I. Introduction

Good day to all! Today, we will discuss those who are pleasing to God. Discussing those who are pleasing to God is a very good thing in itself, why might that be? Does everyone know why we should talk about people who please God? This is very important! Because there are only two kinds of people in this world. Some say, I know, men and women. Wrong! It’s not divided by gender. If it were by gender there would be more than two kinds. Does everyone know how many genders there are now? More than sixty. If you were to build toilets, you would need to build sixty kinds, in the future there will be men, women, neither men nor women, all sorts, it would be quite troublesome. But according to my way of dividing it, there are those who are pleasing to God and those who provoke God's wrath, just these two kinds. Think about it, which kind of person do you want to be? Some people, as they live, they lose sight of whether they are even living as human beings. Why is that? Because they end up being treated like beasts of burden, or like monkeys, in any case, not living with the dignity of a human being. I tell you, people deal with people and things every day, they are truly busy! Where do they find the time to care whether God is pleased or not? But the problem is, whether God is pleased or not is closely related to our living conditions, and if you don't know this, then that's troublesome. Today I'm telling you, aren't I? You need to know! Being busy is not a solution.

A few days ago, a sister had a breakdown, a very, very serious breakdown, and after her breakdown, I even gave her a scolding, but it was a beneficial scolding. Because she was extremely busy, running a shop. Everyone needs to understand that opening a shop is definitely not a wonderful thing; running a shop is incredibly busy, especially a restaurant, running a restaurant is no joke. Some people say, If you want to curse someone, let them open a restaurant. Later, it was said, If you want to curse someone, let them do renovations. Later, it was discovered that no trade is easy, the problem is the failure to please God.

Our sister, running a shop, had to send her children to school in the morning and pick them up in the evening. Because she wasn't doing it right, she was living in confusion and disorder, her child was seven years old and still couldn't wash their own hair, oh my goodness! Later, I found that many children live at boarding school from the age of five, able to do everything themselves, but adults, not understanding, just mess things up blindly; how could they not be busy? Busy to death. Actually, it's not that they can't let go, it's that they don't want to let go! Why can't they let go? Because they think it's very important. One day if the child is lost, everything is put down to look for the child. After finding the child, they discover that the shop, the life, goes on, what can't be let go?

I once met someone who said he was busy with work. I told him not to work so hard, to put things down, it doesn't matter, if the work is not finished today, do it day by day. No, he couldn't let go. Later, one day he got cancer and he let go. Oh I said, how come you let go again? He said, I got cancer. I said, If you had listened to me and let go before you got cancer, you wouldn't have gotten cancer. He said, That's true. Actually, people can let go of anything in life, it just depends on whether they want to let go. Today some people don't know what they are living for; I live to please God. And some people are busy all their lives, taking every opportunity to petition, petitioning all their lives, they are willing to give up anything for the sake of petitioning, except the petitioning itself. But today you can give up anything, even the petitioning. They just think it's very important, thinking it's very important is just a misconception. Can you let go for God today? That is the key point I want to make!

Does everyone know who I will be talking about today? I will be talking about Zerubbabel. This Zerubbabel is good, he is someone we should emulate, why? Because for the sake of God's temple, he dared to risk everything! Everyone needs to know that we need to learn from these people who are pleasing to God. In the 《Bible》 there are two kinds of people, one is those who are pleasing to God, and the other is those who provoke God's wrath. Just these two kinds of people, we need to learn from these two kinds of people, we can't do it ourselves, we need to learn from these two kinds of people, and after learning from these two kinds of people, then you will know, Wow, it turns out one can live this way.

What I am doing is to make everyone aware of a very simple fact, if you want to live well, you need to please God! Chinese Mingding Destiny makes this matter very simple, if a person lives under a curse, it is very simple, because they have violated God's word; if a person lives in blessing, it is also very simple, because they diligently keep and follow God's word, because God is in control of everything! Therefore, pleasing God and provoking God's wrath lead to two different outcomes. Why are people like this? It is because of this reason. Because God is in control of everything, because God's word is established in heaven!

You need to know that people who are pleasing to God are very powerful. Don't get this wrong, people who are pleasing to God are very powerful! Let me give you an example, was Abraham powerful? In those days he was a famous clan leader, very powerful, he defeated four kings with just 318 men, powerful! Very impressive, he was someone of note! Were Isaac and Jacob powerful? They were both very powerful. Later, Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt, second only to one person, very powerful; Daniel was the Prime Minister of Babylon, very powerful; Later Mordecai, Prime Minister of the Persian Empire; Nehemiah, a governor of the province of Judah, a high-ranking regional official; Zerubbabel was the governor of the province of Judah, a high-ranking regional official. Among these people, David was King David, Solomon were all powerful people. Did everyone know about it? The worst of them still managed to become a governor! Today, we will discuss someone who is less notable, we won't talk about such high positions, today we will talk about someone less notable, a high-ranking regional official, a governor, Zerubbabel. Was he busy? Of course he was busy, how could he not be busy?

