Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

Romans 10:17-21

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: 'Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.'..."

"The message is heard through the word of Christ."  There are two distinct words that describe the word of God, "logos" and "rhema."  Logos means any word spoken by God, including the whole Bible, but the word used in this passage is not logos, but rather rhema, which means specific words spoken by God in specific circumstance.  Logos refers to the word that God has spoken before, and rhema is word that God is speaking right now.  In all the choices in life, how do we have the faith to know that we are choosing God's way?  Not only do we need to understand God's logos - what He has spoken before - but more importantly we need to come before Him to seek His rhema - what He wants to tell us now.  Once we have rhema, we will have peace and assurance inside us, and we naturally will have more faith.

When I was considering whether to enter full-time ministry many years ago, my greatest struggle was that I thought it was also good to remain in lay ministry.  At that time, I just couldn't convince myself to take the step forward into full-time ministry.  Even though a pastor kept on telling me that he thought God was calling me into full-time ministry, but I couldn't see the same thing, so I waited before God and asked Him to give me a confirmation.  God led to read Exodus 8:25-27, where Pharaoh didn't allow Israelites to leave Egypt and told them: ""Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land."  But Moses responded to him, " but Moses told him: "We must take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he commands us."  When I read these two passages, suddenly all the hindrance and dilemma in my mind disappeared.  I understood that my job was my Egypt, and God wanted me to leave my work post to go where He wanted me to serve Him.  This scripture passage became the confirmation of my faith, which is my rhema.  When we make decision every day, so we have God's rhema?  If not, you need to wait and seek Him, because true faith is not established on feeling or circumstance, but on the word of God.

    

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu                  

Lord, please use your word to guide us and affirm our faith.  Let our faith be established not on the changing things of the world, but on your word.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

This email was sent to devotion1.withpastortong@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Monday, May 30, 2011

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

Romans 10:16-17     

"But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our message?'  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.   

The original text for verse 17 is: "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of God."The first half of this sentence refers to our attitude towards God's word. Faith comes from hearing God's message. The "message" here is not only the message from the podium on Sunday, but also the message God sends to us at different times in different ways. If you want to get faith through God's word, you have to have the right attitude towards His message first. Firstly, you have to have the willingness. If we want to find out what others say, we have to listen first. If you don't want to listen, no matter how much others say, they are just wasting their breath. Likewise, when God wants to talk to us sometimes, He will do so through circumstances, other people or special gathering. How pitiful it is that we often turn a deaf ear and become indifferent, so it is very hard for God's word to enter into us. Secondly, we need to focus. The willingness to listen is not enough. If you really want to hear the message, you have to focus. Some people can't hear not because they don't want to listen, they are just distracted with their busy schedule.     

In the parable of sowing the seeds, Jesus said that people's hearts are just like different kind of soil. God's word is the seeds sowed. Some seeds fall on rocky place, which stands for the stubbornness of people. If they are unwilling to listen, the seeds will not be able to grow. Some seeds fall on shallow soil with choking thorns, which stand for persecutions, sufferings, temptations of the lust and deceitfulness of the wealth, in the end they will not be able to grow. But those seeds that fall on good soil, which stands for those who are focused on hearing the message, can produce a crop, yielding a hundred times what was sown. So at the end of this parable, Jesus says: "You need to be careful of how you listen." Thirdly, you need to wait on the Holy Spirit to work inside us and bless us with God's promise. We need to have the earnest desire for the leading of the Spirit, and the patience to wait on, until He puts the assurance in our heart. Once we have the special assurance from God, we will become faithful naturally in our life.    What options are you facing right now in your life? Maybe you just found out life is like a heavy fog, in which you are eager to get the direction for the future. May the Lord help you to listen to God's word and wait on Him until God's promise for you is fulfilled.    

    

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu                 


Lord, may you give us the willingness to listen, the ability to focus, and the right mentality to wait on. May your Spirit work among us until your promise for us is fulfilled. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

  

This email was sent to devotion1.withpastortong@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

Romans 10:13-15

   

"...For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"     

    

How precious God's promise to us is, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. It is such a wonderful grace. As unworthy as we are, the Lord opened the door to salvation for us so that as long as we call on His name, we will be saved. This promise may seem simple. But when we try to look into what is behind this promise, we will find that actually it is far from being simple.     

    

1. If someone is unwilling to believe, how can he humble himself and call on the name of the Lord? If anyone is willing to call on the name of the Lord, he has to have two understandings: one is that he has to understand that he is powerless and helpless, otherwise he will not feel it necessary to call on other's name; the other is that he has to understand that God is omnipotence and loving, willing to help and capable of helping, otherwise he may or may not call on the name of this God. Therefore, if someone wants to call on God's name, he has to believe first that God can save, heal and help.     

     

2. How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? Our faith is not blind. If someone has true faith, it has to be based on the never-changing truth. When the truth enters into someone, it will naturally convict that person concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. It will also set that person free from sins and all kinds of bondage.   

     

3. How can they hear without someone preaching to them? There are still tens of millions of people who have never had the chance to hear the gospel. As Christians we cannot just sit here and wait. We still need to make efforts in unity to fulfill the commission. Think about people around you. You may be the only Christian they know. If you don't preach to them about Jesus, who else will? How can they hear, believe in and call on if they are not preached to?        

    

4. How can anyone preach unless they are sent? The Lord says in Matthew 28:19: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations". After we become believers, God has already staged us to "go out". We have already been sent into the world. Since we have been sent out, we need to answer God's calling and go out to preach gospel. Once we become obedient, we will witness the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord, which is that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.   

    

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu                 


Lord, please grant more strength to the brothers and sisters so that not only will they have faith in their life, they would also dare to witness for you in front of people.  May your Holy Spirit be with them always.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

  

This email was sent to devotion1.withpastortong@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

Romans 10:9-13

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"  

    

A person can only be saved through confessing with the mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believing in the heart that God raised Him from the dead.  One is external, and the other is internal.  First, one must believe the redemption of the Lord in the heart.  The Lord died for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day, proving that He is the Son of eternal God and also showing us that He has paced a new and living way.  This new way can help us to overcome sin and authority of death.  Next, one must confess in the mouth.  It is not enough to just keeping the faith in our heart, because that makes the faith a secret.  A faith that is not openly declared is known by no one and cannot bring out power in life.  The Lord really values declared faith, for it is written in Matthew 10:32: "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

   

Some people like to ask, isn't it good enough to just believe?  Why do we need to be baptized?  Is a person saved if he just believes but not baptized?  Theoretical yes, because the thief on the cross next to Jesus never had a chance to be baptized before he died, but he was saved.  Some people who live in remote areas might not ever have the chance to be baptized, and they are saved by accepting the Lord by faith.  But these are just exceptions; the Lord's command in Mark 16:16 was very clear though: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."  It is clear that believing and getting baptized is one simple event, not two events.  A person who truly believes the Lord will follow the Lord's command to be baptized.  I must suspect that those who insist on not getting baptized may not be true believers, because they can't even follow the most straight-forward command from the Lord.

    

Baptism has two effects.  First, it affirms the faith of the believers.  A person who believes but not baptized are always like those in the wilderness.  They are somewhat like Christians but aren't true Christians.  Why do they even go to church every week?  They spirituality often stalls, but they often experience spiritual breakthrough after they are baptized.  Second, you can become a witness before people.  As soon you decide to be baptized, everyone around you including family and non-believing friends will realize that you are taking the faith seriously and not just seeking to be blessed by going to church.  Baptism in itself is the best testimony.  What is the condition of your faith life?  Do you only have faith inside, or are you willing to be a witness for the Lord?  

    

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu                 


Lord, please grant more strength to the brothers and sisters so that not only will they have faith in their life, they would also dare to witness for you in front of people.  May your Holy Spirit be with them always.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

  

This email was sent to devotion1.withpastortong@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Friday, May 27, 2011

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

Romans 10:5-8   

"Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: 'The person who does these things will live by them.'  But the righteousness that is by faith says: 'Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)  or "Who will descend into the deep?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? 'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim."

Paul emphasized here that the righteousness that is by faith triumphs over the righteousness that is by the law. The law was emphasized during the Old Testament era. Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: "The person who does these things will live by them." And we would all agree. But the problem is that it is a mission impossible, for no one can completely achieve the righteousness that is by the law, and the righteousness that is by the law cannot be achieved by anyone alone. So Paul mentioned a different kind of righteousness, the righteousness that is by faith. He used a rhetorical question to explain that the righteousness that is by the law would not work. Verse 6 says: "Do not say in your heart", meaning the subsequent sentence is not true, which is "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "Who will descend into the deep?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). In other words, who can ascend into heaven to bring down Christ? Who else can descend into the deep to bring Christ up from the dead? No one. No one can either incarnate Christ or bring Christ up from the dead. Nor can anyone save himself. The incarnation and resurrection of Jesus Christ are only achieved by the love of our Heavenly Father and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Likewise the salvation came to us.

Therefore, those who believe in the Lord can be justified by faith, for the Lord has already become the atonement for our sins. We don't have to work hard to earn the salvation any more. Nor do we have to work hard to fulfill God's salvation, for God's salvation has been fulfilled. Our faith is only to acknowledge what has been done. Once we accept this truth by faith, the Lord has promised to us: "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart." Our faith is not just knowledge or doctrines. The Lord that has fulfilled the salvation will live inside us and become our strength and help. How precious this grace is. Do you know that the Lord is living inside your life, to whom you can bring everything in prayer? He will become your wisdom, holiness and satisfaction in your life. 

         

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu                 

Lord, we thank you for living inside our heart and help us understand our real spiritual needs. You are willing to bring strength and satisfaction into our life. May you fill us again. We thank you and we pray in the precious name of Jesus, amen!

  

                                       

This email was sent to devotion1.withpastortong@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

Romans 10:1-4

"Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."      

Another mistake the Jews made Paul mentioned here is that they were zealous for God, but their zeal was not based on knowledge. The knowledge referred to here stands for God's Words and the biblical truth. The Jews were zealous for God. But their zeal was not based on God's Words. What was it based on then?

Firstly, it was based on tradition. Many rituals in the temple were passed down and followed from generation to generation without the understanding of their meanings. Just like in church, we would always pray with closed eyes and folded hands. But the Bible never teaches us to pray like that. In fact, the Bible asks us to lift up our hands and pray instead. But in order to help people quiet down and draw near to God, for over a thousand years traditionally the church has been teaching like this. Many people don't know why. They think they are supposed to pray like that. So when they see other people pray with their eyes open, they would deem it disrespectful. This is an example that the zeal for God is not based on knowledge. 

Secondly, it was based on common sense and common practice. Many common senses and common practices enter into our faith through culture. For example, many people regard prayer as casting lots by non-believers. They would think God is real if their prayers are always answered. But they have no idea at all that the Lord says: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Prayer is by no means the same as casting lots in a Buddhist temple, for one is self-centered when he seeks blessing in a Buddhist temple, while others are God-centered when they pray. What matters is not whether every prayer is answered, but whether God's will is done. But for many believers with the background of other religions, they still try to pursue God with their original thoughts and practices, which means their zeal is not based on knowledge. What is worse, when the zeal that is not based on knowledge is applied to other people, it becomes their legalistic bondage that brings in judgments and accusations. Due to their zeal, they would try to put their own knowledge and experience above God's truth. This is why those religious wars broke out in the past. This is also why there are many disputes between denominations. This is another example that the zeal is not based on the knowledge.       

Brothers and sisters, are you willing to humble before God by laying down your thoughts, practices and tradition, and seek God's righteousness instead of your own?      

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu      

          

Lord, forgive us for putting our own thoughts and tradition above your truth very often. May you help us humble ourselves. May your Spirit shine on us to set our spirits free. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

  

                                       

This email was sent to devotion1.withpastortong@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054