Alright, folks, let's do a comprehensive recap of 1 Timothy. After this overview, you should have a much clearer understanding of the book. Essentially, 1 Timothy is about "fighting the good fight for the faith."

Background of 1 Timothy

Remember, this letter is addressed to Timothy personally. Many of the points raised are not general, universally applicable principles for the church or church planting. Because it's a personal letter to Timothy, you must be cautious about generalizing its contents.

Take, for example, the instruction that women should not preach. If you read the English Bible, you'll notice the distinction between singular and plural. "Woman" refers to one individual, while "women" refers to a group. The prohibition against women preaching refers to a specific woman, not all women in general. Some churches have generalized this to mean that women cannot be pastors. But women can and do serve in pastoral roles today. You can't say that women can't be small group leaders, district leaders, or supervisors. That would effectively bar women from any meaningful ministry.

So, I believe the prohibition against that woman preaching refers to a particular individual. Whether that woman was Timothy's girlfriend, we don't know, but there was likely a connection. Similarly, the exhortation to "act like a man" is directed specifically at Timothy, not all men.

The entire book exposes Timothy's weaknesses, his challenges, and the personal issues he faces in building the church. If there's an opportunity, I'll share with you a "Timothy Apocrypha." Through this letter, you can see that Timothy sometimes handled situations without much wisdom. Some might say, "How can you speak of Timothy like that?" But just as I've discussed Peter, now I'm bringing up Timothy.

Although the letter is addressed to Timothy, can we consider it as if the Apostle Paul were writing to us? We must be particularly careful that those building a church must be fighters, fighting the good fight for the faith. If you don't fight, and instead spend all your time on endless displays of affection, the church will inevitably become chaotic.

Because I am a warrior, building a church means battling the evil forces in the spiritual realm, the most powerful enemies in the world. But thank God, as we emulate the Apostle Paul, we can overcome them. That's why some build churches like Timothy, while others build them like the Apostle Paul. The key is this: fighting the good fight for the faith.

If you are a fighter, you will overcome every obstacle and establish a reputation in the spiritual realm. Even the smallest demons will tremble at the mention of your name, knowing they are doomed in your presence. So, who will magnify our name? How do we magnify our name? By fighting the good fight in the spiritual realm!

Emulating Paul's Faithfulness

In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to emulate Paul's faithfulness. But I ask you, if Timothy were already faithful, would there be a need to mention it? If Timothy had surpassed Paul in faithfulness, there would be no need to exhort him to fight the good fight. Paul could simply say, "You're doing well." Isn't that right? There would be no need to instruct Timothy to emulate Paul and his faithfulness. So, there must be something in Timothy's character that makes him susceptible to being swayed by the crowd. And if you go with the flow, you're in trouble. You won't be able to overcome the devil, and if you can't overcome, you can imagine the consequences.

We must understand that this is the responsibility God has entrusted to us. Understand? What God wants from us is faithfulness.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. (1 Timothy 1:11-19)

We must believe these words. Let us examine ourselves and ask how many of us are truly faithful to God. And where is that faithfulness manifested? It is manifested in fighting the good fight. This is no joke; this fight is a contest of wisdom, faith, and strength. So, we must understand what a great grace this is! It is not because we are good enough that God chooses us, but because we are faithful.

We must understand that when the Apostle Paul was persecuting the church, his character was such that he did things methodically. God saw this and chose him, and he turned to God and became faithful. So, we must understand that we must not shipwreck our faith, for that is a dead end. If the ship is wrecked, the plane is broken, and the car is ruined, then we cannot do the work.

The Devil Infiltrates the Church to Spread Heresies

I am very clear that building a church is a very challenging task. Why is that? I won't talk about 1 Timothy today; I'll share my own observations first.

Once, they called a pastor to the stage to pray. The pastor was weeping and recounting his tragic history. He was so tragic that the church leaders sued him, and the court investigated him for several years. During those years, the pastor developed depression. Oh, my goodness, his life was in chaos. At that time, we all raised our hands to pray for him. I felt a sudden unease and wondered what was happening. I silently prayed in my heart, "God, I feel this is not right! How can you serve God and have depression?"

