Go! Go! Go!
Go!
Bastard! You wanna run? Then you'll die!
- Stop right there! - Get him!
- Stop! - Stop running!
After him!
- Stop! - Stop running!
Get him!
Stop running!
Stop!
- Don't you run! - Stop!
- Don't run away! - You can't get away!
Stop!
Where is he?
- Take your team and search over there! - Sheep, my sheep!
Everyone else, split up!
Okay.
Quick!
Dammit!
- He runs pretty fast! - Where is he?
Where is he?
Dammit!
- Where did he go? - He has to be close.
These believers in God are criminals!
We must catch him!
Now let's search everywhere!
Yes, sir!
- Come on, let's go that way. - Dammit!
Dammit!
Captain, there's movement over there.
Quick! After him!
Yes, sir!
That was a close call!
I'm glad you were able to escape.
Brother Song, put this on.
Thanks.
The CCP is utterly detestable.
They're starting another arrest campaign against Christians.
In the last three days in Liaoning,
I heard they caught more than 700 brothers and sisters.
Right.
It's true.
They're doing these mass arrests in every province.
They've even demolished many churches and crosses.
Yeah.
The CCP
wants to completely eliminate religious faith.
Right.
They've tried so many times,
but they haven't succeeded.
It's just like …
Hey dad,
what was trying to cut the tree?
Oh! An ant.
Right,
it's like an ant trying to cut down a tree—
it doesn't know its own strength.
Yeah.
I think the CCP has gone crazy.
They are so mad,
they might collapse soon.
Right.
They have problems
inside and out, from every direction.
Ordinary people are in dire straits,
and the CCP doesn't care.
Yeah.
The CCP resists and makes itself an enemy of God.
They are going against the rules of morality and Heaven,
and God will punish them one day.
Right. People always say,
"You do yourself in with too many evil deeds."
The CCP can't escape God's punishment.
Yeah.
I think, within a year or two,
it will be completely dead.
The CCP is crazy right now.
They're after Christians.
You must be very careful when doing church work.
If something happens, pray to God and rely on God.
Yes.
Don't do anything blindly or rashly.
If you're arrested, it will be too late.
Dad, I know.
- Yeah, we do have to be careful. - Okay.
But,
the crazier they become,
the more loyal we should be to God.
That is the true testimony of overcomers.
Right.
And it's how we gain our share of the kingdom of heaven.
That's right.
Yeah.
Brother Song, the noodles are ready.
- Eat while it's hot! - Alright.
- Eat while it's still hot! - Brother Xu.
What time is it?
We'll make it to the meeting. Let's eat first.
Okay.
Look at this. It's important to record this data accurately.
If it's not right, we'll have big problems.
So this is the one.
Hey, Xiaojie …
Right, pay special attention to this number.
Xiaojie.
Secretary Li wants to see you, right now.
Alright.
- Get going. - I'll be right there.
Alright.
I have to go. You keep an eye on this.
Xiaojie,
we received orders from the government to investigate believers in God.
We ask everyone to fill out this form
and report their family members' religious beliefs.
If anyone's family believes in God,
we have to fire them.
Hey!
Your father …
Doesn't he believe in God?
Wasn't he arrested and put in jail for missionary work?
Is he still a believer?
If he is,
it will be a major problem.
Right.
Secretary Li, the car is downstairs.
Thank you.
Xiaojie,
you're an intelligent, capable employee.
We're thinking about promoting you.
Go home,
have a talk with your father,
and convince him
to stop believing.
Otherwise, never mind the promotion,
you won't be able to keep your current job.
Give it some thought.
The CCP is very hateful!
As long as they're in power,
Christians can't meet without risking their lives.
Yes.
Thankfully, we all escaped this time.
God was protecting us.
Hey, you have a police record.
The police could come looking for you here.
You should leave the city and hide.
That's what I was gonna do.
I'll pack some clothes and go.
OK.
I'll go pack you a bag.
Alright.
Xiaojie, you're back?
Yes.
I was just asking your mother
why you weren't back yet.
Today I …
Dad,
what happened to you?
What did you do to yourself?
The police showed up at our meeting.
I escaped but got a few scratches.
You …
Dad,
can … can you stop going out to perform your duties?
Can't you just believe quietly at home?
Xiaojie,
you've followed our faith since you were young,
and you know that as believers, we walk the right path.
It's our responsibility, our duty to work for God.
We can't let fear of being arrested
stop us from doing our duty.
Xiaojie, you're home?
But …
what if they put you back in jail?
Hey,
Xiaojie?
Look at this.
What is this?
It's …
You lost your job for believing in God.
Is that what you want for me?
The CCP is evil! It's despicable!
Xiaojie,
the CCP is holding your job hostage
to force us to give up our belief.
It's one of Satan's tricks.
You need to have discernment.
So don't fall for it.
Xiaojie,
you've read the Bible and God's word.
