Introduction

Good day to all. We continue with the sixth sermon on "Possessing the Gates of the Enemy," which is about carrying the death of Jesus in our bodies. Today's sermon is truly exceptional. In Paul's time, there was a common sentiment, as people did not see anything particularly special about Paul. Similarly today, you might look at Pastor Liu and see someone unremarkable, with coarse language and occasional scolding. Paul was seen in much the same way back then. But the problem arose when Paul frequently heard people say, "I am not Jesus."

How did Paul deal with such simpletons? He told them to imitate Jesus Christ. If they couldn't imitate Jesus, then imitate the Apostle Paul, right? Imitate you? Looking like that? But he was not just anyone; he carried the death of Jesus in his body, preaching to all the churches. It's not that there were multiple Jesuses; there was only one Jesus, but now there was also Paul. Of course, many people saw these words as a joke when Paul wrote them. But those close to Paul knew he spoke the truth.

Our previous sermon was titled "The Lord Jesus Holds the Keys of Death and Hades," which is incredibly powerful. The reason our healing and deliverance are so effective today is because Jesus triumphed for us. We cast out demons and rebuke diseases in Jesus' name. This is proven by the power of resurrection, demonstrating that He is the Son of God, our Lord, and our Savior. This is of great significance. If you say Jesus did not rise from the dead, Paul would fight you to the death. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, where would our power come from? Where would our victory come from?

If you do not know that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, if you do not know that Jesus Christ holds the keys of death and Hades, you must know it today. If you do not know that Jesus Christ's intention is for us to imitate Him and be victorious, you must know it today. Today, I will tell you how to be victorious. How to possess the gates of the enemy? Whether you are victorious or not, you live anyway, withering away to death; being victorious is also living. Isn't this a simple truth? Today, carry the death of Jesus Christ, imitate Jesus Christ, imitate the Apostle Paul.

Yesterday, I came across a video. Some might ask, "Teacher, do you also watch videos?" I do watch them occasionally, it's harmless and doesn't cause any problems. I saw a video of someone facing an incoming train at a station, a train from the steam engine era. On the platform, there was a young man, dressed neatly in a red shirt. When the train was just a few dozen meters away, he jumped onto the tracks and put his neck on the rail. Immediately, the video was censored.

Even with the censorship, it was still a suicide video. The train came from afar, and it was over, Game Over. The person filming was actually recording the train arriving, but unexpectedly captured someone's death. After the video was released, many comments said, "I also want to lie on the tracks." Some people commented, not me, but the commenters. Some said they had a death wish, so let it be. Wouldn't it be easier to live on? Why make it so difficult? Being killed by ghosts, by Hades, by the Old Ma and the horse-faced demons. So, how difficult it is for people to live without victory, so difficult that they would jump onto the tracks. Why do people have a death wish but not a wish to live? Because the demons make people extremely miserable. Some of us are still suffering, and I haven't gotten them out yet. How miserable it is for people to live without victory.

I tell you, carrying your own death is useless; you cannot overcome death. Carrying the death of Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ holds the keys of death and Hades, you overcome death and live gloriously and beautifully. Seeing through things is not about running away from home after seeing through them, or becoming a nun after seeing through the world. Seeing through things is not about lying on the tracks, but about lying on the cross. Lie on the cross, carry the death of Jesus Christ in your body, and it will be difficult for you not to live out God's glory.

How good it is to live, to be victorious! People want to live, but they cannot live well, and they are manipulated by demons. But if people do not seek to live, carrying the death of Jesus in their bodies, so that this world has nothing in us, we can manipulate all the demons. Even the powers of Hades, even the Old Ma and the horse-faced demons are manipulated by us. In the past few years, I have been very sad; I have lost several friends. Two to cancer, one to COVID, it hurts my heart. They were all believers, and they were all small pastors in the church. One of them was even a pastor who established a church, and I was saddened.

They lived a little too seriously, wanting to live very much. How do I know they wanted to live? I ministered to them; how could I not know? But they died. Those who wanted to live died, but I, who do not seek to live, am still alive. It is very poignant, truly poignant. Some people say, "Teacher, I am in pain." I ask, "Why are you in pain?" "Teacher, I am in debt." What's painful about that? Many people are in debt. "Teacher, I am in pain, I am blacklisted." "Teacher, I am in pain, I am bankrupt."

