Introduction

I want to share with you a very difficult topic, Resisting the Wiles of the Devil. Why is this topic so difficult? Because it touches on many controversial issues. Actually, where can we see the resistance to the wiles of the devil? From the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation, we can see a clear thread. This thread is the entanglement of God's redemption and the devil's corruption.

This has almost become the theme of Genesis, the theme of Israel's history, and the theme of church history. The two-thousand-year history of the church also begins to confirm that, as from the first chapter of Genesis to the end of Genesis; as from Samuel, Judges to the time of Jesus Christ. Today, we see the modern history of the church is also like this, God's redemption and the devil's corruption of God's redemptive plan are almost intertwined like a hemp rope.

The Devil's Corruption

Looking at the modern history of the church, from 1900 when the Holy Spirit began to pour out on the church, in the process of these more than one hundred years, we have seen the devil constantly hindering the church from restoring its ability to fight, hindering the church from restoring its ability to cast out demons, heal, and deliver. Even today, there are still many churches with a very strange concept, thinking that healing and deliverance are not very important things, thinking that casting out demons is not very important, thinking that these are very narrow concepts. Brothers and sisters must know how corrupt the devil's schemes are.

By studying the past history and looking at today's phenomena, we will find a clear thread and then grasp the essence. What is this essence? The essence is to resist the wiles of the devil. We must know God, and at the same time we must know the wiles of the devil. The wiles of the devil are extremely rampant in the church. When I was casting out demons, the demons said very strange things. I said, Get out! It said, I won't go out, I have nowhere to go. I said, Go to that nightclub next to us. It said, I won't go, I just want to go to the church.

I was very strange, why does the devil like to go to the church? Actually, later I found out that the devil likes to live in the church. If this church is a church where God is present, if the devil can stay in such a church, it can go back and get rewards in the kingdom of the devil. If it can corrupt this church, it can go back and get more rewards. Conversely, the easier the church is to corrupt, the smaller the rewards it gets when it goes back.

When I was casting out demons for a sister, that demon spoke and said, How much I hope to be defeated by the hands of a certain pastor. Actually, that certain pastor is me. It hopes to be defeated by my hands, it feels that it is its honor. Actually, there is nothing to be happy about, I must also learn to know the wiles of the devil, in fact, this is called killing with praise, we must eliminate the pride in us.

We must know one thing, through Genesis chapters 1-11, we will see the devil's first temptation, enticement, and deception of Adam and Eve. The devil is corrupting God's beautiful plan to create man. As a result, Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and their descendant Cain also fell into the hands of the devil. Cain could not overcome sin, nor could he overcome the devil, and finally lived very painfully. Such things continued until Lamech, and the whole thing became more and more intense, and as a result, the entire lineage of Cain was corrupted.

After Abel was killed, Seth and Enos came out. From that time on, people began to call on the name of God. But by the time of Noah's generation, you will find that only Noah's family was left, and all the others were corrupted. A lineage of Seth was corrupted. In that generation, the earth was full of violence, and there were many mighty men of renown. We will see that human history developed to Noah, only 1600 years, and only Noah's family was left. If it continued like this, even Noah's family would not be able to keep it.

Finally, God destroyed that generation with a flood and saved Noah's family, but one of Noah's sons, Ham, was cursed again. Then continuing down, going to the time of Abraham, God again chose Abraham. Later Abraham had Ishmael and Isaac, but Ishmael was not counted, only Isaac was counted. Later Isaac had Esau and Jacob, and Esau was again carnal.

We will find that the history of mankind is really sad, because there are more who obey the devil and fewer who obey God; more are corrupted by the devil and fewer are saved by God. Looking at the history of the Israelites, God rescued them from Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land, then later you will see in Chronicles and Kings, some kings did what was right in the eyes of God, but many kings did what was evil in the eyes of God, and as a result, both the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel were destroyed by God.

After the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel were destroyed by God, it came to the time of Jesus. From the birth of Jesus to the world more than four hundred years ago, Nehemiah and Ezra returned from captivity to Jerusalem, built the temple of God, built the walls of Jerusalem, and trained a large number of scribes and lawyers, but by the time of Jesus Christ, these people had become Pharisees, those Pharisees who crucified Jesus.

