I. Introduction

Good day, everyone! Today we continue to strike at the spirit of Mammon, and we must be set free from its bondage. If Mammon is holding you captive, then get rid of Mammon; if Old Ma is holding you captive, then get rid of Old Ma; if love of the world is hindering you, then get rid of the love of the world. We must be free in Jesus Christ. A few days ago, I was ministering to a couple; oh, the misery they lived in, it was exhausting just to watch! I told them that I wasn't going to concern myself with their petty issues, and that they better not put each other in the freezer. What will I concern myself with then? I will see to it that you are set free, that you must come out of bondage. Because mutual control and mutual corruption is not the way.

Today, a person being controlled by money is miserable, and in fact, there are many in this world controlled by money. Not many overcome Old Ma, and even fewer overcome Mammon. The theme I'm speaking on today is: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Does this sound like it hurts some people? It should. Some may say: “Teacher, after listening to you, I feel a bit accused.” Oh, I am quite harsh in my speech, so you should feel accused. After behaving like this, how can you not feel accused?

Chinese people love money very much. There's a stand-up comedy routine in English that talks about how much Chinese people love money. When Westerners celebrate Chinese New Year, the happy in happy new year is very important to them. Why? Because joy and happiness are important. But for Chinese people, it's all about gōng xǐ fā cái (wishing you wealth). Chinese people have even created something in the realm of the divine specifically for money, called the God of Wealth, whose sole job is to manage money. So, some value joy, while others value money. Thus, there is a God of joy, and a God of Wealth to manage money. Chinese people don't really live happily, why? Because they don't particularly like happy new year; they prefer gōng xǐ fā cái and worship the God of Wealth. Worshipping the God of Wealth leads to unhappiness, all because of money. Look closely, and it's all about money!

There was a sister who had an interesting story. Her biological parents gave her away to another couple (her adoptive parents) after she was born. Because of money, her biological parents came looking for her, and so did her adoptive parents. The child wasn't particularly capable to begin with, and oh, my goodness, it was all about money! In terms of relationships, an older brother would call and ask for money as if his sister was a money tree. If I were to teach her, I'd say: “Brother, do you think I'm working as a prostitute? Do you think I am your family's money tree? If I were in a brothel, I would give you some money, wouldn’t I?” Oh, it's all these messy things. Later, she told me that her biological parents had also come looking for her. For what? Money. I said, why so many parents? One set of adoptive parents is enough; why bring in the biological parents? As a result, her biological parents had a bunch of kids, and her adoptive parents had a bunch of kids. Brood after brood, all about money!

Are there people from villages among us? People from villages talk about nothing but money. Is there anyone like that, who talks of nothing else but money? We have a sister among us who is sixty years old today. When I spoke with her yesterday, she told me that she became a believer at thirty. Her mother-in-law would ask her for money, and she would give it. When she said this, she was trying to boast to me about how great she was. Was it great? Her mother-in-law would ask her for money, and she would give it, even though it was very difficult. I scolded her, is that a virtue? It's not a virtue! Giving whenever they ask for money, how much do you have? Actually, not much. How much money can people from villages have? Decades ago, they would ask for one or two thousand yuan each time. Later, I thought, this is a form of control, this is not freedom! Giving whenever they ask for money, how difficult is that, isn't that money all earned by yourself? It's being controlled by money.

Furthermore, we have another sister among us who had a difficult upbringing. Why? Her biological parents abandoned her in a cardboard box on the side of the road in the dead of winter, practically waiting for her to freeze to death. Her adoptive father was passing by and saw the box moving, and thought it was a puppy. He took a look and saw it was a baby, so he brought her home. Her biological parents didn't want her, so her adoptive parents raised her. In the process of raising her, oh my goodness, it was all about money. Her adoptive parents' siblings would often remind her: “See, it wasn't easy for your adoptive parents to raise you, you must respect them, you must give them money.” Before her adoptive father died, he also told her: “Look, your older brother is not in good health and is not doing very well, you must take care of your older brother often.” Money, it's all about money! Oh, my goodness, all the relationships between family members are about money.