In Singapore and Malaysia, it's called entering the "poor register," not entering Singaporean citizenship, but entering the poor register. "Teacher, I am in pain because my boss scolded me." "Teacher, I am in pain because I was beaten by a customer." "Teacher, I am in pain because I was cheated out of six hundred thousand." "Teacher, I am in pain because I haven't received a work order in a long time, and I haven't been able to find a job." My logic is simple: how did you live from yesterday to today? It hasn't been just one day. How you lived from yesterday to today, you can live from today to tomorrow. Isn't that right? Many things are not a big deal. You were cheated, but I see you are still alive today. Is that right? People, you have to slowly understand what I am saying. The problem is that people live in the world and "cannot see the true face of Mount Lu, because they are in the mountain." If people do not jump out, it is difficult to know. How do you jump out? Carry the death of Jesus in your body. Do you understand? Carrying the death of Jesus in your body is all it takes.

People, you are in pain, you are in pain, you are frowning, and you are eating a meal. Eating that hot dry noodles, or Xiangyang beef noodles, you are still eating. You live with a face like an apple, smiling like a sunflower, and you are still finishing those noodles. Yesterday, one of our sisters who works in nursing sent me a photo. The photo was of an elderly person lying in bed. Why doesn't he lie on the tracks? He doesn't even have the ability to lie on the tracks. You can't put him on the tracks either; he can't get there himself. He is just waiting to die at home. Have you seen people waiting to die?

Actually, when I minister to people now, I don't seem to be very interested in making them live. "Teacher, he is dying," because I have prayed for many who came back to life, but later died anyway. I may have developed a bit of a mental block. So, I feel that it is better to die sooner. I used to have a lung cancer patient; lung cancer usually takes three to four months, it develops very quickly. He was lying in bed, unable to do anything. I prayed for him, cast out the demons, and he went to the fields to farm.

A few days later, he felt uncomfortable again, and he lay in bed again, and he called me again. I prayed again, and he went back to the fields to work. But he felt uncomfortable when he had nothing to do; he had a "cancer personality," he couldn't live without being uncomfortable, and later he died. I was filled with emotion, waiting to die. So sometimes I say, "Don't suffer this pain." Why do I say that? I am telling the truth. He doesn't even have the ability to lie on the tracks, lying in bed, this is the end of a person's life. Is it meaningful? It's not meaningful.

I wish all the brothers and sisters could have the same thoughts and intentions as me. To depart from the world and be with the Lord is better by far. It's not "better to live poorly than to die well." The Lord Jesus has opened up a path of victory for us. If you live to 34, you have surpassed the Lord Jesus. Jesus lived to 33. The Lord Jesus opened up a path of victory, holding the keys of death and Hades, so we must imitate Him. So, I ask you, who imitates Jesus the best? The Apostle Paul.

What did Paul say? He said, "I carry the death of Jesus in my body." But you want to die but can't die; he was living quite well when he wrote these words. He experienced death again and again, but he didn't die. I want to boast a little in this era, please forgive my arrogance. In this era, the one who imitates Paul the best, among the people I know, is me. I carry the death of Jesus Christ in my body. I tell you, if people do not cut off the thought of living in this world, they will live very painfully. I often meet brothers and sisters who say, "Teacher, I said a few words to you, and I was feeling very depressed, but now I feel comfortable." Because I carry the death of Jesus, the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection is manifested.

We have treasure, we have a special medicine. Do you know what a special medicine is? You take it and you get better. We have treasure in this earthen vessel, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. Our God directs everything. Later, I discovered that our God is so good; He directs in my life and also directs in your life. After He directed some things, He destroyed all my hopes in this world. I cannot live a simple life. It's not that I don't want to, but God destroyed it, I cannot live it.

Everything that God directed is so good. As an aside, the Apostle Paul spoke very experiencedly when discussing marriage and relationships. After Paul turned to God and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, he disappeared for a long time, and no one knew what he was doing. He went back to his hometown. What did he do back home? His parents must have pressured him to marry. Of course, don't argue with me about this; the Bible doesn't say it, and it wouldn't mean much if it did. I'm just adding some flavor, this is called speculation, Goldbach's conjecture. I like to add some side stories when I preach.

