July 2, 2018 – Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

– Ecclesiastes 1:2

Thoughts on Today’s Verse…

　　This verse tells us that our pursuits in life, such as fame and fortune, status, money and fleshly enjoyments, are all vanity and meaninglessness because we do not bring when we are born and we do not take when we die. We cannot help but ask ourselves: If all is vanity, then why do we live? How to live can get rid of vanity? At this moment, a passage of God’s words struck me, “For without the guidance of God, no matter how much rulers and sociologists wrack their brains to preserve human civilization, it is to no avail. No one can fill the emptiness in man’s heart, for no one can be the life of man, and no social theory can free man from the emptiness with which he is afflicted. … Man, after all, is man. The position and life of God cannot be replaced by any man. Mankind does not just require a fair society in which everyone is well-fed and is equal and free, but the salvation of God and His provision of life to them. Only when man receives the salvation of God and His provision of life to them can the needs, yearning to explore, and spiritual emptiness of man be resolved.” From these words we can see that only when mankind accept God’s provision of life to them, seek to know Him, and gain the truth can they solve emptiness. Thanks for God’s guidance!

Recommend more: Daily Bible Devotions

Gospel Movie Clip "God's Name Has Changed?!" (2) - Is God's Name Truly Unchangeable?

Christian Film Clip "God's Name Has Changed?!" (2) - Is God's Name Truly Unchangeable?

Pastors and elders of the religious world frequently preach to believers that the Lord Jesus' name can never change and that only by relying on the Lord Jesus' name can we be saved. Does this kind of view accord with the truth? Jehovah God said, "Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and beside me there is no savior" (Isaiah 43:10-11). In the Age of Grace, God incarnate took the name Jesus. God is unchangeable, so how can His name change? Furthermore, Revelation prophesied that God will have a new name in the last days, so what is this all about? Many people are at a loss over this, but this short video will disclose the truth to you.

More details:

Are Almighty God and the Lord Jesus One God? 

Questions and Answers on Being Saved and Being Finally Saved (5)

Question 5: You say that people who believe in God must accept God’s work of judgment in the last days, and only then can their corrupt disposition be changed. But we, in accordance with the Lord’s requirements, practice humility and patience, love our enemies, bear our crosses, subdue our bodies, abandon worldly things, and we work and preach for the Lord and so on. So aren’t all these our changes? Can’t they become the credentials for our entry into the kingdom of heaven? I believe that as long as we seek in this way, we can attain purification, and enter into the kingdom of heaven?

　　Answer: We can love our enemy, bear the cross, overcome our body, and spread the gospel of the Lord. These are positive behaviors coming from our belief in the Lord. Our exhibition of such good behaviors signifies that our faith in the Lord is true. These good behaviors may appear correct to people, as if these are in line with the word of God, but it does not mean that we are practicing God’s word and following the will of the heavenly Father, it doesn’t mean that we have quit our sinful nature and become sanctified. There is a reason why we cannot just look at people’s good behaviors by appearance. We also need to look at their intentions and ultimate purposes. If our intention is to obey God, love God, and satisfy God, this kind of good behavior is practicing the truth and obeying the will of the heavenly Father. On the other hand, if our good behavior is solely for the solicitation of blessing and reward, for the reward of a crown, but not from a loving heart for God, then this kind of good behavior is the hypocritical behavior of the Pharisees instead of doing the heavenly Father’s will. If the mere exhibition of good behavior signifies that we are following the will of the heavenly Father, signifies that we have become sanctified, then why do we often commit sins and resist God? Why do we still lead the lifestyle of sinning during the day and confessing at night? This adequately shows that the mere exhibition of good behaviors does not mean that we are practicing the truth and living out the reality of God’s word. Nor does it mean that we have an understanding or a fearful heart to God, much less the ability to love and obey God. As Almighty God says: “Changes in nothing more than behavior are unsustainable. If there is no alteration in people’s life disposition, then sooner or later their wicked side will show itself. Because the source of the changes in their behavior is fervor, coupled with some work by the Holy Spirit at the time, it is extremely easy for them to become fervent, or to show kindness for a time. As the unbelievers say, ‘Doing one good deed is easy, what’s hard is doing a lifetime of good deeds.’ People are incapable of doing good deeds their whole life. Their behavior is directed by the life; whatever their life is, so is their behavior, and only that which is revealed naturally represents the life, and one’s nature. Things that are fake cannot last. … Behaving well is not the same as obeying God, much less does it equal being compatible with Christ. Changes in behavior are based on doctrine, and born of fervor—they are not based on the true knowledge of God, or upon the truth, much less do they rest on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Even though there are times when some of what people do is directed by the Holy Spirit, this is not the expression of the life, much less is it the same as knowing God; no matter how good a person’s behavior, it does not prove that they obey God, or that they put the truth into practice” (“The Difference Between External Changes and Changes in Disposition” in Records of Christ’s Talks). Almighty God’s word clearly explains to us about the essence and source of good behavior. The good behavior of man comes from enthusiasm, which is the practices based on his notions of rules and regulations, not from comprehension of the practicing principles after understanding many truths, or the desire to love and satisfy God from understanding the intention of God. Good behavior stems from man’s conceptions and imaginations. Man’s conceptions and imaginations come from man’s own opinions and his corrupt nature. Therefore no matter what we do, whatever pain we suffer or the price we pay, it is not practice of the truth. It does not mean obedience to God or the outcome of the Holy Spirit’s work. Even when we exhibit good behavior and the ability to follow the rules while we appear to be very pious and spiritual, we are still prone to committing sin and resisting God because of our inveterate corrupt disposition of Satan, our unresolved sinful nature, and lack of true understanding of God. As we can see, many well behaving people still frequently commit sins and confess their sins after believing in God. This is an undeniable fact. When they show good behaviors while sinning and resisting God at the same time, it adequately proves that they are not following the will of the heavenly Father. They do not really deserve the praise of God. The Jewish Pharisees were law-abiding people with impeccable behaviors cosmetically. But when the Lord Jesus came to work, why did they frantically resist, condemn, scheme, and crucify the Lord Jesus? This was enough to explain that the nature of resisting God was innate in them. Regardless of how well they were behaving overtly, it did not mean that they understood, obeyed and were compatible with God, much less followed God’s will and became sanctified. If we want to resolve our sinful nature and become sanctified, we must experience God’s work of judgment in the last days, understand the ample truths therein and gain real knowledge of God, thus begetting true obedience and fear of God. Otherwise the deep-rooted corrupt disposition of Satan in us will never be cleansed and altered, and we will never be after God’s heart and admitted to the kingdom of God.