You know that
God dominates the heavens and all things,
and directs the fates of mankind.
No matter what the government tries to hold over us
or what tricks and schemes
it uses to make our lives impossible,
as long as we rely on God,
we will be able to survive.
That's right, Xiaojie.
A few years ago,
when I was in jail,
your mom found a part-time job,
and with the help from our brothers and sisters in the church,
we got by just fine.
Do you remember?
We need to have faith in God.
I knew I couldn't convince you!
Hey, Xiaojie?
Xiaojie.
Are you okay?
Are you feeling sick?
I'm fine.
I'm fine, mom.
Xiaojie only cares about his job.
He rarely reads God's word,
he doesn't have time for meetings.
Even now, he doesn't understand the truth.
He doesn't have faith in God,
he can't stand firm in his faith at all.
True.
Try to read more of God's word with him
and bring him to meetings.
I'll do that.
Then I'll go.
Hold on.
Xiaojie bought this for you a few days ago.
I have to go.
Okay.
Be careful!
Nuanquan Town! Nuanquan Town! We've arrived at Nuanquan!
Passengers for Nuanquan, get off here.
Where to?
Baile.
Okay, get in please.
It's good to have you back.
Here, come in, come on in.
Hey! Are you shelling peanuts?
Hey, Brother Song, you're back!
Sister Li.
You've been gone for a whole week!
Yes, I have.
Yes, you have.
Here, I'll help.
Here.
How are things?
Has the state of our brothers and sisters improved?
Recently,
when I've fellowshiped on God's word at meetings,
they've understood that
the CCP's persecution of God's chosen is out of God's permission.
He is perfecting His chosen people, helping them grow.
That's wonderful!
Now, everyone has faith,
and is performing their duties.
Thanks be to God!
This truly is God's blessing.
Yes.
Brother Song,
you spend your days laboring,
and working for God.
- And that's very risky. - It absolutely is!
It must be difficult.
Yes! Thanks be to God!
Thanks be to God!
We'll have noodles with soy sauce for dinner …
I'll peel garlic.
In the Age of Grace,
Amen!
God's word states very clearly that to sincerely expend for God,
we must forsake everything.
Yes.
Amidst persecution and hardship,
if we persist in spreading the gospel,
working for God, and fulfilling our duties,
this is genuine obedience and loyalty to God.
Right.
To do this is to share in the tribulation, kingdom, and patience of Christ…
Amen!
…which God highly commends,
and which will earn us God's approval and blessings
and bring us into His kingdom.
- Amen! - Thanks be to God!
- This fellowship is wonderful! - Brother Song fellowships so well!
- He's completely right! - Yes.
- Hearing this fellowship, we have faith now. - That's right.
If we forsake everything to work for God,
in the end we will certainly enter the kingdom of heaven.
Yes! Thanks be to God!
Thanks be to God!
Brother Song,
your fellowship just now was fantastic.
It was very encouraging for us.
- Yes, it certainly was. - Thank God!
But, you said
that if we forsake everything for God, and work, this is obedience,
and we will enter God's kingdom.
I don't feel that this view agrees with God's words.
It doesn't agree with God's words?
If we only work and labor,
and don't pursue the truth
or achieve change in our life disposition,
is that in accord with God's will?
I don't know the answer.
Neither do I.
Brother Zheng,
you're absolutely right.
All those years we believed in the Lord,
we preached and worked everywhere, we were arrested,
we were tormented and tortured, but we didn't betray the Lord,
and we stood firm and testified.
Yes.
After we accept God's work of the last days,
we can forsake everything, and nothing can stand in our way
as we spread the gospel of the coming of the kingdom of heaven.
Yes.
So, isn't that doing God's will?
It is.
Isn't that obedience to God?
It is.
Yes, it is.
No matter what else,
we achieve at least a little change in our life disposition.
That's right.
- It's also a testimony of our obedience to God. - Yes, that's true.
That's right.
I can't explain the problem clearly,
but I can't escape the feeling that this view doesn't accord with the truth.
It's just like the Pharisees,
who also labored and worked,
and traveled to preach the gospel for God.
But were they really obedient to God?
They didn't gain God's approval.
Think about it, Brother Song.
Isn't what I'm saying correct?
Is laboring, working, forsaking, and preaching
actually doing God's will?
Is it obedience to God?
The Lord Jesus also said,
Amen!
I've worked for so many years,
and practiced according to God's word.
I should be someone obedient to God.
But there's also wisdom in Brother Zheng's words.
But, when I was arrested and tortured,
I didn't betray the Lord.
Talk! Talk!
Answer me! Do you still believe in God?
Answer!
Yes.
Damn you! I'm gonna kill you!
I stood firm and testified.
Isn't that doing God's will?
It is in accord with God's will.
Alright, let's end today's meeting now.
OK.
Pack up the books.
Okay.
Brothers and sisters, let's all help out with the farm work!
OK.
Hey, if you're tired, please take a break.
