Introduction

Today, I want to share with you a rather profound topic: Bearing the Marks of Jesus. In Christianity, a common argument goes something like this: How many Jesuses are there? Only one. We are not Jesus. How many Pauls are there? We are not Paul. They make a whole host of excuses for why they are not like Jesus. But the Bible clearly tells us to imitate Jesus and the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul said he bore the marks of Jesus on his body. Should we also bear the marks of Jesus? Some may question, who can reach such a high standard? We will discuss this issue later.

I think the question of whom we resemble is very important. For example, if you have a child, but the child gradually grows to look more and more like the old Wang next door, you would certainly be puzzled. People want their children to resemble them. If they do not, it would definitely be troubling. Our God wants us to have something of the appearance of Jesus on us. If we do not resemble Jesus, if we do not have the marks of Jesus, then it would be somewhat troubling.

Recently, I saw a news item that the three children of Cecilia Cheung were all fathered by Jackie Chan. When I clicked on it, I found that it was just a headline designed to attract attention. It did not explain things clearly. People usually like to know who a child's parent is. Today, we are children of God, but do you resemble Him? Jesus Christ is the firstborn, and Jesus wants to bring many children of God into the Kingdom of God. Whether you bear the marks of Jesus Christ is very important.

Later, I discovered that many Christians bear the marks of the Pharisees. This is deadly. Actually, Jesus never opposed the Roman Empire; He opposed the Pharisees. The Pharisees also opposed Jesus Christ. Pilate at that time was a governor in Canaan. Pilate did not want to kill Jesus. But the scribes, Pharisees, and chief priests wanted to crucify Jesus. Jesus was also quite interesting. He said He had to die in Jerusalem. Isn't that strange?

Therefore, bearing the marks of Jesus or the marks of the Pharisees is a matter of life and death. The Pharisees and Jesus were in opposition to each other; Jesus and the Roman Empire were not so much in opposition. Jesus also said that His kingdom is not of this world. For us today, many people bear the marks of the Pharisees. Some Christians have no ability to release people from bondage, but they are very good at proselytizing. Jesus also said, You proselytize, but make them sons of hell.

Recently, something interesting happened to one of our sisters. The local church identified her and came knocking on her door every day. She did not want to go to the local church, but the local people insisted on proselytizing her. Isn't that like the Pharisees? We never do that. There are also some Christians who say, I have made a decision to believe in the Lord. Many people are very concerned about this matter. Actually, making a decision to believe in the Lord is not that important. Some people disagree and think it is particularly important. I think it is very important for people to experience God and know God.

One day, my mother got Alzheimer's disease. In my faith, I believed that my mother's Alzheimer's would definitely disappear. I said to one of our sisters, Your parents are old. See how I deal with this today. If your parents get Alzheimer's, you can do the same as you learn today. She gave me a reply: My parents are fine. They have already made a decision to believe in the Lord. I wondered why they thought making a decision to believe in the Lord was so important. Did they think that after making a decision to believe in the Lord, everything would be fine?

Last week, I said that circumcision and uncircumcision are not important, and praying or not praying before meals is not important. What is important is to be a new creation. People must have the marks of Jesus Christ on their bodies. If after you make a decision to believe in the Lord, you become more and more like the devil, then what are you believing in? The original meaning of the gospel is not really just making a decision to believe in the Lord and then going to heaven after death. If we carefully read the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, and I have also written a series of Bible study materials, we will know that we must have the marks of Jesus Christ.

I often mention that we should be like Jesus. If you believe in Jesus but are not like Jesus and do not have the marks of Jesus, then what are you doing? We must engrave God's words on our hearts. The Book of Revelation also mentions being sealed. Today, we are in an age of war. We do not know when Jesus will come. That time is called the Great Tribulation. Those tribulations are not prepared for God's people but for the people of the world. This is nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Who knows when Jesus will come? And the place before Jesus comes is called the Great Tribulation! This place is full of disasters, but this place full of disasters is not prepared for God's people but for the people of the world.

