Introduction

Good day to all! Let us turn to Acts Chapter 7. This chapter recounts the story of Stephen, who delivered a grand sermon, only to be killed thereafter. We must examine this event from several perspectives, lest we hastily judge those involved. Luke could have easily shortened Stephen’s lengthy discourse, moving swiftly from Genesis to David and then to Jesus. Whether Luke personally witnessed Stephen’s demise remains uncertain, and the very authenticity of Luke’s account cannot be definitively verified. Nevertheless, Luke uses this episode to convey a central theme: the persecution of those who speak the truth.

Whether in the church, in the business world, or in government, those who speak the truth are often persecuted, as if it were the norm. Many matters transcend our common understanding. In the previous chapter, we discussed the need for discernment in church management, emphasizing that we must not only know God but also understand human nature. My view of human nature is rather pessimistic, for men are generally flawed. In my years of shepherding, I have naturally held a dim view of mankind, though not to the extent of withholding service. Rather, my negative assessment enables me to see people more realistically.

In truth, I must tell you that men are generally wanting. If you deem yourself to be virtuous, you are akin to those Israelites. A few rounds of questioning and answering are sufficient to reveal a person’s self-righteousness. The Israelites fancied themselves righteous, vowing to Jesus that had they lived in the days of their forefathers, they would never have slain the prophets, yet they proceeded to murder Jesus. We must recognize the essence of man: that those who speak the truth are persecuted, for the truth is often unpalatable!

Management Must Know the Truth of the Human Heart

One need only look at the history of the Israelites and the Church to conclude that men are loath to admit their own shortcomings, as if it were a great injustice to themselves—a most ironic state. In governing the church, Luke emphasizes a key point: that men are generally deficient. Even Paul, in his former days as Saul, was no exception. Paul took pleasure in Stephen’s death. What was there to celebrate? Jesus came and spoke the truth, for which He was crucified, and Stephen spoke the truth, for which he was stoned to death.

A congregation of God’s servants killed the Son of God! In the process of building the church, I have gained profound insights into human nature. Although some individuals are truly wanting, I still extend sufficient grace to them, only to be met with heartbreak in the end. The reason that some of us are here is because nothing has happened, but once there is a conflict, one becomes an advocate of good and evil. When everything goes smoothly, everyone is at peace with each other, but is there anyone who speaks the truth?

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” (Acts 7:1)

This high priest was one who killed Jesus but still asked Stephen if it was the truth.

Then Stephen said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your family, and come to a land that I will show you.’ Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.(Acts 7:2-4)

And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when he had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 'And the nation whom they serve I will judge,’ said God, ‘and afterward they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.(Acts 7:5-8)

Luke’s lengthy record of Stephen’s speech serves to reveal the truth of the human heart. When Stephen spoke of Abraham leaving Haran, all was well. But when he spoke of Joseph and the Israelite patriarchs selling Joseph into Egypt, issues arose, because the latter spoke the truth. How wicked the human heart can be! Even the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel are not exempt! Whether the twelve apostles or the twelve tribes, the truth of the human heart remains unchanged. Thus, I must exercise caution in building the church and shepherding God’s flock.

“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine came upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; and our fathers could not find sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers.(Acts 7:9-15)

This passage recounts a particularly sordid event in history. Joseph often reported the misdeeds of his brothers, the ancestors of the other tribes, to his father Jacob, thus becoming a tattletale. Some may find tattling distasteful, but there is nothing inherently wrong with reporting misdeeds, especially when they have indeed occurred. In church management, we must remember: Speak the truth whenever possible! Joseph’s brothers envied him and sold him into Egypt, but God was with Joseph. Though his brothers intended to harm him, they failed, and Joseph ultimately became the savior of his family.

