A Wandering Heart Comes Home

By Novo, Philippines

My name is Novo, and I’m Filipino. I have followed my mom in her belief in God since I was little, and would go listen to sermons at church together with my siblings. Although I had believed in the Lord for many years, I felt that I had not changed, and that I was the same as an unbeliever, in my heart thinking all day about how to make more money, and about how to spend my days in comfort and enjoy the good life. Furthermore, I also often went drinking with my friends, and the moment I had any spare cash I’d go gambling. I knew that doing these things was at odds with the Lord’s will, I would often pray to the Lord and confess my sins, and I would make firm my resolution to Him that I would give up these bad habits and never sin again from that day on. But with the cajoling and enticement of my friends, I simply couldn’t control myself. And so it was that I became more and more degenerate, my heart got farther and farther away from God, there was no longer any sincerity when I prayed to the Lord, and every week I would just say a few simple prayers, and do it in a slipshod way. Sometimes I would even feel such despair, as I knew that when the Lord returned He would judge each and every person based on their actions and behavior, and then decide for each person whether they would go up to heaven or down to hell. I felt I was so degenerate that God would not forgive me again. Afterward, I married and had kids. All I thought about was my wife and my children. When it came to my faith, I pushed it to the back of my mind. In order to provide a better future for my children and to achieve my desires to become rich, I decided to go work abroad. And so I came to Taiwan. After I found a job and made some money, I’d still not changed the way I used to live my life, and in my leisure time I would go with my workmates to drink and sing karaoke, living a life of revelry; I’d long since put my belief in God to the back of my mind.

31. The Principles of Resolving Negativity

31. The Principles of Resolving Negativity

1. You must approach all problems according to God’s words and the truth, recognize that everything God does is for the salvation and love of man, and be able to deny yourself and forsake the flesh;

2. You must recognize the essence and root of negativity. Being negative is to reject and oppose the truth, and to be negative and complain is to defy God and betray God;

3. You must pray to God and seek to grasp God’s will so as to know God’s work, understand God’s will and requirements, and to leave negativity behind;

4. It is too dangerous to live in satanic dispositions, as you will be capable of being negative and defying God at any moment. You must seek the truth so that the positive and right reality of the truth can hold sway.

Relevant Words of God:

God perfects man in various ways, and it is possible in all matters for you to be perfected as a result. Not only can you be perfected in terms of the positive, but also of the negative, thereby enriching you. …

… If you wish to be perfected by God, you must learn to experience all things and be enlightened in all that you face. Whenever you are faced with something, be it good or bad, you should benefit from it and it should not cause you to become passive. No matter what, you should be able to consider it by standing on the side of God, and not analyze or study it from the perspective of man (this is a deviation in your experience). If this is the manner of your experience, then your heart will be taken over by the burdens for your life; you will live constantly in the light of God’s countenance and will not easily deviate in your practice. Such kind of man has great prospects.

from “Promises to Those Who Have Been Perfected” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

If a person always has this vision within them, they will feel internally clear and at ease; they will be certain of these matters. You will say: “God is not harming me and He’s not deliberately making me into a joke or humiliating me. Although He speaks somewhat harshly and it strikes to the heart, it is for my own sake. Although He speaks that harshly, He is still saving me, and He is still considerate of my weaknesses. He is not punishing me with the facts. I believe that God is salvation.” If you truly have this vision, you won’t get to the point of fleeing. In your conscience, you may feel you are wrong, you may feel condemnation, that you should not treat God that way. You think of all the grace you have gained, all the words you have heard—could you listen to them in vain? No matter who runs away, you can’t. Other people don’t believe, but you must. Other people abandon God, but you must uphold God and bear witness to Him. Others slander God, but you cannot. No matter how unkind God is to you, you still must treat Him right. You should repay His love and you must have a conscience, because God is innocent. His coming to earth from heaven to work amongst mankind was already a great humiliation. He is holy without the slightest filth. Coming to a land of filth—how much humiliation has He endured? Working in you is for your sake. If you are conscienceless in your treatment of Him, it would be better to die an early death!

from “The Significance of Saving the Descendants of Moab” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

If you truly love God, and do not satisfy the flesh, then you’ll see that everything God does is so right, and so good, and that His curse of your rebelliousness and judgment of your unrighteousness is justified. There will be times when God chastens and disciplines you, and raises up an environment to temper you, forcing you to come before Him—and you will always feel that what God is doing is wonderful. Thus you will feel as if there isn’t much pain, and that God is so lovely. If you pander to the weaknesses of the flesh, and say that God goes too far, then you’ll always feel in pain, and will always be depressed, and you will be unclear about all of the work of God, and it will seem as if God is not sympathetic to man’s weakness at all, and unaware of man’s difficulties. And thus you will feel miserable and alone, as if you have suffered great injustice, and at this time you will begin to complain. The more you pander to the weaknesses of the flesh in this way, the more you will feel that God goes too far, until it gets so bad that you deny the work of God, and begin to oppose God, and become full of disobedience. Thus, you must rebel against the flesh, and not pander to it: Your husband, wife, children, prospects, marriage, family—none of them matter! You need to have this resolve: “In my heart there is only God, and I must try my best to satisfy God, and not satisfy the flesh.” If you are always possessed of such resolve, then when you put the truth into practice, and put yourself aside, you will be able to do so with but a little effort.

from “Only Loving God Is Truly Believing in God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