Okay.
Hey, Brother Song,
your fellowship at today's meeting was very good.
It was very helpful for me.
Great.
Thanks be to God.
But I found one thing you said problematic.
Oh?
What was it?
You said that working and expending for God is obeying God,
and that by doing so we gain God's approval and can enter the kingdom of heaven.
But I think that's a one-sided understanding of it,
and not quite correct.
Oh?
Brother Lin,
what do you think is wrong with that view?
How do you understand the issue?
Can you explain it to me?
Yes, Brother Lin.
Are you saying that suffering for God
isn't obeying God?
Hey,
a few days ago I raised the same question with Brother Song.
I also felt like that view isn't right,
but I couldn't explain it.
Brother Lin,
share your understanding.
Yes, Brother Lin, please share with us.
Alright, then I'll tell you my understanding of it.
We believe in God,
so we forsake, expend, suffer, and pay a price for God.
These appear to be expressions of obedience from the outside,
but do we dare say that
what we do isn't contaminated with our own intentions?
Consider Paul,
who expended, labored, and worked for the Lord his whole life,
but did he earn God's approval?
Why did Paul forsake and expend?
Was it out of obedience to God?
Or was it in exchange for the crown of righteousness?
Also,
of all the saints throughout history,
so many have devoted their lives to expending and working for the Lord,
but how many of them
actually gained the Lord's approval?
What kind of person gains the Lord's approval?
If someone believes in God only to gain blessings,
or to enter the kingdom of heaven,
even if he spends his life suffering and expending for God,
do we dare say
he will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven?
For those who cast out demons, preach, and do great works in the Lord's name,
the Lord will not only refuse to know them,
but He will say they are workers of iniquity.
Why is that?
So many people lack understanding of what the Lord meant here.
They haven't grasped the Lord's will.
If such people work and expend for the Lord,
in the end,
will they gain the Lord's approval?
No.
Then shouldn't we consider what kind of people can gain the Lord's approval
and what kind of people can enter the kingdom of heaven?
But doing God's will isn't a simple matter.
People can appear to be suffering and expending,
but if their intentions
are to gain blessings and rewards,
or to enter the kingdom of heaven,
then they aren't practicing the truth at all,
nor are they working to love and satisfy God.
In this case, do you think
the suffering and expending is obedience to God?
Is this doing God's will?
If we believe in God and expend for God purely to gain blessings,
then aren't our actions contaminated by our personal intentions and corrupt dispositions?
If we aren't purified of our corrupt dispositions,
can we truly become people who do God's will?
Absolutely not.
Right.
That was the Lord Jesus' central point when He said that.
Many people don't understand this,
and believe that working and expending for God is doing God's will,
but isn't that misunderstanding the Lord's words?
I bet you're all thirsty!
Here, have some water.
Okay.
- Here, have some water. - This is for you.
Thanks!
Brother, take a rest and have some water.
Okay.
- Sister, please take a rest. - Brother, here you are.
Okay.
Here, Brother Song, have some water.
Thank you.
Actually,
we've all seen people who can forsake everything to expend for God,
but when they suffer trials and hardship,
or when they suffer illness and pain,
they complain and blame God for it,
they even deny, betray, and leave God.
What is the problem here?
Hey, what do you all think?
Can these people enter the kingdom of heaven?
No.
Alright. Now I understand.
If people's corrupt dispositions aren't purified,
they can't become people who do God's will,
and they're unqualified to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Yes, that's right.
Exactly.
We all agree that
God's disposition is righteous and holy,
and that God rules in His kingdom.
How could He allow filthy, corrupt people to enter His kingdom?
Right.
It's just as Almighty God says,
God's judgment in the last days
is to purify the corruption of mankind,
and perfect all those who truly believe in God,
allowing them to gain the truth and obey God.
Only the ones purified by the work of judgment in the last days
and perfected by God
are qualified to enter God's kingdom.
That's entirely right.
Actually, we've all seen
that pastors and elders of the religious world have worked and preached for years,
but when the incarnate God has come in the last days,
they don't understand Him,
and still resist and condemn Him, don't they?
Are they really obedient to God?
No.
How are they any different from the Pharisees who resisted and condemned the Lord Jesus?
Could God ever approve of people who don't understand Him
and still resist and condemn Him?
No.
Absolutely not.
If we want to become people who are truly obedient to God,
we need to experience God's judgment, chastisement,
pruning, dealing, and refinement,
and achieve understanding of the truth and knowledge of God.
That's the only way our corrupt dispositions can be purified,
our forsaking and expending can gain God's approval,
and we can become qualified to enter God's kingdom.
That fulfills the Lord Jesus' words,
Here.
Thanks be to God!
After fellowship like this, my heart is much brighter.
With man's deep corruption
and our satanic dispositions,
we work and expend for God to gain blessings
and for our own interests.
Yes.
Without experiencing God's judgment and chastisement,
none of us can become people who genuinely obey God and do God's will.
