Introduction

Good day to all! Today, I present to you another paper, one that has taken me a considerable amount of time to research. It delves into a highly intricate issue. Are you aware of the topic I will be addressing today? It is: Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees.

Over the years, I have been greatly perplexed by the origins of these Pharisees. To my surprise, I discovered that they arose from their study of the Scriptures. Can one derive Pharisaism from reading the Bible? Indeed! Can one cultivate Pharisaism through adherence to the law? Is this not a cause for alarm? Would it not be tragic if we were to become Pharisees through our reading of the Bible today?

A sister once remarked to me, Pastor Liu, I wholeheartedly agree with your sermons. They are all correct. Upon hearing this, I was taken aback. This was not the first or second time I had heard such a statement. Hence, I often instruct our pastors that if someone under their tutelage says, I fully agree with Pastor Liu's sermons; they are all correct, you must implore them, dear brothers and sisters, to heed my advice and inform such individuals: Even Pastor Liu himself does not believe that everything he says is correct.

Subsequently, someone left me a message: If you yourself do not believe that what you say is correct, how many people are you misleading? How many are you misguiding? After pondering this, I wondered, am I truly misleading people? Do I possess such an ability? On the contrary, I tell you, it is because Chinese Mingding Destiny recognizes that we often do not get it entirely right that we strive incessantly. My discourse today on guarding against the leaven of the Pharisees is the result of approximately a decade of continuous research, and even so, I have only grasped a fraction of it. Do you comprehend this logic? It is no easy feat! Due to this lack of understanding, we often find ourselves unsure and frequently turn to prayer, seeking God. I am grateful to God! God is a God of revelation!

If we presume that we always get it right, I frequently encounter individuals who are exceedingly self-righteous, to the point where even God cannot help them, let alone you and I. Therefore, one must recognize that true wisdom stems from acknowledging one's shortcomings and striving for continuous improvement. Thus, some believe they are always right. But if you were to ask them where they are right, I, for one, do not perceive them as always being correct. What do you agree with? Some say, Pastor Liu, I am just like you. Spare me that; you should aspire to be like Jesus instead. If you were truly like me, further investigation would likely reveal some rather troublesome issues. I would genuinely struggle to answer your questions.

For I possess a flaw, a significant one at that: I am fond of getting to the bottom of things. Someone might say, Teacher, I particularly enjoy listening to your sermons. I would then ask, Which one specifically? They would then stare back at me, bewildered. Oh, I particularly enjoy Tang poetry. Allow me, then, to recite a poem, which one? They would be unable to do so. I would reply, Is this not farcical? Teacher, I am particularly fond of reading. What book have you read recently? Which one? Ah, it is called such and such. Then tell me, what is it about? You must come prepared, for I have a particular aversion to being deceived. For decades, i have studied the way of deception.

I have witnessed my colleagues colluding to deceive our superiors, and finding myself in their midst, I felt compelled to remain silent. Their attempts at deception were simply too outrageous. Hence, I dislike lengthy PowerPoint presentations. Some would present me with fifty or even a hundred slides, proceeding to explain them one by one. Enough, enough, I would say. Whenever I preside over a meeting, I would interject, Enough, do not show me this. Tell me directly what problem you are trying to solve and how you intend to solve it. Some might remark, Your approach is somewhat akin to that of Musk. I am unsure whether I learned from Musk or he learned from me.

Let me tell you, what are these PowerPoints? The recent Liu Qiangdong remarked at a conference that everyone compiles a plethora of grand terms, creating PowerPoints. Ultimately, avoid digressions; what issue are you addressing? What problems have you encountered? How do you intend to resolve them? Refrain from deception; let us complete the discussion in a few sentences. Avoid using those PowerPoint templates purchased online and consulting ChatGPT. What is the point of amassing all these things? Why copy and paste them for me to read aloud? How did you know? I have a larger collection of templates than you do, and I purchased two gigabytes of PowerPoint templates yesterday. I have plenty; I meticulously examine them. Ah, you copied it from there? Why are you copying and pasting it for me? Two gigabytes of PowerPoint templates cost eight Renminbi.

Yesterday, I aided a sister in revising her report, her performance review report. After becoming a senior executive, you must report to your superiors; otherwise, why would they pay you so handsomely? Thus, you must prepare such a report. If you are a simple worker, you likely need not prepare such a report. She sought my guidance on the matter. I inquired, Does your boss appreciate PowerPoint presentations? Yes, my boss does. Then find a PowerPoint template. What color does your boss prefer? Orange. Ah, then find an orange template. Under no circumstances should you select the wrong color.