You all have the following state: lazy, unmotivated, unwilling to pay a price, or passively waiting. Some people even make complaints; they don’t understand the aims and significance of God’s work, and it’s hard for them to pursue the truth. Such people detest the truth, and will ultimately be eliminated. None among them can be made perfect, and none will be spared. If people don’t have a little resolve to resist the influence of Satan, there’s nothing that can be done for them!

from “Practice (7)” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

People’s inner views, their extravagant desires are actually not catering to God’s intention, and there is essentially no substance of submission. This also touches on that saying: One hundred percent of what’s inside human nature is betrayal. So in dissecting this or that event of yours, in dissecting this issue, that thought, or that reaction, whether you confront it in a negative way, or you complain, whether you are indifferent or silent and speechless, there is resistance in all of this. It is all betrayal. Is this dissection correct? Were I not to dissect this, there would be some people who feel: I can be considered to be a good person. If I had encountered this thing a few years ago, I would certainly have complained, and possibly retreated, but now I do not complain. You do not complain, but do you have understanding? Does your little bit of understanding constitute true understanding? Is there truth in it? Is your understanding in keeping with God’s intention? Does it meet God’s approval? Do you have the substance of submitting to God? Are you willing and ready to submit to God? If not, then you are definitely conflicting with God. It may be that your mood now is good, and you feel not bad, or because at the moment you are being put to use. If one day you are sent home, and when you are in the darkness of a downcast mood however, what is inside of you will be revealed. There are some people of lower stature, with a shorter duration of experience who would turn around and run, returning to the world. In fact, in the final analysis, whatever reaction you have, you are refusing the environments that God has arranged for you. The nature of people to betray God is revealed everywhere. If this were not dissected, people would not know themselves deeply enough. When people encounter anything, they all betray God and do not submit to Him. The reaction of some of you is unwillingness, or an air of complaint, negative and down, and you say: Inside, man does not like truth, and this dislike is none other than betrayal. It is still not enough if you only speak in this way, and you have not dissected to the depths of substance. You say that not loving truth is betrayal, but in fact, this is not so simple. How have you dissected it? You do not understand yourselves. You may not know what is that situation you have, and can’t differentiate right from wrong, if it is betrayal or not, and you do not know clearly yourselves whether you have submitted or not. You are not able to thoroughly dissect your own natures.

from “How to Satisfy God in the Midst of Trials” in Records of Christ’s Talks

You must enter in from the positive side. If you wait passively, it is still negative. You must be proactive in cooperating with Me; be diligent and never lazy. Always be in fellowship with Me and have deeper intimacy with Me. If you do not understand, do not be impatient for quick results. It’s not that I won’t tell you; I want to see if you rely on Me when you are in My presence and whether you depend on Me with confidence. You must always remain close to Me and place all matters in My hands. Do not go back in vain. After unknowingly being close to Me for a period of time, My intentions shall be revealed to you. If you grasp them, then you will truly be face-to-face with Me, and you will have truly found My face. You will be quite clear and steady within and you will have something to rely on, and you will also have power as well as confidence. You will also have a path forward and everything will come easy to you.

from Utterances and Testimonies of Christ in the Beginning

The Holy Spirit has a path to walk in each person, and gives each person chances to be perfected. Through your negativity you are made to know your own corruption, and then through throwing off negativity you will find a path to practice, and this is the perfection of you. Further, through the continuous guidance and illumination of some positive things inside of you, you will proactively fulfill your function and grow in insight and gain discernment. When your conditions are good, you are especially willing to read the word of God, and especially willing to pray to God, and can relate the sermons you hear to your own states. At such times God enlightens and illuminates you within, making you realize some things of the positive aspect. This is perfection of you in the positive aspect. In negative states, you are weak and negative, and feel that you don’t have God, yet God illuminates you, helping you find a path to practice. Coming out of this is attainment of perfection in the negative aspect. God can perfect man in both positive and negative aspects. It depends on whether you are able to experience, and on whether you pursue being perfected by God. If you truly seek being perfected by God, then the negative cannot make you suffer loss, but can bring you things that are more real, and can make you more able to know that which is lacking within you, more able to come to grips with your real states, and see that man has nothing, and is nothing; if you do not experience trials, you do not know, and will always feel that you are above others and better than everyone else. Through all this you will see that all that came before was done by God and protected by God. Entry into trials leaves you without love or faith, you lack prayer, and are unable to sing hymns—and, without realizing it, in the midst of this you come to know yourself. God has many means of perfecting man. He employs all manner of environments to deal with the corrupt disposition of man, and uses various things to lay man bare; in one regard He deals with man, in another He lays man bare, and in another He reveals man, digging out and revealing the “mysteries” in the depths of man’s heart, and showing man his nature by revealing many of his states. God perfects man through many methods—through revelation, dealing, refinement, and chastisement—so that man may know that God is practical.

from “Only Those Who Focus on Practice Can Be Perfected” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

Your many experiences of failure, of weakness, and times of negativity could be said to be God’s trials of you. This is because everything comes from God, all things and events are in His hands. Whether you fail or whether you are weak and you stumble all rests on God and is within His grasp. From God’s side, this is a trial of you, and if you cannot recognize that, it will become temptation. There are two kinds of states that people should recognize: One comes from the Holy Spirit, and the other likely comes from Satan. One state is that the Holy Spirit illuminates you and allows you to know yourself, to detest and regret yourself and to be able to have genuine love for God, to set your heart on satisfying Him. The other state is that you know yourself, but you are negative and weak. It could be said that that is God’s refinement. It could also be said that it is Satan’s temptation. If you recognize that this is God’s salvation of you and that you are now incredibly in His debt, and if from now on you try to repay Him and no longer fall into such depravity, if you put your effort into eating and drinking His words, and if you always consider yourself to be lacking, and have a heart of longing, then this is God’s trial. After the suffering has ended and you are once again moving forward, God will still lead, illuminate, enlighten, and nourish you. But if you don’t recognize it and you are negative, simply abandoning yourself to despair, if you think this way, then Satan’s temptation has come upon you. When Job underwent trials, God and Satan were betting with each other, and God allowed Satan to afflict Job, to test him. Even though it was God testing Job, it was actually Satan that came upon him. For Satan, it was tempting Job, but Job was on God’s side and if that hadn’t been the case, he would have fallen into temptation.

