Alright, let us turn to the Book of Colossians, chapter 3. It might be a bit of a heavy read, but I've noticed you all are getting better at grasping the key points. For instance, some brothers and sisters have been saying, Put off the old self, and put on the new self, and also, be renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. I must say, your ability to grasp the key points is growing faster than I had anticipated.

If you want to learn well, you must speak more and expound at length, lest it all sound like an old matron nagging. Speaking on these matters taxes me greatly, as I dislike speaking in the manner of an old mother nagging her children.

Initially, I intended to discuss shedding the old self and donning the new. However, upon reflection, this proved less than ideal, difficult to put into practice. Personally, I favor a gradual approach. Thus, the theme of this chapter is be renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. If, after listening to my discourse, you still perceive nagging, please forgive me. I have strived assiduously to avoid it. Let us focus on what is practical.

The Issues in the Colossian Church

When you first came to church, were you not practically driven in by demons? How did the demons chase you in? Because our actions and conduct were governed by flawed thinking, we lived lives of hardship, accumulating problems until we toppled into misfortune.

Beset by problems with no resolution, we sought refuge in the Lord. With our minds cluttered, we acted in ways that provoked divine wrath. God's wrath descended upon these disobedient children, but it was a wrath intended to save us.

Once we've endured suffering, we saw our inadequacy, we then sought the church. Before you came to church, you searched online, and you stumbled upon Chinese Mingding Doctrine. After a prayer, you improved. Do not be mistaken that once you have improved through prayer, you no longer provoke divine wrath. This is merely God's grace bestowed upon you. We still dwell amidst lewdness, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul language - hard to change!

For example, there are brothers and sisters amongst us who live according to such and such notion - which led to what? Epilepsy! Why epilepsy? Because he kept coming up with all sorts of health rules and stories, almost to the point of blood transfusions. There are also many health programs nowadays.

After he came into our midst, his condition got better day by day, but then he went back again. What followed was health maintenance, exercise, revelry, and many plans. He dared not tell me. If he did, I would surely lecture him. Weren't you just delivered from there? Why have you returned?

I truly do not wish for you to wander back there once more. Then comes bloating and discomfort. Our junior pastors must work a job and pray for him. Precisely because the mind is still filled with the old self and its ways. I cannot fathom why, having been chased in here by demons, you now seek to return to them. Why so eager to provoke God's wrath? This was the state of affairs in Colossae:

Because of these, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.(Colossians 3:6-8)

Many Colossians began with faith, only to revert to their old ways. I wondered, what were they thinking? Were they kicked by a donkey or squeezed by a door? Ponder this carefully. Does it describe you? Any resemblance is purely coincidental.

Later, I realized that what people need most after coming to faith is to be renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. I lament deeply that people lack enlightenment and knowledge of God. Instead of being renewed in knowledge, they return to their old haunts. If your old haunt is a good one, then stay there, and do not bother coming to church.

Let me counsel you, brethren: To live well, one must have knowledge of life, to be renewed in knowledge so as to live out the image of God. Lest you revert to the old human ways. Failure to grow and seek greater knowledge of God is a grave matter. Without growth in enlightenment, one will perpetually engage in foolishness.

In fact, one brother even developed a Mingding website. Others were thrilled. Why? Because many illnesses were healed through prayer. What advice could I offer? I said that these make for excellent testimonies—kidney disease, edema, inability to urinate, fractures—all healed through prayer. Many miracles, certainly.

Later, this brother himself developed dementia. He then sought a preacher—a pastor from the New Zealand Ling Liang Church, who introduced him to another brother for deliverance. It was quite effective. I thought I would give him an advice, that is to grow more in enlightenment and have ample faith in enlightenment, being fully filled in the enlightenment of the knowledge of the will of God. Many regard the Chinese Mingding Doctrine merely as a means of deliverance. Once, a pastor performed healing and deliverance, restoring sight to the blind and mobility to the lame. Many miracles indeed.

But never forget that one must continually be renewed in enlightenment, in knowledge. To tarry perpetually in healing and deliverance is to invite deception. I have personally witnessed many charismatic pastors deceived by demons, ending in dire straits. Lack of knowledge and enlightenment leads to tragedy.

Regardless of which circle you are in—the Chinese Mingding Doctrine, another theology, or any other church—if you listen to my words, you must seek to be renewed in knowledge. The Colossian church failed to be renewed in knowledge. Paul instructed this Colossian church that, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above.

If Then You Have Been Raised with Christ, Seek the Things That Are Above

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.(Colossians 3:1-4)

These are the truths of Christ Jesus: the most basic concepts. Why does the Chinese Mingding Doctrine lead you to effective prayer? Because the resurrection of Jesus Christ tells us to utterly dismantle the old logic. I tell you, if Jesus Christ truly rose from the dead, dead for three days and resurrected on the third, how would you think? Would your notions of death and life be completely overturned? Therefore, we must begin our understanding of life from Jesus Christ.

