I. Introduction
Good day to all! Today, I will be delivering the third part of the Mingding Destiny character series: Foundation. This character trait falls under the category of Mingding Destiny. Chinese Mingding Destiny places great emphasis on laying a solid foundation. I once gave a series of seven talks on the topic of foundation. Do you recall it? If you have heard it, you will certainly remember. If I have already given seven talks, why am I revisiting the topic of foundation today? Today’s discussion is about foundation from the perspective of character, where laying a solid foundation is a character trait. Children today are easily caught up in the rat race, neglecting the importance of laying a good foundation. You must know that it took me many years to understand this principle: it takes time and effort to lay a good foundation and one’s basic skills must be solid.
We Chinese speak of “Heaven rewards diligence,” where Heaven has a way of blessing those who are diligent. However, to bless those who are diligent does not mean those who are busy and occupied their entire lives. Diligence is not interpreted in this way; it is about investing time and effort to lay a good foundation. You must know that when I was young, I did not understand singing. If I had known the importance of laying a good foundation, I would not have been kicked out of the choir. Why was I kicked out? It was because before others started singing, I would start singing; after others finished, I was still not done. Either I sang out of tune, or my pitch was off. Why? I did not lay a solid foundation.
At that time, I wondered why some people would go to the mountains early in the morning to practice singing endlessly. I did not understand. Turns out it was called laying a foundation! Are there singers among us? Have you practiced the “Ah” sound? I am sure there are. Back then, I did not understand, and I wondered what was the point of practicing that every day, as it sounded awful. If I had understood, I would have joined them in practicing the “Ah” sound, and I would not have been kicked out. When I was young, I did not understand playing football; I had no foundation, and without someone teaching me, I could not play. Therefore, in a game, I never even touched the ball. Players like Beckham and Maradona laid a solid foundation from a young age; their basic skills were very solid. Do you know how solid? They could juggle the ball with their feet over a hundred times without it falling to the ground, kicking it from the front, from the left, from the right, and even from behind. They can kick it with their heels and toes. When I saw that, I was amazed! Laying a foundation, basic skills were very solid.
Where does this skill come from? It certainly comes from practice. No one is born with it; there is no such thing. It is all practice. Is there anyone who does not practice? Ask any Olympic champion; none of them rely on natural talent alone. People took pity on me, wondering what I was doing running around, and just put me in goal. Later, I became the goalkeeper, but I still never touched the ball. A tragedy! Later, I thought it would be easier if everyone had their own ball. Why bother fighting over one ball?
Later I understood, although a little late, but better late than never! It is okay to mature late. If I am not good at singing or playing football, it does not matter; I can still practice. Even if I cannot become Andy Lau, I can still become a Lau De Shui. Do you know why I say “Lau De Shui”? Because Andy Lau sang a song called “Give Me a Cup of Forgetful Water.”
Many years ago, when I first started the church, I could not sing. If you cannot sing, what kind of church can you build? A tragedy! But I deeply knew the importance of laying a foundation. At that time, we had no choir; just me, and I only knew one song. So, on Sundays, I would sing that one song. Now you understand why we only sang one song on Sundays, right? We still sing only one song on Sundays, but now I know many more songs. Back then, I could not; I only knew one song. I needed to lay a foundation! I enrolled in a class to learn to sing. My teacher taught me to sing when I was already old, having never sung before, several decades old, and starting to learn to sing. After months of learning, while others had learned several songs, I was still learning “Give Me a Cup of Forgetful Water.” I could not forget it, and in the end, I only sang two words correctly: “Ah Ha.” This bit of effort was worth it; Heaven rewards diligence! Now I can sing many songs, and I sing much better. When I started singing, it was sometimes in the key of F, sometimes in the key of D, and then it would jump to the key of C, and then back to F. My goodness! My foundation for being out of tune was very solid. I had practiced for so many years that my foundation was very firm. Now, when I sing again, I change keys! Later, people said that it was not out of tune, but rather “flying tune”; flying tune goes much further than being out of tune.
