A Bible Study:

Developing a Good Habit of Bible Reading: Don't Strive to Understand Everything, But Put What You Do Understand into Practice

Hello everyone, let's study Leviticus 16. I assume you have already read the original text of the Bible. When you finish reading the original text, you will find that some new concepts emerge. In this chapter of the original text, a word appears: Azazel. Many people have a problem: as soon as they read a word they don't know, they think they don't understand it. In fact, there is still a lot that we can understand.

However, people's habit is that if there is something they don't understand, they think they don't understand everything. As soon as they see something they don't understand, their eyes and attention are drawn to it, and then they think they don't understand it. In fact, there is no absolute standard for whether you understand or not. Does understanding only 1%, 5%, 10%... count as understanding? Yes! At least you recognise the words. So what does it mean to not understand? It means there are things you understand and things you don't. As long as we can receive what we do understand, that is already very good.

The Essence of Sin: The Devil That Is Born Within Us and Prevents Us from Living Well

At the beginning of this chapter, it is mentioned that Aaron's two sons went before the Lord and died! This is puzzling. How could they die while serving God before the Lord? What did they die from? They died in their own sins. This raises a concept: what exactly is this sin? If we can understand what sin is all about, we will understand why many people live their lives ending up in misfortune, with disasters and all kinds of things happening that they can't fix no matter what they do.

People in this world cannot live without being related to sin. In that case, atonement becomes the most important thing for a person, which is to break away from sin. So what exactly is this sin? After reading this passage, we will have a sense of how important atonement is. These kinds of sacrifices, such as the sin offering, the burnt offering... actually have an important concept: performing the ritual of atonement.

A person is born a sinner, so how can he live well? He cannot live well because there is sin in him. Then this circles back again: what exactly is sin? It is what prevents us from living well. So where does this sin come from? It originated from Adam and Eve eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They had a child named Cain, and God said to him: Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. As a result, Cain did not master sin and was mastered by it.

Later, we studied what sin is all about and discovered what role sin plays in people. There is a clear characteristic: doing what you want not to do, and doing what you don't want to do. No one doesn't want to live well, no one doesn't want to live a holy life, but often they can't do it, and in the end, they obey sin and are controlled by it. This is called living in sin. Doing what you want not to do, and doing what you don't want to do, ultimately produces very strange results.

Sin is something with a personality. Later, we found that the Book of Romans describes sin very clearly. When I was studying this matter, I gradually summarised a rule. Aren't we talking about the Day of Atonement? On the Day of Atonement, you have to slaughter cattle and sheep, and release the goat to Azazel. In fact, these are all related to atonement.

Later, I found that sin is actually a demon. How does this demon get into people? There are all kinds of demons and evil spirits on earth. Some demons have been in people since birth. If I say that everyone has demons, you may not accept it; but if everyone has sin, then you may accept it. If you believe in the words of the Bible, you must have a very clear understanding of the concepts mentioned in the Bible. So what is this sin? First, sin has a personality, it is the demon that lives inside you from birth, that is sin.

In our exorcism ministry, we have found that some demons are attached to you from birth, and some demons are later attached to people. In our exorcism ministry, we ask the demons: what is your name? It says the name of the person it possesses. At first, we argued with it, saying it was not that person, but later we found it was useless to argue. The demon is indeed that person. The demon lives in whose body, then its name is the same as that person's name. People's names are very spiritual. If the person later dies, the demon still carries that person's name.

For example, the spirit of Jezebel, what is that? It is the demon that lived in Jezebel when she was born. In our exorcism ministry, we also encountered a demon called Xiaoqing. Don't we have the legends of the White Snake and the Green Snake? It is very interesting.

Why is this demon called Xiaoqing? It is because there was a little girl who became a concubine in a wealthy family, and later could not stand the grievances, so she hanged herself. From then on, this demon was called Xiaoqing. Later, it possessed another person and was called that person's name. So demons have many names, and they are called the name of the person they live in. Of course, this is just my understanding from exorcism practice, and you don't have to take this as truth.

Jesus Christ Is the Lamb of Atonement, Redeeming Us from the Hand of the Devil

The Bible says that everyone has sin, so if the concept of sin is a demon is established, if sin lives in a person, then a demon lives in a person. If it wants to take our lives at any time, what do you think will happen? Today we are alive because of God's grace; God does not allow demons to take our lives.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was very surprised. In the news videos, some people standing on the street suddenly collapsed and died. We often thought that another demon passing by took their lives, but it was actually the sin inside them that took their lives. Once God lets go, the demon will immediately take a person's life, so people need to come before God. But if they come before God, God is a holy God, and sinners must need atonement to come before God.

