The Origins of Chinese Mingding Destiny

Today, I will share with everyone what Chinese Mingding Destiny (华人命定神学) is. I will systematically expound on it one by one. Where did Chinese Mingding Destiny originate? It stems from our dissatisfaction with the existing system of our faith, a very deep dissatisfaction, to the point where we felt the current system was incorrect and needed to be rebuilt.

I preached a sermon: Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes. It is about removing the faulty logic within us. If people become rigid, like building an airplane that cannot fly, and then claiming that's how airplanes are, it's foolish. When I first started the church, I pondered a question: Why is the church I'm building different from what Jesus spoke of? When Jesus touched the sick, they were immediately healed, but I toiled for so long without any effect. Jesus never prepared a large feast with braised beef, roast chicken, roast duck... but I made a big, delicious spread every Sunday to attract brothers and sisters to believe in the Lord. People came, but they were drawn in not because they wanted to believe, but because of the food.

Later, I realized that people share a trait: People follow the Dao (道, the Way). Without the Dao, attracting people with food only brings foodies; with the Dao, it attracts those who pursue the Dao. I realised I had not done it right. How to start doing it right? I consulted a very famous pastor, who replied: Pray more. This answer felt like a brush-off. I thought, who doesn't know to pray more? Then I consulted another pastor, who said: If 20% of your church attends prayer meetings, your church will be revived. Later, I found that even with 50% attendance, the church wasn't revived. Later still, even with 100% prayer, it didn't fully revive. Then, I realised that the entire theological concept needed adjustment.

But prayer did play a significant role. Because when praying, divine revelations truly come. For example: The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light (Genesis 1:2-3). The interpretation of this scripture came from divine revelation through kneeling in prayer, and the Holy Spirit led us into all truth.

Our Chinese Mingding Destiny system comes from prayer. But what comes after prayer? I found that the thoughts, revelations, voices, etc., we receive during prayer still need to be implemented, but there will be many deviations in the process. After receiving inspiration and revelation, our understanding of it might not be entirely accurate. Only when we put it into practice can we truly understand God's will. So the first thing is prayer, and the second is to implement the revelations received from prayer.

The Core of Our Belief System: Implementing God's Word

Our church has a distinct characteristic: systematic Bible study. To date, we have studied Genesis five times. When brothers and sisters browse the Bible study recordings on our church's website, they will find recordings from 2012, 2013... until 2018, because we preached it time and time again. I have a very clear vision: Genesis is the foundation of the entire Bible, so we must study Genesis before examining other books. So far, we have written about 40 books, mostly related to Bible study.

Bible study has one characteristic: putting God's Word into practice. The Bible is a scripture. Our preaching and Bible study are all about discussing a theory. For example, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon is the scripture for traditional Chinese medicine. Zhang Zhongjing, a famous physician during the Han Dynasty, put the theory into clinical practice through reading the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, thus writing the Treatise on Cold Damage. Chinese culture is profound, and the Chinese know how to read, understanding that theory is putting scripture into practice. So, my preaching is theory; the Bible is scripture. That's why many people come to me saying: I studied tourism management. Then I ask them to bring the most classic works on tourism management. Classic works are characterised by being reprinted many times, and many universities use them as teaching materials, so the classics must be read carefully.

I met a brother who said to me: I didn't learn anything in university. Actually, everyone uses the same textbooks, has the same teachers, but the results are different because some people study hard, and some don't. Believing in the Lord is the same. With the same black-and-white Bible, the results are completely different. I found that some Christians who have believed for twenty or thirty years haven't even read the Bible once, which is not good. Scripture must be read carefully, so the characteristic of our church is Bible study. Once, a co-worker asked me: Pastor, should we compile your sermons into a book? I said: Don't compile the sermons, compile the Bible study materials.

Why is Bible study so important? Because we build a complete belief system through it. Only after studying the Bible for a long time did we start having other courses. Our belief system is inextricably linked to Bible study. For example, if there is a Bible study on a certain day, I will start reading two weeks in advance, and after reading, I will think, meditate, pray, and even pray for God's revelation while walking. If I don't study the Bible, will I receive God's revelation? It's really difficult. I lead the brothers and sisters in Bible study, and thank God that each time there is a unique light.

