Alright, today we will delve into 2 Corinthians, Chapter 10. In fact, there seems to be a discernible divergence in logic between Chapter 10 and the preceding chapters of 2 Corinthians. Why is that? Because earlier, it was mentioned that the Corinthians had already submitted. However, in this chapter, Paul states that they have not yet submitted.

And being ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:6)

That is to say, this letter seems somewhat peculiar at this juncture. Some have boldly speculated that this is the Middle Corinthian Letter. This section is from the Middle Corinthian Letter, but later individuals did not understand how it was copied and became mixed up. In reality, there is ample reason to believe that this is Paul's Middle Corinthian Letter, except that perhaps certain sections were appended to the end of 2 Corinthians.

So, let us address this chapter. Let us not continue reading it in sequence with the previous chapters, for it will not make sense, nor will it cohere. In other words, let us focus solely on the theme of this chapter. The theme of this chapter is to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

Do you know how difficult it is to take people's thoughts captive? Does everyone understand that to take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ is an exceedingly difficult task? One must speak with gentleness, yet also with force. One must tear down, yet also build up. It is simply too difficult! Thus, our concepts must be readjusted. If you desire to be someone who serves God, you must wage a spiritual war because people's thoughts are often seized by demons.

People's minds and thoughts are particularly prone to believing a lie, which is what is truly uncanny. Believing something beneficial to oneself is difficult, but believing something that corrupts oneself is exceptionally swift.

For instance, I encountered a sister. I was ministering to her, and I observed that she was suffering from a severe headache. Do you know if prayer can alleviate it? Yes, it can. Her face was contorted from the pain; she could barely endure it. I suggested that she take two pain relievers to alleviate the discomfort first, and then we would pray.

She then thought: What? You do not want to pray for me? Oh, I tell you, the lie arrived almost instantaneously! That is to say, people's thoughts are very insidious. Believing lies is insidious; they immediately follow the lie.

If you wish to determine whether a person possesses this cancerous disposition, simply observe whether their perspective on matters is frequently negative. I minister to strangers in the streets until I am exhausted. What do you think I will do for those closest to me? I do not want to pray for you—is this not an infuriating statement? If I do not confront it and correct it, then this spiritual battle will be lost. Therefore, to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ is the work of a pastor.

Hence, I am training the junior pastors among us. Your speech must be forceful. When you open your mouth, it is as though it is constricted, and you often lack clarity in your articulation. In the clashes of words, you are frequently pinned to the ground and thrashed around by demons. That is very difficult.

Therefore, I would like everyone here today to understand that, as a Christian, if you desire to love God and pastor God's flock, you must comprehend that this is a spiritual battle. This battle is without visible smoke, yet it is a clash between corrupting and edifying people. You must try to edify people. Think of how difficult it is.

1. This is a Spiritual Battle

So Paul, in facing the Corinthian church, it seems on the surface that certain individuals went there and corrupted the Corinthian church. If you attribute this matter to certain individuals, you would be mistaken. Where does the problem lie? The problem lies in the fact that this is a spiritual battle.

Our brothers and sisters must understand that you must frequently contend with the devil on the spiritual battlefield. At times, you may beat the devil black and blue, and at other times, the devil may beat you black and blue, is it not so? There are times when, after finally pinning the demon to the ground and thrashing it, one has expended much effort and sweat, and has sustained numerous blows. If you wish to pastor people, you must recognize that this is a spiritual battle. If you wish to take people's thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ, that is an exceedingly difficult endeavor.

For instance, yesterday, one of our junior pastors, in attempting to dismantle the lies within a brother he was ministering to, did not possess sufficient skill. As a result, he caused the brother to devolve into discerning good from evil. That was not the intention.

What happened? I had to take over. This is why, when our junior pastors complete their work and situations become critical, they must hand them over to me for resolution. I must restrain them! After I take over, the individual begins to speak, the spiritual battle commences.
He immediately questioned why his pastor would humiliate and injure him. He said: You must understand that I am currently weak. When arguing and reasoning with him, he had ample justifications for becoming angry, for feeling distressed, and for feeling wounded; ample justifications for taking every thought captive, but not for making them obedient to Christ.

As I listened to him speak, I had to interrupt him. I said: Do you know that the words you are speaking are corrupting you? Was my statement forceful? Forceful! To take people's thoughts captive, there is a very effective method. You must make them realize that they are corrupting themselves.