That's right.
And that's why the Lord Jesus said,
Yes.
It seems like,
no matter whether we can expend for God,
we all need to experience the judgment and chastisement in God's words
to purify and change our life dispositions…
Yes.
…and become people who are truly obedient to God.
You're absolutely right.
You really are.
Brother Lin,
Sister Chen,
your fellowship is completely in accord with God's words.
Genuine obedience to God
isn't as simple as I thought.
That's right.
Since I accepted Almighty God,
I've understood some truths,
but I still have some mistaken religious notions,
and lack true understanding of what it means
to do God's will or to be truly obedient to God.
I suppose I've experienced too little of God's judgment and chastisement.
My mistaken notions and satanic dispositions
are far from being purified.
You've pointed that out to me today,
and I need to reflect more on this
and seek truth in this matter.
Thanks be to God!
Brother Song,
what are you thinking about?
I'm thinking that
in the years I've believed in God,
I've been able to forsake and suffer, and pay a price,
so I thought I was someone
who was genuinely obedient to God,
someone who did God's will,
that God would approve of me,
and that I would enter the kingdom of heaven.
But, after hearing Brother Lin's and Sister Chen's fellowship today,
I feel very moved.
I realize my dream of entering the kingdom of heaven is broken.
I was thinking,
if not to enter the kingdom of heaven and gain rewards,
would I have endured all this suffering to forsake and expend for God?
Yeah.
I'm really not sure anymore.
Thank you for your cooperation, Secretary Li.
It's the least I can do.
Then we'll be on our way.
Alright, goodbye.
Let's go.
Miss Yang, show them out.
Yes, Mr. Li.
To be honest, we don't want to fire you,
but eliminating religious faith is a central policy,
and we have no choice but to cooperate.
You should go home, find your father,
persuade him to cooperate with the government and confess his belief in God,
and then we might be able to reconsider your job.
Brother Wang.
Brother Song, Brother Lin brought a letter for you this afternoon.
He said it's from your wife.
Okay.
It's getting colder out. You need a thicker blanket.
Thank you.
Xiaojie's in the hospital?
Huh? What happened?
The letter says Xiaojie has myasthenia gravis,
and that he can't move his limbs.
Myasthenia gravis?
I've never heard of this disease before.
I saw cases of it where I used to work.
It's a neuromuscular condition.
Then do you want to go back and see him?
Brother Song, bad news! Something happened!
Brother Xu.
The brothers and sisters at the Zhaojiatun meeting place were arrested.
What?
When was that?
This evening, just after 5:00 p.m.
We have to notify everyone at risk to leave town right away!
Yeah.
So we should get going now.
Alright, let's go!
Brother Song, don't forget your coat!
Take an umbrella! Take an umbrella!
Yuzhen, how is Xiaojie doing?
He must be miserable having this disease,
so try to be there for him and talk to him.
It's possible to recover from this disease.
I'm busy with church work,
so I can't return for the moment.
You keep watch over him by yourself,
I'm sure you must feel weak at times.
I've been thinking,
this happened with God's approval,
which means this is God's trial for us.
God is testing our faith.
We need to pray more to God,
and we can't blame God.
When Job's trials came, he didn't blame God.
He stood witness and gained God's approval and blessings.
If we don't complain and continue to perform our duties during our trial,
Xiaojie's condition might just improve.
We need to have that faith …
Brothers and sisters,
if you have no other questions,
let's end our meeting here today.
Alright.
Thanks be to God!
It's really good!
- There was a lot of light in the fellowship today. - Yes.
Thanks be to God!
Brother Song is really taking up the church's burden.
He doesn't interrupt his duties
although his son is very sick.
If that had happened to me,
I can't imagine how negative and weak I would be.
Right.
Yeah. He has so much faith.
A lot more than us!
He certainly does.
Yes. Thanks be to God!
Mom, let me help you.
No need. You need to rest and recover.
I'm much better. I'm fine.
I'll take care of everything.
I can at least take this out.
No, no, hey,
someone's knocking at the door. Go see!
- Okay, I'll go see who it is. - Come on, go.
Who is it?
Coming, coming …
You again!
Move!
Is your father back?
No!
With you showing up like this,
do you think he would?
What are you doing now?
Search thoroughly!
Don't leave a single corner untouched!
When will this end?
Stay back!
You've made it impossible for my husband to come home,
you made my son lose his job,
and you traumatized him so deeply you made him sick!
Every few days you come to harass us!
Can't you just let us live our lives?
Quiet!
Mom!
Mom, are you okay? Mom!
Are you alright, mom?
I'm fine.
Why did you hit her?
Shut up!
Xiaojie!
Xiaojie, where are you hurt? Xiaojie!
Where are you hurt, Xiaojie?
Listen here,
Song Enze is a nationally wanted criminal.
He's a core member of The Church of Almighty God.
If we can't find him…
Xiaojie! Xiaojie!