from “Those Who Are to Be Made Perfect Must Undergo Refinement” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

Do not be a passive follower of God, and do not pursue that which is curious. Through being neither cold nor hot you will forfeit yourself and delay your life. You must rid yourself of such passivity and inactivity, and become adept at pursuing positive things and overcoming your own weaknesses, so that you may gain the truth and live out the truth. There’s nothing fearful about your weaknesses, and your shortcomings are not your biggest problem. Your biggest problem, and your greatest shortcoming, is your being neither hot nor cold and your lack of desire to seek the truth. The biggest problem with all of you is a cowardly mentality whereby you are happy with things as they are, and await passively. This is your greatest obstacle, and the greatest enemy to your pursuit of the truth.

from “The Experiences of Peter: His Knowledge of Chastisement and Judgment” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

Nowadays you must not pay attention to the negative things. You must first put aside and disregard each and every thing that can make you feel negative. When you are handling affairs you must maintain a heart of seeking and groping, and you must maintain a heart of obedience to God. Whenever you discover any weakness within yourselves, but you are not subject to its control and you perform the function that you ought to, this is a positive move forward. For example: Older brothers and sisters have religious notions, but you are able to pray, and you are able to submit yourselves, eat and drink the word of God, and sing hymns…. In a word, whatever you are able to do, whatever function you are able to perform, make full use of it with all the strength you can muster. Do not wait passively. Being able to perform your duty to the satisfaction of God is the first step. Then when you are able to understand the truth and enter into the reality of the word of God, you will have been perfected by God.

from “On Everyone Performing Their Function” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

If your heart truly is quiet before God you won’t be bothered by anything going on in the world outside, and no person, event, or thing will occupy you. If you have entry into this, then those negative states or all negative things, such as human conceptions, philosophy of life, abnormal relationships with people, and thoughts in your heart will naturally disappear. Because you are always pondering God’s words, and your heart is always drawing close to God and occupied by the current words of God, those negative things are unconsciously stripped off. When positive new things occupy you, negative old things will have no place, so don’t pay attention to those negative things. You needn’t make efforts trying to control them. Pay attention to being quiet before God, eat and drink more of God’s words and enjoy them, sing more hymns praising God, and let God have a chance to work on you, because God at present wants to personally perfect people, and He wants to gain your heart; His Spirit moves your heart, and if you live before God following the guidance of the Holy Spirit you will satisfy God.

from “On Quieting Your Heart Before God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

from: Practice and Exercises for Principled Behavior

Recommended:The Origin of the Eastern Lightning’s Prosperity

Best Christian Movie | "Yearning" | God Reveals the Mystery of Kingdom of Heaven (English Dubbed)

Introduction

Best Christian Movie | "Yearning" | God Reveals the Mystery of Kingdom of Heaven (English Dubbed)

Two thousand years ago, the Lord Jesus promised His followers: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3).

The Word of God | "The Substance of Christ Is Obedience to the Will of the Heavenly Father"

Introduction

The Word of God | "The Substance of Christ Is Obedience to the Will of the Heavenly Father"

Almighty God says, "The incarnate God is called Christ, and Christ is the flesh donned by the Spirit of God. This flesh is unlike any man that is of the flesh. This difference is because Christ is not of flesh and blood but is the incarnation of the Spirit. He has both a normal humanity and a complete divinity. His divinity is not possessed by any man. His normal humanity sustains all His normal activities in the flesh, while His divinity carries out the work of God Himself. Be it His humanity or divinity, both submit to the will of the heavenly Father. The substance of Christ is the Spirit, that is, the divinity. Therefore, His substance is that of God Himself; this substance will not interrupt His own work, and He could not possibly do anything that destroys His own work, nor would He ever utter any words that go against His own will."

Christian Song "Blessed Are Those Who Accept God’s New Work" | Follow the Work of the Holy Spirit

Introduction

Christian Song "Blessed Are Those Who Accept God’s New Work" | Follow the Work of the Holy Spirit

Blessed are all those who are able to obey

the present utterances of the Holy Spirit.

No matter how they used to be, or how the Holy Spirit,

how the Holy Spirit used to work within them,

those who've gained the latest work are the most blessed ones.

Today, those who can't follow the latest work will be eliminated.

God wants those who can accept the new light,

and those who accept and know His latest work.

A chaste virgin can seek the work of the Holy Spirit;

she can take in the new things,

and give up the old notions,

and obey God's work today,

obey God's work today.

These people, who accept the newest work of today,

were ordained by God before the world,

and are the most blessed ones.

You hear the voice of God, and behold the appearance of Him.

So, in all times and generations, and throughout heaven and earth,

none have been more blessed than you, this group of people.

from Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs

More Gospel Music Videos：

Worshiping God | Best Christian Worship Song "Thanks and Praise to Almighty God"

Contemporary Christian Music | Worshiping God | "Come Before God Often"

Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.

