Introduction

Good morning. Today, we will examine 2 Corinthians, Chapter 4. I often refer to this chapter. However, when conducting a formal Bible study, it's hard to pinpoint the central theme. The theme of this chapter is: Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Paul tells the Corinthians that we do not lose heart. I suspect that some people said Paul dared not come. Otherwise, Paul would not need to tell them not to lose heart. In fact, Paul was not afraid to come. In the previous chapter, he said that he did not want everyone to be sad and ashamed when they met but hoped that everyone would have the same hope, the same dream, and the same resurrection power as Jesus Christ. The previous chapter talked about Ministers of the New Covenant, Full of Glory. Today, Paul continues by saying that since we have been given this ministry and received mercy, we do not lose heart.

I. We Preach Christ Jesus as Lord, Not Ourselves

If we often lack ability and yet preach ourselves, we will surely lose heart. Today, our brothers and sisters must know that if we preach Christ Jesus as Lord, you will not lose heart because the resurrection power of Jesus Christ will be manifested in us. But if we preach ourselves and do not have this power, then we are ruined. Those who are rooted in their own abilities often have many bad habits, and the difficulties they encounter are often more significant than their own abilities. Unable to overcome difficulties with their own power, yet wanting to promote their own name, they will live in fear.

Therefore, if a person often has fear in their heart, the reason is simple: trusting in oneself and proclaiming one's own name inevitably makes one neurotic. There is a program called Dog Whisperer that demonstrates a very interesting truth. If a dog becomes the master and king at home, despising everything, this dog will often become neurotic and quickly become a mad dog because it has no master. The Dog Whisperer often needs to make the dog submit. Once it submits, the dog becomes quiet. Later, I discovered that there is a shared characteristic between people and dogs. Once a dog has a master, no matter what its master is like, once it recognizes its master, it becomes bolder and will not be neurotic. Once a person proclaims Christ Jesus as Lord, they will certainly not be neurotic because we preach Christ Jesus as Lord.

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)

This means that we have taken on this ministry because we became your servants through Jesus, and therefore we do not lose heart. Because we have God as our Lord, we do not lose heart. If a person has no Lord in this life, they are lost and confused, and then they will live neurotically, often losing heart, and still feel that they should be based on their own abilities, believing that man can conquer nature. As a result, they cannot overcome natural and man-made disasters such as floods and earthquakes. We really need God as our Lord. We do not lose heart in this ministry because we do not preach ourselves but proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord.

II. God's Light Has Shined in Our Hearts

We do not lose heart in this ministry because God's light has shined in our hearts.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

God's light shines in our hearts, which means we have been illuminated by God's light, and there are no more dark and ignorant things inside us.

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2-4)

Today, we preach Jesus Christ because God's light has shined in our hearts. Until today, I have a sense of pain in my heart, that there are still some brothers and sisters in our church who live in ignorance. From what I know, it is not one or two, but many. People are concerned about things like this: Someone said his brother borrowed money from him, his mother was sick and needed money, but she died because there was no money, his father was sick and he spent all his money, but his father still died. God's light has not yet shined in our hearts. If God's light shines in our hearts, we will not have hope in this world.

There are also many sisters who are busy dating and seeking online relationships all day long, and when they open their mouths, they are all concerned about the things that cause people to perish, that is, these trivial matters in the world. Then they live and die, which is meaningless. I care about your development in your career and your health because those things are all external reflections of your spiritual condition. Your health and financial situation show whether you are truly blessed or falsely blessed. Many people do not receive blessings after believing in the Lord and follow him very hard. Sometimes I feel that maybe they have no affinity with Jesus. Today, let God's light shine in our hearts, let our hearts come out of those dark and shameful things, not in those who are perishing. Let the gospel of Jesus Christ shine on us and let us see that it is empty for people to live in the world.

If you do not feel that living is empty today and live a fulfilling life, I think that’s questionable, whether you have an affinity with Jesus. I feel that it would be better to go to a temple for better results because your heart is filled with dark and ignorant things, living in deception and vanity. What people pursue is to eat, drink, and be merry in this world until death and destruction. Since God's light has shined in our hearts, we do not lose heart, even in matters of life and death, because our hope is not in this world at all. As a result, the Corinthians misunderstood and underestimated Paul, thinking that Paul was the same as them. Paul denied it, saying that God's light had shined in their hearts and they had come out of the darkness, and we have no hope in this world.