Why is it effective in your case? Because the gospel of Jesus Christ is an effective gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a potent and awe-inspiring gospel, a gospel that enables good living. But the question remains: Is this good living found in seeking the things above, or the things below?

I lament that many have experienced God, yet remain unenlightened. They know that we are healed by the wounds of Jesus Christ, but not that we can be resurrected by the blood of Jesus Christ, that our sins are forgiven and we can resurrect with Jesus Christ because of the blood of Jesus Christ, and that Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Once healed, they revert to loving the world, indulging in revelry.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians to be truly raised with Christ. Yet they are ignorant in their understanding, merely mouthing the words: I have been baptized into the death of Jesus, ascending from the water, and have been raised with Jesus Christ. Yet they remain unenlightened in their understanding of God, failing to grow in knowledge, and continuing to dwell in the old self. Hence, the church is rife with strife. Thank God our church is not, because they have been put down.

Brothers and sisters, clarify your understanding of what it means to believe. If your understanding is unclear, then abstain from further learning, for you know nothing. What then that? Only we can be healed, and only then can we be considered to revel and play? Wouldn't that be troubling?

Why is the gospel of Jesus Christ so efficacious? Because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. I long for you to embody the image of Jesus Christ, to possess his power of resurrection, putting to death our earthly bodies.

Let us not pursue speaking in tongues, as if speaking in tongues elevates the church. What is speaking in tongues in our church, as something special? Brothers and sisters, you must seek to be renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. We truly need to clarify our concepts.

Put to Death Therefore What Is Earthly in You

The preceding concept is clear: All these graces are ours because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, rewriting the concept of life and death, redefining what it means to be human—that it is the Spirit who gives life.

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are meant to forge a new value system. We have eternal life. Do not be vessels for God's wrath. As long as we live according to earthly values, pleasing the flesh, discerning good and evil, loving the world, and, additionally, being self-righteous—the same old upgrade, the same old four aspects—we will surely incur God's wrath.

When you incur God's wrath, what happens? God sends a demon to torment you, resulting in bloating or a dysfunctional brain or leg. Spiritual matters can be fatal. Many are driven into the church by demons. An elderly man was sitting on his bed when a demon shoved him, causing him to fall to the ground.

The elderly man exclaimed, I was sitting perfectly still; how did I fall? He then began to perceive spiritual entities, dead people coming to speak to him, becoming terrified. Because people are unwilling to change their inner values, unwilling to subdue their earthly desires. After being pushed over, the elderly man was reminded that the spiritual realm is real.

The younger you are when you recognize the spiritual realm, the better. Be renewed in knowledge. Long to live out the image of God. What value is there in living to ninety-something in a manner that is neither human nor ghostly? Many seek the Lord only upon seeing demons. Many are driven in by demons.

Living by our old, fleshly principles can only summon demons and incur God's wrath. What else can we do when God sends demons to torment us? Nothing at all. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must subdue our earthly desires—sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, idolatry. We once lived in these things before being driven in by demons. We come to church, and we bring these old things back.

If someone has experienced God, chased to church by demons, how can they reclaim those broken problems again? It is because they are unwilling to be gradually renewed and have no desire to put on the image of God, the foundation of their living logic remains unchanged. They value earthly matters more than anything else, prioritizing earthly concerns. That is doomed with no improvement.

If you view earthly matters as vanity of vanities, no problem will arise. Life is simple. Do not invite demons, and it will be greatly advantageous. Therefore, you must reject anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth, for these things attract demons. Start subduing earthly desires and utterly change your logical system, for it is the Spirit of God who gives life. We live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

If someone is truly blessed, they will live according to God's word all their life. Few can achieve that; it requires such enlightenment! If one pleases the flesh, loves the world, loves money, discerns good and evil, is lazy and wicked, how can they improve? If you are ill-fated, fear not. Subdue those aspects and embrace a new life.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. No longer living as a worldly person, I have been raised from the dead. I seek the things above. Christ is my life, and I will appear with Christ in glory. For our lives are hidden with Christ in God, not within the demons. If the demons seek to harm me, they cannot succeed. Therefore, put to death the misdeeds of the body.

Put Off the Old Self with Its Practices

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (Colossians 3:9).

For your benefit, I must sometimes be stern. Subdue earthly desires. I, too, must subdue. Put off the old self with its practices, such as loving honor. Pride will surely lead to misfortune. If I say that you are wrong in your actions, you will feel ashamed. You might retort, I am wrong, but so are you, countering me. Remember, this is not about deeds as a basis, but a set of principles that attract demons. We must destroy them.

