Archives for 7 月 2020

Why the Life Force of Grass Is So Strong

30 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

The Life Force of Grass Is Really Great!

Lush grass on the plains,

in one year, withers and thrives once each.

Wildfire does not burn it completely;

when spring winds blow, it lives again.

Afar, fragrance occupies ancient roads;

a fine jade-green stretches to a ruined city.

Once more I see off a nobleman;

the lush grasses full of the emotion of departure.

(Source: https://eastasiastudent.net/china/classical/bai-juyi-farewell-grassland/)

It’s a poem by Bai Juyi, which I learnt in elementary school. At that time, through my teacher’s explanation, I understood: The point of this poem is that the life force of weeds is very strong and tenacious. Even though burned up by a fire in autumn, it will grow exuberantly again from the charred roots when next spring comes. The poem figuratively describes the tenacious and inextinguishable life force. Especially when reading the verse “Wildfire does not burn it completely; when spring winds blow, it lives again,” we are very envious that grass can have such a tenacious life force. I always use this word to encourage myself that only tenacious efforts can lead me to success.

In the previous period, I saw that many netizens were participating in a hot discussion about a post. I followed them and found that they were discussing about a line of verse “Wildfire does not burn it completely; when spring winds blow, it lives again.” Someone asked, “Why does the grass have such a tenacious life force? Why can it live again when spring winds blow, after being burned up by wildfire? Where does it receive such a tenacious life force from?” At that time, no one could give an answer. These questions also aroused my thought: Right! Grass, though unremarkable, actually has such a tenacious life force. Who gives them such a tenacious life force?

One day, I read a passage of Almighty God’s words, and then the doubt in my heart was removed. Almighty God says, “‘And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth: and it was so.’ While God was speaking, all these things came into being following the thoughts of God, and in an instant, an assortment of delicate little life forms were unsteadily poking their heads up through the soil, and before they had even shaken the bits of dirt from their bodies they were eagerly waving to each other in greeting, nodding and smiling to the world. They thanked the Creator for the life that He bestowed upon them, and announced to the world that they were a part of all things, and that they would each devote their lives to showing forth the authority of the Creator. As the words of God were spoken, the land became lush and green, all sorts of herbs that could be enjoyed by man sprang forth and broke from the ground, and the mountains and plains became thickly populated by trees and forests…. This barren world, in which there had not been any trace of life, was rapidly covered by a profusion of grass, herbs and trees and overflowing with greenery…. The fragrance of grass and the aroma of the soil spread through the air, and an array of plants began to breathe in tandem with the circulation of the air, and began the process of growing. At the same time, thanks to the words of God and following the thoughts of God, all the plants began the perpetual life cycles in which they grow, blossom, bear fruit, and multiply. They began to strictly adhere to their respective life courses, and began to perform their respective roles among all things…. They were all born, and lived, because of the words of the Creator. They would receive the unceasing provision and nourishment of the Creator, and would always tenaciously survive in every corner of the land in order to show forth the authority and power of the Creator, and they would always show forth the life force bestowed upon them by the Creator….” (from A Continuation of The Word Appears in the Flesh) God’s words enlightened me at once. Grass was created by the Creator, and its life was given by God. Trees, flowers, and grass all came to existence because of the Creator’s words, and began their life course according to the thoughts of the Creator. All of them live under the Creator’s predestination. They have their separate laws of living, and no one can change these laws. This is the unique authority of God.

Almighty God says, “God’s life force can prevail over any power; moreover, it exceeds any power. His life is eternal, His power extraordinary, and His life force not easily overwhelmed by any created being or enemy force. The life force of God exists, and shines its brilliant radiance, regardless of time or place. God’s life remains forever unchanged throughout the upheavals of heaven and earth. All things pass away, but God’s life still remains, for God is the source of the existence of all things, and the root of their existence.” (from The Word Appears in the Flesh) From Almighty God’s words, I finally understood the mystery of the phenomenon “Wildfire does not burn it completely; when spring winds blow, it lives again.” I realized that the Creator’s authority and power are unique. His life force can prevail over any power, which no man can possess or alter or damage, because only God is the source of the life of all things, and the root of their existence. Take the grass created by God for example. No matter whether it is burned, cut, or scooped with shovel, the rule of their life can’t be destroyed. This is their immutable life law. Outwardly, wildfire has burned all the grass. However, through the blowing of spring breeze and the watering of rain, they shoot out buds again. This totally manifests the never-quenching life force given by God. This is the wonder and transcendence of the Creator’s creation. Living in this material world, we all admire scientists very much because they can produce airplanes, cannons, atomic bombs, spacecraft, and many high-technology things. However, they can’t even create a single living thing, for they don’t have the substance and power of life. Only the Creator possesses the substance of life and the authority. So God’s authority can create all creatures and make them filled with vigor and vitality, and at the same time, God commands and holds sovereignty over the miracles that He created.

