Showing posts with label believe in God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label believe in God. Show all posts

Friday, December 14, 2018

What Is the Meaning of Christmas, and Are You Truly Worshiping the Lord Jesus?

What Is the Meaning of Christmas, and Are You Truly Worshiping the Lord Jesus?


By Siyuan
The Origins of Christmas
   Every year, as Christmas approaches, shops on the street arrange a dazzling display of Christmas presents, with Santa Claus and Christmas trees, and so on. Festooned in trees and on buildings there are many-colored lights, and whole cities are decorated with lanterns and colored hangings, and everywhere there is joy and excitement. To Christianity, Christmas is a very special holiday, and several months before Christmas, many churches will begin to busy themselves preparing everything necessary for the Christmas holiday. On Christmas Day, the churches are filled, and brothers and sisters get involved in the celebrations, eating Christmas dinner, putting on performances and worshiping the Lord Jesus, and so on. Everyone’s face is flushed with happiness. However, when we get together in joyous gatherings to celebrate the Lord Jesus’ birth, do we understand the meaning of Christmas? Perhaps brothers and sisters will say, “The Lord Jesus was nailed upon the cross to redeem all mankind, and so as to remember and celebrate the Lord Jesus’ birth, Christians established Christmas. Though the specific day on which the Lord Jesus was born is not recorded in the Bible, Christmas gradually became a universal holiday in the wake of the expansion of Jesus Christ’s gospel.” We may have known this, but do we know God’s love and His will for us that was actually hidden behind the birth of the Lord Jesus? And how should we approach Christmas in a way that is after the Lord’s heart?

Monday, December 3, 2018

Classic Words on the Bible

1. For many years, people’s traditional means of belief (that of Christianity, one of the world’s three major religions) has been to read the Bible; departure from the Bible is not the belief in the Lord, departure from the Bible is an evil cult, and heresy, and even when people read other books, the foundation of these books must be the explanation of the Bible. Which is to say, if you say you believe in the Lord, then you must read the Bible, you must eat and drink the Bible, and outside the Bible you must not worship any book that does not involve the Bible. If you do, then you are betraying God. From the time when there was the Bible, people’s belief in the Lord has been the belief in the Bible. Instead of saying people believe in the Lord, it is better to say they believe in the Bible; rather than saying they have begun reading the Bible, it is better to say they have begun believing in the Bible; and rather than saying they have returned before the Lord, it would be better to say they have returned before the Bible. In this way, people worship the Bible as if it were God, as if it were their lifeblood and losing it would be the same as losing their life. People see the Bible as being as high as God, and there are even those who see it as higher than God. If people are without the work of the Holy Spirit, if they cannot feel God, they can carry on living—but as soon as they lose the Bible, or lose the famous chapters and sayings from the Bible, then it is as if they have lost their life. And so, as soon as people believe in the Lord they begin reading the Bible, and memorizing the Bible, and the more of the Bible they are able to memorize, the more this proves that they love the Lord and are of great faith. Those who have read the Bible and can speak of it to others are all good brothers and sisters. For all these years, people’s faith and loyalty to the Lord has been measured according to the extent of their understanding of the Bible. Most people simply don’t understand why they should believe in God, nor how to believe in God, and do nothing but search blindly for clues to decipher the chapters of the Bible. They have never pursued the direction of the work of the Holy Spirit; all along, they have done nothing but desperately study and investigate the Bible, and no one has ever found newer work of the Holy Spirit outside of the Bible, no one has ever departed from the Bible, nor have they ever dared to depart from the Bible. People have studied the Bible for all these years, they have come up with so many explanations, and put in so much work; they also have many differences of opinion about the Bible, which they debate endlessly, such that over two thousand different denominations have been formed today. They all want to find some special explanations, or more profound mysteries in the Bible, they want to explore it, and to find in it the background to Jehovah’s work in Israel, or the background to Jesus’ work in Judea, or more mysteries that no one else knows. People’s approach to the Bible is one of obsession and faith, and no one can be completely clear about the inside story or substance of the Bible. Thus, the result is that today, people still have an indescribable sense of magicalness when it comes to the Bible; even more than that, they are obsessed with it, and have faith in it. Today, everyone wants to find the prophecies of the work of the last days in the Bible, they want to discover what work God does during the last days, and what signs there are for the last days. In this way, their worship of the Bible becomes more fervent, and the closer it gets to the last days, the more credence they give to the prophecies of the Bible, particularly those about the last days. With such blind belief in the Bible, with such trust in the Bible, they have no desire to seek the work of the Holy Spirit. In people’s conceptions, they think that only the Bible can bring the work of the Holy Spirit; only in the Bible can they find the footsteps of God; only in the Bible are hidden the mysteries of God’s work; only the Bible—not other books or people—can clarify everything of God and the entirety of His work; the Bible can bring the work of heaven to earth; and the Bible can both begin and conclude the ages. With these conceptions, people have no inclination to search for the work of the Holy Spirit. So, regardless of how much of a help the Bible was to people in the past, it has become an obstacle to God’s latest work. Without the Bible, people can search for the footsteps of God elsewhere, yet today, His footsteps have been contained by the Bible, and extending His latest work has become double difficult, and an uphill struggle. This is all because of the famous chapters and sayings from the Bible, as well as the various prophecies of the Bible. The Bible has become an idol in people’s minds, it has become a puzzle in their brains, and they are simply incapable of believing that God can work exclusive of the Bible, they are incapable of believing that people can find God outside of the Bible, much less are they able to believe that God could depart from the Bible during the final work and start anew. This is unthinkable to people; they can’t believe it, and neither can they imagine it. The Bible has become a great obstacle to people’s acceptance of God’s new work, and has made it difficult to broaden this new work.
from “Concerning the Bible (1)” in The Word Appears in the Flesh


Friday, November 9, 2018

End Time Salvation | The Second Coming of Jesus | "Gospel Choir 5th Performance"


