Good day to you all. Let us delve into the Book of Obadiah from the Minor Prophets. Some might ask: Should we not summarise the Book of 2 Corinthians? In truth, the concluding chapter of 2 Corinthians serves as a summary in itself. Therefore, we shall proceed with the Minor Prophet book of Obadiah.

Over the coming weeks, alongside Obadiah, I intend to address any overlooked passages from the past, including those in Deuteronomy and Exodus. Questions have arisen about their absence, and to be frank, I cannot recall how they were omitted.

Let us address Obadiah. This book is intriguing, aligning closely with the overarching themes of the Holy Bible. If 2 Corinthians speaks of individuals akin to Esau, then my theme for today is: Esau shall be brought low among all nations. A theme such as The Lord God will judge the nations misses the mark, as the focus is less on many nations and more on Esau and Edom—Edom being Esau, and Esau being Edom.

I. Who are the Edomites, and who is Esau?

Esau holds a unique position, being the grandson of Abraham, the son of Isaac, and the twin brother of Jacob. How did Esau become Edom, and Edom become Esau? It was not a later transformation. Even before his birth, God decreed that the elder would serve the younger. Yet, to our understanding, nowhere in the Holy Bible do we see the elder serving the younger, or Esau ever serving Jacob.

In retrospect, we cannot say that anyone was incorrect. We loosely refer to Esau’s service to Jacob as what? That Esau's existence served as a backdrop for Jacob. The Edomites, descendants of Abraham, sons of Isaac, aware of birthrights and divine blessings, knowingly rejected these, holding the birthright in contempt.

So, who are the Edomites? They are Christians who have forsaken God. Why? Because they are unwilling to pay the price for the Christian faith, seeking only blessings. They are not truly averse to blessings; who is? Yet, they lack the commitment to attain them. Jacob, possessing this resolve, secured the birthright by valuing it.

Observing the world, this holds true. Becoming an Edomite is easy. One need merely believe in Jesus Christ, or grow up in a Christian household, hearing the Gospel from youth, yet remain carnal. Does this not resemble the Corinthians? Indeed! Such individuals are prime material for Esau.

Who is Edom? Who is Esau? Born into the lineage of Abraham and Isaac, yet carnal, relying on ability, and loving the world. They are aware of blessings, yet unwilling to strive, and thus despise the birthright, becoming Esau.

Long ago, we discovered a fascinating pattern: being a Christian is not a casual affair. Faith in Jesus that descends to Esau's level is detrimental, resulting in being brought low among all nations. The judgement God metes out to Edomites, to those like Esau, is severe, condemning them to be the lowest among all nations.

Examine yourselves closely, lest you presume salvation. When asked, When were you saved? one might reply, I was baptised in 2012, turned to Jesus Christ, and am thus saved. What manner of thinking is this? Shaped more like the 'coming and going' demons from Journey to the West—pointed ears, monkey-like features, devoid of God's image, lacking Jacob's essence, revealing themselves as Esau, brought low among all nations.

Take note: the Holy Bible does not chronicle Esau's life in detail. We assume he lived well, yet the Holy Bible does not dwell on it. Whether Esau prospered or suffered remains unrecorded. We can only infer that, given God's curse on Esau, his life could hardly have been prosperous. Some argue Esau was wealthy. But does wealth equate to well-being? Not necessarily. Esau lived under a curse.

Like Cain and Lamech, Esau operated within a similar framework, possessing wealth yet enduring profound inner torment. I must clarify what constitutes a good life versus a bad one. How did Cain fare? Cain was a mental patient. God punished him with mental illness.

Mental illness is experiencing extreme pain without cause, conjuring problems from nothing. Is this not devastating? Living in constant agony. Thankfully, we are spared mental illness but those afflicted endure unimaginable suffering.

Outwardly seeming fine, some leap from buildings, leaving notes asking, Why did this happen? Who writes such notes? Those who deeply feel wronged by many, mirroring Cain's state.

