Today, living out abundance means recognizing that character is value, and not just any value, but a critically important one. If a person lacks character, whatever else they possess is of little use. In fact, if I were to choose partners for a company, I would seek out individuals with character. If you ask me what kind of people I would look for to build a team, I would say those with character. Indeed, knowledge is not the most important thing, nor are skills; character is paramount. Therefore, character is value.

Character is Value

During my recent trip home, a friend shared an interesting story with me. It was about twin brothers, both frail and sickly from a young age. As they grew older, these two thin and weak young men remained physically small. One was sent to serve in the armed police force, while the other stayed home. After a few years, the one who had served in the military returned, having been trained and transformed into a physically strong and mentally resilient individual. The one who stayed home remained weak in both body and character. Which of these two do you think will have a brighter future? I tell you, the one who underwent training in the armed police force, the one with a strong body and resilient character, will undoubtedly fare better than the one who remained physically and mentally weak. The military is a place where character is forged. Do not think that those years spent in service are a waste; they hold immense value. Character training is most evident in the military, and it is rigorous, is it not?

During Chinese New Year, I hosted a brother in Christ who had served in the military for several years. Those challenging years were incredibly worthwhile. When comrades reunite, their bond remains strong. Although the experience was tough, it molded our character. Schools, the military, and even the church should be places where character is developed. However, the military has retained the essence of character training, while schools, particularly those in foreign countries, have gradually lost this fundamental aspect, often simply imparting knowledge and then leaving. Therefore, today, my brothers and sisters, we must begin to understand that character is value. Schools are becoming increasingly commercialized and hesitant to shape character. However, in the military, soldiers have little choice and are thus trained. Modern schools, especially in Western nations, are becoming increasingly focused on knowledge, with less emphasis on character development, leading to the production of graduates whose character is lacking, which is a serious issue. I believe that China's approach to training soldiers is quite effective, as it involves character development. Whether I am a teacher or a pastor, my primary goal is to train the character of my team members. Why? Because it elevates your value. If you possess character, your worth is high; without it, your value diminishes. Realize that shaping your character is a valuable endeavor, a great service done for you. Do not think we are tormenting you. Is military training a form of torment? Yes, but it is also an excellent form of training. My personal educational philosophy centers around character and competence. Developing a person's character and abilities is a comprehensive approach to moral, intellectual, and physical development.

I strongly agree with Mao Zedong's May Seventh Directive, which I grew up reading. It called for shortening the school year, revolutionizing education, and providing comprehensive training in ethics, intellect, and physical fitness. Therefore, my personal philosophy is to train character. I often see people shedding tears before me, accusing me of being ruthless. I acknowledge that I am indeed quite strict, but it is not for my own sake; it is for your edification that I must be firm. Years ago, those who are now my valued colleagues and business partners include a sister named YX. She was a student at the polytechnic where I worked in a senior management position. The amount of tears she shed in front of me during her training could fill a small bottle of mineral water, and perhaps even more. When she cried, I would often ask her, What are you crying about? Do you think I care about your tears? Cry, cry as much as you want. And she grew into a valuable person. I rarely do this now, but I hope that our leaders will begin to do so. Cry, do you think I care? This may seem harsh. But we are willing to see you shed tears for the sake of raising your value. It is not easy for me to train someone it is difficult. After he/she leaves having cried, it is my turn to shed tears. Because I do not know whether he/she will collapse, I can only call on God in faith, asking that He enable your growth.