Special statement: This video production was produced as a not-for-profit piece by The Church of Almighty God. The actors that appear in this production are performing on a not-for-profit basis, and have not been paid in any way. This video may not be distributed for profit to any third party, and we hope that everyone will share it and distribute it openly. When you distribute it, please note the source. Without the consent of The Church of Almighty God, no organization, social group, or individual may tamper with or misrepresent the contents of this video.

"Red Re-Education at Home" (3) - Christians Explain the Root and Outcome of the Chinese Communist Party's Resistance to God

"Red Re-Education at Home" (3) - Christians Explain the Root and Outcome of the Chinese Communist Party's Resistance to God

Introduction

Since the CCP so madly persecutes Christians and they have yet to see God destroy it, many people do not believe that resisting God will lead to retribution or punishment, and they particularly do not believe in God's existence or His rule. Does this viewpoint have any basis in the truth? Is it in line with the facts of God's work?

Recommended:If the Eastern Lightning is the true way, why has the CCP government consistently engaged in frantic oppression, arrests, and persecution against the Eastern Lightning?

Gospel Movie "Rapture in Peril" (8) - The Effects God’s Work Achieves

Gospel Movie "Rapture in Peril" (8) - The Effects God’s Work Achieves

Introduction

Almighty God, Christ of the last days, has done the uniting work, and each and every true believer who awaits God's appearance has been returning to the throne of Almighty God. Have you been raptured before God's throne?

Best Christian Movie | Chronicles of Religious Persecution in China "A Youth of Bloody Tears"

Introduction

Best Christian Movie | Chronicles of Religious Persecution in China "A Youth of Bloody Tears"

Since it came to power in mainland China in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party has been relentless in its persecution of religious faith. It has frantically arrested and murdered Christians, expelled and abused missionaries operating in China, confiscated and destroyed countless copies of the Bible, sealed up and demolished church buildings, and vainly attempted to eradicate all house churches. This documentary tells the true story of the persecution suffered at the hands of the CCP by the family of Chinese Christian Lin Haochen. Lin Haochen followed in his father's footsteps and believed in the Lord, and as a result, as a child witnessed his village cadres often come to his home to threaten and frighten his parents into abandoning their faith and efforts to spread the gospel. After Lin Haochen's family accepted God's work of the last days, they were persecuted and arrested even more fervently by the CCP government. Lin Haochen's mother passed away from illness as she fled arrest, and Lin Haochen, his father, and his older brother were forced to flee home, and found it nearly impossible to return. What was once a happy, beautiful family was dismembered and scattered by the CCP's persecution …

Recommended:Many good sheep in the church would prefer to suffer unbridled arrest and persecution by the Chinese Communist Party just to seek and investigate Eastern Lightning.

Clip "Perilous Is the Road to the Heavenly Kingdom" (6) - How Does God Use Satan to Do Service?

Introduction

God says, "In My plan, Satan has ever snapped at the heels of every step, and, as the foil of My wisdom, has always tried to find ways and means to disrupt My original plan. But could I succumb to its deceitful schemes? All in heaven and on earth serves Me—could the deceitful schemes of Satan be any different? This is precisely the intersection of My wisdom, it is precisely that which is wondrous about My deeds, and it is the principle by which My entire management plan is carried out" (The Word Appears in the Flesh). How does God's work of the last days make use of the Chinese Communist Party and the antichrist forces in the religious world to do service for making people perfect into overcomers? Why is it said that God's wisdom is exercised based on the crafty schemes of Satan? What will be the final outcome of the Chinese Communist Party and the antichrist forces in the religious world that have consistently hated the truth, and wildly resisted God? We invite you to watch this short video.

Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.

Special statement: This video production was produced as a not-for-profit piece by The Church of Almighty God. The actors that appear in this production are performing on a not-for-profit basis, and have not been paid in any way. This video may not be distributed for profit to any third party, and we hope that everyone will share it and distribute it openly. When you distribute it, please note the source. Without the consent of The Church of Almighty God, no organization, social group, or individual may tamper with or misrepresent the contents of this video.

The Lord Jesus Christ Is Come | The Voice of God | Christian Movie Trailer "Knocking at the Door"

Introduction

The Lord Jesus Christ Is Come | The Voice of God | Christian Movie Trailer "Knocking at the Door"

Watch Full Movie: https://en.godfootsteps.org/videos/knocking-at-the-door-movie.html

Two thousand years ago, the Lord Jesus prophesied, "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him" (Matthew 25:6). "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). For these two thousand years, believers in the Lord have been watching and waiting for the Lord to knock at their door. But how will the Lord knock at our door when He comes again? … In the last days, some people testify that the Lord Jesus has already returned, and He is the incarnated Almighty God, who is doing the judgment work in the last days. This message sends shock waves through the religious world. … The heroine of this film, Yang Aiguang has believed in the Lord for decades, and she has been working and preaching for the Lord enthusiastically and waiting to welcome the return of Him. One day, some people knocked at her door and told Yang Aiguang and her husband a news that the Lord Jesus has returned, and read the words of Almighty God to them. The couple were deeply moved by the words of Almighty God. However, because of being deceived and bound by the fallacies of the pastor and elder, Yang Aiguang drove the preachers of The Church of Almighty God out and slammed the door shut on them. Later on, the preachers came many times to knock at her door, read to her the words of Almighty God and bear witness to the work of Almighty God in the last days. During that period, the pastor disrupted and blocked her time after time, and she had been hesitating. But through listening to the words of Almighty God, Yang Aiguang understood the truth and had the ability to discern the rumors and fallacies of the pastor and elder. She finally saw the way the Lord knocks at people's door when He returns and how to welcome His second coming. … After the dense fog cleared off, Yang Aiguang heard the voice of God and recognized the fact that Almighty God is indeed the returned Lord Jesus.