Later, I had a dream: I am a little, little bird, how can I fly so high? This is the Lau De Shui version of singing. I am joking. What I am saying is that laying a foundation is a character trait. This character trait has accompanied me for many years. No one can stop me from laying a foundation. I deeply know the importance of laying a solid foundation in whatever I do. No one can stop me. No need to rush, what is the hurry? I do not compete with others; you cannot catch me in the rat race. Do you know what the rat race means? If you do not, look it up online. You cannot catch me, you cannot influence me. Later, I found that I was the one dragging others into the rat race, influencing them. Do not drag yourself into the rat race because of me. You cannot blame me; you must learn from my character.
Once, too many friends came to visit, and there was not enough room, so we slept on the floor. People came to see me wave after wave. Now I have moved far away, and it is not so easy to travel abroad. Back then, I had too many friends, so we slept on the floor. Later, when people came, I would let them stay in my room. When I woke up in the morning, they were gone. Where did they go? They were wandering the streets. Why wandering the streets? They said to me, Teacher, when you are awake, we are influenced by you, and even when you are asleep, you still influence others. I snore. Now you know this character trait of mine. I specialize in influencing people. I came into this world to influence people while awake, and even when I am asleep, I still influence people. What kind of character is this? It is being the king of the rat race, but do not be dragged into the rat race by me. You must cultivate your own character and lay a good foundation!
I have always had a dream of turning preaching into a stand-up comedy show. I do not know if I have done it, but I really want to show it. People call Guo Degang, I changed my name to Guo De Xiu. I have tried many times but have not succeeded even once. Today, I have succeeded a little bit, but I am still laying the foundation.
Brothers and sisters, yesterday I felt uncomfortable all day. Why? Because I felt that I had not figured out the foundation of many things. What is the foundation of building a church? What is the foundation of building a business? What is the foundation of business management? I could not answer many things, which made me very uncomfortable. Then last night, I called people over, saying, Come, come, drink some wine with me. I am feeling down. Why? Because today I am supposed to talk about the foundation, but last night I still did not understand it. You must know that mathematics has its foundation, which is numbers. This is obvious. What is the foundation of physics? What is the foundation of programming? What is the foundation of education? We must slowly figure out everything. A good foundation is very important! As I asked, I felt that I had not figured out many things. I thank God! I am someone who often feels that I have not figured things out, and in fact, I really have not. If I had not figured things out but thought I had, would not that be self-righteous?
A famous person said: The current education system teaches things that are a mile wide but only an inch deep, which is just a superficial understanding. How can that have roots? There are no roots at all. Everything is taught, but only a little bit on the surface. Teachers read the textbook and then go home with their bags. He said that companies do not need people who have been taught so much; they only need to teach them an inch wide but a mile high. They do not need to know so much, but what they do know must be very deep and rooted.
Actually, it is okay that I am not good at singing or playing football. As long as I am good at one thing. Oh my! Ping pong, football, swimming, whether it is freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, singing, opera, Peking opera, Ping opera, southern dramas, northern operas, why do so much? It is useless. So today, I want to give everyone some comfort: you do not need to be good at everything. Do not lay a foundation for everything; just be good at one thing. Having one good foundation and good skill is enough. I rely on the founder of Chinese Mingding Destiny to make a living! Plan well for what you want to do, lay a good foundation, and have the character to lay a foundation. If you do not have the character, grab at superficial things, and get anxious, you will be caught up in the rat race. You are caught up in the rat race at school, at work, in life, and you are the number one in being caught up in the rat race, ruining everything!