Songs of Choir: 1. God Will Restore the World to What It Was at the Creation
2. In the Last Days God Mainly Accomplishes Everything by His Word
3. How God Rules Over All Things
4. God’s Name Will Be Magnified Among the Gentile Nations
1. God Will Restore the World to What It Was at the Creation
With God’s utterance deepening, He observes the situation of the entire universe. All things are being renewed because of God’s word. The heaven is changing, the earth is changing, and men are showing their true self. Gradually all men are after their kinds, and unconsciously, unconsciously they all return to their “family.” Thus God rejoices greatly.
With God there is no disturbance. Unconsciously God’s work has been accomplished,
and unconsciously all things have been changed. When God created the world, He made all things after their kinds, so that all the physical things were grouped. When God’s management plan is about to end, He will restore the world to what it was at the creation and restore all things to what they originally were, thoroughly changing them, so that everything will come under God’s plan. The time has come! The last stage in God’s plan will soon be accomplished. The filthy old world! It is bound to fall in God’s word! It is bound to come to nothing because of God’s plan! All things! They will regain life in God’s word and have their “Ruler”! The holy, unblemished new world! It will surely be revived in God’s glory! Mount Zion! Do not be silent anymore; God has returned victorious! God observes the whole earth, observes the whole earth among all things; people on earth begin, begin their new life, their new life again and have a new hope.
God’s people! How can they not resurrect in God’s light? How can they not jubilate under God’s leading? The earth is shouting for joy, and waters are heartily laughing! The resurrected Israel! How can it not feel proud for God’s predestination? Who ever weeps? Who ever wails? The former Israel no longer exists, and the Israel of today has risen up in the world and has stood up in the hearts of all people. It will surely have the foundation for its existence because of God’s people! The hateful Egypt! Can it still resist God? How can it escape God’s chastisement because of God’s mercy? All those God loves will exist forever, and all those who resist God will be chastised forever, because God is a jealous God and will not lightly let go any doings of anyone. God will search the whole earth and will appear as righteousness, majesty, wrath, and chastisement in the East of the world, appearing to all men, appearing, appearing to all men!
from “The Twenty-sixth Utterance” of God’s Utterances to the Entire Universe in The Word Appears in the Flesh



Introduction

This time, God comes to do work not in a spiritual body but in a very ordinary one. Not only is it the body of God’s second incarnation, but also the body in which God returns. It is very ordinary flesh. In Him, you cannot see anything that is different from others, but you can receive from Him the truths you have never heard before. This insignificant flesh is the embodiment of all the words of truth from God, that which undertakes God’s work in the last days, and an expression of the whole of God’s disposition for man to come to know. Did you not desire greatly to see the God in heaven? Did you not desire greatly to understand the God in heaven? Did you not desire greatly to see the destination of mankind? He will tell you all these secrets that no one can ever tell you, and He will even tell you of the truths that you do not understand. He is your gate into the kingdom, and your guide into the new age. He is your gate into the kingdom, and your guide into the new age.
Every Nation Worships the Practical God
1. This time, God comes to do work not in a spiritual body but in a very ordinary, very ordinary one. Not only is it the body of God’s second incarnation, but also the body in which God returns. It is very ordinary flesh. In Him, you cannot see anything that is different from others, but you can receive from Him the truths you have never heard before, receive from Him the truths you have never heard before. This insignificant flesh is the embodiment of all the words of truth from God, that which undertakes God’s work in the last days, and an expression of the whole of God’s disposition for man to come to know. Did you not desire greatly to see the God in heaven? Did you not desire greatly to understand the God in heaven? Did you not desire greatly to see the destination of mankind? He will tell you all these secrets that no one can ever tell you, and He will even tell you of, tell you of the truths that you do not understand. He is your gate into the kingdom, and your guide into the new age.
2. Such an ordinary flesh holds many unfathomable mysteries. His deeds may be inscrutable to you, may be inscrutable to you, but the goals of the work He does are sufficient for you to see that He is not, is not a simple flesh as man believes, as man believes. For He represents the will of God as well as the care shown by God toward mankind in the last days. For He represents the will of God as well as the care shown by God toward mankind in the last days. Though you cannot hear the words He speaks that seemingly shake the heavens and earth or see His eyes like blazing flames, and though you cannot feel the discipline of His iron rod, you can hear from His words the fury of God and know that God shows compassion for mankind; you can see the righteous disposition of God and His wisdom, and moreover, realize the concern and care that God has for all mankind.
3. The work of God in the last days is to allow man to see the God in heaven, see the God in heaven live among men on earth, and to enable man to come to know, obey, revere, and love God. This is why He has returned to flesh for a second time. Though what man sees this day is a God that is the same as man, a God with a nose and two eyes: an unremarkable God, in the end God will show you that without the existence of this man, the heaven and earth will undergo a tremendous change; the heaven will grow dim, the earth will become chaos, and all mankind will live in famine and plagues. He will show you that without the salvation, salvation of God incarnate in the last days, then God would have long ago destroyed all mankind, destroyed all mankind in hell; without the existence of this flesh, then you would forever be chief of sinners and corpses evermore.
4. You should know that without the existence of this flesh, all mankind would face an inevitable calamity and find it difficult to escape, escape God’s more severe punishment of mankind in the last days. Without the birth of this ordinary flesh, you would all be in a state where neither life nor death will come no matter how you seek it; without the existence of this flesh, then this day you would not be able to receive the truth and come before the throne of God. Rather, you would be punished by God because of, because of your grievous sins. Rather, you would be punished by God because of your grievous sins. Do you know? If not for the return of God to the flesh, none would have a chance at salvation; and if not for the coming of this flesh, God would have long ago ended the age of old. As such, can you still reject the second incarnation of God? Since you can so greatly profit from this ordinary man, then why would you not accept Him readily?
5. In the end every nation shall worship this ordinary man, as well as give thanks to and obey this insignificant man, obey this insignificant man. In the end every nation shall worship this ordinary man, as well as give thanks to and obey this insignificant man, obey this insignificant man. Because it is He who has brought the truth, the life, and the way to save all mankind, save all mankind, ease the conflict between God and man, bring God and man closer together, and communicate thoughts between God and man, between God and man. It is also He who has brought even greater glory to God. Is not an ordinary man such as this worthy of your trust and adoration? Is such an ordinary flesh not fit to be called Christ? Can such an ordinary man not be the expression of God among men? Is not such a man who helps mankind be spared disaster worthy of your love and for you to hold? In the end every nation shall worship this ordinary man, as well as give thanks to and obey this insignificant man, obey this insignificant man. In the end every nation shall worship this ordinary man, as well as give thanks to and obey this insignificant man, obey this insignificant man, obey this insignificant man.
from “Do You Know? God Has Done a Great Thing Among Men” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Only Those Who Truly Submit to God Shall Receive His Salvation