I desire to assist him, to edify him, and to facilitate his liberation. The most effective means of edifying a person is to make them obedient to Christ. If you are obedient to Christ, then what you articulate are not your own ideas. Are you easily wounded? You are not easily wounded. Even when Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, He did not sustain internal injuries. But observe the hearts of our brothers and sisters—they are riddled with internal injuries, are they not?

The ministry of the junior pastors is not very proficient. Their ministry is somewhat crude, like a dull knife that, as it grinds back and forth, is unable to sever. I perceive this to be a spiritual battle. Everyone should understand that in your speech, in your words, you are in the midst of a spiritual battle.

Therefore, I wish to convey to everyone today that the words of our Lord Jesus are spirit and are life. Your own words are also spirit, but they are corrupting. Hence, taking people's thoughts captive is the only path to liberation from corruption; it is ministry.

I tell you, if you do not possess a heart that loves God's sheep, it will be difficult for you to restrain the demon. In other words, as you minister, you and the person you are ministering to will discern good from evil. You discern good from evil with them, and they discern good from evil with you; the two of you end up tearing each other apart.

Are you familiar with this situation? Whether in ministry or in pastoring, the two individuals devolve into conflict. He discerns good from evil with you, and you discern good from evil with him. But such discernment of good from evil is detrimental. The problem is that one person desires to rescue you, while you desire to corrupt yourself; it is such a battle, very insidious. Some people believe: If I do not corrupt myself, I will have lived in vain. Is this so? Yes. Are there people who believe, “If I do not corrupt myself, I will have lived in vain”? Yes, there are. When we are engaged in this endeavor, do you know that there will often be a group of people in the church who corrupt others?

Please do not assume that the church is a sanctified place. The church is a gathering of sinners. And sinners, rubbing and colliding together. So what are they doing by rubbing and colliding? Grinding away all our dirty and unholy things. That is how the Spirit of God works, an unholy person ministering to another unholy person, becoming holy in this process together.

2. Must Treat These People With Courage

Do you know what kind of people came to the Corinthian church? The people who came to the Corinthian church were extraordinary. These people were even more influential than the Apostle Paul. You can readily calculate by counting on your fingers and toes who would be more influential than Paul. It would certainly be Peter and James, among others.

After these individuals arrived, they asserted that Paul had not followed Jesus. In general, the teachings of Peter and James were not the word of God. In particular, they mentioned that Lot was a righteous man. That is the end of it! When did Jesus proclaim Lot to be a righteous man? When did Paul proclaim Lot to be a righteous man? Lot was a man who had forfeited his destiny. They portrayed a man who had forfeited his destiny as a righteous man.

I tell you, it does not require much poison. Even a minute amount of poison is still poison. When you drink alcohol, it contains a single drop of arsenic, which is fatal. Is it alcohol? Yes, it is alcohol. Is it poisonous? Yes, just a drop. I tell you, the gospel of Christianity is similar.

However, they would say: I followed Jesus! I am a great apostle! I saw Jesus! I was present when Jesus ascended! Do you believe that the spiritual battle Peter is now engaged in is severe? This is not a human issue; it is a spiritual issue. Those who corrupt the Corinthian church believe that they are doing something great. They believe that Paul has gone astray.

A few days ago, I encountered a pastor who told me: Many people believe that you have gone astray. So be it! It was already skew, originally. It was more skew in the past, and it is less skew now. That is the extent of it. Actually, when you think about it, these individuals are very influential. What are we? We are obscure.

I thank God! They cannot touch you because they will not come in. But you must understand that there are many prophets of various kinds around you who are constantly releasing lies, and I need to continually take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

They say that I have gone astray, and that is fine. From their perspective, I say: Alas, people's eyes are always skew, is it not? What is not skewed? Perhaps we are indeed skewed. I believe that in the spiritual battle we wage today, we must treat these individuals courageously. How to be courageous? We must speak forcefully and take up the spiritual weapons.

On one occasion, immediately after I disembarked from a plane, two individuals left the group. Later, I learned from some of our church's brothers and sisters, who were acquainted with them, what had transpired. They told me, Teacher, do you know what happened? I replied, How would I know? Before boarding the plane, I was still ministering. But after disembarking, they were gone, and they had even blocked me. Later, I understood that there was a prophet in their neighborhood. These two sisters had received grace from me. They were gravely ill and had received grace from me.

