Characteristics of Prophetic Words

Prophetic words are characterised by their sharpness. A person gifted with prophecy is often forthright. When exercising this gift, one will experience God’s wonderful grace. God reveals the sins of others to you, and how you construct your words is a great challenge. I once prayed with a group of Singaporeans, all prominent business people, and God gave me a prophetic vision. However, how to convey it to them was a challenge.

From now on, the church must practice the gift of prophetic words. I brought back a deck of cards from Taiwan that is particularly useful. Drawing a card can reveal your current situation. At first, I was unsure of the card's utility, but during prayer meetings, the cards I drew were repetitive. Our God is truly wondrous; He knows everything about our lives. Isaiah was a major prophet. The distinction between major and minor prophets in the Bible was made later by people. Isaiah is the most important book among the prophetic books, with 66 chapters, mirroring the 66 books of the entire Bible. Isaiah is essentially a mini-Bible, which is quite remarkable.

You will find that when a prophet speaks, they can immediately reveal the problem. If you want to be a prophet, one challenge is that you may offend many people. Thank God, I do not care much about offending people. I often expose the deep-seated issues within people. Some repent and receive grace, while others become rigid and leave the church.

Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. (Isaiah 1:2)

If a prophet points out problems in your life, you should listen carefully. I know someone whose father was a pastor, a second-generation Christian, who lived a life of poverty, constantly in debt from credit cards, and enduring hardship. Recently, I saw him after he had heart surgery. I was deeply moved, wondering why someone would live such a life. Is this God's destiny for him? I do not think so! Because God intends to bless us. If some things happen, you must be clear about whether corresponding words can be found in the Bible. For example, some cancer patients whose tongues become stiff and cannot eat must have a hole drilled in their stomach to inject food. They say this situation is how God trains their faith.

For a Christian, the Bible describes that if you do this, you will have that result. From a control system perspective, if we have a result that is different from what is in the Bible, then there is a problem with your system. Rebellious people do not think there is a problem within them; they think it is all someone else's problem. This is the result of eating the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Brothers and sisters, do not assume that just because you are a Christian, you are automatically blessed. I tell you, many Christians actually live under a curse.

Truly Know Your God

The prophetic books we read were written to the Israelites, who are God's chosen people but were a rebellious people. If you are an Israelite but do not know your God; if you are a Christian but do not know what kind of God He is, then that is truly lamentable. I have a strong feeling that, in my living days, I must tell the people of our time to know your God.

The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” (Isaiah 1:3)

This is a lament by Isaiah and God. People do not know God, and God is very saddened. Instead of living good days, they have to live cursed days. Do you think this is wise? Later, in the process of leading the church, I encountered many people I could not understand. Not long ago, a businessman came to us. His business was about to go bankrupt, and his wife had been sick in bed for nine months. After I prayed for her and removed the idols from their home, his wife got out of bed and recovered. After a few months, his business also recovered. Yet, he forsook God. I was shocked by the foolishness of such people.

People must learn to be wise. When I first believed in the Lord, it was not because of anything else but simply because God gave me a job with a not-very-high salary. However, I have been grateful to this day. From that moment on, I knew that this was the Almighty God, the treasure of life, and I was determined to hold onto God for the rest of my life.

There are many such stories. In 2012, a person had cancer. Chemotherapy would lead to death, and not having chemotherapy would also lead to death. Then I prayed for her, and she was healed. After she was healed, just because I asked her to tithe, hoping that she would receive more blessings, she left the church. After leaving the church for two years, she could not breathe, so she returned to the church. When the breathing problem was solved, she left the church again. I do not know what these people are thinking. Do they know what kind of lament our God in heaven would express?

Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. (Isaiah 1:2-5)

I am shocked that there are so many such stories. I do not know what is in these people's heads! God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land of Canaan, giving them a land flowing with milk and honey. But why do they not want to live a blessed life? The things that God has done through my hands are very shocking to me, but why are the people involved not shocked? What God has done in me, just healing my wife and giving me a job, many people have experienced things that are even more shocking than what I have experienced.

God is very gracious to me. In the past few years, what God has done through my hands has not only commemorated me but also commemorated my family. Is it not good to become a blessing to your family? Why must you rebel? Is forsaking God really fun? I am shocked! The testimonies that brothers and sisters give are testimonies made before God. Can you remember the grace you have received before God? This is not a small matter, but the Almighty God has given His Son Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for you and me, shedding His blood and sacrificing Himself, so that I can receive such grace!

If you treat the precious blood of Jesus as a rag that can be casually wiped, then that is very dangerous! We must re-examine ourselves with a grateful heart. The state of forsaking God is very sad. I asked that brother, who speaks English, whether the forty years the Israelites spent in the wilderness were God’s plan. He said it was God's plan. He has believed in the Lord for more than thirty years and still does not know that it was not God's plan. They stayed in the wilderness for forty years entirely because of their own rebellion.

Living a God-Centered Life

Did God bring the Israelites out of Egypt to let them die in the wilderness? It is not like that! Our God wanted to bring them to the land flowing with milk and honey, but they rebelliously refused to enter. So, God was angry and let them die in the wilderness, not one of them allowed to enter! Brothers and sisters, what exactly is in our heads? Can we reflect on ourselves a little and not let ourselves live in a cursed state?

Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil. Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers. (Isaiah 1:5-7)

What kind of days did God originally give us?