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. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

If you come to church with a strange idea to muddle along, that is not the way, not a solution, because this place is a group of people who have been illuminated by God's light. Why God's light has not shone on you, I cannot explain, I think this is probably election, without this affinity. So sometimes I say, if you don't have this affinity, it may be better to find a better affinity. Those actors who went to Thailand to find the White Dragon King later became famous and lived very freely. If you are willing to find the White Dragon King, perhaps you have this affinity. I say this because I really hope everyone can find their own affinity. Since God's light has illuminated us, we have this affinity with Jesus, that is, being chosen by God to receive such a ministry, the result is that immense power is manifested within us.

III. To Manifest God's Great Power

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

That's why I advise everyone to carefully evaluate what you really want. If what you want is not Jesus Christ, not to have God's glorious light shine on you, this immense power cannot be manifested because this immense power comes from God, and it can only be manifested when people dedicate themselves to God.

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 also be revealed in our mortal body. (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)

Someone said she doesn't really want this, but wants to find a wealthy husband, and Jesus doesn't seem like your ideal wealthy husband. If people do not want Jesus in this world, then what are you here for? In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ is to come to those who put this hope in eternal life. I repeat, the gospel of Jesus Christ shines on those who seek eternal life, but many people do not seek eternal life. What they seek is all in this life, but they cannot get anything in this life, they just live and die. Some people live to a certain age, give birth to someone, and then live for many years and die. If they all die in the end, then what are they doing in this world? In fact, what they are doing is eating, drinking, and waiting for death.

So we have this treasure in our dilapidated clay jars. Originally, we were worthless, not noble, nothing, but we have this treasure in clay jars to show that this immense power is from God. We were also waiting to die without hope. If your hope is all in this world, you have come to the wrong place. Your hope is to eat, drink, and wait for death, then what are you doing following Jesus? This path is hard-pressed on every side, perplexed, not peaceful in heart. You don't want to be persecuted, you don't want to be struck down, you don't want to carry around the death of Christ, so what do you want?

For those of us, especially the pastors among us, if you really want to follow me on this path, you must know to let God's light shine on you and drive out the darkness inside you. So no longer practice deception, nor distort the word of God, but set forth the truth plainly, so that you may commend yourself to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. You must know what your pursuit is. If your pursuit is not God, not loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength, you will not be hard-pressed on every side for Jesus Christ, you will not manifest this immense power, and you do not need this power.

We are like Paul, although we have not experienced his tragic situation, we are actually often hard-pressed on every side.

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. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

Because we who are alive are willing to die for Jesus Christ, the resurrection power of Jesus Christ is also manifested in us. So this treasure of ours lives a very fulfilling life, full of wonderful stories, and always manifests God's immense power, proving that we are servants of God, proving that we do not lose heart in any situation. There are still some among us who are afraid of death. One sister had a lump in her breast, and the doctor said it had grown from two centimeters to six centimeters, and then she said it was over. Before being handed over to death for Jesus, her courage had already vanished.

Can we boast about the immense power of Jesus Christ, can we always be handed over to death for Jesus Christ, and take life and death lightly? The more you fear death, the more you will die; the more you offer your life for Jesus Christ, the more you will gain life. Is this simple truth incomprehensible? Corinth was full of cowards. When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, some had already died. When he wrote 2 Corinthians, another large group had died. Someone asked me how I knew? It is written in the letter. I thank God! I have not lived this life in vain. My life is full of miracles, all manifesting that this immense power is from God and manifesting that I am a servant of Jesus Christ.

Because we are already in eternal life, our hope is not in this world, and what we are entangled in is not in this world either. Money can no longer control us, and we experience God in everything. In fact, everyone has experienced God in everything. Why are those who have experienced God among us still timid? Why do we still lose heart? Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. If your ministry is to eat, drink, and wait for death, then when death is mentioned, you are finished, without hope. People originally had no hope. People like us take life and death lightly because we care about what is unseen in this world, because what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Why do we often experience these things? Because all things are for you.

IV. All Things For Your Sake

Knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:14-15)

You know that having this ministry, we do not lose heart. We are to be an example to everyone, to show that this path is good, that it has God's glory, God's presence, and God's immense power. Although it is a difficult path surrounded by enemies, we are not crushed because God's power is with us. Though we are perplexed, we do not despair. Just as the Corinthians often troubled Paul, he was often disappointed, wept, and prayed because of them. Everyone must know that if someone serving God falls, my heart aches. I do not hope for your downfall, but for your strength.

So I often share our own stories, stories of our defiance of death and life, so that everyone may receive a little strength and begin to follow us on this path of eternal life, filled with God's power. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might increase through many. Everyone illuminated and repented in Jesus Christ then becomes a vessel of treasure. The angels in heaven cheer for us; they are our cheerleaders. As we read 2 Corinthians today, the angels in heaven are cheering for us because many among us, after hearing, will also become such people, and God's grace will be exceedingly increased, and thanksgiving will abound.

