Chi ZhongI asked, “Luming, how should we be made clean?” Luming said, “Let’s read a passage of the word of God. Almighty God says, ‘In the last days, Christ uses a variety of truths to teach man, to expose the substance of man, and to dissect the words and deeds of man. 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 normal humanity, as well as the wisdom and the disposition of God, and so on. These words are all directed at the substance of man and his corrupt disposition. In particular, the 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 a few words; He exposes, deals with, and prunes over the long term. These methods of exposure, dealing, and pruning cannot be substituted with ordinary words, but with the truth of which man is utterly bereft. Only methods such as these can be called 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 essence 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 essence 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’ (The Word Appears in the Flesh). From Almighty God’s words, we can see that in the last days, God uses a variety of truths to reveal, judge and perfect man. God tells man His will so that man can know how to obey Him and how to live out the normal humanity. God also shows man all the ways of practice, and reveals and judges man with the truth that man is not possessed of, so that man will realize their satanic ugly face. And afterward they will pursue the truth, seek a transformation of their disposition and finally have all the words of God wrought into them and live by the word of God. For instance, I previously pursued to be an overcomer just as you do: I did my utmost to labor hard for the Lord in the hope that I would reign and rule alongside the Lord. Later, I read Almighty God’s words, ‘I have previously said that a group of overcomers are gained from the East, overcomers who come from amid the great tribulation. What is meant by these words? They mean that these people who have been gained only truly obeyed after undergoing judgment and chastisement, and dealing and pruning, and all kinds of refinement. The belief of these people is not vague and abstract, but real. They have not seen any signs and wonders, or any miracles; they do not speak of abstruse letters and doctrines, or profound insights; instead they have reality, and the words of God, and a true knowledge of the reality of God. Is such a group not more capable of making plain the power of God?’ ‘This stage of work will create a group of overcomers, and after He has made this group of overcomers, they will be able to testify to His deeds, they will be able to live out reality, and they will actually satisfy Him and be loyal to Him unto death, and in this way God will be glorified. When God is glorified—that is, when He has made this group of people perfect—that will be the Age of Millennial Kingdom’ (The Word Appears in the Flesh). Only then did I realize that the hundred forty and four thousand overcomers prophesied in the Revelation refer to those who God personally perfects and purifies in His work of the last days, but not those who sacrifice, spend and run for the Lord in the Age of Grace. The overcomers refer to the group of people who have gone through God’s work of chastisement, judgment, trial and refinement in the last days and have eventually been perfected. They have practical knowledge of God, are able to obey God and be loyal to Him until death, live out the reality of the truth, and bear testimony for God. It is only through God’s work of the last days that the overcomers can be made. No matter how hard those who stay in the Age of Grace pursue, they will never become overcomers by relying on their own efforts. When I understood God’s will, I abandoned my vague pursuit, began to accept God’s judgment and chastisement submissively and tried to practice and experience God’s word in the things I encountered. After practicing this way, I gain more understanding about God’s disposition, and my relationship with God becomes normal gradually and I can also live out some normal humanity.”

Hearing these words, I said happily, “So it turns out that God uses the word to do the work of judgment. Through reading God’s word we can understand the mysteries that we didn’t know before. Now, I realize that overcomers arise only in God’s work of the last days and they are made through God’s personal work. Only those who have gone through God’s chastisement and judgment and have been purified can become overcomers.” Then, I said to Luming, “Please share with us something more about how you experience and practice the word of God.” Qin Shu also said, “Yes, please tell us more.”