Paul may have been urged to marry, then went on dates, then got married, then divorced, and then experienced a lot. Paul said that a man who marries is to please his wife, and a woman who marries is to please her husband. When they fail to please each other, they become very painful and will suffer much in the flesh. How did he know? He must have experienced it. God completely destroyed Paul's mood for living a normal life. Now many people make themselves miserable and painful because of marriage. Some brothers gather together to joke, drinking a little wine and talking about their family matters, they understand each other too well.

Carrying the death of Jesus Christ in his body was not Paul's initial choice. It was after he cut off the thought of living that he came to serve God. Later, I thought that actually, the people who serve God are all directed by God. God directed Paul onto this path, carrying the death of Jesus in his body, so that the glory of Jesus Christ could be revealed. For example, did God create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Yes. Why did He create this tree? God directed it. Why did Adam and Eve look at the fruit on that tree and think it was good? God directed it, that's how He did it. If He had made that tree look like a durian, and made Adam and Eve a little silly, eating the skin of the durian because the flesh is smelly, that would have been fine too, it wouldn't matter if they ate the skin. But no, He made it look like a flat peach. God directed it. Why did Abraham go to Canaan? He was living a good life in his hometown, why did you bother him? No, He had to bother you.

When he arrived in Canaan, God said that this land was the land He gave him. But then there was a famine, look at this trouble. I tell you, God wants to destroy the little bit of thought that people have in this world. Now you are living in pain, it is hard to find a job, marriage is hard, good, thank the Lord. God wants to destroy your worldly dreams, so that you carry the death of Jesus Christ in your body, so that the glory of Jesus Christ's resurrection can be manifested in you. Experiencing death again and again, how good. Isaac offered himself up, God directed it.

Jacob went to his uncle's house with a staff, and was abused by his uncle. He withheld wages, saying he wouldn't give them, that was Jacob. He lived for fourteen years with nothing, poor as a church mouse. Joseph was sold into Egypt, David was hunted down by Saul, God directed it, just like that. Why? He wants you to carry the death of Jesus Christ in your body, so that God's power can protect you. Good? So, brothers and sisters, we need to readjust.

Why did the Israelites go down to Egypt? Because they were to be slaves in Egypt. God is too ruthless. When I was praying, one of our sisters said that her husband said to her, "You have become a bit ruthless lately." God is ruthless enough, tormenting. You brought him out of Egypt, why did you run to the Red Sea? That's so despairing. Is your situation that desperate? No, add some more. May God have mercy, I can pray for you more, so that you have the Red Sea in front of you, that would be great. Who told you to have so many thoughts in this world? Crossing the Red Sea, walking in the wilderness. That's upsetting, there are many things that are not understood.

Moses saw the pillar of cloud moving forward, so he took down the tent. Not only did he take down his own tent, but he also had to take down God's tabernacle and carry it. Walking and walking, is that wilderness so easy to walk? Is the scenery so beautiful? Tourism is just wandering in the wilderness, looking for trouble for no reason. Isn't that right? God does this, and I have to thank God. He has to torment me, I can't live a quiet life, He has to torment you. But I have a little bit of wisdom. Oh, God wants to torment me. God wants to destroy my worldly dreams. Good, cooperate.

God, you are the director. I will act in this play, I will perform it the best, I must win the Golden Rooster Award. Isn't God directing everything? In the time of the Apostle Paul, there were ninety-nine eighty-one difficulties. He just wanted to prove one thing, that the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection was in him, that this treasure in the earthen vessel was effective. Jesus rose from the dead, proving with great power that He is the Son of God, our Lord, and our Savior. Come! God, do according to Your will, do according to Your will. Once again, do the work of demolition in us, demolition.

You say now, "Teacher, I am in pain." Good! If it's not painful, how will we get to heaven? "Teacher, I was cheated." Good! Good to be cheated! "Teacher, I am bankrupt." Good to be bankrupt! God directs it this way. Come, director! Just don't direct it to death. Because if the protagonist dies, the play cannot continue. Many of my friends have died, but I am still alive, the play continues, a TV series, I will cooperate. Carrying the death of Jesus, today it is our turn, today it is our turn, we who possess the treasure.

