I. Introduction

Good day to you all! Today, we shall delve into the life of another figure. Can anyone guess who I have in mind? It is Daniel. Previously, we examined Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, and Mordecai. They all shared a common trait. Can anyone identify it? They were all high-ranking officials. Ah, Pastor, are you obsessed with rank? You keep pointing out their high positions. Of course, it is a fact, they held significant offices. My intention is not to glorify high office. However, it would seem amiss if I were to say, Let us examine Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, Mordecai, and Daniel – they were all beggars. Brethren, do you know? They were all exceedingly wealthy, they were high officials, provincial governors, prime ministers. But this is not the crux. Ah, you’ve circled back to say it’s not important? How important it is! It is not important! It is not because they held high office that they were significant, nor because they were rich that they were wealthy. They shared a common purpose: for the sake of God's temple, for the sake of God's people, they feared no authority, they devoted their lives to God’s temple, laboring and living for it.

The same is true of Daniel, whom we discuss today. Whether there is a direct correlation between holding high office and cherishing God's temple is a matter of perspective, but I believe there is. Psalm 122, verse 6, states:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.” (Psalm 122:6)

Thus, my assertion is biblically sound. Those who love Jerusalem will surely prosper! Today, brethren, I urge you to become a person of Mingding Destiny, to become builders of God's glorious church. I do not do this to harm you, it is a wonderful choice! Those who love God’s temple attained high office. And what do you love? If you love money, will you not end up poor? Loving God ensures prosperity! Understand that the Jerusalem of the Old Testament represents the church today. All references to Jerusalem, God's temple, and God's house in the Old Testament point to the church today. Therefore, those who build God's glorious church will surely prosper, Amen!

Let us each consider today whether we are builders of God's glorious church. It is a matter for contemplation. In the Bible, Mount Zion, Jerusalem, and God's temple all denote the church! Therefore, in the New Testament, the church is a profoundly important concept. Cease to mistakenly believe it refers to the physical Jerusalem of today, which has become a tool for monetary gain. I confess I do not understand how it has become such a tool, many organizing this activity and that to Jerusalem. Who knows their true motives? Beware of being misled by such schemes.

Daniel, whom we discuss today, was a contemporary of Zerubbabel, perhaps slightly older. Nehemiah, Mordecai, Zerubbabel, and Daniel lived within approximately a hundred years of one another. These individuals lived during the period of Israel's and Judah's downfall, when they were taken captive to Babylon. Later, the Persian Empire conquered Babylon, and these individuals served within the Persian Empire, as recorded in the scriptures. Though I presented Nehemiah first, followed by Zerubbabel, then Mordecai, and now Daniel, understand that Daniel came first. Daniel lived around 606 BC, while Zerubbabel lived around 539 BC. BC refers to the time before the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus. The larger the BC year, the further it is from us. For the sake of simplicity, I will omit the BC designation. Daniel lived over two thousand six hundred years ago, Zerubbabel over two thousand five hundred years ago, Mordecai over two thousand four hundred years ago, and Nehemiah was closer to our time, living over two thousand four hundred years ago, though Mordecai preceded Nehemiah.

Who instigated Zerubbabel and Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem to build God's temple and rebuild the walls? It was Daniel! Daniel set in motion this pivotal event. As a young man taken captive to Babylon, Daniel possessed exceptional intelligence, which caught the attention of the Babylonians. Similar to how companies scout for promising university students to cultivate as future leaders, Daniel became a seed nurtured by the Babylonian Empire, groomed for management. He eventually rose to become a prime minister in the Babylonian Empire.

Even as a captive in Babylon, Daniel held fast to Jeremiah's prophesy which stated: After seventy years, God would once again turn His grace to Jerusalem, bringing His people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple! I tell you if your heart is set on God's temple, you will become part of a management trainee programme, you will be a seed, trained for management. Management trainees often enjoy higher salaries upon entering a company. Daniel received excellent treatment from the moment he arrived, enjoying good food and amenities, for he was destined to manage the Babylonian Empire for the king. Is there a necessary connection between serving as prime minister of Babylon and focusing on God’s temple? Absolutely. All those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem, this way it will be.

Today, we focus on Daniel. Some may ask, was Daniel still alive when Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple? The rebuilding of the temple was a result of Daniel’s prayers. Daniel was still serving as prime minister under King Darius when Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem. Today, I share a historical narrative, blending stories to impart understanding.

