I. Introduction

Good day to all! Today, we delve into our series on wisdom and discernment. What’s the topic today? Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Gate. Let me tell you, there are no fools in heaven. The inhabitants of heaven are full of wisdom, with a heart full of the knowledge of God in discernment. Otherwise, you wouldn’t choose this path. To be able to choose this path, one has to be very smart, isn't it? So today, we continue with our wisdom and discernment series, titled Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Gate.

The Gaokao, the national college entrance examination, has just concluded. Candidates, after relentless hard work in preparation, finally entered the examination hall. This is a crucial battle! The results determine whether you go to a good university or a bad one. Whether it's a 985 or 211 university, or an obscure college, or even Lanxiang Vocational School – a university that anyone can enter with just one point in the Gaokao. What kind of university is that? Everyone would be ashamed to go to such a university. When people ask which university you got into, you say: I got into... Oh dear, why is it so hard to say? Oh, the one I got into, let's not talk about it. Why ask, making it so difficult for me to say? Is it a bogus university? Oh, too huge. Just a university, a rotten university.

If just anyone could enter the Kingdom of Heaven, would it still be the Kingdom of Heaven? If that were heaven, I wouldn't be too keen to go. It would be a rather dreadful country. People these days love to immigrate, you know? They earn a bit of money and don't know where to put it, so they think about immigration. Would you immigrate to Tanzania or Mozambique? I've rarely heard of people immigrating there, or to Vanuatu or Sierra Leone. Nobody wants to go to those places. A country that anyone can immigrate to must be a terrible country. Would you still want to go? Probably not. If you ask your children what university they want to go to, it's always Tsinghua or Peking University. Of course, some people forget what they want to study; I want to study chicken! Difficult, Tsinghua and Peking University are hard to get into. Those who get in are the most outstanding students.

The Kingdom of Heaven is the highest place in the heavens, a place filled with the glory of God. How did Christ Jesus ascend? Christ Jesus chose to die on the cross for the world, then resurrected and ascended to sit at the right hand of God the Father, wearing a crown of glory, paving the way for eternal life for us! Do you know the standards to enter the Kingdom? If one does not know, then one should have paid more attention in primary school. Read the Bible in your hands carefully, many do not read it properly. Actually, Chinese Mingding Destiny has a very powerful attribute, and that is reading the Word of God. They read the Bible very well, reading a lot. The standards for entering the Kingdom are very high. If you do not know the standards, go back to primary school. It is a narrow gate; strive to enter through the narrow gate. Who said this? Jesus said it. You must strive to enter through the narrow gate. After searching, I realised I haven't talked about this before. How could I have missed this important teaching? Strive to enter through the narrow gate, let’s make up for it today. Listen carefully.

There are many strange happenings and phenomena in Christian circles, you know? If you've been to many churches, you should know what I'm talking about. One of the strange phenomena is the concept of salvation. They think God wants everyone to be saved. I also hope everyone can get into Tsinghua and Peking University, but that's just a hope, not a fact. What's the fact? The fact is, it's not easy. What exactly is the concept of salvation? They think it means going to heaven after death. When I ask, When were you saved? Oh, I was saved in 2012. I ask, Are you saved? Yes, I am. Then where will you go when you die? They say very definitively, I will go to heaven. They are very certain, they even have the assurance of salvation. “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Did they do that? No, they are still being their own masters.

Once, some Christians were very zealous and liked to go to the streets to lead people in salvation prayers. So I told my colleagues, Brothers, let's participate and see how they do it. So we went and followed their rules, handing out tissues and masks. The basket had everything. I got myself a basket too. One day passed, and we gathered in the evening. How many did you save? Two. How many did you save? I couldn't come back empty-handed, so I also saved two. It’s so easy. I give them a mask and say, Let me lead you in prayer. I'll say a sentence, and you repeat after me. Those old folks are so simple-minded, they just repeat after me, and they are saved. Are they saved? They are saved! But something doesn't feel right. This is a strange phenomenon because they say if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, you are saved. Believe in what? Believe that pork will be cheaper by a dollar at the market tomorrow, probably believing that.

