I. Introduction
Good day to everyone, I am very pleased to meet you all online again! The topic we are going to discuss today is the second part of faith, hope, and love, following up from our previous discussion. Last time, it was In Quietness and Confidence Shall Be Your Strength. When does a person truly show quietness and confidence? It is in the midst of storms. Actually, the title I originally intended to speak on today was The Storm of Euroclydon Mentioned in the Book of Acts, but I later changed it to Experiencing God in the Midst of Storms. I believe this title is particularly good because it can truly build people's confidence and encourage them to hold fast to God in the midst of storms. Whether we can truly be calm and confident in the midst of storms depends entirely on the choices we make in our hearts.
Not All Bad Things Are Necessarily Curses
Throughout the entire Christian faith, I have always had a very interesting idea. What is this interesting idea? It is that the same misfortune may be caused by a curse or by Mingding Destiny. The same good thing may be caused by a blessing or may have nothing to do with a blessing at all. Therefore, when we encounter bad things, we must never say, Look, this person is cursed again. We must never say such nonsense.
In the past few years, I have found a theological concept that is quite deadly. For example, Jacob received the blessing of the firstborn from his father, but as a result, he was forced to leave his hometown with only a staff and flee to his uncle Laban's house, where he shepherded his uncle's sheep for fourteen years, penniless. And then, he shepherded his uncle's sheep for many more years. When many people read this, they explain it by saying it's not a good thing, because he deceived his father. This theological concept is very common. Jacob's son, Joseph, was sold to Egypt at the age of seventeen. Many theologians start slapping their heads again, and what do they come up with? This Joseph is too arrogant. It's good that you had a dream, you have visions and dreams, but don't say it, why be so arrogant? Isn't saying it the reason you were sold to Egypt? They don't think this is a good thing.
In the New Testament, the things that the Apostle Paul experienced are beyond the imagination of many of us: being beaten with rods, being whipped, being stoned, and shipwrecked. Back then, there were rumors in the community, Look at the Apostle Paul, how arrogant! Look at the 'Galatians' you wrote, every word reveals arrogance, look at the suffering you're going through. These people had different opinions, and Paul still had to painstakingly defend himself in '2 Corinthians', claiming that these were the marks of his apostleship.
Turn Back to God, and You Will Surely Experience Him
The topic we are talking about today, Experiencing God in the Midst of Storms, is to express my opinion on this matter. Perhaps it is right, perhaps it is wrong, but everyone can carefully ponder it. How should we ponder these things I am saying? We should return to the Bible and see what the Bible says. How do we solve these problems? Everyone should develop a habit of not looking at the event itself, but looking at whether God is with the person after the event occurs. For example, when we see someone who has experienced some things, we look at what they do after experiencing these things. If God is still with them, then we know that God is pleased with this person.
Actually, there are still some brothers and sisters today who, after hearing this, believe that they have experienced this thing because they have been cursed, and their faith will be lost. Today, I want to encourage you that no matter what happens in a person's life, they must maintain faith in God. Start maintaining faith in God. This faith in God is nothing else but faith in God's word. Whenever we turn back to God, God turns back to us. Whenever we turn back to Him, we begin to experience God.
Of course, there are many people who are indeed living under a curse. If we are living under a curse and bad things happen to us, if we are in such a situation, we can reflect more, Oh! I am not a person with Mingding Destiny, today I want to start being a person with Mingding Destiny. Actually, God will also turn back to you. The key is not the phenomenon of things themselves, but whether we experience God in such storms. Therefore, experiencing God is the most important thing for us.
Brothers and sisters should know that people often call on God in the midst of storms. When do people call on God? People call on God in the midst of storms and crises. When have you ever seen people calling on God when they are enjoying good food and drink? Not to mention non-Christians, even Christians need to be careful when they are enjoying good food and drink. In our lives, whether the things we experience are good or bad, they are all seen through human eyes. If we see things from God's perspective, then all things are good.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, I do not encourage you to discern whether this thing is because I have been cursed, because I am lazy, because I have a spirit of lust, because I have a spirit of laziness, because I have some spirit, because my family has received some curse. I tell you, no matter what the reason, we must begin to recognize God in our hearts again, and you can experience God. How many people experience God because they have Mingding Destiny? Actually, not many. But many among us who are healed, are they not experiencing God?