If you intend to use PowerPoint presentations, either emulate my approach by using black and white exclusively, or ensure that you select the correct colors. For instance, if Singapore Telecommunications uses red, its competitor StarHub might use green. Presenting your slides to your boss, you erroneously select the wrong colors. From then on, you will be in trouble. Green becomes a liability. Thus, one must avoid selecting the wrong colors. As for me, I refrain from offending anyone by using black and white exclusively. Why? To avoid mistakes. Choosing the wrong color results in immediate failure, rendering my black-and-white approach superior. Though my slides may be black and white, I possess substance within, substance of my own creation, not derived from PowerPoint.

Have you noticed the recent popularity of artificial intelligence? Many are eager to ride this trend. They liberally invoke ChatGPT, OPENCV, artificial intelligence, and natural language processing the moment they open their mouths. But do you truly comprehend these terms? Perhaps you have a rudimentary understanding, much like myself. They inundate us with terms such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and big data. Proceed with caution! If you are involved in business, this is the correct approach, but if you are not, it is the Leaven of the Pharisees. The same thing can be a tool, or it can be a con. People like the con. But serving God cannot be this way. God is a spirit, and knows all things. You will kick against the rocks, if you try to con God.

Even so, I tell you, there are still many who bring those things done to deceive their boss and try to deceive God. Some asked me the other day, what does it mean to “disengage?” Don’t do things that are too audacious, because they will backfire. Your boss may be a professor or entrepreneur who can be fooled because of your knowledge of a certain industry, not all knowing or capable. However, God knows everything. It astonishes me that even today, many Christians enjoy trying to deceive God, and came close to trying to sell God a staff where the help is meant to come from.

You must know that some people are especially interesting: “Pastor Liu, 90% of what I do is like you.” When I ask what that other 10% is, or how they are calculating? It does not withstand scrutiny, all nonsense. They become so accustomed to uttering nonsense that it becomes the leaven of the Pharisees. Everything you say is correct! How could I know? I repeat, my statements are not necessarily correct, but the word of God stands firm in Heaven. Do not merely consume secondhand information. My sermons will not suffice; you must diligently study the Bible. I have never presumed that I am entirely correct. Had I always believed that I was saved and guaranteed a place in Heaven after death, there would be no Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology.

Some would say, You are losing face when you say things like that If this were to spread online, it would be ideal if the news spread that I am imperfect,. I am simply speaking the truth. For years, I have been perplexed by the proliferation of Pharisees during the time of Jesus. These Pharisees engaged in scripture reading, prayer, and spiritual pursuits; they fasted, attended gatherings, and yet they did not hesitate to kill the prophets and crucify Jesus. Sometimes, I think you do not want to play with me. You will nail me on the cross. I want to avoid the Pharisees that think what they are doing is okay. How? You must know that my faith and the Pharisees' faith are not the same. When Jesus came and was crucified, where did such faith come from? I can’t seem to wrap my head around it.

I ask you: If you were to encounter an individual capable of resurrecting the dead, would you dare to crucify them? If you witnessed someone healing the sick, cleansing lepers, enabling amputees to walk, restoring sight to the blind, and granting hearing to the deaf, would you still crucify such a person? The people had extraordinary faith, I do not comprehend such audacity. However, I tell you, I see many Christians today who possess such great faith. Their faith is on par with that of the Pharisees. Ah, I am saved. I ask, How do you know? Because I believed in the Lord, salvation is guaranteed. How do you know? I do not see your salvation. They become irate with me, but what good does their anger do?

Brothers and sisters, we must understand that we must beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, as Jesus instructed. Additionally, we must be wary of the leaven of the Sadducees. Our objective today is to guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, and we will later address the Sadducees. I hope that what we have discussed today has shed some light on this subject, however small. Let us strive to clarify whatever we can, refraining from assuming that we have grasped the entirety of the matter. Acquiring an understanding of the leaven of the Pharisees is of paramount importance. However, how much do we truly grasp? There seems to be a gap in our comprehension. Let us turn to our reading of the Scriptures, specifically 《Matthew》 Chapter 16, verses 5 to 12. This passage is particularly profound, and I encourage all to contemplate its meaning.