Regarding the concept of salvation, I have not been convinced by this teaching in the church for many years. Later, I established Chinese Mingding Destiny, and the concept of salvation has been redefined. After careful examination of the Bible, I realized that salvation is when we are alive, because of faith in Jesus, we can live out the image of God. It is to restore the original image of God when He created us, this is salvation. Because our God is the God of the living, not just going to heaven after death. Salvation, being saved, decision. Later, some people asked me, Do you have biblical basis? I said, Yes. Did the Israelites get saved when they left Egypt? Difficult. Because that generation died in the wilderness, wandering for forty years. Why? They were all people whom God detested. Can the Kingdom of Heaven have people whom God detests? It shouldn't. They were always annoying God, just looking at them is vexing. So a person hasn't been saved just by leaving Egypt. Entering the Promised Land is also a stretch, true salvation is living out the glorious image of God.

Another phenomenon is very strange in the church: who do you believe in? I believe in Jesus. But they don’t do what Jesus did, they do a whole bunch of things that Jesus didn’t do. Especially seeing those thirty, forty, fifty-year-olds sitting together, gossiping. Oh, your son, my son; our maid, your maid. This is the most common topic of conversation for Singaporeans, the maid is the main topic. When did Jesus talk about this? Never. So the church turns a blind eye to those who are bound by demons; that’s how it is.

Another strange phenomenon is blessings. Some people get cancer and say it’s a blessing from God. I find these facts to be difficult to understand. Later, God gives the person who said this a similar blessing. They don't understand paying the price for curses and suffering for Jesus Christ. They think paying the price for curses is paying the price for believing in the Lord. Anyway, it's all messed up. I don’t know what's what. Why do they think this way? I am very surprised, they must not have studied well in primary school. If you study well in primary school, you will be able to read the textbooks, and you will know that something is not right. Read Deuteronomy 28 from beginning to end, and you will know what is a blessing and what is a curse.

Many people live under curses but still think they are Job. But they don't even understand Job's story. Do you know that Job had to repent later? He used to hear about God, Job wasn't a good seed. He asked God a lot of questions, and God didn't bother to answer him, that's the situation. Later, God answered what he didn't ask, and after Job repented, God blessed him double.

There are many strange phenomena in Christian circles. One year, I went to dinner with a wealthy businessman who was a Christian. He didn't like the sermons of his church's pastor, who said that only one in a thousand people goes to heaven, and nine hundred and ninety-nine go to hell. He asked me what I thought. I said, I haven't seen it, so I'd be talking nonsense if I told you. Many strange phenomena, but he looked at me as if I definitely had an answer. I said, Those who live like Jesus go to Jesus; those who live like the devil go to the devil. If you are half like Jesus and half like the devil, it is bad, you are stuck in the door. Your head is stuck in the door, not functioning well. Who you’re like is where you go, that's my logic. Are there many of these strange phenomena now? Yes, a lot.

When you come to Chinese Mingding Destiny, you will find one thing that is absolute. We never talk nonsense about God's standards. We believe that God's standards and requirements are very high, and people must strive for them! Do you feel busy when you come to Chinese Mingding Destiny? Saying busy is a bit crude, but it is true to say that life is very fulfilling. Taking notes, is very busy. But if you go back to the original church, you won't be used to it. Why? No requirements. Does that mean there are no requirements for the Kingdom of God? That can't be! You should know that you are preparing for the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the best kingdom in the universe. The best company, the best university, the Kingdom of Heaven is entered through effort. Those who strive will attain it. It's not about testing intelligence, it's about testing faith and hope. There is biblical basis for this. Today I want to make this clear: you must strive to enter through the narrow gate, and behind that narrow gate is the Kingdom of Heaven.