She asked me what she should do. I said you don't owe them anything. See, if my adoptive parents hadn't picked me up back then, I would have frozen to death. If I had died, none of this would have happened. You picked me up and raised me without my permission, and my biological parents gave birth to me without my permission. As long as being alive becomes the main theme in life, then all these things are about money, right? If we are not living for the sake of being alive, then wouldn't things be simpler? This sister has been controlled by the spirit of Mammon since she was a child. Yesterday, when I prayed for her, the spirit of Mammon began to manifest, talking nonsense: “Why does she not worship me anymore? She has been worshipping me since she was a child!” Why? Because her grandmother took her to worship the God of Wealth from a young age!

Sometimes I find driving out demons quite interesting. Don't think I'm joking, it's true. It's the same with you, if you often feel conflicted and miserable, then it must be a demon. If you are struggling for money, then it must be the demon of Mammon. Many Christians who become Christians do so in vain. After becoming Christians, they still follow Mammon. They don't please Jesus in Jesus, and they don't please demons in hell. Sometimes, I feel very helpless. If you are going to worship Mammon, then worship Mammon wholeheartedly, maybe you can get rich, right? If you step on one side and then step on the other, pulling in both directions, then you'll be torn apart. You will be tired! Alas, struggling! Oh, even coming to a gathering is a struggle. Why? Because both legs are being pulled in opposite directions. Oh, it really is a ridiculous thing!

Many relationships between people in this world are about money. So, it is difficult for a person not to be controlled by money in this lifetime! People being controlled by money and Mammon is a common phenomenon, very common. There is a Chinese saying: “Money makes the devil turn the millstone.” Later, I discovered that they are all turning the millstone for the devil. How can you make the devil turn the millstone? In the end, living a lifetime, you live in loneliness, right? Turning the millstone leads to loneliness.

Recently, I have been striking at the spirit of Mammon and releasing those who are controlled by Mammon. Today, I'll tell you again that if not many overcome Old Ma, even fewer overcome Mammon. How many people spend their whole lives turning the millstone for Mammon, and in the end they live in loneliness. Recently, I have been studying how Mammon corrupts people. I have some preliminary findings, and today I will share my research findings with you again. In fact, I tell you, capital is Mammon, and Mammon is capital, so capital is a very evil thing.

Some time ago, I went to get a filling in my tooth. I also get fillings. I cannot wait until the nerve is exposed before getting a filling, because then I would have to do a root canal. You might say: “Your tooth is bad, why don't you pray?” When a tooth is bad, get a filling; when a car is broken, get it fixed. Don't argue with me about this! I asked the dentist about the filling material because I have some knowledge about this. There is a material called mercury amalgam. Once used for a filling, it will never come off. As a result, mercury amalgam is no longer available, and they have even fabricated a lie that mercury amalgam is toxic. What poison is there? It's been in my mouth for many years and has not poisoned me. Why? Because it lasts very long and the mercury amalgam factories would go bankrupt. Do you understand?

Now, most filling materials last for a maximum of five years, so dentists are happy, and so are the filling material manufacturers. This is how capital works: it's all about money. Would you say this is harmful? You have to get it repaired every five years. He said that this tooth had been filled before, and I asked where it had gone. He said that the material had been worn away. I asked what material it was, and the doctor said it was glass ionomer. How evil is money, that they don't produce something that can last a lifetime, and instead they produce something that will only last three or five years. Slowly get fillings then, since it won't last very long anyway.

Recently, I have been studying how Mammon corrupts people, and I have had some preliminary findings. Anything related to capital is very corrupting! What can really solve problems cannot make money; what can make money cannot completely solve problems. Only then can they make money. Would you say that money is evil? Evil! Alas, I hope that those who turn the millstone for Mammon can be released. Does man live for money, or does money live for you? It is bad when the order of priority is reversed. People who are busy for money, wake up from turning the millstone for the devil and the God of Wealth!

I have been studying recently, the first small discovery: people are busy for money. You might say that you are not busy for money, but that's because you don't have money yet. If you had one hundred million, like if Wang Sicong was your godfather. If he gave you one hundred million, what would you do? I was thinking at home that if one hundred million suddenly fell from the sky, oh no, busy! Alas, what should I do? Inflation will reduce it to eighty or ninety million next year. Oh no, I have to investigate. Now that the Russian border is open, the Far East is open, and the Philippines may need investigation for projects; and perhaps there might a need to investigate on projects in the South China Sea, is there going to be a war? Oh, my goodness, so busy. A wandering monk running from south to north. Wang Jianlin sings well in a song, running from south to north, from east to west, is Mammon, running all over the world! Ever since you had this one hundred million, you have been busy, and then you have no time. What does the time go to? The time is all dedicated to this one hundred million. Are you living for this one hundred million, or is this one hundred million living for you? How can you possibly set aside time as holy? It's all for money!