Jesus said a very interesting sentence: It cannot be that a prophet should perish out of Jerusalem. We are very strange, why should a prophet perish in Jerusalem? I think the meaning of this statement is very deep, because Satan lives in Jerusalem, lives in the temple where there is worship, in fact, the temple is a very typical example. Later, the high priests and Pharisees in the time of Jesus, they became a brood of vipers, became spokesmen for the devil Satan. We are surprised to find that the temple established by God, the place to worship God, how did it become Satan's throne? It turns out that Satan really lives in the temple, Satan really lives in the church.

The Development History of the Church in All Ages

We will see that the history of the early church is no exception. Everyone, follow my line of thought to think, to look at the Bible, you will know that from Peter, Peter led the other disciples to start building the church, the church began to become extremely prosperous, in Jerusalem there were three thousand people who believed, five thousand people who believed. As a result, later, the entire Jerusalem church was controlled by Pharisee Christians.

Pharisee Christians are very evil, they go everywhere to preach the law of Moses, and as a result, even the apostle Peter, Jesus Christ's great disciple, would be afraid when he saw these people, and then he would pretend. The church is full of pretense, full of very strange characteristics. Not long after the early church started, the leadership of the entire church was controlled by the Pharisee sect. God entrusted a beautiful mission to the apostle Peter, but Peter did not take it up. Later, God chose the apostle Paul again, and as a result, Paul preached the gospel among the Gentiles, built the church, and later the apostle Paul also wrote the book of Ephesians.

We see that even the churches built by Paul, how many survive today? Actually, not many. After nearly two thousand years of history, what kind of church has it become? Today, you look around, you really can't believe how big the difference is between the faith of today's church and the faith described in the Bible. We won't talk about anything else, just talk about the hundred-year history of the church, do you know what happened? The church one hundred years ago did not have the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, did not have speaking in tongues, and even today, speaking in tongues is still a topic of debate.

But the Bible clearly says to pray in tongues, be filled with the Holy Spirit, but many people insist on distorting the word of God. One hundred years ago, there was a wave of outpouring of the Holy Spirit, from South Wales in the United Kingdom to the United States, bringing a revival of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As a result, you will see that these revivals stopped abruptly after a year or two, the church was completely corrupted by the devil, and it returned to its original state. Even today, some people still ask me: Are you a charismatic? I said: I don't know if I am a charismatic or an evangelical, I only know that I am of the Jesus faction, whatever Jesus does, I do. Even such a simple thing becomes very difficult.

Resolutely Discern the Devil's Schemes

We organized an event, the Global Online Bible Study. I talked about Jesus Christ healing all kinds of diseases in every city and village, in the synagogues, and one person said: Healing all kinds of diseases is not important, healing people's spiritual problems is important. However, what we see Jesus doing there? What Jesus did was a very simple thing, healing all kinds of diseases. The Bible does not say that Jesus preached and preached the gospel of the kingdom of heaven in the synagogues, and then healed all kinds of spiritual diseases. It doesn't say that, it says that Jesus healed all kinds of diseases.

If we read the Bible carefully, we will find that Jesus Christ was defined as a heresy in that generation, and the high priests and Pharisees could not tolerate Jesus. It is the same today, can't we see the work of the devil? What we see is the work of the devil, how much the devil hopes to corrupt this powerful gospel. Today, if we want to promote the powerful gospel, the enemy we face is very powerful, it is the devil Satan.

The devil Satan nailed Jesus to the cross in that year. So today, in our year, if we do not have a heart that is not afraid of death, we cannot go on, because the devil enemy will definitely use all kinds of ways to hinder us, even threaten our lives. However, we are a group of people who put life out of the question, life and death are no longer our key, so we are determined to see through the schemes of the devil.

Through the modern history of the church, we can clearly see one thing, if we want to promote healing, deliverance, and cast out demons by the Spirit of God today, and let the kingdom of God come, you will face great obstacles. These obstacles are not difficult to understand, because the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one, and the formidable enemy we face is the strongest enemy since the creation. But do not be afraid, because we have God, God will surely be with us, how Jesus Christ overcame the devil enemy, today we will also overcome the devil enemy! However, we must learn how to resist the wiles of the devil.