…you'll never know peace in this house!
Xiaojie! Xiaojie!
Xiaojie! Wake up, Xiaojie!
Xiaojie! Xiaojie!
Let's go!
Xiaojie! Xiaojie! Wake up!
Xiaojie! Xiaojie!
Doctor, what's the matter with my son?
The patient was subjected to intense mental shock
which induced the onset of myasthenia gravis.
That, combined with a lung infection, means his life is in danger.
You should prepare for the worst.
We'll do all we can to save him.
Yes, we have eyes on them.
If Song Enze shows up here, he won't get away.
God!
How could this happen to Xiaojie?
Why didn't You protect him?
Was all my forsaking and expending not enough?
God …
Especially at times like these,
we should be more considerate of God's will and perform our duties.
- Yes. That's correct. - You're right.
That's true.
Brother Song.
Huh?
Brothers and sisters, is there anything else to add?
No. I don't … I don't think so.
Then let's end our meeting here today.
Alright.
Hey …
Brother Zheng, you're here?
Brother Song.
I came to see Brother Wang to get a sickle made.
Brother Wang,
I didn't know you had that skill.
I haven't done it for years.
Once in a while,
when people need it, I use my skill again.
It looks like hard work.
Well, first you need to make it red-hot,
and once it reaches a certain temperature,
then you have to hammer it into shape.
That's the secret to creating a good piece.
Hey, Brother Wang,
watching you work makes me think.
Isn't experiencing trials as we believe in God
just the same as tempering the steel?
It takes much torment and hundreds of blows from the hammer
to remove all the impurities.
Yes, that's the idea.
You see,
God judges and chastises people in the last days to eliminate their satanic dispositions.
Without suffering or experiencing trials,
we can't lose our satanic dispositions.
Right.
If we can't be purified, we aren't qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Isn't that the case?
Yes, that really is the case.
God's word is entirely correct.
It's absolutely right.
God truly observes people's hearts and minds!
In all my years believing in God,
I've forsaken, expended, suffered, and paid a price,
but why didn't I feel even the slightest hint
that I was entirely controlled by my desire to gain blessings?
It's just like my son's sickness caused me to complain.
I'm not obedient to God at all.
If I expend like this,
how could I possibly ever practice the truth or obey God?
This isn't obedience to God,
it's bargaining with God, isn't it?
It seems like my intention in expending for God was actually to gain blessings,
not to obey God.
I have been selfish and despicable …
God!
I'm wrong!
I'm so selfish and despicable!
God …
Hey, Brother Song,
how is Xiaojie's condition?
Oh, his life is no longer in danger.
Thanks be to God!
I know Xiaojie falling ill has been very difficult for you.
Are you starting to feel better?
A little.
Here.
Thank you.
What happened to Xiaojie has revealed me.
All the years I've believed,
I've worked and sacrificed for God.
Even when I was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured by the CCP,
I didn't betray God.
Whatever happened to me,
I kept performing my duties.
I thought I knew …
I thought I knew some truth,
and showed loyalty and obedience to God,
and I believed I'd be saved
and enter the kingdom of heaven.
I never imagined that my son's illness
would make me blame God.
After all I'd sacrificed,
I wondered why God didn't protect my son.
I struggled and argued with God in my heart.
The more aggrieved I was, the more tormented I felt,
and I lost interest in my duties.
I knew blaming God was wrong,
but I didn't know that it's a way to resist Him.
That's right.
Here, let's sit and talk.
Brothers and sisters fellowshiped with me on the significance of God's trials,
and I also read some of God's word and reflected on myself.
That's what made me realize
that behind my sacrificing, suffering, and paying a price,
I had my own hidden intentions.
I did it for blessings.
I wanted to exchange my work and suffering
for entering the kingdom of heaven.
I thought as long as I was able to sacrifice for God,
my family would be safe, healthy, and happy.
My son's illness completely exposed the truth of my belief
and my intention to gain blessings.
I clearly saw the truth of my own corruption.
I wasn't really performing my duties for God,
I wasn't practicing the truth or obeying God,
and much less was I doing God's will.
I expended for God
because of my desire to gain blessings.
I was trying to bargain with God.
Doesn't that make me someone who is selfish, despicable?
Now I realize
that I have no realities of truth,
my corrupt dispositions haven't changed.
Even though outwardly I've done some good,
that doesn't at all mean I'm someone genuinely obedient.
If I still blame God when trials come,
how can I enter God's kingdom?
Brother Song,
your experience is genuine,
and very moving for me.
This is God's trial for you.
Yes, it is.
Experiencing trials is good.
It's God's love.
We can't be revealed without trials.
Yes, that's right.
The last few days, I've been thinking
in my belief in God, I can labor, work, forsake, and sacrifice,
but when trials arrive, I lose my obedience.
I show satanic dispositions,
I begin to struggle with God.
I involuntarily blame and resist God.