You can imagine that Jesus once said that there was a feast in the kingdom of heaven, and invited people, “Come, come!” As a result, one person said: “No, I don't have time.” Alas, he has no time to attend God's feast. Why? Because he has one hundred million, although he doesn't really have one hundred million. He just bought five pairs of oxen, so he cannot go; I can't go either, I bought a piece of land; I can't go either, I just got married… Alas, this is a strange thing, right? Why did he buy five pairs of oxen at home? For money! Buying a piece of land, why? For money! Right? It's all money! So then they are controlled by the spirit of Mammon! One hundred million dollars, until you are completely corrupted and completely incur God's wrath! Do you understand? In the end, you incur God's wrath! God sends a few little devils to deal with you, what can you do? Haven't you suffered losses before? Why did you forget after suffering losses? That is what Deuteronomy 28 talks about.

Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:47-48)

You serve the enemy, why? For money. I tell you, it is easy for money to corrupt people. Today, everyone wake up. This is the first conclusion of my research: money can make people busy. If you don't have money, what are you busy with? Right? Like me, I don't have one hundred million, what am I busy with? I am busy with one thing, releasing people from bondage. Moreover, God sends the enemy to destroy you! I feel moved! Among us, are there people who have not experienced God's grace? I have found that most people finally qualify to love money, and finally qualify to love the world.

The second discovery: money can make people trust in money. Money has a spiritual nature that makes people trust in money. Once you trust in money, the spirit of Mammon comes. So money is very powerful. Mammon competes with people and with God for people. It not only competes with God for time, but also for life. Do you think having money is good? Having money is certainly good, because money can solve many problems. People begin to trust in money. Can money solve many problems? Yes, how can it not solve problems? Settle this matter, hire someone to get that matter settled! Hire a killer with money. Money can take a person's life, right? The relationship is wrong, use money to solve it. So money is actually quite useful! When you go out to eat, drink, and have fun, what doesn't require money? What enjoyment doesn't require money? Everything requires money.

If you have a lot of money, will you still trust in God? If you have a lot of money, it is difficult to trust in God. Like me, when my mother is sick, I pray. Why? Because I don't have money. If I had a lot of money? When my mother is sick, she’ll go to the hospital. Can the hospital solve the problem of ghosts? But if you have money, you go to the hospital! People easily build their faith on money. How many of us send patient to the hospital when they get sick? I spend money, I pay. When people have money, they think, I will spend money! I used to have this problem, although I didn't have much money, I liked to use money to solve problems. People are trapped firmly by money, their minds are full of money, and they forget that money cannot solve more problems. They forget, they forget that money can't solve even more.

Do you think this is a tragedy? Right? Fortunately, I don't have that much money. If I had that much money, I would hire someone to take care of my paralyzed mother, and if one person can't do it, I would hire two people and have them work in shifts. Once people have money, they easily place money above faith; it not only makes you busy, but they began to to trust on the money, and people no longer walk by faith. If people do not walk by faith, what will happen to you? It is a very miserable sight, so they worship Mammon. That is a lie. **When people have more money, they start to think about what to eat today? Since there is nothing good to eat in this place, they take a helicopter and fly four hundred kilometers away to eat. And use their money willfully, thinking about what to eat and drink every day. If Maotai is not good so lets drink some XO… When people have money, that's how they are. Busy enough thinking about what to eat and drink. So, Jesus said:

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24 NIV)

Why? Because this wipes out a large group. The third discovery: money can make people forget spiritual things. If people are not sick, they really don't easily experience God. Apart from being sick, money cannot solve it, misery cannot be solved, but everything else seems to be fine. People spend money all day eating delicious food and drinking spicy drinks, living very comfortably. There is no disaster to speak of, everything is fine, how wonderful! How wonderful this world is! To the Gold Coast, the Caribbean, to Greece, the scenery is so beautiful! Right? How easy this is! After seeing all this, they say: this world is so beautiful, why would God destroy it? Why would God destroy something so good? They are confused. Right?