No longer afraid of death, no longer worried or anxious. Whoever wants to die, let them die. I also carry the death of Jesus Christ on my body. Obtaining the gates of the enemy, triumphing in battle, leading brothers and sisters into the promised land, and seeing the glory of God. I was on the verge of death, but I did not die. I reached a point where my breath was about to leave me, it was about to be over, but it wasn't. Why? God is directing, not letting you end.

Every experience of God's power is such grace. After practicing for a long time, I share Paul's experience with everyone. Paul's experience is so good, the key to victory. Holding the keys to death and Hades, rubbing the demons on the ground. If you make me uncomfortable, you will be uncomfortable when you see me. As I said this, the discomfort turned into laughter, the play became a comedy.

Scripture

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. (2 Corinthians 4:7-14).

Prayer

God, today act according to your will, direct according to your will. Let us manifest your glory in this life, and become vessels that manifest your glory. God, since you have chosen us, and we have received your mercy and this ministry, we do not lose heart. Today, according to your will, let us perform this play in the world wonderfully, and manifest your glory. And let us, like Paul, have this treasure within us, manifesting your great power.

Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Let us, for your sake, always be given over to death, so that your glory may be revealed in us. We declare with faith. God, as you resurrected, so also let us be resurrected with you. Lord Jesus, the day of your return is near. Prepare us, let us have this victorious heart. In the world, may we look forward to the day of your return every day. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Scripture Background

These past few days, I have been carefully reading 2 Corinthians. I discovered that 2 Corinthians is about victory. How does this victory come about? It is because the Corinthian church, let me tell you plainly, was visited by Peter and those people. Apollos and those people also went. As a result, the Corinthian church was in chaos. Should we listen to Paul? Or should we listen to Peter? Is it Peter or Paul? Peter preached in this way, and he followed Jesus.

But this Paul, he did not follow Jesus. The Corinthian church was confused. One group followed Paul, and another group held fast to Peter. Paul, Peter, and Apollos, these three caused trouble. Problems arose in the church. As a result, these rascals in the Corinthian church made the church chaotic. After this chaos, many people became sick. Prayers used to be effective, but now they were not. There were many confusions.

For example, Peter, he went with his wife, with his pastor's wife. As a result, in the church, they asked Peter about marriage. Peter shared a lot. As a result, the entire church was filled with confusion. Then, some people who followed Paul wrote a letter to Paul. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. After Paul finished writing 1 Corinthians, it was read in the church. Those who followed Peter, oh my goodness, chaos ensued. They said this and that about Paul, and put several hats on Paul. Anyway, it was quite chaotic.

In other words, various problems arose in the church. You know, Peter was very interesting. They observed the Lord's Supper. You know, in Jerusalem, the Lord's Supper was a big meal. Our Paul, when he talked about the Lord's Supper, ate a very small piece of bread. Could that be filling? And drank a very small cup. When they got to Peter, everyone thought, this is too stingy. Let's have a big loaf, a big loaf of bread, put it around our necks and slowly nibble on it.

Of course, I am inferring these things. As a result, the church was in chaos, and Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. After 1 Corinthians, the chaos became even more chaotic. Later, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in tears, which we cannot see, it was not included in the Bible, it was lost. In 2 Corinthians, he mentioned that he wrote another letter, referring to this 2 Corinthians.

After writing this 2 Corinthians in tears, Paul was worried. He prayed in tears every day, and sent Titus to Corinth. Titus was a smart young man, not Timothy. Titus went to the Corinthian church, and he was very good at dealing with people, handling things properly. He explained Paul's thoughts, theological system, and how to serve with the death of Jesus Christ, which perfectly addressed the church's decline. The Corinthian church turned back to Paul.

After Titus returned, he told Paul, "The matter was handled well." After hearing this, the Corinthian church re-embraced Paul's theological system. After Paul heard this, I tell you, he thanked his God. God is the God who gives him victory. You know how much he prayed in the background, praying in tears. He hoped that the Corinthians could turn back to God and no longer walk the path of corruption. So he wrote a victorious letter, called 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians talks about his experience of victory. The best experience of victory is saying, "Corinthians, you must carry the death of Jesus Christ. You must imitate me, Paul." This path of victory is so wonderful. You who have received God's grace, do not receive God's grace in vain. You must receive greater grace, which is carrying the death of Jesus Christ. So Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in a grand manner. I was very moved after reading it, and I read it many times.