As a result, I entrusted one of the sisters with the ministry of the other. You might think that our judgment is somewhat skewed, as we could select such a person for ministry. That sister stated that there was a prophet in her neighborhood. Apparently, both of them had prophets. I wondered: If that is the case, why did the prophet not care for you when you were ill? Why did you come to me? She said: Our local prophet told me yesterday to be wary of this Teacher Liu, that he intends to exploit you. I was thinking: From so far away, what could I possibly exploit? I had no idea what I could exploit.

As a result, the other sister also said: The prophet in our neighborhood also told me the same thing yesterday. Every single word matched. These two sisters then resigned from the group and disappeared. If this congruence occurred, would you not say that it was a divine confirmation for us? Let us slowly confirm it.

Subsequently, I have become increasingly steadfast in my ministry, bravely confronting those who corrupt others. At times, if brothers and sisters utter a lie from the devil, I am compelled to confront them. Why? Over time, they become corrupted. Those who corrupt the church will be corrupted by God. Those who corrupt the body of Jesus Christ will be corrupted by God. Therefore, take every thought captive, and make it obedient to Christ.

Some have already accomplished 50 percent, others 80 percent, and still others 90 percent. But it does not matter; continue to take every thought captive and turn it towards Christ.

You know, it is very easy to have people believe in lies. For example, some believe, Look at how busy I am. I still have to attend your Bible study on Wednesday, your Bible study on Friday, and your Sunday service. Where do I find the time? I am already like this; what more do you want from me?

Have you heard these words? If they were to spread throughout the church, they would be destructive. God forbids. If you want me to respond bravely, I will say: Then do not come! Do not continue to spread corruption here. Which of our brothers and sisters has not received the benefits of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

3. Our Weapons Are Not Carnal

I frequently encounter challenges during ministry. For instance, someone might question me: Why are you in such a hurry? Why are you so angry? Can you not speak more pleasantly? Such words can be quite disheartening. At times, when I witness individuals being corrupted by demons, my anger involuntarily flares up. What is the result?

Some think that we are living according to the flesh. Yes, we are waging war against such arrogance! I ask that when I am with you I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think we live by worldly standards. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. (2 Corinthians 10:2-3)

Although I may speak loudly and shout at the top of my lungs, I am not warring according to the flesh, but according to the word of God.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)

Our weapons are not carnal, but are mighty in God. I thank God! I thank God for bestowing such weapons upon me. When it comes to the word of God, most people cannot contradict me.

Allow me to provide a few examples. Yesterday, during ministry, this individual articulated many principles to me. I then interjected: Which statement is from the word of God? Not a single statement was from the word of God. You have presented a plethora of notions to me, but which one is from the word of God? Would Jesus act in such a manner? No. Would Paul act in such a manner? No. Would Joseph act in such a manner? Would Jacob act in such a manner? No. You would act in such a manner because you are living in the devil's lies, unaware that you are corrupting yourself and uttering demonic words.

Today, if our brothers and sisters utter demonic words, they may suddenly become disoriented and begin to utter demonic words. Consequently, the demon may assert: You actually despise serving me, do you not? Ah, these words resonate within my heart. I then proclaim: I tell you, if I were not serving God, I would distance myself from individuals like you as far as possible. I desire to be as far away from you as the heavens are from the earth.

Demons enjoy hearing these words, but I have more to say. I do not act according to my own desires, nor according to my own preferences; I act according to the word of God. I want even more. You must retreat. As long as this sister remains among us, I will eliminate you. As soon as this is said, the demon is destroyed. I also have weaknesses. According to my own carnal desires, I am truly annoyed and disgusted, without exaggeration.

I do not act according to my preferences, but according to the will of God. As long as you remain under my care, I will drag you out of the devil's lies. Is this bold? It is very bold. I inquired: Do you find this difficult to endure? They responded: Yes! I instructed: Then emerge with me. The demon then began to manifest anger. How can I fail to destroy this. How can I fail to destroy this? How can it be that you are willing to follow him? How is it that you do not heed my words? I intended to destroy your spirit How did he come to find you?

For our weapons are not carnal, and God is a God of great power. I thank my God! For enabling us to be victorious generals on the spiritual battlefield, there is no battle that we cannot triumph over through our Lord Jesus. There is no battle that causes our Lord Jesus to be ashamed.

I tell you, I have both sympathy, compassion, and hatred for cancer patients. Several years ago, I ministered to a cancer patient who followed lies. If he had followed me, I would have ministered to him with the word of God, and he would have completely recovered today. As a result, the tumor continued to grow larger. I led him in prayer while simultaneously teaching him because the spirit of death had entered his heart, entering his lungs, causing his heart to be on the verge of failure.

I was deeply moved, but according to God's will, God's grace and compassion surpass our comprehension. I led him in prayer for two hours, and his heart regained some strength, and his breathing improved significantly.

I informed him: God is the God who heals you! Your cancer appears to be new. The newer the cancer, the faster it grows, like the flowers in the fields. I proclaimed: May the cancer completely atrophy and completely disappear! But from this day forward, you must turn your thoughts towards God. From now on, you must no longer live a mundane life, but turn towards Jesus Christ. You must demolish all schemes.

The devil's schemes are limited. If you utilize the word of God, you can demolish all schemes and all strongholds. Demolish every pretension that is set up against the knowledge of God. Rise up, brothers and sisters! If you articulate a plethora of words, but not a single one is from the word of God, I believe we can put this to rest, it would be like having it together with Mutton Hot Pot.

4. Words are Spiritual

I wish I could teach everyone how to speak, but teaching is one thing, learning is really difficult. Look at what Paul said:

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. (2 Corinthians 10:3)

I learned from Paul. According to my flesh, I don't like it, but according to God's will, once it's spoken, the demons are destroyed.

You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. (2 Corinthians 10:7)

The Lord has given us authority to build you up; every word can be powerful. So, brothers and sisters, start learning, learn to master the skills of this language, because the foundation of this language is God's truth. You can't argue with Paul. Why is my shepherding effective? Because my language is powerful. Try me; if you have the chance, come and spar with me.

But I tell you, what I say is only to help you get out of your distress. What I say is only to build you up. What I say is only to draw people out of all kinds of lies and turn their minds to Jesus Christ.
Many of us look at our environment and feel troubled? Look at our small stature, look at the big market environment, and then look at the little bit in our minds. You think you need to be equipped, you need to become powerful, but I think the market has already passed. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem like you can overcome the difficulties you face. People are like that.

But if you start to hold on tightly to God, you will find that you are filled with power. If you start to trust in God, you will be filled with power, and you will see these problems as child's play. I often say, What a joke! Isn't living a simple thing? Some people say, Teacher, I have to live. I say, Didn't you live from yesterday to today? Weren't you alive yesterday? Aren't you still breathing today? Is there any problem? No problem, then you can live from today to tomorrow. Then they come back with, But what if I die! Die then! I don't care about my own death, why would I care about yours?

Living is a very simple thing, so words are very spiritual. Today, the most deadly thing is that the words we speak are human words, the most deadly thing is that we are concerned with human thoughts, we are not concerned with God's thoughts. So we are manipulated harshly by demons.

Brothers and sisters, you must begin to restore your faith in God. Haven't you failed in the past when you relied on yourself? Didn't you ruin your company? Didn't you mess up your business? Didn't you make yourself unemployed? From now on, stop relying on yourself and start relying on the word of God, because man lives on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Restore your faith in God, give it a try! You say, Teacher, I just can't believe. I wonder, what is can't believe? What does can't believe mean? Just choose to believe, and then you will believe.

I tell you, the word of God is amazing, especially the Book of Ecclesiastes, read it carefully!

For the Lord gave us authority so that we could build you up, not tear you down. So if I boast about my authority, I am not ashamed. I say this so that none of you will think I am trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, His letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive, and his speaking amounts to nothing. Such people should realize that what we say in our letters when we are absent, we will do when we are present. We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that reaches even to you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:8-14)

I tell you, this language is very powerful. You can learn it. If we meet face to face, we can spar. These people are very unwise, comparing themselves with themselves. What can you compare? What can you get out of it? So later, it says:

Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18)

Try to spar. If the Lord is with you, not a single word you say will fall to the ground. If the Lord is not with you, everything you say will fall to the ground. You come to ruin the church, will God not ruin you? What are you here for? To make money? To perform?

I met a pastor yesterday, scarred and tired. It hasn't been easy these past years. He and someone else founded a church together, but that person ran away, leaving the mess to someone else. And why was it handed over to someone else? Because he really didn't want these entanglements to affect his eating, drinking, and playing. As a result, he was fired as soon as someone else took over. How difficult! Do you think it's painful? Is it difficult? He gave up his position.

I met a pastor on the plane, he happened to be sitting next to me. I said, What have you been doing recently? Are you going on a mission? He said, No, I'm going to do business. I said, How do you do business? He said, I've finally put down my hard work. You've put down your hard work, but others are even more bitter. He said what was in his heart. If Jesus heard it, He would be heartbroken.

Later, I discovered that those who are unwilling to pay the price for Jesus Christ, who are unwilling to completely offer themselves, cannot do shepherding. It is very difficult, because as soon as you exert yourself, you get diarrhea. Do you all understand what is meant by diarrhea? Someone who is often constipated, when I say exert yourself and you get diarrhea, he says, That's great, I can have diarrhea. He heard it backwards. It's like a lazy donkey in a harness, it either pulls or pees.

The spiritual battle we are fighting is not only to take back people's thoughts and turn them to Jesus Christ, but also to take back our own thoughts and turn them to Jesus Christ. When we turn to Jesus Christ, you will see the glory of God. What a glorious position that is! It is definitely not hard work. So everyone must know that being a pastor, I enjoy it so much, I am just happy! Although I also get punched in every battle, and my eyes are beaten like a panda's, but I have overcome! It is to rub the devil on the ground. Because I believe in my God, words are spiritual. Brothers and sisters, start practicing, practice the strength of your speech.

5. Sovereignty is Non-Negotiable

Brothers and sisters, this is the church God established through me, this is the position God gave me. I will not give up the position God gave me for a single day, unless I die. You may ask, Are you playing a lifetime system? Yes! Because serving God is for life. As long as I have a breath, I will never give this territory to the demons. I must build up the brothers and sisters little by little, to become like God. So that the brothers and sisters also have the same mind, the same vision, and the same dreams as me.

So in this place, we don't care about churches built by others, that is God's business. But this is what God has entrusted to me. I will not hand what God has entrusted to me back to God, and then God hands it over to me again, and I hand it over to God again, and then I sit there with my feet up, fishing, playing with sports cars, and climbing mountains. So can our brothers and sisters think about it for themselves?

Later, I thought that many of our co-workers are very much like me, not interested in having fun. If you let him have fun, he doesn't like to have fun. I said, I'll take you to have fun, you've come from so far away. He said, I don't want to have fun. I said, What do you want to do? He said, I want to serve. I said, It's okay, we're done serving. I'll take you to take a look. They are not interested in having fun. Later, I found that people who are super interested in having fun cannot serve God.

From then on, I learned a lesson: forget about a person who wants to have fun, let them go wherever they want to have fun. How can someone who loves to have fun serve God? Because his core interest is having fun. Then one time I went to a special meeting, I was required to attend. So I went, taking my co-workers to the special meeting. Then the people below asked the people on the stage, who were all super big-name pastors, famous all over the world. He said, Pastor, what are your personal hobbies? One said, I love hunting. Another said, I love fishing. Another said, I love playing with sports cars, I love racing.

Then my co-worker nudged me with his elbow and said, Teacher, do you have any hobbies? I said, I love to work, I love to serve. So what God has entrusted to me, I will do to the fullest.

Brothers and sisters, I promise you, as long as you don't leave, I will either take my co-workers or my little pastors to serve you until your whole heart is taken back and turned to Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter if it's moral kidnapping or whatever tricks are used, but you will definitely get the benefits of the gospel. You will definitely become a people pleasing to God.

Brothers and sisters, I'll say something from the bottom of my heart, your pain is my pain. Your suffering is also my suffering. However, although I don't have that much power, I believe in God, and God will surely accomplish what I believe for me! This is the territory God has given me, just like the Corinthian church is the territory God has given Paul, no one should interfere. If you interfere, I will deal with you, I don't care how great an apostle you are, you are just an appearance.
Although I have said a lot of things, you can say that I am unimpressive and my language is vulgar, but I tell you, vulgar is vulgar, but it is simple and easy to understand. I have the Dao, and this Dao is to release people from bondage. Those of you who are uncomfortable in your hearts, who are struggling in your jobs, the Dao of God will set you free.

6. The Authority the Lord Grants Us is to Build You Up

Brothers and sisters, you must know that I have studied the matter of living very thoroughly. I don't have much interest in living, and even less interest in money. I only have one interest, and that is serving.

Because of the authority God has given me, you can be built up. This is my spiritual weapon, and through the God who loves me, I have more than conquered. Brothers and sisters, you must know that God has given you authority, God has given you authority to build people up. The Lord gives us authority to build you up.

Today, we are not sitting on top of everyone and acting mighty; we must know that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. There is a sentence in the Bible: the first will be last, and the last will be first.

Brothers and sisters, if you are a person who serves people, if you are a person who builds people up, how could God not give you authority? God will definitely give you authority. I tell you, God will accomplish everything you say for you. Full of grace!
It is not because of how the people being served are, but because the people serving open their mouths and declare. God then speaks in the spiritual realm according to what we declare, and speaks according to what we declare, so that what can be done? To witness the power of God, and after witnessing, to let people's hearts be taken back and surrender to Jesus Christ.

If you are a person who loves God, you cannot be without authority. If you are a person who loves God, you will never run to someone else's church and ruin it. Because you still have many things to do yourself, how can you have time to run to someone else's place and ruin it.
We are not like these people, we are not like the Apostle Peter, although he became the greatest apostle, but he idles around everywhere. If you ask me, I really look down on such people. The Corinthian church was because Peter came and caused great trouble.

What did Paul say later? I am not in the least inferior to those super-apostles. You think Peter is great just because he came? Even if you bring out Jesus Christ, this place is still mine. The Lord has already given me authority, and I will also build up my brothers and sisters, so that the hearts of the brothers and sisters will turn to Jesus Christ. Although the speech is vulgar, this Dao is not at all vulgar.

The results you see are completely different depending on whether you have authority in your hands or not. With authority in your hands, you can trample on the devil and the enemy, and you can build up your brothers and sisters. When the wolf comes, you can drive the wolf away, and when the lion comes, you can drive the lion away. When the lion and wolf take the sheep away, you can chase after them and snatch our sheep back.
This is sovereignty, this is authority, this is the word, this is the weapon. We must bravely treat these people. Some brothers and sisters come to me and often want to spar. Some people even bring out Jesus Christ, but it is useless to say it with your mouth, you must have authority!

7. Let Him Who Boasts Boast in the Lord

Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. Today, we will see who is pleasing, are you a pleasing person?

Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18)

Brothers and sisters, can you understand the meaning of this sentence? The words that Paul spoke, the Dao that he preached, were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power. The things that Paul declared were all accomplished. Many years ago, when I first believed in the Lord, although I didn't quite understand the things Paul wrote, I felt that Paul spoke well. He said that you may have countless instructors, but not many fathers or mothers.

In fact, I tell you, in my heart, how much I long for a pastor to shepherd me, because I can't solve the problems I face myself. But I have never met a good pastor, so I secretly said in my heart: God! When I shepherd your flock, I will imitate you. I will boast in the Lord, later you know what? Because God knows what I am thinking in my heart. So he really treated me kindly. So in serving, God often listens to my prayers. So to boast, boast in pleasing God.

Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18)

Some people compare themselves with themselves, this is unwise! Someone bought a tape measure, how can they measure themselves? One centimeter is one centimeter, how can you measure? One meter is one meter, because you are measuring yourself.

But when you really use a very accurate tape measure to measure, everything is crooked. How can you use yourself to measure yourself? What should you use to measure? You should use the word of God to measure, God's measurement is accurate.

So brothers and sisters, I think you are blessed. You are in this sheepfold, and there is someone like me, watching you closely. I really thank God! Not according to appearance, but according to God's judgment, using God's measure, using the degree of God's pleasure to measure. Who is the true apostle, who is the false apostle, it is clear.

Although you are not doing very well, brothers and sisters, you must know that I am looking forward to everyone's heart turning to God. Although you are not very good, whenever you ask me to serve, I will serve any of you as if I were serving God.

Although my strength is insufficient, God will make my strength sufficient. Although my martial arts are not good, God will add to them. God's weapons and God's magic weapons are all in my hands. Whoever has the same vision and the same mission as me, and together witnesses the glorious church of God. I tell you, not one will fall. To boast, I boast in my Lord Jesus. He is pleased with my service. I know that in the end, I will stand before God and receive His reward. This is my lifelong hope.

Paul's epistles speak to my heart. So I really want to say some heartfelt words like this to everyone. May God work in you and bring you out of your current situation. Until all thoughts are taken back, turning to Jesus, and submitting to Jesus. This is God's will, and it is also my hope. Amen!

May God bless you all!