Introduction

Good morning, everyone. Today, we will be delving into Chapter 15 of the Book of 1 Corinthians. This chapter is of utmost importance as it elucidates all that has been previously mentioned, such as love being the most excellent way and the various gifts. We may find ourselves weary with the multitude of tasks we undertake. However, upon joining the Chinese Mingding Destiny, you will discover a life of fulfillment. We engage in daily note-taking, study the Scriptures, assist those who cannot type to learn, teach those who cannot write, and provide dedicated service to those who require assistance with Pinyin. Additionally, we are committed to learning about the supremacy of love, spiritual gifts, and emulating Christ, among other things. Does this seem overwhelming? Some may harbor inner doubts, questioning the purpose of these endeavors. In this world already rife with competition, engaging with Chinese Mingding Destiny may seem like an intensification. Yet, we undertake these efforts because we possess the hope of resurrection from the dead, a Gospel of glorious hope. It is this hope that compels us to serve tirelessly, with the anticipation of receiving immense grace in the future.

The greatest tragedy a person can face is to live and then die without hope. Observe closely some of our brothers and sisters; their peak intellectual performance often occurs during their university entrance examinations, followed by their postgraduate entrance examinations. Subsequently, they often find themselves drifting aimlessly through life, continuing this pattern until the present day. Some may even be graduates of prestigious universities like the 985 institutions, yet they still find themselves adrift due to a lack of hope, merely existing to eat, drink, and await death. From a young age, I have found the notion of merely existing to eat, drink, and die appalling. When visiting a dying person in the hospital, the primary concern often revolves around what they wish to eat or drink, as if the opportunity will soon vanish. Therefore, we recognize that those on the verge of perishing require not mere sustenance, but a Gospel of glorious hope. Life must be lived in the context of hope. Whether this hope is genuine or not is a matter for further consideration, but the importance of the glorious hope cannot be overstated.

Today's theme is Resurrection of the Dead, the Gospel of Glorious Hope. Our diligent labor in the Lord's work stems from the knowledge that such toil is not in vain in our Lord Jesus Christ. The efficacy of this labor will accompany us into eternity. It is indeed lamentable to live without hope. During my university days, my life consisted solely of a routine between the dormitory, classroom, and cafeteria. I found such existence devoid of hope, akin to living in anticipation of death. Later, I came to know the Lord Jesus and discovered the possibility of resurrection from the dead and the existence of a Gospel of glorious hope. What a wondrous revelation it was! Life was no longer about merely awaiting death, but about living fully. Therefore, understand today that individuals such as myself can endure years without rest because we possess a Gospel of glorious hope within. Those with hope live a fulfilling life, whereas those without hope face considerable challenges.

I. We Preach the Gospel of Resurrection

Brothers and sisters, understand that I am not preaching a career plan, nor am I advocating for a life of blissful ignorance. I am preaching the Gospel of resurrection from the dead.

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Many among us have experienced healing precisely because we preach the Gospel of resurrection from the dead. The salvation referenced here is not merely about ascending to heaven after death, but about resolving your problems while still alive. This is the powerful tool we possess. Without hope, we would be mired in the affairs of this world. Our conversations would be dominated by mundane matters, and our words would be laced with bitterness, straining even familial bonds. Today, our problems stem from placing excessive importance on worldly matters and underestimating the significance of the glorious hope. If we possess this glorious hope, all our problems can be resolved. Do you believe this?

Some believe that salvation entails ascending to heaven, but this is not the complete picture. The lame and those afflicted with hemorrhages touched Jesus and were saved, signifying that their problems were resolved. Imagine a group of soldiers surrounded by enemies, facing imminent demise. Suddenly, reinforcements arrive from the outside. Those who were on the verge of death are now alive, their problems resolved. This is salvation. Therefore, the concept of salvation should be understood in the context of the Four Gospels, where Jesus declares, Your faith has saved you. This is salvation.

We are saved by this gospel, and the Corinthians received many blessings through Paul. Brothers and sisters, understand today that if your problems are resolved among us, it is because we are a community of believers in the resurrection of the dead. Because of our belief, we are saved by this gospel and bear witness to God's power. You, who were on the verge of collapse, now stand firm through this gospel and are strengthened by the Spirit of God. Even before this Bible study, I was ministering to a sister, encouraging her in her studies. Yesterday, she was excited by what she had learned, but this morning she awoke feeling unwell, with tight eyelids and chills. This is the work of demons, seeking to hinder her learning. Demons thrive on idleness, on the cessation of all activity, and on a life of eating, drinking, and awaiting death. How can there be any glorious hope in such a state?

