I. Introduction

The topic for today is particularly apt: To be a vessel of honour! Know that in this world, there are many man-made objects, some of which represent dignity and honour, while others represent inferiority. Consider a man who owns a treasure, exquisitely carved, seemingly inherited from some ancient dynasty, which he cherishes. He might even use it to pour wine and enjoy a drink. The design is so delicate, with its handle, spout, and body – a container, a vessel. One day, he has an epiphany and decides to have it appraised by a connoisseur of antiques, to ascertain its value. The expert identifies it as a chamber pot. Do you all know what a chamber pot is? It is useful, very useful.

Some of you do not know what a chamber pot is? I will tell you, it is for urinating at night. It is very straightforward. Chamber pot is a grand name for it. In fact, to put it bluntly, it is a piss pot. Some who are sick and bedridden need it. From that day on, the man stops handling it, ashamed. He had drunk a lot of wine from that chamber pot, unknowingly. Later, the chamber pot is discarded. Why? It is a dangerous thing to hold. In fact, I tell you, it is quite an eerie thing. Who would carve a chamber pot so beautifully?

In fact, I tell you, to assess whether a house is high-class, you really need to look at their toilet and lavatory. Do you get it? But this thing is hardly high-end, hardly dignified, much less honourable. Understand? In ancient China, merchants were looked down upon. In fact, there were many problems in ancient China, including looking down upon merchants. Later, with China's reform and opening up, and the revitalisation of the economy, merchants played a significant role. So, in ancient times, merchants were described as the Emperor's chamber pot. When the Emperor was in a bind, his treasury empty, he sorely needed merchants. He would use them in times of urgency, and discard them when no longer needed.

All other pursuits are inferior to studying”. You have heard this saying? In fact, many people today are poisoned by this kind of thinking. But what I am saying is that, just as man-made vessels have noble and ignoble uses, so too with God's creations. Don't think that everything God creates is the same. Who said that? The Bible does not say that. So, the ancients often said: A promise carries the weight of nine tripods (一言九鼎). The Chinese tripod (鼎) is a symbol of great nobility. To inquire about the tripods (问鼎中原) is also another idiom. Is there anything else related to the tripod? The tripod is a very noble vessel. Whether noble or ignoble, it is still a vessel.

Is it useful or not? Actually, I tell you, the chamber pot might be more useful than the tripod. Isn't the chamber pot quite useful? If the problems below are not solved, the problems above can be troubling. Some people are paralyzed and dare not eat because, as soon as they eat, they have to go to the toilet. If the bottom is not resolved, the top is troublesome. However, what I want to talk about is the vessel of honour. To be a vessel of honour, do you want to be a chamber pot? That is easy. But if you want to be a vessel of honour, that is a bit difficult.

In my years of ministry, I have found that people's thoughts are very interesting. People's thoughts are very interesting. Very strange, I do not know how that logic is derived. It is not through people's careful calculation. Some people choose to love the world, to love money, without careful calculation, and end up being pierced with sorrow by this world. Still others, without careful calculation, choose to love God. Very interesting. It is not that you persuade them. Can you persuade them? Have you tried to persuade people to love God? You cannot persuade them! That thing is magical.

So this matter is very interesting. Some people in our midst, I tell you, many have not experienced earth-shattering miracles, and then they love God and serve God. I find that to be very magical! Some have experienced earth-shattering miracles, but to what end? Nothing works. In the end, they are still the same, still love the world and are willing to be vessels of dishonour. So this is very interesting. Some are born with their minds set on heavenly things, like Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. Some are focused on earthly things, until they perish and turn to dirt. Very interesting. Even your own children, you cannot persuade them. Many things are just that way. That's just how it is. Children have their own blessings. What is there to explain? No need to explain. Some of God's creations are vessels prepared for destruction, it is just how He created them.

He thinks he is noble, like the Egyptian Pharaoh, he thinks he is formidable! Strutting around with his arms crossed. Wasn't he strutting around with his arms crossed in Egypt? But he was a vessel of dishonour, a vessel prepared for destruction. Some others are vessels of honour manifesting God's glory. Very interesting. Sometimes, didn't the Egyptian Pharaoh experience a lot? He experienced a lot. Those ten plagues were enough to make him suffer greatly. Drinking the chamber pot did not help, and he still suffered ten plagues, to no avail! What was wrong with his head? He would not give up until he died. When the Egyptians saw the Israelites at the Red Sea, they thought, A godsend! But when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Pharaoh was buried at the bottom of the Red Sea. How miserable!

