Introduction

Good day to all, we are examining the Book of Zechariah, chapter 13. Although this book is not easy to read, we have nevertheless reached the penultimate chapter. I am quite satisfied with my "work." Having understood this book, I find Zechariah's writing truly excellent!

Everyone, try to practice, show your insights, and share what kind of theme you would assign to this chapter. Some say, "God's people must be refined by fire," which is very good! Others say it is "Refining the remnant to become God's people" or "Those who look to the Lord will be cleansed from sin and impurity." All of your themes are well-defined.

My theme is different from yours, but you must understand that my theme is not the standard answer; it merely presents my own perspective! Because my spiritual height is limited, I can only speak from this vantage point.

For example, when I look back at what I taught ten years ago, I feel that I didn't explain it correctly, but at the time, I thought I did a good job. Thank God! I always feel good about myself, or at least there is emotional value! So for this chapter, the theme I have assigned is "Treasures are forged in fire."

God Wants Treasures

Many years ago, I discovered something very amazing, which is that there is a lot of garbage in the church! A long time ago, I also had a concept that God wants treasures. Is this "God wants treasures" the same as the popular theory of "saving souls" or "God wants to save all people"? But in reality, that's not the case!

Therefore, the concept of Chinese Mingding Doctrine is not about saving souls, but about finding treasures. And I think you all are really like treasures, being refined on the left and refined on the right! If you don't think you are a treasure, then you really wouldn't have made it to this point.

Chinese Mingding Doctrine is not for collecting offerings, but some churches think that the more people there are, the more money the church will receive! They want to build large temples, grand cathedrals, and luxurious stages, and then the church starts investing and managing finances, but our church doesn't do these things! The church is not a place for making money or fishing for people, nor is it a landmark building or a check-in point in the city; the church is a place for finding treasures.

Let's give ourselves some confidence; we must not be garbage in God's eyes, but treasures in God's eyes. I tell you, God only wants treasures! Some people say, why hasn't our church been revived yet? You have to understand that not only are you anxious, but I am also a little anxious, but there are not many treasures!

Do you think that if you dig out a lot of sand, you can pan out a few grams of gold? Do you think that if you find a gold mine, you will dig up all gold? Unless you steal from a bank's vault, then it will definitely be all gold.

So our brothers and sisters must have this concept, to be treasures in God's eyes. After this explanation, this chapter becomes clear all at once: God is looking for treasures. God directly destroys two-thirds of the people; these people are all garbage! Only one-third of the people have the opportunity to be refined, and after being refined, they are gold, silver, and treasures!

A long time ago, I said, "God, how come there is only one Abraham?" Later I discovered that treasures are really hard to pick out; there is too much garbage! In that era, God only found one Abraham, and later He found one Isaac, one Jacob, and one Joseph, respectively. It was too difficult!

Our brothers and sisters must know that God doesn't care about garbage at all; their destruction is normal, so our church doesn't talk about "saving souls." But some local churches go out to preach the gospel and proclaim "saving souls," and then lead others to make a decision to believe in the Lord, thinking they are so great! So they say to each other, "How many souls have you saved?" Some people say they have saved two, and some say they have saved five.

If that's how it's calculated, then I can do it too! For example, I lead someone in a decision prayer, and then I give him a bowl of noodles, or if it's during the epidemic, I give him a box of masks, then I can save ten souls; most people can't compare to me!

I specifically look for those silly people, give them some benefits, and have them follow me in prayer, saying, "I want to open my heart, invite Jesus in, be my Lord, control my life, and the blood of Jesus has washed away my sins." Then he will do anything for a box of masks! So now he accepts Jesus, tomorrow he accepts Lao Tzu, the day after tomorrow he accepts Confucius, and the day after that he accepts the entire Sakyamuni, all for that box of masks, a box lunch, or something else.

Our brothers and sisters must know that there are too few treasures and too much garbage! So let's choose to be treasures in God's eyes, and declare loudly: God, I want to be a treasure in your eyes, and no matter what refinement I experience, I will overcome.

