I. Introduction

Good day to all! Today I'm going to share a topic with you called: The Heart of a Son! This is the 7th part of the Mingding Destiny character series. This matter of the heart of a son actually has deep historical roots.

Early on, some people would say: Hey, you are stealing God's glory! When I heard that, I was shocked. I stole God's glory! Later I thought about it. In the Bible, when Paul testified, whoever he prayed for would be healed. Was he stealing God's glory? No! Later, I carefully searched the Bible and, ah, I tell you, in this generation, the statement about stealing God's glory carries with it the heart of a servant.

Later, I understood that our God wants us to share in His glory. Do you understand? When we receive glory, God also receives glory. When God receives glory, we also receive glory. This is because we are one with Jesus Christ. Today, brothers and sisters, we have talked about six parts of the Mingding Destiny character series. Having talked about so many parts of the Mingding Destiny character series, how much have you inherited?

Sometimes I ask: Do you understand? Many people tell me: Teacher, I understand. Later, I checked the Bible. There is a passage in the Bible that says: One day, Jesus asked the disciples: Do you understand? They said: We understand. But later, when I looked in the Bible, they actually didn't understand at all. Then I thought about what Jesus' expression must have been like at that time. Can you imagine that expression? It's like his eyes rolled upward, showing some of the whites, and he said in his heart: You understand what? That's in the Northeast dialect: You understand what? This is a group of self-proclaimed understanding people.

So today I talk about: The Heart of a Son. I really hope that everyone can understand what is meant by the heart of a son. If you really understand what the heart of a son is, I tell you, you have already grasped the essence of Chinese Mingding Destiny . Do you know that the essence of Chinese Mingding Destiny is the heart of a son! I am a son of God. Is it a problem for me to share glory with God? No problem! My glory is God's glory, and God's glory is also my glory. Because I am one with Jesus Christ, I am a son of God.

Does everyone know that from the first day I believed in the Lord, I felt like I had finally found my Father, found my God. My God! My Father! From that time on, I desperately read the Bible until today. You know, when it comes to the heart of a son, I have very deep feelings in my heart. Many people think that God is especially good to me. What is the problem? The problem is that I have the heart of a son of God.

You know, when I say I am my dad's son, some people say: Really? Have you had a DNA test? I said: No. He said: How do you know you are your dad's son? Because I have the heart of a son. Do you understand? I have had the heart of a son since I was a child. If you observe carefully, a person with the heart of a son will live a better life. If a person does not have the heart of a son, they live a very miserable life. Everyone should observe carefully.

No matter how my dad beat me, I knew he was doing it for my own good. Everyone should know that I have been like this since I was a child. A beating with a belt got me into a prestigious university! It was really slap slap. But I tell you: When I was a child, I didn't understand and didn't study hard, so my dad beat me, drew out a leather belt that was as wide as a waistband, and beat me with it, but I was quite obedient. I said: I won't do it again, I won't do it again. I never argued from a young age. I felt that was love! Later, I got into a prestigious university, just because my dad beat me with a leather whip, because I didn't study hard at that time.

So sometimes I passed this on. Many people feel competitive. You have also been competitive. Don't be competitive anymore in the future. What's the point of being competitive? I am quite obedient and don't like to be competitive. Later, I inherited this from my dad and gave it to my disciples: I scolded them harshly, just short of: Slap slap slap with the belt. Other disciples came over: Teacher, why don't you love me so much? I said: How am I not loving you? He said: Because you haven't scolded me that much. Ah, you need scolding.

Bread will be available, and fried dough twists will also be available. Do you know this story? When we were young, we were poor. My younger brother came to my mom: Mom, I want to eat fried dough twists. The family really had no money. My mom pinched my younger brother's cheek. This is a fried dough twist! Do you want more? Yes, give me another one here. This is a fried dough twist! Bread will be available, and fried dough twists will also be available.

I have a friend who was beaten by his mom since he was a child. In the village, she chased him from the mountain to the foot of the mountain, and then chased him from the foot of the mountain back to the mountain. Oh, what a beating! Later, he became a very filial billionaire. Is everyone interested in hearing about billionaires? That was beaten out of him. So a person is born with something called the flesh, which needs to be disciplined. Without discipline, one cannot become talented.

