Introduction

Good day to you all! Let us turn to the Book of Acts, chapter 21. We have examined this chapter before, and it has been used in sermons. However, at that time, the focus was entirely on James. Much effort was spent analyzing James as a person, which was, in fact, a misdirection. A play is watched not for the supporting characters, but for the protagonist. If we mistake a supporting character for the protagonist, we misunderstand the play, and the director's efforts are in vain. The protagonist of this chapter is, in fact, the Apostle Paul. Singling out the theme and main points from the content of this chapter alone is quite difficult. We must first understand who the Apostle Paul was, what he wrote, and what he did.

This chapter recounts many things that the Apostle Paul did and many places he went, which, on the surface, seems rather tumultuous. Yet, the outcome of this commotion was a city-wide sensation: the Apostle Paul was arrested and placed in chains. This can be a bit difficult to understand, as the Holy Spirit had previously prevented Paul, advising him not to go to Jerusalem. We can discern this from Paul's other epistles, that the theme of this chapter is to win the Jews for God. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles; he, Peter, and James had long since agreed upon a division of labor. Paul went to the Gentiles, while Peter and James went to the Jews. Although the division was clear, the Apostle Paul, having almost completed his work of evangelizing the Gentiles and establishing churches, still longed to go to Jerusalem to preach the gospel to the Jews.

Paul was an efficient man, and therefore accomplished a great deal. It is the same with me; people are often surprised at how much I can do. I not only work quickly, but also with precision and refinement. Each of us has 24 hours in a day; no one has 28. Since everyone's time is the same, why do some accomplish more than others? It is because their minds are clear, and their work is efficient. If you learn the few things that I often say, you will surely become a highly efficient person! Clear objectives, well-defined strategies, and the right methods. If your objectives are unclear, your strategies are not well-defined, and your methods are wrong, you will be like a headless fly, buzzing around aimlessly. You will be busy enough, but without any effect.

Paul's work of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles was swift. After completing it, he felt that he could also do something about preaching the gospel to the Jews. Some might think: Isn't Paul the apostle to the Gentiles? Why is he now coming to the Jews to take a share? In fact, Paul was not there to seize the market, but to hope that the Jews would share in the benefits of the gospel, and to win the Jews for God. We can discern this by reading the epistles of the Apostle Paul several times.

A Deeper Understanding of the Apostle Paul

How can we gain a deeper understanding of the Apostle Paul? We must read his epistles, which are filled with heartfelt emotion.

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being lawless toward God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

The Apostle Paul was a Jew, and he greatly desired to win the Jews for God. Just as I am Chinese, and I also greatly desire to win the Chinese for God. Everyone must understand Paul's heart. Why, then, did he become the apostle to the Gentiles? Everyone must not misunderstand: the body of Jesus Christ has never been divided into Gentiles and Jews. It was only a temporary measure. The Apostle Paul said in Galatians that he went up to Jerusalem by revelation, lest he should be running or had run in vain. Because Paul was worried about being dismissed, he temporarily softened his stance. He did not contend with Peter, James, and those others, and it was fine for him to be the apostle to the Gentiles. Peter and James were also pleased; they did not want to win the Gentiles anyway, because they always felt that the Gentiles were unclean.

When we read Corinthians and Galatians, we find that in the Apostle Paul's logical system, there was no distinction between Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians. Jewish Christians had to be circumcised and keep the law. In fact, they cannot be divided like that. Paul only wanted these people to share in the benefits of the gospel; this matter must not be a pretense. If it were a pretense, Paul would not have had to risk his life and brave gunfire to preach the gospel. If you want to gain a deeper understanding of the Apostle Paul, this is a crucial point. When we read the Book of Acts, we will begin to understand that the Apostle Paul wanted to win the Jews.

Paul Has Already Won the Gentiles for God

At this time, Paul had already established many churches in Macedonia and other places, including the churches in Philippi, Ephesus, Corinth, and Thessalonica, blossoming everywhere. If Paul were to start a business, he would be very successful, immediately seizing these territories. Paul then wanted to go to Jerusalem first, and then to Rome. As a result, Paul was arrested shortly after arriving in Jerusalem, and was later escorted to Rome. Because Paul originally wanted to go to Rome, this saved him the cost of a boat ticket. Of course, this is a joke.