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Gospel Movie | Know the Incarnate God | "The Mystery of Godliness: The Sequel" https://youtu.be/4XFNR5Ovh-w

Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.

Special statement: This video production was produced as a not-for-profit piece by the Church of Almighty God. The actors that appear in this production are performing on a not-for-profit basis, and have not been paid in any way. This video may not be distributed for profit to any third party, and we hope that everyone will share it and distribute it openly. When you distribute it, please note the source. Without the consent of the Church of Almighty God, no organization, social group, or individual may tamper with or misrepresent the contents of this video.

Some of the material is from:

Vidsplay.com

The content of this video has been translated entirely by professional translators. However, due to linguistic differences etc., a small number of inaccuracies are inevitable. If you discover any such inaccuracies, please refer to the original Chinese version, and feel free to get in touch to let us know.

Breaking Free From Shackles and Returning to the Presence of God

Breaking Free From Shackles and Returning to the Presence of God

                                               By Yongyuan, USA

In November of 1982, our whole family emigrated to the USA. Because our family had been faithful to the Lord since the generation of my grandfather, we quickly found a Chinese church in Chinatown, New York where we could attend mass after we arrived in the United States. We never missed a single mass since we started attending, and my mother and elder sister were especially good about reading the scriptures whenever they had time to seek the Lord’s blessing. At that time, the priest would often say: “When the Lord comes, He will judge people publicly and divide people into categories: Those who truly repent and confess, and who are of good faith in Him, will be able to go to heaven; those who commit sins but not grave ones will suffer the torment of purgatory but are still able to be saved and ascend to heaven; those who do not believe in the Lord or commit sins that are too grave will suffer the punishment of hell.” These words left an impression on my heart as if they had been branded there. They caused me to believe in the Lord with enthusiasm, and even if I was busy with work, I never stopped going to mass.

In seemingly no time at all, 2014 arrived. One day, a parishioner told me out of the blue, “Your elder sister now believes in Almighty God….” And he said many things besides, slandering and condemning Almighty God and The Church of Almighty God. Hearing this unexpected news, I felt very anxious, and became very worried that my elder sister had gone astray. The news of my sister having accepted the work of Almighty God in the last days quickly spread throughout the whole church. The priest exhorted me to keep my distance from my sister, and there were several other members of the church who also said slanderous and accusatory things against Almighty God to my face. Through all the many times the priest and parishioners “helped” me, I started to believe their words and decided that my sister had gone astray. I told the priest and parishioners that I wouldn’t listen to my sister anymore and that if given the opportunity I would try to bring her back into the fold so she could repent to the Lord. I called my brothers after I got home, and they stood by me. We all tried persuading my sister together, but not only did she continue to firmly believe in Almighty God, she also bore witness to us that Almighty God is the returned Lord. She started trying to persuade us to accept God’s work in the last days so that we wouldn’t miss our opportunity to attain God’s salvation. But my heart had already been filled with negative ideas that were instilled in me by the priest and parishioners. No matter what my sister fellowshiped to me or to what she bore witness, I just would not listen.

Later, my mother and I had several arguments with my sister because of my sister’s belief in Almighty God. Still, no matter what my sister said, I kept believing the priest and the rumors I had read on the Internet, and I never dared to seek or investigate the work and words of Almighty God. Every time we got into an argument it ended unsuccessfully, but I discovered that my mother was gradually starting to agree with what my sister fellowshiped and what she was bearing witness to. She actually came to form a “united front” together with my sister and ended up accepting the work of Almighty God in the last days. When I saw that my mother had also come to believe in Almighty God, I became even more worried. If it really was like the priest and parishioners said and something bad happened to our family, what would I do? Desperate, I went to find Sister Qianhe who was on good terms with both my sister and me. I got her to try and persuade my mother and sister. What I never expected was that not only did this sister fail to persuade my sister and mother, but that she also came to believe in Almighty God. I found something puzzling: This sister’s behavior was upstanding and she was an enthusiastic seeker, so how could she not be able persuade someone, but even come to believe in Almighty God herself? Does the word of Almighty God really have so much power? Could it be that the word of Almighty God can really provide man with life? However, when I thought of the words of the priest and parishioners attacking Almighty God, as well as what I had seen online resisting and accusing The Church of Almighty God, I again felt fear in my heart and didn’t want to be contact with them anymore. After that, I almost never went to see my mother. I would occasionally go just to pay a visit and then leave in a hurry. I refused to listen to what my sister and mother fellowshiped. And so, this “cold war” between myself and my mother and sister went on like this for a year and a half.