Scripture

When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to be on their guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (《Matthew》 16:5-12)

Prayer

O God! Open our minds today, enabling us to emulate Your ways, to guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of the Sadducees. O God! Grant us a clearer understanding of the teachings and doctrines of the Pharisees. O God! Enable us to grasp Your intentions, to act in accordance with Your will. O God! Regardless of how difficult Your instructions may be, because You are our treasure, we shall adhere to Your word, even at the cost of our lives. O God! Aid us today, deliver us from serving You with our lips while our hearts are far from You. O God! Let Your words be engraved upon our hearts, let Your words take root within us, let us recognize that without You, we have no hope in this world. Lord Jesus, my God! Guide me, guide me throughout my life, lead me away from the logical systems of man, away from the logical systems of the devil, enabling me to act in accordance with Your word, not merely worship You with my lips. O God! Guide me, continuously guide me throughout my life, until I see Your face! In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, amen!

Scripture Background

The backdrop of this passage involves a remarkably peculiar event, particularly within the Gospel of Matthew. Are you cognizant of the profound significance of this passage? Chapter 16 of the Gospel of Matthew warrants deep contemplation. I once penned a book titled Two Kingdoms, Two Value Systems, Two Pursuits, which expounds upon the entire Gospel of Matthew, chapter by chapter, from the first to the last. 《This book》 meticulously summarizes the entirety of Matthew's message, encapsulating it in terms of two kingdoms, two value systems, and two distinct pursuits. If you harbor such a value system of a kingdom, and then want to enter that kingdom, you may be a traitor or inside agent.

So, do we know? This excerpt speaks of Pharisees coming to test Jesus, posing the challenge: Perform a miracle! Jesus performs miracles daily; why would they request another? Moreover, these individuals were cunning, addressing Jesus as Teacher, you are a good teacher. Jesus retorted, No, only God is good! They were adept at embellishment and quibbling! Why did these individuals seek a miracle to tempt Jesus? The reason is straightforward: previously, Jesus had fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, prompting them to request another miracle. With seven loaves, He fed four thousand people. They were confounded. How did the math add up? Five loaves and two fish fed five thousand people; shouldn't seven loaves have fed seven thousand? The ratio was off! There must have been an issue with His miracle! Do you think many people enjoy being nitpicky nowadays?

And they ask Jesus to perform another miracle. Miracles are not to be played with, they are not cheap magic tricks. What Jesus did that with the bread was no cheap parlour trick. What the Israelites should have realised was the treasure that Jesus Christ was, who could multiply the bread. What have I have been doing with the gospel if He wants more bread. Jesus is not a bread seller, why not get Chinese Black Bean sauce whilst you are at it so that people will come. It would become like the famous Chef. This is getting somewhere.

Thus, Jesus says, “You know the skies, and can predict rain. Why is it that you see the miracles, but do not know who I am?” The miracles help the Israelites see what they were missing. They are to find that indeed Jesus is the宝贝! He needs to be examined, for that is when we can obtain healing and understand that Jesus is our宝! Then we must review and examine the good words of Jesus! Then Jesus said they didn’t seek, instead they counted the loaves. Those who are not diligent are wrong.

The Pharisees hear nice sounding words. The disciples hear and wonder why the Pharisees speak nice words. Let me give an example. The crowd starts to ask who am I? The crowd responds you are the son of God.

It is not hard. Find any Christian and they will give that answer. Jesus, God, hallelujah! I find their voice suddenly changes as they repeat themselves. Those people can practice. You hear the words from their lips: Jesus is the son of God, however do not think they have the same mind. They are too attached to their lives, when the cost of following Jesus is death. It is very easy, you only have to give up your precious belongings and sacrifice for God, and for all those things. I have come to give and put your burden onto God, will you do this? Is it easy to give up an old mind with all that old logic? But it may be necessary. To say those easy words but be so far from him.

There is no cost to being a Pharisee. The teachings of a Pharisee can be sweeter than a true message. Why is this so important to them? Because they contain logic that the crowd understands but not those who have deep faith. The disciples understand bread, only to be told by Jesus that you are foolish, for the bread is just a lie. You see the skies, how can you not see the glory? If only you would protect.

But the time to test is coming. Do you want to suffer and put your life on the line for him. It sounds easy, there isn’t an easy way. It is easy to say those words, but very hard to pay that price in our hearts. Why is it that way? Because our heads have human logic, not God. Not many people want to die.

