The Miracle of the Fire Awaken My Heart – A Christian Testimony

The Miracle of the Fire Awaken My Heart – A Christian Testimony

Xiaohan

In the spring of 2013, I was lucky to have accepted God’s work of the last days. Through having meetings, reading God’s words and sharing experiences of believing in God with my brothers and sisters, I felt the joy of receiving the work of the Holy Spirit, and saw that God’s words are truly necessities and tonics of our lives. Afterward, I read His words more voraciously and performed my duty as a created being to repay His love.

One day, I saw these words of God: “People always tend toward the world, harboring too many hopes, wanting too much for their future, and having too many extravagant demands. They are always thinking about and planning for their flesh and never interested in seeking the way of belief in God. Their hearts have been captured by Satan, they have lost their reverence for God, and they are devoting their heart to Satan. But man was created by God. Thus, man has lost the testimony, meaning he has lost the glory of God. The purpose of conquering mankind is to seize back the glory of man’s reverence for God. It can be put this way: There are many people who do not pursue life; even if there are some, the number can be counted on one’s fingers. People are most concerned about their future and are not paying any attention to life whatsoever”. From God’s words, it can be seen that if we can’t put aside the prospects of flesh, and if there are full of extravagant desires within, our heart will easily be captured by Satan and we will become more and more distant from God. At that time, I thought confidently: Others may stray from God for seeking the prospects of flesh, while I will absolutely not. For I’ve understood God’s thoughtful intention to save man from His words. However, in the face of facts, I had to hang my head and admit that what God’s word discloses is the truth. In my experience, I also saw that God never leaves or forsakes me but loves and saves me.

My family ran a transportation business. As the business was more and more prosperous, I became distant from God involuntarily. I thought: Our business is booming and we become well-off. Today people treat others by appearances. If we change our private car for a deluxe one and drive it to talk business, it will not only make us more distinguished, but also help us drum up more business and make greater profits. As people say, “People struggle to go upward, but water flows downward.” As soon as I shared my opinion with my husband, he agreed, “You are right. It’ll be highly advantageous to us if I drive a luxury car to negotiate business with others. For example, since one of my friends bought a Benz car, it has given him considerable advantages in business. Now more partners are willing to cooperate with him.” Thereupon, we began to rush about to all kinds of vehicle dealer’s shops to see cars, like BMWs, Bens, minivans, cross-country cars, etc. In addition, we also searched the Internet for all sorts of luxury cars and their prices.

As I put my whole heart into purchasing a car during that period of time, I couldn’t calm down when reading God’s words in the meeting. I said to myself, “I might as well stop having meetings. After purchasing a car, I’ll continue having meetings and performing my duty. However, as I carefully planned for having a luxury car, something unexpected happened.

One day in March of 2016, I was cleaning my rented house. In the yard, there was a small house built with wood and glass, which was used for storing some wooden articles for daily use as well as some sundries of the landlord. Since we had moved to the city, I decided to give the yard a spring clean and burn up the junk and garbage before leaving. Then I piled the garbage and lit a fire. After that, I kept on the cleaning in the room. A dozen or so minutes later, I heard some explosions from the yard all of a sudden, and then I ran out hastily. At the sight of the scene in the yard, I was petrified. The flames spread straightly to the small house of the landlord, and its glass had been burned to shatters. Then the fire spread into the small house, so the wood and sundries all caught fire. The fire was so strong that part of the roof was burned away and the tongues of fire kept leaping from the burning house. My legs trembled with fear at the sight of such a scene. I thought: The neighbor on the left raised many chickens and ducks in the yard. If the fire spreads to the neighboring houses, I can’t afford to pay even with all my properties. I wanted to call a fire engine immediately, but I found I had forgotten my cellphone. At the time, my forehead sweated profusely with anxiety. In desperation, I rushed out of the yard and shouted, “Help! Fire! Fire! Help!” Nevertheless, as it was around nine o’clock in the morning, neighbors were not at home. The fire was getting stronger and stronger, and moreover, combustibles were around the burning house. Frightened, I was at a loss what to do. In a panic, I hurried to carry water with a tub to douse the flames. However, when I turned the tap on, the water came out slowly, which made me extremely anxious. There was no enough water and no people helping me put out the fire. Besides, I couldn’t make an emergency call. Seeing the brisk fire, I was utterly desperate. Will I forfeit all my savings? Thinking of the serious consequences, I was terrified and started to cry. Suddenly, I thought of God I believe in: God has authority and power. I cannot rely on others; I can only rely on God.

