Examining the Bible with a Holistic Perspective

Let us examine Matthew Chapter 8. Why are we only examining the Book of Matthew now? Because when I first started reading Matthew, I really didn't know what it was talking about. Now, I am very satisfied with my Bible study, at least I have figured out what the Sermon on the Mount is all about. When I read Chapter 8, I read it dozens of times. I knew every word, and I also knew what the author was talking about in each paragraph, but when I put them together, I didn't understand. It was very difficult. But I have good news for you, I finally figured it out. As the saying goes, Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will become clear. For those things that we don't understand, we must understand them thoroughly, and constantly seek what this whole passage is talking about. To see only the trees and not the forest is a bad habit. We cannot just take out a section and talk about it one-sidedly.

After reading this chapter, let us ask ourselves what kind of conclusion we will come to. What is the theme of this chapter all about? The previous verses talked about the Sermon on the Mount. After Jesus finished teaching, He began to put it into practice and make demonstrations. As a result, a leper came to see Jesus.

And behold, a leper came to Him and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2-3)

The second case is that a centurion's servant was sick at home. He came to Jesus and said that he did not need Jesus to go to his house in person. As long as Jesus said a word, his servant would be healed. As a result, before Jesus even spoke, his servant was healed.

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. (Matthew 8:13)

Next:

When Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying down and sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. (Matthew 8:14-15)

These fulfilled the words of the prophet, that Jesus Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.

Then to the fourth paragraph:

Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:19-22)

After reading, we find that the paragraphs do not seem to connect. If they do not connect, it means that you do not quite understand what the author means. People who can write will write things clearly.

And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly there arose a great tempest on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:23-26)

Jesus also passed through the cemetery and met two demon-possessed men. Jesus drove the demons into the pigs.

Some people find Bible study very painful because they know every word and every paragraph, but when they put them together, they don't know what it means. Later, I pondered and prayed to God, what is this about? Thank God, I finally know! The main theme is talking about Jesus who has Mingding Destiny. Jesus came into the world with Mingding Destiny, and obtained authority because of Mingding Destiny. As we read, we forget who the protagonist of the Bible is, and what did He do? If after reading this whole passage, the protagonist is not Jesus, but the centurion, Peter's mother-in-law, or the leper, then there is a problem. If so, do you want to emulate the leper?

Many people after reading, they want to emulate the leper, or the paralyzed servant, or Peter's mother-in-law. What are you doing emulating these people? Do you want to become such a person? I don't want to be such a person! We should emulate Jesus. The protagonist of this passage is Jesus. Why is it that after reading, we don't read about emulating Jesus, but emulating those people instead?

We need to start pondering what Matthew is talking about in Chapter 8. He is talking about the authority of our Lord Jesus, telling us to emulate Him well, and have the same authority as Jesus. We need to know that this is talking about the authority of Jesus Christ, written for all those who have Mingding Destiny and desire to be like Jesus. A person who has Mingding Destiny like Jesus will definitely obtain authority. I will discuss this one by one below.

And behold, a leper came to Him and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2-3)

This is because Jesus has authority! Next, the conversation between the centurion of Capernaum and Jesus:

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! (Matthew 8:9-10)

They are discussing authority. This centurion is very clear that Jesus Christ has authority. When Jesus speaks, things happen in the spiritual realm, and his servant will be healed. Jesus said, go back, let it be done according to your faith. That is authority! Do you want to be a person like Jesus Christ? It is so good to be a person like Jesus!

Peter's mother-in-law was healed of fever, relying on authority. Who is this authority given to? It is given to those who have Mingding Destiny. Because He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses! Jesus came into this world to bear our sicknesses and take our infirmities. If we emulate Jesus, we are with Jesus. Therefore, in Jesus Christ, we are with Jesus Christ to accomplish our Mingding Destiny.

Which side are we on? This event is divided into two parts. One part is Jesus, and the other part is Peter's mother-in-law, the centurion's servant, the leper, and the wind and the sea. You have to make a correct choice, of course, choose to be Jesus Christ! Because the protagonist is Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ's authority comes from Mingding Destiny. If you and I are people with Mingding Destiny, we will have authority, that's amazing! We see in verse 26 that the wind and the sea listened to Jesus. People with Mingding Destiny are very powerful!

Do you think this passage is about faith? Actually, it is not. Does it mention faith? It does! But in verse 14, there is a question. Jesus was in Peter's house and saw Peter's mother-in-law lying down with a fever. Jesus touched his mother-in-law's hand, and the fever went away. Does Peter's mother-in-law have faith? It is not mentioned here, and we don't know. But we want to make one thing clear, this passage is about the issue of Jesus Christ's authority, not about Peter's mother-in-law receiving grace.