Gospel Movie Clip "The Moment of Change" (1) - How Are Wise Virgins Raptured?

Some people go by Paul's word on the matter of waiting for the Lord to be raised into the kingdom of heaven: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1Co 15:52). They believe that although we still sin constantly without breaking away from the bondage of sinful nature, the Lord will change our images instantly and bring us into the kingdom of heaven when He comes. Also, there are people who go by God's word: "Not everyone that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Mat 7:21). "… Be you holy; for I am holy" (1Pe 1:16). They believe that people who still sin constantly are far from attaining holiness and utterly unqualified to be raised into the kingdom of heaven. A spectacular debate thus began…. So, what kind of people are qualified to be raised into the kingdom of heaven? We invite you to watch this short video.

Know more:

 Eastern Lightning—the appearance and work of God in the last days has rocked all sects and denominations, and all kinds of men have been revealed.

July 3, 2018 – Proverbs 3:6

　　In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

– Proverbs 3:6

　　Thoughts on Today’s Verse…

　　From this verse, we can see God hopes that we can rely on and believe in Him in everything. Then when things befall us, God will surely show us the way and guide us. However, many times, we cannot see God’s deeds because of our little faith in Him. When we are faced with some matter, we don’t rely on God but do things depending on our own ability. And we really feel pained when the results are not as we wished. Not until we meet with difficulties do we come before God, pray to Him and entrust our difficulties to Him. This reminds me of a passage of God’s words, “So there is a very important lesson to be learned here. What is this lesson? It is that people need to look to God in all things and, by looking to God, they achieve a reliance on God. Only by relying on God do people have a path to follow. Otherwise, they can do something correctly and in conformity with the principles of the truth, but if they don’t rely on God, then what they do is just man’s deed, and it does not necessarily satisfy God.” From God’s words, we can see that only firmly believing in God and acting according to His will in all things are something that a creature should do and that God approves.

　　More attention:

　　God and the Bible section selects articles that reveal the mysteries of the Bible and clarify the relationship between God and the Bible, helping us know the truth about God and the Bible more clearly. 

Questions and Answers on Being Saved and Being Finally Saved (4)

Question 4: People are sinful, but the sin offering of the Lord Jesus is forever effective. As long as we confess our sins to the Lord, He will forgive us. We are sinless in the Lord’s eyes, so we can enter the kingdom of heaven!