2 Corinthians chapter 1 talks about how Paul experienced being on the edge of death again and again. He had given up any hope of living, but what happened? He did not die. Because he carried the death of Jesus on his body, it was difficult to die. Experiencing those things was certain death. Suffering much, after receiving this ministry for the church, suffering much, and also receiving much comfort. Every time he was about to die, he experienced the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. Every time he lost hope, he experienced hope in Jesus Christ. Isn't this our common experience?

Brothers and sisters, you must know, you don't need to be afraid, God is holding you in his hands. Brothers, don't be afraid of your wives, and wives, don't be afraid of your husbands, and parents, don't be afraid of your children. What are you afraid of? What is there to be afraid of? Isn't it God's hand holding you? Every time you are strong, every time you carry the death of Jesus, with the faith of "let me die," you will find that nothing collapses. This is called victory. In the second chapter, he wrote about the fragrance of victory, we carry a fragrance on our bodies. Carrying this fragrance, those who are dying will surely die, and those who are living will surely live. To those who are about to die, it becomes the fragrance of death to make them die; to those who are living, it becomes the fragrance of life to make them live. Can everyone understand?

The Apostle Paul's logic is very simple, I don't even care about my own death, why would I care about your death? If someone comes to Paul and says he is about to die, and asks him to pray for him quickly, Paul might think, so what if he dies? Paul is so powerful, too powerful. He used God's power and authority to prove that Jesus Christ is Lord. So Paul himself was very clear, and in the third chapter, he brought up Moses.

Although Moses' ministry also had glory, compared to the glory of Jesus Christ, Moses' glory was a glory that had faded away. The logic is very simple. Because Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, and later established the nation of Israel, through Judges, Samuel, and Kings, it later became a colony. But Jesus Christ came, resurrected from the dead, far surpassing the glory of Moses.

The ministry that I, the Apostle Paul, received, is not the ministry of Moses, but the ministry received from Jesus Christ. I want to live out the glory of God, this is the content of 2 Corinthians chapter 3. My ministry far surpasses Moses. Don't bring up Moses, talking about circumcision or uncircumcision. Today Jesus Christ has come, even if you are Jesus Christ's physical brother, bringing up Moses is a faded glory.

I tell you, these words are very powerful. Can you imagine the situation of the Apostle Paul at that time? Someone would ask: Where did you come from? Why are you comparing yourself to Moses? Today many people say: You? And you're starting a "Mingding Doctrine"? Why are you comparing yourself to other denominations? Look how big their churches are. Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a victorious church, the lineage it inherits is Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. It has glory, a ministry full of glory.

What we are doing is to restore the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection in the gospel. This gospel is no longer a weak gospel, no longer a vague gospel, this gospel is Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, a powerful gospel. In the fourth chapter, which is the passage we are talking about, we received this ministry because of God's mercy. Since we have received this ministry, we do not lose heart, because we have a treasure in jars of clay. How well this passage speaks. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Carrying the death of Jesus Christ on our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our bodies. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake. Do you understand? Wasn't Jesus given over to death? Didn't he walk on the road to Calvary? Do you want to imitate him? If you want to imitate him, we are also always being given over to death, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal bodies. You believe, don't you? The people of the Old Testament believed, so they lived; we also believe today, and we live like this, and we declare like this. Because we will surely be resurrected with the Lord Jesus in the future. So the concept of death has changed, hasn't it? So in the fifth chapter, it says that leaving this world and being with the Lord is much better, so we must live for the Lord. So in the sixth chapter, he saw through everything. What Paul is talking about here is actually a theological system of carrying the death of Jesus Christ on his body.

In the sixth chapter, he talks about some content that we may have misunderstood in the past, and I will share it with you again. We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left hand; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; punished, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

I am saying this as to my own children. Brothers and sisters, you may not have understood when you read it. What glory, good name, what truthful speech, the power of God. What deceives people, what does not deceive people, known to people, unknown to people, is he a famous pastor or not a famous pastor, has he followed Jesus or has he not followed Jesus. I don't care about these things, I have never cared about them! Precisely because I have never cared about them, I do not put a stumbling block in anyone’s path in everything. Beatings? OK, is there a problem? I no longer care about everything.