Where is the root of this problem?
Yeah.
Only now I see
how deeply entrenched people's sinful natures are.
Yes.
I wonder how I should pursue
becoming someone truly obedient.
We have been deeply corrupted by Satan.
Our natures are arrogant,
self-important, twisted, selfish and despicable.
Yes, indeed.
Everyone loves and pursues status,
we also pursue fleshly pleasure, and wealth.
Yes.
When God's work doesn't satisfy our personal desires,
we can't stop ourselves from rebelling and resisting.
Even if we want to obey, we can't.
Mm. Yes.
Oh, right.
Now that we're talking about it,
Sister Chen experienced something similar.
In the past, when she experienced trials, she blamed God.
Later, she sought the truth, grasped God's will,
and was able to emerge from trial.
Hey, should we …
You go ahead, brother.
We had the same idea.
Yeah.
Why don't we visit Sister Chen and listen to her.
Yes!
Hey, Brother Lin,
I'd like to go too.
OK!
Then let's all go together.
Thanks be to God!
OK.
Thanks be to God!
It's a good chance to seek the truth.
Be careful!
Okay, be careful!
Sister Chen, please continue.
Alright.
About five years ago, I was spreading the gospel,
many people accepted God's work of the last days,
but when the pastor learned I was preaching, he called the police.
The CCP police came to arrest me,
but I wasn't at home,
so they arrested my husband instead.
They tortured and threatened him to make him talk,
but he wouldn't say where I was.
His heart disease acted up,
and he passed away.
When I heard of this,
I was tormented and miserable.
I hated the CCP,
but in my heart, I also blamed God:
Every day, I performed my duties,
I worked for God.
Why didn't God protect my husband?
He also believed in God!
I was depressed during that time,
I didn't want to perform duties.
Through self-reflection, I realized that
I was trying to bargain with God.
When everything went well or to my benefit,
I loved performing my duties,
but when I personally suffered,
I bore a grudge against God.
I was a despicable, selfish person.
When I saw the ugliness in myself,
I felt remorse and self-blame.
I said that I loved God, and would obey God,
but when a trial came,
I complained against Him, blamed Him, and resisted.
Afterward, I prayed to God and read God's word,
I gained some understanding of the root of my resistance.
Let's read a few passages of God's word together.
Alright.
Oh, the power is back. It's better to have light!
It certainly is.
Hey, why don't we watch some videos of readings of God's word?
- Sure. - Okay.
That's exactly right.
God's words reveal things so clearly!
- Amen! - Yes.
God observes people's minds and hearts.
- That's completely true. - Yes.
Only after reading God's word did I know
Satan corrupts mankind in this way.
The CCP promotes atheism every day,
advocates the theories of evolution,
and promotes struggle against Heaven, earth, and other people.
Right.
Every day we lived steeped in these absurd satanic fallacies,
and in our hearts we struggle with others more and more.
- Really. - Yes.
Everyone becomes ever more cunning and ruthless.
That's right.
Unwittingly, we begin to worship lies and violence.
We all want to hold power, have authority, and do what we want.
Yes.
Our corruption grows ever deeper,
and we lose all normal humanity.
Yes.
People rebel against God,
they resist God because they are so corrupted by Satan.
Our hearts are filled with all kinds of satanic poisons, philosophies, and logic.
People's thoughts, views, principles of survival, conscience, and reason
have all been corrupted by Satan,
and our natures have become just like Satan's,
natures that resist and betray God.
Yes.
When people follow satanic nature, it's impossible to obey God.
That's definitely the case.
People resist God because of their satanic natures.
- Right. - Exactly.
I reflected on God's word.
I asked myself which thought or which view was controlling me when I blamed God.
Which satanic rules, philosophies, and poisons within me
led me to so often rebel against God and not obey God?
I wouldn't have realized without that reflection,
but once I did, I found many satanic toxins inside myself,
such as
"There has never been any Savior,"
"One's destiny is in his own hand,"
"Heaven is unfair," "The Creator fools man,"
"Every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost,"
"One should be given credit for hard work, if not for merit," and more.
I was harmed by these satanic ideas and logic.
They made my dispositions arrogant, self-important,
twisted, cunning, and despicable.
In all things, I acted in the better interest of myself,
so when I believed in God, it was to gain blessings and enter God's kingdom.
Right.
When God didn't satisfy my intentions and desires,
I blamed God, argued with God.
I was incapable of true obedience.
Right.
When I saw that,
I knew how deeply I was corrupted by Satan.
My satanic nature and dispositions
really were deeply rooted in me.
Yes.
Absolutely right.
That's completely true.
There are too many satanic poisons within us.
These satanic, worldly philosophies and principles are fallacies
that turn the facts on their heads,
incompatible with the truth.
Sure, these are things we have always lived according to.
Yes.
Yes, they are.
With so many of these satanic poisons within us,
how could we not resist God?
Indeed.
So, Sister Chen.