II. Scripture Reading

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that were to pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years, as declared by the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:1-3)

III. Prayer

O God, open our spiritual eyes today, allowing us to see the blessing and delight You take in praying for the welfare of Jerusalem, which is to pray for the welfare of Your church in this day. O God, raise up among us a company of brethren who can become builders of Your glorious church. O God, raise them up among us today! Raise up Daniels, Nehemiahs, Mordecais, and Zerubbabels, both great and small! May we intercede on behalf of Your temple, Your city, and Your people, that we may seek only Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and become a people pleasing to You. O God, let us see in our hearts this desolate age; O God, Your will is for prosperity, may this prosperity come upon Your church today, causing Your church to flourish once more, manifesting Your glory, and turning Your people away from a life of small-mindedness and greed, toward You, as with Daniel's plea, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

IV. The Background of This Passage

Today, I share my latest research, fresh from the oven. After I share, you will grasp the connections between these individuals. I believe Daniel's career was built on one quality alone, and he rose to high office depending on that, not through manipulation, knowledge, or talent. This single quality was being concerned about what God is concerned about, and being invested in what God is invested in. I deeply know this logic, and it has run through his life. Why did he pleas God? Because he cared for what God cared for. This is a remarkable man! From a young age! And he rose to high office.

Today, many fixate on the high office, yet miss the underpinning logic. Some covet high office because they witness corruption and lament their lack of opportunity to partake. If you are corrupt before attaining high office, you will undoubtedly become a corrupt official upon achieving it. Aspiring to exploit others before acquiring wealth will only lead to your becoming a dishonest merchant upon becoming wealthy. Will you choose to be a corrupt official and dishonest merchant? It rests upon what fills your heart from a young age. Whether it be Daniel, David, or Solomon, their hearts were set on God's temple, a matter of great wonder. Therefore, those who build God’s glorious church are pleasing to God. If God is pleased, he gives you the mandate of a king, gives you the position of prime minister, is that not good? However, many Christians I have seen are fixated only upon status and money. So they are constantly organising themselves to the point that they are miserable, why? They are not pleasing God.

Do you know the context of this passage in Daniel? I have surveyed much material on Daniel, yet found it wanting. A few years past, I led a study on Daniel. I felt it was the most illuminating of the various materials. Reading Daniel chapter 9 we were in 539 BC, from 606 BC Daniel was taken captive to Babylon, and was installed as management trainee. This child was blessed, taken captive and becoming a management trainee, would you say this was good or bad?

At that time, Daniel was fourteen or fifteen years old, let’s just posit that he was fifteen years old when he was taken captive, so in 539 BC he would have been an old man of eighty-two years. Daniel was not just taken captive, he continually read from the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah, which is the Scripture we read today. From his readings in Jeremiah Daniel began to anticipate those seventy years, where God would once again return to Jerusalem. As a prime minister in Babylon the Babylonian Empire was conquered by Cyrus king of Persia.

When Darius was sixty-two, he conquered Babylon. In fact, Daniel was prime minister in the Babylonian government. As Darius entered the capital of Babylon he still used Daniel as prime minister. That was amazing, he became an unshakeable stalwart. Daniel's career is amusing, going by our logic, he was a cabinet member of the previous dynasty, he would have been doomed! He was still used? Maybe Darius slew many, by chance Daniel was kept? But he was certainly liked by Darius, God will elevate you, will always have favour from your employer.

Though he was quite aged he took the time to pray and dedicate himself to God. Three times a day he would open his window and pray in the direction of Jerusalem. Though he had become prime minister in the Persian empire his heart was directed towards Jerusalem. He really meant it! He could not fail! Even in those twilight years. Daniel summarised that living is based on the words of God. The accumulation of wisdom gained in his working life, becoming unshakeable after 70 years after starting as a management trainee, he deeply concludes that pleasing God is the only thing that counts.

He did not seek to please God for convenience. Living was pleasing God. The storms of his working life, were akin to walking with a King right next to a tiger! Through ruling across 3 empires Daniel was very successful! He achieved this by delighting God. Are you clear? How can you be as useless as Adou? No matter what you do? Living life with any clarity. If you are able to become successful like Daniel who was wise and clear, you will certainly succeed in your working life. I thank God, I am not Daniel, but my logic and Daniels are very much the same.

