Introduction

Good morning. We continue with the series, "Sharing the Benefits of the Gospel." This series is quite important, because who does not want to benefit? Surely, you want to benefit! The second sermon is titled "Receiving the Adoption as Sons," which is another thesis. Actually, this comes from the Book of Romans. I later discovered that we did not fully understand the Book of Romans when we preached it before. This time, it is clearer than before.

The question arises: Why do many people not see the benefits of the Gospel? I have not seen the adoption as sons. He said: I sang as a child, becoming a successor to communism, and I am retired, and I do not know where to succeed.

There is a fifth-generation Christian who has never seen the benefits of the Gospel in his family. What do they believe in? They are very enthusiastic about evangelism, serving this and serving that, but their bodies are full of illnesses, with poor liver and kidney function. Another sister in the family had a hard time finding a job, failing every interview. We felt that there was no blessing.

Then we told her: You should receive the benefits of this Gospel. She said: Teacher, our family has been Christians for five generations, and we have never seen any benefits of the Gospel, only a body full of illnesses. Is this not strange? Later, we taught her how to interview. Our church's service is quite practical. It seems that she is about to find a job.

We have read the words in the Bible, but we do not see the benefits of the Gospel, nor do we see the adoption as sons. We can only treat it as an intangible, invisible, and unexperienced faith. Is this not a tragedy? Is this the case? I tell you the golden rule of Chinese church theology: "Oh, it is not right." If it is not right, then that is the problem.

Recently, while preparing for the "Sharing the Benefits of the Gospel" sermon series, I desperately reread the eighth chapter of Romans. I discovered that there is the word "waiting" before "receiving the adoption as sons." Over the years, I have never read the word "waiting." My previous second sermon in the "Sharing the Benefits of the Gospel" series, "Receiving the Adoption as Sons," should actually be "Waiting to Receive the Adoption as Sons." This sentence has had a profound impact on me. It turns out that it is waiting to receive the adoption as sons.

Then I carefully pondered it, and then carefully read the Book of Romans from beginning to end. I finally tasted the flavor of the eighth chapter of Romans. I have a lot more to say about the eighth chapter of Romans, because that is the passage I am quoting. Let me read it to you and see if you can hear the feeling I am talking about. I may add a little commentary in the middle.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

Have you been freed from the law of sin and death? If not, then you need to reflect on why you are not receiving the benefits of the Gospel. The case has been settled, meaning the case is closed. If you are still trying to be justified by the law, you will not receive the benefits of the Gospel.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not obey God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:5-11)

After reading this, do you have a little feeling? Think about it again. You have to walk this path. If I ponder it for you, I tell you it probably will not work. You have to ponder it yourself.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:12-17)

This is very straightforward. It is clear after reading it. It seems that we suddenly become children of God, but later it says that we must wait to receive the adoption as sons. Becoming children of God is only nominal, but receiving the adoption as sons means that we have grown up and become sons. This is still a child. Children cannot board a plane by themselves; they must be accompanied by an adult.

Later it says that if we suffer with him, we will also be glorified with him. Suffering the same kind of suffering, do not think that suffering from a bad liver is glorious suffering; suffering from bad kidneys is glorious suffering; suffering from a tumor is glorious suffering. Cutting one knife today and another knife tomorrow, what glory is there? There is no glory. That is brought about by "the mind governed by the flesh is death."

But if we suffer the same suffering as Jesus, putting to death the deeds of the body, crucifying the passions and desires of the flesh, we will be glorified with him. That is how it is.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:18-26)

I read it to you. If you feel something, I encourage you not just to listen to me read. Go back and read the eighth chapter of Romans from beginning to end, over and over again, at least thirty to fifty times. It is not that difficult. For example, those who have the firstfruits of the Spirit also groan inwardly. What are they groaning about? Groaning about toil. Why? Because we live in the flesh, we groan and toil. Do not think, "I have received the Holy Spirit, I have become a child of God, I have been saved." It is not like that.

It turns out that people's problems are closely related to the flesh. If a Christian is carnal, you cannot see the benefits of the Gospel. You are too busy being hostile to God to have time to benefit. It would be good if you did not suffer any harm. You cannot receive the adoption as sons.

How can you receive the adoption as sons? Being able to independently draw on various resources in God's house is called a son of God. If you are a child, it is better to have a steward watching over you. A carnal Christian is nominally a son of God, but is only a child and must be managed by a steward.

It turns out that a Christian's life is a life of putting to death the passions and desires of the flesh. This is the most core concept of our Chinese Mingding Doctrine. A Christian's life is a life of drawing on God's grace. Suffering together is suffering with Christ, crucifying the passions and desires of the flesh. That is glorious suffering, not being plagued by diseases. It is not being cursed by indulging in the flesh. It is not that kind of suffering that has no glory. If we do not know that this is the key in our understanding, how can we receive the benefits of the Gospel?

I see almost no shepherding that puts to death the passions and desires of the flesh in the church, and naturally I do not see the benefits of the Gospel. Is what I am saying heavy? Very heavy. If you want to interpret why people have lost the benefits of the Gospel, it is because they have not put to death the passions and desires of the flesh. Everyone, write this sentence down heavily.

Therefore, the shepherding of Chinese Mingding Doctrine is the shepherding of putting to death the misdeeds of the body; it is the shepherding that enables you to receive the benefits of the Gospel; it is the shepherding that allows you to receive the adoption as sons. For example, traditional evangelicals say, "Oh, I believe in the Lord, I have become a child of God, I have been saved. My illness is suffering, it is being glorified with the Lord." Is that not nonsense? Is illness a benefit of the Gospel? I do not know what kind of sound that is.

Examine it carefully, and you will know as soon as you try it. For example, there was an evangelical brother, a leader in the church, even an elder. He got cancer. I ministered to him, but I was met with coldness. I really did not want them to receive the benefits of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. As soon as I said it was a curse, he bared his teeth, "You are the one who is cursed."

As soon as I checked, I found that you cannot deal with him. As soon as you deal with him, he immediately changes his face. I said: Why are you angry? Why has your face changed? If you do well, will you not be accepted? He is an elder in the church who indulges in the flesh, loves the world, and discerns good and evil, still the same old three things. He cannot see the benefits of the Gospel, nor can he see the power of God, nor can he see healing and deliverance. He only sees the literal benefits of the Gospel, but he has not received anything. I felt that this was really fatal!

Some time ago, I dealt with him a little, and my dealing was harsh. He came to see me from afar, and I finally had the opportunity to deal with him. Why? Because after dealing with him, I can restore him. Unlike long-distance, I say a few words and there is no sound on the other side, they are competing with me. When I am up close, I see, "Why are you angry? Why has your face changed? If you do well, will you not be accepted?" I directly confronted him like this.

So I tell you, dealing with the flesh is actually to let you receive the benefits of the Gospel. You live in that entanglement, that discomfort, the relationship between mother and daughter is not good, the relationship between father and son is not good, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is not good, everyone is a Christian, competing with each other, what kind of Gospel is that? That is not the Gospel. You cannot touch it, as soon as you touch it, pus comes out, dirty things flow out.

The Charismatics say: I am born again! That day the Holy Spirit came upon me, and my hairs stood on end. I was slain in the Spirit, I spoke in tongues, I was electrified, and then I was saved, I am a child of God. Later, after careful verification, I dealt with them a little, and the same old three things came out again: indulging in the flesh, loving the world, and discerning good and evil.

Can he see the benefits of the Gospel? He cannot see the benefits of the Gospel, only literally, "Oh, I am saved." This Gospel has benefits, but I cannot see them, what is the meaning? Actually, there is no meaning. It turns out that a person's problem in life is the problem of the flesh; a person's answer in life is the answer of putting to death the misdeeds of the body by the Spirit. It is all in putting to death the misdeeds of the body.

Why are people sick? Carnal. Why are people uncomfortable, sighing and toiling? Carnal. Why are people poor? Carnal. Why are people afraid? Carnal. Why can people not see the benefits of the Gospel? Carnal. Living in the flesh is being hostile to God.

It turns out that God has a great plan for us to live in the flesh, so that we can put to death the passions and desires of the flesh, so that we can live out the glorious image of the children of God. This is not what we want, it is God who makes us so, so that we can learn to overcome by Jesus Christ and put to death the misdeeds of the body. Following the Spirit, the Spirit will surely help us to overcome; following the Spirit, we will surely receive the benefits of this Gospel. This is God's predestination for us to receive the adoption as sons, predestination for us to inherit God's promises, predestination for us to receive the benefits of the Gospel, but many Christians, because of fear, have become Christians who died in the wilderness.

We must understand that with God, with the Gospel, Jesus Christ has accomplished everything for us. He has condemned sin, freeing us from the law of sin and death, so that the righteousness of God, the righteousness of the law, might be fulfilled in us who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. It is truly wonderful! I believe we are far from fully exploring the benefits of this Gospel. If you think you have explored it well, I tell you, you are never good enough. Why? Because the knowledge of God is like the sea filling the ocean; the abundant promises God has prepared for us are like the sea filling the ocean.

We are to obtain the benefits of the Gospel, waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Our bodies have already been redeemed, so what do you worry about? Will you lack food and drink? No. God will absolutely provide for us. Our hope is built on the redemption of our bodies; our glorious hope is built on the Word of God. Though not yet seen, it will surely be seen, and along the way, we will surely see God's abundant grace.

Scripture

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:18-23)

These words are excellent! Paul highly summarizes the truth of the Gospel and points us in the direction of obtaining its benefits.

Prayer

God! Work in us today. Let us know that what you have prepared for us is abundant grace. If we do not receive this grace, it is because our flesh hinders us from receiving your grace. We open our hearts and invite the Holy Spirit, the Helper, to come into us. Help us to put to death the deeds of the body. Holy Spirit, Helper, open our minds so that we may understand God's will and God's truth.

God, lead us today to obey the Spirit, to be mindful of the Spirit, so that we can put to death the deeds of the body by the power of the Spirit and live out the glorious freedom of the children of God. God, let us suffer a little in putting to death the deeds of the body, so that our suffering may imitate the suffering of the Lord Jesus and together with Jesus Christ, we may obtain glory, that is, the glorious freedom of the children of God. God, lead us until we grow to maturity, to become like the Son of God. In the name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Scriptural Background

Many people came from Rome to Paul, saying, "Come to Rome and tell us about the truth of the Gospel. Not only tell us some Gospel truths, but the people in Rome are very confused about their faith. Why are they confused?" They said, "In the beginning, when we prayed, everything was fine. God answered our prayers, but as we continued to believe, it disappeared. Some people tell us this is the honeymoon period, and our honeymoon period is over. Is that the case?"

Paul said, "That is not the case." Many people said, "Paul, we have not seen any benefits of the Gospel. We used to occasionally see some benefits of the Gospel, but now we do not see them. We are very confused." So Paul had to write these words, writing the Book of Romans.

Why did Paul write the Book of Romans in that era? He began by saying that the Gospel is the power of God, because the church in Rome believed in the Gospel but began to have no power. Why? Because the entire Book of Romans discusses many of these themes. One of the themes is the problem of the evil desires of the flesh. People are carnal, and as they believe, they become carnal. I tell you, being carnal is being at enmity with God. So Paul wrote the answer to explain these things.

Some people also said, "Paul, we cannot control ourselves. We are particularly mindful of the flesh." Even now, we still have such people. What answer can I give you? I will tell you the Book of Romans. If you are willing to follow the flesh, you will reap corruption; if you follow the Spirit, you can reap eternal life. Do you understand?

Some people asked Paul, "We are already children of God. We are already saved. What do you mean by what you wrote? What is far off? Wait slowly? You are too discouraging to our faith." Paul said, "That is not the case. The thing you believe in, that you are saved all at once, that is not the truth of the Bible, not the truth of the Gospel. Do not think that I have been baptized, I have been saved, I have been born again, I have received the Holy Spirit. That is not the case."

The degree of confusion in the church today regarding the truth of the Gospel is not much different from the time of the Apostle Paul. How many people truly understand the Book of Romans? I have researched a lot of information about the Book of Romans, and after reading it, I really feel that, to put it bluntly, it is like a horse's mouth not matching a donkey's lips. Paul said, "It is not that you cannot control yourself, but who you are willing to obey. Jesus has already died for you and has saved you from the law of sin and death. The rest is that you still need to know who you are willing to obey."

Also, these Roman Christians said, "Oh, we are sick. Our livers are not good, our kidneys are not good, our backs are not good, our legs are not good, and our brains are not very good. This is me suffering with Jesus and being glorified with Him." Paul said, "That is not the suffering that Jesus Christ suffered. When did you see Jesus with a bad liver, bad kidneys, bad back, bad legs, and a bad brain? No, He did not have them."

Brothers and sisters must know that suffering with the Lord Jesus is suffering the suffering of nailing the flesh to the cross, and then being glorified together. This is the original concept. Many people also use these words, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." They use these words even when they have cancer. Is that the case? No. You cannot even overcome a demon of cancer. What glory will you have in the future? I think that is the glory of being mindful of the flesh, and that glory is in quotation marks.

Why are people so easily confused? "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." What is their interpretation? Their interpretation is, "Oh, we will be glorified after we die." Is that the case? That is not the case. So later, Paul wanted to break many of these wrong concepts.

Many people think that once I believe in the Lord, I will have peace. No. In fact, the creation was subjected to futility, groaning and laboring until now. Why groaning and laboring? Because the flesh has not yet been put to death. Even we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan inwardly, "Oh, when will we receive the adoption as sons? When will we receive the benefits of this Gospel?" Is that the feeling?

Originally, waiting for the adoption as sons is the redemption of our bodies, that is, dedicating our entire body, everything, to God and turning to God, putting to death all the evil desires of the flesh, and then we will receive the adoption as sons.

So later, Paul said that this groaning and laboring is also the case for those who have the firstfruits of the Spirit. Why? Putting to death the evil desires of the flesh is very uncomfortable. I must tell you that if you do not put to death the evil desires of the flesh, it is very uncomfortable and difficult; putting to death the evil desires of the flesh is also quite difficult. We choose a less difficult method, and it is better to put to death the evil desires of the flesh. This is our hope.

Our hope is to wait for the adoption as sons! What is seen is not hope; what is not seen is hope. So we walk forward with hope, putting to death the evil desires of the flesh little by little. Later, it is said that if the Holy Spirit helps us, who can stand against us? Although we are weak, the Holy Spirit will be our helper. When we explain it this way, it all makes sense. Does it make sense in your mind now? If it does not make sense in your mind, I do not blame you, because I have not explained it clearly.

If God helps us, who can stand against us? The problem is that God helps those who obey the Spirit. Brothers and sisters, I think people should live joyfully in their lives. The sooner you put to death the evil desires of the flesh, the more joyful you will be. If you carry a series of worldly logical systems, you carry a series of carnal logical systems, you will live very painfully.

So carnal people must come out, come out of that carnal discomfort, and know that you are very noble children of God. Although you have already received the title, you are still in groaning and laboring. Now let our bodies be completely turned to God, because Jesus has already accomplished this salvation for us. So this passage of Scripture solves the confusion of many Roman Christians and also solves the confusion of us Christians.

I want to limit the sermon time to about fifty minutes at best, but it is still difficult. You will find that I repeat the sermon three times. If you miss a section of my sermon, it does not matter. I repeat it three times. The first time I talk about it in the introduction, the second time I talk about it in the background of this passage of Scripture, and the third time I talk about it again in the points below.

The Root of All Human Problems Comes from the Flesh

The root of all human problems comes from the flesh. Look, when this person dies, the flesh dies. If you want to eat something, you cannot eat it. If you want to spend some money, you cannot spend it. People are carnal. I once served some brothers and sisters who were very interesting. When they were about to die, with three months to live, they saw things clearly. "I have three months left. Let's plan it out."

But some people are still arguing even with three months left; they are still arguing even with one month left. This carnal thing is particularly corrupt. Later, we prayed for him and he got better, and he could not see things clearly again. Why did he see things clearly before? Because he was going to die and did not need to spend money, so he saw things clearly. What money do you spend when you die? You cannot spend it even if you want to.

The RMB or US dollars in this world, whether they are red banknotes or green banknotes, become ghost money after they go to the underworld. What are you grabbing for? Why do you have to grab that US dollar? Why do you have to grab that RMB? The dead look at us living people with confusion. They are grabbing ghost money over there, and we are grabbing RMB here. Both sides are confused.

Once a person comes back to life, it is over, and they go to grab money again. Once they are released, they start to feel uncomfortable and tangled again. Why? They have to make money. So this carnal thing is considered with a carnal logical system. Why do people need a lot of money? Because they think they will live a long time, and they think that having money will make them happy. In fact, having money does not necessarily make you happy. Money has nothing to do with happiness. So once people live in a carnal logical system, it is very deadly.

I tell you, the Chinese are not very good at living. The Malays I met in Singapore are better at living. The Malays do not live very rich lives, but they are joyful every day. One day at the beach, a Chinese and a Malay were fishing there, and they were talking very well. After a while, the Chinese disappeared. Why? He went to make money. Many years later, the Chinese came again in his sixties and said, "Oh, I finally have the opportunity to enjoy the joy of fishing." "What did you do these years?" "I went to make money." The Malay said, "I have been here enjoying the joy of fishing." He has been enjoying it here, and the Chinese has been suffering there. Why? He feels that he has to have money to live.

So all our problems come from being carnal. For example, the father has a carnal logical system. Seeing that his son is not successful, it hurts the father's self-esteem. "How can I raise such a son?" He feels uncomfortable, looking at his son with both pain and love, both scolding and hating, a mixture of love and hate, and as a result, the son's face is distorted. Carnal mothers and daughters bite and pinch each other, carnal fathers and sons bite and pinch each other, carnal brothers bite and pinch each other. They all do not know the benefits of this Gospel.

For us who are preachers, we must impart wisdom to them, enabling them to understand how to handle such situations. I tell you the answer to the problem is that we are not of the flesh. When we are not of the flesh, we trample all things under our feet. I tell you, a person who belongs to God is exceedingly powerful, trampling all things under their feet. Among all things is included that carnal husband, and then people begin to rejoice.

Therefore, mortifying the deeds of the body is the key to solving the problem. I may shout from the rooftops, but not everyone will necessarily understand. Why? Because their minds are filled with that Chinese set of logic. If you are filled with that set of logic, it is very hard, always waiting to make money, and when you get old, it will be troublesome. When you get old, your legs and feet will not work well, your eyesight will fail, and you will slowly suffer.

Money cannot solve these problems; only knowing that you are a child of God, knowing that in Jesus Christ all problems are solved, can. God does not actually want us to be slaves; God wants us to be children in God's house, but this carnal logic system must be broken down before you can do it.

God Predestined Us to Adoption as Sons

If you read this passage of Scripture carefully, you will discover that even before we received the adoption as sons, God had already predestined us to be His children. It is just that we are still infants, still somewhat ignorant children, so we must strive to grow in the spiritual path, growing to the full measure of Christ.

You know that God predestined us to the adoption as sons, that is a complete adoption. Jesus, in the likeness of sinful flesh, established a judgment on this earth, and the case is closed. There is no need to discuss it further; no one can accuse you anymore.

Perhaps when you first believed in the Lord, you were one hundred percent carnal. What to do? God wants to save you from the law of sin and death, so He established a judgment, allowing you to have the freedom to obey the Holy Spirit and also the freedom to obey the flesh. You say, "I have no freedom." You are lying, talking nonsense. What "I cannot control it." I can tell as soon as I try, "Transfer the money in your account to me." "That won't do." That's very good control, isn't it? You understand everything.

Now it is the thing inside us. If we are always indulging the flesh, it is bad; indulging it feels comfortable at the time, but later it becomes uncomfortable. When it becomes uncomfortable, we eat, and when it becomes uncomfortable, we eat, and after eating, we grow into a big fat person. Looking at it, the appearance is very ugly, and we start desperately dieting. Once we diet, we damage the liver and kidneys. You say, how can we endure such back-and-forth torment? Halfway through the diet, we continue to eat and grow into a big fat person again, and then we diet again. You say, is indulging the flesh life-threatening?

You say, "Teacher, I cannot control it." There is no such thing; I do not believe you cannot control it. Why? Because God has prepared the Holy Spirit. When you cannot control it, you rely on the Holy Spirit, and you will definitely be able to control it. Now, what is the logic system inside us, what is our core interest? It depends on our choices. Sometimes I say, "Then it depends on your fate." If your fate is not good, then it is not good, and that is life-threatening.

People choose what they choose; you cannot say you did not choose. When choosing, you choose according to what has a return. You think this has a return, but it actually has no return; you think doing this will get you benefits, but you actually get no benefits. Why? That is the carnal logic system. According to the carnal logic system, you lose the adoption as sons.

But God has made all the preparations for us. Are you weak? The Holy Spirit helps you. Are you ignorant? The Holy Spirit will enlighten you, illuminate you, and become the light in your heart. Then do you want to obey? "According to what you say, obeying the Holy Spirit, can we still live our lives?" As a result, we live a melodramatic life.

Brothers and sisters, God predestined us to the adoption as sons from the beginning, not saying that we have to wait; it is from the beginning, the genes in our bones must have the genes of Jesus Christ. Then, little by little, relying on God, relying on the Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body. Of course, the shorter this process, the better.

I thank God! No one can take away the joy inside me. Do you know why? Because there is no carnal thing inside me. You say, "Have you become an immortal?" No, I have not become an immortal. Although living in the flesh, I clearly know that this is a carnal deed, and by the Holy Spirit, I mortify the carnal deeds. The more I mortify the carnal deeds, the more joy I have.

I tell you, there is no meaning in living without joy; people must live with joy. God has prepared all the answers for us. On this path of sanctification, on the path of waiting to receive the adoption as sons, God has prepared everything for you; it just depends on whether you draw on it or not. By what do you draw on it? You draw on it by faith.

Namely, the Redemption of Our Body

The Bible says so. Waiting for the adoption as sons, namely, the redemption of our body. I ask you, if the body is redeemed, what will happen? If the body is redeemed, there will be no more sickness, because sickness is because of the flesh.

You say, "That's not right. Song Shangjie was preaching on the stage while bleeding." That's right, Song Shangjie is a standard sinner, and you and I are also standard sinners. You say, "Song Shangjie brought great revival." I must tell you that many gospels have been believed and preached wrongly by them. You say, "Only you have gotten it right?" No, the Bible is right.

Many people read Romans. Did Martin Luther read it right? I do not think he read it right. Did Song Shangjie read it right? I also do not think he read it right. You say, "Then only you have gotten it right?" No, the Bible is in its original flavor. If you examine it carefully, see if my interpretation is right or not. The Bible is written clearly.

The most important redemption of our body is healing and deliverance. The second most important truth is all the needs in life, all the needs we have to live. Because our body is redeemed, we become children of God, receiving the adoption as sons, and you can draw on the resources of heaven. Therefore, the need of all people in life is the redemption of the body.

Why do people fear? Because they want to live. Why do people worry? Because they want to live. Why do people get depression? Because they care too much about living. If we are redeemed in our bodies, we do not need to worry. I have practiced this before. Everyone must not think that the church lives by offerings; the church lives by God's provision. The reason we are not poor is because we have done what pleases God. God is pleased with us, and we will never lack until our bodies are redeemed.

If your body is redeemed, is there a problem if you did not do well in the college entrance examination? You still have a bright future. Even if your college entrance examination score is 299 points, what kind of university can you get into? But your future is not in the college entrance examination score; it is in the adoption as sons.

There was someone who took a third-tier college entrance examination, and he had the highest education in their family, which was 299 points. Later, he built confidence in that very bad school. He had to thank that school, that school gave him a lot of confidence. As a result, people said, "Except for the double first-class, our school is the third-tier." In fact, it is a long way from the double first-class to his school, but the students are very confident, and as a result, people have no problem making a living.

When I led the prayer just now, a brother said that he took the college entrance examination in 1979, and later found that he was the only one who passed the university entrance examination. Seventy percent of those who did not pass the university entrance examination are now financially better off than him. Then what did you do? You were busy with loneliness. So you must know for sure that all our needs in life are met in Jesus Christ. Our bodies have been redeemed.

God Is Our Help

The Holy Spirit helps our weakness, He helps us with groanings that cannot be uttered. If you read this scripture carefully, it is indeed so.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:26-30)

Does Romans talk about justification? No. Romans does not talk about justification by faith, it talks about that this gospel is the power of God. God wants to carry out salvation, God wants to help His people, we only need to believe. It says here that "the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered." I tell you what is called groanings that cannot be uttered, that is praying in tongues. Everyone relies on the Holy Spirit well, and you will find that there is power inside you, and the Holy Spirit will guide us into the truth. God helps us, this is absolutely true.

But some brothers and sisters, living and living become confused. "Oh, God helps me, but look, God is messing with me again. Look, things are going well, but He has to mess with me, making me very uncomfortable. Then is God helping me, or is He messing with me? I am confused." Why? Because God wants to mortify the lusts of your flesh. Why do you not stand on the same front with God? Because there is still a carnal logic system inside you, and you always feel that those things are very important.

Do you all understand this time? It is not that following your meaning is following God's meaning. If you follow God's meaning, God will definitely help you, and He will completely remove the lusts of the flesh. God is our timely help, and God also helps us with what we usually need. Have you seen any brothers and sisters who lack food and clothing? That is not because of your ability, that is because of God's help.

A sister lost her job last year, and it looked very tragic, very hard and sad. She is also getting old, and she wants to find someone to marry, but she is past that age, what to do? God helped. We can see with our own eyes how God helped her in that process. Why did she lose her job? God wants to deal with her carnal logic system.

So that night when we were ministering to her, it was fully manifested that she believed in Jesus on the one hand, but she still worshiped the God of Wealth in her bones. It is ridiculous to think about it now. What problems can the God of Wealth solve? He solved the problem of her not having a job. Even so, God will release her and let her be free. If God does not let you lose your job, when will you be able to deal with this logic of worshiping money?

God is our help, and God helps us according to His will. God is our hope, and we will receive this hope, become children of God, and receive the adoption as sons. If we are still unable to draw on God's resources now, we must have made a mistake.

Carnal Christians, I once again testify to everyone from the rooftops. Those carnal Christians, by the Holy Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, you cannot but receive the benefits of the gospel, you cannot but receive the adoption as sons, you cannot but receive God's inheritance, and you will become a person who inherits God's inheritance, what a wonderful promise.

Now we have only received a little bit, so let us continue to strive to run. It is very hard to deal with the flesh, but it is even harder not to deal with the flesh. Now this suffering of dealing with the flesh is not a big deal compared to the glory that will be revealed to us in the future. Let us earnestly desire brothers and sisters to be freed from this bondage of corruption and enjoy the glorious freedom of the children of God. Even if we have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we must also strive to run and obtain the glorious freedom of the children of God. Amen!

May God bless everyone! Amen!