How did I know that Paul wanted to go to Rome? On the way to Jerusalem, Paul wrote the Book of Romans, in which he said that he would have the opportunity to go to Rome in the future, and later he actually went. Paul not only went but also spoke about Jesus before the emperor. Paul even spoke about Jesus to the emperor in Rome. Whether they believed or could become disciples did not matter to Paul. But Paul was qualified to speak about Jesus before the emperor, which was quite remarkable! Generally, emperors are busy with a myriad of affairs; where would they find the time to listen to Paul's sermons?

At that time, Paul gradually removed the obstacles to preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, and he also used a very clear strategy, which was to obtain the permission of the apostles in Jerusalem. This is mentioned in Acts chapter 15 and Galatians. Then Paul began to push forward boldly, spreading the gospel to Europe and Asia. We should not think that Turkey is a European country; in fact, it belongs to Asia. But Turkey always wants to move closer to Europe. This is a matter of perception; it always feels that Europe is great. You must know that now is the age of Asia.

Macedonia, Spain, Cyprus, and others belong to Europe. The Apostle Paul had already won the Gentiles for God at that time. And James's position was very clear; he clearly divided Jews and Gentiles. This is very unfortunate; how can the body of Jesus Christ be divided like this? Half must be circumcised, and half need not be circumcised. What is this? The Lord Jesus is not like this, half of his face like this, half of his face like that. So Paul was very anxious and longed to win the Jews for God.

Paul Longs to Win the Jews for God

Paul has a concept of the body of Jesus Christ, which is the concept of the church of God. The church is the body of God and cannot be divided. Paul has always felt that it is a pity that the Jews are chosen by God, and our Lord Jesus is a Jew. The chosen people who were personally chosen by God actually nailed Jesus to the cross, not only not gaining the benefits of the gospel, but instead gaining all the curses. As a Jew, Paul felt very pained and wanted to bring the Jews to God.

When Paul was writing Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and other epistles, he was always talking about the Jews. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all Jews; they were all Israelites. In Romans, Paul spent a lot of space explaining what a true Jew is and what a false Jew is, and why God's promise has not been fulfilled in the Jews. Paul's argument is to bring those who belong to God among the Jews into the kingdom of God.

In fact, the Jews are very zealous for God, but not according to true knowledge. This is what Paul wrote in his epistles. Paul himself was also zealous, so he greatly wanted to win the Jews for God. Why win the Jews? In fact, it is to let the Jews share in the benefits of the gospel. The Jews have gained many curses because of the gospel, which is very hard! When Paul saw his people gaining many curses, he felt sad. He made up his mind, at the cost of his life, to gain an opportunity to preach the gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem.

And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying (Acts 21:40)

I think this kind of determination is worthy of our emulation, because Paul just wanted the Jews to gain the benefits of the gospel, and also hoped that people like James and Peter would be able to wake up. Paul knew James's attitude; he severely criticized James and Peter in Galatians. But Paul's purpose was not to criticize them, to make them worthless, but rather that he hoped that James and Peter would be able to return to the truth of the gospel. This is why, even though Paul knew who James and Peter were in his heart, he still had to do this. Paul brought a lot of donations from the Gentile churches he pastored to Jerusalem, including gifts and a lot of money. Even if James and Peter were to give Paul some face for the sake of the money, they would have to listen to the truth of the gospel.

In fact, this matter is very interesting. James and Peter were both in Jerusalem and listened to Paul's preaching. Their hearts were like oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and sugar all mixed together in the kitchen; their hearts were filled with mixed feelings. James and Peter got along very well with Paul on the surface, and Paul also knew that he would definitely be arrested by the Jews if he went to the temple. Paul was so smart, and he also knew that the idea that James told him was not a good idea.