Filed Under: Inspirational Stories

Bible Verse–John 3:16

28 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Filed Under: Bible Verses

Bible Verse–Matthew 5:20

25 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Filed Under: Bible Verses

Bible Verse–Matthew 4:17

21 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Filed Under: Bible Verses

God’s Word Led Me to Know How to Deal With the Troublesome Interpersonal Relationships

20 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Troublesome Interpersonal Relationships

Nowadays, everyone assumes their different roles in society and contacts all kinds of people. In this environment, our interpersonal relationships are as complex as a cobweb and are as profound and unfathomable as academic research.

In the associations between children, classmates, family members, husband and wife, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, friends, or colleagues, people are always cautious about getting along with each other, as if treading on thin ice. Although they try their best to maintain the vast web of relationships, they are still inevitably confronted with rigid relationships due to some trifles.

Children quarrel with each other over a candy or a toy;

Classmates engage in a brawl for a pen or an eraser;

Family members wrangle with each other over the meal that is too salty or too insipid and is not to their taste, or even overturn the table and go away;

Husband and wife dispute with each other over some trifles, such as where to have a meal or to play, whether the socks should be turned over before washing, and whether the closestool lid should be lifted up or not, and so on. But who should submit to whom? Who is right? For the sake of self-esteem, they engage in verbal battles or even not talk to each other;

If the daughter-in-law throws away something unusable, the mother-in-law will make complaints that she is wasteful and can’t manage the affairs of the family methodically. Whereas, the daughter-in-law will complain much more that the mother-in-law is long-winded and officious. Thus, they dislike each other;

Friends may misunderstand each other just because of a fairly innocuous joke, and thereby they gradually separate from each other;

Colleagues may have jealous hatred of each other because the boss thinks highly of the others instead of themselves;

Everyone is compelled to face these complicated relationships. All these are like an intangible ties that has bound people from generation to generation, binding you, binding me and also binding him, but no one can free himself from it….

I couldn’t help asking: Why do we live so tired? Why are there always full of jealousies and conflicts among man? Later, I thought of a passage of Almighty God’s words.

Almighty God says, “How cruel mankind is! They trick each other, fight against each other, struggle for fame and fortune and destroy one another. When are these going to end? Despite that God has said millions of words, no one comes to a realization….” (from The Word Appears in the Flesh) From the words of God, I know the reason why man lives so tired and has no normal interpersonal relationships with one another. It is that man pays not the slightest heed to God’s words, and thus lives under the bondage of Satan, being mercenary and struggling for fame and fortune, and doesn’t live out the likeness of a real man. Then, how can man live happily and live out the likeness of a real man? We can find the answer in Almighty God’s words.

Almighty God says, “When mankind has a real human life on earth, all Satan’s forces will have been bound, and man’s life on earth will be very easy and will not be as complicated as it is now. Such things as interpersonal relationships, social relationships, and complicated family relationships are too troublesome and too painful! It is too miserable for man to live in these things! After man has been conquered, man’s heart and mind will have been changed, and all men will have a heart of fearing God and a heart of loving God. When all those in the entire universe who pursue to love God have been conquered, that is, when Satan has been defeated, Satan will have been bound, that is, all the forces of darkness will have been bound, and man’s life on earth will be free from any disturbance and man will be able to live on earth freely. If man’s life is without the fleshly relationships and without the complicated fleshly things, it will be much easier. Man’s fleshly relationships are too complicated. That man has these things proves that he has not broken away from Satan’s influence. When you have the same relationship with the brothers and sisters as you usually have with your family members, you will be free from trouble and will not worry about anyone. That will be best. Then you will be relieved of half of your sufferings. When men live a normal human life on earth, they will be like angels. Although they will still be flesh, they will be almost like angels. This is the final promise, the promise bestowed to man in the end.” (from The Word Appears in the Flesh) From the words of God, I understand only if man accepts God’s work in the last days and lives under the guidance of God’s word, can he break free from Satan’s influence of darkness, and finally live in the light of God’s word and enjoy the new life God bestows upon man.