You should know that the best time for many people’s intelligence and effort is when they take the university entrance examination. After the exam, they start to slack off, and slack off for many years. Have you noticed? Their IQ is the highest when they take the college entrance examination, and then it deteriorates, and then they become loose. What I hate the most is Christians being loose. I hate Christians living that kind of loose life is a disgrace. Do you have any pursuits? It is said they believe in Jesus, but you can't see them running with all their might, just wandering around. Wearing flip-flops, a tank top, and big shorts, wandering around. Do you think you’re taking a stroll in the street? So I am sounding the alarm for those who think they are saved and can go to heaven. You can't be loose, because there are no lazy people in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible says: “The lazy and wicked servant will not enter” and will be thrown outside.

Some churches study whether being thrown outside is good or bad. Some people say it’s okay for them just to be thrown outside. I think, what kind of logic is that? You should know that there were ten virgins who were thrown out into the darkness. Some pastors specialize in studying what that darkness is. I don't understand, I don't like to study that. I like to study how to squeeze in. Studying being thrown in the darkness, gnashing your teeth there? That must be very hard. In the early years, I saw many bad Christians, bad pastors, and colleagues in the church. I thought if heaven is full of these people, I might as well not go. I have some requirements for myself, for reflection.

If you are taking the college entrance examination, your family will not drag you to travel, nor will they drag you to go camping, because you are preparing for the exam. Nor will they drag you to a barbecue, or drag you to go fishing, going out for a week. No way, how is that possible? You have to prepare for the college entrance examination. We are now preparing for the Kingdom of Heaven, where do we have time to talk nonsense? They don’t understand. Since you came to this church, you don’t go anywhere else. What’s the point? What's the point of going there? I teach the brothers and sisters a few words to shut them up. Oh, what you are doing is really meaningless, driving for three hours, getting out of the car to set up a tent, then setting up a stall and starting a barbecue, busy for a while, then sitting down to eat. It's the same as the two sentences spoken at home: Too boring! Let's have a good talk at home.

What’s the point of those things? People interact with their hearts. If you don’t have the same heart, can you have the same heart by barbecuing together? You'll still be talking about those nonsense things there anyway. Tell them what you’re doing is too low class. Next time I’ll do something, you can come to my house. Those things are too boring, you tell them. I’ve been there, those things are too boring, I don’t want to go again. After going, you are busy for a while, looking at me, I’m looking at you, there’s no point. If it’s meaningful, then let’s build a good relationship.

So the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven is narrow, the path of the Kingdom of Heaven is narrow, you must strive to enter through the narrow gate. Do not slack off, do not be lazy. Lazy people are lazy and wicked servants, how could they enter? If you read the entire Bible, whether it is the New Testament or the Old Testament, you will find that the Old Testament and the New Testament authors declare the same faith in one voice. People are willing to pay the price to take civil service exams, college entrance exams, graduate exams, and study abroad. But when believing in the Lord and taking the Kingdom of Heaven exam, why are they unwilling to pay the price? Do they feel it’s not worth it? Is the Kingdom of Heaven not as good as being a civil servant? Is the Kingdom of Heaven not as good as Tsinghua and Peking University? Is the Kingdom of Heaven not as good as a good company? The value of the Kingdom of Heaven is difficult to measure.

If the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, comes upon you, it is incomparably good. Because there is no disaster, no disease, and no poverty in the kingdom of God; there is no senile dementia in the kingdom of God, really. The kingdom of God is infinitely good. So I often encourage everyone to dedicate your time with senile dementia to God from today onwards, and also dedicate the time you spend for cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to God. Then it’s impossible not to have time, you have to pay the price. Chinese Mingding Destiny is a theology of paying the price. If you come among us and do not pay the price, I don’t know what you are doing here. This is what I want to tell you today, you must strive to enter through the narrow gate, because there is no disease, no disaster, and no poverty here, it is infinitely good. All is prosperity, wisdom and cleverness. People without certain wisdom and cleverness cannot make such a choice.

Open your minds today, gain such wisdom and discernment, and know that this is incomparably good. You ask me how I know, because there are so many testimonies of healing in our midst, saving us from so much pain and suffering. Recently, there was a little brother who was very cute, following his mother to serve his mother’s aunt. For many years, she used crutches and couldn’t work in the fields. At 75 years old, she threw away her crutches and went to work in the fields. I think they are very powerful, they even have this ability. How big is this pastor? He is not a pastor. He is also being pastored among us, and I have to put some effort into pastoring them, that’s the situation. You say, how good is the Kingdom of Heaven!