But I have found that some people, without being a governor or a high-ranking regional official or a governor of a region, managing such a small shop, they become so busy that they put God aside. But these people, whether they became governors or prime ministers, they never put God aside, because they got there by relying on God. Everyone needs to know that initially people like Nehemiah and Zerubbabel also started from humble beginnings, later as they lived they worked their way up to becoming governors, they must have climbed up from the bottom.

Someone, one day is given a small shop or a small company to manage, they manage it in a mess, busy and disoriented, losing sight of God in their busyness, do you think they can become a governor? They can't, everyone knows that. Sometimes when I tell you to let go, it's not for you to put God aside, it's for you to put those things aside, because you don't live by those things. Actually, this job of getting people to let go is something I have been doing all along, so does everyone understand today? As soon as I say let go, someone says, Teacher, no, I can't let go. With God, what is there that you can't let go of? If others can let go, why can't you? If others can become governors and still let go, why can't you? Others, becoming governors, don't put God aside, but put other things aside. So today this Zerubbabel is very powerful, he never put the temple of God aside.

A few days ago, I ministered to cancer patient, whose belly was swollen, and the family was preparing for his funeral, imagine that. But in my faith, he should recover his health, so why hasn't he recovered? Because he always puts God aside, picks up other things, and can never let go. Look, people keep thinking, Oh, after I die, what will happen to my children? What will happen to my grandchildren? Actually, after you die, they will still live. Many grandmothers and grandfathers die, and their grandchildren still live; many grandmothers and grandfathers die and their grandchildren still live; many fathers and mothers die and their children still live, you can't control things after you die, so can you let go properly while you are alive? Actually, you can. There is no blessing outside of Mingding Destiny, this is the concept I have been conveying. With Chinese Mingding Destiny, one must have a Mingding Destiny, knowing why they are living!

Later I ministered to this sister, although her belly swelled up, it has now gone down, why? Because she is starting to recover Mingding Destiny. Starting to serve people, and every person she serves gets better, so I am not too concerned about her belly, I am only concerned about how many people she has served, the more she serves the better, she must have a Mingding Destiny, right?

A few days ago, someone contracted anal fistula. As a result, I also got him to put aside this disease, and now he is sending me messages that the fistula seems to have dried up, then it has also scabbed over, and is much better. What did he do? I just asked him to put aside all that work he was worrying about, your anus is about to leak and you're still worrying about work? So letting go of a lot also allowed him to focus more, his whole state is better, and the anal fistula is beginning to close up, today he told me it's much better. Brothers and sisters, no matter what, be a person who pleases God. If you put God aside all the time, to what extent do you think you will provoke God's wrath? To the extent that you get an anal fistula; to what extent do you provoke God's wrath? To the extent that your belly swells up, you get cancer. Provoking God's wrath all the time leads to this disease and that disease, there are many more these days.

Today this Zerubbabel we are talking about is quite interesting, this person is powerful. The last sermon I preached was about something that happened more than 2400 years ago, today we are talking about Zerubbabel who lived more than 2530 years ago. From now, that was probably 2550 years ago, Nehemiah was about 2460 years ago, so there is only that much difference. In Nehemiah's time, Malachi was the prophet, everyone needs to understand. When we read the 《Bible》, everyone knows the 《Book of Malachi》, right? In Nehemiah's time, Malachi was the prophet, Nehemiah and Ezra were contemporaries; Zerubbabel was seventy or eighty years earlier than Nehemiah, in the time of Zerubbabel, Zechariah and Haggai were prophets. Can everyone connect everything together now? Zechariah was contemporary to Zerubbabel and Haggai. Today we need to know that these people are all related to the temple of God! Has everyone noticed that people who are willing to build the temple of God are very powerful and very blessed! They are all related to the temple of God. This Nehemiah is related to the temple of God, the city of God, and has to do with worshiping God; Zerubbabel is the same, related to the temple of God. Today I have found that those who care about God's affairs are blessed! Why? Because caring about God's affairs pleases God, and for those who are pleasing to God, many things become easier. So it's a kind of character. Having said so much, can everyone understand, well, that depends on the individual.

