Good day to all, I am here to revisit the entire book of 2 Thessalonians with everyone. What exactly is this 2 Thessalonians about? It is actually about "living out the glory of God." However, this statement is implied throughout the entire chapter. The preceding 1 Thessalonians is also the same.

In the short three chapters of 2 Thessalonians, Paul clearly explains God's actions, God's thoughts, and how God arranges things. It is just such a simple matter. However, it is difficult to discern this when reading. In fact, Paul explained it clearly, but many times we did not understand it. Especially regarding the various concepts conveyed in the Christian environment, it is a very strange thing.

God is Righteous

If you want to live out God's glory, you must live according to God's words. If people want to live according to God's words, they must believe in God. Therefore, regarding the fact that God is righteous, I tell you, who has fallen, who has risen again, and what is going on? It is a very strange thing in this world. That is, people blame others. "Why am I not living well? Because my parents did this and that, so I got excited and married a scumbag." Blaming her parents is not blaming herself. There is a very interesting thing in this world, that is, people think they are doing very perfectly.

Such a situation is truly speechless in my ministry. Many years ago, I told one of our sisters who was with her child: You cannot be so indulgent to the flesh, indulging like this will spoil the child. She said, "That was many years ago, not now. Look at how I treat my child now, how I discipline my child." Many years later, it was still a tragedy. Why? She indulged her child's flesh, but she didn't even know it.

After a while, I received another person. She was also very indulgent to her child, especially indulgent. Then one day she brought her child to me. Her child was making a fuss in my room, jumping up and down on the sofa, bumping his head. Okay, if you don't discipline him, I will. I have to set rules for this child. Even so, I didn't see his mother disciplining him. Later, I criticized this mother. Of course, she didn't like to hear my criticism. She felt she was doing very perfectly, raising her hand high and gently patting the child. Is that discipline? That's just tickling.

I tell you, many children are spoiled because they lack discipline. They don't know what it means to adhere to principles. Therefore, two ways of living lead to two results. Indulging the flesh leads to corruption. Therefore, God is the God of the living, and God is righteous.

If you do not follow God's words, you will surely reap corruption. But people don't know. Just like the matter just now, I said you cannot indulge your child's flesh. Oh, she explained to me, saying: Teacher, it's not like that, it's like this. Oh, isn't it tiring? Watching the child's mother indulge the child's flesh, but she doesn't know it. When you tell her, she explains a lot. Explaining back and forth, she is explaining that what she is doing is right, she is always right, she is at the world's most advanced level. Isn't it tiring? But we can't control it.

Therefore, our brothers and sisters must know that God is righteous. If you live according to God's words, you will surely live out God's glory. If you discipline your children according to God's words, they will surely be disciplined children. If the child cries and makes a fuss, oh, it's so annoying. Our brothers and sisters slowly ponder, in fact, many people are blessed, how are they blessed? They encounter a "tiger mom." That tiger mom doesn't care about that, she just spanks the child. That child doesn't know, he is not afraid of anyone since he was young. This forms an unbridled wild horse.

God is righteous, how do you live? To live out God's glory. What should you do? To live out God's glory. Then I must tell you again, God will never make a mistake, and the devil will not make a mistake. It is we ourselves who make mistakes. Don't blame anyone for a lifetime. God is very righteous. God is righteous to the point of being beyond righteous.

I can give you many examples. A pastor was arrested. People outside thought, wow, he was arrested by the government, he suffered for the Lord. Did he suffer for the Lord? Later, I met his classmate. His classmate said, Pastor, it's not like that. I tell you why he was arrested. He hung a big banner in the church. The big banner clearly had a line of words, "Forbidden to Pray in Tongues." What? You forbid praying in tongues? Is that from the Bible? No! You want to oppose God? That's it, isn't it? Isn't that deserved? Is God righteous? Yes, God is a righteous God.

Therefore, our brothers and sisters must be cautious. What does it mean to be cautious? That is, what exactly is in our minds? Never think that you are at the world's most advanced level. I must tell you, I rarely meet smart people. Almost everyone I meet has their own set of ideas. I won't say this too definitively. As soon as I say it, the other person interprets it according to their own understanding. They never say, "Oh, doing it this way is wrong. What is the right way?" That would be smart. They all have their own set of ideas.

They are already living very corruptly, and they still have their own set of ideas? People say, "What? Teacher, I have to listen to your set of ideas?" Listen to these words. It's not about listening to my set of ideas. You have to examine whether your set of ideas is God's set of ideas. God is righteous. Remember, I tell you, if people do not follow God's words and implement them well, what will happen? They will definitely be corrupted. Then you say that God is too bad. You cannot say that God is too bad. God is righteous.

God is Selecting Treasures

God is selecting treasures. The problem is whether people are that treasure. There is a very wonderful phenomenon in this world. If people can understand that God is righteous and that God is selecting treasures, if they can understand this, it is very powerful! Until today, I have not found this in Christian theology. In Christian theology, it is all about: wishing that all people be saved; I will lead you to make a decision prayer, and you are saved. Is that a treasure? No, it is not.

Therefore, I tell you: Why was the devil created? Do you think the devil is bad? The devil is good. How can you say the devil is good? The devil is very interesting. He is specifically doing the work of cleaning up garbage. Why? Because God arranged it that way. The devil is not on par with God. The devil is a tool in God's hand. You say: Wow, God is quite bad, sending a devil to mess with me. Is that messing with you? No, it is not. That is God selecting treasures. Therefore, God messes with you. If you fall and are corrupted, why? I tell you, flies do not bite seamless eggs. Therefore, the problem of people is here, they fall as soon as something happens.

I am also very emotional. I tell you, God is unwilling to release this devil. He is afraid that you will fall as soon as you are messed with. However, people live in that corrupt logical system again and again. One day God finally cannot bear it and releases a small devil to mess with him. In fact, you don't need a big devil. A small devil can corrupt people. Therefore, don't blame the devil, blame ourselves. I say it again, don't blame the devil, and don't blame God, blame ourselves for whether we want to be a treasure in God's eyes.

I ask you, do you want to be a treasure in God's eyes? If you don't want to be a treasure in God's eyes, you have your own agenda, you have your own ideas, you have your own core interests, then it is definitely over. If you follow your core interests, you will collapse as soon as you are attacked.

What should we do to be a treasure in God's eyes? We must eliminate a small devil every time God releases one. Later, God releases a medium devil, and we eliminate the medium devil. Because God chooses people, God predestines them to be victorious, why? Because you have faith inside, you believe in the truth. Because you believe in the truth, God gives you a Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in you, and then you will find that a devil is released to deal with a bit of flesh. Another devil is released to deal with another bit of flesh. Whether you can endure it depends on your creation.

This is God selecting treasures. We must be clear in our minds. If we are not clear in our minds, we are in trouble. I guess the Thessalonians did not know this logic. Therefore, Paul explained this logic in 2 Thessalonians. But think about it, if you want to understand this, you should listen to how I interpreted 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Today we will make a summary. To summarize, God predestines those He has chosen to be victorious again and again, until they are sanctified, until they live full of the glory of God's Son. I ask you, is it good to live out God's glory? Of course it is good, but can you live out God's glory?

Our brothers and sisters, do you know how much grace God has given you? God has given you great grace. The diseases you had in the past were all the devil corrupting you, why? Because you invited the devil to corrupt you. Today, after listening to 2 Thessalonians, do we understand how we spent our corrupt days in the past? Instead of continuing to live in that. Continuing to live in that will continue to be corrupted. Although the disease is healed, the mind has not been healed.

The Chinese Mingding Doctrine's view of salvation is to live out God's glory while alive. It is not to live out a lot of religious flavor while alive, to live out that hallelujah, to live out that alleluia, amen! Thanking and praising and shouting slogans is useless! These words are useless, they are just lip service. Let's get serious. What is serious? Serious is how you live while you are alive?

Do Honest Work, Obey Church Rules

This is just the beginning. Many people think that believing in the Lord is the end, I have been saved, and then they start to lie flat. And then? And then they are poor. Some pastors built a church, and what happened? They built a "Church Hoping for the Lord's Return." This hoping for the Lord's return aroused the hope for the Lord's return in people's hearts. Chapter 2 talks about why we should hope for the Lord's return so much? Because it is too painful to work on earth. They don't want to work, they don't want to do honest work, they just want to lie flat. When the Lord comes, they can lie flat completely. What kind of mind is this?

Is that how it is? When you live on earth, you live out the black and white impermanence. You say, when you get to heaven, where will you go? There is no place for you. When you live on earth, you live like that. Then what will you do in heaven? If heaven is full of people like you, I will say, hey, I better not go.

Can we know that doing honest work is part of God's glory? If you can't do anything, but you are the best at eating, what will heaven want you to do? I don't understand. This is my confusion. Our God is the God of the living. When you are alive, if you truly believe in the truth, you can truly live out God's glory. Don't believe in the truth and then live out the black and white impermanence. That is not God's glory.

When people do honest work, that is really testing whether people can do honest work. If you are not a learning person, it is very hard to do honest work. Then you bring a religious flavor, thinking that when the Lord Jesus comes, you don't have to do anything, how good. Is that how it is?

Therefore, the church faces a huge challenge. This challenge is to get people to learn to do honest work. Some people say, oh, when I study, everything hurts except my hair. Oh, when I work, everything hurts except my hair. How can you live like this?

I suppose I am qualified to say a few words. When you are a student, you live a life of enjoyment. You are simply someone who knows how to study. When you are working, you can live out God's glory and enjoy life. You say: Who wouldn't want that? Everyone would.

By adhering to the right path and, through the Holy Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the body, you can live out God's glory. What hinders us from living out God's glory is our own flesh. That flesh is what corrupts us, so I tell you, to set the mind on the flesh is death.

Why is working difficult? It is because of indulging the flesh. Why is studying difficult? It is because of indulging the flesh. Why are you happy when you eat barbecue? Indulging the flesh. Why are you happy when you travel? Indulging the flesh. When I say this, please do not play games with me. Look, when you come before me, you say, "Oh, teacher, I don't like to play." Is that true or false? You don't like to play? People are so carnal, how is it possible that they don't like to play? Playing is so much fun.

Look at the beautiful nature God created! It is indeed beautiful. But if you play like this every day, can you not feel uncomfortable? You will. So some people, their whole lives are very hard. They work to earn money, and what is the money for? To play.
They burn through tens of thousands playing, and then they come back to earn more money. When they work, they are frowning, but when they play, they are all smiles. Can you say this is not painful? Please do not think that I do not know how to play, but I really cannot find any interest in playing. I just like to work. Why? Because after finishing a job with a great sense of accomplishment, it is very satisfying.

My co-workers all have a characteristic. But I do not want to mold you into this way; you must want to be molded this way yourself. If I mold you into this way, can I change you back? I cannot change you back; you must slowly come to this conclusion yourself. When my co-workers go out, sometimes they have to receive people. After receiving them, they take them to see the Singapore night view. Oh, the Singapore night view with its flashing neon lights, the building with a large ship on top, with a swimming pool, is a landmark of Singapore. We have to do this, but after playing with that, what happens? Nothing much.

Later, I found my co-workers very interesting. My co-workers are particularly interesting. While strolling around, since they do not need to accompany anyone to talk, they are on the phone, either giving some teachings or leading in prayer. Or they are uncomfortable with this or that, and then they come back. They do not have this interest.

So we must know that religious flavor is forever meaningless. Hallelujah, Amen! What is the meaning? There is no meaning. Doing real work is not about getting everyone to donate all their money together, and then everyone eats, drinks, and makes merry, talking nonsense. I tell you, if a person likes to work, it is very enjoyable, and they will enjoy it for a lifetime. If a person only wants to eat, drink, and be merry, and is only happy when eating, drinking, and being merry, then they are ruined. Then they will slowly suffer.

So this is the rule. This is the rule for living out God's glorious image. If a person is poor, who can you blame? If you do not do real work, can you not be poor? Think about it, if a person works hard and does real work, and is not deceived, how could you owe hundreds of thousands in debt? Do you all understand?

Our entire church has made a transition. I used to have a wrong idea that the church needed full-time co-workers. Later, I found that the full-time co-workers in the church were just sitting there, and I still have not figured out what they were doing. Making phone calls after phone calls, I do not know what they are doing. Later, I thought, if the Apostle Paul could make tents, then we can make tents. And you know what, I really have the skills to make tents.

This time, the entire church has no so-called full-time co-workers. Our small group leaders can shepherd, working and shepherding at the same time, and we can do the same. And we can do it even better. Why? Because God is with us, how could we not do well? It is not for the money from making that tent. It is for what? It is to manifest God's glory. It is not about sitting in the church with the air conditioning on, and then shouting: Hallelujah. The Bible really does not say that.

Do not ever think that when the Lord comes again, we can lie down and stop doing real work. We are the same as everyone else, because the people we shepherd are all facing many challenges in the workplace and in their work. So the people in the church, the pastors, and the co-workers must know how to shepherd. Solve their problems and difficulties in their work, in their management positions, and in their lives.

For example, some of our pastors demand that the people below them respect them. I do not even dare to demand that people respect me. Why? Why should people respect you? I tell you, if you cannot solve the confusion and problems of those below you, and just say the same old things, it is useless. You need more training, more teaching, more repentance, and more creating value in them, so that they can live out God's image. That requires dealing with people's bad habits. If you have not dealt with them, or if people do not accept your dealing with them, then it is meaningless.

So our brothers and sisters should start thinking about manifesting God's glory in their work, which is as it should be. It is not about wearing a mask in church, and then feeling extremely holy. Holiness is not holiness in the church, it is about living out God's image, living out God's holiness, glory, and power in one's life.
Where is our flesh dealt with? Is it not dealt with in life? I thank God that God gives you a boss to deal with your flesh. I also thank God that God gives you a family to deal with your flesh. Today, let us begin to discern in all kinds of persecutions whether those persecutions are the carnal passions and desires within us that need to be dealt with. God will never be mistaken, and the devil will not be mistaken. The ones who are mistaken are ourselves. Not many of the diseases you have come from the corruption of indulging the flesh.