Here's another joke, and it's quite amusing. The joke goes like this: one day, the devil was showing people around a show flat, a demo unit. A person went to see it, wanting to see the show flat for hell. Wow, it's so beautiful! Just like the Maldives! Hot springs, saunas, massage parlours – this place is great! I'll reserve a spot; I'll come to hell after I die. Hell is so good! Then one day, he died. He packed his bags and went to register for hell. When he arrived, he saw: Oh, my God! Oil pots, for frying dough sticks, right? And twisted fried dough twists. Hey? Where's the Maldives beach? The devil said: That was a 'Demo'. That was all a 'Demo'. Do you all understand what a Demo is? It's a show flat. It's not real! It's a Demo, for deceiving people! A Demo for show. Don't you think money makes people forget that it's just a Demo? Money makes people forget about spiritual things. Let me tell you, there is such a record in the Bible.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place,” (Luke 16:19-26 NIV)

We can chat, we can talk, but there is a deep chasm between us.

“so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31 NIV)

It is really like this, when alive, one lives in a Demo, reality is very cruel. This is my third discovery. Money can make people forget about spiritual things. Really forget! Really can't see! Really become blind! And also hinder people from seeking eternal life! Really hinder people from seeking eternal life: This life is so good, what's the point of seeking eternal life? I thank God! God shattered my dreams of this life; He won't even let me live a simple life. Difficult! Isn't it? Let you live a simple life? Let you be in the earthly realm as if in hell. Later, I lived a very painful life on earth, in this prison. The dark world completely destroyed my worldly dreams. I can't even have dreams! Are there people living in the earthly realm today? If so, destroy it quickly and come out of the world. And don't live in a show flat; live in Jesus Christ. So this matter is very interesting. They forget about eternal life.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:16-26 NIV)
Occasionally, there is a rich man who comes to discuss eternal life with Jesus, but other rich men do not have the opportunity to discuss eternal life. Isn't it? As a result, this rich man discussed eternal life with Jesus and left sorrowfully. Why? Jesus gave him an idea, and it was a terrible one! He asked Jesus: How can I obtain eternal life? Jesus said: Keep the commandments. I have already kept them. Have you kept them all? Really? Really kept them. Sell all your possessions and give to the poor, and store up treasure in heaven.

Oh dear! This is getting serious! As a result, he left sorrowfully. This is Mark, the Mark of the Gospel of Mark. It is difficult to change this rich man's values. It is difficult to change the values of the big rich, and it is also difficult to change the values of the small rich! There are only one hundred thousand or eighty thousand in the account, a small rich man, just a wage earner, but it is also difficult to change! Difficult to change! So what did Jesus say? The eye of a needle. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Isn't it? So, today, let's discuss this matter. I have made three discoveries. These three discoveries are quite good! After listening to the previous content, it is already OK, and the following is an academic paper.

II. Scripture

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Matthew 19:16-22 NIV)

III. Prayer

Come, let's pray together: God, with you all things are possible. Today we believe this word. God, may those among us who are controlled by Mammon be able to enter your kingdom. God, release us today and set us free, let us be released from the control of money and the control of Mammon! God, for those among us who are controlled by Mammon, lead us to victory, overcome the spirit of Mammon, and trample on the lies of Mammon! Let Mammon repay double the blessings it has stolen. God, grant us wisdom today, those among us who are in debt, sick, and all those who are controlled by Mammon, caused by Mammon, so that we can overcome through you. In the name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

IV. Background of this passage

Let's talk about the background of this passage. The background of this passage is very interesting. There is a young man named Mark. I don't know how many generations he has been rich for. This Mark is a rich man with many houses in his family. He has a building called the Mark Building. What is the Mark Building used for? It is where Jesus kept the Holy Communion. The Last Supper was in the hall of the Mark Building, a large table. We often see the image of the twelve disciples in The Last Supper. The Mark of the Mark Building is a wealthy man with many properties in his family. Actually, it is rare for him to seek eternal life. After this young man became rich, he still sought eternal life. Doesn't this seem a bit like Abraham? In fact, I also tell you: whether you are rich or not, it is a bit inconsistent with the Bible for the poor to seek eternal life.