II. Scripture

Then he answered me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” Then the word of the LORD came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. (Zechariah 4:6-9)

III. Prayer

God! Speak to us today, that our brothers and sisters may learn to emulate Zerubbabel, that we may begin to be concerned for your temple, that we may begin to be concerned for the church, for the body of Jesus Christ. God! Grant us the character of Zerubbabel, that we may be men of faith and Mingding Destiny, that we may have the opportunity to build your glorious church in this world. God! Arise your people today, that your people may be blessed before you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

IV. The Background of This Passage

I always want to make a reform, to make sermons like storytelling, because storytelling is particularly good to listen to, and everyone likes to listen. But I have never succeeded, first, because we don't have the skill of storytelling, and second, I'm afraid that I will confuse everyone and they won't be able to grasp the key points, only listening to the story. The background of this passage is full of stories. In the historical period before Zerubbabel, a magical thing happened. That was more than a hundred years before Zerubbabel, there was a man named Isaiah, he wrote a 《Book of Isaiah》, which is collected in 《The Bible》 today. The book prophesied that there would be a king named Cyrus, Cyrus also refers to one person. By the time of Zerubbabel, suddenly there was a king who was really called Cyrus, he was the king of the Persian Empire.

In 539 BC, the Persian king destroyed Babylon. The first and most powerful king of the Persian Empire was this Cyrus. His territory was very large, from India to Turkey, to Europe, and south to Egypt, a large piece of land, larger than the Babylonian Empire. This Cyrus was also a king who had God, the Persian Empire was built by him. When King Cyrus read the 《Book of Isaiah》, he discovered that it was the God of Israel who gave him this opportunity to raise him up in this era. Because the 《Book of Isaiah》 prophesied about him more than a hundred years ago, and then King Cyrus defeated the Babylonian Empire. This passage was written against that background.

Let me first talk about Zerubbabel. By the decree of King Cyrus, Zerubbabel was appointed as the governor of the province of Judah, becoming a high-ranking regional official, and allowed to build the temple of the God of Jehovah. At this time, Daniel was still alive! Let's connect the people of this stage together, Zerubbabel, Daniel were both famous people in the Persian Empire. Daniel was the prime minister in the court of Darius, Darius was a powerful appointed king under Cyrus, Cyrus was the king above Darius. Cyrus conquered the East, fought the West, his whole life expanding his territory, actually many places were not captured by him, but the people in those places were frightened by the news and surrendered directly to Cyrus. That is to say, Cyrus was very famous in history, even today the British Museum still has a piece of writing carved in stone by Cyrus.

Zerubbabel was appointed as the governor of the province of Judah, there are quite a few stories here. Seventy years before King Cyrus did so, the King of Babylon looted the gold, silver, and bronze vessels in front of the temple of Jerusalem to Babylon, after Babylon was defeated, King Cyrus was going to give all these to Zerubbabel, and let him take them back to Jerusalem, that is, to the Holy Temple of God, because he very much believed that God blessed him. Zerubbabel went back to build the temple with this mission, this is the history of this passage. Zerubbabel began to build the temple and laid the first stone.

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it.(Zechariah 4:9)

When writing these words, this matter had not been accomplished. Because many years ago, King Cyrus sent Zerubbabel to the land of Judah to build the temple of God in 539 BC, and appointed as Governor of the province of Judah. In the blink of an eye, King Cyrus lived for another ten years, and after ten years King Cyrus died. During these ten years, although Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the temple, there were always people making trouble, it was not easy! Because there were local thugs, rascals, and there was also the matter of people's interests, and those complex local political relationships. Other than him being the governor, there were others around him also serving as governors! There were governors of Judah, governors of Samaria, and governors of the area west of the Euphrates, the territories of some governors were much larger than his, and there were also those who snitched, always disliking Zerubbabel.

Besides the intricate social and political issues and the local culture, the Israelites also enjoyed a life of ease. The Israelites' penchant for a comfortable existence led to the desolation of God's temple, resulting in national ruin. After seventy years of exile, Zerubbabel was sent back by divine intervention to rebuild God's temple. However, upon commencing the temple's reconstruction, the Israelites reverted to their leisurely ways. Consequently, even after laying the foundation, a decade elapsed with little progress. The emperor then died, succeeded by a new one. This is akin to a change of presidency in a nation, where the new leader's stance towards China, whether friendly or hostile, dictates the government's attitude. With a new king in power, the local people sent a letter to the new emperor, Cambyses, son of Cyrus the Great. Cambyses, upon reading the locals' report, ordered Zerubbabel to halt construction, citing Jerusalem and Zerubbabel's region as frequent sources of sedition.