Scripture

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness. (Ephesians 6:9-13)

Some time ago, a pastor of a church came to me and said: I also want to do what you do. I said: You can't do it, if you want to do it, can you bear the consequences? He said: I am willing to bear it. I said: Okay. Then I told him how to do it, and what happened? He just started doing it, just started to deal with the devil enemy, and many leaders in the church stood up to oppose it. We really don't know what they are opposing, all we ask is to set the captives free, to set the oppressed free, all we ask is to heal the sick, isn't this great news? What is there to hinder? Aren't these things recorded in the Bible?

Just like the event we did, many people distorted many things, saying that what we said is different from what many people said, in fact, it is not important whether it is the same or different from what many people said, what is important is whether it is the same or different from what Jesus said in the Bible. How is it that such a simple principle is so difficult to receive? Moreover, do we not all need it? Many people think that they do not need it.

I think today's generation is like the generation of the early church, either you start preaching the pure gospel, facing the strongest enemy; or you start preaching a distorted gospel, you don't need to face the strongest enemy, but you need to face God. Do we want to please God? Or do we want to please people? If we want to please people, we will not be servants of Jesus Christ, if we want to be servants of Jesus Christ, we must learn one thing, to offer our lives completely, and what do we do after offering them? Life and death are no longer within our consideration, what we consider is to do what Jesus Christ did, to restore the power of the church, to restore the truth of the Bible.

Later, another pastor of a church told me that he wanted to do what I did, why? Because that pastor's wife was sick, and we prayed and his wife got better, and after his wife got better, he wanted to walk the path we were walking. Then I told him, that's difficult, it's difficult for you to walk this path. As a result, sure enough, after only a few days of walking, many people stood up to oppose it.

Today we all need to know that we either retreat or advance, if you retreat, God will not be pleased with you, if you advance, the devil will not be pleased with you, so we must make a choice. How many people have the ambition of the apostle Paul? I struggled to get out of this process, it was a trial. After this trial, I was able to resist the enemy in the day of trial, and having done all, to stand.

Prayer

Lord, let each of our brothers and sisters be able to see the truth of the spiritual world! Let each of our brothers and sisters be able to see the essence through these phenomena, to see the schemes of the devil enemy! Let us know the schemes of the devil enemy, and also let us in this generation fight against those principalities, against those powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places! We want to take up the whole armor of God!

Lord Jesus, today you come to help us, in our days of tribulation, to resist the enemy, and having accomplished everything, still be able to stand! Lord Jesus, you are our strength; you are our help; you are our shield; you are our rock. Lead us to fight, to completely trample on the devil enemy, to strike the dark power of Satan.

Lord, according to what you have promised, let us be able to bruise the head of the devil, although the devil will bruise our heel, but we are no longer afraid! Lord, help us, let us be able to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, completely trample on the devil enemy, let the devil enemy be our footstool under our feet. Lord, we ask you to help us, to see through the schemes of the devil, to resist the schemes of the devil, let us accomplish everything, still stand, until the day of your glorious return comes to us. Lord, help us to build a glorious church, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Building a Holy, United, Victorious, and Glorious Church

What is the theme of Ephesians? It is to build a glorious church. Ephesians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus, to all the saints in the church in Ephesus, in the process of building the church. He wrote the most critical theological concepts of building the church in Ephesians, that is to say, Ephesians is a perfect summary of Paul's theological thoughts.

First, Paul defines the church as the body of Jesus Christ, the church is the body of Jesus Christ. Know that if the church is the body of Jesus Christ, how great is the power that God shows through those who trust in Jesus.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:17-23)

That is to say, the theme of Ephesians written by Paul is to build God's glorious church. I once wrote a book, which is a Bible study of Ephesians, called Building a Glorious Church, and also wrote a Bible study of Revelation, called The Revelation of the Victorious Church. The books I wrote are in great conflict with traditional concepts, but it doesn't matter. Everyone can carefully examine the Bible to see if what I said is true or not. I define the first chapter of Ephesians as the church is the body of Jesus Christ, that is to say, we build the body of Jesus Christ, that is to build the glorious church.

