Good morning, everyone. Let us continue with 2 Thessalonians. The theme of the first chapter of 2 Thessalonians is "God is a just God."

In fact, when we believe in the Lord, we will find something that troubles us immensely. It is the perplexing reality of this world: the good do not always prosper, while the wicked often live long lives. Observing this, one cannot help but feel bewildered.

To whom was 2 Thessalonians written? Paul wrote it to the church in Thessalonica. After writing 1 Thessalonians, Paul felt that many things were not yet clear. So, he wrote 2 Thessalonians as a supplement, likely shortly after the first letter.

What questions did he aim to answer with this supplement? He wanted to address the common perplexities faced by the Thessalonians, similar to those we often encounter. Thus, let us read this passage of scripture, and discern that "God is a just God."

Explaining that God is a just God is no easy task. If you ask me if I fully understand this passage, I can only say I will try. The Thessalonians faced these perplexities, and Paul had to further explain, striving to convey the theme of "God is a just God" to them.

The Thessalonians found it strange that they, who believed in the Lord, were persecuted, while the Jews, who also claimed to believe, persecuted those who truly believed in Jesus. Did they not find this odd?

Patience and Faith Amidst Persecution and Affliction

I tell you, how is faith proven? It is proven when one endures persecution and affliction. Such suffering for the sake of God's Kingdom is clear evidence of faith. Is suffering for other reasons also evidence?

Therefore, I say to you, explaining this clearly is exceedingly difficult. For example, some people suffer from cancer or other strange illnesses, yet they maintain patience and faith in their affliction. Is this the same as the patience and faith of the Thessalonians, or is it different? It is confusing, not only to you but also to me.

Early in my Christian walk, I thought God was truly good, a God of healing and grace. We watched a short video testimony in church, and I was perplexed. The video depicted a Christian who contracted nasopharyngeal cancer, documenting his journey from diagnosis to death, showing how he maintained patience and faith in his affliction. After watching it, I wondered what kind of testimony it was. I felt quite confused, yet in my faith, I knew God was my healer. Why was he not healed? This compelled me to investigate further.

Indeed, I tell you, it is difficult for a true believer not to be misled by such things. My research led me to conclude that there is a vast difference between suffering under a curse and suffering for the sake of God's Kingdom. Through close observation—we dare not speak of those we do not know, nor can we vouch for the authenticity of videos—I noticed a distinct difference between suffering for God's Kingdom and suffering under a curse.

The clear difference lies in the strange character traits of those who are closely observed. One brings retribution, the other brings glory; one invites judgment, the other manifests glory. There are also car accidents and other misfortunes. However, people often prefer to speak euphemistically, considering these things as persecution and suffering for God.

After years of research, I found a key figure to testify to the matter of "patience and faith amidst persecution and affliction": Abraham. Later, Isaac and Jacob were also brought into the discussion. Did Jacob suffer persecution? Yes, his brother sought to kill him. What does the Bible say? The flesh persecuted the spirit. Were the afflictions Jacob later suffered for his faith?

Further research reveals that Jacob's daughter was raped, a matter the Bible records discreetly. What does this indicate? After much study, it became clear that Jacob's favorite wife carried an accursed object. Does this bring glory or not? It does not bring glory. Later, I learned a concept from Jacob: when such negative events occur, it is not persecution but a sign that we have not done things correctly. To claim we are suffering for God when we have not done things right is to confuse the issue.

Brothers and sisters, to understand patience and faith amidst persecution and affliction, we must find a model. In the New Testament, who is this model? Jesus Christ. Was Jesus Christ killed by chemotherapy, radiation, or poisoning? No, He was crucified. He did not die of illness.

We are often perplexed. Later, I found in the Bible that curses have clear signs, as described in Deuteronomy 28:15-64, which details the diseases of Egypt being inflicted upon them—upon whom? Upon the Israelites. One manifests God's wrath, while the other manifests God's glory. Commending the Thessalonians for their patience and faith amidst persecution and affliction.

But did manifesting these things resolve your inner confusion and understanding? It seems so. God is a just God. If you endure persecution and affliction for God, persevering with patience and faith, I tell you, you will surely become a vessel that manifests God's glory. How is God's glory manifested? Through the miracles performed by your hands, which become clear evidence of God's pleasure, and God's manifest presence with you. It is normal for us to be persecuted and afflicted.