Returning to Faith and Trust in God
Today, we will only talk about one thing: in the depths of our hearts, deeply open up the kind of faith in God, the hope in God, and then open up the love for God. Our God is a good God. Whether these things come upon us or not, if we begin to sprout a love for God in our hearts, begin to sprout faith in God, then everything will become good.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must know the theme I am talking about. I am not talking about this is a curse and that is not a curse. I am talking about whether you are willing to trust in God. I have also seen many people living under a curse who turned back to God and then received healing and deliverance, experiencing God in abundance. I have also seen many people with Mingding Destiny who have gone through the valley of the shadow of death, and God still allows them to experience God in the valley of the shadow of death. Therefore, brothers and sisters, begin to rekindle the deep desires in your heart, let us desire to begin to experience God. This is the purpose of what I am saying.
Actually, it is all in our confusion that we have blasphemed God and had no trust in God at all. But we experienced some disasters so that we could wake up and then seek God and experience God. Isn't it the same principle? In any case, after we experience God, we must know that our God is a good God, our God is one who can be experienced, and our God does not want to kick us into the dark valley, but rather He will not quench the smoking flax, and then let us return to trusting in God.
I will use a more Mingding Destiny story to illustrate. Today's sermon is basically telling stories, with very little reasoning. Faith, hope, and love are not about reasoning, but about a state produced within us called faith, hope, and love. In the Apostle Paul's letters, what does he say? Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Brothers and sisters, let us begin to rekindle this kind of hope within us, let us go the extra mile, no matter what kind of person you are, begin to rekindle it deep within your heart. I will use stories from the Bible to illustrate:
II. Scripture
After long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. (Acts 27:21-25)
III. Prayer
Lord Jesus, today I ask that You ignite the faint hope within us, let us begin to rekindle the hope within us in the things we are experiencing, in the difficulties and storms of life that we are experiencing, You are originally the God who gives hope. Today, may You personally work in us, so that we will not lose hope. No matter how great the difficulties we experience, no matter how turbulent the storms we experience, today I will call upon You in Your presence, may I personally experience You in the storm, may I praise Your holy name. Lord, please personally speak to us within us, so that we can receive Mingding Destiny, so that we know why we live, so that we know that no matter what the situation, when we turn to You, You will turn to us, You will let us experience You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
IV. Background of the Scripture
The Reason for Paul's Transfer to Rome
Let us talk about the background of this scripture: because many people do not understand the Bible. After reading this passage, they do not know where this passage starts and ends. This is a very deadly thing. The ship that Paul was on was forced by a storm. The name of this wind is called Euroclydon. This ship is not a small boat, it is a large ship with a total of two hundred and seventy-six people on board. It is a very large ship, and the ship he is on is going to Rome. Because Paul is a prisoner, the Roman Empire arranged a centurion to escort these prisoners, including the Apostle Paul, to Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, to receive judgment from the Roman Emperor Caesar.
Everyone should know that the Roman Empire was a country ruled by law. People from all over, if they had a case to appeal to the Roman Emperor, you could not stop them. How was Paul arrested and sent to Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire? This is a very interesting story. Paul had written many letters, including '1 Corinthians', '2 Corinthians', 'Galatians', and 'Ephesians', probably all written during the time before he was arrested, especially 'Galatians'. When he wrote 'Galatians', he had already solidified the position of the church among the Gentiles. He became the apostle to the Gentiles, that is to say, all the Gentile churches, except for the churches in Jerusalem and among the Jews, were managed by the Apostle Paul. Many people went to the churches where he often stayed, such as the Galatian church, the Corinthian church, to make trouble. The people who came to make trouble were clearly written in the letters, they were people from James of the Jerusalem church. James was the leader of the Jerusalem church, the James who wrote the Book of James.
I am telling this story today, everyone carefully see if this is the case. Paul's words show that he has offended the Apostle Peter and James of the Jerusalem church. No matter what the situation, if you are James of the Jerusalem church, your reaction to reading these letters of Paul should be a bit strong. As a result, the Apostle Paul was very interesting. In those years, the Jerusalem church was very poor. Paul collected a lot of offerings in the Gentile churches to offer to the Jerusalem church. This person offended the people of Jerusalem, and he was going to Jerusalem to offer offerings. When he arrived in Jerusalem to offer offerings, a very interesting thing happened. I will read it to everyone:
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. (Acts 21:17-32)
I read a long passage, what happened? Later, Paul was arrested. Who arrested Paul? Who wanted to beat Paul to death? It was the believing Jews in Jerusalem. They firmly believed in the laws of Moses. I believe these people read the letters of the Apostle Paul, and their feelings were very uncomfortable. Because Paul tried his best to protect the truth of the gospel for the sake of the truth of the gospel. Why did Paul go to Jerusalem? Actually, he could not have gone, because before going to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit repeatedly reminded Paul not to go. But Paul very much hoped that these Jews in Jerusalem could believe in a true gospel. Actually, Paul is really admirable. Why? Because he loves his own brothers and sisters very much, hoping that they can believe in the truth.