If we do not manifest the glory of God in life, we cannot expect to have a glorious hope in death. Now, understand that through Jesus Christ, we are strengthened and stand firm once again. Witnessing our sister's prayers fills us with emotion. Those of us who have cast out so many demons must surely possess a Gospel of glorious hope. However, many who engage in casting out demons lose their way because they lack a Gospel of glorious hope within.

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:5-7).

Paul mentions Peter and James, even though he may not always agree with their methods, but the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact acknowledged and proclaimed by all the apostles. There were over five hundred witnesses who had seen Jesus Christ, the majority of whom were still living at the time of Paul's writing. Why does Jesus not appear to everyone? Jesus Christ only reveals himself to his disciples. When you become a disciple, you will undoubtedly witness the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We proclaim this, we believe this, and we bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have never personally seen Jesus Christ, yet I bear witness to the power of his resurrection daily, and this fills me with a Gospel of glorious hope. This is the source of my strength. It is not in vain because I truly believe. If you truly believe in the Gospel of resurrection from the dead that we preach, you will undoubtedly receive strength and offer yourself to Jesus Christ. Amen?

II. If There Is No Resurrection of the Dead, Our Faith Is Futile

Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished (1 Corinthians 15:11-18).

The Corinthians had a particular propensity for evangelism, leading them to bring a multitude of people into the church. They may have learned this from Peter, who, when preaching in Corinth, reported converting five thousand with a single sermon and three thousand more through prayer, leading to a thriving church with abundant donations. The Corinthians may have perceived Paul as overly critical, constantly finding fault in others while believing only in his own abilities. I offer a valuable piece of advice to the preachers among us who regularly listen to my Bible studies and sermons: return and diligently study the Scriptures, observing how Jesus conducted himself. Peter may act in a certain way because he believes it is good, but Jesus refrains because he believes it is not. While a large number of people followed Jesus, he found it unsettling. He told them that he was the bread of life and that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood, which sounded like a heretical cult. If you were to say to someone today, Come and eat my flesh and drink my blood, they would undoubtedly perceive it as a cult, leading to disastrous consequences.

Jesus' words were perplexing, and many turned away. Understand that building a church requires a discerning process, a concept that many pastors fail to grasp, as they subscribe to Peter's methods, professing a great revival while falling short of achieving one. Similar to the emphasis on church revival in 1904, advocating for a grand revival. Some in the Corinthian church denied the resurrection of the dead because they had indiscriminately welcomed a large influx of people into the church, straying onto a perilous path—a path likely pioneered by Peter, not Jesus. Jesus' approach involved casting a net, sorting the good into containers and discarding the bad. Therefore, I constantly contemplate whom to discard. Do not presume that I depend on anyone; I need no one but a God who fills me with hope.

Church building must adhere to the methods of Jesus Christ, not Peter's. Otherwise, it will lead to problems. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, urging them not to associate with sexually immoral people, but his exhortation actually refers to indiscriminate friendships. That to say, those who come to church should be carefully chosen, with the good being gathered into containers and the bad discarded. Those who deny the resurrection of the dead should be removed from the church without hesitation, as reluctance will lead to difficulties. For example, after a sermon, a group may gather at a nearby hotpot restaurant, enjoying lamb while questioning the resurrection of the dead. No one has witnessed the resurrection, leading to confusion. Such doubt is destructive.

I often advise our pastors that if someone expresses such views, they should respond by agreeing that no one has seen it, prompting the person to reveal their inner thoughts. Be cautious of this tactic. If such behavior is prevalent among us, I will understand and take appropriate action. Understand that if there is no resurrection of the dead, we should eat, drink, and await death. Enjoy hotpot with wine, raising our glasses in cheerful revelry. How can there be genuine joy without hope? The next day, demonic forces will target you, luring you with initial joy before ultimately destroying you.

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19).

One who has hope only in this life is more pitiable than all, for all their hope is confined to this life. They engage in worldly discussions, focusing on opportunities such as investing a million dollars with the promise of tripling it by year's end, albeit without disclosing the specifics, using the guise of a pastor to gain trust. By the end of the year, not even a penny is returned. Do not be surprised to be deceived by a pastor, as such individuals are not true pastors but devils who have infiltrated the church. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be cautious. If you are constantly preoccupied with worldly matters in the church, do not blame me for failing to warn you, for even if I do not confront you, God will.