God Will Repay with Affliction Those Who Afflict You

Where did the afflictions of these people come from? They came from the persecution of others. They were tormented by these persecutors. Why? Because the Jews persecuted the newly established church in Thessalonica. The Thessalonians could not understand this. Some people came in and created much confusion, questioning whether God is still a just God. I tell you, do not be mistaken; God is always a just God. Those who persecuted God's people are deeply cursed.

Why did these people persecute God's people? The reason is simple. It was the Jews who crucified Jesus Christ. They shouted, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" They also cried out, "Let His blood be on us and on our children!" They shouted loudly, shaking the heavens and the earth.

I ask you, why did God not destroy them on the spot? It is not like that. God established Jesus Christ as a stumbling stone. Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces. I ask you, what happened to these Jews later? I tell you, they suffered much judgment and affliction. God will repay with affliction those who afflict you, just like those who persecuted the Lord Jesus. Without a doubt, their end was exceedingly miserable.

Why is this so? Did those Jews truly believe they were serving God? They shouted to serve God, crying out, "Let His blood be on us and on our children!" Where did such great faith come from? Later, I pondered this matter. Who were these people? What kind of people were they? I tell you, my research reveals that they were all believers.

How could believers persecute another believer? Was it not the Romans who persecuted Jesus to death? The Roman governor Pilate wanted to release Him, but the Jews, including the high priests and those fervent in the synagogues and the temple, crucified Jesus. Did they truly understand? They did not. Until their death, they believed they were serving God. This gave me a great shock.

These people were blinded by Satan. They thought they were serving God, but they were not. What was behind this? It was the spirit of religion. The corruption brought by the spirit of religion far exceeds the love of the world. Those who love the world do not do such things. Who would crucify Jesus Christ for the sake of loving the world? What reward is there? Only curses, nothing else. Therefore, I tell you, the spirit of religion is exceedingly detestable.

What exactly is the spirit of religion? It is operating religious rules without fully understanding God or knowing Him in the mind. They engage in operations and rules without knowing anything. So, in recent years, I have wanted to do one thing: to help brothers and sisters know God in their minds. I hope that our brothers and sisters will not be controlled by such things and become so foolish.

Those who crucified Jesus were all believers. Were they not the ones in the temple crying, "Lord, Lord"? Were they not the ones serving God in the temple? The high priests were all among them. They truly believed they were serving God by crucifying Jesus Christ. Behind this was the spirit of religion, which is far more powerful than the old nature or the love of the world.

Therefore, God will bring affliction upon them. Do you see it? Have you seen it? I have not seen it yet. But if you carefully peel back the layers, you will see it clearly upon them. This is the problem. My research has been deeply shocking, to the extent that I have witnessed these people undergoing judgment.

Let me give you an example. I had a good friend who came to me for Bible study. He told me, "Pastor, in my own church, I am a watchman. If the pastor preaches incorrectly, I will correct him." Others were fine, but he wanted to come and study the Bible with me, just to study the Bible. We had some overlapping theological views, such as healing and casting out demons; we all agreed on these things.

His church did not practice healing and casting out demons, only casting out the pastor. He spent his days correcting the pastor. I asked him, "What are you doing?" He said, "I am the watchman of our church." As he watched, he developed cancer. I ask you, is this not judgment? It is judgment. Who told you to do this? He thought he was being very noble.

When I saw this, I wanted to pull him out of this situation. Healing cancer is not a difficult thing, but healing the religious complex within a person is very difficult. He felt he had to be loyal to his church. What use is such loyalty? It is of no use. I tried to pull him over. It was not that my ministry to him was ineffective; it was effective. But he insisted on going his own way. I could not stop him; he insisted on taking that path.

After some time, he contacted me again. Actually, I did not want to talk to him, what was the point? After my heartfelt advice, he would hate me. He continued to be a watchman, which I was willing to watch. Oh my goodness, the cancer was causing him to spray blood like a child urinating. He told me that for the previous three nights, the spirit of death had come to find him every night. He wanted me to see him and pray for him. What could I do? I could not do anything. I was very saddened, and a few days later, he died. I took my co-workers to see him lying in his coffin.

