Reading the Bible Must Be Through the Holy Spirit to Read God's Word

Last Saturday, we talked about lesson 3.2 of the 201 course - inheriting spiritual assets. How are spiritual assets accumulated? I want to tell everyone that spiritual assets must come from the revelation of the Bible. When the Holy Spirit reveals to us, it must be in accordance with the Bible. The Holy Spirit will not contradict the Bible itself, so we must read the Bible through the Holy Spirit to read God's Word.

How does the Holy Spirit reveal to us? It is through prayer. We pray and receive the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and then we will understand what the Bible is talking about. In the church, if you do not pray, you will never understand God's Word. If reading the Bible is like reading knowledge, then scholars should learn the best. In fact, scholars may not learn well, but those who pray learn well.

The Bible clearly records many such examples: for example, Peter was a fisherman and had little education, but he could understand God's Word; while the Pharisees who studied books did not understand God's Word. Don't you think this is a strange phenomenon? That is to say, the truth must come from the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

The revelation of the Holy Spirit is a very important concept. We see a very important phenomenon in the Bible - a person must be a person of prayer; the church must also be a church of prayer. Therefore, if a church does not pray and tries to understand God's Word through academic methods, it is impossible to grasp God's heart. Because the Bible says very clearly: these words are for you to understand, not for them to understand. (See Matthew 13:11, Mark 4:11-12, Luke 8:10)

Therefore, when Jesus preached the gospel, He used parables to make those who prayed understand, and those who sought understand. If a person prays and seeks, the Holy Spirit will surely guide. Therefore, it is very clear in the Bible that the Holy Spirit leads us into truth.

Relying on the Revelation of the Holy Spirit and Reading the Bible to Understand the Truth

The Holy Spirit leads us to find the truth, which immediately separates those who are led by the Holy Spirit from those who are not led by the Holy Spirit. Today, recalling the beginning of our church's establishment, it was transformed from a non-praying church to a praying church, and only then did we understand God's Word. Today we must also say: God wrote a Bible for us to read. God wrote this Bible absolutely not to say that we rely on the revelation of the Holy Spirit, which is very dangerous. So the first is to rely on the revelation of the Holy Spirit; the second is to rely on reading the Bible.

How to read the Bible? The Bible says: The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. The same person reads the Bible, and he can read himself to death, such as the way the devil Satan reads, that is definitely finished. If this person reads the Bible with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he can grasp the key and understand what God is talking about. In other words, we will see that you must have the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and you must also read the Bible.

Today, brothers and sisters, be very careful about the idea of using one thing to replace another. Let me give you an example: prayer warfare cannot replace reading the Bible; reading the Bible cannot replace prayer; praying in the spirit cannot replace praying with understanding; praying with understanding cannot replace praying in the spirit. This principle is very obvious.

The engine cannot replace the wings, and the wings cannot replace the engine; the navigation system cannot replace the engine, nor can it replace the wings. In other words, these things are necessary. You cannot build a house just because you have a foundation. Can you live on the foundation? You can be frozen to death in Northeast in winter.

In other words, we must get rid of a very bad habit in us today. This bad habit is thinking that prayer can replace reading the Bible, and reading the Bible can replace prayer; praying in the spirit can replace praying with understanding, and praying with understanding can replace praying in the spirit. In fact, nothing can replace another.

Some people say: It's enough for me to worship and praise God and draw near to God. Not enough! Drawing near to God, worshiping God, and praising Him, that is worshiping Him and praising Him. The Israelites would not say that gathering in the temple to worship and pray would obtain the promised land. They must also take up knives and guns, rush into the promised land, destroy the enemies in that place, and then obtain the land as their inheritance. These are two very important concepts - Prayer Warfare and Reading the Bible.

