Maturity in Life

People mature through continuous learning. Intellectual maturity is closely tied to learning. Judge people not by age; some, though chronologically mature, display ignorance in learning. While the physical body grows, the mind may remain underdeveloped due to confused judgment. In my ministry, such cases are the most challenging to address. Why then is the theme of this chapter learning to grow and mature? Consider the following scriptures:

Though he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)

Learning is the central theme here. We must understand that learning is closely related to growth. Some individuals, even in their forties, exhibit poor learning abilities, indicating a need for growth in this area. Learning to grow and mature is a crucial lifestyle for Christians. Learning is vital because it cultivates understanding. The exciting part of life lies in learning.

Through learning, our minds are renewed; through learning, we enter new realms and elevate our lives; through learning, we gain a higher understanding of God's truth, continuously ascending the mountain of the Lord; through learning, we accomplish new things; through learning, we experience and know God more, enhancing ourselves. With increased learning, our minds become sharp, enabling us to distinguish good from evil.

Some might ask, Isn't 'distinguishing good from evil' akin to 'knowing good and evil'? Knowing good and evil is a sign of ignorance, judging right and wrong based on one's own standards. It would be better if people judged right and wrong according to God's standards. If you were like Jesus Christ, you would not be hurt; if you were like Jesus Christ, you would not love the world; if you, like Jesus Christ, often use God's standards to view things, you would not be confused. Continuous learning sharpens your discernment, allowing you to perceive things accurately.

In this chapter, the author is writing to those who dislike learning, who only want to understand the surface, who can only consume milk, not solid food, and whose understanding of things is like that of infants. If you are like an infant, you cannot accomplish anything. We often say someone has 开窍了 (kai qiao le, lit. has had their wits opened*), meaning they react to things in a way that aligns with God, making them astute and skillful in handling matters.

In the faith of Jesus Christ, we must move beyond a superficial faith. I never taught that I am saved, I will go to heaven when I die, I have been baptized... Those who hold such views are, in fact, very confused.

Recently, a sister, having received many erroneous teachings from her previous church, unwittingly spoke strangely. I advised her to clarify matters with her parents and lead them out of such beliefs, lest they develop dementia. She refused, saying, My father is fine; he has made a decision to pray. This struck me as odd. What is a decision to pray? Of what use is it? Making a decision to pray is quite useless. The author of Hebrews echoes this sentiment.

Do Not Linger at the Beginning, But Practice Diligence and Discern Good from Evil

In my paper version of the Bible, there's a subheading above Hebrews 5:11: Warning Against Apostasy. Those who turn to apostasy are those whose minds are not sharp or open. Today, we must not remain at the elementary teachings about Christ, striving instead for diligence, an open mind, and discerning good from evil according to God's Word. Who is Melchizedek? Many do not know. The author speaks of Melchizedek with much to say, yet it's difficult to explain because you are slow to learn. From Genesis to Revelation, it is crucial to understand that growth and maturity are what count.

At this point, some may say, The thief on the cross—Jesus told him, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' Some develop a peculiar mindset, wanting to be like that thief. I believe that thief lived a miserable life, never enjoying the best grace in Jesus Christ. If you aspire to be that thief, you would repent to Jesus before death and join Him in paradise.

But what we receive today is the identity of a priest in the order of Melchizedek. How can we say, Live as a thief your whole life, committing sins your whole life, and consider that enjoyment? It is not. Some think that believing later in life allows them to sin freely, treating sin as a form of enjoyment.

Everyone must clearly understand that being a priest in the order of Melchizedek is true enjoyment! For Abraham, returning from victory, offered a sacrifice to Melchizedek. The order of Melchizedek is excellent, but people's understanding of faith is shallow and crude. While we live, we should live out the image of Jesus Christ, not the image of a thief. If you want to live out the image of a thief, thinking it's good, you may do so. But I will strive to live out the image of Jesus Christ.

Our understanding of salvation is to live out the image of Jesus Christ. We inherently possess God's glorious image; we have the image of Melchizedek. Living out such a glorious image while we are alive is a great salvation, a great calling. If you don't want to grow and prefer to emulate the thief, then do so. But remember, that thief ended up miserably, hanging on the cross.

You might say, Jesus was also on the cross. But Jesus was there to accomplish our salvation; His crucifixion was glorious. The thief was on the cross because he deserved it, paying the price for his sins. Therefore, we must recognize that some suffering is glorious, while some is not. As you learn to grow and mature, continuously imitating Jesus Christ, you progress from drinking milk to eating solid food. Knowing Jesus Christ fully in understanding, fully knowing our God in understanding, is immensely wonderful.

Continuously Learn to Know God Fully in Understanding

What should we learn? First, we must recognize the importance of learning. A person learns throughout their life, from childhood to old age. We are not building a religious institution but a learning institution. Each brother and sister among us should become a talent in society.