In words and in doctrine, we all acknowledge that God is faithful and whatever he says will be fulfilled, but many times we do not truly believe God’s word from the bottom of our heart and even often deny it in our practical experience. For example, God says: “Nothing is too difficult for me.” However, when we encounter some difficulties or when we achieve no results in the gospel work, we no longer believe this word but think that the practical difficulties are there and that even if we rely on God, we will not be able to resolve the problems or achieve the results. God says: “God perfects people according to their different functions.” But some of the brothers and sisters who preach the gospel, handle general affairs, or do hosting cannot believe this word. They always consider that only the leaders and those who water the churches are the ones to be perfected by God, while they are the serving ones, not the ones to be perfected by God. God says: “I do not care whether you have done laborious service and made great contribution, whether you have much seniority…; as long as you do not act according to my requirements, you can never receive my approval.” But some brothers and sisters cannot believe this word. And they always consider that as they have followed God for so many years, they have done hard work if not good work and God will not be so heartless as to eliminate them in the end. God says: “God’s will is to save man to the utmost.” However, some brothers and sisters do not believe this word but think that they are through and God will never forgive them, because they have brought great losses to God’s family in performing their duties or have once committed a grievous transgression. God says: “All God’s words are directed at everyone who acknowledges God and at everyone who follows God.” But we say that some of God’s words are directed at us and some not, for in us there are not those kinds of states God speaks about. Again, some people see that God always says such words as “My day has been laid before your eyes,” “my day will not be delayed,” and “my day is truly not very distant,” but so far God’s day still has not come; so they think that God’s words are without accuracy.

Saturday, October 13, 2018

What Is Genuinely Following God

Pursuing the truth can let us know God and live an authentic life. That is to say, after we understand some truths, we will have true faith in God and will be able to genuinely follow, obey and serve God. If we do not have any truths, can we genuinely follow God? We cannot. There are many people who believe in God, live a church life and attend meetings, but if they have no one to lead them, they will fall back. Some people will not read the words of God anymore, shun God, lose their faith in God and eventually fall in the darkness. If there were no good people leading, who are genuinely in pursuit of the truth, could you continue to keep the words of God? Could you stand witness? Could you still do your duty as usual? I am afraid that some people cannot. So are such people genuinely following God? These people just believe in God but do not follow God. The main reason why people believe in God but do not follow God is that they do not have the truth and they do not pursue the truth. People who do not have the truth do not have a new life and do not have God’s words as the reality of their life. Such people cannot follow God’s path, the real path of life. What are the signs of people who follow God? Firstly, they have to pursue the truth, they are eager to understand and know the words of God and to get the truth for their own lives, so they are particularly interested in communicating the truth and eating and drinking the words of God. No matter what environment they are in, they feel that they can only depend on eating and drinking the words of God and pursuing the truth to live and never leave the words of God. This kind of person is really following God. Some people often talk about their own experiences, but have no truth as the reality of their life and just understand some doctrines. Although they can make high-sounding speeches and speak about their own small experiences, when they face a trial, they collapse; when they face life constraints, they do not have faith and collapse and when they face specific difficulties, they have no belief. So are such people following God? Such people are not following God. When there is a good person leading them, they can go along for the ride and as soon as they see the benefits for them in pursuing the truth, they understand in principle, so they continue to attend meetings for this interest and hope to get real blessings, but because they do not desire the truth, when they are faced with some particular circumstances, they cannot carry on and come to a standstill. Because this kind of person hasn’t got the truth, they have no real faith in God. So how do they do their duty and communicate their experience? They also want to get the truth and to be saved, but because in their heart they are not too fond of the truth, just a little interested, when people speak they listen, they understand some of it so feel a little excited, but when they encounter some setbacks and difficulties, they have no enthusiasm. So when they do not have a good leader, they cannot follow God and cannot live a normal church life and they shun God. Do you have such a person in your midst? If there is no one to lead you and to nourish you, how many people can stay standing? How many people can continue to pursue the truth, live out the reality of God’s word, bear witness to God as before and follow God? Are you sure of yourself? Some people can talk about small experiences and small witnesses, but does this count as getting the truth? Does this count as entering into life in reality? What kind of people count as getting the truth and really having reality? The truth cannot be achieved by a little bit of plain experience. Getting the truth is not a simple matter. Tell me, how many years of experiencing God’s words is enough to truly understand them? God wants us to be honest. And how many years do we need to experience it before we truly become an honest man? Is having a little experience and witness enough? A little is not enough. People’s experience of the words of God goes from the superficial to the deep. It is not a case of having a little experience and immediately being able to completely understand the essence of the truth of God’s words. Some people face trials and outwardly, by depending on God, they seem to be victorious. Does this count as real life experience? This does not count because they do not have the truth. This is the most superficial experience. Real life experience is experience to a certain level. Only an experience where you have a real understanding of the truth, completely figure out God’s will, understand the essence of the truth, are able to live by the words of God and completely according to the words of God and act in accordance with God’s will is a real experience of entering into life. Some small experiences are experiences of keeping rules, the surface of the words and the most shallow experiences that are not related to the essence of the truth. It is like when some people who wish to be honest people are facing some issue and say, “Should I lie or tell the truth?” After praying, they say, “This time in spite of face, I will speak honestly.” In a spurt of energy they speak honestly. When they speak of experiencing bearing witness, they say, “I have now experienced it and tasted the taste of being an honest man and I am now an honest man.” Is this correct? That is being an honest man one time, the one practice of being an honest man. So do you dare promise that you can be an honest person in many situations in the future? Why can it not be guaranteed? You have not got the truth. You have not entered into the truth. Wait until one day when you do not need prayer but you always speak honestly and to speak a lie is an effort and painful, when you can be an honest person very easily and can speak honestly, only then can this be called having the reality of being an honest man. It makes so many people who come into contact with you say, “This person is an honest man; that is true.” No matter whether it is someone who believes in God or a nonbeliever, when they get along and speak with you for a while, they can discover that you are an honest person and a good person. Wait until this happens; that is then called completely entering into the reality of the truth. ... Do we have any honest people around us now? Now we have a lot of corruption that has been revealed and even though some people can become honest people later, now they have too little entry into life experience and have not yet had any major changes and must continue their pursuit for a few more years. After a few years’ pursuit, you will see those people have really changed. The more they believe, the more they have human likeness, the more they believe, the more honest and the less deceitful they become. The more they believe, the more simple and open they become, the more they believe, the wiser they become and the more they are able to get along with people. This kind of person has got the truth and has really entered into reality. Now people have not yet got the truth and you cannot see major changes in people, only a few small changes in behavior and no changes in their life disposition, so you want to find honest people, but they are not easy to find. Wait until you have been in pursuit of the truth for a few years and you will see that some people really have changed: “This person is worth associating with. This person is an honest man. This person truly believes in God. He is a follower of God.” There are some people who hope to eat their fill and are always longing for blessings. Because they do not love the truth and have lived a church life for a long time, they begin to get bored and feel that the pursuit of the truth is boring. The more they believe, the more bored they get until eventually they leave and after leaving, they become more dark and their condition becomes worse and worse. Once they return to the nonbelievers they find that the nonbelievers are so difficult to deal with and that they are so dark, and they recall their time in God’s family, but they can do nothing about that either. People who do not love the truth cannot continue on this path and cannot persevere. Now there are some people who are very dangerous, if they do not have good people to lead them, they may unwittingly dismiss themselves. Is this not the case? You unwittingly dismiss yourself and are unable to persevere despite wanting to. Although you say, “I still believe. In my heart I will always believe.” But your church life becomes less and less, you eat and drink the words of God less and less, your inner faith becomes less and less and you even unconsciously no longer pray. Have you not already retreated? What’s the point of just being stubborn and reluctant to admit your retreat? Does every church have this kind of person in it? They have pursued the truth for one or two years but no matter how they pursue, they feel bored, uninterested and feel tired and spiritless and eventually have no energy. They feel that believing in God is pursuing the truth and that it is meaningless.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Only God’s Judgment and Chastisement in the Last Days Is His Critical, Decisive Work for Saving Mankind