Do you know why I say this? Carrying the death of Jesus on your body, do you still care about these things? You don't care about them anymore. If you have the determination to lie on the tracks, don't you have the faith to lie on the cross? These words are so well said. Who is poor, who is rich, who is what, is no longer a problem. Because the ministry we have received today is carrying the death of Jesus Christ on our bodies, so that the life of Jesus Christ may be revealed in our bodies. This is the background of this passage. I am just taking this passage out as the topic of today's sermon, because we want to obtain the gates of the enemy!

Tell the devil: Devil, retreat! Don't play with me, you can't afford to play! Because I don't care about these things anymore. What do I care about? I don't care about anything, I only care about one thing, which is what God has entrusted to me, entrusted to you, entrusted to Paul. The good fight has been fought, the race has been run, the play has been acted into a movie king. A crown of glory is reserved for us. What we care about is that crown of glory in heaven. So Paul said: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Powerful and victorious attributes.

Last night, as I was reading, tears streamed down my face. I thank the Lord Jesus for opening a path of victory for us. I thank the Apostle Paul for sharing his victorious experience in this book of 2 Corinthians. How wonderful! Have you grasped the secret? If you have, would you still feel so distressed? Would you still care? Would you still feel it's a hardship? All things will fade into insignificance in the glory of God. From now on, there is a crown of glory. How wonderful.

We Have This Treasure in Jars of Clay to Show That This All-Surpassing Power Is From God

You must understand, that person who went onto the tracks had no treasure. So, with just a little bit of pain, he ran to the tracks. Either it was for money, or his wife cheated on him, or some family matter, something he cared about made him feel terrible. It is a tragedy for people to be without the treasure, because they do not care about the death of Jesus Christ. Today, you and I have this treasure. Can you tell yourself: I have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God.

Is your difficulty greater than Paul's? No? You say that's not certain, you have your own difficulties, and I can understand that. Even so, this treasure can not only solve the problems in your life, but also all your worries. This treasure will manifest God's all-surpassing power. I tell you, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and plundered the enemy. What are we lacking? But look at the situation today, many people feel they lack something, because you do not take the treasure seriously. If you had the treasure, would you be like this today? Then why have you not obtained the power of the treasure?

Because you are not carrying the death of Jesus, always wanting to live according to your own desires. One moment you care about this, the next you care about that, but you do not care about the death of Jesus Christ. Always wanting to find some hope in this world, but in the end, it is all despair. If you feel despair, then be completely desperate, tear down the dreams of the world, and let the treasure enter into you. When you carry the death of Jesus Christ, is there any problem you cannot solve?

We receive the glory from eternity. Our hope is not in this world at all. Therefore, though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. Do you understand what this means? Because there is this treasure inside. Paul was stoned at that time. If a front tooth happened to be knocked out, Paul lost a tooth. Oh, Paul, your Jesus is not so great either, look, you lost a tooth. This is my own addition, I do not know if he had a tooth missing. He was beaten with stones, wasn't he? Then he was dragged outside the city, thought to be a corpse. After he got up, he dusted himself off and left, but his tooth fell out. This is how the outer self is wasting away day by day. People did not care about this, did they? You care about the tooth, but Paul did not care about this. Because Paul was simple. We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. I ask you, if you are beaten with stones, can you not have scars on your body? Can you not have scars on your face? Of course, you will.

But my inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Because we are not looking at what can be seen. Do you understand? So this treasure is not to make sure you have no scars on your face. This treasure is not to make sure you have no scars on your body, this treasure is not to make sure you are not beaten with stones. This treasure, on the contrary, allows you to be knocked down but not to die.

Speaking of this treasure, I tell everyone, I earnestly urge everyone to obtain this treasure. Which time were we distressed not because of some trivial matter? Isn't it? Every time, the treasure is drained of power. Draining the treasure of power is man's greatest skill. They just do not know how to use the treasure properly. We humans encounter many problems in this world.

We Are Hard Pressed on Every Side, but Not Crushed

It is normal for us to encounter difficulties, we are hard pressed on every side. In those days, how difficult it was for the Apostle Paul to preach the gospel, how difficult it was to shepherd the church. It was all done secretly, much more difficult than it is for us today, isn't it? We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. We have the treasure, you cannot crush us. We are not afraid of being attacked, we are not afraid of the Red Sea ahead, we are afraid of not having the treasure inside. We are hard pressed on every side, and we see that we have no hope of living, but we are not crushed. Because God has not finished directing the play.

Today, we really do not have such great difficulties. Perhaps some of our brothers and sisters often face a very desperate situation. What is the problem? The problem is that we cannot seize the gates of the enemy. The problem is that we are not carrying the death of Jesus, tearing down all the worldly hopes. The problem lies here. So our being hard pressed on every side is not the being hard pressed on every side of this ministry, but because we love the world so much that we are hard pressed on every side, and the treasure is drained of power. Loving the world drains the treasure of power. When we take it out, we find that it cannot be recharged.

So brothers and sisters, we receive this ministry. What is this ministry for? This ministry is to allow everyone to obtain the benefits of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then what is the ministry you have received? What is the enemy that presses you on every side? But we are not crushed. But today, returning to Jesus Christ, we receive grace. Returning to the will of Jesus Christ, we act according to God's script. I tell you, if your enemy, if being hard pressed on every side is for the sake of Jesus Christ, you will certainly not be crushed. If today you are hard pressed on every side, also thank God that you can completely tear down the worldly dreams inside you, and you will not be crushed.

Perplexed, but Not in Despair

Paul wrote the book of 2 Corinthians to the Corinthian church, having gone through a period of tears. The Corinthian church was personally established by the Apostle Paul, but a group of people came from who knows where and made a mess of the church. Many brothers and sisters may not have made it through and perished and were destroyed. Paul felt pain in his heart. I tell you, that was being perplexed. But what was the result? Not in despair, but victorious! Because there was a treasure inside, so he was victorious.

The Corinthian church, through the great power of God, turned back again. Although some people turned back, some people died because of it. The aroma of Jesus Christ was on the Apostle Paul, causing the dead to die and the living to live. So Corinthians, you do not need to worry. The aroma of Jesus Christ is to cause those who are dead to die and those who are alive to live. As for us, no matter what kind of road we have walked, we are perplexed, but not in despair.

Today, I want to tell everyone that the people I serve sometimes experience things that are almost resurrections from the dead. Some people turn around and do not recognize God. I myself feel pain in my heart to the point of death. I do not understand why people are like this. I felt very uncomfortable during those days of not being victorious, the same feeling that Paul experienced in the Corinthian church. It is still like this today. Seeing brothers and sisters, I really do not want anyone to perish, I hope everyone is victorious.

I pray desperately. Some who are closer to me know how wholeheartedly I try my best. Perplexed, but not in despair, because I have the treasure inside. There is nothing I ask of God that I do not receive. Thank God. May everyone become people who have the treasure. You experience being hard pressed on every side, but you are not crushed; you are perplexed, but not in despair. Because you have the treasure, because you carry the death of Jesus, this treasure works well. Every time this treasure is taken out, it is full of oil and full of power, absolutely sufficient, with super strong endurance. This is our God.

Our God has not prepared for us to not be hard pressed on every side, nor has He prepared for us to not be perplexed. If you want to serve God and receive such a ministry, it is impossible for you not to be hard pressed on every side, and it is impossible for you not to be perplexed. But this is for the eternal, imperishable, and everlasting glory. If it were not for carrying such a hope, there would be no meaning in living and serving in this world. My hope is not to build a large church or a landmark building on earth. My hope is to receive His praise before God, with no lies. When I am tired, I do not feel tired, and when I am working hard, I do not feel I am working hard, because there is hope inside.

Persecuted, but Not Abandoned. This statement is so well said. Is there no persecution? I tell you, God will not abandon you. Our God wants us to trust Him in such a situation. It seems like you cannot live, but you live again, right? You can live to this day, isn't it like this? Persecuted, this is what the Apostle Paul experienced in the Corinthian church, and also experienced everywhere. How can it be right if there is no persecution?

A few days ago, there was a sister whose son wanted to commit suicide. She prayed for a long time and it finally got a little better. These days, she has been praying with our small group leader. This son previously took sleeping pills to commit suicide, but he did not go to the tracks, he took sleeping pills. Now, on the contrary, he is persecuting his mother, so I thank God. Do you know why? Because it is effective, the demon is shaken. The demon is shaken, and the person carrying the demon begins to persecute his mother. Then his mother must start thinking at this time, do you want to carry the death of Jesus? Carry the faith of "die if you die", I tell you, it will definitely turn around, it will definitely be victorious.

