Foreword

Today, we continue to share some concepts. I find studying the Book of Hebrews not only interesting but also fulfilling because I feel I am finally understanding a part of it. I had read it for over twenty years without understanding it. I am thankful that God did not crush me for not understanding it. I often encounter parents who get angry and despair when their children cannot understand their studies, and their words are laced with bitterness.

I have always had faith in everyone. For example, this person is a child of God, bearing the image of God, but it has not yet been manifested, so they must work hard. That person also bears the image of God and is also a child of God, but it has not yet been manifested, so they must also work hard. I have great faith in everyone, which is also faith in God. Next, we will share concepts from Chapter 7 onwards.

Spiritual vs. Carnal

A person who sees things according to spiritual principles is a spiritual person. Because the Bible is all about spiritual matters, and it uses spiritual words to speak of spiritual things. Some people see emptiness and chaos and think it is good. Why do they see it this way? Because they look at things with spiritual eyes, and from emptiness and chaos, the universe is created—this is God's perspective. Others, even when things are good, can still find fault and pick out many problems. How can they not despair?

To be carnal is to see things according to the laws of the flesh. For example, a carnal person sees death as the end, like blowing out a candle. A spiritual person sees the spirit leaving the body and the body dying. A carnal person feels full and satisfied after eating. A spiritual person feels that their spirit needs to eat the word of God and will not be hungry after eating it. This is the difference between being carnal and being spiritual.

Is it better to be carnal or spiritual? Of course, it is better to be spiritual! You will find that Jesus fasted and prayed for forty days and did not die. The laws of the spirit outweigh the laws of the flesh. From a carnal perspective, it is unimaginable that someone could go forty days without eating or drinking and not die. Medical research suggests that one can survive for some time without food, but one will die quickly without water. Jesus' forty-day fast defied the laws of the flesh. Those who live according to the laws of the flesh are carnal; those who live according to the laws of the spirit are spiritual.

High Priest

The high priest is not appointed according to the regulations of the flesh. The priests appointed according to the regulations of the flesh are Aaron and his descendants. Jesus is not a descendant of Aaron; Jesus is from the tribe of Judah, while Aaron is from the tribe of Levi. Therefore, Jesus is not a priest according to the tribe of the flesh but according to the regulations of the spirit. The high priest is to perfect us. The high priest offers sacrifices for us, redeems our sins and transgressions, opens a way for us to come before God, and intercedes for us before God. The high priest, who ascended to the heavens and sits at the right hand of God, can perfect us.

Perfection

Perfection is not because of what you have done, but because God perfects you. This concept of perfection is excellent. We, as brothers and sisters, must have a very clear understanding of salvation. It is not that we can become holy by desperately striving, but that the Holy Spirit makes us holy, and God makes us holy through the high priest Jesus Christ.

How does He make us holy? Throughout history, many people have wanted to become holy and perfect, but have they succeeded? It seems not. How can one become perfect? It is through our faith in God. Although we are incapable, God will become our ability. This is called perfection. What a wonderful thing it is that God lets us fight spiritual battles, so we strike at the demonic enemy and rise up to fight. How do we fight? Through prayer.

God accomplishes things for us through our prayers. When we pray, things happen in the spiritual realm, and the angels and heavenly hosts destroy the devil. It is not we who destroy the devil, but through God's help, we pray, and then God works, and we overcome the demonic enemy. This is called perfection.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, never rely on your own wisdom or ability. The Old and New Testaments both teach this. The Book of Proverbs also says not to rely on your own wisdom and ability but to trust in God completely, so that the devil cannot mess with us. Those who have faith can draw on heavenly resources. This is why believers are accompanied by signs and wonders. Signs and wonders are done by God, and this is called perfection.

Some people say they have no ability. God never relied on your ability anyway. What is your ability worth? Some people say, Oh, I can't do it. You weren't capable to begin with. Others say, Oh, I can't do it. You couldn't do it to begin with. But we must be people of faith.