Bible Verses for Reference:
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come (Rev 14:7).
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God(1Pe 4:17).
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people(Isa 2:4).
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day (Jhn 12:47-48).
I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come (Jhn 16:12-13).
Relevant Words of God:
When Jesus came into the world of man, He brought the Age of Grace and ended the Age of Law. During the last days, God once more became flesh, and when He became flesh this time, He ended the Age of Grace and brought the Age of Kingdom. All those who accept the second incarnation of God will be led into the Age of Kingdom, and be able to personally accept the guidance of God. Though Jesus did much work among man, He only completed the redemption of all mankind and became man’s sin offering, and did not rid man of all his corrupt disposition. Fully saving man from the influence of Satan not only required Jesus to take on the sins of man as the sin offering, but also required God to do greater work to completely rid man of his disposition, which has been corrupted by Satan. And so, after man was forgiven his sins, God has returned to flesh to lead man into the new age, and begun the work of chastisement and judgment, and this work has brought man into a higher realm. All those who submit under His dominion shall enjoy higher truth and receive greater blessings. They shall truly live in the light, and shall gain the truth, the way, and the life.
from Preface to The Word Appears in the Flesh
And so, when the final age—the age of the last days—arrives, My name shall change again. I shall not be called Jehovah, or Jesus, much less the Messiah, but shall be called the powerful Almighty God Himself, and under this name I shall bring the entire age to an end. I was once known as Jehovah. I was also called the Messiah, and people once called Me Jesus the Savior because they loved and respected Me. But today I am not the Jehovah or Jesus that people knew in times past—I am the God who has returned in the last days, the God who shall bring the age to an end. I am the God Himself that rises up at the ends of the earth, replete with My entire disposition, and full of authority, honor and glory. People have never engaged with Me, have never known Me, and have always been ignorant of My disposition. From the creation of the world until today, not one person has seen Me. This is the God who appears to man during the last days but is hidden among man. He resides among man, true and real, like the burning sun and the flaming fire, filled with power and brimming with authority. There is not a single person or thing that shall not be judged by My words, and not a single person or thing that shall not be purified through the burning of fire. Eventually, all nations shall be blessed because of My words, and also smashed to pieces because of My words. In this way, all people during the last days shall see that I am the Savior returned, I am the Almighty God that conquers all of mankind, and I was once the sin offering for man, but in the last days I also become the flames of the sun that burn all things, as well as the Sun of righteousness that reveals all things. Such is My work of the last days. I took this name and am possessed of this disposition so that all people may see that I am a righteous God, and am the burning sun, and the flaming fire. It is so that all may worship Me, the only true God, and so that they may see My true face: I am not only the God of the Israelites, and am not just the Redeemer—I am the God of all creatures throughout heavens and earth and seas.
from “The Savior Has Already Returned Upon a ‘White Cloud’” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
The work of the last days is to speak words. Great changes can be effected in man by means of words. The changes now effected in these people upon their accepting these words are much greater than those effected in people upon their accepting the signs and wonders of the Age of Grace. For, in the Age of Grace, the demons were cast out from man with the laying on of hands and prayer, but the corrupt dispositions within man still remained. Man was healed of his sickness and forgiven his sins, but as for just how man was to be purged of the corrupt satanic dispositions within him, this work had yet to be done. Man was only saved and forgiven his sins for his faith, but the sinful nature of man was not extirpated and still remained within him. The sins of man were forgiven through the agency of the incarnate God, but this does not mean that man no longer has sin within him. The sins of man could be forgiven through the sin offering, but as for just how man can be made to sin no more, and how his sinful nature may be extirpated completely and transformed, he has no way of solving this problem. The sins of man were forgiven, and this is because of the work of God’s crucifixion, but man continued to live within the corrupt satanic disposition of old. This being so, man must be completely saved from his corrupt satanic disposition, so that his sinful nature may be completely extirpated, never to develop again, thus enabling the disposition of man to be transformed. This would require man to grasp the path of growth in life, to grasp the way of life, and to grasp the way to change his disposition. Furthermore, it would require man to act in accordance with this path, so that his disposition may gradually be changed and he may live under the shining of the light, so that all that he does may be in accord with the will of God, so that he may cast away his corrupt satanic disposition, and so that he may break free from Satan’s influence of darkness, thereby emerging fully from sin. Only then will man receive complete salvation. At the time that Jesus was doing His work, man’s knowledge of Him was still vague and unclear. Man always believed Him to be the son of David, and proclaimed Him to be a great prophet, the benevolent Lord who redeemed man’s sins. Some, on the strength of their faith, were healed just from touching the edge of His garment; the blind could see and even the dead could be restored to life. However, man was unable to discover the corrupt satanic disposition deeply rooted within himself, neither did he know how to cast it away. Man received much grace, such as the peace and happiness of the flesh, the faith of one member bringing blessing on an entire family, the healing of sickness, and so on. The rest were the good deeds of man and his godly appearance; if man could live on the basis of these, he was considered an acceptable believer. Only believers of this kind could enter heaven after death, which means that they were saved. But, in their lifetime, these people did not understand at all the way of life. All they did was to commit sins and then confess their sins in a constant cycle without making any path toward changing their disposition: Such was the condition of man in the Age of Grace. Has man received complete salvation? No! Therefore, after that stage of work was finished, there still remained the work of judgment and chastisement. This stage is to make man pure by means of the word and thereby give him a path to follow. This stage would not be fruitful or meaningful if it continued with the casting out of demons, for it would fail to extirpate man’s sinful nature, and man would come to a standstill at the forgiveness of his sins. Through the sin offering, man has been forgiven his sins, for the work of the crucifixion has already come to an end and God has prevailed over Satan. But the corrupt disposition of man still remaining within him, man can still sin and resist God, and God has not gained mankind. That is why in this stage of work God uses the word to expose the corrupt disposition of man, causing him to practice in accordance with the right path. This stage is more meaningful than the previous one, as well as more fruitful, for now it is the word that directly supplies man’s life and enables the disposition of man to be completely renewed; it is a much more thorough stage of work. Therefore, the incarnation in the last days has completed the significance of God’s incarnation and completely finished God’s plan of management for man’s salvation.