So, you know, YX's mother is especially grateful for her daughter's achievements today. In truth, it is because of God. And also because God used me to shape her. We also have another brother and sister among us who has become my colleague: HF. You know, his mother's way of shaping him was extremely strict. During his three years at the polytechnic, she did not send him a single cent. He lived in a worker's dormitory, which had no air conditioning despite the humid Singapore weather. The dormitory was also dirty and messy, making life very difficult! He relied on part-time work to pay for his living expenses and tuition. He would not hold back on his hours as long as he had enough money. Instead of opening a bank account, he kept all his money in his wallet. Sometimes, he would sit in the restroom and count the money in his wallet to see if he had enough for tuition and living expenses, and often he did not have enough for the rent. As a result, he was shaped into a man of character. By human standards, what I did to YX and what HF's mother did to HF might not seem like good things, but when a person's character is shaped in this way, he becomes a valuable person. I often say that a person should be like a mudfish, able to survive in a little water. You know, a mudfish lives in a ditch, and sometimes the water almost dries up, leaving only mud. The mudfish remains there, waiting for the rain to come, and then it becomes a hero again, swimming vigorously in the water! The mudfish has great character.

What Character to Cultivate

Today, I tell you, brothers and sisters, cultivate resilience and perseverance, the ability to rise again after falling, courage and boldness, and unwavering loyalty. Be faithful to the point of death; be a loyal person. What character to cultivate? Cultivate these qualities! I tell you today, brothers and sisters, never be negative when facing problems. Life is full of hardships, like sparks flying from a fire.

No matter what you encounter, do not be negative, because negativity will ruin your life and make you a person of no character. Negativity will drastically reduce your value. If you were a stock, you should be a potential growth stock. Girls should marry such a potential investment. What is a person with potential? It is someone with character. Only those with character have potential.

While events are often beyond our control, our response to them is within our control. David was hunted by Saul for 13 years, yet he refused to be negative, even in tears. Joseph was sold into slavery, endured ten years of servitude and three years of imprisonment, yet he refused to be negative. He became a man of immense value and a remarkable figure. Also, consider Goujian of China, who endured great hardship to achieve his goals.

Never lose hope in the face of adversity, always choose victory, never give up, always choose loyalty, and in every situation, choose to be strong and courageous and move forward. Now Living is a easy thing, you are just living until you die, no matter you are weak or strong. We choose strong, we choose victory, we choose never give up, we choose loyalty, we choose believing, we choose hope.

Your circumstances cannot define you; it is the loss of character that makes you fail. Character is value. Even in hopeless situations, I do not lose hope. One reason is that I chose to believe in Jesus, step into the church, at the most difficult time in my life. The Bible helps me a lot. I never give up. During the process of building the church, I often faced setbacks, kneeling in my office and crying for three hours, then washing my face and continuing the journey. I am never timid; I fear nothing, not even death.

How to Cultivate Character

Today, we have established a team dedicated to education and training. Do not think of me as a mere religious figure; I am a practical educator. I understand that character development is crucial for a child. While some environmental factors are beyond our control, as in the cases of David and Joseph, these factors are part of God's shaping process. When the Israelites were led out of Egypt, they entered the wilderness. Why? Because God wanted to shape their character. Their character was not molded, and as a result, they were struck down in the wilderness. God's shaping is beyond our control, but there are many controllable, man-made environments. In raising children, for example, you can intentionally create an environment that shapes their character. Therefore, character development occurs through environment. For instance, training children to wake up early, do housework, and develop the habit of overcoming difficulties all contribute to character development. Joseph's being sold into slavery in Egypt was beyond his control, but when his brothers came to buy grain, he put them in prison, which many do not understand. This was because he was shaping the character of his brothers and old Jacob, which was the greatest blessing. Deng Xiaoping's three rises and falls also demonstrate a man of great character.

Character development is also reflected in the words of the Chinese ancients. When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it always first frustrates their spirit and will, exhausts their muscles and bones, starves their body, leaves them destitute, and confounds their actions. Only through these experiences do they become patient and develop abilities they did not have before. Joseph's actions were merely symbolic, but his brothers did not know that. The environment of waiting in prison transformed their character.

Deng Xiaoping was unquestionably one of the greatest. I greatly admire Deng Xiaoping. Risen and fallen three times, sent to farm, sent to factory, reformed, and then kicked back but he came back ultimately, three times enter Zhongnanhai. he is very powerful, very charming and very resilience. He can handle it, but you know how challenging it must be.
Character training is also Chinese wisdoms, 天将降大任于斯人也，必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨，饿其体肤，空乏其身，行拂乱其所为，所以动心忍性，曾益其所不能. So God uses environment to make man.