One day in March of 2016, I heard that some prominent members of the church had gone to try to persuade my sister, so I went to see whether or not she had changed. When I saw my sister, I asked her what she was thinking. My sister said to me, “I have caught up with the footsteps of the Lamb and affirmed that the way of Almighty God is the truth. Almighty God is the returned Lord and I absolutely will not depart from Almighty God.” My sister’s steady gaze and resounding, forceful answer made my heart waver somewhat and aroused my curiosity. I thought: My sister is the believer in our family who seeks the most ardently, and Sister Qianhe is also someone in the church who seeks well and has discernment. My mother, too, has always had firm faith in the Lord. Now, they were all believers in Almighty God, and their faith had grown all the more after they came to follow Almighty God. They spoke with more insight and no one could shake or contradict them. What power was it that could allow them still to have such great faith in the face of the opposition of so many people? Could the work of Almighty God in the last days really be the true way? Could Almighty God really be the returned Lord? Thinking about it again, my sister, Sister Qianhe, and my mother had accepted the work of Almighty God for almost two years, but when I saw that everything in their lives was just as it had been before, I could see that the alarmism and scare tactics of the priest, and what I had read online had not come true in their case…. When I thought about this, my heart softened a bit and I wanted to investigate the words and work of Almighty God. I shared my thoughts with my sister. She responded with positivity and invited me to my mother’s house to listen to the sisters of The Church of Almighty God fellowship about Almighty God’s work in the last days.

On the weekend, I drove to my mother’s house. My sister, Sister Qianhe, and a sister of The Church of Almighty God named Zhang Xiao were all there. Sister Qianhe was especially happy to hear that I wanted to seek and investigate. She fellowshiped to me: “In the last days, the Lord has come mainly to express the word and do the work of judging and cleansing people in order to save us from the bondage of sin. At present, the people in the Age of Grace are living in a cycle of committing and then confessing sin. Even though we persevere in attending mass and reading the scriptures, as well as confessing to the priest, we still continue to lie and deceive and to live in our corrupt dispositions such as arrogance, greed, and selfishness. In spite of ourselves, we sin against and resist God, and there is no one who is able to break free of the bondage of this sinful nature, nor anyone able to attain to purity through reliance on confession and repentance. Therefore, we still must accept the work the Lord returned to do in the last days of judging and cleansing people. Only by doing so can we completely break free from the bondage of sin, be cleansed and transformed, and attain salvation from God.” Perplexed at having heard this, I asked: “The priest often said: ‘If people commit minor sins, then when the Lord comes again to publicly judge mankind, after completing their suffering in purgatory they will be able to ascend to heaven. Those who commit major sins go straight to hell to be punished.’ But how can you say that the work of judgment God returns to do is to cleanse and save people?” Sister Qianhe said: “I too used to believe the words of the priest. I had the same notions as you about how God will return to do the work of judgment, but thinking about it now, does what the priest said actually accord with the Bible? Is it based on the word of the Lord? Did the Lord Jesus say anything about purgatory? Did He say anything about people who commit minor sins being able to ascend to heaven after concluding their suffering in purgatory, and that only those who commit major sins go to hell? Of course not! So where do these words come from? They obviously come out of people’s notions and imaginations and are the speculation and conjecture of man. They do not accord whatsoever with the words of God, nor do they accord with the reality of God’s work. What use is it for us to persist in this?” I nodded in silence after hearing what Sister Qianhe fellowshiped. She continued: “We are, at present, filled with sin, and there is no one who is clean. Based on what the priest said, when the Lord returns to publicly judge all peoples, those who commit minor sins will go to purgatory whereas those who commit major sins go to hell. In that case, wouldn’t we all have to be condemned and suffer the punishment of going to hell? Wouldn’t God’s work of saving mankind be all for naught? Would there be any point in the Lord’s return?” What the sister fellowshiped touched my heart, and I thought: It’s true, even if we believe in the Lord, all we do is commit sins and confess them all day, and no one is clean. Indeed, no one is fit to see God, and if God has come to openly judge, condemn, and punish people, then everyone will have to go to hell. No one could attain salvation…. It was only then that I realized how impractical the words are that “When the Lord comes again to openly judge all peoples, those who commit major sins go directly to hell whereas those who commit minor sins go into purgatory, and after completing their suffering they will ascend into heaven.” It is not at all in keeping with God’s intention of saving man. Sister Qianhe then said: “As for God’s work of judgment in the last days, let us all take a look at how it is described in the word of Almighty God! Almighty God says: ‘God has not come to kill, or destroy, but to judge, curse, chastise, and save. Prior to the conclusion of His 6,000-year management plan—before He makes plain the end of each category of man—God’s work on earth is for the sake of salvation, it is all in order to make those who love Him totally complete, and bring them into submission to His dominion. No matter how God saves people, it is all done by making them break away from their old satanic nature; that is, He saves them by making them seek life. If they do not seek life then they will have no way to accept God’s salvation’ (‘You Should Put Aside the Blessings of Status and Understand God’s Will for the Salvation of Man’ 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’” (“Christ Does the Work of Judgment With the Truth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh).

After reading the word of God, Sister Zhang Xiao fellowshiped: “The word of Almighty God makes precisely clear the meaning of the work of judgment in the last days, the exact nature of judgment, and the effect of the work of judgment among man. God’s work of judgment is not killing and punishing people like in our notions and imaginations. Instead, this work makes use of the word to expose people’s thoughts, speech, and actions, to root out the deep-rooted satanic and corrupt nature that resists God. It allows us to know the truth of our corruption by Satan. At the same time, it allows us to know God’s righteous and holy disposition. When we get an understanding of these things, we begin to hate ourselves, and this produces true repentance and a heart that truly reveres God. In the judgment of the word of God we can better understand and gain the truth. We will be able naturally to live in reliance on the truth, and this way whatever satanic things we hold within will gradually be thrown off. We will be able to be in harmony with God, and from that moment on will no longer go against or resist God. We will be able to truly obey God, and only this is attaining salvation. After being corrupted by Satan, we no longer have human likeness and we lose the conscience and sense that normal people ought to have. What takes their place are the satanic dispositions such as arrogance, self-righteousness, selfishness, and craftiness which fill us. Our attitudes and notions toward things are also not compatible with God. For example: When faced with God’s work of judgment in the last days, we will all have our own understanding and will all cling to our own views regardless of whether there is a basis in God’s word. We will not seek God’s will, but blindly believe that our own way of thinking is correct. When God’s work doesn’t conform to our notions and imaginations, we will make our own judgments about God, and we will deny, attack, and accuse Him. This is caused by our arrogant nature. With such a satanic nature it is too easy for us to resist God, so we are in urgent need of God doing a stage of the work of judgment, and of Him cleansing and changing our satanic disposition. Without that, no one will break free of corruption and receive salvation.”

After listening to the word of Almighty God and what the sister fellowshiped, my heart suddenly became clear at once and felt that these words were spoken very well. Although there were some things I didn’t understand, these words made me feel that God’s work is so wise and that the Lord really does love man so much. In the past, when it came to God coming to judge people, I thought that people would go to hell or suffer the torment of purgatory. In fact, God’s work of judgment is not what we imagined, but rather it is that God comes incarnate to practically express the truth and do the work of judgment. This way, He cleanses and saves people! God’s work of judgment is so full of meaning. It is exactly what we corrupt mankind need!

When I was listening to all this with keen interest, my husband suddenly called to say he wanted to use the car. My mother noticed that I would then listen to the word. Right when I was about to leave, she gave me a book called The Scroll Opened by the Lamb and said that the words within it were the voice of God Himself. She also told me that when I went back I had to read the word of Almighty God. After I got home, I would read the book whenever I had time. Through reading the word of Almighty God, I understood many truths and gained a lot of knowledge. At the same time, I also distinctly felt God observing the depths of man’s heart. Every word of Almighty God pierced straight to my heart, revealing my inner corrupt nature. Sometimes, I saw how the word of God reveals our corruption, and I felt that God feels particular contempt for our corruption. It is as if God is angry with us, and my numb and unfeeling heart was stirred immediately. I had awe for God in my heart, and I was no longer like I had been before, when I had committed sins without fear. Through many experiences and the enlightenment and guidance of God’s words, I saw that the work of judgment of Almighty God could indeed save people from sin and allow them to break away from sin. How practical is God’s work! When I thought back on how I had resisted God’s work in the last days throughout the last two years, I felt a lot of remorse. I hated myself and had been so foolish and ignorant to not seek to understand or investigate a matter as great as the second coming of the Lord, but instead I listened blindly to those rumors, I shut the Lord out, I condemned God, and I resisted God. I almost missed the Lord’s salvation in the last days. How could I have been so blind! I saw clearly that the slander, judgments, and blasphemy against Almighty God and the defamation of The Church of Almighty God were all just falsehood from Satan. Those are tricks used especially by Satan to confuse, entrap, and obstruct people from accepting God’s work in the last days. No longer would I believe the falsehoods of Satan. No matter what I encounter or hear in the future, I will always judge right from wrong according to the word of God and to reality. I would no longer listen to Satan’s lies and deceit, and only in so doing can one be in accord with the will of God. With this in mind, I sincerely gave thanks to Almighty God for the mercy and salvation He provided me. God did not treat me on the basis of my transgressions, but continuously arranged for people to spread the gospel to me and bring me back into the house of God. How great is God’s love! Every time I hear the lyrics of the music video “Song of Heartfelt Attachment,” which go: “There is One who is God incarnate. All He says, all He does, is the truth. I love well His righteousness, His wisdom. To see Him, to obey Him, is truly a blessing,” my heart is particularly touched and inspired. I feel how fortunate I am to welcome the return of the Lord and to encounter the word of God directly. What a great fortune this is to receive!

I later participated in the life of The Church of Almighty God. The brothers and sisters would sing hymnsand dance to give praise to God together. They would read the word of God, and if there was any corruption revealed, they would open wide their hearts and fellowship it. Everyone would discuss their knowledge and experience of the word of Almighty God and seek a path to enter and carry out. This kind of life in the church made me feel especially liberated and provided for. I truly realized that only such a church in which the Holy Spirit is at work could be the house of God. This is where I belong. I was now entirely determined that Almighty God is the returned Lord. I determined to follow Almighty God to the end!

from: Testimonies

God’s Words Led Me Out of the Woods

God’s Words Led Me Out of the Woods

By Xiao Rui, Sichuan Province

When my duty in The Church of Almighty God was preaching the gospel, while doing this I encountered religious leaders who bore false witness to frantically resist, disturb, and block people’s investigation and acceptance of God’s work in the last days. They even called the police to have them arrest those of us sharing the gospel. As a result, those we were preaching to didn’t dare come into contact with us, and those who had just accepted the gospel were subjected to disruptions and became uncertain about God’s work. Our gospel work was greatly hindered. I felt really anxious when I saw so many brothers and sisters with genuine faith who were hoodwinked and disrupted by the pastors and elders. They were unable to return before God and accept His purification and salvation of the last days. I worked hard every day to share fellowship on God’s words with them to resolve the notions they held regarding God’s work, but after doing this for a period of time, our gospel work still hadn’t taken a turn for the better. I thought: “Evangelical work is so difficult to carry out. It would be so wonderful if God just displayed some miracles and punished those who bear false witness as well as those who seriously resist Him to show to those who have been deceived. Then wouldn’t the work of the gospel advance more quickly? It wouldn’t be so difficult for us to preach the gospel.” This is how this hope came up in my heart every time I encountered difficulties. Later, I read the book of Classic Examples of Punishment for Resisting Almighty God and during fellowship heard some testimonies on God’s signs and wonders, and I felt very glad in my heart.