The Holy Spirit will surely reveal to a person who prays. Another key point is: do not have preconceived notions. When I don't understand, I pray to God and say: God, I'm not clear about these words. At the same time, I constantly search for information through various websites and platforms, but after searching, I don't find it very reliable, so I seek God's revelation. Brothers and sisters can see that our church's Bible study materials have a characteristic: practical not speculative. Because this is a theory, we must implement the words of the Bible, so, Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24). My Bible study mainly focuses on how to put God's Word into practice. This is the belief system of our Chinese Mingding Destiny.

Why It Is Called Mingding Destiny

Why is it called Mingding Destiny (命定神学)? When I read the Bible, I listed the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Tamar, and Rebekah and discovered that there was a main thread: destiny (命定). These people had a strong destiny in their hearts, which was to obtain God's promise and God's covenant. Today, because we believe in Jesus Christ, we enter into the blessing of Abraham, which is a blessing with destiny.

Why do I say that? Because the blessing of Abraham says: You will be a blessing to all nations on earth. This is the purpose. Why did Abraham pursue this? He pursued it because he thought that people live and then die. Seeing one die today and another die tomorrow, like Lot's father, Abraham's good brother, died and was gone; that's how people are. Later, he concluded: Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

So, in the first lesson of Course 201, I talk about: Coming out of a vain life. The second lesson talks about: Entering into a blessing with destiny. Some time ago, a sister from Shanghai came to me, and I gave her two books. She devoured them and said, These books are so well-written! I also felt good because I wrote these two books with all my strength. When I was writing these two books, something happened: I wanted to write a course on training disciples: Course 201. When I was writing the course on training disciples, oh, it was difficult, really painful. I prayed in the office every day, walking back and forth. My co-worker saw me and asked: What's wrong? I was in pain, frowning, not understanding. Later, I wrote it again and again. The two books you see today, Making Disciples of the Lord (上下册), are actually what I wrote after three months of suffering and almost giving up.

But you know what? Our God especially likes people who have a seeking spirit. Our God does not like self-righteous people. In the Bible, the spirit of seeking is so good! A man came to his friend's house, and his friend didn't have bread to offer him, so he went to his neighbour's house and knocked on the door. The neighbour said: We're all asleep, just forget about it. What does the Bible say? Though he will not get up and supply his needs because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. Jacob was amazing! Jacob, who was seventy years old, had been living with one regret: no destiny. He wasn't the firstborn, but the second, born only a few minutes later. In his heart, destiny was the most important. He thought: I can't be the second son; I have to get the birthright. I want to receive my father's covenant, I want to receive my grandfather Abraham's covenant. He told God that your covenant must be passed down to me. As a result, at seventy years old, he received his father's blessing and the birthright, which is called destiny!

Today, I am telling you how Mingding Destiny came about. Without destiny, where do blessings come from? Without blessings, how can one live? Some say: People who receive curses also live well. Look at Esau, he's living well. But they live and then die. If you think living that way is good, then live that way. But I can't do it. I don't think living that way is meaningful. Recently, we have been constantly transmitting this Mingding Destiny. A sister from Canada heard it and thought it was good. She started listening online and then came to find me. I hosted her for a week, and we sat together every day talking. I shared my experiences with her. As a result, after receiving destiny, she found that nothing was interesting anymore. Many things in this world are vanity of vanities; they really aren't very meaningful. Only serving God is meaningful.

It's really true; if a person has no destiny, they think the things in this world are important. Once they have destiny, they see everything as rubbish. If you see everything as rubbish, then nothing can disturb you. If you value your work too much, the devil can destroy you when he touches your work; if you value your mother too much, the devil can destroy you when he touches your mother; if you value your children too much, the devil can destroy you when he touches your children. But now, the devil can't destroy you by touching anything. The devil doesn't dare to touch God. Where my God is, that's where I am, then you are powerful! You will never be destroyed.

Today, brothers and sisters must know that Chinese Mingding Destiny is closely related to studying Genesis. In the New Testament, it is explained even more clearly, talking about building a victorious and glorious church. So all of Paul's epistles are talking about a victorious church, and the Book of Revelation is even more powerful, all talking about a victorious church. God's will is to build a victorious church. What exactly is our destiny?