I cried while praying to God, “O God, please help me! God, no one can help me now. I realize that I’ve turned away from You for the enjoyment of the flesh recently. I’m too disobedient. Oh, God! If the fire continues to burn, I’m willing to obey. God, please have mercy on me and help me.” After the prayer, I saw the water began to flow faster and for a short while, the tub was filled. I knew God heard my prayer. I couldn’t stop thanking Him. Promptly, I threw the tub of water to the roof. After that, I turned on the three taps in the room, filled every tub with water and threw it to the flames one by one. I didn’t know how many tubs of water I poured upon the fire in this way. By then my clothes were wet through, my face and hands were covered with dust, and my arms as well as legs numbed because of’ overexertion. At that time, the neighbor’s chickens and ducks were scared by the fire and explosion, quacking loudly. The fire was still burning; however, I was exhausted. I could only cry to God in tears without ceasing, “Oh, God! I can do nothing and I’m almost exhausted. Please help me. God! Help! …” After a while, the flames, which had been burning high, burned down a lot. I thought: “Man’s end is God’s beginning!” Consequently, I went on pouring water. The fire in the house burned down slowly, and later became white smoke, so did the flames above. I saw God’s almightiness and sovereignty, for I had used up all my strength to throw water, but the flames were not put out; however, after I prayed to God, they became white smoke miraculously. Seeing the scene before my eyes, I wept for joy and kept praising God’s great power and marvelousness in my heart. After the last flame was extinguished, my heart was finally released. At that moment, I was weak and limp, without any strength. When thinking about what happened at that time, I had palpitations. If not for God’s salvation, I didn’t know how to clean up the mess.

Then I recalled my actions and deeds during that period. I ran around for the sake of my own flesh and extravagant desires. Not only did my heart stray from God, but I even wanted to give up having meetings and performing duties, intending to make more money in the world. Though I treated God in that way, He didn’t abandon me. When I reached an impasse, He still listened to my prayer. Thinking of these, I was overwhelmed with regrets. Thank God for His another mercy on me! He used His love to awaken my numb heart. Without His salvation, all would have come to nothing due to the fire, such as buying a luxury car, making a fortune, and making others look up to me. Now I saw clearly that we are so impotent in the face of disaster, and money and materials I pursuit have no significance or value.

God says, “Whether you can gain life before God, and what your ultimate end will be, depends on how you carry out your rebellion against the flesh. God has saved you, and chosen and predestined you, yet if today you are unwilling to satisfy Him, you are unwilling to put the truth into practice, you are unwilling to rebel against your own flesh with a heart that truly loves God, ultimately you will ruin yourself, and will thus endure extreme pain”. “The fate of man is controlled by the hands of God. You are incapable of controlling yourself: Despite always rushing and busying about for himself, man remains incapable of controlling himself. If you could know your own prospects, if you could control your own fate, would you still be a creature?”. From God’s words, I understood that how much money I can earn and what my fate will be are in God’s hand. I should obey His sovereignty and arrangements. However, I was too greedy and my desires were too great. I was possessed for the flesh, living in Satan’s snare and becoming distant from God, with the result that I nearly ruined myself. I will forsake my flesh, keep my feet on the ground, have meetings and perform my duty properly. In this way, I can live securely. This is the most meaningful life.

In the afternoon, when I related the story of the fire accident to my husband, he was astonished. I talked to him with emotion, “If God didn’t save me, we would have been finished. We can’t afford the loss even with all our properties.” He said repeatedly, “Yeah, that’s right!” Right after that, I spoke to him seriously, “As to purchasing a car, I’ll leave it up to you. I’ll keep my mind on gatherings and perform my duty properly in the church to repay God’s love.” Hearing my words, he nodded and said, “All right, I’ll deal with the business myself. Don’t worry about it any longer.” At that moment, I felt so relaxed and happy from the bottom of my heart.

Though the fire accident befell me, I have truly experienced God never leaves or forsakes me but loves and saves me. I even more saw His almightiness and sovereignty. Today in the last days, various disasters occur frequently. If we can’t give up our fleshly hopes to follow God steadily, once we miss the opportunity to be saved by God, we will live in remorse till the end of our days. For God says, “I am mankind’s only salvation. I am mankind’s only hope and even more, I am He on whom the existence of all mankind rests. Without Me, mankind will immediately become stagnant. Without Me, mankind will suffer catastrophe and be trod upon by all manner of ghosts, even though none take heed of Me. I have done work that can be done by no other only in the hope that man repay Me with good deeds. … If you cannot work for good in My presence, then you will not escape suffering the disaster”.

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Everyone Has a Bill That He Does not Have to Pay

Liang Zhi

Thoughts Provoked by the Story of the Bills

There was once a boy named Tom who presented his mother with a bill.

The bill says, “The sum Mom owes Tom is as follows:

Mom should pay Tom $5 for helping mop the floor; $10 for buying mom daily necessities; $15 for babysitting my younger sister; and $20 for being a good boy. That comes to $50. Your son, Tom.”

