Introduction

Good day to all. Let us turn to Acts Chapter 26. The theme I have designated for this chapter is Paul’s desire for others to share in the blessings of the Gospel! Some may say that this sentence is not in the Bible, but let us examine this passage carefully.

Paul said, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.” (Acts 26:29)

In fact, Paul was speaking about sharing in the blessings of the Gospel, which comes from 1 Corinthians Chapter 9.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.(1 Corinthians 9:23)

Acts Chapter 26 tells us why Paul came to Jerusalem, why he was tried, accused, and why he took this risk. Paul brought donations to Jerusalem, even though the Holy Spirit had indicated to him that he would be imprisoned there. Why did he still come? Paul wanted others to share in the blessings of the Gospel with him. Paul was a remarkable man. The Jews repeatedly tried to harm and kill him, but Paul never gave up on his own people or his father's house. He only wanted everyone to receive the blessings of this Gospel.

This is a sentiment. Without this sentiment, this path cannot be continued. In fact, these words deeply resonate with me, as everything I do is also for the sake of this Gospel. Some may say I am being boastful, but that is really not the case. Everything I do is to allow others to be like me, to receive the blessings of this Gospel. When we think deeply about it, people really do not receive many blessings in this world. Sometimes I am particularly moved, to the point where I feel upset. But I also thank God that no matter what, I must pay the price, just to allow others to receive the blessings of this Gospel like me.

Some doubt if this Gospel is really that good? That is without question. The Apostle Paul received this calling and mission in the process of persecuting Jesus. I think my path is shorter than Paul's roundabout reversal. I believed in Jesus without persecuting Him, and I did not receive a direct calling. God did not tell me to do this or that. I myself ran to allow others to share in the blessings of this Gospel with me.

Some say: one cannot run ahead of God. If man walking ahead of God is God's will, then why should we not walk? I thank God that I did not take the high priest’s letter to Damascus to arrest people, nor was I blinded by the light of Jesus after much commotion. I did not get any terminal illness, or encounter those illnesses where one begs for life but cannot get it, begs for death but cannot have it, and then after a period of turmoil get healed by God. At that time, I just lacked a hope for living. I did not know why I was living. I only felt that living was tiring, and I did not have much hope for living.

When I was young, I planned to live only to the age of fifty. While I was still strong, I would quickly end my life, which would probably save a lot of trouble in old age. What I longed for inside was the hope and promise that God had promised us through the prophets. Later, I walked into the church myself to seek it, and I found it. Because I received the blessings of this Gospel, I wished for my family, brothers and sisters, and friends to be like me, to begin to receive the blessings of this Gospel, even though the price paid was a bit high. Let's talk about the vision and mission Paul received from God.

“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:12-18)

God sent Paul to be a servant and a witness, so the title is Paul’s desire, all for the sake of sharing the blessings of the Gospel with others.

The Vision and Mission Paul Received from God

The vision and mission Paul received was that God wanted him to go everywhere to preach the Gospel and bear witness, so that others could share in the blessings of the Gospel with him. What are the benefits of this Gospel? Isn't Paul arrested now? Actually, being arrested is nothing great. Paul is willing to pay this price, to live for it, and to die for it. If one even has the heart to die for it, then being arrested, persecuted, and accused for it are all normal and nothing great. Everything can be locked up, but it cannot lock up the fiery heart inside Paul.

Looking around, one will find how helpless people's conditions are. Some have difficulty with bowel movements and urination, and some have enuresis, and some have anal leakage. Not being able to eat, having difficulty breathing, and not being able to drink water are not uncommon among us. Some say that science is now advanced, but the intractable diseases just mentioned leave doctors at a loss, and even a small coronavirus can turn the world upside down. Some people still have illusions, insisting that there are special drugs abroad that can cure COVID-19. If there were special drugs abroad, COVID-19 would not be called an epidemic. Where in the world can one find the special drug he is talking about? In fact, this special drug is in Jesus Christ.

Paul's miracles are not mentioned here, but in the Bible, there are many stories of healing through Paul's hands. The miracles performed by Paul can really be compared to those of Jesus Christ, because Paul served for many years. He was able to fulfill God’s promises in the Old Testament. Wouldn't that be bearing witness? The result of proving it is that it is indeed effective. One can draw on God's promises. In Paul's words, God's promises, no matter how many there are, are Yes in Jesus Christ. This is the vision and mission Paul received on the road to Damascus, and I felt I should do this from the day I believed in the Lord.

On the day I was baptized, I decided to go home. It was difficult to return to China in those years. I bought a plane ticket to Beijing, and after getting off the plane, I spent a whole week trying to buy a train ticket home. It was really too difficult. At that time, I wanted my parents to receive the blessings of this Gospel with me. As a result, when I returned home and opened my mouth, I almost couldn't help but burst into tears.

At that time, I suffered a lot abroad. My parents asked me how I was doing abroad. Based on the principle that most people who go abroad report good news and not bad news to their parents, I tried my best to hold back my tears and only said that everything was fine. Actually, what was good? Many people who go abroad know how hard this road is! But I knew God, and everything I told my parents was about God. When I left, my parents sent me to the train, and my dad said something heartfelt to me. In fact, it wasn't that they didn't believe what I said. How could they not believe what their own son said? But they didn't know how to believe in this Jesus I was talking about. At that time, I had just been baptized and didn't know anything, and I couldn't explain it clearly. I thought it was good, and then I wanted my parents to receive it too. It was really difficult for the old people at that time.

Since I was a child, my parents have liked fortune-telling. The fortune teller said that as long as this son of mine is at home, nothing major will happen at home, and that is really the case. After I left home to go to university, the family was in chaos, and my parents lived a very tiring life because of this. Because a few years after I left home, my sister got mental illness, and the sharp tools in the house had to be hidden, otherwise she would really take them to chop people. I wanted to lead my parents to start believing in the Lord, just to share the blessings of this Gospel and get out of that bad life.

Later, my sister-in-law had a difficult childbirth, and the child was barely born but was on the verge of death. As soon as I heard about this, I wholeheartedly wanted them to share the blessings of the Gospel. I kneeled at home and prayed all day long, and suddenly my whole body was burning like fire, and my palms were red. At that time, communication was not so convenient. It was not until the next day that I learned that at the same time that my hands were red from praying, a very magical thing happened. My brother's child, who was about to die, suddenly woke up. From then on, my parents began to know that this Gospel was really a good thing. That was the first miracle I performed, and it happened when I had just believed in the Lord.

How many helpless things will one encounter in one's life? Some of us have cancer, some have ankylosing spondylitis, and some are unlucky, experiencing all kinds of things. I wish you all could share in the blessings of this Gospel with me. In the past, those who did not know God suffered a lot. But everyone cannot always not know God. You must know how much you need God. I thank God! He gave me such a burden when I had just believed in the Lord. At that time, I was full of enthusiasm and wanted to tell people my testimony when I saw them. The return of believing in the Lord is very great, and my salary increased very quickly.

I have a passion for God because I have obtained something called hope, which is the hope of living. From then on, I no longer lived in those days without hope and without promise. From the day I believed in the Lord, I lived very steadily. Before, I was always worried, and my heart was hanging in the air and could not land. After believing in the Lord, I finally felt at ease and lived very happily and comfortably. I told people my testimony when I saw them. At that time, my salary soared like a rocket. If I had known it would increase so quickly, I would have bought more property and borrowed more money. Unfortunately, I didn't know it at the time. But it doesn't matter. Property is not important. God's promise is the most important!

A few days ago, my younger brother told me that he is now going to catch up and really believe in the Lord properly this time. I told him, There are two indicators to judge whether you believe in the Lord: First, there will be fewer and fewer unlucky things and more and more blessed things, and you will definitely be blessed financially. Second, you will definitely be blessed physically. There will be fewer and fewer diseases and more and more health. What my brother said to me made me feel very happy. It was more satisfying than drinking Wuliangye, Moutai, and eating a Manchu Han Imperial Feast. He was actually able to share the blessings of the Gospel with me.

Some time ago, I met with old friends. When we were together, I liked to tell my testimony, just like telling a story. I wished they could all share the blessings of this Gospel with me. No matter what kind of look people give me, a black face, not even paying attention, it doesn't matter. I just want to have other people receive the blessings of the gospel together with me. Whether I serve or do anything else, I do it with my heart.

The promises that the Apostle Paul was able to fulfill were really beyond ordinary people. He said that the promises that the ancestors had hoped for have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God's promises, no matter how many there are, are yes and faithful in Jesus Christ. Among us, the testimonies compiled every Sunday, read out in my voice, take nearly 40 minutes. This is still carefully selected; otherwise, we can never finish talking about them. Brothers and sisters, let me say something heartfelt. Are you grateful for this? A blind man experienced healing and could see again. He came from afar and came up to embrace and cry with me. What grace this is. What a treasure this is in this world.

Yet some people despise this treasure, which is really foolish. Our brothers and sisters among us cannot be foolish anymore, especially those who have personally experienced God's grace. We must begin to share the blessings of this Gospel with our brothers and sisters, family members, neighbors, and relatives and friends. Never engage in fraud or falsehood, or lie and deceive. It is really wonderful. Those days of helplessness, bad luck, and sickness must pass, and God's promises must be fully fulfilled in our lives. Everyone must begin to repent seriously. What we did wrong in the past cannot continue. This helpless life must come to an end. From now on, we must run forward full of hope, because we are no longer living for this life, but living in eternal life!

Thank God that He has given me a great grace to be able to explain this Gospel clearly in this generation. Last night, in the middle of the night, one of our pastors called me. He was so excited that he couldn't wait until the next day to say it. He told me that someone who graduated from Peking University immigrated to North America and kept looking for a suitable church online but had not found it for a long time. One day, this person suddenly discovered Mingding Destiny. After listening to one online content after another, he shared his journey with our pastor. Both he and his wife are high-achievers who are not only seeking but also studying theology, and they have incorporated my Romans Bible study into their theological assignments. If you haven't gotten it right, I will keep talking to you until one day you share the blessings of the Gospel with me. It is definitely not adding another burden.

Paul Did Not Disobey the Vision and Mission

Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:19-23)

Paul did not disobey the vision and mission, and even when on trial, he never retreated, but sought to avail his fellow Jews of the benefits of this Gospel. He was stoned to death and then rose again, beaten with rods, flogged, and so on. In Paul's own words, he often experienced the death of Jesus Christ so that the power of His resurrection might be manifested in him. We all have this calling, although God may not speak to you explicitly, it is clearly stated in the Bible.

Have you disobeyed this vision and mission? No matter where you are from, you must bear witness. As long as you have received this Gospel, you must let the light of this Gospel shine through you to others. Although Paul experienced so much suffering, he did not disobey this vision and mission. Even standing before the emperor, he still spoke of these things, that man has no hope in life, because man's hope in life is in Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters, if you carry this vision and mission, and constantly speak out the testimony of Jesus Christ, you are a blessed person. God found Paul, and God is happy, and Paul is happy. God found me, and God is happy, and I am happy; now God has found you, and God is happy, and you are happy! This is such a good thing, do not mess it up.

We need to start rethinking, have you disobeyed this vision and mission? How deep is the curse if a person receives this Gospel but does not cherish it? People take their work very seriously, and lose their passion after believing in the Lord, but are full of enthusiasm for their work. This is a matter of values within a person. I am telling you that this is truly a treasure. If you have been mistreating yourself for a long time, you must repent quickly. Everyone should re-examine themselves.

Paul Came to Jerusalem for This

King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. “All the Jews know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they worship God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that I am accused by the Jews. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? (Acts 26:2-8)

Before Paul came to Jerusalem, he knew that he would be imprisoned and bound, so why did he still come? The Holy Spirit, through the famous local prophet Agabus, told Paul not to go, that there would be bonds. As a result, Paul came and was bound, and was imprisoned for two years. Two years later, King Agrippa interrogated him, and Paul did not complain with tears in his eyes that he had been imprisoned for nothing for two years. Paul came to Jerusalem to testify for God, hoping that everyone present, including King Agrippa, would share in the benefits of this Gospel. Paul came for this purpose. How could he preach the Gospel before the governor and King Agrippa if he were not imprisoned?

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you at so little pains to persuade me to become a Christian?” And Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.” (Acts 26:27-29)

Do you all think that Paul is amazing? Paul does not resist, nor does he argue, nor does he plead for himself. All that he speaks is for the benefit of others, even if he is imprisoned. What kind of person is this? I hope to be like Paul, but I have not learned enough. I have told some people that I have never taken a needle or thread from them, nor have I taken any advantage of them. Because I only hope that they will benefit, and not to gain any advantage from them, and I also hope that they can give the benefits to others. Every time I minister to those who are sick, I say to them: As I minister to you, I hope that you will minister to others in the future.

Do you all have this patience, this grace, this mission, this vision that Paul has? That is, to be born for this, to come into this world for this, not seeking to gain any benefits, but only to give out benefits. Such a person is not worthy of this world. Whether it is King Agrippa or Governor Festus, the Apostle Paul came to Jerusalem hoping that they would share this hope with him. The promises that the ancestors received from God are all here, as much as you want.

If anyone wants to ask more questions, Paul will explain it to him. Brothers and sisters, why did you come into this world? Paul knew very clearly why he came to Jerusalem, that is, hoping that the Jews would share in the benefits of this Gospel with him. Paul did not disobey this vision and mission, and everything revolved around a very clear goal. Unlike some of our brothers and sisters who get confused as they go along, this is because their brains are not working well.

Paul Was Accused and Tried For This

Paul said that he sat in prison for two years in order to come to Jerusalem and give those people the same hope. Hoping to receive permission from God, hoping that God's promises would be fulfilled in them, hoping that they would also experience the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead like Paul. These Jews accused him, making him wait in prison for two years for trial, just for this matter.

How could there be such a thing in this world? If being accused is because of stealing someone's money, or beating someone, or corruption, or owing a lot of debt, being insolvent, or even being accused because of political struggles, it can barely be justified. But Paul was accused because he wanted to make the accusers benefit, which is really strange! The people in the world who truly have Mingding Destiny are like Paul. Even if they are accused and tried, it is not a problem, but it further confirms that what they do is true.

“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:9-18)

Paul was once a persecutor of Christians, but because of God's grace and mercy, light shone on him, and he began to repent and testify for Jesus Christ. Paul began to build God's glorious church, constantly fulfilling God's promises in Jesus Christ, and having a glorious hope in eternity. He was accused and tried for this matter, and even King Agrippa and Festus felt that Paul had not committed any crime worthy of death. Paul just wanted them to have hope, but these people wanted to accuse him. What kind of logic is this? This also illustrates one thing: everyone should know that the spirit of religion is very hateful.

They withdrew and began to say to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” (Acts 26:31-32)

Hoping That Everyone Will Receive the Benefits of the Gospel

But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:22-23)

Paul also hoped that these Jews, whose brains were not working very well, would receive the benefits of the Gospel, and Paul also hoped that those who interrogated the Apostle Paul would receive the benefits of the Gospel. Suppose someone in King Agrippa's family was sick, and Paul was asked to take care of it, Paul would definitely do it. When I do it with people, I rarely ask if they believe or not? If they don't believe, so be it. I just let them come and pray with me, I say a sentence, and they follow with a sentence.

Some people get illnesses such as synovitis, and their ankles and knees hurt so much that they cannot go upstairs or get into a car. I prayed with him for a while and it loosened up, and God's name was glorified. Everyone should know that we believe in the Lord, and everyone should have this Mingding Destiny, and everyone should make others receive the benefits of this Gospel. One day in the future, you and I will stand before Jesus Christ to give an account. When I go to Jesus Christ, I can show God my fruitful report card.

But some people are busy making money, and they don't even know what they have done in their lives. Some people are often unlucky, and no matter how much they do, it is useless. They return to the starting point from thirty to forty, and return to before creation from sixty to seventy. Isn't that emptiness and chaos? I wish that all brothers and sisters could know Jesus Christ, and all the benefits in this Gospel are ours. I hope that everyone will receive the benefits of this Gospel.

Now we are doing pastoral work, dealing with people's flesh. We are not dealing with people's flesh for the sake of dealing with flesh, but to let him receive the benefits of this Gospel. It is not easy for people to receive the benefits of this Gospel, because what hinders us from receiving the benefits of this Gospel is ourselves, just as what hinders the Jews from receiving the benefits of this Gospel is the Jews themselves. I hope that brothers and sisters can understand and begin to let my heart be comforted. What I ask for is for the sake of this Gospel, to share in the benefits of this Gospel with you. Amen!

May God bless everyone!