“to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Ephesians 3:10)

God wants his name to be glorified through building a glorious church, as written in Ephesians 3:20:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20)

Looking at this letter from the Apostle Paul, you will find that from beginning to end it is threaded through the theme of building the glorious church. If you have doubts, you can also look at the following scripture:

that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:26-27)

Later, Paul, in discussing husbands and wives, used couples to compare Christ and the church:

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32)

Paul used couples to compare Christ and the church, but did Paul talk about the problems between couples? Actually, there are also, but he made a comparison between couples and Christ and the church. The theme discussed by the entire Apostle Paul in Ephesians is to build a glorious church. Of course, this glorious church has inextricable links with us personally. Because the church is built by connecting people one by one. Therefore, unity has also become an important concept of the glorious church.

Put on the Whole Armor of God to Resist the Wiles of the Devil

Brothers and sisters must know for sure that if you want to build God's glorious church, to build the body of Jesus Christ, you cannot escape the battle with the devil. If you are fighting the devil, you must put on the whole armor of God, so that you can resist the wiles of the devil.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

So brothers and sisters, prepare yourselves, to completely resist the devil enemy, put on the whole armor of God, when we put on the whole armor, in the day of tribulation we can resist the enemy, and having accomplished everything, still be able to stand. Brothers and sisters must know that on the road to building God's glorious church, there are corpses everywhere.

I have seen many pastors who have done healing and casting out demons, but what is the later situation? The later situation is not good at all. What does it mean? It means that in the day of tribulation they did not resist the enemy, they did not see through the schemes of the devil. There are too many schemes of the devil, so they did not accomplish everything, and finally they could not stand. There are those who stand, and there are those who do not stand, which is why Paul said, take up the armor of God, so that you can withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. That is to say, there are still many who cannot stand.

What is the reason for not standing? The reason for not standing is that they cannot overcome the devil Satan, what is the reason for not being able to overcome the devil Satan? It is that they have not put on the whole armor of God. We must put on the whole armor, I tell you, God has predestined us to victory, God guarantees us victory, as long as you have the character of the apostle Paul, God guarantees you victory. Brothers and sisters, God has prepared the whole armor for us, are we willing to put on this whole armor, and then build God's glorious church, even if there are tribulations?

Building God's Glorious Church Requires Many Tribulations

Some people say, I don't want tribulations, the Bible never says there are no tribulations, because if you want to build God's glorious church, you must fight against the devil enemy, and fighting against the devil enemy is not a simple matter. I must tell everyone in advance, although I tell you that the good news of victory is ahead, but I also want to tell you

The Devil's First Trick: Replacing Corporate Building of the Church with Personal Cultivation

The devil's primary trick is to substitute the unified building of the church with individual spiritual practices. Indeed, the devil is quite astute; it does not fear your personal cultivation. It pushes many into isolated practices: Ah, I draw near to God; Ah, I pray to God; Ah, I hide in my closet! Is drawing near to God a truth? Yes, it is! But the most important truth is to build a unified, holy, victorious, and glorious church, for God's will is inherently so!

Brothers and sisters, read the Book of Ephesians carefully; unity is an exceedingly important concept! Not individual cultivation. If you hide alone in the deep mountains, having no interaction with anyone, you will have no faults. However, if you interact with others, you will discover that you need patience—either others must tolerate you, or you must tolerate others.

That is to say, we can only become holy in united relationships. If we cannot be unified, it is because you or I, unilaterally or bilaterally, are not holy enough. We have many carnal things within us, preventing us from uniting in Jesus Christ. Without unity, we cannot build a unified church. In fact, the notion of substituting personal cultivation for building a unified church is common!