Some time ago, a sister was very afraid of leading Bible studies. When she led, she would just read from the text, because she often read from texts in school, and this habit never changed. Every time she led a Bible study, she felt very bad, and this bad feeling only got worse. I asked her if she could be more free. One day this sister came to me and said, Today, the Bible study I led was so good. Why was it good? Because she trusted in God. So we always try to do something ourselves, and it never works. Brothers and sisters, know that perfection is God's work, and trusting in God, not relying on our own wisdom, is our work.

Tabernacle

Some people say the tabernacle is a tabernacle. Saying that is like saying nothing, one in Chinese and one in English. What is the tabernacle? The tabernacle is a channel to connect with God. The most important thing is that we have such a high priest who has sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Most High in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle, as a minister. What is the earthly tabernacle? The earthly tabernacle is a shadow of the heavenly tabernacle. Having only a shadow is not enough; there must be a real tabernacle. The tabernacle is to be implemented according to God's word.

God said to Moses, See that you make everything according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain. What does this mean? It means we are building a copy of the tabernacle on earth, while the real one is in heaven. Jesus came to earth for that heavenly tabernacle. The tabernacle Moses made on earth was just a copy. What is the difference between the Old and New Testaments? The Old Testament is a copied version, and the New Testament is the original. Jesus Christ wants to bring us into the heavenly tabernacle to be completely unified with God. So the tabernacle also means the place where God is.

Covenant

Another concept is the covenant. The word covenant is more powerful than contract. A covenant carries a sacred component and is made between God and man. One is called the Old Covenant, and the other is called the New Covenant. The Old Covenant is the covenant God made with Noah and Moses, and the New Covenant is the covenant God made with man through the blood of Jesus. Why make a covenant? To allow us to act according to the covenant we have made and then receive the promises according to the words on the covenant. How can we keep the covenant? By relying on God to perfect us. If we keep God's word, the words on the covenant will be realized through God's grace and power, so the New Covenant is powerful.

So we can engrave God's words on our hearts, and then God will be our God, and we will be God's people. You will not need to teach your neighbor or your brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because from the least of them to the greatest, all will know me. But in reality, there is a bit of a challenge. Among the Christians I know, few know God, which troubles me and makes me a little disappointed. In other words, today many people, from the least to the greatest, do not know God. So the words above do not refer to those who are baptized Christians but to Christians who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.

The Holy Spirit will engrave God's word on our hearts, and then we will know God by the Holy Spirit and God's word. Some people do not have the Holy Spirit with them, so they don't have it. If we understand it according to the literal meaning, these words are not quite right, or these words are right, but many people have not gotten it right. If everyone knows God, would there still be so many people with cancer? The Bible is written in black and white, and everyone can read it. If you read it carefully, you will surely understand.

The Bible says, Do not forbid speaking in tongues, and then some people say, Forbid speaking in tongues. Isn't this clearly opposing God? I can only express my regret for this. Anyone who has faith will surely know God. If you do not know, our God will also let you know, because our God is a God of revelation.

Sanctification

The next concept is sanctification. To be sanctified is to be like Jesus. To be like Jesus is to be victorious. Overcome what? Overcome our carnal things. A person is sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not contend with evil spirits; the Holy Spirit contends with the flesh. In other words, as long as we are carnal, we cannot be sanctified. If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Later, I discovered that victory is not about defeating the devil. The devil is no match for the Holy Spirit. Victory is about relying on the Holy Spirit to overcome our carnal misdeeds. So victory, casting out demons, and putting the flesh to death, breaking spiritual bondage, are two sides of the same coin. If a person is not carnal, what is there to bind? How to bind? This is called sanctification.

Salvation

Then it goes on to talk about salvation. What is salvation? It is God who saves us. Perfection and salvation are both God's affairs. He saves us while we are still sinners. Another concept is sin. Jesus was offered once to bear the sins of many. The second time he appears, it is not to deal with sin, but to save us.