Children need to be disciplined, because being disciplined shows whether they have the heart of a son or not. If after being disciplined, they hate their parents, that is not called having the heart of a son; if after being disciplined, they love their parents and know that God loves them, that is the heart of a son. Does everyone understand now? So that's what it means. I often encounter sad parents. Are there any sad parents among us? They mutter to themselves and come to me and say: Why didn't I strangle him to death when he was a child? Ah, a child without the heart of a son is a bastard!

You should know that Chinese Mingding Destiny has a characteristic called filial piety. It teaches people to have the heart of a son. I also hate those who are not filial. I am too lazy to pastor them. When I see those who are not filial, oh, I get annoyed: Go, go, go! Go home and learn to be filial to your parents. You think your parents disciplined you, and you hate them. I am not your parents. I pastor you for your own good, so that you can grow. Can I not discipline your bad habits? If your parents discipline you for your own good, and you hate them, then what am I trying to do since I am not related to you?

So later I observed that people who do not have the heart of a son and are ungrateful from childhood have a miserable life. Those who hear my sermon today must change. If you don't change, you will have a miserable life! Ah, pastor, why are you cursing me? No! You are cursing yourself. I don't pastor those who are not filial. I just think: Well, let's strangle them to death. I actually have this bad habit inside me. You ask me why I have this bad habit? I also have to deal with it. Actually, no matter what experience you have, you were raised by your parents from birth, with them cleaning up your poop and pee. You weren't born being able to apply for a passport, you weren't born being able to apply for immigration, you weren't born being able to. If you could, that would be a demon!

A sister was abandoned at birth. She was placed in a cardboard box and left on the road. Then she moved in the cardboard box. She didn't remember anything at all. She hadn't been born for very long. Then her adoptive father passed by on a bicycle and picked up this child and took her home. After taking her home, he raised her. Later, she came to our Chinese Mingding Destiny . After coming to Chinese Mingding Destiny , one day her biological father came to recognize her. Then she came to ask me: Teacher, my biological father came to recognize me?

I said something that everyone doesn't like to hear. Guess what I said? I said something truthful. You must not pick on my reasoning. I said something truthful: What are you doing with so many dads? Do you understand? What is the point of acknowledging him? Having so many dads, one dad here, one dad there, having more than a dozen dads, what are you going to do? Don't have so many dads. Know that your adoptive father raised you. So her adoptive father must be comforted in his heart after hearing my teaching. After so many years of hard work, he finally has comfort. The adoptive father must be happy, how good it is to have such a teacher.

This matter is very interesting. Some dads are called dry dads, and some are called wet dads. I ask you, is dry better or wet better? Of course wet is better. Wet is fresh. What's the point of recognizing so many godfathers? Recognize one godfather, recognize one godmother. Is one mom not enough? Recognize two. What's the point of recognizing so many of these? I don't understand either. What's the point of having so many? Anyway, I don't like having so many dads. Why? One is enough for me. I have the heart of a son. This is my dad. If this is my dad and that is my dad, what kind of brain is that? This is my dad. I have the heart of a son. Today, many people's brains don't work well. They always want to deal with those messy things.

Some time ago, an old man in his nineties was sad. Now his mentality has adjusted quite a bit. Why? He raised a foolish son. The old man is ninety years old, and the child is sixty years old. Ah, I tell you: Having this kind of son is annoying. He doesn't have the mentality of a son.

When the parents were young, they gave birth to this child. The dad and mom both worked. If they both work, where do they have time to take care of him? So they spent money to put him in someone's home, which was actually like hiring a maid. Later, when this child grew up, he always said that this maid was very good to him. He treated this maid as his mom. The real mom was really sad. Then he said to his mom: You see how good the maid is to me, but you don't take care of me and put me in someone else's home. You see how good the maid treats me. His mom said: Silly child, Mom gives her money. Now Mom is ninety, and the son is sixty, and he still hasn't figured it out! Mom gives people money so they are good to you. Do you think people are naturally good to you?

I said: What kind of brain does this person have? There are all kinds of people. He's sixty and still hasn't figured it out. Sometimes, if his mom wants to give him money, she has to go through that maid. Isn't it a tragedy that a son doesn't have the heart of a son, treats a servant as his mom, and treats his mom as an aunt? Can he not live a miserable life? I tell you, he lives a very miserable life! The whole branch goes down like this. His own children treat him the same way. These things are also hereditary. His brain doesn't work well. There are also many families where the son becomes the dad, and the parents become the great-grandchildren, doing all kinds of messy things.