If God's people do not have God's seal, you will be like the people of the world and suffer disaster. You think nuclear war is not a joke. Many Christians have not received God's seal but have received the mark of the devil, 666! If you want to know how I interpret the Book of Revelation, you can buy a copy of the Book of Revelation Bible study materials. I have written two thick books on the Book of Revelation Bible study materials, The Revelation of the Victorious Church.

If you carefully read the Book of Ephesians, you will see that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. This seal is the guarantee of our inheritance. Can you understand? If you return to God in the future and enter the gate of heaven, the angel will stop you to see if you have the seal. If you do not have the seal, what are you doing here? Oh, I made a decision. But having no seal will not do! Because this is God's command, to be sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee. How will you get in then?

Today, do we have the image of God? This is very important! So today I want to share this with you properly. Some people say, Who can reach this standard? I will give you a concept that is quite practical. For example, if I run a business and set the standard very high, then the employees will probably only reach half of it. Why do I still set it so high? Because they can only reach half of it. If I lower the standard by half, they will only reach half of that, which is a quarter. When I see that they cannot reach it, I say, Okay, let's lower the standard to a quarter. As a result, there are repeated discounts. You will repeatedly see that your employees cannot reach it. That is to say, when building a church, we should never discount God's standards. Lowering God's standards is taking things out of context. Anyway, everyone can't reach it, so let's forget it.

From the first day I started building the church, I did not do it this way. My standards were very high. Today, a few brothers and sisters said, I recently listened to your lectures on 1 Samuel from 2013. Why didn't we understand it at that time? At that time, your standards were very high! Now, after listening to it, it is very similar to what you are saying today because a very high standard was set at that time. Therefore, the church has come to this day. I also want to tell you that if you are listening to my sermons online and you happen to be a pastor, then I will give you a secret: never compromise God's standards. If you say that anyone with the marks of Jesus Christ comes here, then those without the seal are outside the door. Do you believe that everyone here has the mark of Jesus? If you say, Come freely, come freely, then who knows who is a wolf in sheep's clothing or a weasel in sheep's clothing! If you let her come into our midst and try! She simply cannot stay! Because our standards are high, and she will fail the test!

If I can give you the best advice, if you are pastoring a small group, a district, or a church, I will give you this advice: listen if you want, if not, then forget it. Some people gather a crowd of rabble. There is a book called The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind. You can think about it slowly. Gathering a crowd of rabble in the church, and they all run away when the standards are raised. Is that building a glorious church of God?

In earlier years, I received a vision of a glorious church from an elder. I earnestly implemented it and implemented it better than most people. Later, the elder asked me, Can you do this? How can I not do this? Can you have people if you do this? I see that there are many people. Because I do this, everyone who comes to us has the marks of Jesus Christ. Everyone is like a little Jesus. Will this place not have God's presence? Definitely, there is God's presence. I never like to gather a crowd of rabble! When building a company and running a business, I gather a group of elite soldiers. When building a church, I gather a group of elite Christian soldiers! I would rather have less than do a bad job! It was very desolate in earlier years. Those who were willing to stay stayed. Those who were unwilling to stay could do whatever they wanted. I will definitely not call you back. Some people think that what I am doing is not good! Isn't it still pretty good today?

Scripture

From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (Galatians 6:17)

From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. This is my dream! I hope that in 2020, our brothers and sisters will be sealed with the seal of Jesus Christ. It is good to be sealed with the seal of Jesus Christ! When the devil sees it, Oh, you are from heaven, he will not dare to touch you! If the devil sees that you have the mark of the devil on your body, this place belongs to him. If we erase the mark of the devil in 2020 and then put on the seal of Jesus Christ, from now on, it is no longer I who live, but Jesus Christ who lives in me. From now on, I will consider everything as rubbish so that I may gain Christ.

I will read it again. From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus!

Prayer

Everyone, put your hands on your chest and begin to long for the marks of Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, may You engrave Your words on the tablet of my heart. May You imprint Your seal on me so that I can live out Your glorious image! Lord, please help me so that I can live out wisdom, power, honor, glory, and kingdom! Lord, may Your kingdom come upon me. May I constantly expand Your kingdom in the days of my life on earth. May people see Your glory! May people see Your glory through me! May You manifest Your glory, honor, and power through me! Grant me wisdom so that I may know how to explain Your gospel clearly! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

What are the marks of Jesus Christ?