I had a good characteristic since I was young: I did very well in school. People would say, You do so well in school, what do you have to worry about? But I thought, People live and then die, what's the point? It's better to die sooner. How could a child start thinking about these things at such a young age? At eighteen, I was studying at a prestigious university, and I did well in my studies. But I felt, what is this all about? I read many things, trying to find the meaning of life, but I couldn't find it.

Later, I almost jumped off a building, but I didn't. Instead, I had an idea: I have to find a God. Later, I found the Christian God. I walked into a Christian church myself. Then I started reading the Bible frantically. After reading it, I found that it was good. Finally, I found the meaning of life! If you ask me why I serve God this way, it's because it's my life. This is my life, this is my destiny, that's how my destiny came about.

Today, I must tell the brothers and sisters that it is a very sad thing for a person to have no destiny. Chinese Mingding Destiny starts from prayer, the revelation of God's Spirit, and Bible study. I seek God every time because I don't understand. I reject so-called self-righteousness. I don't think I know that thing. I think I don't know. Then implement it, do it, and strive to become more and more like Jesus. If we are not like Jesus, how can it be done? So that's how it came about. Implement, reading and prayer are the two most important things in the church. Then implement God's Word. Only after implementing it can we truly know God's Word, and finally, we can organize the entire belief system.

Let me give you an example: a person gets cancer, and some say it is a blessing in disguise from God. Do you think I'm stupid? I heard this kind of talk when I first believed, and it felt awkward. Do you want this blessing in disguise? If you do, here you go. It sounds scary. When others get cancer, they say it's a blessing in disguise, but their faces turn green when they get cancer themselves. For such things, I have a characteristic, which is to seek God earnestly. Another key point is whether I can organize the words of the Bible into a complete system.

When I see these people getting cancer, what's going on with these phenomena? Some time ago, I met a brother from North America, and he said there was a pastor who was preaching on stage, but blood was flowing down his trousers, from severe haemorrhoids. He thought that was the standard. I don't think that's the standard. The words of the Bible are the standard. Faced with many phenomena, in the Christian church industry, among many brothers and sisters, there are many phenomena. Pastors who are hit by cars and die, and many who die of cancer too. I wondered if there was a precedent for these things in the Bible.

I searched desperately in the Bible. I am a searching person. Searching and searching, I didn't find any sayings like these are blessings in disguise but I found a key point: Chinese Mingding Destiny must be able to explain many phenomena. Being able to explain is one thing; being able to solve these problems is another. For example, many depressed patients come among us and are truly released, with demons cast out. Including cancer, these diseases are also truly eliminated among us. When explaining these phenomena, I summarized and organized them into Chinese Mingding Destiny. There are several keys to whether a theory can stand: first, whether it can properly explain these phenomena; second, whether it can properly solve these problems. It is not very useful just to explain without solving the problems.

No Victory in Spiritual Warfare, No Promised Land

These people all seem like good folks, so how did they end up with cancer? I later understood. If one does not prevail in spiritual warfare, the promise remains unattainable. If you do not engage in this battle, the demons around you will torment, manipulate, and relentlessly attack you, perhaps even causing cancer. We also discovered that many problems are indeed related to a lack of spiritual warfare. For instance, when the Israelites entered the wilderness, God's purpose was never to keep them there, but to lead them to the Promised Land. However, they feared warfare, and as a result, they all perished in the wilderness.

Gradually, I began to understand that many people are good, but they simply do not prevail in spiritual warfare. Without victory in warfare, they are vulnerable to the attacks of the devil. Enduring beatings without resistance, without taking up spiritual weapons to fight, is their own fault. Brothers and sisters, rise up and engage in spiritual warfare. When I received this precious revelation, I began to put it into practice: rise up and fight. It was quite remarkable, as issues of health and finances are indeed spiritual matters.