And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law (Acts 21:20)

This clearly stated their attitude, as if being zealous for the law was a good thing.

and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. Take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. (Acts 21:21-25)

When I checked this passage before, I thought Paul was fooled. In fact, Paul knew very well. He was a person who had seen the world and experienced storms. He had long heard that he would be bound. But no matter how many difficulties there were, he had to go, just for the sake of the body of Jesus Christ, for the Jews to share in the benefits of the gospel, which was quite moving! This is like Huang Jiguang and Dong Cunrui, using their bodies to block gun muzzles and blow up bunkers, putting their own lives and deaths aside. As for whether what they were facing was a trick or a trap, it did not matter. What was important was to win the Jews. Paul longed to win the Jews, and also to win people like James and Peter. In fact, James and Peter had also read Galatians, and they had to be convinced, because the Gentile churches that Paul had built were extremely prosperous.

After reading Galatians, James wrote the Book of James. In fact, if you correspond to it one by one, you can match it, and you can see that James was refuting Paul's Galatians point by point. They were very good on the surface, but in fact they were enemies meeting each other. James, although he was the fleshly brother of Jesus Christ, did not have the heart of Jesus Christ. James insisted on splitting the body of Jesus Christ into two halves, one half becoming the Jesus of the Jews, and the other half becoming the Jesus of the Gentiles.

How is it possible to gain the benefits of the gospel by doing this? The church in Jerusalem among the Jews was already so poor that it was jingling, and later it got worse and worse, and all the money was burned. Paul brought the Gentile donations to Jerusalem, hoping that these people would be moved by Paul's sincerity, but the result was disappointing. Of course, we should not focus on people like James, but should focus our learning on Paul, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians.

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:22 - 23)

Paul watched as the church in Jerusalem did not receive the benefits of the gospel. For the sake of the purity of the gospel truth, even though he had written Galatians and criticized James and Peter, he still wanted them to receive the benefits of the gospel as well. This kind of person is too great. If it were me, I would be too lazy to pay attention to these people. But Paul is not like this. Compared to Paul, my heart is like a peanut, and my head is like a walnut. Paul is an example for us to emulate. If everyone thinks it is good, let us emulate the Apostle Paul together and share in the benefits of this gospel. Healing from illness without spending money; financial blessings; God helping you when you encounter problems; and the hope of eternal glory. What a great gospel this is!

No Risk Can Stop It

A person with vision, dreams, and goals cannot be stopped by any risk. This is something worthy of our learning. At the very beginning, I told everyone that goals are very important. Everyone should start asking themselves: Why am I living? Some people don't have much demand, they just want to be an ordinary person, and work to support their families. In fact, many people live like this. If the goal is set like this, then the result of these people's lives is at a very low level.

I have seen enough of this kind of living. A few months ago, I met a man in his seventies, quite wealthy, but living a hard life, though only he knew where the hardship lay. He invited me to a meal, and as we talked, I shared my best insights with him, explaining the benefits of the Gospel. I said to him, Since you have accumulated so many years of experience, can you pass it on to the younger generation? He refused outright. If he wasn't willing, so be it; it was just the beginning of our conversation. He revealed that he enjoyed playing golf. Personally, I find golf rather pointless, just hitting a small ball. Of course, the swing looks graceful, and he sings karaoke well. But living like that every day seems rather meaningless.

I didn't see him for several months. Once, he was staying in a hotel and got up in the night without turning on the light. He fell and hit the sofa armrest, breaking two ribs, causing him much suffering. Whenever I meet people I know, I like to share the miracles I have performed, hoping they too can obtain the benefits of the Gospel. I didn't really care how many Eight Immortals or idols they worshipped; I just wanted them to receive the blessings of the Gospel. At this point, he expressed a desire to do what I do, to share his experience and train young people. That was a change. How close he is to the Gospel, I do not know, but those of us who live among the people, our lifelong goal is to let people obtain the benefits of the Gospel, which will give us an innate aura.

Some people's minds are only on making money. I think they might as well print money at home; it's less tiring. Does that make you feel inferior? Someone like me hopes people will gain the benefits of the Gospel, which has a great penetrating power. I don't want to gain anything from people, but no matter what kind of person they are, even if there is risk, I still want them to obtain the benefits of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul had a very clear goal: to build up the body of Jesus Christ, to build God’s glorious church.