But here's the crux of the matter: Does our value system stagnate at the level of merely having enough cake? Or does it dwell on the notion of dying for God? What is your standard? If your standard is a willingness to lay down your life for Jesus Christ, to become a man or woman of Mingding Destiny, living and dying for God, then, I tell you, will anything be too difficult for you? So, today, when I talk about death, some of you misunderstand, thinking I am joking. No, that is not the point. It is about a fundamental shift in how we perceive life and death.

If I were there when Jesus said, I must go to Jerusalem and be crucified, I would exclaim, Wonderful, Jesus! God's Kingdom will come! So, self-denial, that is not an easy task. Why? Because we do not understand it is infinitely good. If you knew it was infinitely good, would you be so conflicted? Do you know this today? Need you be so conflicted? If people were not so conflicted, they would not be so concerned with earthly things, and wouldn't they live more easily, more joyfully, willingly giving everything to God, as Jesus said?

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)

The logic could not be clearer, could it? But after reading this, Christians ask, What is this all about? How many people actually forsake everything for Jesus? Do any of you think this way? If you do, slowly change your mind. If you can change, then that is your good fortune.

So, today, if we move from the level of this life to the level of eternal life, I tell you, you will look down on the entire medical system established by man, and you will honor the medical system established by God. You are gradually beginning to understand why our healing and deliverance ministry is effective; it is because we live within the medical system established by God. Good, that is the background of this passage.

What is this whole passage about? It is all about the leaven of the Pharisees. Do you see? I have given you a demonstration. It is about your leaders, your senior disciples—not the second senior disciple, but the senior disciple. In this test, their verbal skills are excellent. But when the real test comes, they all fail. Time and again, it is proven that Peter is one who fails.

But when Jesus was arrested, Peter said, Jesus, even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. Jesus said, Forget it. Before daybreak today, before the rooster crows three times, you will deny me three times. Why? Because he was relying on that same logical system. So, today, you must understand how marketable the leaven of the Pharisees is, how marketable their teaching is. It is so easy to talk the talk, so easy to do it in this market.

You know, there's an actor who performed a sketch. It's quite interesting; he's a good actor. I'll use it as an example today—it's his creation. Someone asked him, If you had a hundred million, would you donate it? He replied, If I had a hundred million, I would definitely donate it. What if you had a billion? Would you donate that? I would definitely donate a billion. Then, donate a car first. Then, he looked back at his car and said, That's not possible.

Huh? You can donate a hundred million, but not a car? Because I actually have a car. Ah, so you were just talking? I actually have a car. If I really had a hundred million, that's not possible, because I don't have a hundred million. If I had a hundred million, if I had a hundred billion, I'd donate it all. If I had a thousand billion, I'd donate it all. Just talking, anyway, it's not like it exists. So, is it illegal to brag a little? Right? That's how this market is.

This leaven of the Pharisees was not only fashionable in Jesus' time, but it is everywhere in this generation today. People say all the right things, right? Two people say things so well, but when the critical moment arrives, it doesn't work out, right? Because they don't have it, so they can say whatever they want. Peter is similar to the one with a hundred million, almost. So, I think this matter is very important; we need to study it. The leaven of the Pharisees is talking without acting.

V. Characteristics of the Pharisees

The characteristic of the Pharisees is that they can talk, but they cannot act. Everyone, open Matthew chapter 23. Quickly read it while listening to me; scan through it. What does Matthew chapter 23 start with?

Saying, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. (Matthew 23:2-3)

Did they give you a demonstration? Pharisees, right? That fellow. Today, it's the same in churches in this generation.

There was a brother who got cancer. Before he got cancer, he said, Brother, I will place for you. Have you ever seen this? A month later, the cancer got worse, and they met again. Did you pray for me? Oh, YES. Oh, YES. But he didn't. You can tell by his face that he didn't. Yes, yes. When did you pray? That day, the day you asked me; that day, I prayed for you. He typed a line in the wweshop, May the Lord have you! Is that how it is done? That is just talking; there is no action. Don't think that this is not common.

I did something; I did it thoroughly. I prayed with him, prayed with him, prayed with him consistently. And then? He went everywhere proclaiming that I was his true love, that I truly loved him. My God, that I am his true love and he is my true love—doesn't that sound strange? As a result? I encouraged him, Can you start not idling around? Stop just posting that one thing in the group, something from who knows where, like a PPT template bought from Taobao, downloaded from the internet and pasted into the group. What is the point of that? As soon as I asked him to pay a price, that was it; he stopped contacting me. True love? Where is the true love? I truly loved him, but he pretended to love me. Oh, well, I said, Forget it.