from “The Mystery of the Incarnation (4)” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
In the last days, Christ uses a variety of truths to teach man, expose the essence of man, and dissect his words and deeds. These words comprise various truths, such as man’s duty, how man should obey God, how man should be loyal to God, how man ought to live out the normal humanity, as well as the wisdom and the disposition of God, and so on. These words are all directed at the essence of man and his corrupt disposition. In particular, those words that expose how man spurns God are spoken in regard to how man is an embodiment of Satan and an enemy force against God. In undertaking His work of judgment, God does not simply make clear the nature of man with just a few words; He exposes, deals with, and prunes it over the long term. These methods of exposure, dealing, and pruning cannot be substituted with ordinary words, but with the truth that man does not possess at all. Only methods of this kind are deemed judgment; only through judgment of this kind can man be subdued and thoroughly convinced into submission to God, and moreover gain true knowledge of God. What the work of judgment brings about is man’s understanding of the true face of God and the truth about his own rebelliousness. The work of judgment allows man to gain much understanding of the will of God, of the purpose of God’s work, and of the mysteries that are incomprehensible to him. It also allows man to recognize and know his corrupt substance and the roots of his corruption, as well as to discover the ugliness of man. These effects are all brought about by the work of judgment, for the substance of this work is actually the work of opening up the truth, the way, and the life of God to all those who have faith in Him. This work is the work of judgment done by God.
from “Christ Does the Work of Judgment With the Truth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
In the Age of Kingdom, God uses the word to usher in a new age, to change the method of His work, and to do the work for the entire age. This is the principle by which God works in the Age of Word. He became flesh to speak from different perspectives, enabling man to truly see God, who is the Word appearing in the flesh, and His wisdom and wondrousness. Such work is done in order better to achieve the goals of conquering man, perfecting man, and eliminating man. This is the true meaning of using the word to work in the Age of Word. Through the word, man comes to know the work of God, the disposition of God, the essence of man, and what man ought to enter into. Through the word, the work God wishes to do in the Age of Word is brought to fruition in its entirety. Through the word, man is revealed, eliminated, and tried. Man has seen the word, heard the word, and become aware of the existence of the word. As a result, he believes in the existence of God, in the omnipotence and wisdom of God, as well as in God’s love for man and His desire to save man. Though the word “word” is simple and ordinary, the word from the mouth of the incarnate God shakes up the entire universe; it transforms man’s heart, notions, and old disposition, and the way the whole world used to appear. Through the ages, only the God of today works in this manner, and only He speaks thus and comes to save man thus. From this time forward, man lives under the guidance of the word, shepherded and supplied by the word. All humanity has come to live in the world of the word, within the curses and the blessings of God’s word, and even more of them have come to live under the judgment and chastisement of the word. These words and this work are all for the sake of man’s salvation, for the sake of fulfilling God’s will, and for the sake of changing the original appearance of the world of old creation. God created the world with the word, leads men from all over the universe with the word, and again conquers and saves them with the word. Finally, He shall use the word to bring the entire world of old to an end. Only then is the management plan wholly complete. Throughout the Age of Kingdom, God uses the word to do His work and achieve the results of His work; He does not work wonders or perform miracles; He merely does His work through the word.
from “The Age of Kingdom Is the Age of Word” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
In His final work of concluding the age, God’s disposition is one of chastisement and judgment, in which He reveals all that is unrighteous, in order to publicly judge all peoples, and to perfect those who love Him with a sincere heart. Only a disposition such as this can bring the age to an end. The last days have already arrived. All things in creation will be classed according to their kind, and divided into different categories based on their nature. This is the moment when God reveals humanity’s outcome and their destination. If people do not undergo chastisement and judgment, then there will be no way of exposing their disobedience and unrighteousness. Only through chastisement and judgment can the outcome of all creation be revealed. Man only shows his true colors when he is chastised and judged. Evil shall be put with evil, good with good, and all humanity shall be classified according to their kind. Through chastisement and judgment, the outcome of all creation will be revealed, so that the evil may be punished and the good rewarded, and all people become subject to the dominion of God. All this work must be achieved through righteous chastisement and judgment. Because man’s corruption has reached its peak and his disobedience become exceedingly severe, only God’s righteous disposition, one that is principally compounded of chastisement and judgment and is revealed during the last days, can fully transform and complete man. Only this disposition can expose evil and thus severely punish all the unrighteous. Therefore, a disposition such as this is imbued with temporal significance, and the revelation and exhibition of His disposition is made manifest for the sake of the work of each new age. It is not that God reveals His disposition arbitrarily and without significance. Supposing that, in revealing the outcome of man during the last days, God were still to bestow upon man infinite compassion and love and continue to be loving toward him, not subjecting man to righteous judgment but rather showing him tolerance, patience, and forgiveness, and pardoning man no matter how grave his sins, without any jot of righteous judgment: then when would all of God’s management ever be brought to a close? When would a disposition such as this be able to lead people into mankind’s appropriate destination? Take, for example, a judge who is always loving, a judge with a kindly face and a gentle heart. He loves people irrespective of the crimes they may have committed, and he is loving to and forbearing with them whoever they may be. In that case, when will he ever be able to reach a just verdict? During the last days, only righteous judgment can classify man according to their kind and bring man into a new realm. In this way, the entire age is brought to an end through God’s righteous disposition of judgment and chastisement.