These Christians in Jerusalem are all Jews. They have changed the gospel, changing the gospel to the same set of laws as Moses. When they constantly followed the laws of Moses in the Old Testament, they turned this powerful gospel into a powerless gospel. You see, the things that the Apostle Paul did were all powerful. The things that God did through Paul were all shocking. Paul preached a powerful gospel. Therefore, Paul said, My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power. So when he arrived in Jerusalem, he hoped that the people in Jerusalem might change because of the offerings he brought, and be able to truly recognize him.
But no, they arrested Paul and almost beat him to death. Fortunately, a Roman guard officer-the captain of the guard, rescued Paul and then interrogated him. After all kinds of tortures, he was imprisoned and guarded, and there was no conclusion. After changing a batch of officials, they changed another batch, and as a result, they stayed in that place for several years. Originally, they wanted to interrogate him and then release him. Later, a man named Porcius Festus took over the post of Felix and became the local official, and brought out Paul's case again. During a trial of Paul, Paul said that he would appeal to Caesar and go to the Roman Emperor to defend himself. Paul was to be sent from Jerusalem to Rome. This process of going to Rome required taking a boat, and as a result, he encountered the storm of Euroclydon.
In Any Situation, Paul Experiences God
This is Acts chapter 19 to chapter 27. Can everyone grasp a little bit of the concept after I talked about these? I will not comment first, I will say what the Bible says. As a result, a storm was encountered at sea. Everyone lost hope of survival. You think that the ship was chased by storms, drifting around, the sun and stars did not appear for many days, and people lost all hope of salvation. No one knew when everyone would be swept into the sea by the storms and waves and lose their lives. When everyone encounters such a thing, they do not eat or drink, they cannot eat because their lives are almost gone. Paul said a word:
“Men, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.” (Acts 27:21-26)
After being persuaded by Paul, everyone ate something. This is the background of this scripture. What happened later? They really ran into an island, and then everyone went ashore and started a fire.
“And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.” (Acts 28:3-6)
If viewed from a human perspective, the things Paul experienced were really unlucky, but the Apostle Paul had his own interpretation. He saw God's presence in the things he experienced. Next, he found that the Apostle Paul would have God's presence wherever he was, even in the storm of Euroclydon. The God that the Apostle Paul experienced was the God of salvation, clearly with Paul. The Apostle Paul did not panic in that place, because he was on the ship, he made everyone no longer panic. As a result, all two hundred and seventy-six people on the ship were saved because there was an Apostle Paul on the ship, so they would not lose their lives in the storm. As a result, there was a person on the island, the father of the island owner had a fever and dysentery, Paul went in and prayed for him:
“In the same quarters lay the father of Publius sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.” (Acts 28:8-10)
You will see that wherever the Apostle Paul goes, there is God's presence. How good! If you only look at the surface, the Apostle Paul is unlucky enough, but from a spiritual perspective, the Apostle Paul is experiencing God in any situation. This is the background of this scripture.
Who betrayed Paul? It was betrayed by the Christians in Jerusalem. The leader of the Christians in Jerusalem was James, who wrote the Book of James. If everyone uses a little common sense to judge, you can see some clues, but today I will not talk about this matter with you. What I am sharing with you is that if you are a person with a mission, a person with Mingding Destiny, you can experience God in a storm. If you are a person without Mingding Destiny, a very unlucky person, if you turn back to God at this time, perhaps you can receive God's salvation. I will continue with the previous lecture: In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. Don't panic, panicking is useless.