Some time ago, a sister came among us. Places like the US and Canada take domestic violence very seriously. Her child was attending school, and while talking, he seemed to have let something slip. The school took this matter to heart and sent police to her home to investigate. It turned out to be true. As a result, the sister was forced to separate from her husband, and she took her child to live in a shelter. Later, she came to Chinese Mingding Destiny . After she came, her son was the dad, and she was the great-grandchild. Why? Come, let me lead you in prayer. Shh, keep it down. Whenever she prayed there, her son would shout and make noise, play games, and talk nonsense. Okay, it doesn't matter! I said, what's going on?

Later, I discovered that the Israelites could not enter the Promised Land after they left Egypt. God used His mighty hand to save them from Egypt, but they thought that God killed them in the wilderness. I can't understand what is going on. Although I often use this example, I still can't understand how their brains are wired today. Maybe some wire wasn't soldered properly, or some chip wasn't installed correctly. It must have been a defective product. The CPU in his head must be a defective product. He just can't enter the Promised Land. He's missing a string. Do you know what string is missing? He just doesn't have the heart of a son. Then I was thinking, what kind of brain is this? He's missing something.

You were slaves in Egypt, and then you said: God! Save us. Then God came to save you and brought you out of Egypt. In the land of Egypt, He struck down the Egyptians with His mighty arm. Then, the firstborn sons in the homes of the Egyptian Pharaoh and the common people were all killed by God. Then the Egyptians gave gold and silver jewelry to Israel and asked them to leave. After they left and arrived in the wilderness, they said: God, You are going to kill me. I don't understand what kind of brain is this?

Actually, later I tell everyone that when I am pastoring, I often encounter these people who are missing a string in their brains. I don't know what kind of brain they have. Later, I understood that they just don't have this heart of a son inside. If you have the heart of a son inside, when you think about how God treats you, how He raised you with His own hands, how He brought you out of Egypt, how could He kill you? They just think that God is going to kill them. I can't stand this.

Later, when I was pastoring, I often pastored with the heart of a father and mother. Really, I'm not exaggerating. I often pastor with the heart of a father and mother, but those people who don't have the heart of a son always think that I want to harm them. Actually, you are so poor that you are on the brink of collapse. What benefit can I get from him? So I tell you, Chinese Mingding Destiny speaks not only of pastoring with the heart of a father and mother, but also of the heart of a son, not the heart of a servant! If you have the heart of a son, I tell you, you can definitely draw on many of God's promises. You will experience God, and your experiences will be beyond your expectations, because you are children of God. This matter touches me to my heart, but it may not be able to persuade many people!

Sometimes we feel very strange. Three days ago, I prayed for a person's neck. His neck hurt so badly that he was about to die. Later, he was healed after praying. Three days later, when I saw him again, he said: Teacher, I have not experienced God. What kind of brain is this? Three days ago, you couldn't move your neck. I prayed and you were healed, and then you say you haven't experienced God? I feel that this kind of thing happens a lot. There is another thing. You know that the muscles between the shoulders and the neck are tense, like two wires welded together. When you touch them, they are two hard tendons, and you can't turn your head at all. I led him in prayer for five consecutive days, but he didn't get better. Later, I said: You will be healed after you are baptized. As a result, he didn't get better after he was baptized. This is annoying!

Then one day, he was sitting at the table outside my office doing something. I walked over and asked: How did you get this disease? He said: When I was a child, I watched ghost movies, and I was scared. Then I curled up in the quilt, and my neck became like this. I thought: Ah! It's the spirit of a zombie! Has everyone seen zombie movies? The zombie's neck cannot be moved. It's welded with a steel neck. Later, when I drove away the spirit of the zombie, the muscles on his back all curled up, which was scary! If there was a wine bottle, the muscles on his back could clamp the wine bottle. Later, after I drove away the ghost, his neck was healed. After he was healed, he started to oppose me. Why do I always encounter this kind of person in my life? It doesn't matter, this can't take away the heart of a son in me. I am a child of the living God.