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:19-20)

If you are living in a very miserable state, reflect on yourself. Christians can live under a curse, and Christians can also live under blessings. The word Christian cannot solve the problem; only a resounding Christian can solve the problem, only those who faithfully serve God can solve the problem. Do not joke with God. I am surprised at those who have the audacity to forsake God. Many people say, I have not forsaken God, I also go to church. They have that religious form, but no heart. God is a God who examines the heart. He knows what is in your heart, and not only God knows, but the devils also know. A double-minded person should not expect to receive anything from God. This is what James says, that is, you must be single-minded and wholeheartedly serve your God.

Some people are willing to live a God-centered life, while others want to live a self-centered life. When he wants to live a self-centered life, he will deliberately forget the grace of God that he has experienced before, because that thing is not in harmony with what is inside him. Everyone, do not think that if you are God-centered, you will not live well. If God is pleased with you, who can stand against you! Among us, those who willingly and gladly serve God, none of them live poorly. Later I observed that those who are unwilling to serve God, but instead willingly and gladly serve their bosses and work, do not live very well. Man is very small, and man is helpless in life. Can you really solve your life's problems by yourself? If you are still living a self-centered life, then only the word foolish can be used to describe such a person.

Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them. Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will vent my wrath on my foes and avenge myself on my enemies. (Isaiah 1:23-24)

If a person forsakes God and opposes God, can his days be good? Those who oppose God have two characteristics: first, the devils will not let him go; second, God will not let him go. How do you want to live? I am very shocked that some people are so bold, not that they do not go to church, nor that they do not revere God, but that the ideas in their heads are very strange.

To Live with Mingding Destiny

Later, I also realized why some who serve God are full of complaints, it's because they live for themselves. Those among us who are willing to dedicate themselves to serving God do not feel tired, because it is their Mingding Destiny. I live and come into this world to serve God, and our God seeks such people to serve Him. Have you carefully observed that such people are not blessed? They are all blessed. They willingly partake of the good things of the earth, which means that a Christian, if living a petty life, will lose their Mingding Destiny.

It is fortunate that you are not an official, for if you were, you would surely be a corrupt one; living a petty life, you live only for money and for livelihood. It is fortunate that you are not a businessman, for if you were, you would surely be a deceitful one, because you see only money. All these stem from not living with Mingding Destiny. Today, everyone should ask themselves, what are they living for? Are they living just to eat? Do you have an answer? But I can tell you why I live. I live for God! Seeing how many are oppressed, how many are taken captive, how many need to be delivered from the oppression of evil spirits, this is our Mingding Destiny. For this is God's will, that He save them from these dark powers.

Brothers and sisters of the church, we must all shoulder such a Mingding Destiny. If you have no Mingding Destiny, what are you living for? At most, you are completing a biological project. It is miserable for people to lose their Mingding Destiny and live a petty life, for the devil will surely come looking for you, and God will surely come to hold you accountable. Even if God does not come looking for you, the devil will. How can you live like this? Start now to restore yourselves to God's Mingding Destiny. Then you will know that, although you may sometimes be weary in serving God, you know that you live for this in this life, this is the meaning of my life.

Without Mingding Destiny, there is no meaning to life, so what are you doing? Some say, I want to live for my father. If their parents die, how will they live? Their lives will have no meaning. Because my God lives forever, I live for my God, and my whole life is lived in security. It is very important to live with Mingding Destiny. Those without Mingding Destiny are short-sighted, lacking direction in this life, only looking at the short term, losing long-term benefits. A person with a goal and a Mingding Destiny knows where they come from and where they are going, and then their goal is very clear, and this life is lived in security.

God defines salvation after the prophet finishes speaking of people's judgement.

I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” (Isaiah 1:25-26)

God defines that He will save those who are faithful, the New Testament repeatedly speaks of faithful disciples. Are you faithful? A person who is not faithful is like a prostitute. So verse 21 says, See how the faithful city has become a harlot! (cf. Isaiah 1:21). Unfaithfulness is actually called adultery; unfaithfulness to God commits spiritual adultery. Gradually you will understand that it is good to live with Mingding Destiny, and not good to live without it. If God sees that you are faithful, you will be redeemed.

Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitent ones with righteousness. (Isaiah 1:27)

What is redemption? It is that your problems are solved. In fact, the Bible says, receiving a hundred times as much in this present age and, in the age to come, eternal life. (cf. Luke 18:30). People should know that God defines that He will save, and He also defines that He will judge this rebellious people. You must make a decision for yourself, to be a faithful people or a rebellious people. It goes on to say:

But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. For you shall be ashamed of the oaks that you desired; and you shall blush for the gardens that you have chosen. For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, like a garden without water. And the strong shall become tinder, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them.” (Isaiah 1:28-31)

Those who live a petty life take their work very seriously, but God says their work is like a spark, their work is in vain. Those who have no Mingding Destiny live a petty life, directly rebelling against God, and will surely be broken together; those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. I am very moved, the prophet's words are very clear, you must choose to be a faithful people or a rebellious people, the choice is entirely up to you, and the rebellious people will surely live miserably. When we did not know God before, I do not want to go back to those days. If you blessed people are willing to obey, you will eat the good things of the earth, and God's blessing will come upon us. Make a choice between Mingding Destiny and living a petty life; make a choice between rebellion and obedience; make a choice between serving and catering to the flesh. Since God is in charge of the universe, if we come before Him and please Him, will we not receive grace!

We read the Book of Isaiah, and at the beginning, it declared a feeling, do you really know God, what kind of God do you know? In the days of Isaiah, many people said, Peace, peace, there is nothing wrong, but when disaster comes, they are basically powerless to reverse it. In the days of Isaiah, people ate and drank, and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah also ate and drank and married, but judgment and destruction suddenly came from the Almighty. In these days in which we live, if you cherish this generation, there are not many years left. If you do not cherish this generation, there are not many years left, so serve this God well.