I. Introduction:

Good day to all. Today, I will be sharing a topic that I am sure you will find appealing: God's loving-kindness shall never depart from us. You see, the previous topics I shared scared some people, drove them away; quite a few left. Why did they leave? Because I spoke about how God will surely punish those who hate Him. Some people said, Ah, this sermon cannot be heard. When I said, If anyone does not love God, let him be accursed, they said, Ah, how can we listen to such words? It is unsettling to hear. Then they say, Look at this Reverend Liu. I told him I was troubled, that there were accusatory voices within me, and he said I deserved to be accused. Oh my heavens, this is unbearable. Cursed shall you be if you do not carefully observe all the words of your God, heavens, these words are even more unbearable.

In truth, you must know that these words are true. People are not afraid of living under a curse, but they are afraid of hearing about curses. Humans are strange. In my years as a pastor, some people who left the church would invite me for a meal and say, Pastor, I beg you for one thing: please do not curse me, alright? Oh my heavens, I cannot do such things. I am not that kind of person, am I? Knowing your birth date and using voodoo because you left the church—that is cursing people. I do not do that.

Actually, I tell you, people have forgotten. It is interesting how people hear things. They do not hear the good things, they only hear the bad. I actually spoke about many other things, didn't I? I also said, If you love God, He will keep His covenant of loving-kindness with you. I also said, If you carefully observe the words of God, He will make you the head and not the tail, above and not beneath! Did I say that? I did! So what kind of God is God? Everything God does, whether it is cursing, or this, or that, I tell you, it is all with the intention of leading us onto that path of eternal life and glory. God's loving-kindness has never left us. God never intends to harm us; He is the God who saves us! But the way people receive it is very interesting; it is truly incomprehensible.

During the time we were studying the Book of Exodus, the reaction of the Israelites was very interesting. You all know the story, right? Let me retell it. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, suffering terribly. The Egyptian taskmasters would use whips. You do not work? How can you not work? Whip! You say you have COVID? The Egyptian slave masters do not care whether you are positive or negative, you work! Even the sheep had no time to be positive, no time to pig, no time to cow, just work every day. So, these Israelites began to cry out to God: God! Is there anyone like this among us? When faced with disaster: God!

There was a rather interesting brother who was suddenly caught and put in a small room. No one knew if they were trying to cheat him of money or if he had cheated them. Anyway, he was beaten up. While in the small room, he started crying out to God: God! Believe it or not, God came to help him, and he escaped through a window. Okay, that matter passed. I am telling you, that is how people are. Turn your head, and God? Wait until you are locked in a small room again.

I am telling you, the Israelites' reaction was very interesting. So, God heard their cries and sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt. During the process of leading them out, they cried out to God, didn't they? But at the very beginning, as they were about to be led out, the situation became worse. Then they said, Moses was not sent by God at all. That is not how God sends someone to save us. If God sent Moses to save us, He would have whisked us away. There is no such thing as whisking. If you were whisked away, could you have obtained so much wealth? Alas, the situation worsened, and the Israelites began to complain.

I tell you, people's reactions are very interesting. As a result, God sent ten plagues. They witnessed with their own eyes God's mighty arm saving them, because Pharaoh would not let them go. To leave Egypt, so many things were done, and the Egyptian soldiers were stationed there. Then the Egyptians stuffed money into the hands of the Israelites. Think about what that scene was like. Here's money, leave quickly! How much money? Gold, silver, and treasures were stuffed into the hands of the Israelites. Can you understand? That was great. The Israelites thought it would be best if they were whisked away. But God did not do it that way. What we think and what God thinks are often completely different.

What God did was so miraculous. The enslaved Israelites had never seen so much money. Suddenly, they saw a lot of money. Just yesterday, they came out of Egypt, and after a day or two, they arrived at the Red Sea. The Egyptian army was chasing from behind. Actually, the Egyptian army was quite foolish. You could not defeat God before, did you think you could defeat God now? As a result, the Israelites were crying out there: God, why did you bring us to die in the wilderness? Why are you going to kill us? Oh, what is this mentality? I never understood this mentality, but later, when I considered the people I serve, quite a few were similar to these Israelites.

