sicknesses of my brothers and sisters? It is because I, along with my colleagues, have fully sacrificed ourselves to God. God still has not killed me! Instead God has blessed me! Don't think sacrificing to God will lead to a bad life. Those that live only for themselves will live a bad life instead.

Looking at the consequences of people's actions, one can't help but feel helpless. Some people have challenges finding a job or doing well. How can they live a good life? It is also difficult to change the trajectory of a family, when their minds are only interested in personal growth. We have to start making smart decisions. Those that try to protect their life will lose it. Those that sacrifice for Christ will have an abundant life.

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)

Paul's words are not trivial and random.

God Remembers Those Who Have Newly Accepted God

Greet my dear Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Achaia. (Romans 16:5)

Paul's concern are those that have newly accepted God. These people are those that Paul loved. I am also concerned about brothers and sisters in Christ that have newly accepted God. There are many of these newcomers that need help. I try to train as many people as I can to help others, just as I am helping. I will continue to help in all ways I can, and sacrifice as much time as I can. I consider training others my most important task.

Why does Christ remember newcomers? Like Israel, their people were quite hopeless when they escaped Egypt. However Christ remembers them. Christ did not want them to parish and used His power to bring them out of Egypt, all way to providing them wealth from the Egyptians. So what?

In the beginning, God has high expectations for Christians. Some believers call it the honeymoon phase. After the honeymoon phase, what is there to do? Don't become a veteran cynic. During the exodus, many citizens of Isreal were killed in the wilderness. When Paul wrote to the house church in Rome, he mention Epenetus. Thus, we must know that Christ remembers those that have newly accepted God.

## Willing and Joyful Service to God, Enduring Hardship for Him

**Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. (Romans 16:6)**

To work hard for the church, Mary is a servant of God. There are two serving methods: one is serving amidst hardship, and the other is like a hired worker, like a maid looking after children. One must be serious in doing things, and serve God with all your heart and strength. Brothers and sisters among us, especially leaders, ask yourselves, are we serving with the heart of a father and mother? Endure hardship, pay the price, and God will surely remember your labor.

Presenting ourselves to the Lord and enduring much hardship, God will surely remember such service. Therefore, brothers and sisters, if God remembers us, what you say, God will accomplish for you. What a grace that is! Being willing to endure hardship for God, yet with sweetness in your heart. I have truly put in a lot of effort to train my colleagues, why? I hope they can emulate me, I hope they can endure much hardship for the Lord.

Pastors that people generally see may enjoy more, but I endure more hardship. I once served a pastor of a large church who had hydrocephalus. I asked him, Why did you get hydrocephalus? He said, I can only rest one day a week. I said, I haven't rested a single day. If people endure hardship unwillingly, it is truly hardship! But we are willing and joyful to endure much hardship, this is our own choice.

Why are we called Chinese Mingding Destiny? This Mingding Destiny is that we are born for this, we live for this, and we die for this. We also endure much hardship for this, and we are willing and joyful. This is our heartfelt voice. Those who serve in the church are very clear about this, and they emulate my example, enduring much hardship. I think this Mary mentioned by Paul must also be someone who emulates Paul.

To think believing in the Lord is peaceful and good, that is because you have not truly labored for the Lord. Today I challenge the leaders among us, or those who have believed for a long time and whom I have served, what have you inherited from me? You might say you don't have the opportunity. Would I dare to give you the opportunity? Even if I give you the opportunity, can you really handle it? As soon as I give it, there are many complaints. As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. If you are not faithful in small things, would I dare to give you big things?

Today, I once again urge everyone with God's compassion to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice. Think about whether living in this empty world is truly meaningful? If you cannot even see through the matter of living, how can you endure much hardship for the Lord?

Many times I cannot help but lament that the people I serve often pierce my heart. Some time ago, I served a patient with insomnia and arranged for her to do some homework. As a result, she complained to her son about me, saying that I was not praying for her and was just playing fake. After hearing this, I called her and said, Have I ever faked with you? If I were faking with you, would I bother to do all this? Such people must be disciplined, otherwise, how can their illness be cured? It's heartbreaking. I am really heartbroken. Serving so hard, I am very clear that I cannot serve according to their preferences. If I serve according to people's preferences, can there be any result?