Jesus Christ is our Lamb of Atonement. What did Jesus Christ experience? It was being forsaken by God, becoming flesh, and being born into the world. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of Atonement, belonging to Azazel, and Azazel is the devil who holds the power of death. Jesus Christ belonged to Azazel in order to atone for our sins and redeem us from the hand of the devil.

In fact, Leviticus 16 reveals a spiritual principle: people must be liberated from their sins. Who liberated us? It was Jesus Christ who liberated us. Who paid the price? It was the sacrificial lamb. This is the spiritual law ordained by God; sin will not easily disappear, it will be placed on Jesus.

Today, we all owe God a favour: the diseases on our bodies are healed through prayer. Why are they healed through prayer? We believe that the curse of our sins has been placed on Jesus, and Jesus offered Himself to God. In fact, Jesus Christ offered Himself to God on the one hand, and on the other hand, was forsaken by God for us and belonged to the devil. Later, Jesus Christ was scourged and crucified in the hands of the devil, and then rose from the dead. This is called victory.

Jesus came to do this thing of atonement. We live well today entirely because the problem of sin has been solved. The matter spoken of in Leviticus 16, we look at it and think it is about other people's affairs, but it is closely related to our lives. There is a young man born in the 90s, who just turned 30 this year, and as a result, he shouldered the burden of the entire family. The demon, through the sin in him, killed his father, then his grandmother was paralysed, and his mother was deceived, resulting in a lot of debt. I felt very sympathetic after hearing this. I am very clear that this was done by the demon, and also by the sin in the person.

The young man works two jobs, working during the day, driving Didi at night, and doing homework after work. I feel very sorry for him, but there is no way, because people live in sin. Only by coming out of sin and accepting the redemption of the precious blood of Jesus Christ can the problem of man be solved. Otherwise, the demon living in a person will ruin the person's family.

Solving the Problem of Sin Is the Key to Solving the Problem of Living

There is a saying: every family has its own difficult problems. But we are not reciting difficult scriptures; we are reciting the Bible. Some people find reading the Bible troublesome. Is it better to recite your family's difficult problems? If a person does not understand sin, can he understand the affairs of people living? Therefore, people must know that by solving the problem of sin, we are solving the problem of people living.

The problem of sin must be placed on Jesus Christ, but before Jesus Christ came, God gave us a temporary solution, which was to place the sin on the sheep and the cattle. Therefore, it had to be offered once a year, but it did not fundamentally solve the problem. Offering it once a year shows that this thing is like taking a painkiller for a headache. Although it stops the pain, it does not solve the root problem.

Therefore, the Old Testament is a picture of solving the problem, but the one who truly solves the problem is our Jesus Christ. He became flesh and came into the world, offering Himself, not sitting in quiet meditation and dying. He was tormented by the devil enough to bear our transgressions. So do we owe Jesus a life? Because of Jesus Christ, we have such good grace and salvation. Should we still ignore it? If we continue to ignore it, how can we escape our transgressions? Today we must know that this is what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us.

It talks about what clothes the priests should wear and how to put them on. Why talk about putting on these clothes and these things?

He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around his waist and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. (Leviticus 16:4)

There are still requirements for the priests. As for what these things symbolise, what they symbolise is not important, but we need to know one thing: how God teaches us, so we must implement it. Because atonement is atoned for in this way. In the New Testament, it is Jesus Christ who atones for us. Do not read it all and think about what these symbolise and what those symbolise. It is not very useful.

The Way of Life That Jesus Christ Has Opened Up for Us Is to Completely Devote Ourselves to God

Today we must solve the problem of sin. Solving the problem of sin solves the problem of living. Living becomes a very simple thing. Our living is closely related to sin, and sin torments people enough. So where exactly is the way of life? The way of life is in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has opened up a way of dedication for us. Therefore, one goat belongs to the Lord God, and the other goat belongs to Azazel, placed in the wilderness, and in the end, it is still eaten, either by a lion, a tiger, or a wild dog.

So today we need to grasp a key point, which is dedication and offering a sin offering. The two goats offered for the sin offering, one belongs to Azazel and the other belongs to God. The one that belongs to Azazel is Jesus Christ, and the one that belongs to God is ourselves. Today we begin to firmly grasp this law, completely devote ourselves to God, eternally belong to God, and commemorate every day what God has done in us. Then we inherit the priestly office according to God's requirements.