So everyone, tidy yourselves up, write down the testimonies you have not yet written, so that thanksgiving may abound. Each of us has many experiences, but we keep them to ourselves, unwilling to tell others. Brothers and sisters, if you live for others, receive mercy, and this ministry, then proclaim Jesus Christ, let God's light shine into our hearts, and let us have treasure within us to show God's immense power, and serve everyone, so that all may receive grace through us. Everyone must know that because people live selfishly, it is a very sad thing. Everyone must know what these things that people care about are.

Some time ago, I ministered to a sister who kept talking about her family matters, that her brother borrowed money from her, and her family advised her to find a wealthy partner so that her brother could freeload off her. She thought only of these things, and my heart was saddened. Among us, there are many such things, not just a few, all related to money, as if the only hope in life is money. But we have laid ourselves down, dedicated ourselves to God, to become ministers of the new covenant. Having this ministry, we do not lose heart, because we have become servants of God, and God is with us, so that we can be a blessing to many.

Whose blessing have you become, and for whom are you living? Sometimes you feel uncomfortable lending money to your brother, but also embarrassed not to lend. No matter what you do, you feel uncomfortable. People live in the world with just this little hope, living for these things. A person living in emptiness is meaningless. Let me pour cold water on you: people live and then die, with not much meaning. If there is to be meaning, it is to imitate those in Jesus Christ, to be able to trust Him, to live out God's glory, and not to have lived in vain. In the process of serving, it is tiring; it is a lie to say it is not. Paul was also like this. Otherwise, he would not often weep. It hurts to say it deeply, but it is useless to say it shallowly. Paul was often in this state.

So I guess Paul's temper was not very good because anger harms the liver, and after harming the liver, his eyes were not very good either, so he had eye problems. Why? Often suffering these afflictions in this world. It is hard for us to understand what kind of person he was. So his outer body was decaying day by day, but his inner being was being renewed day by day. As a result, these problems of Paul's became a laughingstock for the Corinthians, who said that Paul's outer body was decaying day by day, and he did not even take good care of his body, yet he served God. Paul did not take care of himself but rather thought it was better to die early, having no other hope in life, only the hope of being a faithful and good servant before God.

You must understand what I mean by dying early, because that is what I think. Living in this world is actually very hard. We live in the flesh not because we want to, but because we are made to. There is only one hope: to see God's face early. If God calls me to go tonight, I do not want to stay until morning, because seeing God's face is far better. It is just that sometimes leaving the brothers and sisters is really a bit reluctant, so I live one day and shout to high heaven for a whole day, so that everyone can understand these trivial things in this world. Some people say they are afraid that they will not be able to see God’s face after they die; with that little faith of theirs, I do not think there is any need to meet.

I am very moved! Worried about not being able to see God's face, toiling and laboring all day long for these trivial matters in the world, seeing not even half a glimpse of God's presence, but rather seeing the presence of demons. When did we manifest God's power in our bodies? The human body will decay sooner or later. This old skin will rot and decay, because it is born of flesh, but we do not lose heart either.

V. Though Our Outer Self Is Wasting Away, Our Inner Self Is Being Renewed Day by Day

Look at our brothers and sisters, though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. If the outer self is wasting away, then let it waste away; there is no need to care so much. Looking in the mirror, there is definitely another wrinkle. At a glance, the shape is really not as good as before. 70 years old is not as good as 60 years old, 60 years old is not as good as 50 years old, 50 years old is not as good as 40 years old, that is certain. Someone asked me if in heaven they will be in the most beautiful 18-year-old shape. I think it is really not necessarily so; you see, they love beauty to this extent. Though our outer self is wasting away, we do not lose heart. If it is wasting away, let it waste away. Better to die early, because the hope of us people is no longer in the flesh. Our hope is no longer in this life, because we know very well that this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. I say it again, it is really nothing to worry about if the outer self is wasting away.

When I was young, I thought I might not live past 50, but I gained more than ten years. Because my heart often throbbed, I started having this situation when I was in school. I didn't know what the problem was. People wanted me to go to the hospital for a check-up. I thought, Forget it. As a result, I could never swallow this breath. What do you say? When I'm very tired, my heart throbs. Such things happen often. I thought maybe it was an evil spirit. But anyway, David died, Moses died, and even Lazarus died after he was resurrected from the dead. It turns out that God's will is not for us to live in the flesh, but for us to live with God in eternity.