Cambyses reigned for eight years, during which Zerubbabel could not proceed with construction on pain of death due to the emperor's decree, resulting in an eight-year hiatus. Imagine, Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem, and after ten years, another eight passed, totaling eighteen years. Then, another emperor took the throne, only to die within a year, succeeded by Darius. Darius was more amicable towards the Jews, presenting an opportunity. Yet, Zerubbabel and his men remained hesitant to resume work. God then raised up the prophet Haggai, and also Zechariah. The books of Zechariah and Haggai chronicle the events during Zerubbabel's time under Emperor Darius. In fact, he had already served as governor for twenty years, The temple's completion came in Darius's sixth year, after roughly twenty-six years.

Zechariah was writing this book while construction was underway! It merely reflects God's expectation that since Zerubbabel had laid the first stone, establishing the temple's foundation, he would surely complete the work. Over those twenty-six years, had Zerubbabel become governor at fifty, he would now be seventy-six; if at forty, sixty-six. Time flies. Why did God favor Zerubbabel, whose work progressed so arduously? Even with such difficulty, our God does not expect immediate completion. Zerubbabel labored for twenty-six years, yet remained pleasing to God, a man after His own heart. He not only initiated the project but also brought it to fruition, a complete endeavor, not a half-finished one, as with the temple's construction. Brethren, in building God's church, many begin but fail to finish, which is truly lamentable.

Zerubbabel faced intricate interpersonal relationships, a complex social backdrop, and a convoluted political climate, contending with local troublemakers. Amidst these circumstances, Zerubbabel commenced work, even without the emperor's explicit command, displaying remarkable boldness. However, remember that God remains sovereign. The heart of King Darius is also in God's hands. It is intriguing to note that Cambyses, successor to Cyrus, who halted the temple's construction, was murdered. Whether Cambyses died by assassination or illness is debatable; I am uncertain, and historical accounts vary. Subsequently, Darius became emperor.

Interestingly, Darius had a favorable relationship with Cyrus the Great. It is said that Darius married Cyrus's daughter and later became the emperor of the Persian Empire. Such is the historical context. One should not be a person who leaves things unfinished, like an abandoned construction project. Clarity in tasks is paramount! Understanding this backdrop, we can better examine Zerubbabel's test of faith.

V. The Test of Faith

Upon laying the foundation, the Israelites were deeply moved, with weeping echoing. Some cried out of joy, others out of sorrow, lamenting that the temple did not match the glory of Solomon's. From the foundation's laying to the temple's completion, approximately twenty-six years passed, fraught with the risk of abandonment. The test of faith was indeed severe. In the initial decade, they faced considerable disruption, compounded by the fact that Zerubbabel's position as governor may not have been firmly established, contributing to the temple's slow progress. Could God have faulted him? No. While Zerubbabel's handling of the situation was imperfect, it ultimately did not matter.

After a decade, construction was halted, enduring for another ten years, totaling twenty. Over these two decades, morale waned. Many Israelites, who had accompanied Zerubbabel with gold, silver, and bronze to construct the temple, saw their efforts fizzle out, abandoned after twenty years. Over these two decades, some developed the habit of thinking, Well, this will never be built; let us build our own homes. Zerubbabel had brought over forty thousand Jews back, a considerably large number, their faith battered by this ordeal!

Was there a problem? God, why did you call a halt? Are you still with us? Such might have been their thoughts. Whether Zerubbabel thought similarly, we do not know. Yet, it tested and tried people's faith. Many said, Ah, the time for building the temple has not yet come. I dreamt of an angel yesterday, and the angel told me that the time is not yet ripe, that such a political environment is not suitable. But I tell you, though the people's spirits flagged, Zerubbabel's did not. Yet, any misstep by Zerubbabel could cost him his head. Fear was certainly a factor! However, this struggle is one that you and I must also undergo; this is the test of faith. Does God lack a place to dwell without this temple? Impossible! How could God dwell in a temple made by human hands? The temple is merely a place for people to gather and worship our God, nothing more.

I tell you, whatever you persevere in with faith will ultimately please God, for it is a test of faith. When I began building the church, it was utterly desolate. I thought, building a church meant one would just stand on a stage and preach, and with my gift of gab, it should be okay, right? No such thing! Building the church led to losing my job, my money, everything, and nearly my life. Building a church cannot be taken lightly! I knew that I was inadequate, incompetent in almost everything. Those were painful times, with no people, no money, just time. I thank God that He sent a prophet who, upon meeting me in a place, laid hands on me and declared, Wow! I see that you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death, a long and dark tunnel, but in the end, you shall witness God's glory! I felt compelled to persevere! I tell you, nothing happens instantly; it always comes back to the concept of a test of faith.