I think Jesus often criticizes those with little faith. They really don't know that they have authority in their hands. Later, they encountered two demon-possessed people. Did they have the faith to defeat the demons? They couldn't see the faith. What happened? Jesus said, demons, come out of them and go into the pigs, and the demons went into the pigs. This is a matter of authority. So everyone must be clear that people with Mingding Destiny have authority in their hands, and the authority of people with Mingding Destiny is very powerful.

Peter was willing to give up everything, leave his nets and fishing business to follow Jesus. Whether he could make money or make a living was unknown, but Peter was truly a person with Mingding Destiny. People with Mingding Destiny are amazing! Jesus entered Peter's house. Peter's mother-in-law only had such a relationship with Peter, only a mother-in-law, not even Peter's own mother, but because of Peter's Mingding Destiny, Jesus touched her and she was healed. In fact, Peter also has authority. People with Mingding Destiny have treasures in their hands.

Some people came to follow Jesus and said: Let me go back and bury my father first. Jesus said: Let the dead bury their own dead, follow me. That is to say, this matter is about authority! How important is this treasure! People die when they die! It's okay if you die! Some people think that people must be buried well when they die. In fact, burying them well and not burying them well is the same thing. That's it. Some people don't understand my words and pick on me, how can people not be buried well when they die? In fact, all this fussing and tossing is about the same, what's the point?

I will detail how I found this theme. In the future, everyone should find themes like this. Don't just see the trees and not the forest. You must be able to see the trees and also be able to see the forest. If you can see the whole, it will be easier to study the Bible. So, why do I often encourage everyone to be people with Mingding Destiny? Because people with Mingding Destiny have authority! This authority is so useful!

People Need to Know Why They Live

We need to know what we are here to do in this world. If we don't know, it is foolish to live just to live. There is a book called To Live, and the author wrote it with quite a philosophical tone, saying that living is just to live. But if people live just to live, then people are no different from beasts. Whether it is a cat or a dog, if you want to kill them, they will be very fierce. If the meaning of living is just to live, like a beast, then that's a problem, isn't it?

Today we know that we live for God. If we know why we live, we will not talk nonsense. If we really have Mingding Destiny, would we really care about this or that thing?

There is a sister who is quite pitiful. She came to me for prayer when she was sick. Why didn't she look for her husband? When this sister was living her life, she thought of her husband. When there was something delicious, she quickly gave it to her husband. I led her in prayer, and she got better, but when she had something delicious, she didn't think of me. It doesn't matter, I am a person with Mingding Destiny, but does she have Mingding Destiny? If her life is to live for her husband, then it is not strange that her husband stood by when she was seriously ill? When she gets better, her husband is her husband again, and the wife is his wife again.

People just don't know why we are here to live in this world. If it is to live for her husband, then you should live well for her husband! Can you not be sad when you meet such a husband? But if people have Mingding Destiny, they will not care about this matter, it doesn't matter how people treat us. What's more, we are on the side of Jesus. We don't want to get leprosy, we don't want to be paralyzed, and we don't want to stand on the opposite side of Jesus.

If Jesus touches you, you will be healed. What can this prove? It can only prove that Jesus has authority, and you are just receiving grace. If you receive grace, then receive it, but the question is, is that your Mingding Destiny? Is your Mingding Destiny to receive grace? Remember, your Mingding Destiny is to give grace away!

Let's look at it paragraph by paragraph. What do we live for? What did Jesus live for? Jesus lived to take my infirmities and bear our sicknesses. He came into this world to do this, so he has authority in his hands. If you want to be a person with authority in your hands, can you be like Jesus?

Emulating the Lord Jesus, Taking the Infirmities of People, Bearing the Sicknesses of People

Emulating Jesus is a very important theoretical foundation of the Chinese Mingding Destiny. If Jesus took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses, then what about us? Should we emulate Jesus? Of course, we must emulate! That's why we don't treat sick people like some churches. Some churches only have healing and deliverance once a month. If you don't catch that time, you have to wait until next month. If the hospital does this, the hospital will be finished, but many people build churches like this. When have you ever seen Jesus say, let the lepers wait, let's talk about it next month when Jesus opens the door? There is no such thing. Jesus healed them on the spot.

If we do according to Jesus' teachings, do we have a compassionate heart when we see sick people? We should have a compassionate heart! That is why our healing and deliverance is done so promptly and so well. I once met a sister who came to me for healing and deliverance. I asked her why she didn't look for the pastor of her own church? She said that the church only does healing and deliverance once a month. There is no way, she has to come to me.