Today, the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection will be manifested in us, and we will not lose heart. We do not have so many hopes in this world, nor do we want to have any hopes. There is no need to lose heart if the body is decaying, and there is no need to lose heart if the body is uncomfortable. Only those who live in this life will lose heart. You cannot die if God does not allow you to die. I thank God for letting me live in this life without hope, for not being so interested in this matter of living, but leaving the world to be with the Lord is my longing. I wish I could see the Lord's face sooner; this is my hope. Many people advise me to take good care of my body, but I rarely take care of my own body. Some people care about my body more than I do myself. To be honest, I really can't let go of the brothers and sisters.

VI. For This Light Momentary Affliction Is Preparing For Us An Eternal Weight of Glory Beyond All Comparison

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Because we will certainly experience this light momentary affliction in this world. The little affliction we experience today is really nothing. If we have experienced affliction in order to enjoy more in the world, then there is no glory to be spoken of. But if it is for the sake of achieving an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, then this light momentary affliction is nothing. This is our thinking. I really tell you that the eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison is real. If you have cast out many demons and performed many miracles like me, you will definitely think so too.

In this world, the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection is often with us. The grace that everyone has experienced in Jesus Christ is because this small group of people has offered their lives so that you may receive grace, because we have a glorious hope, and this glorious hope is real. The spiritual world is real, and the authority that comes from Jesus Christ is so real that it can trample on the demonic enemies and release the captives. Everything is for the eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Among us, some people drop out after a while. To be honest, only one of the first batch of leaders selected is left, and only one of the second batch of leaders selected is left. How many do you think will be left in the third and fourth batches? Without this glorious hope, this path cannot be walked, and I will definitely be sad in my heart. But I thank God that God is selecting the treasures in His eyes. No matter what situation you are in, if you have in your heart the hope of an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, many things in this world become simple for you.

As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

If we live in the flesh and have this treasure to manifest God's immense power, what glory and what power will be revealed when we see the Lord's face in the future? Everyone, run forward with this hope, longing to receive such a ministry before God. It is not only pastors who have this ministry, but every Christian has this ministry. Everyone, do not lose heart. One thing is certain: one day we will leave this world to be with the Lord. If we are concerned with the things that are seen, you will not be able to walk this path, and the power will be gone. When you are concerned with the things that are seen, everything is over. The power of Jesus Christ's resurrection is gone. If it has not been completely eliminated, it will also become moldy. How do you say this path can be walked?

Originally, we had a good hand of cards, but it was troubled because we were so concerned with what we saw. So listen to what we say. What do you care about? Sometimes I have to control myself. When I hear that people care about those trivial matters and are concerned with all these things, I say that I am a bit busy and hang up first. The reason why I care about your financial situation is because if you had the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection, would you be like this? Today, let us be determined to run in this world with the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection, with the hope of eternal glory beyond all comparison, so that our vessels of clay, which are about to decay, may have this treasure within us.

VII. We Believe, Therefore We Speak

Those who do not believe speak one way, but those who believe speak another way.

So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we speak (2 Corinthians 4:12-13)

We believe, therefore we speak, better to die early. Since the body is decaying day by day, we do not lose heart having this ministry, because we have despised everything, and God's light shining in our hearts has begun to have a glorious hope. Because we believe in God, everything we do is for your sake, and we hope for this eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, all in one word: faith. If you believe, it is not that you believe only after seeing, but that you will definitely see once you believe. The foundation of believing in God's word is to know that this life is all vanity of vanities, and that living is meaningless. If people think all day long about the things of the world, it is meaningless. If you think it is meaningful, then in the end it is just an urn, do you understand?

The Jesus Christ we preach is a Jesus Christ full of glorious hope. Chinese Mingding Destiny has made a great discovery in this generation, discovering that God's promises are true in Jesus Christ; discovering that we are powerful and full of hope in Jesus Christ; discovering that all who come to Jesus are healed, discovering that the foundation of healing and deliverance is to build a glorious church; discovering that people should live out God's glorious image when they are alive, not the selfish image of a ghost. Chinese Mingding Destiny will bring about a Christian transformation in this generation and will play a very important role. Even theology is Chinese theology, which will become the most advanced theology, the theology most after God's heart, because we believe, therefore we speak.

In the days to come, we will see Chinese Mingding Destiny spread throughout the earth, manifesting God's glory. God will greatly use us Chinese, no matter which corner of the world you are in, God will greatly use you, because God's will is so! Many people will be blessed because of us, so what a wonderful ministry this is. Since we have received mercy, and still have such an opportunity to receive this ministry, we do not need to lose heart. We need to be strong, tidy up, and even if no one runs with us, we still have to run this road. Imitate the Apostle Paul in running this path full of God's glory and power, a path of being a faithful and good servant. Amen!