However, today we must learn one thing: Why does the Bible record that Joseph dealt so severely with his brothers—the brothers who sold him? It was not out of malice but to mold his brothers' character. In the absence of God-created environments, use man-made environments to shape them. As a result, Judah was willing to remain in Egypt as a slave, paying such a price. Later, Joseph told them, I am your brother Joseph. Jacob would not let Benjamin leave his side, but Jacob finally resolved to let happen what may, Now I have lost my children and no longer have Joseph or Benjamin. By letting go, he shaped his character. So, I tell you that sometimes we humans cling to things and refuse to let go, but when we have no choice, we must let go. That molds your character.

Shepherding is Shaping Character

Today, I tell you, I have invented a method of shepherding. What is shepherding? Shepherding is shaping a person's character. Shaping character is shepherding, and shepherding is shaping character. What does it mean to shape character? It means creating a human environment and then helping them develop confidence. Without confidence, they will discern good and evil and look for right and wrong, which is not the right method. Shepherding shapes character, and behind character lies faith.

I tell you that I often wrong people, often wrong people. Once, one sisters came to see me from a long distance, very coincidentally we are at two tables sitting down to eat, I was sitting on my table and she was sitting in front of me, I knew she needed to be shaped, I spoke badly about her. After I spoke badly about her, she came to bother me for a few months. Now she has eventually be shaped, and she forgave me. I said to her I was very careful about someone like you when you came to church, I was afraid you were up to no good. She said I did not do it. I wrongly accused you. Prior to this I wronged her, about the offertory. She thought I wrongly accused her on offertory, actually I did wrongly accused her, very coincidentally. So intentionally build her, it will do her good. I thank God now she is very different.

Creating Environments to Shape People is Key in Shepherding.

So using man-made environments to mold a person's character is the key to shepherding. I realize that my entire life is inseparable from education. And that is why I discuss with XY, HF, and the other leaders, on what to do. We will explore how to improve our characters, and we will have a series of courses that will help equip students with the right attitudes. We will make it clear to you that we are molding your personality traits and we want improve one's attitude. In facts the Church, the school army, and our work should be places of cultivation of one's potential. You do not recognize it when I wrong one, in all certainty the wrongdoing is all me. I will sometimes ask you to walk circles, or I dig a hole so that you will fall in. Why? So that you undergo it yourself, so that your confidence and attitude can improve. Here i showed you my game plan, do not try to take advantage and play against me, I will surely win.

I often encounter the same things in my workplace. But I find that I can choose to prevail, choose not to be negative and to fight back. You know our people will go through some training I know that I may need to adjust some areas of my system of shepherding for some leaders. They have not submitted their report even at mid-night and then the leaders will scold them. Like why is it 12:00pm and the report is still not in? And why must it be 12:05pm on this certain event, and the leaders start to lecture one. At times I can be somewhat lenient but i must implement structure also. If there are those who are unwilling to be built, you need not teach them or help build it and help them. Instead teach those whom may seek you out, that look minister or leader please improve me, then we can build it. Know that some of the tasks in Church, the momentum we push is very strong, it is very high. The goal is to see whether it can crush you. Also we need to be wary, if you know that you are almost crushed and cannot handle it, quickly stop what you are doing.

Never Give Up

Some time go, I was watching a film title, Never Give Up. I preached on the topic and I am very fond of it. That is my most fond sermon in my entire life. It help motivates and inspires me so much. As I traverse the path God has set out for me, I always seek to give up, and feel that I am in pain, hardships, and difficulties. So God will tell you, I know but you can do it. You can continue for, hang on almost there and there. Then I will continue the race. In the episode it showed Death Crawl, and the team did 110 yards when generally you can do a few feet. That is very impressive. They carried 160pounds and did the death crawl. He stated I am pain, I am pain, and the team lead kept encouraging him keep going. And the team won. So the point is, and I may see you failing and almost giving up on what you are set to do. But I will say, persevere and press on and continue and not to give up. Then you are improving on your potential. I then cheer on the sides as well. So is it tough, yes it is tough and difficult.