In Lamech's time, severe mental illness reached new heights of suffering. Despite one's ability to work, earn, and accumulate wealth, life remains painful. I reveal a secret: well-being hinges on a feeling—a lifetime of joy. Excellent! Enraging those afflicted with such mental illnesses, enduring a life of pain until death.

Let us infer the state in which Esau lived. Years later, Esau gathered four hundred men to kill Jacob. Esau harboured hatred for Jacob for twenty years! Such is their state, aligned with Esau's logic, cursed by God, and incapable of contentment. I assure you, such individuals, even living thousands of years, find no joy, enduring a lifetime of toil and sorrow. What is the point of living thousands of years without it? I never quite understood.

The world is weary! Even those in their seventies and eighties still compete. One of our sisters had a brother who sought to seize their mother's property before she passed. He died from cancer before her, instructing his wife and children to hold on to it. What manner of thinking is this? Has their mind been soiled? What good is possessing it? Will they place it in your urn? Such are the Edomites.

The world is a little better, knowing God. Born into the house of Abraham and Isaac, then becoming a carnal Christian, leads to utter ruin. I must tell you, Christian life offers few options: choose to be either Esau or Jacob. Choosing Esau consigns you to being brought low among all nations; a dire fate. God will wage war against Edom, Esau's descendants, for generations, utterly destroying them.

In my ministry, fear no ailment. Recently, a pastor shared that two cancer patients in their district had recovered. I was comforted, for despite their cancer, they possessed the spirit of Jacob, a spirit of pursuit.

Fear not mental illness, but ensure you possess the essence of Jacob within. Never become Esau, never adopt the nickname Edom. Thankfully, even today, our online names include Ruth, but never Edom or Esau. Esau dwells among the lowest of all nations. I am deeply moved. Christians who do not overcome, lack of pursuit, Christians who are perfunctory are all Esau and end up miserably.

II. Edom, the Least Among Nations

God says: Arise, wage war against Edom! Those of the Edomite ilk, seemingly reliant on their swords and martial prowess, find the nations of the world arrayed against them, making them the least among nations. Does this not fulfil my assertion that they are brought low among all nations? In the hierarchy of curses, Edom's curse is the deepest.

Singapore boasts a spectacle known as the Eighteen Levels of Hell, my goodness! Each level more terrifying than the last. I dared not venture there. Some revel in visiting such places. Esau and the Edomites reside on the eighteenth level, others on the seventeenth, sixteenth, or fifteenth. Selling floors, some dislike the eighteenth floor. Yet, perhaps the eighteenth floor is ideal. Never buy the eighteenth level underground.

The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle!” Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. (Obadiah 1:1-2)

Esau's kind is utterly despised. Over the years, I have noticed a pattern. If you find yourself in this state, change! I have found it better to avoid hiring Christians, which I cannot endorse, even if the brothers and sisters I have personally mentored perform well.

One day, a sister from our midst attended an interview, only to find the interviewer to be a fraud seeking to deceive her. However, after our teachings, she was less susceptible to deception. Inquired with questions, she deduced the interviewer was a cheat. The interviewer exclaimed: You cannot be a Christian! Christians are easily deceived. She replied: I am a Christian. The interviewer countered: How can you be such a Christian? Christians are easily fooled, brought low among all nations; anyone can deceive them.

My goodness! Such foolishness! After our sister said:I am a Christian in the Chinese Mingding Destiny, come to compare yourself to see who decieves who first. They were deceived. It turns out that they were wrong, they were all Esau and Esau, who were born stupid.

We must remember one thing, being carnal is foolish. If you are a Christian, yet carnal, you embody foolishness, for God deliberately makes you foolish. Such is the least among nations, the characteristics of Edom surpassing those of Jacob's Christians manifold.