The origin of our church's core values comes from prayer and reading the Bible. Then, after praying and reading the Bible, have you obtained it? Not yet. You must put the revelation you have obtained into practice. I often hear some new brothers and sisters say that our church's preaching and Bible study have become very practical. That is because these Bible studies and preachings come from our practice of God's Word. Only by practicing God's Word can we know that this revelation is good. How can you discern which revelations are truly from God and which are not? That is, you have to look at the practice and then look at the results.

In other words, in the process of practice, we see the result of that practice, and then we gradually incorporate it into our core values, and we grasp the main axis of the Christian faith in the Bible.

We practice God's Word, and then we observe these phenomena. Why are these phenomena like this? Why are they like that? Do you say this is speculation? No, it is not. In the process of practice, we eliminate or solve a certain practical phenomenon.

Let me give you an example: We see that many people today are sick and cannot be healed, but the Bible says that all who find Jesus are healed. Or, in the Book of Acts, those who brought the sick to the church were also healed. So why are these people not healed? The original failure to be healed is the failure to overcome in the spiritual realm. A church must be a victorious church in order to release God's power; if the church does not fight and win, your healing and deliverance are basically powerless.

Our church's spiritual warfare began with a large amount of speaking in tongues, attacking the devil and the enemy, and then miracles and wonders naturally manifested. In fact, in the past few years, our healing and deliverance results have also been continuously improving. For us, seeing some phenomena, we found that these phenomena also have reasons. For example, someone had very painful colon cancer, and he desperately prayed to God to heal him, and then God said to rise up and fight. What does this mean? We must rise up and fight, and victory will bring grace. This is our core value.

Therefore, today we must correspond to God's Word and see how God's Word explains these phenomena, and then use these unreasonable phenomena to know some deviations in our faith today. God's Word is always right. But if we use phenomena to explain God's Word, some people pray and are not healed, and then feel that God's Word is wrong. This is a very absurd method of interpretation.

If today we see that the phenomena do not match what the Bible says, we must know that the problem is with us, not with God. This is the origin of our church's core values. The origin of this core value is a complete gospel. God is originally a good God, God is originally a good God, and God's promises are originally faithful. Then we will build a glorious church and build a team of elite soldiers according to God's promises. We are masters in the church, not servants. We must be holy and united, resist evil, and practice faith. A person's life is a life of practicing faith, and then we constantly fight and win, and then begin to offer ourselves for the Lord. Then we live out our destiny.

In fact, the entire Bible is talking about a question of destiny, talking about why people live, what living is all about, how to overcome, and obtain promises. Core values are a constantly improving faith system that returns to the Bible, a faith system that builds a glorious church.

Therefore, today, brothers and sisters, we must begin to change our concept: we have already obtained everything. Knowing God is a never-ending thing. What we have obtained today does not mean that these core values will always stay here. We will continue to advance, continue to return to the faith system, and continue to improve the guiding principles for building the church. Therefore, brothers and sisters, begin to inherit these precious spiritual assets in the church, and inherit them according to how we obtained them.

Can our core values replace the Bible? No! At best, it is a framework that allows us to better understand the truth of the gospel. It is only a framework.

We must also begin to inherit on the four levels of pastoral care: breaking the bondage of people's flesh, breaking the bondage of people's spirit, teaching God's Word, and then applying God's Word to life. These are the four levels of our pastoral care.

You know, a child has both good and evil sides. If you do not break the evil deeds of this child's flesh, then you must know that when this child grows up, he will not only corrupt others but also corrupt himself.

Breaking the Evil Habits of People's Flesh

Breaking the flesh in many churches is not valued or absent, breaking the flesh is a deadly thing, for example, a child is very good, I went to his house some time ago, the child himself cleaned up the toys, speaking like an adult, very good. But, when his father came back, the evil side of him began to manifest, and the father had to do things according to what the child said. Therefore, this father's method of disciplining the child and breaking the child's flesh was not appropriate, and the relationship was a little reversed.