That is a good question! Everyone must know that when you start learning, you will grow if you can ask questions. Once you read Galatians 6:17, you will start thinking about what the marks of Jesus Christ are. Paul had the marks of Jesus Christ on his body. What are these marks? Why can't I see them? Then read Galatians carefully. Read 1 Corinthians carefully. Read Romans carefully, and you will know that Paul indeed had the marks of Jesus Christ. Summarize everything that the Apostle Paul manifested. This is called induction, organizing, summarizing, abstracting, and sublimating.

When we start reading the Bible, if we have such abilities, it is difficult to be confused. Many Christians believe in a very confused way, to the extent that they label those who are like Jesus as heretics, while those who are not like Jesus become orthodox. This is too strange. I don't know how they read the Bible. I don't know if they are deliberately being Pharisees or what. What have they filled their heads with?

What do we see in Paul? We see the kingdom of God. We see the power of God. We see the glory and honor of God. We see the wisdom of God. If you cannot see it, read the Bible carefully. It is all in the Bible, in black and white. You read it, I read it, and we read out God's will carefully.

What can we see in Jesus Christ? That is too obvious. You read Luke, Matthew, Mark, and John. Can you not read it out? Because the four Gospels repeat the same story, roughly the same. You will see that the gospel that Jesus Christ preached is a gospel with power, such as driving out demons.

People now are good at the opposite. If they don't touch, it's okay. Once they touch, it is over. If they don't pray, it's okay. Once they pray, it is over. Actually, it is a very serious problem if people aren't like Jesus. Paul had the marks of Jesus Christ. What did he say? From now on, let no one trouble me. This is an interesting statement, a statement with meaning. What is the meaning in this statement? Don't trouble me; you can't play with me. There is a kind of person in this world. People of the Northeast (China) say, The fierce fear the stubborn, and the stubborn fear those who don't value their lives. There are many kinds of people in this world. Those who don't value their lives are powerful. Don't mess with those who don't value their lives. You can't play with them.

The other day, I was driving, and I bumped into a person outside Tian Ji Congee shop. He wanted to fight me to the death. I looked up and saw scars all over his head, blood scars which also had a shaved head, and he looked like a car accident scene. I couldn't afford to provoke him. I quickly apologized: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I am blind. I am guilty. I deserve to die. Why did I do this? Because he doesn't value his life. Actually, I also want to disregard my life, but I don't want to disregard my life with such a person. I want to disregard my life for Jesus. These are different kinds of disregard.

So today, we must know that when we have the marks of Jesus Christ, don't trouble me. Whether you are a Pharisee or a Galatian or from James, I don't fear you. I, the Apostle Paul, do not seek to please people but only to please God. I want to ensure the purity of the gospel. If you insist on preaching an impure gospel, he said a word, Let him be accursed. This word is strong.

Later, someone commented: Words of praise and words of cursing cannot come from the same mouth. Sweet water and bitter water cannot come from the same spring. Later, I wondered whether the Apostle Paul was right or whether that person was right. Later, I found that the Apostle Paul was right because blessings and curses come from the mouth of God. You cannot say that there are no curses in God's mouth. So, curses come from the mouth of God. Therefore, don't be surprised that the Apostle Paul said this curse. The New Testament still has curses. Like Jesus, Jesus also curses people. Jesus is not Santa Claus.

Today, all nations must start a movement to be like Jesus. Today, Christians can choose to do what Jesus did or choose what Jesus does not do. If you are a Christian, you don't do what Jesus did, and you do a bunch of things that Jesus doesn't do, then that is a deadly issue. Today, we can also promote a movement to be like Jesus in this environment of the Pharisees. No matter what anyone says, I don't care. Let no one trouble me. It doesn't matter if I am wronged so that the gospel of Jesus Christ can return to the powerful gospel that Paul said in Galatians.

Today, brothers and sisters must know that what Jesus did most was healing and deliverance. Someone who has healing and deliverance cannot be labelled a heretic. Jesus Christ never opposed the government. He never raised a banner to have His disciples protest against the Roman Empire. I don't do this either because our kingdom is not on this earth at all. So, today, can we do more of what Jesus Christ did? We must do more.