Filed Under: Interpersonal Relationships

Bible Verse–Psalm 71:5

18 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

For you are my hope, O Lord GOD: you are my trust from my youth.

Filed Under: Bible Verses

Moses Sends 12 Spies to Canaan

15 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Spies Sent to Canaan
(Numbers 13:1-16)

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Send you men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall you send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel. 4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. 5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. 9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. 10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. 11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. 12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. 13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

Instructions to the Spies
(Numbers 13:17-20)

17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwells therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be you of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.

The Spies Explore Canaan
(Numbers 13:21-24)

21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south, and came to Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23 And they came to the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it between two on a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from there.

The Reports of the Spies
(Numbers 13:25-33)

25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word to them, and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came to the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched to the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

The People Rebel
(Numbers 14:1-12)

1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said to them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And why has the LORD brought us to this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spoke to all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which flows with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not you against the LORD, neither fear you the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. 10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

11 And the LORD said to Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them? 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a greater nation and mightier than they.

God’s Forgiveness and Judgment
(Numbers 14:13-35)

13 And Moses said to the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for you brought up this people in your might from among them;) 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that you LORD are among this people, that you LORD are seen face to face, and that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you shall kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying, 16 Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness. 17 And now, I beseech you, let the power of my LORD be great, according as you have spoken, saying, 18 The LORD is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation. 19 Pardon, I beseech you, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your mercy, and as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to your word: 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not listened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him will I bring into the land into where he went; and his seed shall possess it. 25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelled in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

26 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28 Say to them, As truly as I live, said the LORD, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you: 29 Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me. 30 Doubtless you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which you said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your prostitutions, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which you searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my breach of promise. 35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it to all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

The Plague on the Ten Spies
(Numbers 14:36-38)

36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander on the land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report on the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.

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Filed Under: Bible Stories

Bible Verse–Psalm 62:5

14 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

My soul, wait you only on God; for my expectation is from him.

Filed Under: Bible Verses

Bible Verses–Luke 17:24-25

11 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

For as the lightning, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

Filed Under: Bible Verses

How to Pray to Be Heard by God

10 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

By Cindy, United States

All believers in God know that praying is the only way through which our spirits can connect with God’s Spirit, and that we cannot practice our faith without it. However, many of us have no idea what true prayer is though we make prayers every day. Perhaps some people might say, “I pray to God every day. In the morning, I entrust the entire day to God in my prayer and express my wishes to Him, begging Him to lead me throughout the day; in the evening, I pray to God confessing my sins. Is it not truly praying to God?” Some say, “Every day I give thanks before meals and express thanks in everything. Am I not truly praying to God?” Still others may say, “In my prayer, I can recite many passages of the Bible and speak for a long time. Isn’t it a true prayer?” Indeed, there is no denying that all these above are prayers made to God, but are they true prayers?

Prayers that are merely going through the motions are not approved by God.

Let’s look at two passages of God’s words, “Prayer is not a case of just going through the motions, following procedure, or reciting the words of God. That is to say, praying is not parroting certain words and it is not imitating others. In prayer, one must reach the state where one’s heart can be given to God, laying open one’s heart so that it may be moved by God.” “They focus only on making a fuss over how they practice, and they treat God’s words as rules to follow. Such people are not putting God’s words into practice; they are just gratifying the flesh, and performing for other people to see. These religious rules and rituals are all human in origin; they do not come from God. God does not follow rules, nor is He subject to any law. Rather, He does new things every day, accomplishing practical work. Like people in the Three-Self Church, who limit themselves to practices such as attending morning services every day, offering evening prayers and prayers of gratitude before meals, and giving thanks in all things—however much they do and for however long they do it, they will not have the work of the Holy Spirit. When people live amidst rules and have their hearts fixed on methods of practice, the Holy Spirit cannot work, because their hearts are occupied by rules and human notions. Thus, God is unable to intervene and work on them, and they can only continue living under the control of laws. Such people are forever incapable of receiving God’s praise.”

From God’s words, we can see that if we are limited to such outward practices as daily morning watch, evening prayers, giving thanks before meals, confessing our sins, reciting the words of God and parroting the words of others, we are just going through the formalities and following procedure. Praying like this is merely clinging to rules and religious rituals, and is being perfunctory with God. Such prayer is not sincere and won’t bring us enjoyment, nor will it enable us to gain the work of the Holy Spirit or strengthen our love for God. For all those who make prayers like this, no matter how many times they pray in a day, or how many years they practice praying, God will never do work on them, and they therefore won’t get their life dispositions changed, nor will they gain a real knowledge of God or be approved by God.