I have seen many pastors with depression, including some I know personally. I have also seen many with brain cancer and other cancers. Later, I asked God, "God, what happened?" At that moment, I received a revelation: in building a church, you cannot lose the battle. For example, if you lose the Sino-Japanese War, not only will your ships be sunk, but your soldiers will also die miserably, and you will have to pay reparations! I ask you, what happens if the church loses the battle with the devil? You lose money.

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. (1 Timothy 1:3-7)

This is the battle. I tell you, the church is the most chaotic community. When we start building a church, the battles are very fierce. If you want to build a church and you don't have the skills, I suggest you read Paul's letters carefully, because Paul's letters talk about how to build a church and how to overcome.

The devil will infiltrate the church to spread heresies. I can give many examples. There are many such people in the church, like Hymenaeus and Alexander. Why is that? When a brother or sister gets sick, they say, "Sister, come here, I have health products that can help you." Can health products guarantee healing? Others say, "Sister, brother, let me introduce you to the best doctor." What do you think? This problem is common in the church.

The church becomes chaotic with people selling health products, selling insurance, or doing business within the church community. I ask you, how much confusion do these things create? There are also myths and endless genealogies being debated, with no talk of faith.

If someone really gets cancer, they are sent to the hospital, and it's none of my business. I tell you why I also tell people to go to the hospital. Why? Because you want to go to the hospital and want me to endorse it, I will endorse it. If you really say you choose to pray and trust God, believing that the disease is related to sin and demons, then let's solve the problem of sin and the problem of demons.

When I was ministering to a sister, I asked her, "Can the hospital cure your illness?" She said, "Cure what? More and more tubes are inserted, the illness is getting worse, and more and more money is being spent." "More and more tubes," do you know what that means? That's how it is.

So, I think we have many of these things inside us, and we must slowly ponder them. I usually don't say these words, because you know in your heart whether you trust God or not. If you ask me how to make a decision, I won't go. If the hospital can cure the epidemic, it wouldn't be called an epidemic. If the hospital can cure these diseases, they wouldn't be called terminal illnesses. I won't go. Someone will ask, "Why won't you go?" The diseases that the hospital can cure, my Lord Jesus can cure; the diseases that the hospital cannot cure, my Lord Jesus can also cure. But if you don't have this faith, go to the hospital.

I think the devil will infiltrate the church to spread heresies, which sound very reasonable but do not edify people. We must know that these things only cause debates and do not advance God's work, which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. This is a very common phenomenon, and you should not think that it will just pass.

Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:20)

"Handed over to Satan," do you know what that means? I tell you, what happened to Hymenaeus and Alexander later? No one knows. What do you think it means to be handed over to Satan? Satan says, "Ah, handed over to me, I'll take care of it." If Satan takes care of it, he will send an old horse to give him cancer, making him unable to defecate, unable to urinate, unable to eat or drink. Wouldn't that be fatal?

So, I tell you, we must fight against these devils in the church. Sometimes it's quite interesting; the devil deliberately plants people in the church. I am clear about this. How am I clear about this? In spiritual warfare, I discovered that I recognized this demon and understood how it operates. Either these demons don't want the person to be delivered and take the person away, or I release him from the hands of the devil, or he is taken away by the demon. So later I found that Satan is quite good. Someone said, "How can you praise Satan?" Satan takes away those who should be taken away, which is called cleansing the church.

In the church, it is crucial to understand the insidious nature of Satan's work. You may not witness him directly committing murder, arson, theft, or robbery, but he orchestrates a multitude of vague and confusing arguments, filled with empty words that leave people bewildered. Let me tell you, and I am not speaking of others, but one day I might get cancer and be handed over to Satan by God. Do you understand? So, be careful. Others might be handed over to God, but I am speaking about myself, so that I am not attacked. What happened to Hymenaeus and Alexander later? They must have had their share of tubes inserted. Therefore, I tell you, the battles are always within the church.