After people have money, they find that money is meaningless. Don't think this is just talk. People who are really rich feel that: Why is money not very interesting? This is not just talk, it is not just for fun, the fact is really like this, it cannot bring too much satisfaction. As a result, Mark had so many properties, and he was thinking: Oh, eternal life? Why? Maybe this Mark saw someone in his family die, maybe Mark's father died. Why did he die? Spending a lot of money did not cure the disease. Mark was stimulated. After being stimulated, he began to seek eternal life.

When people see people die and money cannot solve the problem, they come to Jesus, and Jesus gives him an idea. Who is this Mark? He is the cousin of Barnabas, the secretary of the Apostle Peter, and also his godson. Such a relationship. Later, Mark followed Paul. When Paul took him to preach, because the days were too hard, he was a young master. I felt it was too hard, so I left Paul halfway. Later, Barnabas wanted to take this Mark with Paul, and Paul said, do whatever you want, don't want such a person. As a result, Barnabas had a fight with Paul and took this young master Mark, a rich, handsome, and tall. As for whether he is tall and handsome, we don't know, but it should be okay. He took this young master to another place, and Paul also went to another place.

After a while, this Mark was very discerning, why? He sought eternal life with Jesus, and he found that Barnabas was not very good at this, because Barnabas was a good person. As a result, Mark returned to Paul, and he felt that Paul's way was right. Later, he followed Paul again. Paul mentioned Mark in his letters, saying: Mark is very helpful to me in my service.

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.(2 Timothy 4:11 NIV)

Why? Because he was a rich man, later sought eternal life and followed Paul, and was able to endure hardship. As a result, Mark the camel finally passed through the eye of the needle! Passed through! This Mark was exploring eternal life with Mark when Jesus was still alive. First: keep the commandments. He

“honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 19:19 NIV)

Mark said: I have kept them. Have you kept them? Actually not. Why? Because he didn't really love those poor people when he saw them. How did the money come from? Some people say that if you want to get rich, you have to scrape it from the heads of the people. The money is scraped from people's head. Therefore, he did not keep the commandments, and his family's wealth was scraped. Jesus didn't talked about the good teacher. Then the young man said, I have kept them all. What do I still lack? Jesus said, If you want to be perfect, you can sell what you have and give it to the poor. You will have treasures in heaven, and that you shall following me.

This touched his cheese and hurt his heart . It was uncomfortable at one time. The exploration of eternal life was not very successful. How could it be that he had to exhaust all his wealth! Jesus ah, you are really bad, are you really going to do this? Still have to follow you, still have to sell all the family property, isn't that going to kill me? I still have to rely on it to provide for my old age! As a result, this Mark left sadly. Struggling ah, because he had many possessions, rich people are very struggling.

Poor people, like me when I was poor, one thousand a month, donating one hundred. Anyway, relying on this hundred will not become rich, simple. But if you have 10 million and donate 1 million, it is difficult to donate 100 million if you have 100 billion! So there are many properties, this is very difficult. The proletariat's revolution is very thorough. They follow the main force, anyway, they don't have any property. How can the rich follow? They can't follow. So this is fatal. This is not only the eye of a needle, but also a matter of vision. Mark left sadly in this passage, and the story is not over yet.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”(Matthew 19:23-25 NIV)

Why? There are also rich people among the disciples. Fortunately, Jesus let them follow, but did not let them sell all their possessions. Actually, how much money do these people who follow Jesus have in their families? 100,000 or 200,000, Mark's family has hundreds of millions. Oh, hard work. As a result, this Jesus said:

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.(Matthew 19:29 NIV)

I ask you whether it is an investment or a dedication? investment! Because you sell all your property and distribute it to the poor, and if you give away all your property, you will surely have treasures in heaven. This is an investment. It is an investment to get a hundredfold on earth and inherit eternal life. Are you willing to invest today? Are you willing to dedicate your life to God? If you have this ambition, you are great! But this ambition is difficult for a rich man! It's okay to offer like me, anyway, there is not much, offer it all. Like me, it's enough to eat a bowl of noodles, can the rich eat this? The children have to go to school, and they have to go to top universities, which cost millions. If they get in, can't they afford it? So there are more considerations. Jesus specifically divided the rich men and discussed it again. This is the background of this passage.