Today, if you encounter a test of faith, know that it is a test of faith. Tomorrow, if you face trials, know that it is a test of faith. Zerubbabel was no exception; a standstill for ten years, a soul-crushing hiatus! Passing by the temple daily, as the governor of Judah, working nearby, I can imagine the emotions; seeing God's desolate temple. I go to work at the church early in the morning, and I leave late at night, by myself. Do you know what 'going to work alone and leaving alone' means? Have you ever seen such a way of working? Going to work alone and leaving alone, persisting day after day, year after year, not knowing when God will intervene! Truly unknown. But this situation is called the test of faith.

Do you know today, brethren, that when you are doing anything, you must cultivate the idea of a test of faith? What pleases God is most crucial! How can you align with God's heart? Today, we see the state of the church, growing from humble beginnings to where it is now, blessing so many! Many churches use our church's resources, whether for Bible study or even for sermons and gatherings. One day, one of our sisters encountered someone using our materials, our 101 course. He was studying theology, not from our church, but he was using our material. Brethren, our current position is the result of faith.

VI. Inner Struggles and Painful Choices

If you asked me to clearly describe Zerubbabel's feelings during those years, I doubt I could fully capture it. But I can certainly describe my own journey. The internal struggles, the difficult choices. Ultimately, Zerubbabel worked tirelessly during those years. Then, suddenly, an event occurred: the emperor who had decreed the temple's construction died, and Zerubbabel was still governor of Judah. That year, there was a crop failure, not exactly a famine-induced shortage. But after years of struggle, that year he struggled even more: the emperor has changed; should I start work or not? The thought of starting again filled him with fear, because the previous emperor had ordered the work stopped. And if I started work today, the political opponents around me would report me, and I would lose my head. This internal struggle lasted for more than a year.

But I tell you, those who are pleasing to God have the faith of if I perish, I perish. Those who provoke God's anger also have the faith of if I perish, I perish, but their if I perish, I perish is used in unbelief. Those who please God use it in faith. Some use if I perish, I perish to please God, and some use the faith of if I perish, I perish to provoke God's anger. These are two different results. Zerubbabel, facing painful choices, was indecisive. Some said, Let's do it! Let's just do it. You know I am a relatively adventurous person. One of our sisters bought a house, renovating it, stripping it down to the bare walls. People asked me, Do you need a permit? As we're doing the renovations ourselves, who needs a permit? To get one, you must be a renovation company. Can you do it without a permit? Yes, let's do it. That's how it is.

Zerubbabel, at this time, actually had no permit. Like starting work without authorization, that's a matter of life and death. It was extremely dangerous. In that year, if you read the book of Haggai, you'll know God stirred Zerubbabel by sending scorching winds and mildew upon the land of Israel. They saw the fields would yield ten measures, but they only reaped five. Threshed grain would yield three measures, and mice would devour one. That year, tax revenue in the province of Judah was a problem. And what was Zerubbabel's reaction? His reaction was positive. What would a negative reaction look like? God, what more do you want from me? I have already laid the first stone. But real life is too difficult! Look at those thugs and hooligans harassing me. I could not complete the work in the first ten years. Then the emperor died, and the new emperor ordered an immediate halt of construction that remains in effect even today. What more do you want from me? People are often just like that--complaining. But after being stirred by God, Zerubbabel said: God, I hear you. I know you are displeased with my struggle. Ultimately, what about my performance? Everyone else is increasing revenue, but I'm running a deficit. My performance is ruined. Can I keep my office? It is not secure. God! Can you go easier on me? Can you speak up if you want me to go easier on you?

God revealed His will, and Haggai said; You are all concerned with your own homes, but the temple of God lies in ruins. You say that the time for building the temple has not come, and, what permit do you need? God is the permit. Zerubbabel knows God is the permit. Haggai said, You want a permit? Then Zerubbabel felt more hardship. You would not have this had God not have stirred the situation to this level. So, his performance was very poor. So he knew: God is in control. As long as I please God, it will be easy! The question is, you would you believe everything Haggai said? You took this man as a prophet? There are some who treat true prophets as fake prophets. Prophets who say soothing things are treated as true prophets, while prophets who speak unpleasantly are treated as false prophets. But in fact, true prophets are the ones who say unpleasant things. False prophets say only pleasant words.