Moreover, our sisters, from now on, do not buy beauty packages anymore. Because believing in the Lord really makes you more beautiful, really makes you prettier. If you don’t believe it, you can look in the mirror, or take out your previous photos and compare them. The other day, one of our sisters took out a photo of herself from more than ten years ago. Let me look at her now and look at her before, I said, it’s like she was possessed by a ghost before. She said she was annoyed by her previous ugly face, and now she is beautiful. Do you still need to buy beauty products? No need. Let’s take out the time for beauty and dedicate it to God, paying the price for God. Is that good? Good! We have practical experience and actual cases. Appearance is born from the heart, if the inside is an evil person, the face is the image of an evil person. So sometimes I find that when I see a person’s face, I know how twisted he must be inside. After believing in the Lord, the inside slowly loosens up, because you begin to pursue the kingdom of God, and begin to desire the glory of God.

II. Scripture

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are You only a few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:23-30)

III. Prayer

God, today give us wisdom, give us understanding, let us know how precious Your kingdom is. Let us know what a glorious grace it is to pay the price for your kingdom. God, today let your word motivate us, let us straighten our tired legs and sore arms again, and continue to run the road ahead. God, grant us such ambition today, give us such understanding. Let us know that we must strive to enter through the narrow gate. God, we wish to stand before you one day and receive your glorious praise, to become faithful and good servants. God, help us today, guide us. Let us deeply repent, completely demolish all worldly logical systems. Let us act according to your word, love you with all our heart, with all our soul, with all strength and all our mind, until we see your face. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

IV. Scripture Background

The background of this passage is very interesting. I think Luke carefully organized the content when writing the Gospel of Luke. Because before entering the narrow gate, he actually talked about several things. The first narrow gate is that everyone must repent.

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered

====输出开始
## Fifth Point: Repentance is a Narrow Gate, Enter Through Effort

Repentance is a narrow gate, and it requires effort. The most difficult thing for a person is to establish a new set of values. Replacing old values with new ones, that is what repentance is. Many people think that repentance is just something you say with your mouth, I repent, and that's it. Just a movement of the lips and it's done! But the mind is still full of rubbish, and it's caked on, stuck fast. It's hard to change habits once they've formed.

Once I was looking for a bottle, and after searching around in my backyard, I found a dirty beer bottle. It was full of stubborn stains. I tried this chemical agent, then that detergent, and then I scraped it with a shovel. I worked hard, very hard, and finally cleaned one bottle. Repentance is like dismantling the things that you've taken for granted, and that's very difficult. It's like scrubbing away stubborn stains that have accumulated over decades, stuck on tight, so you have to scrape them off with a shovel. And you'll find that when your core interests are touched, your temper flares up. Because that's where your core interests and values lie. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Touching your heart's concerns, it's hard to change.

But these are the very things that people value, and they are what must be repented of. The entire set of values must be changed to the values of Jesus Christ. Oh my, how can we live like that! Not easy. Isn't it? Have you thought about it, when your core interests are touched? Today Jesus says that for the sake of Jesus, you must forsake parents, spouses, children, brothers, sisters, fields, and houses. Oh dear, that's too hard! Isn't that touching your heart? It's difficult, but that's what repentance is! Repentance is indeed a bit hard. Oh, exert yourself, strive hard, very hard. Even today I am still striving to repent, it is a narrow gate of values.

The change of values is called repentance: this thing is valuable, this thing is just joss paper; this thing is a treasure, this thing is dung; this is a piece of rubbish... Would you fight with someone over a piece of rubbish? You wouldn't. So later the Apostle Paul said, I count everything as rubbish. If you really see everything as rubbish, wouldn't you be changed? But Paul, even at the height of seeing everything as rubbish, still felt that he was a sinner, not yet fully changed. Why? He didn't have the likeness of Jesus Christ in him. If a person doesn't have the likeness of Jesus Christ, and is still waiting to bear fruit, still waiting to come alive, that is not easy. So repentance is change from the root!