Take the prayers of the Pharisees as an example. They prayed in the synagogues and on the street corners, saying words pleasant to hear and appearing very pious, yet they did all this just for others to see and hear while in their hearts there was no place for God at all. After praying, they didn’t practice any of God’s words, but instead devoured widows’ property and murdered prophets and righteous people. Their prayers were simply a case of going through motions and formalities and were a performance of religious rituals, which were hypocritical and detestable to God. That was why God warned us not to pray as the Pharisees did, just as what the Lord Jesus said, “And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men” (Matthew 6:5).

Let me give you another example. I know a pastor who recites a number of scriptures every time he prays, seemingly very sincere and pious, but behind the scenes, he schemes against other co-workers and even embezzles the church offerings. Obviously, he is just going through the motions and following the religious rituals when he prays, and he is treating God perfunctorily and deceiving God. God will never work on such people like him who don’t have the slightest fear or knowledge of God and He also detests their prayers.

Also, we often imitate the pastors and preachers in our prayers by repeating almost every word they say. When praying, we express our willingness to faithfully expend for the Lord and practice His words to satisfy God, but when we encounter practical problems, we forget all about what we have prayed. For example, when our family affairs conflict with our work in the church, we find excuses to escape our duties. When we support the brothers and sisters who went back to the world many times but they are still unwilling to turn around, we lose our patience and tolerance. And when our children don’t listen to us, we usually fly into a rage. Clearly, most times we just pray one way but do another way, failing to fulfill what we have said in prayers. This is all because we don’t say our prayers from the depths of our hearts but just go through the motions and follow the rituals by repeating the same things every day, with the thought that it’s enough that we have reported before God. In fact, this is dealing with God perfunctorily and trying to fool God and deceive God. God will never listen to prayers that are not sincere, nor will He acknowledge them, so if we pray like this, we will never gain the touch of the Holy Spirit but instead will feel dry and barren inside. This is not truly praying. So what does it mean to truly pray?

What does it mean to truly pray?
God’s words say: “What is true prayer? It is telling God what is in your heart, communing with God as you grasp His will, communicating with God through His words, feeling especially close to God, sensing He is there before you, and believing you have something to say to Him. Your heart feels filled with light and you feel how lovable God is. You feel especially inspired, and listening to you brings gratification to your brothers and sisters. They will feel that the words you speak are the words within their hearts, the words they wish to say, as though your words were a substitute for their own. This is what true prayer is. After you have engaged in true prayer, your heart will be at peace and will know gratification. The strength to love God can rise up, and you will feel that there is nothing of greater value or significance in life than loving God. All this proves that your prayers have been effective.” “The minimum that God requires of man is that man be able to open his heart to Him. If man gives his true heart to God and speaks what is truly in his heart, then God is willing to work in him. What God desires is not the twisted heart of man, but a pure and honest heart. If man does not speak from his heart to God, then God will not move his heart or work in him. Therefore, the crux of prayer is to speak to God from your heart, telling Him your shortcomings or rebellious disposition, laying yourself completely open before Him; only then will God be interested in your prayers, or else He will hide His face from you.”

From God’s words we can see that whether it is a true prayer doesn’t depend on how much we say or how pleasant our words are, but is instead decided by whether or not we are speaking our innermost thoughts. When we pray to God with our true hearts, we will feel touched and gratified in our spirits and our resolution to pursue to satisfy God will be inspired—this kind of prayer is true. In our daily life, we have experienced happy or upsetting things, we have felt moved after relying on God to overcome the difficulties, or we have also felt reproached for doing something against God’s will. We can bring all this before God, pray and seek for His will, and ask for the guidance of His words. If we are able to resolve some problems through relying on God every day, then our strength to love God will rise up and we will feel it so great to believe in God and that God’s words can solve all our problems. As a result, our resolution to expend for God will be ignited and we will become eager to bring more people before God so that they can receive His salvation. This is the result achieved by truly praying to God. There are no rules to prayer, nor does it has anything to do with how much we say. As long as we speak honestly and sincerely, God will listen.