Then Tom hung out cheerfully after making out the bill. In the evening, he came back and found 50 dollars at his bedside. Just when he was pleased about the reward offered by his mom, he saw another bill beside it. And he picked it up and read it with curiosity.

“The sum Tom owes Mom is as follows:

Mom charges Tom $0 for having given birth to little Tom after months of pregnancy; for worrying about and looking after Tom when he is ill, $0; for teaching Tom to talk, walk, and eat, $0. Mom prays to God every day for Tom to grow healthily and happily, Tom should pay $0. In total, Tom should pay Mom $0. Love, Mom.”

After reading mother’s bill for $0, Tom was quite ashamed. He walked stealthily up to his mother, who was preparing the dinner, and buried his hot face in his mother’s bosom, cautiously slipping the 50 dollars into her pocket.

Having just read the story, I merely laughed it off. After all, Tom was only a child, for what reason should we not forgive him for his innocence? But then, on reflection, I thought most people’s morbid mentality was also mirrored by the ignorant child’s idea. In this society full of material desires, a great number of things can be sold at marked prices. And it is natural that we gain our due reward in exchange for the price we have paid. Sometimes, those that are supposed to be the expressions of love at last turn into merciless bargains owing to our selfishness.

My Relationship With God Is Revealed As One of Making a Deal With Him Through Labor

Some time ago, the work of the church was very busy, and I ran around from early morning to late at night. Once, I had to get to a place 30 miles away to meet a few brothers and sisters at 6 o’clock in the morning, so I got up early and set off at 5. Though the severe winter was gone, it was still cold. Especially at dawn, after a long night, there was a chill in the air, and the trees by the roadside were shriveled up. Despite my thick cotton-padded jacket under the dust coat, the wind still forced its way into my sleeves and reached my chest while I was riding the motorcycle. My legs were numb with cold. So, many times I had to get off and stamped my feet to warm them up. At that time, I couldn’t help thinking, “If not for the work of the church, I would never go outside so early in such cold weather. God may have seen all I did. And will He commemorate and bless me?” A sharp pang of guilt shot through me when I thought this way. I remembered the short story of Tom billing his mother. And a passage of God’s words which a brother had shared with us in the meeting suddenly occurred to me too, “Many of those who follow God are only concerned with how to gain blessings or avoid disaster. … Such people have one very simple aim in following God: to gain blessing, and they are too lazy to attend to anything that doesn’t involve this aim. For them, believing in God to gain blessings is the most legitimate of goals and the very value of their faith. They are unaffected by anything that cannot achieve this objective. Such is the case with most of those who believe in God today. Their aim and motivation seem legitimate, because at the same time as believing in God, they also expend for God, dedicate themselves to God, and perform their duty. They give up their youth, forsake family and career, and even spend years busying about away from home. For the sake of their ultimate goal, they change their interests, alter their outlook on life, and even change the direction they seek, yet they cannot change the aim of their belief in God. They run about for the management of their own ideals; no matter how far the road is, and no matter how many hardships and obstacles there are along the way, they stick to their guns and remain fearless of death. What power makes them continue to dedicate themselves in this way? Is it their conscience? Is it their great and noble character? Is it their determination to do battle with the forces of evil to the very end? Is it their faith in which they bear witness to God without seeking recompense? Is it their loyalty for which they are willing to give up everything to achieve the will of God? Or is it their spirit of devotion in which they’ve always forgone personal extravagant demands? For people who have never known the work of God’s management to give so much is, quite simply, a wondrous miracle! … Apart from the benefits that are so closely associated with them, could there be any other reason for these people who never understand God to give so much to Him? In this, we discover a previously unidentified problem: Man’s relationship with God is merely one of naked self-interest. It is the relationship between the receiver and giver of blessings. To put it plainly, it is like the relationship between employee and employer. The employee works only to receive the rewards bestowed by the employer. In a relationship like this, there is no affection, only a deal; there is no loving and being loved, only charity and mercy; there is no understanding, only resignation and deception; there is no intimacy, only a gulf that cannot be bridged.”

Contemplating these thought-provoking words, I felt terribly ashamed at my thought of making demands on God and bartering with Him when I suffered a little. I realized that I had abandoned my family and job and endured hardship and suffering, not because of my noble character, my resolution to follow God, even less because of my love for God, but just for the sake of demanding God’s blessings and rewards, and buying blessing of the kingdom of heaven with my labor and sacrifice. Wasn’t I conducting a transaction with God? Wasn’t I making use of Him and deceiving Him? At this moment, I truly felt myself a person who sought nothing but profits and lacked conscience and sense before God.