Finally, the seventy years had arrived as Darius broke the Babylonian Empire, slew the Babylonian dynasty and rose to be the Emperor Darius. Daniel had continued to read Jeremiah and to anticipate the fulfillment of those prophesies. Generally, would you say oh no! I have been sacked, my boss is dead. But Darius still kept Daniel as Prime Minister and Cyrus also worshipped the God of Daniel. Daniel understood Jeremiah, and also was aware of Isaiah, he was crystal clear on Cyrus.

Those who seek peace for Jerusalem will prosper. Are you a proponent of Mingding Destiny, one who will build God's Glorious Church? Yes, you do not need to think twice! Opportunities thus arise, Daniel knelt in that space to pray. You need to fully understand why Daniel was thrust into the lions den because he desired peace for Jerusalem, he prayed so intensely that it led to the lions den! As a result, the lions were unable to attack him, God restrained them, even though they were starving. Could not touch him, that's because God did not grant it. This is the background for this writing.

V. Why Did Daniel Live

I talk often about death, you will not be able to please God if you don’t see through death. Daniel worked for God. Three times a day, he opened his window and prayed towards Jerusalem. The Persian Empire knew of Daniels habit of praying through Jerusalem in the morning and evening. That was an extravagant exercise, you need to know that it was a massive struggle in politics. Although the Emperor loved Daniel, the courtiers were very jealous. In their jealousy they wanted to do damage to Daniel when they approached Emperor Darius to make the edict:

All the royal officials, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. (Daniel 6:7)

Then Emperor Darius agreed to the edict. Although he was forced to worship Darius alone. Daniel was unaware, but when Daniel went back home he would still pray and dedicate himself to God. Seventy years had passed, to the point where brother sister Chinese Mingding Destiny (华人命定神学) why is the name Mingding Destiny? We have come to believe that that is why we live, that is why we die for it, Gods servants. Some of my fellow pastors are very pleased, how do you work to get those trainees? Train them to be men of destiny, why are we here? So that we can die for it, it is the reason that we live, that is my framework, that is how die live.

Consequently, they cast Daniel into the lions den. Did this dedication disturb anything? How could someone have it out for someone for praying too much? Although he was favoured by the Emperor they convinced the Emperor with the edict for thirty days without worshipping his god. The Emperor was very angry when approached about this and decided to carry out the law and thrust him to the lions den.

What did Daniel do in the lions den? Did he ask God to be fearful of the lions? He continued to pray through Jerusalem. The miraculous things that occurred, God sealed the mouth of the lions. God has sealed the hand of the kick boxers. Today that heart for Gods glorious servants is precious. The most successful thing being for God. Daniel put his life in line to be thrown into the lions den, on the second day Emperor Darius did not sleep and went to the lions den to see what had occurred. Has God protected you? Daniel down well below. The mouth to be clear to not be at fault before you. If it is not something that occurs to the lord. The king stayed there for a long tie period. Darius decided that from now the people would worship God and gave glory to the power of the God of Daniel.

It then became the custom for many others to find any opportunity to discredit others. Did Daniel cover his mouth, but let the king to have his mood that day. No, Daniel didn't! Like Ester and Mordecai, with their head set towards God the heart of Gods glorious servants. The fearfulness like is there for me to service God. What makes sense with the people. Is there to be a dedication to service the great joy of God. Gods power rules over the kingdom. The Holy Spirit is for everyone's desire and power. If you have an interest, you can attend my study of Daniel, what I say is crystal clear, titled Gods Power rules over the kingdom. Is there anything that happens with our control? In your workers, is it small things.

So today, brothers and sisters, do you know, you must make a decision, what are you living for? If you are living for God, you will despise death; if you are living for God, you will despise the lion’s mouth; if you are living for God, you will despise these political struggles; if you are living for God, you will know how great is the power of God! If you really know, can you not live for God? If you really know, can you not despise death? Like Daniel and these people, they are all ready to die. They didn’t care at all; they lived a long time and were hard to die! So, brothers and sisters, you must make a decision today. Remember, hoarding money is so low! Can money save a person’s life? Foolish! As far as I know, there are many pastors who hoard money. What do we hoard? We hoard God! Hold God in our arms. It’s a bit crude to say that, but we have to hoard God! Live for God.

What is your foundation? Some people think when their sons grow up: I have to seek some benefits for my son, what can I give him before I die? I tell you, the best thing you can give your son is to let him please God. If you really love your son, let your son have the concept of a glorious temple from a young age and seek peace for Jerusalem. This slight disturbance, this lion’s mouth, suddenly cleanses people’s hearts, do you see that? If a person does not know that God is precious, he will push God away in the face of risk, not knowing that God reigns in the kingdom of men. At the slightest disturbance, not to mention an edict from the emperor, even if your boss says something, you tremble. I think you should live well for your boss; your boss doesn’t even know what he lives for.