Some time ago, there was also a sister. I hope she has repented. She told her pastoral zone leader: Teacher, I have not experienced God as much as you have. Her pastoral zone leader was stunned at the time. How much do you say she has experienced? She has experienced a lot: her son has asthma, her daughter has 38 degrees of scoliosis, and she herself has a lot of diseases. Aren't they all healed? Her mom's lumbar spine problem can now dance. I said: How much more do you want to experience? How can people have this kind of brain? Actually, I can tell you that when I experienced God at the time, it was just that God gave me a job, that's all. I haven't experienced as much as you have! It is God who makes you experience God through my hands, that's a lot! Ah, I feel emotional!

Among us, there are also some moms and sons, sons who don't have the heart of a son, and moms who don't have the heart of a mom. There are too many of them. The lack is a lack of heart. I tell you, some people envy me and say, how can God be so biased in loving you? When my dad was alive, my dad also loved me very much! My dad loved me since I was a child. Why? I have the heart of a son in front of my dad! Why does God love me so much too? Because I also have the heart of a son in front of God! I am a son. From the day I believed in the Lord, I knew that God was my Father, and I believed that He would lead me and love me. Although I have gone through the valley of the shadow of death and experienced many hardships and difficulties, I still firmly believe that God is the God who loves me, is my Father, and I am the son of God. Although there are tears and sorrows, the firm heart of loving God has never left me.

In those past years, I really thank God. I have hardly encountered good pastors, but I know I have my God, and I don't care much about those things at all. Then in my work, I secretly learned many things from others. People don't teach, and I really came through with tears. But I have never resented God. I feel that God loves me especially. Every time I go through difficulties, I can see God's glory.

Whoever a person obeys is whose son he is. What a person cares about determines whose son you are. If you are a son of God, you care about the things of God. If you are a son of the flesh, you care about the things of the flesh. Today I want to talk about: The Heart of a Son. Now everyone open Romans chapter 8 in the Bible. I tell you, I preach Romans very well, but today I took out Romans chapter 8 again to read, and wow! I have gained a lot again.

II. Scripture

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:14-18)

III. Prayer

O God, may Your Spirit guide us today. As You guide us, so shall we follow. O God, grant us a discerning heart, that we may gain wisdom to choose to follow You and become Your children. O God, may Your Holy Spirit testify with our hearts that we are children of God. O God, whatever the difficulties and hardships today, we remain Your children, co-heirs of the promises that come from heaven. O God, lead us today, that we may know what You have prepared for us is beyond what we ask or imagine. O God, we deeply believe that neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. O God, today we shall build Your glorious church, build the body of Jesus Christ, that we may remain in Your love. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

IV. Scriptural Background

This passage is well-spoken! You know I particularly like the Book of Romans, especially chapter eight, which is the essence of Romans. In fact, Martin Luther did not fully understand Romans. Over the past years, I have searched through various materials, and I have since proven one thing: they all did not understand it. You say: you are quite arrogant! I am not arrogant, but stating a truth. I have a habit, when I read something, if I don't understand it, I read it with all my might, and then: Ah! It is talking about this. I tell you, this habit is very good. I also hope that brothers and sisters develop this habit.

For a while, I bought many books, such as The Triune God, The Trinity, Christology, Pneumatology, many books. Later, after I finished reading them, I was very confused, but when I reviewed them, I found that I was familiar with the Bible! I found that what they were saying was fundamentally contradictory to many things in the Bible, so I returned these matters to the Bible. The Bible is the foundation, and today I want to tell you that Romans is important. Chapter eight of Romans is even more important, so today let's return to the background of this passage in Romans, where Paul discusses many of Abraham's faith, and in chapter eight of Romans, he talks about the law of life. That is, how people gain life.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

What is he talking about? He is saying that there are two laws in this world, two basic principles and rules. The basic principle is: If you obey the Holy Spirit, it is the law of the Spirit, which is the law of life. If you obey the flesh, obey sin, obeying the flesh is the law of death. And today, who do you obey? What do you cater to? These are all your choices. Your obedience and your choices are all your choices, and you must pay the price for your choices. If you choose to obey the flesh, you cater to the things of the flesh; if you obey the Holy Spirit, you cater to the things of the Spirit. And once this choice is made, it immediately distinguishes whether a person is a child of the devil or a child of God. So today, whoever is led by the Spirit of God is a child of God, this sentence is so important.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:15-18)

This passage speaks very clearly, that is, if the Holy Spirit testifies with our heart, one is our heart, and the other is the Holy Spirit, these two things testify together that we are children of God. If you are a child, you can inherit God's inheritance. You inherit God's inheritance, remember, there will still be some suffering, you still have to suffer with God, and this suffering will have glory. So today, do not be mistaken, some suffering has no glory, some suffering has glory. Those who serve for the sake of God's kingdom and God's church with the heart of a father and mother, although it is hard, it has glory. Suffer with Jesus Christ, suffer the same suffering and receive the same glory.