What is most harmful? The religious complex is particularly harmful. Not only does this religious complex harm Christians, but it also does so in the world. If we look back at the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution, their fanaticism was religious fanaticism. Do you understand? They persecuted the old cadres in this way.

It is normal for us to suffer some persecution today. As long as we preach the Word of God and the way of God, it is normal for us to be persecuted. Everyone must know that I do not care much about it. If people persecute, they persecute; I do not mix in those circles. They think the gospel they believe is very pure; may God have mercy on them. So, persecution is normal. Who persecutes? It is all believers, but there is a group of people with religious complexes.

Another friend of mine also had a very strong religious complex. Later, their house caught fire, and I spoke frankly. I tell you, the words of a prophet are always unpleasant. I said, "Be careful, brother." He felt that his belief in the Lord was very pure, and no one was purer than him. He must be a blessed person, a person who loves God. He thought it was normal that their warehouse caught fire, burning several million dollars' worth of goods. Is it? Is persecution the burning down of one's warehouse? No. Not long after, he developed cancer, one after the other. I spoke frankly, saying that he was definitely not being persecuted, definitely not suffering for Jesus Christ, but was definitely under a curse. God will repay with affliction those who afflict you.

Actually, his getting cancer had nothing to do with me. But people are cursed when they believe in the wrong gospel, and they are also cursed when they preach the wrong gospel. But people do not believe this. He also used the words of the Bible to refute me. It is not that my ministry to him was ineffective; it was effective. But he did not like to hear what I told him. People can be under a curse, but you cannot tell them they are under a curse.

He said, "A curse will not come without a cause." The Bible does indeed say this. That's right, it will not come without a cause. Look at people's interpretation; with the same sentence, he felt that he would not be cursed without a cause, but that there was a cause.

What I have been saying is that we must have a sense of reverence! Actually, with you in our church, I am definitely not alone. But in reality, we are still very lonely. Why? The spirit of religion will definitely not accept our approach.

The most formidable thing about churches is their ability to make congregants foolish, but we aim to transform our brothers and sisters into those who are fully acquainted with God in their understanding. How do traditional churches teach? They do so after being controlled by a religious spirit. There are countless examples I could cite. But among us, do we harbor a religious spirit? Many have religious complexes. I don't know when we can completely change. One after another, they carry heavy religious baggage, yet have no real understanding of God in their minds. If you try to initiate reform in some places, a religious revolution, they will fight you to the death, branding you a heretic. God's justice, God is a God of retribution. God is absolutely a just God. From the examples I've given, you can now see how things truly are.

God is a God of Retribution

Let me ask you, what became of those who crucified Jesus? No one remembers them. Do you think God will avenge those who crucified Jesus Christ? Absolutely. What about Judas, who betrayed Jesus Christ? Was he repaid? Absolutely. After betraying Jesus Christ, he hanged himself. The New Testament records it quite vividly: his bowels gushed out. How could his bowels gush out while hanging? It was retribution, a repulsive sight.

"God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)

God is stern. Aren't those who preach a gospel that is not the true Gospel corrupting people? But I tell you, things seem fine before retribution comes. He served as a watchman for many years before getting cancer. He didn't know he would be repaid before getting cancer, nor did he know after. Today, they all seem fine. The Jews who shouted for Jesus' crucifixion didn't have sore throats then; they shouted loudly and waved their arms vigorously. But what happened to them later? No one knows, but I tell you, retribution will come, it will surely come.

Brothers and sisters, you must believe in the Gospel, not just listen to my ramblings. If you believe vaguely, only half-understanding what I say, it's useless. What I hope for is that you can be fully acquainted with God in your understanding. I don't mind if you challenge me: "Is that really the case?" If you ask this question, it's powerful. "Is that really the case?" What does the Bible actually say? Even today, I hope that brothers and sisters can be as wise as the Thessalonians, examining the Scriptures to see if what I say is true.

The Thessalonians at that time didn't have the New Testament; they only had the Old Testament. Even the Old Testament was enough to examine what the Gospel we believe today truly is. The Apostle Paul was such a person. So God is a God of retribution. And what does the Bible say?

"This will happen on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you." (2 Thessalonians 1:10).

How do you bear witness? Not by testifying that you moved a few chairs in the church, oh, how full of life. Arriving an hour early every Sunday to arrange chairs, how full of life? What is that? It's nothing.