For example, many advocate family first. But if family comes first, where does building a unified and glorious church fit? If family comes first, where does Jesus Christ fit? This is a highly cunning trick of the devil. In reality, building a unified and glorious church is not prevalent in today's churches. The moment a pastor promotes building a unified, victorious, and glorious church, you will find the entire leadership rising up in opposition. If you build a unified, victorious church, the first thing you must deal with is the devil, the enemy, ensuring it has no place to hide within the church. You will discover that those in the church with demonic influence will all rise up against you.

This is the path I have personally walked. Superficially, the church seems fine; many donate and serve. However, if you continue to push forward in building a unified, victorious church, continuing to deal with the demonic enemy, dealing with the spirit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, dealing with the spirit of the dragon, the spirit of death, the spirit of the old donkey—continuing to deal with these, some will find it impossible to remain. Either their demons will be cast out, and they will stay in the church, or they will be taken away by the demons. Why? Because maintaining a superficial harmony is still acceptable! But once you start promoting the building of a unified, victorious church, those who practice personal cultivation are, in fact, being used by the devil. It becomes a battle, a very painful battle!

When you are building a victorious, glorious, and unified church, those whom we previously considered good people become not so good. Over the past few centuries, personal cultivation has replaced the truth of building a unified, victorious church. But what the Apostle Paul speaks of in Ephesians is, in fact, building a holy, unified, victorious, and glorious church.

The Devil's Second Trick: Replacing Power with Rules

You know, throughout the historical development of the church, the devil is not at all afraid of powerless churches. Powerless churches do no harm to the devil's kingdom. Therefore, the devil greatly desires people to build churches that do not cast out demons, and it hopes that these churches that do not cast out demons can be maintained, allowing many to enter these churches and then delude themselves into believing they are saved.

So, what exactly is salvation? Many people have made the concept of salvation extremely confusing. I mentioned some time ago that the key to salvation is actually closely related to casting out demons—releasing people from the hand of the devil. You will find that many churches have no spiritual warfare; many churches do what charitable organizations do. Not that what charitable organizations do is bad, but what charitable organizations do cannot release people from the hand of the devil.

For example, if someone is poor, giving them money will never solve their problem of poverty. Do you think giving them money will solve their problem? You have done a good deed, a charitable act, but their poverty will forever be a bottomless pit. If we release them from the curse of poverty, cast out the demons that steal their blessings, restore their ability to work, restore their ability to live, they will not be poor at all. Then, the glorious image of God's creation will begin to be restored in them.

Many people often do charity, liking to give money, which actually corrupts them. In fact, it is troublesome when rules or morals replace power. Why did the Apostle Paul oppose using Moses' law, rules, to control Christians? Because once you follow the rules of Moses' law, you lose power.

The Devil's Third Trick: Replacing Faith with Works

Replacing faith with works is utterly detestable.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We must know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is built on the foundation of faith. If it is built on the foundation of works, you cannot release the great power of Jesus Christ. When works replace faith, the Gospel of Jesus Christ immediately becomes a powerless Gospel. The fruit of faith is miracles—these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. But today, looking around, such things rarely happen. We wonder whether the Bible is wrong or if we are doing something wrong today. I tell you plainly, many have gone wrong; many have turned the powerful Gospel into a powerless one.

These signs will accompany those who believe. What about those who are not accompanied by signs and wonders? What do they believe in? They believe in the Tao Te Ching; they do not believe in the powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters who come among us, I can boldly tell you that if you follow us, you will surely see the glory of God and see the powerful Gospel of God manifested.

So, brothers and sisters, do not be afraid. If you have illnesses or problems, start opening your spiritual eyes and see the destruction and actions of the devil. We must thoroughly destroy the demonic enemy. If we see through the devil's tricks, we will win the battle. I discovered a secret when casting out demons: as I cast them out, I discovered, This is so-and-so demon. Once I name the demon, it immediately surrenders. When we recognize the devil's tricks and resist them, it immediately reveals its true form. In the story of Journey to the West, when the monsters are defeated, they reveal their true forms.

If we can see what its true form is, we immediately know its series of tricks, and when we deal with it, it immediately reveals its true form and is quickly defeated. So, replacing faith with works is definitely not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For example, if a cancer patient waits to do good deeds, I think forget it. Because they must completely rely on faith before God to receive healing. If relying on works, their works are worthless before God; they cannot come before God through their works. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith.