III. No Matter How High You Climb, God Will Pull You Down

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.(Obadiah 1:3-4)

These words apply not only to Esau, but also to many worldly scenarios. For example, what happens to a trillion-dollar commercial empire? It collapses, pulled down. When pulled down, they wonder: I climbed so high, how could my trillion-dollar empire collapse? Many climb without knowing how, becoming foolish through carnality, loving things, and thus? No matter how high they climb, God can pull them down. No matter how big your ship is, you cannot withstand natural or man-made disasters.

We must know not to be prideful or arrogant. Esau built his kingdom in Edom, among precipitous cliffs, easy to defend. He saw his fortress as impregnable, yet God pulled him down! Even the Twin Towers succumbed to two planes. The majestic Twin Towers of New York, long gone, having been struck over two decades ago.

Even nests among the stars cannot escape the Lord God's reach. Remember, humans have no cause for pride. Recently, the Category 17 typhoon was not particularly severe. Yet? The tragedy! Windows were blown out.

I have a small testimony. A sister in our midst lived in the typhoon's epicentre. The suffering endured by her neighbours was heart-wrenching, yet her home remained unscathed. Perhaps due to her sturdily installed windows, or another reason, it feels like a small testimony. A miracle of divine protection. I tell you, as Christians, we must strive to be outstanding Christians but do not talk nonsense. No matter how high you climb, skyscrapers collapse, and no one can stop it.

IV. Treasures Cannot Help You

“If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—how you have been destroyed!—would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? How Esau has been pillaged, his hidden treasures sought out! (Obadiah 1:5-6)

This is God's work. Burying treasures in deep pits is futile! God grants thieves insight: Esau's treasures lie there, easily uncovered. Even transferring money offshore proves futile; it is reclaimed, thieves unchecked.

Esau's rely on hands and swords or treasures, believing in their aid. I tell you today, they cannot help, no matter how much power you have.

Consider Esau. As Christians, if we rely on useless wealth, do we not become Esau? Today, remember: worldly treasures cannot help us. If we Christians do not look to our God, leaning instead on treasures, is this not a tragedy? Those with the right to rely on wealth cannot find help.

V. Allies and Peacemakers Will Deceive You

Is this not intriguing? If you become Esau, failing to believe in the Lord or trust in God, but pursue wealth, treasures will fail you, stolen away. Seeking alliances, signing treaties, these allies and treaties will ultimately deceive you. Examine the history of our era.

All your allies will drive you to the border; those at peace with you will deceive you; they will prevail over you; those who eat your bread will set a trap for you—of that there is no understanding in him. (Obadiah 1:7)

Why did the latter-day Judah and Israel suffer family ruin? They followed Esau’s path. Not all descendants of Jacob are Israelites. Many Esaus exist within Jacob's lineage. Israel and Judah allying with Egypt, signing treaties — useless. They are merely second-rate Esaus; first-rate Esaus cannot accomplish it. If first-rate, pure-blooded Esaus cannot, can a hybrid Esau succeed? Impossible! Allies and peacemakers deceive; treaties are worthless.

Consider this if someone is Esau inside and make a Christian appearance, the ending will so miserable. What do we have in our bones? Trusting in God guarantees lasting freedom from shame.

VI. Edom Has No Wisdom, No Understanding

Shall I not in that day, says the Lord, destroy the wise men from Edom, and understanding from Mount Esau? Then your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, to the end that everyone from Mount Esau may be cut off by slaughter. (Obadiah 1:8-9)

If you have no understanding in your heart, it is because when a person is carnal, God deals with them, taking away their wisdom and understanding.

I gave a sister some advice. I told her that her mind was not working well, as if it were filled with garbage, and she didn't know why. After her mind stopped working well, she kept wondering whatever she was doing: This isn't how my mind used to be, I wasn't like this before. But in fact, she had always been like that, she just didn't know it.

Later, I told her, This is what is called being carnal. It is this carnal nature that makes people foolish, loving the world to the point of stupidity. Aren't there some brothers and sisters among us who have been scammed so badly? Scammed terribly! How could they be scammed like that?