Once, during an exorcism, I commanded, "Come out!" The demon replied, "I don't know where to go." I retorted, "You don't know where to go? Behind our office, in the adjacent building, there are nightclubs and karaoke bars. We sing praises here, and they sing their songs there. Go there; aren't those your people?" It said, "I won't go." I asked, "Then where do you want to go?" It said, "I can only go to the church." I exclaimed, "You can only go to the church? Then why did you come here?" It replied, "Ah, you don't know, the rewards are greater when I come to you."

It turns out that if it could defeat me, the rewards were greater. I asked, "So, what will you do now?" It said, "Staying is death, leaving is death, so let it be death." I commanded, "Come out!" It said, "I don't know where to go." I then said, "Go to such-and-such church." Don't think I am being malicious; I just enjoy bantering with it. I said, "Go there." It said, "I won't go." I asked, "You wanted to go to the church, didn't you?" It said, "I won't go." I asked, "Why not?" It said, "Ah, that church is too low; defeating that church yields no reward." Oh, I see, no reward. You seek a challenge. I asked, "What happens if you defeat us?" It said, "Ah, I will bring you money."

I tell you, in the eyes of demons, we are a prized possession. Therefore, we must understand that demons will infiltrate the church and spread heresy. In reality, those individuals, like Hymenaeus and Alexander, may not even understand what they are saying; they just babble nonsense. You must be cautious now. How many churches are there where what is preached, even from the pulpit, is not truly the word of God? Does it not strike you as odd? It should not.

Have the Mind of Jesus Christ

Do you know what the Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to do? To make supplications for all men. Now, many Christians, upon hearing this, immediately make supplications for all men. If you are not even preaching the Gospel, what is the point of making supplications for all men? You should first make supplications for yourself. Why? Because of a narrow mind. Timothy was, in fact, narrow-minded. When the Apostle Paul spoke, he hoped for men to be a certain way, women to be a certain way, and so on. Before that, he said to make supplications for all men because our Lord Jesus desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Our Lord Jesus had such a mind, and we should also have such a mind.

I tell you, regardless of who they are, I will say this, and you can ponder it. No matter how severe their illness, if they are willing to come to us, we will absolutely minister to them. Even if they have not decided to leave their church and still want to remain in their original church and also come to us, I do not mind at all, because our Lord Jesus desires all men to be saved, and we have such a mind. We are not stealing people from other churches; we are shaping that person for that church. As for whether their pastor has the true doctrine to keep these seeking brothers and sisters by his side, that is up to his own ability.

Therefore, we must have the mind of Jesus Christ, to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, because God desires all men to be saved. So, no matter what kind of person comes, I tell you, sometimes, oh my goodness, it feels like swallowing a dead fly, but I still minister diligently, as the brothers and sisters who have served with me know. The sister I ministered to today sent me a message that I found particularly good, and I will read it to you. She said: "Thank you, Pastor, for preparing a powerful team of serving soldiers for me. This is God's grace, allowing me to see the spirit of the soldiers in the church where God is present. Everyone is actively and willingly offering themselves, and everyone is a warrior in battle. It is my honor to be here, and I will cherish it and learn well." This is what the person being ministered to wrote to me.

Why? Because our church exudes a charm from the inside out, which is that these brothers and sisters willingly offer themselves and have the mind of Jesus Christ. This is genuine. I tell you, it is often strange that many people pray and make supplications for all men, but they do not have the mind of Jesus. Do you understand?

Therefore, the subsequent section about men and women carries a rather profound meaning. It is saying, Timothy, you must have such a mind, because our God desires all men to be saved. It is not just about your family, your girlfriend, her father, or her mother, or her siblings; it is not about serving them exclusively. Therefore, men should pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Women should adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing. Do you understand? It is not really about men and women; it is about having the mind of Jesus Christ!

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-7)

Then, how men should behave and how women should behave, do you understand? Women may be dressed seductively, but they do not have the mind of Jesus Christ; they may have a large "chest," but a small mind. This may be a bit embarrassing for everyone, but do not focus on that; what is the point of focusing on that? Focus on having the mind of Jesus Christ.