So today, brothers and sisters, we must begin to know, later this passage talks about election. Then it talks about being a son. You must know that God chooses us to be sons. God chooses us to be sons, not to be slaves! As a son, you can have authority in God's house. Imagine you go back to your own house, open the refrigerator 'pop,' take out something, do you ask: Mom, can I drink a bottle of water? Silly boy, isn't this your own house! For example, some co-workers come to my place for the first time, stay at my place, and I say, take anything from the refrigerator. You see, after I finish speaking, they open the refrigerator again, pretending: Teacher, can I eat this? I say: Silly child, didn't I already tell you? Don't be so hypocritical, that kind of thing is annoying to look at. Now, how much is the stuff in my refrigerator worth! No one lacks that bite to eat.

The problem is, they lack that bite to eat, if you come and you're hypocritical, isn't it upsetting? So in the end, I tell you, I will speak about the background of this passage a little shorter. This passage is about: God elects to elect to be His children, not to elect to be slaves. Elect to be children and then predestine them to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, and after being conformed, give themselves up. How God gave up His own Son, how Jesus Christ offered Himself to God, we must also imitate. So today, brothers and sisters, do you know? If that happens, who can condemn them? No one can condemn them.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (Romans 8:35-38)

So brothers and sisters, the entire Book of Romans speaks of what in English is called: Faith, which in Chinese is: 信心 (xìn xīn, faith). The faith that elects to be sons is because of what? It is because of the deep conviction within us, deeply believing in this matter within us, so that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not because we encounter a little difficulty: God! Am I still your child? Encountering a little thing: God! That is not called the heart of a son. Today we are talking about the background of this passage, it is too important, I want to speak to everyone in detail today.

V. The Holy Spirit Testifies with Our Heart that We Are Children of God

Is it a bit academic today! The talk show didn't work out, but it doesn't matter, today this Book of Romans is too academic. So let's be academic. The Holy Spirit testifies with our heart that we are children of God, we must know that in this there is one thing, a person obeys what they cater to. What exactly is in our hearts? If all the things in your heart are rubbish, how do you testify with the Holy Spirit? You think of being selfish, you think of your little trivial matters, and then you think of catering to the flesh. You not only cater to your own flesh but also cater to your son's flesh, catering to your son as a father, catering to yourself as a grandson. That is, a person obeys what they cater to, so this saying is very good.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. (Romans 8:5-7)

Wow! How well said! Today, brothers and sisters, take a close look at what you are catering to within yourself? What do you want? What is your core interest? For example: I want to be the richest man, later you really became the 'poorest man,' owing a lot of debt. What do you believe in? That thing is a foundation. In fact, many people cannot clearly say what they want, they just believe that it is a good thing. As for whether what they want is actually a good thing, they cannot say for sure. Why? Because of the faith, because people believe in what they cater to, so some people believe in those innate value systems within them. The innate value system of people is actually not particularly meaningful, in fact, people do not know how far-reaching the corruption brought about by these things is.

Today, brothers and sisters, we must know, what exactly are the things that you cater to, the things that you like, the things that you obey? This thing determines whether you are a child of God. Do you understand? What exactly are we thinking in our hearts? This is the mind, if a person's mind is full of rubbish, ignorance! A screw is loose in the brain! Or the chip CPU inside is a defective product!

What exactly is your core value? Do you choose to obey the Holy Spirit of God, the Word of God is the Spirit of God. Obey the Word of God or obey the Spirit of God, or obey your own innate system. If you obey your own innate system, then you are children of the devil. Jesus said this, Jesus faced the Pharisees, the Pharisees were filled with the things of this life, those innate things. Jesus said: You are children of the devil. They said: Our ancestor is Abraham. No, you are not descendants of Abraham. Jesus said: No, you are descendants of the devil.