When I received the vision of building God's glorious church, it felt incredibly good. When one has a goal, knowing why one lives, you exude a kind of infectiousness. People are happy to see you, even more so than having a drink with you. Speaking the benefits of the Gospel has a powerful penetrating force.

Paul's goal was very clear. Was there risk? Yes! But he didn't care at all because he had already won the Gentiles for God, and now he wanted to win the Jews. Although these territories had already been assigned to the Apostles Peter and James, it didn't matter. Paul used his life as seasoning. This chapter writes that the Holy Spirit even hindered him. Was the Holy Spirit right, or Paul? Many people thought Paul disobeyed the Holy Spirit's advice, but even the Holy Spirit cannot hinder God's will for us. If something is continually pointed out as risky, will you still do it? God's will has long been revealed to us, so do we know whether we are walking in God's will? Of course, we do!

Finding the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. (Acts 21:4)

Which is more accurate, being moved by the Holy Spirit or our goal? Of course, our goal is more accurate. I think I have this attribute: once a goal is set, I run straight toward the mark, even if it kills me! My words are very straightforward. It will definitely be tiring; waking up in the morning, my back aches, and my legs hurt, but you just can't see it. But it doesn't matter. I stretch my back after getting out of bed, and I'm fully revived. Because that's what I live for. Why is the church I founded called Mingding Destiny, and not just the pure Gospel? Because I was born for this, I live for this, and I came into this world for this. I want to run this road until I complete God's will for me. How can I not be radiant?

Everyone must begin to learn to have clear goals. Once a person has a goal, they will be very focused. Without a goal, people are easily distracted, and before they know it, they don't know what to do, and they easily lose their footing. Paul's goal was very clear, and the disciple's impressions could not change it. Some people said that the Lord Jesus gave him an impression, telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Don't think that by bringing out the Lord Jesus, Paul would believe his impression. For someone like Paul, who has a clear goal, the devil is hard to deceive. Accurate goals are important. Understanding God's will is important. So when they couldn't stop Paul, they said, The Lord's will be done. This sounds like the words of a disciple.

On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ (Acts 21:8-11)

Here, it is specifically mentioned that Philip's four daughters were all virgins who prophesied. Their ages were not mentioned, but they did not marry and were dedicated to God. We don't know what prophecies they made, but I'm telling you, since it is written here that they prophesied, they definitely prophesied that Paul would suffer in Jerusalem. Later, it was found that this wasn't effective, so another prophet, Agabus, who had prophesied before, appeared. Agabus took a belt and bound his own hands, saying that Paul would be bound in the same way. They thought this would make Paul listen but Paul had a clear goal and was unmoved.

If our goal is to make money, then you should make money diligently and resolutely. It is immoral for a businessman not to make money. If our goal is to let people share the benefits of the gospel, nothing can stop us. This is how a person with a goal and a Mingding Destiny lives, never drifting with the tide, wandering around. Remember, you must ponder according to the goal I have stated. If your goal is clear, you will not change it to make a little more money. When have you ever seen me do things to make more money? That is not my goal, but do we make money doing things? Of course, we do because God adds it to us.

At that time, so many prophets told Paul there was danger: Philip's four daughters and Agabus, all famous contemporary prophets. But Paul didn't listen to the prophets, not even if Jesus was brought up, because Paul only listened to God's will! God's will must be fulfilled in us. God's glory will surely be revealed in such a person; no one needs to persuade them because they are serving God with their lives. Someone like me carries a penetrating force, naturally expressed wherever I go, without needing anything else.

I once hosted a businessman who used software written by us. I wasn't interested in talking about other things, but I was very interested in letting him obtain the benefits of the gospel for the Lord Jesus. This businessman liked to listen to corporate management, so I talked to him about corporate management, and he asked one question after another because I wanted people to obtain the benefits of the Gospel! Brothers and sisters, you must know that what the Apostle Paul did is exactly what Jesus Christ did. Many people also tried to stop Jesus from going to Jerusalem to suffer, and Jesus said: Get behind me, Satan! They tried to stop him, but they were rebuffed. Many people stopped the Apostle Paul from going to Jerusalem and were also rebuffed. This kind of person is hard to fool, and people cannot stop them.

So I have to tell everyone that we don't have these things among us, only God's will. A few years ago, I met someone who would bring up prophets all the time. Who knows if what the prophets said was true? Some churches casually say, You are an apostle, and someone becomes an apostle; He is a prophet, and he becomes a prophet; This is an evangelist, and he becomes an evangelist—the so-called fivefold ministry.

We don't have these things in our church. That prophet was so scary; he closed his eyes, pointed with his finger, and said that the devil's arrow was shot from there. When he opened his eyes, he found he was pointing at himself, and he was frightened, quickly confessing and repenting. But he didn't even know how he became the one shooting arrows. What kind of nonsense is this? In these years, I have met many prophets. Judging by my standards, they can't be called true prophets, but they may be false prophets. I'm putting it humbly, but these people don't even know God's will. What kind of prophets are they? I am saying that the goal must be clear, and you must know what God's will is.

There are several particularly interesting cases where people with joint pain were healed after I prayed for them. After this person was healed, the prophet next door came out and told him to be careful of me, the pastor. He was told to be careful of the person who healed his joints, but he listened to the prophet who couldn't heal his joints. What kind of brain does this person have? Anyway, I don't believe this, so you won't hear anyone say who is a prophet among us. You better know God's will. As for whether or not someone is a prophet, that's not important; God's will is important! The Apostle Paul was so powerful because so many people couldn't stop him. Because he knew in his heart that he was imitating Jesus, he wanted to win the Jews for God.

To the Jews, I became as a Jew. To those who are under the law, I became as one under the law. To the weak, I became weak. To the businessman, I became a businessman. To the entrepreneur, I became an entrepreneur. Paul just wanted them to obtain the benefits of the gospel and to win some people for God. Everyone must know that goals are too important. It is not easy to serve God with your life. But I have a little regret; I don't have this capacity yet. I am constantly learning. I hesitate to serve these pastors because these people are very difficult to serve; they all have their own ways. If you say they are doing something wrong, they have been doing it for 30 years; can they agree? Even if the Apostle Paul speaks so well, does that mean he is the only one doing it right, and everyone else is doing it wrong?

No matter what kind of person they are, always to win some people for God and let them obtain the benefits of the Gospel. Although it is difficult and they are stubborn, as long as there is an opportunity, I start to change and continue to work hard. I used to hide whenever I saw these people, but now I want them to obtain the benefits of the Gospel. Some people criticize and criticize, not warring against the demons, but fighting with pastors. We cannot be like this. No matter what kind of person they are, we eagerly hope they can obtain the benefits of this Gospel.

Summary

There are some things in this chapter that I have not read out. I hope everyone can read it themselves.

Crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. As they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. (Acts 21:28-31)

The whole city was in chaos because those people said he had defiled the holy place. That was terrible. Everyone should not go to the Holy Land in the future. If they say you have defiled the Holy Land, you won't even know how you died. People are often trampled to death in the Holy Land, so everyone should not join in the fun.

Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, declaring the completion of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for each one of them. When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him (Acts 21:26-27)

It takes seven days for the priest to offer sacrifices for them. In fact, Paul doesn't believe in this stuff at all. However, these seven days had already been planned. An organized riot was planned to capture Paul.

At once he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune came near and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the truth because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!” (Acts 21:32-36)

If that tribune hadn't arrived early to save Paul, these people could have drowned Paul with their saliva, or he would have been trampled to death. Who is willing to pay this price? Paul risked his life for the sake of an opportunity to preach the gospel. In order to let others share the benefits of the Gospel, but the goal was not achieved. But don't believe that Paul didn't achieve this goal. In fact, among the Jews, there are always some who believe this is the Gospel.

Later, Paul gave a sermon there and was imprisoned for two years, and then transferred to Rome to be tried before the Roman Emperor. The local governor, the feudal lords, and the local partitioned kings had all heard Paul preach the Gospel, just to let them obtain the benefits of the Gospel. Whether or not you can obtain it is your own creation. Whether or not to speak out is your own choice whether to share the benefits of the Gospel with others.

May God bless everyone!