At this time Moses was born, and was exceedingly fair. And he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. But when he was set out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and brought him up as her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.“Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his had, but they did not understand. And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you do wrong to one another?’ But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?(Acts 7:20-28)

The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, and God raised up Moses. Moses was born and raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. When he was 40 years old, he saw an Egyptian striking an Israelite, and he killed the Egyptian. The next day, he saw two Israelites fighting and tried to intervene, but the Israelite rejected his intervention and asked if Moses intended to kill him as he had killed the Egyptian. It must be said that the ancestors of the Israelites were exceedingly difficult to manage.

Later, Moses was forced to flee. At the age of 80, God sent him back to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Yet the Israelites questioned who had appointed Moses as their leader and judge. Such is the depravity of man. Through God’s power, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness. Yet these ancestors refused to obey and longed to return to Egypt.

Stephen’s purpose in recounting these events was to reveal the truth of the human heart. Luke’s purpose in relating this situation within the church established by Peter is to draw parallels with the churches being established today. Thus, in building the church, I have sought to avoid such pitfalls. Our church emphasizes bringing in those who love God. As for those who do not love God, they need not remain here; let them depart.

Then they made a calf and offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, images which you made to worship. And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’(Acts 7:41-43)

As a result, the nation of Israel was exiled to Babylon, ultimately leading to national ruin. At that time, the Israelites lacked water and food, and had to eat and drink their own waste, a fate worse than boiling one’s own belt for sustenance, until this tabernacle came to the time of David. Luke seeks to underscore a point: God does not dwell in temples made by human hands. Upon hearing this truth, the people were enraged, for the truth is often unpalatable, and Jesus was crucified for speaking the truth.

Our fathers had the tabernacle in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the day when David found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.“But Solomon built Him a house. “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:(Acts 7:45-48)

Heaven is is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand made all these things?'You stiff-necked and uncircumcised heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have been the betrayers and murderers.(Acts 7:49-52)

The people were enraged at the truth, as truth is often unpalatable, even the truth spoken by Jesus fell on deaf ears. Does the church today speak the truth? I often speak the truth, even if it is distasteful. I must speak on behalf of those under my direct shepherding. Regardless of what I say or do, it is for the benefit of all. Yet, when it comes to finding fault with me, these individuals are exceedingly critical, primarily because I have exposed their flaws, and such is the nature of the flesh.

Therefore, it is imperative to understand that to build a church, one must know the truth of the human heart. I have studied the truth of the human heart extensively, not only through the Bible but also through other sources. For instance, Shang Yang once said: “If the energy within men is not channeled toward righteous pursuits, it will be directed toward wicked deeds.” In the early 1990s, people lacked the time to earn money but had ample time for fighting and brawling, often resulting in fatalities. My sister once told a joke about this, saying: “Another person has died over there. Everyone in town knows it except the police.”

No One Thinks They Have a Problem

The crux of the matter is that no one thinks they have a problem. If people believed they had a problem, they would strive to correct it, but instead, they follow their own desires. Once, I suggested to a sister that she should do this or that, and her face immediately fell. Seeing this, my heart sank. All the grace she had received from me seemed for naught, all because of a spoken truth. Therefore, my principle in shepherding is simple: I must convince you that you have a problem, echoing Paul in this regard.

If you do not believe you have a problem, I will tell you regardless. Once you realize you have a problem, all is well. I know that what I do is not pleasing to everyone, but for the benefit of all, I cannot remain silent. No one thinks they have a problem, yet problems abound, and none are easy to correct. Some have given me the nickname “Always Right.” Before coming to me, they are fierce and believe they are justified.

It turns out that the more I spoke, the more I felt I was wrong. Actually, feeling that you are right is harmful to yourself. I want to save you from harming yourself. You think you are right for your own benefit. In reality, I speak the truth for your benefit, but I do not want to harm you. That is why the more I speak, the more you feel you are wrong. Can we, brothers and sisters, readjust our internal logic? If the problems within you have not undergone the equivalent of a bone-scraping detoxification, then I cannot believe that you have truly changed.