The authority of people with Mingding Destiny is very powerful:

And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2-3)

Why do many people not get healed when they go to church today? The sick person may or may not have faith, but they really want to be healed. They are not healed because the pastor standing opposite them has no authority and no Mingding Destiny. These pastors only preach and do not do healing and deliverance. Some people say that the pastors of their churches do not have the gift and do not do healing and deliverance. In fact, this is not a question of whether or not they have gifts. The key is whether they have authority? Whether they have Mingding Destiny? Whether they are willing to emulate Jesus? Whether they are willing to pay the price for healing and deliverance and bear the sicknesses of people?

Jesus has already borne our sicknesses. Can we emulate Jesus and work with Jesus to get rid of the evil spirits behind the sicknesses? The centurion came to Jesus. If you came to you, you can also say: Go back! Let it be done according to your faith. Having faith is one thing, whether the person who speaks has authority and Mingding Destiny is a big difference!

That is why many Christians are not healed in their churches, but when they come to us, or listen to my prayer recordings on the website, they follow the prayers and get better. The reason is that I want to be like Jesus very much, and I pay all the price I can. This is my Mingding Destiny for which I was born, for which I live, and for which I die! Isn't this great?

When Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying down and sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. (Matthew 8:15-16)

I once gave a sermon titled All Were Healed. Some people asked me, were they really all healed? I said: There is one who has not been healed, and that is you! The motive of the person who asks this question is to prove that I am bragging. In fact, proving whether I am bragging is not beneficial to him. Whether he can be healed is beneficial to him.

The Bible does say that all who were sick were healed. In the early days, among the patients I prayed for, one out of ten could be healed. I was wondering why Jesus healed all who were sick, but I couldn't? Because I always felt that some diseases were difficult to heal. Later, I developed a habit, I just believed that all were healed, and slowly two out of ten were healed, and then there were three, eight, and nine were healed! More and more people are being healed!

Why are ten out of ten healed? Because some people get well in one minute, some people get well in one hour, some people get well in one day, because I am not yet that much like Jesus. I dream of being like Jesus every day, but it is a bit far off, so I just yearn. Even today, I continue to yearn to be like Jesus, but the price I pay is not as good as Jesus. Jesus is willing to take our infirmities and bear our sicknesses. Sometimes when I see others weak, I still ridicule them a few words, so the road to being like Jesus is not so easy to walk, but we can yearn!

If we believe that all are healed, we believe that one day we will become more and more like Jesus, but if we don't believe that all are healed, and don't yearn to be like Jesus, the result will be less and less like Jesus, and there will be fewer and fewer patients who are healed.

Leaving Everything for Mingding Destiny

If one desires to be a person with Mingding Destiny, one must relinquish certain things. How can one attain Mingding Destiny if one craves everything? Because we must forsake much for Mingding Destiny. How can we possibly obtain Mingding Destiny and authority if we are unwilling to let go? How many among us are not on Jesus' side, but rather stand in opposition to Him? What does receiving healing prove? Many are healed, yet they ultimately perish.

The entire Bible speaks of whether we have Mingding Destiny and whether we are to be a blessing to others, rather than merely receiving blessings ourselves. Whether we receive blessings is not the essential point; the vital matter is whether we possess authority. One cannot demand everything. Some say, Let me first go and bury my father. Is burying one's father truly that crucial? In truth, Jesus appears somewhat unsentimental, but those with Mingding Destiny are indeed often so.

Jesus said to those with Mingding Destiny, Let the dead bury their own dead, but you follow me. We must follow Jesus, and those who follow Jesus will inevitably forsake much. If you do not forsake much, how can you possibly follow Jesus? Standing upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, we must enter into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, emulating Him and becoming people of authority! If you covet everything, you will be unable to follow Jesus and become a person of Mingding Destiny.

If you cannot comprehend this, you stand in opposition to Jesus. Allow those with Mingding Destiny to pray for you, and you will be healed; let those with Mingding Destiny touch you, and you will be healed; let those with Mingding Destiny speak a word, and you will be healed. This may seem fine, but when will it end? Those of us with Mingding Destiny must directly confront the Devil and our enemies; thus, the demons say:

“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” (Matthew 8:29)

As we examine this passage, we discover that the demons recognize Jesus. While the demons' recognition of Jesus is one thing, whether they recognize you is quite another. However, I tell you, the demons truly recognize me. When I cast out demons, they say to me, I hate you; you are a man of Heaven. This sounds encouraging because I frequently torment demons and cast them out. Those with Mingding Destiny possess such authority to cast out demons. If we are like Jesus, demons will plead with us as they pleaded with Him.