Chinese Mingding Doctrine also has a term called "overcoming." We overcome every trial that comes our way. What are we afraid of in trials? God is such a God, God is the sovereign God, so isn't the refinement done by God? So don't worry; what you should worry about is whether you are a treasure.

Treasures are Forged in Fire

Are you a true pastor or a false pastor, a true prophet or a false prophet, a true disciple or a false disciple? You can tell with one test. What is this called?

"And I will bring the one third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’"
(Zechariah 13:9)

What does it say before this?

"Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
Against the Man who is My Companion,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered;
Then I will turn My hand against the little ones."
(Zechariah 13:7)

This is the scripture that Jesus quoted before being crucified, "Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." What was the result? I tell you, there are many people who are good at talking! For example, "Even if everyone else falls away, I will not fall away!" When you hear this, if Jesus were from Northeast China, He would say, "Give me a break! Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." You are just like a "two-cent teapot, all mouth!"

Therefore, when Jesus was really arrested, people would say, "You were with Jesus, your accent is from Galilee." Just like a Shandong person going to Beijing, as soon as he speaks: When I get married, my mother will give me a big refrigerator. You can't hide that accent; it's exposed as soon as you speak.

As a result, God struck the Shepherd, and the sheep were scattered. Sheep like Peter were scattered. The reason is simple: do you have true faith? I tell you, the Apostle Paul was a man of true faith; the sheep of the Apostle Paul were not scattered! However, before Jesus Christ was crucified, the flock scattered.

Our brothers and sisters must remember that treasures are forged in fire. You can tell whether it is a treasure with one refinement! Just like some things that are gold in color, but when you bite them with your teeth, some are soft, and some almost break your teeth. The hard one is copper, even if it is big, it is just copper.

One day my mother came back from outside and said, "Oh! I made a profit, I got a bargain." When I looked, I knew something was wrong! She got a big yellow ring, and then she gave the gold ring I bought her to someone else. What happened? She picked up a big yellow ring on the street, and then she met a young man who was a swindler, who said, "Auntie, we both picked it up, let's split it in half."

As a result, my mother was greedy for a bargain and gave the smaller ring on her hand to him, and took back the copper ring, and was cheated. If it hasn't been tested, you won't know if it's copper or gold. I said, "You bite it with your teeth, and you'll know it's not gold. Wouldn't it be better to give him the copper one? Then you'll know he's a swindler." Later, I bought my mother another ring.

Our brothers and sisters must know that the truth is all tested. Don't listen to "two-cent teapot, all mouth." So brothers and sisters, don't listen to people's talk randomly! Some people speak even better than I do! Like some people commented: I just don't like your pastor. I replied: What's wrong with our pastor? He said, "He speaks so harshly!" However, those who speak nicely are all liars.

So are you a true pastor or a false pastor, a true prophet or a false prophet, a true disciple or a false disciple? You can tell with one test. The church is purified through persecution. I can tell you, don't be surprised by these things; these are all under God's control. All things were created for Jesus Christ, and also through Him.

So we are not interested in a great revival. If we preach a sermon and five thousand people believe in the Lord, how many treasures are there among them? Although this has not happened yet, if it does happen, what worries me the most is that five thousand people will flood into the church, and how many treasures can be picked out? Let's test it.

Thank God, my Northeastern accent and vulgar language are a sieve. If you really want to hear the word of God, think carefully. Although my words are rough, the doctrine I preach is not rough.

In 1904, there was a great revival in South Wales, England. People there easily believed in the Lord. As soon as they were led in prayer, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. In those two years, the town's lawyers were unemployed, no one committed crimes, and the prisons were empty because everyone believed in the Lord. Then suddenly, the great revival stopped, and those people returned to their original state of life, and the revival failed again!

Later, I researched and wanted to know what was going on? However, even now, many churches still long to see this kind of revival, but I don't long for it. The reason is simple: what's the point of doing such a thing? In the end, it all ends up unfinished.