V. Camel cannot pass through the eye of a needle one: does not seek eternal life

Camel cannot pass through the eye of a needle one, that is, does not seek eternal life at all. You know that this person is rich and becomes rich, but he does not really seek eternal life. There are not many rich people who seek eternal life. Have you ever seen a rich man seeking eternal life? I see that earthly wealth can easily blind people's eyes. It is all a logical system of the world. Where are the ghosts? Where is the kingdom of heaven? What is the kingdom of heaven? All are blinded by the god of this world. The god of the world is the god of wealth. It is all the logic of this life, and this screens out a group. How can the first eye of a needle be passed through? I can't figure it out no matter how I think about it. Those who seek eternal life can't figure it out. Can those who don't seek eternal life figure it out? What is the kingdom of heaven? Can that thing be eaten? They don't seek it at all. What's the point of seeking that thing? They don't lack anything on earth. This is why rich people don't like to believe in the Lord and like to worship idols.

You come before Jesus with a bit of money, strutting in sideways; Jesus won't think highly of you either. Jesus will say, Get out, this isn't the place for you. You boast of your wealth, but Jesus says, Are you wearing clothes inherited from Solomon? Were they worn by Solomon, straight from the Forbidden City? Jesus says they don't even compare to a flower. You value money so much, but it becomes worthless before Jesus, mere dung; it becomes dung before Paul too, you see. Jesus looks and thinks, Here comes a dung beetle, rolling in with a ball of dung, how annoying!

Six: A Camel Cannot Pass Through the Eye of a Needle Part Two: Seeking Eternal Life But Unable to Pay the Price

If you can't get through the first needle's eye, there's no need to try the rest. If you can't get through the second, the rest are pointless too. Seeking eternal life but being unable to pay the price refers to Mark. Jesus saw something interesting in Mark; though he left sorrowfully, he later became someone who built a glorious church, and God used him to write the Gospel of Mark. Who helped him pass through the needle's eye? It was God. How did God help him pass through? He must have experienced a very negative stimulus, something significant. Those who have no hope in this life but seek eternal life are easy to deal with; the worst are those who have hope in this life, all their hope. So, the poor are both easy and difficult to deal with. Why? Because they can let go easily since they have nothing. But when they become wealthy one day, they go bad. I've seen this happen many times in my ministry.

Those who are dirt poor and believe in Chinese Mingding Destiny are very determined at first. But as they believe, God blesses them. They were once poor peasants, but with some money, they become rich peasants. Classify them further, and they become landlords, and it's all over. Back in the early years, classifying people into classes was quite insightful. Which class do you belong to now? Probably rich peasants, but having land changes things. They could let go before, but now they can't; they've picked it all up again. They saw through things before, their hopes for this life were shattered, but now they've rebuilt those hopes. How troubling! Isn't it?

It's hard for the wealthy to seek eternal life, but Abraham, a rich man, truly sought it. Why? Because he found wealth meaningless. Seeking eternal life requires letting go, which is difficult. Jesus said to give up, give up—these are just balls of dung. Don't be like a dung beetle, constantly rolling a ball of dung and thinking it's a treasure. People think it's real gold and silver! Letting go feels like losing your life savings. Jesus says, Let it go, but you can't. Such a struggle! What has value? It's a matter of opinion. God sees it as rolling dung, but people see it as real gold and silver. What God sees as treasure, the Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure trove. You look and think, What is this junk, just my kid's old wooden pail. This is hard to change, this value system is so difficult to alter. Those guys push the millstone for the devil, for Mammon, with great enthusiasm, isn't it like rolling a ball of dung?

Jesus says, Stop pushing, but they can't let go; they must push, or one billion becomes fifty million! Difficult? Yes! Changing a person's values, can you pay that price? What has value, what doesn't, that's the needle's eye. When the rich hear about the camel passing through the needle's eye, they think it's too hard, impossible. Only a cataclysmic disaster can awaken a person. This is what is impossible for man, but all things are possible with God. Lose a little bit, understand? I truly hope that brothers and sisters can change their values without experiencing these things, without shedding so much blood, without suffering so much. Then we'll pass through the needle's eye. We'll look and think, This isn't a needle's eye at all, it's a huge city gate. We'll enter immediately; it's just a choice. But if our values don't change, we'll see ourselves as camels and the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven as a needle's eye.