So today, brothers and sisters, we must know for sure that this suddenly cleanses people's hearts! What are you living for? It is tested at the lion's mouth. Are you willing to lay down your life for God? When Isaac laid down his life for God, he came back alive; when Daniel laid down his life for God, he came back alive; when Daniel's three friends laid down their lives for God, they all came back alive. And those who did not come back alive also live in eternity. Brothers and sisters, what should you do when time is short? This is quite challenging. Of course, I won't say: You must do this. I don't rely on administrative orders because pleasing God in the end is your inner decision. Daniel was a man who lived for God, so he became a man who pleased God. Do you understand now?

VI. What Do People Seek?

What do people seek? Everyone has noticed that Daniel prayed: God, protect my job. No. Some people pray: God, I'm going to college, God, bless my exam. Their minds are full of their own little trivial matters. It's as if that little thing is the biggest thing in their life. People are so stupid, their brains don't work. You have to know what kind of people God likes and what kind of people God hates. God hates people who seem to be living very seriously, praying for: Oh, my wife is going to have a baby, please bless God; my child has a fever, please heal God; my job is going to be promoted, please protect God. All these trivial matters. I never pray for these things.

If you want me to pray for you, when people come to me with something, I say okay, may God bless you! I just say it casually and finish the formality, I don't want to offend you. But I don't want to pray for you so seriously either. There was really someone who called me and said, Teacher, pray for my money. What is your money? It is paper money for the dead. Have you seen anyone praying for paper money for the dead? No. Praying for your money is about the same as praying for paper money for the dead, silly. So, in the ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel, Daniel knew that the seventy years were fulfilled. In fact, he prayed like this before the seventy years were fulfilled.

What was his prayer? He prayed: O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. But we have sinned, today we must repent to God. Lord! You are righteous, but our faces are covered with shame.

O Lord, to us belong shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against you. (Daniel 9:8)

See how well his logical system is explained! Why did the kings, princes, and fathers of Israel sin against God? They all wanted to live their own lives and did not want to be people who pleased God. All they prayed for were those little trivial matters. Therefore, all these disasters fell on the Israelites, according to what is written in the law of Moses. They did not turn away from their sins and understand the truth of God. He prayed: O Lord our God, you brought your people Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand and made yourself a name that endures to this day. Lord, you have great kindness and righteousness, may your anger and wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem. Today we also pray: God, please turn your anger and wrath away from your church.

Yesterday, a sister was so interesting that she made me laugh. Not that I'm gloating. She said that when a sister came to our church, she came with her. She had to know which church that sister came from and why she came to our church? Because their church kept finding cancer, and then another cancer. Later, the pastor also got cancer. It became a church of cancer. Why did they get cancer? Because God's anger and wrath descended upon their church. So, Daniel prayed for the city of Jerusalem, which is God's holy mountain, the people of Jerusalem, God's people, the temple under God's name, to look upon our desolate land!

God! Open your eyes, listen, look upon our desolate situation, look upon the city under your name and the church under your name. This is what Daniel prayed for! Today, brothers and sisters, we ask God to turn away his anger from his church. Today, let's not gloat and say: I am a prime minister in Babylon, and I testify that God helped me become a prime minister in Babylon. I testify that God let me buy property; I testify that God made me rich; I testify that the king of the Persian Empire came and let me be the prime minister of the Babylonian Empire. Is this a testimony? You think this is important, but God doesn't think it's important. People's testimonies are all about these things. Think about it. You have to understand what's going on.

Today, let's figure this out little by little. I tell you, we do what Daniel did. Don't get it wrong. What did he ask for? Once he asked, an angel of God descended before Daniel and gave Daniel a revelation. This revelation brought Daniel very deep confusion.

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:25-26)

Ah? I asked for peace for Jerusalem, and what I got was desolate days? God! Confused? Very confused. It seems that what we think is different from what God thinks. What does it mean that the anointed one will be cut off and have nothing? What is this talking about? How can I not understand?

VII. Attitude in the Face of Confusion

After people ask, they will have very deep confusion. Look, what is this talking about? The anointed one is a person with Mingding Destiny, he will be cut off, then have nothing, and then the people of a prince will destroy the city and the sanctuary, until the end, desolations are determined. Confused? God, did I hear wrong? God, I am really confused and very tired.