Among us, there are some brothers and sisters that sometimes I really want to discipline, but I refrain from doing so because I know the consequences of doing so will only lead you to discern good and evil! We endure much hardship for the Lord, who remembers? Even if no one remembers, we know that our God will surely remember.

Brothers and sisters, be sure to know that God will surely remember the tears we shed before Him, and will surely remember the labor we endured in Him. Our labor in Him is not in vain. In the future, we will surely stand before the Lord Jesus and receive His glorious crown.

**Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. (Romans 16:7)**

Paul, Andronicus, and Junia not only suffered together, but also went to prison together. Do not think that it is futile to pay the price for Jesus, even to lay down your life. In Jesus Christ, even if we endure much hardship and go to prison, it is nothing, because life in this world is inherently empty. Because God gives us the opportunity in this world to completely dedicate ourselves to Him, that is a great grace. If there is no opportunity to serve in this way, no opportunity to pay the price for Jesus Christ, wouldn't that be a tragedy? Today, if you have the opportunity to pay the price for Jesus Christ, you should feel fortunate.

**Greet Apelles, tested in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. (Romans 16:10-13)**

Brothers and sisters, the reason we can be together is that we have a holy relationship in Jesus Christ. There are no greasy relationships among us. I do not covet to get benefits from everyone, but I only hope that everyone can be blessed and receive grace in Jesus Christ, even to suffer for Jesus Christ, to endure much hardship for Jesus Christ, that is also a great grace.

## Maintaining a Holy Relationship in Jesus Christ

Maintaining this holy relationship in Jesus Christ, what is a holy relationship? It is not coveting to get any benefits from the other party. If we want to please people, we cannot be servants of Jesus Christ. We must be determined to establish a holy relationship, this holy relationship is a relationship in Jesus Christ, not in this world where you like me and I like you, without any edifying relationship between us. If something happens between us, it is the devil trying to alienate our relationship. The devil likes to alienate our relationship the most.

**I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. (Romans 16:17-18)**

I am particularly touched that there are some among us who sometimes love God and sometimes love their own bellies. Is man living for his own belly? Is it for his own benefit? Brothers and sisters, know for sure today that we cannot serve our own bellies, just wanting to live well for ourselves, that is an empty life. I urge you, if there are some people who have a greasy relationship with you, unclear about money, you must be especially careful.

**Be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Your obedience is known to everyone, so I am pleased with you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. (Romans 16:19)**

## Victory in Battle Is the Key to Living Well

Do not plan for the things of this life, but be sure to be victorious in spiritual warfare, in the temptations of Satan, and trample the devil under your feet. Our God is the God of peace. As long as we closely follow God, emulate the Apostle Paul, and emulate Jesus Christ, we will surely trample Satan under our feet. Conversely, if we are trampled under Satan's feet, how can we prosper? How can we live out the image of God?

Satan often uses worldly things to lure and deceive people, but we must know for sure that living is not by bread, nor by food, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Today I urge everyone:

**The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20)**

May God have mercy on us, so that we can have such a victorious will. Having a victorious will is the gospel we preach. A victorious will is salvation. It is definitely not being trampled by Satan while living, and then waiting to go to heaven after death! If you are not victorious while living, how can you be saved? There are only victorious people in heaven!

You say, Really? Let's try it today, try it yourself. If you trample Satan under your feet, how can you be a person who is controlled? A captive, a controlled person, how can you possess Jesus Christ? Why can't you overcome Satan? Because we are tempted by the things of this world, we are foolish in good and wise in evil, what is the use of that?

**Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)**

This is the end of Paul's letter. This powerful gospel, the Jesus Christ spoken of, and the mystery of Jesus Christ revealed by Paul in the letter, must strengthen our hearts! Our faith in God will not be put to shame! The God we believe in will accomplish according to what we believe! God will also use us to manifest His glory in this last generation! May glory be given to our God through Jesus Christ forever and ever, Amen! May God bless everyone.