I was watching a documentary called Never Give Up recently. I preached a sermon that I consider my favorite of all time, also titled Never Give Up. That sermon truly inspired me. As I run the path of ministry that God has prepared for me, I often feel like giving up. I often say to God that I am in pain, I am struggling, I am exhausted. But God will tell me, I know, but you can do it. You can keep going. Almost there, almost at the finish line. And so I continue to run. In a short clip from Never Give Up, an athlete performs a death crawl. While most people can only manage a few yards, he crawled the entire length of the field, 110 yards, which is truly impressive. He carried a 160-pound teammate while doing the death crawl for 110 yards. He kept saying, I am in pain, I am in pain, and the coach kept encouraging him. This team was a winning team. So, brothers and sisters, I may see you on the verge of being crushed, but I will say, Keep going, keep going, keep going. Do not give up. That is your character. I will cheer you on from the sidelines, Keep going, keep going. Is it hard? Yes, it is hard. Is it painful? Yes, it is painful, but it is worthwhile. It is an excellent tool for training character. A flower grown in a greenhouse cannot become a plant of strong character; a child raised in a greenhouse cannot become a person of strong character. So, today, we must clearly understand what we want to train people to become: people of strong character, who can then be above and not below, the head and not the tail, in the workplace. It is not because we love money and want to be above, but because we have character within us. We will live a fulfilling life in this world.

Today, I urge all parents among us to shift your focus and train your children's characters. Many parents are not smart. Spending $3,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, or even $100,000 for your children comes at a heavy financial cost. It may be hard, and painful but this is character-building. And it is difficult and hardship, but it is of immeasurable worth, so that one can learn to improve on themselves. so that one can learn to improve on themselves. Is it hard? Yes, it is hard. Is it painful? Yes, it is painful, but it is valuable. It is an excellent tool for training character. A flower grown in a greenhouse cannot become a plant of strong character; a child raised in a greenhouse cannot become a person of strong character. So, today, we must clearly understand that we want to train a person to become a person of strong character, so that in the workplace, they can be above and not below, the head and not the tail. It is not because we love money that we want to be above, but because we have character within us. We will live a fulfilling life in this world.

Training Children's Character

I urge all parents among us to shift your focus and train your children's characters. Many parents are not smart. Spending $3,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, or even $100,000 for your children comes at a heavy financial cost, but is it worth it? Training the study capacity for the children, this is keys. Character and ability are closely linked. If you have children, save your money and start shaping their characters. And remove the nasty habits like you treat the children with the body's feelings and body's needs. If you treat your children with the body's feelings and body's needs, you are pushing your children to the death, so that the body can be treated. You remove one discernment of one needs and one removes your body's needs, and then you are improve on your children's personality traits. I know that the youth maybe under hardship, but it will be all right as God will see his inner bone that is he inner core of is personality. So you must listen to the advice of the parents, so that you can come and change one strategies. Taking him/her to music class to dance class, so you need to start improving one's strategies the responsibility, and not be afraid as you are one's father or one's mother. So you can starts to rebuild of one's mindsets.

====输出开始
## The Deepest Level of Character: Thoughts and Intentions

**Whether you are being trained or training others, the deepest part of a person's character lies in their thoughts and intentions. As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.** If your thoughts are wrong, your life will be one of utter depravity. No one deliberately does what they believe is wrong. This doesn't taste good, I want to eat it anyway, or This looks awful on me, I must wear it. No one does things like that. A normal person won't do what they believe is wrong. But is our internal understanding good and correct? That must be adjusted. If you judge me by the incident where I made Sister YX cry, thinking I did something terrible, that's because of your own perception. But I believe it was the best thing for Sister YX's edification. If you think Brother HF's mother was too harsh for not sending him money and making him earn his own tuition, believing that's being too harsh a parent, I think it was a good way to shape him.