So, our brothers and sisters, you can boldly come among us with confidence. If you want to receive healing, just believe and receive. We who serve believe that we will release God's power, because healing is God's heart's desire. When people are healed, we do not morally bind them; they have complete freedom of choice. You can choose to serve God, or you can choose to continue on your original path. We do not force people. Why? Because they should make their own choices. If a person is released and then returns to worshiping idols and is corrupted by the devil, it is truly deserved.

The Devil's Fourth Trick: Replacing Imitation of God with Imitation of the World

When the Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Ephesians, he wrote this:

Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. (Ephesians 5:1)

We really need to imitate Jesus Christ, imitate God, as dearly loved children, and not imitate this world. Because replacing imitation of God with imitation of this world immediately leads to a loss of power. That is to say, when people imitate this world, the customs, disputes, and disturbances of this age will corrupt us. When they corrupt us, we no longer imitate God but continue to imitate this world. The church cannot become a glorious church; the church loses its ability to fight, and then the brothers and sisters all suffer losses. Therefore, brothers and sisters, imitate God, which is what the Bible says.

Imitate God in what?

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:2-20)

Why do we imitate this world? Many people think that imitating this world will bring benefits. Some Christians are detestable; they say, I really hope to be nailed to the cross, to stay beside Jesus, and then I will be with Jesus Christ in paradise! See how good that is! Sin for a lifetime and still enjoy it for a lifetime. I just think, what kind of brain is that? This is the system of imitating the world. I thought about it carefully, and this person, as a robber, does not live well in this life! What can you gain from being a robber for a lifetime? Being chased and caught all the time—really, you don't live very well.

In fact, the sooner we imitate God, the better, isn't it? The sooner we imitate God, we are dearly loved children; will we lack anything? We will not lack anything. Do we need to be greedy? We don't need to. We don't lack anything, so what are we greedy for? Is living a complicated thing? For those who have God, living is a simple thing. Therefore, imitating God is incomparably good. Now we have obtained great power; the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead has been manifested in us.

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:20-23)

We are building God's glorious church; isn't everything in our midst? Brothers and sisters, when we thoroughly destroy the demonic enemy, the demonic enemy needs to cede territory and pay reparations; the demonic enemy needs to bring money every day. Will we be poor? Not at all. So, our brothers and sisters must all be strong, relying on Jesus Christ, and be powerful children of God.

So, what does Paul say?

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all Perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Conclusion

We must restore the power that the Gospel should have had, and we must severely damage the devil's kingdom! We are to release those who are oppressed by the devil and return them to God's kingdom. The devil must release what it has taken! The church must stand at a higher spiritual level. We have seen through the devil's tricks, and we must thoroughly destroy the demonic enemy's kingdom. Satan must be completely trampled under our feet.

Over the past period, we have been promoting 48-hour prayer meetings. In these 48-hour prayer meetings, one brother and sister after another has been released. Some demons were beaten and screamed, then begged for mercy. Brothers and sisters, this is what a victorious church should look like. Not only must we have power in battle, but we must also know the devil's tricks in our understanding. We must put on the whole armor of God, pray in the Spirit always with all prayer, stand firm, and gird our waists with truth.

We must break through in understanding; we must have a clearer understanding of the devil's tricks; we must have a clearer vision of spiritual matters. Relying on our God, we must thoroughly destroy what the demonic enemy has corrupted in the church. The church must restore its original glorious state!

that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:26-27)

The day of the Lord Jesus' return is near! Let us prepare ourselves, build a glorious church, and welcome the return of the Lord Jesus. I know that there are still many brothers and sisters among us who have believed in the Lord for many years, but there is still much spiritual garbage inside. I encourage you to study hard, read the Bible carefully, and read the Books of Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Hebrews, Revelation, Genesis, and Deuteronomy carefully.

Let us all become holy and blameless before God, and together build His glorious church, preparing for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. One day we will stand before God and receive His glorious crown. Let us live out God's glorious image on this earth every day, with such hope, so that the captives may be released and the oppressed may be free! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!