Today, we have been resurrected with Jesus Christ. Our minds must be filled with the logical system of Jesus Christ. We must put off the old self and its practices, and not put it back on. The Colossians must have suffered a great deal. You were once a child of disobedience who incurred God's wrath. If you continue to do those things today, do you think you can once again become a child of disobedience who incurs God's wrath? Of course, you can.

If God allows you to grow continuously, God will forgive you. It doesn't matter if you haven't completely changed for the better, but you must gradually renew yourself. God gives you time to gradually renew, but you must never go back. Those who suffer from depression, cancer, or any other ailment, after our prayers, their condition improves significantly. But if you bring those things back, putting on the old self again, why do you love being yourself so much? Wouldn't it be better to be like Jesus Christ? How wonderful it is to live out God's image.

Many people say, No, I want to be myself. I want to be unique. When the devil comes, let's see if you still want to be yourself. People in this world today all say they want to be themselves. Only those of us who are a little more clear-headed choose not to be ourselves. I want to be like Jesus Christ.

What are we born as? White, Black, or Yellow, it doesn't matter. We are born male or female, it doesn't matter. We are born with big eyes, small eyes, big nostrils, small nostrils, upturned noses, flat noses, thick lips, thin lips, it doesn't matter. What matters is that we begin to gradually renew ourselves, begin to live out God's glory, and put off the old self.

Put on the new self.

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. (Colossians 3:10-11)

As I said, big eyes, small eyes, thin lips, thick lips, Christ is all, and is in all. Don't think we are just splitting hairs here. Otherwise, why is the gospel of Jesus Christ so effective?

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15)

Did I sound like a nanny reading through this? I am trying hard to get rid of that tone. Put on the new self, and then remember in knowledge, the knowledge in our minds must be gradually renewed. We think as Jesus thought, we do as Jesus did. This cannot attract demons. This is a great grace.
Many of our brothers and sisters, when they succeed in something, they become arrogant. When they fail, they become dispirited. When they succeed, they think they are amazing. I said, Sister, how are you? She said, Who are you? Oh my, she forgot who I was. I said, Let me introduce myself. Some time ago, you had some problem, then you came to me for prayer, and I prayed for you and you got well. Do you remember who I am now? She said, Ah, did that happen? Who are you?

Not two days later, she called and said, Teacher. I said, Who are you? She said, How can you forget? You were just talking to me about it a few days ago. I thought, Oh no, she's been driven back by the demon again. A few days ago, she was arrogant, now she is dispirited because something went wrong again and her boss scolded her. Recently, she found a multinational corporation, McDonald's. I thought she was a manager at McDonald's, but she was just a cleaner.

I lamented how easily people are satisfied. Is that God's logic? No, it's the logic of the strong, the mighty men of old. I carefully observe when the logical system of Jesus Christ can be installed in my mind, when this can be cut off with a snap. You know how it feels to not shower for many years? It's like not washing your brain for many years. I have to clean it up for her. How do you clean it? With a brush, with hard bristles or a steel wool, scrub scrub scrub, and be careful not to draw blood.

You are far off, and I am far off too. Let's work hard together to grow, to be gradually renewed in knowledge, to get rid of the old self, those useless things of the world, those things that attract demons. Let the word of God, the logical system of Jesus Christ who rose from the dead, enter into us. Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Devil, get away from me. Those things in our minds are deeply rooted, so I thank the Lord that I can be strong in the church.

Someone was going to jump off a building a few days ago. I served him until my mouth was dry. A few days later, he came, knocked on the door, and came in, sitting opposite me. He said, Pastor, you should do it this way. I thought, What kind of brain is this? Was it caught in the door? Teaching me how to be a pastor, but I have to be humble and listen.

I discussed it with him, saying, How do you know how to be a pastor? He stared at me with big eyes and small eyes, saying, I read it in my book. I said, Oh, which book? Is it correct? He said, It should be correct. I thought, He was going to commit suicide a few days ago, but now he's teaching people how to be a pastor? Let's all put down that kind of arrogance and let us be gradually renewed together in the knowledge of this new self. I encourage you to take a mirror and look at yourself. How much do I look like Jesus? What have I done that Jesus did? What have I done that Jesus didn't do? Oh, I think this world needs knowledge so much.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom

I know you work in a multinational corporation, and I know your position is quite high, but you still need wisdom, right? You still have to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. In the past few years, I have been in a very, very difficult state, until God disciplined me.

I especially dislike serving those foolish fellows. It can make you sick. God doesn't like me like that either. My reaction is unwise. Since God has called me, I will serve with the heart of Jesus Christ. No matter how difficult, how foolish, slowly fix it.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom. In the past few years, I have dealt with myself very harshly, and God has dealt with me even more harshly. So when you see me, don't be surprised. There are many scars on my body, many scars of discipline.