Learn to look at the results in everything. If the results are good, then it is good; if the results are bad, what's the use? Like the child I mentioned earlier who was sent to the armed police for training. It was hellish training, but the child was forged into a man. Was it hard? Yes, it was, but that's what's good. Some people can't accept being wronged. Pastor, that's my bottom line. You can't challenge my bottom line. I will challenge your bottom line so that when you are dunned for debts in the future, it won't be the source of your downfall. Our bottom line is our thoughts, and we must rewrite that bottom line. There should only be one bottom line: the word of God, and that we should become valuable people. Why do people indulge their children's flesh? They think it's only natural. Taking care of children and indulging them actually corrupts them. Teaching, disciplining, and rebuking children - these are from the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness). Also, teach and train, supervise and rebuke. Why? Because that is training their character, and it doesn't matter if the child suffers a little.

I know of a child whose mother indulged his flesh from a young age. Now he's over 30 and does nothing all day. Those who grow up indulging their flesh cannot produce good fruit. Once, a grandmother and great-grandmother brought a child to my office to see me. The child cried and fussed, wanting to be held the whole time. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I snatched the child into my arms. I told the grandmothers to stay there, and I took the child to a dark room. I put the child down and began to discipline him. He got a little better, and I returned him to his great-grandmother. The grandmothers were exhausted from carrying such a heavy child all the way there, but when they left, he not only walked on his own but also helped them carry things. But if the child isn't continually trained after returning home, he will revert to his old ways.

There is something inside a person called animalistic nature, and we must break it down. Therefore, be strong! Being strong means dealing with your flesh. If you aren't strong, you can't deal with it. The best blessing for a person is to be strong and deal with that animalistic nature. When I returned to Mudanjiang, Sister JX brought her son David, who was crying and fussing and wanting to be held. I said, David, come here, and I disciplined him. After that, David was well-behaved, no longer crying or fussing. Later, David's parents said that every time they mentioned the pastor, he would say 乖乖 (乖乖 - well-behaved). Whenever the pastor was mentioned, the child associated it with being obedient.

What is good? What is not good? We must adjust what’s inside. **Shaping a person's character is a value. Today, we must learn to add value to people; this value is constantly forging their character.**

## Character is Value

**Constantly shaping a person's character is a blessing.** Do you want to bless others? Then bless them like this. Many churches today have lost the element of shaping character. They think our God is Santa Claus, but our God is not Santa Claus. Our God is love, but also a consuming fire. Know that even in the New Testament, in Romans, some people are storing up wrath for themselves before God until God's wrath comes. Why? Because they lack character. Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must begin to learn to be good shepherds, to distribute blessings and shape the character of others. When you can learn to shape the character of others, you will become a good shepherd. The kind of pastor I dislike the most is the Mr. Nice Guy who thinks he is Santa Claus and that the people below will honor him. It's not like that. **You must be someone who breaks down their flesh, and the people below will definitely honor you. That is shepherding.** So I am very saddened that many people are unwilling to inherit my shepherding philosophy, and that is why the shepherding work is not improving. We must know for sure not to store up wrath for ourselves. Therefore, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God because they are unwilling to break down their flesh according to God's word. So, today I am saying this to those who are being shaped and also to those who are shaping others. Know for sure that it is a blessing. If you want to be a blessing to all nations on earth, then shape their character so that they have this character within them, and they will become valuable people.

Some time ago, there was a girl whose character I repeatedly forged. She couldn't persevere for very long. She was doing well selling insurance, even giving testimonies about selling 200,000 worth, but she suddenly resigned. No one allowed her to resign, but she insisted on resigning. The result is that she is now in a bad situation. Why? Because she has a fickle character and doesn't want to do things well in one place. Today we must know for sure that this is what we should be doing: **not only shaping our own character through the environment but also shaping the character of others, so that all of us become valuable people because character is value.**