From birth to growth, maturity, and old age, we must be talents in society, manifesting God's glory in society. So today, we must eliminate these religious terms and resolve to live out the glorious image of Jesus Christ. Religious terminology is meaningless; let's focus on the practical: learning to grow and mature.

Recently, a sister responsible for pastoral care shared that a sister she ministered to had failed her driving test (科目一) for three years. I felt burdened, thinking, We need to lead her into understanding. This is a matter of learning. So, the most crucial skill we must master today is the ability to learn. Learning ability is essential. If one doesn't learn and only knows how to pray, it is ineffective and lacks meaning and value. I don't encourage brothers and sisters to only pray without doing anything.

Therefore, we must not only know God spiritually but also know Him fully in understanding. We must know that we are to receive the sonship of God, a great and precious salvation that enables us to live out God's glorious image in this world, to take on our destiny, to build God's temple, God's house, and then find rest in God's house. Rest is the most wonderful feeling in life. So, brothers and sisters, we must never remain at the beginning of our Christian faith; we must begin to learn continuously and know God more.

In the process of learning, we will inevitably encounter various difficulties, but that is okay. Our God will be our ever-present help. Our God sends the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who will teach us and lead us into truth. This truth is not just spiritual truth but all truth. So, those among us who can't read should start learning to read, those who can't type should start learning to type. We must learn that we must live out a life as splendid as God's.

We have many courses, and we will develop more in the future, to help you know God more and live out His glorious image, including healing and deliverance, how to speak, how to lead people in studying the Bible, how to break down carnal habits, and live out the glorious image of Jesus Christ.

Why does the author repeatedly mention being a high priest like Melchizedek? Who is Melchizedek? The Bible doesn't record where he came from; it only calls him the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High. Abraham returned from battle and gave Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils. It is said that Melchizedek was Shem, the son of Noah.

He also said, Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem; may Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend Japheth's territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave. (Genesis 9:26-27)

Returning to Genesis, we see that Shem is a very important figure. Shem is in covenant with God; those in covenant with God are called Melchizedek. This covenant elevates Melchizedek to a high level. In this world, all who are like Abraham must offer sacrifices to Melchizedek, giving him a tenth. The order of Melchizedek is greater than the order of Aaron because Aaron is a descendant of Abraham, called by God to be a high priest. Aaron's office and Melchizedek's are not of the same order; Aaron is lesser than Abraham, while Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.

We must know that our Jesus Christ is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, a glorious priest. Aaron is a weak priest; Melchizedek is a glorious priest. What we are learning today is to understand that the office and title we receive are that of a glorious priest. Today, as we learn from and imitate Jesus Christ, we are to be priests in the order of Melchizedek. This is what we must learn.

The Most Important Learning is Learning the Obedience of the Lord Jesus

Though he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Brothers and sisters, know that obedience is learned. Never think that obedience is blind; blind obedience is useless. We must know very clearly in our minds that we are to obey our God, obey Jesus Christ. Our church has come this far because we have learned to obey Jesus Christ. Therefore, everywhere I speak of emulating Jesus Christ, of desiring to be like Jesus.

Many pour cold water on me, but I will emulate Jesus because I know God wants me to emulate Him, to know God fully in our understanding, to let us know what a glorious title, what a glorious grace this is. We are to emulate Jesus. In a person's life, the most critical thing is whether you are willing to lay down your life. If you are willing to lay down your life, then you have truly learned. This is not an impulse but a clear recognition in understanding.

Years ago, God asked me, Are you willing to lay down your life for me? I replied, Of course! If God were to call me away now, I wouldn't want to wait until tomorrow; I would eagerly leave this world. I have no attachment to anything in this world. Of course, God has left me here to labor, so I will labor with clarity. Besides Genesis, my favorite part of the Bible is Ecclesiastes because reading Ecclesiastes helps one understand what life is like. A person must understand the nature of living. We often live laboriously because we cannot see through it.

I recently ministered to a brother who had stiffness in his back, as well as frequent aches in his ankles and legs. As I prayed for him, I discovered many troubles and pressures in his understanding. I enlightened him, drawing mainly from the words of Ecclesiastes. If we believe that living is only for the things of this world, then it is a vain life.

Some people strive hard to start businesses, creating impressive enterprises, thinking that they will live well, but they become more and more weary. Some eventually understand and reflect on what they are doing. So, we must see through this vain life, and we will happily eat, happily work, and enjoy all that we have labored for. This is God's beautiful will for us.

If we truly understand in our understanding that life is vanity, then work will not become a pressure. If we do well, we thank God; if we don't do well, we don't collapse; we will still do our best. We are to emulate the Lord Jesus. Obedience is clear and deliberate; don't think that by blindly rushing, God will become the source of our eternal salvation.