Talking without acting is a common phenomenon. Even if he goes around proclaiming, Oh, Pastor So-and-so, how is his pastoral care? What then? He still doesn't do it; he doesn't do what I say. He ties up heavy burdens and puts them on people's shoulders, but he himself will not lift a finger. Characteristic one of the Pharisees: they can talk, but they cannot act.

Characteristic two of the Pharisees: they do things to be seen and to show off. They act very spiritual, make their phylacteries broad and the tassels on their garments long, and they love to sit in the most important seats in the synagogues and be called 'rabbi' by others. They just like these things. Once it comes to paying a price, that's where the trouble begins. Have you noticed that it is similar to Peter in chapter 16? Similar. They like these titles, just like doing superficial work, the second characteristic of the Pharisees.

What about the third characteristic of the Pharisees? Characteristic three: they proselytize converts, and when they become converts, they make them children of hell. Have you noticed this as well? This is very similar; similar to what group? Many groups, many Christian denominations. When you compare, ah, about 90% match—I don't know how I calculated that; don't ask me.

Where do these things come from? These characteristics? Do you know how they come about? Blind guides. Verses 16, 17, 19, 24, and 26 all talk about blind guides. These blind guides, these ignorant Pharisees, these ignorant people. Ah, so that is how the Pharisees became like this? Always playing at superficial work, with no substance inside. When they actually step into the ring, they are immediately pinned to the ground; immediately knocked down with one punch. Then they get up and brag, the bragging that requires explanation, isn't it? In the end, they are just blind guides.

You know, some of our brothers and sisters are very interesting. Today, I need to correct a little bit. Can you allow me to correct you? I hope you will allow me to correct you. Why should you allow me to correct you? Because many people do not have a deep enough understanding of learning and ignorance. They have misconceptions about learning.

They say, Look, teacher, you promote learning. When people learn and have knowledge, they become proud. Ah? Having knowledge leads to pride? What kind of logic is that? When did this logic come about? I have never heard of this logic. I am hearing it for the first time. I said, What kind of logic is that? I have never heard of that. He believes that once people learn and have knowledge, they are no longer blind, and then they become proud and need to be careful, and then they become Pharisees. Oh, I said, is that “赛” that you are pointing to me, the “赛” from Versailles? Maybe you think I become Versailles all the time.

Actually, I don't think that's how it is. When have you ever seen a particularly knowledgeable person being arrogant? It's always the half-empty vessels, the ignorant people, who are arrogant. Have you noticed that ignorant people do not know fear—they are ignorant. So why do people become Pharisees? It is because they don't know how to see miracles, nor do they analyze: Jesus is precious. They don't analyze what is really going on. If they ask a few why's, they could find the logic that Jesus is Lord. They can't listen; their minds are full of human logic.

So, everyone must know that Chinese Mingding Destiny promotes learning. Why? Because if people don't learn, they become ignorant. After people become ignorant, they become blind. The blind then lead the way, and they all fall into the pit together. That's what Pharisees are. How do Pharisees come about? Not from reading the Bible too much, but from not understanding the Bible. It's not that understanding the Bible makes one a Pharisee, but it's not understanding the Bible. They just hang it on their sleeves; they never read it. There are piles of books on the bookshelf, but have they read them? Of course, some people pile them up and read them, but some pile them up and never read them at all—just for show, for decoration. The logical system inside is chaotic.

Brothers and sisters, can you clearly know learning today? To learn thoroughly, to really understand the Word of God, you will not become a Pharisee. They just seem to understand, seem not to understand, and then recklessly say anything, and they become blind. Ignorant blind people, ignorant and blind. Then they still want to sit in high places, still want to sit there and talk nonsense. Isn't that a Pharisee? That's how they become Pharisees.

You know, there was someone who studied theology. He told me, You know what we study in seminary. I said, Good, studying. He said, Our teacher said that you should prepare fifty-two sermons during your studies. There are fifty-one weeks in a year, sometimes fifty-two weeks, so even if it's fifty-one and a half. Fifty-two sermons, one a week. Then you can go out and muddle along, go out and muddle along in the church circle. Ah? Muddle along? I think there might be problems muddling along. Someone's ignorance, then he comes to serve God—what is that if not a Pharisee? That's a Pharisee.