The people I ministered to in the past amazed me greatly! I could tell many such stories. Last night, I shared some of these with some brothers and sisters, and I couldn’t stop once I started. There are just too many. Today, I will share a few with you: Someone, about ten years ago, her son was among us. She called me. She told her son that she had a small illness. She called me and said, I have cancer. I said, Oh, you have cancer! This curse is quite deep! Of course, the curse is quite deep!

I said, What are you calling me for? She said, I have cancer, and the chemotherapy made my whole body swell to an unbelievable extent. I tell you, I prayed for her and the next day the swelling completely disappeared. I was also very surprised. I thought, Wow! This might be a vessel of honour chosen by God? So I encouraged her to believe in the Lord properly. Isn't it all better now? Before, she could not eat the meals her husband cooked for her. After the prayer, the next day sometimes she could cook for her husband, and the couple began to live a normal life. So wasn't it better? No, it wasn't better. It was still the same, the same old thing at heart.

You know, I am usually not hesitant to encourage people to learn to walk the blessed path. I said, You should start giving offerings properly. She said, No! I want to go to the church next to my house. Eh? I thought it was strange. Of course, I will not discuss such matters. I said, Good, good, very good! Very very good! Very good? No! I do not think so. I am filled with emotion. Three years ago she went to that church, and later contracted cancer. You would know there is a problem even if you stop to think about it. She contracted cancer three years ago in that church, and no one cared for her after she had cancer, but I did. I said, Am I harming you by asking you to offer up your substance, or am I blessing you? She thought I loved money, but I really do not care. Her salary is so small that one-tenth of it is not enough to fill a tooth.

So what happened? She went to the local church, and two years passed quickly. There are plenty more stories like that if you want to hear them, I will tell you another one. Her son was getting married, and I am a marriage registrar with a license, with the marriage certificate bearing my signature. Her son called his mother next to me, and said, Mom, can you come here to attend my wedding? His mother said, Son, I cannot go in my current state. I said, Wasn't it fine? Why can't you go? She said, These past two years, I cannot breathe when I lie down, and cannot sleep when sitting up. Oh, the hardships she has been going through these two years! Eh? I was thinking, what kind of brain is this? This brain must be on her behind, or on the heels of her feet. I can tell you, thinking with the heels of your feet is better than this brain. Is that right? Even the donkey knows its master's manger, and the ox knows about his owner's crib. What do you think can happen to such a person? Oh, I think we will not comment.

My speech, I curse people without using vulgar words, but it is still cursing despite not using vulgar words. Let us not curse, it is not good to curse people too much. I find it strange. I tell you, in the past few years, this situation is as common as the hairs of cattle! It is an exaggeration to say that they are as numerous as the hairs of cattle, but there are indeed many. Yesterday I received a sister, and I suddenly remembered that her mother was someone I used to minister to. This sister's mother had lung cancer. I tell you, she was next to her mother. We did not know, and ministered through the phone. When her mother contracted lung cancer and things went bad, my coworkers and I ministered to her together, from the time she was alive until she died, for about a year. She was basically able to take care of herself, with no problems. When there was a problem, prayer would help. She was lying in bed, and would get up and go downstairs after praying. She lived in a rural house with stairs, and she could go to the field. Back and forth, a year passed.

I ask you, do I get any benefits from asking her to change? No. Asking her to change is just asking her to be a vessel of honour, nothing more. What could she give me? What happened? After a year she said, I want to leave the church. Eh? I said, What are you leaving the church for? Look, you minister to me, and have prayed for so long, but I am not completely well. How can she be completely well if she does not change? The fact that she was already like that, I tell you, many doctors cannot do that. Lung cancer, do you all know about lung cancer? Lung cancer ends the fight within three to four months.

But she did not die for a year. Ah? If you do as I say to be a noble and honourable vessel, would she be like that? She wanted to leave the church and follow her mother. Her mother did not care when she had cancer. Her mother believed in some evil cult that we do not understand. What happened? After a week, bam! She died, taken away by old Mr. 马! Oh, I was stunned. I said, What kind of brain is this? This brain grew on the heels of her feet. After I said these words, I tell you, I was very surprised. I cannot figure it out no matter how I think!

Such things happen all the time. Ah, it is not easy to make someone a vessel of honour! They take worldly matters too seriously. Later, her daughter told me, Oh, her mother was in the village. You should know that the village is very promiscuous, with many stories in the sorghum fields. Stories from the fields are like that. Do you think it is strange? They just do not want to be honourable vessels. Someone Even told me that it was not a sorghum field. It was a cornfield. That is fine too. Never mind, let us come back to the main topic. What I want to talk about is a noble and honourable vessel. We will not talk about the stories of the village. After talking about that thing, it is too nasty, and feels a little disgusting. It is too difficult for me to make people noble and honourable vessels!

I have ministered all these years filled with God's glory, with many wonderful stories of ministry. To this day, many who have experienced earth-shattering miracles are no longer here. In fact, I was very painful at the time, not just ordinary pain, because I did not understand! They had dropped out. But I tell you, today some people are being dragged along to this day, and have followed through. But many have dropped out. I think you have the opportunity to be a vessel of honour! It is really amazing!

Today I hope that the brothers and sisters can listen to my sharing, and know that they are blessed to be able to come to this day. Among us, there are many vessels of honour that God has prepared to manifest, willingly and joyfully serving. Because of the service of these people, many experience earth-shattering miracles. They are vessels of honour, chosen and prepared by God for glory. Do you want to be such a person? If you want to be such a person, I tell you, the angels in heaven will applaud you! We just cannot see it. It is true, the angels in heaven will cheer us on!

Prepared for glory! God will manifest His abundant glory on us, these vessels of mercy, vessels prepared for glory! I am also very grateful to share God's glory with you all, and to witness God's power together. I tell you, your ministry is the same as what I have gone through. Many of those you ministered to may have dropped out, either died, or fallen away. But it does not matter, you are vessels of honor! Lifetime is so exciting, not many that are left from these past years! Because there are not many who fix their minds on heavenly things.

Those of us who remain have become noble and honourable vessels of God, and have become treasures in God's eyes. We people are mindful of heavenly things, and of the eternal glory that is beyond compare. We pay the price for this, we live for this, and we live for this. In the eyes of people, we seem to be fools, we seem to be idle and have nothing to do. They do not know that we are God's vessels of glory in God's eyes, and are pleasing to God. Some brothers and sisters, do you know? It is very late, when I am with them, I see that it is very late, and the lights are still on, and they are still praying and ministering. In my heart, I tell you, I am both grateful and heartbroken!

Really, it is not an exaggeration, although I also do the same, and I know that my surrounding brothers and sisters have the same feeling when they see me ministering there late at night. They are both heartbroken and grateful, aren't they? Day and night, sometimes I am even praying for others when I am in pain myself. Can everyone understand? I am praying for others when I am in pain, what kind of person is this? There are many, so many! I thank God! God has given me so many good co-workers, truly good co-workers. You know that one of our sisters later became my co-worker. She rushes over after work, taking an hour's bus ride! And then adding the waiting time, it is usually an hour and a half, sometimes an hour, sometimes an hour and a half, that is all very normal.

Then when she gets to the church, she ministers to a person with depression until she catches the last bus and takes another hour to get back home. Then she comes again the next day. I tell you, it is OK to persevere one day, but to persevere for three months, I am telling you, I remember this in my heart to this day. It seems like it is happening right before my eyes. Is it tiring? How can it not be tiring? It is tiring! But these are all glorious vessels! After three months, because of her ministry, our sister's depression was completely released, and she is now a very healthy person. Is there anything wrong with her body? Absolutely there are problems. But it does not matter, it does not affect us, these people who love God, and we have come to this day step by step, never playing any deceit.

So brothers and sisters, you know that these are all heavenly accounts! And there is a group that is a vessel of wrath. I also thank God, because through our service, God's glory is manifested, even though they are vessels of wrath! Thinking of the eternal glory that is beyond compare, I normally bless them. That glory is so wonderful. Today, regardless of your age, we must all be vessels of honour, so that when we come before God in the future, we can all submit a beautiful report card. That is my extravagant hope, hoping that the brothers and sisters in our midst will remember how Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, and how He opened up this glorious path for you.

Let us cheer ourselves on, let us cheer each other on, and let us encourage each other to be vessels of honour. The stingy become generous, those who love the world become those who love God, and the selfish begin to learn to lend. Don't think that as you give without any care, that it's only that you're getting something in return, as whatever you give will come back to you. What is that? That is making a transaction. I tell you, wool does not come from sheep, nor does it come from dogs, wool comes from Jesus. Freely you have received, freely give; God will pour out His glory on us, even in our lifetime. Don't think that there are many people following the path that we are on. There are not many such people. Do you know if there are many treasures? Garbage is plentiful! Are there many treasures? No, there are not many treasures, rarity increases value.

Everyone must know now that among the Israelites, those who are saved are only a remnant. There are not many! I do not expect there to be many. But each and every one of them must be treasured, and each and every one of them must be a vessel that manifests God's glory. Let us read today's scripture, Romans Chapter 9, verses 22 to 24.

II. Scripture

What if God, wanting to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom he called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Romans 9:22-24)

III. Prayer

God! Today we will come out of this confusion. Today we define ourselves to be vessels that manifest Your glory, and we define ourselves to receive Your abundant glory; God! We seek Your grace and mercy. No matter how many people become vessels prepared for destruction, we are still not confused in our hearts, and we know that You have good intentions for us, and we will follow You whom You have called until we see Your face; God! Be gracious to us, have mercy on us, and accomplish Your good intentions for us! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

IV. Scripture Background

The background of this passage is particularly good! This passage comes from the ninth chapter of Romans. Does everyone know what Romans is about? Does everyone still have an impression? Does anyone know the name of my book on studying Romans? I wrote a book called Romans Commentary: This gospel is the power of God! What is this power? To manifest His glory. What does this power do? To allow this vessel to be molded by God into a vessel of honour. It is not implicit in the Bible, but explicit: some are vessels prepared for destruction, and some are children of God's mercy as vessels for the manifestation of God's glory. This is explicitly stated. You do not ask God why. Does not God has this right? So this is Paul's theological concept.

Don't think that just because you see someone is a Christian they cannot be destroyed. Destruction to a Christian can happen. So Paul gave two examples in this chapter, why? Because the gospel that the Romans believed was a bit strange. As they believed, they believed away God's power, and as they believed, they believed into many confusions. Ah, the Israelites are God's chosen people, so how could the Israelites be forsaken? Ah! God's promises are not good to use. Look at this logic. This logic is similar to the logic of many people. What happened? The confusion of the Romans was the motive for Paul to write Romans. They were filled with this confusion, a confusion that lacked a foundation of faith. This foundation is that God created some vessels for destruction, and God also created some vessels to manifest His glory.

God created these things, and then did so. If you choose to be confused when you see these things, then you will be filled with confusion. If you choose to fall, there are plenty of opportunities and plenty of reasons to fall. So Paul told Paul's theological concept and said that many things were predestined by God to be done this way. As for whether or not you are predestined, we will talk about these things later. Look at Jacob and Esau, they are brothers and twins. After they were born, it seems that we can understand clearly, and it seems that we don't understand clearly. In fact, Jacob's life is not necessarily better than Esau's life. Esau's life was quite brilliant, but what does the Bible say?

Before these two children were born, the older would serve the younger, which means that the younger is greater than the older. Who knows? It seems like fortune telling. No one knew anything, Esau did nothing, and Jacob did nothing. What happened? How does it come to that conclusion? After this conclusion is drawn, do not be sad, God has mercy on whom He wills and is gracious to whom He wills. What's the matter? Can you control it? You can’t control it, and I can’t control it either. Jacob is loved by God, and Esau is hated by God. Is God unfair? If you think God is unfair, then that is bad. If you think God is unfair, then show me how to be fair.

Some people want to say, Ah, God, you must be fair.

Later, what did Paul say? These are all called by God. That's it. Were you and I called? Yes. Why has this matter of being called become a problem? Actually, this is not difficult to understand. The Israelites called all the Israelites out of Egypt, but many did not believe, and as a result, they died in the wilderness. Simple, it's just unbelief. So, today, between faith and action, there is a very deep pit, and many people fall into this pit. It is also a very large rock, and many people stumble on this rock. I urge brothers and sisters not to stumble, and to be people of faith no matter what. Because what does the Bible say? Those who trust in Him will never be put to shame.

To this day, I can feel what? It's the feeling of helplessness that Paul felt in his ministry back then. Some people, having personally witnessed earth-shattering miracles, dropped the ball, missed the mark, and then stumbled and became vessels of God's wrath. Those people still say, where is God's wrath? No, no, it's fine, it's fine today. Isn't it just not the time yet? So, today we must know that we will eventually stumble on this rock. Jesus Christ is that rock, and this gospel is a stumbling stone. Many will rise, and many will fall. But is it many? Not many. Very few will rise, and many will fall. You say this, where can you reason? Faith is the fundamental solution to the problem. Later, you will find that faith is not a logical deduction at all. I believe, and that's it, solving many disputes.

For example, some people ask me, why do you like to eat curry? There is no why, how can there be a why? I just like to eat curry, what's the deduction? I like to eat curry, I just like to eat curry. Why do you like to eat durian? That thing is so smelly. I just like to eat durian, I just find it delicious. It can't be explained. Why do you like it? Why? There is no why. Just don't know why. In fact, until today, many of our brothers and sisters, from now on, stop asking why? This way, that way? Just choose and then, oh, thank God, I just like to believe in the Lord. So what if I like to believe in the Lord?

If your family asks you, why do you like to believe in the Lord? Believing in the Lord is good. What's good about it? Everything is good, very good, extremely good, really good. Can't explain it, I just like it. If someone stops you, you say, can't I do something I like? We've been husband and wife for so many years, why do you have to stop me from doing something I like? I like it! Isn't it? You like to do your thing, if you don't like it, you don't like it. You like to do yours, OK. I just like it! Right? I like it. Then why do you serve like this? I like it, I enjoy it. Don't explain, can't explain, it's just faith. So, I understand the feeling of Paul's ministry, many people stumble.

So, everyone should know that this gospel is very interesting. On the one hand, God created many vessels of destruction and also created many vessels to display His glory. Then He caused many to fall and few to rise. How good is that? Isn't it? How good. That's it. You want to know why? There is no why, God likes it. If God tells you, I like this, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, it solves everything. Then this passage embodies a very, very interesting logic, and this logic is not quite the same as what many others say, Paul's logic.

God hopes that all people will be saved. Is this true? God hopes that all people will be saved, hopes that everyone will be saved. Is this true? I tell you, in fact, before all things were created, He knew. Isn't it? Simple matter. That's it, willing? I really can't see it, if God was willing, He wouldn't have created those vessels of destruction, still willing? I just can't see the willingness. Those vessels of destruction, is to let that Pharaoh be created, also is to have mercy on whom He will have mercy, to harden whom He will harden. Understand? No need to explain, just these words. Harden you, then you be hardened. Those people were hardened, isn't that how they were hardened? Then what? It is to create some people, to raise you up, especially to demonstrate God's power in you, to become vessels of destruction, that's it. Is there any need to be confused?

V. No More Confusion

Chinese Mingding Destiny and the theology of the Apostle Paul are in the same vein. Therefore, Chinese Mingding Destiny inherits the theology of the Apostle Paul, inheriting the theology of Jesus Christ. Those who are supposed to be unlucky will be unlucky, anyway, they are just unlucky ghosts. That's okay, no need to be confused, we have solved many perplexing problems. There are so many Israelites, how did it end up like this? Wasn't there God's promise? Wasn't there the law? Wasn't there these things? The law tripped them up, serves them right. Who told them to trip up? Who told them they couldn't even pass elementary school? After reading the Five Books of Moses for so many years, they couldn't read out faith? Didn't they stumble then? Many Israelites, even today, the Jews are very miserable, very miserable. Since the beginning of history, the most tragic nation in the world is the Israelites, the Jewish people. That's not only today, the Israelites we speak of, aren't Christians also like this today? They are all like this.

Two kinds of vessels, one is a vessel of God's wrath, and the other is a vessel of God's glory. Israelites and Christians are both like this, you don't need to be confused. Is everyone still confused now? Look, he's still a pastor, how can he be like this? So, Paul gave two examples, Esau and Jacob, and also Pharaoh. What if I make you hardened? I just like to make you hardened, so that my name can be spread throughout the world, so that God's name can be spread throughout the world, is there a problem? No problem. Those we minister to no longer need to struggle with why they are like that? Why is it like this? Our job is to bring the vessels of God's glory into God's kingdom. Isn't he an Israelite? I tell you, the Bible has long revealed this problem.

Whether you are a son of Abraham, or a grandson of Abraham; a son of Isaac, or what of Isaac? It's useless. The son of Isaac, Esau, became a vessel of God's wrath, became a curse. Jacob became God's blessing, God loved Jacob and disliked Esau. It's not because you are a son of Isaac that it matters? It's not because you are a Christian that it matters? That's all useless. Born according to the promise, according to the promise is what? The promise brought by faith. Those born of the promise are children of God, are children of Isaac. Understand? Only then are they children of Abraham. What is born of the flesh is flesh, what is born of the Spirit is Spirit, these are the children of God.

So, today, brothers and sisters, don't worry about your children, you really can't control it. If God makes your child a vessel of God's wrath, that's normal. Don't ask why? That's just how it is. You are a very muddled person, but God makes your son a vessel of God's glory, that's not impossible either. Because God chose us in eternity, before the creation of all things, in eternity He chose us, although we can't quite explain what that means? Don't ask why? That is God's power. Stumbling is deserved, receiving mercy is normal.

From now on, people must know that they are human. You also have no right to ask God, why is it like this? Why is it like that? You also don't need to hold a grudge for Pharaoh, you also don't need to hold a grudge for Esau. You also don't need to hold a grudge for the Canaanites, God wants to destroy them, you also don't need to hold a grudge for the Canaanites. This world is full of all kinds of violence, you also don't need to hold a grudge for them with God, that's just how it is. You observe, you need to understand God's actions, and you will know what it means to be a vessel of God's glory. Two kinds of vessels, then what to do later? You need to learn to make choices, today I want to make a few concepts clear.

VI. What is a Vessel of Glory

Does everyone know? Jesus is a vessel of glory. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, these are all vessels of glory, Paul, these are all vessels of glory. Good or not? Good. Jesus is a vessel of glory, Jesus performed the vessel of glory to the fullest. You imitate Jesus, imitate the Apostle Paul. Sometimes, my tone of voice is a bit loud. If you haven't seen Jesus, haven't seen Paul, haven't even seen me online, just listen to me babbling every week, then you imitate me. Those who are serving are vessels of God's glory. Those who are being served, receiving grace, don't amount to much.

Someone may have had a bleeding disease, and when she touched Jesus, she was healed. She touched the oak tree in front of her house, it was useless. She touched the poplar tree in front of her house, it was useless. She touched the pig she raised, it was useless. Touching the pig's head is useless, touching the pig's butt is still useless, you have to touch Jesus. It's not that she hasn't touched before, she's touched a lot, but it's not very useful. The bleeding still bleeds, what should leak still leaks. Some people leak, some people don't leak. Some people leak, some people still want to leak. Think about this generation, I'm telling you, how much ability do people have? I tell you, whether you can poop or not, you can't even be sure. Are my words harsh? Harsh.

But this matter, what's there to be proud of? I'm talking about being vessels of glory. What is a vessel of glory? You have to know that you are human, and then you don't count. Suddenly leaked, suddenly constipated. You find that these things are not right, still be a vessel of glory. Why? Vessels of glory may also have this or that thing happen. But those who touch you, from you they see God's power, it's hard for those who come near you not to be blessed. Because you have God's glory on you, those who come near you are blessed. Later, don't say I really have to say this. God's glory on a person, that's amazing. Don't think you're great just because you're being served. You were still leaking yesterday, and today you're healed. Why? Touched Jesus.

I once ministered to someone, that was interesting. A young man, wanted to jump off a building on the streets of Jinan, why? Taking the IELTS, taking what? GMAT. Didn't do well on the exam, signing up to study for a master's degree, not necessarily able to get in. Signing up to study for a master's degree and not getting in, getting older, ended up studying at a diploma mill. His studies were not very good to begin with, and he wanted to jump off a building on the streets of Jinan. I on the phone, this sermonized, persuaded earnestly, don't jump. listen to me. Don't jump, jump what? Don't jump. I analyzed for him the ins and outs of the money, why study for that master's degree? To give people 200,000, 200,000 for tuition. People are just waiting to earn your 200,000, your grades are not important. You see how thoroughly I analyzed it for him, but he still wanted to jump, luckily he didn't jump. I guess, he didn't even have the guts to jump.

As a result, he came back, paid 200,000, and got in. Not long after starting school, boom, he pushed open my door and came in. Wow, his walking style was like some president. Walking, wow, click, pulled a chair over. Pastor Liu, you should be a pastor like this. Huh? I said, you were going to jump off a building a while ago, and today you're here to teach me. Oh, I said, young man, that's interesting, that's good? That's good. Come on, tell me why? Why teach me? I read it in a book. I said, is that book written correctly? Have you done it? Haven't done it. If you haven't done it, get out of here, don't give me that crap. He said, can't I make a suggestion? Can't I offer a suggestion? Oh, young man, you can still make suggestions? I said those words, don't say anything, at the time, I said it even harsher than this. I don't have time to deal with you, I don't know when you're going to jump again.

What I mean is, today, brothers and sisters, don't think that's called glory, serving God and displaying God's glory, imitating Jesus Christ, you become a God-man! Do you want to be a God-man? I tell you, I'm a very godly man. My classmates get together for dinner, the girl across from me, she was very powerful when she was studying as a child, known as Little Pepper, I looked at her, God's word said, she was full of illnesses, later I found out, she was our neighbor, studied at a school at the entrance of our house, her father and mother were paralyzed for fourteen years before and after, this one seven years, that one seven years, the results added up to fourteen years, and she took care of her paralyzed parents, oh, looked exhausted, full of illnesses.

I said, it's been decades since we last met, and you tell people they're full of illnesses as soon as you come up, that's not right. But I tell you, after dinner, shook hands, I just touched her shoulder, the next day she sent me a message, she said, old classmate, you are truly godly! Because I like to tell stories, tell stories as if it's my home field, but let's be restrained. As a result, the next day she sent a message saying, you touched my shoulder, my shoulder hurt so much it was about to fall off when we were eating, it was healed as soon as you touched it, and this morning when I got up my shoulder was still good. I said, don't you know what I do? This is what I do. God-man! Is a vessel of God's glory.

Everyone should know that it's not pursuing miracles that brings miracles, it's pursuing God's eternal glory. Lying in my bones is the blood of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, valuing the glory in eternity, that is definitely not just empty talk. I pay a heavy price for this, some people think, what's the big deal? Why? I tell you, this is more valuable than money. It doesn't matter if all my money is gone, having God's presence is more important than money. Sometimes I joke with my coworkers: Money what money, I am money! I am more valuable than money! That glorious and honorable vessel is more valuable than money, inside and out it radiates God's glory. What is a vessel of glory? It is causing the blind to see, the lame to walk, and those with leprosy to be cleansed, this is the vessel of glory. Oh, I lament, why don't many people value it.

VII. How to Be a Vessel of God's Glory

How to be a vessel of God's glory? Come on, everyone guess what I'm going to talk about. What I like to talk about most is faith, faith is powerful. Even if you don't love God that much, if you have faith, miracles will be manifested.

And 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.”(《Mark》 16:17-18 )

Why? Because God is eager for people to have just a little bit of faith at first, and God will display His glory, and you will start to say: Wow! This is so good! And start on this path of faith. Constantly seeing through everything in this world. You believe God's word, and through God's word you say: Oh! So that's how it is. And you will constantly pursue and climb upwards on the path of knowing God, and then you will know how wonderful it is to love God. If you pour all your emotions on Jesus Christ, it is not because of anything else, it is because of faith.

Everyone should know that it is by faith that we receive God's promises, and those born of God's promises are the children of God. Only then are they considered descendants of Abraham. Can there be no presence of God? So in the past years, if you ask me how my love for God has grown day by day, it is because I believed in God at first, believed, wow! This is so good. A very small miracle, so excited, and I will love God more. Before, because of God's grace, actually God gave me a job, and I have been grateful ever since, I know this is a treasure. How to be a vessel of God's glory is faith, never depend on actions. Believe in God, if you believe in God, all the good things in your life will be found outside of Jesus Christ. Nothing will be lacking in all your life, is there a problem? No problem.

Actually, there was a time when I was very poor, so poor that I was jingling broke. Yesterday I asked my coworkers, did you see me poor in those years? They couldn't tell at all. Why couldn't they tell? Because I was rich in my heart. I had faith in God, and that faith was watching with my own eyes how God provides. If you have faith, look to God's mercy, know that you are human, know that we need God's mercy, I tell you, once the position is set right, things immediately become simple, you try it. I tell you, every time you try, you will definitely not be put to shame. Until today, sometimes, even if God might mislead you to love the world, God is not stingy to let your faith see the results when you practice your faith. But after believing, what did you believe in? In the end, you still have to return to God's word, know that God's word is talking about this.

VIII. The Vessel of Glory is Just a Remainder

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.（《Romans》9：27）

I ask you, is it few or not? Remainder, I think the remainder is relatively small. What is the remainder? The remainder is what is left over after dividing by a number, that is called the remainder, you know? What is not completely divided is called the remainder, think about it, that is a fraction. Very few. The vessel of glory is just a remainder, I tell you, today our church has come to this point, it is inseparable from the aspirations in my heart. When establishing the church in those past days, the first day began to require, is today's this request. Don't think that the requirements have only become like this today. The first day was like this.

Some people said to me, Pastor Liu, you can't build a church like this, you can't build it. Can there be people in such a church? What do I want people for? What I want are vessels of glory. Do I want numbers? If I want numbers, what am I going to do with a pile of trash? I don't want it, I only want the vessels of God's glory. I thank God, I once said before God, oh God, even if there is only one left, I want to choose to be a vessel of glory, that was tearful prayer, does everyone know today? The Apostle Paul's theological concept and large numbers of people were brought in, three thousand people believed in the Lord, five thousand people believed in the Lord, all brought in, and then a pile of trash was brought in. Can you do it without sifting?

Until today I still don't want numbers, I just want to say, brothers and sisters, you must become vessels of glory. If you don't want to become vessels of glory, you have come to the wrong place. You can get a little benefit among us today, a little benefit tomorrow, a little blessing today, a little blessing on the left, a little blessing on the right. I don't blame you, but after getting the benefits, what then? You still have to be required to be vessels of glory. Because this is God's glorious church, so today brothers and sisters should know, why is it a remainder? Because many people have fallen.

Sometimes I joke with some people, he said, teacher I have fallen, I said fallen what? You have never gotten up. Ah? I have never gotten up. That's right, you have never gotten up, and you say you have fallen? Always lying down, always a reptile. Never stood up on two legs, just a mollusk, to say you are a reptile may be praising you. In English it's called spineless. The character of Chinese Mingding Destiny is a character with backbone, today brothers and sisters begin to practice themselves, I have told you, run forward with faith, because this gospel is a stumbling stone, the number of people is so few, all lying down. Everywhere is a pit, everywhere is a rock.

So what to do today? Those who trust in Him will never be put to shame, don't rely on yourself, begin to trust in God, those who trust in Him will lack nothing in their lives. I have told you, I have experienced very difficult days, but I have come through with God, there is no Mountain of Flames that cannot be passed, no matter how many difficulties and dangers there are, I have overcome them with God. Always carry the death of Jesus Christ on our bodies, so that the resurrected life of Jesus Christ can be displayed in our lives. God's glory is incomparably good.

I want to tell you today, the vessel of glory is a minority, is a remainder. If you can be a vessel of glory, you are a treasure. You are very precious. I hope that brothers and sisters can value this title, the world and everything in the world will pass away, but God's glory will be displayed on our bodies today, and will last forever. Experiencing God and letting people experience God are not the same level, today you try it, in the coming days you receive God's promise through faith, you try it, our God is not stingy at all, our God is very generous.

IX. Conclusion: Those Who Trust In Him Will Lack Nothing In Their Lives

The stingy become generous, the selfish learn to give out, learn to be vessels of glory, to become a blessing to many people. Does everyone know? How did Esau serve Jacob? Esau, the older, served the younger, how did he serve the younger? Today I suddenly understood one thing when I was preaching. How did he serve the younger? Because he received gifts from Jacob, received several million dollars worth of gifts, does everyone understand now?

Receiving gifts seems to be being served, but in fact their existence is to display the glory of God on Jacob. The stingy become generous, those without faith regain faith. The selfish begin to learn to give out, those who value worldly things begin to value heavenly things, develop a habit, know that they are a noble vessel. That is so wonderful. Good or not, let us encourage each other to become noble vessels, to bless this generation, this generation exists for us. We have come into this world to bless this generation. Give out, Amen!

Let us sing a hymn and prepare to receive today's offering. If you don't understand the meaning of offering, please don't offer. Oh God! May You hear our prayers, hear the cries of our hearts. Oh God! May all of us brothers and sisters become noble vessels before You, You chose us in eternity, You gave us the opportunity to know You, today we are determined to trust in You. Oh God! May Your glory be poured out more on our bodies, and may we become vessels that display Your glory. Your power, Your glory.