V. Everything the Eyes See Is Good
People Must Know They Are Human
Brothers and sisters, whatever you are experiencing today, maybe this thing is related to your curse, maybe this thing is related to your Mingding Destiny. The problem is not because you have been cursed or because you have Mingding Destiny, or because you have something. I encourage everyone that everything the eyes see is good. This theological concept comes from Genesis chapter 1, God sees everything as good. If you can wake up through something, isn't it a good thing? Even if you have been cursed, if we wake up, did we preach the wrong gospel and be cursed? Or did I believe in the wrong gospel and be cursed? Or what happened to me? If you think you are finished when you encounter this kind of situation, it is not a correct way to believe in the Lord.
In the Old
====输出开始
Paul was quite stubborn, insisting on going to Jerusalem against all advice. Can you call that following the Holy Spirit? That was not following the Holy Spirit; he went against the revelation God gave him. He was fixated on getting the church in Jerusalem to return to the true gospel, believing in salvation through Jesus, not through adherence to the Law of Moses. But the Jewish Christians there believed in both Jesus and the Law. This effectively turned the powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ into a powerless one. Did he not know that believing in a powerless gospel would amount to nothing? Of course, he did. Yet, that was what he chose to believe.
The Apostle Paul wanted to save some of his own people, the Israelites, but ended up getting arrested. In fact, the Holy Spirit repeatedly tried to stop him, but to no avail. God's original plan for Paul was to give him the opportunity to go to Rome and connect with the local church there, which he had not established. He wrote the Book of Romans before this, sending it to the Roman church. But he was arrested at this juncture, and everything was delayed for several years.
Later, Paul was sent by ship to Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, and encountered a storm along the way. Brothers and sisters, do you see this as a good thing or a bad thing? If you were Apostle Paul, would you be filled with regret, thinking: What did I come to Jerusalem for? This is just nonsense! Why did I disobey the Holy Spirit? Did I achieve my purpose, reach my desired outcome? No! Nothing came of it; just one disaster after another. The ship was battered by storms, endangering all 277 people on board, including Paul. If it were you, how would you view this situation? 'Oh, I regret this!' This is not seeing everything as good. Even though Apostle Paul clearly knew he had disobeyed the Holy Spirit, boarded the ship, and encountered such disasters, he still viewed the situation as good and remained calm and composed. The ability to maintain one's own perspective on things is a valuable quality.
### Hold Fast to Faith and Hope in God
If a person loses faith and hope, it no longer matters whether past actions were right or wrong; everything becomes meaningless. Even if past actions were wrong, Apostle Paul still held fast to his faith in God because our wrongdoings cannot diminish God's Kingdom. Please don't think that God's Kingdom increases or decreases because of your actions. But through what you do, you experience certain things, perhaps a storm. If Paul had not gone to Jerusalem, would he have experienced these things? No. What should you do at such a time? You should still hold fast to your hope in God, still hold fast to your hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Remember, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we abound in hope. The Holy Spirit does not send these things to us because we did something wrong or something right. Nothing can become an obstacle to us experiencing God; all things are good. Don't misunderstand this and deliberately do wrong, using this as an excuse. In the midst of a storm, we need to reflect, but this reflection must not cause us to abandon all hope. We must abound in hope in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Don't blame the past, which cannot be changed, just because bad things have happened. Remember, the past cannot be changed, but the future can be created through our faith today.
Today, we can create a beautiful future through our faith. Don't dwell on the years wasted or the bad things done. Even in the midst of a storm, we remain hopeful, not attributing the situation to past mistakes. No past mistake can change our hope in Jesus or our faith in God. Can you grasp what I'm saying? We need to see all things as good; this is a habit. Paul did not dwell on whether he was right or wrong, whether he should have gone to Jerusalem, or whether he disobeyed the Holy Spirit. He held fast to his faith in God. An angel of God stood before Paul in the middle of the night, telling him that God had granted him the lives of all those on board, and that he would stand before Caesar, even allowing Caesar, the Emperor of Rome, to hear the holy name of Jesus Christ.
Brothers and sisters, whether what we do is right or wrong, it will not diminish God's Kingdom. Even if we do right or wrong, it does not matter. Today, we must completely reject an old theological view: Jacob deceiving people and being deceived in return, ending up at his uncle Laban's house, where Laban changed his wages ten times, and Jacob didn't even have the chance to attend his mother's funeral. These things are not what the Bible teaches us.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must restore ourselves, abounding in hope in the Holy Spirit. We must cultivate a good habit, seeing all things as good, no matter the situation. This is a crucial concept. So, brothers and sisters, whatever you may have done in the past, it does not matter. We must know that our God is still a faithful God, and He will accomplish what you believe. Perhaps you are somewhat confused after hearing this, but I tell you, if you choose to believe, at least your inner feelings will improve significantly. I will move on to the next point, which is the most important.
## VI. Be a Person of Mingding Destiny
### Calamities Can Turn into Good Things for Those with Mingding Destiny
While Paul was on the ship, he was calm and composed as if nothing was happening, while all 276 others on board were panicked, as if their lives were about to end. It was as if the airline issued everyone a small box to write their wills. However, there was no point writing a will because they are in the ocean and it is impossible to send them out. If airlines today temporary opens the WIFI and let you leave a message, there’s something wrong here. Today, there’s science and technology that makes it easier to communicate and yet, people are still in a panic. Those who was in the sea, however, will never be found. Those 276 people represent 276 families, and their deaths would cause great pain to those families.
Fortunately, there was one person on the ship named Paul, who was a man of Mingding Destiny. Being close to people of Mingding Destiny, any disaster can be turned into a good thing. This Apostle Paul had a Mingding Destiny. Yes! He should not have gone to Jerusalem, but he went to Jerusalem with a Mingding Destiny . He has a certain kind of fervour in his heart, wanted to save some of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, and hoped that they will believe in the true way. He brings the money he raised to give to the church in Jerusalem, hoping that the people there would know what Apostle Paul preaches is the true gospel. As a result, he encountered such a thing. However, Apostle Paul sees the things as good. A person with a Mingding Destiny sees everything as good.
### A Person of Mingding Destiny Experiences God in All Circumstances
So, brothers and sisters, let’s start to re-examine whether we are a person of Mingding Destiny? If a person does not know what he is living for, I can tell you that no matter how many storms you have experienced, you may be able to escape from the storms, but you will not be able to experience God. I encourage you to be like Apostle Paul, obtain a Mingding Destiny, and be a person of Mingding Destiny, you will experience God no matter what the situation, whether you have done right or wrong.
For example, Apostle Paul persecuted Christians back then because he had a zeal for God, although without true knowledge, but God still chose him. If there are still some Jews in Judaism who are as zealous for God as Apostle Paul, will God choose him? God will still choose him. Paul was chosen by God and greatly used by God. In the storm of Euroclydon, he won over a ship of people for God, and a ship of people experienced God along with Paul because of what Paul experienced. Even after arrived on an island, he was bitten by a poisonous snake, but nothing happened to Paul. The natives saw that this was a divine man. The island chief's father suffered from fever and dysentery, and was also healed by Paul's service. Other patients on the island also came and were healed. With God such person, people go with him to experience God. I am surprised that Paul healed these patients on the island. Did he remove the idols for these patients? Did not. Because he wanted these people to experience God with him first, and then explain a little bit of Jesus Christ to them. As for whether they abandon those idols, doesn’t hinder these people from experiencing God.
Today, let us re-examine this Jacob, the Jacob in Genesis, that is, Isaac's son. Is Jacob's walking with a stick to his uncle Laban’s house a good thing? Definitely not a good thing. He never saw his mother again since then. Then, at his uncle Laban's house, his wages were deducted ten times. He herded sheep at his uncle Laban's house, sleeping in the open air, exposed to the sun during the day, and the cold wind at night. He lived in a small leanto, often driving away wolves that came and lions that came. That was also herding sheep for his uncle Laban at the risk of his life. What he experienced later all saw and personally experienced God's presence. Therefore, no matter what the situation, in fact, there are many opportunities in a person's life to experience God. The most important thing is to have a Mingding Destiny like Jacob, to obtain the birthright, to obtain the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. He wanted to obtain the blessing of the firstborn, and as a result he experiences these things.
### A Person of Mingding Destiny Knows Why He Lives
Brothers and sisters, you must begin to know that a person with a Mingding Destiny will experience many of these things. A cursed person will experience many storms, and a person with a Mingding Destiny will also experience many storms. Brothers and sisters, start to think about it. The first thing a person with a Mingding Destiny must know is what people live for. In fact, many people live worse than a monkey. There was once a monkey in the world. The monkey saw another monkey die, and the other monkeys thought it was normal, just like we people today see another person die, and we think it is normal, but this monkey cried. An old monkey asked you why are you crying? Because this monkey said, we will all die one day. How can I get the elixir of immortality? As a result, he went out to study art and found a very powerful master, Patriarch Bodhi. After studying art, he became Sun Wukong in Journey to the West. Why do I say that many people are not as good as this monkey? Because this Sun Wukong monkey has the hope of eternal life. Today, we have experienced how many storms? Our hope is still in his business, his work, and still these things. You will die one day, don’t you think this is a tragedy? Therefore, when you see these things today, you must overcome that monkey. The monkey still knows that he wants to have eternal life. How can people not know that there is such thing as eternal life?