It is very interesting to read the Bible carefully. Jesus Christ's enemies were not really the government. Jesus never talked about the government because Jesus said that all authority is given by God. Jesus is God, incarnate and came to this world. He doesn't think this is a problem. Don't think that I am speaking for the government. I am only speaking for the Bible. What is the point of opposing the government? On the contrary, it is the Pharisees, those hypocritical Pharisees.

Today, when I say this, I am touching a sensitive topic. I have eaten bear heart and leopard guts. I don't want to muddle along anymore. Let no one trouble me because I want to learn from Paul and have the marks of Jesus Christ. Today, I am willing to pay all the price for the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, even at the cost of giving up everything. Just as Jesus Christ gave Himself on the cross for the sake of this gospel, Jesus was killed by the Pharisees, scribes, and chief priests, not by Pilate. Those people worshiped in the temple every day but killed the God they worshiped. Jesus, incarnate, was nailed to the cross. Isn't this a very interesting thing?

Those people worshiped in the temple every day but nailed Jesus Christ, the God they worshiped, incarnate, to the cross. This is a very interesting thing. Later, Jesus said, It cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem. Why? Because the enemy lives there. Jerusalem is today's church.

Today, if we carefully observe the two-thousand-year history of Christianity, it is actually a history of decline! Because Satan likes to live in the church. Why is it that Nehemiah and Ezra worked so hard to restore worship in the temple, but those people evolved into Pharisees, the offspring of vipers? This is very worthy of contemplation and reflection. I may not be saying it right, but everyone must know that Jesus was indeed nailed to death by these people. The purpose of Jesus Christ's being nailed to death was to let us know that Jesus offered Himself for the sake of the gospel.

Regarding the movement to be like Jesus, can our brothers and sisters today be willing to imitate Jesus for this matter and bear the marks of Jesus Christ? We can tell at a glance whether a person has the marks of Jesus Christ. For example, we have recently observed a very interesting phenomenon. We have served many cancer patients. We have summarized a pattern and found that these people have a characteristic: they are narrow-minded and easily get caught up in disputes with others. They also pretend to be saints on the surface. Such people are Pharisees. Pharisees are like tombs that appear whitewashed on the outside, but inside are full of dead people's bones. This is what Jesus said. So the judgment of God brought about by hypocrisy is very severe. Therefore, our brothers and sisters today must know that we must really put on the marks of Jesus Christ. Don't put on the marks of the Pharisees, that is really deadly!

The First Seal: For the Kingdom of God

Man must know why he came into this world. Pigs and cows come into this world for the purpose of being fattened and slaughtered for meat. So what is your purpose in coming into this world? If you come into this world just to eat, drink, excrete, sleep, and then die, then there is not much meaning. The question of why a person lives is crucial! Today, we call the reason why a person lives, Mingding Destiny. If we come into this world for the sake of God's kingdom, then this matter is meaningful! Therefore, you must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you! So what are all the benefits in God's kingdom? In God's kingdom, there is no sickness and no poverty. All the benefits in God's kingdom are all that you need in your life, and God will add them to you. The question is, are you seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness with such a Mingding Destiny?

Some people seek God's kingdom and His righteousness, but they are not seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness; they are seeking some benefits. There are indeed many such people. Some people see Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. They see not Jesus, but the bread. If we seek not God's kingdom and His righteousness, but seek the benefits in God's kingdom, we will gain nothing because God requires us to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness, which is Mingding Destiny. So how do we seek God's kingdom? We say in the Lord's Prayer every time, Thy kingdom come! How exactly does God's kingdom come? Some people think it is entering God's kingdom after death. But it is not. Our God is the God of the living, not the God of the dead. In fact, the coming of God's kingdom is the coming of God's kingdom when we are alive. Where does God's kingdom come? It actually comes upon us!

Speaking of God's kingdom, we must go back to the Bible to see if what I am saying is true or not. What did Jesus come into this world to do? It was to let God's kingdom come. Jesus Christ demonstrated to us how God's kingdom comes, which is by casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Why do many people encounter so many problems today? Because there is no kingdom of God in their hearts. Without the kingdom of God, there will be many problems. So what exactly does it mean to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness? It means by casting out demons by the Spirit of God, you will obtain the benefits in God's kingdom.