If a person lives a lifetime, living and then dying, and you realize it was meaningless? In the blink of an eye, my parents have been dead for many years. The things they pursued in this world have become like passing clouds. Isn't it? If you don't really feel that living is meaningful, you can't walk this path of faith, because the root is wrong. Grumble a bit, complain a bit, then get cancer or something, then go through the torture of electrotherapy and chemotherapy. Oh my heavens! There are two kingdoms here, two logical systems. Which do you choose?

But this is not something that can be removed in one day. Remove it today, remove it tomorrow, remove it the day after, constantly remove it. Sometimes, the weeds never die, the spring breeze blows and they grow again. Press down the gourd here, and the dipper floats up there. Just when you've killed a carnal desire, it comes alive again. Isn't it? If you don't strive, how can you succeed? If you don't strive, aren't you finished? Entering the narrow gate of repentance is not easy, you have to work hard to turn yourself around, to strive to put yourself into the word of God. Do you think it's great just to eat and drink in Jesus Christ? Is it great just to have heard the Word of Jesus and the teachings? No, repentance is great. This is called tearing down and rebuilding, tearing down the things of the world and rebuilding the things of God, this is called repentance.

Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Do you want to perish? If you don't, and you don't repent, isn't that the road to destruction? Don't walk to destruction and then say, Oh, how did I perish? Wasn't that the road you walked step by step? The road to the Kingdom of Heaven is the opposite. What looks like a loss in the Kingdom of Heaven looks like a gain in the world; what looks like a gain in the Kingdom of Heaven looks like a loss in the world. This is completely contrary, do you think repentance is difficult? It's difficult, so it requires effort.

## Sixth Point: Bearing Fruit is a Narrow Gate, Enter Through Effort

Bearing fruit is a narrow gate, and it requires effort, effort to bear fruit. If you do something and get results, you have to go through some effort. Some people have a hundred relationships without results, they act like hooligans a hundred times, isn't it? Yesterday I drove past an abandoned building project, and after checking, it had been abandoned for ten years, no results. So, when Jesus searched for fruit on a tree for three years and found none, Jesus said, Cut it down. Then someone pleaded, Leave it for another year, then cut it down if it doesn't bear fruit, but Jesus ignored him. Leave it for another year to see if it can bear fruit, and if not, then cut it down.

Three years plus one year, how many years? Four years. How many years have you believed in the Lord today? Thank God you are still here today. Bearing fruit is something everyone is confused about, because fruit is very important. What exactly is fruit? The first kind of fruit is the fruit of faith, which is miracles. These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover, all these are miracles. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is faith, gifts, goodness... these.

So I think that today we must bear the fruit of faith and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Difficult, not easy, these years haven't gone well. Faith is believing in the Word of God, and the Word of God contradicts our natural understanding, and our natural understanding has no miracles. Miracles and faith are not difficult. But the problem is, what do you believe in? Do you believe in the Word of God? Then you need to put effort into reading the Word of God. Believe in the Word of God, and you will bear the fruit of believing in the Word of God, and that fruit is miracles. We declare what God says, and we will see signs and wonders.

If you don't put in effort, how can you know the Word of God? If you don't have wisdom, how can you put in effort? If you don't have understanding, how can you know that this is a treasure and you need to put in effort? Belief and unbelief are key, and the carnal and the discernment of good and evil are all unbelief. Therefore, everything that does not come from faith is sin, this logic is established. So you must bear fruit, you can't do without bearing fruit. These things in this world, meddling here and there, I won't talk about the fruit of the Holy Spirit. That is the work the Holy Spirit does in you, and because of faith, the Holy Spirit bears these fruits in you.