Compared to eternal life, the affairs of this life are trivial. Sun Wukong followed this Tang Monk to the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures, and he never gave up his dream of cultivating to become a saint and obtain eternal life after going through countless challenges and struggles from the eighty-one tribulations. Because of this, we still admire Sun Wukong under Wu Cheng'en a little bit. This Sun Wukong is a person of Mingding Destiny, and he has gone through eighty-one tribulations. He has passed the Flaming Mountains and walked through the Spider Cave. One thing after another, he has conquered demons along the way. Later, I think it seems what we are doing is similar. Expelling demons along the way, expelling a ghost today, and expelling a ghost tomorrow, tossing around, subduing demons, and walking on this Mingding Destiny road. Do we really understand this? Sun Wukong went through eighty-one tribulations for his so-called cultivation to become a saint. In fact, he has a Mingding Destiny .
### No Difficulty Can Stop a Person with Mingding Destiny
Brothers and sisters, you must know how important Mingding Destiny is to a person. A person with a Mingding Destiny can experience storms, and still experience God in any situation, and still see God's presence in storms. Even if Jacob obtained the birthright and fled to his uncle Laban's house, even if Joseph was sold to Egypt and became a slave, everything is good for a person with Mingding Destiny. Moreover, a person with Mingding Destiny will personally see God's presence with him in everything, because he knows why he lives. Even if we experience eighty-one tribulations in the world, for every difficulty, we know there are some treasures in the heavens, in the kingdom of heaven, waiting for us to take, waiting for us to use. We will take up the keys to the kingdom of heaven, withdraw the treasures of the kingdom of heaven, and use the treasures of the kingdom of heaven to continuously subdue demons, heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach the gospel all the way.
No matter how big of a storm you experience, no matter how big of an obstacle you experience, no matter how big of a obstacle you experience, no one can stop a person with Mingding Destiny. Therefore, a person with a Mingding Destiny is a person the world is not worthy of. Today, I encourage you to go beyond Sun Wukong’s understanding no matter what, and never be Sun Wukong’s idiotic teammate. There is one idiotic teammate on Sun Wukong, namely Pigsy. He always said: Brother Monkey, Master has been captured, let’s split the team! You return to your Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, and I will return to my Gaolaozhuang. There is also an old lover waiting for it. Look at a person without a Mingding Destiny. With a little storm and difficulty, he wants to divide the family property. Master is going to be a prince, the master has been caught in the web cave, the master has been like this, the master has encountered an accident, and the master is already in the steamer. Taking the scriptures from the Western Paradise is no longer a problem. Let’s break up the band now. Today, never be an idiotic teammate. Start to hold onto Mingding Destiny. The greatest of storms can't stop you from experiencing God for a person with Mingding Destiny . Even people who are with you will experience God with you, and you will become a divine person. What did the people on that island say? Wow, this person is a god!
Never look at people like Apostle Paul with an old theological view. I thank God for letting me experience the valley of the shadow of death. It was a very long and deep cave. Finally, I saw the glory of God. Because there is Mingding Destiny can be held on, because there is Mingding Destiny to know why to live, so, see the slight and light suffering in this world. Nothing in this world can stop us. Therefore, brothers and sisters, I encourage you again today to become a person with Mingding Destiny, at least to surpass Sun Wukong. We are God’s people, and we are God’s children. I am a child of the eternal God, and we have the keys to the kingdom of heaven. If you don’t know why you want to get the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and you don’t know why you are living in this world, wouldn’t we be Christians in vain? This is what I said about obtaining Mingding Destiny.
## VII. Experience God
### Life Should Be Often Experienced with God
Do you want to live a wonderful life? If you want to live a wonderful life, you must often experience God in your life. I can tell you that it is difficult not to experience God in storms! Regardless of whether this storm is because of our curse, or because we made some wrong choices ourselves, or because we really have a Mingding Destiny , in the storms of life, in the ups and downs of life, in the eighty-one tribulations of life, brothers and sisters, start to desire to experience God, let’s say in our hearts: God! I want to experience you, I want to experience you personally. In fact, we often see all kinds of things, that is, those who have no Mingding Destiny , when they experience some things, they also say: Ah, I have experienced God.