I have a view on education: the most important thing education should cultivate is not knowledge, but character. Look, people with character can graduate from a normal school and later become the richest people. I lay a good foundation before doing anything. Later, when I built the church, I believed that the Chinese Mingding Destiny church was the best. This is my opinion, is that okay? Do not argue with me. Early on, the church I built was like the songs I sang. Someone came back and said, Pastor, do you know where I went last week? I said, Where did you go? He said, Oh my, I went to that big church. Oh my ... I almost got caught up in the rat race.” Do you know? Their lighting, stage, drums, and guitarists ... good heavens, I can only sing in multiple keys, but that is all I can do, and I felt sad because I could not compare to them in anything.
Another young man was very interesting. He came back and said to me, Teacher, a friend of mine asked me which church I go to. Do you know how I replied? Oh my! When I heard that, I knew it was over. He said, Oh my! Just don't ask! Don't ask! I am in a small church. My goodness, our church did not even have a name! Fortunately, I do not get caught up in the rat race! I have the character to lay a foundation. Today, Chinese Mingding Destiny is the best, right? Clarify the foundation of the church, clarify this concept, and establish a complete theological system, which is Chinese Mingding Destiny. If you build a church according to the Chinese Mingding Destiny system, I tell you, it will definitely flourish! You ask, How do you know? I have tried it. How would I not know? So, to this day, I am still focused on laying a foundation.
Many years ago, I read a book called The Tornado Effect. Unfortunately, I cannot find the book anymore. I do not know where it went. The Tornado Effect is a book about how a high-tech company can create a tornado. Modern high-tech companies have to burn a lot of money, burning one or two hundred billion, and then, Pop! They rise. Many companies are like this. Why burn so much money? To build a foundation. The church is the same.
At that time, I was thinking: how can the church create a tornado effect? What I am saying to you is: you must have this character of laying a foundation. Build good the elements in your life, especially young children. Do not get caught up in the rat race! Creating that element will make a person go up like a tornado! At that time, I was thinking: study the Bible to be the best; preach so that you can Guo De Xiu, to speak well and have the understanding; deliver and heal, to be the best! Is this a character trait? It is a character trait! Later, someone said: Is this Chinese Mingding Destiny a heresy? He said, It is not a heresy; at most, it is an extreme! I found it very interesting when I heard that: at most, it is an extreme. There are really people saying this online, not me responding to them; they wrote it themselves. Extreme in what way? It is reading God's word and then doing it, that is extreme!
Some time ago, a pastor I have known for many years contacted me and came to me. I invited him for tea, and he said one sentence to me: Did you invent this Chinese Mingding Destiny? I said, I did. He said, We have been reading your stuff for more than a year. I said, What's the matter? He said, Many people ask if it is a heresy? After I investigated, I concluded that it is not a heresy; it is an extreme! I said, What is extreme? He said, Reading God's Word and then doing it, that is extreme, extremely doing it! I said, That extreme is pretty good! That is our foundation! Many churches are using our theological system; it works well! This is a theological system that is most in line with the Bible! It works much better than Martin Luther's stuff! It works better than Martin Luther, John Wesley, and John Calvin! Can John Calvin's stuff stop Eastern Lightning? It cannot even read past their Eastern Lightning book.
Brothers and sisters, today there are many testimonies. If you have heard our testimonies: Wow! I thank God, I was healed at the Triumphant Church! Can God's Word not be victorious? After brothers and sisters hear my sharing, you will be released from being caught up in the rat race and return to the foundation. Then you will begin to build a character that has a foundation.
A pastor commanded his colleagues: You must get your pastoral area to a certain number of people! How to get to a certain number of people? He said: Pastor! To get to a certain number of people, I think our website is not good! Our website cannot compare to the Chinese Mingding Destiny website! People find our website disgusting, how am I going to get to a certain number of people? He kicked the ball back. His pastor said: Okay, let's build a good website. In our words, something that can be built in two days, they did for several months. I commanded my colleagues: Colleagues, lay a good foundation. Understand things, understand one thing at a time, and constantly elevate your spiritual height! Then people said: What about the number of people? The number of people will naturally come. Have I not read The Tornado Effect? I have read The Tornado Effect. If you just try to get people, can you generate a tornado effect? You said: Companies must make money! How to make money? We can make money doing business. Our church lacks people? People are lining up outside to come in, how great! Why? Because we are a church that lays a foundation. This place is a place for laying a foundation.