Paul tells Timothy: Be careful of women! Why? Because back then, Adam and Eve, it was because of Eve that everything was ruined. If it were not for Eve, Adam might have been able to withstand it. Ah, God is quite interesting; He had to find a "bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" from Adam, which later became a "thorn in my bones and a thorn in my flesh." You must be careful not to become Adam. If you become Brother Adam and your girlfriend becomes Sister Eve, wouldn't that be wonderful, this brother and sister playing together? You are a "thorn in my bones and a thorn in my flesh," and I am also a "thorn in your bones and a thorn in your flesh." They play with thorns, causing themselves pain, don't they? How painful.

If a husband has an affair, the wife develops stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, or uterine cancer. Sometimes, when the mistress is brought home, the wife develops blindness. I have ministered to many such cases. I wonder, what is this all about? You should not be surprised; there is no need to be surprised. Why bother?

Therefore, when the brothers and sisters hear me say this, they say: Teacher, you have explained it so well; I finally understand. I find it very interesting. You get cancer and suffer, while the other person is having a good time with the mistress. Therefore, our brothers and sisters have too narrow a mind. If you have a narrow mind, your spouse will be a thorn in your bones and a thorn in your flesh. If you have the mind of Jesus Christ, there will be no thorns.

Know How to Conduct Yourself in the House of God

If we have the mind of Jesus Christ, how should we conduct ourselves in the house of Jesus Christ? The house of Jesus Christ is the church of God, and the church is the house of God. How should we choose leaders? Choose those who have faith. What about female deacons? Don't we have female deacons? Small group leaders, small pastors, and what are the requirements for them?

I tell you, these things must be tested. What should be tested? Their views and perspectives on money and worldly matters. Therefore, I want to tell you today that our small group leaders must be eager to pursue. If, as you preach, the devil releases lies to you, wouldn't that be troublesome? Therefore, you do not need to be afraid; you only need to strive to pursue. Say one if there is one, say two if there are two; do not speak nonsense. If you like to speak nonsense, listen to nonsense, watch nonsense, do nonsense, work nonsense, and live nonsense, then you will become a "great blind person."

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. (1 Timothy 3:1-11)

Beware of Deceiving Spirits and Doctrines of Demons

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

Forbidding to marry? Is that the way of God? Let us all discuss this. Men, women, bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh, and then they come up with forbidding to marry; that is not the way of God. The way of God is not that. If people are constantly focused on not marrying, is that the Gospel? That is not the Gospel.

Then why talk about these things? The doctrines of demons should be about killing, killing one person, then killing another, robbing banks, engaging in telecom fraud, right? These things sound like the doctrines of demons, but they are not. How do the doctrines of demons operate in the church? In the church, they forbid marriage and command abstinence from foods; this is not organic; this has been offered to idols; this is problematic; this is gutter oil. They are particular about these things.

I have seen plenty of these. Some people claim to love the Lord very much and are very good. Then, in the morning, they take out a small bag. I ask, "What is this?" They say, "It's bean powder." I ask, "Why are you eating this?" They say, "It's organic, a health supplement." I ask, "Can health supplements guarantee health?" They say, "It's for health preservation." Health preservation is the doctrine of demons.

Have you all understood? I do not engage in health preservation for its own sake; rather, I preserve my health through serving. I enjoy working, for only through work can one truly live. The Chinese saying captures this beautifully: "干活 (gàn huó)," meaning "to work," implies "干了就活了 (gàn le jiù huó le)," meaning "by working, one lives." Alas, I must tell you, this is all too common in the church. Some promote health products through direct selling. Are they effective? Yes. Are they ineffective? Also yes. Can such things truly solve problems? If they could truly solve problems, that would be disastrous.

Then there are matters of marriage, food, worldly speech, absurd talk, and even physical fitness. I tell you, as Paul wrote to Timothy, physical training has some value, but godliness has value for all things. Why? Because Timothy had bought into this whole system. It seems to me Timothy was almost going for blood transfusions. Not just blood transfusions, but organ replacements too. Ah, running full and half marathons, becoming incredibly fit, building up massive muscles.
Timothy went down that path. I tell you, when a man falls in love, he loves to show off his eight-pack abs! Unlike me, I only have three. When I sit down, my belly resembles a Michelin tire. But those muscular men, they reveal their abs, so handsome, so "manly"! As for me, I only make time to cultivate godliness; I have no time for that. Timothy used to have a three-pack, used to be a Michelin tire, but now, good heavens, his girlfriend says, "Ah, your belly is even softer than mine." Timothy has been making time for physical training.

Are these things inherently wicked? No. Do they violate any moral principles? No. But this is not the true doctrine! Are the doctrines of demons harmful? As you pursue them, you lose your way. I must tell you: the corruption released by food is far less than the corruption released by the thoughts and intentions of the heart. If a person's heart is filled with things that attract demons, you can imagine the extent of the corruption.

Some time ago, a good friend shared with me that their director teaches them daily how to maintain their health, how to go to the gym, run, get blood transfusions, get what-have-you. Oh my heavens! I thought he should get a brain transplant; his mind is corrupted. And what happened? Before he even retired, before he turned sixty, he kicked the bucket. Later, my friend said, "Ah, his health theories are rubbish." Why? Because that kind of maintenance is carnal. The carnal is particularly attractive to demons; observe carefully.

Therefore, be wary of the doctrines of evil spirits and demons. But where does the problem lie? All positions are not based on Jesus Christ, not on the mind of Jesus Christ. The mind of Jesus Christ is not focused on health preservation; the mind of Jesus Christ is: I live for God, I live by God, and I die for God. As for someone like me, ah, my health was poor as a child; I had tuberculosis before even starting school. I was supposed to die, but I didn't; I was supposed to kick the bucket, but I didn't. I muddled through and surpassed the health experts. Why? Because marriage, food, worldly speech, absurd talk, and fitness – these pursuits of fitness and health preservation – are all based on selfish positions, all very personal, all worldly, all focused on this life, and all carnal. Can you say they don't attract demons?

Wisdom in Handling Difficulties in the Church

With his previous fitness regime, young Timothy was handsome and surrounded by people. How could he have the wisdom to govern the church? So Paul had to write a letter, saying: In the church, one must handle difficulties with wisdom.

Matters of widows, and those who are not widows – widows were difficult to manage in those days, and Timothy was handling them poorly. He was very loving, giving money to the church, saying, "As long as you're a widow, come and receive money." Is that the gospel of Jesus Christ? I tell you, the gospel of Jesus Christ is seeing an old widow put her only two copper coins into the offering box. And Jesus said, "Did you see that? She has truly given all she had to God."

In my early years of ministry, a rather unruly young man asked me, "Why is Jesus so heartless? She only has two copper coins left, and she still has to give them as an offering!" Ah, this difficult question stumped me. I pondered it for several days before responding. I said, "Brother, you don't understand. She's eighty years old, and she puts her last two copper coins in. I ask you, didn't she also have only two copper coins last week? She put them in then too. Yes, she's been doing this all along. After she gives, she has no money left. How did she live from last week until today? God provided! I tell you, people are sustained by God."

But Timothy didn't have this wisdom. Widows dressed seductively came to the church. What did they come to do? To receive money, burdening the church. Timothy was bewildered, unsure what to do: Should I show this kind of love? If he said to the widows, "Go away," that would be so unloving. I tell you, the doctrines of demons are quite wicked. Often in ministry, the devil says, "Pastor, you're not loving enough." Ah, does mortifying the flesh require love? You little imp, trying to play the love card with me? If you want to play the love card with me, you'd better think again. I don't cater to the flesh. As a result, the devil gets angry: "Ah, this is infuriating, what to do with this guy?"