What happened? God opened the Red Sea, and crossing the Red Sea was like walking on dry ground. A pillar of fire separated the Egyptian army from the people of Israel. Not just one pillar, it should be a wall of fire. On this side were the Israelites, and on the other side were the Egyptian soldiers. The Egyptian soldiers could not cross at all. Have you seen this kind of sight? I have not. If I had not seen this kind of sight, I would still define myself as following God. If I had seen it, would I not follow God wholeheartedly? Such a powerful God—if we do not follow Him, who else would we follow? But no, after crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites started complaining again. Today, there is no water to drink. They scolded Moses: What? You want to bring us to the wilderness to die? Are there no graves in Egypt? Oh, I felt like this was a group of fools.

Later, I tell you, this is really the same in real-life ministry. Oh, there are so many ungrateful people! People's memories are very interesting. They cannot remember any of the past good, but when one bad thing happens, such as not having water to drink, they complain immediately. I often say, What is this mentality? Actually, over the past few years, I am telling you, many of those who experienced earth-shattering miracles are really no longer around. There were those who wanted to jump off buildings to commit suicide, and they were healed and transformed. God? Give everything to God? How do they live their lives? Cancer was healed. Offer tithes? I said, Is it only two hundred dollars? They said, It is two hundred dollars. How do we live our lives? There were those who were about to have miscarriages, those who were unable to conceive, those with stiff necks—there were many. Menstrual irregularities, menstrual pain, all kinds of things, and then their reactions were just like the Israelites! I felt like, What is this mentality?

In those years, I was really heartbroken. Now I have developed an invulnerable, indestructible body. If you want to hurt me, it is a little difficult. So, the pastors among us, I think you also need to develop this. Some people in the church would oppose me. Look, I ministered to them, delivered them from the hands of the devil, but then they turned around and opposed me. There was also a child who was quite wicked. This child received all his grace from me. He was so poor that he was penniless. Many things were taken care for him. He likes to play with those who opposed me. Isn't that strange? One day, that child went to play with those people and came back with a high fever. I said this person's brain is really fried.

You must know that I was a good kid since I was young. In the eyes of my father and mother, I was a good child. In the eyes of other people's fathers and mothers, I was also a good child. Why? I am not self-righteous. The reactions of the five siblings when they were disciplined by their parents were completely different. My parents really loved me very much. I felt like they were all jealous of me. I was really a good child in the eyes of my parents. Some after discipline, it seems like they are biological? Others, after discipline, it seems like they were adopted. So, what is this mentality? Their brains must have been fried from a fever when they were young. Some are adopted, but they end up getting along with their adoptive parents as if they were biological. Those with bad brains can make their biological parents seem like stepmothers. Isn't that deadly?

I am telling you, our relationship with God is also like that. Some people have a good relationship with God and say, Wow, this is my Heavenly Father. The Heavenly Father says, This is my child. Their relationship is so good that when they pray, God fulfills it, and when they say something, God helps them accomplish it. I feel it is extremely good. But those with bad brains treat their relationship with Heavenly Father as if they were slaves. Actually, God does not really need slaves. Those Israelites who died in the wilderness lived with a slave mentality. Isn't that deadly?

A few days ago, an incident happened that I found very interesting. A child's mother often disciplines and corrects his bad habits. After correcting and correcting, the person disappeared, out of contact for a day. The mother called me: Pastor, my child is missing. I said, You do not need to worry. He loves himself so much. What are you worried about? He loves himself very much. You do not need to worry. But the child completely disregarded his mother's feelings and did something: yesterday morning, he sent a message to a sister who he hardly know, saying, I am fine. You do not need to worry. I am fine, but he does not answer the phone. What is this mentality? The mother must be heartbroken, right? He treats his biological mother like a stepmother and unrelated people like his biological mother. What is this mentality? Actually, it's been like this since he was little, and he can’t be change much as he grew up.

I tell you, today we, brothers and sisters, including our pastors, must have the heart of God because our God, although forsaken by us time and time again, His loving-kindness will never leave us. Do you understand? So today, we must come out of the mentality of the Israelites in Exodus and begin to know that God's loving-kindness will never leave us. Do you understand? Those who have been mothers know that one does not know a parent's love until one raises a child. Which mothers do not love their own children? If they do not love, they must had been said a few angry words.

You must know that some people among us have died from cancer. He angered his mother because his mother gave him a million dollars, and his mother said, Oh, you ungrateful wretch, you return that million dollars to me. Actually, she just said an angry word. Later, he told me, My mother wants a million dollars from me. When I heard this, I felt like something was not right. I said, His brain is not working well. Just like that! Today, if you do not have God-like compassion, you cannot do pastoral care. You are disappointed again and again, made sad again and again, but you still have to shepherd with God's loving-kindness. That is the situation. I think if you do not develop an invulnerable body, it will be a bit difficult for you. Why? So, let see what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)

If there is no love inside us, our prayers are like banging gongs and drums, just that. It is of no use. So, if there is no love, even if one can move mountains, it does not amount to anything! If our God were not love inside Him, I tell you, the people of this world would have been wiped out long ago. So today, brothers and sisters must begin to understand that God's loving-kindness has never left us, but we often kick God aside. Look at some people, I ask them to serve, and they do not serve. I ask, Why did you not serve? He says, I forgot. He forgot to serve, but later when he has a matter, he comes to God, and God also forgot about him. I tell you, it is really not easy to be God. When we cry out to God, God has compassion on us again.

You must know that the people of the Corinthian church were like that, a group of people with bad brains. Paul shepherded the Corinthian church with the heart of a father and mother, but the people of the Corinthian church would run off with others after hearing just one word from them. As a result, they began to argue with Paul. Isn't that amazing? People are like that. Later, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians with the heart of a father and mother. Through the language and words in 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, you can learn a lot of pastoral skills. The most important thing is to learn to shepherd God's flock with the heart of a father and mother. In the end, the Corinthian church was brought back and followed Paul again, but I tell you, the root of this is still there.

People are like that; whatever kind of person you are, that is what you hear. Remember, if what we hear is not God's loving-kindness, the problem is really not with God, because no matter what kind of people we are, God's loving-kindness never departs. Even some people who suffered curses and difficulties, when they turned back and called out to God, God showed loving-kindness to them again. Today, I encourage you, no matter what kind of curse you are living under, no matter what kind of situation you are living in, begin to receive God's abundant loving-kindness; recognize that God is a God who loves us.

Do not be deceived by yourself. Do you think the curse has not been broken? Our Lord Jesus was nailed to the cross, and in truth, He bore our sorrows, carried our pain, and bore our curses. God's love is manifested in this. Do not be deceived anymore, do not follow your own desires, do not follow the devil. When people follow their own desires, they are actually being deceived by Satan and falling into Satan's trap. Do not be people with bad brains anymore. People with bad brains need to know that their brains are not working well. If their brains are not working well, they cannot receive God's love. I tell you, if your brain is not working well, you can ruin any relationship and mess up everything.

People remember those things in their hearts. People's memories are very interesting. There was a sister who liked to argue. Some time ago, her husband was teaching her something and his voice was a little loud. She remembered it firmly. She remembers it so well while still using the good computer that was bought for her by her husband. Then she keeps saying how good those computer are, but also keeps remember her husband’s few insulting words. You only remembered the bad words that your husband said to you. So can you blame your husband for saying those words to you?

People only remember the bad things. If people only remember those few angry words of God, then it is troublesome. With our brains, how could God not be angry? If you only remember those few words of curses, forget that God's loving-kindness will not leave us, then it is troublesome! Even with people, you cannot manage relationships well. You only remember those severe words, those disciplinary words, only remember those things, and then you begin to hate God. When you encounter things and encounter matters, you do not said that you did not do it right. If you say, Oh, this is living under a curse; I must change quickly, right? But no, you hate God. You say, God, why are you like this? Why is God like this? God wants you to repent! If you refuse to repent until death, then run to your death!

Actually, today everyone must know that our God in truth bore our sorrows, carried our pain, and bore our curses. This is our God. So, I tell you, in the days to come, the church will have a huge breakthrough because of what? Because the church will once again see God manifest His abundant loving-kindness among us. God will lead us, and those who do not conceive or bear children will be more than those who conceive and bear children. That is what church ministry refers to. We will imitate our God, carry God's abundant loving-kindness, and pass God's word out, and the church will break through once again and see many brothers and sisters begin to walk on this blessed path: above and not beneath, the head and not the tail! We can start to be raised up and can pastor God’s own people. We could become one of those who could shepherded sons and daughters. So, what does the Bible say?

Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. (Isaiah 54:1-3)

This is the beautiful will that God has ordained for us. At this moment, may God's love inspire us again. We are inspired by God's love, mad for God's love, and let God's will, God's plan, and God's promises all be fulfilled in us! We begin to look forward to the days to come. This is also the path the church must take. The church must begin to shepherd more practically, not only teaching you spiritual knowledge, but also training brothers and sisters in many areas so that they can be above and not beneath, the head and not the tail in all walks of life! Because our God's will is exactly like this, what a beautiful promise. Above and not beneath, the head and not the tail–if this is fulfilled among us, that would be extraordinary! Some time ago, there was a sister who was very interesting. I asked, When are you coming back? She said, Pastor, I am not going back. I have to become a CIO before I can go back. I will become an Information Director. I said, That is good. Having a CIO is certainly better than not having one. Come on!

II. Scripture

Let us read today's scripture. Everyone must know that God's loving-kindness is not just lip service. God's loving-kindness is completely down-to-earth loving-kindness; it is very real.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

This is said so well. If you have a paper version of the Bible, everyone take a pen and underline it. If you do not have a paper version of the Bible, take a pen and write it down in your notebook. From the first day I believed in the Lord, I heard this kind of faith.

III. Prayer

God, the days of prosperity are about to come among us. God, please inspire our brothers and sisters again, let our brothers and sisters all desire to become shepherds, let our brothers and sisters all become those who can shepherd spiritual children. God, raise us up, let us be able to constantly expand, constantly stretch the curtains of our dwellings, let us not limit our potential, may Your power become our power, may Your vision become our vision, may Your compassion become our compassion. God, help us, let us lengthen our cords, strengthen our stakes, constantly spread out to the left and to the right, so that our descendants may constantly dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. God, You will make us above and not beneath, the head and not the tail; these days are about to come upon us. I declare in the name of Jesus Christ that the church's ministry will expand once again, the level of church ministry will be elevated once again. God, help us, let us walk in Your will, let everything we do have Your presence; Your will is like this, let us all live out Your glorious image and become Your faithful priests. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Does it make you feel excited to think about it? Let me tell you, although there is some struggle inside because we do not know where to go. Today, everyone must know that sometimes, there is struggle in our hearts. These words are so good, and you will ask me, Pastor, what do I do? I look at you, you look at me, and I do not know what to do either. Then I will turn to God: God, what do I do? God does not pay much attention to me. Why? This must be done by faith, right? If this is not done by faith, everything that does not come from faith is sin. So, in the past days of church ministry, our entire ministry system has already been built, but no matter how we consider and look at the matter of above and not beneath, the head and not the tail, it seems very far from us.

Sometimes, we feel that we do not know how to move forward with this matter; there is always a flicker in our hearts. But I can roughly figure out a little bit. We are still seeking; all of us must become priests of the Lord God. Do you know what the priests of the Lord God do? Priests train the Israelites on how they should live. Priests are very powerful; priests do many things. In the days of the judges, all the way until the time of Samuel, Samuel was a very great priest. He not only managed the Israelites' eating, drinking, defecating, sleeping, he also judged and ruled. He managed many things, actually almost like a king. So, you all know the Book of Isaiah, right? This book is too long; it has 66 chapters. Although my Bible study is very brief, I wrote three books, upper, middle, and lower, from my Bible study notes. The name of this book is You Shall Be Called Priests of the Lord.

All of us must become priests of the Lord God. What will the priests of the Lord God be like? The priests of the Lord God will become models of receiving God's loving-kindness. You must know that this describes the relationship between the Israelites and God. The Israelites themselves are a kingdom of royal priests. What is their relationship with God like? It is bringing earthly problems to God and bringing God's power to earth; this is called a priest. Today, all of us who serve as priests of the Lord God, which is all of you brothers and sisters, what are we doing? Our hands are touching God's throne, and our feet are on the ground. If you say so, that will bring God’s power to the earth. It’s no light thing to bringing of God's glory and ability down to earth. And bringing the Earth’s problems up to God to solve it with his might.

IV. Background of this Passage

This chapter's background is described very well. Isaiah 54 talks about:

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

Have you, brothers and sisters, known God's love today? Our sins are placed upon Him. When I led the prayer today, many were healed. In fact, every time healing occurs, the disease is placed upon Jesus Christ. This is God's love. God says:

> For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

Today, brothers and sisters, you must know that this is God's love. God wants to resolve the issue of curses; God wants to resolve the issue of sin; God wants to resolve the kind of struggle we have when we feel helpless. God knows that this is the root of solving the problem. In the Old Testament, before our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished salvation, how helpless people lived, walking and ending up in desolate circumstances. So today, brothers and sisters, with God's accomplishment and God's redemption, we can easily walk out of this curse because the curse has been placed upon Jesus Christ. This is such a wonderful grace!

Therefore, in the New Testament, God's love is manifested in this. Today, who dares to say they have never experienced God's grace? No one. If we have experienced God's grace, and our sins are placed upon Jesus Christ, why should we still live in sin? Today, if we have experienced God's grace, are we once again motivated by God's love to become the people who are said to be loved by God today? If we truly respond to God's love, what does the Bible say?

> Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities. Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. (Isaiah 54:1-5)

Do you know today, brothers and sisters, that the phrase barren one, who did not bear means that what is born of the Spirit is spirit. The background of this passage of Scripture clearly describes God's love. It also describes that when we respond to God's love, we begin to shepherd God's flock. What is born of the Spirit is spirit, and shepherding spiritual children is better than shepherding carnal children. So today, brothers and sisters, we must know that we must enlarge the place of our tent because there are too many spiritual children; we must stretch out the curtains of our habitations and not hold back. The church must continue to move forward and win people like catching fish.

Because we are a nurturing church, today our level of nurturing is still at a relatively low level, just healing the sick, casting out demons, and dealing with the flesh. In fact, it is still a long way from the true nurturing that God has promised us. Why do I say that we need to start over recently? Because we really can only start over. Start over and move forward, so that what is said in Isaiah 54 can be fulfilled in us. This is Isaiah's reflection when writing Isaiah 53 and 54:

> For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

What does it mean? God wants to make us prosper, not wither. God wants to make us prosper, and we want to become an extremely prosperous people because God is with us and wants to possess many nations! Know that God is our husband, and the church is the bride of Jesus Christ. Therefore, building God's glorious church is the key, and gaining spiritual children is the church's shepherding. In fact, this matter is clearly described in the Book of Isaiah. Do you understand? This is the background of this passage.

Before this, Isaiah was constantly talking about curses and disasters and proclaiming many bad things, as well as the downfall of the Israelites and the kingdom of Judah. These were all God's discipline and judgment. But in Isaiah 53 and 54, God has prepared an extremely beautiful salvation for us. God let his son Jesus Christ be born, who truly bore our sorrows and carried our curses. This is such a wonderful thing. So, because of God's love, we are once again motivated to desire to build His glorious church.

Does it sound like preaching after talking for so long? But I tell you, if you think it's preaching, Paul's epistles are even more preachy than I am. It doesn't matter, no story is fine, whether the story is good to hear or not is fine, just always remember that God's love does not leave us. The sea can be filled, the mountains can be moved, but God's love never changes, and God's covenant is forever established there! Today, brothers and sisters, let us begin to firmly believe that God is a God who loves us.

## V. Firmly Believe That God Is a God Who Loves Us

Know that firmly believing that God is a God who loves us is the foundation. If you do not know that God is a God who loves us, I tell you that every time a disease is healed, the disease is placed upon Jesus Christ. We thought it ran into the air. No; we thought this thing was driven away, it doesn't hurt anymore, that's great. No, that is God's love, this is the foundation. If God roars at us a few times and scolds us a few times, do we still firmly believe? I tell you, in my past shepherding process, I have always adhered to one creed: I must let the people I shepherd receive a concept. Whether they like it or not, I tell you, let them gain a concept: I love them.

If I love them, and they also know that I love them, then the problem is easy to solve. I roar at them a few times, and then say a few harsh words. Sometimes the words are a bit heavy. I say, If you are willing to serve God well with me, then serve God well with me. Do not cause trouble; if you are willing to roll, then roll as far as you can. Then they say, Ah, Pastor, you are saying these words again. But one thing is for sure, even though I say these words a bit harshly, they know in their bones that I will not abandon them. As long as they are willing to follow me, the ghosts on them, whether it is this spirit or that spirit, no spirit can win here with me.

Because ghosts are really bad, they deceive people, and after deceiving them, people are willing to follow the ghost's lies. Once they follow the ghost's lies, people will be extremely uncomfortable. Once people are uncomfortable, they will cause trouble, and then I become very tired. So I tell you, it is difficult to shepherd without love from God. If there is no love from God, and you say some harsh words, then they really become harsh words, and there is no cure. Some people, whether in shepherding or in ministry, only learn those few harsh words and do not learn this love from God, then they are completely corrupted.

Someone says, Teacher, look, after I said this and that, then he had a fight with me. What is the problem? People simply do not know that there is a firm belief in you that you will love them forever. You say, You will love him forever, this sounds so strange, so uncomfortable, so cheesy. But this is the foundation. Brothers and sisters, this is not something else, do not just learn my harsh trick, you have to learn to pass on God's love. This is called shepherding.

Of course, if people do not let me shepherd them, then just forget it, right? That is called unrequited love, and I do not have unrequited love. If people do not want it, then do not give it. But if they come back, then we will continue to shepherd them. Later, I found that not many of those who came back were decent. I tell you, firmly believing that God is a God who loves us is the foundation. If God, our Jesus Christ, truly bore their sorrows and carried their sins, then should we, as shepherds, bear a little more? We should also bear a little more. Today, the meaning of what I wanted to say is to share a little about shepherding with everyone. Shepherding has to be done this way!

## VI. Do Not Worry About God's Wrath

Do not worry about God's wrath, God's wrath is only a short period of time. You must know:

> For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:6-8)

I tell you, if it were not for love, where would the anger come from? You would not grab someone off the street and get angry with them, would you? If he studies well, it has nothing to do with you; if he does not study well, it has nothing to do with you; if he does the right thing, it has nothing to do with you; if he does the wrong thing, it has nothing to do with you. You do not need to be angry. Is that so? Do you understand the logic? Do not worry about God's wrath, it is because we are really doing too outrageous, our heads are not very good, so God is angry with us.

If God is really angry with us, then there is still hope, right? Because that is God's love. Do not be afraid if God is angry. If God is angry, you say, Ah, I did not do it right. Then quickly do it right. If God is angry, then quickly repent. It is only for a moment, like parents disciplining their children. Know that God is so anxious when He sees that our brains are not working well. God is so anxious when He sees us desperately walking into a curse. I ask you, are you anxious? Some people are dating on the train tracks, and the train is coming from a distance, and the two of them are strolling there. I ask you, are the people next to them anxious? Even if they are not parents, they are anxious and push them away, otherwise they will be hit by the train.

So people are like this, people are desperately running forward on the road to death, on the road to destruction, on the road to being cursed. God is so anxious when He sees it. What kind of brain is this? So I tell you, many times even if God sends a ghost to mess with you, that's good! We are all driven into God's church by ghosts. If we do not encounter some disasters, can we know God? Right? Then we would have to be self-righteous to what extent? We need to have good brains.

I tell you, God is anxious when He sees that our brains are not working well, just like parents are anxious when they see that their children's brains are not working well. Think about it, it is really a bit difficult to turn a child with a bad brain into a child with a good brain. So it is normal for God to be angry and say some harsh words, because God is very compassionate and very loving. It is precisely because of this love that He cannot bear to see us living in a curse. Do you understand? Do not worry about God's wrath. So when shepherding, it is normal for your pastor to lose his temper with you.

## VII. We Must Imitate the Lord Jesus and Shepherd with God's Love

Brothers and sisters, how do we receive God's love? I tell you, if we are treasures of love, God's love is passed on through us, and we receive more. That is why we who do shepherding are not making a contribution to God, but receiving more from God. Some brothers and sisters, do not listen in reverse. I often say: shepherding is for the shepherds, not for the shepherded. If you imitate the Lord Jesus and shepherd with God's love, I tell you, you are a person who pours out his life to God. What do you do when you pour out your life to God? To shepherd God's people well, to shepherd the spiritual children God has given you. God's love and God's wonderful plan are like this.

When we shepherd with God's love, I tell you, even though you have no beauty or comeliness, your life-giving shepherding will have great infectivity in your bones. You do not argue for your own interests, but you also bear people's offenses, bear people's misfortunes, and bear people's curses. You say: Oh, I bear people's curses. Do not worry, that curse is not on you, it is on Jesus Christ. This is what our generation is to imitate the Lord Jesus and shepherd with God's love. Know that the Lord Jesus' work is not finished, He has given us an example.

> He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:3-7)

This passage speaks very well! I tell you, the Apostle Paul imitated this passage. What did the Apostle Paul say? I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

> Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (Colossians 1:24)

Today, we must fill up in our flesh what is still lacking in regard to Apostle Paul’s afflictions. You say, which is better, to suffer for a curse or to suffer a little for shepherding? Of course, it is good to shepherd God's people and continue to expand. That is what God wants to give us. Why do I say that the days of “above and not below, head and not tail” are coming? Why do we say that there will be a great breakthrough next? Because our shepherding will be improved again.

Next, for a period of time, I may gather our pastors together again to do shepherding training. This time, the shepherding training will become more practical than the previous shepherding training. Brothers and sisters, pay the price for shepherding! Then you say, I am a small believer. That's okay, serving a smaller believer by pouring a cup of water is also considered service. Right? So brothers and sisters, next I will do shepherding training. This shepherding training will become more practical, so as to bring the brothers and sisters into God's promise!

## VIII. More Spiritual Children

You shepherd with all your life, I ask you, what do you do after you shepherd? Of course, people really need to be shepherded. You see that many sheep today are like those without a shepherd. The brothers and sisters who come to our church are not those we dug up from other churches, but they cannot be shepherded in that place, they are hungry and withered, and they come to us to be shepherded. Then what happens after being shepherded more in our midst? We must expand our tents and stretch out the curtains of our dwellings, otherwise, how can we live? There is no room to live.

> Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities. (Isaiah 54:2-3)

Do not limit yourself. I tell you that many newcomers may come to us for half a year or a year, maybe a few months, and we will start to push everyone towards shepherding exceptionally well so that we may pass on God's love. There are all kinds of possibilities in you. Do not underestimate your capacity, and do not underestimate your ability, because our God is the source of our ability, and our God's wisdom is the source of our wisdom. Today, it is most important to have this willing heart. If you have a heart that loves God, a willing heart, and are willing to pay the price, all problems are not problems, skill problems are not problems.

So do not limit your potential, you will gain many spiritual children. I tell you, carnal children are here to collect debts, do you all know? Old people say that children are here to collect debts. Right? You just pay off the debts on them, owe them in the previous life, and pay them back in this life. But spiritual children are your property, I tell you, it is much better to have spiritual children than to have carnal children. Do not limit yourself, start to constantly expand your mind, constantly expand your vision, constantly expand and improve your knowledge of God's word, and constantly improve your professional abilities in all aspects.

## IX. You Will Possess Many Nations

You will possess many nations, this is God's love. Is gaining many spiritual children God's love? Yes, you will gain even more. Is possessing many nations God's love? It is God's love. I tell you, it is definitely not a withered state, it must be “above and not below, head and not tail,” possessing many nations. Winning people like catching fish, right? After winning them, shepherd them well, and then start to possess many nations, many of them.

Know that right among us, this is the momentum of possessing many nations! In the future, among us, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Europe, and Asia, needless to say, will possess many nations. We must start to gain many, many properties. I tell you, “above and not below, head and not tail” is not a purely spiritual word. If you read Deuteronomy 28:1-14, there are not many things that are purely spiritual, they are all very real. This place will possess many nations.

## X. Make Desolate Cities Inhabited

Make desolate cities inhabited, this is also God's love. I tell you, what does this mean? Do you all know how to buy real estate? If you buy a very desolate city, all bought at cabbage prices, and then people flock to it, what will happen? This place is very valuable. Do you understand? If you bring crowds to a very desolate place, and the desolate city has people living in it, I ask you, is that property? That becomes property! Before it was a liability, now it is property.

Many years ago, God gave me a vision, seeing the spiritual desolation of the entire generation, extremely desolate. I said: God, what is this? God said: This is the spiritual situation. I said: God, why did you show me this? God said: I want to raise you up to make the desolate cities inhabited. Later, when I opened Isaiah 54, I saw the phrase “make desolate cities inhabited.” Wow, so that's how it is. I never really understood it. In those days, where did I have such great ambition? Little cat two or three, barely, struggling on the verge of extinction. Thank God, having God with us is really amazing!

I want to tell everyone that as long as we are people who have God with us, everything we touch will prosper! Do you believe it? If we really have God with us, even if it is a desolate city, it will be crowded with people again. Do you all know? If it is crowded with people, can the price of the property be the same? I tell you, money is not the problem at all, God's love is the key! There are many spiritual children, possessing many nations, making desolate cities inhabited. Think about it, what a beautiful picture this is, plus Deuteronomy 28:1-14, to be above and not below, head and not tail. Wow, what a beautiful picture, let us start to look forward to it!

## XI. Conclusion

This is the season for God to manifest His love, this is also the season for God to prosper us, this is the day we pay the price, it is also the day our shepherding becomes more prosperous and more mature, and may God expand us among us, let us be able to win people like catching fish, this is the season God accepts us, God wants to have mercy on us again. I tell you, the church has come to today, you will definitely see the road ahead becoming more and more prosperous and more and more with God's presence. But we must learn to pay the price, imitate our Lord Jesus, pass on God's love, and similarly, as the Apostle Paul said, fill up in our flesh what is still lacking in the afflictions of Jesus Christ, because that is God's love. Amen!

Let us sing a song to prepare to receive today's offering. If you do not understand the meaning of offering, please do not offer. This song is called Pour Out. Is it okay? Let us pour out our lives to God, so that our hopeless and meaningless lives become extremely wonderful, and give our most precious things to God. Today, brothers and sisters, what kind of days are waiting for you in front of you? If you are thirty this year, you will be forty in ten years; if you are seventy this year, you will be eighty in ten years, years do not spare people. While we are still young and strong, remember the God who created us and start to gain more spiritual children.

I am really fortunate that many brothers and sisters followed me to shepherd when they were very young. Now the number of people they shepherd is much more than the number of people I shepherded when I was their age. Life is very satisfying. Is it okay? Let us pour out again. If we lack God's love and patience from God in ministry or shepherding, and only know how to demand but not how to share God's love, today we will start to change. It does not matter if we do not teach it once, we will teach it three times. Occasionally lose our temper in the middle, discipline with a little anger, that's normal, but still have patience, like God, never leave, God's love never leaves!

If you do not understand offering, please do not offer. The church is not a place to collect money, the church is a place to make people prosper, and the church is a place to make people above and not below, head and not tail. I tell you that in the next year, many brothers and sisters will see with their own eyes.