So, today, everyone must know that a person with a deep understanding of the Word of God cannot become an ignorant person but can very likely become a Pharisee. But you cannot deny one thing: a blind person, an ignorant blind person, even if he sees many miracles, a blind person always sees the cake; he cannot see that Jesus Christ is Lord. Is that clear? Even if he verbally starts to acknowledge, Jesus Christ is Lord, when Jesus Christ is really about to be crucified, they say, That's not okay. That is to say, on this road, you must have knowledge, have knowledge of the Word of God, be fully aware of God in your understanding, and be willing to pay the price of life for the Lord. Can everyone understand?

Okay, I think today we will say, Be careful. Do I have these problems myself? If I am not careful, I will be infected. The leaven of the Pharisees is very infectious. Once you are infected with it, it can ferment and become the whole lump, filling your mind. In the end, you become a steamed bun. So I said, Oh! I must be careful.

VI. Repentance Is Fundamental

People must repent. If they were wrong before, they should change now. When John the Baptist was baptizing, many Pharisees came to be baptized. As a result, John said:

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.(Matthew 3:7-9)

Do you understand? Repentance is fundamental. Some people think that repentance is just repenting at the moment of believing in the Lord, and then they never change again. That's where the trouble lies. Repentance is a lifetime of change. Some things are engraved in your bone marrow, deeply engraved. You need to scrape the bone and detoxify it to change. Can the issues in me be changed without scraping the bone and detoxifying? They all need to be scraped and detoxified to change. Repentance is for a lifetime. Why? Because in the beginning, we are 100% worldly logic, and then it becomes 90%, then it becomes 80%, and then God's logic is added in. That is, we must constantly advance and constantly recover lost ground throughout our lives, so that our whole body and our whole person will return to God. Do you understand? So things in the bone marrow are not easy to change.

So sometimes I will say to my co-workers, who may be your district pastors, The problem in you is deep in your bone marrow. You haven't changed one bit from the first day to now. He said, Teacher, why don't you build up my faith? I said, If you believe any further, I don't know where you will believe. Still want me to give you faith? That's not how you believe. Faith is not believing in that; it is believing that we have not repented enough. Our logical system, I tell you, is deep in our bone marrow. It really needs to be scraped and detoxified.

When we see miracles and experience God, have we changed? We haven't changed. The disease comes back. Teacher, why doesn't your prayer work? I said, Why doesn't it work? He said, The disease came back. I said, Serves you right! You are just all talk. Ah, Jesus Christ is Lord. When He really wants to be Lord, you say, That's not okay. You are just all talk. You only changed a little; you are still far from it. You changed a little more; you are still far from it. Change! Our attitude inside must be right; it's not completely changed yet. So the things in the bone marrow must be changed. You need to know that the Pharisees came to the Jordan River to be baptized. Don't you think it's strange? They really want to experience some spiritual things, saying, Look, I was baptized by John the Baptist. Ah, it becomes their capital to show off. So be careful of religious acts.

VII. Be Careful of Religious Acts

You need to know that John the Baptist's disciples and the Pharisees both fasted and prayed.

Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”(Matthew 9:14)

Don't you feel, Oh, how strange. The Pharisees often fasted, and John the Baptist's disciples were surprised that they often fasted too. Ah? The fact that Jesus’ disciples did not fast seemed strange to them as they thought fasting and prayer were so important. Some people have fasted and prayed for forty days and have said to me,Teacher Liu, I have fasted and prayed for forty days.Upon reaching the tenth day, I asked,Have you seen the stars yet?”They said,No.When it came to the twentieth day, I asked,Have you seen the stars in the day?”They said,Not yet.“Oh,you are even better than Afanti.”Later, it became clear that they had been eating one meal a day.Is that what you call fasting and praying?”Oh my God,I thought,How are they still alive? As long as they had one meal a day,they were sure to survive.

Some people when fasting and praying eat rice porridge three times a day. I think this is very funny. Some people have knee calluses from kneeling so much. What is the use of such actions? I think there is no use. Do you understand? That is not God’s intention but blindness and ignorance! Isn’t it? It is just a weight loss method. They take weight loss as the purpose of fasting and prayer. I was actually trying to lose weight anyway. I’ll then just include fasting and prayer. Not only will I be more presentable in front of the pastor, but I will also appear more attractive to my friends. It sounds good to speak of it aloud as it is a way to show off. What is there to show off? You must grasp God’s intentions. What I am saying today has some technicality. So what did Jesus say when He heard?