　　Answer: Lord Jesus absolves mankind’s sins, but that doesn’t mean we don’t sin. That doesn’t mean we have been freed from the control of our sins or have been cleansed. Lord Jesus absolves our sins. What does “sin” really refer to in this context? We all know adultery, theft, etc. Anything that violates laws, commandments or God’s words is a sin. Any action that resists, condemns or judges God is also a sin. Any blasphemy against God is a sin, a sin that cannot be absolved! In the Age of Grace, Lord Jesus martyred himself for our sins. Only those that pray to the Lord and repent will not be condemned or sentenced to death. That is to say, God will no longer see them as sinners. People who are absolved of their sins can pray directly to God and share in His grace. That is the true meaning of “absolution”. Although our sins were absolved by Lord Jesus, that doesn’t mean we have stopped sinning and resisting God. Because sinning is in our nature, we are still able to resist and betray God and take Him as our enemy. How can people like that be qualified to enter the heavenly kingdom? It’s just as Almighty God said, “A sinner such as you, who has just been redeemed, and has not been changed, or been perfected by God, can you be after God’s heart? For you, you who are still of your old self, it is true that you were saved by Jesus, and that you are not counted as a sinner because of the salvation of God, but this does not prove that you are not sinful, and are not impure. How can you be saintly if you have not been changed? Within, you are beset by impurity, selfish and mean, yet you still wish to descend with Jesus—you should be so lucky! You have missed a step in your belief in God: You have merely been redeemed, but have not been changed. For you to be after God’s heart, God must personally do the work of changing and cleansing you; if you are only redeemed, you will be incapable of attaining sanctity. In this way you will be unqualified to share in the good blessings of God, for you have missed out a step in God’s work of managing man, which is the key step of changing and perfecting. And so you, a sinner who has just been redeemed, are incapable of directly inheriting God’s inheritance” (“Concerning Appellations and Identity” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). Lord Jesus’s work of absolution only absolved our sins; it didn’t resolve our corrupt nature. Our inner arrogance, selfishness, deceitfulness, and other aspects of our satanic nature still remain. This corruption is deeper than sin; it is much more tenacious than sin. It is the source of our resistance of God. If these satanic temperaments are not resolved, people will continue to sin, resist God and judge and condemn Him according to their own conceptions. When they suffer and are persecuted, they can deny God and betray Him as Judas did. When they hold positions of power, they establish independent kingdoms in resistance to God. Some people steal God’s offerings and offend His disposition; they will be condemned and extinguished by God. Now most pastors and leaders in the religious community do not implement the words of Lord Jesus. They interpret the Bible based on their own conceptions. They treat the words of biblical people as if they’re the words of God. They exalt people’s words instead of testifying about Lord Jesus’s words. This makes the faithful revere people and follow people. They have no place for Lord Jesus in their hearts. They become trapped and controlled by their religious leaders’ dominion. This is especially true when Lord Jesus returns to do His works. Those priests and leaders do not pursue or study God’s works. Instead, they condemn His works, judge Him and blaspheme against Him. They spread lies to trick their believers and lock them in the church. They publicly take God as their enemy and offend God’s disposition. This is the most serious resistance of God that there is. This is a sin that cannot be absolved! Their evil behavior in resistance to Lord Jesus is even more egregious than the Pharisees’ was! Therefore, if people’s nature, their resistance of God, is not resolved, if their satanic corruption is not cleansed, they’ll be capable of any evil behavior in resistance of God. How can these kinds of people enter the heavenly kingdom? Therefore, according to His management plan to save mankind and the actual requirements of corrupt humanity, God expresses many different aspects of the truth in the last days, and carries out His work which fulfills the prophecy in the Bible, “Judgment must begin at the house of God,” and is to resolve the key problem that corrupt mankind is controlled by their satanic nature. That is the way that man will gradually free themselves from their corrupt satanic disposition, stop rebelling against and resisting God, become able to truly obey and revere God. Only then will they be cleansed and enter the kingdom of heaven.

from the movie script of Stinging Memories

Song About Jesus | "Emulate the Lord Jesus" | Jesus Christ Is My Beloved

I

Jesus completed God’s mission,

the redemption work of all man

by giving His cares to God’s will,

without selfish purpose or plans.

At the center He placed God’s plan.

To heavenly Father He prayed,

seeking heavenly Father’s will.

He would seek and He’d always pray.

If like Jesus you give all your cares to God

and turn your back to flesh,

God will trust you with vital tasks

to enable you to serve Him.

How Should We Welcome the Jesus Christ When He Knocks on the Door?

After believing in the Lord, brothers and sisters all like singing the song “The Beloved Is Urgently Knocking on the Door Outside”: “The Beloved is urgently knocking on the door outside. His locks are filled with the drops of the night dew. Come on, get up to open the door for Him; don’t let our beloved walk away. …” Every time we sing it, we are very moved inside, and it has a great impact on us. We all want to keep the beloved, and be the first one to hear His voice and welcome Him when He knocks on our door. It can be said that, we believers in the Lord are all longing for it. But what does it mean that the Lord knocks on the door? And how should we welcome Him when He knocks on our door?

　　In the Age of Grace, when the Jesus Christ came to do the work of redemption, His deeds and His teachings spread all over Judea and His name also became well-known among the whole generation. For the people of that time, the Jesus Christ was knocking on their door when He preached the gospel everywhere with His disciples. The Lord Jesus said, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). The Lord wanted people to repent and confess before Him, so that they were forgiven their sins and were redeemed from the condemnation and curse of the law. At that time, many Jewish people saw the wonders performed by the Jesus Christ as well as the authority and power of His words, such as feeding five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish after giving thanks, calming the wind and sea with one word, resurrecting Lazarus with just a word, and so on. As the Lord Jesus spoke, things were fulfilled and accomplished. His words are just like the words spoken by the Creator when He created the heavens and earth and all things; they equally hold the authority and power. Besides, the words said by the Lord Jesus to teach man and rebuke the Pharisees cannot be said by us mankind. His words all reveal God’s disposition and being, and show forth the authority and power of God. Actually, whatever the Lord said and did struck everyone to the core of his being. It can be said that the Jewish people of that time had already heard the Lord’s knocking.