Do not sin, for we have a glorious hope. Sin stems from selfishness, from the belief that we can live for a long time, when in reality, we are only here for a few decades. After all the effort, to whom will these possessions belong when the game ends? Therefore, if we place our hope solely in this life, we are more pitiable than all. To live without the hope of resurrection from the dead is to be despicable. To harbor worldly hope is tragic. Carrying the truth of the Gospel of resurrection from the dead, we will become incorruptible bodies filled with God's glory, enabling us to serve tirelessly. Consider our everyday conversations: how many reflect a worldly hope? Worldly hope leads to many problems. Paul risked his life daily to prove his belief. If there is no resurrection of the dead, why risk death to spread the Gospel and serve others instead of indulging in food and drink?

Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:30-32).

Whether our brothers and sisters work in research, attend school, run a small business, or farm the land, my greatest concern is that they will forget the glorious hope, which is detrimental and devastating. When we lose sight of the glorious hope, we become preoccupied with immediate matters, toiling until we either fall ill or seek my prayers. Illnesses stemming from overwork indicate demonic interference, which should be handled with caution. Regardless of the grace you have experienced, you end up forgetting what matters, focusing only on immediate concerns, which is truly meaningless. To view such matters with hope is a sign of ignorance, requiring self-discipline.

Let us never abandon the glorious hope of eternity, as Paul has exemplified. How did Paul survive being placed in the arena in Ephesus? You would not be able to. You may not understand, but I do, for I have had a Gospel of glorious hope since the day I believed. I thank God! Worldly matters hold no appeal for me; whatever I do is as if I am doing it for God, and everything is blessed by God. Nothing can make me abandon God, for my hope is not in this world.

If a Christian's hope is confined to this life, they are more pitiable than all. Today, detach yourself from this world, even briefly, and you will begin to cultivate a glorious hope. You will find that relationships improve and that many things begin to change. When you have a glorious hope, you will have a different perspective on many things. For example, while preparing for an exam, you will not feel nervous, and you will do whatever it is needed. Because we have a glorious hope, we will act diligently, not with complacency, but with a sure and steady approach.

When we use our very lives to prove what we proclaim and believe, we will see the immense grace and glory that results. We will witness the death of Jesus Christ constantly upon us, with the power of resurrection ever present. Paul was able to emerge from the arena because the power of resurrection shielded him, preventing any beast from harming him. I once ministered to two giants: one was a hundred-kilogram taekwondo expert and martial arts instructor, and the other was a hundred-and-fifty-kilogram sumo wrestler.

The sumo wrestler's fingers were as thick as carrots, which was frightening. He urged me to help him quickly, saying that he could not control his hands and was always wanting to hit someone. If his hand struck someone, it could kill them. I was working at the time, so I asked a student at our school to find me a conference room, where I took him and cast out the demon after a period of prayer. During the prayer, the demon stretched out two large hands to grab me, but it could not reach me. He later fell to the ground and woke up two minutes later, saying that the demon had been cast out and that he could control himself. He said that during the prayer, the demon inside him wanted to use his hands to strangle me, but could not grasp me. Hearing this, my faith increased, and I recognized the effectiveness of casting out demons.

The hundred-plus-kilogram, one-meter-ninety-tall taekwondo master reached out to hit me. Before his fist could rise, a powerful force propelled him several meters away, causing him to fall to the ground with a loud thud. I had to rush over to see if he was injured, as it was in my office, and I would be held accountable if he was hurt. But thank God, nothing happened. I think the Colosseum was probably similar. If the power of resurrection of Jesus Christ is within us, is there anything better than that?

I also ministered to a man who moved incredibly fast, and we all sat there praying for him. The Spirit of God prompted me to dodge first, so I stepped back a couple of meters. Then that fellow instantly darted in front of me and tried to claw at me. Startled, I immediately grabbed both of his hands. I felt that ministering to God and casting out demons was truly meaningful. Nothing could harm us, because we are serving God by dedicating our lives to Him. It's a very exciting thing to talk about; it's a pity you haven't had this kind of experience. So, my hope is not in this world but in heaven. May God remember me. God will surely be gracious to you, allowing you to trample on the devil and enemy in this world. Everyone must become a demon-caster, one who tramples on the devil and enemy. You can certainly do these wonderful things. Even if you can't minister up close, you can still trample on the devil and enemy from a distance. Because our hope is to be united with the Lord in glory, and one day we will come before God to receive His glorious praise, becoming faithful and good servants.