The child's feeling is that his father should listen to him. In the process of his father listening to him, he began to release the things of his flesh, and his temper came up. I do this industry to break people's fleshly habits. I hugged him over and let him cry, crying hard, and the child began to learn to give up in front of me and deal with the things of the flesh. It is said that the performance was quite good that night, because the things of the flesh in people were dealt with. In the pastoral care of the church, it is similar to managing children. The same person performs well here, and the things of the flesh are not manifested; there, he performs very evilly, and the things of the flesh have not been dealt with.

How Can We Break the Evil Habits of the Flesh?

If a person wants to live well in his life, he must break the evil habits of the flesh. Breaking the evil habits of the flesh is the most difficult and the most difficult to deal with. How can we break the evil habits of the flesh? It is through teaching God's Word, constantly letting God's Word enter him, not living according to people's fleshly habits. Today, everyone must know that we all have some bad habits, and these habits cannot make us live well. Dealing with our evil habits can make us live well. Breaking the bondage of people's spirits and healing and deliverance are relatively simple.

Teaching people God's Word, as a pastor, a disciple of Jesus Christ, you must have the ability to teach people God's Word. You must break the spiritual bondage of people, cast out the evil spirits from them, and pass on God's Word. This is the disciple of Jesus Christ. If you cannot teach God's Word, you are at best a good person, not a good disciple. Being such a Christian is at best a believer. You must learn to teach people God's Word. Your pastoral care is not about chatting. Teaching people God's Word is an important ability. That is called pastoral care.

How to Apply God's Word to Life?

Pastoral care must speak God's Word, and must speak about how to apply God's Word to life. Chatting about family matters is not called pastoral care. Our church is very, very focused on God's Word. Passing on God's Word and teaching people God's Word is teaching people faith in God's Word. It is often found that some people originally had problems. When you teach them to have faith in God, their problems immediately become smaller. Chatting is useless. Brothers and sisters, inherit such spiritual assets.

Spiritual assets are explored from practical processes, imitating the specific practices of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. When did you see Jesus and Paul chatting with people about trivial matters? No. That is not called pastoral care. Teaching people God's Word, making people have faith in God's Word, releasing God's power, and then applying God's Word in practice is the key to solving life's problems. Some of our brothers and sisters cannot see how to solve problems in life. After a month or two, the whole person's faith is very weak. Why is this? The reason is very simple. Faith cannot continue.

Continuously feeding on the Word of God is crucial for one's continued progress. It is imperative to apply God's Word to daily life. In my observations over the years, I have noticed an interesting phenomenon: when a person experiences health issues, financial difficulties, or lacks prosperity, it invariably stems from spiritual problems. Either a proper spiritual understanding has not been established, or numerous worldly logic systems within them have not been dismantled. These elements are detrimental.

Today, the ability to teach God's Word must be cultivated and passed on. Examine how well this is being implemented in life. Have you mortified anyone's fleshly desires? Have you mortified any of your own fleshly tendencies? If not, and one remains a carnal person, who have they healed or delivered? At best, they are merely good people, certainly not disciples of Jesus Christ. A true disciple of Christ delivers people to freedom.

If one neither teaches the Word of God nor integrates it into people's lives, can they be considered a good Christian? At best, they are merely good people, and the difference between a good person and a good Christian is vast. How can we help those who have been corrupted? How can we liberate them from spiritual bondage? How can we teach them the Word of God? How can we lead them into abundance and prosperity? How can we dismantle the carnal habits and obstacles that prevent them from being blessed? This defines a good disciple.

Can Basic Life Problems Be Resolved?

Therefore, we must begin to understand: what is the outcome of discipleship? Can it resolve a person's basic life problems? If discipleship fails to address these issues, it is ineffective. Discipleship must solve people's life problems. Our God is a God of the living, a God who grants grace while we are alive. The effectiveness of our service and discipleship must be evident in people's concrete lives and result in prosperity. Where is the biblical basis for this? Deuteronomy 28.