Among us, if children in their teens learn to lay a foundation, people in their twenties learn to lay a foundation, and those in their thirties learn to lay a foundation. You say: Teacher, I am 70 years old. It does not matter. If you did not lay a foundation in the past, you can start laying a foundation at 70. I tell you: how can a person not live to prosperity? You say: I do not know how to lay a foundation. I preached seven talks on laying a foundation. You can slowly listen to them! Has anyone said: Teacher, I do not know what to do? I tell you what to do: it's simple, listen to me talk about the foundation over there. I explain it very clearly! There is an ancient Chinese saying: Great virtue carries all things. If your virtue is not great, what can you carry? With your little virtue, a brain like a peanut and a heart like a grain of rice, what can you carry? A little bit over the line and there is already great pressure, just getting caught up in the rat race. You cannot even bear things, let alone people. Today's scripture is Matthew chapter 7, verse 24. You say I am already familiar with this, why are we reading this again? Because this passage is very important!
II. Scripture
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
III. Prayer
God! Today, may your Spirit move among us; God! May you reveal to us brothers and sisters, let us understand the importance of this foundation; God! Today, let us hear your words and put them into practice, be a wise man, build this house on the rock, no matter what happens, it will not fall; God! Let us break away from that ignorance and foolish behavior, no longer pursue the fast, no longer build the house on the sand; God! Today, transform us, renew us, let our hearts have your words, be able to follow your words and act. This life will follow your words and act, live out your appearance, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
IV. Scripture Background
Where does the background of this passage come from? It comes from Matthew chapter 7. Matthew chapters 5 to 7, these three chapters are called the Sermon on the Mount. Do you all know the Sermon on the Mount? That is just a name. In this Sermon on the Mount, preaching Matthew chapter 7, nearing the end, talks about the foundation. But before talking about this foundation, if you read Matthew chapter 7 you will find:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)
The passage we are studying today says that the Lord does not know these people. Why does the Lord not know these people? Because these people built their houses on the sand. What does it mean to build a house on the sand? It means that you read God's word and then do not put it into practice. Read God's word but do not put it into practice, hear God's word but not put it into practice, and then fast! To do that stuff in God's word is too slow, too difficult! I will go according to what I think. Then there is trouble. Lord! Did we not drive out demons and preach in your name? It is useless, why? Because you did not follow God's word to act. Is this heavy? It is very heavy!
Today, brothers and sisters, thoroughly examine everything you do, is it according to God's word to act? Do not take it out of context! Today I want to tell you, next week I will talk to you about: establishing a system. Why? Because if do not form a system when you read God's Word, it will be difficult for you to implement, as it will be a mess. Always wanting to do things quickly makes it impossible to lay a foundation. In the end, the Lord will not know you. Then what is the point? Hustling for a lifetime, being a Christian for a lifetime: Lord, Lord, I came! Who are you? What are you doing here? You say: Lord, I prophesied in your name, and I did so many things in your name! Look, I cooked in the church, I prepared braised beef, roast chicken, roast duck. God says: I do not know you. You say: Lord, I know you. It is useless. If you are in Singapore, who does not know the Prime Minister of Singapore? But the Prime Minister of Singapore does not know you, what use is that? In China, who does not know the leaders of China? But those leaders may not know you. The question is not whether you know the Lord, but whether the Lord knows you. So how do you know whether the Lord knows you or does not know you? This is a very interesting question. Let's read a little further.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)
====输出开始
Now I understand that false prophets do not bear good fruit; they only put on a superficial show. That is why the foundation is so important. Today, brothers and sisters, you must enter through the narrow gate, and establishing a foundation is a narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to eternal life, and those who find it are few. So that's what it's all about. So today, brothers and sisters, you must know that if you are a Christian and you do not build a foundation, isn't that a tragedy? There are many people who are busy, busy, just playing a bit part. You know, being a Christian, in the end, all you did your whole life was play a bit part. Isn't there someone typing: In the local church, her husband is a chef. Oh, we really have some among us. So brothers and sisters, from today on, you must know to lay a solid foundation. How does God say it? That's how we act.