III. Death Comes Through Adam, Resurrection From Christ

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

We often think that Christ has risen, but we are not Christ ourselves. Actually, even if Adam died, you are not Adam, but you still have to die with Adam, because when one man dies, all die. And because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, when one man rises, all will rise. This is a spiritual logic. Because in God's eternity, there is a plan to select the people of God from among these people and enjoy the eternal glory since the creation of the world together in Jesus Christ. Because God has determined His will in Jesus Christ to have all things subjected to Jesus Christ's feet. Today, we who build the body of Jesus Christ, we are the body of Jesus Christ, and we also trample all things under our feet. The most important hurdle in this process is to destroy the one who holds the power of death. In other words, we need a completely new understanding of death and resurrection.

Death is not physical death; it is our spirit arriving at death. Because people who live in this world have hope, but if they don't have hope in eternity, they will go to death after they die, because death reigns in them. When Jesus Christ reigns in us, even though our physical body dies, we are alive in eternity. It is the spirit that gives life, and our physical body will also be resurrected into a glorious body, which is exactly what Jesus Christ did. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, that is, the final enemy to be destroyed is death. That death is not the death we are talking about, but the spirit of death, which destroyed a spirit of death.

Jesus Christ conquered death, so are you still afraid of death? He rose from the dead on the third day. No one tells us what happened during those three days, but we can imagine that it was a battle. Jesus Christ won this battle for us, so the power of death has no effect on us. Today, I boldly tell you that because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, you can overcome death through Him. From now on, all medical expenses are waived, because medical expenses can let you die, but they cannot make you live. Small illnesses can be cured, but forget about big ones.

We who carry this eternal hope are pursuing these things. Whether it's business or work, nothing can stop us from believing in the Lord properly, and nothing can stop us from offering our time to God. Some people say they can't live without working and making money. What kind of brain is that? The most formidable thing is death. If even death has been conquered, what else cannot be conquered? Thinking that we live by working, doing business, and relying on money is completely wrong. Money can't stop death, otherwise we would all be making money. Precisely because money cannot solve the problem, why bother making so much? Before sixty, you exchange your life for money; after sixty, you can't exchange money for life. That is ignorance. And we who maintain our health by serving have clearly proven it to everyone. What I am saying is that death comes through Adam, but the resurrection of the dead comes through Jesus Christ, and all things will be united in Jesus Christ.

But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:23-28)

IV. The Resurrected Body Is Imperishable

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps a seed of wheat or of some other kind. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:35-54)

This is very well said: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. There was once a person named Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead, bringing him out of the tomb. But that resurrection was only a physical resurrection, and later Lazarus died again. We need to start rethinking something: Lazarus's resurrection and Jesus Christ's resurrection from the tomb are not the same resurrection. Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected, while Lazarus died of his own illness and then was resurrected. After Jesus Christ rose from the dead, you will find that He can pass through walls. A locked door cannot lock in the glorious body of Jesus Christ after His resurrection.

Jesus Christ still had a body after He rose from the dead, but it was a glorious body, imperishable. This goes beyond our rational understanding, but it doesn't matter. Today, we must know that the gospel we believe in is this kind of gospel, not Lazarus's resurrection from the dead. For example, if someone is sick, we hope through prayer to let him live. What I dislike the most is this: praying to let him live is just continuing to suffer. It's better to let him go peacefully. I say this because this is what I believe myself. If I reach that state, just let me go peacefully; there's no point in living. Lazarus was actually quite unlucky, taking his last breath twice, and some people even take it several times. The process of taking your last breath is very difficult, like the soul leaving its shell. The process of dying is quite painful, so brothers and sisters, don't expect to live on.

Today, we don't expect to live on; we expect to offer ourselves in Jesus Christ, longing for God to take our lives, and then you will receive the glorious hope in eternity. Sometimes I see people who don't want to die struggling, which is too painful. A flesh and blood body cannot inherit the eternal kingdom. Don't have hope in this world anymore; have hope in eternity. It's so good to live out the image of God in a down-to-earth way with this glorious hope. Don't be like the Corinthians, just thinking about passing through walls to take other people's things, how convenient it is to be a thief. Ultimately, it's still a world-based logic system.