Daniel was very sad and tired inside. He continued to seek. Brothers and sisters, I tell you, as a Christian, you will definitely face a lot of confusion. Because the concept I am conveying is: the church must shepherd. It is to build a victorious church, the church must shepherd God's flock well. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Then I said, ask for peace for Jerusalem, ask for the church to prosper, but what I see is very strange?

A few days ago, a sister asked me that there was an old man in their place who also built a church, and only a few old men and women were left in the church. But this pastor is very powerful, he should be a financial expert or a real estate expert. Very powerful. He makes a lot of money buying and selling houses. He bought it for two million and sold it for thirteen million. The old man's whole face is radiant and he is in good health. Then people asked me: Teacher, I am very confused, I have not seen him build a glorious church, but he is really prosperous! Can you not be confused when facing such things? This is not a curse?

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:26)

Are those people more prosperous than the sanctuary? Has everyone seen these things? You haven't lived long enough or seen enough. When you live long enough and see enough, you will know which is bigger and which is smaller. That's a trick. I think today if we stand in eternity and look at God's plan, we seek, we need to know what God is doing? It would be great if we really knew what God was doing. Before Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, were you confused? This Daniel is stupid, why do you open the window? Wouldn't it be better to pray secretly? Opening the window is like Mordecai, fighting against people, we are very confused. You are not confused when you come out of the lion's den alive.

I often hear preachers give this testimony. A preacher said: I really wanted to eat sausage yesterday, and when I knocked on the door the next morning, a sister brought me the sausage I wanted to eat. When I hear this, what kind of testimony is this? If I were to give a testimony, I would say: a sister really wanted to eat sausage, I didn't know she really wanted to eat it, so I bought a box and gave it to her. Can everyone understand? Because my logic is not what I get, my logic is what I give. Their logic is what I get, my logic is what I give. This logic sounds a bit strange, but there are all kinds of testimonies.

So, today we need to know God's plan, to understand there are two kingdoms, two value systems, two pursuits. You know this is the first year of the Persian Empire, do you know what happened after Daniel prayed? King Cyrus issued an edict: Zerubbabel took about 40,000 captives back to Jerusalem, not only back to Jerusalem, but also brought the gold and silver vessels from the temple, which were all things of value, antiques, to Jerusalem. They were all made when Solomon and David built the temple. Zerubbabel was made governor of Judah. As a result, three years have passed. Three years later, Daniel wrote in the Book of Daniel that in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, Daniel mourned for three weeks. Do you know why he mourned? Because he asked for peace for Jerusalem, but Zerubbabel went back and accomplished nothing.

Can everyone understand? Returning to the land of Judah was not very smooth, but very bumpy, with more problems than answers, and more people creating problems than solving problems. Zerubbabel's job was not easy. If the central government sent a Minister of Public Security to a certain province and he died inexplicably, why? The evil forces in that place are all connected, the black and white are all connected, unbreakable, do you think the emperor sent a Minister of Public Security to solve the problem? You will die without even knowing how you died, which is similar to the situation Zerubbabel faced.

Daniel not only asked for Zerubbabel to return to Jerusalem for the first time, but was full of confusion, received a revelation that seemed to understand but did not understand. It seemed that three years after Zerubbabel returned, he was sad and prayed again, and this time God answered him again. Brothers and sisters, these words I read to you will definitely confuse you:

He said, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and humbled yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. ... Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. (Daniel 10:11-16)

It's not what we imagined. We thought it was infinitely glorious to be a prime minister. We thought it was glorious to be a prime minister in Egypt; it was glorious to be a prime minister in Babylon; it was glorious to be a prime minister in the Persian Empire. How great! But what does God say? God says:

And said, “O man greatly loved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” (Daniel 10:19)

After we read it, don't be confused, because what is God's work? We must have wisdom. Daniel was a very wise man who could interpret dreams, but he was confused when he encountered such things. Today, when we face such various things, we are not confused when we eat and drink well, but we are confused when we don't eat and drink well. Can you understand Jesus dying on the cross? Can you understand Jesus being punched and kicked? Can you understand Jesus being spat on? I tell you, God's plan is like this.