Luming continued, “Ok. I’ll talk a little about my experience. I once coordinated with a brother. When I saw him expose some corruption, I was not willing to fellowship with him because of my inner prejudice against him. Instead, I told this to our leader and wished him to fellowship with the brother. Unexpectedly, the leader dealt with me for my not treating people fairly and having no love for the brother. At that time, I simply couldn’t accept it and insisted that my thought was definitely right. Later, while introspecting, I read Almighty God’s words, ‘This way, these relationships are not established in the flesh, but on the foundation of God’s love. There are almost no fleshly interactions, but in the spirit there is fellowship, mutual love, mutual comfort, and provision for one another. This is all done on the foundation of a heart that satisfies God. These relationships are not maintained by relying on a human philosophy for living, but are formed very naturally through carrying a burden for God. It does not require man-made effort. You need only practice according to God’s word principle. … A normal relationship between people is established on the foundation of giving their hearts to God, and not through human effort. Without God in their hearts, interpersonal relationships between people are merely relationships of the flesh. They are not normal, but rather, are an abandonment to lust. They are relationships that God detests, that He loathes. If you say that your spirit has been moved, but you always want to have fellowship with people who you like, with whomever you think highly of, and if another person is seeking but you do not like them, even hold a bias against them and will not engage with them, this is more proof that you are subject to your emotions and you do not have a normal relationship with God at all. You are attempting to deceive God and cover up your own ugliness. Even if you can share some understanding yet you carry wrong intentions, then everything you do is good only by human standards. God will not praise you—you are acting according to the flesh, not according to God’s burden. If you are able to quiet your heart in front of God and have normal interactions with all those who love God, only then are you fit for God’s use. This way, no matter how you associate with others, it will not be according to a philosophy for living, but it will be before God, living in a way that is considerate of His burden’ (The Word Appears in the Flesh). In the words of God, I knew that God is holy in substance and He treats everyone fairly and righteously, with no impurity of emotion. Similarly, there are no impurities in God’s love for man. It is God’s will that I can treat brothers and sisters fairly and consider things by standing on the side of God, help and sustain brothers and sisters with a heart of loving God, and don’t treat others according to my own emotions and personal preference. However, I didn’t care for God’s will, but harbored prejudice against the brother and didn’t fellowship with him. I had no burden for others’ life. Isn’t this selfish and contemptible? When I realized that, I prayed to God, and then summoned up the courage to open my heart to the brother. I fellowshipped about the expressions of my corruption and the process of my receiving the guidance of God’s word. At the moment, the brother was deeply moved and said, ‘I’ve indeed seen God’s love.’ And he also expressed his willingness to seek the truth and solve his own problem. From this matter, I saw that God’s righteous disposition is real and vivid. All these were the effects brought about by God’s righteous disposition and His chastisement and judgment. I felt that God’s love for man is so selfless and real while I myself am so selfish and contemptible, and therefore, I had a little reverence for God in my heart. When faced with the people, matters, and things that don’t conform to my notions, I dare not act rashly according to my own will and preferences. In this way, I have experienced God’s word and work in real life, and gradually gained more knowledge of God and had a deeper love for God, and thus I step onto the right path of believing in God. Indeed, I see only God can change man and only by experiencing God’s judgment, chastisement, and dealing and pruning, will man attain a change in disposition and know God. In the word of God, I found a way of practice. It was until then that I understood why the Lord said, ‘I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’ (John 8:12).”

After hearing Yin Luming’s fellowship, I said gladly, “I’ve never heard such a preaching and testimony before. This is truly God’s work. Only the work of God Himself can change man, save man and show man the ways of practice and the direction to go forward.” Wang Jie also said happily, “From this we see that Almighty God is exactly the return of the Lord Jesus.” I said heartedly, “Thank God for His guidance! Through the fellowship, I’m certain that Almighty God is the return of the Lord Jesus. Today, I finally understand only God can show man the direction to go forward, and this is the fulfilment of the words in the Bible, ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.’ (Psalm 119:105)” Qin Shu also said with delight, “Yeah. Thank God! Henceforth, we don’t have to keep searching anymore.” Yin Luming said, “Thank God! It is all God’s guidance that we can have such knowledge today.” Then I asked, “Could you give us a book of God’s word?” Yin Luming said, “Sure. The word of God is freely bestowed to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. I’ll bring the book to you tomorrow.” We all said excitedly, “Thank God! Thank God!” Later, we brought a dozen or so brothers and sisters back to God’s family. All the glory be to Almighty God!

Recommended:

The Word of God Is a Lamp to My feet, and a Light to My Path (I)

The Word of God Is a Lamp to My Feet, and a Light to My Path (II)