Zerubbabel began work in the face of such a situation! How much struggle was in his heart? Zerubbabel thought: My ability to be the governor in this place is not by my own merit or skill. This great honour is given to me by God. Isn't what God gave me for me to do this? After a more than twenty-year stoppage, everything has fallen to ruin. Today, with or without a permit, let's commence work! As soon as he began, someone wrote a letter of indictment. Did Zerubbabel anticipate that this would happen? He was able to anticipate this matter. How could he not have anticipated it? He was a seasoned politician! He was in fear everyday, saying he was not afraid was a complete lie.

No one knows what kind of response Darius gave in his letter. Apart from trusting in God, there is nothing else to do. God can absolutely control the heart of Darius. Commencement of construction? Nothing happened. Today, brethren, you cannot grow without struggling. You will certainly embark on the path of faith amid struggles; you will start by saying: If I perish, I perish. And here you have a great pleasing of God! That is working with your head on a plate on the chopping block.

Jacob was the same way. Esau came to kill him with four hundred men. It was a matter of life and death. So, he was struggling internally. He sent people ahead, following behind. He wasn't willing to cross the river. God stirred him, saying: Cross over. I am not crossing over. Cross over. I am not crossing over. He wrestled and lost, eventually injuring his hip to the point of a limp. He hobbled to the front of the line. If I perish, I perish! But he did not perish. At that moment, he thought, If my brother comes with twenty or thirty men, I can kill him; but if he comes with four hundred men, I cannot defeat him. That struggle was difficult.

Today, brothers and sisters, can you tell yourselves; Does God not reign supreme? God absolutely reigns supreme. But the feelings of our flesh are very strong. Where do the feelings of the flesh come from? That’s the old nag! The old nag reacts very strongly through our flesh. If you choose God's sovereignty in your heart, you will be victorious! As long as you submit to God, you will be victorious, no matter the red horse or white horse. So Jacob wrestled with God at that time, not with God, but with his own flesh, and as a result, he was victorious!

Zerubbabel must have experienced Jacob's character, and today, brothers and sisters, you also have Jacob's character, do you know that? Because our God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, you must have Jacob's character. I tell you: I myself have Jacob's character, so I am victorious. After victory, God reigns supreme and nothing happens. We must know who to please and why we live!

The iron yamen, the flowing officials, the yamen is still there, but the officials have changed. The iron earth, the flowing people, although the earth is very powerful, it has been there, for thousands of years, but people have changed batch after batch. Even if you are from the Northeast, it's the same as being from Guangdong. If people put down this life and death and pursue the blessings of eternity, entering into God's will, that is called victory. Never retreat, retreating is even worse, moving forward is very hard, very hard, but once you get through it, it is no longer hard.

This Zerubbabel went through a struggle of faith, struggled for twenty years, and after this last struggle, he started work. Do you know what happened after the work started? Something magical happened. You know that the people around him were his political opponents, and they wrote to Darius, the newly appointed emperor, saying that these people had started work, and the tone had completely changed. Even Zerubbabel's political enemies, who originally wanted to accuse Zerubbabel, wrote a memorial that was very good, as if they were helping Zerubbabel. What did they write?

The previous memorial was written to attack Zerubbabel. This time it was written: Emperor, we would like to ask about your Majesty's decree? They said that in the time of King Cyrus, they had ordered the construction, but it had been stopped for so many years because they had offended God in the past and were taken captive to Babylon. Twenty years ago, God, through King Cyrus, returned to Jerusalem to build the temple of God, the temple of the Almighty God. It is the temple of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. It has been delayed for so long.

The people around him were actually higher officials than Zerubbabel, and they were actually qualified to order them to stop work. They didn't let them stop work. I ask you: Is it only by the Spirit of God that things can be accomplished? It is only by the Spirit of God that things can be accomplished! No matter what it is, it is not by chariots or horses, not by power or talent, but by the Spirit of God that things can be accomplished! This is quite interesting. What is even more interesting is that even the heart of King Darius is in the hands of God. The letter said: All of you stay away, and they will give money and whatever they want. From your treasury. Zerubbabel's finances must not have been handed over this year. It must have been troublesome and ruined. The emperor did not blame him. And he told the people around him that whatever Zerubbabel wanted, you should give it to him.

Darius wrote very interestingly in the whole process, he said that he wanted to make the king and the king's sons live long, how did he conclude this? His predecessor, King Cambyses, had a short life. King Cyrus passed the throne to his son Cambyses, and Cambyses died after eight years. As for whether it was a violent death, a natural death, or a death from illness, we won't say, but Darius must have known this story. He knew that he should fear God when he obtained this power!