God Presides Over the Fate of All Mankind

As members of the human race and devout Christians, it is the responsibility and obligation of us all to offer up our mind and body for the fulfillment of God’s commission, for our entire being came from God, and it exists thanks to the sovereignty of God. If our minds and bodies are not for God’s commission and not for the righteous cause of mankind, then our souls will be unworthy of those who were martyred for God’s commission, much more unworthy of God, who has provided us with everything.

The Word of God | "All Who Do Not Know God Are Those Who Oppose God"

Introduction

Almighty God says, "Those who I say are in opposition to God are those who do not know God, those who acknowledge God with empty words yet do not know Him, those who follow God yet do not obey Him, and those who revel in the grace of God yet cannot stand witness to Him. Without an understanding of the purpose of God’s work and the work of God in man, man cannot be in accord with the heart of God, and cannot stand witness to God. The reason that man opposes God stems, on the one hand, from the corrupt disposition of man, and on the other hand, from ignorance of God and lack of understanding of the principles of God’s work and His will toward man. These two aspects merge into a history of man’s resistance to God."

Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.

96. Principles of Spreading the Gospel and Bearing Testimony to God

Principles of Spreading the Gospel and Bearing Testimony to God

1. You must, according to God’s words, bear clear and insightful testimony to God’s work of the last days. You must dispel people’s conceptions and imaginings, removing the obstacles and hurdles that stand in their way.

2. You must conscientiously analyze and look into every potential convert, establishing actionable proposals and striving to open up the situation as effectively as possible.

3. You must choose the right recipients for the gospel, and flexibly adopt a variety of enlightened methods. As long as you do not break the law or commit a crime, you should do whatever it takes to gain more people.

4. You must look to the work of the Holy Spirit and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. You must employ flexible, efficient methods to spread the gospel both directly and spontaneously. Where the situation permits, you can do so openly.

The Word of God in the Last Days | "God Himself, the Unique VIII" (Part Four)

Introduction

Almighty God says, "God’s supply of all things is sufficient to show that God is the source of life for all things, because He is the source of supply that has enabled all things to exist, live, reproduce, and continue on. Apart from God there is no other. He supplies all needs of all things and all needs of mankind, regardless of whether it is the most basic needs, what people need daily, or the supply of the truth to people’s spirits. From all perspectives, when it comes to God’s identity and His status for mankind, only God Himself is the source of life for all things. This is absolutely certain."

Escape From the Influence of Darkness and You Will Be Gained by God

Escape From the Influence of Darkness and You Will Be Gained by God

What is the influence of darkness?

What is referred to as the influence of darkness is the bondage of Satan, the influence of Satan, and it is an influence that has an aura of death.

Using God’s Word as a Mirror

By Wu Xia, Shandong Province

After I accepted God’s work of the last days, I came to understand through reading God’s words that, if one wants to achieve a changed disposition and enter onto the right track of salvation in one’s belief in God, then one first has to learn the lesson of self-knowledge. Only by accepting the judgment and chastisement of God’s words, by knowing oneself from within God’s words, and by achieving an understanding of one’s own various satanic dispositions and corrupt essence, can one hate oneself and forsake one’s flesh, and no longer do anything rebellious against God or that defies God. Only when one truly knows the truth of one’s own corruption can one sincerely thirst for the truth, pursue the truth, and take God’s words into one’s real life to experience and practice. Only in this way can one gradually enter into the truth and achieve a changed disposition, and that is why self-knowledge is so important. Consequently, while reading the word of God, I made sure to cross-check myself against the word by which God exposes man. Whatever happened to me, I could recognize my deficiencies and inadequacies. I felt that I was able to understand myself. Yet, it was through a revelation from God that I was able to see that I did not truly understand myself according to God’s word.

21. The Principles of Obeying God’s Administrative Decrees and Commandments

21. The Principles of Obeying God’s Administrative Decrees and Commandments

1. One must understand the essence and true meaning of God’s administrative decrees and commandments, understand God’s intention, and have fear of God so as not to offend God’s disposition.

2. One must seek the truth in God’s administrative decrees and commandments to understand God’s disposition and achieve true compliance with God’s administrative decrees and commandments.

3. One must master his own weaknesses and Achilles’ heel to develop the practical principles, know how to keep God’s administrative decrees and commandments and not offend God.

4. One must absolutely obey God’s administrative decrees and commandments, which is the duty man must do, and he must endeavor to keep them even if he does not understand them.

God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself I (Selection)

God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself I (Selection)

God created mankind; regardless of whether they have been corrupted or whether they follow Him, God treats human beings as His loved ones—or as human beings would say, the people dearest to Him—and not His playthings. Although God says He is the Creator and that man is His creation, which may sound like there is a bit of a difference in rank, the reality is that everything God has done for mankind far exceeds a relationship of this nature. God loves mankind, cares for mankind, and shows concern for mankind, as well as constantly and unceasingly provides for mankind. He never feels in His heart that this is additional work or something that deserves a lot of credit. Nor does He feel that saving humanity, supplying them, and granting them everything, is making a huge contribution to mankind. He simply provides for mankind quietly and silently, in His own way and through His own essence and what He has and is. No matter how much provision and how much help mankind receives from Him, God never thinks about nor tries to take credit. This is determined by the essence of God, and is also precisely a true expression of God’s disposition.

from “God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself I” in Continuation of The Word Appears in the Flesh