## Seventh Point: Releasing the Bound is a Narrow Gate, Enter Through Effort

Why is releasing the bound a narrow gate that requires effort to enter? Because the bound is not you, the bound is someone else, and you often turn a blind eye. This woman was afflicted with a spirit and had been ill for eighteen years. Every Sabbath she came to the synagogue, and everyone thought this was normal. Is it normal? When Jesus came, He saw that it was not normal, and He released her, and she was healed. How was she healed? Because Jesus Christ is God, and He is full of grace and mercy. When you see the bound, do you feel a little touched in your heart? I tell you, when I see the bound, I really want to release them.

Our healing and deliverance does not come from pursuing miracles, but from pursuing the Word of God. Because we have a very clear understanding of the Word of God. In this process, some people say that I am pursuing miracles. You try pursuing them, those who pursue miracles have no miracles. Those who pursue practicing the Word of God, who pursue practicing faith, that is, who believe in the Word of God and practice the Word of God, you will see God with you. I tell you, the initial healing and deliverance was very, very difficult, but I believed in the Word of God. A small fever, praying again and again, oh, that was so exhausting. Exhausted me, but I still believed.

Because they were possessed by demons, bound by demons, they had to be released. Some people say, Teacher, I am so bound right now, can you minister to me? Oh, I'm too busy. If I did that all day, the people I train would be neglected. I might as well train more people, because this is my main work, to train more people to release the bound like me. But in the church today, do you see these things often? Rarely.

Once I attended a course, and an old pastor was teaching. He came up to me and said that driving out demons is useless. It's not about driving out demons or not, it's about releasing or not releasing. Right next to my table sat a couple, their faces contorted together. The husband sat next to her, unconcerned, thinking, What does it have to do with me if your face is contorted? I thought they were just a quarrelsome couple. As a result, during the tea break in the lesson, I went over and asked her what was wrong. She said her leg hurt badly, and she hadn't slept all night. I said, Call me if your leg hurts at night; this is my phone number.

As a result, the people around didn't react, including those taking the course. Then someone said to me, Driving out demons is useless. I said, Why is it useless? Because they come back after you drive them out. Isn't it normal for them to come back? Just take it slow, just do it like that, turn a blind eye. That night at one o'clock, she called me. I go to sleep late, I rarely sleep before two o'clock. As a result, I led her in prayer from one o'clock to three o'clock in the night, and the pain completely disappeared. The next day she came to class lively, feeling great, it's effective! But her husband, also a Christian leader, said, Teacher, you should pursue a 'bang,' instant healing.”

I looked at him, and I thought, this brain must have been squeezed by a door. What is this? I ask you, if you want to release the bound, if you don't get a bang healing, then what? If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work, he just has a bang brain. So I thought that if it doesn't work for me, it doesn't matter, I don't care if it takes an hour, two hours, or three hours. Some people are also quite bad, Teacher, what if I call you every day? Well, let's try it? Always wanting to challenge my patience, but that's okay. Because releasing the bound is God's will, it is our work. Don't think that I won't minister to you, or that I will break my word.

No, it's because I want to shape a group of people like this, so that they can minister to more people. I'm saying this to you, not to myself. That is, to those among us who have not released the bound, who have no compassion. All day long in the synagogue listening to special meetings, in one ear and out the other, of no use at all. So today you can no longer just do a little bang, you must be a person who pays the price, who strives to enter the narrow gate. Because every time you release the bound, the angels in heaven cheer for you. You will bring the fruit of your ministry into the Kingdom of Heaven, this is God's will. This is also the Word of God, and we have come this far by practicing the Word of God. So healing and deliverance is a work that the church must do.

## Eighth Point: Casting Out Demons and Healing the Sick

Many churches do not cast out demons and heal the sick, why? Just say that I don't have this gift. You don't even want this gift, where will the gift come from? Isn't it? Jesus said, Today and tomorrow I will drive out demons and heal the sick, and on the third day my work will be completed. Wasn't he talking to us? Today and tomorrow, until the moment our work is completed, until we enter that narrow gate, we must still cast out demons and heal the sick. This is what Jesus said, not what I said, you should believe what Jesus said. We see that this generation doesn't do what Jesus did, and does a lot of what Jesus didn't do.