In 1904, there was a great revival in South Wales, England. In 1906, there was also the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, USA. At that time, there were so many people who believed in the Lord, just like Peter preached a sermon and five thousand people believed in the Lord, but it was useless! Later, my research result was: treasures are forged in fire! I want to do it slowly. I'll make as many as I can, but I won't do such a great revival! So until now, our church has not had this kind of situation.

In fact, the great revival is a myth. If God raises up a sword and strikes the Shepherd, and the sheep are scattered, will there still be three thousand or five thousand people believing in the Lord? I can boast with confidence that our church is really a place for refining gold! Ordinary people can't survive it. There is a lot of price to pay here. At least you have to go through round after round of training.

A pastor told me: "Recently, people from 'Almighty God' and 'Eastern Lightning' have infiltrated the church." I said: "Then let them try to infiltrate here?" Can they get past me here? Many churches don't even study the Bible or understand the word of God, and "Eastern Lightning" reads the Bible better than they do.

If people from "Eastern Lightning" come to our church, oh my goodness, they can't survive! Who can they deceive here? In the end, they may even be transformed by us. After listening, they realize that this doctrine is the true doctrine! If you don't believe it, bring it on!

So "God raises up a sword and strikes the Shepherd, and the sheep are scattered," this is to test true and false pastors. If you can overcome after being struck by God, then you are gold, a treasure. Jesus was nailed to the cross because He walked up to it Himself, not because people forced Him, but because He was willing. If it's a fake, try nailing him! He definitely won't want to!

So you can tell the difference between true and false sheep, true and false disciples, with one comparison. If you are following Jesus, and you are arrested, you will know if you are okay or not, so treasures are forged in fire. Let's look at what the scripture says?

"And I will bring the one third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’"
(Zechariah 13:9)

In our church, does God hear our prayers? Yes! If you don't have a job, you can definitely find a job when you come among us. But after finding a job, you can go wherever you want; I don't morally kidnap you.

But if you want to be a treasure, be refined well in this place, and be a treasure in the eyes of Jesus Christ! Then cancer will be healed, and ankylosing spondylitis will be healed! But if people didn't encounter these things, how would they come to believe in the Lord?

God Wants to Purify His Church

The previous part talked about being baptized by fire. In fact, God doesn't care much about the two-thirds of the people being cut off. One-third of the people are put into the fire to be refined, and then what is refined is gold. What God wants are treasures, and treasures are forged in fire. Thank God! God wants to purify His church. How does He purify it?

“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13:1)

This is the first verse, and what follows is how God cleanses, how He eradicates, how He washes away sin and uncleanness. Jesus said, “I will baptize you with fire and the Holy Spirit.” Do you think fire and the Holy Spirit are a joke? One test will reveal the truth! Some have faith that is all religious flavor, of no use; it will be known when the fire burns.

The house of David refers to the leaders of the church, and Jerusalem refers to the members of the church. Opening a fountain for them to wash away sin and uncleanness refers to the church. How is it cleansed? If you believe in the Lord, you must, like the Apostle Paul, pay the price of your life for the sake of your faith. Are you willing to do that? If you are willing to pay the price of your life, then it is certainly genuine.

Therefore, the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for our glory. Although he was imprisoned, we still believe that this is God's work. But some, upon seeing him imprisoned, think: “Oh, forget it! Who would believe in that? Believing in that means going to jail. Forget it, let life go on as it is!” That is bad! Many stumbled because of Paul. This is how God cleanses His church.

You know, later I discovered that not only did God create man good, but He also created demons very well! Don't hate demons; I discovered that demons are fallen angels. Why did God create these demons? Because God wants demons to do the dirty work.

My experience here is quite miraculous! One day, a demon-possessed person was sitting in my living room, and he began to speak. As soon as I heard it, I knew it was a demon speaking. I asked, “Why have you come?” It said, “I am here to help you build the church.”

After hearing this, I said, “Forget it! You help me build the church? What can you do to help me?” It said, “Really, look at so-and-so; I am the one who took them away.” You know, there really were such people! But the demon-possessed person had no idea of the names of those who had been taken away by the demon. Heavens! At that moment, I felt that this guy was quite interesting. I had never had this kind of experience, but I felt it was particularly good.