## V. God’s Word is a Classic
Today, we must gradually begin to understand one thing: to lay a good foundation. That is, after reading God's Word, go and do it. If you are a Christian, you read the 《Bible》; if you are a Taoist, you must read the 《Tao Te Ching》, and you must act according to the 《Tao Te Ching》; if you are a Buddhist, your foundation, your classic, is the 《Buddhist Scriptures》; if you are in marketing, your classic is《Marketing Management》; so today, every industry has its own classics. If you are a Chinese medicine practitioner, you must read the 《Huangdi Neijing》; the 《Huangdi Neijing》 is a classic. If you practice martial arts, the 《Nine Yin Manual》 is a classic. As for whether there is a 《Nine Yang Manual》, we don't know. If you are learning martial arts, your boxing or fighting, the basics must be solid.
If not, and you don't follow the classics, isn't that absurd? Some people say: Teacher Liu, your words come from God. Don't give me that; what I say is not. The 《Bible》 is. Some people only listen to me and don't read the《Bible》; aren't they ruined? This is a frivolous age. Someone wrote a book called 《Frivolity》, and someone also wrote a book called 《Abandoned Capital》, and someone wrote a book called 《The Old Man and the Sea》. Later, I discovered that this is a frivolous age; after reading them, you don't know what to do. Short videos are popular now. Can you learn through short videos? Can short videos become classics? It would be good if short videos could become classics. Those who make short videos earn the money of those who watch short videos, but in the end, it's all useless.
Today, we must know that God’s Word is a classic. We must properly implement what Jesus teaches, that is a classic. I just happened to become a Christian; I don't even know how I became a Christian. If I had become a Buddhist, we would have to read the《Buddhist Scriptures》 properly. You say, why are you talking about this on the platform? I'm just saying that Buddhists read their classics. Is there a problem? No problem. It just so happens that we Christians don't read the《Bible》 properly, we repeat whatever others say, and we follow others to make trouble. Isn't that just making a ruckus? Today, you must know that Chinese Mingding Destiny is not a theology of making trouble. **Chinese Mingding Destiny is a theological system that is most in line with the 《Bible》.** You say: It isn't. It doesn't matter; I think it is, is that not enough? How Jesus teaches, that's how we do; how Jesus does, that's how we act. Some people say that what Jesus teaches is too difficult, the requirements are too high. High is also a classic. What about it? You don't want to? If you don't want to, go and do whatever you want.
Study well the things recorded in the 《Bible》. Does everyone know that one of the theological systems of Chinese Mingding Destiny is that we don't seem to take things that are not recorded in the 《Bible》 and have no precedent too seriously. So today, if you are going to do something, I must encourage you to check the 《Bible》. Don't come and ask me. If you ask me, I will just give you vague answers. You say: Teacher, I'm like this and that. I say: That's good. You say: Teacher, I'm like this, that, and that. What do you think I will say? I say: That's good, that's good. If you don't read God's Word, and I keep saying that's good, and I make you feel good, then that's good too. We must do well what the 《Bible》 says. The 《Bible》 has already clearly explained what to do and how to do it; it just depends on how you implement it. It's just that people don't believe; people always want to create their own things. That is what is deadly.