God’s Love Cannot Be Measured, and Is Far More Than I Can Repay

After back home, I went to the brother and communicated with him. He then combined a passage of God’s words to fellowship with me, which was edifying and helped me gain a better knowledge of God’s will. And the passage of God’s words say: “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. This is why, regardless of whether it is in the Bible or any other books, we never find God expressing His thoughts, and we never find God describing or declaring to humans why He does these things, or why He cares so much for mankind, in order to make mankind be grateful toward Him or praise Him. Even when He is hurt, when His heart is in extreme pain, He never forgets His responsibility toward mankind or His concern for mankind, all while He bears this hurt and pain alone in silence. To the contrary, God continues to provide for mankind as He always does. Even though mankind often praises God or bears witness to Him, none of this behavior is demanded by God. This is because God never intends for any of the good things He does for mankind to be exchanged for gratitude or for it to be paid back. On the other hand, those who fear God and shun evil, those who truly follow God, listen to Him and are loyal to Him, and those who obey Him—these are the people who will often receive God’s blessings, and God will bestow such blessings without reservation. Moreover, the blessings people receive from God are often beyond their imagination, and also beyond anything human beings can exchange for what they have done or the price they have paid. When mankind is enjoying God’s blessings, does anyone care about what God is doing? Does anyone show any concern for how God is feeling?” (“God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself I”).

I was greatly touched by these words. God silently bestows the truth and life on us, and provides for us, and what He has done for us humans cannot be measured. We used to be ones who wandered and were lost in the world, and it is thanks to God’s salvation that we can come before God, so that we come to understand some truths, can discern good from evil, and beauty from ugliness, and can walk on the correct path to break away from Satan’s influence of darkness and march on toward a brilliant life. Recollecting the days of our first believing in God: How many times we have responded to God with silent tears in our prayers when we thought of His salvation and grace. How many times we have promised to give our whole lives to God. But after years of belief, when we sacrifice and suffer a little in our work, our selfish and greedy nature is revealed—we frequently take our devotion and sacrifice as the bargaining stock for God’s grace, demanding of Him to keep us so that our families always live harmoniously and peacefully, and moreover expecting Him to grant us a beautiful destination, and the blessing of the kingdom of heaven…. There are many items in our bill that we ask God to pay in our heart. In contrast, what has God demanded from us for all that He did for us mankind since the time of creation? God prepared the air, the sunshine, the rain and dew, various foods, and all the other conditions for us mankind to survive and to be able to thrive and reproduce. Moreover, after mankind was corrupted by Satan, in order to ensure their normal existence on earth, God issued laws and commandments and led man’s life for thousands of years. And later, in order to redeem mankind, who would soon be devoured by Satan, He Himself put on the flesh and was crucified for mankind. God also promised to return in the last days to do the work of judging and purifying man, bestow all the truths man needs to be saved, so as to thoroughly destroy Satan and take man to a wonderful destination…. God has never demanded anything from humans for all He did. He does everything so that we human race will live and enjoy His love forever.

Faced with God’s such profound love and ardent expectations, will we still make demands of God and claim grace from Him for the sake of our own self-interests or because of our expending and suffering? We know that God hopes we can pursue the truth, forsake our flesh and abandon Satan to practice His words, truly love Him and care for His heart to expend for Him, and obey His teachings willingly and happily, so that we will live out the likeness of a creature with humanity and sense to comfort His heart. That is our duty and responsibility as God’s creation, and only by living that way can we be worthy of all that God selflessly supplies and gives to us.

Recommended:
Blessed Through Illness: Experiencing God’s Love
The Creator’s Sincere Feelings Toward Mankind

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Where Is Our Refuge From the Widespread Terror Attacks?

Xiao Yang

Following the Manchester Arena bombing on May 22 which killed 22 people, another terror attack took place at London Bridge and Borough Market at around 10 P.M. Saturday. A white van veered on and off the bridge sidewalk, running over pedestrians, and then three men jumped out of the vehicle and stabbed patrons indiscriminately at the bars and restaurants of Borough Market. 8 people were killed and 48 others injured at the scene.

Reading the news, I suddenly felt that the epidemic of terrorist attacks nowadays is actually another order of catastrophe. Since December there have been four terrorist attacks against the Christian minority in Egypt. And recently, a suicide bombing was carried out at Manchester Arena in England. Before the families of the victims of the Manchester attack were able to deal with their shock and grief, the tragedy was unfolded at London Bridge. The world is really tumultuous and fraught with peril. During these years, wars, terrorist attacks, earthquakes, plagues, floods, droughts, hail and other disasters have struck frequently and endangered our lives. It says in the Bible: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows” (Mark 13:8). The prophecy has been fulfilled. In recent years, as disasters are all around and terrorist incidents keep happening, where is our refuge? Are these natural and man-made disasters giving us the sign that the Lord Jesus has already come?

Yesterday when I was looking up some information on a website, I typed the keyword “refuge” into the search bar and hit Enter, and saw some words among the search results:

“You should know that it is the last days now. The devil Satan, like a roaring lion, walks about, searching for people to devour. All manner of plagues are now breaking out and there are many different kinds of evil spirits. Only I am the true God; only I am your refuge. You can only now hide in My secret place, only within Me, and the disasters will not befall you and no calamity will come near to your tent.”

“I am amongst you, I support you and I am your refuge.”

Having read these words, I was surprised, thinking: Men are unable to say this. Only God is our refuge. These words must come from the Holy Spirit! Then I thought of the scriptures: “O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction” (Jeremiah 16:19). “The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence” (2 Samuel 22:3). The prophets and saints in ages past as well as we Christians today who follow the Lord, have all realized that only God is our refuge. It is true that now is the last days when various disasters are plaguing the world. Every time when calamity or danger comes upon us, it is also the time when we need God’s rescue. The arrival of the disaster will make us hurriedly come before God, because we know that only by depending on God can we receive God’s care and protection. In this light, the repeated disasters are exactly one of God’s methods of saving us. However, we are simply too numb and insentient to realize this salvation. In many cases, we feel afraid and anxious amidst the calamities and earnestly pray to God, asking for His help, care and protection. Yet once the calamities have passed and we live in peace and comfort again, we will put God to the back of our mind and all day think of how to eat and enjoy ourselves in a better way and how to lead a happy and joyful life. We like to stray from God and live freely, doing whatever we want. We believe that we are already worshiping God by going to church on Sundays with our family. But could this really allow us to be protected by God in the disaster? The prophecies about the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus have basically all come true, which shows that the Lord is very likely to have come. Our utmost priority is to seek where the Lord has appeared to do His work. Only if we keep up with God’s footsteps and meet the Lord’s second coming can we enter the refuge truly and be cared for and protected by God.

If you have other understanding and new light, you’re welcome to have a real-time chat with us via the online chat window at the bottom of the website or send an email to info@findshepherd.com. We’re all ears to your experience and knowledge of belief in the Lord. Looking forward to exchanging our sharing and welcoming the Lord’s second coming together.

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Have You Found the Secret of Teaching? II

Have You Found the Secret of Teaching? II

Afterward, a student who came from other place transferred to our school. He was so mischievous that other teachers were not willing to take him. Finally, the principal put him in my class. However, in class, he left classroom whenever he wanted to; after class, he often made troubles and fought with low-grade students. As a result, some students, teachers and even some parents of other students came to me to make complaints about him. When I tried to talk with him about these things, he was not convinced at all. At that time, I was at the end of my patience. Again, I intended to punish him, but I remembered the hymn of God’s words “The Practical God Saves Men in Obscurity” I used to croon. I realized that: God is the Creator and He is so supreme. Although we have disobeyed and opposed Him for many times, He still uses His word to remind, exhort, support and provide us, waiting for us to turn to Him. I am just a small creature, why can’t I treat students with love and patience? Thereupon, I forsook myself and went on helping him with love. However, not a little did he restrain himself, instead, he was even more in opposition to me, which made me lose my patience completely. I thought: Before you came, my class was a good one. It is your coming that makes a terrible mess of this class. You have ruined our reputation. I, the head-teacher of the class, will have no face to meet anyone if I let your insolence go! Hence, I planned to punish him by copying homework for a whole day without going home for meals. When I was about to exercise the authority of a teacher, a passage of God’s words came to my mind, “Now when some matter comes upon people, regardless of what the actual situation is, they think that they can do this and that, but God is not in their hearts, and they do it according to their own intentions. Regardless of whether the course of action is suitable or not, or whether it is in accordance with truth or not, they only stiffen their necks and act according to their personal intentions. It usually seems that God is in their hearts, but when they do things, God is not in their hearts. … Actually, people are not really seeking God and praying to God about this. They are not striving to do it well to satisfy God’s will, nor striving to do it well according to His requirements. They do not have this true situation, and they don’t have such desire. This is the greatest error people make in their practice, because you believe in God, but God is not in your heart. How is this not a sin? How is this not deceiving yourself? What effect will believing this way have? Where is the practical significance in believing in God?” The judgment and chastisement of God’s words promptly enlightened me. I used to declare before God that I would like to practice the truth. However, when I found the student was difficult to manage, I didn’t bring the problem before God to pray for it or to seek God’s will, nor did I find the way of practice in His word. Instead, I acted according to my personal intentions. My faith in God was in words only, and I would gain nothing in the end. Immediately, I prayed to God, “O God! A naughty boy transferred to my class. May You keep my heart to obey this environment. Please keep me from doing things by satanic disposition in the position of teacher any longer. As for that boy, whether he will change or not and to what extent can his view will change, they are all in Your hands. I’m willing to rely on You and commit him to You.”