Some argue that Joseph, who diligently obeyed God's Word, was sold into slavery in Egypt. Do you understand the Bible? Joseph, as a slave in Egypt, was a prosperous slave. His master, Potiphar, entrusted him with the management of his entire household, except for his wife. Even when he was falsely accused and imprisoned, he thrived in prison as the warden, managing all the prisoners. God was clearly with him. When reading the Bible, avoid being one-sided. Recognize that our God is the God of the living.

Four Levels of Discipleship: Building People into Individuals Like Joseph and Jacob

The four levels of discipleship aim to build people into individuals like Joseph and Jacob. Was Jacob poor during his fourteen years with Laban? Yes, he was poor. However, how were the flocks he managed? They were managed very well. Everyone should know that God blessed Laban's family because of Jacob. Wherever you are, prosperity follows. This is the hallmark of the best disciples of Jesus Christ: to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Breaking down the carnal life leads to prosperity. Failing to break down the carnal life hinders prosperity. Dismantling worldly concepts leads to a thriving life, while establishing spiritual concepts ensures prosperity. We must use spiritual words to address spiritual matters, as everything is spiritual. Earning money, physical health, life, and work are all spiritual matters. Everything pertaining to your life is spiritual. Since everything is spiritual, the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

Therefore, all these problems can be resolved by God, and His power will manifest in our lives. Our faith does not rest on eloquent wisdom but on the demonstration of the Spirit's power. All four levels of our service will help people increase their faith, that is, faith in God. Everything that does not come from faith is sin. It is imperative to pass on this understanding, as it aligns with the Bible.

In my interactions with various churches, I have noticed an interesting phenomenon: churches fall into two categories—discipleship-oriented churches that focus solely on discipleship, and ministry-oriented churches that prioritize doing work. I have pondered and observed these approaches. Many churches offer discipleship and teaching, but then nothing else. They do not even build their own church website. Is their discipleship effective? It's uncertain. In our church, once a person has been discipled to a certain level, they must participate in church ministry, continuously growing in their spiritual life. Our church is a church of sacrifice. Church ministry simultaneously shapes a person's character and builds their spiritual life.

Ministry Is Also Spiritual Asset

We begin by establishing a discipleship relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. Then, the sheep participate in the church's ministry system, which is our church's most important spiritual asset. After discipleship, they must implement what they have learned through work. Thus, we have established a website for literary ministry, deliverance ministry, basic training, career planning, and outreach ministry.

Recently, I discovered that some of our brothers and sisters are highly blessed. When they seek employment, they are asked about their experience and capabilities, and where they acquired their skills. They respond that they learned them from serving in the church's ministry. Do you understand? Active participation in church ministry leads to personal growth. Without participation, how can one's life grow?

A Person's Competence Is Judged by Their Actions

So, where did the concept of doing work originate? It came from the church. You must work alongside a person. If you only listen to their words, you will encounter problems. One must assess their capabilities in action. If they falter under pressure, they are not a reliable asset.

Today, when our brothers and sisters work in the church, we see their problems. For example, if someone encounters numerous issues while doing ministry, it reveals problems in their life. It is not merely a matter of skill but an issue of attitude—a problem rooted in their very being.

Therefore, a person's problems become evident in their actions. Our church absolutely does not allow individuals who shout Hallelujah loudly but are incompetent in their work to become leaders. In my observation, I have noticed that many churches compete over who can shout Hallelujah the loudest, but in our church, we compete over who can perform their duties the best.

For example, with discipleship, one can quickly assess how many people you can disciple. Can you break down their carnal behaviors and spiritual strongholds? If you can lead them to overcome these issues, can you teach them God's Word and help them apply it to their lives? If you are someone who applies God's Word to your life and serves others, you will undoubtedly be blessed.

If someone is lacking in these areas but is enthusiastic about giving offerings, their enthusiasm for giving will not necessarily lead them to blessings. Giving is an initial stage of being blessed. For true prosperity, one must continuously train in church ministry. That is why we disciple and then push people into ministry. As a result, we have numerous ministries in our church!