It says in the Scripture,I desire mercy,not sacrifice. Go and learn what this means for I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.(Matthew 9:13)

As such, I will tell you that what God wants is mercy,not religious acts. As such,it is important to grasp God’s intentions.

VIII. Grasp God’s Intentions

We must desire mercy,not sacrifice. You know how Jesus desires mercy?

Some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”(Matthew 9:2)

Arise and walk. You are healed. Was there mercy? There was mercy. You need to know where Chinese Mingding Destiny’s healing and deliverance comes from. It comes from the mercy of God. I really hope that our brothers and sisters can be free from the restraint of diseases. Not only can they be freed from the restraint of diseases but also know that God loves mercy. God likes showing you mercy. You must know that God is precious. You must know that it is incomparably good to dedicate everything to God. We must grasp God’s intention. In many churches too,I also find things to be very strange. Why is it that when the sister is extremely sick,they bring her to this church,to that church but they don’t solve her problem?

There is another very strange situation: Some churches do healing and deliverance only for outsiders. They don’t perform such acts to those within their own church body.What mercy is this? It simply does not make sense. As such,I gave that sister an idea:Why dont you leave the church and then go back?”When I am outside of the church,perhaps they will perform healing and deliverance for me. As such,these patients with bleeding, the paralysis,the death of daughters; God’s kingdom lies in power. They gained healing through God’s power and through the presence of God’s reign.

Therefore,brothers and sisters, you must begin to know that not only should you do these fasts,this and that since in the end, there is little meaning to them. We also don’t really know what is going on. When we began to understand the leaven of the Pharisees, then today, we must allow our whole lives to be changed by God’s Word, through the new wine and new wine skin.

IX. New Wine New Wine Skin

In this passage, it mentions first that God desires compassion instead of sacrifice. Later, the Pharisees and John’s disciples often love fasting. After that, Jesus said:

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”(Matthew 9:16-17)

New wine in new wine skins. You must constantly be renewed as when God’s Word enters within us and we are still clinging to the old wineskin as we are still not following God’s renewal with Him,there will be tears and the tears will be very great! Later, I understood this and discovered that many Christians had many problems after believing in the Lord. This is because the new wine was poured into old wineskins. An individual that clings to an old system of logic and that still holds to the Word of God will bring great destruction and confusion. Perhaps, I have never explained it this way as have never discussed this before.

Today, I am telling you that if you believe in the Lord and still haven’t had a desire to become a new wineskin,God’s word will bring with it confusion,destruction and great destruction. Having value systems is the same as having leaven of the Pharisees which is part of the code of the world’s very own system of logic. Wearing the coat of religion, this set of code will bring with it much corruption and debauchery. As such, brothers and sisters,we must not stand firm in the absurd thought that we are saved,and not be saved, so on and so fourth. Rather,what is important is that we are the new creation in Christ Jesus.

In Christ Jesus, you must be constantly renewed in God’s Word. The Word of God must become as new wine within us, that our lives may become the new wineskin that is constantly being renewed and will not tear. You will constantly experience God through the new creation in Christ Jesus. This is being wary of the leaven of the Pharisees,being prepared against the leaven of the Pharisees, for once this kind of leaven enters within us,we will be occupied with these kind of logical systems. And from there,all comes with corruption, decay and debauchery. This is where I will share today.

We will sing together this hymn as we prepare to receive today’s offering. If you do not understand the point of an offering,I encourage you to not give an offering. We constantly renew ourselves as God reigns in us and places us in His rightful position. More important than offering yourself is dedicating your whole life to God. Offering is simply a starting point. Would you, like to run the eternal race and accept Jesus Christ as Lord in your life and allow Him to rule in your life and put you in place? Begin to be the kind of individual that gives offerings. Not only dedicate your money,but dedicate your whole being to Him and be the kind of individual who pleases our Lord, that in your life, you may live in God’s purposes.

At this time, I would like you to lift both your hands and pray with me. God, today I give my whole self to you. You say that those who lay down their lives for You will gain it, and those who seek to keep their lives will lose it. Lord, today I want Your words to be engraved on my heart so that Your will may be fulfilled through me and let me be completely devoted to You. God I know this is a wonderful choice and today,I receive my offering and I will dedicate myself completely to — I am completely