Seven: A Camel Cannot Pass Through the Eye of a Needle Part Three: Paying the Price But Unable to Endure Hardship

Paying the price of money but being unable to endure hardship is the needle's eye. Don't think because I'm a highly educated intellectual that I can't endure hardship. I can sleep on the streets just fine, it's really no problem. But later I discovered that many young ladies from the villages can't even sweep properly; just watching them hold a broom is upsetting. It's upsetting that they can't even hold a broom correctly, sweeping haphazardly and stirring up dust everywhere. Unable to endure hardship, I was very surprised. How can someone from the village be unable to endure hardship? Because they only dream of being a refined lady, having the illness of a princess without the fate of one.

This Mark sought eternal life and later followed Paul and Barnabas. Where did his money go? He was Peter's godson, and Peter said to gather offerings and sell all possessions. Mark probably sold everything because the people of the Jerusalem church all did this. In a moment of enthusiasm, they sold everything and gave offerings, passing one hurdle, one needle's eye. Barnabas was his cousin, also from a wealthy family, and Mark followed Barnabas to preach.

During this mission, Mark saw Paul often sleeping on the streets, something Mark had never seen before. The water was polluted, but Paul drank it anyway, even when preaching in India. This Paul was amazing, enduring hardship and getting beaten up all the time. Mark couldn't take it and told Barnabas that he couldn't do this. Giving up wealth is easy, but following Paul's path is impossible. He couldn't drink the Ganges water without getting sick. Paul could, he could drink poison and not be harmed, but we can't do that. Writing about it in the Gospel of Mark is fine, but actually doing it? Brother, let's go. How did he leave? He left secretly while Paul was sleeping, without even saying goodbye. Because if he told Paul, he would be rebuked. So he slipped away quietly. Later, when Paul was about to go out and preach again, Barnabas wanted to take Mark. As a result, Paul argued with Barnabas. Don't be tripped up by their argument.

Paul said Mark was no good, he couldn't endure hardships. Barnabas said he could. Paul asked Mark if he could, and Mark said he probably couldn't, he couldn't endure suffering. As a result, this needle's eye wasn't passed, but God can help him pass it. How did God help Mark pass it? Later, Mark could endure hardship. How did he become able to endure hardship? The Bible doesn't tell that story. If you are a wealthy person, it's difficult to change without a disaster. In human resources management, there is a concept that a very strong negative stimulus can destroy a person's inherent values. Without this, it is difficult to destroy. As for how Mark was able to endure hardship, he experienced a very strong negative stimulus.

It's very easy for God to bring a small disaster upon a person. I don't particularly like this, but I must tell you that this is how God does things. When I was lying in bed dying, I thought of many things. Because I was dying, it was a strong negative stimulus. My values changed. I considered what I used to think was beneficial to be harmful because I thought I was going to die. Later, I didn't die and came back to life. But that value system had been destroyed because I was lying there every day about to die, unable to breathe. I finally realized that human life is vanity of vanities. We don't know what negative stimulus Mark experienced, but Mark changed. Who did this? God did it.

Eight: What Is Impossible With Man Is Possible With God

Today, God will strap you to wings, even to the wings of an airplane, to bring you into God's kingdom. Would that make you a mummy? It doesn't matter, God can bring you back to life from a mummy. Because what is impossible with man is possible with God. You will pass through the needle's eye; God does it. Thank God, God often does this to me. That's why I tell everyone that the tears I've shed over the past years could fill a mineral water bottle. For example, if Bible study is at eight o'clock, I'm still crying at five, six, or seven o'clock, feeling really uncomfortable. Looking ahead, there is no future, only faith that the future is in God's hands. I wipe away my tears and continue leading everyone in Bible study at eight o'clock in the evening. So everyone should know that Chinese Mingding Destiny is written with tears, and it is difficult without negative stimuli.