Listening to the words of those people is tiring, but I thank God that I put the will of Jesus Christ in my heart. What does Jesus think? What does Jesus think when He encounters this situation? I think the same way. What would Jesus do? Then we will do the same. Sometimes if we guess wrong, we ask God for mercy.

So I tell everyone, use all kinds of wisdom, not all kinds of foolishness. Use all kinds of wisdom to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, to begin to know God, to be constantly renewed in knowledge. There is no better doctrine in heaven and earth than the doctrine of Christ, and there is nothing in heaven and earth that is more powerful than the gospel of Jesus Christ, which refers to the power of Jesus Christ rising from the dead.

So brothers and sisters, begin to seek wisdom, begin to let the word of God dwell in you richly, engraved on our hearts. Don't be overjoyed just because a patient is healed after a prayer. I thank God that Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a theology that pays great attention to the Bible, a theology that pays very, very close attention to the word of God.

The strength, depth, and breadth with which we read the word of God, I don't think there are many churches that I know of that surpass us. Because I have personally seen those charismatic churches, focusing on healing and deliverance all day long, but not paying attention to understanding, not paying attention to wisdom, not paying attention to knowledge, and then not being able to live out the image of God, I have seen many tragedies.

Speaking in tongues is nothing remarkable. It is only the beginning. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, be gradually renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Don't be foolish. I once knew a pastor whose church members came to us. I was very sad. It's not that they didn't want to build the church well, but they didn't have the knowledge, so they brought countless such things into the church. He was originally anti-witchcraft, but in the end, he became another kind of witchcraft himself. It's really sad.

One sister from their church said, Pastor, I have seen so much, I think you are so wise. But I tell you what is the most wisdom? The most wisdom is to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. The most wisdom is to be gradually renewed in the knowledge of Jesus Christ in the image of his Creator.

I won't get excited just because a blind man sees or a lame man walks. I won't feel that that thing will satisfy me. I long to live out the image of the Lord Jesus. That is the ultimate pursuit. My logical system is built up with the word of God. The ideas inside must be built on the foundation of the word of God.

Put off the old self and put on the new self, use all kinds of wisdom to keep the word of Christ in your heart, richly in your heart. When we do this, whatever we do, we must do it from the heart, as if we were doing it for the Lord. So my service is like serving the Lord.

I have a wish, and I often remind myself, saying, God, let me come before you with boldness and without fear. Let me be able to stand before you and say, 'Lord, I have done everything you taught me, serving everyone as if I were serving you.' When I say this, there is no guilt in my conscience. I want to do everything for the Lord. The words I most want to hear from the Lord Jesus are, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your master's happiness!'

I have always thought that on that day, a crown of glory will be reserved for me. So brothers and sisters, do you have such hope? Are you seeking the things of heaven or the things of earth? Do you, like me, imitate Abraham, despising the things of earth?
Can we despise the things of earth and value the Lord Jesus, longing to receive praise before the Lord Jesus and become good and faithful servants? Whatever we do, we do it as if we were doing it for the Lord. For example, wives submit to their husbands, husbands love their wives, children obey their parents, parents do not provoke their children to anger, and servants obey their earthly masters. Do not serve only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Do you understand?

Isn't this so that we can be pleasing to God? If our hope is all on earth, we won't attract demons, so what will we attract? You rarely hear me encourage everyone to pray for someone's job or someone's business. No, there are no such things, because everything on this earth is satisfied in Jesus Christ.

Today, no matter what you do, if you are a person who loves the Lord, you lack nothing on earth. Because we know that we will receive an inheritance as a reward from the Lord. You are serving the Lord Christ. How wonderful it is that we will receive an inheritance as a reward on earth. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to our Lord Jesus. The power of Jesus Christ rising from the dead is also manifested in us.

We can, by the authority we have received through Jesus Christ, trample on the devil and the enemy on earth. This is the basis of our work and the basis of our service. Service is grace. We do everything as if we were doing it for the Lord, and we work as if we were doing it for the Lord.

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

Brothers and sisters, do not believe according to the logic of the world, because believing according to the logic of the world is called unrighteousness. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs. Be careful. The God we believe in is a jealous God. The God we believe in is definitely not Santa Claus. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs. The Lord never shows favoritism. What people receive is the righteousness of God. Should we come before God with a sense of reverence? Be careful, be cautious.

The Colossians went astray as they walked, and then they experienced the retribution of unrighteousness. If you experience the retribution of unrighteousness quickly, you still have a chance to repent. If the retribution of unrighteousness is slow, and it takes decades to come, that's a bit tragic, because too much has accumulated. I really hope that brothers and sisters can have such wisdom and knowledge.

May God bless everyone!