I tell you, it is especially good to triumph in battle with demons. Then I said, “Are there others?” It said there were so-and-so. I said, “Who are you messing with now?” It said, “I can't tell you that; it's a secret. I am here to collect junk, specifically to take away those who should be taken away.”

So I am revealing a piece of information to you: I never persuade those who leave the church to come back! For those who are willing to listen to a few words from me, I only often give them a reminder, and then thank God! So when some people are taken away by demons in the church, I go home and open champagne because the church is cleansed. This is how God cleanses His church.

There is a term called “white glove.” Do you know what a “white glove” is? For example, if there is an official who cannot openly be corrupt, he uses means to gather a group of people to put on a show, acting as gloves to do the dirty work for him. This is called a “white glove.” So if God wants to cleanse His church, He must gradually remove the dirt and filth from the church.

Later, I also discovered a mystery, which is that we are constantly improving in our understanding. When we reach a certain level of knowledge of the truth, or surpass that level, then the demons below that level begin to manifest and are taken away by Lao Ma. Climbing the spiritual peak is truly effective! As our understanding of God increases, the church begins to be cleansed. This is God's work!

You and I should have a heart that trusts in God, knowing that God is in control, knowing that God will cleanse His church in this world. Then we need to strive to grow into the full stature of Jesus Christ. I truly thank God! Loving God is so good. Loving God means keeping and obeying His commandments, and serving Him will not be tiring. In the past, a term was popular in the church called “burnout.” I thank God that I have never been burned out to this day.

There was a pastor whose church had a lot of garbage. Later, the garbage got into his brain, and he got brain cancer. He said, “I worked very hard, leading more than fifty small groups, and the fifty-plus group leaders had to be replaced every three years.” I asked, “Why did they have to be replaced every three years?” He said, “They were burned out.”

Later, I thought about it. How did they get burned out? They couldn't withstand the fire! I can tell you that the price those group leaders paid in the church was not even comparable to that of our average members. But he said, “Look at our group leaders; they have to lead a small group once a week, come to church for training once a week, and also attend Sunday service.”

I thought it sounded so strange. I said, “Every one of our members studies the New Testament on Wednesdays, studies the Old Testament on Fridays, keeps the Lord's Day on Sundays, and then has prayer meetings on Mondays and Tuesdays, and district meetings on Thursdays.” Then he said, “Oh my goodness! That's impossible in our church!”

I exclaimed, “What do we lack in a church that pays such a price? We lack nothing! And we are becoming more and more cleansed. God is increasingly listening to our prayers, and we are increasingly becoming treasures in God's eyes!” There is no time for such nonsense, and what we gain are the fruits of faith. God uses miracles to come upon us, so that we lack nothing.

So when people from “Eastern Lightning” or “Almighty God” come among us, what can they do? I think they're in trouble! And our small pastors have not been burned out to this day. God wants to cleanse our church, God wants to raise us up, and He hears our prayers before Him. God says, “This is my people.” We say, “Jehovah is our God.” Then our relationship with God is very good. It's great!

Among us, all diseases are healed. You don't have to be afraid. What are you worried about? I tell you, sometimes some problems are good, so we know that there is dirt inside us that needs to be removed. Would you rather be in a clean church or a dirty church? Of course, it is better to be in a clean church.

Everyone should listen carefully to what I say. Wherever you are, if God is with you, you will prosper in everything! Because the law of the Lord God does not depart from our mouths, we will prosper in everything we do.

False Prophets and Unclean Spirits Cannot Withstand God's Fire

Zechariah's words are quite interesting. He says this:

“And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. “Then it shall be that if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who begot him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord!’ And his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies. “It shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; neither will he wear a rough robe to deceive anymore. He will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.’ Then one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ And he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’” (Zechariah 13:2-6)

This passage is so well said. Brothers and sisters, begin to rethink. “In that day I will cut off from the land,” that is, in the church, “the names of the idols, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the false prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land.” I can tell you that the spirits of false gods, false prophets, and unclean spirits are all in the church, and God's prophecy is also in the church.

You must know that your mother took care of you when you were still wearing open-crotch pants and raised you. How could your mother not know what kind of person you are? As they say in Northeast China, “I know what kind of poop you're going to pull as soon as you wag your tail.” That is to say, she knows you too well. Is what you say true or false? It's very clear. His parents say to him, “You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord!” He's been exposed! Then “his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies.”

Those who make false prophecies are like those in Hong Kong movies. Do you think that putting on a woolen coat, wearing a white wig, and wearing a large robe makes you a lawyer? Whether you are a doctor or a college student, you wear that square cap with a tassel hanging from it when you graduate, and you wear a school robe. Then you think you have something? It's not like that.

I tell you, as long as you are a person, or a robot, as long as you put on a lawyer's robe and wear a lawyer's wig, you will definitely look like a lawyer when you sit there and act! Isn't that how Hong Kong movies are made? But if you change that robe to a pope's robe, and you hold a staff in your hand, and I train you for five minutes, and your walking is also trained, then you can't tell that it's fake.

So the prophet “puts on a woolen coat” and can deceive people. Don't you think it's strange? You put on that woolen coat and wear a fake headdress, and you are a prophet? As a result, when the sword comes, it's over! Then you say, “I am not a prophet.” Others say, “Then how did you get these wounds?” You say, “I was wounded in a friend's house. They hurt me when they were wielding knives and guns.” He thought he could have good fruit by being a false prophet, but God caused him to be wounded.

I tell you, has everyone noticed that many fortune tellers end up badly? Because that is an unclean spirit, and they are all false prophets. Fortune tellers may be a little accurate, but their end is terrible because they are ashamed of the prophecies they make and the visions they see.

The Chinese Mingding Doctrine does not like this stuff very much. Among us, I don't talk about “hearing God's voice” or “seeing visions.” I just feel that this stuff is not very useful. Occasionally, I will tell you some of my experiences, but I don't really pursue this. Some of it is experienced in the process of building the church, when constantly improving in understanding.

So, God wants all these false prophets to be exposed. If he is a true prophet, even if he has to lay down his life for God, he must be like Elijah, who laid down his life for God. God says to you, “Go see Ahab.” Then you say, “God, if I see Ahab, won't I die? Won't it be over?” Elijah really went to see Ahab “with his head in his hands”! So true prophets really have to pay the price.

When you serve at the cost of your life, you are definitely genuine. If you have this determination, even if you die, I will walk this path, then it is definitely genuine! It's not like you collapse as soon as you pay the price. That won't work! God's word stands firm in heaven and never changes. God's promises never change! We only need to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and never look back in our lives. It's so good!

So false prophets and false disciples cannot withstand the refining fire. You really have to pay the price! Why does God hear our prayers? Because we have come out of disasters step by step, so we call on the name of God, and God will surely answer us. God says, “This is my people.” We say to God, “You are my God.” This relationship is very strong!

Those Who Trust in God Will Not Be Put to Shame

Faith is in understanding, definitely not just spoken with the mouth. If you have experienced many of God's graces among us, what you lack most is a heart that trusts in God! It's not like you become arrogant as soon as you feel good, and you become dejected as soon as you feel bad. I can tell you that feelings are not accurate! With faith, even if it is hard, rush through it!

God, please refine me. I want to be gold in your eyes, I want to be silver in your eyes, I want to be a vessel of honor before you! I know that God will not let me be put to shame. My God will hear my prayers. One day I can stand before God and receive His reward. I can't wait to stand before God one day. This is the direction of my efforts.

If one day God says to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your lord,” that would be such a happy thing! So let us run this road together. Brothers and sisters who have the same determination as me, we will never look back until we see the Lord's face. Nothing can stop us, even if it means paying the price of our lives. Amen!

Has everyone understood this chapter? God is carrying out salvation, people are being refined, and we have many testimonies of being disciplined and refined. Sometimes we almost became garbage, but God removed the dirt and garbage from you, so that you still remain and are not destroyed!

Our Bible study and sharing will end here. May God bless everyone!

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