Serving God is Very Strict, We Must Carefully Obey God's Word

Being a priest can lead to death. This is why Aaron's two sons died before God, because there was sin within them. God had already offered a sin offering for him. At that time, Aaron and his two sons had already finished offering the sin offering and could serve God before Him. However, Aaron's two sons did not serve God according to what God had commanded. They offered profane fire before God, and as a result, they were immediately burned to death. This is why today, as Christians, pastors, and full-time co-workers serving God in the church, we must know that serving God is a very strict matter.

Nadab and Abihu's past sins were redeemed by the sin offering of bulls and lambs, so they did not die at that time. However, by offering profane fire before God, they committed a new sin, and as a result, they died on the spot. In the Bible, there are many such incidents recorded in Leviticus and Numbers. Reflecting on our service to God in the New Testament today, if you are not strict, wouldn't that lead to death? After dying, God says, You cannot even cry! Why? Because you deserve it!

Therefore, today, solving the problem of sin not only requires resolving past sins, but also avoiding deliberate and blatant provocation of God, because you never know when a priest, while serving God, might have fire come from God and burn you to death. In fact, there are quite a few such stories in the Bible. In the past, our sins were attributed to Jesus Christ, but when we serve God, we need to have a strict and serious attitude, and not offer profane fire in the matter of serving God, not doing things according to God's Word. If a person does not act according to God's Word, it is offering profane fire.

We Do Exactly as God Says

Therefore, in recent years, I have developed a habit: I do exactly as God says. If our Lord Jesus did cell groups in the Bible, we do them; if the Lord Jesus did not do cell groups, then we don't do them either. So you will find that our church has abolished many things. When have you ever seen Jesus with a loudspeaker, with five thousand people there in worship and praise? I have never seen it. Jesus did not do that; Jesus was there teaching people the truth.

In fact, later I gradually abolished many things. For example, if there is no half-hour of leading songs before a church gathering, we feel that this church is not quite right. But brothers and sisters must know that Jesus Christ did not do that. Even more outrageous, Jesus went to the synagogue and released a woman who had been bent over since birth, saying, Ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed on the Sabbath day?

Those people regarded Sabbath gatherings as very important, but releasing someone from the hands of the devil on the Sabbath became a violation of the Sabbath. Do you find it strange? So I often pondered how to carefully obey God's Word and how to serve according to God's will. While pondering, I did many things. If those people were to comment today, then the things I did would be remarkable.

For example, while I was leading worship, there was a sister there clutching her stomach in menstrual pain, her face pale. In such a situation, most people would not have my courage. I thought singing songs was not important; releasing her from bondage was important. I said, Everyone, stop singing songs. I'll say a sentence, you say a sentence: In the name of Jesus Christ, the spirit of menstrual pain, go out. After praying for three to five minutes, she was healed. Then we continued singing songs, though it didn't matter if we didn't.

Our Jesus Christ came to redeem people's sins, bearing these sins on Jesus Christ, the sacrificial lamb, and to release us from the bondage of the devil. This is the most important thing.

Do Not Treat the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ as a Rag

Although God gives you grace, I have found that people with menstrual pain have a bad habit of discerning good and evil. This time we release her, next time she discerns good and evil again, and her period hurts again. We pray for her again, and she gets better, then she goes back to discerning good and evil... I'm leading you on the path of carefully obeying God's Word, how is it so difficult! Today we must know that we must never treat the blood of Jesus Christ as a rag. Isn't it very serious if you crucify Jesus Christ once every year? Stop sinning. Aaron's two sons died; if we don't deal with ourselves, aren't we harming ourselves? Don't commit new sins, don't deliberately violate.

I tell everyone not to love the world, not to indulge the flesh, not to discern good and evil, but you continue to love the world, indulge the flesh, and discern good and evil. I am really surprised! God gives me extremely good patience with those I serve. Those I serve become muddled from time to time. I don't know when they will be taken away by Azazel! If you don't strive to deal with it, what will you do then? If you serve God in a way that indulges the flesh and loves the world, aren't you offering profane fire and killing yourself? God often gives us warnings; do we still want to continue living in sin?