from “The Vision of God’s Work (3)” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
In truth, the work being done now is to have people forsake Satan, forsake their old ancestor. All judgments by the word aim to expose humanity’s corrupt disposition and to enable people to understand the essence of life. These repeated judgments all pierce people’s hearts. Every judgment directly impacts their fate and is meant to wound their hearts so that they can let go of all those things and thereby come to know life, know this filthy world, and also know God’s wisdom and almightiness and know this Satan-corrupted mankind. The more of this kind of chastisement and judgment, the more man’s heart can be wounded and the more his spirit can be awakened. Awakening the spirits of these extremely corrupted and most deeply deceived of people is the goal of this kind of judgment. Man has no spirit, that is, his spirit died long ago and he knows not that there is a heaven, knows not that there is a God, and certainly knows not that he is struggling in the abyss of death; how would he possibly be able to know that he is living in this evil hell on earth? How would he possibly be able to know that this putrid corpse of his has, through Satan’s corruption, fallen into Hades of death? How would he possibly be able to know that everything on earth has long been ruined beyond repair by mankind? And how would he possibly be able to know that the Creator has come to the earth today and is searching for a group of corrupt people whom He can save? Even after man experiences every possible refinement and judgment, his dull consciousness still barely stirs and is virtually unresponsive. Humanity is so degenerate! Although this kind of judgment is like the cruel hail that falls from the sky, it is of the greatest benefit to man. If not for judging people like this, there would be no result and it would be absolutely impossible to save people from the abyss of misery. If not for this work, it would be very difficult for people to emerge from Hades because their hearts have long ago died and their spirits long ago trampled by Satan. Saving you who have sunk to the deepest depths of degeneration requires calling out to you strenuously, judging you strenuously, and only then will that ice-cold heart of yours be awakened. Your flesh, your extravagant desires, your greed, and your lust are too deeply rooted in you. These things are so constantly controlling your hearts that you are powerless to cast off the yoke of those feudal and degenerate thoughts. You neither yearn to change your present situation, nor to escape the influence of darkness. You are simply bound by those things.
from “Only the Perfected Can Live a Meaningful Life” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
God does the work of judgment and chastisement so that man may gain knowledge of Him, and for the sake of His testimony. Without His judgment of man’s corrupt disposition, man could not possibly know His righteous disposition, which brooks no offense, nor would he be able to turn his old knowledge of God into a new one. For the sake of His testimony, and for the sake of His management, He makes His entirety public, thus enabling man, through His public appearance, to arrive at knowledge of God, to be transformed in his disposition, and to bear resounding testimony to God. The transformation of the disposition of man is achieved through many different kinds of God’s work; without such changes in his disposition, man would be unable to bear testimony to God and to be after God’s heart. The transformation of man’s disposition signifies that man has freed himself from Satan’s bondage and from the influence of darkness, and has truly become a model and specimen of God’s work, a witness of God, and one who is after God’s heart. Today, God incarnate has come to do His work on earth, and He requires that man achieve knowledge of Him, obedience to Him, testimony to Him—to know His practical and normal work, to obey all of His words and work which do not accord with the conceptions of man, and to bear testimony to all the work He does to save man as well as all the deeds He accomplishes to conquer man. Those who bear testimony to God must have knowledge of God; only this kind of testimony is accurate and real, and only this kind of testimony can shame Satan. God uses those who have come to know Him through undergoing His judgment and chastisement, dealing and pruning, to bear testimony to Him. He uses those who have been corrupted by Satan to bear testimony to Him, and so too does He use those whose disposition has changed, and who have thus gained His blessings, to bear testimony to Him. He does not need man to praise Him in his mouth, nor does He need the praise and testimony of the ilk of Satan, who have not been saved by Him. Only those who know God are qualified to bear testimony to Him, and only those who have been transformed in their disposition are qualified to bear testimony to Him. God will not allow man intentionally to bring shame upon His name.
from “Only Those Who Know God Can Bear Testimony to God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
Man will be fully made complete in the Age of Kingdom. After the work of conquest, man will be subjected to refinement and tribulation. Those who can overcome and stand testimony during this tribulation are the ones who will ultimately be made complete; they are the overcomers. During this tribulation, man is required to accept this refinement, and this refinement is the last instance of God’s work. It is the last time that man will be refined prior to the conclusion of all the work of God’s management, and all those who follow God must accept this final test, must accept this last refinement.
from “God’s Work and Man’s Practice” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
Each stage of God’s work goes deeper than the last, and in each stage the requirements of man are more profound than the last, and in this way, God’s entire management gradually takes shape. It is precisely because the requirements of man are ever higher that man’s disposition comes ever closer to the standards required by God, and it is only then that the whole of mankind gradually departs from the influence of Satan until, when God’s work comes to a complete end, the whole of mankind will have been saved from the influence of Satan. When that time comes, the work of God will have reached its end, and man’s cooperation with God in order to achieve changes in his disposition will be no more, and the whole of mankind will live in the light of God, and from then on, there will be no rebelliousness or opposition to God.