I remember the experiences of a sister who has been working in the church for several years, during which time the money she earned was just enough to cover her daily expenses. Once her relative invited her to start a factory in partnership. She felt this was a good opportunity to earn big money and live a good life, but meanwhile she also knew that taking this opportunity meant that she would have no time or energy to work in the church anymore. Because of this, she was caught in a dilemma—she neither wanted to betray God nor let such a good opportunity slip. Just when she felt pain and didn’t know how to choose, she prayed to God, telling Him her innermost thoughts and true state: “O God, now I really want to open a factory with my relative to earn more money, but in that case, I will have no time to work for You. God, I don’t want to betray You, but I feel it is so hasd to overcome the temptation of money. I beg You to guide me so that I can make the right decision and act in accordance with Your will….” After many times of speaking to God what was in her heart and confiding in God her practical difficulties in prayers, she saw these words of the Lord Jesus: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37). The sister then realized that getting rich was not the will of God. Even if we own all the money in the world and lead a superior life, what is the point of it if we miss the chance to be saved and lose our lives? Besides, pursuing fame and fortune can only provide us with temporary enjoyment and glory, after which we still feel empty. There were so many celebrities and stars who had money but still felt empty and who committed suicide at a young age. Coming to this realization, the sister resolutely declined her relative’s offer and again threw herself into serving God. This was the result achieved by her true prayers to God, which enabled her to overcome the temptation of money and live in God’s care and protection.

In addition, sometimes when we are trapped in a negative state whereby we lose interest in reading God’s words, we should pray to God, “O God, I’m now very negative and my heart is so dark that I don’t want to read Your words. God, I don’t know what leads to this. Please guide me to find the reason so that I can return before You to read Your words.” Though these words are simple and may not sound pleasant, they come straight from our hearts and give voice to our real condition, so God will listen.

In a word, if we use a true heart to pray to God, telling Him our innermost thoughts and the truth, then that is truly praying, and by doing so, we will be able to establish a normal relationship with Him and live under His care and protection.

Filed Under: Prayer

Bible Verse–Luke 12:40

7 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Be you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not.

Filed Under: Bible Verses

Bible Verse–Psalm 91:7

4 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.

Filed Under: Bible Verses

What Does “He That Believes on the Son Has Everlasting Life” Really Mean?

2 7 月, 2020 by Leave a Comment

By Jingyuan

“The Lord Jesus said: ‘But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life’ (John 4:14). He also said: ‘He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God stays on him’ (John 3:36). These two verses make it very clear that the Lord Jesus is incarnate God, that is, the Son of man; He has the way of eternal life; and we can obtain eternal life as long as we believe in Him. So we firmly believe that we can surely obtain eternal life by believing in the Lord Jesus, praying in His name, attending meetings, reading the Bible, and working hard for the Lord. But in the last co-worker meeting Brother Zhang fellowshiped that such belief was not the true belief in the Son and that we were unable to gain eternal life in that way. Only those who gain the truth as their lives by practicing the Lord’s words and living out the reality of His words are true believers in the Son and can get eternal life. So I’m confused. Why is it that those who work hard for the Lord can’t obtain eternal life while only those who gain the truth as life can gain eternal life?” asked Chen Yang. This question was hanging over him, so he came to Brother Liu Chen’s to seek fellowship.

Liu Chen thought for a moment, and said, “Thank the Lord! Before we figure out this question, we firstly need to know what the phrase ‘the water that I shall give him’ refers to.”

“It certainly refers to the Lord’s word, the Lord’s way,” Chen Yang answered eagerly.

“Exactly right. It indeed refers to the Lord’s word, the Lord’s way. So we must practice the Lord’s words, obey His teachings, live out the reality of His words, and gain His words as life. Only in this way are we truly believing in the Son. And only through faith such as this can we obtain eternal life. Though on the surface we keep the Lord’s name, pray in His name, attend meetings, read the Bible, and work for the Lord, we are unable to put His words into practice and hold on to His teachings, and we haven’t gained His words as life. It proves that we haven’t drunk the water the Lord gives us and haven’t received the provision of the living water of life. Can we gain eternal life the way we are believing in the Lord? Obviously, it is impossible! Brother, wouldn’t you say so?” Liu Chen said slowly and methodically.

“According to your words, there are substantive differences between the result achieved by attending meetings, reading the Bible, and working for the Lord and the result achieved by practicing the Lord’s words to gain the truth as life,” Chen Yang nodded thoughtfully.

“Indeed. Think about it. If the people who just believe in the Lord Jesus, pray in His name, attend meetings, read the Bible, and work for Him are the ones who truly believe in the Son, why did the Lord Jesus say, ‘Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity’ (Matthew 7:22-23)? Do those who have preached and worked in the Lord’s name not believe in the Lord? Why will they not receive the Lord’s approval but be convicted by the Lord? Because, though they have worked for the Lord outwardly, they never practiced His words nor gained the truth as life and they always sinned and resisted the Lord. Ultimately they haven’t broken away from their sins yet, so they are the evil-doers in the Lord’s eyes.”