After my prayer, I saw God’s word, “Normal humanity includes these aspects: insight, sense, conscience, and character. If you can achieve normality in each of these respects, your humanity is up to standard.” After reading these words, I began to examine my past behavior. Before, I treated my students as different categories. I always praised those outstanding students, rewarded and encouraged them. Yet those slow students always got physical punishment, which made them more depressed and caused them to be fed up with study in the end. All these were the evil I had done. Wasn’t I even possessed of a normal humanity at the very least? After realizing these, when I encountered that boy, I didn’t think he opposed me on purpose, but though God would perfect me to live out normal humanity through him. I would like to forsake myself and treat him fairly.

Later on, I often came to chat with him. At first, he was reluctant to contact with me. I persuaded him many times, but he still kept silent. My patience wore thin. When I was about to give up talking with him and leave him alone, a passage of words in “Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life” crossed my mind: “Everyone wants to practice love, coordination with others, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, but they fail; Each of us would like to care about others, love and help them, it is harder to practice. It is because people are deeply corrupted by Satan, isn’t it? It is because people are deeply corrupted by Satan, are full of satanic poisons and much hatred exists in man’s flesh.” According to this passage of fellowship, I was just aware that I was deeply corrupted by Satan. I could be tolerant and patient with students temporarily, but not perseveringly. I found I didn’t possess a normal humanity. How could I, in this way, establish a normal relationship with students? So I made a resolution inwardly: Whatever his attitude toward me is, I shall treat him with love. After that, I prayed to God and relied on Him for many times; under the guidance of Him, I came to talk with him again. Gradually he was willing to talk with me what was in his heart and his attitude toward me also changed.

Afterward, I often invited those naughty children of my class over on weekends. I helped them make up lessons, cooked for them and talked with them, through which I came to know why they were naughty: On the one hand, their parents were not by their side for a long time; on the other hand, their relatives didn’t care about them; in addition, teachers and their classmates often discriminated against them at school. As a result, their spirits were downtrodden. In order to comfort themselves, they made troubles by design, hoping to draw the attention of their parents and teachers. Knowing their inner voice, I thanked God in my heart unceasingly. If I had not had heart-to-heart talks with them and still employed my previous education method, I would have made them more and more oppressed and wouldn’t have been able to educate them well. From then on, through my care and guidance over and over again, the naughtiest boy seldom cursed or fought with others. What’s more, he was willing to join in the activities of our class and could finish his homework actively. Once, he had a private conservation with me of his own accord after a class meeting, which moved me most. He said he wanted to take revenge on one of his classmates and he had hidden a dagger in the woods. Inspired by the class meeting, he determined to give up that revenge. Besides, he gave the dagger to me for safekeeping, hoping that I could forgive him. Seeing his changes, I had greater confidence to rely on God to educate these children.

One day, I saw God’s words: “Today I have come to do the work of your salvation, which is to say that the work I do is a continuation of the work of salvation. Every person has the chance to be made perfect: Provided that you are willing, provided that you pursue, in the end you will be able to achieve the effects, and not one of you will be forsaken. If you are of poor caliber, My requirements of you will be in accordance with your poor caliber; if you are of high caliber, My requirements of you will be in accordance with your high caliber; if you are ignorant and illiterate, My requirements of you will be in accordance with your illiteracy; if you are literate, My requirements of you will be in accordance with your level of literacy; if you are elderly, My requirements of you will be in accordance with your age; … I want everyone to catch up, want everyone to have the work and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and be able to obey to the very end, because this is the duty that each of you should perform. When you have all performed your duty, you will all have been made perfect, you will also have resounding testimony.” The work God does varies from individual to individual and His requirements of us are in accordance with our caliber and stature, instead of imposing uniformity in all cases. God is really righteous! Later on, I began to practice His words. I arranged activities for my students according to their specialties as well as hobbies to stimulate their learning interest and increase their sense of collective honor and cohesion. Some were fond of literature and art, they would be arranged to publicity team of literature and art, and this team members would be in charge of all the related activities of our class; Some were interested in PE, they would be arranged to PE team; Some were good at painting, I arranged they into painting team, and so on. I allowed them to make the best of their advantages. When I didn’t force my personal ideas on them, their learning interest gradually improved and they had some changes in ideology and morality. The student, who once climbed on a moving train, was in charge of sports activities. He not only could give full play to his expertise, but bring forward some suggestions on who was good at long-distance running and who was good at high jump and so on. According to his arrangement, we trained the students in accordance with their advantages, our class won the prizes in every item in PE at last. What’s more, when he found his classmates quarrel and fight with others or make troubles, he would persuade them and mediate these matters in no time. No matter what good ideas he had in all aspects of work, he would communicate with me actively. Through discussion, we would work out some measures. Who would have thought that he became my capable assistant. Once, I was ill and didn’t take the class. To my surprise, he called some of his classmates to see me.