from “God’s Work and Man’s Practice” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
Do you understand now what is judgment and what is truth? If you have understood, then I exhort you to submit obediently to being judged, otherwise you shall never have the opportunity to be commended by God or to be brought by Him into His kingdom. Those who only accept judgment but can never be purified, that is, those who flee in the midst of the work of judgment, shall forever be detested and rejected by God. Their sins are more numerous, and more grievous, than those of the Pharisees, for they have betrayed God and are rebels against God. Such men who are not worthy even to do service shall receive more severe punishment, a punishment that is moreover everlasting. God shall not spare any traitor who once evinced loyalty with words but then betrayed Him. Men like these shall receive retribution through punishment of the spirit, soul, and body. Is this not precisely a revelation of the righteous disposition of God? Is this not God’s purpose in judging man, and revealing him? God consigns all those who perform all kinds of wicked deeds during the time of judgment to a place infested with evil spirits, letting these evil spirits destroy their fleshly bodies at will. Their bodies give off the stench of corpses, and such is their fitting retribution. God writes down in their record books each and every one of the sins of those disloyal false believers, false apostles, and false workers; then, when the time is right, He casts them amidst the unclean spirits, letting these unclean spirits defile their entire bodies at will, so that they may never be reincarnated and never again see the light. Those hypocrites who did service at one time but are unable to remain loyal to the end are numbered by God among the wicked, so that they walk in the counsel of the wicked and become part of their disorderly rabble; in the end, God shall annihilate them. God casts aside and takes no notice of those who have never been loyal to Christ or dedicated any effort, and shall annihilate them all in the change of ages. They shall no longer exist on earth, much less gain passage into the kingdom of God. Those who have never been sincere to God but are forced by circumstance into dealing with Him perfunctorily are numbered among those who do service for His people. Only a small number of such men can survive, while the majority shall perish along with those who are not qualified even to do service. Finally, God shall bring into His kingdom all those who are of the same mind as God, the people and the sons of God as well as those predestined by God to be priests. Such is the distillate obtained by God through His work. As for those who are unable to fall into any of the categories set by God, they shall be numbered among the unbelievers. And you can surely imagine what their outcome shall be. I have already said to you all that I should say; the road that you choose shall be your decision to make. What you should understand is this: The work of God never waits for any that cannot keep pace with Him, and the righteous disposition of God shows no mercy to any man.
from “Christ Does the Work of Judgment With the Truth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
When the nations and the peoples of the world all return before My throne, I will thereupon take all the bounty of heaven and confer it upon the human world, so that, thanks to Me, it will brim with matchless bounty. But so long as the old world continues to exist, I will hurl forth My rage upon its nations, openly promulgating My administrative decrees throughout the universe, and visit chastisement on whomever violates them:
As I turn My face to the universe to speak, all mankind hears My voice, and thereupon sees all the works I have wrought throughout the universe. Those who go contrary to My will, that is to say, who oppose Me with the deeds of man, will fall down under My chastisement. I will take the multitudinous stars in the heavens and make them anew, and thanks to Me the sun and the moon will be renewed—the skies will no longer be as they were; the myriad things on the earth will be renewed. All will become complete through My words. The many nations within the universe will be partitioned afresh and replaced by My nation, so that the nations upon the earth will disappear forever and become a nation that worships Me; all the nations of the earth will be destroyed, and will cease to exist. Of the human beings within the universe, all those belonging to the devil will be exterminated; all who worship Satan will be laid low by My burning fire—that is, except for those now within the stream, the rest will be turned to ashes. When I chastise the many peoples, those in the religious world will, in differing degrees, return to My kingdom, conquered by My works, because they will have seen the advent of the Holy One riding on a white cloud. All of humanity will follow their own kind, and will receive chastisements varying with what they have done. Those who have stood against Me will all perish; as for those whose deeds on the earth have not involved Me, they will, because of how they have acquitted themselves, continue to exist on the earth under the governance of My sons and My people. I will reveal Myself to the myriad peoples and the myriad nations, sounding forth with My own voice upon the earth to proclaim the completion of My great work for all mankind to see with their own eyes.
from “The Twenty-sixth Utterance” of God’s Utterances to the Entire Universe in The Word Appears in the Flesh
Those who are able to stand firm during God’s work of judgment and chastisement during the last days—that is, during the final work of cleansing—will be those who will enter into the final rest with God; therefore, those who enter into rest will all have broken free of Satan’s influence and been obtained by God only after having undergone His final cleansing work. These people who have been ultimately obtained by God will enter into the final rest. The essence of God’s work of chastisement and judgment is to cleanse humanity, and it is for the day of final rest. Otherwise, the whole of humanity will not be able to follow their own kind or enter into rest. This work is humanity’s only path to enter into rest.
from “God and Man Will Enter Into Rest Together” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
The kingdom He wishes to establish is His own kingdom. The humanity He wishes for is one that worships Him, one that completely obeys Him and has His glory. If He does not save corrupt humanity, the meaning of His creation of man will come to nothing; He will have no more authority among man, and His kingdom will no longer be able to exist upon the earth. If He does not destroy those enemies who are disobedient to Him, He will be unable to obtain His complete glory, nor will He be able to establish His kingdom upon the earth. These are the symbols of the completion of His work and the symbols of the completion of His great accomplishment: to utterly destroy those among humanity who are disobedient to Him, and to bring those who have been made complete into rest.
from “God and Man Will Enter Into Rest Together” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