What exactly have you changed, and how? It is because you have not encountered specific situations. If you do, that old face reappears. You snarl and grimace when confronted, just like the ancestors of Israel. The path the Israelites have walked is a true reflection of life. Therefore, to always be right, I usually do not dare to speak. Only when working with everyone and seeing someone’s work is substandard do I speak, and that is based on facts. I am not making things up; you really did not do the job well.

Some people, when doing things, do not think about how to do them right. Instead, they think about showing off in front of others how well they are doing. For example, they claim “no merit, but hard work.” In reality, if you have not even swept the floor and toilet clean, then say nothing else. Just hurry up and do the job well. What I am talking about are the most essential things for building a church. Luke is laying the foundation for this. Do you think the group of people Peter brought in were good? Actually, they are just like the Israelites who had just come out of Egypt, or were exiled to Babylon, or like the time when Nehemiah rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem—they never change.

According to people, if we wait slowly, how long will that take? If everyone can admit that they have not done things correctly, that is the golden rule. If you often feel that you have not done things right, you will think about what is right, and the problem becomes simple. Just this one sentence, I say it every day until my lips are almost worn out. The more I say it, the more my temper rises. Even so, I still have to teach you how to speak and how to do things. If the listener says, Oh, I did not do it right. Then what is the right way? then it will be easy to handle. Actually, that is the result I want, but it is very difficult to achieve. People are foolish and believe a set of lies.

The Things Deep Down in One's Bones Are Hard to Change

There is a saying: To catch a pig, look at the pen; to buy a horse, look at its mother. When buying a horse, you have to see what the foal's mother looks like. When catching a piglet, you have to look at the situation of the sow. I often ask the pastors where the people they shepherd are from. The pastors answer that there are people from Shandong, Northeast China, Beijing, Tianjin—people from every place have their own characteristics.

I also ask how the mother of the person being shepherded is. If the answer is that his mother has cancer, then I know what the problem is. Although to catch a pig, look at the pen; to buy a horse, look at its mother is not the golden rule, if a person's mother has such a problem, the person will have the same problem, but they just do not know it. If they still complain that they often cannot stand the problems in their mother, they themselves have the same problems as their mother. Therefore, the things deep down in one's bones are innate, and one feels that every one of them is a matter of course.

Some time ago, I went to a place where there was a street called Mahjong Street, and everyone there had almost the same expression. They think playing mahjong every day is a matter of course. So, people's habits are that they all think they have done something that is a matter of course, absolutely true. The things deep down in one's bones are hard to change. Everyone has their own set of ideas, which are very difficult to change. Here, I want to remind everyone, do not think that the things we take for granted are set in stone. We are living in a fleshly lie. A person’s innate set of beliefs is limited by their family, geographical location, and regional culture.

In fact, people do not live by what they are born with, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The things deep down in one's bones are hard to change. There is a saying: At three, you see the future; at seven, you see the old; at twenty, you see it even more clearly; at thirty, that is how you will be for the rest of your life. What is growth and cultivation? It is a person constantly adjusting their internal understanding of people, things, and God from birth. The Israelites are a stiff-necked people. How stiff is your neck?

As soon as I lead in prayer, someone says they hurt here and there. They are all a stiff-necked people. Some people take certain things for granted, and they are very strange; they think that they are not naturally suited to study science. Who told them that? Naturally, they can only study humanities. After studying, they still cannot do better than those who do not study humanities. What can be done then? Is university study study wasted? After graduating, they have more纠结. Start adjusting ourselves, be careful of the background in which we grew up, and also be careful of the things deeply hidden within us. If we are not careful, we will fall into a trap, kill the prophets, and nail Jesus to the cross.

For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

The things deep down in one's bones are hard to change, so a bone-scraping detoxification is necessary. From childhood, we constantly learn, and our understanding of things is constantly upgraded to new versions. We can no longer live in that set of very old, innate logical systems. What we recognize needs to be examined. That is why we need to ask the pastors whether what we recognize is correct. If your pastor thinks it is not appropriate, then you have to find a way to adjust. Imagine, if someone is after your money, will they really take care of you in your old age? If you really think they will take care of you in your old age, then I advise you to forget it. There are too many foolish things in people.