Before the graduation examination, I didn’t encourage my students to cheat. But I felt a little bit worried: This is a crucial exam and it directly related to my students’ entering a higher school as well as my reputation in our school. I thought: If they fail in this exam, how will others think of me? After that, I saw God’s words, “In truth, there are many matters in which man, if he devotes just the slightest effort, can put the truth into practice and thereby satisfy God. The heart of man is constantly possessed by demons and so he cannot act for the sake of God. Rather, he constantly journeys to and fro for the flesh, and profits nothing in the end. It is for these reasons that man has constant troubles and afflictions. Are these not the torments of Satan? Is this not corruption of the flesh? You should not fool God by only paying lip service. Rather, you must take tangible action. Do not fool yourself; what is the meaning in that? What can you gain by living for the sake of your flesh and toiling for fame and fortune?” Through the judgment and chastisement of God’s word, I realized that I was pursuing fame and position. Then, I prayed to God for many times and asked Him to protect my heart; I committed this exam into His hands and didn’t want to be restrained by fame and position. Before the exam, I encouraged my students: “Don’t be restrained by scores. Just try your best. You shouldn’t cheat in exams any more. Never lose heart if you fail. And I will help you with your lessons after that.” I never expected that our class still ranked high in the exam. After the graduation ceremony, my students would leave our school. I would never forget the affectionate care between these students and me.

Now, there is a qualitative change in my teaching. I deeply felt that when I taught by Satan’s philosophies of life in the past, I was tired and my students were fed up with me. When I relied on God and practiced the truth, I saw God’s blessings. Not only did my students can help each other truly, but we built a true relationship. I felt the peace and comfort that I have never had before. Afterward, some parents asked to send their children to my class so that they can be at ease. I know this is the result achieved by the work of God. And it makes me gain more confidence to rely on God to educate children.

I have truly tasted the sweetness of practicing God’s words and felt the preciousness of God’s words through my experience. God says, “Only if one knows God and has the truth does he live in the light; and only when his view of the world and his view of life change does he change fundamentally. When he has a life goal and comports himself according to the truth; when he absolutely submits to God and lives by God’s word; when he feels assured and brightened deep in his soul; when his heart is free of darkness; and when he lives completely freely and unrestrained in God’s presence—only then does he live a true human life and become a person possessing truth. Besides, all the truths you have are from God’s word and from God Himself. The Ruler of the entire universe and all things—God Most High—approves of you, as a real man living the true human life. What could be more meaningful than God’s approval? Such is a person who has the truth.” Only the truth can bring us the right path of life and only by coming before God and comporting ourselves according to His words can we live out a real life. Living under the domain of Satan and living by the life view and the life philosophies come from Satan will make us eviler and be less and less humane. I thank God for leading me to walk onto the right path of human life from the bottom of my heart. All the glory be to God!

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The Lord Jesus Has Returned; Do You Remain Stubbornly in Religion Like the Pharisees?

The Lord Jesus Has Returned; Do You Remain Stubbornly in Religion Like the Pharisees?

On my first Christmas in America, I clicked some Christmas preaching videos of the religious groups on my computer. All that I saw seemed alike: The believers dressed in Christmas robes and sang the anthems. Then the pastor delivered a written sermon and led the prayer to the Lord for blessings, after which all the people dispersed. I heard from a friend who frequented the church that they spent more time on Christmas dinner. Later, I clicked another video from a comparatively well-known religious group in North America. The pastor was familiar to me, as he led a Chinese student movement of the last century and later escaped from China. I still remembered the time when I first watched his preaching video, which was a sermon he delivered in Taiwan over ten years ago. In it, he narrated his escape experience on Christmas Eve and the marvelous salvation of the Lord Jesus. I was truly moved by the Lord’s wonderful deeds at that time. Today, the pastor who turns grey at his temples continues the sermon centering around the testimony of God’s grace, in the newly-decorated and sumptuous church on such a grand festival packaged and prettified by the religious world. Many people who were not regular attenders drove purposely to the meeting from afar that day, earnestly listening to the preach that stood unchanged for more than a decade. It seemed they were enjoying a spiritual feast of the highest standard of that year. Naturally, I felt regrettable at the sight of such a scene. For these people remained in their own temple, enjoying the Lord’s grace habitually, with numb cry and laugh. However, have they ever thought of the questions seriously: Will the Lord really listen to our praise and prayers? Does the Holy Spirit still work in the place full of religious rituals?