Do you all know that our church doesn't have family camps or couples' camps. Why not? Because Jesus didn't do these things, and I don't do them either. I just focus on doing what Jesus did, and I can't even do what Jesus did well, so how can I have time to do those other things. If a couple has problems, both of them need to grow up and be able to become demon-casters. You need wisdom and insight. You need to know the devil's schemes, the devil is creating these corruptions in your home, don't you know? If you two don't grow up and don't cast out demons, and are driven out by demons together, fighting to the death, then just fight. Why don't you manage it? If these two people don't grow up, won't they fight? Constantly being manipulated by the devil, so in the end it's still about casting out demons.

They must repent, bear fruit, and then walk the path of release. Jesus did this thing that caused many people to stumble, saying that casting out demons is useless, who said that? Whenever and wherever you cast out demons by the Spirit of God, the Kingdom of God has come upon you. Many people don't know this, they have to go back to elementary school. After learning to read the text, read the Bible carefully. If you haven't done well in elementary school, can you understand the Bible? Many people stumble on this matter, why? It's all because of unbelief. Many charismatic churches cast out demons, and while casting they get driven out by demons. Why? They don't have the mind to release the captives and the bound. Today, let's clean up the garbage inside us, remove it all, and strive to enter the narrow gate. Put in some effort, come out of those loose, lazy ways, and start to know that casting out demons and healing the sick is the key to Jesus completing his work on the third day. Because the Kingdom of God is driven out through casting out demons.

## Ninth Point: Giving Up Life

Jesus said, Nevertheless, I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. Understand? This is a narrow gate, and the narrow gate that Jesus walked was at the cost of his life. If you can give up your life, is time still a problem? Time is not a problem, because life is given to God, and nothing else is a problem. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, you must give up your life, you must forsake everything. Because in the Kingdom of Heaven there are people like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all people who were tired of living in this world, people that the world was not worthy of. If you still have hope in this world, it is difficult for you to walk this path. You go back very tangled, Teacher, your standards are too high. These are not my standards, these are God's standards. At this time, there is still a chance to choose which way to go. This path can lead you into the narrow gate, that path will be blocked outside the gate, this is not a joke.

## Tenth Point: The Kingdom of Heaven is Like a Mustard Seed, Like Leaven

This statement is a bit confusing. Jesus said, What is the Kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches. Again he said, To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened. Many people explain this, and I can't explain it well. But today I can say that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the Kingdom of God, the Word of God, the Word of the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, sown and can grow into a towering tree.

Later I found that the leaven hidden in three measures of flour will rise until all of it is leavened. What do these things mean? The Word of God is alive and can be sown and grown. It is not like a grain of rice that is sown and rots, it can grow very big, it can grow into a towering tree. What does it mean? It means that when we walk the path of God's Word, our faith, from repentance to laying down our lives, grows day by day, it grows from a mustard seed-like faith, and if your faith is like a mustard seed, you can tell the mountain to be thrown into the sea.

It's not all at once, the first day you plant a mustard seed, and the next day you dig it up, how can it grow? It can't grow. So don't rush, God is the one who makes you grow. Later, the birds will nest in your branches, even the birds will become a blessing to your faith. How much more so will all the nations of the world be blessed because the Word of God and the Kingdom of God have entered your heart and grown into a towering tree. What do you need? You don't need to work hard in other places, just adjust your attitude, you at least have an attitude of striving to enter the narrow gate.

## Eleventh Point: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and All the Prophets are in the Kingdom of Heaven

I tell you, if you do not have the will, the likeness, or the genes of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in you, you will not be able to enter the Kingdom of God. So today, you need to have a deeper understanding of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Because Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all people who had seen through this life and were pursuing eternal life. Some people say to our pastors, I feel uncomfortable when I hear this, because my hope is not in eternal life, but in this life. That's fine, you just slowly go towards the urn. We follow their example, they were sojourners in this world. They had no hope in this world, their hope was in the Kingdom of God. So they strove to enter the narrow gate, and they entered. So today, all those who despise the things of the world will strive to pay the price for the Kingdom of Heaven.