Whether you are doing scientific research, whether you are doing marketing, or whether you are doing business management, you must find the classics of your own industry. Some people don't listen. Like when I teach you how to manage a project, I have already set all the points of the project, but when people do it, why should they listen to you? Because everything I put together has classics; I have researched everything according to the classics. Lost money, right? *Bang, bang*, lost one million. How difficult is it to earn one million, how easy is it to lose one million. Because there is no character of laying a foundation, that is very deadly. Do you understand?
Let me repeat it again today. You must know that the 《Bible》 speaks of what to do and how to do it, it's just that you may not know it. If you do things according to your own ideas, that is very dangerous. Don't look at me saying: That's good, that's good, that's good. I can make you feel good. I want everyone to know today, does what you do have a basis in the 《Bible》? This is very important. Don't end up turning the love of the flesh into the love of the Father. I used to have a saying: Indulging the flesh is not love, and compromise is not gentleness. Everyone must slowly ponder these things I say.
## VI. Practice According to the Classics
Do according to what Jesus did. Let me ask you: Did Jesus travel a long distance to visit a cancer patient? There is no such thing. Where did Jesus have that time? Do according to what Jesus did. How Jesus did it, that’s how we do it. We learn the appearance of Jesus, not the appearance of the Medicine Buddha. How Jesus led His disciples, that's how we lead our disciples; how Jesus built the church, that's how we build the church; how Jesus defined the church, that's how we implement it. We must do it according to the appearance of Jesus. Isn't this a good tree bearing good fruit? If your result is not like Jesus, but seems a bit like the Buddha, isn't that a mess? Your tone is even further off than my singing.
Doesn't the 《Bible》 talk a lot about preaching the gospel, healing the sick, and casting out demons? It has been repeated several times, why don't you do it? Actually, when I later built the church, it gave me a lot of comfort. I just did it according to the appearance of Jesus. Jesus said to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons, so we preached the gospel, healed the sick, and cast out demons. Later, you know what? I sing off-key. I thank God. I really didn't see Jesus bringing a singer in the 《Bible》, and I didn’t see Jesus bringing a band. No guitarist, no choir, no intercession. I saw that Jesus did not do these things. Has anyone seen Jesus do these things? If Jesus didn't do them, what are we doing them for? Later I said, oh, it's good that I sing off-key. Jesus didn't do that either. Someone said, David did it. Then you learn from David; I learn from Jesus. Is that okay?
So, like Jesus, everyone must know in the end that Jesus does not cater to people's ideas; Jesus caters to God's ideas. Then the question comes, are we catering to people's ideas, or are we catering to God’s ideas? Everyone must ponder this. Don’t listen to my nonsense today. Jesus didn't do these things. Of course, Jesus didn't do any marketing either. Jesus is a marketing expert; He is so good at healing and deliverance, He knows it from afar. If you do what Jesus didn't do, then it's optional; if you don't do well what Jesus did, then there really is a little trouble. Today, brothers and sisters, we must know that walking with God is very important. If we turn the entire gospel of Jesus Christ into a gospel of good people, then there is trouble. Too much human love is not the love of the Father. Practice according to the classics. This sentence is a bit heavy. Don’t do according to what I say; do according to the 《Bible》.
## VII. Look at the Results
If the result is wrong, you need to adjust. You must know that God’s Word is a classic. You practice according to the classics. If the outcome of the practice is wrong, that means you didn’t do it right. Then adjust it. If we didn't do it right, shouldn’t we adjust it? Often didn't do it right is my catchphrase. Even today, I am very tired talking about the foundation. Why? Because there are many things that seem clear but not clear. You know, I often solve the problems of my colleagues. Some of our colleagues like to talk nonsense. After I ask a few more times, I finally find out, “Oh, I thought…” This is being self-righteous. So, look at the results.