It is best when people have suffered enough and then know to believe in the Lord. It is the greatest blessing when people have suffered enough and then know to serve God! Without some wisdom, people cannot live out God's joy. Without some wisdom, people cannot live out God's glory. So brothers and sisters, rethink. I tell you, serving is a grace. Because when you serve, you will find that your skills are not good enough. If after serving, your skills are not good enough, then what do you do? You can only say some religious-sounding words to people, but what is the benefit?

I absolutely do not like to say religious words. I am just being practical. Have you all noticed that I like to speak according to your needs? You may not understand why I speak according to your needs. Why? If I do not speak according to your needs, you will deceive me. Today I sing a high tune, tomorrow I sing a high tune, and then you sing another high tune with me. It is meaningless.

The concept of salvation in Chinese Mingding Doctrine is to live out God's glory. So brothers and sisters, begin to gradually understand that there are too many things within us that need to be torn down. Why have we lived like this today? It must be that we ourselves have made a mistake.

I have spoken a thousand words and ten thousand words. I summarize and summarize again. I must thank my God! I must thank my God for creating the devil. I must thank God that, at the appropriate time, He can send a devil to practice with me a few times. I overcome the small devils, then I overcome the bigger devils, and then I overcome the even bigger devils. God has predestined me to overcome! Because I trust in Him, my God is so good! I never ask God why this is so. I say that my God makes everything beautiful in its time, and God's will is good.

There is a very interesting story. There was a German whom God chose to go to Africa to preach. He flew to Africa to preach the gospel, and God gave him a very, very grand plan, with hundreds of thousands of people at each gathering. Never mind his shepherding; he did not care about that. Later, he said to God, "God, I will listen to you." God said, "You are not the first one chosen to do this." "Ah? I am not the first one?" He said, "Then which number am I?" God said, "You are the fourth." "What about the first three?" "The first three did not listen; they refused." Then he said, "Okay, God, you do not need to find a fifth one." I think this is very good.

I am the fourth Chinese person in Singapore to establish a church. I thank God. Although God did not say to me, "You are the fourth," I feel that I am. I founded Chinese Mingding Doctrine. I have clearly sorted out the theological doctrines and the theological logical system. This is God's choice for me, and this is God's great grace to me. I have a determination in my heart, and I also hope that my brothers and sisters will inherit this determination like me. God, give me this work. I will do it well. God, your will in me will surely be accomplished. God, whatever you want me to do, I will do it. I must live out your glory. I want to be a treasure in your eyes. I just want to be a treasure in your eyes!

It is not easy. But it is filled with God's glory and filled with joy from God. I think this is a position filled with God's glory. I want to tell everyone that we brothers and sisters, in your own positions, whether you are cleaning, doing research, or doing anything else, you can live out God's glory. God will surely help you in your position, give you wisdom and intelligence, so that you can defeat every small devil that comes, and defeat every medium-sized devil that comes. God has predestined you to overcome, as long as you trust in Him, God has predestined you to overcome.

Originally, I was chosen by God. God chose us before the foundation of the world, and predestined us to overcome, predestined us to adoption as sons, predestined us to live out God's glory while we are alive. Now, do you all understand?

Living Out God's Glory

If we do not do real work at home, then we should do the housework well. This is the next stage for the church to move forward. In the next stage, we must obtain God's grace among us. If you do not deal with your flesh among us, your pastors will also deal with you. If you do not want to remove the garbage and "嘎嘣" in your brain, someone will slowly remove the "嘎嘣" for you, so that you can live out God's image. Thank God!

This is the concept of Chinese Mingding Doctrine, this is the salvation of Chinese Mingding Doctrine. It is not about going to heaven after death, it is not about waiting for the Lord Jesus to come and then we can lie down. When the Lord Jesus comes, I tell you, God will give you a city, give another person five cities, and give another person ten cities, and perhaps another person to manage these people. God created us to enable us to manage this earth. How good is that!

Anyway, if you ask me, I really do not like to lie down. I also do not like to have a cup of coffee in the morning, then another cup of coffee at noon, and another cup of coffee at night, and then not know how to fall asleep at night, and then take a sleeping pill. Can that be good? Not knowing what to do, and having no sense of existence. And then just eating, drinking, and waiting for death. I feel that this is meaningless.

God, I want to live out your glory while I am alive. I want to catch people for you like catching fish. I want to constantly, constantly imitate you while I am alive. This is my thought. The key is to overcome. Even if persecution comes, thank God! That is overcoming.

Summary

I have made a quick summary of 2 Thessalonians and sorted out the main points. It is good to sort them out, but be careful. Some people will become sons of perdition, which is also predestined by God, and we cannot argue with God. But is the choice not in our hands? To choose perdition or to choose to trust in God, to choose to live out God's glory, is this not our own choice? May we brothers and sisters all be able to live out God's glory while living in this world, according to what Paul taught. Amen!

May God bless everyone!

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