Today you must know that the Holy Spirit testifies with us that we are children of God. That is, to see what is in our hearts. So why do I tell you to keep changing yourselves, changing the things inside you, otherwise how can you become children of God with those things you are filled with? The Holy Spirit and our heart, what exactly is inside us? Testify together, how to testify? The Spirit of God will be on your body. When a person's heart changes, the Spirit of God will work on you, and you will see the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit on you. Every repentance, every change, God gives you a taste of sweetness, so the Holy Spirit is testifying with our heart. Do you understand now! Let's talk about point six, what happens if we testify together that we are children of God?

VI. If We Are Children, Then We Are Heirs

Everyone must not think that this heir means: God is dead, I inherit his property. God never dies! If we are children, then we are heirs, what is an heir? An heir is inheriting God's inheritance, God's inheritance is not inherited after death, God lets you inherit now. That is to say, God lets you inherit now, you have the authority of a child. Once you have the authority of a child, the keys of the kingdom of heaven are in your hands. You open the door, if there is a large refrigerator in heaven, open it and take whatever you want, there is plenty; if you open a treasury, there are all kinds of treasures, take whatever you want; if there are all kinds of resources, take whatever you want; all kinds of heavenly weapons, take whatever you want. This is called: the authority of being a child!

You know the Book of Romans written by the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Paul deeply knows this title of being a child. What can you get from being a child? You can get heavenly power. Take whatever you want! What do you do after taking it? Doing God's children have the image of God Jesus Christ, have the image of the Son of God, you can spread this gospel, and it becomes a gospel of healing and driving out demons! Why? You have heavenly magic weapons in your hands, heavenly weapons, you can spread the gospel with power. Chinese Mingding Destiny preaches the gospel with power, this power depends on whether the Spirit of God testifies with you. If a person does not have power, then what do they preach? I tell you that people without power are miserable. Why? Because they can't do anything. Are they children of God? I don't know. I will not draw conclusions, they know themselves. I think once there is no power, preaching a powerless gospel is a curse! So today, brothers and sisters, we must know that the gospel preached by the Apostle Paul is a gospel with the great power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul said:

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

Let your faith be built on the foundation of the power of the Holy Spirit, you will see what Jesus Christ did, the gospel of freeing people from the oppression of the devil, God promises us to inherit God's kingdom. All of this is in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is the church, the church is the body of Jesus Christ.

I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)

Isn't this the church that Jesus defined? The body of Jesus Christ is a group of children of God. Today we are once again restoring the gospel of God's power in this generation, Chinese Mingding Destiny will usher in a new generation in this generation, a group of children of God build the body of Jesus Christ, and then they can draw on the heavenly power of God, holding the keys of the kingdom of heaven in their hands. The Holy Spirit will help us, allowing us to testify that we are children of God through the Holy Spirit.

VII. What God Elects is a Son

What God elects is a son, what God elects is not a slave, the Bible says it very clearly, I will read it to you:

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:29-31)

Listen carefully, what God elects is a son, God never elects a slave. Oh, I need a maid, come, come; oh, I need a male servant, come, come; I need a cook, come, come. There is no such thing, what God needs is a son. Why do some people have the heart of a son, and some people do not have the heart of a son? People with the heart of God's Son, God foreknows what they want in their heart, God foreknows that they are determined to imitate the image of His Son, so that His Son can be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters, and in the end, He will let them be glorified.

When you are on earth, you will definitely see the glory of God manifested through you and me, the glory of God will be manifested through His children, which is the power of God. If you want to say: God wants them to be glorified, is this glory stealing God's glory? Isn't being glorified God's will? Being glorified is God's will, there is no such thing as stealing. Because our glory is God's glory, God's glory is our glory.

If you do not have the heart of a son, God foreknows it. If you do, congratulations. If not, this may not be the place for you. The church is comprised of God’s children in Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, those chosen to be sons gather – that is the church, never a motley crew.

Can you change your mindset today, brothers and sisters? Formerly, you obeyed and catered to the flesh. Today, obey and cater to the Holy Spirit. What does the Holy Spirit want us to do? The Holy Spirit wants us to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons, to set the captives free and release the oppressed, and what we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what we release on earth shall be released in heaven. This is the fundamental work of the body of Jesus Christ, God’s church.

Today, I tell you, what does the Son of God look like? You must know what Jesus Christ looks like. Is your heart like the heart of Jesus Christ? In the song we sang, we asked, Lord, my Lord, my God, take my will and let me be wholly Yours. Is this not what Jesus Christ seeks? Jesus Christ only seeks to align His will with God’s. In God’s kingdom, there are no grandchildren, only sons. To cater to the Holy Spirit is to liberate God’s people from the oppression of the devil. The work of the Holy Spirit is not to find you a good doctor or hospital or to set up crowdfunding; it is to let people receive God’s grace and see His glory.