At this moment, I couldn’t help but remember the Jewish Pharisees who served Jehovah God originally in the temple. They served there as the chief priests and priests from generation to generation. Like people clothed in Christmas robes, they preached the laws and commandments in classy clothes. Some even wrote the verses on the fringe of their clothes to show their piety. However, the Lord Jesus scolded these Pharisees who were pious by appearance, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like to white washed sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves” (Matthew 23:15). “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither suffer you them that are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:13). In the late period of the Age of Law, the hypocritical substance of the Pharisees was fully revealed. They connived at people’s selling and buying goods like oxen, sheep and doves in the temple, turning the holy place that had been used to offer sacrifices to God into a den of thieves. They prayed loudly at the crossing, deceiving man that they were the most pious to God, but they secretly embezzled the possessions of widows. They repeatedly declared that they would not take part with their ancestors in shedding the blood of the prophets, but actually had many prophets and apostles killed. … As the laws only enabled man to know sin, they could still sin against God constantly due to their corruption, with the result that they sinned more and more. If that had continued, mankind would finally be punished by death for the violation of the laws. Therefore, God was incarnated among man to do a stage of redemptive work by the name of the Lord Jesus. After some people saw and heard His word and work, they came to follow Him. However, the Pharisees feared that people would all convert to the Lord Jesus and thus they would lose their position and job. Thereupon, they deceived the Jewish people that the Lord Jesus was not the coming Messiah, for the name was different, and they even condemned Him for the violation of the laws by not keeping the Sabbath. They required the Jewish people to keep the words of the laws and not to seek the Lord’s work, and they even went so far as to incite and delude them to crucify the Lord Jesus. Even nowadays, only a few Jews believe in the Lord Jesus, which is the irrefutable evidence of the Pharisees resisting God and devouring man’s soul. Nevertheless, as to the evil substance of the Pharisees, how much could the Jewish people, the Pharisees’ followers differentiate?

In the last days, God becomes flesh again and uses the name of Almighty God to carry out a stage of work of judging and purifying man based on the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus, ending the Age of Grace and opening the Age of Kingdom. Almighty God has expressed all the truths for mankind to be saved, which can judge and purify their corrupt dispositions, make them free from sin and be saved. Nowadays, Almighty God’s work of the last days has been carried out for over two decades, and His name has already been spread to countless homes, shocking every sect and group. Those truly yearning for God’s appearance have returned before the throne of God in succession at hearing His voice. God has conquered and gained a group of overcomers in Mainland China and His kingdom gospel is being spread to all nations and all lands of the world. But the pastors and elders of the religious world still stubbornly cleave to the words of the Bible and preach the notions and fallacies such as “All beliefs beyond the Bible are the heresies,” “Whoever does not descend on a heavenly white cloud is not the return of the Lord,” “The returned Lord is to take man into the sky to meet with Him,” etc. They are the same as the Pharisees. To keep their position and job, they deceive the believers that God simply does His work according to the words of the Bible, and any work that is outside the Bible is not from God. Those who believe the heretical fallacies stay in the religious places, the sumptuous churches where the presence of the Holy Spirit is absent. They are merely satisfied with some outward pious religious rituals. Yet they do not receive the slightest supply of the living water of life from God, much less have the way to seek the truth to have their corrupt dispositions thoroughly cleansed. Even if they hold such faith in God to the end, will there be any difference between their ending and that of those Jewish people who didn’t accept the Lord Jesus’ redemptive work throughout their whole life? Do you still have no discernment on the evil substance of some pastors and elders in today’s religious world, who ignore the followers’ lives but only maintain their own status and job? God’s work of the last days will conclude with His glorification. Are you still waiting and seeing or refusing to seek and investigate it for listening to the pastors and elders? In the end, let’s enjoy a passage of warning words from Almighty God to seek and think over the question carefully: On the matter of welcoming the returned Lord in the last days, should we tightly keep to the teachings of the pastors and elders, or come out of the religion, follow God’s footsteps, and seek the way of eternal life from the latest utterance and word of God?

Almighty God says, “since we are searching for the footprints of God, we must search for God’s will, for the words of God, for the utterances of God—for where there are the new words of God, there is the voice of God, and where there are the footsteps of God, there are the deeds of God. Where there is the expression of God, there is the appearance of God, and where there is the appearance of God, there exists the truth, the way, and the life” (“The Appearance of God Has Brought a New Age” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). “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. If you do not seek the way of life provided by Christ of the last days, then you shall never gain the approval of Jesus, and shall never be qualified to enter the gate of the kingdom of heaven…. The steps of God’s work are vast and mighty, like surging waves and rolling thunders—yet you sit and passively await destruction, sticking to your folly and doing nothing. In this way, how can you be considered someone who follows in the footsteps of the Lamb? How can you justify the God that you hold on to as a God who is always new and never old? … I suggest, then, that you stop dreaming, and look at who is working now, at who is now carrying out the work of saving man during the last days. If you do not, you shall never gain the truth, and shall never gain life” (“Only Christ of the Last Days Can Give Man the Way of Eternal Life” in The Word Appears in the Flesh).

Recommend:
Discernment Between the True Christ and False Ones
How Should We Welcome the Return of the Lord Jesus?
Can Man Gain Eternal Life by Clinging to the Bible? – Gospel Movie clip “Come Out of the Bible” (2)

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