I. Introduction

Good day to everyone! Today, I will share a very practical topic with you: Living Happily! Why talk about living happily? Because living happily is very important! Because I see that this world is filled with all sorts of unhappy people, many kinds of unhappy people. Thank God! I am a happy person.

There was once a pastor I knew. The first time I heard him preach, I sat below the stage while he was on it. Then he spoke of apple faces, banana faces, and bitter gourd faces. The second time I sat below, I heard him preach again: apple faces, banana faces, and bitter gourd faces. The third time I sat below, he started talking about apple faces, banana faces, and bitter gourd faces again. The fourth time, it was still apple faces, banana faces, and bitter gourd faces. So that was all he had, that was his old reliable routine. Even though I had heard it many times, I still liked it. You think I didn't like it? I liked listening to it! Don't think I'm joking, right? He prepared one sermon and relied on that one sermon about apple faces, banana faces, and bitter gourd faces to make his way in the world; he had that ability.

Sometimes I tell you, even though I have said so much, do you all understand? An apple face is smiling like an apple, a banana face is joyful, and a bitter gourd face is all twisted up. You all know what a bitter gourd face is, right? All twisted up. Some people speak as if someone owes them money, and after a long time, their faces are all twisted together, and their skin is like bitter gourd skin, very ugly. Some people followed me to believe in the Lord, and as they believed, they said to me, Teacher, I've become prettier. I said, How do you know? She said, I looked in the mirror and found myself prettier. Why? Joyful, happy, of course, you used to look like a bitter gourd face. Some people have a brain full of knowledge but are unhappy. Ah, that's really terrible!

Why can't people live happily? In my usual way of speaking, it's called having a brain that doesn't work well. Stupid! Lacking nothing but happiness. Fortunately, why fortunately? Fortunately, it's not lacking virtue. I've thought about the matter of living for decades now. I like to study this, and I've finally figured out a bit, specifically studying this: How can a person live well in their lifetime? What does it mean to live well? Many people define this unclearly.

I tell you, living is about a feeling inside. If the inside is depressed, then it's over; you'll be depressed for a lifetime, just depressed every day. If the inside is sorrowful, you'll be sorrowful every day, sorrowful for a lifetime, sorrowful all the way into the coffin. If you're timid every day, then live timidly, live out a life of timidity. That's ruined! A lifetime of happiness is called a happy lifetime. This matter is critical!

I've found that many people in the world make trouble for themselves, just wanting to find something to be unhappy about, and that's really something; people can find a thousand or ten thousand reasons to be unhappy, but there's only one reason to be happy. I rely on that one reason to be happy. Some people have a thousand or ten thousand reasons to be unhappy, so they have bitter gourd faces. Living is truly a mystery.

You know, one day I slapped my forehead and thought, Bang! I wanted to invent a drug. Aren't pharmaceutical companies going public now? Pharmaceutical companies are large companies. I want to invent a drug, a drug that makes people happy when they take it. Later, I thought about it and realized it was a bit troublesome. Why troublesome? Because this kind of drug can't be invented like that. Later, I gave up this idea because it's a drug. You all know, right? If you take it and are quickly happy, what is that if not a drug? Ah, give up on this project, this project died prematurely, don't do it.

Later, I wanted to invent a method that could make people happy, but it seems I haven't found it to this day. Right? Ah, this is even more difficult to research than 5G or 6G, right? 5G and 6G communication networks. I'm surprised by one thing: There are scientists in this world; do you all have a problem with that? There are philosophers, no problem, right? And there are writers, but you can't find a happiness expert. Isn't that strange? I'm really surprised that the world lacks happiness experts. And why doesn't anyone study how to live happily? I said, I'll do it, I'll be a happiness expert!

I think this is very interesting. Some time ago, someone invited me to eat at his club. Some people said, Teacher, you're quite the eater, even eating at clubs. Didn't you get a mistress or something? I didn't get that, I don't do that. Eating at the club is pretty good. Then he shared his collection, bamboo culture, with me. Then we stood by the Yangtze River at Parrot Island. You all know Parrot Island by the Yangtze River, right? His club is right next to Parrot Island, quite impressive.

Then, as he walked, he said to me, Teacher Liu, do you know someone named Cui Hao? I said, I don't know him. There are too many people I don't know. If you ask me about Deng Xiaoping, I know him, but Cui Hao? I don't know Cui Hao. Ah, Cui Hao wrote a poem. He recited the first line, The deceased has departed on a yellow crane. I said, Ah, died. What person died? A poet from the Tang Dynasty. I said, What is this stuff? I don't know how to use these words. After the entire poem was recited, the last word was sorrow.

So, in my bones, I really hate ancient Chinese literature. Why do I hate ancient Chinese literature? Ancient Chinese literature is literature of sad autumns, moaning without illness. I don't like that stuff. I'm a happiness expert, you know? People talk about sorrow, bitterness, ah, unappreciated talent, constantly yelling there, croaking, right? I don't like that stuff! I just like being a happiness expert; let's talk about happiness.

Some people like being writers. You see, the works that writers write are all very desolate, almost close to a Nobel Prize in Literature. Ah, one day the great writer Hemingway committed suicide, and some people said, Good thing he committed suicide, so brave. Brave to commit suicide, huh? I said, I've never heard that interpretation before, first time hearing it. Living too bitterly! People who commit suicide live bitterly. If I knew him, I would enlighten him, take him to pray, clean him up, fix him up, right? Maybe he could become a little happier, but if he became happier, he wouldn't be able to get the Nobel Prize in Literature. In our northeastern dialect, it's like his skin is too tight and needs to be loosened.

When I was little, my mom often said, What's wrong? Is your skin tight? Do you need to be fixed up? Do you all understand? Fixed up means getting a beating, loosening the skin. I said, I deserve a beating, my skin is itchy, that's probably what it means. I think, What is this habit? One day, the philosopher Nietzsche sat in the yard with a bitter gourd face, cleaning. He seemed to lack nothing. Why the bitter gourd face? He was crazy, a perfectly good person, skin too tight, skin itchy, looking for trouble when he had nothing to do.

After pondering and researching this stuff, I made a decision: I will never be a philosopher in this life, not even if you beat me to death. I will never be a writer in this life. Although I say some things that are quite philosophical, don't think of me as a philosopher; I'm a happiness expert. I won't be a writer in this life either, being sentimental and moaning without illness. I don't want to be an ascetic monk either; ascetic monks are too hardworking, right? I don't want to be a writer or a philosopher. Actually, sometimes I don't really want to be a scientist either. Ah, I just think, What should I do? Someone not too smart like me can't do that kind of work.

What should I do? Living, I should live a little better, be a happiness expert. Ah, I told people, Why doesn't anyone applaud me? Speaking like a leader, standing on the stage, I want to be a happiness expert. I waited there for thirty seconds, and there was no sound below. Ah, this is desolate. So you are all writers; hearing this is too unrefined. Why aren't people happy? This is quite interesting. Thank you for the applause. The applause has finally come; I called for it a thousand times. This is me asking everyone to applaud; so the applause came, right? It's just unhappiness because people are always lecturing. Happiness has no reason. Happiness can't be lectured about; lecturing about it ruins it.

I often minister to people, and halfway through, they say to me, It's not like this, it's like that, because of this, because of that. Actually, what are you lecturing about? They can't even argue with me; they're just lecturing about nonsense. People are stupid because of this. It seems I'm naturally a little clever. When I was very young, we college students in the eighties had a great discussion about life's values. I've forgotten it. At that time, I met a classmate in the same year who discussed the great discussion about life's values with me. Ah, nothing came of it. I didn't make anything of it in that era. The great discussion about life's values made a lot of people depressed, unable to find answers.

At that time, I found an answer, which is that living is about living a feeling. No matter what, I have to live happily. Living happily is good! I have to say a little something. Many people participated in June Fourth. I didn't participate in that stuff. Could that stuff make me happy? Some of my classmates even asked me why I didn't participate. I said that stuff is noisy; why would I do that stuff? I just wanted to be a happy person.

I never cause trouble. I'm a good employee in the company and a good citizen in society. I have to promote myself a bit. Many people do that stuff, do it, do it, and end up causing a lot of trouble. Just live happily while you're alive. That's probably what I concluded at that time. Don't say that it just started at that time. How did I come to believe in the Lord later? I wanted to be happy, but I couldn't be happy, so I wanted to find a God, a God who could make me happy. Later, I entered the church: I will go to God’s altar, to God my exceeding joy. Ah, singing so well. Or what do you want? What do you want? What else do you want?

Ah, speaking of this, let me insert a joke. What do you want? Taiwanese people aren't like us northeasterners. Northeasterners speak vulgarly. Northeasterners speak very vulgarly, but they're very energetic. When they get excited, they curse people, bringing out their mothers and grandmothers, using everything. People are more civilized. I have to praise our Taiwanese compatriots; they're very civilized. When they're anxious, they say, 你想怎样？(Xiǎng zěnyàng?) (What do you want?) I said that's still a little stern. Are there any Taiwanese sisters among us? 你想怎样？(Xiǎng zěnyàng?) That's how Taiwanese sisters say it: 你想怎样？(Xiǎng zěnyàng?)

I have ministered to many, many cancer patients. I'm really strange, I just can't figure it out. 你想怎样？(Xiǎng zěnyàng?) They just don't want to live happily. But how easy is it to be happy? I tell you, without God, even though I know I should be happy, I can't be happy. Ah, how easy is that? So today, the fundamental problem for a cancer patient is unhappiness, finding many things to be unhappy about. After getting cancer, they still lecture me. No matter how I enlighten them, no matter what I do, I can't make them happy. They keep arguing! Ah, let them argue.

There was another cancer patient a few days ago that I knew. Ah, the pain, even painkillers didn't work. You all know, right? If something happens, they'll definitely make something happen, definitely find a reason to be unhappy. They can make something happen even if nothing is happening, making themselves unhappy. Right? Let them argue. It's just too much thinking, too much garbage in their brains! You all know, right?

I don't allow this garbage to enter my brain. Some people say, Then you still get angry! After yelling and screaming, I turn around, hey, I eat what I should eat, drink what I should drink, happily eat my food, happily drink my wine. Don't discuss those things that are curses without dirty words; they're meaningless. Listen carefully to what I'm saying. Don't start researching 你想怎样？(Xiǎng zěnyàng?) (What do you want?) as soon as I start talking. Quickly remove the garbage in your heads; your heads are too dirty. These things can't take away the joy inside me! Brothers and sisters, have you tasted this flavor yet? Have you found the root of the problem? Haven't found it yet? It's just that people's heads are too dirty.

Yesterday, I received a message: Teacher, if you die, what should I do? Ah, that's a pretty good question! If I die, you still have to live happily, do you understand? Isn't that what I'm teaching? Learn it quickly before I die, okay? Some people think all day: Teacher, if you die, what will I do? I haven't died yet, have I? Some people can't stand hearing this, some people can't hear this: If you die, what will I do? What? Are you cursing me to die? I don't do that. You say, If you die, what will I do? What can you do? Do what you should do, pretty cute. Otherwise, who will teach you when I die? Why aren't people happy? It's just too much thinking. As soon as you think, If the teacher dies, what will I do? then you feel uncomfortable, right? Isn't that making trouble for yourself? I haven't died yet, and you're already making trouble for yourself.

I've found something very interesting in this world. What is this interesting thing? It's that people think about things that make them unhappy. It's quite evil. If you don't want to think about it, it pops into your head, have you noticed? If you don't want to think about those things, they well up in your brain, right? They specifically think about the things that people have done wrong to you, right? Definitely. See, someone is typing and saying, Yes. People just like to think about the things that people have done wrong to them; that's really evil. So we have to know that I'm pretty familiar with this stuff!

You see, when I minister to someone, he feels that I have done him wrong. You say I minister to him, but he feels I've done him wrong. There are so many things I've done right for him, but he only thinks about one thing wrong, and it's still nonsense. Later, a sister said, Teacher, don't scold him anymore, don't talk about him anymore, don't do it anymore. I said, I can't not do it. Teacher, he already feels very sorry for you. Oh? He feels sorry for me, and he's unhappy? He feels he owes me, and he's unhappy? He should be happy, right? I said, No, it's that he feels I owe him. Always feeling that I owe you guys is ruined.

I said, Why aren't people happy? It's because they always think that people are shortchanging them, is that the case? So selfishness makes it hard to be happy! Always wanting to change the world according to their ideas, always wanting me to minister to them according to their ideas, always wanting the doctor to prescribe medicine according to their prescriptions, always everything. Then you say it's ruined, right? Doctor, I have this disease. Then why did you come to the doctor? Doctor, prescribe this medicine for me. Okay, I'll prescribe it for you. Everyone is an expert; the doctor is just a pill dispenser. Actually, you don't need to go to the doctor; you just need to go to the drug store. Right? So people are strange.

People shouldn't let the world change according to our ideas, but we should adapt ourselves to the world. Do you understand this time? Understood. Actually, I just told a joke today. Ah, changing the world is too difficult! Adapting ourselves to the world seems a little easier, right? But for some people, that's difficult, they refuse to change even if they die! This world must change according to their ideas, and they don't change until they die. The world operates according to the world's operating rules, it's evil. So I always try to make people happy, but I always offend people.

I make you happy, and I offend you, do you know that? I often offend people. But people just want to make themselves unhappy anytime, anywhere, is that interesting? It is interesting. Weird! A few days ago, I saw a sign on top of the washing machine, written with a pen: Socks and underwear are not allowed inside. Oh, you can't wash underwear or socks here. While she's not home, hurry up and wash them, don't tell her. Two weeks later, I accidentally washed them that day, disgusted her to death, I tell you, she washed them, and then I slowly washed them behind her. She washed them, oh, she didn't know.

Later, I have to find an opportunity to tell her. I do it secretly, but after I do it secretly, I tell her. I tell her after washing several times. I tell her, let her be disgusted. Don't I have ways to mess with people? Oh, I just laugh: Socks and underwear are not allowed inside, anyway, she doesn't know. Oh, I have a lot of tricks. Why? Because there are too many things in this world that you can't see.

Are there many things you can't see? When you go to a restaurant to eat, just enjoy it. As for how the kitchen is doing, just let it be. Some people say, Teacher, I don't eat duck. When a plate of duck meat is served, I say, This is swan meat. I say, A toad wants to eat swan meat, and I scold them in the process. Once they eat the swan meat, they think it's delicious. Delicious, is that interesting? The duck meat becomes goose meat, so they eat it. Actually, how different are duck and goose? Teacher, I don't eat lamb. I say, No, this is donkey meat. Not an old horse, but an old donkey. Delicious? Delicious, interesting, isn't it? Donkey meat is delicious. People are just deceived by lies, but actually nothing is wrong, they do it to themselves.

I say, what is this problem? I want to make you happy, but you insist on being unhappy, isn't that weird? Later I found that, if the people I shepherd argue with me, if they win against me, they become unhappy. So do you think I can let them win? If they win against me, they have the right to be unhappy. So they force me to argue and win against them, because as they argue, they run out of reasons. Until today, I'll just mention it to you, I haven't lost yet. I haven't lost until today, my mouth is sharp, my mouth is tough. It's tough, but be careful not to kick the iron plate. Haven't lost, that's good.

Later, they gave me a little nickname, they said: You are Liu Youfu's brother. I said: Who is Liu Youfu? I said, What do you mean? Are you called Liu Youli (meaning 'always reasonable')? Oh, I'm called Liu Youli? It should be Zong Youli (meaning 'always reasonable'), I am Li Zong (meaning 'Reason General'). Not many can out-argue me, right? But I am for your benefit, and you are also for your benefit, aren't we on the same team? Look, I am for your benefit, and you are also for your benefit, we are on the same team, on the same front line. Are we on the same front line? Yes. The principle is very simple, just live happily, why make it so complicated? Understand? Understood. Understand what? Go and do it well.

Some time ago, I met an old couple whose son was getting old but not married. The old couple was distressed. When I was eating with them, I enlightened them. I said: Why are you distressed? They said: The people in the village keep asking. When the people in the village ask, they feel very embarrassed. So I taught them: My son hasn't married, there's a whole line behind him, how many do you want to see? I'll have him bring them back. Amazing, there's a queue behind him.

If you want to say something a bit mean, I'll teach you another trick, listen carefully: Oh, my son is not like your son, my son has very high standards. My son's standards are so high, he has to take his time to choose! It's so hard to choose, unlike your son, your son just needs any girl. He will never come to bother you again, right? By the way, you also elevate your own son and step on other people's sons a bit. Am I being mean? I'm being very mean.

If there are no big issues in people's hearts, small things become big issues; if there is no Mingding Destiny in people's hearts, you don't know why you are living, then everything becomes a big issue! I used to want to be happy, but I couldn't be happy. Although I understood, it was useless. Later, I recognized God, knew why I was living, knew what was going on, and wasn't that how the Chinese Mingding Destiny was created? Creating the Chinese Mingding Destiny, that was all my invention! You have to be careful, my invention, but I will never sue you, all patents are free to use. Many things are small things, are you a little happier today?

I've been talking for half an hour, and I'm just getting started. If the sky falls, God is holding it up, right? If there is Mingding Destiny in people, if there is a hope of God's glory in eternity, then they are happy. Happiness is a spiritual matter. Why can't people eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Because eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil makes them unhappy. Understand? Okay, I've finished preaching this sermon. If everyone is busy, you can leave. Next is the scripture, today's scripture is good. Today's scripture is from Ecclesiastes, I always feel energetic when I preach from Ecclesiastes. Come, open Ecclesiastes chapter eight, verses fourteen to seventeen. My favorite book is Ecclesiastes.

II. Scripture

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. (Ecclesiastes 8:14-17)

III. Prayer

God! Today we are determined to come before You. We come before You because we want to know You, we want to obtain You. God! May Your joyful spirit fill me, remove all the sorrow within me, remove all the melancholy and frustration within me, so that I can live happily in this world, eat my meals happily, drink my wine joyfully, and enjoy what we have gained from our labor in this world. God! Give us wisdom and intelligence to see Your deeds, and rely on You to live out the joy that You want me to live out in this world. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

IV. Scripture Background

The background of this passage is in the eighth chapter of Ecclesiastes. Who wrote Ecclesiastes? Solomon wrote it. Solomon is an amazing person, why is he amazing? He did a lot of scientific research, and God cooperated with him in his scientific research. So what did he study? He studied how to make people happy. What he wanted to obtain, God let him obtain. I tell you, whatever he wanted, God let him obtain. It's just a little regret that our brothers and sisters here, it seems that God has not chosen you to do Solomon's research.

Solomon's research is amazing. All the things that men in the world want, he obtained. He was so amazing. He was smart and wise, and the harem was full of beauties. Envious? Envious. I'm not envious. I have to admit, I can't even handle one, what's the point of having so many? I think brothers and sisters must know today that Solomon's research is very interesting. After Solomon's research, he thoroughly studied the matter of happiness.

After driving and sitting in luxury cars, it's not interesting. Having a group of beauties, after messing around with them, it's not interesting, just that little thing, just that thing, just like that. And then? Wow, decorating, no, he's not decorating, he's doing construction, he's in real estate. He builds houses, does designs, Solomon's designs are very amazing. What kind of style? And then he uses gold and silver, pastes them, after pasting, he's not happy inside. Strange? After doing the research, he found that these things, in terms of happiness, in terms of living happily, are meaningless. Do you want to prove it? If you want to prove it, wait slowly, maybe one day God will be moved and take you through a cycle of what Solomon went through.

Since Solomon has already done the research, I say, let's just inherit Solomon's research results, no need to reinvent the wheel, that's so boring! After Solomon finished his research, I tell you, he made a detailed examination of things and thoroughly studied the matter. How thoroughly did he study it? He studied it so thoroughly that, in the eighth chapter, in fact, he had already made a summarized overview of his research.

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

Understand? So, in this matter, Solomon commends mirth. Let's commend mirth together, shall we? Make those who are unhappy angry. It's not that we want to make them angry, they just look angry at it. You see how he lives so happily? He is just happy. Everyone knows, right? You will find that if you get close to me, I eat, drink, and am happy. I drink a little wine when I should, and I don't need to avoid it, I don't need to care about it so much. Understand?

We need to study and observe things. We should inherit the research results of Solomon well. Therefore, he mentioned several issues, and found that to be happy in the world, you must have wisdom. You have to be able to explain things clearly. Then, the anger on your face can be changed. Without wisdom, you often get angered and collapse, which is troublesome. After doing the research, today I tell you, today we will talk about it.

What issues did he mention? First, you must have wisdom, obey commandments, and not experience disasters. Experiencing disasters, like car accidents, how can you be happy? It's difficult! Then, you must know the timing of all things, there is a time for everything, there is a principle for everything. And, you must know, most importantly, that you have no right to control life, you have no right to control life at all. So, everyone knows, right? I put my life in God's hands, I won't put it in the hands of doctors. If I put it in the hands of doctors, I wish you good luck. This sounds uncomfortable, right? Wish you good luck.

No one has the right to control their own life, so what happens? All things must be accepted with faith. When you see something you don't understand, you say, Hey, this person did bad things, how can they still live so well? The time hasn't come yet. Oh, you must fear God, this whole series, we'll talk about these today. Today we'll talk about what Solomon researched, good, he researched it very thoroughly. So what happens in the end? In the end, he concludes by commending mirth. In the fifteenth verse of the eighth chapter, I commend mirth. You must be happy! If you are not happy, I wish you good luck.

So, I thought, Solomon applied his heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth. In the end, he saw clearly that all the work of God, no one can research thoroughly, they can't find it out, they can't figure it out. Why? Because when dealing with things on a case-by-case basis, arguing back and forth about it, you can't argue out a reason, and you make yourself feel very uncomfortable. So, happiness is a person's choice, and suffering is also a person's choice, so that's what you deserve. Right? You deserve it.

So, God's work is to make people unable to figure it out. Don't ask there, why is this happening? Why is that happening? You become 100,000 Whys yourself. If you become 100,000 Whys, then you're ruined. Happiness is just a choice, it's so simple. So, today brothers and sisters understand Solomon's research results, so when someone is unhappy, I have them read Ecclesiastes. Not many people understand Ecclesiastes better than I do, not many people explain Ecclesiastes more clearly than I do, really not many, this is definitely not bragging.

Oh, my explanation of Ecclesiastes is good. Once I was driving, and a sister was playing Ecclesiastes in the back. Oh, I was very addicted to listening. I said, Who is preaching? Teacher, you are preaching. Oh, I said, Why is it so good? Why does it sound so good? It's like a storytelling. They think this person is very shameless, so you preach well? I said, I'm just saying something fair. My Ecclesiastes is preached well, listen slowly.

This is the background of this chapter. Everyone knows what Solomon researched, right? He researched this. What do I research? You know, right? I research Solomon. Solomon researches this, I research Solomon. Good, good. So, if you follow me to live happily, you are blessed!

V. To Live Happily, You Must Have Spiritual Wisdom

See? In the first verse of this chapter, who is like the wise man? If you want to be happy, you must have spiritual wisdom, worldly wisdom is not good. Worldly wisdom sometimes works, sometimes it doesn't, so isn't it ruined? Then it's ruined. You must explain problems with spiritual wisdom. Now it's a thesis, no more jokes, no more stories. You must have spiritual wisdom, the spiritual person sees through all things, but no one can see through him.

The words we speak today, the sermons we preach, are not based on clever words of wisdom, but on the clear evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit, relying on the wisdom of God. God's wisdom is to manifest His power and glory through His church. God wants to manifest His wisdom through the church, the church is the crystallization of His wisdom. That's why we want to build God's glorious church. If you want to live happily, and you don't have spiritual wisdom, you can't understand, you're just confused, dizzy even without drinking. You get drunk from drinking this world, you're drunk all day long.

When you encounter a phenomenon, can you explain it? What can you explain? When you see unreasonable things, you want to reason with me. I use spiritual wisdom to reason with you, and you use your little worldly wisdom to reason. Can you out-argue me? You can't out-argue me. So, today we must all start to understand it little by little. Spiritual wisdom, with spiritual wisdom, everything can be seen through at a glance. With worldly wisdom, you can't see clearly under the sun, the more you look, the more dizzy you get. This is the fifth point, and we'll be fast now, we'll quickly finish this thing that sounds sermonic.

VI. To Live Joyfully, Avert Calamity

Tell me, can one be joyful while experiencing calamity? It's hard to be joyful in the midst of it! Do you know why people are unhappy when they experience misfortune? How can experiencing calamity bring joy? Alas, misfortune is not a good thing. Do you know where calamity comes from? Much of it is the work of demons. I ask you, was the calamity that befell Job caused by demons? Yes, it was. Many people experience a car accident, and after the accident, they are paralyzed. Or they experience a house collapsing and being crushed. So, there are many unfortunate things in this world.

I also thank God that, precisely because of joy, calamity stays far from us. Doesn't Psalm 91 say it well, that though a thousand fall at your left side and ten thousand at your right, you will not be harmed? Even when walking through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with you. That is why I encourage you to love God well. Loving the world invites demons, and reasoning invites demons. So, what are you after? Acquiring a body full of sickness and misfortune. Therefore, everyone must understand what calamity is. Calamity is an operation in the spiritual realm.

Once, while I was dealing with demons, disciplining them, the demon spoke and laughed, saying, When your brother was driving, I passed by that day, saw him, and blew a gust of air, causing his car to flip off the highway and into the valley. How evil is this demon? He even described it to me: I just blew, poof! I said, You are too evil! But who invited the demon? People invite demons by loving the world, by discerning good and evil, and by indulging the flesh. So, what happens when they are invited? Disaster, calamity. Do you understand?

People must obey God's commands, because God has the authority. Don't ask God why He does this or that. Why? Why me? Because I will to. Why ask God? God says, I will to. How do you respond to that? It's like some people going to their boss and saying, Boss, why don't you give me a raise? The boss says, Because I just don't want to. What can you say to that? There's no response.

If you understand spiritual knowledge and have spiritual wisdom, and you know what the spiritual realm is, then it is very important for you to be victorious in the spiritual world. Being victorious in the spiritual realm can help you avoid experiencing these disasters and calamities. Understand? If you are a person who casts out demons, what can demons do to you? If you don't cast out demons, demons will cast you out. What will you do then? Don't think that if you don't cast out demons, it doesn't matter. Demons will chase after you. When you experience calamity, you must have spiritual wisdom. Do you understand?

Oh, some people often experience this kind of thing, either losing a large sum of money, causing distress. Giving you a billion, then it becomes five hundred million, then two hundred million. Some people say that two hundred million is still good, but then it becomes one hundred million. Ah, this entanglement! Gone in an instant, where did the billion go? Gone, bad luck, disaster.

VII. To Live Joyfully, Discern the Times and Principles

I find it very interesting. To live joyfully, you look and see, What time is it? What season is this? What moment is this? You must discern the times. Buying a house when prices are high and selling when prices are low? Are you idle and looking for trouble? That's called seeing principles clearly—what is this principle? It is the spiritual rule, the spiritual principle. People cannot grasp the essence of things, and it is difficult for them to be joyful. Discern the times and principles. In this stage, in the early days of creating Chinese Mingding Destiny, there were many tears. But it doesn't matter, I know that I am in this stage.

For example, in business management. If you are managing a small company of ten people, manage it as a small company of ten people. But later, when it grows to a thousand people, can you still manage it as a company of ten people? No, you can't. You have to see what time it is, what the circumstances are, what the situation is, and then figure things out. Therefore, everyone must have knowledge and wisdom, and be able to discern the times and principles. What is God doing in this season?

I seized a good opportunity. Why live joyfully? By seizing a good opportunity, God wanted to bring about a new transformation of Christianity in this generation. I looked and saw, God, I will come, I will come. Not myself alone, but I said, God, let's come together. This is the generation in which God will raise up our Chinese people. In this generation, God will do something very great through the Chinese. How wonderful that God will bless many people on earth through us! I said, God, I want to hold tightly to Your heart. God, may Your will be done in me. This is this generation. Have you grasped it? Grasp it slowly. Discern the times and principles. Simple, isn't it? If you can list these things clearly, that would be great.

VIII. To Live Joyfully, Know You Have No Right to Control Life

Do you have the power? Are you qualified? You are not qualified. You really have no right to control life, because control of life is governed in the spiritual world. God governs our lives. Once a person knows that they need God, many things are resolved. If you want to live joyfully, know that you have no right to control your own life. Does everyone know that Esau did nothing wrong, except for one thing: he wanted to create his own destiny with his own hands. What was the result? He was cursed. All who live by their own abilities and their own hands are cursed. Those who are works-based are cursed.

People have no right to control their own lives, because you don't know when you will be born. You have to listen to me on this. You can't control when you are born, and you can't control when you die. You can't control when you encounter disaster. What does this prove? It proves one thing: people need God! Therefore, it is self-evident that people need God. Today, no longer relying on ourselves, to live joyfully, you need God. Whether you understand or not, good luck to you. Take a close look at those who rely on themselves, on science, on medicine, on hospitals. How do they end up living? Just like that. Quite deadly. But relying on God is good. People really need God.

IX. To Live Joyfully, Have Faith

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 8:11-12)

People need to have faith. So today, everyone, we see that because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed immediately, why? You see people doing evil, those corrupt officials, being corrupt for decades, and then what? They are caught. And then nothing much happens. It's not that they are caught as soon as they are corrupt. No, they are corrupt once and nothing happens, they are corrupt again and nothing happens, they are corrupt again and still nothing happens. It’s too late when something happens. So, to live joyfully, you see, Why haven't they been caught yet? What are you waiting for? Why are you waiting for this? You should say, Why am I not happy yet? Everyone must know that God deliberately makes things this way. Don't ever think that things aren’t this way.

I tell you, God has already made His will clear. It is to give us faith. If you live long enough, you will see the wicked punished. Do you understand? It's just slow. If it weren't done this way, how could there be so many big fish, tigers, flies, and mosquitoes, right? Cast the net and catch them all. When the time is not yet ripe, when it is, they must all be caught, all must be dealt with in this way. Therefore, faith is very mysterious. Not only does cursing take time to mature, but blessing also takes time to mature.

This is why I often break out in a sweat for our brothers and sisters. You argue with me? What kind of argument is that? Do you really have that much wisdom? If you don't have that much wisdom, you're finished. So our brothers and sisters begin to understand anew, to understand what anew? Understand whether we are living by sight or by faith. If we are living by sight, then we are finished. So this is a matter of life and death. If you don't have faith, it's too much trouble to explain. Blessing and cursing both take time, and when they mature, they are formidable.

X. To Live Joyfully, Fear God

Because blessing and cursing are drawn out for a long time, you must fear God. If God says this and you don't do it, just wait and see! When we were children, we liked to say when arguing: Just you wait and see! I don't know what you'd see. Just you wait and see! When I grow up and become a high official, I'll come back and deal with you. People like to do this. But if you want to live joyfully, don't say, Just you wait and see! What can you see? You can't see anything. Because you don't have the last word. If you want to live joyfully, you must fear God. Faith itself is a response to fearing God. It is normal for there to be delays when you fear God. Don't always ask, God, why is this happening? Many people do not fear God, do not treat God as God, and always think they are great, unable to do anything. I’m telling you, people are just good for this and that. You don't have the final say on when you have a headache. What are you capable of? Right? Nothing. Therefore, fear God.

XI. To Live Joyfully, Do Not Be Surprised by the Things of the World

Don't be surprised by the things of the world, saying, Why is this happening?

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 8:14)

Look: what happens to the righteous is according to the deeds of the wicked. It is as if he has done many bad things, and then he suffers many consequences. You say, How did he suffer these consequences? You see, he is a righteous person, so how did he suffer these consequences? It is confusing. So sometimes when those of us who serve others experience something, it is normal and there is no need to be surprised. Look, some wicked people seem to have done many good things and receive good outcomes. Isn't that strange? These things cannot be investigated, so if you use the principles under the sun, if you use your physical eyes to observe, you will not understand anything. Because you lack spiritual wisdom.

Don't be surprised by these things. Some people are surprised to an outrageous extent. I led him through Genesis, and later he asked me, Teacher, I think Abraham should have informed Isaac in advance that he was going to offer him to God. Huh? That's interesting. Do you want to stand up for Isaac? It's just being idle and looking for trouble, liking to come up with many strange things. What is the right to know? He should have the right to know. Isaac didn't want it. And if you want to explain these things, if you want to see these things, I tell you, with spiritual eyes, there are reasons for everything. Looking at it with worldly eyes, everything is confusing. You will never be able to figure it out.

Conclusion: Just Live Joyfully

If you are not living happily, then live happily. What good advice can I give you? The good advice I can give you is to live happily. Eat your meals happily, drink your wine happily, and enjoy what you have earned in your labor. Never acquire wealth through non-labor, for acquiring wealth through non-labor invites disaster which brings calamity. Today we must begin to be diligent people, and in what we do, we must experience God's blessing.

I think the best advice I can give you is to persuade you, to persuade you to live happily. Eat well, drink well, and do everything well. When it's time to work, work hard, don't discern good and evil, and don't indulge the flesh. Just live happily. That's great. Some people advise me not to get drunk, but just drink slowly. If you really get drunk one day and can bring some joy to people, that's fine too. So don't be drunk, what is drunkenness? It is bitterness in the heart. Normal people are happy when they drink, why do people get drunk when they have nothing to do? Okay, today I want to remind everyone again, be sure to live happily! This is the best advice I can give you. May God bless everyone!

Let's sing a hymn and prepare to receive today's offering. If you do not understand the meaning of offering, please do not give. Because we do not live by offering, but by God. God will surely provide for us, and we will lack nothing in our reliance on God. Amen! If you do not understand the meaning of offering, or if you are not qualified to give, please do not give. Some people come to discuss with me whether they are qualified. Later I say, Yes. Why do I say yes? Being qualified or not qualified is simply understanding or not understanding.

God! Today we offer ourselves completely as a living sacrifice to You. May Your will be done in me, and may Your wonderful plan be accomplished in us. God! We do not want to act according to our own will, we want to act according to Your word. Let us live out Your noble and glorious image in this world. Let us live out Your nobility and power in this world! May we trample on the devil and our enemies, and may the devil not be able to take away our joy.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I bless our brothers and sisters. May our brothers and sisters be happy! May they do everything cheerfully. May the spirit of laziness withdraw, and may foolish things depart. In the name of Jesus Christ, I bless our brothers and sisters, breaking all curses of poverty! In the name of Jesus Christ, I bind the spirit of the grave, hell, and death! In the name of Jesus Christ, I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice to God and become a person with Mingding Destiny. I want to live for God, to come into this world for God. For God, may His wonderful plan be accomplished in me, and may I toil for it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

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 evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are all Yours, forever and ever. Amen! May God bless everyone!