## Twelfth Point: Conclusion

I'll make a conclusion, today you must strive to enter the narrow gate, this is what Jesus tells us. In the future, many people will want to enter, not that they don't want to, but they don't strive. You see, many people also want to go to Tsinghua University and Peking University. If everyone could get in, that would be terrible, that wouldn't be Tsinghua University or Peking University, that would be Lanxiang Technical School. Isn't it? In the future, many people will want to enter, but they can't. Why can't they enter? Because they don't have the logic of striving to enter the narrow gate, they don't have this wisdom and intelligence. I don't want to pay any price, I just want the result, I just want to get in. The guard Bang! gives you a salute, Sorry, you can't get in. Lord Jesus, it's me, so-and-so is here. Lord Jesus says, I don't know you, and blocks you outside the door, why? Because you don't have an attitude of entering the narrow gate.

Chinese Mingding Destiny is a theology of striving and exerting effort, a theology of striving to enter the narrow gate, a theology of paying the price and offering one's life to God. When people's logical system and what the prophets say, what I have said today, if you cannot accept it, you will hate me. What you're talking about, how can I live like that? It's not what I'm talking about, it's what God's talking about. Although you are a Christian, you don't have the logic of entering the narrow gate, you will become Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not!

Why? People have five pairs of oxen to manage, they have to decorate their houses. The crops in the field have to be harvested, a lot of things. So see, your house is left to you desolate. Why? They kill the prophets, and in their minds they hate what I say. What I say is annoying, What? Do you think only you are saved and we aren't? I'm used to hearing this kind of talk, it doesn't matter. I tell you, from now on you will not see my face again, until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

In the future, you will find that those who speak the standards of God in the name of the Lord, the words of God, the words of striving to enter the narrow gate, you will say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Then the desolation should come to an end, why? Because you can accept the Word of God, the standards of God, Amen! From today on, strive to enter the narrow gate, what does writing a note mean? Don't ever say, What else do you want me to do? It's not that I want you to do anything, I don't need you to do anything, it's what you need to do. I still want to ask you, what do you want to do, to enter the narrow gate.

As for me, I will serve my God, I will strive to enter the narrow gate. Because of this, the logic in me is called Serving is grace, working is grace, until I see the face of the Lord, Amen? My hope is in heaven, and the hope of our brothers and sisters is also in heaven. From now on, many things are looked down upon, these are people that the world is not worthy of. Because of this, I serve these years, and it's rare that I sleep before two o'clock at night. Why? I often have ministry at night. Those people I have ministered to today, do you minister in the same way as I do? Later, I found that many people I minister to at night, when it's their turn, they are unwilling to pay such a price.

My heart is full of emotion, may God have mercy on us. Let us have such wisdom and intelligence, such understanding to know that paying such a price is right and proper. Once it affects their sleep, they can't do their work the next day. But when I minister to them, they never thought about how I would work the next day. What selfishness is this, how can such a person enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Even if they have received the grace of God, time and time again, how can they enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Today, make up your mind to become a person who pays the price to bless others. Because such a price is worth it, Amen? Have you gained wisdom? If you have wisdom, sing a hymn with me, and we will prepare to collect today's offering.

If you don't understand the meaning of offering, please don't give. Do you know how important it is to pay the price? What is an offering? We don't give tithes to God, we give our lives to God. What are tithes? Nothing. Tithes and offerings are two different things, tithes are what is due, and what is beyond tithes is called an offering. Good, today we will not only give tithes and offerings to God, but also give our lives to God. If you give your life to God, what's there to bargain about? Nothing. Why? Because we must strive to enter the Kingdom of God.

Lift up your hands, Lord Jesus, may you accept our offerings! I am willing to offer my life as a living sacrifice to you, holy and pleasing to you. God, we must strive to enter the narrow gate of your kingdom. God, give me wisdom and intelligence, give me understanding so that I can fully know you, and deal well with the bad habits within me. God, may your Holy Spirit help me to put to death my evil passions and desires, so that I may become more and more like you! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

> Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 NIV)