We overcome through God, and God saves us. Then people must have faith to overcome. People with faith are very powerful. In Chapter 11 of Hebrews, it begins to discuss faith madly. There are two paths of faith: one is to believe and then disbelieve, going backward is disbelief. The other kind of person chooses to continue to believe.

However, quite a few Christians boast, I am relatively weak. I will step back and rest for a while. I will move forward again when I am rested. Later, I found that they did not catch up after resting. Then I found retreating as a concept in Hebrews, retreating is to enter perdition.

So we must hold on to our faith so that we may be saved and completely victorious and not retreat. Everyone must keep the concept of retreating in their heart. I have seen many Christians who are a little tired of believing in the Lord and want to stop and rest for a while. Then they find that they have not rested, because when they retreat, God is not pleased. If God is not pleased with you, how can he save you? You must be a person who pleases God! How can you not retreat? If you have faith, you will not retreat. People retreat because they have no faith.

I have found that many people who climb the mountain of the Lord and enter the temple of the God of Jacob can fall at any level. What is the concept of falling? It is unbelief. Some people are very interesting. They have cast out many demons and done healing and deliverance for others, but later they disbelieve. I find it strange. Why? They have cast out so many demons, but they choose to love the world. What will happen in the future? Won't those demons tear him apart? So consistent faith is true faith.

According to my own research, faith is a choice. I choose to believe. For example, I see a child who is stupid, bad, and poor, and the parents are very disappointed. But I see with spiritual eyes that this is extraordinary, this is powerful, this is a master. Why do I have faith? I think our God will do wonderful things in this child and perfect him. Many people think they are powerful, but in the end, they are proven not to be, because God hates those who think they are powerful. Some people think they are not powerful, but later become very powerful, because God likes such people.

The word faith is very interesting. Many people think that self-confidence is faith, but it is not. If you think you are bad and think God is powerful, then you are a master. What kind of people are masters? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, these are all masters, these people are powerful. Why? Because these people have faith. So if you want to be a powerful person, a master, you must have faith.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Do you understand? It seems not. I have read it for many years without understanding it. Later, I found that faith has evidence. What does it mean that faith has evidence? It means that after you believe, signs and wonders follow you. If you do not have signs and wonders following you, where does your faith come from? Isn't it? I am speaking according to the Bible, these signs will accompany those who believe, If there are no signs and wonders, you have no faith, so what do you believe in? Believe in God's word.

Faith has evidence. With evidence, you can obtain promises that cannot be obtained. What does it mean to be unable to obtain promises? It means that we cannot get it while we are alive. Once we get it, we are no longer in this world. So there is a promise in eternity, and this promise in eternity is impossible for you to get in this world. In this world, you can gain a lot of evidence, so evidence is proof.

What is evidence? Evidence is proof, it is not a false, but a visible, tangible proof. Do you understand? So we must know that faith can make the invisible visible, and what we see is not made from the obvious, but from the invisible. So faith is a very powerful thing. If you want to become a powerful person, you must become a person of faith. Without faith, you are finished.

The entire Chapter 11 of Hebrews talks about many people who died in faith. In this faith, they gained a lot of evidence. They conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Do you understand? That is to say, if a person has faith, he will experience God. If he has faith, he will definitely experience God every day.

I have experienced God a lot. Have you asked if I have been to heaven? No. Have I obtained the eternal promise? It seems not. But when I use faith in this world, I believe that God will prepare a reward for me in eternity. When I believe that God has prepared eternal life for me in eternity, and also a crown of glory, in this world I endure severe punishment, survive to be released, and then endure mockery, whipping, chains, being sawn in half, being killed by a knife, running around dressed in sheep and goat skins.

Do you say that such a person is crazy? No, because he is very certain of what he hopes for, the hope and promise in eternity. That promise is in eternity, it is a more beautiful thing that God has prepared for us, more important than the evidence we have received in this world. Do you understand? That is the evidence we obtained in this world is the driving force for us to practice faith.

And for what? Not to get these things in the world, but to get a better homeland, a better thing, that is the crown of glory in eternity. Because of this, we are willing to pay the price, we are willing to pay the price like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and later Moses and David, not even afraid of death.

Paying the Price

Therefore, it is crucial to have a faith that pays the price. Now, let's talk about paying the price. What does it mean? You seek so much evidence as fundamental, but in reality, the promise of eternity is the foundation. If we experience so much and our faith is strong, unshakable, willing to pay any price, then that is powerful.

So, in the process of paying the price, let us reaffirm that we believe in the beautiful promise. This is what paying the price is about. What does not entail paying the price is not faith. Only what entails paying the price is faith. Only faith that involves paying the price is true faith; faith without paying the price is not faith.

If you are constantly pursuing worldly things, such as your children's education, degrees, jobs, and so on, oh my, what will happen? You will be in trouble. When we first believed in the Lord, we were very carnal, just like you. Sometimes, after believing in the Lord, we still want to be carnal. What happens? We get disciplined. Once disciplined, we know that God is powerful because the Lord disciplines those He loves.

This means we are still far from contending with sin and the flesh. In the process of contending, it is painful, not only for you but also for me. But what is the issue? Are we still pursuing God's eternal promises?

Sometimes, when we show a little weakness, God immediately disciplines us. How? Some brothers and sisters are oppressed by demons and then released. After being released, they go back, and because their logical system hasn't changed, God has mercy on them, and the demons return. How can the return of demons be called mercy? If the demons didn't return, you wouldn't return either, which would be a problem. So, discipline is good. Many people think demons are bad, but everything God created is good. Demons are actually servants of God. What do God's servants do? They assist God in removing the trash and then bring what belongs to God into His kingdom.

So, do not regress or be discouraged; the Lord disciplines those He loves. If you find that you cannot be disciplined, then you are in a bit of danger. So, discipline, discipline, discipline will make you holy. Why? Because we are pursuing a kingdom that cannot be shaken. There is a concept here called a kingdom that cannot be shaken, which will endure forever. But some people say, I don't want that; I just want to live well in this world. Then go ahead and live. It would be good if you could live well, but in reality, you won't.

So, there are two types of people in this world: those who covet worldly things and those who covet God's promises. Those who covet worldly things, like Esau, are adulterous, committing adultery with the world, which is called adultery in God's eyes. If you covet worldly things, you cannot obtain God's eternal promises. Coveting worldly things is rubbish in God's eyes, so let's not be foolish, brothers and sisters.

Do not covet worldly things; this world and everything in it will pass away. You say you don't see it passing away? It doesn't matter; before the world and everything in it pass away, you will pass away first. Before everything in this world passes away, you will leave this world, and this world will have passed away for you.

So, don't be confused. How long can you live? Seventy or eighty years? Right? And when you get old, you might even develop Alzheimer's. Right? What's the point of that? There's no point. Later, I realized that coveting worldly things is quite interesting. Why? It can lead to Alzheimer's. If people still love the world when they are old, they will quickly become senile. Do you want to be senile when you're old? No. Then don't covet worldly things.

Like my mother, in her eighties, as soon as she loves the world, the demons come. As soon as the demons come, she develops Alzheimer's. Once she becomes senile, she becomes confused, and I have to cast out the demons for her. So, what should we covet? We should covet the kingdom that cannot be shaken. If we want to enter God's kingdom, we should despise all insults, imitate Jesus Christ, and do God's will until God perfects us in all things in this world, enabling us to obey His will and work in our hearts through Jesus Christ to do what is pleasing to Him.

Do you understand? This is the summary of the entire Book of Hebrews. Do not neglect it; doing God's will is key. How can it be key if you don't do God's will? Right? So, I will conclude my summary of the Book of Hebrews here. May God bless everyone!