VIII. God is Refining and Cleansing the Sanctuary

I want to solve this confusion for you. This is a paper, not a story. What can you refine if everything goes smoothly? If you pray and everything is answered smoothly, and you are healthy, eat well, drink well, and become a high official, what can you refine? If you can refine something, I don't think God would do it this way. Everyone should know that bad people are not always unlucky. Sometimes bad people are lucky. Don't think that good people are always lucky and bad people are always unlucky. Observation does not seem to be like this, but if you can have wisdom, I will read it to you:

And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:14)

After reading this, I know that God's intention is to cleanse his sanctuary. How is it cleansed? It is to let you go through the lion's mouth, let you go through the fiery test, let you go through these things, and when you are full of confusion, let you come out of the confusion and become a cleansed person.

Some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. (Daniel 11:35)

If you go to find it, you will read in the Book of Daniel that many people will purify themselves, make themselves white, and be refined. It turns out that God is refining us. I tell you, although the Bible once promised God's people that God is with them and everything goes smoothly, that everything goes smoothly is through refining. Joseph was a slave in Egypt for ten years and a prisoner for three years. Was it refining? Yes; David fled for thirteen years. Was it refining? So people who have been refined can have their hearts cleansed and sanctified before God. So the result of our seeking, what I have sought, the root of the confusion is that we do not know that God is cleansing his church:

Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:10)

And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by the sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. (Daniel 11:33)

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)

Understood, God, it turns out that you can spare no expense, not even the life of Jesus Christ, and you do not spare our lives, to test, refine, and roast us. God does not care whether you are a high or low official, that is not important. What is important is what you are living for? Once you refine it, it will come out. Even if you are a wise person, there are still many wise people who will fall. These confusions cannot stop us from understanding one thing: our kingdom is not of this world, God wants us to inherit the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of God is about to descend upon us, and we despise everything in this world, so no test or refinement can take away the love for God in our hearts and be a victorious Christian. Chinese Mingding Destiny is a victorious theology; Chinese Mingding Destiny is a seeking theology; Chinese Mingding Destiny is to constantly unravel all kinds of confusion.

In the past few years, I have often studied one thing, why do pastors get cancer? I have my answer. Brothers and sisters, today whether you belong to God or the devil, you will know once you refine and test it; whether you are Jacob or Esau; whether you live in the logic system of the world or the logic system of God, you will know once you do it. Today your illness may be healed, but your inner logic system still needs to be changed. It is God who has healed your illness, it is not what you deserved. What you should do is still know in your heart that I want to be a person with Mingding Destiny, I want to resist this refinement, resist this confusion.

The foundation is still what we live for, this is called Mingding Destiny. So in the Book of Daniel, you find that this king does as he pleases and brings destruction; that king does as he pleases and brings destruction; that king attacks this and attacks that, and prospers in everything. After reading it, you will find out, what is going on? I tell you, look a little further, no matter how prosperous you are, when death comes, it is all the same. If we live for the things of this world, we will surely die in the future; if we live for God, we will surely live even if we die. We must despise death, despise living, and Daniel's confusion will be solved because of Daniel's loss.

Solved it? No, it didn't solve it at all, and then God told Daniel to hide and seal it, only the wise can understand. What is wisdom? Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom. You must seek God's kingdom and God's righteousness, you must be a person after God's own heart. If a person pleasing to God still has confusion, how much confusion will a person not pleasing to God have? You either die for the things of the world or die for the things of God, you make a choice. Today be a wise man, understand to stand in eternity and imitate Jesus Christ, until the end, we will stand before God and receive rewards in eternity.

IX. Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, only by offering your life for God can you please God, no longer live for yourself, and no longer live to live, offer yourself to God for one day, just to be able to stand before God and receive his rewards in the future, Amen!

Let us sing a hymn and start collecting today's offerings. If you do not understand the meaning of offering, do not offer! This is my life's persistence. I am very stubborn to live for God, and I hope our brothers and sisters unite to see through life and death, see through this matter of living, see through your work, see through your business, see through everything, and be a person after God's own heart, even if you are a high official, you are still calling for God's temple and building God's glorious temple, God's church.

Let us all raise our hands together: God, here I am, may you choose me, send me, and use me; God, may you raise me up among the nations, God, I want to seek peace for Jerusalem, I want to seek peace for the glorious church; God, may you remove all confusion in my heart, I just want to seek you, I want to be a wise man who can understand seeking your kingdom, is righteousness, what a glorious Mingding Destiny; God, use me, make me a serving person, in the name of Jesus Christ, I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice! To live for God is to desire to live in your glory; God, accept my offering, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, 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, power, and glory are all yours, forever, Amen!