The demons' recognition of you is a significant matter. If demons do not recognize you, and God does not recognize you, then what do you accomplish? If demons do not know that you are a son of God, you cannot contend with demons or the trials and tribulations we face in life. Any trial, any tribulation, any demon that attacks you will leave you half-dead.

If you still ask me, How can I live with my husband? He often complains that I do not speak to him enough, the problem is that you did not speak much before you were believers either. Previously, when he had time, he would watch television while you attended to your own affairs. Even if you devote time to him, how many words can he exchange with you? Are the conversations to revolve around mundane things like, Have you eaten? Have you had a drink? But what happens when you fall ill? You must endure it alone.

We must understand that becoming a person with Mingding Destiny involves taking up authority, standing on Jesus' side, and then the winds and waves will obey us, and the demons will obey us. Even if we forsake a few things, what does it matter? Why did we come into this world? Did you come for your husband or for your children? You might say, I cannot simply abandon them! I have not said to abandon them, but if caring for them is our Mingding Destiny, how can we emulate Jesus?

If Jesus had spent all His time caring for Mary at home, could He cast out demons? Later, when Jesus was crucified, Mary watched from below, and Jesus had no opportunity to care for her. You desire to care for your family, but whether you can do so is not something you can determine.

The preceding section spoke of Mingding Destiny. The latter section discusses that if you stand on the opposing side, you must have faith and believe that you will be healed when those with Mingding Destiny pray for you. If you believe that you will be healed when those with Mingding Destiny pray for you, will you then desire to become a person with Mingding Destiny? Do you want to bear people's illnesses, substitute their weaknesses, be born for this purpose, and come into this world for this purpose? Or do you seek your comfortable life? If you pursue your comfortable life, you will not be able to sustain it because the demons will torment you.

Closely Follow the Lord Jesus Until We See His Face

When we desire to become people of faith, are we willing to continue emulating Jesus? Consider the centurion in the scriptures. Because he experienced God's grace and received healing, was he later willing to emulate Jesus? Did he realize that Jesus was a treasure, and therefore, he must follow Jesus closely? Did he possess such determination? Let the dead bury their own dead; I am determined to follow Jesus!

Therefore, when we believe, we believe that we will receive such Mingding Destiny and authority. If we emulate Jesus, we will receive the same authority, and we can cast out demons. Thus, faith begins with faith and leads to faith, starting with small faith, experiencing little by little, and one day will certainly become like Jesus Christ.

When we are like Jesus Christ, we can rebuke the wind and the sea, and the wind and the sea will obey us. Even the Devil must know that we are men of Heaven, that we belong to Jesus. We hold the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven in our hands, and we hold the authority that the Lord Jesus has given us. We can trample upon the Devil and our enemies on the earth, liberate the captives, and heal all who are sick.

We preach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, trample upon the Devil and our enemies, and proclaim the powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, many have transformed the powerful Gospel into one without power. There is no discussion of Mingding Destiny, merely sitting in church. Do we truly know that this is a treasure today? Are you willing to forsake certain things for Jesus Christ? This is the choice between two foundations and two kingdoms. The choice between two foundations and two kingdoms, and two different pursuits, will bring entirely different results. From the problems you have raised, I can discern which foundation you stand upon and in which kingdom you dwell.

To this day, I have cast out so many demons that I know authority is truly a treasure. I once again encourage everyone to obtain authority. We begin by asking ourselves, Whose blessing have you become? Whom have you liberated? How many demons have you cast out? Which demons fear you? Or do you fear many demons? If not a single demon fears you, but rather you fear many demons, then you cannot speak of Mingding Destiny, authority, or being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, we begin to reflect, are you a disciple of Jesus Christ, or a disciple of the Devil? Do you bear the likeness of Jesus Christ, or the likeness of the Devil? Do you hold the authority of Jesus Christ in your hands, or does the Devil have authority over you? If you merely believe that Jesus can heal you, but ultimately lack Mingding Destiny, how will God recognize you? If a small wind or wave causes your boat to capsize, if a minor temptation overwhelms you, and you cannot follow Jesus, what will become of you? If demons do not fear you, and you fear demons, how can you live your life? Therefore, let us completely shatter all worldly logic systems, let us emulate Jesus, and follow Him wholeheartedly until we see His face! Before our Father God, may we receive the crown of glory!

May God bless everyone!