The body of Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead is imperishable, while Lazarus's body is perishable, so stop expecting to live in the flesh. Always let people have hope in eternity. Among us, there are still many carnal people who only know that our healing and deliverance should last one minute longer than the devil, so that people can live a few more days. That's not how it works. We didn't just say this today; we saw through it a long time ago. When we see someone about to die, we should first do ideological work, so that the dying person can see through it and the living people around them can also see through it. This is the work we should do.

This passage talks about the last trumpet sounding, which is the seventh trumpet in Revelation. When the seventh trumpet sounds, Jesus Christ comes, and then we who are alive will be caught up into the air to meet the Lord. Of course, some people won't be able to go up, and some people will be thrown back down halfway. In other words, brothers and sisters must strive hard, longing to receive the gospel of resurrection and glorious hope that God has given us. When the last trumpet sounds, several things will happen. The whole world will see two preachers being killed, and then, after a few days, the corpses lying in the street will suddenly come to life, ascend to heaven on the clouds, and meet the Lord. At this time, all the people whom God delights in will be resurrected from the dead, and those who are alive will also be caught up into the air to meet the Lord.

At that time, everything will change in an instant. A perishable body will become an imperishable body. Some people say that everyone will return to the age of eighteen at that time. It seems that you still care about that face. If that's the case, eighteen-year-old is also a perishable eighteen-year-old. When God gives us a glorious body, then you can pass through walls. But if passing through walls is for being a thief, then you will be put back halfway without being lifted up. This proves one thing to us: victory through the Lord Jesus.

V. Victory Through the Lord Jesus

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

We do what the Lord Jesus did, and we walk the path that the Lord Jesus walked. The Lord Jesus did not walk the path of the law, but the path of offering Himself. If you offer yourself as a living sacrifice, the law is just child's play, because you have completely transcended the level of the law. The Lord Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. When we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, with this glorious hope, removing the selfishness that we live in this life, you will overcome death. The sting of death is sin, and the sting of sin is the law. We must be a person who transcends the law. Victory through the Lord Jesus is to offer ourselves like the Lord Jesus, with this glorious hope of resurrection. With the faith of die if you must, the result is that you never die. Although returning to God is our best hope, we still have to do more of the Lord's work in this world.

VI. With Hope, Strive to Do More of the Lord’s Work

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

If we don't have this glorious hope and we are not going to give an account to the Lord Jesus in the future, then we will just eat, drink, and be merry in this world. But for me, I can't find any meaning in having fun. I have traveled to many places. The rural areas all over the world are almost the same, and the cities are also similar. Looking around, there is nothing interesting. I just like to work. I'm really not trying to fool you, because in my heart, I have this glorious hope that when I come before the Lord Jesus Christ in the future, I will give Him my best answer sheet. Tell God, Here I am. God will say, You good and faithful servant, come in and share your master's happiness!

While on earth, strive to do more of the Lord's work. Some people say that I am too competitive. Actually, it's not being competitive; it's that I am willing. Being competed against is what causes worry. People like me cannot be competed against, only compete against others, with no time to be competed against. Some people are constantly controlled by their bosses, have to be assessed, and then feel uncomfortable when they see that their colleagues' PPTs are better than theirs; they see that other people's performance keeps going up, project after project, while they lose project after project, and they feel anxious. Then, being competed against is their own fault. But I only compete against others, and I don't have time to be competed against, because I strive to do work, doing everything as if doing it for God.

Everyone, don't misunderstand. Striving to do more of the Lord's work means not being competed against, because you have a glorious hope. What we do is not eating, drinking, and having fun, indulging in enjoyment. We just have one hobby: wanting to do things well and then give an account before the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people say that if they don't do their job well, they will disgrace God. Letting you do well is not letting you abandon Jesus. Many people, as they work, abandon Jesus, which is foolish. Jesus Christ is my strength and the source of my wisdom. How sad it is to cater to the flesh, and how foolish it is to love the world. When we have the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection, when we receive the hope of Jesus Christ's resurrection within us, it is truly wonderful when we run on the earth with this glorious hope.

Loving God is incomparably good! What people need most in their lives is God, is the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection. With this power, you will often experience God. God has already opened up a glorious path for you, and God wants to make you a clever, wise person with heavenly power. The power of Jesus Christ's resurrection will come upon you, all because we have such hope, and even death will be trampled under our feet. Some of us have been cheated out of tens of thousands, and some have even been cheated out of hundreds of thousands, all because they live in the hope of this life. Therefore, the chapters before in 1 Corinthians are just an operation, and the root is in this chapter we read today, which is that we must have the hope of resurrection. Amen! May God grant us all this hope, and may God bless everyone!