Introduction

Good day to all. Now, let us delve into the fourth sermon on The Gospel of Jesus Christ, titled Release to the Captives. I tell you, this is exceedingly good, release to the captives. Do you know what God says? The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. What does the Spirit of the Lord do upon you? The Spirit of the Lord is power. The Spirit of the Lord upon a person yields immense power, beyond human imagination.

Then He anoints you with oil. What does He anoint you for? He anoints you to be a king, anoints you to be a high priest. I ask you, do you have a craving to be an official? You do have a craving to be an official. Then, would you like to manage a city? Yes, you would. Would you like to manage a third-tier city? Yes. What about a second-tier city? Yes, that too. Would you like to manage a first-tier city? Yes. Good, God will anoint you, so that you can manage a supercity.

You know, God created man on earth so that they could manage the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, the fish of the sea – those that fly in the sky, walk on the ground, and swim in the sea. And then to be fruitful and multiply and govern the earth. Originally, God created man to manage, and that is the anointing. Anointing you as a king, our God is the King of Kings; this is the meaning of our life.

So what do we manage? We manage the benefits of this Gospel. When you manage, you cannot let things descend into chaos, becoming poorer and poorer. Originally given a hundred million, after managing it, fifty million remains; then further management leaves only ten million, and then only one million. Someone, with a hundred million, jumped off a building after managing it down to one million. Actually, I was thinking that one million US dollars is still quite a lot, why the hurry to jump? Distress, due to mismanagement.

We must know what the meaning of this life is: to preach the Gospel to the poor. If they cannot manage, let them be able to manage; if they cannot do research, let them be able to do research; if they have no money, let them start having money; if they are full of ailments, let them begin to be healed. How good this Gospel is! Whatever you lack, God uses this Gospel to make it up to you, supplementing whatever is missing.

The fourth sermon, Release to the Captives, is even better. Looking around, ah, there are especially many who are captive. Look, some have discomfort in the chest, some in the legs, some in the shoulders. These are all captives. Once a person's heart is taken captive, they will experience many, many corruptions, with no glory to speak of.

Sometimes it is very interesting. Some Christians live in a curse, and then they feel that this suffering is glorious, but it is utterly devoid of glory. Everyone must know that suffering for the Lord Jesus is exceedingly good; suffering for self-indulgence is utterly devoid of glory.

A few years ago, there was such news that a school principal had a vice, specializing in raping elementary school students, unable to control himself. I tell you, such people work very hard. If you have close contact with such a person, you will find that he lives a hard life. He does not do what he wants to do, but does what he does not want to do; he cannot control himself. Have you noticed that you also have some things you cannot control? Because man is taken captive by demons, without freedom, unable to be himself.

The demon does bad things in him, but he himself must take responsibility. Can you reason with that? In this generation, many people want to be honest officials, but as they do, they become corrupt officials against their will. Why against their will? Taken captive by demons and become prisoners, controlled by an evil spirit, it is very uncomfortable. Ah, they have to do it, but they do not want to do it.

We have to say that many people still want to do their job well. Let him be the mayor of a city; he does not want to ruin the city, we must say with a clear conscience. But as he does, flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches all come, and he can’t help but join in.

Say, if you are doing urban construction, do you need to deal with real estate developers? Yes, you do. If you want to do urban construction, do you need to bring in these various industries? But when you bring them in, don't you have to build relationships? What do you use to build relationships? How painful it is for a person not to be able to be themselves.

Our Gospel is the good news of release to the enslaved, you can be yourself. You say, Then what do I do in the Jianghu (the pugilistic world)? Whether you are in the Jianghu or in the wilderness, you can rely on Jesus Christ to be a free person. Do not believe that one cannot help oneself in the Jianghu, do not believe in that stuff anymore. Why? Because people think, Then what can I do? If I don't do it, I will be kicked out of the circle, I can't mix in this circle anymore. The power of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead is in you, can He not manage this little thing? He definitely can, it is just that people do not believe. If people believe, I tell you nothing will happen. It is because you dare not believe in Jesus, so you dare to do those things, and as a result, you are scared enough.

I tell you, in the Ming Dynasty, when the people from the East Depot came, people were scared witless; when the West Depot came, they were even more scared witless. The people from the East Depot and West Depot were all very formidable. Then what about when you are in the Qing Dynasty? Actually, it is not easy to get by in any dynasty. People must not believe in nonsense; actually, living is a very simple matter. Why should people need to be in the Jianghu, and then not be able to help themselves? You should be in Jesus Christ, and God will surely give you freedom. Believe what I say.

I tell you, if you rely on Jesus Christ, and you want to be an honest official, you can definitely be an honest official; if you rely on Jesus Christ, and you want to be an honest businessman, you can definitely be an honest businessman, because you lack nothing. There is the Gospel to preach to the poor. If you lack a sense of security inside, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is your sense of security; if you lack money inside, Jesus Christ will supplement your money. You say, Really? Really! Where are there any poor people who truly believe in the Lord? There are none, really none.

If you lack a job, the Gospel of Jesus Christ can create a job for you; If you lack customers, Jesus Christ can create customer for you. You say, How can there be such a good thing? Why can’t there be? Because the Bible says so. Do not be deceived, do not be taken captive to be a servant. Do not be a servant of sin, be a servant of God.

There was another principal, he was a very good educator, and he really wanted to do a good job with the school. We have to pat our chests and speak honestly. I do not believe that he wanted to mess up the school. Later, he was accused of embezzling not a lot of money, and then the people from above came down to investigate, and he was scared to death at home. You say, he was in his prime at forty-odd years old. How could he have been educated to such a point? Originally wanting to make a difference, but as he did, his heart began to stray, doing things that should not be done, and as a result, he was scared to death.

If you have the opportunity to come into close contact, you will surely find that he wants to do what he cannot do, and does what he does not want to do, and then he is taken captive, becoming a prisoner, becoming a slave of sin. If this person were still alive, he could be released by relying on Jesus Christ.

Today, there are too many people who need the Gospel. For example, celebrities, poof, jumping down from the building, can you imagine how much pain a person must be in their heart to choose to jump down? Looking at what is written on the screen, you can feel that struggle in the heart even through the screen. I have ministered to many who were taken captive, and it pains the heart. I established the church in the beginning because I saw these things, and it really pained my heart.

When I first came to Singapore, I was very unlucky, the kind of misfortune that went well beyond human imagination. Utter darkness, no future, no hope. And then I found that my life was not good. Ah, what to do? I really wanted to jump off the building because living was really meaningless. What meaning was there? Except for discomfort, it was all just discomfort, discomfort every day, seeing the flowers of the world in black and white. Can everyone understand that feeling? If you have that feeling that I had inside, then that is right, this Gospel is for you. How can the whole world be black and white? Ah, my goodness, very difficult.

But I thanked God, and I went everywhere to find the Gospel, I went to find good news. I said, God, do you exist? Can you release me from here? Can you understand that feeling? Ah, I was already very depressed. Then I went into the church, and they led me to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Everyone has heard this story. At that time, I did not know Jesus, I did not know what that stuff was, and then they brought me to be filled with the Holy Spirit, praying in tongues, oh my goodness! They locked me in a small room, three or five people there leading me in prayer, very interesting! I was caught and made to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I said, This is bad, I have been taken captive. I went to church in the morning and it lasted until three in the afternoon, I did not eat breakfast or lunch, and they were still leading me to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and telling me to learn a few phrases of tongues prayer, that stuff did not even need to be learned, it was not Japanese nor English, we did not know what to say, just made up a few sounds, that was easy enough. After it was over, I thought to myself, would I come to this place again? Would I be caught in a small room again? When I came out of the church, suddenly the world became colorful, suddenly, Oh my goodness, these flowers are so beautiful. Ah, my heart was comfortable, do you know that kind of comfort in the heart?

The next week, I came again. Why? Because my heart was comfortable. Did you think I was stupid? I found that I was released. Why did I later lead people to pray in tongues, learning a few phrases of being filled with the Holy Spirit when there was nothing to do? Because that was how I did it back then, being filled with the Holy Spirit is good! A friend was sick, I went to the hospital to lead him in prayer, Follow me and learn a few phrases, whatever I say, you say. He was very obedient, and he prayed in tongues with me and his illness was healed. Can you reason with that? We really do not understand, but the power of God is so good, and I thank God!

From then on, I really wanted to release the captives. Inside, I felt, Ah, how come people do not believe in such a good Gospel? I really want to beat you up. Later, I found that you cannot force a horse to drink; forcing the horse to the trough was exhausting and did not work. Later, they gave me a nickname, Christianity. As soon as I walked over, Ah, Christianity is coming. Oh my goodness, I became Christianity, that name is pretty good.

As a result, at the unit where I worked at the time, a child from Shanghai jumped off a building at a young age! His parents came from Shanghai, holding his urn of ashes to go back. I ask you, what do you think? Oh my goodness, that pain! I think people's hearts are made of flesh, this is really very uncomfortable, and my tears almost fell. From then on, for the newcomers who came to the unit, especially those from overseas, I received them. I said that if there were any problems, they could look for me. Doing like this, I began to lead them in studying the Bible. Thank God, many people received grace from me, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression were all healed, it started just like that. Why? Because I had a Gospel inside, a good news, and I really wanted to tell you.

Sometimes I am too proactive, and people might think that I want something from them. I want nothing, I just want you to be free, I just want you to receive the benefits of the Gospel. As a result, people do not believe, always thinking that I want something. What do I want? In Jesus Christ, I have everything, in Jesus Christ, I lack nothing, I just lack you. If you can receive with me, that would be exceedingly good.

A child who jumped off a building triggered the plot in me to build a church. Later, there was another child, also from our school, who suddenly contracted a strange disease. What happened? At the subway station entrance, click, she struck a pose, just like that statue, like the statue on the Martyrs' Memorial, a series of successors. Leaning her body there sitting, one hand in front, one hand behind, posing in that manner.

Then someone went to work, saw her there playing this, and people thought it was performance art. After work, she was still there, looking ferocious. After she was released, I asked her what happened. She said, There is a demon inside me, and this demon is scaring me, you must persevere like this, if you do not persevere, I will throw you into the eighteenth level of hell. As a result, she was persevering there, people coming off work looked and saw that she was still persevering there. This is a lunatic.

As a result, the police took her away, she was still persevering like a statue. Then she was sent to the mental hospital. I like to cast out demons, back then I had not yet built a church of God's glory. Did I have the power to cast out demons? Actually, I had really not done this stuff before, that was the first time I went to the mental hospital. I saw her, oh my goodness, her face ferocious, waiting to enter the hospital. I led a few believers there to pray, Release to the captives! Ah, I tell you, her whole body was convulsing, legs curled, arms curled, back hunched over. I was also very bold, finally, the demon was cast out by me, the captive was released.

I tell you where my faith came from, I saw people being tortured like this, a normal child becoming like this, I really could not bear it, but I knew that my God is powerful! A few days later, the mental hospital said that there was nothing wrong, and she came back. After she came back, I asked her, What happened to you? She said that she loved a boy, and the boy did not love her. She went to the temple and found a master, and the master gave her a curse, and she recited it, I even saw the curse written in her notebook.

I said, Do not do it anymore. No, I did not do it right last time. I said, You are still doing it? A few days later she went back into the mental hospital because she went to find that master again, and the master gave her some advice again, and as a result, she was tortured again. Later, I cast this demon out again. In the mental hospital, there is a place to see the mentally ill, which is actually quite dangerous, what if the mentally ill strangle people to death? She was incredibly strong. But I have the Spirit of Jesus Christ on me, the Spirit of God is on me, He has anointed me, to preach the Gospel to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives.

That demon would even talk with me, it said: I will not leave. I said: You must leave. It said: I will not leave. I said: Why? It said: Because she likes Leslie Cheung. I said that this was quite interesting, liking Leslie Cheung could even attract demons? Then, I consciously prayed with her to reject this stuff. She watched Leslie Cheung’s movies more than a dozen times each time, she had this complex.

It is also because I had this faith, this mercy, that God wants from us is to do justly, to love mercy. Before this demon left, it said goodbye to me, I said Cut it out, goodbye to you, don't see you again, I don't want to see you again. A few days later, she came back from the mental hospital again. I said, Don't do it anymore. Because she got up to it again and end up in the asylum again..

So you need to know, who can save us from this body of death? Who can save us from this state of bondage? Who can help us so that we can live out the glorious image of God? It can be done by relying on Jesus Christ. Firmly believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to release those who are bound, to set free those who are oppressed, to make the blind see. Is it good? It is exceedingly good.

Who does not want to live well? Everyone wants to live well; who does not want to do their job well? Everyone wants to do their job well; who does not want to live happily? Everyone wants to live happily, but they cannot do it. When that evil energy comes up, they cannot control it, and after they do it, they still have to take responsibility.

Now with the Gospel, you can overcome it by relying on Jesus. This Gospel is the Gospel of the filling of the Holy Spirit, this Gospel carries the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit that created all things in the universe, dwelling within us. Wow, this Gospel, what great power it has! This Gospel is that God anoints us, so that we obtain our destiny, so that we obtain the meaning of life.

You say, why am I willing to go to the mental hospital to cast out demons? I tell you, I have experienced God's grace, even greater than the grace of that child being released! I finally know why I came into this world! I came into this world to release those who are bound! Casting out demons, releasing people, how good this Gospel is! This Gospel is to preach the Gospel to the poor, this Gospel can supplement all our lack. It can supplement the lack of joy; it can supplement the lack of money; it can supplement the lack of ability; it can supplement whatever is lacking. Even better, this Gospel releases the captives!

Many of us among us have been taken captive. You have received much grace from me here. There are also many who received grace and then threw me away like a shoe. I do not mind, because I do not care about this matter. What I care about is that I want to receive this destiny according to this Gospel, and pass on this good news.

I tell you, if you are a businessman, you need this Gospel; if you are an official, you also need this Gospel; if you are an ordinary person, you also need this Gospel. How good this Gospel is! It allows the blind to see, it sets free those who are oppressed, how good it is.

How can people release those who are taken captive? It must be through building a glorious church of God. God then brings this Gospel into the world through Jesus Christ, leaving the work that follows to us who establish churches. The Apostle Paul establishes this logical system of release to the captives.

Who takes people captive? Their own flesh takes them captive. Why do some people have demons dwelling in them? Because they are carnal. Why do people attract these things? Because people are carnal. In Jesus Christ, that is, in the Church of God, the captives will be released. That is why the Chinese Mingding Destiny theology is the theology of building a glorious church of God.

If you have the same burden as I do, I encourage you to walk this path as well. This path is full of God's glory, full of joy, full of God's power, exceedingly good. The Lord Jesus resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father. He also raised up His people to build His glorious Church, which is the Body of Jesus Christ.

What did Jesus say? Everyone may have heard what Jesus said until their ears have calluses. Jesus will build His Church on this rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He will give us the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and what we bind on earth will be bound in heaven; what we release on earth will be released in heaven. This is the Body of Jesus Christ.

If you hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I am preaching, you must begin to reflect again. Maybe you are in a very traditional church which neither casts out demons nor supports speaking in tongues, and has no power, but only passes on Mahayana Buddhism. Then you must be careful. The Church of Jesus Christ is built on this rock, and binding and releasing are the most basic works of this Church.

Looking around, how many people are still eager to try to jump off a building? Looking around again, how many people are held captive by depression; how many people, when they are officials, cannot help themselves in the Jianghu; how many people are taken captive and horribly controlled by these things, and have not yet been released.

Brothers and sisters, God is calling each and every one of us. God is calling you and me to complete the mission He has not completed. Jesus Christ left us a work. Thank God, Jesus Christ fortunately did not finish the work, and left a portion for me. Throughout the ages, God has been choosing people on His throne, seeing if there are any who seek Him, if there are any who are willing to take up this destiny, if there are any who are willing to be used by Him.

I said, God, I am coming. I want to do what You do. How good what Jesus did is! This kind of work, although there are tears, although there is sweat and blood, but I tell you, those tears are tears of gratitude. Which person, released from bondage, which captive released, does not shed tears of gratitude!

Come! Receive such a destiny with me, soften your hearts, and have a feeling of compassion in your hearts when you see these captives. Sow to the Spirit and reap eternal life; sow to the flesh and reap corruption. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Turn to Luke Chapter Four, verses sixteen to twenty-one.

Scripture

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21)

This scripture will also be fulfilled in your hearing. You tell this world that you are the Me in this passage.

Prayer

God, open our spiritual eyes, let us see the spiritual desolation of this generation; open our eyes, let us see the needs of this generation, see how many are taken captive, waiting for You there. God, send us out to preach Your powerful Gospel, let the captives be released, let the oppressed be set free, let the blind see.

God, use me, use me, to build Your glorious Church, use me. Save me from the evil of the flesh, completely eradicate the logical system of the flesh within me. Let me obey the Holy Spirit, obey Your calling, and present myself as a living sacrifice, to serve You. This is only reasonable.

God, raise up our brothers and sisters, raise up each and every one of us, to imitate You, let us also open Isaiah Chapter Sixty-One, let us also proclaim in the same way that the Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of the sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

God! Let this small group of ours be a blessing to United States and Canada, a blessing to Australia, a blessing to New Zealand, a blessing to Asia, a blessing to Europe. May Your glory fill the whole earth. Use us, greatly use us, to act according to Your will, let us be able to walk with You, in the Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Scripture Background

When Jesus Christ read this passage of Scripture, He was already very famous, His fame spread throughout the land, spread throughout the four directions. Among them was in His own hometown, turning water into wine at a wedding feast. The wine that Jesus changed was simply exceedingly good, an absolute triumph.

Then what is Jesus to do? To make people fishers of men. I tell you, our church is a church that wins people. You ask, What is a church that wins people? Let us ponder, what is a church that wins people? Oh, have I finally found someone to help me carry the cross? Is that the idea? No, I make people fishers of men.

Later, I was thinking, God, letting the captives be released is winning people, letting them follow me to gain benefits. How easy it is for me to preach the gospel; I do not preach the gospel, I preach benefits: to set the captives free, how wonderful. You used to have depression; after following me, you no longer have depression, but you are a person who releases depression. I tell you, to win people, the person must be willing to follow you to be considered won, is it not? Mine is so wonderful, making people fishers of men.

When you came, you had no Mingding Destiny; you came here and gained Mingding Destiny. When you came, you did not know why you were living, but now you know why you are living. When you came, you lived without brilliance, but now you live brilliantly. When you came, you were poor, but now you have become rich. When you came, you had no joy, but were depressed; now you are joyful. Were people won? People were won.

Later, I was thinking, I must preach the gospel to the poor, that your needs may be satisfied. Who does not want to live well? Everyone wants to live well. Moreover, after you come, I tell you that you will become more valuable. Jesus Christ originally wanted you to be valuable, not only valuable but also dignified and glorious.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must also become people who make people fishers of men. Do not catch a fish and go fishing like Peter. What is the point of catching fish? Winning people is much better! When Jesus came, he did not come to make money; when Jesus came, he was declaring, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” How is it fulfilled? Because Jesus Christ prepared to go to the cross, Jesus Christ would offer himself as a sin offering, by his wounds we are healed, by his poverty we are made rich, and he will accomplish something unprecedented, unheard of, and undreamt of: to let us gain the gospel of Jesus Christ.

There was a woman named Mary who had seven evil spirits in her. This person was a prostitute; she had earned a lot of money, but she was very distressed and without dignity. Later, Jesus saw that she was a captive, captured by whom? Captured by demons. So he drove the demons out of her and set her free. After she was free, she used the best perfume. The best perfume is very expensive; a jar of perfume in that era should cost at least a hundred thousand. Smash, she broke the bottleneck. Why? The bottleneck was too small, glug, glug, pouring it on Jesus' head.

My goodness! A hundred thousand dollars poured out just like that. This Mary, from whom seven demons had been driven out, was free! Did she care about money? She did not care about money. If a person can be released from captivity in life and no longer be caught in the act, but be a free person, I tell you, how wonderful this freedom is.

The Lord Jesus said, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Who is that me? It is the Lord Jesus. Today the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Who is that me? It is you and I! He has anointed me, who does he anoint? It is you and I! To preach the gospel to the poor, who is that me? It is you and I! Sent me to announce release to the captives, that is you and I!

Ah! There is a story of you and me in the 《Bible》! I tell you, what is recorded in the 《Bible》 are the stories of each of us. Now, I have come; I am the one God wants to call; I am the one God is looking for; I am the one who sets the captives free. How wonderful!

Jesus truly bore our sins and carried our iniquities. This scripture is fulfilled in your and my ears today. Amen! This is the background of this passage. Jesus willingly died on the cross, shed blood, sacrificed himself, and paid the price to set free those with seven demons, those with eight demons, and those with nine demons.

You can say that for me: those with ten demons are set free. Next will be eleven, twelve, thirteen, let us count to nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine today. Thank God! Jesus took our curse and bore our sins, telling the spiritual world, Let my people go! These are the ones I have redeemed, let my people go!

I thank God that Jesus has accomplished this salvation for us. Now we must declare to this spiritual world, Let my people go! Come out! Release! Devil, you must retreat! Because of the mighty gospel of Jesus Christ, the devil will be completely trampled underfoot. Amen!

You may have come because of depression; someone may have come because of bedwetting; or you may have come because your son has autism. You may have come with these needs. But you experience God and believe that our God is the one who sets the captives free and sets the oppressed free.

You may have come as a poor person, but now you will become a wealthy person. Because our gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ, how wonderful it is! This is the gospel of Jesus Christ! Do you understand? Today we must have a share in the gospel of Jesus Christ, God, your glory has a share of me! Amen!

## Who Captured People?

Who captured people? How were they captured? I must tell you, Jesus revealed this matter before the church was established, revealing what the church should be like. Then he ascended to heaven. Later, he entrusted the matter of building the church to the Apostle Paul. Was it not said that the matter of building the church was given to Peter? Peter was almost like Lot. Why? Because Peter liked Lot very much.

But I tell you, Paul liked Abraham very much. It is meaningless to be Lot, so God raised up Paul. There is a word in my heart that I must tell you: I hope very much that God will raise us up in this era as he raised up Paul. Paul advanced the matter of Jesus Christ building the church another step, which is the release of the captives.

Many people do not know how they were captured. The Apostle Paul wrote 《Romans》, clearly recording who captured them. Who captured them? Our flesh captured them. I tell you, a person is born a carnal person, a person is born captured by the flesh.

If you indulge the flesh, you will find many troubles. Why? Because people live by the flesh, so there are many troubles. They want to live very much; wanting to live very much requires money; wanting money very much, then they are captured. Therefore, the logical system of the flesh is captured. Nail the flesh to the cross, offer oneself as a living sacrifice, that is the key to freedom. Paul said in 《Romans》 that this is being captured.

**But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (《Romans》7:23)**

Do you all understand? Why are there so many corrupt officials, so many profiteers, so much depravity in this world? Because they have all been captured. Why have they been captured? Because of the logical system of the flesh. The logical system of the flesh is very simple: I must live; I must have money; what do I do if I have no money? Then I will be greedy.

Since ancient times, no matter how you try to fix it, people may have great dreams to eliminate this corrupt official, but has it succeeded? It seems very difficult. By the Qing Dynasty, corrupt official culture had developed to a level absolutely surpassing artificial intelligence. People were captured by the flesh. All the depravity in this world is closely related to this. For example, adding tariffs, can money solve the problem? Money cannot solve the problem. You add tariffs to me, and I add tariffs to you; then you pinch me, and I pinch you. It is all a logical system of the flesh. People are captured by the flesh. People cannot solve it psychologically, so there is a demon in people’s hearts. People themselves do not have the final say.

You want to be an honest official, but your wife says next to you, Look, my brother needs money. My salary is given to him, but it is not enough to fill his hole. Then be greedy, and you are trapped. One trap after another, and what happens? The East Factory is established. Who manages the East Factory? The West Factory manages the East Factory. Who manages the West Factory? The South Factory. Who manages the South Factory? Then the North Factory is established, and it goes on endlessly. So people are captured by this.

## Symptoms of Being Bound

**For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I do, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.**

**For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.**

**I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (《Romans》7:14-23)**

After reading this, everyone resonates: Teacher, it is just like this. I do not want to play games, but I cannot help but play them. I also know that playing games has no future. Ah, I also know that I should not be gluttonous. I already weigh two hundred pounds, but I am still gluttonous. Last week I ate a large pot of big bones. See, pray for me today. I have a fever.

Ah, I cannot control myself at night and went to eat that piece of fish, and the fishbone got stuck in my throat. Oh my goodness! Many things in this world are uncontrollable. Have you found that playing mahjong, indulging, indulging in various things, the energy comes and you cannot control it. This is the symptom of being captured.

Peter said there, Lord, I am willing to die for you. The Lord Jesus said, Stop it, you will deny me three times before the rooster crows. What is he saying? He is a carnal person. A carnal person is one who wants to die for me very much, but you will deny me three times before the rooster crows. You cannot control it.

You were with Jesus. I was not. I do not know him. You were with Jesus. I do not know him at all. Stop talking. Your accent is a Galilean accent. As a result, you cannot control your mouth. If you cannot control your mouth, can you control your butt? You cannot control anything. Just give up.

Peter ran home and cried, How could I do this? How could I do this? How could I do this? Is it a portrayal of being captured? It is a portrayal of being captured. It is very difficult to deal with a person who is carnal. So what should you do? You must be released by the gospel of Jesus Christ!

## Released by Jesus Christ

This sermon exhausted me. I only slept for a while at six in the morning. Why? Because I had not figured out how to talk about releasing the captives this past week. A sister told me, Teacher, people like you who are academic masters, actually, making plans is just for others to listen to. Planning and planning, I see that these plans have failed. By six in the morning, I did not know what to say. Oh, it exhausted me.

How to be released? Do you say that I am stumped? Released by Jesus Christ! How to rely on him? Do you say I can explain it clearly? May God be gracious to me and perhaps I can explain it clearly. I will try. I give you all my secrets. I give myself to you. Give me some confidence.

Why be released by Jesus Christ? Sin is on people, what is sin? Sin is the demon we are born with. If your name is Zhang San, the demon is also called Zhang San. If your name is Li Si, the demon is also called Li Si. It is very one with you.

A person is born with a demon. After he hears and believes the gospel, the demon still cannot leave. Why? Because you are still a sinner. Jesus Christ did something very great, that is, he paid the debt for us! Imagine that you are a slave and have been sold to someone. Taking you away is against the law. Jesus paid with his precious blood as the price to buy us.

The Son of God made the sin offering and bought us. How were we bought? As soon as you accept Jesus Christ, the demon in you becomes illegal. Before, you had no room for choice. Now, you can choose to believe in the Lord; you can choose. The body and blood of Jesus Christ can let you be free to choose. This is amazing!

Everyone must know that this Holy Communion we eat, the bread is the body of Jesus Christ, and the cup is the blood of Jesus Christ. I have tried it many times. That thing is bread in our eyes. You may have always thought it was bread, and you have always thought that cup was grape juice, but in the spiritual world, it is very powerful.

An old man over ninety years old was not doing well. I brought him the Holy Communion and he got better. The captives are released, the oppressed are set free. What did people do? People only trusted Jesus. The problem of sin is solved, and the curse is solved. When the curse is solved, the demon in us becomes illegal. Do you understand now?

Therefore, it is easy to receive the grace of Jesus Christ, which is to believe, which is to receive. Do not say, God, I will bring you some bread; God, I will bring you a roast chicken; God, I will bring you some braised beef. That is called idolatry. God lacks nothing.

Relying on Jesus Christ, what does it mean? It means that our sin, relying on our flesh, we cannot come out from the inside. That is to say, people rely on Jesus Christ and receive the redemption of Jesus Christ. This is called salvation. We have the qualification to choose to trust him or choose not to trust him.

So I am truly miserable. Who can save me from this body of death? Thank God, we can be freed by relying on our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, I with the mind serve the the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. What does it mean? It is enough that you choose in your heart! Do you think your flesh can do anything? So remember, if a person wants to please God by his own actions, he is still living under a curse.

Now your heart turns to God, and God will do the rest for you. How simple! I tell you, if you do not believe, it is difficult for you to receive. You receive what you believe. That is why traditional theology does not believe in healing, and he is not healed. He does not believe that the poor will become rich, so he will not become rich. He believes in a theology of poverty. Originally our Lord Jesus had already paid these prices, he began to receive by faith. Being released by Jesus Christ is not by your own actions. You cannot do anything by relying on your own actions. By faith, give our hearts to God. Is it easy? It is easy. Are you willing? I am willing.

## God Releases the Captives Through the Church

Now there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Jesus Christ. How to enter into Jesus Christ? That is, enter into God's church. God's church is the body of Jesus Christ. Does that mean that all churches are? No, God wants to build his church on this rock, built on God's truth. As long as people have this heart, God's Spirit will guide you. There is no condemnation to those who are in Jesus Christ.

There was a sister who was not among us before, and ran to the youth fellowship to look for a Prince Charming. As a result, she found an unemployed person who had been fired. This sister cried and came among us and asked why. The pastors among us told her that that was not the body of Jesus Christ, that was a marriage agency. Then the pastor said, You have a problem. You must seek your pastor. She was very confused. She said, I do not have a pastor. I want to find a pastor, but I cannot find out who is my pastor. What kind of church do you call this? This pastor told her, From now on, I am your pastor. Are you willing to accept it?

Once she accepted the pastor's care, she entered into Jesus Christ. Why? Because the church of Jesus Christ is a caring church. That is why Chinese Mingding Destiny is a caring church. That church is built on the rock of Jesus Christ, and the rock is the truth. Why do we climb the mountain of Yahweh? The mountain of Yahweh is the holy mountain of truth, that is, this rock. Then the powers of the underworld cannot overcome the church. May I ask you, are all these diseases powers of the underworld? They all are. Then God gives us the keys to the kingdom of heaven, holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

What are the keys? Keys are authority. If you carry a bunch of keys and collect rent from each house, the keys mean that these things are yours. If you have other's keys, will those people be willing? What do you do with the keys to the kingdom of heaven? What we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and what we release on earth is released in heaven, so this is an extremely abundant grace.

Why is Chinese Mingding Destiny effective? Because Chinese Mingding Destiny is a theology of building the church, which is the theological system of the Apostle Paul.

**And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (《Ephesians》1:22-23)**

Our church of God must exercise God's authority on earth. He has given all authority in heaven, on earth, and under the earth to the church, so our church is a powerful church. When you enter the church, you start to deal with the flesh. Remember, Chinese Mingding Destiny is a church that deals with the flesh, a theology of dealing with the flesh.

Why? Because the flesh is what corrupts you and captures you. So I will fix you hard. For example, my dad, when I played truant, he would beat me with a belt. The belt was an inch and a half wide, slap slap slap, beating me into college. If he had not given me a beating, would I not have been corrupted? I am timid. When you beat me, I am afraid, so I have to study hard. Grateful.

So our brothers and sisters must know that if you want to find a church, look for a church of God, not a church with a sign. That is why I often say that some churches are churches of demons, some churches are really churches of demons. Releasing the captives through the church, people must also solve a problem: You have experienced God's grace. Then what?

## Choose to Follow the Holy Spirit, Not the Flesh

Because Jesus Christ paid the price for your sins and released you from the forces of evil, will you now choose to obey the Holy Spirit? Do not tell me that you cannot obey. You can absolutely choose to obey the Holy Spirit and not the flesh. In fact, you can overcome every time by relying on the Holy Spirit. You say, Teacher, I cannot control myself. I have to watch TikTok. I took a look, oh my goodness, it is so absorbed that you are trembling. It is still TikTok.

What is following the Holy Spirit? It is following God's word. What Jesus said is spirit, that is, life. Obeying the flesh, indulging the flesh, reaps corruption; following the flesh, indulging the flesh is being at odds with God. Some time ago, I gave a sermon, God's slap will fill the whole earth. As soon as you obey the flesh, slap, when you obey the flesh again, slap, that is all God's glory. Originally, God's salvation is all God's good will in you.

You must know that we lack nothing when we follow the Holy Spirit. Originally, this Holy Spirit wants to give us the position of sons, but it is the redemption of our body, so that you can regain control of your body, and let your whole person, body, soul, and spirit, turn to Jesus Christ, bringing our minds back to Jesus Christ.

## Our Weaknesses Have the Holy Spirit's Help

That is why there is nothing to boast about in salvation. We have nothing to boast about in the face of salvation. All things are God's help. So what do we do when we are weak? Our weaknesses have the Holy Spirit's help.

**Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (《Romans》8:26-27)**

How wonderful this salvation is! Then you can no longer make excuses and say you do not know; you will know after a slap; I do not know whether it is good to go to school or not; you will know after a belt. So do not say that my pastor controls me. He is seeking your benefit. Is that controlling you? He is seeking your benefit, hoping that you can receive benefits and that you can be released from captivity.

The Holy Spirit will help you. As God guides you step by step, constantly coming out of the flesh, the captives are released. In this process, God will be your strength! God will be your helper! God will be your refuge! God will be your rock! So brothers and sisters must know that if we really have faith, that is, faith as small as a mustard seed, you can pray through the Holy Spirit. I tell you, this is definitely an effective gospel.

For example, if you cannot control it, immediately pray in tongues by relying on the Holy Spirit. At first it is not very powerful. When it is a little more powerful, pray in a louder voice. Then after a while, pray loudly. Oh, God's Spirit is so good! Our salvation is all from God accomplishing His good will in us. Remember, obeying God's Spirit makes you a child of God! Who can accuse God's chosen people?

**Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.**

**Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (《Romans》8:33-37)**

Because we are no longer living in the body, we are filled with hope in eternity. We are here for a while