Brothers and sisters, do you know that there don't seem to be many people who are better than us at healing and deliverance? Those who come among us, not to mention getting cancer, even those who get cancer are healed when they come among us. Does everyone know why? Because this place has gone through many times of not doing it right before we finally understood. I wrote a book, 《Doing Healing and Deliverance Like Jesus》. Later, this book became the theory of our healing and deliverance. Our theory of healing and deliverance is based on Jesus Christ’s definition of the church. Does everyone know Jesus Christ’s definition of the church? Jesus said, I will build my church on this rock, and this rock is the truth. It is the same as what we say today, building a house on this rock. When it is built on this rock, the gates of hell cannot overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven.
So healing the sick and casting out demons are the basic work of the church. Healing the sick and casting out demons are the result of a victorious church. If you build a victorious church, a victorious church is the foundation of healing and deliverance. That is why our church is the best at healing and deliverance. You say we can’t say the best, your words are too absolute. What I mean is we can add quotation marks. Of the churches I have seen, there really is no better than ours. Maybe my knowledge is short.
So everyone must know that if you are anxious, and you do things blindly regardless of the results, and you just think about what you can do, and you just think: Quick! Quick! Quick! What will happen in the end? It's definitely not a character-building situation. If you do business with the habit of not laying a foundation, if you don't lay a foundation when you go to school, if you don't lay a foundation for anything you do, and you just want to be quick, then I can tell you your fortune. Your fate is a tragedy. In any case, we are not building something that is effective quickly; we are building a foundation. No matter what you do, it is the same in all walks of life. Today we are talking about building a church, starting to get things right. If the result is wrong, we will constantly adjust. Don't ever say, That's how it is. Don't I often say, if you build an airplane that can't fly, and you say, That's how it is, what kind of brain do you have? A brain that doesn't work.
## VIII. The Foundation Is to Hear God’s Word and Then Do It
The foundation is to hear God's Word and then do it. This is called the foundation. Don't create your own set of things and think you are serving God. If you act according to your own words, in the end, Jesus will say, I don't know you. If you act according to God's Word and the result is wrong, then we will adjust. Chinese Mingding Destiny is constantly adjusting in the process of acting on God's Word. It has established a theological system, which is called Chinese Mingding Destiny. So the word system is used the most among us. Why is it called a system? It means you cannot add to it and you cannot subtract from it. It's not that words cannot be added to, or words cannot be subtracted from. It means that you cannot change anything within the system. If it doesn't belong to the system, even if you add it, it's okay. If it is within the system, and you delete it, then you are subtracting from it. These are all curses. So where does your set of ideas come from? Is there a foundation? You must know that the foundation is very important in whatever you do. Otherwise, what you are doing will collapse as you do it.
## Conclusion
Laying a good foundation is a character trait, it is perseverance, you must recognize this thing, do not mess around. You will have results, you will have thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. If you practice according to God's Word, according to the classics, in the end, the result will be like Jesus, then there will be thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold like Jesus. You say: Really? It is true. Then I tell you, then you will definitely understand. What I preached last week was: Understanding. Don't make things so confusing, isn't that troublesome? You will definitely have joy. My first talk was joy. When you understand, then you will have joy. Are there still people among us who are always rushing around? If you are still a person who is always rushing around, then you must be careful. Why? Because that is not the road.
So brothers and sisters, if you want to gain joy, if you want to understand things, it must start from the foundation. Then you will have the character of laying a foundation, you will definitely understand, and you will definitely have joy. Then you will bear thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold fruit, and not other fruit, not bitter melon. You are bearing Jesus Christ. Then as you do it, you will become a system, and you will constantly discover: Oh! So all these things are connected. You will connect the entire Word of God and see it. You will be amazing. You will be victorious. I thank God that God is using us in this generation to establish the Chinese Mingding Destiny system, using us in this generation to implement, act, and practice according to His Word, and then seeing the results that God has given us. We are really very joyful.
