Words of Almighty God of the Last Days

What is the most basic principle in seeking the true way? You have to look at whether or not there is the work of the Holy Spirit in this way, whether or not these words are the expression of the truth, who is testified to, and what it can bring you. Distinguishing between the true way and the false way requires several aspects of basic knowledge, the most fundamental of which is to tell whether or not the work of the Holy Spirit is present therein. For the essence of people’s belief in God is the belief in the Spirit of God, and even their belief in God incarnate is because this flesh is the embodiment of the Spirit of God, which means that such belief is still belief in the Spirit. There are differences between the Spirit and the flesh, but because this flesh comes from the Spirit, and is the Word become flesh, thus what man believes in is still the inherent essence of God. So, in distinguishing whether or not it is the true way, above all you must look at whether or not it has the work of the Holy Spirit, after which you must look at whether or not there is truth in this way. The truth, as it is called, is the life disposition of normal humanity. In other words, it is what was required of man when God created him in the beginning, namely, normal humanity in its entirety (including the reason of humanity, as well as insight, wisdom, and the basic knowledge of how to conduct oneself). That is, you need to look at whether or not this way can lead people into a normal human life, whether or not the truth that is spoken of makes requirements based on the reality of normal humanity, whether or not this truth is realistic and practical, and whether or not it is most timely. If there is truth, then it is able to lead people into normal and practical experiences; people, furthermore, become ever more normal, the reason of humanity that they possess becomes ever more complete, their life in the flesh and the spiritual life become ever more orderly, and their emotions become ever more normal. This is the second principle. There is one other principle, which is whether or not people have an increasing knowledge of God, and whether or not experiencing such work and truth can inspire a God-loving heart in them and bring them ever closer to God. In this it can be measured whether or not this way is the true way. Most fundamental is whether this way is realistic rather than supernatural, and whether or not it is able to provide for the life of man. If it conforms to these principles, the conclusion can be drawn that this way is the true way. I say these words not to make you accept other ways in your future experiences, nor as a prediction that there will be the work of another new age in the future. I say them so that you may be certain that the way of today is the true way, so that you will not only be partially sure in your belief in the work of today and unable to gain insight into it. There are even many who, despite being certain, still follow in confusion; such certainty has no principle to it, and such people must be eliminated sooner or later. Even those who are especially ardent in their following are three parts sure and five parts unsure, which shows that they have no foundation. Because your caliber is too poor and your foundation too shallow, you have no understanding of differentiation. God does not repeat His work, He does not do work that is not realistic, He does not make excessive requirements of man, and He does not do work that is beyond the reason of man. All the work He does is within the scope of man’s normal reason, and does not exceed the reason of normal humanity, and His work is done according to man’s normal requirements. If it is the work of the Holy Spirit, people become ever more normal, and their humanity becomes ever more normal. People gain an increasing knowledge of their corrupt satanic disposition, and of the substance of man, and they also gain an ever greater longing for the truth. That is to say, the life of man grows and grows, and the corrupt disposition of man becomes more and more capable of change—all of which is the meaning of God becoming the life of man. If a way is incapable of exposing those things that are the substance of man, is incapable of changing the disposition of man, and, moreover, is incapable of bringing people before God or giving them a true understanding of God, and even causes their humanity to become ever more lowly and their reason ever more abnormal, then this way must not be the true way, and it may be the work of an evil spirit, or the old way. In short, it cannot be the current work of the Holy Spirit.

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Only Those Who Know God and His Work Are the Ones Who Satisfy God

It is not difficult to examine such a thing, but it requires each of us to first know this one truth: He who is God incarnate possesses the essence of God, and He who is God incarnate possesses the expression of God. Since God has become flesh, He brings with Him the work He intends to do, and since He is God incarnate, He expresses what He is, and is able to bring the truth to man, bestow life upon him, and point the way for him. Flesh that does not have the essence of God is decidedly not the incarnate God; of this there is no doubt. If man intends to examine whether it is God’s incarnate flesh, then he must determine this from the disposition He expresses and the words He speaks. Which is to say, to determine whether or not it is God’s incarnate flesh, and whether or not it is the true way, one must discriminate on the basis of His essence. And so, the key to whether or not it is the flesh of God incarnate lies in His essence (His work, His utterances, His disposition, and many other aspects), rather than external appearance. If man examines only His external appearance, and as a result overlooks His essence, this shows that man is foolish and ignorant. External appearance cannot determine essence; what’s more, the work of God can never conform to the notions of man. Did not Jesus’ outward appearance run counter to the notions of man? Were not His countenance and dress unable to demonstrate His true identity? Did not the Pharisees back then oppose Jesus precisely because they merely looked at His external appearance, and did not conscientiously accept the words from His mouth? It is My hope that each and every brother and sister who seeks the appearance of God will not repeat the tragedy of history, and will not become a Pharisee of modern times and nail God to the cross again. You should carefully consider how to welcome the return of God, and you should have a clear mind regarding how to be someone who submits to the truth. This is the responsibility of everyone who is waiting for Jesus to return riding upon a cloud. We should clear our spiritual eyes, and not become mired in words of fantasy. We should think about the realistic work of God, and take a look at the practical aspect of God. Do not get carried away or lose yourselves in daydreams, always hoping that the Lord Jesus will suddenly descend among you on a cloud, and take you who have never known or seen Him, and who do not know how to follow His will. It is better to think about more realistic matters!

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Preface

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The Principles for Seeking the True Way

How to Know the Appearance and Work of Christ in the Last Days