So brothers and sisters, starting today, don't be afraid or worried. God is going to do this amazing work in you. God is going to destroy the value system within you. Don't let it not be destroyed after one experience, then not destroyed again after another, and then still not destroyed after another. Otherwise, you'll just be destroyed. Alas, the camel through the needle's eye, you must remember these three things. But remember, have faith in God! If God wants to break you, if God wants you to suffer, thank God! Later, Mark became Paul's strong assistant. None that God has chosen will be left behind. Even if you are very wealthy, God can still help you pass through the needle's eye. Every day you see the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven as a needle's eye and yourself as a camel, but God can help that camel pass through. The rich man Mark finally passed through the needle's eye and even wrote the Gospel of Mark. When the eyes of people's hearts open, they see that God's good will toward us is truly wonderful!

Nine: You Will Receive a Hundredfold and Inherit Eternal Life

Overcoming this spirit of Mammon means people are no longer controlled. This is not a loss, it's a hundredfold return. Yesterday I asked the spirit of Mammon, How many blessings have you stolen? Mammon said, So many. This Mammon is very bad. It made the child suffer a lot from a young age, making their brain not work well. It's like being covered by an iron罩, making it hard to learn. I asked Mammon, What are you going to do? Repay five times the stolen blessings. Mammon is quite interesting; it said ten times. That works too, a double increase! Thank God! It must repay with a double increase, but here it's a hundredfold. Why so little faith? Only five times, it should be a hundredfold return. Surely you will gain a hundredfold in this life and eternal life in the next; this is an investment. Invest in God's kingdom today and calculate the accounts clearly. As a result, Mammon said, Where am I going to get the money? How am I going to repay? It's Mammon, and it's worried. Debtors, Mammon is going to repay you! In the past, the demon of Mammon made you owe debt; today, we'll make Mammon repay.

When we realize that living in this world is just vanity, that living in this world is just a shadow, that money is just a lie, God will do this amazing work in you. What is impossible with man is possible with God. Yesterday, the sister we ministered to shared a testimony. She said, Teacher, no one paid attention to me or taught me when I was working before. Since I drove out the spirit of Mammon, my director gave me a project as soon as I went to work. A designer who had just arrived a few days ago took the initiative to teach me because I was a newbie. What is impossible with man is possible with God. How difficult is this for God? It's not difficult for God to help you. If you are often unlucky in your job, why? Mammon. If everyone dislikes you in your job, Mammon.

Today, overcoming the spirit of Mammon means God will give you a hundredfold benefit in this life and inherit eternal life. This is God's good will. It's not that we love money and therefore receive a hundredfold, but that we love God, and God therefore allows us to receive a hundredfold. Start with me to fight the spirit of Mammon, busy people no longer busy, those pushing the millstone for Mammon no longer push it, come out of this control and be liberated. When you need me, I am always there. My job is to liberate you from the control of Mammon. Thank God! It turns out that there is such a good God in the world, that there is such a wonderful will in Jesus Christ! Who else should we seek?

Let's sing a song to prepare for today's offering, Forsake Everything. Has your faith risen? Today, everyone has been given a shot of confidence, a needle of faith. What is impossible with man is possible with God, tidy up and trust in God. God doesn't need money, God needs you to receive more. No matter what kind of illness, illnesses related to Mammon must be healed and set free! The church is not a place to collect money, the church is a place to distribute blessings. Receive God's blessing today, and you will also be used by God—to become someone who liberates captive people and becomes a servant. This life is vanity of vanities, let's seek eternal life together and build God's glorious church!

Don't think that giving an offering is giving money to God; it's what God has given you that you bring out as an offering. If you don't understand the meaning of offering, don't give an offering, because after the offering, you will be cursed. Actually, money is not the most important thing. The most important thing is our heart, the most important thing is to dedicate ourselves. If you only offer money, it is not pleasing in God's eyes. Now join me in raising your hands to pray: God, I want to dedicate myself completely, I want to forsake everything to follow you. God, accept my offering, such an offering is holy and pleasing to you. God, I am not offering money, I am offering myself. May you accept my offering and raise me up to become a victorious people! I can trample on the spirit of Mammon, I can release the captives. Today I will be free from the control of Mammon. In the name of Jesus Christ, I break the control of Mammon! In the name of Jesus Christ, I have more than conquered through the Lord Jesus who loves me, I pray 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 evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen!
```