How could King Cyrus successfully rule the Persian Empire for decades? It was because he was raised up by God, and Darius also knew this. Money is not a problem, you should pray well for me and my sons, and as a result, Darius ruled for decades. He was still a good Persian king. So, with a victorious heart, never retreat, and even the heart of the emperor is under God's control, God is so good! Can brothers and sisters clearly know that it is only by relying on the Spirit of God that things can be accomplished!

Seven, things are accomplished by relying on the Spirit of God

The rule is summarized as: things are accomplished by relying on the Spirit of God. Today, the key to accomplishing anything is to rely on the Spirit of God. Yesterday, my colleagues and I discussed the difference between humans and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence relies on computer calculations. Many things in human intelligence rely on revelation. The development of science does not rely solely on human efforts, but many things rely on inspiration in the human brain.

So many things do not rely on the computing power in the human brain, but on revelation from God. If people can receive revelation from God, no matter what you do today, you need revelation from God. Building a church requires relying on the Spirit of God, and doing scientific research requires relying on the Spirit of God. Later, Newton went to study theology. Many atheists said that it was a pity that Newton went to study theology when he studied science.

They don't know that Newton's three laws of motion were invented by revelation. Think about it: People live in our human space, and God is many dimensions above us. Looking at the problems of human dimensions from God's dimensions, it is easy to solve them. Even if a talent is resurrected from the dead, from God's dimension, it is all trivial matters. But if people do it in a human way, it will be troublesome. Just what I do is enough for ordinary people to do. For example, I treat a cancer patient, whose belly is swollen, and the family is preparing for the funeral. When they come to me, they don't need to prepare anything, and I can make him better, do you believe it? It can really get better! Our brothers and sisters must know that people can accomplish things by relying on the Spirit of God! But until today, some people still don't rely on the Spirit of God very much, because they are struggling in their hearts: let's rely on the doctor. Then you rely on the doctor, good luck.

God is in a completely different dimension, many dimensions beyond humans. You must know that things are accomplished by relying on the Spirit of God. If you can summarize this point, it will be easy! You may face all kinds of obstacles and all kinds of problems, but it doesn't matter, things are accomplished by relying on the Spirit of God. The foundation of this temple has been laid, and it will definitely be completed, and it will never be unfinished! So in the past few years, in the process of persistence, in the struggle, with faith in God, with hope from eternity, I persisted day after day, until I saw the church of God being built. But am I satisfied today? In fact, I am still not satisfied, the temple of God is still desolate. Looking around, how many churches are desolate now? Too many! The seventh point is that people who please God are those who rely on the Spirit of God. If you rely on the Spirit of God, you must have courage, without courage you can't do it. But you must have a beginning and an end in doing things to make things happen.

Eight, people do things with a beginning and an end, to make things happen

You need to know, is it difficult to do this? It's difficult! There are many difficulties to think about, and there are thousands of reasons why it can't be done. There is only one reason why it can be done: to please God! Reasons why it can't be done: this condition is not mature, that condition is not mature, this situation is not good, that situation is not good, a lot of things. If you go to the emperor, can you get an accurate certificate? If you get the certificate, don't do it. What if the emperor doesn't approve it after you get the certificate? Just do it! Die if you die! So there is a beginning and an end. Zerubbabel was probably not young at that time, and felt that he had lived enough, it doesn't matter. Is it uncomfortable? It's uncomfortable. Is it a struggle? It's a struggle. Is it discouraging? It's discouraging. Do you want to give up? I really want to give up. Are you afraid? Definitely afraid. But relying on the Spirit of God, how to rely on it? Just believe! Brothers and sisters, if you are a person of faith, you must be able to draw on God's power by relying on the Spirit of God. If you have faith in God, you can definitely draw on God's power!

Everyone should know that building the church of God, building the temple of God, is for the Spirit of God to dwell among us. How can you build it without relying on the Spirit of God? So I tell you, a person with Mingding Destiny will become an anointed one. So, Zechariah saw two olive trees in a vision. He asked the angel what these two olive trees were? Anointed ones. What is an anointed one? A person with Mingding Destiny before God. God anointed a person, that is, gave him an office, gave him a Mingding Destiny. As a result, Zerubbabel became a person with Mingding Destiny, and later became God's seal, and God wanted to use Zerubbabel to seal many people. This is called a divine person. If you become a divine person, is it not very simple? Anointed ones, people who build the church, are the two olive trees. People who build the church, people who build the temple of God, are inseparable from caring about what God cares about and pleasing God.