How did the Chinese Mingding Destiny come about? Through prayer, Scripture study, implementation, and the ability to reasonably explain many phenomena. When explaining these phenomena, I do not engage in conjecture. For example, with cancer, I would not explain it as a blessing in disguise. I never speculate beyond what is in the 《Bible》, as doing so would be perilous. Recently, I found a basis in the 《Bible》, which is to diligently observe and follow God's way. Blessings and curses are two distinct principles in the 《Bible》. If someone is under a curse, evil spirits will legitimately operate in that person's life.

I then began to summarize and abstract these events from the 《Bible》 one by one. In 《Exodus》, it is written that Moses led God's army out on the day of the Passover: At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions left Egypt. (《Exodus》 12:41) At the beginning of 《Numbers》, it states that only those who could fight were counted. I then wondered: Wasn't the land already given to Abraham? Why did Moses and Joshua still need to engage in real warfare? It turns out that without victory in spiritual warfare, the Promised Land cannot be obtained.

Brothers and sisters must know that in the New Testament, we must cast out demons. If you do not cast them out, they will cast you out; if you do not eliminate them, they will eliminate you; it is perilous not to cast out demons. One of our full-time co-workers once served in a previous church. She witnessed the leader of that church die of cancer; the newly appointed leader also died of a serious illness; and then a young man, lovely and devout, whom others wanted to pair with her to become the next generation of leaders, developed severe stomach bleeding and became seriously ill, whom we even ministered to. Seeing this situation, our sister thought: Heavens! I cannot do this leadership thing. Later, she came among us and discovered the real situation: without spiritual warfare, there is no victory. If you do not eliminate the demons, they will eliminate you. The traditional theology that the church adhered to lacked the concept of prevailing in spiritual warfare.

Brothers and sisters must know: believing a false gospel is a curse, and preaching a false gospel is also a curse. Be careful. Some may say: That's scary! Who told you not to fear the LORD, the Glorious and Awesome Name? If you tremble at God's Word, God will surely bless you. Some say I am illiterate, my eyes are impaired, I cannot read. If you cannot read, you can listen. There are many professional audio versions of the 《Bible》 now, which are excellent! Therefore, our Chinese Mingding Destiny comes from prayer, Scripture study, implementation, explaining many phenomena, and solving many problems.

I sent a message to a good friend, mentioning that we both knew a pastor suffering from depression and wanted to contact him to help him. In his situation, he would certainly be healed if he came among us. Many people live in a flawed theological system, and it is a great tragedy if they are unaware of the problem with the theological system they adhere to. I am not saying we have gotten everything right; we must continue to climb spiritual heights. In earlier years, we were often defeated by the devil, and each defeat was devastating. I began to seek God, pray, pray, and pray again. Those prayers were filled with tears and snot, it was very painful. Can losing battles be enjoyable? Pray! Pray! The Holy Spirit illuminates! If you use the method of distinguishing good and evil to fight the devil, you will surely be defeated because the battlefield of distinguishing good and evil is the devil's battlefield.

Therefore, we must return to the 《Bible》. 《Genesis》 is a very important book. God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if they ate it, they would surely die. In other words, our Chinese Mingding Destiny is a very good summary of the main framework of the 《Bible》, describing our entire belief system. For example, only through victory in spiritual warfare can we obtain the promise. The New Testament builds a victorious church, and victory can only be achieved through holiness, unity, and warfare. This is all part of our theological system. I have summarized thirty or forty points, and I will explain each of them clearly.

Conclusion: Only What is Done Matters

We now know the origin of Chinese Mingding Destiny. In the days ahead, we will continue to seek, meaning that our theological system today is not static. We speak of proactive faith. Why is proactive faith effective? Because it is what the Lord Jesus wants. We pray with proactive faith and see results, which is the outcome of practice.

Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth, as Chairman Mao said. As for whether practice is the only criterion for testing truth, many people argue with me, but I believe it is. Speculation has little benefit. Even if you master Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, what then? Only what is done matters. Fortunately, I am an engineer, so I know that if an airplane cannot fly or a program cannot run, it is not done right. Fortunately, I am an engineer, not a philosopher, otherwise, there would be no such engineer-like belief system.

Only what is done matters. Doing it right, implementing it, having results, like the results in the 《Bible》, this is the core system of our Chinese Mingding Destiny, and we will move forward from here.