Yes?
How can we rid ourselves of these satanic dispositions?
Right.
Satan has corrupted mankind,
and satanic natures have taken root within all of us.
They're not so easy to escape!
Yes.
In the last days, God expresses the truth to purify our satanic dispositions,
and how we experience His work is crucial.
Yes.
After the CCP's persecution killed my husband,
I complained against and blamed God.
At the time, I thought I had good reasons,
but now I see the matter clearly.
Without God's judgment, trials and refinement,
I wouldn't have seen the intention to gain blessings which contaminated my faith,
nor would I have seen that people can resist and rebel against God amidst trials.
Yes.
My husband's death
was clearly caused by the CCP's persecution,
but I complained and blamed God for not protecting him.
I was being so petulant and unreasonable.
I had no conscience at all.
I truly lacked humanity.
When I realized these things,
I felt terrible remorse.
I owed God so much, and wounded His heart.
I thought of how deeply I'd been corrupted by Satan,
and that God had saved me.
God had given me grace and exaltation.
Amen!
What right did I have to argue or ask for conditions with God?
Wasn't I being too arrogant and too unreasonable?
Yes.
After that,
I also read the stories of Job and Abraham.
Job was someone who feared God and shunned evil,
but God allowed Satan to attack him multiple times…
Yes.
…to take away his wealth and children, and to cover him in boils.
Abraham worshiped God, and God gave him a son
at the age of 100,
and later God asked Abraham to give up his son as an offering.
Yes.
The work God did upon them doesn't accord with human notions,
and is difficult for us to accept,
but Abraham and Job were nevertheless able to obey God.
Yes.
Amen!
From their experience, I found some enlightenment.
God is the Lord of creation,
and Christ is the truth, the way, and the life.
Amen!
No matter how God judges and tries us,
it is always to purify and save us.
Yes.
Why can't we understand God's intentions?
What qualifies people to argue reasons with God or raise extravagant desires with God?
God decides what kind of person enters His kingdom,
and people must obey God's wishes and arrangements.
- Yes. - Right.
People can't see their own corrupt natures clearly.
They have no way of knowing themselves or what they are.
But God knows people's hearts and minds.
Yes.
God is holy and righteous.
Amen!
And God has His own arrangements
regarding who He saves and perfects.
Yes.
We are all part of corrupt mankind;
we should be obedient to God's work.
Amen!
There is nothing better we can do than to satisfy God.
No matter whether God's work accords with human desires,
we should obey and not blame.
Amen!
Thanks be to God!
Once I understood these things,
my heart felt especially bright.
I saw that God's trials are meaningful for people…
Yes. Thanks be to God!
…and found a path to practice obedience to God.
Yes. Thanks be to God!
After that,
I focused on seeking the truth in all things in my duties,
and not living by my notions.
I also reflected on corrupt dispositions and any satanic poisons within,
what notions I still have about God,
and when I found them, I sought the truth,
forsook myself, practiced the truth,
lived by God's words.
Thanks be to God!
Wonderful!
After years of practice,
my satanic dispositions of arrogance, self-importance, selfishness
gradually began to change.
Great.
Many of the satanic toxins, notions, imaginings, and extravagant desires
that controlled me in the past were also eliminated.
I had some fear and obedience of God,
and I felt much more peaceful and secure.
I felt happy.
Thanks be to God!
Wonderful!
Thanks be to God!
Sister Chen, hearing about your experience and understanding has been very beneficial for me.
Exactly.
Now I finally understand,
without understanding our satanic natures that rebel against God,
and without resolving our satanic dispositions,
we will never achieve genuine obedience to God.
Yes.
Right.
There is nothing more necessary for the salvation of mankind than God's judgment.
Yes.
Amen.
Thank God.
Amen.
That's great.
Hearing Sister Chen's experience and testimony
was beneficial for me.
Now, I finally understand
the root cause of why I can't obey God,
and my heart feels much brighter.
Thanks be to God!
In all the years I've believed,
I've focused solely on laboring, working and expending.
I thought that the more I worked and the more I suffered,
the more God would approve,
so I didn't make efforts to pursue the truth.
I didn't really try to reflect on or know the satanic poisons,
principles of survival,
and notions and imaginings within me
that are the root of why I resist God,
I didn't seek the truth to resolve them.
How could I attain genuine obedience to God like that?
I was too one-sided in my pursuit!
Now, I understand finally
the most important thing in belief in God
is accepting the judgment and chastisement in God's words,
and that we need to experience a great deal of trials
to resolve satanic dispositions.
Right.
If we merely labor and work for God
without pursuing the truth or accepting judgment,
everything we do is in vain.
That's entirely correct.
God's work of judgment in the last days
is based on the fact that mankind has been too deeply corrupted by Satan.
If people escaped corrupt dispositions by themselves,
God wouldn't need to do the work of judgment.
True.
Also, I've experienced,
no matter how long we believe in God,
or how much we work and suffer,
if we don't experience God's judgment and resolve our satanic natures,
we never become genuinely obedient or compatible with God,
we can only do things that cause us to resist God,
offend God's disposition, be punished by Him,
and we'll never be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.
That's really the truth.
The satanic dispositions, notions, and imaginings
are a lethal cancer,
we urgently need to pursue truth to resolve them.
That's right.
Only after experiencing judgment, chastisement, trials, and refinement
did I clearly see that to become someone truly obedient to God,
we had to resolve our satanic nature.
This is our most urgent matter, and there's no time to delay it.
Yes.
God's work of judgment in the last days
is to resolve the satanic natures within people that resist God,
allow them to grasp the truth and know God,
and allow them to become truly obedient
and be gained by God.
Thanks be to God!
Let's read some passages of God's word.
- Sure. - Alright.
- Okay. - Yeah.
Amen!
Yes.
Amen!
Right.
God's word puts it very clearly.
God expresses the truth and does the judgment work
to express God's righteous disposition and all that God has and is,
and to reveal the essence and truth of mankind's corruption by Satan.
God also arranges trials and tribulations to reveal people's corruption,
and to make people reflect on themselves,
and pursue truth to shed their corrupt dispositions,
and attain salvation.
Yes.
Thanks be to God!
Yes.
In the past, we all lived by our satanic natures.
We were arrogant, self-righteous,
often rebelled against God without realizing it,
and still felt that we were good people.
Yes.
Only after God's judgment, chastisement, and trials
do we clearly see the truth of our own corruption.
We have no conscience or reason at all,
our minds are full of notions and imaginings,
all of our words and deeds carry satanic dispositions,
all we say and do is contaminated with the intent to bargain, lies, and deceit…
Yes.
…and we live out nothing of a human likeness.
We are more like devils than we are humans!
Yes, that's completely true.
Yes, that's the truth.
It's only now that I have the courage
to admit my own filth, corruption, and pitiable state in front of others.
I am nothing,
and I am unworthy to live in God's presence.
Thanks be to God!
We all see that God's disposition is righteous and holy,
and that God's words and all that God has and is are the truth.
Amen!
We see that the knowledge, notions, and imaginings of man are not the truth,
and that the sayings of famous people and great men are not the truth.
- Yeah. - That's right.
When we see those things, we no longer trust ourselves,
we begin to deny and subdue ourselves.
When things we can't understand happen,
we no longer carelessly comment on them,
and we are capable of praying to God and obeying God's arrangements.
Yes.
Then, we feel secure and at peace.
If we always do that,
we'll achieve more change in our life disposition,
we'll achieve some genuine obedience,
and we'll live out a human likeness.
Thanks be to God!
These are the results achieved by experiencing God's judgment and chastisement!
Thanks be to God!
- That's wonderful. - That's great.
After your fellowship, I can grasp the path forward.
Belief in God without trials never works,
nor does it work without pruning and dealing.
Accepting the judgment and chastisement of God's word is so crucial.
Yes, it is.
Right.
That's entirely correct.
If we want to become people who are truly obedient to God and who do God's will,
we need to experience God's judgment, chastisement, trials, and refinement.
When we understand the truth, and when we have knowledge of the truth of our corruption,
we are able to genuinely repent and rely on God…
Yes.
…we are able to sincerely pray and commune with God,
and we receive the work of the Holy Spirit.
Yes.
Only then,
are we able to rid ourselves of our satanic dispositions and attain salvation.
- Amen! - Thanks be to God!
- Your fellowship is very practical. - Thanks be to God!
I hope I can experience more of God's judgment—
- The police are coming our way! - Oh, no!
Hurry!
Quick! Hurry!
This way! This way!
- Sister, keep up! - The police are coming!
Run, Brother Song!
Hurry! That way!
They're over there!
Don't you dare run! Get them!
Hold them!
Get back here!
Get them!
- Stop running! - Come on.
Get them!
Hey, be careful!
Stop right there!
Hold them two!
Here! Hurry up!
Come on. After them!
Get up!
- Stop! - Come on.
Hold it.
Hey, let's use this!
Stop!
Hold it.
Get them!
Stop running!
Don't take another step.
- Stop! You not running anymore. - Hold it.
Let's go, let's go. Come on.
Hurry! Hurry! Let's go.
Don't try to run!
- Hold them! - Stop them!
Stop!
Stop right there!
Stop!
Dammit!
I can't run anymore.
They got away again!
Careful!
Brother Song, are you okay?
I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.
Let's go!
That way!
OK.
That way!
It's alright.
We're safe.
Thanks be to God!
Brother Cheng.
Yes?
You're very resourceful.
Thanks be to God!
Hey, Brother Song,
it looks like the path to the kingdom of heaven
isn't an easy one.
So now you've experienced it too!
Yeah.
We have to experience a lot of torment to gain the truth as life.
I used to be just like you …