Complete Dedication is Called Holiness

Regarding sacrifice, do we offer ourselves completely? One is the sin offering, and the other is the burnt offering. Offer your own burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people to atone for yourselves and the people. The burnt offering is to completely dedicate oneself. In the New Testament, it is to completely dedicate oneself. Jesus Christ Himself is the sin offering, completely dedicating Himself. In fact, we also offer burnt offerings for ourselves; dedicating ourselves is called holiness.

Someone will ask, If you are like this, can you live? The problem lies here: some people think that people can live well only after the problem of sin is solved; but some people think that solving the problem of sin will not allow them to live well, and isn't it a loss to dedicate themselves? We must gradually understand one truth: the impact of sin is very far-reaching. Otherwise, you can try it.

One of our pastors served a young man. One day, this young man returned home and found that his child had a fever. He remembered how we led him in prayer, so he silently prayed for the child, and the child's fever went away. He was very surprised. Our God truly has abundant grace and mercy.

I give our brothers and sisters an important suggestion: you can try it; the spiritual realm governs our earthly affairs. The spiritual realm is the problem of sin, and the problem of sin is the problem of demons. Are we willing to solve the problem of sin, to completely dedicate ourselves and no longer live for ourselves, but to live for Jesus Christ?

The Root Problem of Sin is Disobeying God's Word, Which Brings Death

And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses (Leviticus 16:34).

We who serve as priests must act according to what God has commanded; if we don't, it is called offering profane fire. In the church today, we observe many strange phenomena. Many of our brothers and sisters come from different churches. The many strange phenomena you see are enough to make you aware of spiritual matters.

A sister shared an incident with me. In her local church, a leader died of cancer, and another person rose up to be a leader, and later died. We felt that these people were very good, so why did God let them die? Then another person was chosen to be the leader of the church, and later had a stomach hemorrhage and almost died. They then took a liking to this sister among us and wanted her to be the leader. The sister thought about it and said, Forget it, what if my heart, liver, and eyes start bleeding?

Later, this sister came among us and found that what Chinese Mingding Destiny taught was very suitable for her, and then she brought the leader who had previously had a stomach hemorrhage to the church. After we prayed, his stomach hemorrhage was healed. You may be surprised, is the God he believes in not the same God we believe in? We must know that although we believe in the same God, the path we walk is not the same path. What they do is not according to what the Lord has commanded.

In fact, they also paid a lot of price, driving to pick people up to come to church and sending them back, but what they said was not the word of God, and they preached the wrong gospel. Can they not be cursed if they believe in the wrong gospel? Today, we must act according to what God has revealed and commanded, otherwise we will be killed by God like Aaron's two sons.

We must solve the problem of sin. The root problem of sin is disobeying God's Word. If we disobey God's Word, demons will enter, and sin will be crouching at your door; you must master it. Aaron's two sons were burned to death by the fire of the Lord. We ask many pastors, Did God kill them, or did demons kill them? When this is said, many people are very confused. In fact, Aaron's two sons were burned to death by God because they disobeyed God's Word.

Summary: Have a Reverent Heart and Carefully Obey God's Word

From the beginning of Adam and Eve disobeying God's Word, death entered them. This is what God commanded, and it was accomplished according to God's Word. Because God had once said, You will surely die when you eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil! As a result, this sin entered Adam and Eve, which is the spirit of death. If we continue to disobey God's Word today, believing in God but not properly implementing God's Word, and interpreting everything according to human ideas and methods, I ask you, did God kill him, or did demons kill him?

Sometimes I say a sentence, and some people argue with me for a long time. Some people say, It wasn't God who sent the demons. But in the Bible, demons only act according to what God has commanded. Before the Israelites left Egypt, there was a Passover. What happened? All the firstborn in Egyptian families died. Did God send the demons to do it? Or did the demons go on their own? Weren't they sent by God? God sent them past those who had the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts.

Therefore, the laws of life and death are all determined by God, and the laws of sin and atonement are also made by God, not by demons. Therefore, today we must all fear God, fear the God who can kill our body and also kill our soul. In fact, carefully obeying God's Word is the key.

Some people get cancer, and I say, You have demons on you. He said, I don't have demons on me. I said, Then you are so holy! I am not that holy either. What is this talk! Isn't this taking one's life? We must know that we must act according to what the Lord has commanded. The New Testament and the Old Testament are one system. Can the New Testament not follow the laws in the Old Testament? No, the New Testament needs to completely dedicate oneself even more, living out the glorious image of God. This is salvation, this is the most basic truth of atonement. May God bless everyone!