VIII. Living Out the Likeness of God's Son

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)

Predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, who is Jesus Christ. Those He called, He justified; those He justified, He glorified, just as Jesus Christ was glorified. How did Jesus Christ receive glory? Jesus Christ offered Himself to God and was crucified.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

I ask you, how does Jesus Christ act as a son? He completely dedicates Himself to God, willingly giving Himself up. This is the image of God. The image of God is not: Oh, I haven’t received enough, I lack love, give me more love. You will not receive it because you are a selfish ghost. Living out the likeness of God’s Son, God gives us all things through Jesus Christ, granting Jesus Christ all authority in heaven and on earth.

Know that the image of Jesus Christ is to give and to sacrifice. Today, God gives us all things; what should we do with them? Become the richest man? Indulge in pleasure? No. God gives us all things so that we may give them away, so that we may become a blessing to this generation. This is Mingding Destiny. Jesus Christ is never selfish; a selfish person is a son of the devil. You can discern what someone is like by their actions.

I initially had prejudice against Christians. Before I believed, I rented a house, paid the deposit, but when I was about to move in, they refused, kept the deposit, hung a large cross, and said “Hallelujah” all day, claiming to be Christians. From then on, I had deep prejudice against Christians. Do not assume someone is a Christian just because they have a cross at home; they may be a fraud, not a child of God.

Do not be a selfish, nominal Christian. Define Christians deeply: to be like Jesus. Some say, I am saved, but they look ghostly, utterly selfish. Recently, at a gathering after a meeting, one Christian said, Pastor Liu, can you give me a million? I’ll give you three million by the end of the year. Did he think I was stupid? He said, Trust me, I am a Christian. I will not cheat you. I said, I wouldn’t even give Buffett money, let alone you, thinking I’d trust you just because you're a Christian. I have deep prejudice against Christians. Give you a million, get three million by year-end? Sounds like a scam.

So today, brothers and sisters, emulate the likeness of God’s Son, freely giving what we receive from God. If we are truly God’s sons, our Father in heaven is extremely wealthy; He will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings on us. This morning, as I led prayer, a sister who has been with Chinese Mingding Destiny for a month said her husband got a job paying twice as much. Being blessed is normal among us. You must know that this place distributes blessings, not collects offerings. Being like Jesus is key. Start examining how you live. If you live like Jesus Christ, you are a child of God, a Christian.

IX. Let Us Remove the Mindset of a Slave

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

In the wilderness, the Israelites said, God, do not speak to us; let Moses speak to us. They became grandchildren, not sons, still afraid. All these Israelites who left Egypt died in the wilderness. They could not be disciplined. When there was no water, they said, God, are you going to let us die of thirst in the wilderness? When there was no food, they said, God, are you going to let us starve to death? When there was no meat, they said, God, are you going to make us eat manna all day? It’s so boring! God, are you going to kill us? No entertainment, karaoke, picnics, or meat! God, are you going to finish us off! As if they were stepchildren, switched at the hospital, not biological.

People cannot be told what to do, feeling victimized at the slightest issue. The demon takes over, not God. You become a child of the demon and follow it, obeying the flesh and catering to it. So today, remove the mindset of a slave; stop being afraid, know that He is our Father, and establish a loving relationship with Him. Then nothing matters.

X. Deeply Believe You Are a Son of God

Today, I have gone through Romans 8. Deeply believe you are a son of God, not because of this or that proving it, but because we deeply believe we are. Have active faith and share glory with God. When you exercise active faith, you will see signs and wonders follow you. You will see the blind see, the lame walk, and lepers cleansed. Deeply believe! The whole passage emphasizes deeply believing! Examine this scripture carefully.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37)

The apostle Paul’s situation is unimaginable. You and I have not encountered such situations, but the apostle Paul was writing about the situations Christians faced at that time. Yet he said, These cannot separate us from God's love. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, because we deeply believe we are children of God.

Brothers and sisters, let me share more stories. Before Chinese Mingding Destiny was founded, it went through many difficult processes. This process relied on deeply believing we are sons of God. Because deeply believing you are a son of God releases mental illness and various aches and pains. Back then, although the church was not as triumphant, almost 100% of those seeking healing were healed. Though life was not easy, faith carried us through.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

That is the phrase. Years ago, as I led everyone to read Romans, I felt we truly understood it. We have always had the heart of a son, not because of anything else, but because we deeply believe. When we deeply believe, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit. Why do we deeply believe? Because we have seen through everything in this life. Seeing through this life makes things clear, so we no longer pursue catering to the flesh, but to the Holy Spirit. God’s business is my lifelong pursuit. Nothing can separate me from God’s love, because we are sons of God. Any suffering is insignificant compared to the glory to be revealed in us.

Looking at Chinese Mingding Destiny, I thank God. Chinese Mingding Destiny has truly blessed many. Many have been healed, become children of God, received the title of sons, and run with me to build the church. If you feel discomfort, it’s because you cater to the flesh; then the demon takes over. If you are a son of God, your discomfort comes from the hard work of serving, not selfishness.

XI. Conclusion

I long for brothers and sisters to have this faith, no matter your situation, deeply believing you are children of God. This deep belief is the heart of a son, a characteristic. Persevere! David fled for thirteen years before becoming king of Israel. Joseph persisted for thirteen years before becoming prime minister of Egypt. They had problems, but these did not hinder God’s work in them. The glory to be revealed to us has such abundant grace.

Deeply believing you are a son of God is a characteristic, not because of this or that. We are children of God because we deeply believe! The Holy Spirit bears witness with you. Henceforth, cater to the Holy Spirit, not the flesh. If you cater to the flesh, you will have the heart of a slave and much fear. Obeying the Spirit is obeying God’s word. Does this require a price? Chinese Mingding Destiny demands a price.

Jesus Christ laid down His life, crucified as a sacrifice. Then He received all authority in heaven and on earth. If you and I walk this path of Jesus Christ, sacrificing our lives, we not only receive grace but also authority and Mingding Destiny to be a blessing to this generation, living in God’s will, and bringing God’s people into His kingdom. This is our Mingding Destiny: to be sons of the living God. As sons of the living God, you will see God’s power manifested through you because of belief.

Through faith, just believe. No money needed, only faith. You will see God’s glory. If you do not know how to obtain this faith, it comes from seeing through the things of this world, that it is all vanity. We need to pursue eternal glory. If someone has not seen through this life, it is hard to pursue eternal glory and cater to God’s will.

Today, let us be sons of God and declare together: In the name of Jesus Christ, I declare that I am a child of the living God. I receive the authority of the kingdom of heaven, take up the keys of the kingdom to build God’s glorious church. I receive God’s grace to be a blessing to this generation. Amen!

Let us sing and prepare to receive today’s offering. If you do not understand the meaning of offering, please do not give. Chinese Mingding Destiny is a life of offering. We offer not only tithes but our lives. If you do not know what to do, please do not offer. Do not think the church needs money; the church distributes blessings. It is not you supporting us; it is God supporting us. We come before God’s throne today to offer our lives. Let our minds and thoughts be taken back by God alone. This is the character of Chinese Mingding Destiny’s brothers and sisters, flowing in our blood, the blood of Jesus Christ. Our thoughts and considerations are the Spirit’s; we no longer think of ourselves. We lift our hands, surrender to God, offer ourselves as living sacrifices, cater to God’s will, and let God take our minds back, wholly Yours.

Lift your hands and declare with me: God, I am here. God, I firmly believe I am Your child. God, I want to cater to the Spirit alone. I want to live out the likeness of Jesus Christ. As Jesus Christ offered Himself, so I offer myself. I am a son, not a slave. I am no longer afraid. I know God has a wonderful plan for me, and You will accomplish it! God, may Your plan, Your will be fulfilled in me! What You have prepared for me is beyond what I can ask or imagine. God, I love You because I know You keep Your covenant, showing love to a thousand generations. May You take my will and let me be wholly Yours.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I am no longer afraid of death! Nothing can separate me from God’s love. I no longer cater to the things of this world or the flesh; I cater to the Spirit alone. Today, I receive eternal life, the title of a son, and the authority from God to trample the devil, living out the likeness of Jesus Christ. Selfishness must leave me! Fear must leave me. I will be a person of dedication. God, I will be Your disciple, leaving everything to follow You. 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 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 the evil one, for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen!