Introduction

Good morning. We continue with the series, "The Gospel of Apostle Paul." Before this, we covered twelve sermons on "The Gospel of Jesus Christ." Now, we are on the third sermon of "The Gospel of Apostle Paul" series, with the theme "We are Children by Promise."

Last time, we talked about the blessing of Abraham. What blessing do we receive with Abraham? Some might say, "Teacher, I know! God will make our name great, and our descendants will become a great nation." The most important blessing of Abraham is the promise. God promised Abraham, and this promise contains a logic: to be children of God. Was this promise revealed to Abraham then received by his descendants, the Israelites? No, it was not. Who received it? It is us, who through faith in Jesus Christ, become descendants of Abraham, children of God, and claim the promise God gave to Abraham.

Why did I establish this church? Because in the past, the most perplexing thing in the church was not seeing God's promises fulfilled. There was something within me, which you might find extreme, but I do not. I read the words in the Bible, and I believe what the Bible says. This is not extreme; it is correct.

When we started the church, we were somewhat clueless, but there was a conviction to obtain God's promises. Because I have benefited greatly from receiving God's promises. Over the years of my faith journey, I know I am a child of the eternal God, and no one can change this stubborn conviction. I am a child of God, and living becomes very simple. I work hard, but I still know I am a child of God.

In the local church, I did not see God's promises fulfilled. I saw many people enthusiastically preaching the gospel, but it was a religion without promise, just recruiting members. Their promise was to go to heaven after death. But my promise is to live out God's likeness while I am alive.

Thank God, after much trial and error, and a long period of darkness, I saw God's glory. Now, our Chinese Mingding Doctrine has formed a systematic theology. Because it is systematic, we can claim God's promises. Without a system, there is no way to claim God's promises.

Recently, there is a popular joke online about a newly bought plane being shot down. Many analysts started analyzing why. The reason the plane was shot down is that modern warfare is about systems: ground, air, satellite, plus J-10 fighters. "Bang, bang, bang," a system defeats one without a system.

In this spiritual world, we build His church according to God's word. This "Gospel of Apostle Paul" series is to construct a complete and systematic gospel. Then, in the spiritual world, we fight and shoot down the devil's newly bought plane. We must know that ignorance is a huge disaster, and solving ignorance requires a price. Learning becomes a very important element of Chinese Mingding Doctrine.

If you do not love learning, what are you doing here? You just listen to the sermon, in one ear and out the other, without even taking notes. How can you solve the problem of ignorance? Ignorant people have faith, but it is not the faith of Abraham, unable to claim God's promises. Some people do not know they are children of God, and they cannot claim God's promises. They live like slaves, thinking about what they can do for God, which is a problem.

People must have the faith of Abraham, knowing they are children of God. How can you know? You must study the Chinese Mingding Doctrine system. If you invent another theological system, it should be similar to what we say because we read the same word of God. The Chinese Mingding Doctrine system is actually Paul's theological system. This is the key. Do not think you are a slave; that is fatal. Some people think they are children of God, but they lose faith when they encounter problems.

Some ask, "Teacher, what is a system?" A system is a complete system. For example, a fully furnished apartment is ready to move in. If it is incomplete, like forgetting to build an elevator or a bathroom, can the apartment be used? Or, if you study accounting, learning fragmented knowledge, you cannot do the job well. You must have the entire knowledge of accounting, forming a complete system.

Why can't we claim God's promises? It is not that God's promises have failed, but that we have not done it right. God's promises never fail. So, I encourage everyone to return to God's word and be filled with the knowledge of God in understanding.

A few days ago, I searched online for people talking about "being children of God by promise." After listening, I wanted to copy some homework, but I couldn't. Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a theology of warfare; Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a theology of victory; Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a complete gospel system; Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a system for building the church, fighting for victory, and training elite soldiers.

Some people study and say, "Teacher, I have heard all your lectures. I know what you are going to say next." I know many people are like this, but they cannot be victorious. Isn't that a tragedy? So, we must practice more. If you really know, it is okay to create another Mingding Doctrine.

Some have grasped the concept of "persisting one minute longer than the devil," but without a complete system, it will not work. "Persisting one minute longer than the devil" is just a fragmented piece. In this complete system, one important concept is being children of God by promise. It is God's promise, not based on what we have done.

In all the concepts, I want to emphasize two: the slave mentality and the son mentality. The slave mentality does not believe in promises. The son mentality believes in God's promises. This is a very crucial thing. If the position is not right, the relationship with God is not positioned correctly, everything else is in vain.

If you say to God, "God, I ask you to heal me," what does that mean? Asking God to heal is like a slave asking the master for a bowl of rice. The underlying meaning is that God is unwilling to heal him. Many people have this attitude. It is not asking God to heal, but God, you must heal me. God has already promised to heal me. Then, in the name of Jesus Christ, I command all demons to retreat. I tell you, it works every time you try. So, your relationship with God is very important.

People often say, "Why do you steal God's glory?" What do you mean I steal God's glory? God's glory is my glory, and my glory is God's glory. I am one with God. Whose glory am I stealing? Do not be too distant. I hate distant people, those who do not have a dignified manner, always being shy and embarrassed.

Some people do not know how to handle relationships, so they become more and more distant, more and more estranged. I make my relationship with God closer and closer, better and better. I am a child of God. Why should I be polite with God? "God, can I do this? God, can I do that?" Are you a slave? Some people even like to be slaves in God's house, saying, "Actually, I don't have such great ambitions. I just want to sweep the floor for God in heaven." Isn't this a slave mentality? It's all a slave mentality. Some children are naturally a bit foolish, not knowing how to handle relationships, treating their parents like strangers.

A sister beat her child for playing games and not studying. The child's father came back and beat him again. As a result, the child told the teacher at school, "I want to call the police. My father is committing domestic violence." That child is really foolish. He doesn't know that his parents are doing it for his own good. I was not foolish since I was young. Once, I skipped school and angered my father. He took a two-inch wide belt and whipped me on the buttocks, sending me straight to university.

A tragedy happened in my hometown. The child was studying in the best high school in our area, ranking in the top ten in his class. But he became addicted to mobile games, and his grades plummeted. His mother smashed his phone. Oh, this stirred up a hornet's nest. The child took a knife and stabbed his parents to death, then jumped off the building. The whole family was gone. Don't you think there's something wrong with his brain?

Why is there something wrong with his brain? His parents didn't raise him well since he was young, didn't deal with his bad habits, and turned the child into a beast. Brothers and sisters, you must know who is the father, who is the mother, and who is the son in the family. Don't let children not be like children, and parents not be like parents. This is a common phenomenon. Not dealing with evil deeds properly, and then the child becomes foolish, resulting in a family tragedy.

There are also some children who hate their parents as soon as they are beaten. There is something wrong in their brains, remembering the bad things but not the good things. They feel wronged when asked to do some work. Our relationship with God is also like this. As soon as God disciplines us, we want to call the police. Who are you calling the police on? Are you going to complain to the devil? The slave mentality is too heavy. When something happens, instead of reflecting on whether we have done it right, we doubt, "Does God still love me?" This is all very hateful.

The Israelites who came out of Egypt all had a slave mentality. Because they were used to being slaves, they couldn't change their slave mentality for a while, so they died in the wilderness. Why? Because the relationship positioning was wrong. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, God brought them out with a mighty arm and led them through the Red Sea.

When the Israelites encountered a difficulty, they forgot all of God's grace and immediately complained to God, "God, were there no graves in Egypt? Why did you bring us to die in this place?" "Don't you know there are giants in Canaan? Those giants are over three meters tall, and the weapons in their hands are as thick as axles." They forgot that God had led them out of Egypt, forgot that God had led them through the Red Sea. I don't know what kind of brain this is?

Do not trust your memory, because human memory is very distorted. Believe in God's word, believe in God's promises, that is the key. By what do we become children of God? By God's promise. God's promise is established in heaven and will never change. No matter what we encounter, if there is a Red Sea in front of us, we are children of God; if there is a Jordan River in front of us, we are children of God; walking around in the wilderness, we are still children of God, never forgetting. Let us read Galatians 4:28-31.

Scripture

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Galatians 4:28-31)

Prayer

God, open our minds today, remove the slave mentality in our thoughts and intentions, remove the poverty mentality within us. God, let us learn a deep lesson from the Galatians, let us know that before you, we are children by your promise. God, we come before you, receiving your pure gospel, receiving the gospel of being your children, which is truly a gospel.

Almighty God, we draw upon Your promises, and according to Your promises, live as Your children until we meet You face to face. Grant that we may, in our lifetime, reflect Your image. May Your Holy Spirit be poured out upon us, constantly filling us, empowering us, and granting us wisdom and understanding, that we may live more like You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Scriptural Background

The Galatian church was established by the Apostle Paul. After Paul founded the church, another group of people arrived, treating the Galatians with great zeal, leading them in Bible study and prayer. However, these Galatians became confused. They said, "Believing in Jesus is not enough; you must also believe in the Old Testament." Who favored adhering to the Old Testament? It was James, the author of the Book of James.

Under James were a group of Pharisees who did not diligently study the Scriptures. Had they truly done so, they would have known that the Israelites failed to keep the law. Moses had clearly written that God is a jealous God, and they could not keep it. Yet, they were unyielding and insisted on keeping it. This was the Jerusalem church represented by James and Peter, with John not involving himself in this matter.

The Galatians, seeing these people so zealous, leading them in prayer, also propagated a works-based doctrine. Why promote a works-based doctrine? They only thought of Moses, forgetting that before Moses was Abraham. People are often inclined to embrace unorthodox ideas.

For instance, a pastor who advocates Reformation only goes back to Martin Luther. Why go back to Martin Luther? Wouldn't it be better to go back to the Apostle Paul? Can't one go back to Jesus Christ? If we understand the gospel of the Apostle Paul and the gospel of Jesus Christ, and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, surely that is an important component of the gospel of Jesus Christ, isn't it? Going back to Martin Luther sounds rather peculiar to me. Why don't people go back to the Apostle Paul? This is something I find quite perplexing.

The group from James went to Galatia, intending to reform the Galatians from Jesus Christ back to Moses. Why not reform them back to Abraham? Isn't this rather odd? Because Abraham received the promise, while Moses issued the law, and the law book itself mentions Abraham. Who wrote the story of Abraham? Moses did. In other words, the foundation of the law book preached by Moses is the faith of Abraham.

Paul said, "Have you brought out the law? Then let us also bring out the law. If I were to write the Book of Galatians, I would be more direct: You haven't even understood Moses' law book, what are you boasting about?" However, Paul remained relatively polite. He brought out the law book as well, saying, "You who desire to be under the law, tell me, have you not heard the law? Have you not heard about Abraham and his two sons?" Paul brought out Abraham.

In Abraham's time, he had a son born of the flesh, Ishmael. Ishmael's mother, Hagar, was Sarah's maidservant. Sarah gave her maidservant to Abraham, and Ishmael was born. But God said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." How did Isaac come about? Isaac was promised to Abraham by God. When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, God said to Abraham and Sarah, "Next year you will have a son, and you shall call his name Isaac."

One is born of the flesh, from the flesh is flesh. The other is born of promise, and only those born of promise are Abraham's descendants. That is to say, if we return to Jesus Christ and receive God's promise, we are born of promise, and we are children of God, descendants of Abraham.

But in Isaac's time, Esau was born, and then Jacob. Esau is not considered a descendant, only Jacob is. We see that not all born of Abraham are descendants, but only those who have the same faith as Abraham. Jacob and Isaac are in the same lineage as Abraham, inheriting Abraham's promise. Why did Jacob value God so much? Because he valued God's promise.

Paul brought out Abraham to argue that we are children of God. Is it by keeping the law that we become children of God, or by promise? This logic is still extremely confused, and I don't know if I can explain it clearly to you. Perhaps I haven't explained it clearly, or you haven't understood it clearly; perhaps I have explained it clearly, but you still haven't understood it clearly. But I earnestly desire that everyone knows for certain that we become children of God by God's promise.

The logic is very simple, because by the flesh we can do nothing. Can we live out the image of God? We cannot. Why? Because people by the flesh are not by promise. Promise is because we believe, so we receive the promised Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is poured out into our hearts, and we cry out Abba, Father. So never come before God with works, saying, "I am your child." That is not the case; it must be by promise.

If you can draw upon God's promise, it is because you have the heart of a son, and the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. If you want to do something for God, that is the attitude of a servant. You say, "God, I will sweep your yard; God, I will polish your shoes; God, I will shave you." What are you treating God as? That is problematic.

There is a very perplexing matter: when Paul preached the gospel to the Galatians, did they receive the Holy Spirit? They did. Why, after receiving the Holy Spirit, were they still led astray from the way of God? After receiving the Holy Spirit, with the Holy Spirit indwelling them, accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, and acknowledging Jesus Christ as Savior, a group of people came and led them to observe days, months, festivals, and years. Is that the gospel? That is not the gospel.

Why do people stray after receiving the Holy Spirit? Can the Holy Spirit not guide them into truth? Everyone must gradually understand that when we receive the Holy Spirit and pray in tongues, it has no effect on our understanding. What then? We must pray with our understanding, and we must also pray in the spirit.

So receiving the Holy Spirit has no effect on understanding, which is why the Galatians and Corinthians, despite receiving the Holy Spirit, were still deceived. The Chinese Mingding Doctrine emphasizes the Word of God, seeking to fully know God in understanding and to have abundant faith in understanding. Then, should we pray in tongues? Should we pray in the spirit? Yes, and even more so.

So Paul was very distressed, saying, "I am again in the anguish of childbirth for you, until Christ is formed in you." Originally, the gospel of Jesus Christ was in an extremely confused state in the hearts of the Galatians, so when someone brought out Moses, the Galatians were bewildered. Why? Because they had not understood Genesis; they had not understood the entire book of Moses, but only heard hearsay.

Brothers and sisters, do not remain ignorant. In any case, examine the Scriptures to see if what we say is true. Even now, many people clearly distinguish between the New Testament and the Old Testament. But we must know that in Paul's time there was no New Testament. In Paul's time, they read the Old Testament, including Isaiah, Genesis, and Exodus.

Brothers and sisters, know that the Bible is a complete system, and there is no distinction between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The New Testament and the Old Testament are in the same vein. Later, I discovered that many pastors in those ghost-busting churches and tongue-speaking churches end up in dire straits. Why? Because their understanding is not clear, and there is a disconnect in their minds. Know that speaking in tongues is not everything, prayer is not everything, casting out demons is not everything, no! The Bible is a complete system.

Paul was very distressed, troubled in his heart for these Galatians, saying, "Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?" Paul told them the truth, which was not the gospel. As a result, their reaction was, "What, are you the only one who is right?" Paul was left speechless. Paul's letters are filled with tears. He said, "I have served you diligently, and I have told you the truth, but I have become your enemy." Why? The Galatians had strange ideas in their minds.

Servant Mentality

What is a servant mentality? The Galatians had a typical servant mentality. Many Christians still ask God for healing, "God, I beg you." This is a servant mentality. Is it effective? It is not effective. Because God wants children, not servants. People with a servant mentality do not know God's will, they do not know God, so they live in a servant mentality. If you are clear in your understanding, you will know that this is not effective, that this is annoying.

I especially dislike those who come to my house and stay in my home, then secretly mutter, "Be careful, don't be annoying." As a result, that statement is annoying. Be careful about what? Saying don't touch this, don't touch that. Who cares about those few packs of instant noodles in the cupboard? Although I am not wealthy, those few packs of instant noodles, biscuits, and honey are bought to be eaten. You are a guest in my house, and I haven't charged you rent. Why? Because people are petty in their hearts.

Remember! Being petty in your heart is being a servant. I tell you, even now there are still many people with a servant mentality. I am exhausted trying to change your servant mentality. He himself is a servant, yet he thinks he is great. "We must not be annoying, we must not touch anything." Even a bit of the heroic spirit of the Liangshan heroes would be good. I prefer something more rugged and bold. It would be great to have a plate of peanuts and some wine at night. Instead, they are all coy and act like thieves.

Where does this servant mentality come from? This servant mentality comes from Hagar. What kind of person was Hagar? One day she became pregnant and became arrogant. Once a servant rises in status, it is terrible. We see in those palace dramas that those petty people become unbearable after they gain power, becoming arrogant and treating their master Sarah as a maidservant, now that she is the mistress.

"Sarah, pour me a glass of water." Sarah brings a glass of water, and "slap," she throws it on her face. "I'll pour you a glass of water. What are you showing off about? Just because you have a child in your belly, you think you're great? If I hadn't given you to my husband, could you be pregnant now? I'll drive you away and let you show off." The servant mentality is terrible; it is deadly when a servant gains power. Just like in companies, the relationships between those cleaning workers are also very complex and deadly.

Was Hagar, with her slave mentality, not touched by God? She was. Did she know Abraham? She did. Did she know Abraham's God? She did. But she did not think, "This is my God," but rather, "This is my master Abraham's God." Listen to this – believing entirely in second-hand things.

Once you are in the Kingdom of God, saying, "I can't claim to be a child of God; I'll just be a grandchild." There are no grandchildren in the Kingdom of God, don't you know? In the Kingdom of God, all are children of God, no grandchildren. Why? Because grandchildren are a generation removed, but there is no such thing as generational distance in the Kingdom of God. As a result, you exclude yourself.

Hagar ran into the wilderness, far from any village or shop, and when she was at her wit's end, she suddenly cried out to God, "God of my master Abraham, please save me." As a result, the angel of God appeared to her. Did she return? She did. Was Ishmael born? He was. Did he grow up? He did. Did he learn his lesson? He did not; he just lived like that.

If she had said, "My master Abraham's God is my God," there would be such words in the Bible: "Your God is my God, and my God is your God." That is what is called a true child's mentality. If you have this mentality, how could you not claim God's promises?

Many people are very polite with God, calling it humility. I am not polite with God. "God, this thing is good; give me one. Didn't you say you would give me the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven? Why is this such a small bunch?" Stop feigning humility, afflicting yourselves; it has no effect on mortifying the passions of the flesh.

Later, Sarah saw Ishmael growing up and playing with her son Isaac. It was not playing; it was bullying Isaac. When Sarah saw him bullying her son, she would not stand for it and told him to get out. Abraham was quite worried because he was also his son. But God said, "Drive him out." So Hagar left with Ishmael, taking only a flask of water. They reached the end of their resources, still with a slave mentality.

Hagar experienced quite a bit of God, didn't she? Sarah giving birth to Isaac was all before her eyes, wasn't it? But she just could not understand. If Hagar had said, "Sarah, your God is my God, and my God is your God. Your home is my home; you are my mistress, and I will be your servant," how could she have fallen to this state? Still a slave, once a petty person becomes successful, they become very arrogant. This slave mentality is unacceptable.

The Mentality of a Son

The mentality of a son is especially wonderful! I am a child of God; through faith in Jesus Christ, I have become a child of God. God, mine is yours, and yours is mine, how wonderful. Your money is my money, and my money is your money, so let's spend it together. So the mentality of a son forms a sharp contrast with the mentality of a slave.

Our glory is to glorify God, and God's glory is also our glory. If you read the Gospel of John carefully, it is this logic because we are one with God. What do churches often preach now? God's glory is God's glory; we cannot steal God's glory. As a result, what happens? There is no glory at all. Can they be satisfied without getting cancer? So the mentality of a son must be reflected in every aspect of our lives.

What is this mentality of a son? What is God's is mine, and what is mine is God's. This is called the mentality of a son. Of course, don't argue with me, saying, "Hey, someone killed his father and usurped the throne." That is because his father was not really his father; the throne was his father. That is a beastly nature.

But in God's house, never be polite with God. Our Lord Jesus has obtained all authority in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and God said He would give us these authorities. Today, we are not polite. "God, your will is for us to be your children." Then, take up the authority God has given us and build His victorious church according to His will, build a church filled with God's presence. This is the mentality of a son.

The mentality of a son is to manage in God's house, and what is managed is both God's and ours. That is to be faithful in God's house. Jesus Christ was faithful in God's house; Moses was faithful in God's house; we are also faithful in God's house. This is called imitation. How our Lord Jesus did things on earth is how we do things. This is the key.

Originally, we became children of God based on God's promises. Is there any need to decline this? You say, "Oh, God, I'm sorry. I can't do anything for you. God, I'm really not worthy." God says, "You weren't worthy to begin with. Wasn't that what I gave you freely? Why are you being polite?" You say, "Oh, it's still not good enough; I haven't done well enough." God says, "You will never do well enough. What are you being polite about, you silly child? You think you have to do well enough to become a child of God? That is called works-based."

Our brothers and sisters must rely on promises. God's promises are all ours. I often encourage everyone to know that God's promises will never be abandoned; none of God's promises will be abandoned. We live in this world by relying on God's promises. God's promises are all ours in Jesus Christ. Amen!

You say, "Teacher, why am I so poor?" Because you don't know how to claim God's promises. Why don't you know how to claim God's promises? Because you are filled with a slave mentality; you are filled with Esau's logic of living by the sword. You rely on your ability; I rely on God's promises. I will always rely on God's promises because I am nothing myself. It is not because I have done well enough that I come before God arrogantly; nor is it because I have done so badly that I feel like I am not a child of God. Start removing this slave mentality now, and then govern what God has entrusted to us in God's house, so that we can live out God's image.

But when you are still a little child, two or three years old and not yet sensible, sometimes still wetting your pants, you still have to establish rules. So people must grow up from childhood to adulthood. But no matter how small or how bad you are, even if you still wet your pants and cry out, "Mom, I want milk," you are still a child of God. It is not when you grow up, but when you are small that you have this child's mentality.

In childhood, people are kept under the law, which is to teach you to obey the rules, but obeying the rules will never deny that you are a child of God. It is not because you obey the rules well enough that you are a child of God; if you don't obey the rules well enough, you are not a child of God. If you don't obey well enough, if you don't do well enough, God will discipline you. In the end, it is God who raises us and makes us grow. So don't be confused anymore.

The Salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ

The salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, do you know what it says in the Bible? The Lord Jesus is the firstborn of God, and He will lead many sons of God into the Kingdom of God. Originally, the salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ is the status of sons; we have obtained the status of sons. This is God's grace, God's promise to us, and we are truly children of God. This is the core component of the gospel of Jesus Christ and also the core component of the gospel of the Apostle Paul.

The salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ is exchanged for the realization of this status of sons in us, so that we can rely on the salvation of Jesus Christ, rely on the great power of the Holy Spirit, and become more and more like the sons of God day by day. The image of the sons of God is in us. This is salvation. So what does Chinese Mingding Doctrine talk about? It talks about living out God's image, not dying out God's image, not going to heaven after death, and then living out God's image. There is no need for that then.

Our God is the God of the living. We must live out God's image while we are alive because we originally have God's image. What does the salvation of Jesus Christ do? Restore. Let our inhuman and ghostly appearance be restored to the glorious appearance that God created us with. This process is the process of mortifying the deeds of the flesh.

Grow to Maturity, Attain to the Whole Measure of the Fullness of Christ

In Paul's gospel, it is definitely not "I am saved, I can go to heaven when I die." It is not this logic. There is no such logic in Paul's gospel at all. I don't know who invented it. It must have been invented by a demon. So those people say, "Oh, I am saved. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior." Saved from what? You still have to grow to maturity. Don't always babble and wet your pants. Grow to the stature of Jesus Christ.

These demon-expelling churches, tongue-speaking churches, many of them are eventually messed up by demons, and their endings are very tragic. Why are they so tragic? Because they have not grown to maturity and attained to the whole measure of the fullness of Jesus Christ, not constantly growing in understanding. Remember, your growth is growth in understanding. This is why Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a learning theology, a constantly growing theology. If you keep leading a group of small fries, can three-year-olds and two-year-olds fight? They can't fight.

Do not remain in the elementary teachings about Christ, but go on to maturity. As long as we are alive, we can rely on the salvation of Jesus Christ, rely on the great power of the Holy Spirit, and live out God's image day by day. Do not waste time, but make the most of every opportunity, and use these opportunities for your own growth.

Sometimes God kicks you. Someone says, "I have a headache." That is God kicking you, telling you to grow well, otherwise more headaches will come. Someone says, "My leg hurts." Isn't that God kicking you? That is kicking and shoving, pulling and dragging, getting you to grow vigorously. Someone else says, "I am so old, what am I growing for?" If you don't grow, won't you get Alzheimer's?

We become children based on promises, and children refer to grown-up children. What are they called when they are small? When they are small, they are still slaves. When we were children, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. Now, relying on God, we are no longer slaves, but sons, and since we are sons, we are heirs through God, so God's inheritance is our inheritance.

If you have not grown to maturity, do not waste time, but quickly seize the time to grow well. If you believe in the Lord at seventy, won't you be like God and like Jesus from seventy to eighty, and won't you have the image of the son of God? The older you get, the more you need God, not the less you need God. Thank God! The Apostle Paul's gospel is a gospel of vigorous growth, and the Apostle Paul's gospel is a gospel of growing to the full measure of the stature of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

I encourage everyone to go back and read Galatians again and re-recognize God. There are only five chapters, and it is easy to read. People must come out of the slave mentality, then have the mentality of a son, and claim God's promises. Based on God's promises, not based on how well we do, we must become children of God, then live out God's image, and constantly grow to maturity.

May God bless everyone! Amen!