Ministry Promotes Personal Growth

Our Bible study and deliverance ministries have been highly fruitful. For example, how many Bible study materials have we produced? We have written over thirty books. Who compiled them?

Our brothers and sisters in the literary ministry and basic training ministry teams compiled them. Our Bible study materials continue to accumulate. Do you know how many brothers and sisters have been edified in the process? Participating in literary ministry and compiling these Bible study materials has strengthened their understanding of God's Word. The more they compile, the more they gain. Transforming the compiled Bible study materials into books has resulted in over thirty volumes.

Some churches with thousands or tens of thousands of members do not produce as much material as we do. Why? Because we have both discipleship and ministry, and we have a rigorous training system. We do not simply push you into a role without preparation. Each ministry has a specific training style. We train you and then assign you to a task.

When you operate in this way, it becomes intimately connected to your life, and your abilities improve. I do not believe that someone who does not work can become a spiritual person. God created Adam and Eve to work and manage the earth. If you ask why God created a perfect world and still requires us to work, instead of simply enjoying it, it is not about enjoyment but about management. It is a process of working with God, and doing work is collaborating with God. Therefore, our brothers and sisters must continuously inherit these spiritual assets. Some churches offer courses but do not lead their members to diligently study the Bible. Instead, they have a plethora of courses. In our church, we study the Bible book by book. Simultaneously, we offer 101, 201, and 301 courses, and we plan to expand each series of courses in the future.

We have systematic Bible study, and we also have courses. This is like scaffolding, with wood and steel pipes erected outside a building in a crisscross pattern. We have Bible study, and we have courses. We also have discipleship, and we have ministry, creating another crisscross pattern.

Therefore, the system we have established is very solid, and a church built in this way is very strong. Brothers and sisters, you will undoubtedly be blessed in such a church because we train you to be blessed individuals who not only speak but also act. We have training ministry, outreach ministry, IT development ministry, literary ministry, deliverance ministry, and abundant music ministry, among others, all aimed at perfecting people's lives.

Receiving the Spiritual Assets of the Church

In summary, Part 2 of Lesson 3 emphasizes that inheriting the spiritual assets of the church is essential! Some people do not inherit them and instead develop their own system. But are those people disciples? It's unclear whose disciples they are.

You are a disciple by inheriting. Our church's spiritual assets are continuously improving, adjusting, and becoming richer. Inheritance is a lifelong pursuit, as is knowing God. Remember, in our church, some people are ineffective because they do not inherit. If you are ineffective, what are you doing? If you are ineffective, you are not my disciple, even if you are in the discipleship group.

Therefore, know that disagreement and non-inheritance are serious issues. I want to teach you that some people agree with certain things and disagree with others. They say, I agree with this, but I disagree with that. What are you doing then?

I think it's best to just give up. I cannot disciple such people. If they prefer to struggle on their own and do their own thing, let them do so. Therefore, the result of inheritance is the effectiveness of discipleship. If you do not produce the effectiveness of discipleship, what are you telling me?

If you wish, go out and build your own system. That is a fatal mistake. Today, I want you to remember that inheritance is the key to effective service. Non-inheritance, developing your own system, is like going back to the era of making fire by rubbing sticks together. Is anything not received?

Therefore, our brothers and sisters must break free from the bad habits of non-inheritance and disagreement. Establish a correct belief system and then put it into practice. If practice is ineffective, we will re-evaluate and discard it. If it is effective, we will keep it and treasure it.

Our spiritual assets are all collected because they are effective in practice. For example, courage and spiritual warfare are our spiritual assets. Brothers and sisters, I encourage you again: look at the results, and do not just listen to what people say.

Some people are terrible at discipleship but claim to have the gift of prophecy. I tell them, Forget it. You are a prophet of the devil, not a prophet of God. If a person does not produce effective service, it is all nonsense. Remember, inheritance is the key to effective service.