Are you short of money today? If you seek the kingdom of God, you will have enough money! You ask me if my money is enough? My money is always enough because I seek the kingdom of God every day! So how do I seek the kingdom of God? Seeking the kingdom of God is actually very easy. It is by casting out demons by the Spirit of God wherever you are, and that is where the kingdom of God comes! Why do some people have so many problems? Because what they do constantly attracts demons. If demons do not come, and God sends a demon to touch you, it will be enough for you to suffer!

When I lead prayers, I often see that the problems of many people are repeated because they do not know how great a blessing it is for the kingdom of God to come upon them. Therefore, today our brothers and sisters must have a concept of God's kingdom. The kingdom of God does not really contradict the kingdoms of this world, because the kingdom of God is not of this world, so the kings of this world do not need to be afraid at all.

Because the kingdoms of this world are the kingdoms of this world, and the kingdom of God is actually different from the kingdoms of this world. The kings of this world do not need to be afraid that Jesus will seize your throne. Jesus will not seize your throne. What we seize is the blessing that the devil has stolen from us.

How do we seek the kingdom of God? By casting out demons by the Spirit of God. This is what Jesus said, not what I said. What is the righteousness of God? A person who trusts in the word of God, God regards him as righteous. Believe in the word of God, and we will do as the Bible says. When the church was desolate in those years, I still believed in the word of God. When there was darkness in the abyss, I believed in the word of God. When there was emptiness and chaos, I still believed in the word of God, and God regarded me as righteous. Faith is the foundation. The Apostle Paul argued in the Book of Galatians for a long time whether it was faith or something else? Because faith is the foundation, it can release God's omnipotence.

Seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness is not seeking our own righteousness. If we seek our own benefits, we will not be able to obtain them. No matter how you want to prove that you are a good person, after you have finished proving it, what do you want to tell me? It is useless. Therefore, today, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness is believing that in everything I do, I acknowledge God. How great is the power released by acknowledging God in everything? It is really bringing the dead back to life.

The Second Seal: Power

Speaking of power, it is a core component of our gospel. Why does the Apostle Paul have the mark of Jesus, and why do many Christians today not have the mark of Jesus Christ? Because, as the Apostle Paul said, this is power. But many people do not have such power. Every time we pray that honor, glory, and power belong to our God, we pray like this, but after a long time, we still do not understand what power is. Power is authority and ability. You must know that in the process of building the church, the Apostle Paul faced a large group of all kinds of people. There was a very obvious characteristic which is they can talk but cannot do. In fact, there are a lot of people who are all talk and no action, but there are not many people with power. Especially in the Corinthian church, Paul encountered those arrogant people. They are very good at talking, like salespersons. Then Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthian church.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:19-20)

The Apostle Paul's power is great. As long as those who come to him for prayer are healed. The Apostle Paul arrived on a small island, and the ship was hit. Everyone was frightened, but Paul was not frightened. He felt pretty good. When he arrived on the island, the island chief's father had a high fever. Paul also had Luke, who was a doctor, but Paul did not let Luke prescribe medicine. He would not do this. Paul touched the patient, and he was healed. As a result, the entire island was in an uproar, feeling that Paul was too great. People who have the mark of Jesus Christ on their bodies, like Jesus, can manifest the glory of God. Early in my years of faith, I hoped to become such a person.

When I was a child, I saw that some people's horoscopes were very accurate, and I wanted to learn it very much. I felt that it was good to have foresight, but I was fortunate that I did not learn this. As a result, when I read the Bible, I hoped to have such power. If you desire to obtain this power, you will definitely be able to obtain it. This gift is given to those who desire it, because the Bible says so, you must eagerly desire spiritual gifts. It is not that you are slowly and passively waiting for spiritual gifts, but eagerly desiring spiritual gifts. Once you pray, you will be healed. Today, when I was preparing the manuscript halfway through, a brother almost died. It was really heartbreaking to watch in front of the camera, but God gave me power, and later that brother was healed. This is not me bragging. I often experience such things. Someone is about to die, but as a result, they are resurrected through prayer. Having this power does not mean that I am so great. It is the power of Jesus Christ.

So when did obtaining this power actually begin? More than 20 years ago, my younger brother's wife had a difficult labor, and as a result, the child was almost dead when he was born. He was rescued for a long time. At that time, I was in Singapore, so I knelt down and prayed from morning to night. I could not see or touch anything, and I did not know what happened. As a result, at 4:30, my whole body burned like fire. Do not think that I am a yellow weasel. I am talking about the appearance of this kind of situation. I am not pursuing this kind of situation, but this kind of situation really happened.

As a result, I had an assurance inside that this child should be alright. Because there was no internet in that era, I dared to call back to ask the next day. It cost 50 Singapore dollars to make a call, which was very expensive. My mother told me that the child was alright at 4:30. He suddenly woke up. I really thank our God. God, you are really great! From that time on, I began to have the mark of Jesus Christ's power. Therefore, later, many diseases were healed when they came to me. I do not know what is going on, but I long to be like Jesus.

Today, I am sharing this matter to encourage everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not words, but power. It is not bragging, but the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead is upon us. If you long to be like Jesus, God will never be stingy. Those who desire will obtain. I have always longed to build a glorious church of God. I have always longed for the benefits of God's kingdom to come upon me. I have always longed to obtain God's power. As a result, God has been very gracious to me. Today, our brother is also willing to repent and is healed.

The Third Seal: Glory and Honor

Who does not want to live with glory? But some people live like losers. Who does not want to live with honor? Do you lack honor? For example, when I go to Suzhou Desheng Bungalow, people ask me a question: If I give you 10 million a year and let you suffer humiliation, like Qin Hui's statue kneeling in front of Yue Fei's tomb, would you want that? This is not honorable. People want to live with glory and honor, but how do they live with glory and honor? If you lack glory and honor, you lack the mark of Jesus Christ. If you carry the mark of Jesus Christ, you carry the glory and honor of Jesus Christ.

Suppose we are looking for a job: Some people will say: Give me this job. I really need this job. As a result, they did not get this job because they are not honorable. If you walk in later: It is not that I need this job, it is that this job needs my talent. If you walk into an interview like this, the result will definitely be great. Many people do not understand the matter of glory and honor. We are children of the living God. We have no problem living. You may say that you would not know if you have not encountered my kind of problem, because I have never cared about these things.

One of our brothers works in a multinational corporation. He does not look honorable at all. He was kicked around for a bowl of rice, and eventually lost his job. Later, he remembered and said to me: Actually, I could have had glory and honor at that time. I said that if you had glory and honor, you would not have been kicked out. Today, there is a problem of fear. The problem of fear makes people dishonorable.

For example, the Apostle Peter encountered an event in Galatians 2:

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? (Galatians 2:11-14)

The meaning of this passage is: Peter personally followed Jesus. When Peter was with Jesus, James did not know where he was mixing! But later James became the boss because James was the son of Jesus' mother Mary and was the James who wrote the Book of Jude and the Book of James. But what was Peter afraid of? As soon as he was afraid, he began to pretend, and pretending is not honorable. Perhaps Peter was afraid of offending James, which might have cost him his job. This matter is very dishonorable. It is not a simple matter for a person to live. Do you rely on pretense to preach the pure gospel? No need. It is very deadly to be dishonorable. Many of us often act low, and just like to please people in front of others, so is the Apostle Peter. But the Apostle Paul has the appearance of Jesus Christ. Paul said: Do I please people? If I please people, I will not be a servant of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Peter did not do well, but Paul has the mark of Jesus Christ on his body. Why can Paul do it? Because Paul is not afraid of death. Paul is a person who does not care about his life for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It does not matter who he offends.

The Fourth Seal: Wisdom

Our Lord Jesus gave us a requirement: If you believe in Jesus, Jesus said you must be as shrewd as a serpent. This matter has had a very profound impact on me. How can you be as shrewd as a serpent? Later, I discovered that the tracks of snakes are curved. Wisdom is not straightforward. Take Jesus Christ as an example: Look at whether we should pay taxes to Caesar or not? Jesus did not answer directly, but said: Bring a coin. Whose image is on this coin? It is Caesar's. Jesus said: Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's! How good this answer is! It is not straightforward.