God Performing Work in Different Ways to Save Mankind Has Tremendous Meaning

The Meaning of God’s Judgment and Chastisement of Mankind

For us to believe in God, we must know God’s work. To know God’s work is also to know how God is saving corrupt mankind. As believers in God, we must be clear about how God saves mankind. We all know that God’s work in the last days is the work of conquest and salvation, and how is this work of conquest and salvation mainly carried out? It is primarily carried out with judgment and chastisement at its core. That is to say, judgment and chastisement are at the core of God’s work to save corrupt mankind. Now that we understand this, how do we get to know God’s judgment and chastisement? This is the key question. Why must God judge and chastise corrupt mankind, and what is the meaning of God’s judgment and chastisement of mankind? This truth is particularly important, for this involves the truth regarding visions of God’s work. If man’s faith in God is lacking in vision, then he would not know how to believe in God; even when man does believe in God, he would not be choosing the right way. What is the meaning of God’s judgment and chastisement of corrupt mankind, this mankind that resists Him and rebels against Him? We must first understand clearly that God is the Creator. Because He is the Creator, He has the authority to rule over, judge, and chastise the created. Also, God’s disposition is righteous and holy, and based on God’s disposition, God does not allow those humans who resist and rebel against Him to live in His presence. God does not allow filthy and corrupt things to exist in His presence. Therefore, God’s judgment and chastisement of corrupt mankind is completely reasonable and righteous, and it is determined by God’s disposition. We all know that God is righteous, and that God is the truth. From the disposition revealed by God we have already seen that God is the truth. God’s words are all truths. God created the heavens and earth and all things through His words. God’s words are able to create all things, and God’s words are the truth that is able to judge all things. During the last days, God is performing the work of judgment and chastisement of corrupt mankind. Some might ask: “Has God performed the work of judgment before?

Friday, September 28, 2018

Questions and Answers on the Conditions for Entering the Kingdom of Heaven

Question 1: The Lord Jesus died on the cross for us, He forgave all our sins and redeemed us from the hands of Satan. That is to say, He did this to save us and grant us access to the kingdom of heaven. Even after this redemption, we continue to sin and we have yet to be cleansed. Nevertheless, I believe that the Lord’s forgiveness has made us righteous through our faith. As long as we sacrifice everything else to work and spend for God, as long as we are willing to endure suffering and pay the price, we’d be raptured into the kingdom of heaven. I think this is the Lord’s promise to us. However, my brothers and sisters have now questioned this belief. They say that although we labor and work for the Lord, we still sin often and then confess our sins, so we have not yet been cleansed. They have stated that the Lord is holy, so unholy people cannot meet Him. My question is: We who have sacrificed everything else and spend for the Lord, can we really be raised up into the kingdom of heaven? We really don’t know the answer to this question, so we’d like you to talk to us about it.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

I Have Found True Happiness (Audio Essay)

Zhang Hua, Cambodia
I was born into an ordinary farming family. Even though my family was not wealthy, my father and mother loved each other and treated me very well. Our family life was quite abundant and blessed. After I grew up, I told myself: I must find a husband that will treat me well and I must establish a blissful and happy family. This is what is most important. I do not seek riches, I only need to have a loving relationship with my husband and a peaceful family life.

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Finding the Way Back After Getting Lost

Xieli, USA
Almighty God,The Church of Almighty God,Eastern Lightning,
I’d always wanted a happy life with a high standard of living, so I came to the U.S.A. to work as hard as I could. After a few years of hard work and suffering, I was able to gradually get the things I wanted: my own company, my own car, my own house, etc. I was finally living the “happy” life that I’d dreamed of. During this period, I made friends with a few guys and enjoyed eating meals, drinking and having fun with them during our leisure time. We all got on pretty well together, and I thought I’d met a good bunch of guys. But then I came to realize that they were just drinking buddies who often talked nonsense, and when I was worried or depressed there was not one of them whom I could go to share my troubles with.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Praise and Worship Song | Christians Love God Until Death | "Life's Testimony"

Praise and Worship Song | Christians Love God Until Death | "Life's Testimony"

The central government has ordered that all religions must be banned,
especially The Church of Almighty God.
Troops won’t be withdrawn until the ban is done.
Understand?
Yes!
Move out!
Yes sir!
What are you up to?
Having a meeting?
The nation has ruled that
any gathering of three or more people is illegal
and it disrupts social order.
Take them away!
Come on!

“Christ of the last days brings life,
and brings the enduring and everlasting way of truth.
This truth is the path through which man shall gain life,
and the only path by which man shall know God and be approved by God.”
from The Word Appears in the Flesh
Don’t move! Police!
Damn you! This time you’ll be put away for eight or ten years. We’ll then see if you still believe in God!

One day I may be captured and persecuted by the CCP,
this suffering is for the sake of righteousness, which I know in my heart.
If my life is gone like a spark in the blink of an eye,
I will still proudly say that I have accepted Christ of the last days.
If I cannot see the great event of the expansion of the kingdom gospel,
I will still offer up the most beautiful wishes.
If I cannot see the day the kingdom is realized,
but I can shame Satan today, then my heart will be filled with joy and peace.
God’s words spread all across the world, the light has appeared among man.
Christ’s kingdom arises and is established within adversity.
The darkness is about to pass, a righteous dawn has come.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.

If I become a martyr, and can no longer bear testimony for God,
the kingdom gospel will still be spread like fire by countless believers.
Though I do not know how far I can walk this rugged road,
I will still offer up my God-loving heart.
Bearing testimony to His work of the last days, carrying out His will on earth,
it is our honor to dedicate ourselves to spreading the truth.
Undaunted by adversity, like pure gold made in the furnace,
from out of Satan’s influence emerge a group of victorious soldiers.
God’s words spread all across the world, the light has appeared among man.
Christ’s kingdom arises and is established within adversity.
The darkness is about to pass, a righteous dawn has come.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.

God’s words spread all across the world, the light has appeared among man.
Christ’s kingdom arises and is established within adversity.
The darkness is about to pass, a righteous dawn has come.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.

God’s words spread all across the world, the light has appeared among man.
Christ’s kingdom arises and is established within adversity.
The darkness is about to pass, a righteous dawn has come.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.

from Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs