1. Introduction: Press Forward or Retreat?

In life, one either presses forward in battle and triumphs or retreats and ekes out a living. In reality, retreat leads to very significant losses between these two extremes.

A few days ago, I saw a video of a mother and daughter falling from a high-rise building. The mother tried to save her daughter, but could not stop her, and they both fell. It started with a dispute over bride price, just over money issues. The mother and daughter argued, and the daughter decided to jump. In the end, the mother also fell. People choose to jump in the face of minimal difficulties.

Two days later, I saw another video of a person falling from a very, very high building because of debt. Many people are in debt, but some give up too early in the face of difficulties. Actually, whether people like it or not, they will encounter difficulties. Therefore, the mindset in the face of difficulties determines whether a person will succeed or fail. No matter what one does, one cannot succeed if one gives up too early. A mindset of failure leads people to ruin, but what people face are demons in the spiritual realm. Suicide is caused by the dominion of demons in the spiritual realm.

We must all begin to triumph in the spiritual realm and see God's promises. There are indeed many promises from God in the Bible, but many people fail because they have a mindset of failure. One of our girls was promoted to supervisor some time ago, but before that, she experienced a great struggle. Although this girl does not have a high level of education, she has a mindset of triumph. In this process, she constantly triumphs.

How did she get promoted to supervisor? The boss required a university degree, good performance, and good interpersonal skills. She also actively signed up, and in round after round of selection, that sister obtained the position of supervisor. In the selection, one colleague had a university degree, but she was not well recognized by the boss. After seeing the results, she went directly to ask the boss why it was not her. The boss told her that her interpersonal skills needed to be handled better. After this, this colleague kept sending messages to our church sister: Why you, and not me? So, a person's mindset is really very important.

One of our sisters works in Singapore. Her father strongly opposed her faith. At that time, he went directly to the church, communicated with me, and told me that his uncle had a miserable life after believing in the Lord. I believe this father said that he was thinking for his daughter. You must know that believing in the Lord is also miserable if one does not triumph. God's love is unconditional, but obtaining God's promises and blessings is conditional, that one must be a triumphant person.

2. A Mindset of Triumph

Those who commit suicide often lack a mindset of triumph. Let us look at today’s scripture:

When God made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply your descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. (Hebrews 6:13-15)

3. Prayer

Lord Jesus, grant us Your words, possess a mindset of triumph, build our faith. Your declaration to Abraham should also be declared to us. Today, we also patiently endure and obtain Your promise. You will greatly bless and keep hope. Endure patiently, fight and triumph over the demons in the world, be called a blessing to many, and obtain the hope of the promise. Pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

4. Scripture Background

Some people look to doctors, but doctors do not know who to look to; some people look to mentors, but mentors do not know who to look to. Are the things we look to useful? People most need God's promises. We know for sure that God has revealed that His promises do not change. We have hope. When we are sick, in financial difficulties, etc., we know there is God. None who trust in God are ashamed. How to obtain the promise? Have a mindset of triumph.

Elisha was the most famous prophet, but only one leper was healed. Why not others? Because others did not believe. What can a person without faith obtain? What people need most in life is God's promise. With the promise, I can rely on Him, and my heart is very steadfast. The sick will be healed, and all problems will be answered. Yesterday, I received the sister's uncle. I invited him to dinner and gave him my testimony, telling him about the miracles I have done. After listening, he looked doubtful, but these miracles are real. The sister who testified today, her daughter who had convulsions, round after round of deliverance, step by step drove out the demon of convulsions, this is real. God is our refuge, all problems have answers in God, as long as we persevere patiently, we will see, and those who trust in God will never be ashamed.

Abraham pioneered the way of faith. God asked him to leave his home and his native land and go to the place God would show him. In the end, he encountered famine and went to Egypt, where Pharaoh of Egypt took his wife. Year after year passed, and he could not see God's promise. God promised him many descendants, but he had no descendants. He had Ishmael from his maidservant, but God said that this was not the one He promised. Finally, Isaac was born, and God said that this was the one I promised you. Later, when Isaac grew up, God said to offer Isaac to Him.

There are many places in this story where one could doubt God. However one thinks, one can enter into unbelief, but Abraham believed. Abraham struggled with whether God was testing him. He thought God really wanted to offer Isaac. But God also said that your descendants will be reckoned through Isaac. In such an environment, Abraham still believed that trusting in God's promise is the answer. In the end, God Himself prepared a lamb, and God's answer always exceeds our imagination. We only need to believe that God's promise will surely be fulfilled, as long as we have a triumphant faith. Abraham believed that even if his son were really offered to God, he would be resurrected from the dead, and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

We should not doubt God's promises as soon as we encounter difficulties, and say that God is not faithful. By the time Abraham offered Isaac, Abraham had passed all the tests. We only need to believe, and we will surely receive great blessings. To receive great blessings, we must persevere patiently. Our church has come step by step by emulating Abraham, seeing God's promises fulfilled little by little, and all those who come among us are healed.

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. (Hebrews 6:15-16)

Brothers and sisters, in life, we should not doubt God’s power as soon as we encounter difficulties, and think that God cannot do it. We only need to believe, and we will surely receive great blessings. As long as we believe, we will surely receive blessings. Our church has come step by step by emulating Abraham. God is a true God, and God is a God who gives us blessings.

Many people have no faith when they encounter problems. In fact, we have problems throughout our lives. There is no life of plain sailing. We encounter problems. It depends on how you solve the problems. The methods and ways of solving problems are different. I will choose to rely on God. Rely on God to live, do not rely on yourself and think you are capable and great.

We must know that God is a God who gives us blessings. We really need to start having faith. Our God is a great God, and nothing is impossible with God. When we encounter problems, we should actively solve them.

The mother who just testified has a beautiful family, is financially independent, and has a lively and lovely daughter. One day, you see your child's eyes turning white, and they have a high fever that does not subside. You take your child to the hospital and are tormented for most of the day, but nothing is found. However, at this time, you remember believing in the Lord and choose to fight spiritually with us. If it were not for our costly prayer warfare, her children would hardly be healed today.

The problems of a person's life are all problems in the spiritual realm. Start to rise up, fight the spiritual battle, and overcome all the devilish enemies. We often arrange 48-hour, 12-hour, and 72-hour continuous warfare prayer meetings. In the 48-hour long prayer meeting a few days ago, an evil spirit claiming to be a three-headed snake spoke to us, saying that it was my fault that so-and-so's child had a fever, and that it was also my fault that so-and-so's brother played games for a long time.

The most sensational news recently is that a 21-year-old flight attendant encountered a taxi driver's rape while taking a Didi, and was killed. In the end, the driver chose to commit suicide by jumping into the river. It seems like an inexplicable thing, but it happens in our lives. In fact, those are all bad things done by the devil. Usually, we live peacefully, but when disasters come, they are sudden. The suddenness of all disasters determines people's fate, and we should not live in a short-sighted and selfish place.

Do not argue, do not ask why you have not been healed, why I have not turned around, and why my state is still like this. Arguing does not produce any answers. Choose to trust God. God's first promise is faithful.

5. Perseverance is Key in Spiritual Warfare

All battles require perseverance. People are fond of instant results, but persistence is the faith that wins. Do not be overly encouraged by immediate testimonies, as they are built upon countless nights and days of complete dedication, service, prayer, and victorious warfare.

A sister had congenital heart disease. One day, she suffered a heart attack. An hour of prayer yielded no progress, nor did the next. Witnessing her curled body and fading faith, we persisted for another hour, and then another five hours until she was healed. I said, God, You are faithful. Later, when the heart attack recurred, I guided her in prayer, and it subsided in an hour. Subsequent attacks were resolved with fifteen minutes of prayer, and eventually, just seconds. Victory was achieved through repeated triumph.

Recently, we fought against a three-headed and nine-headed serpent. One brother was controlled by a gaming spirit. After the three-headed serpent spoke to us, we dealt with the evil spirit, and the brother was healed. Stand firm on the promises you hold, even like Abraham offering Isaac. Victory in spiritual warfare is necessary to receive God's promises.

Through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:33-38)

They were all imitators of Abraham, persevering to the end. Abraham was one of whom the world was not worthy. Today, you can choose to be of the world, or you can choose to be like Abraham, one of whom the world is not worthy.

While we may not yet be in such circumstances, we can emulate Abraham in our resolve. Why could Abraham offer his precious son? Because he had the concept of eternal life. A person’s life is not truly about their days on earth. Abraham gave his most esteemed possession to God; giving to God is the best choice. Life on earth is but vanity of vanities. Hold onto your faith, and you will surely obtain the faithfulness God has prepared.

Following Abraham, giving to God is the best choice one can make in life. Do not think that eating, drinking, and other mundane activities are the purpose of life. Living that way leads to entanglement, pain, hopelessness, and merely waiting for death. But today, we hold onto the eternal life promised by God.

Conclusion

Have you seen clearly what it means to live? If you have experienced the reality of the spiritual realm, you should know that eternal life is real. Have you started choosing how to live in this world? Today, it is not easy for us to be blessed, and it is even harder to be a blessing to many – you must fight. Today, strike the devil and the enemy, so that the captive may be freed and the prisoner released. Then we will surely see the hope God has promised fulfilled in our lives.