These are not straightforward. If everyone is straightforward, they will lack wisdom. You must learn to be as shrewd as a serpent. Later, the Pharisees asked: Who gave you the authority to do this?

And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. (Luke 20:1-8)

Therefore, Christians must learn to be wise. To be wise is to be flexible, as shrewd as a serpent, and different at different times. How is the Apostle Paul wise? The Apostle Paul is very wise. In fact, he has depreciated James several times in the Book of Galatians. During this time in Acts chapter 15, he encountered a difficulty and could be dismissed by James and his group at any time. He wrote this in the Book of Galatians:

Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. (Galatians 2:1-2)

If we understand a little about political struggles, we will be able to understand it. The people who are of reputation refer to James. This is very profound. Let me explain it to you. What difficulty did Paul encounter? He could be dismissed by James at any time. He went to Jerusalem to find James and performed the right hand of fellowship with him. As a result, he shared with James (Paul is eloquent and very wise). After he finished speaking, James listened and said, good. When Paul wrote the Book of Galatians, he no longer needed James because his position in the Gentile churches was very stable. But when he went to Jerusalem, his position was not stable. What did he gain in Jerusalem? James said, you will be in charge of the Gentiles, and we will be in charge of the Jews. You go to the uncircumcised, and we go to the circumcised. This is how they were divided.

Later, Paul became the apostle to the uncircumcised Gentiles. By the time of Galatians, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians, Paul's position was so stable that no one could take him down. But Paul's previous position was not stable. He said, Lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain, which means he was afraid of being killed by others. This is a political struggle. Paul is very wise, as shrewd as a serpent, and solved a big problem, but this James did not see that far, which is another matter.

We must have wisdom. Today our brothers and sisters slowly ponder, wisdom is very important. If we have wisdom, there is no need for us to be martyred when Jesus Christ has not asked us to be martyred.

If today we carry the mark of Jesus Christ, we will be like the Apostle Paul who has obtained the mark of Jesus Christ. If we have such a mark on our body, we will preach the pure gospel, and we will restore the gospel of Jesus Christ to the era of Paul, as described in Galatians, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians, a gospel full of great power.

Our brothers and sisters must begin to gradually understand what the Bible is saying.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

Today, can we say that the words we speak and the doctrines we preach are not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith may not rest on human wisdom, but on the power of God. Can we tell this generation that what we say and what we preach are not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. Even those who are unspiritual cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God, although they think it is foolish, and they cannot know it. But we who are spiritual still understand everything.

We have encountered an unprecedented opportunity, that is, there are too many churches like the Pharisees in this generation. At a glance, there are people everywhere who desire the pure word of God. Recently, I have received many messages telling me that he has finally found us and finally saw such good information and the gospel on the website.

A brother said that people in their local church posted in the group: I recently took leave. I am sick. Please pray for me so that God will bless a good doctor. A few days later, I have something to ask for leave. I am sick. Later, the pastor and his wife said in the group, Everyone, pray for me. Ask God to bless me with a good doctor. I have been very sick recently. This brother said to me: I went to a church without power.

Is that the gospel? Is that the mark of Jesus Christ? We really need to ask, no. Are we preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ? The words we speak and the doctrines we preach are not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith may not rest on human wisdom, but on the power of God. And is in matters like the Apostle Paul. A person who listened to Paul's preaching fell to his death from the upstairs. Paul went down to take a look, lay on him, and then came back to life in a while. How good is such a Paul! Today people like to be all talk and no action, like the Pharisees of that year.

Today, we face great resistance, but we remember the mark of Jesus Christ on our bodies, and no one can disturb us anymore, nor can anyone stop us anymore. We keep running forward. This is God's will in this generation. This is the Mingding Destiny that God has given us in this generation.

We are also honored to have such an opportunity to walk with God, to take on the Mingding Destiny of the pure gospel in this generation, and to start running forward, no longer a church without power, nor a gospel without power, but acknowledging this God, and starting to build a glorious church according to what God has said, that is holy and without blemish, to pave the way for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

May God bless everyone!