A pastor came to me and said, "We have a sister in our church who has cancer." Oh, I understood. People don't like what I say, but it's the truth. I said, "Ah, her cancer personality must be quite strong." The pastor immediately retorted, "Our sister has a very good life." I said, "A life so good that she gets cancer? If it's that good, then she should get well." After I said that, he almost hated me to the core.

What to do? But I tell you, if you can really hear it, when cancer comes among us, I say it's a curse. You will know: "Oh, this is a curse," and you will be healed quickly. I'm not causing you to be repaid; I hope you will be healed and receive grace. I marvel at how Paul could explain this so clearly, whether it's a curse or a retribution.

I tell you, when Paul wrote this letter, it was likely due to space constraints. When he was teaching the Scriptures to the Thessalonians, I believe he spoke extensively about Genesis. I also believe he spoke extensively about Deuteronomy. I also believe he spoke extensively about the history of the Israelites being cursed. Then, quoting the Scriptures, he spoke of God as a God of retribution.

In fact, the history of the Israelites is a clear demonstration of "God is a God of retribution." Those who love God, God will surely keep his covenant of love with them. Those who hate God, God will surely punish their sins, from father to son to the third and fourth generations.

Regarding this matter of the third and fourth generations, many people want to reject the curses of their grandparents, the curses of their parents, the curses of their maternal grandparents, and the curses of those above their maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents. Then they reject their great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers, and so on. They can't even figure out the names of those above them.

Does that solve the problem? It doesn't solve the problem. There are so many absurd things in the church. I can't even find these things in the Bible. Then they reject and reject, severing soul ties and so on. Later, I found that it's useless. Sever, sever what? And after doing healing and deliverance for people, they still need to do cleansing prayers. It's useless; that's not the Gospel.

The real solution is to love God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Remember, those who love God have nothing to do with these three or four generations. How easy it is. How to calculate three or four generations? So I tell you, the title of Christian is extraordinary. I marvel at it.

Let's say it again, how does God repay people? Just carefully read Deuteronomy 28:15-64, that's all retribution. Later in history, the Israelites were scattered among all nations. A small group of Jews was scattered to China. Later, they continued to uphold the Law of Moses and returned when Israel was established. God will repay those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.

How serious is that? If you among us, brothers and sisters, do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ and blindly believe in confusion, you will also be repaid. I can't do that; I can't solve what God wants to solve; I can't solve this problem. The most fundamental solution to this problem is whether you can truly turn to God like the Thessalonians, loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

There is much retribution in the church, much retribution on the Israelites. God won't make mistakes, and even demons won't make mistakes. It's just that Christians and these Jews make mistakes. Why? Because the demons are sent by God. If they don't mess with you, how can it be shown that God is a just God? God is a just God, and those who should be repaid will absolutely be repaid.

God is definitely not a Santa Claus. God is a God of retribution. I have personally seen these retributions. What about those that haven't been repaid yet? That's just a matter of time; don't worry, it's just a matter of time. Deng Xiaoping also said that.

Thank God! I tell everyone the truth. I tell everyone the words of the Bible. Don't play games with God. I hope that everyone can be fully acquainted with God in their understanding, and have full confidence in their understanding, not a religious faith. Being full of religious flavor is very sad. Do you understand? Being full of religious flavor leads people to crucify Jesus Christ without knowing He is God, thinking they are serving God. Suffering curses and thinking they are being persecuted for God, isn't that a tragedy? It's all a dog blood drama.

The Lord is Glorified in Us, and We are Glorified in Him

So what should we do? The Lord is glorified in us, and we are glorified in Him. I'll read it to you.

"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good resolve and every work of faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

What does it mean for the Lord to be glorified in us? Because you do what the Lord Jesus did, you touch the blind, and the blind see. Thank God! The Lord is glorified in us. We are also glorified in the Lord, with the clear evidence of God's power. Can demons perform miracles? Yes, but the miracles performed by demons don't make the blind see; they make the seeing blind. That's also a miracle.

So I think we should do what the Lord Jesus did today. We should say what the Lord Jesus said. If we can't do it and only say it, isn't that a two-cent teapot? So I tell you, we use God's power to fulfill every good resolve we desire, not the wealth we desire, and every work of faith. What will happen to those who believe? What is the fruit of faith? Everyone type it out. What is the work accomplished by faith? The work accomplished by faith is a miracle, it is the glory of God. God is clearly with us because of our faith!