How should eternal salvation be understood? It doesn't mean going to heaven or hell. It means that while you are alive, God can be your ever-present help. This is what is meant by God being the source of your eternal salvation. He will help you anytime, anywhere, but you must have a willingness to learn. If you don't have a willingness to learn, it's like trying to force a cow to drink water. From today, become someone eager to learn:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Today, God is already waiting for you, waiting for your continuous yearning, not just for healing but for knowing God, for growing into the fullness of Jesus Christ. He will surely help you forever, becoming the source of eternal salvation.

If you still believe that salvation means going to heaven after death, I won't correct you. I want to tell everyone today that Jesus said He healed the woman who touched Him because of her faith. Similarly, it is your faith that allows Jesus to help you, to learn to overcome difficulties, to draw upon the source of salvation, and to obtain the power of salvation. Today, we must begin to obey the Lord, learning to be gentle and humble in heart, not agitated. The yoke of the Lord Jesus is easy. When you see through everything, there is no burden, and living becomes simple.

Recently, a sister said that I live so freely, which is very good. I told her that she could also live as freely as I do, but she said, Oh no, it's not possible. Work is still a bit stressful. The reason is that the leader will visit soon, and there will be inspections soon.

Actually, when I used to work, the company had internal audits, external audits, and IT security audits. There were several audits every year, which made me very tired, but I could still happily eat and happily work. Some brothers and sisters may ask why I could do that. I tell you, because I have studied the Word of God, and after studying it, I have seen through it. I don't even care about dying, so why would I care if the computer dies? This is wisdom.

We must begin to learn the wisdom of Jesus Christ. Look at the Bible, many people came to make things difficult for Jesus: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Jesus said: Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. (Matthew 22:21) So we really have to constantly study many things, become shrewd, and with a heart of wisdom, you will slowly see through money.

Originally, money can't give us anything. Of course, although money can't give us anything, we can't say that we don't need money in this world. So what should we do? Jesus said, Peter, go to the river and catch a fish, and the fish will have a silver coin in its mouth, just enough to pay Jesus' poll tax.

We see that with Jesus, money is not a problem at all. The problem is that when we don't see through it, money can cause a lot of pressure. But the fact is: God will provide for us, and money should not be a problem. Today we must learn to see through all the things in this world, including life and death, money, career, work, life, family, children, etc., and practice diligently to discern good from evil. You will want to obtain your destiny in this generation.

Although I will do everything earnestly and happily, the things of this world cannot control me or make me unhappy. These things must be cut off from me. I want to live out the freedom of Jesus Christ. I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice wholly to God, to be a blessing to many people. I want to aspire to God's glorious calling in the order of Melchizedek, to obtain a glorious destiny. I long for my life to be a vessel in God's hands, longing for God to use me greatly, so that I can choose to obey God not only in my heart but also in my mind, like Isaac willingly offering himself completely. How wonderful it is to offer yourself to God!

When you do this, the problems, troubles, and pressures all disappear. You eat heartily, even eating instant noodles with relish. So brothers and sisters, you must understand that the problem lies in whether our minds have learned to understand that living in this world is vanity of vanities, in whether we truly know God. We must know that only knowing God and serving God is our glorious destiny in life. Don't let many worldly concepts in our minds hinder our learning.

The Obstacle to Learning is the Inability to Hear

The leader has said what needs to be said, but have the people below taken it in? No. Some people shake their heads after listening, thinking: More vanity of vanities, can you pay my rent tomorrow? Brothers and sisters, are you living just for rent? Can we choose to be wise and consider this reasoning today:

There is a God who possesses all things in the universe. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Heaven is His throne, and earth is His footstool. Today, He has come to earth as a man, incarnated in the likeness of man, as Jesus Christ, opening a way to eternal life for us. He said: I have come to restore in you the glorious image in which I created you.

Brothers and sisters, can rent and phone bills still be a problem? Can't our God solve these problems? These problems are a piece of cake for our God, very simple.

Yesterday, I criticized one of our sisters because her child was about to enter elementary school, and she sought help from others to get the child into a good school. Can't we see through this yet? Is there any difference between elementary schools? I see many famous elementary schools where the students turn out to be trash, not learning anything worthwhile. I see many children learning piano, but in the end, it's all useless.

Learn to Be a Wise and Shrewd Person

Why are we not wise? Why are we not shrewd? What is the use of those things? Why still go down this path? To ask for favors, we still owe people a debt of gratitude. Can we do one thing today: I don't buy what I can't afford, I don't go to the school I can't get into, I don't use what I can't use, possessing as if not possessing, and not possessing as if possessing.

We must see through all the affairs of the world. How can we not listen after seeing through them! Today, I say, going to any elementary school is the same. The key is not the school, but the child. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt without attending university. He couldn't even own himself. Do you think he could have amounted to anything? The issue is that Joseph was Joseph. If he were not Joseph, what use would it be to send him to university?