But not abandoned. God has not abandoned us, God has never abandoned us. God is still working, God is still reigning in our lives, and He wants us to experience the death of Jesus Christ and then experience the life of Jesus Christ. There is no time for despair, it is normal to be persecuted, isn't it? Why be discouraged? No need to be discouraged, what is there to be discouraged about? Like what I taught her to say: "What did I do? What's wrong?" You have the courage to take sleeping pills, but you do not have the courage to accept prayer? The logic of this world, the logic of this spirit, is that once the devil is shaken, it will definitely persecute through people.

Struck Down, but Not Destroyed

The power of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead proves one thing: it is not that He was not crucified, but that He was crucified. Do you understand? He was crucified, it is not to exempt you from being crucified. Didn't Jesus say? "Father, if it is possible, take this cup away." Was it taken away? No, it was not. He was crucified. Can we who carry the death of Jesus Christ not be struck down? But not destroyed, because God did not direct it that way. Paul walked this way. We have not had the opportunity to experience these things, but if we do experience them, this statement will become our inner strength. But not destroyed.

Always Carrying in the Body the Death of Jesus

Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, this is the theme we are going to talk about. If you carry the death of Jesus Christ, maybe you will walk by like this: "God, if it is possible, take this cup away." Who wants to experience these things? Do you want to experience being hard pressed on every side? Do you want to experience being perplexed? Do you want to experience being persecuted? Do you want to experience being struck down? No one wants to.

But because we carry the death of Jesus, we experience these things. Because we carry the death of Jesus, we experience the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the glory of God is manifested in this way. If brothers and sisters are in difficulties, in very difficult circumstances, thank God. Pray well and receive strength from God. You will definitely see the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. You will definitely see the glory of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead.

This Is Our Ministry

2 Corinthians 4:1: "Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." Why do we carry the death of Jesus Christ? Because God chooses us, has mercy on us, and then we are chosen to take on this ministry. If I did not take on this ministry, I would not do this. Since you have taken on this ministry, since you have become a small group leader, since you have become a ministry co-worker, since you have become a pastor, take on this ministry. Originally, God is manifesting His glory through us taking on this ministry. We become vessels that manifest God's glory.

Why do we live? It is not to live for the sake of living, there is not much meaning in that. Since we have received mercy and taken on this ministry, it is because we do not have much hope in living. In this world, we have seen too much. Those lying there waiting to die, and those who have already died, have you not seen enough of them? That year when I returned to China, I had a class reunion. In the middle of the meal, a phone call came, another classmate was in the hospital. The surgery was very successful, but the incision did not heal.

Later, the gastric fluid in his stomach, stomach cancer, flowed all over his abdomen, and he was sent to the intensive care unit. We could not see him when we went to the hospital, they did not allow us to enter. The next day, I saw him in the funeral home, lying in a coffin. I tell you, there is really not much meaning in living. How can you live with so much interest? So we sought a blessing, which is to serve my God.

Recently, our brothers and sisters in the Chinese Mingding Music created a song, the lyrics say: "I will praise my God." We really must praise Him. Originally, we had no hope, we just lived and lived and then died. Now we have the hope of eternal glory. This is the ministry we have received. I hope that all brothers and sisters will become priests of the living God.

As God’s Co-Workers, We Urge You Not to Receive God’s Grace in Vain

The most I have seen are ungrateful people. They experience God, receive a little bit of benefit, and there are still many benefits they have not received, and they run away with that little bit of benefit. I do not know if they were taken away by "Old Ma", or if they took "Old Ma" away. I often feel pain in my heart. People who receive God's grace in vain do not know that there is so much of God's grace. Because the promises of Jesus Christ, no matter how many there are, are "yes" in Jesus Christ. You have only experienced a tiny bit, one hair from nine oxen, one drop from the sea, how can you leave? We who receive God's grace must not receive His grace in vain. This is after our personal experience. He urges the Corinthians, and also urges our brothers and sisters. You must experience more of God's power, you must experience more of God's promises, and you must also carry the death of Jesus Christ in your body, so that the glory of Jesus Christ may also be manifested in your body. Amen? Amen!

May God bless everyone!
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