In the Book of Haggai, people are busy with their own homes, and the house of God is desolate, so God curses them. Today, the church is desolate because everyone is busy with their own homes. How can your home be good if the church of God is good? During the years of Haggai and Zerubbabel, Israel was busy with their own homes and had been busy for many years, and the temple of God was still desolate, and the church was also like this. Which is more important? Is your own home more important or the church more important? Is your own home in front of the house of God or behind the house of God? So building the temple must have a beginning and an end.

I thank God that God made me a person with a beginning and an end, and I never give up. Today, I also encourage brothers and sisters to become people who never give up! Uncomfortable? Persist! Today, everyone should know that everything I touch and serve, as long as I serve this person, it will definitely have a beginning and an end, and there will be a break. What is this break? Everyone has definitely never heard of it, my break is amazing: either the demons on you will be cast out by me, or you will be taken away by demons! The reason is very simple, as long as you don't retreat, being taken away by demons is your creation; if you are not taken away by demons, the demons must be cast out of your body. A few days ago, when I was ministering to a sister, this sister wanted to retreat, didn't want to do it, couldn't do it, couldn't go on. What does it mean to not be able to go on? I scolded her, and wasn't that good? Her mind became smart, and she became sober. Brothers and sisters should know that many things that have a beginning but no end are not pleasing to God. Things can be accomplished by relying on the Spirit of God, and there must be a beginning and an end.

When I mention Peter, everyone knows that I have dragged Peter out again. Peter was originally called by God to be an apostle to the Gentiles, but later, he lost this Mingding Destiny, opened this beginning, and did not end it well. Today, you can't say that you started a beginning, became a Christian, came out of Egypt, and then couldn't enter the promised land. Having a beginning but no end is not pleasing to God. Whoever pleases God must rely on the Spirit of God and must make things happen. Relying on the Spirit of God, no matter how difficult things are, God will definitely predestine you to be victorious! Whether it is the emperor or anything else, God will help you, and God will take care of all other things! Our brothers and sisters must obtain Mingding Destiny and build a glorious church!

Nine, Summary

Have the desolate days passed now? No! The temple of God is still desolate. You say that we have so many testimonies, so many testimonies, so satisfied, I am in a victorious church. But looking around, what is God's will? Look at this era, there are too many desolate places. Today, if we want to do it, we can't finish it. Looking around, is your heart only in the Chinese Mingding Destiny church? No, your heart should not be here, your heart should be in God. God does not only hope that the Chinese Mingding Destiny church will prosper, God hopes that His churches will prosper! Can we have such a mind, see the will of God, become people who please God, and be able to build the temple of God, the church of God!

Am I creating trouble for everyone by speaking? Sometimes I feel very uncomfortable in my heart, and I wish that everyone could experience what we have experienced, and I wish that everyone could seek God and build the church into a glorious church, even if I decline in the future, the temple of God will still be full of glory, and may God be glorified among us, this is the most important thing! Looking around, looking at the state of the church, is it still desolate? Even if there are a thousand or ten thousand Chinese Mingding Destiny churches in this generation, they will not be able to serve them all. So we are not tearing down other people's churches, we are hoping that people's churches will also prosper, and all churches that belong to God will prosper, that is the will of God. We don't want to build our own small kingdom, a small place is very prosperous and very good, what's so good about that? May the will of God be satisfied. May our brothers and sisters all be people with Mingding Destiny, and raise our heads again.

Today, let's sing a hymn and prepare to collect today's offerings. If you don't understand the meaning of offerings, please don't make offerings. This place in the church is to train people to be people who make offerings. The church is not a place to collect money, and the people in the church are not supported by you, but by God. Those who rely on God will lack nothing! No matter what state you are in, like Zerubbabel, no matter what struggles you have gone through, no matter what excitements you have gone through, God may be exciting you in your body, you may have encountered great difficulties, great challenges, but you must still know that God still reigns supreme! Do not be afraid, raise your head, look to our God, and be the people He delights in!

Raise your hands and receive His anointing, receive His Mingding Destiny, dedicate yourself, and become vessels that manifest God's glory in these last days! Everyone raise your hands and pray with me: God! I am here, may you use me; God! Let me be a person with Mingding Destiny, I want to choose to build your glorious church; God! I want to imitate Zerubbabel, imitate Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and build the temple of God! If you start a beginning, you can have a glorious ending! God, I want to be victorious in you all my life, lead me, use me, I am willing to be pleasing to you, reign supreme in my body, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen! Everyone should know that God accepts our offerings, and God will surely accept our declaration and offerings!

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen!