Introduction

Good morning, everyone. Today, I will share a new series with you, "Sharing in the Blessings of the Gospel." The theme of the first lecture is "I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." This series is particularly good, and why is that? Because we have previously discussed "The Gospel of Jesus Christ" and "The Gospel of the Apostle Paul." After discussing these two series, we discovered that understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly a treasure, and then we continued to discuss "Sharing in the Blessings of the Gospel."

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings with you. Fortunately, these are the original words from Paul's epistles in the Bible. Otherwise, if I said this, people would think, "Why are you so arrogant? What are you being arrogant about?" These are not words I invented; they are original words from the Bible.

Some people say, "Isn't this too utilitarian?" Unlike you, I don't just want to gain benefits before God. I come to church wanting to give something to God. I see that God is too tired, and I want to help Him with some work. If you say this, it's bad. Helping God in this way leads to a curse. Why do many preachers live under a curse without knowing it? Because the foundation is wrong. God doesn't need people to help Him; God needs people to receive the blessings of the Gospel. If it's not for gaining benefits, are you doing it to gain harm?

Yesterday, I ministered to a sister who is very considerate of the flesh and has recently come among us. She has been a believer for over ten years, previously in a church in Shanghai, where she developed depression after three years of believing. Later, her depression was barely cured, and she has been maintained on antidepressants until now.

A colleague pursued her, and seeing that he was a good person, they got married. Her husband opposed her going to that church. His logic was simple: "You see, you got depression after going to that church for three years. Why do you still want to go?" Her husband is a reasonable man! I often see people who get cancer in church, and they still want to go. Some people were fine before going to church, but after going to church, they experience frequent urination, urgency, and incontinence, yet they still go, and they are quite persistent.

After this sister got married, her life was quite good. Recently, for some reason, she came among us and was assigned to my pastoral district, just in time for me to minister to her. After listening to some of our sermons, her husband no longer opposed it and even supported her coming to our church. Why? Because she won't get depression among us. People who have depression are healed when they come among us, and those with cancer are also healed when they come among us.

I ask you, are there people with cancer among us? No. Are there people with depression among us? No. Why? Because this is a place to mortify the passions and desires of the flesh. Why does a person get depression? The answer is simple: being considerate of the flesh and loving the world. Being considerate of the flesh is death, either leading to depression or cancer, both of which are quite painful illnesses. Either suffering in the flesh or suffering in the soul.

Actually, this sister is quite reasonable. I told her, "Depression is a demon." She needs deeper deliverance and needs to begin to know God in her understanding. The defilement she picked up in her previous church, that kind of erroneous teaching, is completely unreasonable and illogical; it is a very evil teaching. Many people build churches and care a lot about the number of people in the church. If someone in the church gets cancer, normally, the pastor would have to explain it to the congregation. I am exempt from this explanation because we don't have that stuff.

Some people say, "What if it happens?" If it happens, they will also be healed because that is what we are here to solve, and they will receive the blessings of the Gospel in this place. All that I do is for the sake of the Gospel, to allow everyone to share in the blessings of the Gospel. Many people oppose receiving the blessings of the Gospel but support receiving the harms of a "woe-spel." Don't you find that strange? You can put as many heretical labels on me as you want; I don't care much. What I care about is that my brothers and sisters share in the blessings of the Gospel with me.

There is another sister who had depression many years ago and was healed among us. When that demon was cast out, it really cried out like it is recorded in the Bible. I am also quite familiar with this sister's parents because she often comes to see me. I feel that even though they are not believers, because the sister's parents come, I have to treat them well, have a little drink with them, and have a happy conversation. For them, isn't it good to receive benefits?

After being healed of depression, she returned to her hometown of Shanghai for a period of time. When she returned to her hometown of Shanghai, she contacted a sister from her original church to have a meal together. Because this sister had received so many benefits among us, her depression was completely healed, and she became an excellent teacher. She really wanted to share these benefits with the brothers and sisters she knew before. But she couldn't share it; it was very difficult. As soon as she spoke, she went off track.

She said to her original sister, "Sister, look, my depression is completely healed." Then, that sister said, "Let's not talk about that." One sentence choked our sister so that she couldn't speak. Then the sister said, "The Bible records that healing and deliverance were done by Jesus." She retorted, "You only say that." Suddenly, our sister's fully charged battery was "click," and the battery life was halved.

The sister said, "That was all done by Jesus." She said, "Jesus is God, and we are just ordinary people. We can't compare." Our sister's battery life was halved again, and now she had only a quarter of her battery left. After finishing the meal, the battery ran out, and she was completely out of power, so she had to find other topics to talk about.

This sister was not discouraged and wanted to try again, saying, "Signs and wonders will accompany those who believe." She said, "Oh, you only say that." This sister said, "Then what do you believe in?" She said, "We only carry the cross." Then carry it well, even if you carry it into depression. Our sister was really out of power. Fortunately, she didn't relapse into depression. This sister has been trained by us not to discern good and evil when she is being rebuffed. At most, her mouth is out of power.

What does she believe in? Does she believe in the words of the Bible? She doesn't even believe in the words of Jesus. She is blinded by the spirit of religion. How sad! She sees her brothers and sisters getting sick and introduces everything but Jesus. Someone typed, "Our church has a sister who is depressed." The church recommended a doctor, and she overdosed and committed suicide. The church hosted lectures by psychologists to prevent further suicides. Interesting, isn't it?

Someone else typed, "Before I came to Chinese Mingding Doctrine Church, my church introduced me to traditional Chinese medicine and health products. My problems became more and more serious. At that time, I knew I hadn't believed correctly. I prayed to God, and I had many confusions inside. God brought me to Chinese Mingding Doctrine, and I began to focus on spiritual growth and deal with my flesh, and all the diseases in my body were healed. Thank God!" Another sister typed, "In our church in Beijing, there is now psychology, so I left."

Now many pastors introduce people to traditional Chinese medicine, health products, and psychology. They introduce everything but Jesus. They don't care about people's bondage but care about whether it is heresy or not. Don't you think it's evil? Evil, right? Seeing brothers and sisters being healed among us, they still believe they have gone to heresy. Are you convinced? Convinced. I am only convinced by him. What kind of brain is that? They say they carry the cross, but they don't even know what it means to carry the cross in their understanding. They think putting a cross on a necklace is carrying the cross.

Do they believe in the same Jesus that we believe in? It seems they believe in Bar-Jesus, a fake. When I first came to Singapore, it was extremely chaotic and very unlucky. Some Christians enthusiastically drove to pick me up and took me directly to their church. Their church was a very traditional church, talking a lot of seemingly right but actually wrong principles. After listening, I said, "Forget it." Why? It's useless. At most, it's just Mahayana Buddhism.

Then, when I got sick, they introduced me to doctors. The doctors they introduced were very expensive. I didn't have any money, and I spent a lot of money at the doctor's, which annoyed me to death. I tell you, those Christians looked like good people, and they were very enthusiastic, but I really couldn't stand it because they couldn't solve any problems. I wanted to find a God who could solve my problems; I wanted to find a God who could release me from corruption. I wanted to find a God who was powerful; I wanted to find a God who loved me; I wanted to find a God who could heal me and give me a job so that I could live normally.

Later, I went to a deliverance church. I knew there was a church there, and I foolishly walked in. It was an English-speaking church, and my English was terrible at the time. I couldn't understand anything, but I went to the deliverance church, and I received the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ there. In those days, that was probably the only charismatic church in Singapore, the only deliverance church, and I stumbled upon it. God is so good! He led me to walk in and receive the blessings of the Gospel.

Since knowing Jesus Christ, I have desperately read the Bible. It is a treasure. Do you know how excited I am? I finally found a treasure that can solve all the problems of living. If you are among us and you still think, "Is there such a thing?" you really have to believe what I say.

Later, I witnessed to everyone I met, told my story to everyone I met, and told everyone I met that my Jesus is a treasure. People gave me the nickname "Christianity." If I went to a restaurant to eat, you would see people over there shouting, "Christianity is here." I think this nickname is good. Actually, I really want them to receive the blessings of the Gospel. All that I do is for the sake of the Gospel, to share in its blessings with others.

The Jesus I believe in is powerful and awesome. He loves me not because He wants to get something from me, but because He wants me to receive Him and receive the blessings of the Gospel. This is completely different from idols. I don't have to worship Him. I don't have to put out a pig, a chicken, a fish, or a plate of fruit for Him during the New Year or holidays. I don't have to do anything. I just come before Him to receive the blessings of the Gospel. I tell you, along the way, I have received too much and seen too much of God's grace.

Jesus Christ gave Himself for me so that I could receive benefits. What virtue and good fortune have I cultivated to have the opportunity to know Him and to serve this God? He died on the cross for me. He bore the stripes for my sickness. By His stripes, I am healed; by His poverty, I become rich. I tell you, it would be strange not to be moved. My eyes will tear up when I talk about this.

The God I know loves me so much. I didn't give Him anything, and He began to be gracious to me because I had been seeking this God for a long time. He allows me to live out His image, with dignity, power, and glory, and gives me a glorious hope in eternity, allowing me to run forward in this world. Originally, living in this world was hopeless for me. I suffered while living, and then I died. Where was the hope? There was no hope. Especially when I was unlucky, there was even less hope.

Later, after knowing God, I realized that He had prepared a crown of glory for me in eternity. If I can fully receive the blessings of the Gospel in this world, rely on Jesus Christ, rely on the Holy Spirit, and also let my brothers and sisters share in the blessings of the Gospel with me for the sake of the Gospel, how good would that be? Someone else typed, "I ministered to a sister who had neck pain and couldn't lift her hand. Her daughter had depression for sixteen years. I led them in prayer and spiritual warfare and they were delivered. As a result, she told their local church pastor, and I was blacklisted."

I tell you, I have experienced this many times. There was a child studying in Japan who got depression. Later, he was healed among us. Then, he returned to his hometown in Zhejiang and called me. He said that his grandfather's legs hurt and he couldn't get out of bed. He asked me if I could minister to his grandfather. I said that was no problem. He asked me if it was okay for people from the local church to come and watch me minister. I said yes, that was no problem. Later, after I prayed, his grandfather was able to get out of bed and walk. Two hours later, I was blacklisted.

You can know with your heels that they must have said, "Oh, you can't believe this heresy." I feel that making depression healed is heresy, making legs that hurt able to walk is heresy, not being able to make legs that hurt able to walk is orthodoxy, and not being able to make depression healed is orthodoxy. Don't you find that strange? They even blacklisted me. Let them blacklist me. I don't care much.

Being healed of sickness is just one thing. I ask you, is it worth it? If all the diseases of our lives are placed on Jesus Christ, saving us from a lifetime of sickness, saving us from a lifetime in bed, and saving us from the money spent on pain in a lifetime, I ask you, is it worth it? I can tell you that this is God's promise! Sickness is definitely not a good thing. Sickness can only be evidence of our being considerate of the flesh.

But God wants us to receive the blessings of the Gospel and receive this eternal hope of glory. People have no hope in this world. How can they live without hope? In Jesus Christ, the captives are released, the oppressed are set free, the poor will become rich, the blind will see, and the lame will walk. Is this good? Yes. When we encounter difficulties, Jesus Christ becomes our timely help. When we are weak, we have the help of the Holy Spirit, making us strong.

This is not a religion; it is clearly a benefit. To receive benefits, you must know what is hindering us from receiving benefits, including religion. The spirit of religion can blind people; the spirit of religion can make people stupid; the spirit of religion can make people foolish. How foolish are those who nailed Jesus to the cross and thought they were serving God? With that kind of brain, they are still orthodox? That's called a complete end.

Brothers and sisters must know how wonderful the grace God has prepared for us; how wonderful the benefits God has prepared for us! God doesn't really need us; God really gives us benefits. But what hinders us from receiving benefits is the foolishness within us; what hinders us from receiving benefits is what we are born with, what belongs to the world and the flesh. So Paul said, "I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave."

The fleshly logical system within us hinders us from receiving the blessings of the Gospel; the worldly logical system within us hinders us from receiving the blessings of the Gospel; the religious logical system within us hinders us from receiving benefits. I say definitively that those who are based on works live under a curse because they cannot please God. Because they establish their own righteousness and do not establish God's righteousness. This is also something that the Apostle Paul's epistles mention again and again.

I thank God! I want to obtain the benefits of the Gospel. So what if I am utilitarian? Because it is God's will. Everything I do is for everyone to share in the benefits of the Gospel. That's why we established a pastoral church. What is pastoring for? The most important key to pastoring is dealing with the flesh.

A few days ago, I was having dinner with a sister, and as we were talking, she was offended, and her face fell. "What? Do you think I couldn't make it in that church?" She wanted to save face. "You can make it in that church." I gave her a scolding. Why? Hoping she would receive the benefits of the Gospel.

Sometimes people like to compete, compare, and be jealous, all these trivial matters. Can these things help us obtain the benefits of the Gospel? No. Why do I serve her? Because her back and legs are pulling everywhere. How can she not be uncomfortable? It must be uncomfortable. The things of the flesh are too evil, hindering us from obtaining the benefits of the Gospel. So Paul said: I discipline my body and bring it under subjection, lest when I preach to others, I myself should become disqualified. Remember, the things of the flesh are at enmity with God.

Someone else typed: My mother's church pastor came to see me last week and said they couldn't do anything, but coming to see me was a comfort, telling us to be cautious and not to enter heresy. Other members even recommended medicine to me. This sister's hands and feet were all curled up, but in our midst, her hands and feet have been able to open up a lot. Then people from her mother's church came and said things that hindered people from receiving benefits. I found it very strange.

There are many strange phenomena like this. They are not preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They call their own stuff the Gospel, but it's not the Gospel! It's completely different from what the Apostle Paul said in the Bible. It's not the Gospel at all. What they preach is more heretical than heresy. They are not even on the right path. Do you understand? How abominable!

As we slowly go down this path, we will offend many people. So be it. If we offend them by saying these things, perhaps they can wake up and desire to receive the benefits of this Gospel. That's what we are for. In dealing with people's carnal lusts and desires, be ruthless and don't give face. Because I want them to receive benefits, do I need to be polite? Thank God, those who can be dealt with and those who can be offended have all received benefits. What's the benefit of everyone wearing a mask in the church?

I used to serve an elder in a church. His daughter is here with us today. This elder even preached in the church. Later, he got cancer, and his stomach was full of dirty stuff, swollen up. When he was at home, he would say to his daughter: I'm in pain, hurry up. Occasionally, he would say some inappropriate things and even curse people.

When the brothers and sisters in the church came to see him, he would act like a normal person, preaching to them and giving testimonies, "Look, even though I'm sick like this, I still have this kind of life." After the brothers and sisters in the church finished visiting, they would say, "Thank God, even with cancer like this, he still has this kind of life." After the brothers and sisters left, he would start cursing again. Later, he died miserably like that. Are you all familiar with this kind of thing? Familiar. Is that a benefit? No, that's hypocrisy.

Christ initially liberated us. Now it depends on whether you have the wisdom and intelligence. Christ liberating us is just the beginning. Our believing in the Lord Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit is just the beginning, until we live out the glorious image of God. This process is the process of mortifying the lusts and desires of the flesh; this process is the process of relying on God, relying on the Holy Spirit, and relying on the Word of God to remove the filth and uncleanness within us; this process is the process of relying on the Holy Spirit to mortify the lusts and desires of the flesh, completely changing our inner value system. Open the Bible, 1 Corinthians 9:23-27.

Scripture

All things I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:23-27)

Prayer

Lord, open our understanding today, open our minds, open our brains, let us gain wisdom, gain intelligence, let us know that in You, there is an abundance of the benefits of the Gospel. Give us such a determination today, to imitate the Apostle Paul, to imitate Jesus Christ, all that we do is for the sake of the Gospel, not only to let others receive the benefits of the Gospel, but also for ourselves to receive the benefits of the Gospel. Let the benefits of this Gospel accompany us until we see Your face.

God, inspire us today, let us be able to strive diligently, run diligently, to please You, to obtain Your reward. God, work in us, let the Holy Spirit constantly deal with the laziness and evil deeds within us, let us run not uncertainly, fight not as one who beats the air, let us be able to rely on the Holy Spirit, discipline our bodies and bring them into subjection, obtain the benefits of this Gospel, let us be able to obtain this glorious crown when we come before You.

Let each day of our lives on this earth be a day of pleasing You, each day living by this Gospel and living for this Gospel. God, may You accept our service, accept our offerings, accept our worship. Please lead us, edify us, shape us according to Your will, edify us, make us into Your image, in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Scripture Background

Now I'm repeating the same old tune, and many people may not have heard it. If you look at the study of 1 Corinthians, you will find many wonderful discussions in it. This Corinthian church was established by Paul, who spent a year and a half living in Corinth. I guess it wasn't a very big church, not a mega-church, probably only a few dozen people, and then it began to flourish.

After a year and a half, Paul left Corinth and went to other places to establish churches. Then several groups of people came to this place. The first group was Apollos. This person only understood John's baptism, that is, he preached a rough Gospel, quoting scriptures and arguing that Jesus Christ is Lord, but he had no power. Then another group came, this group was Peter and some people.

You know, the church is quite interesting. If you are Peter, you can run around because you are famous, claiming to be serving God. What do you do when you run around? Think about it, if Peter comes to our church to share, I have to give him some love offerings. We call it love offerings. It's not good to give too little, but I don't have much to give, just like actors and singers running around, receiving a love offering for each gig, receiving a lot of money.

Apollos came to Corinth, and then Peter came. Bad news, the church started to have problems. Why? Some people said: I belong to Apollos, I like Apollos, I think Apollos preaches very well, quoting scriptures and explaining the Bible the best. Some people said: I belong to Paul, and some people said: I belong to Peter. The church began to divide into factions, fighting to the death.

Why did some people follow Peter? Because Peter was a great disciple of Jesus Christ. How shocking is a great disciple! Peter said: Oh, I was following Jesus back then, you all don't know. One sentence knocked people out. We don't know. "Paul doesn't know either. What is Paul? I am a great disciple, I am the real deal."

Everyone saw that the real deal had arrived, a big shot, but actually nothing. Not to mention small characters, he couldn't even recognize a few characters as big as rice dumplings. Why? I ask you, if someone like me went, wouldn't I have to dress myself up to be very impressive? He also knows this logic. If you don't have any background, why would people receive you?

Then the whole church was in chaos. Why? Because the people in Corinth were a bunch of brain-dead people. Why? Because the Corinthians were very carnal, not just ordinary carnal. As a result, the Corinthians began to suspect that Paul came here to cheat them out of money. Rumors were everywhere. "Paul is just here for our money. Do you think he is really pastoring? No." "The Gospel he preaches is wrong." "Paul has ulterior motives, deceiving us with tricks, and坑 us!"

Oh my, Paul's heart was pierced by ten thousand arrows! Heartbroken and in tears! Now if a big-name pastor comes and says: Your pastor is no good. How can he compare to me? My church has 800,000 people, what is his? It's over, it's over. A year and a half of time, raising a bunch of ingrates. Paul's relationship with the people of the Corinthian church was broken, and he was really sad in his heart.

Do you think Paul would give up? Paul would not give up, so he wrote a long letter, 1 Corinthians. We have to thank God that 1 Corinthians was included, it's all pastoral language. Let me read to you Paul's defense.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 9:1-2)

Did you notice? Who did it? Peter definitely can't get away with it. "Jesus only had twelve apostles, and one hanged himself. Later, we drew lots and drew out another one. That's the apostle. What is Paul?" Oh my goodness! The Corinthians were finished all of a sudden, and their faith in Paul completely collapsed.

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:3-18)

How resounding these words are! I am deeply influenced by Paul. Wherever I go, I don't take advantage of the brothers and sisters for a penny. On the contrary, when the brothers and sisters come to me, they are all treated for free. Why? I don't want what I do and what I do to hinder the brothers and sisters from receiving the benefits of the Gospel. That's how Paul is. Paul said these words to repair the relationship, and they are all heartfelt words. Don't we need to imitate the Apostle Paul? We really need to imitate the Apostle Paul.

Among us, these pastors, whether small pastors or big pastors, co-workers, prohibit you from having financial dealings with the brothers and sisters. Don't have this kind of thing either, you ask me to do something, I ask you to do something, don't have these things. I won't do what I can't do. Do you understand? Paul never troubles people or takes advantage of people. Why? Because the purpose of Paul's service is to let people receive the benefits of the Gospel. How can he take advantage?

I ask you, who is Paul alluding to? Alluding to Apollos, Peter, and these people. They are all here to run around, to cause trouble, to create chaos here. What is Paul after? Paul pastors the Corinthians and the Corinthian church like parents raising their own children. There may be many teachers, but isn't there only one father?

Paul teaches with the heart of a father and mother, patiently and earnestly. Later, the Corinthians finally understood, they turned back, and repaired their relationship with Paul. In fact, it is normal for a person to be confused when they are carnal. Therefore, the most important thing in church pastoring is to discipline oneself and bring the body under subjection. What did Paul say?

**For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:19-27)**

Now, rereading 1 Corinthians Chapter 9, I have a profound feeling. When I first believed in the Lord, I questioned: "Why is Paul like this? People don't know he's an apostle, yet he keeps proclaiming, 'I am an apostle, I am an apostle.'" Later, I gradually understood that what Paul did was excellent! The languages I use in my ministry are all learned from Paul, employing every possible method to ensure people benefit from the Gospel.

If you are a highly educated intellectual, I can communicate with you on that level. If you are a cleaning auntie, I can speak to you in the language of a cleaning auntie. Therefore, we incorporate this into our vision and mission: we emulate the Apostle Paul, serving with the heart of a father and mother.

Why are many brothers and sisters among us healed? Every co-worker beside me, without exception, would be miserable without me. Why? Because God cares for me and has mercy on me. The reason is simple: I emulate the Apostle Paul. Your pain is my pain; your dizziness is as if I am dizzy myself. I serve with emotion, sharing in suffering and weakness, to obtain the benefits of the Gospel.

To obtain the benefits of the Gospel, what is most crucial? It is to discipline our bodies. Paul seemingly speaks of himself, "I discipline my body." But he is actually speaking to the Corinthians, "You must discipline your bodies, so that your bodies are subject to you, lest you lose the benefits of the Gospel." Do the brothers and sisters understand?

What hinders us from obtaining the benefits of the Gospel is our flesh, our carnal system of logic – caring about face, contention, jealousy, and constantly needing to explain ourselves. How foolish! What are you contending for? Is it worth contending for? What good is your face? Therefore, church ministry must enable people to obtain the benefits of the Gospel.

There was a sister whose son I was concerned about. Her son was struggling. He had attended university, but after graduating, he was largely unsuccessful in his thirties, perhaps only able to work as a delivery driver. I ask you, which parent would not feel distressed and burdened by such a child? This child weighed on my heart. It's just that I truly couldn't spare the time, often serving while barely managing. As a result, this sister told me that she was moved to tears by my concern for her son.

Can the pastors among us be willing to emulate the Apostle Paul? To become weak for the weak, bearing the weaknesses and sufferings of others on our shoulders. If we can empathize with these people, how can we forget them in our hearts? If you minister with such a heart, I tell you, God will surely prepare a crown of glory for you in eternity.

Brothers and sisters, emulate Paul! If you read carefully, you will find that Paul is a person with a very clear goal. I believe that a considerable number of people in the Corinthian church must have wept after reading 1 Corinthians. Later, there was a "Middle Corinthians," not included in the Bible, its whereabouts unknown. Then, 2 Corinthians was written, which caused the Corinthians to turn back.

They knew that Paul's motive was to enable them to obtain the benefits of the Gospel, unlike those who lacked pastoral care and only wanted to be teachers. Apollos was merely a teacher, Peter was just making guest appearances, without pastoral care. Later, after Peter died, John, who had been with Peter, could finally say some negative things about Peter. Thus, the Gospel of John was written long after Peter's death, saying what?

The Lord Jesus said to Peter: "Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep." Did he shepherd them? If Jesus knew he would shepherd them well, He wouldn't have needed to say such nonsense. It was because something was not quite right within him that He asked Peter: "Do you love me? If you love me, feed my sheep." What did Peter come to Corinth to do? Was that pastoral care? It was not pastoral care. Therefore, I think the goal of what we do must be clear.

The Purpose of Service

What exactly is the purpose of our service? If the purpose of our service is a selfish one, not just you, even the dogs on the street will know. Why was Paul's 1 Corinthians, written to the Corinthian church, able to change the Corinthians' thinking, allowing them to turn back and restore a healthy relationship with Paul? Why? Because Paul's purpose in serving was very pure.

What exactly is your purpose? You must often ask yourself. If building a church building is the goal, then it's just for collecting money. If building a church is for pastoral care – note, building a church and building a church building are not the same thing. Build a church to build a pastoral church, because God's intention is pastoral care. For pastoral care, you must bring people before God, so that they can obtain the benefits of the Gospel, and ultimately, with eternal hope, live out the image of God.

Not like those people, like those very traditional churches, where if brothers and sisters get sick, they should just die. I once met a sister from a traditional church, she was the wife of a friend of mine. She held a title in the local church. Later, she developed brain cancer and was to be sent to a hospice, a place to put you before you die. This friend contacted me. I prayed with her, and the brain cancer actually healed, very quickly.

Then I said: "You must love God well, trust God well, and understand the truth of the Gospel well. You can study these courses, study them well." She said: "Pastor, thank you, we are going back to our original church." I said: "Why are you going back to your original church? You got brain cancer in that church, why are you going back?" She said: "The sisters in our church are always so loving." I said: "How are they loving?" She said: "They often made soup for me when I was sick." Making soup even caused brain cancer, and they're still making soup.

That's not a church, that's a soup-making club. That's not ministering with the heart of a father and mother, according to God's will. If the goal of building a church is numbers, then there is the problem of numbers; if the goal of building a church is to build a church building, then there is the problem of the church building; if the goal of building a church is to shepherd God's flock, so that God's people can live out the image of God, then that is God's will, not making soup. She finally got better, then happily played around, and died suddenly three months later. After hearing the news, I said: "Ha, I could have predicted that."

Therefore, the purpose of our service is not numbers; the purpose of our service is not offerings; the purpose of our service is not to take advantage; the purpose of our service is to enable brothers and sisters to share in the benefits of the Gospel. Precisely because of this, we are merciless in dealing with everyone's indulgence of the flesh and concern for face. Because you know, and I know, what we are doing, we are doing it to share in the benefits of the Gospel.

In this world, it's not just you who need to deal with and discipline your bodies, I need to discipline my body just like you. I must thank the brothers and sisters around me, you have helped me a lot, because of you, I must deal with my flesh, I must discipline my body, you are a great help, you require me to discipline my body, so that my body is subject to me.

The Method of Service

You must know the method of service, don't think that once you are saved, you are high and mighty. The other day when we were eating, there was a person sitting at the next table. In Singapore, pastors have pastoral attire, you know? Pastors have a stand-up collar shirt with a white plastic strip inserted in the collar. Once you wear this shirt, you know it's a pastor. As for me, I don't want pastoral attire.

I am like this, if you are a cleaner, I will clean with you; if you are an engineer, I will be an engineer with you; I become all things to all people. Not arrogant, high and mighty, making people look up to me, but down-to-earth, this is the method of service. To the Jews I become as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to the weak I become weak, that I might win the weak. Because this is the key, there is no need to create an image.

I don't like everyone to come and see me. If you come to see me, you are worshipping a guru, because there is nothing to see, just an inconspicuous person, what is there to see? Therefore, brothers and sisters, don't have this mentality, don't look at this, look at what is in people's hearts. If you want to learn, learn the method of service, try every means to give out the benefits, this is the key, this is the method.

Therefore, if we serve willingly, we will be rewarded; if not willingly, the responsibility is entrusted to us. This responsibility entrusted to us, do you want to do it? You have to do it even if you don't want to, this is the entrusted responsibility. Then if we have to do it, let's do it well, this is an attitude. So what to do? Jesus Christ saw the lepers and touched them. How dirty, are there infectious diseases? Yes. Jesus Christ has set an example of service and a method of service for us.

The Reward of Service

If a person's reward for service is to receive offerings, that is terrifying. Because after he serves, he says: "I have come among you to build an ark of the end times. Do you want to invest? I am now selling you a ticket." What for? To collect money. Later, the money was spent, the tickets were bought, where is the ark? There is no ark, because it is not an ark at all, just a drawing of an ark to collect money.

Brothers and sisters, if you do not truly believe, you cannot walk this path of service. What is the reward of service? It is an imperishable crown. Why? Because we have no hope in this world, my hope is in Jesus Christ, to receive a crown of glory in eternity.

Do you know why there are so many disasters in the church? Why did this pastor die of cancer, that pastor die of cancer? Because God is a God who examines the hearts of people, don't think that everyone serves for an imperishable crown of glory, but that's what they have to say. Even if I say: "My service is for an imperishable crown of glory." Don't believe it. If you are willing to walk this path, you can also choose to do it for the imperishable crown of glory in heaven.

Because there is no hope in this world, the things of this world are not very meaningful. If I didn't know Jesus Christ, I wouldn't be in this world long ago. Because I feel that living one more day is one more day of trouble. When you come to me, I sometimes entertain you and have a drink with you. Don't think that I like to drink, I just hope to share a little more of the benefits of Jesus Christ with you. My hope is in heaven! Thank God! This is the reward of service.

When we put our hope in heaven, we must discipline our bodies on this earth, so that our bodies are subject to us, to be an example of disciplining our bodies for everyone, so that everyone can discipline their bodies with me, so that our bodies are subject to us, and we will surely receive this crown of glory in heaven. One day, we will reunite before the Lord Jesus. At the time of reunion, some will lower their heads in shame, and some will come before God with their heads held high, to receive the crown of glory. The Lord will say you are a faithful and good servant. Amen!

In fact, the amount of service I do is very large, my workload is unmatched by ordinary people. I do so much, why? I long for the brothers and sisters' understanding to be opened, to be able to learn God's Word in understanding, to be able to know God in understanding. I long for the brothers and sisters to not have so much pressure in their jobs.

If you are working your butt off at work, isn't that the responsibility of church ministry? If you are working your butt off at work, can you live out the image of God? No. If people are so poor that they are penniless, isn't that the responsibility of the church? If you are full of diseases and often encounter small disasters, isn't that the work of the church? This is all the work of church ministry.

Paul said: "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." Therefore, disciplining our bodies and bringing them into subjection allows us to obtain the benefits of the Gospel. Do you understand this connection? This is the example Paul has set for us.

Setting an Example

Discipline your body and bring it into subjection, such simple words, but their meaning is so profound. By the power of the Holy Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body, so that the body is subject to us, no longer sowing to the flesh to reap corruption, but sowing to the Spirit to reap eternal life. If you want to obtain the benefits of service, the most important step is to discipline your body and bring it into subjection.

In fact, you are not without choice, you have freedom, you can choose, it's just whether you are willing to make the choice. If you have to choose to reap corruption, then you can choose again after reaping corruption. Do you understand? I watch people eat, drink, and be merry, then you can eat first, and one day you will reap corruption. I don't know what kind of disease that corruption is, either depression or cancer, anyway, there is a disease. Therefore, we must be smarter, discipline our bodies, this is our most important work.

Summary

Clear goals, clear strategies, and the right methods, this is what I often say, I will repeat it again. Is your goal in life clear? If the goal in life is an urn, then you will get an urn; if the goal in life is to get a crown of glory, then you will get a crown of glory; if the goal in life is work, then work hard, if you lose your job, then you will simply want to jump off a building; if the goal in life is money, then you will also want to jump off a building if you lose money.

What exactly is the goal in life? What exactly are you doing? I am very clear. The path of this life is chosen by oneself, you either choose this path or choose that path. I know that Jesus has healed me by His stripes, and I have become rich through His poverty, the answers to all my problems in life are in Jesus Christ, so I have only one goal, which is to enable people to share in the benefits of the Gospel with me while living in this world. If people don't want the benefits of the Gospel, they can do whatever they want.

My strategy is also very clear, my strategy is very simple, build a church to shepherd God's flock, so that people can live out God's glorious image. This includes pastoral care, the most important component, teaching people how to learn, to be able to know God in understanding, the method must be right.

I think I may not be able to fully explain this topic this time, but it doesn't matter, there are many more lectures below. I still have to talk about "the hope of glory," talk about "the poor becoming rich," there are so many benefits of the Gospel, I don't know how many lectures I can give, but I will give them until I finish. We know it, and we will act according to God's Word. Paul has already opened up this path for us, we just need to copy and paste.

May God bless everyone! Amen!