Thank God! I tell you, that's it. So God is clearly with us, are we still afraid of persecution? No. It doesn't matter if some people don't like us. It doesn't matter if some people resist us; we don't care much. But we are like Paul writing to the Thessalonians. You must, according to God's power, fulfill the good resolves you desire and every work of faith, and God's glory will be revealed! God's power will also be revealed! That's how it is.

Everyone should know that some brothers and sisters don't believe what I say, even among us. They say, "The pastor says everyone will be healed, that's too absolute, I don't accept that." Whether you accept it or not, that's what the Bible says. Is there something wrong with your head? You don't believe what I say; what I say is not something I invented. I don't have the ability to invent this. But I have to tell you, I just believe it.

At that time, one out of ten was healed. I believe everyone will be healed. What about the other nine? Later, believing and believing, there were five out of ten. Later, believing and believing, there began to be eight or nine out of ten. Later, it slowly became that everyone was healed. Why? The reason is simple. It's not anything else; it's because the first one was healed, and we didn't get the other nine right, we didn't understand it in our understanding.

I have to tell everyone. Later, I discovered the key. You must know that I believe everyone will be healed. The reason why those who are not healed is because I didn't understand it. Later, I discovered a mystery, everyone remember it. Constantly climb on this spiritual peak! Climb! Hey, this problem can be solved. There are still five out of ten who can't be healed? I continue to climb! Climb! Hey, eight out of ten are healed. Climb again.

So brothers and sisters, if you haven't been healed yet, I can only tell you one reason, that is, our spiritual height is not enough. If the Holy Spirit fills me, just as the Holy Spirit filled Jesus Christ. If my ability is the same as Jesus Christ's, if my knowledge of God is the same as Jesus Christ's knowledge of God, then definitely everyone will be healed. Even cancer will be healed among us.

Of course, what to do after everyone is healed? We must change their understanding, so that they are fully acquainted with God in their understanding, and come out of God's retribution. I give you the antidote here, and you take poison there. There's no way; I can't solve your retribution for God. But in Jesus Christ, we have ample testimony, testifying that our God is a God of retribution. Seeking eternal life, seeking that imperishable blessing, God will repay you with eternal life.

Don't owe God anymore. Don't ever say, "That's too absolute, right?" If it's not absolute, then it's not right. You can't say, "One plus one equals two, why are you so absolute? It could equal three, right? It could also equal four, it could also equal five." If this calculator says one plus one equals three, then it's a broken calculator, throw it away.

So brothers and sisters, we must know for sure that God is the God who heals us. Receive God's abundant grace by faith, and always know that God is just. We must not think, "Did God make a mistake?" Kneeling on the ground and asking, "God, why?" I don't dare to ask. I only have one sentence: I didn't get it right. If I didn't get it right, then I deserve it. Isn't it normal to suffer a little? After I suffer, I say, "I must repent." If I am persecuted, then I am persecuted. If I suffer, I repent. But sometimes, I have many problems, so I can't finish repenting. But thank God! I am not perfect, but my God is perfect. I often make mistakes, but my God will never make mistakes, not even the demons will make mistakes.

The Lord is glorified in us. If such clear evidence of power prevents us from holding fast to the faith we believe, isn't that a tragedy? With such clear evidence of power, such good testimony, if we don't have peace, isn't that unreasonable? If we can't endure, then we are unreasonable.

I give everyone a reminder, don't deal with God lightly. You must raise your spirits. The grace you receive is not for you to receive in vain, but so that you can receive more of God's grace, so that you can know God. Some people receive great grace, and then they finally have the qualifications to love the world. Doesn't loving the world bring retribution? Doesn't living a comfortable life bring retribution? Why not let the Lord be glorified in us? This path is full of God's glory.

Now I finally understand that our God wants to do some wonderful things among us, so that we can be glorified because of Him, and He can also be glorified because of us. This is God's good will. I've finished speaking about 2 Thessalonians. I don't know if I've made it clear that "God is a just God." I've told stories and given examples, and they're still about people I know. We can't explain clearly about people we don't know.

May God bless everyone!

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