I. Introduction

Do you all know what topic we are going to talk about today? It's about: Patience. You must know that character determines destiny. What kind of character you have determines what kind of life you will lead. This is very important! Some people live to be 50 years old and say: God, why is this happening? It’s because of their character.

So, today, knowing that character determines destiny, what kind of character should we cultivate? Actually, the character you were born with doesn't matter. Some are born introverted, some are born extroverted, some are born joking, and some are born melancholy and gloomy. None of this matters. What matters is that we have a standard, and that standard is Jesus Christ, the way God wants us to be. If God wants us to be this way, then we must be this way.

Do you know today? Over the past years, working in the education sector, I developed a habit: people can be taught. If people don't believe that people can be taught, what is education doing? Isn't that very despairing? We believe in fate, but we don't believe in fatalism. Some people say: Alas, my fate is just so bad. No, that's not it! Your fate was originally a glorious fate in Christ Jesus! You were originally children of God, originally princes and princesses of God. So, for some time, we talked about the Mingding Destiny character series: joy, understanding, foundation, and system. Today, I'm going to talk to you about something called: Mingding Destiny character series (5) - Patience.

After all that I've said up to today, what’s the most feedback I've heard? Some people say: Teacher, I can't do it. I said: You can't do what? He said: Teacher, I only have a 3-minute attention span. That is really a life, a 3-minute life. People really need patience. Building a foundation takes time; it can't be done with a snap! Many people just like: snap! Building a system takes time; understanding things takes time; you want to do it, but you can’t. Nobody can do it with a “snap!”. Which scientist came out of a snap? No scientist did. So today, brothers and sisters, if you can't do it, you feel very uncomfortable, and how can he be joyful?

So, the patience I'm talking about today is joyful patience; it's a kind of character. It is being joyful even in tribulations. Hearing it energizes you. What a great character that is! Can this character be built? Yes, absolutely! He said: Teacher, I can't do it! Isn't this teaching you? Sometimes when I start a class, I say: What are we going to talk about today? Databases. He says: Teacher, I don't know what a database is. I said: Haven't I finished explaining yet? When I finish explaining, you will understand, won't you? What kind of character is this? They don't even have this patience. I say I'm talking about databases, and he says: I don't know what a database is. I say I'm talking about playing the piano today. He says: Teacher, I can't play the piano. Then what are you here for? Aren't you here to learn? I said I'm talking about patience today. He says: Teacher, I don't know what patience is. Haven't I finished explaining yet? Look at this heart; it can't even endure this little bit of patience.

I tell you, brothers and sisters, listen today and be good children of Jesus Christ. You can definitely do it. If you couldn't do it, I wouldn't talk about it. If you can't do it, God won't talk about it either. Since you can't do it anyway, just forget it. But today, since God is telling us, it can be done! But the word patience is full of mysteries.

Recently, a friend of mine passed away from cancer, and I am truly very sad. Some people asked me: Teacher, why didn't you minister to him? I said: I did, I ministered. He said: Alas, you didn't minister very well. It's not that I didn't minister well; it's really helpless! You know, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, persisting and enduring in pain, constantly alternating between collapse, complaint, and faith, full of distress, and dying in this state. Often collapsing, often asking God: Why is this happening? During my ministry, people have their own set of ideas. I said: This is a curse. He said: No. I said: This kind of patience is meaningless. He said: No! I just want to endure. Alas! He suffered, and I suffered. Although he was a Christian for decades, he had a half-baked understanding of the Bible, and he often shared some Bible verses with me:

Like a flitting sparrow, an errant swallow, so a curse without cause never settles. (Proverbs 26:2)

But he didn't even understand how to do elementary school. Although he was a very successful businessman with a large business, he had a half-baked understanding of the Bible. I really wanted to send him to elementary school, but he was too old, and the school wouldn't accept him. Is this patience? He's read the Bible with a half-baked understanding. Have you read the Bible once? No. What's the use of this kind of patience after decades of being a Christian? It's of no use! He died miserably. Is there any glory in it? There is no glory in it.

I have another friend; these are all Christians I know. He fasted and prayed for 43 days and died in the church. If it were in a temple, that would be called Nirvana, which would be something to celebrate. If it's in the church, that's a big problem. Fortunately, it wasn't the church I built. The family came looking, and he was almost blackmailed. Is that patience? What's the use of this kind of patience? I was particularly moved. What? Do you want to challenge the Lord Jesus? Do you feel like you have to challenge the Lord Jesus? If you don't overcome the Lord Jesus, you don't feel right, do you? Successfully completed? But is this kind of thing useful?

There was another Christian, also a good friend of mine. He knelt for a long time to pray, his knees developed calluses, he persisted, he endured, wow! He was so great! Then in his patience, he ruined the church. You know who I'm talking about. I was wondering what he was doing. I am an academic person; academic people want to understand everything, and later I really understood. This thing is really useless and has no glory at all.

Another friend, there are many stories, built a large cathedral, huge. I have been to that city and visited that church. It became a major attraction and a landmark. It was only a few years after it was built, maybe a year or two, then the pandemic came. Do you know how the church collected money? It all depended on the meeting time to collect money. As a result, when the pandemic came, it was terrible. I don't know how much loan he took out for that tens of millions, but even if you borrowed 10 million, that's enough for you to suffer! Borrowed 20 million, oh my god! These sound like astronomical figures to me. Isn't it a tragedy? They persevered amidst enduring. Suffering, suffering! Anyway, I wouldn't do something like that. Do you know my habit? I don't buy things I can't afford. Because we are an online church, we just do it that way, we don't need those things.

Some people borrow hundreds of millions to build churches, and some people borrow tens of billions to build churches. Alas, they're using leverage to this extent. Isn't it a tragedy? I really don't know how they will pay it back. But they are still enduring there, and they still say that this is the tribulation God gave him. Tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame. Is that really the case? This sentence is often used, and everyone often uses it, thinking they are using it well, but they’re using it in the wrong place? I'm telling you today that there are many things like this, and there are many more.

Some people have always hoped to become a unicorn, wanting to turn their company into a unicorn. There are many successful people around him, and he is still persevering to endure today. He looks in the mirror and sees that no horns have grown. When he gets angry, a few teeth grow upside down, but the horns still haven't grown. If he looks in the mirror one day and finds that many horns have grown out, it would also be a problem, because it's not a unicorn. Although he is a Christian, he is enduring in the wrong place. He is very patient and works very hard, but what’s the use of this kind of patience? What glory is there in this kind of patience?

Today, we must break the mystery of this kind of patience, live out the kind of patience that the Bible teaches us, and not only live it out, but also endure joyfully, and see God's grace and glory. You must know that when we first built the church, there was a young man, one of the first to come. That young man was so lovely, and we later called him a group leader, and he really was a group leader. When some people came to this group, they didn't do well at work and were scolded by their boss, and he taught them to endure. When he was looking for a job, he looked for nine months after graduating from college, which was also very hard and enduring. Many people who suffered grievances at work endured and came to the church, and he often comforted people with patience. Later, after studying it, I found that there was something wrong with this, as if patience was being used in the wrong way. Later, I found that it seemed like they didn't even have the qualifications to endure. People struggle in this world, trying to climb the Tower of Babel. Do you know what the Tower of Babel is? It doesn't matter if you don't know. Knowing that building unicorns in this world is building the Tower of Babel, building brands, and spreading your own name.

Later, I discovered that Cain in the Bible might have endured. Cain was also very patient, living in the suffering and distress of mental illness every day. What was the result? Very hard, very patient. Later, he built a city for his son. Cain was very powerful, spreading his own name. Can you match it up? What are you doing? Which kind of patience are you enduring? Can you match it up? Is it like that? If it's an outsider, so be it, but I have to tell the people in our own church that you may be enduring in the wrong way. Pursuing your own core interests in error and absurdity. In the pursuit of one's core interests, constantly enduring, constantly being cursed, enduring in the curse, enduring in tribulation. Enduring in the tribulations of the curse is not the patience I'm talking about. The more this kind of person endures, the more he becomes like Cain.

The patience I'm talking about is for the kingdom of God, full of God's glory, full of joy from God, full of heavenly hope from God, which is joy even in tribulations. It's a coincidence that I'm going to talk about patience this Sunday. The previous Bible studies talked about Noah's patience in the Ark, and about King Saul's core interests. King Saul was also quite patient. So, when I talk about these core interests, what exactly are you enduring for? Can brothers and sisters grasp the key points of what I'm talking about today? If the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do? If the foundation is destroyed, everything is over. Let our brothers and sisters start thinking about it. Today's introduction is relatively short, and the sermon today will also be a little shorter. Come, let's talk about today's scripture.

II. Scripture

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

III. Prayer

God! Today, let us receive Your word, because we live by every word that comes from Your mouth. God! Today, let us establish a correct concept of patience, let us understand Your will, and may the Holy Spirit You have given us pour out Your love into our hearts. God! Because we imitate Abraham, we are justified, and Your Spirit will come upon us. God! Because we walk the path of Abraham, imitating Jesus Christ, we are united with You and can walk with You. God! Today, let us enter this grace in which we stand with joy, hoping for Your glory to descend among us. God! No matter how difficult the road before us may be, because of the hope You have given us from heaven, today, we will produce patience, we will become more and more mature, more and more able to practice Your Word, until we reach a point of understanding. Thank You! Be with us today, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

IV. Scripture Background

Not many people truly understand the Book of Romans. I collected a lot of information online, and I found that this Book of Romans seems to be what they said, not what the Apostle Paul said. Actually, many years ago, I preached on the Book of Romans quite well. Later, a pastor who used to be a group leader in his church, when he went to preach on the Book of Romans in another church, he used the materials I researched on the Book of Romans. Later, he called me and said: Did you say this? I said: I did. Alas! He felt very emotional.

Today, do we know the background of this scripture passage? It seems like what I just talked about was not the background of today's scripture, but the background of my research on the Book of Romans. But for this scripture passage, I want to lay a foundation. I have truly figured this out! This scripture passage is actually in Chapter 5 of the Book of Romans. Before that is Chapter 4, before Chapter 4 is Chapter 3, and before Chapter 3 is Chapter 2. Nonsense! Isn't there a song called The Fifth Ring Road? The fifth ring is inside the fourth ring, and inside the fourth ring is the third ring. You don't need to say that. Chapter 5 is before Chapter 4, this is very certain. So, what is Chapter 4 talking about? It's talking about Abraham's faith. So, when we get to Chapter 5, we are justified by faith, and this faith is Abraham's faith.

Abraham and I are very close friends. Although he doesn't know me, I know him. I know Abraham's faith so well, he's a good brother! Why? Because what I inherit is Abraham's faith. From my preaching or my Bible studies, you will find that I rarely criticize Abraham, and I always imitate Abraham. Some people say: You're quite good! Our sisters have a lot of opinions about Abraham. Okay, you also have a lot of opinions about me, right? But it doesn't matter, I don't care much about your opinion. Because Abraham has many things that can exceed our imagination, and also exceed the imagination of our sisters. What kind of faith is that? His wife was robbed, and that was it, just like it never happened. Actually, this is not the key point. This is what our sisters care about, but our brothers don't care about this.

What our brothers care about is that Abraham is very powerful! How is he powerful? In that era, when God spoke to Abraham, he said very good things: I will make your name great, and I will make your descendants a great nation. Those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will be cursed. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you. It feels great to read these words. Why is this happening? Actually, the Apostle Paul also had a very good relationship with Abraham. The Apostle Paul, Abraham, and I, we all belong on the same path. On this path, I can tell you we are close friends! When we are running on this path, what is our foundation? The foundation is in seeking a glory in eternity.

Brothers and sisters, where does your pressure come from? Your pressure comes from taking life too seriously. Why do you take life too seriously? Because you haven't understood life and death, this matter of living. If you want to walk the path of Abraham's faith, you can't walk it if you don't see through life and death. That is to say, using your worldly logical system to view Abraham is questionable. This is not okay, that is not okay. Abraham has many problems, why? Because you can't understand what he does. Because of what he does, I also want to do it, and you can't understand what I do. His character, his patience, is beyond what we ordinary people can imagine. So, Abraham's faith is built on the idea that being alive is empty and meaningless. Because he is very rich, he doesn't think money is very meaningful; because he is very powerful, he doesn't think being powerful is very meaningful, so he is seeking eternity.

I tell you, not only Abraham, but even Sun Wukong is seeking eternity, but many Christians don't seek it very much. The way Christians look at things, I tell you, sounds deadly. For example, when I ministered to this cancer patient, I said it was a curse, but he said it wasn't. I said why not? He said God is blessing my business. Does God blessing your business mean you are not cursed? You see, their eyes are all on this life. I said, isn't getting cancer a curse? No, a curse without cause will not come upon me. I said, that is with cause, not without cause. You being like this... but he doesn't like to hear it. You say, isn't that offensive?

Brothers and sisters, you need to know that Abraham's faith, and even Sun Wukong's faith, exceeds the faith of many Christians I know. Many Christians' core interests are their children. They are still struggling with their children's schooling, struggling with their children's exams, struggling with buying school district houses for their children's education. They are all struggling with worldly things, which are all empty. What does it mean? It doesn't mean anything. Then do you mean children shouldn't go to school? When you hear this, it sounds like you're arguing with someone. What am I supposed to do? What I'm saying is: we should imitate Abraham's faith. So, the Apostle wrote this patience, and it laid a foundation, which is Abraham's faith.

In Genesis Chapter 12, it directly says: God wants to bless Abraham, and Chapter 11 talks about: the Tower of Babel. That is to say, the Bible clearly states that there are two paths: one path is the path that Abraham walked, and the other path is the path that the world walks on the Tower of Babel. People also need patience to climb on the Tower of Babel. People also need patience in Abraham's ascension in God's truth. But one is of the system of this life, and the other is of the system of eternal life; one is the system of the beast, and the other is the system of God. I tell you, this Abraham is extraordinary! Abraham believes in a God who can raise people from the dead. Our God can create something from nothing, which is incredible! If you know Abraham, you will walk with God, you will be united with God, and you will, through the Lord Jesus, through this path of faith opened up by Abraham, through this path of faith opened up by Jesus Christ, stand in this grace.

What exactly is this justification? If your faith is not like Abraham's faith, but is like Cain's faith, Cain is also a very faithful person, but his faith is not God's faith. In Romans Chapter 4, Verse 3, it says: Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. In verse 9, it also says: Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. In verse 22: So it was credited to him as righteousness. Do you all understand now? This being righteous, being justified by faith, is because of Abraham's faith. But this is a very confusing thing. The descendants of Abraham in the years of Jesus, the Jews are definitely descendants of Abraham, but they are descendants of the flesh. Jesus says: No, your ancestor is not Abraham, your ancestor is the devil, your father is the devil. They say: No, our ancestor is Abraham. The Lord Jesus says: No, your ancestor is the devil.

Why is this happening? Because they are not walking the path of Abraham's faith, they are walking the path of the Tower of Babel. Brothers and sisters, if your faith is not Abraham's faith, all patience is meaningless. You being patient with your children is meaningless; you being patient with your mother doesn't mean much. Because your faith is not Abraham's faith. Abraham's faith is built on seeing through life and death. You say you can't see through it. Take your time and see through it, until you do. You say, what is that supposed to mean? I say what I say. What can I do? I can't help you even if I can see through it! Brothers and sisters, in Romans Chapter 4, what exactly is Abraham's faith like? This kind of faith is joyful, and this kind of faith is joyful even in tribulation. Tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame.

God's Spirit will be with us because we are walking the path of Abraham, so God's Spirit is with us. If you are walking the path of Cain, then the spirit of the devil will dwell within you. So, which path is better? How can there be joy when the spirit of the devil dwells in people? The foundation established by the spirit of the devil is the foundation of this life. When the foundation of this life dies, it will all be wiped out! How can God's Spirit dwell within us like that? If you want God's Spirit to dwell within you, how much of Abraham's faith is inside you? Even if it's one percent, God's Spirit will dwell in that one percent within you; if it's two percent, God's Spirit will dwell in that two percent within you. Wherever it is that belongs to Abraham within you, God's Spirit will help you there, and then God's power will fill you with hope, and hope will not put you to shame. Brothers and sisters, through one man's trespass, death reigned, but today, through one act of righteousness, those of us who imitate Jesus Christ are justified and receive life. So, which path to take? This path is very important!

V. Abraham's Faith is the Foundation of Patience

If you want to solve the problem of curses, you must first be justified by God. Because sinners live under a curse, and the righteous live under a blessing. Why was Abraham called righteous? Because of his faith, he believed in God, so he became righteous. You know that Abraham was very wealthy when he was alive in the world. Was that because he loved money that he was wealthy? No. It was because he loved God that he was wealthy. Abraham once bought the Cave of Machpelah. The local people were very good at doing business and also very good at talking. He said: Abraham, take that land! Abraham said: No, I must pay you. That businessman spoke with a high level of skill. What's the big deal about four hundred shekels? Look, the price has come out, four hundred shekels!

As a result, Abraham spent 400 shekels to buy the cave of Machpelah. Was that piece of land worth 400 shekels? There was no water supply, no electricity, just a bare piece of land with no infrastructure. You must understand what people are saying; if you do not, you cannot be Abraham. If you love money, and someone offers it, you take it without any formalities! Without formalities, if they decide to take it back in the future, you will be helpless. Now, the money is given, and the formalities are completed, and it belongs to Abraham. Perhaps Abraham overpaid; 400 shekels is quite a lot of money. But Abraham did not care because he did not care much about money.

Do you think he really did not care much about money? Actually, let me tell you, the king of Sodom and the five kings were captured, including Lot. Abraham won the battle and brought them back. He could have taken anything from the king of Sodom since he had rescued it all. But Abraham said, “Take all that is yours; I will not be greedy for your money.” Even though I rescued it all, and I have a share, it is because my God is rich.

You will see Abraham’s faith: he was not argumentative or contentious, not like a fighting cock, always striving for worldly benefits. When his wife was taken away, he knew God could manage it, and God did manage it. If you say, “That’s not faith; if he had real faith, why did he call his wife his sister?” Our level may not be high enough today, even my level may not give you a satisfactory answer. But I tell you, God calls him righteous, so what right do I have to criticize? I can only emulate him. I have no right to nitpick or judge; I can only emulate him. Because Abraham believed God, he believed that God could raise the dead and create something from nothing. God’s promises never fail; God is absolutely faithful.

Therefore, those who curse Abraham, God will curse; those who bless Abraham, God will bless. Ponder on this; if you are there criticizing Abraham, wouldn’t God make fun of you? That’s where human tragedy lies. So, Abraham’s faith is worth emulating; only Abraham’s faith is the foundation of patience. So today, brothers and sisters, do you truly believe that our God is the God who creates from nothing? Do you truly believe that our God is the God who makes you rich? Do you truly believe that our God can raise people from the dead? Do you truly believe that our God can manage everything? If you believe, what are you worried about? Always acting like a fighting cock!

I think brothers and sisters are beginning to understand today that without patience in God’s grace, without the foundation of Abraham’s faith, you will not see God’s grace, and you will not walk with God. So, Abraham's faith is the foundation of patience; it aligns him with God, allows him to walk with God, and because of this faith, he is justified and stands in the grace of God.

## 6. Patience: Patience in God's Grace

Today, brothers and sisters, without God’s grace, we cannot go on. Relying on human patience, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are extremely painful. We have not experienced it, so we do not know how painful it is, but those who have experienced it definitely know the pain. Is this kind of patience in grace? No, it is in a curse. Patience is endurance in God's grace; endurance in a curse does not count. Standing in God's grace through faith, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome:

> Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)

This is quite interesting! See, I can lead you to read this passage of the Bible and understand it! If you are not standing in God's grace, but in God's curse, it does not count. When we stand in God's grace, you will find, wow! Walking with God, God is with you, even if you are sold into slavery in Egypt, you will see God is with you; even if you are in prison, God is with you, enduring in God’s grace. If it were not for standing in God’s grace, Joseph could not have endured it. Besides Joseph, there were many others enduring in prison. Why? Because Abraham also endured. When Abraham came to the promised land and encountered a famine, it was actually very difficult.

Abraham's family was large, and everyone's needs for food, drink, and sleep required a lot. Did Abraham worry about his two thousand people not having enough to eat or drink? Did he worry about being robbed by the people around him? Did he worry about going to Canaan and then to Egypt and not having enough to eat or drink? He had no such worries. Why? Because God provided for them. Even when there was a famine there, he went to Egypt. People are adaptable. Abraham had God’s grace throughout his life. He had God’s grace when he defeated the five kings; he had God’s grace when he went down to Egypt; he had God’s grace when he returned to Canaan; he had God’s grace everywhere he went. I ask you, how difficult is this kind of patience? It is not difficult; you can always see God’s guidance.

Brothers and sisters, even if I took the wrong path in building the church in the past, with God’s grace clearly seen, money is never an issue. Today, brothers and sisters, know that our God is the God who creates from nothing, and your small needs are all met in Jesus Christ. If you have a need for retirement, God can meet your need for retirement; if you have a need for your children’s education, God can meet your need for your children’s education. Do not blindly strive; rely on God’s grace. What else do you need to worry about? Wanting to buy a school district house? Why buy that? There are many bad kids from good schools, and there are good kids from bad schools! So today, relying on God’s grace, what do you worry about?

Those two thousand people of Abraham were no joke; every aspect of their food, drink, and sleep was critical! Today, we manage a few dozen or a few hundred people, and we don’t even have to provide for their food and drink. Abraham had to provide for the food and drink of those two thousand people. If you were Abraham, you would not need to worry at all. If you stand in the faith of Abraham, you will definitely be in God’s grace. In God’s grace, you do not have to be so competitive, so entangled, so stuck. God directs people’s lives. How could there be no food or drink? The most important thing is for people to stand in God’s grace.

Do you know how great God’s grace is? God’s grace is immense. I know from personal experience that the church is provided for by God to this day. Abraham’s two thousand people were provided for by God; we are also provided for by God. Standing in God’s grace, why? Because **Abraham’s faith is the foundation of our patience. When we encounter problems, we can always overcome them; when we encounter problems again, we can overcome them again.** Wow, thank God, it’s great! Today, some sisters think that we are a network church so it is like this, but I tell you, even physical churches have God’s grace.

## 7. Enduring in the Hope of God’s Glory

If your hope is to become a unicorn, endure well; may God have mercy on you, good luck! People spend their whole lives making money! Making money! Making money! You see, this person is successful, that person is successful. How is it measured? By the money earned, by the number of followers. Is it really successful? I don’t see horns growing on their heads or hair growing on their faces! I think today we hope for God’s glory, do you all know that? From the moment I believed in the Lord, I have always hoped for God’s glory in my heart. Of course, in the process of believing in the Lord, I was often puzzled: many Christians endure in curses. Of course, I did not understand it at that time. Later, after building the church, constantly doing a lot of theoretical research and breakthroughs, and continually understanding the word of God, I realized it was a curse. At that time, I felt, why can’t we solve this? If Jesus comes, wouldn’t it be healed with a touch? Why can’t we solve it? I was filled with various confusions; much of the endurance does not see God’s glory and is not in God’s glory.

Later, I came out to build a church. As soon as I built a church, tribulations came; I began to see tribulations coming, lost my job, and lost my income. Then I thank God, when my job was about to disappear, an Indian prophet, who did not know me, and I did not know him, walked up to me and prayed for me. He said, “I see that you will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and in the end, you will see God’s glory.” Wow, this sentence gave me great encouragement! Because in my heart, I long to see God’s glory; I just long to see God’s glory. As a result, this prophet gave me this prophecy, like receiving a shot of adrenaline. Enduring day after day, he said a very, very long valley. Wow! I said, “Very long” sounds quite scary, although it is very powerful, but also very helpless, going day after day, not knowing when the end would be, for seven or eight years. Thank God, I have a patient personality; this personality is brought about by the hope of God’s glory. Even in tribulations, there is joy, and in tribulations, we often see God’s grace and have never lacked money.

Do you know how good it feels to never lack money? Seeing that it’s not going to work, it’s not going to work, the money will be gone in a few months, and then it comes again. Often in God’s grace, and then I tell you, enduring day after day, have brothers and sisters seen God’s glory among us today? If you have seen God’s glory among us, that is the result of past endurance, it is really hard work. Looking at it with human eyes, the money is about to run out, but it never runs out! I tell you, brothers and sisters, when we first hired employees, I was a low-wage worker in the church. Doing any job in Singapore paid more than my salary, that's what it was like back then. But it was good, later many employees came in, they quit their jobs to work in the church, but the church’s pockets were thin, there wasn’t much money in the purse, if distributed like this, it would be used up in six months. But after six months, not only was it not used up, the money was still there, I was a little dumbfounded at the time! How is this possible?

Later, I found that development is the absolute principle! With resources and people, the ministry goes up, and if the ministry goes up, it can bless more people and see God supply all our needs. Because there is God's glory, hoping to build a glorious church of God, so this kind of patience that is born will have hope and become mature. This characteristic is too good; today I can't wait to share it with brothers and sisters. You know, those years were really not about killing demons in seconds, not about dividing and killing demons, not about killing demons by the hour, not about killing demons by the day, it took several months to get rid of them!

A patient with depression came among us and stayed for three months, three months, just praying every day. After three months, they were released, and I tell you, my tears were about to fall. Persisting for three months, later I summed it up: I just need to persist one minute longer than the devil. If I persist one minute longer than the devil, then I started killing demons in fractions of time, killing demons in seconds. Today, brothers and sisters, if my hope is money, if my hope is to become a unicorn, that's troublesome. Looking in the mirror every day to see if horns have grown, looking in the mirror every day to see if hair has grown on my face, if horns have grown on my head. I tell you, is there God’s glory in this? There is no glory of God, only tribulations from the devil, only curses from God.

Later, I began to have a deeper understanding of merchants. There is a very traditional saying: it is immoral for a businessman not to make money. But that is the world’s logical system. The people among us who do business all have a priestly logical system. If you have a priestly logical system among us, you are enduring in the hope of God’s glory, building a glorious church of God; money is never a problem. So, the logical system of a priest is to bless people.

There are many people enduring in the church, because they are spies; they are enduring among us, enduring in the hope that one day that Teacher Liu will collapse, and the glorious church will collapse, they will definitely be disappointed. Because their endurance produces disappointment, our endurance produces hope; our endurance produces maturity, practicing God’s spiritual principles to the fullest, enduring joyfully. There are many people enduring in the church to destroy the church; you will definitely be disappointed to despair. So, brothers and sisters, you need to know that hoping for God’s glory is better than hoping for money! The priest’s logical system is better than the businessman's logical system. Later, in the process of practicing the priest’s logical system, there were also struggles.

## 8. Enduring Joyfully

Abraham’s faith is the foundation of patience; this kind of patience will have God’s grace, this grace will bring hope of God’s glory, and this is joyfully. Now do you know how to achieve joy? If you still do not know, you are still living in the logical system of Cain. Seeing through everything, but nothing and no one sees through us. Our core interest is the glory of God, which is the church of God, the body of Jesus Christ. Nothing can take away the joy inside us, and nothing can take away the hope inside us. If you listen to my advice, you originally came to church, but today you are still entangled in your little trivial matters, and then suddenly you find that your chest has opened up, brightened up, and then you will say, “Hey, it feels better, I’m joyful!” If so, type something, give me a like.

I tell you, brothers and sisters, what are the things we are entangled with inside today? Can we endure joyfully? Because this endurance is the endurance of hoping for God’s glory, this is the endurance with God’s grace, this is because the faith of Abraham is the foundation. The mind begins to broaden, hoping to bless one more person, hoping to continually bless more people. People think I’m after something? I’m not after anything; I’m only after one thing; I bless one after another. Because I am standing on the foundation of Abraham’s faith. What are these trivial matters in the world? What does it matter to suffer a little? Endure joyfully. Some people really walk a little slowly but still endure; some people walk very fast but walk blindly, like headless flies, but still need to endure. Why? Because this is the work God has given me: to lead people to grow. Nothing can take away my core interest; my core interest is God.

## 9. Such Endurance Will Bring About Maturity

Can you be joyful now? Yes, you can be joyful. Can you produce maturity now? Yes, you can. Because this kind of endurance will produce maturity, maturity will produce hope, and hope does not lead to shame. Why? Because hope is achieved, what is there to be ashamed of? You will practice the way of God’s blessing, practice this priestly office, blessing one after another, hoping in your heart that God’s people can come out of the curse and enter into God’s blessing, can enter into the path of Abraham, can walk with God. Together with us, practice endurance in building God’s glorious church, practice the word of God, practice this priestly office, and you will become proficient, your brain will become more and more intelligent, because the Spirit of God is in you, and you will become more and more mature in the future.

Some people say, “Teacher, you are so smart, if you were to do business, you would harm many people.” They are wrong. If I really go to do those things, to become a unicorn, hair would really grow on my face, horns would really grow on my head, wisdom teeth would really grow. The front incisors would become buck teeth, which could be used to make clappers, it would be so ugly. If I would become a goblin at seventy, I would become a monster at eighty, because that is not a priest. But today, if I practice, my wisdom comes from God. The endurance I practice is hoping for God’s glory, building God’s glorious church, maturity will produce hope, and hope will not be ashamed, because what is hoped for is achieved. But if I’m doing something and hoping to become a unicorn, if horns really grow on my head, if hair really grows on my face, it would really be shameful.

The power of the Holy Spirit is poured out into our hearts, and the Holy Spirit will abundantly accomplish everything. This circle is closed; this is called closed-loop thinking. As soon as I talk about closed-loop thinking, everyone goes to buy a book on “Closed-Loop Thinking”; as soon as I talk about living, everyone goes to buy a bunch of books by Kazuo Inamori. But today, can we practice the priestly office? Closed-loop thinking, going around in a circle, is due to the power of God. Precisely because the power of the Holy Spirit is in us, we will not be ashamed, and we will further enhance our faith in Abraham.

It is that kind of faith in Abraham that will experience more of God’s grace, will have more hope for God’s glory, more hope for God’s glory will be more joyful, more joyful will be more patient, more patient will be more mature, more mature will be more hopeful, more hopeful will be more not ashamed, more of the power of the Holy Spirit, more, more… turning around and around.

We are not open-loop thinking. The Tower of Babel climbs to the top of the tower, and then falls down and it’s over, gone. That is an open loop, going down a road to the end, falling into a black hole. Why do people toil for money? Why do people labor for money? Why do people make earning money a sign of success? Why do people make these things our goals? Once you die, it’s gone, it disappears, it’s meaningless! If we know it is meaningless, why don't we enter into God's logical system? God’s logical system is a closed loop.

## 10. Conclusion

Let me summarize; today I told a few stories, but I am very glad that I finally understood the Book of Romans and this passage in the Book of Romans: tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Experience God; brothers and sisters, begin to experience God constantly in such a system, constantly practice patience, and practice patience in joy. If you are in the world’s logical system, that patience does not count; put our eyes on the big picture; our eyes are not on 3 years or 5 years, but on eternity and the glory of God. Live with such a mindset, not messing things up in this world.

Do you say, “Oh, I have hope in eternity, these things are not important.” No, I tell you, you can see God’s wisdom and grace in everything you do. What grace, what glory is this? This is why I say Jesus Christ is a treasure. This is a trait, this is the trait of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, which is so good, beyond compare. Can we do it? It’s very easy, very easy. Not only is it easy, but it is also very simple. How difficult can it be? Not difficult at all; this is our destiny, Amen.

Let’s sing a hymn to prepare for today’s offering. If you do not understand the meaning of offering, please do not give an offering. Brothers and sisters, if you say, “I do not understand the meaning of offering,” I refuse to accept your offering. When you do not have the qualification to give an offering, you cannot give an offering. This qualification is the faith of Abraham. The Coming of Destiny is a very good song created by Chinese Mingding Destiny music. Giving up everything, seeing through life and death, obtaining destiny, and constantly enduring in such an environment. Last night, a sister told me about a book written by Rick Joyner, he said: It reached Galatians 2:20:

> I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)

Then he walked not far to a place called patience. It turns out that patience is a very high level; it is the patience after we have completely dedicated ourselves to God. Today, completely offer yourself to God; today, tell God that it is no longer I who live, but Jesus Christ lives in me, for God, to become a blessing on earth!

Everyone, raise your hands and pray with me. I will say one sentence, and you will say one sentence with me: Lord Jesus, today I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice. May you accept my offering! May you accept my offering myself and becoming holy and pleasing to you. God! I want to offer myself as a burnt offering, completely offering myself, obtaining destiny, on this glorious road, beginning to practice patience. That is, to be joyful even in times of trouble, because we have the glory of God. God! I long for your glory to come, I long to enter into your kingdom, I long to become someone who serves you, to become a vessel that manifests your glory, to become someone with a destiny. I am willing to give up everything, see through life and death, only you, Lord, are my treasure, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

In this coming week, brothers and sisters, you may experience God. I say may to be humble, but you will definitely experience God. Glorious things will descend upon you, wonderful things will happen, and beautiful things will be accomplished, because today you have made a decision to offer yourself to God. What a wise thing to do, what a wise decision, start looking forward to it. If these things do not happen, do not say, “You are still talking nonsense.” Just start looking forward to it, you will definitely experience God’s grace, you will never lack financially. Let’s do a closing prayer together, after the prayer is a testimony.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for the kingdom