I thank God that there is no my name in Chinese Mingding Destiny, only God’s name. So my name is not important. We must know that this is the Word of God. You don't need to ask who did this. You will understand that if you implement it according to God’s Word, there will be results. The 《Bible》 was written by God, and then you do it according to it, and it really works. So everyone starts to be a foundation-laying person. I tell you, I can boldly make a prophecy to you: It is difficult for you not to prosper. Everyone must start to be careful. What should we be careful about? We often use the mindset of a businessman to look at the《Bible》, and we often use the logical system of man to look at the 《Bible》. You can’t see it that way. Today, we must use God’s logical system to look at it, and we must build on the foundation of God’s Word. **We are priests of the eternal God, and we have come into this world to be a blessing to others!**
Someone left me a post on the Internet yesterday. After reading it, I felt a bit emotional. Why emotional? Because they didn't read God's Word properly and just said things according to their own logical system. Because I said that pastoring is for your own growth. He said, Then doesn't that become selfish? It's all for one's own growth. Is it selfish? Because that growth is not your growth, that growth is to grow into the image of Jesus Christ, to grow to the full stature of Jesus Christ. Why do we grow to the stature of Jesus Christ? To bless this generation. Is that selfish? No. That becomes a more open life. So what I didn't find here is the growth that he has in that area. Okay, brothers and sisters, we must start to have a foundation-laying character, not living in chaos. It is not built on your logical system, it is built on the logical system of Jesus Christ.
How our Jesus Christ views life and death, that's how we view life and death. How our Jesus Christ views the human body, that's how we view the human body. How our Jesus Christ tells us that our family members are our enemies, that's how we view our family members. Brothers and sisters, we must implement it according to Jesus’ logical system without compromise. If you lay a good foundation, you will no longer be confused. Because the confusion within you is not because of what I said, it is because you have two sets of systems inside you: one that belongs to man and one that belongs to Jesus, which cannot be reconciled. How can you not be confused? So I encourage you, **build your life on this rock of Jesus Christ.** In the future, when you come before Jesus Christ, He will not fail to recognize you. Your house must be built on this rock. I thank God that brothers and sisters are no longer getting caught up and being taken advantage of. Why? Because we are built on the rock of Jesus Christ, becoming a foundation-laying person. In the name of Jesus Christ, I bless everyone, may everyone become a person with a foundation-building character. Amen!
Let's sing a hymn and collect today's offerings. If you don't understand the meaning of giving, please don't give. This song was created by our Chinese Mingding Destiny and is called 《I am Willing》. You can be willing, or you can be unwilling. If you are willing, then let's run this heavenly road together, no longer anxious. God gives you enough time. You must have a foundation-laying attitude, no longer casual, no longer confused, no longer pursuing speed. Live out the image of Jesus Christ, be filled with the knowledge of God in your understanding, no longer be a ROW, don't mix this worldly logical system with Jesus Christ's heavenly logical system. If you don't understand the meaning of giving, please don't give, because God is not short of money. The church is not supported by you, it is supported by God. Our God is an extremely wealthy God, and He will open the windows of heaven and pour out His blessings on our brothers and sisters. You must know that many of our brothers and sisters' businesses boomed during the pandemic. During the pandemic, weren't many of our brothers and sisters blessed? Our Father is a wealthy Father. Brothers and sisters, you must know that giving is not for God, but for yourself. Because giving is giving what comes from God back to God.
Everyone, raise your hands with me and pray to God: In the name of Jesus Christ, I want to offer myself completely as a living sacrifice. In the name of Jesus Christ, I will no longer conform to this world; I will only conform to Jesus Christ. God, I want to offer my body as a living sacrifice, which is pleasing to You and holy. God, please accept my offering. God,, I want to love You alone, You are my only, You are my everything! In the name of Jesus Christ, I break the curse of poverty on me! In the name of Jesus Christ, I declare that I will build the foundation of my life well, built on this rock of Jesus Christ. I will live out God's beautiful will in my life! And I will see God's prosperity in my life. I will be fruitful and multiply, flourish and prosper. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen!