Introduction

My brothers and sisters, this week we continue with our seventh sermon on the theology of victorious warfare: "More than conquerors through Him who loved us." I must tell you, preparing this sermon was an arduous task. I struggled because I myself felt defeated, and I fell into deep perplexity.

More than conquerors? Look around us. Where is this victory? What we see is not victory with abundance, but a total lack of victory. We do not need to look far; just look at what is right before us. Examples of victory are few, but examples of defeat are countless. How then can we be "more than conquerors"? Was Paul talking nonsense? I was deeply confused.

Over the past few days, I have been reading Romans Chapter 8 with intense focus. I read it over and over again, and finally, clarity came. As the Chinese saying goes, read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself. I have one virtue: I am prepared to discard my own preconceived notions and focus entirely on understanding the perspective of the text. Unlike some people who spend all their time dwelling on the limited ideas in their own heads—how can they ever expect to achieve victory?

Although I have preached on Romans in the past, today I truly understand the greater part of it. I read it repeatedly, pondered it deeply—thinking about it while walking, while driving, while sitting on the toilet, and while eating. This is what we call meditating on the Way. In Chinese history, many understood the necessity of grasping the truth through deep contemplation.

One day, Laozi met a young man. This young man had prepared himself in advance to receive him, as if he had an inner premonition that a master of the Way was coming. They meditated on the Way together, pondering deeply, and eventually, they understood the matter of the "immortal ancient spirit."

Now, I have grasped Romans Chapter 8. This is not idle speculation. Others contemplate the Tao Te Ching; I contemplate Romans Chapter 8. The essence is similar. Suddenly, I understood: being "more than conquerors" is actually what God has already accomplished for us, and it is an abundant, overflowing victory. The problem is simply that man refuses to follow God.

Let us look at the Old Testament. When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, could they defeat the Egyptian army? No, they could not. But how did they win in the end? It was because God won the victory for them! The Israelites did nothing; they simply waited.

One day, God struck down all the firstborn of Egypt. Pharaoh, living in agony because his heir was dead, finally let all the Israelites go. Before they left, the Egyptians even gave them gold, silver, and treasures, begging them to leave quickly.

They did this because death had visited every single Egyptian household. If they kept the Israelites any longer, they feared their second-born would die, then their third-born, until the entire family was wiped out. So they sent them away in haste. What did the Israelites do? Nothing at all! Were they more than conquerors? Yes, indeed!

Let me ask you: up to this point in your life, what have you actually done for God? Nothing. It was always God who gave you the victory. You could not graduate from your PhD, but through prayer, you graduated. Do you not find this miraculous? If you cannot graduate, unless you have the talent of classmate Geng to attract two million followers, you are in trouble.

That we can find jobs is also a case of being more than conquerors. It is not because you are good enough. You are no different from the Israelites; deep down, there is still much filth. Yet, God helps you. When they stood by the Red Sea and the Egyptian army pursued them, the Israelites panicked.

When you left Egypt, God made you more than conquerors. Why then, at the Red Sea, did you think there was no victory? Later, God parted the Red Sea, allowing them to cross on dry land. What did the Israelites do? Nothing but follow. It was God who made them more than conquerors. Today, when we fail to achieve victory, it is because we do not follow God and do not walk according to the Spirit. The end of such a path is absolute ruin.

I do not know if any Israelites chose to remain on the seabed, waiting for the Egyptian army, only to be drowned with them. Reading this, I realized: it is not about what I have done; it is about what God has done. God has prepared this abundant victory for us. We have only one thing to do: walk according to the Spirit, follow God's guidance, and by doing so, we become sons of God.

The Israelites were a difficult people. At the slightest trouble, they would shift the blame, complain, and speak foolishness. Are we not often the same? I have labored hard. In the past, I pastored many people who received immense grace, only for them to leave later. If they want to leave, let them leave. But in my heart, I felt a deep sense of sorrow and discomfort seeing these things.

There was a PhD student who believed in the Lord. His advisor sent him a message saying he could not graduate and had to redo his work. Let me tell you, this felt like a bolt from the blue. If you have not done a PhD, you may not understand—after four years of work, being told to redo it is devastating. He asked me what to do. What could I do? Should I go and beat up his advisor? I could not beat him, and even if I did, I would end up in jail. I had no clever tricks, so I said, "Let us pray."

For that entire week, we did nothing but pray. Since he had nothing else to do, he came to church every day to pray. A week later, he received another letter from his advisor: "You can graduate. Prepare your defense immediately." This is what it means to be more than conquerors. God won the victory for us.

Later, he wanted to leave the church. I said, "Go ahead." I do not force people to stay. Then came another person, tormented by evil spirits, who almost threw himself onto the subway tracks. He suffered daily; his head buzzed whenever he tried to think. He was held captive by demons. He found me online. We did not know each other. When he arrived, I led him in prayer, and he coughed up a large amount of bloody phlegm.

In the end, he was healed. He had been unable to sleep for three months, but he was cured. A few years later, he said, "Pastor, I want to leave the church." Many of these people have experienced stories akin to crossing the Red Sea and exiting Egypt. Does it hurt my heart? Yes, of course it hurts. How could it not? But I must also overcome.

Shall sword, or persecution, or people leaving discourage us? Nothing can separate us from the love of God. My Lord Jesus has already made me more than a conqueror. Our church has come this far because God has already won the victory for us. If we follow Him, we win. Of course, there are many churches in this world. Whichever church you choose to walk with to victory, may God bless you.

The truth is, God has already gone before us and secured an abundant victory. The Bible divides humanity into two categories. If you read Romans Chapter 8 carefully, you will see: those who walk according to the flesh, and those who walk according to the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death; there is no victory there. To walk according to the Spirit is eternal life. To be carnally minded is enmity against God; it leads to death. If you choose to run toward death, this abundant victory has nothing to do with you. If you pamper the flesh, you cannot expect God's victory. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

What I am sharing with you is solid truth, pure substance. Those who pamper the flesh and obey its desires have no part in God. In eternity, God predestined some to belong to the flesh, and others to belong to Him. Therefore, those who follow God and are led by His Spirit are more than conquerors. Let us stop relying on ourselves. Let us rely on the Lord and become more than conquerors.

"That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:4-8)

How should we walk the path of this life? Let us make this matter clear. What does it mean to be "more than conquerors"? It means God has already done everything. Even for those who pamper the flesh, if they are willing to turn back to God, God will still help them. In this abundant victory, God has done everything, and more. He did not do just enough; He did far more than enough.

We have no reason to rely on ourselves, no reason to live in the flesh, and no reason to make excuses or shift blame. If we fail, we cannot blame anyone else. If you choose to follow the flesh, that is your choice. If you choose to follow the Spirit, that is also your choice. But the outcomes are entirely different. If you follow the flesh, you will be "more than losers"—defeated with plenty of failure left over. If you follow the Spirit, you will be "more than conquerors"—victorious with abundance to spare. Therefore, stop making excuses.

A person of the flesh will surely bring ruin upon themselves. If a person knows that the path ahead leads to destruction, why would they walk down it? Although pampering the flesh may seem comfortable now—looking well-fed and healthy—what will you do when the day of adversity arrives?

The father of one of our sisters was diagnosed with lung cancer. He certainly had many bad habits and a "cancerous personality." We must understand clearly that the Israelites who died in the wilderness, and the Christians who die in the wilderness, are those with whom God was displeased. They were too carnal, too focused on the flesh. When a person pampers the flesh, they become displeasing to God and cannot please Him.

If you want to live a victorious life, you must completely demolish the carnal logic within you. After victory, there will be good days, and you will lack no good thing. But if you do not overcome, you will have to pay war reparations. Can you afford to pay those in the spiritual realm? God shows us what Christians in the wilderness look like.

Why do people fail to claim God's promises? Because they are carnal. There was a person who suffered from lymph cancer for years, then colon cancer, then cardiovascular issues, then cerebrovascular issues—spending their entire life battling sickness. When we see this, do we not feel perplexed? Where is the abundant victory of Jesus Christ? Let me tell you, if a person's theological framework is wrong, they are in serious trouble. If their theology is carnal, they will never be well; they remain a carnal person.

Our brothers and sisters need only resolve one issue: trust in God, follow Him, and walk this path of victory. If a Christian diagnosed with cancer does not rid themselves of their "cancerous personality" but instead relies solely on chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the cancer cells will not be defeated. Because cancer is a spirit—a spirit of cancer. They run to the doctor at every turn, wanting only to survive in the flesh, with no desire to obey the Spirit. The spirit of death torments them—now with this ailment, now with that—unable to die, yet unable to live well. It is a miserable existence. Start trusting God now; trusting God is not that difficult.

You may say you cannot control yourself. I tell you, once you pray, you will be able to control yourself. "Pastor, I just keep wanting to eat, I cannot stop." I tell you, if you pray in tongues consistently, the urge to overeat will vanish. God will give you the victory. Overcoming this is indeed being more than a conqueror. If you cannot control yourself, pray in the Spirit, and God will help you demolish the carnal structures within you.

Why are people healed of depression? Because the foundation of depression is demolished. The foundation of depression is pampering the flesh and judging good and evil. These two things are the root of many problems. Depression is a highly painful affliction; there is no external cause, yet the person suffers immensely. It is a bizarre illness. Why does depression flare up? Because one has become carnal and focused on the flesh.

Let me share a detail with you: by relying on the Lord Jesus and the salvation He has accomplished for us, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. God has already set us free. You may ask, "Why do I not feel it?" You must walk according to the Spirit; it is as simple as that.

Why do people eat until they are obese? Because they cannot control their flesh. If you pray in tongues, it will resolve that desperate urge to eat. Why can people not get out of bed? Being unable to get out of bed is an excuse. Victory is simple: just get up a few times. If you feel uncomfortable when you get up, rely on the Holy Spirit to get through it. If a person cannot even get out of bed, are they not useless?

When you fall ill, if you walk according to the Spirit, is victory not simple? If your first reaction to sickness is to run to the hospital—when doctors themselves do not know who to turn to when they fall ill—how can they solve your problem? Overcoming weakness is simple; through Jesus Christ, we are already more than conquerors. Some people are foolish and think crookedly. Why? Because they rely on their own minds. Try relying on the Holy Spirit to overcome.

Among us, we have young people who pray and serve while studying, and they excel in their academics. Changing our inner logic is not difficult, but if a person is stubborn, it becomes very hard. If you insist that your own way of thinking is correct, it is difficult to change. Therefore, victory is easy, but living in defeat is exhausting! Some insist on relying on themselves, and for them, victory is impossible.

Scripture

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we choose to rely on You. May the Holy Spirit demolish within us the logic of defeat, the logic of the world, and the logic of the flesh. O God, grant us wisdom and understanding, that we may learn to rely on You. Whenever we rely on You, we are more than conquerors.

O God, Your promises never fail. Even when we see many failures around us, Your promises are established in heaven and will never fail. We will rely on You! Let every brother and sister declare: "Through Him who loved us, we are more than conquerors in all these things!" O God, let Your will be done. Demolish the wrong structures within us, and make us once again well-pleasing to You.

O God, we desire to follow You. We are fully persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from Your love! Lead us into victory! O God, Your promises are established in heaven; they will never fail, and they will surely be fulfilled in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Scriptural Background

Consider this: why did the Apostle Paul write this letter to the Romans? The church in Rome was founded by Christians from Jerusalem. These were the people who experienced the Holy Spirit at Pentecost under Peter, but were later scattered by persecution. The Jerusalem church was on the verge of decay; had it continued on that path, it would have rotted from within. Therefore, God led a small remnant out of Jerusalem to Rome.

Once in Rome, they set up their businesses, found employment, and being a pragmatic and intelligent people, they established a church. But look at their background. They lacked the concept of victory. The Roman church had no framework for overcoming. Their reality was much like ours often is—wherever they looked, they saw nothing but failure.

In their confusion, they wrote to Paul. Why was the church in such a state? This was not how it was supposed to be. Instead of the image of Christ, they saw only corruption. Can you imagine the scene? Power struggles, infighting over who would be leader—it was a chaotic, toxic mess.

In our church, I put an end to such nonsense. But in other churches, political infighting runs rampant. Wherever you have people, you have politics. Confused by this, they wrote to Paul, and Paul answered their queries through the Book of Romans. Their core question was simple: why can we not achieve victory? Does the Gospel of Jesus Christ actually work?

Let me be clear: the Chinese Mingding Doctrine is born out of practice. It is based strictly on the Scriptures, and we preach it only because it works in reality. If it did not work, talking about it would be a waste of time. That is why we have stripped away all the confusing, useless dogmas.

Is there really such a thing as being "more than conquerors"? Paul laid out the mechanics of victory with absolute clarity. He wrote letters to salvage them, dispatched Timothy and Titus, and worked tirelessly. The Corinthian church Paul wrote to was a carnal church. Wherever carnality rules, problems inevitably multiply. Mark my words: a church built by carnal people will never succeed.

A carnal pastor leading carnal believers to build a carnal church will produce nothing of value. This is why the Chinese Mingding Doctrine places heavy emphasis on dealing ruthlessly with the habits of the flesh. If you refuse to discipline your flesh, you are finished. The situation in the Roman church is highly analogous to what we face today.

Paul wrote down the secret of victory for them. I have studied many commentaries on Romans Chapter 8, and frankly, most of them miss the point. A defeated person cannot comprehend the concept of victory. Paul drew a clear line on the left and a line on the right; what lies in between is being "more than conquerors."

If you do not stand within these boundaries, this message is useless to you. Those who live according to the flesh are outside these lines. To set the mind on the flesh is death—it is that simple. What we are discussing here is hard-core truth. Romans Chapter 8 is absolutely critical.

The Law of the Spirit of Life Has Set Us Free

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4)

Why does the Gospel of Jesus Christ work? Because the law of the Spirit of life has set us free. How? Jesus Christ died for us on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins. Your death would achieve nothing. But because Jesus Christ is the Son of God, His death was effective. He, the sinless one, substituted Himself for the guilty, bearing our sins upon His shoulders. This is the crux of the entire matter.

Before this, we lived under a curse, bound by all kinds of bondages. We wanted to break free but could not; we were trapped in a vicious cycle. As we always say, it is not because you performed well, but because God set you free. You did nothing for God; it was the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that liberated us.

Demonic spirits have no legal right over us. As we discussed in the last session, they must obey us. When you command them to leave, they depart easily. The real issue, however, is that our carnal nature remains. This is why our Gospel is one that puts the deeds of the flesh to death. At this point, you can no longer pass the buck.

In the past, you could excuse yourself by saying, "I was bound, I had no choice, I did not know any better." Today, you have no such excuse. God has liberated you; you now have the power of choice. You must decide which logic to follow. My brothers and sisters, you must understand this clearly: we ruin ourselves; the devil does not do it for us.

If you allow the devil to engrave the logic of this world onto your heart, you are finished. Look around at the fate of carnal Christians. A carnal Christian will never end up well. Christ set them free, yet they choose to remain carnal, insisting on "being themselves."

The Chinese Mingding Doctrine not only explains theology with absolute clarity, but also demonstrates practically how we overcome through reliance on God and obedience to the Spirit. The truth is, humans gravitate easily toward carnality. Let me give you an example: when an elderly father is dying, the carnal mind panics, crying, "You cannot die!" That is a fatal mindset. Many Christians react exactly this way. Is this not a personal choice?

The Bible teaches no such sentimentality. It is regrettable that people simply follow their natural instincts instead of systematically internalizing the Word of God. What they have inside is a fragmented, incoherent mess.

They argue, "Who wouldn't grieve when a loved one passes?" Yet the Scripture states that to depart and be with Christ is far better. Why do you ignore this? The law of the Spirit of life has set us free, giving us the power to choose. You cannot claim ignorance.

You Can Choose to Obey the Flesh, or You Can Choose to Obey the Spirit

You have a choice: obey the flesh, or obey the Spirit. This is Paul's point. You now have the power of choice. What will you choose? In the past, you suffered from various illnesses and problems. Jesus Christ led you out, granting you grace to escape your plight. This was not done so that you could indulge your flesh.

It was to show you that your deliverance had nothing to do with your own merit. Grace is given to lead you to repentance. You fell into that plight because you were carnal. Why, then, return to carnality now? Do you wish to walk straight back into disaster?

Let me tell you, sometimes a crisis is no longer just a crisis—it becomes your grave in the wilderness. Why choose to obey the flesh? It is sheer folly. Yet, this is human nature: the foolish persist in their folly. Furthermore, the foolish have a peculiar trait—they are content to be foolish, to make stupid mistakes, and to suffer the consequences, but they cannot tolerate being told they are foolish.

They say, "I can be foolish, I can do stupid things, I can suffer, but you must not call me foolish." It is mind-boggling. Why obey the flesh? The devil is not forcing you. The law of Christ has set you free; He has become your sin offering. The choice is entirely yours.

What you choose now determines your destiny. Some choose the flesh, suffer the consequences, and run back to God. But once restored, they return to their carnal ways. Ultimately, they will perish in the wilderness, rejected by God because they refuse to learn their lesson.

Let me warn you: when you experience a minor ailment, do not dismiss it as minor discipline. When severe discipline strikes, you will not be able to ignore it. It is painful to watch. People busy themselves with endless trivialities until they are diagnosed with cancer—then, suddenly, they are no longer busy. In the end, it is all a result of your own choices.

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:5-6)

What have you set your mind on? To set the mind on the flesh is to be hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. The choice is yours. Do not excuse yourself by saying, "I cannot control myself." If you fail to self-control, you will pay the price. Remember, to obey the flesh is death—and it will be a miserable end. Why reject a good life in favor of ruin? It is deeply regrettable.

When we first believe, we are entirely carnal. Through faith in Christ—not because we suddenly became good, but because we believed and God granted us grace to repent—we begin a process. Can we reduce that 100% carnality to 99%? We must deal with it systematically: 98%, 95%, 90%, 80%, step by step. If you are still 90% carnal, God will continue to discipline you, and you will continue to suffer the consequences.

Many of you have received healing; that is grace. But when you revert to carnality, you invite the demons back. Human folly is common. Having experienced God's grace, people fail to ruthlessly deal with their bad habits, thinking it is noble to "be themselves." They only bring suffering upon themselves.

I have decided to let go. If you wish to suffer more, that is God's business. If you are smart and wish to suffer less, you will discipline yourself. The logic is clear: if you set yourself against God, how can you expect to prosper? The Holy Spirit enters us to put to death the deeds of the body. Will you submit to the flesh, or will you wage war against your carnal habits?

The amount of sickness in your body is directly proportional to the garbage in your mind. Let us be brutally honest. God uses sickness to expose the hidden secrets of the heart; He uses misfortune to expose the rubbish inside us, bringing the friction and rot in our minds to light.

All Who Are Led by the Spirit of God Are Sons of God

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:9-14)

This is a profound truth. We must recognize that some people, no matter how much you instruct them, refuse to follow the Spirit of God, while others do so naturally. It is a telling phenomenon. When the Spirit of God dwells in us, we belong to the Spirit, and He works within us to put to death the deeds of the body.

The equation is simple: live according to the flesh and you will die; put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit and you will live. The Holy Spirit dwells in us for one primary purpose: to put to death our carnal deeds. This has very little to do with demons directly; the degree of your carnality determines the foothold of the demonic. When people invite demons into their lives, they suffer. How can anyone prosper with demonic oppression?

Therefore, we must have a realistic understanding of sickness. Why do people fall ill? Quite simply, because of carnality. If the very Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in us, how can such immense power fail to resolve our issues? This is what it means to be more than conquerors.

If this powerful Holy Spirit could raise Jesus Christ from the dead, then this same Spirit dwelling in us will surely give life to our mortal bodies. And that life is not a carnal existence, but a spiritual one. For it is the Spirit that gives life.

Led by the Spirit of God

Therefore, those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. Many refuse this guidance. They died in the wilderness. They are not the sons of God. People often ask me, "Pastor, did those who perished in the wilderness go to heaven or to hell?" Let me be blunt: they went to hell.

I have not been there myself, but simple common sense tells me so. How can those who provoked God's utter displeasure stand in His presence? It is a tragedy of the highest order to become a Christian only to die in the wilderness. They escaped Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, ate manna, and witnessed miracle after miracle. Yet, they refused to enter the Promised Land. Why? Because they feared death. They remained carnal, ruled by the flesh.

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:15-17)

The flesh is thoroughly corrupt. Look at the ten spies. They returned from Canaan and declared it a suicide mission. They forgot that God is the one who gives us overwhelming victory. How could the inhabitants of Canaan compare to the armies of Egypt? Pharaoh’s forces were far more formidable. If God delivered us from Pharaoh, what was Canaan to Him?

But human folly prevailed. They died on the spot. Not in battle against the Canaanites, but struck down by God Himself—crushed like ants. And these ten spies were leaders of the twelve tribes. Tell me, what is the utility of gratifying the flesh? None whatsoever.

To be led by the Spirit of God is to be more than conquerors. It is to claim the glorious status, authority, and power of the sons of God. The very Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells within us. How can we fail? The choice is before you. It is a clear, honorable path. Choose to be a son of God, and live a life of triumph.

The Holy Spirit Helps Our Weakness

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:26-28)

You must boast in your weakness. If you genuinely acknowledge your limitations, the Holy Spirit will step in. But if you think you are self-sufficient, the Holy Spirit will not assist you. If you allow your ego to inflate, thinking you have rendered monumental service to the church, you are in grave danger.

This is why the Apostle Paul said, "If I must boast, I will boast in my weakness." Victory does not depend on our own prowess, but on God's intervention in our weakness. Do you understand this logic? God detests a pompous, self-important attitude in His service.

It is God who is great. He goes before us. When we first believed, He led the way, fought our battles, and saved us. Why then do we now rely on ourselves? Weakness is a common human condition. You are weak, I am weak, we are all weak. That is normal. The issue is not the weakness itself, but whether we allow the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness.

The moment you are weak is the moment the Holy Spirit is ready to assist. But you must align yourself with the Spirit. If you remain carnal, the Spirit cannot guide you. Therefore, we do not fear weakness. As Paul asked, "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?"

Paul understood this perfectly. He was not a man of superhuman strength or martial prowess. He was a man who knew his weaknesses, but he relied on the constant help of the Holy Spirit.

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

If you lack strength, you must pray in tongues constantly. When you cannot master yourself, the Holy Spirit will assist. Weakness is not the obstacle. From Egypt, through the wilderness, to the Promised Land, there was never a moment we were not weak. We must rely on God every step of the way.

Are we not more than conquerors through Him who loved us? Even in your weakness, God grants victory. He did it in the past; why have you forgotten it now? God is our strength, our help, and our fortress.

Human Hope Determines Human Choices

A man's hope dictates his choices. Why do some people vacillate and fail to make the right choice? Because their hope is anchored in this world.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." (Romans 8:18-25)

What is your hope today? Let us analyze this cold-bloodedly. Whether you are thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, or seventy—what is your hope? Do you even have one? Some hope merely for a comfortable retirement. And what happens after that?

To live, you must have hope. A man without hope is a tragedy. In the old days of poverty, a man's hope was simple: to work hard and clear his debts in five years. He worked with relentless drive. Today, people have food, shelter, and security, but they have lost their hope. Consequently, the slightest discomfort becomes an unbearable misery.

If your ultimate ambition is merely to live a slightly more comfortable life on this earth, you are carnal. If your focus is entirely on earthly matters, you are carnal. But if you are a soldier in God's army, your hope is to fight the good fight and claim His promises.

Look at yourselves. Do you behave like elite soldiers? It boils down to a question of hope. Most people fixate on trivial, earthly desires—a bigger house, only to find it empty of meaning; a better car, only to find it brings no lasting satisfaction. Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Once these material goals are achieved, the illusion vanishes, and life becomes a tedious grind.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, our hope must be the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies, and our return to God as His children. You might say this sounds abstract. But let me ask you: what is the alternative? Earthly hopes are futile. Do you hope for a beautifully crafted urn for your ashes? Do you hope for a grand funeral? It is utterly meaningless.

Some wealthy individuals, lacking heirs, freeze their eggs or buy sperm to produce a child just to inherit their wealth. It is an exercise in futility, yet they call it "hope." Once you anchor your hope in these earthly schemes, you are finished.

Recently, a corrupt official was arrested. He had stockpiled cash—truckloads of it. What was the purpose? You cannot use it as toilet paper; it is too stiff. You cannot wipe your mouth with it; it will scratch you. What is the utility? A room full of toilet paper has practical value; a room full of illicit cash is useless. It is sheer, unadulterated folly.

If you lack nothing in Jesus Christ, you have no anxiety about the future. That is true security. There is no sense in placing your hope in this world; once you die, none of it matters. Our hope is the glorious inheritance in Christ—the adoption as sons of the living God. Compared to the glory that awaits us, our present trials are insignificant.

I challenge you: what do you truly hope for? If it is earthly things, your ultimate destination is merely a decorated urn. If it is your descendants, make no mistake—within a few generations, they will forget you entirely. You will be irrelevant. Your hope dictates your choices. Unless you accept that life apart from God is vanity of vanities, you will remain trapped in earthly illusions.

Take stock of your life. Think this through logically. Once you see the reality, you will choose the crown of glory laid up for us in eternity. You may ask, "Is this crown real?" Even if you harbor doubts, this hope alone disciplines us to put to death the deeds of the flesh, ridding us of flaws and saving us from self-inflicted suffering.

Victory is Predestined by God

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)

God has predestined your victory. Do you hear me? Triumph is pre-ordained. Those whom God foreknew, He chose. If He sees a man who will remain stubbornly carnal, He bypasses him. But those He chooses are those who will pursue eternal glory. Therefore, the church must never tolerate carnality within its ranks.

We must build the church with people of heavenly hope, running with the same Mingding, the same vision, and the same mission. Some ask, "How do I know my future?" God knows your future. He has called you; will you not respond? Tear down your worldly hopes and triumph through Jesus Christ. Our victory is predestined. We did not arrive here by mere coincidence; it was God's sovereign design.

What Then Shall We Say to These Things?

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39)

The logic is clear. Armed with this heavenly hope, even if we face death all day long, we survive and prevail. Is it peril? Is it the sword? We have overcome them all. What can separate us from the love of God? Absolutely nothing.

God will sustain us. We will navigate through every crisis, no matter how severe. Whether life or death, present or future, high or low. This is a powerful, unshakeable declaration: we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

The minor challenges you face today are nothing. We will overcome them. When you view life through this lens, the trivialities of this world lose their grip. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. Nothing can rob us of our eternal hope. This is victory. God has already won the battle for us. Amen.

That concludes my sermon. May God bless you all.