A young man took his girlfriend and was robbed in the middle of the night. He gave an interesting testimony. At that time, he did not know God, and had no Mingding Destiny. It was just a couple who was robbed. After being robbed, he gives a testimony today, that is, decades later, looking back on what happened at that time, after being robbed, the robbers asked him for money, so he gave the money to them. He made a small request to the robbers, could you give me back some money so I can take a taxi home? The robber asked: How much money do you want? He said: 15 yuan. The robber said: Here you go! Then the robber left, without hurting them and talked very well. Today he testifies and says: Thank God, I experienced God. When I was in that situation, I said in my heart: 'God, God!' He does not recognize God. He only recognized God later, became a Christian, came among us, and got Mingding Destiny. Even if there is Mingding Destiny , he will still make a little trouble from time to time. One day, I saw him in the group. After just finishing his homework, he did not save it, and suddenly the computer crashed and he could not find it, so he started to rewrite it. Once there are no storms and everything is calm, what homework? There is such thing as doing homework or not? Put this thing off. Start playing and have a great time.
### We Need God
People must know how well Ecclesiastes is written!
> A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2)
Do you understood that? You must know that going to the house of mourning is better than going to the house of feasting. We must always know in our hearts that we are human beings and we always know that we need God. Never forget God after having fun and then be confused. You don’t know which time you got on a plane, and you don’t know which time you got on a boat, and then from then on, this plane and this boat disappeared to the sea with no one knows. You don’t know!
### After Experiencing God, be a Person of Mingding Destiny and Dedicate Your Life to God
Therefore, I encourage everyone to be a person with Mingding Destiny, and encourage everyone to start desiring to experience God, but after experiencing God, God isn't stingy. God often lets you experience Him. After experiencing Him, what you will do? After you experience Him, you continue to pursue your worldly dreams. Continue to be the monkeys of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, or embark on the path of spiritual achievement? Of course, what I use is words that Chinese people are more familiar with, that is, to achieve spiritual achievement. That is, in this world today, we experience God today and we experience God tomorrow. Do we need to tell ourselves that we really knows why we live? If we still does not know, isn't that a tragedy? If we pretend to not know today and pretend to not know tomorrow, our experiencing God have been in vain.
Therefore, today we will wake up from our sleep. If you are experiencing ups and downs in your life, are experiencing storms in your life, today, start to become a wise person, The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure, understood that? Today, start to know: The end of a matter is better than its beginning. Experience God, know Him, and then obtain Mingding Destiny, and be like Apostle Paul. The people near you will all see the glory of God because of you. How wonderful and fantastic is a life. Therefore, rekindle the dying little hope in us, rekindle the dying little faith in us, and then start to know that you can experience God in any situation. There are many of such experiences.
I am also very sorry to see that many people experience God again and again, but they still pursue worldly dreams. I told them to take time out to pray well and release well. There is no time! Why? Is the time all occupied by work? If you read the Old Testament carefully, especially the Book of Leviticus, we must take respite and keep the Sabbath holy, and take time out to be close to God. There is no loss in it!
Some time ago, a brother was caught by someone and locked in a small dark room. He seemed to have been beaten. As for whether he had a fracture, he didn’t know. Later, he escaped from the window. How did he escape? He called upon God inside, and God gave him wisdom and him an opportunity. People didn’t pay attention carelessness so he escaped from it. However, although he escaped, did our hearts escape from the control of the devil? How many more opportunities do we have to experience God? How many more opportunities do we have to experience God and then forget God again? You may not completely forget Him, you will still remembers.
However, how many times do we really want to obtain Mingding Destiny, see everything clearly, take the time out and sanctify it to God, and completely dedicate our lives to God? These words are not empty talk. These words mean whether we can take the time out to dedicate to God. Not in the calm and serenity time. I have time to be close to God like on a vacation in the beach, but in the storms we experience God. Today, let us repent well, no matter what the situation, repent well, reflect on ourselves and turn back to God, and you will experience God. This is the sermon series on faith, hope, and love. I hope that through my sharing, your faith will be stirred up again and you will start to trust God.
May God bless all of you!