An entrepreneur only attended a technical secondary school and became a large entrepreneur. But she supported her brother to attend a very good university, and in the end, he became depressed. We thought that thing was important. Today, it has been proven to you. What is important is whether the child is a learner. Some parents tell their children to study hard, and the child says, What about you, Mom? Her mother says, I'm going to play mahjong! Do you think this child can study hard?

We can't hear because our hearts are blocked by things. We don't believe that God is the answer to all our problems. We don't believe that living is vanity of vanities. We cling to meaningless things, and when people tell you about meaningful things, you can't listen. We don't know that we bear a glorious calling and a glorious title. We are unwilling to pay the price.

Today, let's challenge everyone. How many of us are willing to sacrifice our sleep? Many brothers and sisters have received great grace from God because of our service. If it weren't for our sleep-sacrificing service, you would be living miserably today. I know you are willing to give, but I would rather you learn to be discerning, to grow and mature, and to discern according to God's will.

We Must Learn to Pay the Price

Are you willing to pay the price for God? Not just monetary offerings, but a total offering, that is a glorious calling and destiny. Without a glorious calling and destiny, how should we live? Are you willing to imitate me, are you willing to imitate the author of Hebrews, constantly investing your energy in the Word of God, learning more, and being more willing to serve God, growing and maturing, instead of learning a little and feeling a lot of pressure?

Do you know that this is a glorious destiny? If you know, and are willing to give your life, what is a little pressure? Some time ago, we were assessing, and many people could not sign up because they were eliminated. I won't hide it from you today. Actually, many brothers and sisters were selected exceptionally. Should we cherish our learning opportunities? If we cherish this learning opportunity and are willing to pay the price for God, then when you have pressure, you will thank God, because you cannot grow without pressure.

Can playing freely without pressure? Can going to Tsinghua or Peking University be without pressure? If you don't study hard, you will sink to the bottom. We must know that those who run ahead in following the Lord are not tired, but those who follow closely behind are tired; those who study well are not tired, but those who don't study well and try to keep up are tired.

Start to re-recognize our God, remove all the factors that hinder us from knowing God, just like doing the things that we value. If we do the things that God values, and we learn well, how can we not be enlightened and discerning? How can we not receive God's great grace? How can we not live out God's glory in this world? How can we not be willing to imitate Jesus Christ and obey the calling from God!

When Jesus Christ received such a calling, according to the order of Melchizedek, forever a priest, Jesus Christ, while in the flesh, cried out with loud cries and tears, praying to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence!

Cherish the Trials from God

Today, I tell you, on the road of service, I often say: God, take me away sooner, but not according to my will, but according to God's will. If in this world, I have the opportunity to imitate Jesus Christ, to imitate for one day is one day. I want to consider everything as dung, in order to gain Jesus Christ as the most precious.

Originally, our life in this world is a great trial given to us by God. Our life in this world is an exam. I don't want to be eliminated in this exam. I want to get a good grade and report to God, like Jesus Christ, who got a very good grade and reported to God, and also learned obedience through the suffering he suffered.

Although Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, He still learned obedience from the suffering He suffered. This is the glory of God. Although the feeling of suffering is not good at all, it is very hard, but it is precisely because of this glorious hardship that the only begotten Son of God was perfected, and those who obey Him became the source of eternal salvation.

Today, I encourage you to start learning to obey, to obey God. No longer drinking milk, but growing and maturing in the kingdom of God, able to eat solid food, full of the stature of Jesus Christ, able to strike the devil and the enemy, able to release the captive souls, able to be enlightened and discerning, able to discern the thoughts and intentions of people, able to see through everything, able to overcome our fleshly lusts and desires. God has prepared crowns for you and me in eternity, it depends on whether we can get a good grade.

I want to tell you definitively, is what you value in your life also valued by God? Is what God values also valued by you? If what you value is not valued by God, and what God values is not valued by you, how will you give an account? Isn't that what Hebrews chapter 5 says!

About Melchizedek we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food (Hebrews 5:11-12).

Isn't this very sad? If we are always at the back, we don't know when we will fall down, and we can't distinguish good from bad, treating good things as bad things, and bad things as good things, treating the without Mingding Destiny as with Mingding Destiny, treating the without glory as with glory, aren't you reversing everything?

Although you are a believer, you are just one who drinks milk. So today, are there still those among us who drink milk? If there are those who drink milk, they must be strengthened again, with a longing heart, even if I drink milk today, I am a person who longs to drink milk, a Christian who longs to grow and mature. You know that if a child is hungry quickly, he will definitely grow healthily, because if a person is not healthy, his appetite will be poor.

Summary

In the process of learning to grow up, your life must manifest the glory of Jesus Christ. This is such a beautiful thing. May God bless everyone!