Because in the church, in ministry, love is not done this way. Love is not given by handing out money. Love is cultivated by dealing with the flesh, dealing with laziness, dealing with these evil things. I tell you, my God will surely help me. Some people bring up Jesus. You bring up Jesus; am I afraid of you? You bring up Jesus; it's no use. I'm on Jesus' side.

Therefore, the church is a place of spiritual warfare; the church is a place to deal with the flesh; the church is a place to deal with man's knowledge of good and evil; the church is a place to edify people. The church is not about catering to the flesh, the church is not about handing out money, the church is about leading people into blessing.

Beware of the Deceitfulness of Wealth

Many people cannot overcome the hurdle of money. If you cannot overcome the hurdle of money, how can you serve God? The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil! Do not think that building a church requires a lot of money. Does building a church require a lot of money? Building a church does not require money; building a church requires God. I ask you: If God dwells among us, will we lack money? We have truly unlocked this matter. How can those who love money love God? How can those who love God lack money? I have personally experienced God's grace; this I know. The church constantly gives out, our investment is still very large, to build God's glorious church. Where does the money come from? The money is given by God; I am not worried about this at all.

I tell you, if you often cast out demons in the church, it is very miraculous, confirmed time and time again. Every time you deal with the devil, every time you overcome the devil, the devil sends money. It is incredibly miraculous; the devil sends money. How does he send money? Ponder it yourself. Of course, God uses the devil as a servant to work for us. Therefore, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:3-10)

Isn't that well said? So Paul says: You, O man of God, flee these things. Timothy, you must flee these things. What does that mean? You went to train those abs, you have to spend money at the gym, and to spend money, you have to make money, and soon you will fall into temptation. You, O man of God, must flee these things! Don't be ensnared by Eve, and don't be ensnared by money. You must take hold of eternal life, you must fight the good fight of faith. What good words, to fight the good fight of faith!

Every time I minister to people, especially those with serious illnesses, cancer, all kinds of difficult diseases, my heart is actually very pained. Pained as I am, I still have to tell you the truth. I often talk about seeing through the matter of living and seeing through the matter of dying, to see through, to know that life is vanity. If a person does not have God, a lifetime is meaningless. Living for oneself, even if you develop an eight-pack, even if you develop a sixteen-pack, it has no great significance. Even if your shoulders are like a gorilla's shoulders, what significance is there? The gorilla dies, and you will die too.

Therefore, our brothers and sisters must be careful. If a person cannot see through these things, how can they trust in the true God? People cannot see through. I say again to the brothers and sisters, know that our God, through the beautiful testimony of Jesus Christ, we must keep this command.

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:13-16)
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," (1 Timothy 6:20)

Isn't that corrupt? Ah, what a lament. Now, in many churches, they read a book by Kazuo Inamori, listen to a video by Tseng Shih-Chiang, and after listening, they are bewildered! Why? Ah, they are so envious. Do you want to envy them for getting cancer? If they were truly powerful, they wouldn't be captured by demons.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, do not be puffed up with conceit and understand nothing. Begin to take hold of eternal life. Although Jesus Christ lived for thirty-three years, he was crucified. Perhaps you are thirty-nine this year, you have already surpassed Jesus by six years, don't secretly laugh, don't think you have gained. Jesus Christ lives forever, not thirty-three, not three hundred and thirty, not three thousand three hundred, not thirty-three thousand, but forever!

If you ask me what I am pursuing, what I am pursuing is that one day, after fighting the good fight in this world, when I come before the Lord Jesus Christ, I will receive His reward, receive His praise, and be in the glory of Jesus Christ forever and ever.

As for what I will do at that time, I think the Lord Jesus will surely give me many things to do. There is no shortage of work in the Lord Jesus' house, there is always work to do, you will not be unemployed. I think in the glory of God, there is endless wisdom, honor, glory, and power, how good!

I truly long for brothers and sisters to know that life is vanity, I long for brothers and sisters to know that life needs God, the only true God, He is our strength; He is our wisdom; He is our honor, we can surely live out God's glorious appearance in this world. Amen!

May God bless everyone!