Chinese Mingding Destiny needs to do one thing: through constant adjustment, teaching, and management, let everyone come out of ignorance and become intelligent. We enable people to be filled with the knowledge of God in their understanding and to know how they should live. Without Mingding Destiny, one cannot be blessed. If you want to be blessed, do not rely on the little money in your hands. If someone swindles that money away, you are finished. If everyone can come out of that set of things that are taken for granted and innate and enter into the word of God, I think that is the work of the church. Building a glorious church of God requires us to put to death the sinful desires of our flesh through the Spirit of God.

Saul Also Rejoiced in the Murder of Those Who Spoke the Truth

Saul himself studied theology under Gamaliel, but he did not listen to what Stephen said. Every sentence Stephen spoke was the history that the Israelites knew, so why did he not listen? Because Saul already had a preconceived notion that these people were violating the law of Moses because they preached about Jesus instead of Moses. This Saul, who later became Paul, was also living in this delusion at the time. Stephen told these people the truth, but they felt that what Stephen said was very bloody. Everyone threw stones at Stephen, and finally, the pile of stones became Stephen's tomb.

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:51-55)

And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of his execution. (Acts 7:56-60)

Has the Church Fallen into the Same Pit Again?

In the history of the church over the past two thousand years, people have become unable to hear the truth, and as a result, they have deceived themselves. Even Saul, who was a scholar under Gamaliel, was like this. The reason is that people feel that they have no problems. Even Stephen had a tendency to worship angels, as well as the word of mouth among the Israelites at that time, but it did not affect them being filled with the Holy Spirit. So we must often ask ourselves, has the church fallen into the same pit again? I worry all day long that one day I will think I am too powerful, and I will start to be self-righteous about the many things I have done, and I will be completely ruined. To govern God's church, we must speak the truth. Later, Saul changed his name to Paul, and this is what he said.

You know how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house. (Acts 20:20)

After undergoing a bone-scraping detoxification, Paul completely changed. God shone his light on his eyes, and he could not see. Later, someone prayed with Paul, and many scales like fish scales came out of his eyes. Originally, people's eyes were often blinded, so I really want to tell everyone that we pastors can no longer live in lies or illusions.

Will the church fall into the same pit again? The answer is yes! Looking at the state of the church, we know how much people hate hearing the truth, just like you cannot talk about shortness in front of a short person. Sometimes people are very interesting. They complain that the door is short and wide and not good-looking, but you cannot say that the person is short and wide. Someone says that a crow is black and dirty and not good-looking, and as a result, the person next to him with dark skin cannot stand it and thinks they are talking about him. The toxins in that set of things in the church now are very deep. They open their mouths and say, Lord Jesus loves you, and I love you too. How do they love you?

If you ask to borrow a hundred yuan, you will know if it is true love. So we pastors must be like pastors, and those who are shepherded must be strong, not stiff. Be strong and be men, not stiff. Do not make your heart as small as peanut, and your head as small as a walnut. We brothers and sisters must be especially careful. To walk this heavenly, eternal, and glorious path, we must undergo a bone-scraping detoxification and deal with ourselves. If your mother is a very critical person, you may be almost the same. Everyone must have a new understanding of themselves. To know the truth about our hearts, we must continue to run forward according to the word of God.

Do Not Be a Stiff-Necked People

This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.” Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. (Acts 7:38-41)

People made a calf and said that was the Lord who led them out of Egypt. The name is the same, but the essence is different. God was disgusted with that generation and killed them all in the wilderness. We must never walk that stiff-necked path. The set of logical thinking that people are born with is useless if it has not undergone a bone-scraping detoxification. It must all be burned by the fire of the Holy Spirit, and what remains is what God wants. That is the spiritual child! We stiff-necked people must all begin to adjust.

May God bless everyone!