Can you turn back from this state? Who did it? God did it. God will take away the wisdom and understanding of the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, or these rotten Christians who love the world. Even if you are a mighty warrior, it is useless. Even mighty warriors are dismayed and ineffective.

Later, I gave this sister an idea. I said, Don't be in a hurry in the morning, so foolish, with your mind not working well, what can you be busy with? Take an hour in the morning to pray in the spirit. As a result, after she prayed in the spirit, her mind worked well all day today. I said, Not bad, the effect is quite good.

Remember, the spiritual person judges all things, and the spiritual person has heavenly wisdom. Whether you can hear it or not, I am constantly saying it here. So, our brothers and sisters must know that God is wisdom, and God is understanding. I once said, The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Lord is understanding.

If people do not know God and rely on doctors and medicine, how much suffering will they endure! If they do not rely on God and rely on wealth and power, I must tell you that no matter how much power you have, you cannot stop senile dementia when you get old. No matter how much power you have, it is normal to be like a psychopath when you get old. So, people must know that they are just human beings, and never become Edomites, living beneath all the nations of the world.

I wish everyone could listen. Even if you are very powerful and know many important people, you cannot stop getting cancer or whatever else you are destined to get. So, this is the Edomite, completely without wisdom. The most unwise thing, I must tell you, is this.

VII. Those Who Curse Jacob Will Be Cursed

I have said so much, and it is all about people living under a curse. No matter what kind of person you are, you must listen to my advice: you must study curses and blessings clearly. If a person does not understand what a curse is or what a blessing is in their lifetime, then their life is meaningless. Some people say, I used to be a person who could turn the world upside down. But in reality, when they get old, their words no longer count, and their honor no longer exists.

So, what is the problem? Cursing Jacob is a very serious matter. No matter who you are, if you are Esau, Jacob's twin brother, Jacob's elder brother, if you curse Jacob, your life is over. If you are an ordinary person, you are also finished if you curse Jacob. Why? Because those who curse Jacob will be cursed, and those who curse Abraham will be cursed, you don't even need to do anything.

Isn't this what the Bible says? What does the Bible say? If you curse Abraham, God will curse you, and if you bless Abraham, God will bless you. How can you argue with that? What's wrong? Can't this person be touched? Because he is a man of God! Why are you touching him? So, Esau did a very foolish thing. How was it foolish?

For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. In the day that strangers carried captive his wealth, and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. You should not have gloated over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoiced over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction; you should not have spoken arrogantly in the day of distress. You should not have entered the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; you should not have gloated over their disaster in the day of their calamity; you should not have looted their wealth in the day of their calamity; you should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off their fugitives; you should not have delivered up their survivors in the day of distress. (Obadiah 1:10-14)

It was this Edomite who cursed Jacob whenever he had the chance; this is no joke. There was once a story about people believing in the power of curses. What was this story about? There was a person whose family's experiences were a bit like the protagonist in Yu Hua's To Live.

His grandparents believed in Christianity during the Japanese occupation of China. After believing in the Lord, one day, there was fighting between the Japanese and Chinese armies on either side of the village, and a bullet killed his grandmother. His grandfather was completely despondent and began to be a preacher, no longer managing the family property. As a result, his grandfather gave away all the family property, and China was liberated. After liberation, some people were arrested because they were very wealthy; half of the entire county town belonged to their family. As a result, after being arrested, someone said he was a big landlord. In reality, he only had a small broken house left, at most a middle peasant, not even a rich peasant.

As a result, the person who had seized their family property was shot. And that person who seized their family property only had a few years. Just think about it, wasn't it just a few years? He hadn't even enjoyed the fortune he had seized. He used to be busy working for others, and later he was busy seizing other people's property, seizing a lot, but he ended up being shot.

Later, his father also became a preacher. This story is very interesting; I heard it from someone, and I know this person, but I don't know his father. He told me about his father's affairs; it was many years ago when he told me. He must be not much younger than me now, about the same age as me.

After his father was arrested and put in jail for being a preacher, the local official wanted to sign the death warrant for him. Just as he picked up the pen to sign, someone rushed in from outside and said, Leader, it's terrible! There's a big flood. So, he went to deal with the disaster.

After a while, he picked up the pen to sign again. Someone came again and said, It's terrible! Your mother is dying. So, he rushed out to take care of his mother's affairs. After a while, just as he was about to pick up the pen to sign, before he could sign, the person who came in from outside reported that he was being investigated. As a result, what happened? He was sent to jail. In jail, he ended up in the same cell with the person he was going to sign the death warrant for. I tell you, God is very humorous, where is the humour in it? He saw that this person in the cell was very joyful, happily praying there.

He said, What are you doing? As a result, he found out that he was a Christian. He asked again, What's your name? As a result, he found out that it was the person he was going to sign the death warrant for, but in the end, he didn't sign it. So, he muttered to himself, There really is a God! He began to conclude that there was a God.

The thing about Christians is amazing; although Christians may encounter disasters, it is God disciplining them. You must know that it is amazing for a person to become a Christian, God really cares. So, cursing Jacob is no joke. Don't think that things look good now; when things get bad, there is no room for reversal.

So, for people like us who don't rely on money or power, we must rely on God well. Even if someone curses you, what can they do? Those who bless you, God will bless them. Those who curse you, God will curse them. So, Esau made a fatal mistake. It's not that he didn't know there was a God; in fact, he knew there was a God, but when he saw Jacob suffering, he joined in the fun and grabbed some things.

VIII. Jacob Is Like a Great Fire That Will Devour Esau

Originally, Esau's existence was for Jacob, because Jacob is like a great fire that will devour Esau. How is it devoured? It is through curses. So today, everyone has boarded the ship of Christianity; I'm not scaring you, in fact, I don't need to scare you, what would I scare you for? Christians must never joke with God.

The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, but the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, says the Lord. (Obadiah 1:18)

Think about it carefully, Esau is used for burning, used for setting fire to. In the village, they collect those stubbles, and then when they want to cook, they take a handful and burn it. Isn't that Esau serving Jacob? People are making fire to cook, and he becomes the firewood. He is burned like that and it's over, burned and becomes ash.

When people die, they are burned and become ash. People are cooking rice, and the house of Esau is set on fire. Who told you to curse Jacob? It's no joke. So today, Christians are actually a very special group of people created by God, who cannot be touched, but if you touch them, nothing happens at that time, but the curse will follow these people.

So, why does Esau want to become this stubble, this firewood for burning? Because that's what they think in their minds. After a person is cursed, if they don't go deeper into the curse and do these things, they feel uncomfortable. Once God curses a person, their mind stops working well, and when their mind stops working well, they do more cursed things, and the more cursed things they do, the more their mind stops working well.

And there is another miraculous thing, even though they are cursed, they still accomplish some things. After accomplishing some things, they have the capital to be proud, and after being proud, they are dealt with by God again. The house of Esau is burned by this fire and becomes firewood. How many Esaus and Edomites there are, that's how much firewood there is; how many descendants of Esau there are, they become the firewood for the house of Jacob to make fire and cook. You must know that all nations will be judged; don't think that only Esau is like this, all nations are like this.

IX. All Nations Will Be Judged

For the day of the Lord is near upon all nations. As you have done, so shall it be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been. (Obadiah 1:15-16)

You see these so-called Israelites of Judah drank the bitter cup on God's mountain. That is that all nations will be judged, this bitter cup is the pain of dealing with the flesh. People must put to death the evil deeds of the body; that is to drink this bitter cup. You must drink it, because once a person is carnal, they are an Esau. You either live under a curse like Esau, is it comfortable? It is not comfortable. Or you rely on the Spirit of God like Jacob on God's holy mountain, putting to death the evil deeds of the body, which is this bitter cup.

Where did this bitter cup start? It started with Jesus. The path we walk today is the path that Jesus walked. If you want to covet carnal pleasures, you cannot be a Christian. Putting to death the flesh is a bitter cup!

So, before Jesus was crucified, he prayed to God, If it is possible, let this cup pass from me. But Jesus added a sentence later, Not as I will, but as you will! God, according to your will. Is God's will to take away the bitter cup? No! God's will is to nail Jesus' flesh to the cross, opening up a path for us to drink the bitter cup, but after drinking this bitter cup, we rejoice, and after putting to death the flesh, it is okay.

Among our brothers and sisters, I see that some are not okay with this for a while, and some are not okay with that for a while, some are in pain for a while, and some are in pain for a while, some are collapsing for a while, and some are collapsing for a while. Oh my goodness! A lot of things are endless, and for a while, the children are looking for jobs, racking their brains. Is finding a job so important? People think: if I don't have a job, how can I live? I say: if you don't have a job, why can't you live? People's perspectives are all carnal, so people drink the bitter cup. They drink and swallow, and all nations will drink continually, until they perish, because can the body be comfortable if it indulges the flesh?

So today, if you climb the mountain of the Lord, enter the house of the God of Jacob, you must begin to know how to put to death the evil deeds of your body, which is to tell yourself that it is no longer I who live, but Jesus Christ who lives in me. This matter is settled at once, especially easy, and joyful. Why? Because none of these things in the world can become your entanglement.

Among us, there are many parents. You say it is normal to suffer a little for your children, right? It is normal. But this is a bitter cup, the child is uncomfortable like this, the child is uncomfortable like that. I tell you that raising children is not easy. As soon as they come, it's: teacher, quickly pray for my child, my child has a high fever.

It's really not easy! Every time a child gets sick, the parents feel like they have been skinned. Isn't it not easy? This is how God will judge all nations. God's judgment of all nations is to let people see that this is a bitter cup. Today I was thinking, let's do some accounting, how to do this accounting? Walking this path of Esau is very bitter, living under a curse, living beneath all the nations of the world is very hard.

Is it easy to walk this path of drinking the bitter cup? It's not easy! But once you put to death the evil deeds of the flesh, it's good! It's easy! So, you must know which path is good. Is this path hard? It's hard! Climbing the mountain of the Lord, climbing the mountain of the Lord, is it uncomfortable? It's uncomfortable. But is it more uncomfortable to walk the other path? It's more uncomfortable! Being messed up by ghosts is even worse. All nations will be judged by God, no matter who this person is, they cannot escape.

X. Only the House of Jacob Will Possess Their Original Inheritance

But on Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. (Obadiah 1:17)

The people of the Negev shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines. They shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negev. Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. (Obadiah 1:19-21)

When we constantly climb God's holy mountain, then I tell you, you will surely possess your original inheritance. The house of Jacob is not a false Israelite, not all who are descended from Abraham are Abraham's offspring. Not all who are descended from Jacob are Jacob's offspring. Only those who yearn for eternal glory, only those who completely abandon Esau's path, no longer belong to the world, no longer belong to the flesh, but belong solely to God, are the ones.

Even if this path is a bit difficult, in the end, the kingdom will belong to the Lord God. What does it mean that the kingdom belongs to the Lord God? It means that we will ascend to Mount Zion and be united with our God! Then together we will judge the people of this world. Then this kingdom will belong to the Lord, and we will all receive an inheritance in God's kingdom. God is our inheritance, God's promises are our inheritance, isn't that good? At that time, you will understand everything, the blood shed, the tears shed, the sweat shed will all be worth it.

So, Chinese Mingding Destiny is a theology of paying the price. Chinese Mingding Destiny is a theology of putting to death the evil deeds of the flesh, and Chinese Mingding Destiny is also a theology of joy, there will surely be God's presence, and God's kingdom will surely come. Amen!

May God bless everyone!