Liu Chen picked up the cup and took a sip of tea, and then he went on fellowshiping, “We all know that the Lord Jesus required that ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets’ (Matthew 22:37-40). Those who truly love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind love the Lord with a dedicated and pure heart. No matter how much they have worked for God, and how many sufferings they have endured, they don’t have any intention to make a deal, covet their own benefits, or haggle over gains and losses and reward, but rather obey God and work for the purpose of satisfying God; even if trials and tribulations befall them, they won’t complain about God or betray God, but instead obey all of God’s arrangements. But us? Though we work for the Lord, we all have our personal extravagant desires within. Our intention of working and suffering is to enter into the heavenly kingdom and enjoy eternal blessings, not to truly love the Lord and satisfy Him. When we gain the Lord’s blessings, we are able to expend for the Lord and praise Him; once faced with disasters, we will misunderstand and complain to the Lord, and even be unwilling to spend for Him anymore. This proves that we have intentions in our expenditure for the Lord. In addition, we always live in corrupt dispositions, sinning and resisting the Lord, and live a life of sinning each day and confessing each night. So would we obtain eternal life since we haven’t practiced the Lord’s words and haven’t gained His words as life?”

“That’s true. Through your fellowship, I think of myself: Though I believe in the Lord and have expended myself, I do that in order to gain blessings and benefit in the future. In my life, I often complain to God when encountering unhappy situations, and always involuntarily tell lies and engage in deceit so as to protect my reputation and status. According to God’s requirements, I’m indeed unable to obtain eternal life.” Chen Yang’s heart was a bit heavy.

“Brother Liu, I have some other questions I don’t understand. Why can’t we practice the Lord’s words since we have believed in the Lord for many years? Why do we still go against the Lord’s requirements despite ourselves even if we have clearly known them? What do you think that’s really about? We can’t practice the Lord’s word but always live in and are unable to escape from this endless cycle of committing sins and admitting to them; if we continue like this, the Lord’s word is impossible to be a spring of water welling up within us into eternal life. Then will we be able to obtain eternal life?” Chen Yang continued, with a puzzled frown.

“Brother Chen, the questions you’ve raised are very important! They are also the questions most brothers and sisters in the Lord are confused about. Actually, they are related to the significance and the results of the Lord Jesus’ work. In the Age of Grace, what the Lord Jesus did was redemptive work, and He expressed the way of repentance. Our faith in the Lord Jesus only absolves us from our sins and qualifies us to come before God to confess our sins through prayer and receive God’s grace and blessings. The Lord Jesus has just forgiven our sins, but our inner sinful nature and corrupt dispositions haven’t been resolved yet. So we still often go against the teachings of the Lord and sin every day and confess every day. If we want to practice the word of the Lord and gain the truth as life to become the people who do God’s will, we must truly know and hate our satanic nature and be purified and changed through God’s words. Only when our sinful nature has been taken away and we have no dispositions opposing the truth, becoming the ones who are compatible with God, can we obtain eternal life. After He completed the work of redemption, the Lord Jesus predicted that He would return, and He also predicted: ‘I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come’ (John 16:12-13). And the Bible says: ‘So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation’ (Hebrews 9:28). ‘He that reject me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day’ (John 12:48). ‘For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God’ (1 Peter 4:17). These four verses are very clear. Christ will appear once again and express the entirety of the truth and carry out the work of chastisement and judgment in order to thoroughly cleanse our corrupt disposition and save us mankind from the bondage of sin. So the work of judgment done by the returned Lord Jesus in the last days is critical for us mankind to be saved and obtain eternal life. If we only accept the Lord Jesus’ redemption and want to obtain eternal life and enter into the heavenly kingdom without accepting the returned Lord Jesus’s work of judgment in the last days, we have our head in the clouds,” Liu Chen fellowshiped with sincerity.

Chen Yang said excitedly, “Thanks be to the Lord! Your fellowship is so clear and incisive. It seems that only by accepting the work of the returned Lord can we obtain eternal life and gain God’s salvation. It’s imperative for us to seek God’s appearance as quickly as possible. Only in this way can we have the chance to obtain the way of eternal life and realize our wish of obtaining eternal life by believing in the Son!”

Filed Under: Bible Study